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.
[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.]
[merrow...oh, he bets that they'd have an even easier time talking to fish. (because, sorry Karin, he still thinks you totally could) maybe he should ask on the network if any of them would want to have a talk with his through the watches; a little companionship is always nice, right? as much as he talks to his pet, it might be nice to chat with someone they could talk back to.]
Yeah, 'course! It's pretty empty, so it's not too exciting...but I don't mind you looking around or nothing.
[he waits to make sure that Karin's fully on her feet, no wobbling from their previous tumbling, before releasing her hand and cheerfully starting off for his bedroom. normally measuring his strides is something that comes naturally to him, ingrained after years of restraint, but he's just so excited that more than once he has to remind himself to slow down for his friend.
you'd think that he was bringing her in to see the king's throne room for how enthusiastically the drummer throws his bedroom door open, but in truth it's just as Styx had said earlier: not really all that much to look at. nearly all of the furniture here had been in the house before Eren had allowed him to stay - a good thing, as he'd almost certainly have fallen back on his habit at home of not buying anything for himself otherwise. the bed is a little too small for him but otherwise cozy, blankets messily pulled up in a halfhearted approximation of tidying up.
flyers from various festivals past dot the walls alongside musical groups and what seem to be pretty pictures from magazines, harmonizing in a strange way with all of the little trinkets lined up on his dresser. there doesn't appear to be any rhyme or reason to most of them - aside from Styx thinking they were 'killer', presumably. his drums had their own private room for practicing and were thus absent from the present showcase, making the real star of the room...]
This is Charon!
[the desk off to one side of a window, taken up mostly by a surprisingly robust fish tank for just the one guy inside. a great deal of care has obviously gone into setting the tank up - not only are there lovely green plants swaying gently in the water, but a very cute little skull decoration situated front and center; it was purchased with an enchantment that made its eyes glow different colors throughout the day, a deep crimson currently blazing through those empty sockets.
next to the tank itself is a little notepad filled with all sorts of scrawling text; if Karin cares to glance over she'll see that every last one is some sort of note about taking care of goldfish, very obviously copied with painstaking thoroughness from some library book or other. little memos dot the wall behind it as well, noting the dates of when to next change the water or ph levels - even a reminder to buy some fancy food soon in case the cold weather 'depressed' the fish. for someone so stupid, Styx has...really put a lot of heart into taking care of this fish.]
I love how much he wants to find new friends for his fish
[His enthusiasm is so catching, it's hard to keep that little spring out of her step as she follows, his reassurance banishing all worry and allowing her to be quite curious, instead.
When they arrive, it's just as he says. In truth, Karin's own room is quite spartan in comparison even to his. She's so unused to having a place to stay long-term that she's not quite sure how to go about decorating it beyond the absolute necessities, but even with Styx's claim that there isn't much here, she can absolutely see his personality well-represented. The posters from festivals and clippings from magazines put his interests on display, and while she had expected to maybe find more things related to the actual playing of music here, she surmises his drums must have a home elsewhere.
She smiles warmly as she walks into the room proper and takes in the scenery, giving a half-turn towards the desk.]
Very cozy. It looks like you've made yourself comfortable here.
[But of course, there's no time to waste: there's a reason they're here, and she quickly alters course to join him at the desk, leaning in to get a better look at the fish inside the tank. Really, 'tank' is underselling it. For a goldfish, it's an absolute palace.]
It's a pleasure to meet you, Charon.
[Her smile pulls to one side, and she catches a glimpse of the hand-written notes beside the tank, leaning over to get a better look.]
You did all this research yourself? That's very impressive. He's lucky to have such a dedicated caregiver.
he's just really worried his social needs aren't being met ok
[the fish is...well, it's a fucking fish. Charon does swim over towards his guest when Karin leans in, mouth glubbing along with just enough interest that one could at least assume he's aware of her unique presence in the most esoteric sense. he doesn't appear to be frightened, at the very least, so it's probably safe to assume that he's as happy to see her as any fish could be.
Styx, meanwhile, is practically beaming next to them.]
Haha, I dunno about that! I didn't think any of it up myself, I just copied it all down from books in the library 'nd stuff.
