"If what I write in the book of travellers can, when read by others at some future date, also entertain them on their journey, then fine. If they don't read it, or are not entertained, that's fine too." -- Fernando Pessoa
| IMPORTANT: Not accepting NSFW requests for now, sorry! But *looks wistfully into the distance* maybe one day...
📰❗ Latest Fics:
Homeward Bound (1.5k) Fluff. Valko may or may not have a soft spot for strays.
A Hopeless Romantic (1k) Humour. Valko tries to impress you at dinner, and you are never, ever, going to let him live it down.
Balcony Invasion (800 words) Humour. It was bold of Valko to assume your balcony is private!! It's not 💕
About me:
Hiiii! I'm Rach (she/her), 26, INTJ, aspiring writer with too much time on her hands and no Big Idea™️ yet, so here I am, playing with fictional men like puppets, mwa ha ha
I'm big into gaming, anime, history, and classic lit, so I like to draw inspiration from all over! You will be finding dashes of existential angst in even my soft and silly fics, sorry 🥀🥀🥀
Currently writing for: Love and Deepspace!
NOTE: This blog is anti-AI. I do not give permission for my work to be fed into AI or chatbots, or to be reposted. If any of my moots encounter issues with AI/ plagiarism, pls let me know so I can signal boost!
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Wow, okay, good morning everyone! I think I gained almost 200 followers overnight?? 😭 Thank you all for being here!
We have a lot to go over this morning, so let's just get started from the tippy top.
7/9/2026 8:45 AM CDT
Reminders
First and foremost, this is a kind, respectful, peaceful space. I will not tolerate any aggression or rudeness towards any person, group of people, or towards Infold. I'm here to give you information and hopium. This situation is stressful enough without adding negativity into the mix.
I do not have all the answers! I made logical assumptions based on the information I have. Without a statement from Infold, nothing can be 100% confirmed. Please take everything with a grain of salt, and use your critical thinking skills to draw your own conclusions.
I do not have substantial knowledge on coding or game development. I have a marketing degree and I currently work as a legal secretary. I am much more comfortable making assumptions about those particular topics, but I will gather as much information as I can about the situation as a whole.
I see all of your messages in my inbox, I promise! I will respond to as many as I can throughout the day.
Recap of Last Night
Yes, last night was a lot. But let me give you a very brief overview before we move into everything else.
"Coming soon" was removed. THIS IS NOT A BAD THING! This has also happened before! Here's a post with an explanation.
Valko's information remains fully intact. His WU story is the same as it was before the update, and the text messages from the Hunter's Association are still there. Here's my post with proof.
6.0 Updates
Glitches on glitches on glitches. Bugs everywhere. For example...
Not only that, but the bursts are glitching—specifically the myth bursts, from what I've seen. Limbs everywhere, discoloration, lagging—just a whole mess. The best explanation for this is that the devs had already added Valko's coding into the game, but chose not to release it with the current patch. Now, I don't know much about coding, but I do know that if one line is messed up, the whole thing is messed up.
I've received many messages saying that Valko's Discord channel and role were deleted. His channel was only hidden/archived, but the role was removed. I know this might seem like a step backwards, but I think of it differently. If Valko is coming back, he'll likely face a completely new announcement and reintroduction. I wouldn't take this as a major loss.
This post on X provides a detailed explanation of the changes, glitches, and bugs from a game development perspective. I found it very helpful!
Speculation
Some are speculating that certain cards are being censored. I cannot confirm or deny this. However, in my opinion, most of the "changes" seem to be glitches rather than intentional changes. We'll know more as time goes on.
This timeline feels incredibly strange. Valko was announced on June 22nd. Infold insisted that he was here to stay on June 27th. They cancelled his release on June 30th. That's a really quick switch-up. There are definitely a lot of factors involved in this that we don't know about. Here's a post covering the timeline of events.
Here's a post speculating on the CCP's involvement. I think it's very possible, especially given the fact that we haven't received any kind of statement from Infold. If the government/law is involved, they are likely unable to say anything at all.
