deercountry | (closed) december catchall

This is what happens when one paleblood manages to take you to a skatepark: too high expectations.

Fuck, it was worth a gamble, and maybe it doesn't matter so much when a shoe is getting thrown over his shoulder at the other guy. Robby processes the 'Run!' and the tugging of his arm before that, but somewhere in their running (or, running and limping) does it hit him what happened, and he might be coughing out a chuckle that he has no time to be doing.

But you know what? Yeah, that snooty ass totally deserved a shoe to the face.

Let it be known, however, that Robby does try suggesting "Lose the shoe!" in their running, despite the frantic pace Chizuru has them going in. That's a wooden brick she's wearing, and maybe she's too scared to stop to do that.

But either way, when they do hit the street--and Chizuru very well nearly does that, literally--Robby grabs for her in her stumble forward, his arms catching her around the waist and pulling her against him. Like before, but this time with her back to his chest, a "Hey!" in her hair at the near fall.

"Lose it now," he directs her lowly, waiting for her to kick it off. They don't need her hobbling in the street, and he'll ask a quick "Okay?" to make sure she's alright.

But he gets the feeling they don't have time, and he doesn't want to waste any, either, his arms already unwrapped from around her.

There's a soft gasp when strong arms suddenly wrap themselves around her waist, keeping her from tumbling face-first against the stones of the street - which surely couldn't have ended too well. (Or too pretty, more like.) It takes a moment for her to even realise she's been stopped, but then Chizuru lets out a small sigh of relief once she's fully realised Robby came to her rescue here.

It's true that she's definitely hurried, the reason she didn't even try to kick off the shoe mid-run just now. It's the same reason that when she does kick it off now the girl kicks it off haphazardly, just abandoning it for the moment - sorry, Shinsengumi, she'll.. pay you back for the shoes somehow.. - and then nodding briefly in response to Robby rather than giving some elaborate answer as to her current state.

"Let's hurry," she instead says, sounding a little out of breath but still doing her best all the same. She can't let her guard down until she knows they're actually safe. "He probably won't find us in the crowd."

It's the last thing she clarifies before stepping forward, even if it's just on socks right now, making walking a little bit uncomfortable.. but Chizuru grits her teeth and walks all the same, not slowing her pace until they're surrounded by the attendees of the busy nightlife of the district, turning her head to make sure Robby came with her.

".. sorry," she finally says. "Back there, I-- I got so worried. I imagined him hurting you, and I--"

.. I couldn't deal with that thought.

Chizuru bites her lip, glancing over at him. "You're alright, right..?"

Hurrying is good, or feels like a good idea. Robby won't argue about resuming their fleeing, though throwing out a question or two later on about what's going on might be a plan.

(He knows what's going on, technically. But at the same time, going from a boozy ronin den to mingling amongst the nightlife in an attempt to blend in and not bring notice to Chizuru's lack of shoes. And does even he fit in? Maybe Robby doesn't want to think about that part. Unimportant, moving on.)

Robby's follow, which is important, an eye on the surrounding people to watch where he's going, but glances taken at Chizuru to keep an eye on her, too. She's dressed so fancy, and people might get grabby -- especially if that one asshole manages to find them. But he offers her a smile with that look of concern she directs at him, reassuring.

"We got out--thanks to your shoe." Heh. "Better plan than mine; I didn't know if you could do it anyway. But hey," he adds, "--following your lead was my first idea."

Therefore, he had one good idea out of two. Not bad!!

He'll allow a moment between that and what he thinks to ask, easily. It seems obvious, but:

"So, that guy. He been bothering you a while?"

There's a small nod in response to the question.

"Yes. This wasn't the first time I ran into him." Since Chizuru sure hasn't forgotten the fact that they're in a memory. This wasn't the first time - and also not the last time, not even the last time before ending up in Trench. Even though it is the first time she remembers running into him without there being even a single one of the men from the Shinsengumi to back her up or to protect her, the time she had to get away from Kazama all by herself.

.. or with Robby, in this case. Robby who is still by her side even now, whose presence makes her feel more reassured as she's walking with him here, not spotting any head of blonde hair around them in the crowd so far.

"Remember when we talked about watching people die..? He was the one who killed that person. It was all because he keeps wanting to kidnap me, to take me along with him and force me to bear his children.. And he's willing to kill anyone standing in the way of that." Chizuru's voice is soft as she speaks, unable to look Robby in the eyes as she says it. It's a terrifying thought, after all - and it may explain why she had been so very worried about Robby back there. She has seen Kazama kill multiple people for that purpose, and even if it's just a memory, she doesn't think it would have stopped him from doing the same to Robby too. "He's a truly terrifying person..."

