ioduanlogs | closed-ish, hmu if you want additional starters

Characters: The Fool, Devin, Zephyr, Rutile + ???
Date: Mid-January.
Location: Throughout Aifaran in the aftermath of the storm.
Situation: Still reeling from the effects the peculiar eddies had on him during the storm, the Fool ventures out into the city again.
Warnings/Rating: None yet, will update as needed.
Notes: All starters are closed, but please hmu if you’d like one!

I. Playing House (closed to Devin)

The apartment is spare in a way that speaks more to the demons that plague Devin’s heart than they do to his aesthetic preferences. The Fool is hardly one to criticize--especially being that he is the recipient of his partner’s kindness and generosity until his own living space can be salvaged. (If it can be salvaged.)

Some evening after Devin returns home from supporting the recovery efforts, he’ll find the Fool--with Holly perched upon his shoulder--listening to the latest news reports on the radio with a grave expression on his face. He glances up from where he sits to greet Devin with a wan smile, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes.

Understandably, one hopes. He’s been loathe to leave the apartment for very long after his experience during the storm.

II. Homeward Bound, The Incredulous Journey (closed to Zephyr)

One cannot avoid the world forever, and the Fool has never been one for remaining cooped up indoors for long. Besides, his (morbid) curiosity has gotten the better of him, and he is determined to see what has become of Die Rosa Tulpe--and his apartment. This excursion seems as good a reason as any to text Zephyr on his (newly acquired) yimo, to ask for a bit of help sorting through what’s left of his home.

“What’s left” turns out to be “drowned.” And inaccessible.

The Sentry won’t let him inside the strangely flooded building, but if nothing else, they are letting him close enough to it to see with his own eyes the state of the place. He’s left to stand staring at it in silent, wide-eyed awe.

III. Peculiar Derailment (closed to Rutile)

The copse of other-worldly trees that have sprouted up in the middle of the Skyway throw a wrench into the gears of the Fool’s plans to journey to the turtle’s head for a much-needed respite through meditation. The detour en route lets him disembark from the train a stop or so ahead of the closed section of track… and of course, curiosity gets the better of him.

He ventures towards it and stands just below the elevated tracks, lifting his eyes up to shield them from the sun as he takes in the strange qualities of the gnarled roots that protrude out into the open air.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The Fool doesn't quite startle when Zephyr claps him on the shoulder, though he does look almost alarmed until the hand is withdrawn. Still, while he can't hide his dismay over the state of Die Rosa Tulpe and his apartment, neither does he broach an argument.

(That is not to say that he has not been known to bend reality to his will from time to time--but not on such short notice, surely.)

"I'd say you can crash at my place, but X and I already have houseguests. Might be a tight fit."

A sigh and an airy wave of one hand, dismissing the concern. "You needn't concern yourself," he says without thinking, "I am staying with Devin for the time being." ...Oh yeah, there's a piece of news he hasn't had occasion to share with some of his friends yet. ...surprise!

Right. Hold back on the touchy, judging by that face. That's fine, Zephyr's not a big cuddler in the first place. He makes a mental note and moves on.

"As long as you're set," Zephyr says, with some doubt, and his continuing concern is rather obvious. "...wait, Devin? Doesn't know how to smile, suspicious nature, kind of a dick, that same Devin?"

Look, he's just checking. He's aware his experience of Devin can't be universal, but also he hasn't seen anything to imply to him that Devin has what you would call a softer side. As far as Zephyr knows, Devin stopped in to check on X out of self-interest.

"...wait, Devin? Doesn't know how to smile, suspicious nature, kind of a dick, that same Devin?"

"The very one," the Fool replies with a benign smile, but what delight he might otherwise derive from Zephyr's reaction is tempered considerably by the state of his home. He sighs and looks back to it again, unable to prevent melancholy from taking over his expression. "He has done what he can to make his home as comfortable for me as possible, but I had hoped to find some personal affects here to..." There, his voice trails off, and he lowers his gaze.

"I suppose there is nothing left to do but wait for the water to drain away, is there?"

What a smile that is. "That's nice of him," Zephyr says, still sounding highly dubious. "Let me know if he starts being a jerk, all right? I don't mind punching him for you."

Translation: Please give him an excuse to punch Devin for you, Fool.

It's a little harder to maintain lightness in the face of the last. Zephyr lets out a long sigh, companionably melancholy. "Probably not. Even if we could get in unsupervised, I don't think we'd practically be able to get to your things. ... Sorry."

Sighing, the Fool waves off Zephyr's apology, lacking even the energy to summon up a proper reassurance. What can he say--that he is all right? He isn't. After losing so much prior to his arrival in Aifaran, this loss aches more acutely than he'd expected.

"You said that you and X have lodgers?" he says instead, changing the subject entirely.

"Yeah. Just for now, but... well, who knows how long 'for now' is going to last?" Zephyr shrugs, looking a little uncomfortable, and glances from the Fool over to the drowned building, then back again. "Getting a little crowded, but I'm not the best at this."

Strangers, friends, anything. He's trying, he swears.

"...you wanna stay here, or...?"

He's better than he realizes. He's here after all, isn't he?

"...you wanna stay here, or...?"

"No," he sighs with audible melancholy, "I suppose not. Any exploration I attempt now will surely be thwarted." There, he casts a dubious look towards the nearby loitering Sentry, but a moment later he has looked to Zephyr again. He takes a moment to breathe in and rally his flagging spirits, then smiles. "Let us find a place to sit and speak, instead. You can tell me of your lodgers, if you wish."

There is an additional curiosity hidden within him--about Zephyr and X--but the Fool is careful not to reveal it just yet.

He is here. Zephyr doesn't quite realize how much that matters.

"There's not a whole lot to say about them," Zephyr says, shrugging lightly again. He's finding himself doing that a lot. "I'm not sure where I'd start. Mostly I try to stay out of their way. You're welcome to come for a visit, though?" He's pretty sure X would be happy to see him, if nothing else.

He's not sure there's anyone X isn't friends with.

"Here, I'm sure we can find a café that's still open."

"Here, I'm sure we can find a café that's still open."

There is one--albeit, not as nice a cafe as Die Rosa Tulpe is. Was. The Fool firmly forces those thoughts away and instead takes a seat near a window, and thanks the server who delivers to them a warm pot of spiced tea and two mugs. He gathers up the pot and pours one for himself, and then for Zephyr.

"You and X appear quite close."

Right for the jugular, eh Fool? There's a nosy, whimsical glitter in his eye as he looks back at his friend.

Zephyr's pretty quiet for most of the process of getting them settled, shoulders slouched, casually assessing their surroundings. He's not quite at the relaxed stage, but he nods an appreciative thanks when the Fool pours his tea, leans in to prop his elbows on the table and wrap his hands around the tea.

And then thank whatever deity happens to be listening he wasn't actually drinking any of it.

"I mean, we're roommates." This after just a touch too long to be actually casual. Zephyr quirks an eyebrow right back. "Wouldn't move in with someone I didn't like."

"Wouldn't move in with someone I didn't like."

"Naturally," the Fool replies with an enigmatic smile, evidently deriving a bit of enjoyment from this gentle needling. He hides half of his expression behind his mug of tea as he sips from it, then lifts his chin afterwards. "I shall not pry, of course--" of course, "--but I will say that you have good taste in friends." Friends.

Sip.

closed-ish, hmu if you want additional starters

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