𝕚𝕥'𝕤 𝕒 𝕧𝕒𝕞𝕡𝕚𝕣𝕖 𝕨𝕖𝕖𝕜𝕖𝕟𝕕

[nerine]

✦"Yeah, you waste your time on daft pretty boys
..."✦

Comments

[expio]

--and then don't get me started about how the plot weaseled in that bit about Jacen and Jaina, because I really couldn't-- o-- OW!!

[ OW?? he's been chopped... but at least this serves to silence his incessant ramblings. he's releasing her hands (thankfully) to rub at his skull, making a :< face. ]

Why are you so violent?! Haven't I been through enough, nearly losing my life to a bunch of traffic-violating clowns?! Look, it isn't like I don't appreciate you saving my life, but it really won't mean much if you turn around and murder me yourself...! Honestly.

[nerine]

Hey.

[ What she does next may seem uncharacteristic to her at least when it comes to interacting with him. Monts reaches up to cup Abel's face with both of her hands and looks right into his eyes. She doesn't look annoyed; rather she's calmed down and isn't up to being swept up in his usual antics. ]

Can you do me a favor and just take a deep breath? Just the one?

1/2

[expio]

[ --ah. he's going a bit pink with a look of mild surprise in the face as he finds her abruptly cupping his cheeks in a, ah. this is...

... ]

[expio]

[ --INHALING,




holding, with his cheeks puffed out as he maintains-- she didn't say to exhale, you see, s-so-- ]

[nerine]

... Exhale, please. I think you know how to breathe.

[ Her hands pat his puffed cheeks and she sets them down to her sides just to see if he'll actually chill.

(don't think she didn't notice that initial reaction Abel) ]

[expio]

[ stop, stop, s-stop, nothing happened, sTOP immediately,

...he is indeed exhaling in a rush, before touching his chest and inhaling again. ]

--That was close... You know that thing where you think about breathing, and then you forget how to breathe without thinking about it? Terrifying~!

[ haha obfuscating stupidity, his old trusty friend...

--ANYWAY, ]

Hey-- um, you don't think those clowns will come back, do you? ...Or that the other clowns will be mad you did a clown murder?

[nerine]

[ It's not a good thing, isn't it? That she's starting to catch on that while he is absolutely an idiot, part of it was... Well?

He's still an idiot.

Monts crosses her arms at his question. ]

I'd think we'd be getting swarmed by the whole carnival by now if that were the case. As it is, we're still standing, aren't we? Doesn't look like the other staffers give a damn.

[ She points to the other attractions where yeah, everyone else is just minding their own business.

Monts looks around to see if there's anything else worth checking out. ]

I'm not sure if I want to risk another ride if they are mad though. Or maybe they're just picking on anyone who goes on the rides. The Ferris Wheel might have been nice, but... You're like. A giant.

[expio]

[ she is very wise. he is absolutely an idiot, no matter what else might be intermingled with that very fact. wise, wise Monts.

...oh, hm. Abel nudges at his glasses and rubs into silver hair absently as he casts a glance around the carnival. ]

What...? Well, I could put your on my shoulders if you'd like a view, Miss Monts! For free~! It's practically the same thing, right?

[nerine]

[ She absently flicks his forehead (gently as much as she can muster) to reject that proposal. ]

Stop trying to be a weird awkward uncle, please. Or else we'll go to the haunted house attraction and I'll abandon you there.

[expio]

[ mumbling petulantly 'WEIRD uncle,' he rubs at his forehead and huffs a pout. ]

Well! If my services aren't good enough for you, then pray tell, what is Miss Monts? Hm? Or are you secretly scared of heights, is that it...?

[ ... ]

Would you rather do something else? I could go for round two of snacks, if you're asking my opinion.

[ he will have her gain 60 lbs by the end of the night at this rate, ]

[nerine]

We'll go to one more attraction and I think I'll head back to where I'm from.

... You know, if you're really into sweets you might as well eat something that was well made. [ She starts off in one direction just to see what else they can take a dive into.]

Have you tried going to anyone else's world yet or do you just end up in your own? If it's my door, you can visit the Midnight Grind.

[expio]

[ and he is, as always, trotting alongside her...! always happy to follow, this priest. ]

Hm? ...Oh, no - my door always leads home, I'm afraid. [ nudging at his glasses, his eyes are lit up curiously behind those lenses, ] So, I could go to the Grind if I followed after you...?

[nerine]

I'd assume so. I'm willing to bet that the Midnight Grind entrance is pretty different from most of the others that showed up in Fogtown. It's like once restrictions were lifted, it can work as it normally does.

And... You know I don't dislike you right? [ Huh, a surprisingly honest moment from Monts! ]

I'd like you to meet my friends.

1/2

[expio]

[ ...o-oh...

oh?? spelled out plainly like this, wow... actual warm fuzzies, ah... ]

[expio]

[ he's laying his hand so gently on her shoulder. touched. ]

A... ah, of course I know you like me...! What kind of a silly question is that...? Who on earth doesn't? I'm an incredibly likeable person~! So friendly! Charming! Handsome!!

