#bespectaclednerd

@bespectaclednerd

Trent was aware Russell had moved back - they were neighbors, and as much time as he did tend to spend at work, he wasn’t oblivious - and well, he was rather looking forward to becoming reacquainted with his friend.

Not that they’d ever been close, but they had always been friendly, and he thought that counted for something. It wasn’t like he was particularly close to people in general.

So, he took a moment to write out a note and drop it in Russell’s mail -

Welcome back to the islands! Feel free to drop by any time I’m home, we’re due to catch up. -Trent

Lest had adopted a certain policy concerning the disclosure of his medical condition. It was something of a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ type deal. He didn’t like treating it as a secret, because it wasn’t. However, he didn’t like bringing it up, either. He usually was lucky enough not to get a look of pity (people around here were very tactful and kind), but it always made things awkward. 

In any case, these days, he almost never brought it up unprompted. Today was going to be an exception, most likely.

The old chief had been very understanding, hiring him on a few months after he’d “arrived” on Arcadia. All she’d asked was that he bring her a doctor’s note as evidence, and she even let him postpone coming up with some sort of surname or birthday- something he still hadn’t decided on to this day. He’d signed on with the name “Lest”- nothing more or less.

He had no idea whether Mr. Grimoult would feel the same way about the whole arrangement. 

...Chief Grimoult? Sir? Mr. Chief Grimoult Sir? Ugh, he didn’t even know how he should address him. Maybe he could just sign into work and take care of a few things really fast before going on parole... No, he was being stupid. He couldn’t avoid his new boss forever, and he had no reason to be scared, anyways! Maybe his boss wouldn’t even care to check on the background of his current employees.

With a gulp, Lest opened the door, peeking inside.

@bespectaclednerd;

🦋 - Once Sherry learned that Russell had returned to the islands, she visited him the first moment she could. With her new job as the Mayor, along with the part-time jobs she couldn’t bear to let go, her schedule was full up these days.

But for an old friend like Russell, she would always make time.

It wasn’t often Ayame made food for herself, let alone for anyone else, but considering this was a special occasion, she’d actually gotten up early and made bento boxes to take along to the moon viewing. She was definitely no expert at it, and they definitely weren’t fancy, or especially pretty looking, but she had done her best. For some reason, despite how lazy she usually was, when she knew it was going to be eaten by Russell, it didn’t seem like as much work. She just had to remember not to make anything with milk in it - she was glad she remembered these things, even if it was usually because she nagged people a lot. 

Of course, she had had to keep the food in the fridge at work with a giant sign saying not to touch them - thankfully she had managed to keep anyone from eating them. And before she left the office, she filled a thermos with hot green tea. It was more to carry than she was used to, but she figured it would be okay, even if she knew that the other staff were likely wondering what was going on.

Once she had gotten everything packed up into a tote bag, she said her goodbyes to her colleagues and then headed off to meet Russell. She knew he had said he would be late, but she still wanted to get there on time, just in case.

As she arrived at the front of the station, she couldn’t help but smile. It was already getting dark and even though she had attended this festival many times, she was strangely looking forward to this one. Hopefully they would both have a fantastic evening. 

@bespectaclednerd

Not long after Forte moved to Arcadia, she found herself picking up what she felt would be her most important job there. Someone had come forward to rebuild the island’s Police Station, and seemingly reinstate their force. It felt like an obvious choice for her, another way for her to help keep her new community safe.

Even knowing her background more than qualified her for the position, she was somewhat surprised to have been offered the job so quickly given how new she was to the island. Nevertheless, she was up early that morning, making sure her clothes were free of wrinkles and lint after her usual early morning jog. 

With a bit more pep in her step Forte walked into the new Police Station, ready to start the day. She scanned the room, and saw an older man wearing glasses. He looked authoritative enough, at least like he was supposed to be there, so she straightened up and approached him.

@bespectaclednerd

Though he’d purchased a second date at the date auction only as a way to raise funds for the Explorer’s Guild, he certainly wasn’t going to shirk his responsibility or make it feel like an obligation. So he didn’t know this Russell man. So what? He’d get to know him. And he’d take him on a very real date, just as if it was a blind date someone else had set him up with.

They’d settled on a meeting location already - near the center of Arcadia’s town proper - and Elliott arrived ten minutes before their time, dressed in a sleek button-down and pair of trousers, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and a vest over the shirt emphasizing his muscular frame. With his hair tied back in a neat tail at the base of his neck, he felt positively presentable.

Mist lay on the forest floor, staring at the sky. Well, it could be worse, she supposed. She could have still been in the vicinity of the two ducks when the paralysis took place. Ah, scratch that- perhaps her luck wasn’t going to hold out after all. There was some rustling behind her, and for a moment, Mist was convinced the monsters had chased her all the way here. Before long, however, a familiar figure appeared before her, and Mist let out a sigh of relief. 

“Oh, hello Russell~” She said cheerily, the spreading of a smile on her face causing a still open cut on her face to sting a bit. “Fancy seeing you here.”

@bespectaclednerd

       It was rare that he heard the call of mortals, but it sometimes happened. In this case it had been hard not to hear the sound of weeping on the foothills of his mountain and investigate. When he had come upon the weeping girl and discovered that she didn’t want his help for her own benefit but for her father’s he couldn’t say no. 

       So here he was, standing outside the man’s house staring at the front door. He knew that human custom was to knock to receive entry, but a part of him chaffed at the idea. He was a god after all, and meant to bow to no one. And yet he was posing as a human more often than not while staying on the island, perhaps it would be wise to continue with that charade, at least for a little while longer.