middaeg | February/Feoveuer Catch All

Aefenglom

The Sordid Shield (A - Day) Feoveuer 7

Being behind a bar, filling glasses and tankards, mixing drinks, the occasional small talk expected of bartenders, feels all too natural for him. He leans and paces the relatively tight space with ease as he holds the bottles an order needs tightly between his fingers when he mixes drinks, sliding tankard after tankard across the counter, which he keeps neat and immaculate, and occasionally throwing out the riff-raff.

Each utensil he needs was within reach, no order went ignored, and every customer was greeted with a small nod...and not much else.

"Welcome. What'll it be?" He asks as he meets his customers, fulfills their orders, and quietly goes about his business. He makes no eye contact but at least responds when spoken to.

The Sordid Shield (B - Night) Feoveuer 7

Night had fallen and his turn at the bar was over. A pouch full of cunes and meal in his belly, and that's all he really needed from this time around people. Silence was still his preferred theme in life right now, save maybe the occasional meow and purr of the cat at his heel.

The streets were a bit dark this night, peaceful almost, save maybe the heavy pained grunts that came from the alley. Five men surrounded him, two holding him up by his arms, two others were watching while the largest of them, a burly turnskin, punched and beat Bishop as hard as he could.

"That's the best you got? C'mon! I've been in playground brawls that hurt more than th-!!" He says before taking a right cross to the face then chuckling. "Oh, I almost felt that!" Was it a tough front, or maybe madness taking over? Whatever the case, the beating continued, and with no guard in sight, will most likely keep going until they're satisfied.

Outside the City (A - Day)Feoveuer 8 onward

This is the one thing he acknowledges as the act that completely baffles him yet makes the most sense. Outside the walls was no place for anyone, yet here they were. Here they always were. Living one day at a time because they might not be around tomorrow. It's a depressing idea and only made worse by the fact the slums still persist.

He sauntered through the dirt, limping and slightly hunched over from last night but carrying on. Throughout the day, he treated the wounded and sick with spells and potions he made or purchased while at the apothecary, or spent time around a cook fire making whatever meal he can. When there wasn't anything to hand, and the money was thin, he went out to the Wilde to hunt - though understandably against his better judgement.

He wasn't slowed by his injuries but certain motions burned with pain as he stalked and ran after his quarry, or whenever shades came too close for their own good. Perhaps you're there for the same reason he is, or perhaps just morbidly curious to see how long he can carry on.

It's been roughly two months since he'd gone into the shadows, since he'd gone silent, since his already fragile world was flipped upside down. Pulled inside out too for good measure.

Hiding, running, was the first idea that came to him after his mind and emotions had settled. He 'had to' he told himself, and maybe it was for the best given the circumstances, but then what? He couldn't stop, he had to keep moving, but would that solve anything? Would the answer just come to him, maybe in a dream or delusion? Was there even something he could do?

Hopping between Aefenglom and Dorchacht was enough to hide his trail, keeping the watch silent and burried at the bottom of his pack also helped, but eventually something had to give. This wasn't his world where he could run around the entire globe forever, just drop by a city to access a hidden cashe, the space he worked with was small. Too damn small. And he couldn't just...he couldn't just leave.

He checked up on her whenever he could, doing the little odd things around the restaurant whenever she wasn't around. Small things to let her quietly know he was still around and she wouldn't go feral. But his wallet was getting thin and body too weary. His apartment was nearby but he figured, by this point, she had given up looking there so there he went.

Rest. Just a few hours. A few hours of undisturbed sleep. Under the bed, as an owl, to stay out of sight just in case.

...

Too bad the cat never follows the plan.

Two months almost felt like an eternity for her, even though she knew he was still alive from all the hints he dropped. In what little time she had outside of running the restaurant, the chimera spent trying to get the tiniest shred of a clue as to where Bishop went. She knew he would burn out and eventually come back but she wished it was sooner rather than later.

Saori turned the corner leading towards the apartment with a sigh. In his absence, she made sure his apartment wasn't completely neglected, but she just happened to skip the weekly check up this time. She was ready to go back the way she came, when she did a doubletake when she saw the cat from the window. She quietly managed to pick open the door and went in. After a quick check on the rooms, she finally makes her way to the bedroom. He's here, but where? She stares at the bed for a second, possibly thinking there was no way he'd pick such an obvious place to hide and but he proved her wrong when she peeked under the bed. Carefully, she pulled him out so she wouldn't disturb him just yet. He was sleeping so peacefully but no, he deserved to be ripped a new one.