The possible CCP involvement is what brings me to my next point. I do not believe we're being ignored by Infold. If that were the case, they would have addressed the CN players and not global—but they didn't. They only announced the cancellation of BW2026 to them because it takes place in Shanghai. The cancellation of the JP event was only announced to JP players. I don't think we're being ignored, I think Infold is literally barred from making a statement.
Protest Updates
We have a billboard in Hong Kong!
Those of you in or around NYC...
Thanks to a user on X who's been keeping count, I can confirm we are at around 4.8 MILLION posts in support of #bringvalkoback. We've been trending for 9 days straight!
According to this post, global players account for 52% of LADS's revenue. We have enough influence to make demands. Don't stop fighting!
CN girls on RedNote are begging us to keep making noise. They want Valko as much as we do! Keep going, friends!!
LADS is ranking REAL low on the charts. Like...REALLY low. Here's a post.
We are moving back to emailing Infold, as well as participating in the total boycott and protest today (info linked above). Here is my resources document, which contains all the info you'll need to email them!
Notes Do NOT log into the game. We need to affect their DAU metric (daily active users) Unfollow on social media (Instagram, X, TikTok, etc.
As always, I'll update you as soon as I have more information. I'll also be giving you a healthy dose of hopium in a little bit! Sending my love <3
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
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Okay, every take a breath. I know shit seems terrible right now. I know we're angry and upset. But let's take a minute and look at the facts. Bear with me.
Wander In Wonder was NOT the next multibanner on the schedule. They skipped over No Defense Zone AND Misty Invasion. Wander In Wonder has tie-ins to Chinese tradition. Rerunning this banner was a deliberate choice to improve their image in China.
They released TWO new crates in Xspace Echo—this is ONLY done when a new LI is introduced.
There is no mention of the main story in the 6.0 update summary. They are likely having to revise it to comply with government demands.
JP Discord still has the banner that includes Valko, and his channel and roles still exist as well.
All Valko content remains available on Twitter.
All Valko videos remain available (but unlisted) on YouTube.
X, RedNote, Instagram, and Weibo are still talking about him. We're still trending on X, which is where I check for most of my info.
I'm waiting for the update to fully go live, then I will be asking as many people as I can find if "coming soon," the texts, and the Eoncore WU story are still in the game. This will be a major tell.
We still do not have an official statement. Until we do, I'm holding onto hope. Infold is dealing with extremists, the government, and various other issues—this update is likely a way for them to buy some time.
DO NOT GIVE UP! If we don't fight, who will? If we don't speak up, who will? We've come this far. We've raised thousands for charity, we've gotten hundreds of thousands of signatures on petitions, we've kept Valko trending for eight days straight—this is not the end.
As always, I will update you as soon as I have more information. Sending love to all of you. Take care of yourselves—eat, rest, hydrate, cry if you need to. I know this is stressful, but we cannot stop here.
This this this!! Things feel bleak at the moment, but it’s not over! And seeing all the love for Valko and how much positivity and creativity people have created in these crazy circumstances is a pretty great silver lining! 🥹
Oof I know things are looking bad rn but you know what NOPE there are still so many unanswered questions, so many things that’ll need to be handled sensitively, things that might be taking time to resolve.
The lack of communication is abysmal but I’m still holding out hope!! If time is what this needs to get handled responsibly and to protect the devs etc, that’s okay. I’d rather wait than have them throw any more impulse decisions at us, especially with some of the toxicity and dangers they’re dealing with over there.
Won’t be logging into the game until we get news I don’t think, but I’m gonna have faith they’re trying to bring Valko back, and in a way that’ll stick this time!
Staying engaged with the fandom for now in delusion and optimism, but sending love to all my moots, and completely understand if anyone’s taking time away— if anyone needs to chat or vent, my dms are always open! 🫶
Hiiiiiii!!!!!! Congrats on 4.5k, that's amazing!! 🥹 Wishing you lots and lots of creative inspiration for the sleepover tehe, can't wait to see everything you come up with!
