Who: Karin Koenig & various When: Octeuril Where: Aefenglom, the Wilde What: Various quests and closed threads for throughout the month. Warnings: Potential for violence, will edit as needed.
[A part of her almost can't believe she's sitting here planning rooftop hangouts, but if she's going to be drawn to high places, she might as well embrace her newly emerging nature— and it's best if they're in friendly territory.
The long, unnatural pause after his praise of her idea is enough to make her smile fade just a touch, her expression becoming one of concern and confusion, and it's just as she leans in to wave a hand in front of his face that he speaks again.
Oh, okay. He's fine. Just doing Styx things.]
That's very sweet of you to offer.
[She does smile again, and it comes out a bit lopsided, though undeniably affectionate.]
I hope you don't feel like you have to go through all that trouble, though. Just you is enough! I'd be coming for the good company, not the service.
[yep, that's right! just Styx doing Styx things. nothing suspicious here at all.
(his smile widens when she smiles again. heh heh heh. he fooled her!)]
's no trouble! Actually, you'd be kinda doing me a favor if we did that sort of thing.
[his expression turns sheepish as it drops down to look at his feet, a little embarrassed to be admitting to this kind of thing. but it's the truth, and it means something to him, so-!]
Never actually had any friends over back home, even after I got my own place. I mean - guys from the band drop by all the time, but it's kinda not the same?
[they were his dearest friends, but they were also connected by something outside of friendship. it felt as if they would have come by even if they hadn't developed such a powerful bond.]
So it'd be nice to, um...you know. Get to have a visit visit.
[It's not something she would consider a favor under normal circumstances, but actually, if they're being honest...]
Before I came here, I never really did a whole lot of 'visiting' either way. There was never any time for it— I'd be happy to do it now, and not just as a favor.
[Though it's nice that he doesn't think of it as an imposition!]
[regular visits with friends...he looks up at Karin as the thought settles into his mind, his smile a little wondrous. people had asked him in the past how he'd been able to hold such a sunny perspective about being uprooted into another world, but when he regards moments like these he can't imagine not feeling full of hope. there was darkness, and terror, but there was also...this.]
I'd really like that. [but-! and his eyes dance a little with returned vigor.] If it's cool with you though, let's make the first one, like, real special. To kick it off good, you know?
[For all of the challenges this place offered, for all of the difficulties it saddled them with, there were certainly silver linings. This was one of them— Karin had met several people in this place that she never would have encountered otherwise, people from whom she could learn, friends she could share new experiences with. It made everything else just a little easier to bear.]
Real special, huh? What did you have in mind?
[Because that light in his eyes definitely means he's thinking of something.]
[he wanted that little place on the roof to be unveiled, of this he was now absolutely decided. but it would ruin the surprise if he said that now, so instead Styx falls into thoughtful silence as he considers the other cool stuff they could do to start a fun routine off with a bang.]
Can make coffee for you the way my auntie would! 's always good. 'nd I'll grab some real nice pastries from one of the popular places, maybe like a big tart or something...
[It may all be food, but he's talking to the right girl for that.]
Oh! My bondmate works at Karen's Patisserie, have you been there yet? They make all kinds of things, but some of their pastries are almost like to what we used to have back home— in Germany, I mean. And I'd love to try your auntie's coffee!
[She is On Board.]
I should bring something, too— that's just good manners.
[Karin stop you're now a literal perfect friend in his eyes]
Hell yeah, they've got some real killer stuff! I love those lava cakes 'nd the ginger cookies.
[just don't, uh. ask how many he eats in a single sitting when he drops by. big boy's got a horrifyingly big stomach.
but aside from this mutual excitement over food, Styx notes that he's learned something new about Karin - she's from Germany, apparently. that's pretty cool! he's not the best with geography, shockingly enough, but he's fairly sure that it's...kind of close to Norway. he wonders briefly if it would be a weird sort of selfish homesickness to ask if she'd ever traveled there sometime; maybe he'd recognize a town name that Ymir had visited.
more importantly...he's got something other than bird books to add to his library shopping list going forward. German food is almost totally foreign to him aside from beer and hamburgers (which aren't. even German...) but he knows how comforting familiar dishes can be. it'd be nice to be able to pick stuff out she might have had back home when they're hanging out in the city.]
