Wouldn't You Like to Know, Feather Boi?

Just wondering because it fucking sucks knowing the house that makes me happy is still tied to that awful woman. It makes me feel sad that a series I shared such love for with my mom, who passed shortly after the final film, is tied to a woman filled with such hate and vitriol.

I want to be a Hufflepuff. But not if it's tied to her.

It's my 12 year anniversary on Tumblr 🥳

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No clue on if it means I will be shipping Tom Holland and Robert Pattinson by the end or not.

Nothing to sea here...

Maybe it wants me to write or draw the doomed yaoi ABO... But would it be general fantasy, vampires, or mermaids?

....

"Ah... Well, that... This is fine, no worries," Olruggio answered with a bashful look, awkwardly taking the parcel. He was distinctively aware of his cheeks being very hot and red. He was already starting to question the plan the girls had drilled into him, picking apart the details like they were grains of sand to a crumbling sandcastle.

"Well, sorry to have drawn you out here. Really, I would have brought it right over if I knew. I hope I didn't cause you trouble at the shop," Qifrey continued, clocking his head to the side with a 'please forgive me' look, his blue eyes closed meekly.

Olruggio shook his head, but seeing that the other man had his eyes closed, he cleared his throat instead, to which Qifrey's bright blue gaze settled on him again. "You don't... You don't have ta worry. It's no trouble. Actually... Was hoping to talk to you, if that's alright?"

Qifrey blinked, feeling a little puzzled, but he gave a nod. "Perfectly alright. How may I help?"

"Oh, it's not that... I wanted to talk about... Ah, well, last week, I-"

"Brought by flowers? I know, I thought they were lovely. Tragic they didn't make it. I'm sorry to have wasted your hard work, Olly, truly I am." The way Qifrey's voice softened with his apologetic tone wrenched at Olruggio's heart. It was almost as crushing as when he found out the other man had to go to the hospital.

Olly hardly thought about what he was doing when he almost dropped the parcel just so he could take ahold Qifrey's hand, giving it a tender squeeze. "Don't worry about it. Was a donation, no need to fret o'er it. I'm more concerned about you, Qifrey, not some frilly flowers."

Qifrey blinked at him in a way that Olly could only compare to a surprised deer caught in the headlights of a car. But not in fear, thankfully. Just... Genuine surprise.

He released Qifrey's hand, fumbling with the parcel, mentally backpedaling. Oh geez, oh crap, that was too forward--

"That's... Very sweet of you, Olly. I... I didn't think I mattered to you like that."

Qifrey's voice was like a crystal dewdrop rippling across the sea of chaos that tried to brew in Olruggio's mind, bringing clarity and calm. The dark haired man paused long enough in his fumbling to take in the other's feature, indigo eyes drinking in all that was Qifrey before meeting brilliant blue. A hush stretched between them, the world seeming going quiet if but for this very moment before softly returning to normal.

"A... Aye. Ya do. I mean, you've been nothin' but kind to me. It... It'd feel wrong if I didn't care about ya, even just a wee bit."

It's harder when I tell them I've made progress and have managed to drink at least 24 ounces-- that's 4 times my usual, mind you-- and they say I am not even close to what I need to be drinking.

It makes what little progress I've manage feel like I haven't done anything at all.

And they don't realize how much that hurts and makes me feel like it's not even worth trying anymore...

So.

To all my girliepops and bloorbos who find themselves in the same shoes, and it doesn't even have to be water related. I want you to know that I see you.

I see your progress. I see your accomplishments.

And I am so proud of you. You're doing a good job.

Keep going, sweeties. You got this. I believe in you.

And if you need a break, that's okay. You did great today and I am so proud of you.

You're a superstar.

Never give up.

Truly, he had no idea who the parcel was meant for.

Nor why his young employees were set on him delivering it to them. Were they trying to keep him away from the shop? Surely it hadn't fallen that much into disarray in his absence.

Really he couldn't fathom any ideas as to what had gotten into their heads.

"Maybe I should go back, get some answers from them. I swear, those girls-- ah-!"

It was strange to go through the sensation of falling twice in one week. Though unlike the first time, this time Qifrey had all but walked into what felt like a wall of muscle that had him stumbling back and tripping over his boots. He scarcely had a moment to register that he was about to end up on his ass before his descent was brought to an abrupt halt with a warm, yet firm set of hands grabbing him by the shoulder and elbow. He found himself steadied and then dusted off, the panicked murmuring of his rescuer-- if he could call them that in this situation-- barely reaching his ears over the rush of blood in them.

When he had enough wits about him, he looked at his rescuer properly and then startled a little. Not in fear but in surprise.

"O-Olly?"

Poor Olruggio was still making sure he was alright, his face flush with embarrassment while he prattled about needing to be careful. But once Qifrey said his name, the florist clammed up, his face deepening into a beet red.