"WAKE UP, YOU IDIOT!"

Stella liked to sit on the windowsill and watch people pass by, and if Saori was in view then all the better. The feline was quick to meet the chimera at the door, meowing in her typical soft voice, nuzzling her legs whenever she could, as she followed her around. This tenderness was short lived when Saori raised her voice and frightening her, quickly scurrying away somewhere in the apartment while Bishop's heart nearly burst and his eardrums exploded.

He leapt a solid foot off the floor, feathers ruffled from head to toe and looking like a he just got out of a dryer, before crashing down on his chest. Scrambling to his feet didn't work too well as he slipped and got his legs tangled, quickly falling over onto his back as he quickly looked around to find the source of the disturbance.

Not that it would take very long as big gold eyes grew wide in fear. He stayed perfectly still thinking she might go away or if he would wake up but when neither seemed to happen, he lifted one wing and waved it.

This is the part she eats him, he thinks.

Saori had to admit there was something satisfying when she sees Bishop react to her like this. She would have to apologize to Stella later for the outburst. Her sharp crocodile teeth peaking from her smile along with the natural intimidation chimeras would make anyone feel cornered. Sure eating him was an option, but she was better than that. Not to mention, she had a few questions for him.

"Two months," Saori said coldly. "You were gone for two damn months without even saying a single word to me. Do you have any idea how worried I was for you?!" She didn't even care if tears threatened to show up now. "Was it worth it in the end?"

She's talking to him, that's a lot better than what he expected. He might just live.

He doesn't take his eyes off Saori....mostly cause he physically can't. Owl eyes are cylindrical making them immobile inside his head, so looking around the room for an escape while being subtle was near impossible. Not that he think he should, now that he thinks about it.

He also cannot talk while he is a bird so to answer her question he brings up one talon and brings the tip of two close together in the universal sign of 'a little'. Which question that answers is up to her. Either way, it's the truth to both though he understands if the truth will only make her angrier.

Someone had to be the more functioning adult among the two of them and it might as well be her. She sharply sighs in a failed attempt to calm herself, pinching the space between her eyes. Somehow she wasn't surprised by his nonverbal answer. With both of her hands, she holds onto the owl, bringing him onto her lap. There is no life crushing squeeze but her hands shake as her voice cracks. "Please don't ever fucking do that again to me, Bishop. I-I can't handle another disappearance like that ever again."

It takes her a moment to speak again. The memories of that one night are still raw for her to relive. "Years ago, I got into a fight with my brother and he stormed out of our apartment. I never saw him after that. As far as I know he's gone." She sniffles, trying not go into an ugly cry just yet.

"Look, you're not obligated to share everything about what happened back home or why you left like that with me as your Bonded. It's just I also see you as a friend, and I want to be able to help you with whatever you're going through you don't have go through all of it alone. Ah, sorry, I sounded a bit mushy there, didn't I?"

BRACE FOR IMPACT popped in his head when she picked him up, muscles relaxing but also ready to escape if it came to that, but then her words caused him to pause while her reason floored him.

What does he even say to that? Is there even anything to say?

There's a sharp, deep pain, that strikes through him from a very old wound that's never healed. Only deepened. Simple child-like emotions rushed through him, longing, regret, fear, a cold and gripping sorrow, followed by a profound primordial rage. He can't stop these emotions leaking over to her but after a moment those feelings ebbed back into the gash they came from, smoldering like embers inside him.

In its place was anger, anger directed at himself for doing what he did, anger for not realizing he did exactly what he doesn't want to happen to himself. Guilt soon settled on his bones, weighing him down more than the weariness and paranoia.

He gently shook her away and hopped off her lap, going towards and under the night stand, picking out a little flat metal tool hidden under the drawer, then walked over to the wall opposite the bed, near the corner of the room, before turning back into his human form.

His outward appearance matches how he feels inside, beaten up with bruises and cuts on his face, neck, and knuckles. Deep bags under his bloodshot eyes, wild messy greasy hair, and the makings of a beard setting in.

He took the tool and inserted in in a small wedge between the floor boards, pushing it in and then lifting it at an angle to remove the plank and putting it aside. He carefully took out an elegant, if not a little dusty, leather briefcase and tossed it before her. Embossed on the front of the case, above the gold lock of the flap, was a bishop chess piece.

"...Everything you need or want to know about me is in there." He said as he sat down in the corner with some difficulty, indicated by the small grunts and groans. "Even things I didn't know about myself."