You really don't gotta, I won't get my feelings hurt or nothing, but it'd probably be more fun if you did! Uh...you wanna do the food-food or the dessert?
Hmm— let me handle the food! If you have any requests, you should let me know, but I might surprise you, too.
[She supposes it depends on what opportunities present themselves! In reality, it will probably be a bit of both; of course she'll honor any requests, but it's going to be hard to resist picking up something extra. Her excitement about this is both genuine and obvious; she likes and appreciates a lot of things, but there are few pleasures greater than good food and drink with good company.]
[he almost sounds like a child with this declaration, but there's a sincere quality to it that prevents any laughter. the big guy wants to see what Karin thinks is tasty, and then get to experience it for himself; with that perspective in mind, he thinks he'll definitely try to pick up his ultra favorite desserts among some others for his half of the little 'party'. it's fun to swap that sort of thing with friends, isn't it?]
Haha, see? Gets real exciting when you start doing some little extra stuff. We're gonna be bouncing off the walls the night before!
[hopefully...not literally, given what just happened here today.]
[there's nothing to be embarrassed about, Karin. her friend seems to pick up on that bashfulness in some way and his own grin tugs a little wider, as if encouraging her to embrace the happy feelings swirling around inside her. you shouldn't be ashamed of happiness.]
Oh, that's probably because I'm so tall! [this explanation makes perfect sense to him, and he nods along with his own words.] When I'm standing up all that stuff gets blocked out.
[except if he was blocking things, wouldn't it be the light rather than darkness his huge frame would obscure in this metaphor? it's a tiny detail that Styx appears to be wholly unaware of, judging by how cheerful his demeanor has remained.]
[She laughs openly; as metaphors go, it's a good one, and even if she's sure that's exactly how it works, his cheer really sells it. His mood is contagious in the best possible way, which is at the heart of what she'd meant to say.]
That might be part of it, but I think it's more than that! You're just... fun to be around?
[It's not really a question, but it still feels so novel to her. Going into the military so young had deprived her of a lot of things.]
[he sounds like a child again when he asks that, eager and a little caught off guard by such a statement. it takes everything Styx has to keep himself from leaning in and begging for her to say it again in confirmation. now that would just be stupid.
still, that smile of his is now idiotic in its pleasure.]
Mean, I try to be. I'm always having a good time, you know? Or, uh, nearly all the time, anyway. I wanna make sure everyone's just as happy.
Of course. I make it a point to never say anything I don't mean, you know.
[Besides, he's already established that he trusts her! This should be no different.]
But— it really does show, that you want everyone around you to be happy. You try not to worry about the little things. That kind of attitude is catching!
[there's trust and then there's belief, alright! and while Styx finds it hard to believe something like that...Karin is so assured of herself that his weak mind really sees no other recourse than to do just that. god damn. he was fun. who would have thought?]
Me too.
[oh, but that's kind of...it reminds him a little of a scene from a romance movie he'd ended up watching the latter half of after falling asleep in front of the tv once. this is a purely platonic thing to say to friends, and he's even done it to his bandmates before! but that doesn't feel quite the same as this moment, and so he feels the tips of his ears turning a bright red. oops.
maybe if he just...casually brushes his hair over them...]
You're real killer, you know? 'nd I think you've definitely got a lot of good stuff coming your way, 'cause you deserve it.
[For the first time, she actually catches a glimpse of those rosy ears, even if it's only for a brief moment before he manages to cover them. It's enough to cause a faint blush to creep into her cheeks, as well, but she quickly clears her throat to draw attention away from it— her own, as well as his.]
I... do you really think so?
