starrymused

[starrymused]

"They saw things when I was little that made them aware. I'd eat raw meat from the fridge, and when they took that away, I moved on to killing animals out in the garden. Birds, squirrels..." Joji looked up from his plate. "Even back then, on some level I knew it wasn't normal because I'd hide behind the shed to eat them." He'd always known the shame of it, always known he was strange.

"How did you find out that you were like this?" Everett seemed a bit older than him, so Joji was looking to him for not only guidance in how to survive as what he was but also wisdom that could only come with experience. He didn't seem to carry the same shame that Joji did. It was admirable and something Joji might be able to strive towards himself.

"You don't have to, so long as you don't do anything that'd alert the authorities," Everett shook his head. "There's not much in my house of interest, I'm afraid. It's large but mostly empty, save for my office and the kitchen."

And the kitchen wasn't even his primary kitchen.

"If you're not up for eating, then let's talk more at least," he requested, having more of his own meal. "Your parents knew of your appetite? Did they try to do anything about it outside of hide you away?"

[starrymused]

Not just the cops...

"Something like that." He didn't know why he even said that, but he was past the point of caring now. If she decided to call the cops, he'd either be long gone or he'd just summon Lord Unknown to deal with it — the demon had said that they could help each other, after all. Whatever that meant.

"I'm not here for the scenery," he countered. "Even though it is pretty nice." Meaning her. Not that he was going to do anything to her. Come on, he wasn't like that. But he could appreciate a good-looking girl. Even if that girl was probably seconds from fleeing or grabbing the nearest weapon. What else was new?

"I'll be gone in a bit, so you don't have to worry about me trying to become a permanent squatter. I'll probably head off tonight." He was a bold one for saying something like that. Again, he was just past the point of caring. Not much could affect him any more and that was probably something he should be concerned about, but eh.

"Well, at least you're self-aware." Don't be charmed by a moody-looking guy in all black again, Tiff. She looked him over and, admittedly, he didn't look homeless. He was just some dude. So what, did he just crash out or something?

Her gaze fell to the remnants of the food -- her food -- he had recently eaten.

"Are you on the run from the cops or something?" she asked, point-blank. "This forest isn't usually a campground. There's like, five other parks nearby with more interesting shit or actual tourist traps."

[starrymused]

Cooper followed, all too happy to spend time in his favorite little diner. He had a lot of favorite little diners, he had to admit, but this one really held a special place in his heart. Or maybe it was just Twin Peaks as a whole that spoke to him in ways he hadn't quite figured out yet.

"So, Ms. Archer, tell me more about yourself," Cooper said as he reached out to straighten the napkin dispenser that was set against the wall. He then took one of the napkins out just so he could give the chrome a little polish. It wasn't anything he thought too hard about — it was just gestures he did.

"What is it you do as a job?" Had she said yet? No, she most definitely hadn't, otherwise Cooper would have remembered commenting on it. As their drinks were brought over, he gave Shelly his usual smile, always thankful for her impeccable service. "Thank you, Shelly." Ah, black coffee. The best.

Cate didn't know what to make of Agent Cooper, actually. He might have had the look of an FBI agent, but his demeanor was closer to Paddington Bear. Even that cherry pie line (which the incels back in HQ would have loved) had been delivered without an ounce of self-awareness for the possible innuendo.

Or maybe she was just crude.

At Shelly's prompting, she nodded. "Yes, I'll take a latte, thank you." She wasn't really all that hungry, but that was likely the stress. She knew she would eat something; she could already hear Bruno scolding her for being reckless with her health. When had that grumpy old man gotten into her head so much anyway? She really needed this vacation.

"Shall we sit down, then?" She asked, but was already moving to take a seat at a nearby table herself, resigning herself to spending longer in this little middle-of-nowhere town.

[starrymused]

"Or try and get the soda out of those carpets..." And whatever else was stuck to them. He'd lost count of the of times he'd had to force his shoes to unstick from it. Shinya never seemed to have that problem and said that it was a "skill issue" on Ren's part. That kid was something else.