Robby remembers their conversation about death. But it's barely a second between that and Chizuru continuing that disgust turns into loathing--because what the fuck. The joking smile had already been dropped from his face, but his expression hardens as he listens to Chizuru. They just met that guy, and he didn't get the opportunity to punch him in the face.

(Yeah, he gets the concern about him trying to kill him, but at the same time? Fuck that guy.)

"He won't get to you--if he ever shows up in Trench, he won't lay a finger on you."

It's an easy promise to make now, and it would be easy even with him present in Trench, and easy any other time. He doesn't keep his eyes off Chizuru, only in glances to watch where he's going and so he doesn't bump into anyone, minding the people who can't mind themselves this late at night. It sickens him, and Robby's almost glad that Chizuru's stuck in Trench and away from that guy; if only he actually believed that it interrupted anything about their lives where they came from.

But there's a flash of concern that takes over Robby as he thinks, remembers this a memory, and he touches Chizuru on the arm to get her to slow and look at him. Even if it stops them for a second, he's searching her face, he needs to know:

"What happened when this really happened? Did he touch you?"

There's a moment where the first words threaten to sink Chizuru deep in thought. After all, it's-- it's a lot. It's not the sort of thing that's been never offered to her before, because multiple men of the Shinsengumi fought to keep her away from Kazama, even though they technically didn't have to, even though it technically was never any of their business. They made it their business regardless, for Chizuru's sake, even though they knew Kazama could overpower them.

.. Robby isn't so different in that sense, Chizuru thinks. Kazama could easily kill him - an assessment that has nothing to do with what Chizuru thinks of Robby, since she's amazed by the way he handles martial arts and his training, and everything to do with Kazama's monstrous inhuman strength - and yet he's offering this so easily. Like protecting Chizuru even at risk of his own life is something he doesn't have to think about.

It's the touch on her arm that drags Chizuru back down to the present - or the past of this memory, technically - but it also makes Chizuru decide after a moment to move her hands around that arm, both of them holding on to it. Even though she still can't even see the faintest hint of blonde hair following them in the crowd, it feels safer like this. Like she could keep both of them out of danger just by holding on to her friend like he's a life raft.

".. no," she softly says, a moment after starting to hold on to him while they still slowly walk. "I escaped by myself that time. I just remember feeling really guilty that I didn't get the information the Shinsengumi were looking for because I had to get away early since he showed up.."

(Because it's Chizuru. Of course she would feel guilty over having picked her own life over anything else at all times. Even though none of the men of the Shinsengumi had blamed her, she had blamed herself.)

"He managed to touch me some of the times he showed up. Though never-- um, you know." It's hard to even say, though Chizuru does add: "Too far."

Because there had always been someone there to save her. Robby this time. Maybe that's why he's here in this memory in the first place, Chizuru thinks.

Robby doesn't object to his arm being held in that way, though if anything, he wishes - if just momentarily - he could hold her back. A hand on her again, as if to add further security, but he knows it isn't necessary. So he lets her have them in their slow walk, like a couple in their own private conversation -- an unintentional means of further blending into the crowd.

But Robby finds an alternative to the earlier problem, accidental, but natural. Never--too far. It's a sickening twist in his stomach, and his mind, his thoughts: they're all for her. Kazama only exists along the edges as a figure of disgust, but how could he focus on him more than his friend beside him, what she's admitting to--what she's been through?

He sets his other hand with the arm free too move on her shoulder, and squeezes it. Leaving it to rest there, his eyes adjusted more onto her than the open road they're walking down.

"It's not your fault," he tells her softly. Running from the operation, what happened to her caretaker. He could say more, but all he wants to say as he rubs his thumb against the back of her shoulder, a quiet exhale released. "--I'm sorry, Chizuru."

It's disgusting. She doesn't deserve it, and it's a quiet hurt in his chest to even know.

It almost feels like too much to have these words spoken, formed into actual sounds in the air. Not the words Chizuru says herself, honestly, but.. the ones Robby is saying. Saying that it's not her fault, even though it is, even though it feels impossible for it to feel any other way when Chizuru's sheer proximity to people often causes them to get hurt because of this very thing. Saying that he's sorry.