[There's an earnest note in her voice, genuine hopefulness. It would be nice to be able to believe such a thing, really. When you know what lays ahead for you... it's hard to believe in options, in other paths, especially when the idea of fate or destiny has been placed so heavily upon your shoulders.
Her smile softens a bit, though it's no less genuine, if a bit wistful.]
I hope so. I'm sure the people I've befriended here will be a big part of that, yourself included.
[he's turning to face her fully now, hands braced against the floor as he leans in slightly with a big smile. that distraction has definitely worked, thanks Karin.]
One of my buddies back home, Ymir...he was real good at telling the future, you know? Always had a blast doing it with him, but he'd tell me every time - the answers don't matter as much as what you do.
[that's an extremely esoteric turn of phrase, and almost certainly a direct quote from his friend - but it sounds rather nice coming from his rich voice, doesn't it? the fact he only just barely understands it does little to mar the effect.]
So even if you get, like, a bad fortune or something, that's ok! If you're good 'nd keep doing good stuff, that's what's gonna come back to you.
Dunno if you need too much help with that, but 'course we're here for you! You don't even gotta ask.
[It does sound nice— it's the sort of sentiment Karin always appreciated, though she sometimes worried it wasn't very practical. The optimist in her always wanted to believe in the power of people's actions, the impact someone could have simply by treating other people well. In addition, it's interesting to note that they both have friends who are fortune tellers, of sorts— though Lucia had never told her anything quite so sentimental.]
I hope you're right. I've always wanted to believe that. It's part of why I wanted to find a new way to live after leaving the military— I wanted to do something good with my life, something that helped people. It helps to have the reminder, though.
[With so many things supposedly set, it's hard to keep that optimism going sometimes.]
I sometimes let myself get weighed down by what I think I'm supposed to do— what's supposed to happen.
[because it was based off of something that Ymir had told him, and he trusts his friends beyond a shadow of a doubt. good things came to good people...it felt like the kind of thing a child in a fairytale would say, but at the same time something about it fit. fairytales were based on real stuff sometimes, weren't they? maybe this was one of those real bits.]
I get that, though...feeling like you're gonna let everybody down if you don't do something the right way. Kinda hard to shake off, yeah?
[She nods in agreement, just a touch more solemn than she had been even a few short moments before.]
The pressure to do everything right, to meet expectations... it can be a lot. And of course, I know you can't always get everything right, and people are allowed to make mistakes, but it's even harder to shake off when you know what's at risk.
[Her thoughts are quickly leading her down a path she would rather not follow, at least not yet— bits and pieces of how she's been feeling for months, now, are beginning to leak out, but this isn't the time or place for it. She smiles again, and it's not nearly as forced as she thought it might be. She is grateful for his advice, and his sentiments will most certainly stay with her.]
Sorry— I overthink things sometimes. [Most times.] I didn't mean to bring things down. I really do appreciate what you've said— I'll remember that, I promise.
[it's the sincerity flickering through her smile that keeps Styx from pushing past his usual passivity. that fear of ruining things for everyone through your own mistakes, even if the 'right' way doesn't feel right to you is something that he's intimately familiar with. but if Karin can still smile, the same way that he does, then he thinks it's alright. even if they both get trapped in their own mind, they don't let it imprison them forever anymore.
so it's fine...right?]
Don't think we can really get all too down...uh, you know, since we're on the floor and all.
[if it's meant to be a joke, it's a pretty goddamn sophisticated one given how genuinely Styx delivers that abundantly evident observation. bless his empty head.]
You still wanna hit the roof? 's cool if not, you can meet my fish 'nd stuff, but might still be fun to do.
[they'd fought pretty hard just for the opportunity - and maybe that pretty view would help refresh their faintly clouded thoughts.]
[There are many times when Karin genuinely questions whether or not Styx is joking or speaking in earnest— this is one such time, but in the end, it doesn't matter. It's endearing all the same, and she laughs openly as he suggests alternative plans.
She's just not going to touch the whole floor thing, it seems safest.]
