ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴠᴇʟᴜᴍ.

"Buuuuut, I guess I could help you, just this once. Well, maybe. Sometimes cats have a mind of their own." Still, she bends down, extending a hand and wiggling her fingers for good measure to try and catch the kitty's attention. "Oh, aren't you sweet," she coos. "Want to come and play with me instead?" To her disappointment ( and amusement ), the kitty only seems interested in sniffing at her fingers on its way up Felix's pant leg.

' Ugh, ' It climbs higher still, until eventually Felix picks it up with a hand under it's stomach and simply stares at it at an arms length. ' I don't want it. ' Felix turns it towards Annette and tries to hand it off to her quite swiftly. ' You— You're... Nice, animals like you for a reason, I'm not, so... Just take it or, something. '

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ within him, there stirred a profound and poignant ache, a sense of falling short. the idea of having disappointed her, an unintentional failure to meet her expectations, lay heavy upon him, a burden he bore with a solemn grace. such a notion was a bitter draught, one he had never wished to imbibe.

Her other hand returns to his waist and she simply sways, peacefully, listening to some imaginary music in her head that plays a beat so calming she can put aside her sadness and simply live in the moment, here, alive, now; with Murr. Even if it isn't Murr.

❝ ... not being loud ... are you even aware of that ? how could you be ? how could you know.... ❞ his teeth grind, fingers carding through his hair, sinking in, ringing strands of it around his fingers.  it wasn’t hifumi’s fault, it wasn’t his own fault either... or was it. from his bowed stance over the mess of papers, tugging desperately on his own hair, doppo glances up, eyes narrowed, insomnia darkening them. ❝ i cannot even think with how loud you’re being right now…❞

' Okay, Mister grumpy pants! ' Hifumi smiles, walking over to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee from the fresh pot they'd just made before bringing it back to Doppo and placing it down like a peace offering. ' Maybe I am a bit loud~ But you were looking down right miserable! '

❛ Ah-! Er- Um... I can... off ya a tour through the forest if ya want... ❜ Seeing them waiting at the tour guides office made your blood run cold. They are clearly a tourist or visitor. The term "tourist" isn't really a popular on in Samigori. No one is really welcoming of the outsiders even if the town has a rather high tourist industry in the summer for the decent beaches and "small town feel". Outside of the summer months your town fades back into non existence in most peoples heads. Yet, the tour guide office for a forest tour is... dangerous. ❛ The tour guide... they are sick right now, so the office is closed. ❜ That's a lie ❛ So I can show ya through the woods. I'm a hunter so I know my way around real well. It'll be just as good as a tour guide, swear. ❜ sc. @tomoshibi

Going places one shouldn't is sort of Towa's thing; you find the best inspiration in all the little crevices most people are afraid to tread. The best degenerates with nothing better to do, the best horror to behold. If Towa picks up on the lie he doesn't say anything, he just takes a very lazy drag on his cigarette and eyes the other up and down for a moment. Wondering what sort of secret things hide behind someone like that. someone willing to be around a tour office when it's shut. After a moment of silence, Towa smiles. ' Yeah, sure, show me 'round. ' He stubs his cigarette out on the counter, dropping the rest on the floor. ' You just hang around here waiting for people? '

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ and yet, for all his lyrical proclamation and playful allure, murr yields to the silent command of shylock's lead. a manifestation of trust as profound as a vow whispered upon the wind, he acquiesces, relinquishing the reins of the ethereal dance to shylock's guidance.

' And yet, you let me lead, ' Shylock teases, hand settling against that little dip in his waist while the other shifts to clasp around his hand. She holds it up, like a waltz, and slowly leads Murr around the room in gentle, sweeping circles. Every step of her feet is perfected to an art, and her smile is big and glad and full of joy and love — it hides something, though, something sad. She asks a question that she knows will upset her, make it worse. As if he could remember. ' When was the last time we danced like this? '

　　' those who can't do, teach. ' jeralt had said that once, in joking, but it seemed appropriate here, even if byleth didn't really understand the joke. there was only so much that could be taught in a classroom or a training room. at some point you had to learn in the heat of battle, when your life was at stake. ' dodging becomes more important to learn when they can kill you. '

Hard to argue with solid advice, even if they wanted to. Felix instead shrugs, shifts their feet, and looks up at Byleth after a moment of contemplation and nods in agreement. Yeah, it was just good advice, joke or not. The best sort of teaching would come from those difficult moments in combat, not sparring casually.... Still. ' I'll surpass you one day. ' Felix says; shockingly enough, it's a complement. ' Tch... Until then, no holding back your secrets, I want to learn. '

"I'm Loni by the way. Nice to run into a fellow blade lover." She was actually one of the few in her group that used one. Most others went for smaller weapons or fists. "Were youse looking to spar or just asking me the question for fun?"

' Felix. ' They hold out their non-sword holding hand to shake; she'd obviously earned some respect. ' I was just checking at first, but I won't say no to a spar... It's hard to find people worth fighting around here. '

A bloody kiss