#feelnofear

To leave the shop felt strange, for the first time in quite a while; nearly hesitating most of the morning until the man finally willed himself to take the first few steps through the gate. He knew everything would be fine, but all the same, the effects of the dream Watanuki had recently were still lingering within him; not wanting to miss a moment with the people he cared for.. not wanting to waste a chance to still be in their lives.

Though it was that very same thought that dragged him out that day, past the warm, welcoming woods of Airaisal, until he eventually found himself in the Mistwood. A place he tended to avoid most of the time-- but if he didn't go there today, he feared he might never again see who he was looking for.

With a basket hanging off his arm, and Mugetsu securely wrapped around his collar bones, Watanuki walked the woods for what seemed like hours; assuring his companion that all was well, that they would find who they were looking for shortly. And it seemed fate would deem that so, as the shopkeeper stumbled upon someone's camp; pausing a few feet away, steadying himself before he spoke into the air.

"Dys.. are you here?"

The animals here are… weird, to put it lightly. Gregor generally knows better than to go around feeding wild things, mysterious foreign lands or otherwise. Most animals tend to avoid him on principle anyways between the arm and the sort of work he used to do— probably some kind of smell, or something. His old neighbor's pets fucking hated him, and he only ever fed those things treats.

He has no idea how to handle this.

"Hey— c'mon, bud—" Gregor says through a mouthful of ham sandwich.

The things here are most certainly not avoiding him. They're way too into his business, even; dogging his steps when he thinks he's alone, getting way too close. Gregor lifts the sandwich he'd been busy finishing off up above his head to avoid the needy little paws of some loose wildcat, feet clad in heavy boots dangling from the edge of the cliff he'd decided to park himself by.

He'd spent what was probably way too long even looking for a nice little out-of-the-way spot to settle down by in the first place— way too noisy out by the entrance, and most of the undergrowth too wet from the recent rain. The outcropping he'd finally stumbled onto after a little while was already just rock baked dry, at least. Nice view too, cast out over a little freshwater pond. There are some weirdly colored deer drinking down there, trees swaying in the gentle breeze.

Peaceful.

Doesn't mean squat if he can't even have his own food, though. He doesn't want to hurt the thing, but—

Something rustles in the undergrowth, quiet but heavy. Gregor and the wildcat still trying to steal the ham clean out of his lunch give a near-identical caught in the headlights look, the pair freezing. He, for one, thought there was going to be another animal that wanted his damn sandwich.

…Just a guy, though. Guess he didn't wander as far from the entrance as he thought he did.

Standing there amongst the stars was something that quite literally took Watanuki's breath away, mesmerized by the constellations that lit up the sky back in his world. His hands lifted to one, trailing its path; watching the twinkling lights grow brighter with each trace of his fingertip.

He had only just arrived-- not an ounce of refreshments in sight near him, nor had he yet seen his Earth. Perhaps he would have stayed in one spot staring for the rest of the night..

.. if a familiar face had not happened to walk by him.

"... Dys."

His eyes dropped for only a moment, just as Dys crossed his path; perhaps entranced with familiarity he had been missing, too. Despite the warm sense of relief that had washed over Watanuki at the sight of him, anxiousness seemed to pull at him as well; watching the other quietly, unsure if he should carry on further.

He had not seen him since.. that time. Not in the forest, and especially nowhere near the shop. Though.. he could in no way blame Dys for that at all.

".. it's good to see you again," he decided on eventually, his voice gentle, tentative. He smiled some, though it didn't quite reach his eyes; as if wondering if his own presence here would scare the young man away entirely. "Are you.." alright, he wanted to ask. Have you been well. But no matter how hard he tried, the sentiments refused to surface from his mouth.

"You know.."

But that wouldn't have stopped Mélusine from trying. Or anyone else who seemed to enjoy this type of thing. When one lived in such a loud place after awhile one would want some kind of peace and quiet. Unless they lived there in the first place, in which case places like these were more suited for them...

"Is that why you came out here? Or were you trying to get away from the hustle and bustle of everything else too."

Welcome back to scenic Isola Radiale, Dys!

You’ll be staying in TOWNHOUSE 215.

You’ll retain everything from your previous stay.

Enjoy your return!

Dys will be dropped!