#searedpath

An adult kindly bought him a kebab, which he'd requested not have any of the vegetables on it. It's a kind of meat he's never had before. He's huddled up on an otherwise empty bench, knees to his chest, gnawing at the food quietly with his cap sitting beside him. Qifrey's staring at that massive tree in the center of it all, thinking.

The shadow of someone falls over him suddenly. He looks down at their shoes, hoping that maybe if he ignores them they'll go away. Doesn't seem to be working, so he looks up.

"Please leave me alo..." Wait, is this guy a witch? And why's he look so familiar? "...ne."

The boy looks away again and picks at a stray thread on his robes.

"I'm fine."

✧ Two professors at once, whoa! Coco had seen the both of them in Spirale before, but this was the first time she had encountered them during this particular stay. Had they been looking for her? Apparently they hadn't noticed her hiding behind a nearby tree... and it would have stayed that way if not for her Brushbuddy jumping off her shoulder and running towards them. Busted.

Not that she was trying to hide! She'd just been trying to figure out the best way to greet them!

It's a different home they're having him stay in, this time. The aesthetics are entirely different. It's so close to the sea. It should be nice, shouldn't it? But he feels restless, itchy just beneath his skin. He'd been ripped away from his world at such an inopportune moment.

Is Coco still here? He'll have to see. Right now he's crouched on the deck, the early evening breeze ruffling his hair, staring through the railing out towards the ocean.

Clearly whoever was next door had similar ideas. Qifrey looks up at the sound of a door sliding open.

"Ah—"

He quickly shoots up to his full height.

"Olruggio!"

And in his excitement he heaves himself over the railing to jump to the other deck. No sylph shoes, he realizes a little too late, and he's damn lucky he didn't miscalculate that jump. Still, he clings onto the opposite railing with one arm and waves with the other.

"Hello, my friend. It would seem my sylph shoes don't work here. Mind helping me over?"

026, a bar just after closing.

setting prompts.

Their housing arrangements come with a vast array of things to do right at their doorstep. This part of the city is lit up bright during the night, like a festival, bringing in the sounds of laughter through the summer breeze. There are multiple establishments along the boardwalk that serve drinks and play bone-shaking music through the night.

They've opted for something much more laid-back. Drinking among rowdy strangers in a dimly-lit room with music he could have never dreamed of that made his teeth vibrate playing wasn't his idea of a good time. Also, for Olruggio's own sanity, in case trouble were to break out.

He didn't drink enough to really properly intoxicate him, in the end. But he certainly lost track of time. A handsome man had asked for his name and offered to pay for his drink and get him out of here; Qifrey politely rebuffed him, flattered nonetheless.

It felt... strange.

The bar is closing up, while he and Olruggio are left among the stragglers preparing to head out the doors. It's well into the night—he's not sure of the time, exactly. He still feels warm from the alcohol. Qifrey pulls the new, pale blue poncho he'd recently purchased over his head and shakes his hair out.

"Olruggio..." He mutters. Qifrey makes his way to the doors. "...The sea."

Welcome to frigid Isola Radiale, Olruggio!

You’ll be staying in APARTMENT 315.

You will retain everything you were given in your previous stay.

Enjoy your stay!

– ⋆ diadem.

Welcome back to breezy Isola Radiale, Olruggio!

You’ll be staying in HOUSE 112.

You’ll retain everything from your previous stay.

Enjoy your return!