.. it's not something many people ever stopped to do. Sure, the men of the Shinsengumi were kind to her, and always fiercely protected her, but.. well, no one will ever say that most of them are very good with feelings, leaving Chizuru to often have to navigate those by herself.

It makes her gut twist now, she clings a little tighter onto Robby in order to try and not cry in the middle of the street, in the middle of a memory.

Maybe it's because she's so focused on doing that single task that the words just spill out without her thinking about them. Because Robby-- he understands, maybe not through experience, but he feels, and it feels nice to be next to someone in this moment who understands how difficult it all is.

"My father wanted this," she says.

Maybe-- no, not maybe, more like definitely-- she's saying this part exactly because it's Robby.

Because badmouthing her father in front of anyone else feels bad, since it's still her father. But hopefully Robby will understand, won't judge her, will get the hurt when the person who's supposed to care about you and protect you betrays you, when she remembers that call over the Omnis and Robby saying I'm not fine, I'm just over him--

"Remember when I said he just disappeared one day? And when I went to look for him and found him again in another city entirely, he-- he wanted me to get together with that man. Even though I was scared, even though I didn't want to, and even though I told my father as much.. He told me I had no choice but to stay by that man's side and have his children. That it was for the good of our kind."

It should've been enough. Chizuru's life and what she's already told him--it's bad enough, and there shouldn't need to be more to offer, but that's not how any world will work, will it? The kindness it won't give. She continues, continues, and Robby wasn't expecting it, confused momentarily when she says 'My father wanted this', not sure what she could mean, but she goes on.

He has to stop himself from holding his hand on her any firmer, from squeezing her shoulder. He has to stop himself from stopping, when he knows this is a memory, but it's not one that just plays without consequence, that they're being followed. It's a memory, yet his throat still tightens, he feels that urge to crush something, to shout or speak without any words to actually follow the desire.

How could someone? Chizuru's own father, the man she'd watch make medicine. A doctor-- and it was already bad enough that he left, but--

He won't speak the why? that's in his heart; he doesn't speak right away, when formulating words--he needs to process this, the disgust and saying more than just what an asshole move that was, but Robby finally starts shaking his head.

"Then he stopped being your dad the moment he started caring about anything else than what you wanted. That's--" That's bullshit. "--That's not right, that's never right."

But doesn't she know that, maybe, deep down? What a father should be, and what they turn out to be. Robby can feel pricks in the corners of his eyes. Terrible fathers were everywhere, but he doesn't want to bring this close to his own life. At least he had a mother. At least he had a dad that was just a coward.

He brushes his head close to hers, even if he can only touch his temple near to hers. But he keeps it there, even in their slow walk. A moment for them, like a closer embrace with their hands where they are. Quiet, not rushing for words, when there's few words to offer, and yet so many Robby wants to give.

He settles on a few, spoken in the space between them:

"You deserved a better life. And we can have one, in Trench."

We, because Robby knows how likely it is that Chizuru would make it about them anyway.

The first words aren't as surprising on Robby's part, but the latter words are. Still, considering the mood that hangs in the air around them and the one that has firmly settled into Chizuru's chest at this point while she's saying all of this, she doesn't let out her usual small startled noise of surprise. Instead she's quietly surprised, slowly taking in the words.

We can have one, in Trench.

Chizuru chews on the words silently. It was only a few weeks ago that she told one of her friends that she really wanted to go home. And it's not like that's untrue. She feels like she should be back with the Shinsengumi. Helping them. Just.. being with them, considering how much she misses them.

But when Robby says it like this, the idea of staying in Trench instead suddenly feels a little less impossible.

Even though it's scary, and unfamiliar, and even though Chizuru half of the time doesn't even know what's doing there-- there are people who care for her in Trench too. Robby and his words and his head half-leaned against hers is like living proof of that fact.

"You think so..?" She softly replies. It's not the most helpful of answers and Chizuru knows it, but the girl is still kind of overwhelmed with the sudden thought that maybe some people would think it's okay for her to stay in Trench instead.

And not being sure how to take it.

In this moment, Robby doesn't remember their previous conversation that touched on their thoughts of home. On if they could return or not, when Chizuru had expressed how she must be missing, and Robby had avoided speaking of his own feelings about such a possibility. That there is no home other than the sea for people who come out from it as squids -- that there's a Robby and Chizuru out there who lived their lives, maybe even full lives, and why they're here now as squids -- well, Robby doesn't know that, but.

