cancry | Avaritia Arrival Log

[Oh, it is most assuredly allowed. He'd put an arm around Beast's shoulders if it wasn't for, like...wings that might make that a little more awkward. Don't worry, his hair gets a little nuzzle.]

We can even reduce it to five if you're terribly anxious. But I think we should give them a chance.

[ Good, then his head is staying right there. The nuzzle is greatly appreciated. ]

No, you’re right. Ten will fine. It would be good of me to try and learn not to worry so much anyway.

[ And then he smiles with a low half laugh. ]

Besides, it gives us some time alone.

Oh~? [Guess whose thigh is getting a squeeze!] Then maybe this mystery is a good thing after all, if what you really wanted was some time alone with your theater date.

[ He laughs under his breath again and gives Chiron a playful jab in the arm. ]

Maybe so. You do realize though that if you keep flirting like that, eventually I’m going to think you might be serious, right?

[ Like you have not also been affectionate and flirty you big dummy. ]

And? What would you call what you've been doing? Or perhaps you didn't really want to take me on a date after all. Terribly disappointing, but at least we got an adventure out of it.

Touché, I suppose.

[ He pulls himself away from the other’s shoulder at that, straightening back up. ]

...I really did want to do something nice for you tonight though. It felt like the least I could do after you so patiently listened to me that first night here in Avaritia.

[ He pauses for a moment, considering, then adds: ]

And I was... worried. When you vanished for those few days.

[ Because yeah he. Had definitely noticed that! ]

[He could make some witty repartee about owing for something so trivial, but then...doesn't. The jovial mood seems to evaporate in a moment, and he pulls his hands back to himself.]

Yes, well.

[Well what?]

I would hope it's not something I'll have to do again, but I'm well aware that lady luck, as it were, is not on my side.

[ If it’s one thing he became good at while alive, it was reading the room and detecting changes in mood. He senses the shift in Chiron’s and knows immediately that he hit a sore spot. His smile is gone and he keeps his eyes ahead. ]

Forgive me, it was not my intent to ruin the mood by bringing it up. I don’t expect you to talk about it and we need not dwell on it either. In fact, should you need to disappear again I would not hold it against you - after all there may very well be a time where “Lady Luck” will not be on my side either and I will wish not to be seen for a while.

[ He turns to look at him now. ]

But I... want you to know that if you ever need anything Chiron, whether it’s someone to talk to, a distraction or simply a shoulder to rest on, I will always be here for you. I am here for all of you.

Oh, Beast.

[His voice is touched, but the smile that worms his way to his face is not. Something more brittle.]

Try not to make promises that you can't keep.

[ Whatever Beast had expected to hear next it... it certainly wasn’t that.

Maybe any other person would have brushed it off and double downed, insisted that they meant it. But there’s something about that smile of Chiron’s combined with those words that hits him like a brick to the face, leaving him slack jawed and wide eyed.

Oh my. He has you and your bad little habits dead to rights, doesn’t he?

It’s a voice in his ear that isn’t his, pretty and sickly sweet... affectionate and hateful all at once.

After all, you couldn’t keep the promise you made to that man and that flock you loved so much. Or to your child. Or to— ]

[ He finds himself looking away in all sorts of directions, eventually settling downwards at his lap, his previously agape mouth now a tight, thin line and his brows are furrowed. ]

Ah, I... I’m sorry... I really have ruined the mood now h...haven’t I...

[ Has he? It doesn’t matter. His defense mechanisms are telling him to take blame. Take blame and walk on egg shells for a little while. Something doesn’t feel right, and the only explanation that makes sense to him is that it’s his fault, even if he had meant well. ]

But I... really mean it...

[ He sees their group as a family. As his kin. No matter who they once were or what they might have done, they’re here with him now and that’s all that matters. That’s enough for him to want to protect and take care of them.

But in the end that doesn’t really mean a whole lot, does it? ]

[ aaaaaaaaaand here come the children.

They are, apparently, making up for the earlier delay by being very fast now. ]

Sorry we're late! Where's the -

[ ... ]

[ ....... ]

.........is everyone........

.....all right??

[ nobody seems injured which is a relief

but why does he feel like he just made a terrible mistake ]

Ah, Rei, Monarch! [Who showed up just before Chiron could say anything else to jam his foot any further into his gaping maw. He's all smiles now. See Beast? Nothing Is Wrong.]

Yes, we're quite all right. We were getting worried about you, though!

But... you said you'd found the Authority...?

[ And, you know, things didn't go so great last time that happened. ]

Ah—

[ He’s thrown entirely off guard by the children appearing and it takes him a few moments to regain his usual composure, stumbling over words as he does. ]

Y-Yes, we did! Or r-rather I did. When you were all gone.

[ You know. When he was alone! Because that definitely won’t cause Rei ANY anxiety! ]

I-It is all right, nothing happened. I have the conversation recorded and we can listen to it together l-later.

....Still.....

[ Part of Monarch flickers in alarm - you mean they're still here, shouldn't the Executors be doing something, and there's also what he and Rei learned - but the crippling sense that He Done Goofed has him reverting to doormat mode. He doesn't know what he interrupted, but it was important. It felt significant. Even the way Chiron-san and Beast-san are acting indicates as much. They're trying to smooth it over, which means they don't want people to know...whatever it was. And Monarch interrupted that.

He looks down. There is a recording, isn't there? That was clever. He's impressed. It's probably easiest to listen to the recording. ]

.....Mm.

Come on now, sit - there should still be a show we all paid to see, and I suppose that includes the mystery guest. [He touches his finger alongside his nose with a wink.] I've got a bit of information about that, but I have to wonder if you two didn't get more.

[ Rei still looks mightily uncomfortable about all this but after a moment, she gives Monarch's hand a little squeeze before settling herself down in the seat next to Beast. ]

Well... I don't know if it's going to be as helpful but I think we technically found an Authority as well. Or a former one, at least.

[ Oh thank god Rei’s beside him now. He’s going to gently put his hand on hers, looking like he’s going to be reassuring to her when really it’s for him. At least he’s smiling again?? ]

You did?

[ Slightly relieved that we are at least talking shop, Monarch settles into the available seat. ] She's the cloaked figure. Or.....she's been hired to be.

[ monarch your inability to have had a life while alive is showing ]

Do you remember the person who seemed to lose Authority at the casino?

Mm, something regarding...aha, an actual Lady Luck, was it? Who Ruin saw break a winning streak?

Yes. The person who appeared earlier said she was "part of the show", and this is her first night. She took the job because "her luck ran out."

Avaritia Arrival Log

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