She lets Bishop go and watches him curiously. When he reverts back to his human form, her words catch in her throat. To say he looked like he'd be through hell and back would be an understatement.

Saori catches the briefcase, looking at it and then back at Bishop rather stunned. At the mention of information he didn't know, Saori figured this was the thing that triggered his disappearance. If he's willing to open up to her, she should do the same later. She places the briefcase down on the floor and walks over to the corner where he sits. "Bishop, I...thank you. I swear I won't breathe a word about this anyone unless you say so. Right now though, we have something bigger to tend to but I'm glad you're back."

Her brows furrow as she takes stock of what she'll need like a mother tending to her injured child. "Did you break any bones or sustain heavy injuries out there? When's the last time you ate? Be honest."

He scoffs. "I know you won't. After I read through that I couldn't breathe, let alone say anything!"

He slumps and released a long and heavy sigh. His body felt like lead while his arms, legs, and fingers were like alien noodle protrusions with QWOP controls. Only breathing and keeping his head somewhat upright felt doable, along with speaking. On that note -

"Yes. I broke some. None of mine. A cut on my left shoulder going to the shoulder blade, roughly about three inches. Healing but it's really itchy. Five hours ago. Stellawella is nothing if not consistent with reminding me when it's breakfast, lunch, or dinner time."

Several points of concern, number one probably being "Stellawella". He's one step away from being the crazy cat guy.

Saori looks up at Bishop when she hears what he called the cat. Given his current state, there's no way she could tell him about herself in return.

"Right, right,...gods, you're really a hot mess. Hang on, let's get you back to bed first." She will not hear any objections from her partner as she walks over to him to help him up and get him to the bed. The izakaya can be closed an extra night.

"You just rest here, okay? I'll be back with some more things." She's already making a mental shopping list.

Implying there has been a time in the last few months where there was a right time to tell him anything.

"Really? Didn't notice. Is it my breath?" He couldn't protest even if he wanted to, though there was a bit of groaning and hissing as she helped him to the bed.

"Waitwaitwait! Where's miss fluffy chunky butt? Can you feed her? I think I slept through her feeding time." Which he did, which is also why after running away and waiting it out, Stell can be found staring longingly at the pantry hoping it'll magically fly open and give her access to all the food.

She pats Bishop on the head with a soft smile on her lips. The anger she had towards him evaporated and was replaced with her motherly side. "Shh...sleep. The last thing I need is you trying to clean up while sleep deprived. I'll be sure to feed her before I go. Besides, I need to apologize to her for scaring her."

As promised, Saori went to the kitchen. Thankfully, she had made sure all of his pantry and kitchen was still stocked while he was gone. She placed the plate full of food down for Stella. "Thanks for waiting, sweetie. I'm sorry I scared you but your master was being an idiot, but I'm glad you're both home now."

He wonders when was the last time he was tucked into bed like this, but then he stops that train of thought immediately. That's a whole other issue he doesn't want to think about and instead does what she says and falls asleep. Rather quickly.

Stella immediately, and incessantly, meowed at Saori when she approached and started to fetch her meal. Even as she filled her plate all the cat did was meow and brush up against her legs fully forgiving her for scaring the hell out of her. Not that she remembers that, not when she has a plateful of food before her.

Saori couldn't help but giggle as she watches Stella for a bit. "Right, I better get going." He maybe knocked out, but she needed to get a move on as there were things she needed to get done.

She grabs some ingredients from izakaya first as she always made it a habit to stash some for her and her employees' meals. Finding the right potions is a tricky, but after charming a shopkeeper, she manages to get a few bottles. Besides, she figures Bishop would try to put up a fight once he got some decent sleep, a hot shower and a meal on the subject of seeing a healer about his injuries so this would have to do.

Two hours later, she returns to the apartment and places her haul in the kitchen. She peaks in on her partner before slipping back into his room. Her eyes locked onto the briefcase still left on the floor. She sits down in front of it and unlocks it.

Bishop is well and truly out like a light and nothing short of a gas explosion would rouse him. Stella too after demolishing the food that was put out for her then turning into a sunbathing calico loaf on Bishop's couch.

The contents of the case were things she might expect from government file, neatly packed printed sheets of paper held by clips and color coded by paper clips for different segments, photos of Bishop at various stages of life - one photo of him with a fresh crew cut looking not older than fourteen or fifteen.

The first page emblazoned with the seal of the United States followed by the word 'S.T.R.I.K.E' in bold right under, and 'BISHOP' just below that.