But he knows where he is, he knows who he's here with, and he knows what he wants to do now where he is, and who he's with--the people he's come to care about. People like Chizuru.

"Yes," he answers lowly, but determinedly, assuredly; no room for doubt, no reason for it. Letting the word exist by itself for a good moment, not wanting anything to ruin its message.

But he does go on, more on his mind. "Do you remember when you called me after that day with my dad, and you asked if I thought no one would need me if I wasn't around? And I was too stuck in my own head to say no--" Which he remembers with a bitter chuckle, low and short.

"I know I don't need to think like that, because I do have people. And people have me, too -- you do. Even if we don't know what we're doing--we'll figure it out."

Chizuru releases a breath - one that almost sounds a little shaky with emotion, even if it's hard to determine which emotion specifically. Maybe it's an overwhelming amount of multiple emotions at once in the face of what he's saying here.

"You always make me feel like a spoiled kid, Robby."

Not in any parental sort of way. That's not it. But-- it's in the way he indulges her, it always feels like. He never turns anything she says fully down without providing an alternative at the very least. He reassures her the moment she asks for it. He doesn't get mad at her when she teases him a little.

Sure, maybe they're all basics things, but.. they're not things Chizuru has ever had a whole lot. Especially not the way they can be so emotionally honest with each other, even about the bad things. It may be something they have promised each other to do, but it still pays off so much more than Chizuru ever could have imagined back then.

"I mean.. It's true. It kind of feels like I don't know what I'm doing.." And it's nice to know someone else feels that way too, even if Chizuru would hope for other people that they could feel a little more certain. "Most of the time I don't even know what I want to do."

Staying here, or leaving - even if she has no choice in the matter when it comes down to it. Thinking about what she wants to do here, who she wants to be.. it's all so much, especially when you've always had such little guidance in that department.

"Most people would just pretend they know what they're doing, but.." She glances down for a moment, at their feet that are still slowly stepping forwards. "You make sure to not let me feel alone in it instead."

Can feeling like a spoilt child be good? Robby can only assume as Chizuru speaks on, what being spoilt in this case means: that they can indulge in their feelings, have each other to talk like this and to about. Two lost souls wandering in more than just this memory-scape but their entire lives. Here, or in their own worlds; just trying to get through in life, or figuring out where they stand after the dust has settled.

Robby can't compare his own life equal to Chizuru's in its hardships - but he can see where their experiences brush up, the parts that he can understand.

The smallest smile tickles his lips.

"Yeah, well - we promised we'd tell the truth. And me? I'm lost; I mean, I don't know where this is," Robby points out playfully, with a look around the place, "and I'm doing this and that in Trench, but...it feels like I'm waiting for something to come up, and take me back to my old life."

He's sure that's a we feel. Two people who don't fit in Trench.

"...I don't think it'll happen," he admits, the joking note in his voice gone. "I'll go back to the sea, maybe, but... my life in Trench? I need to make that a life." A beat. "Easier said than done."

But. "But we might as well make the most of it."

Don't you think?

It's definitely a we feel.

Right along to the point where Robby continues, where he says that he doesn't think it'll happen. Isn't it the same for Chizuru? In fact, she's been in Trench even longer now. Almost a year, and she's still there. Not even a single person from her world has shown up from the sea either, unless you count that odd different version of Sakamoto Ryouma.

Maybe it seems more and more.. like this is just it, somehow. And that - like Robby says - all they can do is make the most of it.

Her hold on him tightens a tad.

"Sure." There's something about her voice that's a little tiny. Like she's still worried, or unsure, but.. she wants to push through, adding: "Let's do our best."

Because they at least can do it together, right?

Chizuru is snapped out of that thought though when they slowly approach the gate that marks the end of the district, leading from Shimabara back into the regular streets of Kyoto. Except the streets beyond are dark and blurry, like they aren't part of this memory, and waiting at the gate is a deer.

Definitely not the sort of creature anyone would expect to see on these busy city streets.

"Ah.. I think that's the end of the memory."

Which may be for the better. It seems like Kazama hasn't managed to chase them - otherwise she's sure he would have caught up with them already, but maybe he lost them in the crowd. Even if sharing this moment with Robby feels kind of nice, she'd rather have him out of it, just so she can be sure he's safe, rather than attempting to fight a demon for her sake.

Ah.