"Ah... Are you alright?" Qifrey asked, leaning in a little as he watched his neighborly businessman.

Olruggio stammered out a noise before half turning away, a hand scratching rather sheepishly in the most aggressive manner Qifrey had ever seen. It was... Honestly cute.

"I... I didn't see you there... Sorry, bout runnin' into ye... S'alright?" the raven haired man asked with maybe one or two shy glances his way.

So cute. "Yes, I'm fine. Thank you, I suppose I should be more careful as well. What brings you this way, then? Out on an errand, are we?"

Olly rubbed the back of his head, glancing at Qifrey's face then away. While the white haired man was curious about the other's antics, he still needed to be on the look out for whomstever the parcel belonged to. Because of that, Qifrey almost missed Olly's other hand pointing at him...

More specifically, at the parcel.

Listening to the echoes of messy cries and the clink of bottles just before they would zip out of the world, cleaned up like all the other refuse. It was easier yet to find him sniffling all alone at the café, holding onto a half empty glass of what looked like cranberry juice, but honestly could have been anything under Caine's censorship. Just seeing Jax slouched over the long table along the far wall of the cafe, his ears drooping and feverant tears plinking against the hard surface... Pomni wasn't sure if she need to hug him now with the implications to talk later.

Or if there would be a later.

She quietly approached him, taking up the empty seat next to Jax. Letting him have his moment with intruding too much. She probably already has.

Jax sniffled some more, ignoring her presence, or at least putting up the front that he was. She knew that was just part of how he coped, how he processed his feelings. If you could all this processing. She was already mentally steeling herself so she could handle whatever back lash he was about to unleash when Jax rubbed his eyes along the back of his empty hand.

"-bleep- Cranberry."

Pomni was quiet for a moment before she looked at him, head til to the side ever so slightly before she asked, "What cranberry?"

"It's a song..." Jax explained, sounding a little exasperated before he sighed and punched the space between his eyes. "It's a song I remember. Also a type of booze."

"Oh... The one starting with a V, right?"

"Yup."

Pomni frowned, trying to recall what the song could be with just those context clues, but without access to the real world, it was a little hard. But it's fine. Clearly the important thing was figuring out if Jax was in distress from the song he remembered or if this was something else.

"Do you... Feel bothered by it?" she asked slowly, watching him.

"...kinda. It's... More of the lyrics. And... I got too wrapped in them."

"That's okay. Sometimes it happens-" Pomni started to say before Jax's composure started to crumble, tears welling up at the corner of his eyes. She could see his lower lip trembling as he tried not to let whatever emotion he was feeling get to him. And she could see it was a losing battle.

"Jax... Hey, it's okay. Talk to me."

Jax sucked in a breath before sitting up, ears still drooping and tears still welled up. He sniffled before turning to look at her, visibly straining as he choked out, "S-speak up, I know you hate me. Looked at your p-picture and cried like a baby."

There was hardly a pause before Pomni found herself wrapped into Jax's tearful embrace. She understood now, what he meant. After what he shared with her back then, about Ribbit, she knew how much he faulted himself for his past actions. She wasn't sure why he was thinking about this song and it's lyrics, but it mattered more right now that he felt some really complex feelings right now. And that he needed someone.

'If he's here, it's crystal clear-

I'm where I'm meant to go.

And at last I see the light

And it's like the fog has lifted

And at last I see the light

And it's like the sky is new.

And it's warm and real and bright

And the world has somehow shifted...

All at once, everything is different

Now that I see you.

Now that I see you...'

No, the only investigation he conducted was looking over the parcel for any indication as to whom it belonged to or where it came from.

His search for clues was fruitful. A small tag was tucked against the side of the parcel, held in place by the black cord. Looking on the simple black script, he couldn't help but chuckle a little. It was very clearly in Agott's handwriting-- he knew her penmanship quite well, after all-- and was very clearly written with the office ink pen. He was pretty sure that was a pen she gave him for some kind of employer appreciation gift, but that was beside the point. All the tag said in his employee's handwriting was the name of a nearby park. While he wasn't very familiar with it as far as it's layout, he was familiar with how to reach it.

"Well, I certainly know a hint when I see one," he said with a sigh before turning, heading down the street towards the park.

All the while, Qifrey's young employees watched him leave from the privacy of the cafe, peeking through the blinds like the little spies they were. As soon as their boss disappeared, Agott gave Coco a nod. "Time for phase two. Go get Mister Olly."

"This is so exciting," Tetia said with a little shuffle, barely containing her glee.

"It is, but we have to make sure we don't blow it. If Qifrey leaves the park before Olly reaches it, this will be all for not," Coco pointed out while she switched her work apron for her overcoat.

"Then you better hurry," Agott said, grabbing the green haired girl's messenger bag and shepherding her out of the cafe. "Hurry now, Coco-- and good luck!"