"Anyway, I can keep an eye out for job listings if it'll make you feel better." Ren was at his limit of how many jobs he could handle, so there would be no snatching them before Ryuji had the chance to apply. He straightened up as they neared the station. "You heading home after this?" He asked. All the thieves were always welcome to crash at the cafe when they wanted, but maybe it was best that they gave Haru and Yosuke some time to come to terms with all that had happened. Hell, Ren would even leave them to it and go spend time at Ryuji's, but he wanted to check on them.

"You're a better student than I am," Ryuji snorted. "And I'm not gonna freeload on you as a sugar baby."

Unless Ren had a ton of money and wasn't working his ass off for it all the time. Then Ryuji might indulge a little...

"Oh yeah?" His brain hopped subjects (he would return to that idea later) at the suggestion. "I could do that! I mean, what's the worst thing you'd have to do? Scrape off gum and clean toilets?"

[starrymused]

Someone spoke — a woman's voice — and Andrew's first thought was, Goddamn it, she's found me already, but as he roused from sleep, he was relieved (and absolutely fucking delighted) to see that it wasn't who he thought it would be. He was just too used to her always being there that even his thoughts had jumped to that conclusion solely based on the female voice.

"Hey," He said casually back, uncurling from his, admittedly, terrible position on the floor. "You're right— maybe it's time I got my eyes checked." Those same eyes dropped to the crowbar that was in her hand.

"Nice. Solid weapon of choice, but you won't be needing it." He began to get up, making sure each movement was slow so that she wouldn't freak out and attack. "Not that the word of a strange dude randomly chilling in your house counts for much, but I figured I'd say it anyway." It was up to her if she wanted to attack, and Andrew would understand — it was a reasonable and normal reaction — but then he'd have to retaliate, and he was so tired of constantly washing blood from his limited amount of clothing. Well, at least he only wore black.

Upon finding nobody home, Andrew checked out every room. There honestly wasn't much going on since it was, as he expected, in the process of getting done up. Luck was on his side today (made a change for once) when he realized the fridge was stocked.

Thanks for your hospitality...

He took out a few things that he could eat without needing to cook anything: pre-prepared meat, a yogurt, and a random apple sitting on its own that would have turned out to be poisonous if Ashley had been here — she was just a bad omen. Andrew then went through the cupboards. Not much, but there was a pack of cookies, and it would pair nicely as a dessert for his makeshift dinner.

After eating what he had gathered and washing it down with a bottle of carbonated water (he didn't really like carbonated water, but he'd take it over tap water), Andrew found a spot in the corner of the living room to crash. He considered lying on the couch but decided against it. Being curled up in a corner would make him more pitiful to anyone who might come home. If he sprawled on the couch, he'd just look like an asshole drunk.

Or maybe the homeowner wouldn't care and would shoot him regardless. Eh, he'd see what happened. Closing his eyes, he rested his head back, hoping to recuperate some of his lost energy now that the life-sucking bitch wasn't with him.

[starrymused]

Upon finding nobody home, Andrew checked out every room. There honestly wasn't much going on since it was, as he expected, in the process of getting done up. Luck was on his side today (made a change for once) when he realized the fridge was stocked.

Thanks for your hospitality...

He took out a few things that he could eat without needing to cook anything: pre-prepared meat, a yogurt, and a random apple sitting on its own that would have turned out to be poisonous if Ashley had been here — she was just a bad omen. Andrew then went through the cupboards. Not much, but there was a pack of cookies, and it would pair nicely as a dessert for his makeshift dinner.

After eating what he had gathered and washing it down with a bottle of carbonated water (he didn't really like carbonated water, but he'd take it over tap water), Andrew found a spot in the corner of the living room to crash. He considered lying on the couch but decided against it. Being curled up in a corner would make him more pitiful to anyone who might come home. If he sprawled on the couch, he'd just look like an asshole drunk.

Or maybe the homeowner wouldn't care and would shoot him regardless. Eh, he'd see what happened. Closing his eyes, he rested his head back, hoping to recuperate some of his lost energy now that the life-sucking bitch wasn't with him.

