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[glub]

Rafayel

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they say when you give a man a fish he eats for one day when you teach a man to fish they try to empty out the claw machine

[ thank you for my life, peace. ]

Comments

@xyz

[withhold]

are you on the bridge?

[glub]

that depends on whos asking

[withhold]

I'm asking.

Caleb remember?

action - june event

[hanikamu]

[ When Rafayel's at the bridge, he hears a familiar voice in the distance... And no, it's not the squid. ]

Raffy!

[ That's all the warning Rafayel gets when Rinne tries to tackle him with a hug from behind. ]

[glub]

[ rafayel appears deep in his own thoughts for a moment.

while it isn't enough to drown out any background noise, it is definitely enough to dull his reaction time. by the time he whirls around and tries to side step, he's already miscalculated, and feels a weight on his arm. one he reacts to by gripping onto rinne's shirt.

... it's not like he wants him to fall flat on his face.

but, the idea makes him suddenly feel self-conscious, so he clears his throat. ] What are you doing here?

[ but, i see my opportunity at kdrama oppa style back hug is gone. ]

[hanikamu]

[Never say never. For now, Rinne will take advantage of this position, fully aware of the fact that he could make ASMR sounds if he wanted to. His voice curls around Rafayel's ear like smoke as he holds his arm tight.]

Well, that depends on what you want me to say. What were you expecting? That I came to see you?

[Rinne is leaning so, so close to his ear as he says this.

Then, he pulls back. He just wanted to catch Rafayel off-guard. His revenge is complete...]

Kyaha! Sorry to burst your bubble, fishie. I ain't here for anybody. But right across that bridge is a place I've only heard in legend, and since I ain't wings or fins, there's only one way for this cute fox to get there.

@aodh

[belli]

[ +1 misfired photo of what looks to be a... blurry floating stop sign(?). ]

[...]

[...]

?

[glub]

[ what… is this? he squints and turns his device to the side. ]

for a piece its lacking clarity
the colors are bold but commonplace
looks like the exact red ive seen around the stores here
dun feel artist intent aaaand i dun like the question mark

2.3/10

flowers & feathers delivery

[flamechase]

( by the end of the second week of august, a special delivery arrives at rafayel's door. a carefully put-together bouquet, composed of what seems to be chrysanthemums of varying colors that, as elysia had found, symbolize optimism, peace, loyalty - the perfect gift for a friend she holds close to her heart. the true decor, however, comes in the form of a small, blue feather; perfumed, beautiful, so precious to the touch. one of the many that had appeared on elysia's body through her months in karteria, gifted for rafayel to remember her by.

and with it, of course, a note written in cutesy handwriting: )

Hi, Rafayel ♪ Are you surprised? A beautiful flower bouquet, carefully put together just for you. The flowers of Karteria are unlike anything I have seen, so specially unique. Each of them come with their own meaning, but you will have to find out what it is yourself, okay? They symbolize my feelings for you, so you have to treat it gently.

I have also decorated it with one of my own feathers, so you always remember me, and I can be by your side even when we're not together. Pretty, isn't it? Make sure to take extra care of it!

May you find happiness wherever you go.

Elysia ♡

texting, wait 4 his return gift

[glub]

[ he is a little surprised, admittedly.

but, in spite of that initial spark of some unknown sentiment, he does genuinely appreciate the gift, just like he would have sincerely enjoyed any other aspect of the natural world. in water, only certain flowers could manage to grow atop its surfaces, and so it's a unique part of this world above the sea's depths. ... and her feather, all the more, even if he does wrinkle his nose lightly by the scent. not out of displeasure as much as instinct. still, he does type her a quick message: ]

you make it sound like ive been rough
but got it ill be sure to tend to them well

is the meaning up to interpretation

@onestepforward, 09/01 txt

[ignoreher]

Professor! I've finished my assignment! I hope you're ready for an amateur's critique!

[ god, someone's on the dot ]

[glub]

oh if it isn't my little pupil

[ he checks the calendar... ]

arent you a little early
you wont get extra credit for that yknow

@onestepforward, later in the month

[ignoreher]

[ one terrible consequence of putting herself in time out is

well

she got lonely easily before, or at least preferred the company of others, but the ruminantia soul seems to worsen it. putting aside the-- awkward condition its also given her, unable to sleep and unwilling to risk stepping out for more than a meal when everyone else has departed after she'd let her gaze linger too long on someone, it is. unbearable, to be on her own, and angela's door visits only last so long.

just to check up on her, perhaps give her a snack and a drink, and then that's that.

... her foxes would definitely have too keen of noses, and it's embarrassing. louis is similarly out of the question -- even the thought of him makes her shudder in a good way. rafayel, then, is her last choice (though the first to come to mind, even if she won't admit it) and malkuth broods in her blankets for a moment before texting him. ]

Are you doing anything right now?

there really is such a whiplash

[glub]

[ since their last conversation, he figured that malkuth had it all planned out. while there was some degree of impulse to her behaviors, it's also true that she was equally effective at mapping out her next steps. hence, he didn't think much of their conversation. you know, outside of the fact that whatever she said on the network was a clear excuse. but, he supposed there were times where permitting someone that freedom to spout those convenient words was just as crucial as pretending to believe in them.

even if he thinks neither of them are really fooled.

that said, he's both surprised and ... not when he sees her text. ]

i was actually just wrapping up by the water



[ that's his way of asking if he should ask why or keep up pretending...

yet, without her knowing, he might already be heading in the direction of where she lived. ]

@onestepforward, oct 3rd later at night

[ignoreher]

[ promise this is quick. she's really pepped talk herself into this, and also had a hell of a discussion she's absolutely regretted, but

she does miss hanging out with him. so. casual! absolutely casual. yup. sooo casual. he cannot tell she's pacing her room over text. ]

Wanna catch a movie sometime this week?