Hm— it would be a shame to let all that trouble with the window go to waste, wouldn't it? You still haven't had a chance to see the view! But there's no reason we can't do both. I could meet your fish on the way— I have a feeling that won't be a terribly long or involved conversation. No offense to the fish, of course.
[She's sure he or she is very good company in their own right?]
this tag was put on pause because i had to check for goldfish pictures, i hope you're happy
Oh, yeah...guess you're right! [he laughs] But I dunno, maybe you guys'll have more to talk about than me?
[since they're both part animal...or, well. his fish was all parts animal, he supposes. hm.
setting aside the strange conundrum he'd planted in his own goddamn head for the moment, he instead pushes himself up off the floor at last before offering a hand down to Karin. he very much doubts that she needs it, but that doesn't matter! needing something nice and getting it anyway are two different things.]
He's in my bedroom, so you can see that too while we're here!
it's entirely possible that I've never been happier
[She bites at her lower lip to stifle another laugh, but she can kind of see how he got to here from there. Sadly, she doesn't even speak bird, so fish is probably right out.
While she doesn't necessarily need help, she bows her head appreciatively before reaching up to take his hand and carefully pull herself to her feet. He really does have nice manners.]
I'm getting to see all kinds of things I hadn't planned on today— you're sure it's okay?
[Some people are awfully private about their rooms, but... that really doesn't seem like Styx, no.]
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The long, unnatural pause after his praise of her idea is enough to make her smile fade just a touch, her expression becoming one of concern and confusion, and it's just as she leans in to wave a hand in front of his face that he speaks again.
Oh, okay. He's fine. Just doing Styx things.]
That's very sweet of you to offer.
[She does smile again, and it comes out a bit lopsided, though undeniably affectionate.]
I hope you don't feel like you have to go through all that trouble, though. Just you is enough! I'd be coming for the good company, not the service.
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(his smile widens when she smiles again. heh heh heh. he fooled her!)]
's no trouble! Actually, you'd be kinda doing me a favor if we did that sort of thing.
[his expression turns sheepish as it drops down to look at his feet, a little embarrassed to be admitting to this kind of thing. but it's the truth, and it means something to him, so-!]
Never actually had any friends over back home, even after I got my own place. I mean - guys from the band drop by all the time, but it's kinda not the same?
[they were his dearest friends, but they were also connected by something outside of friendship. it felt as if they would have come by even if they hadn't developed such a powerful bond.]
So it'd be nice to, um...you know. Get to have a visit visit.
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[It's not something she would consider a favor under normal circumstances, but actually, if they're being honest...]
Before I came here, I never really did a whole lot of 'visiting' either way. There was never any time for it— I'd be happy to do it now, and not just as a favor.
[Though it's nice that he doesn't think of it as an imposition!]
Maybe we'll even make a habit out of it!
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I'd really like that. [but-! and his eyes dance a little with returned vigor.] If it's cool with you though, let's make the first one, like, real special. To kick it off good, you know?
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Real special, huh? What did you have in mind?
[Because that light in his eyes definitely means he's thinking of something.]
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[he wanted that little place on the roof to be unveiled, of this he was now absolutely decided. but it would ruin the surprise if he said that now, so instead Styx falls into thoughtful silence as he considers the other cool stuff they could do to start a fun routine off with a bang.]
Can make coffee for you the way my auntie would! 's always good. 'nd I'll grab some real nice pastries from one of the popular places, maybe like a big tart or something...
[this is all food, Styx.]
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Oh! My bondmate works at Karen's Patisserie, have you been there yet? They make all kinds of things, but some of their pastries are almost like to what we used to have back home— in Germany, I mean. And I'd love to try your auntie's coffee!
[She is On Board.]
I should bring something, too— that's just good manners.
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Hell yeah, they've got some real killer stuff! I love those lava cakes 'nd the ginger cookies.