If you need any more prompts, would love your take on the 'you look like you want to kiss me' one for either Sylus or Caleb-- whatever inspires you more! No pressure of course and eep yeah just congrats again, sending you lots of love! 💕💕💕💕
planets collide, collide, collide.
caleb xia x gn!reader
summary: 0.5k
or the one where caleb would rather look at you than the meteor shower above him.
masterlist
Caleb always knew what was going on in the sky more than you did. He’d always been that way. When you were kids, he knew when all of the astrological events were set to take place and where exactly in Linkon the two of you needed to be in order to see it at the perfect angle. As you grew up, and as your schedules became ever more complicated and conflicting, you began missing things. Shooting stars, supermoons, solar and lunar eclipses.
But that didn’t mean that Caleb stopped keeping track. No, he still kept his little calendar of events in his phone, and he’d still text you with updates on days he knew there was going to be something spectacular you were going to miss. Now, he just also knew when he could get away with dragging you to go watch them with him, too.
“You’re not even watching,” you say as you turn your head to look at him. He’d taken the two of you out to a secluded park you hadn’t been to in Skyhaven, yet. He’d pulled out all the stops. He’d brought a quilt for you to lay on, a make-shift picnic shoved into a backpack, an extra hoodie in case you got cold. And it seems that he was going to miss the whole thing, because he wouldn’t stop staring at you.
“I’m watching,” he says, but he doesn’t even pretend to look up at the sky. He keeps his gaze locked on you, eyes scanning over your features. He knocks his knee against yours, like that’s proof enough that he was, in fact, watching the meteor shower.
“What’s that look?” you ask him, face scrunched up as if to shake his stare away.
“What look?” he asks.
“That one,” you laugh as you poke the space between his eyebrows. In an instant you’ve gone from marveling up at the sky, to crawling over the last few paces between you and into his lap. “You look like you want to kiss me.”
“Is that right?” he asks. “You think I have a specific look when I want to kiss you, pips?”
“I know you do,” you hum before gently tapping your forehead against his. His knees spread to accommodate your presence.
“Then you’ve gotta know that’s how I always look at you,” he whispers, eyes glinting and lips curled into an easy grin.
You hum in pretend thought before muttering, “Guess you should do something about that, then.”
“Oh, I should?” he laughs, and in an instant you’re flipped onto your back with Caleb hovering above you. He leans down until his lips are just barely brushing yours. “You’re trouble, you know that, pips?”
“You’re gonna miss it,” you murmur when Caleb’s head tilts to finally kiss you. He pauses, but he doesn’t pull back.
“There’ll be another one,” he says. “There’ll be a thousand more for us to watch together.”
When he’s sure you’re not going to interrupt him again, he closes the distance and presses his lips to yours.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
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Okay people, I've made a bingo template for tomorrow. Since we are so traumatized with all this whole situation, we could try to laugh about it. Feel free to use and change it. Share it with friends.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
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This came up on my feed and the whole plot for this struck me so suddenly I can only attribute it to Valko himself possessing me from beyond the grave. Going back to resurrection rituals now!!🕯️🕯️🕯️
Homeward Bound
Valko x Reader(gn!)
Summary: Valko may or may not have a soft spot for strays.
The rain pitter-patters on Valko’s umbrella, dripping from its edges and spattering down onto your combat boots.
“So,” you narrate, flicking water from the cuffs of your uniform as you walk, “there this guy was, tryna get an exclusive while the Wanderer played frisbee with half the road. Lampposts flying all over the place. Cars flung left and right. ‘Hey, can I get a statement?’ How’s this for a statement? Get the fuck out of the way!”
Valko grins, his canines peeking out from his lips. “Guy was asking for trouble. Shoulda let it find him.”
Your pace slows. “Actually, Val, he… he, um…”
Valko’s ears are lowering, like they always do when he thinks he’s misjudged something.
“Nah, I’m just messing with you. C’mon, Valko, he was fine. I’m a professional, remember?”
Relief escapes him. His ears perk back up.
