what phase is the moon in tonight?

This just means I’m going to be active behind the scenes. I meant it when I said I wanted to rebrand and draw more inspiration from classic tales. But it is honestly taking me longer than expected to rewrite things. I’m almost finished with Carmichael’s story, but I’ve still got Hinata and Xavier to work on. I’ve been making voice memos for myself when I drive to help me sort out ideas I have.

Sometimes it's quite interesting for Atieno to run into varying travelers when they are moving across the universe. One never knows exactly the kind of individuals that they were likely to encounter along the way.

During a certain stop to pause for a little bit, they found themself very curious about how this individual's travels actually were going. But maybe being more.. observant in their statements was more of a better approach starting off.

“Oh, yes.” Ula replies in a mellowed voice, never taking her eyes off of the ocean as the two sit on the deck of their little houseboat. 

The water rhythmically pushed against the boat, causing it to rock soothingly like a baby’s crib by a loving hand.  It made Ula feel content and drowsy with delight.  She takes her time giving a complete response to Atieno.  If Atieno was trying to get a what and why from Ula specifically, it went over their head. 

“There’s a man that visits the the souviner shack by the beach every Saturday morning to buy a collection of shells not native to these oceans.  Then, he comes down onto the beach and tosses the shells out onto the shore.” A bemused grin lazily lifts Ula’s lips.  “Beachgoers show up later and find them. They are so happy. They don’t know the shells aren’t a natural occurrence on these beaches. The man sit backs and watches from a distance.”

Ula finally lifts her gaze from the dark waters to Atieno’s face. “I’m still trying to figure out the why.”  

"...Lotta things," he chuffed, expression softening just slightly. "Better question'd be wha' problems ain't I havin'."

And how to explain! How, indeed, to explain the politics of Red Hand operations, the regrets of deals he wished he'd never made, lives he regretted taking, the many more he ruined, the many others he had yet to ruin, secrets he'd stolen, betrayals, lies; How to confess, how to tell... but he'd never been any good with words, and no matter how much he wanted to, he had no tears to shed.

Lids hung heavy over stormy gray, and the frustrated fox settled back down in his seat, arms crossed tightly over his chest as exhaustion set in. He knew he needed to start small, that perhaps admitting to a small thing would be enough long enough for him to get some sleep, sort it through, unclench his jaw, relax-- But he didn't know how to do that. He never knew how to do that.

The caretaker within Carmichael shrieked internally upon hearing the young man hadn’t eaten or slept in several days. Had the troubled man been a more mild tempered person, Carmichael might’ve shrieked aloud.  Rather than creating more problems Carmichael focuses on the ones he can fix. He brightens a little knowing that he could provide food, water, and shelter.  Counsel, too, once the basic needs were met. There was no good in discussing emotional anguish on an empty stomach. 

“I’ve got a jam donut with your name written all over it.” If he knew his name, that is.  Carmichael chooses to list the other edibles in his kitchen, scrunching his eyebrows together in the process. “Leftover shepherd’s pie, a couple of boiled eggs, stewed potatoes and carrots, part of a baguette..” 

Carmichael rises from the pew, knees popping in the process. He holds out a large hand for his new friend to take. His tone is softer now, as if trying to coax a kitten out of hiding. “The Church is a sanctuary to all walks of life— My cottage next door, too. Won’t you come have a meal with me? A full belly can do a lot of good for a troubled mind.”

          【 明彦 ;; akihiko 】　❝ It’s nice to meet you, I’ll do my best to take care of you tonight. ❞ It’s a phrase most of the workers at Komachi are used to uttering, well at least the ones who take on these services seriously as a job and not for their own pleasure as well. Akihiko was definitely the former, seeing this as what it was, his job. It didn’t take long for the table to be set up, the reason why this particular massage table was one utilized by the business and prevent clients from waiting too long to begin what they had requested.

As he finished laying down the soft, clean sheet he heard the question from Mateo. The raven turned. Seeing Mateo was now closer to him, his eyes locked with Mateo’s briefly before he instinctively glanced away. Not out of bashfulness, in fact he’s not sure himself why his first instinct was to break their gaze. Perhaps it was the client’s eyes in particular, how they looked to observe Aki almost as if staring inside of him to decipher the man.

A smirk forms on Mateo’s face when his company looks away from him; His intense gaze and serious questions resulted in the desired effect. Wordlessly, he begins to remove his shirt to prepare for the massage.  Mateo’d had half a mind to request Akihiko do it, to further watch the young man squirm, but he decides against it.  His curiosity for the young man’s career choices was stronger than his desire to cause discomfort. 

Mateo rolls his shoulders once they’re free from the confines of his tight dress shirt.  “Are you wanting to open your own practice one day?” He’s referring to massage therapy.  “Or do you prefer this job that mixes business with pleasure?” 

If it was pleasurable for Akihiko, that is. Mateo’d heard mixed things from people in this line of work.  They were paid to pretend.  He cocks his head to the side. “Or perhaps you wish to be an actor. This job requires you play a role, no?”