#hopefulmagic

If anyone can handle this, she can. Of course she can. Just because everything had calmed down at the atelier, it doesn't mean that she's unable to handle a new challenge.

It was, of course, part of being a witch.

But why are her hands sweating, and why does her heart skip a beat when she sees-

"Coco!"

She runs over to her friend - friend? When did she start- and very nearly grasps her hands, but stops short, instead clasping them in front of her briefly, and then clenching them into fists.

"You're here - is it everyone in the atelier? I remember you made it back and then-"

So, here she sat, playing with a small crystal ribbon she drew. The way it catches the light made her sigh. "Coco would have liked this."

Journaling isn't something Kris enjoys doing, but they are... kind of in dire need of some sort of outlet for their "issues," and since they have no access to their therapist (not that they talked to him anyway), they're kind of grasping at straws.

Music, writing, doodling...

None of it really seems that helpful when their head feels simultaneously too full and too empty.

Kris is a bit distracted as they wander aimlessly through the aisles of some old timey looking arts and crafts store, picking at paper, pens, and felt sheets aimlessly. They could always pick up sewing again. That was nice... Kris is in the middle of trying to decide if they wanted to bother finding a new hobby, or leave when they round a corner and immediately run into someone.

They stumble back a step, instinctively reaching out to steady the person they ran into.

"Shit- sorry, that's my bad." They straighten up, rubbing the back of their neck. "You okay?" Damn it, they just ran into a literal kid, around Chara's age if they had to take a guess, though her clothes are a little weird, and gives them the impression of some sort of medieval fantasy setting.

        ‘ Me too, mate. ’ He crosses his arms, and smiles down in low amusement. ‘ I charmed a self-refilling cauldron one summer break. Easy rice in no time. A friend of mine introduced me to basmati and now I’m absolutely barmy for it. You know, there’s a secret passage to the kitchens only from our Common Room.. ’

“Really? That’s wicked!”

A smile pops and flashes across Ceral’s face like a fistful of firecrackers. It fizzles out just as quickly, shoulders hunching in and nose wrinkling when he realizes just how loudly he’d shared his excitement. Secret passages won’t very well stay secret if he goes and blabbers on willy-nilly about them, will they? Dark eyes cut sideways back and forth across the common room, the line of his shoulders easing as he lets out a whistle of a sigh. Not one single turned head – good. Looks like he didn’t go all thumbs just yet.

It felt like the most trouble she'd gotten into lately, which certainly wasn't the case.

Opening the window, she pokes her head in, the sun setting in the distance. She's fairly certain, based on the room itself, that this is Coco's room. But where's it's inhabitant...?

"Coco?"

"Agott?" It's nice to hear Coco is so happy that a friend of hers from her world is here.

"You know, your room at the atelier is exactly as it was back in Zozah."

Now this is a guy who won't admit he's a little bit lonely, especially since Olruggio was sent back home...

"If you'd like to stay there again, you know you are always welcome."