Saori stared at that first page and took a deep breath. There is a sense of dread at first but she powers through. He gave her permission and this will only help to explain his behavior as of late.

She moves back to the kitchen with the briefcase in tow. After all, Bishop will wake up eventually and would appreciate a hot meal ready. All she'd have to do is heat it up when he's ready.

Besides it gave her a moment to let things sink in. "Shit, this really does explain a lot. I should write something for him," she pondered out loud to no one as she finished cleaning. Now she was off to find some paper and pen. It's only fair she told him more about herself after all of this.

"Sergeant Samuel Joseph Mercer" would be the first set of words to appear on next page followed by "Deceased" then his basic profile. Age, 18. Male. Single. Father, Eric Mercer. Mother, Charlotte Mercer. Both also being marked as "Deceased".

The documents continue, everything listed with the precision expected from the military, his exodus from New York to DC, his time in the slums, the death of his parents, his enlistment into the newly established military academy, the time he spent training and fighting, physical evaluations, psych evaluations, magic aptitude, overall evaluations, transcript of interviews with him, then his "death" being listed as "severe contamination" and "heavy injuries". From there they referred to him - not even as Bishop - but as OP06. Only once was he ever referred to as BISHOP, and that was only to reference his assigned mission callsign.

"You don't have to do that." He says leaning from on the door frame. "We can just talk." He sauntered over to the dining table, Stella now awake and heading over to him as he sits down. "I'm a light sleeper, always have been. It's not listed on those files but, out in the field it was either you learned to wake up at the drop of a hat or you don't wake up at all. Hi sweetie." He smiled weakly as the large cat jumped up on his lap.

"How far have you gotten?" He asked softly but shaky. "It's mostly accurate. I was, uhh....made Sergeant. Posthumous, which was nice. Don't usually give that out anymore. My funeral was also really nice. A little cloudy, but nice breeze and it didn't rain. Bigger turn out than I expected, I teared up a little. Nice plot of land too. Arlington, a national military cemetery where I'm from. They buried my...regalia-" He says gesturing vaguely to his body. "-and I asked them to list my friends, Kylie and Matt as the ones to receive all the goody-goody stuff...after my death." He leaned on the table, head resting on one hand while the other idly stroked Stella. "I hope those two are putting that money to good use."

Saori turns around and shakes her head with a chuckle. "And here I thought you'd be asleep just a little while longer. Serves me right for not considering your training. Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up."

She closes the file and places it right in front of him. She steps away from the table to get a glass of water for each of them and returns to sit across from Bishop. "I've pretty much read through this file alone and well, this certainly explains things." His expertise in fighting, his reaction to that ghost that blocked them from getting that pearl, and all that alcohol.

Of course she catches on about the funeral detail. "Ah, but were you watching it as a disembodied soul or were you watching a staged performance and you actually were alive and well this whole time?" She pauses to take sip. "Well, at least you had a funeral. No one would've been able to provide me one since there's not even a single shred of my human body left. I'm probably still listed as missing even though it's more than 20 years since anyone living saw me." Yes, Bishop heard that right. Twenty years. "Alright, it's only fair if I shared more about myself after all of this. You want the abbreviated version or shall we do this like an interview?"

"I was-" He takes a sip and moves the cat onto the table, the furry creature that eats his food plopping over. "-dressed as Mrs. Peralta who was visiting her daughter's grave nearby." Is he kidding or is he actually being serious? Hard to tell. "I would have watched quietly from a distance, under a tree wearing shades and black coat while standing next to my new employer who promptly told me it was time to go once the deed was done, but that would have been too cliche. I cross dressed as an old lady instead."

And another sip as he remembered that day. His friends knew he was nearby, but they still cried for him. He cried for them. The first people he left behind.

"Twenty years, huh?" He rubbed Stella's belly and she purred while stretching. "Let me guess, running from loan sharks? Abusive husband? Scary disapproving mother-in-law?"

Saori decided to take his word on it. Leaving a past life for a new one was never easy. At his guesses, she covered her mouth as she laughed bitterly. "Ah, if only. I suppose people would've thought loan sharks or the yakuza did me in. No, I was spirited away by a youkai, a supernatural creature. He planned to eat me as means to increase his strength. Ripped my soul out of my body just so I could suffer even more but got interrupted by my future husband. It's like every nerve in my body was struck by lightening. Unfortunately, my body did get eaten so it's not like I could act like it was a weird nightmare turned out of body experience."