"Oh, come on you old sack of --" Tiff smacked the car radio with the butt of her right palm while the left one kept a firm grip on the wheel. She hit it again and, fortunately, the radio knew what was good for it. It flickered back on and she gave a sigh of relief. Even if she was close to her grandfather's -- her house, she couldn't stand just making her way through the woods in silence. It was way too close to a horror movie setup that way.

Fortunately, the one music-centric radio station came on, and she leaned back a bit in her seat, putting her right hand back on the wheel. She was going to have to bite the bullet and get the car worked on when she went back home. It wasn't like she couldn't afford it, but Tiff really preferred to get as much use out of everything she could. Honestly, it wouldn't surprise her if the mechanic told her to just get a new one... but that was a pain in the ass, too.

Up ahead, she could see the entrance to the long gravel driveway that led to the house. She let out a sigh of relief. She wouldn't get too deep into any of the renovations today. She could focus on that tomorrow morning; she was still sore from her shift at Barney's. Actually, she'd probably just lie down until her back stopped killing her...

[starrymused]

@lannamused

Where am I now?

Hard ground beneath him, grass and mud, different from the weird terrain of the demon realm. Andrew sat himself up and rubbed at his temple, feeling like he'd crash-landed here like some out-of-place alien. Well, the former part of that statement was certainly true — he was unwanted everywhere. Everywhere but with her.

Ugh. Okay, what did Lord Unknown say? Something about... being free? Hah! As if that would ever happen. Wait, but... was it a deal he'd made? Argh, why couldn't he remember all the details? Well, whatever, it would come back to him in time. Probably.

He pulled himself up, managing to get into a standing position despite the throbbing in his head. Green eyes take in his surroundings, noting that he was in a forest. Which forest was anyone's guess — there were a ton of wooded areas in his state. If that's even where he still was.

With nothing else to do, he began to walk, keeping an eye out for any branching trails that he might have to use later for whatever reason. It was a fairly uneventful exploration: stick, stick, slightly larger stick, a branch (that still counted as a stick), and oh hey, a wooden plank! With his track record, he'd definitely need that later.

After about ten minutes of shuffling through undergrowth like some drugged-out zombie (he hadn't realized how hungry and tired he really was), he spotted a path that looked more man-made. Heading along it, Andrew tried to keep his mind focused on this sole task and not on the demon and whatever deal he vaguely remembered being offered to him. Nor did he think (or at least try to) of Ashley and how much she'd be freaking out when she realized he was gone.

A house appeared through the trees. No, it didn't actually appear out of thin air, although nothing would surprise him anymore. It was just there, built in a clearing like some modern retelling of Hansel and Gretel with the human-eating witch.

Except I'd be the one to eat whoever lives there...

No, there would be no human consuming today. Or ever again. Making the last stretch to the house, Andrew noticed how quiet it was. It didn't seem run-down, though. If anything, it appeared well looked after, even having some furniture and debris outside as if someone was in the process of moving things around. Maybe a rennovation?

He should move along; he knew that. Don't get too close to anywhere that might have people. Which would be real fucking difficult considering he'd have to buy essentials and all that, but if he could just stay as far from humankind as possible, then that would be the best outcome. For all of them.

But he was never one to listen to his own logic and trudged up to the door, legs weary and stomach growling. The door was locked as he expected, but a window around the back was cracked open enough for him to hoist himself up and slide through. Or more like half tumble through — he'd never been all that flexible. If anyone came running, he'd have a reason ready, a backstory, an excuse for being a creepy weirdo breaking into their home. It didn't matter who the other person was; Andrew could adapt his demeanor and story accordingly. For maximum manipulation! Wow, wasn't he such a swell guy!

[starrymused]

"Do I look like the type of man who'd exaggerate, Miss Archer?" If it was possible for Harry to hear him say that from his current location, he would probably have laughed quite hard, but no! Cooper was not the type to exaggerate! Not really. Not in his mind, anyway. Colleagues (and pretty much anyone he ever came across) always noted how cheerful he seemed for an FBI agent, thinking that the profession should have knocked that out of him in his first year. It wasn't such a strange thing for Cooper, though. The world deserved a bit more cheer!