[just don't, uh. ask how many he eats in a single sitting when he drops by. big boy's got a horrifyingly big stomach.
but aside from this mutual excitement over food, Styx notes that he's learned something new about Karin - she's from Germany, apparently. that's pretty cool! he's not the best with geography, shockingly enough, but he's fairly sure that it's...kind of close to Norway. he wonders briefly if it would be a weird sort of selfish homesickness to ask if she'd ever traveled there sometime; maybe he'd recognize a town name that Ymir had visited.
more importantly...he's got something other than bird books to add to his library shopping list going forward. German food is almost totally foreign to him aside from beer and hamburgers (which aren't. even German...) but he knows how comforting familiar dishes can be. it'd be nice to be able to pick stuff out she might have had back home when they're hanging out in the city.]
You really don't gotta, I won't get my feelings hurt or nothing, but it'd probably be more fun if you did! Uh...you wanna do the food-food or the dessert?
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[She supposes it depends on what opportunities present themselves! In reality, it will probably be a bit of both; of course she'll honor any requests, but it's going to be hard to resist picking up something extra. Her excitement about this is both genuine and obvious; she likes and appreciates a lot of things, but there are few pleasures greater than good food and drink with good company.]
You know, I'm really looking forward to this.
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[he almost sounds like a child with this declaration, but there's a sincere quality to it that prevents any laughter. the big guy wants to see what Karin thinks is tasty, and then get to experience it for himself; with that perspective in mind, he thinks he'll definitely try to pick up his ultra favorite desserts among some others for his half of the little 'party'. it's fun to swap that sort of thing with friends, isn't it?]
Haha, see? Gets real exciting when you start doing some little extra stuff. We're gonna be bouncing off the walls the night before!
[hopefully...not literally, given what just happened here today.]
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[Her smile turns just a touch sheepish; she's definitely excited for it, but even she's a little surprised by how much.]
It's nice, having something like this to think about, instead of—
[She just gestures broadly towards the window. Everything else out there, she leaves unspoken.]
A bright spot among all of the darker stuff. It's easy to forget those things with you.
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Oh, that's probably because I'm so tall! [this explanation makes perfect sense to him, and he nods along with his own words.] When I'm standing up all that stuff gets blocked out.
[except if he was blocking things, wouldn't it be the light rather than darkness his huge frame would obscure in this metaphor? it's a tiny detail that Styx appears to be wholly unaware of, judging by how cheerful his demeanor has remained.]
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That might be part of it, but I think it's more than that! You're just... fun to be around?
[It's not really a question, but it still feels so novel to her. Going into the military so young had deprived her of a lot of things.]
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[he sounds like a child again when he asks that, eager and a little caught off guard by such a statement. it takes everything Styx has to keep himself from leaning in and begging for her to say it again in confirmation. now that would just be stupid.
still, that smile of his is now idiotic in its pleasure.]
Mean, I try to be. I'm always having a good time, you know? Or, uh, nearly all the time, anyway. I wanna make sure everyone's just as happy.
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[Besides, he's already established that he trusts her! This should be no different.]
But— it really does show, that you want everyone around you to be happy. You try not to worry about the little things. That kind of attitude is catching!
[That's definitely a good thing.]
I'm really glad we met.
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Me too.
[oh, but that's kind of...it reminds him a little of a scene from a romance movie he'd ended up watching the latter half of after falling asleep in front of the tv once. this is a purely platonic thing to say to friends, and he's even done it to his bandmates before! but that doesn't feel quite the same as this moment, and so he feels the tips of his ears turning a bright red. oops.
maybe if he just...casually brushes his hair over them...]
You're real killer, you know? 'nd I think you've definitely got a lot of good stuff coming your way, 'cause you deserve it.
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I... do you really think so?
[There's an earnest note in her voice, genuine hopefulness. It would be nice to be able to believe such a thing, really. When you know what lays ahead for you... it's hard to believe in options, in other paths, especially when the idea of fate or destiny has been placed so heavily upon your shoulders.
Her smile softens a bit, though it's no less genuine, if a bit wistful.]
I hope so. I'm sure the people I've befriended here will be a big part of that, yourself included.
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[he's turning to face her fully now, hands braced against the floor as he leans in slightly with a big smile. that distraction has definitely worked, thanks Karin.]
