Wanderlust, Wander Lost

Cliff felt grareful he was able to get a job at such short notice. He was sure a lot of people were in the same spot he was, but he also had the added trouble of his own anxiety and fears. A library seemed the perfect place for an introvert like him to work while the church was being rebuilt.

Currently, he was reshelving books and humming to himself as he worked. He heard a voice and glanced up.

“S-sorry, can I help you?”

cliffbarboy​:

Ashes to Ashes [Open]

Read More Now!

[-1,000G] for living in Shade Apartments alone.

[+500G] for making one open post

[-500G] lost, new total [6,500G]

Cliff sighed softly. His paycheck would have been more than enough to handle his rent, but thanks to what happened...

“Guess I’ll have to get a new job.”

cliffbarboy​:

Ashes to Ashes [Open]

What’s Cookin? || Popuri & Cliff

Popuri was lucky to have a lot of friends from her childhood on the islands. One of which was her next door neighbor!!!

Tonight Popuri was wasting time playing one of her otome games. She was on a date with Kyoya. She had to play all the dialogue right if she wanted to get a full star date!

But something broke her focus… a smell… a good smell. She stopped playing and thought for a second. Cliff must be cooking! And she wanted some.

Popuri dropped her game and immediately went over to Cliff’s door, which was just next to hers.

She knocked on the door, “Cliff it’s me!”

@cliffbarboy

It was nice having old friends from Mineral Town here in Arcadia to hang out with, and Popuri was no exception. She was a sweet girl, all things considered, though a little on the eccentric side. And a friend either way, of course.

Though she did seem to pop up whenever he cooked something. He placed his dinner on the stove top to cool  and turned off the oven, before going to the door. He opened it and leaned against the door frame.

“Hey, Popuri. I’m guessing you’re hungry?”

runawayflower​:

“It’s alright.” Celia held her hands behind her back. Once again rocking back and fourth on her feet. “I wasn’t worried, I just wanted to make sure you weren’t lost.” She smiled, giggling softly. “I know whenever I first got here I got lost all the time!”

She stopped swaying, absentmindedly fussing with the apron on her dress. So she wasn’t the only one feeling a sense of deja vu. 

“Uhm, I’m not sure.” She sheepishly admitted.

“You look quite familiar yourself.” She paused, putting a finger to her lips. “You didn’t happen to live in a place called Mineral Town, did you?”

Cliff managed a small smile. The girl was odd, it seemed, but very kind. He was happy someone like that could check in on him, instead of that weird girl with the god complex. Seemed Arcadia was full of all dtypes...

His expression visibly brightened when she mentioned Mineral Town. So that’s where he must have seen her! Though he still didn’t recall what she did in town...

“I did. Really nice place. I helped Carter with the church. Did you live there too?”

Pandora bit her lip in frustration. She was used to getting what she wanted. Being treated that way by a human, well, that was unacceptable. 

“You will be permitted to leave once you get on your knees and beg for forgiveness.” She put one hand on her hip and had the other pointed at the man. Pandora wasn’t letting him leave without a fight.

He had tried humoring her. He had tried being polite. And still she was acting like a spoiled child with a god complex. He had to put this conversation to an end so he could get on with his chores.

“I don’t have time for this,” he mumbled, as he tried to go around her. “I have things I need to do. Have a good day, Miss.”

The sight before Cliff would haunt him until the day he died. His job, his secondary home, Celestia Church - it was nothing but ashes. He balled his shaking hands into fists and sucked in a trembling breath. It still smelled of smoke and fire. 

He had hoped he would be able to get there before everything had burnt to a crisp. He had been wrong.

“Just once... can’t something go right?”

[-1,000G] for living alone in Shade Apartments

[+1,500G] for working at Celestia Church

[+500G] for making one (1) open post

“Insolent boy!” Pandora couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She was used to people putting up with her behavior, so to her this was inexcusable. It took her a moment to think of a response because he was right, it wasn’t her business, but that never stopped her before.

“I will give you but a moment to retract your statement and apologize profusely.” She stared him down and adjusted her posture so that she would gain some height. Crossing her arms, she waited.

She was still keeping up with that attitude? Did this girl really think herself on the level of the Harvest Goddess, really? Who was that crazy?