[ too late to take it back now he's coming to visit her!!! ]

[nerine]

[ There is just an itty bitty tiny bit of doubt about her choice... But yes, no take-backs and it is true that she doesn't dislike him.

but ]

Don't push your luck too much. If you weren't a priest, I'd destroy you.

[ she's joking........ maybe......... ]

So I'll take that as a yes then? First-time customers will get a drink free on the house.

[expio]

[ 'destroy' him...... he flashbacks to the Great Blu-Ray Rack Incident of ???? and feels a slight shiver run down his spine. ah. aha, she isn't entirely joking is she,

he's clearing his throat-- ]

A-ah, yes, veritably. Of course, I'm not one to turn down a free drink...! And certainly not one from Miss Monts! Your tea is practically infamous~!

[ among who?? imagine Abel going home and ranting to his fellow clergy about Monts' tea and his time in jamjar horror town, at least they already probably think he's nuts, ]

[nerine]

[ wait until he tries her other drinks and Oren's baking and cooking... god he'll never leave

But his remark about her tea does seem to amuse her, maybe even make her somewhat happy. ]

Infamous huh? Well, I know how to make a lot more drinks than that so you can tell the people you know about it. For a cafe that appears everywhere, it's kind of hard to get newer customers.

[ Up ahead, there's a building with a colorful sign, loudly proclaiming itself as a "HOUSE OF MIRRORS." She points to it with her thumb. ]

How about this one? It's not a haunted house and as long as we stick together, the clowns can't kill you.

[ notice she just singled him out..... ]

[expio]

[ h-haha. she's going to spoil him, is that it...? well, he isn't averse to the thought at all, personally. he'll have to find some way to properly repay her, of course. Abel's smiling a little more fondly as he nods his assent, quite pleased at the invitation. ]

Mm, a friend of mine is quite dearly attached to tea-making...! She comes up with new recipes whenever she has spare time... I bet she'd talk my ear off for the details, if you've got something new and interesting for me to try!

[ house of mirrors, huh...? oh, is that one of those attractions where your reflection becomes super tall or skinny or fat or-- he's ALL about this, ]

--Aha! Perfect, just what I was in the mood for, something with no clowns!!

[ Monts don't joke about the clowns

he is becoming even more sensitive about clowns after this entire experience ]

[nerine]

[ Oddly enough, there is no clown staffer in sight to greet them at the entrance. It's open so anyone is free to go inside. That makes Monts pause for a few seconds to give the place a once over. ]

... I wonder... It'd be good if we had a way to remember where the entrance is in case this turns into a, "you can't leave for a set amount of time," sort of deal.

[ fool me once fogtown...! ]

But if it's our last stop, I think we'll be fine. We survived the bumper cars after all.

[ So in we go! ]

[expio]

Ah...? Like a trail of breadcrumbs?

[ w-wait, she isn't saying she's afraid they might get stuck inside, is she? he's hesitating just a moment before inevitably trotting in after her. ]

--That, ah. Sounds a little... um, I guess we'll just have to try and be mindful of where we're going, right? [ all joking aside, he will do his best to remain cognizant of their surroundings. everything has been harmless so far, but

you never know... ]

[nerine]

... We could break a mirror if we have to...

[ She mutters this to herself mostly, but regardless, is going inside. The hallway leading to the mirrors is dimly lit before they see the mirrors properly. ]

Kind of barren so far...

[ Her mark pulsates from the back of her neck; it's the first time it's done so since they entered the carnival which means this whole venture probably doesn't bode well. ]

[expio]

...I'd like to avoid property damage, if we can help it-- I mean, don't they say breaking a mirror is seven years bad luck...? I really can't afford that kind of misfortune, Miss Monts, I don't know about you...

[ captain notorious hideous luck over here, hello, he's probably infecting Monts by proximity!!

...but the interior is strangely dim, quiet, and uneventful for the fare one might expect from Fogtown. maybe the only curse to be suffered here is boredom?? ]

Do you think it's, ah. Closed, or something? There was no one outside...

[nerine]

If it was closed I think it would be locked up.

[ As they walk further I to the building they'll finally enter into a hallway with mirrors. So far though? They reflect their images normally. ]

I'll try not to break any mirrors, but no promises. I'm thinking we'll encounter the real weird mirrors the farther we go.

[expio]

You know, it'd be terribly like this place for this to be a house of literal mirrors. Nothing weird about it. Just one big hoax, you know...?

[ a sigh over her shoulder, though he's still peering around as if he's waiting for something to jump out at them, spook them... their images to warp into clowns, so on and so forth-- ]

--Just try and remember, 'seven years,' Miss Monts! That's a long time...! You don't need any more foul luck, as far as I can tell...

[ you know, just... saying, after that fortune telling, ]