She lets out a sigh. "If I had to guess, that youkai found me because I was at my lowest point, my brother Akira went missing only a few months before I died. Mom died a year or so after Akira was born. Dad...he was spirited away too a few years after that but I didn't know until much later. Unlike me, he didn't make it and when your soul's eaten, it's lost forever."

The light smile on his face slowly turned into a frown. Spirited away. He knows that phenomenon, he's dealt with it more than once in his career. Just like her case it never stops at one, and there's more bodies than there are survivors - if he could call them that.

"That's a nasty way to go." And he's seen all manner of death and mayhem. Then he's further reminded of her fury from earlier. Vanishing without so much as a trace, now he understands why she hated what he did so much.

"...I guess...you and I are kinda al-ouch!" He pulled his hand away from Stella who suddenly decided to take a quick swipe and play bite at his hand. "You little shit! Here! You get bitten by her now!" Said while sliding the sprawled cat over to Saori. "Cats." He'll never understand them. "One minute they love you and the next you're a scratching post."

Edited 2021-02-23 16:36 (UTC)

Saori blinks at Stella and taps her on the nose before standing up to walk to the counter. She opens one of the drawers and pulls out one of the toys she had wanted to give to Stella during the winter holidays. It's a simple thing, a stick with string on one end with a bunch of feathers and a bell attached to it.

"Well yeah, she's gonna bite you if you keep using your hand as a toy. Biting's a part of play for them, fulfills their predator instincts." She starts slowly waving just out of Stella's reach.

"But yeah, you're right, I guess we are even more similar than we thought. Though, I was a bit of a late bloomer in learning how to fight. After I found these spirited away cases were becoming more frequent, I couldn't really turn a blind eye on that. Learned how to fight, survive and grow a bit more in the afterlife. But what about you? What happened after that watching your own funeral?"

"But it's Stella! She has no predatory instincts!" Save maybe attacking his watch when he's using it, or maybe tracking him down when she hears the clanking of tin cans. If there is one thing he's learned about his cat, it's that she is the worlds friendliest cat and worst guard cat. If guard cats are a thing.

The aforementioned cat locks her big blue eyes on the bell and feathers then immediately starts pawing and swiping at it.

"What do you think happened? I got recruited into S.T.R.I.K.E and they ran about half a million tests to see what had happened to me and how much of me was human verses demon." He paused. "I continued to fight. I killed many demons and many people. I did it without question, believing that each mission made the world a better place. In a way....I did, but not for the people I meant to fight for." He sighed. Deep. "And I guess sometime between those tests, ops, and training, they found time to condition me pretty damn good." And it's that revelation from the file that pushed him over the edge.

Four kill switches planted in his psyche to carry out a specific kind of mission in a certain fashion. Each one triggered by a specific phrase, a series of numbers, and the name of the target. The worst is that when the switch is turned off, his memories are over written with whatever scenario they came up with to absolve the commander of liability. The perfect assassination tool.

"I can't trust my own memories anymore, Saori. What's real, what's fake? How much of my time did that....damn program take from me? How many of my comrades knew? Who were in on it? Sometimes I wonder, if I was ever really even Sam Mercer. What if those are fake and I've always just been some government project?"

"I don't know. Back home, we do have the means of viewing the memories of every soul's lifetimes, but even I don't know if we can restore or determine which memories were tampered. I wish I could help you figure that out. Still, I had to guess, given the nature of these programs, only a very small handful would know about it so it's possible your closest comrades had no idea or were lied to about it."

She quietly listens and after denying Stella a chance to catch the toy a few times, she let it fly from her hand and onto the floor for the cat to take down.

"I don't have any evidence to back me up on this but I think you are still Sam Mercer and not some government project. This is gonna sound cliche as hell, but even if you can't trust your past memories, you still have the ones from here and those have been real for sure. And, um, I'll call you by whatever name you feel comfortable with. If anyone says otherwise, I'll break their jaw like how I broke Loki's when he crashed my wedding."

The feline takes the chance to pounce, placing a stern paw on the toy and then keeping it there waiting to see if it will twitch to life.

"I take it you wear the pants in the family then." He'd sure hate to be her kid if she broke someone's jaw. Getting ground by her must actually be hell.

"Bishop...if you'd please." There's no point to going back to who he was, that soul has long since been buried. He fell silent as he mulled her words whilst a memory played in his head, a painful but tender one. "...There was an...incident. Where my commander, Queen, found out about a mission I had done secretly. Assassination." A beat. "Well I say found out but she actually cornered me and forced me to tell her. That was the first time I had seen her that furious. And that was before she beat the ever loving crap out of me. I think if I ever got close to actually dying it would have been that time." He chuckles whilst rubbing his neck with a shaking hand. "Really, that woman may have actually been a Rakshasa rather than an oni."