[ like

the week ahead not the few days they have le should she have specified no it's fine don't be stupid don't ]

Like, the upcoming week!
Not this-this week.
Since it's almost over and all, haha.




[ jesus fucking chr ]

[glub]

[ honestly, he didn't expect her to reach out first.

than again, even if he had thought to send her a message, he wasn't doing it... mostly out of respect to her. he'd like to think he was impervious to feeling bad in this specific way, but maybe he's not. maybe he wasn't as apathetic as he should have been.

regardless, he isn't sure if he sees it as a comfort or something else.

... as he reads on, maybe


it is something else. ]

you know you could just say next week

[ is this that time perspective debate? ]

i was working on something
but i can make time

post event i am so sorry to be why am i four in a row?

[ignoreher]

[ ... be soooooooooooo brave malkuth this is something you had to check in on anyway-- ]



Sorry for totally losing a week!
Did you want to take a raincheck on the movie? I feel really bad about ghosting you like that, [ more for ghosting takasugi though, ] so I'll make it up to you next time.

me 2 ur inbox

[glub]

[ if only rafayel knew she felt more bad about takasugi... ]



if you realllyyy feel bad
think about what movie you wanted to watch

@onestepforward

[ignoreher]

[ there's gonna be nothing else to this message except an address in gloria, and from anyone else maybe it would be an invitation to come over

but it definitely is not. it's just so he knows where to find her if he's ever curious or the fairies want to drop off something else. that's exactly what she's telling herself. please do not respond, i say knowing he's always got to have the last word. ]

[glub]

[ huh.


this is pretty unusual for malkuth, but at the same time... ]

if youre gonna try and do a treasure hunt
dun you think you should make the final destination a liiiittle harder

or is this an invitation for some fairys mischief

@onestepforward

[ignoreher]

[ it's



fine, actually absolutely okay totally normal despite the

the heavily not so implied holiday traditions the karterians seem to believe in, and also? there is a whole week? but particularly the day of... ah, this is just as bad as asking him to see a movie but also somehow ten times worse malkuth can feel herself getting physically ill as she trots through the falling snow back home. maybe it's just the cold. no, her fur helps protect against that? she can't be this bad off over an innocent request.





she knows she is that's what makes it embarassing WHATEVER!!! whatever. things are. better now. sort of. kind of. it's only awkward if she makes it awkward. just don't make it awkward. easy. ]

If you're not busy

[ no not that. try again. ]

I definitely wouldn't be surprised if you

[ no??? over before it begins??? backspace it up girl ]

Would you like to

[ that's so formal be CASUAL. C A S U A L. ]

Will you spend the Winter Solstice with me?
As friends, of course!





[ oh my god she's gonna hurl why did she add that tagline like she'd assume he'd assume any differently she needs to lie down ]

[glub]

[ help...

little does he know about her meltdown, if just because he often wonders how confined he is by his own considerations and unspoken emotional distance. while he's thought he's done his best to establish some boundaries between them, there are times where he almost feels like it's entirely out of his own control. akin to drawing a line in the sand and having the waves lap it up in seconds, she's.. ]

hmmmmmm i dun know
because of a certain someone ive been painting soooo many houses

[ it's not her fault caleb signed him up for this...

but, before he can get too distracted by his own attempt at a joke— ]

but i did want to check it out yeah
pluuus i heard something interesting

[ nope, he's not going to clarify. ]

late december.

[opposed]

[ Rafayel will find a small package addressed to him left outside his door one day, only wrapped with a bow. Inside are a set of fine paintbrushes that had been on auction last month as well as several newer tools for painting. There are several oil paints in there as well, each of them some shade of blue, green, or grey. A note is at the bottom in Mel's flowing script. ]

I would still like to see your work someday. Perhaps we can collaborate. Until then, I hope these will suffice. If you need or want more colors, you know where to find me. I hope you enjoy the Midwinter celebrations this month.

[ There's one other thing: next to the box is a little bottle of mulled cider. It's not much but it's in the spirit of the season. ]

a gift (dec 25)

[totalize]

[ New Eridu might not actually celebrate Christmas anymore, but the day itself is still the fun, meaningful one! So, as sneakily as Mr. Claus himself, there will be a quite beautifully wrapped gift waiting at Rafayel’s front door on the morning of December 25th.

Inside the box is something familiar, albeit in a new form. The high quality paper that Hugo had given Rafayel when they had first met has now been bound into a nice sketchpad, but also? It’s huge. Apparently he wants to make sure that Rafayel won’t be running out any time soon?! Or maybe this is in response to how he’d learned that Rafayel is very judicious with his work… At least the note tucked in alongside it makes it clearer. ]

✦ Happy Holidays, Rafayel~ ✦
Before you’re too alarmed, let me just say: I know. It’s not exactly ergonomic. However, when I went to the place and asked if they could bind the paper into a sketchbook form, this is what they came up with? I didn’t think I would have to specify a size, and yet!
Though since you seem to have a sense of humor, I imagined that it wouldn’t hurt. More paper can’t be a bad thing, right?
I hope it gives you plenty of chances to pursue your artistic endeavors in the new year.

Delivered on December 25th

[queenofkur]

[ For Christmas, Rafayel receives a book titled:

"Why Deceiving People is Wrong: An Evidence"

There is a letter with it. ]

Dear Rafayel,

Though I am no judge of whether or not you have been good and deserve a Christmas gift, I shall send you one regardless which I believe shall be of great use to you and help in your betterment and social life. I hope it will please you and help you!

Merry Christmas!
Ereshkigal, Goddess of Death and Queen of Kûr