[he seems a little embarrassed to receive such a compliment, but in a happy sort of way. if he's being praised that means he must be taking good care of Charon...and that's all that matters.]
This is the first time I ever had a fish, so I really didn't wanna fuck it up...it's easy for me to forget stuff, though, so uh. Felt like a better idea to write it all down.
[As fish go, she supposes this one is pretty cute, though he doesn't seem to stand out in any other particular way. Of course, that doesn't matter— he's a beloved pet, all the same, and that's being made abundantly clear by the level of care Styx has put not only into the tank itself, but all of the notes posted along the wall behind it.]
You don't have to think of it yourself to be dedicated! It just means that you really care about making sure he's well-tended to. I'd say Charon is a very fortunate fish.
[She grins, standing up to her full height once more.]
You know, I don't think I've ever been in someone else's room like this before.
[Not counting like, all of the bedrooms that got raided for treasure at the Romanov Hermitage in Petrograd. That's a different thing.]
Well, uh, I won him at one of those carnivals, you know? So he probably had a real confusing time for a little bit there until somebody scooped him up...just wanna make sure he can chill now.
[a happy life in comfortable waters with lots of good food. hell, that sounded pretty good to Styx, and he was on the other side of the tank! the big guy can't help but smile, pressing a finger gently to the side of the glass; in a surprising gesture of recognition for the otherwise pretty average goldfish, Charon swims right over to hover around the digit.
that love definitely isn't wasted...someone knows his daddy.]
No shit, though? Nobody ever asked you over to hang before?
[Look at the way that fish just swims right up to him— now that's a fish who knows he's well-loved. Color her impressed; she didn't think they tended to emote quite so much, but it's nice to see.]
Well, there was never really any opportunity. Especially when I was still in the military, I tried to avoid any personal connections, and then after I left, we were always on the move. I had friends, but we just spent time wherever we wound up— there wasn't really time for anything else, and some of them I'm not sure had traditional 'homes' to begin with.
[Her grin dials down just a few watts, but she shrugs easily, shaking her head at his question.]
It doesn't bother me, but it's just interesting how different things are here. I've been to other people's houses before, but bedrooms are usually private.
[so a fun goldfish fact...they are actually capable of learning to recognize their owners. you can also train them to swim obstacle courses, but that is a less wholesome (though no less fun) tidbit.]
Mm, makes sense.
[even if it didn't bother Karin, it was still a little sad that she'd missed out on something so mundane as chilling with your friend in their room. he thinks - no, he decides - that going forward he'll try and make as many excuses for them to hang out here as possible when she's at his house. maybe he should buy some board games?]
Lots of people got stuff they need to keep to themselves, but uh...not me. [he laughs.] Had my mattress in the living room back home, so 's not even like that's different here or nothing.
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no subject
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.]
no subject
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.]
no subject
[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.
no subject
[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.
no subject
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.
no subject
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.]
no subject
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
Yeah, 'course! It's pretty empty, so it's not too exciting...but I don't mind you looking around or nothing.
[he waits to make sure that Karin's fully on her feet, no wobbling from their previous tumbling, before releasing her hand and cheerfully starting off for his bedroom. normally measuring his strides is something that comes naturally to him, ingrained after years of restraint, but he's just so excited that more than once he has to remind himself to slow down for his friend.
you'd think that he was bringing her in to see the king's throne room for how enthusiastically the drummer throws his bedroom door open, but in truth it's just as Styx had said earlier: not really all that much to look at. nearly all of the furniture here had been in the house before Eren had allowed him to stay - a good thing, as he'd almost certainly have fallen back on his habit at home of not buying anything for himself otherwise. the bed is a little too small for him but otherwise cozy, blankets messily pulled up in a halfhearted approximation of tidying up.
flyers from various festivals past dot the walls alongside musical groups and what seem to be pretty pictures from magazines, harmonizing in a strange way with all of the little trinkets lined up on his dresser. there doesn't appear to be any rhyme or reason to most of them - aside from Styx thinking they were 'killer', presumably. his drums had their own private room for practicing and were thus absent from the present showcase, making the real star of the room...]
This is Charon!