Robby's steps come to a slow with the gate ahead of them, the deer waiting there, as if to lead them farther beyond than where the memory can go. It's a shame, Robby thinks; that this is what Chizuru had to remember, instead of something nice, and he leans his head away to look back the way they came, a street that doesn't look to have much value as a place to take in.

Instead there's Chizuru, done up in a look that doesn't suit her, even if she looks lovely. Robby smiles at her wistfully, resting his hand on her shoulder down onto one of her hands.

"Can I come see you? In the real world," he adds, tugging at his smile some to clarify.

"Of course."

It's not like he'd even have to ask, really. Chizuru likes to think they're close enough at this point that they can just go visit each other whenever without the other really minding.. but the fact that Robby asks anyway is sweet in and of itself, especially when she figures that he might be considerate of how she might feel after getting out of this memory.

It puts a genuine smile on her face as she looks at him, despite the memory they just went through.

.. despite the fact that a part of her is a little sad to have to leave such familiar scenery behind once more. But they can't linger in the memory forever, especially when Chizuru isn't sure what sort of weird side-effects could happen if one were to overstay their time here.

"In fact.. Please come see me, Robby. I'm asking you to, okay?"

This is more than permission. It's a request.

Because Chizuru knows she can beat the bittersweet feeling of this memory with the company of a good friend right after. Enough so that it makes her bold enough to - gasp! - actually ask for something for herself.

Even if that something is just Robby's company.

Oh, Robby can do a request. Rather, he even delights in it, the small mutual expression it offers in them both looking for the other's company. Though it might be for Robby a visit more to see Chizuru and be there for her, it's not a complete selflessness that compels him. Because that would mean he doesn't feel for her--that would mean he would want to be with her despite himself.

And that isn't true. Not when he's going to be thinking about her the moment they leave this memory-scape.

"Okay," he promises, echoing her, a smile widely drawn and gifted before Robby looks over to the deer waiting for them, turning to begin its walk into the undefined ahead.

If he and Chizuru walked too, or if they simply awake where they were when the memory possessed them, Robby can't recall when he comes to; but his mind is a fuzz at first, and then he remembers her-- and then he's walking, his unfortunate sending off point being a damn Winter Mourning hanging from a shop. Thanks, jackass!!

(...okay, maybe thanks.)

He'll shoot off a quick text just to be conscious of the time and to make sure Chizuru's at her and Scorpia's place, the way to which Robby's familiarised as well as his own home. His omen is fortunately more alert than him about traps littering the road, and it makes the journey over simply cold, and longer than his mind likes, but in actuality short and safe.

So he can be knocking on her door, even if Robby knows deep down that Chizuru wouldn't mind him waltzing on in (and he also knows she wouldn't complain about most people doing that, actually), but he also likes the idea of seeing her on the other side when the door opens, the feel of his lips brightening at the sight of her--

and leaning forward and wrapping his arms around her, first thing.

(And that's the goal here.)

Thankfully Chizuru is waiting for him at home, and of course she immediately rushes to the door when she hears the knock on it, since it could only be one person so close after Robby sent her that message.

But while it means she expects to see his face when she opens the door, the hug is a little more unexpected.

Not in any way she dislikes, though. Chizuru seems surprised for the faintest moment, her body freezing against Robby's own, but then she melts into the hug instead, moving her arms to wrap them around him as well, hands landing on his back, her body leaning against his own. It felt odd to suddenly be ripped away from that memory, away from anything remotely familiar again, but the sensation of a warm and trusted body so close to her own makes up for a lot of it.

It brings comfort.

"You didn't warn me about the hug," she mumbles against him while they're still like that.

(It's a joke, really. Mostly.)

"I need to warn about hugs now?" Robby complains playfully, the thought funny more than anything. It sure isn't pulling him away from this hug now, feeling the way Chizuru eases into it completely; her frame smaller, but fitting right against him. He would've been happy to give her this in that memory, but like this, in reality--maybe it's more genuine in its meaning.

And he's enjoying it now, anyway, humour brushing up further in his voice.

"The way you knocked that guy with your shoe so we could get outta there? Insanely cool."

Just so she knows. It's very important.

"It was nothing that special!" But even as Chizuru - as always - dismisses the compliment like that, she at least does sound kind of amused as she's saying it.. like there's something about the compliment that makes her feel warm regardless, even as she's having a hard time accepting it.

