ϡ - Chapter ThirtyTwo; fourth wall [action/voice]

[folklorist]

[ Well, well, well what do we have here? Helios is in the plaza today just...taking in the sheer amount of people that seem to have come in overnight. Unfortunately the real Helios has been mallynapped prior to all this madness. So, yes, your Helios is in another facility being experimented on. However! This Helios is the real Helios as well so he is...just going to be derping around for a good portion of the day. You can run into him if you'd like as he is ever so prone to running into other people. In which cases of doing so you will get an apologetic 'I'm so terribly sorry!' from him.

Otherwise nevermind this derpy headmaster. He also might be lugging around some cookies he procured from the shop. Mm they smell tasty and are probably just as delicious too. ]

I implore everyone whose here to try out the cookies in the bakery! They're positively delicious, a little Luceti home cooking if you will. But, ah, w-welcome to Luceti. It's a bit to get used to...

If you have any questions there are more than enough people willing to answer though! Don't be shy, either, we're all quite willing to help here. [ And with that there will be a loud munch as he takes a bite of one of those cookies. Mmm so good. ]

Comments

[Action]

[bestpokerface]

[When you're a tiny cat amongst so many people, even on two legs it can be a bit difficult to see where you're going. At some point, she bumps right into Helio's legs.]

Whoops! Sorry!

[She looks up and gives him an apologetic look. Or she would if she had a face.]

[myveryownclone]

[As Helios turns a corner he might accidentally bump into Robert, who is immediately around the corner from him in a blind spot. After bumping into this obvious stranger, the scientist will proceed to apologise profusely.]

Oh! M-my sincerest a-apologies, I, I was n-not paying p-proper attention.

[truelight_soulbright]

[Well, this person he bumps into doesn't seem upset about it at all. In fact, she positively beams up at him.] Oh, there you are! I've been looking everywhere!

[And, with that, Elise throws her arms around him in a happy embrace.]

... o/

[scalethetower]

[FOLLOWING THE SCENT OF COOKIES--

No, he's (probably) not that gluttonous. But hey, Helios, there is a perhaps familiar glowy kid wandering through the plaza, perking up as he sees Helios from a distance.]

[Action]

[folklorist]

[ Helios almost doesn't register it but he will startle and then blinking. ] Oh! I-I'm so terribly sorry! A-Are you-

[ a cat...with no face. How very odd. Helios will tilt his head a little, curiously, before blinking and then starting again. Manners Helios my god! ] -Ah! Yes, nothing to worry about! Are you alright?

[folklorist]

[ He is running into everyone and everything today it seems. Whelp that's his life at least it isn't coffee tables or the like! ] Oh! N-No it's mine.

[ ...wait. ]

Robert?

[myveryownclone]

[A few moments of stunned silence, while Robert just sort of gapes at Helios. He then quickly snaps out of it, trying to compose himself. But he can't hide how uneasy he feels.]

... H-how do you know my n-name?

[folklorist]

[ Oh my god. No just...what? Helios doesn't even register who it is for a few seconds because he just...there are no words. This embrace, that voice, that beautiful green hair. No it's not possible. He will flinch and hunch at that warm impossibly long since felt embrace.

But his voice and expression turn into ones of undeniable mixtures of sorrow, happiness, and somewhat relief all in those few brief instances. ] Elise...

[ He returns that embrace with a bit more fervor than his soulmate. Yep he has missed you for a very long, long, time dear. He also might be giving you a quite cold, be still passionate, kiss. ]

hjghj Naoki!! ;3;

[folklorist]

[ Helios, who has just managed to dodge yet another individual, will notice that glow off in the distance too. He...he is going to stare for a moment. And then a rather broad smile will touch his lips as he hurries over, an excited wave is given as he gets closer. ] Naoki?!

[truelight_soulbright]

[The expression on his face is almost distressing, all those mixed feelings. And the intensity catches her off guard for a second. But it's all just reinforcing how she always feels around Helios - that she's loved, and safe. Elise returns the kiss with equal passion, keeping her arms around him, leaning against him. When they finally pull apart, her eyes are bright and her smile is happy.]

I missed you, too. [It's clear that she has no idea just what those words will come to mean some day, of course. She brings up one hand and rests it against his cheek, allowing herself a look of concern.] Good lord, Helios, you're an icicle. How long have you been outside?

;w;!!

[scalethetower]

[Naoki grins at the sound of his name, taking a few trotting steps to close the distance between them. For him, well, isn't it just another day? Seeing Helios isn't a strange thing--he hasn't noticed his own lack of wings yet.] Hey!