It wasn't a long walk to the diner—it didn't take long to get anywhere in Twin Peaks unless it was heading up to the hotel. As they headed inside, Cooper greeted Shelly, who was at the counter. "Afternoon, Shelly. Fine day, isn't it? I'm here to prove to my new friend, Miss Archer, how delightful your cherry pie is." Cooper had no idea how that sentence could be taken as an innuendo, his sweet face as sunshiny as ever.

Shelly smiled, used to the eccentric agent's ways, and turned to Cate. "A new face in Twin Peaks. We don't get many visitors. I'll be out with your pie in a few. Do you want coffee to go with that as well, Miss Archer?" She didn't need to ask Agent Cooper that—the day he turned down coffee was the day the apocalypse arrived.

Well, a fantastic accent comment was better than an exotic one. Cate was glad to have Cooper to make small talk, but she wasn't going to say that to him outright. He was already pleasant enough.

"Sounds like a good idea," she agreed. "I've not eaten yet today, unfortunately." She had been intending to stop off to get food once she was out of this area, but clearly that hadn't panned out. "You know, I'll be disappointed if you've been exagerrating this whole time."

[starrymused]

"Did you and Dru get into some kind of cat fight when I wasn't around?" Spike raised a brow. It amused him to think of that, but he'd also be pissed if he missed it. Then again, Drusilla wasn't exactly easy to get along with — most people found her annoying with the whole speaking in riddles that she often did. Translating her meanings took a certain finesse.

"Right then, guess I'm tagging along until I find something else to do." With hands deep in the pockets of his coat, Spike followed her out of the clearing and back through the forest. If Bedelia and Mordecai proved to be somewhat entertaining, maybe he'd stick with them for a while. Anything to keep his mind off Dru and that goddamn Slayer...

"I do not leave whatever town we're in without him, he knows that," she shook her head as she proceeded to leave the clearing. "And I have faith that he can take care of himself. Or scream loud enough to get my attention."

She gave 'Spike' a sidelong glance.

"That is the result of a good sire, not that you would know."

[starrymused]

"---Pfffhahahahaha!" Despite her best efforts to control herself, Ashley giggle-snorted and choked as the soda shot up the straw and into her nose. She coughed and hacked and nearly tipped back out of her chair. It was one of the rare moments where she actually acted like a normal person.

"That's so fucking dark, you psychopath," she said finally after regaining her composure, grinning like one herself. Andrew hadn't meant his suggestion as a joke, but serious expression caught her off-guard. "...But I agree. We've gotta do what we can to survive." She smiled cheekily, toying with the talisman that the demon had given her. "And that means sacrifcing a whole lotta souls to my new demon friend!"

That was genuinely the happiest Ashley had looked in a long time and Andrew couldn't help but smile, even when his suggestion had been a serious one. It didn't matter — it had lessened the tension that always crept up, ready to suffocate them.

"Just call us the Soul Busters..." He played with his straw, intentionally making that annoying squeaky sound with it. "There must be a way to get a bunch at once." He just didn't know how. Maybe they could... target a crowd of drunk people at a bar? Nah, that would be too risky, what with all the security cameras and employees around.

...Homeless encampments?

Wait. That could work. And he hated that it could work. What type of people had they become? Could they even be called people anymore? He'd bring the idea up to Ashley later, knowing that she'd jump at the chance. She didn't exactly have a strong moral compass when it came to this kind of thing. Or anything. For now, he'd just sit here in this shitty little Burger King and pretend that they were having a normal sibling day out.

[starrymused]

"Hey Andrew?" Ashley looked over at him. They were laying on the living room floor. She didn't know how long it had been anymore since the quarantine had been enacted. She just knew they were totally out of food. "What do we do if nobody comes for us?"

She looked mostly out of it, and she likely was due to the starvation settling in. But a tiny part of her was genuinely afraid. There was so much more she wanted to do with this shitty life. She hadn't even gotten started or done anything cool! It was so fucking frustrating!

"I don't think Mom and Dad are coming back." But she wasn't surprised in the slightest. Her brother was the only person in the world who cared if she lived or died.

