#enduringdevotion

Look, we're not even going to go over this, okay? There's no need to. It's the same as it ever was-- Badou either walked into something he shouldn't have and farted, alerting someone of his presence, or he opened his big mouth and said too much. We've been here before, and we shall be here again next week. The only difference this time is, there's a festival? Party? Going down, and he wasn't working.

Somehow, as his usual luck goes, he's found himself running around from some threatening types, and this time ducking between vendors and knocking cabbages over, as it usually goes. He knows this--

He even knows how it goes when he's cornered in an alley. Back pressed against the wall, at least it doesn't smell like piss in here, and the guys have knives-- haha, that's cute.

"C'mon, guys, I didn't mean anything by it, y'know! I'm just a guy, a little guyyyyy, guys!"

Kraehe rushes into the Café, warming up her fingers as she shivers slightly. No matter how beautiful the snow is or how lovely the decorations are, she never could like the cold. She wishes she can hibernate or fly to warmer places or anything to avoid it. She looks outside the window, eyeing the decorations of the festival and the falling snow. Maybe, she can stay here a bit.

The smell of coffee is really nice, though. Cafés always seem to put her at ease with the cozy interior and the fragrance of coffee and cocoa. They always were so inviting, especially in cold times. It's only until taking in the view, she notices the man working here.

The voice is soft, quiet, and intense as always. But there's the now familiar undercurrent of anxiety to it that marks it as entirely different then the one he knew before. Now, it's got an additional flavor of worry to it, which was of course, entirely foreign to the other voice it reflected.

Legato's approach is quick, taking advantage of his long stride in a way that would almost imply he's afraid that Wolfwood will simply turn and vanish. Perhaps not an entirely unfounded worry either.

"You've been gone," he states, despite it being the obvious truth, then frowns. "Nai and I went to see if you three were alright but you were all gone. We cleaned up but... What happened?"

Oh, he really is worried. Long fingers fidget with the lapels of his coat, smoothing over the bluebells embroidered there in an obvious attempt to self-soothe. He'd only left Nai's side when the other echoes had begun to show up on Arcanus again, when the apparent danger had passed, and now he's anxious to assure himself that the others who's company he likes are intact and well.

Or as well as they can be. Who knew what had happened to them all there.

He'd been working on that, meandering and chatting with random strangers about the recovery efforts post-Nightmare Moss outbreak. It was what most places were concerned with and the articles that sold right now and his own personal curiosity and concern that was driving him. Interacting with people on the street helped make it feel a little more real but also more in the past.

Anything that helped it feel more like the past helped Roberto's nerves.

He was walking with his notebook in hand, a cigarette hanging from his mouth, the scruffy black kitten standing on his shoulder and surveying the world from his perch. It was a sunny day, still so much cooler then he was used to on Noman's, and Roberto was taking his time to enjoy it while it lasted. At least until he spotted another new figure meandering along as well and blew out a stream of smoke as he turned to face them, hand half raised in a lazy sort of wave.

"Hey there, how's it-- Nicholas?" Roberto freezes halfway through his attempt at a greeting, staring at the kid in shades and a suit that's too big on him. He looks exactly like when Roberto had last seen him, springing out of the elevator to stop the little monster from murdering both him and Meryl. Moments too late for him.

Not that Roberto blames the kid, his luck had just run out after all.

"Huh. Not a face I was expecting to see turn up here." Did he know? Had he seen what Roberto had tried his best to hide from at least two of the kids? Damn damn damn.

「𝔟𝔞𝔫𝔤 𝔟𝔞𝔫𝔤!」- He had seen the name when it appeared in his phone registry nearly three months ago.

He had chosen to ignore it. Avoid it. Bury himself in more shifts at the farm, pick up extra hours as much as he could.

As if not acknowledging that Nicholas was here would make easier. As if not acknowledging what he saw in his phone's contact list would make it turn into a dream.

He wanted Wolfwood there but at the same time he didn't think he was ready for it. Besides... what if this one... wasn't his?

He heard the click of a lighter, saw it all out of the corner of his eye - the false priest dressed all in black leaned against a wall, so much softer than usual, "C'mon ya big baby. You're gonna have ta meet me some time. Or I'm gonna come looking for you. You know that."

Vash shoved his hands into his pockets, dressed in in work clothes, hair mussed and down, fluffing out around his head. He tilted his head away from the apparition slightly, the light catching against his earring. He was waiting for the gondola system.

Finally it came and Vash entered a car, plopping down and stretching out. Legs splayed out and he leaned his head back. There was only one other person in the car so it was fine for now.

"Maaaan, I'm beat," he groaned to no one in particular.

Once he settled back into it, it was soothing. He'd always liked working in a kitchen and it helped ease the remaining tension from his mind. He could simply exist and cook orders and not think too hard about anything else.

At least until something slipped through his zen and stirred him into full awareness again. The young woman who worked the register asked the name of the person ordering and Legato could swear the answer was 'Wolfwood'. He tilted his head and listened as she repeated it and, indeed, that was the name. Wolfwood. Curious, Legato peers out of the kitchen, mostly hidden where he won't be immediately spotted unless someone looks for him specifically. And there, walking away from the register to take a seat, is a young man with ruffled dark hair and sunglasses, shirt only partly buttoned and suit jacket looking too big for his frame.

Not his Wolfwood, not Vash's. This one was from the other version of themselves, the version the younger Vash came from. Legato tilts his head and hums to himself, considering the order he's handed. Simple enough but easy to elevate and... he's feeling generous. He'll put more effort into this one just because he wants to see the younger Wolfwood's reaction.

He doubts he'll get anything of a friendly reaction himself but he's still trying, which means not making enemies right off the cuff for his own part. He slips back into the kitchen proper to get started.

This time was not clean and simple and easy.

This time, he moved not of his own accord as he stepped out from the Tower and immediately collapsed to his knees. A hacking, gasping, cough ripped out of his chest and his limbs shook, nerves on fire for several seconds before the immediate pain started to fade.

As it turned out, being severely electrocuted hurt quite a lot. He's not sure which hurts worse, the nerves that are all screaming or the bone deep ache in his chest where the pole had impaled him. It all blurs together for the minute or so it takes for it to fade to a manageable level. When he stands, it's shaky and unsteady, but a moment of breathing eases it all enough that he can walk.

He has to get home. God, Knives, Astarion, Wolfwood, probably even Roberto and Badou, they're all going to be so upset with him. This time it wasn't even his fault, he'd tried to leave, he'd tried to run, but he wasn't quick enough. Useless.

His effort to find information to protect his small... family of sorts, had entirely backfired. Damn, damn, damn.

EMBLEMS TRANSFER: Muns of more than one muse may transfer emblems between muses. The transaction must be noted on both characters to be eligible for future purchases.

NICHOLAS D. WOLFWOOD

ORIGINAL EMBLEM BALANCE: 950 TRANSACTION: -800 Emblems CURRENT EMBLEM BALANCE: 150

ASTARION ANCUNIN

ORIGINAL EMBLEM BALANCE: 950 TRANSACTION: +800 CURRENT EMBLEM BALANCE: 1,750