“Anyway, where was I? Ah, yeah, so he was badgering me. The Wanderer had a shield up, and Xavier was off evacuating people, so Resonance was a no-go. I was firing away, and—”
It’s only when a large drop of rain hits your forehead that you realise you’ve left Valko behind. You’re suddenly escort-less. Umbrella-less. Your thumb swipes over your brow as you turn back.
“Uh… Val?”
Valko stands a little way down the pavement, his gaze cast off into an alley. An imposing figure— dark-suited, spared the glare of streetlights by the shade of his umbrella. The silence is soft, though. Late-night loneliness, tickled by rainfall. Nothing’s making your skin prickle, or your Hunter’s Watch cry out.
With a fond smile, you sidle over to him again. Lean in and enthuse: “You see something, boy?”
“Ha, ha.” His eyes roll. The dog jokes never get old. Or… wolf jokes? “It’s nothing. Just…”
You follow his gaze— pre-eyeroll, that is— to some cardboard boxes, going damp in the alley. You don’t see it at first, but then you do:
A little wolfie plush, abandoned. Upside-down in a puddle.
You look at Valko. Then the plushie. Then Valko again; he’s transfixed. It must be an existential crisis. Is he a man who stops for plushies? More pressingly— is he ready to be perceived as a man who stops for plushies? He gives you a sideways glance.
“Wanna check it out?” you coax in amusement.
He hesitates. “Sure. Whatever. Yeah.”
Taking the lead, you stray into the alley with Valko in tow— for the sake of appearances, a tagalong. He holds the umbrella over your head as you crouch by the plushie, wrinkling your nose. “Poor little thing. It’s kinda disgusting though, no?”
“I don’t think—”
“Germs galore. Yuck.”
Valko has crossed his arms, but he’s fidgeting on his feet behind you: trying so hard to be nonchalant. “Let me guess,” he huffs out, “you wanna take him home.”
“He’s a he?” You squint up at him suspiciously.
A tiny flash of panic, because yeah, that was a slip-up, wasn’t it? He clears his throat. Sneers again, like that’ll somehow save the situation. “You bleeding-heart types are into that, right? Picking up strays?”
Begrudgingly, your focus trudges back to the wolf. It’s caked with mud. One ear is torn, and an eye is missing— yellow thread hanging down, like a dangling optic nerve. It even smells. “Uh…”
“Leave it. It’s fine,” Valko sniffs, dismissive.
But the wolf has a backstory already. Something tragic and relatable, you can tell. Withholding a sigh, you pinch its good ear and lift it out of the puddle; sludge is sloughing off like a second skin. Ew. Ew, ew, ew…
Valko is watching intently, pupils wide and invested. Fuck.
…
The brush of Valko’s tail sways behind him at the kitchen sink. It’s been several rounds of washbasins, suds, and furious scrubbing, but you are making progress. He lifts Wolfie out of the bubbles. Smiles and sinks him under again. “He cleans up nice, huh? Told you he would.”
“Mm. Didn’t see the vision at first, but… he’s growing on me.”
That smile’s now a smirk. “Yeah? Don’t go getting all attached.”
You watch rubber-gloved hands wrestle with ruddy fur in the water. Poor Wolfie. “Why not?”
“Because he’s loved, idiot. He’s got somewhere to be, or someone to be with. Everyone does.”
In a world where Wanderers tear through city centres, you don’t know how Valko has managed to stay an optimist. Not everyone has a somewhere or a someone. People are left behind every day. Chance, cruelty, and circumstance. “You… really think someone’s looking for him?”
“Of course.” Valko pulls a sopping Wolfie out of the sink. “I mean, look at him. How lovable he is.”
He holds up the plush so they’re cheek-to-cheek: big, grinning wolf, and small, suffering one.
A little place aches, sharp and cynical in your chest. “Yeah, Val. He’s pretty lovable.”
Don’t think about how often ‘lovable’ winds up alone in puddles. You boop Wolfie’s nose, then tousle Valko’s hair.
…
“You think I’m crazy.”
“I think… passion takes on very different— all equally valid—forms.”
Surrounded by stacks of posters, Valko narrows his eyes at you like he can’t technically fault your answer, but he knows, deep down, you just called him crazy to his face. Behind him, the photocopier is whirring and spitting out more.