[the desk off to one side of a window, taken up mostly by a surprisingly robust fish tank for just the one guy inside. a great deal of care has obviously gone into setting the tank up - not only are there lovely green plants swaying gently in the water, but a very cute little skull decoration situated front and center; it was purchased with an enchantment that made its eyes glow different colors throughout the day, a deep crimson currently blazing through those empty sockets.
next to the tank itself is a little notepad filled with all sorts of scrawling text; if Karin cares to glance over she'll see that every last one is some sort of note about taking care of goldfish, very obviously copied with painstaking thoroughness from some library book or other. little memos dot the wall behind it as well, noting the dates of when to next change the water or ph levels - even a reminder to buy some fancy food soon in case the cold weather 'depressed' the fish. for someone so stupid, Styx has...really put a lot of heart into taking care of this fish.]
I love how much he wants to find new friends for his fish
When they arrive, it's just as he says. In truth, Karin's own room is quite spartan in comparison even to his. She's so unused to having a place to stay long-term that she's not quite sure how to go about decorating it beyond the absolute necessities, but even with Styx's claim that there isn't much here, she can absolutely see his personality well-represented. The posters from festivals and clippings from magazines put his interests on display, and while she had expected to maybe find more things related to the actual playing of music here, she surmises his drums must have a home elsewhere.
She smiles warmly as she walks into the room proper and takes in the scenery, giving a half-turn towards the desk.]
Very cozy. It looks like you've made yourself comfortable here.
[But of course, there's no time to waste: there's a reason they're here, and she quickly alters course to join him at the desk, leaning in to get a better look at the fish inside the tank. Really, 'tank' is underselling it. For a goldfish, it's an absolute palace.]
It's a pleasure to meet you, Charon.
[Her smile pulls to one side, and she catches a glimpse of the hand-written notes beside the tank, leaning over to get a better look.]
You did all this research yourself? That's very impressive. He's lucky to have such a dedicated caregiver.
he's just really worried his social needs aren't being met ok
Styx, meanwhile, is practically beaming next to them.]
Haha, I dunno about that! I didn't think any of it up myself, I just copied it all down from books in the library 'nd stuff.
[he seems a little embarrassed to receive such a compliment, but in a happy sort of way. if he's being praised that means he must be taking good care of Charon...and that's all that matters.]
This is the first time I ever had a fish, so I really didn't wanna fuck it up...it's easy for me to forget stuff, though, so uh. Felt like a better idea to write it all down.
an excellent pet dad honestly
You don't have to think of it yourself to be dedicated! It just means that you really care about making sure he's well-tended to. I'd say Charon is a very fortunate fish.
[She grins, standing up to her full height once more.]
You know, I don't think I've ever been in someone else's room like this before.
[Not counting like, all of the bedrooms that got raided for treasure at the Romanov Hermitage in Petrograd. That's a different thing.]
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[a happy life in comfortable waters with lots of good food. hell, that sounded pretty good to Styx, and he was on the other side of the tank! the big guy can't help but smile, pressing a finger gently to the side of the glass; in a surprising gesture of recognition for the otherwise pretty average goldfish, Charon swims right over to hover around the digit.
that love definitely isn't wasted...someone knows his daddy.]
No shit, though? Nobody ever asked you over to hang before?
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Well, there was never really any opportunity. Especially when I was still in the military, I tried to avoid any personal connections, and then after I left, we were always on the move. I had friends, but we just spent time wherever we wound up— there wasn't really time for anything else, and some of them I'm not sure had traditional 'homes' to begin with.
[Her grin dials down just a few watts, but she shrugs easily, shaking her head at his question.]
It doesn't bother me, but it's just interesting how different things are here. I've been to other people's houses before, but bedrooms are usually private.
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Mm, makes sense.
[even if it didn't bother Karin, it was still a little sad that she'd missed out on something so mundane as chilling with your friend in their room. he thinks - no, he decides - that going forward he'll try and make as many excuses for them to hang out here as possible when she's at his house. maybe he should buy some board games?]
Lots of people got stuff they need to keep to themselves, but uh...not me. [he laughs.] Had my mattress in the living room back home, so 's not even like that's different here or nothing.
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