What happened if they didn't come back? Truth be told, Andrew didn't think they were either. It wasn't like their parents had been the most attentive while they were here, but in the beginning, he thought that they maybe would have tried a bit more. He'd wondered about it a lot (he could think of nothing else) and realized that many parents probably wouldn't have left their children in a state like this. Even with a quarantine in effect. A lot of parents would have stayed and risked their own health just to be with their children, to be the support and security that was needed.

But their parents had never been so selfless.

"We'll find a way... we always do." Somehow, they always did. It was like they were weirdly lucky while simultaneously having the worst luck in the world. Their existence was one big contradiction. Andrew turned his head to face her, hands resting on his aching stomach. Starving to death wasn't how he'd thought they'd go out — it felt anticlimactic given what they'd been through in their short lives.

"I wish we'd put plants out on the balcony. Then we might have had bugs to eat." Yeah. That was how desperate they were now. If they didn't find something to eat soon, he knew this would be the end of them. He just needed to think. Really think. What was around here that they could eat? Anything.

The always present fatigue pulled on his eyelids. Okay. Just one more nap and then he'd lock in and figure a way out of this mess for good.

[starrymused]

"I wouldn't have had to harrass your stupid bitch girlfriend if you'd just pay more attention to me!" Ashley threw her hands up. "You promised me, Andy! You said you'd always be there for me!"

"I am always there for you. I don't know what more you want, Ashley." He came running whenever she called with one of her bullshit excuses. And it always, always happened whenever he was with Julia, which Ashley didn't even try to hide.

"Julia isn't doing anything wrong by wanting to spend time with me. It's normal, but you wouldn't know anything about what that's like." And the way his life was turning out, neither did he. Andrew often wondered why the two of them just couldn't seem to be like other siblings he'd observed. Yeah, yeah, there was the whole fucked-up childhood, neglectful parents and all the other shit that would be a shrink's wet dream, but there had to be more to it. But he couldn't figure it out for the life of him.

"I try, Ashley..." he sighed, running a hand over his face. He wouldn't be surprised if his hair turned completely grey within the next ten years. If he even made it to then.

[starrymused]

"Can't say I remember half the things I've said," he shrugged. At least he was honest. Sometimes he made promises that he knew for a fact he wasn't going to keep. It was amazing how easily people could be swayed into doing something with just a few little words as motivation. Spike raised a brow as she decided she was done with whatever she'd been trying to do here.

"You think he'll always find you? Not to offend the lad, but he's not exactly a strike fear in the hearts of his enemies type." Soft is what Spike would call him. If he'd encountered Mordecai back during his William the Bloody days, he would have had a hell of a time with him. "What makes you so sure he's not being used as a werewolf's chew toy right now?" He paused, then both brows raised, expression thoughtful. "But if he's fucking werewolves, he might be into that." Who knew the sensitive, book-loving vampire could be so kinky.

"Mm. Yes, that is very kind of you." She tilted her head, leering at him. "Although, I could have sworn you said this the last time we met. Or did you forget?"

She was teasing, although her expression didn't exactly portray that. She knew that if Spike heard Thaddea's name, he would suddenly recall the connection. He had a good head on his shoulders, despite his questionable taste in romantic interests.

She gave a dismissive wave.

"I am done with this forest for tonight. Let's find elsewhere to congregate. Mordecai will find his way back to me inevitably."

[starrymused]

"Yeah, I kinda need it." He wouldn't let his mind get too wrapped up in this now that he knew he'd done all he could. It would do him no good to dwell on it and get himself worked up. He headed to the couch with Imhotep still perched so perfectly and sunk into it, feeling the tension and stress of the day lift off his shoulders. When Aidan joined him with the dinner and wine, Elias gave him a tired smile.

"Thank you, darling. I'm sorry if I made you worry." He knew Aidan wouldn't be and didn't get mad about that sort of thing because he knew there would always be a good reason Elias couldn't get in contact. It would never be an intentional thing.

"How was your day?" He asked as he began to eat his late dinner, steering the conversation to something regular and more easy-going. Unless something explosive had happened in the political scene that Aidan was in (always a possibility), they should be fine to de-stress together.