He paused once more. "She was also...incredibly sad. That was also the first time I saw her like that." The look of her hazel eyes staring at him, shiny with tears. "But she said something after which to me, at the moment, means a bit more than just some advice or encouragement. She told me to 'see past the shadows' and that I was 'the best' out of all of them. Maybe those memories are still there, I just need a way to...see past the shadows as she so cryptically put it." Cue scoff and eye roll.

"Anyway, now it's your turn. What's the deal about you breaking someone's jaw?"

"Sounds like her anger came out of concern for you. " Saori said and took another sip of water before she started her answer. "Trust me, I only do that if I'm incredibly angry and that son of a bitch tested my patience for years." In other words, Bishop was incredibly lucky she didn't throw him out the window earlier. Also, she is fair with her punishments if she does have to deal them out.

"I should back up a bit. When I died, my future husband Kenichi was the one to take me to the other realm where souls wait to be reincarnated but it's also home to all things supernatural and the gods. I stayed under his family's care as my future was being determined and turned out he's the son of Inari, one of the best known Shinto gods. Word got around so some of them got uppity that a 'lowly piece of trash' was living among them. Loki, yes that one from Norse mythology, was the worst of them. Always tried to antagonize me but could never do me in. So some years past and I not only accept Kenichi's proposal but agreed to take over the Inari title with him. A human becoming a god isn't new but it had been centuries since that happened. So Loki decided to interrupt the wedding and ascension ceremony to obviously object and I had just had it with him. I almost finished with the rites that would make me a goddess, but I didn't exactly consider my new strength when I decided to punch him and whoops I sent him flying." She takes a deep breath, now just watching Bishop's reaction since she has no idea how he'd react to that sudden revelation about his bond partner.

"Well, trickster god or god of tricks or whatever the hell his title is, testing patience is probably to be expected." Loki, even he's familiar with that name - mostly cause they're the father of that bastard wolf - but he doesn't believe in gods or goddesses in the sense that they're beings people should rely or put their faith in.

He listens quietly and tries to wrap his head around what she's saying. Shinto gods, Norse gods, it's a bit hard to believe even with the things he's seen and done and the only thing he has to go on is her word that this was all real. Any other day, any other person and he would have just nodded in quiet disbelief. But her story is so fantastical and the world, as he knows it, has gotten much much bigger that almost anything seems possible.

"Huh, that right?" He says, looking at her then to the cat that's been but background noise. He brings a hand up and rests his head, leaning onto the table as a moment passes. Then another. And another.....

"...So, if I install a wooden box, a big bell with a thick rope, at your door then drop five yen into said box and pray reeeeaaally hard, will I get finally 'Great Blessing' the next time I draw a fortune?" He grins. "C'mooooooooon~ Be honest. You got that goddess pull over those things right?"

Edited 2021-03-24 14:52 (UTC)

Saori held her breath as she waited for his reaction to her revelation. What would he do? Sever their Bond right there and throw her out? Shrug and dismiss it as nonsense? She only hid that from Bishop because of how polarizing her goddess identity can be for others.

What she wasn't expecting was...that. She tries to suppress her laugh, but she can't contain herself any longer. She wipes the tears from her eyes. "Believe me, I wish I could! I'm afraid that I've been stripped of my powers since arriving here, just like everyone else. That being said, I would like if you keep that part about me a secret for now. I want people to see me as Saori, and not as a goddess of a foreign land."

He couldn't hold his expression and laughs along side her. There was a bit of a sting in his side but he ignored it to hold this small, precious, honest, and peaceful moment between them. Even the cat starts to feel the tension lessen as she lies on her side, purring loudly almost napping.

"Don't worry, secrets safe with me. But-" He leans back, slouching as he lets out a breath. "-a goddess, huh? Honestly, I'm still trying to wrap my head around that but I don't really have a reason not to believe it. You haven't lied to me in the time I've known you, and I don't think you'd have a reason to start now." His lips curved into a tired smile, eyes idly drifting from her, to Stella, to the table, then wherever they may rest as his mind drifts.

"So. What now? I am very open to suggestions, mostly cause right now I think I'd struggle figuring out how to put socks on right."

Edited 2021-03-28 15:54 (UTC)

February/Feoveuer Catch All

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For Saori Nakagawa

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