middaeg | [OPEN] 365 and a day to save my soul

Who: Wataru & YOU! Fourth Wall characters are welcome!
When: All of Maiuril
Where: Various
What: Catch-all for the month! Quests, DiplomaTea, etc.
Warnings: None at the moment

i; sad howls in the night

[ This task doesn't seem to need time fixing, unless the turnskin stubbornly refuses to stop howling, but at least he's not investigating a rotting corpse surrounded by hunger-inducing grass this time. Either way, he's mumbling to himself about the best way to approach Roman, but that's when another person passes by him, coming straight from Karen's Patisserie, catching his attention. ]

Have you also taken the quest? About the wolf Turnskin?

[ Well, if this isn't a lucky coincidence. ]

ii; this is egg-specially worrisome

[ So now it's about eggs. The circumstances for their appearance doesn't comfort Wataru, but he offered to take one of the eggs from the Coven and find himself a partner to alternate caring for it with. Kivat has been nervous about the idea, snapping at Wataru that he wants nothing to do with "whatever thing is gonna pop out of there", and then left without saying anything more. It worried the Rider, but his focus is mostly on his duty as an egg-sitter. Other problems will take a backseat until it hatches.

He sighs, looking over at his partner while holding the egg to his lap. ]

Thank you for offering to help. I wonder what creature we're going to have to take care of, though.

[ If the "mom" managed to cause all that carnage to make a nest, they might be dealing with something quite dangerous. ]

iii; an usual day at diplomatea

[ Wataru can be found working at DiplomaTea full time on weekdays and alternatively on weekends as well. Various options available are:

a) He's the waiter serving you;
b) You catch him skillfully playing his violin on the small stage built for him, and you can comment on his performance in whichever way he made you feel;
c) In case of already established CR being the patron, he'll ask permission to serve and interact closely with you;
d) Co-worker shenanigans! Interacting with others at the shop, offering help and most likely being around until closing time. If there's anything you want him for, he'll be readily available.

Pick your poison, or ask for a starter if you'd like! ]

iv; wildcard

[ I can make close starters if you want one! I'm definitely open for full moon or Fourth Wall stuff! PP me on gaiamemories or send me a PM! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ah? ... Sure.

[ Though he's an employee, Wataru isn't being called to serve customers yet and after Everett told him to rest more he's taken the advice to heart. If there's an urgent order he has to take he'll get to it quickly, though.

With nothing holding him back, he shuffles to the table and sits across from Louis, placing the violin close to him. ]

I've been... busy, with work and other activities. I'm part of the Mirrorbound Concil. [ It a bit of time away from his usual. Not that he complains - he's fond of the idea that he can change things in the city for the better. ] How have you been faring?

I'm doing well. I did go home for awhile, though.

[ It's... well, a lie, though he's pretty happy to see and talk to Wataru. He enjoys the other's company. He's easy to be around, and he's seen him in less than favorable conditions, even, and treats him no differently. Louis doesn't like being seen as someone who could be weak, but it's good to know that even in moments of weakness, this interaction seems... normal. ]

I mean, it wasn't long here, but it was several months at home. You're on the council?

[ A curious blink. ]

Do you enjoy it?

[ Given that he's historically not trusted the Coven, or any level of authority here, he's interested to see how others feel. ]

[ The revelation that Louis returned home at some point raises both Wataru's eyebrows. It's actually the first time he hears of someone who was capable to cross the mirror world and come back to their reality. But the fact Louis treats that fact as casual, moving topics with the ease of a knife cutting through butter, makes Wataru hesitate a bit. ]

Enjoy it... well, I wouldn't say that. We mostly discuss about the situation in the city. It kind of helps that some of my friends also joined it.

[ He scratches the back of his head. ]

So far, we successfully advances every motion that was brought up. I believe we're helping make life in the city better for everyone...

[ A pause. ]

How did you fare in your home, during those months?

Hm...Maybe you have.

[ He has his doubts. If only because he knows how stubborn and inflexible city leadership can be. He has no issue, though, with the Mirrorbound who are trying. But somehow, he doubts that every motion, every suggestion, everything is advanced. He doubts because he knows too well the things that are allowed to slide when people are out to save their own skin. His expression doesn't shift, doesn't change, though his tone is skeptical - so he's not fully hiding how he feels.

And then - the question about home, and his tone becomes even more calculated and practiced. He's going to keep saying what he's said since getting back here - if he can even call it that. It was fine, it was always fine. Fine is such an easy word to use. There's no commitment in it, just a vague nothing-answer left open for interpretation. It's the best way to deal with it, to be honest. It's easier to build that wall around yourself when no one was allowed in to start. ]

Hm? Fine. About as expected. I saw some people I hadn't seen for quite some time. No one noticed my nearly nine month absence, and it just picked up where I left off. It's like you never left home, which is interesting, really. There's a lot of power in those mirrors.

Edited 2020-07-10 11:59 (UTC)

[ Unlike Louis, Wataru is more optmistic about his job in the Council than one might be in that position. Having all motions voted for and approved was such a big step forward and gives him hope that at least some of the improvements will take place. But he detects the mild skepticism in his friend's voice and decides not to address it.

He's instead bewildered by what Louis tells him next. That's one detail he hasn't ever heard from anyone. Figures, since a lot of the people he knows never disappeared and then returned to the city. ]

Time didn't pass at all? You mean, it's never going to advance in our world?

[ If that's true, then things won't be so hopeless back home. His eyes widen with both disbelief and hope. ]

Correct.

[ He says it so simply, so straight forward, as if it is the most normal thing in the world for things to happen here and nothing to happen elsewhere. Time not passing at home was one of the strangest things he'd learned about this place. ]

So this is nothing more than a break. When you go home - you'll be back at what you used to be.

[ This is better than talking about anything else to him, to be honest. ]

[ A smile full of hope crosses Wataru's face. To have that confirmed is nothing short of a relief, and he sighs while holding his chest with one hand. His world is safe. ]

You have no idea how relieved that makes me feel, Louis. Thanks for letting me know.

For you?

[ A small - easy smile. ]

Anytime.

[ He watches the other, he knows that feeling all too well. He is glad that he could be the one to bring the other that sort of peace. It's good. It's good for him to feel good. He's glad he could help. ]

Not that I'd lie.

[OPEN] 365 and a day to save my soul

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