It bleeps when it runs out of paper. A desperate plea for mercy.
This is definitely a misuse of company property. Valko pushes his glasses up his nose before unloading the latest pile of posters, setting them aside with the others. As craziness goes, it’s immaculate. The stacks are in lines. Very neat, very organised.
You drop a poster on the floor so you can enjoy the way Valko bends over to get it.
“Klutz,” he murmurs cluelessly when he passes it back to you.
You’re smoothing it out so you can read it. “Guilty as charged.”
Wolfie stuns in an image at the centre of the page, haunted by descriptions of what you imagine would be his insecurities, if he were sentient: ‘Missing eye— right.’ ‘Permanent marker on the tail.’ Valko’s number is listed in bold. ‘Found: lost plushie! Call!’
“Think I printed too many?” Valko asks, an inkling of self-awareness creeping in.
“Nah, it’s perfect.” You slip up onto the table, legs swinging beneath you. Just as he starts to relax, you add: “Didn’t realise the search for Wolfie’s owner had gone international.”
He groans in exasperation, dragging a hand over his face; yeah, you think he’s crazy.
You laugh softly as you tug him over by the edge of a rolled-up sleeve. “I know why you’re doing this, Val. Why you’re really doing this.”
“… You do?”
“Mmhmm. It’s PR, right?” He’s relaxing again— at your fingertips this time. You’re straightening out his tie, and his story too, while you’re at it. “‘EonCore Chairman Spares No Expense To Reunite Plushie And Child!’ It’s a pretty good headline.”
Valko lets himself smile, chest ever-so-slightly puffed. It is a good headline. He shrugs. “That’s right.”
Wolfie is perched nearby on a filing cabinet, and between all the stacks of posters are a few copies of something Valko doesn’t know you’ve noticed, yet:
Four stubby wolf feet, scanned in a photocopier, just for fun.
…
It’s been three weeks since the posters went up across the city, but you’re glad no-one’s called. Valko is curled up on your couch, face squished uncomfortably against the armrest, and his ears twitch as he dreams. Wolfie’s bundled up under his chin, a bandage wrapped around his head in place of his missing eye.
“Did you take that from my first-aid kit?” you’d asked on the night of the rescue.
Valko had held the plushie defensively close and said, unconvincingly: “… No.”
You guess your silly optimist of a werewolf was right in the end— Wolfie did have a somewhere and someone to get to. It looks like it was worth the wait.
A phone rings on the coffee table— Valko’s— and you snatch it up before it can wake him. An unknown number? The audacity. You answer:
“Hello?”
“Hi!” The voice on the other end is ecstatic. “I’m calling on behalf of my daughter! We saw your poster. That’s Mr Biscuit! We’ve been looking all over… we can’t believe you found—”
You hang up the phone in a panic. Block the number. Erase the call history. For a Deepspace Hunter, crime and its clean-up come surprisingly easy to you; you must’ve spent too much time with Sylus. Furtively glancing over at Valko, you do feel like a crime boss, sparing the innocence of a trophy wife.
Wolfie is watching from the crook of Valko’s arm: one half-moon eye silently passing judgement. You narrow yours at him, then put your finger goes to your lips. Draw a threatening line across your throat. This stays between the two of us. Valko doesn’t find out, okay?
Snatching Wolfie out of Valko's hands as we speak since everyone's sooooooooooo worried about doing the right thing 😒 like the poor man hasn't BEEN THROUGH ENOUGH ALREADY!!!!!
This came up on my feed and the whole plot for this struck me so suddenly I can only attribute it to Valko himself possessing me from beyond the grave. Going back to resurrection rituals now!!🕯️🕯️🕯️
Homeward Bound
Valko x Reader(gn!)
Summary: Valko may or may not have a soft spot for strays.
The rain pitter-patters on Valko’s umbrella, dripping from its edges and spattering down onto your combat boots.
