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It was certainly an... interesting concept. It made her wonder why someone would come up with that. Were they afraid of the poor little Bangboo? Or was it just meant to be entertaining?

" I don't know the entire story, honestly. I just saw someone posting about it on knock knock so... "

She gives a small shrug as she takes a handful of popcorn.

" I don't believe in traditional sorts of ghosts, no. I believe... in the sort of ghosts that are memories. Wishes. "

Hugo's head tilts in confusion at the answer. How did such a concept get created? The poor bangboo then... definitely best they didn't bring Robin along.

"The poor bangboo, if that's the case. Not that I believe electronics can become haunted, of course."

But this was fiction, so anything could apply there.

"Though that makes me wonder, do you believe in ghosts, Vivian? Or hauntings?"

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my copium that did not come true one bit in 1.7 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

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"Where do you even find all this Phaethon merchandise, anyway?" [Hugo, he's just curious]

" Truth be told I -- make it myself. But don't you dare tell anyone about it, Hugo! That's for only me to know-! I'd be so embarrassed if Lord Phaethon found out about it... "

unprompted <3 || @shallliveoninsong

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my sapphic dotir...

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oh uhhhh pride pride pride yum uh aventurine is gay as hell, he does not like women, only men

missile is a doggy don't ask him

and vivian, my interpretation of vivian, is bisexual with a strong leaning towards women <3

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She's got particular tastes thanks to the way they live, she supposes. Even if she'd eat anything from her time basically working paycheck to paycheck... she likes to spoil herself just a bit.

It's what has her ears flicking happily when he speaks. One for each of them, how perfect! Hugo never seems to be able to tell her no, though, she would never try and push it.

" Oh, how wonderful! I'll use it all the time, it's just so cute. "

She takes her cup once it's purchased and heads into the theater proper. Humming softly before she finds her seat and plops herself down.

" From what I read of the teasers, it is about bangboo -- animatronics? That are... possessed? I believe it's based on a game franchise or something like that. "

Despite money not being an issue, Hugo usually didn't get much whenever he went to the theater; besides, usually the snacks weren't that great anyway.

But as Vivian points out the themed cups to him he instantly knows they will be getting one each. No matter, when it came to his dear Vivian he could never spoil her too little.

"Now those are quite adorable. We'll get one each, of course."

It didn't matter if they never used them again. It made her smile now, and that's what mattered.

"Now, what was this movie about again?" he asks once their concessions are all bought and they've found their seats and are waiting for the previews to end.

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Hugo is putting up Vivian's hair in an elaborate style full of golden decorations for the gala they were going to infiltrate. They must fit in after all!

"There, what do you think?"

Vivian's eyes seem to light up as she looks over his handiwork in the mirror. He's always had an eye for the most beautiful things. While she usually does her own - it's nice to let Hugo take care of it, too. And he doesn't disappoint when it comes to making her look lovely. Feel lovely, too. He's the perfect older brother, knowing just what she likes.

" Oh, I love it. I don't think it's ever looked this nice. "

unprompted <3 || @shallliveoninsong

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" Isn't the point of being a phantom thief not getting caught. Everyone's going to know and expect these things when you do that. "

@shallliveoninsong

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Hugo is engraving yet another one of the grapling hooks with 'Mockingbird' in cursive. No, it's not too much, there's no such then when it comes to labeling! This adds class, clearly.

" Hugo if you put Mockingbird on one more thing, I'm going to take that engraving tool and smash it. That's the fifth grappling hook today and sometimes we lose those! "

discord shenanigans <3 || @shallliveoninsong

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At least there's an attempt. Maybe it isn't the biggest step forward, but it's something. They could have a normal afternoon just once, right?

If Vivian can attempt to make friends and do things a normal girl her age should, then couldn't Hugo also put aside his thoughts for just the afternoon?

Just for her?

____

She does hate when it's busy like this, but thankfully the theater is not the main attraction for people.

" Popcorn is good... maybe a drink, too? " She tilts her head slightly, looking over the selection of snacks available. And then her gaze shifts and she's reaching to tug at his wrist.