She rests in the hug for another moment, but then she slowly pulls away. Truthfully, she's still pretty close to Robby even at that point, but.. maybe it's just that she wants to be able to look him in the face after that memory, and the deep talk they had inside of it.

And for what she's about to say, really.

"Though.. You shouldn't immediately stand up that much to anyone you meet, Robby! He's so dangerous.. He really could have hurt you!"

Someone is clearly a little too brave for his own good.. Though this is honestly such a very, very gentle way of scolding the other. There's no venom or anger in it in the slightest - perhaps just some worry.

And to think, Robby thought as their embrace became less close, even with his own arms still wrapped around her (or slow to drop, anyway), he thought there would be a sweeter sentiment waiting for him.

Instead! He makes a face of faux offence, mouth open in playful surprise.

"What was I meant to do? I'm not letting some guy put his hands on you, he was a jackass!"

At least for Chizuru's gentle scolding, Robby sounds - and looks - more like a guy defending his position for taking a slice of pie that wasn't meant to be eaten until dessert. It's less serious than the mood had been in the memory, that Robby doesn't mind adding further in his defence:

"Maybe you should've made him disappear, or--turned him into a rabbit. Don't you have paleblood? You could've gotten him back for being a creep!"

At least she won't disagree with his creep assessment. There are many people who are rough around the edges - sometimes even severely so that Chizuru will defend to hell and back, but no such thing exists for Kazama. Not when the other demon has done absolutely nothing but terrorize Chizuru this entire time.

So it's not that part that she focuses on, her smile seeming to deflate a little bit, even the semi-playful scolding fading into something that makes Chizuru look a little more guilty.

"I don't know how to.." Granted, she knows Robby didn't really mean it that seriously. It's not like he's mad that she didn't make it easier on them, after all, but Chizuru's brain just loves making her thing that she should have done more, or should have been better. "I've tried a few times lately, but.. no matter what I do, I really don't get how to use my blood.. Not even in a memory like that."

And she's assuming Robby has seen other people with paleblood being able to use it in such a way, judging by his words - the ones now, and the ones before, back in the memory itself.

"Maybe there's just something wrong with my blood."

"Heey, hey." Don't think Robby doesn't notice that dip--and don't think he isn't going to put his hands on her arms, a gesture of comfort, his eyes resting on her in a way meaning to catch her eye. "How should you know how to use them if you don't know what you're doing? I didn't mean any of that, really-- I don't know how easy or hard it is to use blood powers."

How would he? Warmblooded that he is. Where do you even start with any of that? He couldn't give her advice right now.

"We can try and find someone to help you," he goes on, since--that is an option, regardless of everything else, "but nothing how everything went is your fault. But, maybe if we did want to get that guy back if he ever shows up in your memories again--maybe next time you'll be prepared?"

A hopeful note? Hmmm, Chizuru? Doesn't that sound good??

She sees what you're doing, Robby.

And really, how could Chizuru continue to look sad in the face of that? She'd feel way too guilty for continuing to sulk when Robby is trying so hard to cheer her up, to change a worry into something positive. So even though it's not a huge smile or anything, when she looks back at the boy, Chizuru does smile a tiny bit.

"I was thinking I might try to skip these Winter Mournings next year," she says, trying to put a faintly jokey angle on the words as well. It's not super spirited yet, but it's a genuine attempt! "But.. I would like to learn. The more ways I have to try and defend myself, the better, right..?"

Sure, she's already learning some self defense from Robby, but with the kind of threats you sometimes come across in Trench? You need to be prepared with all you've got, Chizuru is very much aware of that as well.

"I don't want you to have to worry about me."

"And if I ever get stuck in a memory, mourning, dreaming space again," let's throw out all the words here, a very gentle bump of a fist given on Chizuru's shoulder, "--you can come running on in and help me out. With a shoe to a monster's face."

Robby will never let the shoe go. But it's a fond thing, and he'd like that for Chizuru. He'll need to ask Paul if he did what he did with blood magic, or figure out someone else who has paleblood and knows how to use it (Viktor? ...he doesn't seem that interested in his own blood magic, though).

"But, alright, that sounds like a good plan. You can even help me, you know? We can do some reading together on paleblood. I've got some books these days." A grin. Yeah, that's right, he reads. "You should ask your friends too. Or we can just go into town and see if there's somewhere that teaches that. Maybe the Gaze?"

Magic 101?

(closed) december catchall

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cw: noncon implications in narration

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cw: definitely some form of parental abuse of a child going on

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