#blake 01

——- As with any city she has lived in or visited for prolonged periods of time, Spirale seems to open up surprises at every step, pieces of history & lore and little shops & hidden places previously invisible to her seeking eyes. Owl’s Books is a welcome find, a gently enclosed space like a new dimension upon entrance -- it is not empty, as her entrance has been preceded by staff and other customers settled in with a book, but the ambient noise does not overwhelm, light as the turn of a page.

-- For once ( multiple times in a day, actually, but especially now ) she’s glad she doesn’t have Widget to blurt out that one of the staff has cat ears. She still hasn’t figured out how to turn off that function. 

“Ah -- hello!” You’re staring. Stop that, Athena, it’s rude. “I didn’t know this existed! Anyway, hi, I’m looking for -- “ And yet her eyes continue to wander upwards with very little subtlety. “--anything on law? I’m interested in Spirale’s legal system.”

“How interesting...” The words were to no one but herself as she sat in a cafe she’d found, staring across a few tables at a girl with cat ears. They weren’t fakes, that she could tell by the movements attributed to them. Not robotic either. They were too... lifelike. After staring for a few more moments, she stood, collecting her paper and pen she’d acquired.

Sliding into the seat across from the girl, she didn’t care to ask for it nor if she startled her, hand already writing down her observations as she prepped to learn more.

“Hello, I am here to ask for some details about your ears---if you don’t mind. I think it would benefit in my research.”

"Blake!" the relief is just as immediate as soon Jaune spots her, not wasting a second to get to his friend's side as he reaches out to grasp her shoulder. The smile on his face is wide, bright; shining in the corners of his eyes. No, he hadn't found everyone who fell yet-- but Jaune was making progress, one step at a time. They always worked better together anyways, didn't they? It'd be no time at all that they'd find the others now, and he believed that wholeheartedly. "Man, am I glad to see you..! You doing okay? I, uh.." but for a moment, that bright smile dampened ever so slightly, as a pang of guilt echoed on the walls on his chest.

".. I-- guess it's pretty obvious, but.. I fell, too. After you, Ruby, and Yang.. a-and.. Weiss did, too. I know this wasn't how things were supposed to happen, but.. if we're here, the others have to be too, right? There's gotta be a way we can get back home."

“I wasn’t expecting to meet anyone with the same features as me tonight.. however, you were born with yours, weren’t you? I don’t believe we’ve officially met until now, but I recall seeing you around the island more than once.”

Though perhaps Blake was a bit older than his regular trick-or-treaters, Watanuki held no issue with the matter; already going out of his way to invite the girl into his apartment. If it could be refuge for himself from the ghoulish entities outside of his doors, then he would allow it for others as well; a safe haven they could use until they were fit to leave. 

He had a feeling she would be up on her feet again in no time, however.

@ribellaione​ liked for a starter.

It seemed the largest demographic of captured individuals in this island was adolescents.  An outside observer would seriously start questioning the propriety of the masterminds behind this operation.  Vicious was not such observer, for many reasons.

Now there were some with animal ears.  Were they those strange...otaku cosplayers?  He had no time for such things as a young'un, so he was completely oblivious to it despite his relatively young age.  

As he was surveying the farmer’s market, Beppy seemed to intensely eye a young girl fitting that description.  However...Vicious’s companion wouldn’t react in such a way to a “regular” human, amongst the well-abundant masses the pair walked alongside throughout most of the days.  This piqued the mobster’s interest, more than looking for plain vegetables for himself, or fish and seeds for Beppy.  Without turning to face the Faunus, he spoke up-

“I wouldn’t suppose those ears are for show?”

“Yo! Whats a cute little thing like you doing out and about? Dint mommy and daddy teach you bad things happen this time of night?”

There were some things to be said for Eidolon. It was peaceful without the same threat of Salem hanging over their heads. The cold wasn’t ideal, but Yang could get used to it. To her knowledge there weren’t even any grimm, though there were other less-than-friendly creatures roaming the Great White. Even if the quiet only made her anxious after everything, it was quiet.

But the quiet only magnified how lonely it was. She’d started to find familiar faces, some more welcome than others, but where was her team? Her sister? Whatever she’d wanted, it hadn’t been to be separated from them again, especially when they’d just reunited. She knows it’s possible for them to come here. But Eidolon isn’t that big—it’s hard to keep thinking she’ll find them the longer she goes missing them.

There’s no mistaking those ears, though. They’re walking away from her, and Yang quickens her pace to catch up to them.

“Blake!” she calls out, just in case she’s mistaken (she knows she isn’t). A smile appears on her face, and she pretends it isn’t obviously strained. “Guess this is a creative idea of figuring out normal, huh?”

Weiss couldn’t believe that all this time, she had been right next door. Okay, it hadn’t actually been that long, but still... Weiss prepared two cups of tea and a tray and knocked on the door next to hers, waiting for her (former?) teammate to answer...

When Blake opened the door, she held up the tray somewhat sheepishly. “Um, Yang told me you were here... I can’t believe she had to, since I live right next door.” She laughed, the laughter trailing off as her shoulders slumped slightly. Yep, this was definitely awkward.

“I brought tea. Can I come in?”