One of my buddies back home, Ymir...he was real good at telling the future, you know? Always had a blast doing it with him, but he'd tell me every time - the answers don't matter as much as what you do.
[that's an extremely esoteric turn of phrase, and almost certainly a direct quote from his friend - but it sounds rather nice coming from his rich voice, doesn't it? the fact he only just barely understands it does little to mar the effect.]
So even if you get, like, a bad fortune or something, that's ok! If you're good 'nd keep doing good stuff, that's what's gonna come back to you.
Dunno if you need too much help with that, but 'course we're here for you! You don't even gotta ask.
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I hope you're right. I've always wanted to believe that. It's part of why I wanted to find a new way to live after leaving the military— I wanted to do something good with my life, something that helped people. It helps to have the reminder, though.
[With so many things supposedly set, it's hard to keep that optimism going sometimes.]
I sometimes let myself get weighed down by what I think I'm supposed to do— what's supposed to happen.
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[because it was based off of something that Ymir had told him, and he trusts his friends beyond a shadow of a doubt. good things came to good people...it felt like the kind of thing a child in a fairytale would say, but at the same time something about it fit. fairytales were based on real stuff sometimes, weren't they? maybe this was one of those real bits.]
I get that, though...feeling like you're gonna let everybody down if you don't do something the right way. Kinda hard to shake off, yeah?
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The pressure to do everything right, to meet expectations... it can be a lot. And of course, I know you can't always get everything right, and people are allowed to make mistakes, but it's even harder to shake off when you know what's at risk.
[Her thoughts are quickly leading her down a path she would rather not follow, at least not yet— bits and pieces of how she's been feeling for months, now, are beginning to leak out, but this isn't the time or place for it. She smiles again, and it's not nearly as forced as she thought it might be. She is grateful for his advice, and his sentiments will most certainly stay with her.]
Sorry— I overthink things sometimes. [Most times.] I didn't mean to bring things down. I really do appreciate what you've said— I'll remember that, I promise.
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so it's fine...right?]
Don't think we can really get all too down...uh, you know, since we're on the floor and all.
[if it's meant to be a joke, it's a pretty goddamn sophisticated one given how genuinely Styx delivers that abundantly evident observation. bless his empty head.]
You still wanna hit the roof? 's cool if not, you can meet my fish 'nd stuff, but might still be fun to do.
[they'd fought pretty hard just for the opportunity - and maybe that pretty view would help refresh their faintly clouded thoughts.]
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She's just not going to touch the whole floor thing, it seems safest.]
Hm— it would be a shame to let all that trouble with the window go to waste, wouldn't it? You still haven't had a chance to see the view! But there's no reason we can't do both. I could meet your fish on the way— I have a feeling that won't be a terribly long or involved conversation. No offense to the fish, of course.
[She's sure he or she is very good company in their own right?]
this tag was put on pause because i had to check for goldfish pictures, i hope you're happy
[since they're both part animal...or, well. his fish was all parts animal, he supposes. hm.
setting aside the strange conundrum he'd planted in his own goddamn head for the moment, he instead pushes himself up off the floor at last before offering a hand down to Karin. he very much doubts that she needs it, but that doesn't matter! needing something nice and getting it anyway are two different things.]
He's in my bedroom, so you can see that too while we're here!
it's entirely possible that I've never been happier
[She bites at her lower lip to stifle another laugh, but she can kind of see how he got to here from there. Sadly, she doesn't even speak bird, so fish is probably right out.
While she doesn't necessarily need help, she bows her head appreciatively before reaching up to take his hand and carefully pull herself to her feet. He really does have nice manners.]
I'm getting to see all kinds of things I hadn't planned on today— you're sure it's okay?
[Some people are awfully private about their rooms, but... that really doesn't seem like Styx, no.]
it IS a really cute fish tbf
I love how much he wants to find new friends for his fish
he's just really worried his social needs aren't being met ok
an excellent pet dad honestly
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