“So,” you narrate, flicking water from the cuffs of your uniform as you walk, “there this guy was, tryna get an exclusive while the Wanderer played frisbee with half the road. Lampposts flying all over the place. Cars flung left and right. ‘Hey, can I get a statement?’ How’s this for a statement? Get the fuck out of the way!”
Valko grins, his canines peeking out from his lips. “Guy was asking for trouble. Shoulda let it find him.”
Your pace slows. “Actually, Val, he… he, um…”
Valko’s ears are lowering, like they always do when he thinks he’s misjudged something.
“Nah, I’m just messing with you. C’mon, Valko, he was fine. I’m a professional, remember?”
Relief escapes him. His ears perk back up.
“Anyway, where was I? Ah, yeah, so he was badgering me. The Wanderer had a shield up, and Xavier was off evacuating people, so Resonance was a no-go. I was firing away, and—”
It’s only when a large drop of rain hits your forehead that you realise you’ve left Valko behind. You’re suddenly escort-less. Umbrella-less. Your thumb swipes over your brow as you turn back.
“Uh… Val?”
Valko stands a little way down the pavement, his gaze cast off into an alley. An imposing figure— dark-suited, spared the glare of streetlights by the shade of his umbrella. The silence is soft, though. Late-night loneliness, tickled by rainfall. Nothing’s making your skin prickle, or your Hunter’s Watch cry out.
With a fond smile, you sidle over to him again. Lean in and enthuse: “You see something, boy?”
“Ha, ha.” His eyes roll. The dog jokes never get old. Or… wolf jokes? “It’s nothing. Just…”
You follow his gaze— pre-eyeroll, that is— to some cardboard boxes, going damp in the alley. You don’t see it at first, but then you do:
A little wolfie plush, abandoned. Upside-down in a puddle.
You look at Valko. Then the plushie. Then Valko again; he’s transfixed. It must be an existential crisis. Is he a man who stops for plushies? More pressingly— is he ready to be perceived as a man who stops for plushies? He gives you a sideways glance.
“Wanna check it out?” you coax in amusement.
He hesitates. “Sure. Whatever. Yeah.”
Taking the lead, you stray into the alley with Valko in tow— for the sake of appearances, a tagalong. He holds the umbrella over your head as you crouch by the plushie, wrinkling your nose. “Poor little thing. It’s kinda disgusting though, no?”
“I don’t think—”
“Germs galore. Yuck.”
Valko has crossed his arms, but he’s fidgeting on his feet behind you: trying so hard to be nonchalant. “Let me guess,” he huffs out, “you wanna take him home.”
“He’s a he?” You squint up at him suspiciously.
A tiny flash of panic, because yeah, that was a slip-up, wasn’t it? He clears his throat. Sneers again, like that’ll somehow save the situation. “You bleeding-heart types are into that, right? Picking up strays?”
Begrudgingly, your focus trudges back to the wolf. It’s caked with mud. One ear is torn, and an eye is missing— yellow thread hanging down, like a dangling optic nerve. It even smells. “Uh…”
“Leave it. It’s fine,” Valko sniffs, dismissive.
But the wolf has a backstory already. Something tragic and relatable, you can tell. Withholding a sigh, you pinch its good ear and lift it out of the puddle; sludge is sloughing off like a second skin. Ew. Ew, ew, ew…
Valko is watching intently, pupils wide and invested. Fuck.
…
The brush of Valko’s tail sways behind him at the kitchen sink. It’s been several rounds of washbasins, suds, and furious scrubbing, but you are making progress. He lifts Wolfie out of the bubbles. Smiles and sinks him under again. “He cleans up nice, huh? Told you he would.”
“Mm. Didn’t see the vision at first, but… he’s growing on me.”
That smile’s now a smirk. “Yeah? Don’t go getting all attached.”
You watch rubber-gloved hands wrestle with ruddy fur in the water. Poor Wolfie. “Why not?”
“Because he’s loved, idiot. He’s got somewhere to be, or someone to be with. Everyone does.”
In a world where Wanderers tear through city centres, you don’t know how Valko has managed to stay an optimist. Not everyone has a somewhere or a someone. People are left behind every day. Chance, cruelty, and circumstance. “You… really think someone’s looking for him?”
