* So I Don't Have Any Muscles To Build (Obviously) * But I'd Like To Learn Some Of Your Self-Defense Techniques

Arriving to the festivities was a simple enough task as he had his moment to walk around to check out the grounds of this ball. He did not know who this host was or the one involved in the entertainment for the evening. What he did know was that this event would serve as a simple way to find out just who was within the city along with probably finding out who was good and who was classified as trouble. If experience served correctly, of course. He would admit that he felt rather plain to some of those in more extravagant wear, but he thought he didn't do too bad for himself on very short notice. It did make him miss his own place and the suits he had previously. Oh well, starting over wouldn't be too bad.

Adjusting the tie around his neck, he would soon find himself a glass to drink from and make his way over to a spot to where he could look out to the guests that were making their way or have already settled. As he thought about the past that still felt so close to him, he did question on who else could even be here after these several years. Part of him would be glad to see old friends, but he would rather see his old friends return to their old lives. So long as they had a life to return to, unlike him. Glancing down, he would take a drink from his glass before looking back up and catching the sight of a familiar face. A gentle smile forming, he would set his glass down and begin his approach. Silent steps would lead him toward the familiar face as he would approach but leave a good distance. He wasn't too sure just how this reaction would go. Luckily, he knew something to say at this time.

"I believe I owe you an apology. According to the calendar, it seems I have missed several shifts, Hansol. I hope you can forgive my tardiness..." he spoke out to the woman he had not only once worked for but one he could consider a very close friend. ... Which did have him wondering if that cafe was still opened for business. He'd worry about that later.

Standing at the foot of Yi Hansol's bed, the angel sets an expensive-looking gift basket on the table before turning his gaze upon the injured gumiho.

"For both our sakes, I hope you've had a chance to talk with your husband."

"If the parents can't agree on how to raise a child, then for Heaven's sake don't drag the rest of us into it too."

At the end of the day, the monster that threatened to destroy a ward was only...trying to please her father figure?

Hah. He had his own thoughts on that.

Uraume cared little if they never saw the morning child again. Their life existed for this festival: ritual appeasement to blanket the morning child in the offering's blood. Uraume, drowned in sweat from their culinary endeavor to blanket the wooden table with assorted delicacies, continued forth, spilling the blood of the deceased cow. They wielded a cleaver larger than their length, leveraging the sharp blade in between the joints that connected bone. They used their weight to make the final purchase. The blade sliced through the neck of the cow, its head toppling forward, tongue limply expelling from its mouth. Blood overflowed the table and into a long vessel, its remains to be utilized later.

Uraume's dainty form heaved the cow's horns, the blood continuously flowing over their ivory robe. They quietly grunted as they lugged the cow head towards the lake's shore. The waves lapped the ground, licking its lips for the expectant offering. Uraume rolled their eyes back and spoke in tongues. They muttered an accursed prayer to their lord. They prayed for his infernal strength to plague this city and spite the Stars that captured their souls in this unnatural, concrete prison. They twisted their body, tugging the cow head beyond their back and twirled in immense force. The cow head spun through the air, its blood splattering across their face and ruptured the lake's calm surface in ripples. A clamorous splash broke the tension of the surface and water erupted, engulfing the sacrifice, savoring its flesh before swallowing it whole.

The water quelled in approval. Uraume clapped their hands twice, bowed once, and clapped twice. A silent orison shuddered their mind. The ceremony begun.

They turned to meet the participates, the master of the service and his loyal fox companion. Blood curdled upon their cheeks, taunting them to itch the congealed mass. Instinctive urges ignored, they moved towards the enormous drum fashioned the fortnight. A slick hand encompassed the bachi sticks reinforced with deer bone. They rose the sticks in the air, cradling the final tendril that disappeared from their realm.

Uraume howled, calling for the shamans that accompanied the ceremony a millennium prior. They spoke their former language facilitating the bridge of two worlds and offered appeasement to the protector of their village. Uraume slammed the sticks against the drum once, roaring their ancestor's pride across the umbral land.

A deafening silence hung in the air. They observed the participants in unbated anticipation.

She'd probably want to know what exactly had happened to keep him away for almost a week.

He stepped into the cafe for his shift the next day, looking just as put-together as always with the exception of the lines of stress around his eyes and dark smudges under them. A strange looking, tentacled cat thing followed at his heels, trotting along while blinking curiously at everyone with eyes exactly the same shade as Legato's.

"I'm here, Hansol. I apologize for the delay in returning. There were... things to take care of."

All across Spirale people were slowly losing memories that were important or impactful to their lives in some way. For My Melody however, everything seemed normal. She was unaware of what was going on outside her home; but even she couldn't escape this forever.

The loss she experienced in her own memory was fairly significant, but she didn't notice it. Not at all. She just went about her daily chores around the house.

It wasn't until she stumbled upon Hansol in the garden; then she realized something was wrong. My Melody pointed at her dramatically. "Hey! What're you doing in My Melo's house?" My Melody loved to have visitors over, but she didn't recognize this strange lady at all! Who was she? How did she get in?

"You didn't knock or anything....you gotta leave and try again..."

It’s been over a full day since the cry in the night, the beginning of a headache that just seems to be snowballing with intensity. It cannot be staved off with painkillers, with sleep, and at this point, it hurts to look at bright light for too long. He’s dragging his heels in the kitchen, trying to muster the will to get his shit together and head out to hunt for Mundus when there comes a knock at his door.

With haggard eyes, he goes to greet whoever’s come at this early hour, blinking with recognition at the gumiho who stares back with her typical motherly concern. “Hansol...? What’s got you over here so early?”

@fcxrcin​

​You have no choice but to look at your veiny forearms, as you knead dough into dumplings. The repetitive motion is soothing, watching your rough thumbs work to make the folds at it’s ends. It’s thanks to Chronos that you make less mistakes than what’s visible. 

Despite this, before, you remember being too depressed to really make much effort into cooking. Especially not just for himself. It would always be take out–typically pizza–or protein paste on saltine crackers. Occasionally you’d have enough credits for fish, and searing it wasn’t too hard. 

Seeing Hansol coming back into the kitchen, he looks over his shoulder for a moment before tucking the filling into the dough and closing it. He starts another, staying in diligent rhythm to help arrange his thoughts better.

[Have you…seen Nero lately…?] 

[Sorry about the mess yesterday.] 

[Thank you, for taking care of us. I’m sorry you had to see our true nature–

>“Thank you for taking care of us, yesterday. I hope you didn’t overhear too much.”