Cheria and I are going to a Realm of Shadows to fight some demons- Sophie might be coming too. I dunno when we'll be back, but we left some money on the counter if you get hungry.
Anyway, that's all. Timcanpy's in charge while we're gone, okay?
It's Cheria! I just wanted to let you know we won't be home tonight. Kaneis is such an idiot! He ran off to fight demons and I can't just leave him alone, and Sophie said she's coming too, so-
Anyway, Kaneis left money on the counter, and there are leftovers in the refrigerator for you to eat.
Cheria must have told you that we won't be home for dinner tonight. I'm sorry. I left Flamey, Tiger Festival II, and Tiger Festival III at the table so you won't have to eat alone.
[ cat of the canals had become cat of the alleys. she crept them like a cat, disappearing as easily as she appeared. yet one of her favorite places to eat wasn't in the alleys at all, but in the hold. she was fond of allen, and kaneis was a good cook. the two women in the flat she found stupid and gladly avoided. she had stopped coming for a while, but just a suddenly as she had gone she had reappeared at the door.
from her manner, it was like the previous weeks had not happened. the girl wears cat's face out of familiarity. allen knows little. he does not know of the faceless girl. he still thinks her as cat, and cat she becomes. it is easier. cat is simple. and unlike where she sleeps, here she is untroubled by arya stark's ghost.
the girl eats her food and fills the air with unimportant chatter and impertinent questions to avoid speaking of herself. she feels odd, almost ill. rising, she excuses herself to retreat into the bathroom, leaving her half-finished meal on the table.
and there she stays, without a word, long past any expected wait.
[He doesn't question her. He was glad she'd come back, and if she wanted things to return to how they had been, he would let them.
And Allen waits politely, at first, after she excuses herself. He idly eyes her unfinished food and strikes up a one-sided conversation with Tim to fill the silence; but minutes tick by and he begins to wonder if perhaps he should inquire if everything's all right.
But that might be rude.
Was the food bad? He feels fine, but he's used to different foods... He shouldn't ask, he's sure she'll be back soon, she'll be cross if he bothers her. Why is he even worrying? He's being ridiculous.
But more time passes. He goes quiet, looks from Tim, to the clock, to the bathroom door. The apartment's silent again.
Maybe she's not all right.
Okay, okay - it can't hurt to check. He pushes his chair back.
And steeling himself, he knocks on the door, lightly,] Cat...?
[ So it's approximately day three of his stay here and after he has picked through the network and visited some of the noteworthy locations that are listed for use by transports and gotten used to the idea that this isn't some bizarre dream, it's about time to figure out what to do about Allen Walker...
He'd seen a post from two months ago with some rather concerning information about when Walker was from which made approaching him now all the more difficult (though a dutiful part of him can't help noting it's also an opportunity). It takes him a moment of staring at the contact options before he finally settles on Video... ]
[ When Allen receives the call, he is greeted by the image of a solemn-faced stranger who seems slightly preoccupied by some thought or other, set against the backdrop of the training facility where new transports are being temporarily housed while construction on the apartments continue. ]
[And Link will be treated to a video of featuring Allen Walker, looking hale, if pastier than usual, wearing a knit sweater and shorter-cropped hair, blinking bemusedly at the screen.
This is the first time somebody he's never met has contacted him privately, he was not expecting this. (Is... it a misdial?)
[Since he's not sure he wants to brave to see...whatever Allen's doing in his room, he's just going to leave a voice message...from his own bedroom. He probably should have done this earlier, but you know, got distracted with all the other stuff going on]
Hey Allen, it's Kaneis. I have a favor to ask- it's nothing big, promise!
[Someone is pounding determinedly on your door, Allen.
Bang, bang, bang. Bang bang bang! Hopefully the universe and all and sundry have their fingers crossed, that Allen will be the one to answer and no one else. Tyki is not in the best of moods.]
[There's an 'I'm coming!' from the other side, accompanied by hurried footsteps. And Allen swings the door open quickly, expecting to see, perhaps, Kaneis with groceries or-
not this.
He grips the doorknob tight enough to nearly dent it, and briefly considers slamming the thing shut in Tyki's face. As if that would accomplish anything.]
Sophie? He'll be back soon, I'm sure! [ JUST A FEW DAYS they will make it, they can survive! ] Don't worry, we can get you something from the cafeteria...
[Zelos, slowly going insane from the snow mission and the fact it's his one year anniversary in this place- has one of two options: seek out hard liquor, or human contact]
[Sadly, he does not have the money for booze.]
Happy Anniversary Allen. We've been in this shithole one year now.
Assuming you haven't starved while I was away, anyway.
A year. When he arrived one December ago, he never thought for a second he'd still be here, after all this time. The last time he walked the Order's halls, the last time he saw an Akuma's soul, it feels like a lifetime ago...
[ she left the party when the headache turned splitting and nymeria's whining started drawing attention. more attention than normal. she gets as far as the next virtual reality room. after shutting the door firmly behind her, she sinks to the floor.
her cheeks feel too hot even for her. coming down with something. probably nothing, but she doesn't want to worry robb. zelos isn't here. donny is gone too. stupid as he is, he could have snuck her some medicine. which leaves— ]
Allen. [ her voice sounds thick. she rubs at an eye. ] Allen, answer.
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