"It is," Aidan agreed. He set the timer on the microwave and turned to face him. "No matter the outcome, Elias, you gave her a fighting chance. There are a lot of people who would panic and freeze. Or look the other way."

It was horrible to think that Elias' reaction wasn't a universal one. But it was reality. A lot of people just didn't have the motivation or strength to drop anything and help someone -- not even a helpless infant.

The microwave beeped, and he turned back to pull it out, grabbing a fork nearby to stir the roasted vegetables on the side. He had set aside a steak to defrost this morning, so all he had to do was cook it when he had gotten home.

"Do you want me to pour you a glass of wine, too?"

[starrymused]

The invitation surprised him. He hadn't exactly been subtle with his interest in Xiang, but he hadn't wanted it to come across as something that put her in an uncomfortable position. It wasn't as if he would retract his offer to house her in London if she didn't return his interest. However, with the way Xiang looked at him and the calm tone in which she voiced her question, it seemed Kazuma's concerns were unfounded.

"Yes." Nobody could ever call Kazuma Asogi shy or indecisive. Xiang asking him that held many implications. Of course, despite being somewhat popular with the women back home, he wasn't what anyone would call a playboy or someone who participated in intimate moments just because they presented themselves. It was different with Xiang, though. His attraction to her was unlike any he'd felt before. Those had been fleeting, no more than simple crushes that faded as quickly as they came about. It felt like more than that with Xiang.

His hand covered hers on the railing, their fingers threading. The future was uncertain with many factors needing to be seen to, but he was content to go along with what tonight brought. His lips curved into one of his charming smiles. "Lead the way."

Xiang chuckled. "Are you so sure? You already have offered your lodgings in England to a woman you didn't know to help her. I could absolutely see you entering an arranged marriage for the very same reason," she teased.

He was a heroic type, she had realized. The type of person who would have songs and stories and myths told about him if he were born in a past era. He had a natural charisma that would draw the attention and support of many... including many women, too, most likely. That thought kind of made her annoyed, actually, although not at him.

Instead, she held his gaze. There was something about this moment that made her feel a little bold. Maybe it was because soon they'd pull into port and everything might change. Maybe she was simply exhausted from anticipating her own misery. Maybe it was just because he was handsome and attentive.

"Kazuma," Her words were measured and even. "Would you like to spend some time with me in my room this evening?"

[starrymused]

PARK JI HOON as YEON SI EUN WEAK HERO CLASS 1 (2022)

[starrymused]

Link laughed and not just a polite laugh that should probably be used in a royal castle like this—it was loud and boisterous, one that he'd seemingly inherited from his uncle, just with a more youthful tone.

"All right, a day of fishing and cooking coming up."

Zelda was easy to talk to, more than he'd ever imagined. Link never thought he'd be sitting here casually making plans to spend some time with the Princess of Hyrule. It was funny how things just fell into place and the unexpected became reality.

"Just say when, Princess, and I'll be there."

---

When Link said that she just had to say when and he'd be there, he hadn't realized she would make plans for the very next day! But he wasn't mad about it. If anything, it was probably the most fitting time. After everything, they needed some relaxation and a chance to just hang out.

"Epona likes you," he commented as the mare trotted along, leading them towards a peaceful fishing spot in one of Hyrule's many forests. "She doesn't usually like anyone else riding her," Especially not women, for some reason. There had been times when Link had helped women get back to their villages or to some other destination and Epona had been very displeased. But she seemed content to have Zelda settled on her back alongside Link. Huh. That was interesting.

OH NO, SHE SCREWED UP -- wait. Wait, no, he was smiling. That was a joke, right? Never mind, skip it!

"I'd love to! I'm really quite good at horsebackriding, actually! Most of the time Impa doesn't let me go as fast as I want, though." It wasn't like she was the one doing the running, so why would she be in danger unless she rode the horse into a dangerous direction? She never understood that. "As for fishing, I've never been before! But I'd be happy to learn if you teach me."

-- No, nope, she had to go back. She couldn't just skip it.

"And I'd be happy to try any of your cooking, too," she added hastily. "No matter what it tastes like, plants and all!"