Cliff sighed softly. He really just wanted this conversation to be over. He had errands to run, and this weird girl was keeping him from them.

“Can I please just go? I have things to do, Miss...”

runawayflower​:

“Oh I’m sorry!”

Celia quickly pulled back, fixing her dress as she did so. The stares quizzically at the individual before her. Now having a better view of his face he looked so very familiar, but she couldn’t quite place where she’d seen him before. Whoever he was he didn’t look like he was from around here. She could tell a foreigner when she seen one, considering she was one herself.

“I just wanted to make sure you were alright. You seemed lost. Sorry to bother you.” She was clearly flustered.

Cliff managed a small smile. The girl may not have cared too much for his personal space, or at the very least forgot to maintain it, but she didn’t seem like a bad person.

“Thanks for that. I just have a lot on my mind,” he said softly. He tried to maintain eye contact for all of a few seconds, before glancing away. Keeping eye contact had also never been a strong suit of his. “Sorry to worry you, Miss...”

There was that feeling again. That he should know who this girl is or, at the very least, her name.

“Hey, pardon the weird question, but... Do I know? You, uh... look familiar.”

He realized she might think he was hitting on her. Hopefully not. He was a nervous wreck but didn’t want her to think he was some kind of creep.

“Unfortunately for you, we have not. Your luck, however, has changed as you have just been graced by my presence.” The man’s greeting was less than satisfactory. He should be honored just to speak to her as far as Pandora was concerned.

“So answer me now, mortal and do not make me repeat myself again. Why do you pray to these false idols?” She was rather irritated that she had to repeat herself, but she would let it pass this once. As long as he gave her a proper answer, that is.

What a strange girl. And strange was putting it nicely. He had no idea who this girl was. He didn’t even know her name. And yet she was making all these assumptions about Cliff and his beliefs.

“Ma’am,” he said, exhaustion seeping into his words. “I’d really prefer you didn’t talk to me like that. The harvest gods aren’t false idols either, so... can you just mind your business, maybe?”

He hated being so assertive. It made him anxious and wore him out.

@resxnullius​

Cliff was what you might call a religious young man. He had hopes, dreams, and worries, and he prayed about them all any chance he could get. He supposed he gained that trait from his mother.

Today was no exception. While wandering the Fugue Forest to help clear his anxious mind, Cliff prayed aloud.

“Most holy harvest gods, please hear my prayers,” he said, unaware of anyone that might be listening. “I am in desperate need of friends. And a reason. Whether that’s to stay or to go, I’m not sure...”

He carried on like that without a care. Why would anyone be there to hear him, after all?

[-1,000G] for living in Shade Apartments alone

[+1,500G] for working at Celestia Church

[+500G] for writing one (1) open

runawayflower​:

The ocean breeze was so lovely. Especially on a warm, lovely day such as this. Celia hummed, kicking her feet back and fourth as she meandered along the coastline. Her work was done back on the ranch, so she decided to take a break down by the ocean to relax and unwind.

“Hmm hm hmm–.” Her humming stopped as she noticed a man standing by the docks, staring out at the ocean. Normally she’d have passed on by and minded her own business. But there was something interesting about the man. Like a feeling of Deja vu.

“Excuse me?” She’s walked towards the man, holding her hands behind her back and leaned forward, perhaps a little too close into his personal space. “Is everything alright? You seem troubled.” Where had she seen this man before? 

Cliff had been so caught up in his thoughts that he hadn’t even noticed the woman lean into his personal space, startling him from his thoughts. He flinched away from her, face red from his little space bubble being invaded.

“A-ah!” he let out a small yelp, before awkwardly clearing his throat when he saw it was just a gentle-looking girl. She looked familiar too. Where had he seen that face before...?

“Geez, you startled me! I’m... I’m fine. Just thinking.”

He couldn’t help but think she was a little weird. But, then again, so was he.

Cliff never stayed in one place too long because no place ever felt enough like home to draw him to stay. The islands were no exception. Sure, the islands were great and all. Beautiful and full of kind people. But it didn’t feel like home. So here he was, yet again looking for a reason to leave and a new place to go.

He stood at the docks glancing out at the deep blue sea, a sullen look on his face. A firm frown was etched into his tan features. A faraway look clouded his blue eyes.

When will I find a place that feels like home...?