middaeg | [Open] Canon Update & Catch-all!

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[Open] Canon Update & Catch-all!

Who: Crow Armbrust and YOU!!
When: January 4th and thereafter
Where: Mirror House and around Aefenglom
What: Canon Update/Catchall
Warnings: Major spoilers from Trails of Cold Steel 3! Possible themes include death, betrayal, political unrest, mental manipulation, supernatural disasters... I'll update if needed!

I. Mirror House.

[ Crow did not, as a general rule, go to the Mirror House. That's not saying anything against it so much as he just preferred to look forward towards his life in Aefenglom with his friends rather than focusing too hard on a path with no future to it. Feelings get complicated and Crow is allergic to feelings, or at least he doesn't like having his on public display very often. But he'd gone to the mirror house today, almost as if he were compelled to. He didn't stop until he'd reached his own mirror, one that was familiar to him in more intimate ways than any other.

And then he touched it.

He wasn't aware a couple of his friends had been there-- or were perhaps with their own mirrors at this very moment. Either way, his experience was a little different than theirs. For one thing, they were catching up on a few short months-- Crow had nearly a year and a half all at once, flashing vividly behind his eyes in full detail. A life he hadn't expected to keep going, or rather-- to be brought back. Such as it is.

There are physical changes that come for him in a way that the others hadn't really gotten. A year and a half for Crow is enough to grow a little, to fill out just a bit more-- for his hair to grow in length, to become suddenly several shades paler. And at the end of it, Crow lets out a gasp as he finally--

He pulls his hand away from the mirror almost as if he'd been burned. But it only takes a moment of recovery before he's glancing around and then folding his hands behind his head. ]

Well, that's enough time reflecting on things. Heh...!

II. Aefenglom.

[ It's going to be pretty hard for Crow to hide that something's happened when you can take one look at him and tell just by the physical differences that something has. But this is Crow Armbrust and he's very willing to deflect as much as he has to. Of course, maybe you don't really know him-- maybe he doesn't have anything at all to explain. He's more than fine with that, he doesn't really want to talk about it anyway.

After his adventures in the mirror house, you might find Crow eating in a nice spot at a local café, a nice cup of hot chocolate in hand. Or you could find him by the docks, chatting with some of the workers there or else just looking out at the water for a brief moment before moving on. You might even find him wandering around the shopping district, looking for all the world like any other person out to buy whatever it is that's caught their interest. Either way, if you look like you want to talk to him, he'll lift his hand and grin. ]

Hey, what's up?

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[ He's got at least one or two more deeply unhappy surprises lurking but he's not about to bring those up. Instead, he winks at her. ]

I'll have to arrange something, then. There's your only warning, by the way.

[It's amazing she's survived this long. You're going to give her heart failure one of these days.]

Fine-- I'll look forward to it then.

[She can't even begin to imagine what he'd come up with-- but then, that's part of the fun, she supposes.]

At least let me help you pay for all this.

[ Sometimes, you're full of more surprises than you actually intended to be. It happens. ]

I won't say "no" if you wanna help foot the bill.

[ He was prepared to buy everything himself, but hey, if she's offering... ]

I want to.

[It's something she can do, during a time when she feels like there really isn't much.]

So just focus on making sure you have everything you want and need.

[If you're going to replace your wardrobe then go all out.]

If you're sure, then... there's an invitation I'm more than happy to take!

[ It won't be an entire wardrobe's worth but you can bet Crow's going to buy several outfits ]

As long as you're happy, I'm happy.

[She'll even help carry a few pieces, so he can browse for the things he wants.

It's absolutely worth every coin and then some.]

[ Crow hums lightly, still smiling. ]

Didn't you know? I'm always happy when I'm getting new clothes.

[ That's not what she meant and he damned well knows it. ]

[Just for that--]

You sound like a girl.

[ If that's how you're going to play it, Towa-- ]

I'm shocked you would give in to that kind of stereotyping, Towa. Shocked!

I didn't say it was a bad thing. It's nice to see you care so much about your appearance.

[That, she means.]

Yeah but all the same, I can't imagine Fie caring about clothes-shopping.

[ He can easily imagine her letting Sara pick out her wardrobe. ]

Anyway, it may not mean a lot in the grand scheme of things but it's fun to pay attention to my looks.

I don't know, I think Fie knows how to say "no" pretty well these days.

[She was more carefree, but she still had her own style.]

Although I guess I've never gone shopping with her before. Just once or twice with Elliot. Well... and with you before.

[She doesn't. Shop that often to begin with.]

I've never doubted her ability to say "no."

[ Fie is pretty good about being true to herself and even in the time he'd known her back home had grown a lot as a person. ]

I just can't imagine her enjoying shopping a lot. Like for her, it'd be just... a thing you do, what's the big deal kinda thing.

You're prooobably right. I wouldn't be surprised if she goes even less than I do.

[And that's saying something.]

Pretty much! It's a whole different game when you're enjoying what you're doing.

I guess that makes sense.

[It fits with her own habits, why she's more likely to do it with others than by herself.]

Everyone has different things they enjoy.

[Like work!!!!]

[ YOU DON'T JUST "ENJOY WORK," TOWA??? ]

That's true.

[ He's smiling as he says it. ]

[WORK IS A PERFECTLY REASONABLE THING TO ENJOY!!!]

I guess I do feel like I have been taking my own clothing for granted a little bit, after remembering all that time I spent in my instructor's uniform.

[ IT IS NOT! ]

You should treat yourself to a cute outfit! Several, even.

[ Maybe even wear the one he bought you! ]

[Retail therapy does go both ways...]

...that might not be a bad idea. It has been a while since I really treated myself...

[ Retail therapy is important! ]

Tell you what-- do it and I'll even let you pick out something for me. Deal?

...why do I get the feeling that this is exactly what you want?

[She's not even mad.]

Deal. But you still owe me that surprise.

[Not getting out of that one.]

Of course, I wouldn't dream of skipping out on you.

[ He even means it! He might wait a while before he gets to it but well, that's just part of the surprise isn't it? Not knowing when it'll happen. ]

[Outside of the swimsuit party, Crow hasn't really gotten to see her in anything other than her usual cute and professional style.

Maybe she'll try on something for his sake.]

I have an idea. Wait here.

[She knows what she's looking for, so it won't take her long to find it and take to the dressing room. It doesn't take her long to change either, so he doesn't have to wait too long.

It is a nice little treat-- a definite escape from her usual safe style.]

Um. What... do you think?

[ Crow waits patiently for Towa to get finished with picking out her outfit and changing. It's when she steps out that he looks up and--

...Watching her in that outfit, something both outside her usual style and yet that suits her so completely, something she looks so good in... it will take a moment for him to respond because he's been struck dumb by how good she looks. ]

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