“Of course.” Valko pulls a sopping Wolfie out of the sink. “I mean, look at him. How lovable he is.”
He holds up the plush so they’re cheek-to-cheek: big, grinning wolf, and small, suffering one.
A little place aches, sharp and cynical in your chest. “Yeah, Val. He’s pretty lovable.”
Don’t think about how often ‘lovable’ winds up alone in puddles. You boop Wolfie’s nose, then tousle Valko’s hair.
…
“You think I’m crazy.”
“I think… passion takes on very different— all equally valid—forms.”
Surrounded by stacks of posters, Valko narrows his eyes at you like he can’t technically fault your answer, but he knows, deep down, you just called him crazy to his face. Behind him, the photocopier is whirring and spitting out more.
It bleeps when it runs out of paper. A desperate plea for mercy.
This is definitely a misuse of company property. Valko pushes his glasses up his nose before unloading the latest pile of posters, setting them aside with the others. As craziness goes, it’s immaculate. The stacks are in lines. Very neat, very organised.
You drop a poster on the floor so you can enjoy the way Valko bends over to get it.
“Klutz,” he murmurs cluelessly when he passes it back to you.
You’re smoothing it out so you can read it. “Guilty as charged.”
Wolfie stuns in an image at the centre of the page, haunted by descriptions of what you imagine would be his insecurities, if he were sentient: ‘Missing eye— right.’ ‘Permanent marker on the tail.’ Valko’s number is listed in bold. ‘Found: lost plushie! Call!’
“Think I printed too many?” Valko asks, an inkling of self-awareness creeping in.
“Nah, it’s perfect.” You slip up onto the table, legs swinging beneath you. Just as he starts to relax, you add: “Didn’t realise the search for Wolfie’s owner had gone international.”
He groans in exasperation, dragging a hand over his face; yeah, you think he’s crazy.
You laugh softly as you tug him over by the edge of a rolled-up sleeve. “I know why you’re doing this, Val. Why you’re really doing this.”
“… You do?”
“Mmhmm. It’s PR, right?” He’s relaxing again— at your fingertips this time. You’re straightening out his tie, and his story too, while you’re at it. “‘EonCore Chairman Spares No Expense To Reunite Plushie And Child!’ It’s a pretty good headline.”
Valko lets himself smile, chest ever-so-slightly puffed. It is a good headline. He shrugs. “That’s right.”
Wolfie is perched nearby on a filing cabinet, and between all the stacks of posters are a few copies of something Valko doesn’t know you’ve noticed, yet:
Four stubby wolf feet, scanned in a photocopier, just for fun.
…
It’s been three weeks since the posters went up across the city, but you’re glad no-one’s called. Valko is curled up on your couch, face squished uncomfortably against the armrest, and his ears twitch as he dreams. Wolfie’s bundled up under his chin, a bandage wrapped around his head in place of his missing eye.
“Did you take that from my first-aid kit?” you’d asked on the night of the rescue.
Valko had held the plushie defensively close and said, unconvincingly: “… No.”
You guess your silly optimist of a werewolf was right in the end— Wolfie did have a somewhere and someone to get to. It looks like it was worth the wait.
A phone rings on the coffee table— Valko’s— and you snatch it up before it can wake him. An unknown number? The audacity. You answer:
“Hello?”
“Hi!” The voice on the other end is ecstatic. “I’m calling on behalf of my daughter! We saw your poster. That’s Mr Biscuit! We’ve been looking all over… we can’t believe you found—”
You hang up the phone in a panic. Block the number. Erase the call history. For a Deepspace Hunter, crime and its clean-up come surprisingly easy to you; you must’ve spent too much time with Sylus. Furtively glancing over at Valko, you do feel like a crime boss, sparing the innocence of a trophy wife.
Wolfie is watching from the crook of Valko’s arm: one half-moon eye silently passing judgement. You narrow yours at him, then put your finger goes to your lips. Draw a threatening line across your throat. This stays between the two of us. Valko doesn’t find out, okay?