And just for fun...

[consultmybooks]

[You seem to have acquired a tagalong, Helios.

If the way he keeps sniffing is any indication, the cookies are probably to blame for this fact.]

[folklorist]

Ah! W-Well... [ Hm okay not the reaction he was expecting but, well, this has been an interesting day so far. Not that this Helios can really talk. I mean he isn't even the real one. ]

We're...rather good friends here. [ He notes the other with some concern. ]

And then I go tag Giles with Bitty!Helios

[folklorist]

[ Helios has been aware, so very aware. And he can't help but pause in his walking as he turns ever so slightly to peer over his shoulder. Think fast Rupert! Before he sees you! ]

it's been so looong

[folklorist]

[ Helios has but that can wait! He is just...ever so happy to see you. ] It's been a rather long time, hasn't it?! H-How have you been?

\o/ Yes! I approve of this plan!

[consultmybooks]

[What? Hell no. Rupert is going to stand right there and look back at Helios. Taking a deep breath, he says with all the seriousness and sincerity of a child:]

I want a biscuit.

[Then, because he tends to forget these things:] ...please.

it haaaas!

[scalethetower]

It--has? [Pardon the confused look that sweeps over Naoki's face, but his smile doesn't dim. He's always happy to see a friend, okok.] I've been good! And you, Helios?

[folklorist]

[ So many mixed feelings. And at those words he bites his lip gently but still pulls her close to him, reveling in this long forgotten embrace. ] I've missed you so much.

[ It's murmured as he plants one last kiss on her cheek. His smile is actually purely genuine for once as he sees the life and brightness in her eyes.

Still. He might flinch slightly and then take both of her hands in his. ] I lost track of time. It-it's n-nothing. I'll be fine! [ So very untrue but he manages a smile nonetheless. ]

We sh-should get you inside though. Ah! We can go to house.

kekeke he'll be all gihsgr too many people everywhere /hides

[folklorist]

Ah! A cookie? Why didn't you say so before! [ Helios is only too obliged to give you a cookie Bitty!Rupert. He'll take one out of the bag and hold it out for Giles to take. ]

It's rather crowded today...where did all these people come from... [ Just shifting that bag in his arms now, yep. ]

[truelight_soulbright]

The house? [Elise raises a curious eyebrow.] We have a house here? Then yes, by all means, let's go to the house. I think we both need to warm up a bit. [She notes the flinch - always sees it when he flinches - and it hurts her like it always does. But then she smiles and casts her gaze around the plaza.] Lead the way.

No, bitty!Helios, it's okay! No one will hurt you!

[consultmybooks]

[Rupert takes the cookie without hesitation and bites into it appreciatively. Mmmm, chocolate. It's only after the cookie is half gone that he remembers:] Th-Thank you.

[And then he shrugs.] I dunno. How'm I supposed to know why there's so many people here? Maybe they all want a biscuit. I dunno.

[folklorist]

We d-do. [ Even as he says, even as he leads her towards the house, with his cold fingers laced between hers, his heart is racing. How could she be here? How is any of this possible? His stomach drops ever so slightly it's the one horror he was dreaming of coming true. He didn't run, he couldn't run, not from her.

But, no, she doesn't have wings and has to mean something. Was it a shift? Gods he doesn't even care at this point because this is Elise and she is alive and he...he gets to touch and feel her again. He doesn't want this to end...but he knows. He always knows it will. ]

It's-it's where me, Giles, Ginia and A-Adele have been staying. [ He smiles looking back at her. ] They'll be so delighted to meet you! [ Even if he hasn't really told anyone about you. But that's a topic for another day. Someday...in the future. But probably not that far off. How is he supposed to keep that a secret from her? No, he needs to stop thinking about it. Not ruin this moment with those hampering thoughts. ]

I'll show you around later. It's a rather quaint little village and the people in it are quite welcoming.

[folklorist]

I-I think a...year actually. [ A frown. Almost a year now, wasn't it? ] I've been...good. Very good. I-I can't really complain. [ He's lying but you know. ]

[scalethetower]

A year? [Naoki's quiet as he takes this in, a frown finding its way over his mouth. He doesn't even remember leaving-- But that's not surprising, is it?

--hm. Remember how your friend is rather perceptive, Helios? Now's about one of those times it decides to kick in and he looks at Helios closer.] Are you sure?

[littledragongirl]

[He might hear a loud tummy-rumbling at some point. That's the fault of a little green-haired girl roaming the town, disoriented from her sudden arrival. If that isn't enough to alert him, perhaps her bumping into him will?]