" Hugo, look. They have cute little bangboo cups for the movie! "

He knows what she's trying to do. Have them spend some time together like a normal family would. Like a normal family should.

But Hugo is too restless to ever relax for long. No, not when the burning desire for vengeance still clawed at him from the inside out.

But for her sake, even he can pretend for a while.

____

Lumina square is bustling as always. At least there aren't too many people going into the cinema.

"Do you want any snacks as well?" he asks once he's purchased their tickets. "I'll split a popcorn with you."

A small bonus of running Mockingbird--one did not have to gawk at the high prices of concessions at movie theaters.

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I took matters into my own hands and edited Hugo and Vivian out of their avatar frames.

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" That's the part that seems so interesting, really. You wouldn't think they go together. " Part of why it had caught her eye. " Oh, suppose we shouldn't, hm? "

Not like the little one ever seemed to show if it minded.

He's always got business on his mind, that's a fact that Vivian learned quite early on. Even if there were moments when he could attempt relaxing, it seemed his thoughts were never at rest.

" That's true... there's always more to do than you think. " More to be done and never enough time, it seems. At the very least, she thinks, there's enough time for them to see a movie.

"Bangboo and horror don't seem like two words that mix," he says with a small scoff. "I suppose we ought to not take Robin then."

Hugo doubted the bangboo would really care, but still.

Vivian may want to relax a bit, but there was much in regard to business on the Mockingbird leader's mind.

"Perhaps," he says as they make their way to the train station. "I do need to deliver that letter today though, so we'll have to see once the movie is over. There's much work to be done to prepare for our future plans, you know?"

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" It seemed to be a horror movie about bangboo. I thought the concept was fascinating. "

As he finishes up with the letter, she goes to get her parasol. Lithe fingers running over the handle as she glances back for just a moment. Always wanting to stand out, that's Hugo for you. Making sure things are pristine and properly eye catching. Even down to just the calling cards that are left behind. Nothing slips past his ever-scrutinizing gaze. At least, not these sort of things.

A quiet nod before she heads out the door.

" I thought it might be nice to go shopping, too. Have a day out. What do you think? "

"I see," he says with a nod. "We can certainly do that, my dear. What's the movie about?"

The sheet of paper with the carefully printed text is folded up into threes and slid into an exquisite envelope. Also custom-made of course. If one was to be flashy they must be flashy in style. And for the final touches, a Mockingbird coin is slid into the envelope before Hugo seals it with red wax.

He slides it into his coat's inner pocket before he stands.

"After you, Vivian."

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He cocks his head to the side as Sissel speaks. It really is hard to believe there's so much that four of them know about and yet no others do. Nobody could ever be aware of what they'd been through but each other. of how much they'd done to save the people that they cared about so much now.

" It's not like she'd do much but move them anyway! I keep finding all the hiding spots and she has to find new ones! For a detective, she isn't very good at hiding things, though. "

Or maybe his nose was just too good? Or she didn't bother to make sure he didn't see her. " It's so weird to think about, isn't it? That those ten years are just POOF! Gone! "

Unfortunately, ghost tricks weren't the best at undoing themselves or hiding evidence of treat theft, so Lynne would probably know right away that somehow Missile had gotten into those bone-looking cookies. But hey, there was only so much Sissel could do!

"Sorry, I'd vouch for your innocence if I could without scaring her half to death and have a lot of explaining to do," he joked.

"Though I wonder if she'd even believe us if we ever got to tell her the whole story and the 10 years that never were..."

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She waits patient as ever while he continues his work. She doesn't want to pull him entirely away from it, but she does enjoy when they get to do anything other than typical 'work.' Not that time ever seems to pause what needs to be done, but just for a moment, they can be akin to a normal family.

" There was a new movie that I happened to see posters for last time I was out. I thought perhaps we could get tea milk and go see it. "

@shallliveoninsong || c.

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Quiet staring from behind the parasol.

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... We're gonna ignore me adding Vivian here...