Good day! I fear I'm not available to take your call at the moment. Please feel free to leave a message here, and I'll be sure to return your call as quickly as I can.
Unless there happen to be others of your order here that I'm unaware of, I believe that I'm in possession of your hat.
[And there are a lot of questions attached to this that he's refraining from voicing, most prominently being: he's pretty sure he hasn't even seen X'rhun in some weeks now, so how????]
[He's pretty sure he never even had anything to drink the day before, so why doesn't he remember anything?]
[It took a moment for him to reply to the message. Why? Because.... he couldn't, for the life of him, remember leaving his hat anywhere but right upon the hat rack where it belonged. He couldn't even recall the last time he'd even seen Gaius.
And yet, no hat. Not on the rack, not on the table, not near his bed, no where, and with no indication that he should believe otherwise... he eventually responded, the text perhaps doing very little to mask the miqo'te's confusion.]
I believe perhaps that you might, though I haven't the faintest idea as to why.
[He'd no reason to believe the Garlean would steal it, just so he could contact him the day afterwards to tell him about it.
Fifty seven year old men didn't play those kinds of games.]
Though I would ask you send a picture of it.
[In part because... well... In all honesty it was most likely his hat, but... one couldn't blame him for hoping.]
[Fifty seven year old men absolutely don't play those kinds of games. Especially not this one. So it's only a few moments before the photo is sent, only taking as long as it does because fifty seven year old men also don't like this weird, awkward new technology.]
[And it certainly looks like X'rhun's fancy red hat sitting there on a table.]
[It certainly does look like it, and there's another pause before he'd answer, inspecting the picture closely. True, the hats of his order all looked the same to anyone else, but every piece of personal property held some defining feature. A scuff here, a worn thread there. He recalled how one man's hat never could quite keep the feather aloft, how it'd always somehow end up drooping after just a few days. Another woman's cap sported faint wear at the tip, she'd fuss with it and tip it so much.
.... It was his, he could tell in a heartbeat, but the pause lingered just a touch longer than it should have as those memories passed briefly through his mind, like ghosts.]
It is indeed mine. You do not recall how it ended up in your possession?
[Well yes, he was getting ready to go collect it even as he wrote, grabbing his coat and boots as he went.]
Aye, that would be my best guess. I was planning to search for it once I ensured the hat was safely returned.
[Much as a small part of him instinctively wanted to fling it into the ocean as soon as he woke up with it. But X'rhun certainly doesn't deserve that now, if he ever did, and it's the gentlemanly thing to do.]
[What follows next are a few photos of the food stalls and little shop stands that line the beach itself, the best that he can do as far as where are you goes, because he's still nursing something of a headache and can't for the life of him answer that.]
I'll be lingering for a while, unless you'd prefer I try to find you instead.
[If you have any shred of good will toward him please don't make him do that.]
[He'd have been less than pleased to wake up and find that his hat was forever lost to him, so thank you for not throwing it in the ocean, Gaius. He'd been kind enough not to act upon violent urges before, it'd be a shame not to have that returned.]
I'm getting ready to leave, there is no reason for you to come looking for me.
[In part because he could only assume the other man was a bit tired, but on top of that... the idea of Gaius being wholly aware of where he lived still didn't quite sit well with him.]
It would seem as if you're not terribly far away from me anyway, and it would do well for me to get some exercise.
[Fifty seven year old men should not be pettier bitches than forty two year old men, Gaius.]
You should have plenty of time to do so, I'm sure of it.
[Though he will be hurrying, he really does want his goddamn hat back and he'd really like to know how it managed to escape from the hat rack and take itself for a little walk on the beach.
It'd be at the very least a decent twenty minutes before the miqo'te would be visible, as always a brilliant splash of red and, moreso visible now without the hat, white. No, he really did feel fairly naked without it, he wasn't going to dawdle for too damn long.]
Ah! Mira, hello! I apologize for the long silence, I fear I've been caught up in other things, as of late.
[Exploring, mostly, considering the new areas they'd all just recently gained access to. Too busy to remember to pick up the phone and say something every once in a while it'd seem.]
Everything is quite fine, never better should I be honest. I hope my prolonged silence hasn't worried you.
I've not attended any of those... that I can remember. My hat somehow managed to find itself upon the beach not terribly long ago, and I haven't the slightest idea how it managed to make it there. I'd recall attending a party.
[Leaving out the discomfort of having to retrieve that hat from Gaius, there was no need to even slightly darken the mood here.]
Did you manage to find it at least? Although that time at the beach I somehow got my hair shortened and lost my spectacles. They haven't been found and I had to get new ones. Still don't know what happened.
[She doesn't even know Gaius is here. Last she knew of him, another of his 'children' decided to go down via giant robot.]
Other than that, been alright. Looking into the history here mostly.
I had it returned to me, yes. Mercifully no worse for wear. Far worse than a little sand has gotten into it before after all, it only took a few shakes to put it back to rights.
You have? Well, found anything interesting to share? I'd an interest myself in the history of this world, mostly in regards to the ceremony that involved the destruction of a golden figurine. I found it rather intriguing.
[That and the sudden explosion of emotions he'd felt as it melted away.]
Well, it depends. My focus was more on the creation myths as well as the myths surrounding the gems who were against the gods. Rather interesting matters especially since there's nothing on the so-called enemies. It makes me curious as to what exactly is being hidden.
[It's one of those things that cannot be blindly believed. Given her history, it's best not to hide such things.]
[Look it sounds really bad and he's not going to stand around asking just what it is he's about to deal with. He's out the door and headed for the aforementioned residence, having memorized the way by heart at this point.]
You haven't anything on hand to deal with it? [Well then whatever it was must have been a terrible surprise, surely otherwise she'd have something...]
I have a baking tray!! I moved mostly everything useful out of here— The lid melted! I don't understand!! It's looking like a bloody fire-aspected voidkin!
[ She definitely sounds more panicked now. More spitting and hissing in the background later— ]
Wait, X'rhun! There's a- red thing! Extinguisher! I think? It's in the hallway! Maybe that will work!!
[The more he hears about this thing, the more he'll admit his curiosity is piqued about it.]
It looks like a voidkin? [Implying it isn't but-] You weren't trying to summon anything and perchance, got the incantation incorrect...?
[He didn't have to look too hard for the fire extinguisher, snagging it off the wall in the hallway as he went. It was within seconds after grabbing it that he'd arrive at the apartment, pushing his way in with nary a knock at the door.]
I've weaponry and spells to spare, what would make the extinguisher a better choice?
Not... exactly? Though I might as well have at this poi- OW!
[ How is a Warrior of Light being overcome by something like this? He'll soon find out.
Because when he enters, and sees the smoke coming out of the kitchen, he might figure it out. And Megumi runs into the doorway holding a baking tray that looks like it's been attacked by lava, spotting X'rhun and waving him over. ]
Careful, aim it right! Bloody thing spits!
[ Said... bloody thing is certainly hissing, alright. ]
[Alright, he's in, extinguisher in hand (and not entirely sure how to use it), his other resting on the hilt of the rapier and....]
... Megumi, were you perchance trying to practice alchemy...?
[He is bewildered. And a lot less panicked now, plucking off his hat to wave away the smoke.]
What was that? Here, stand over here away from it, while I find the trigger on this... [A hell of a lot less panicked, confusion slowly turning into amusement as he fiddles with the extinguisher.]
[ She quickly comes over to help him with the extinguisher, there's the pin off. She's more terrified of that pot melting and destroying the stove, and helps him aim- ]
There. And... that might have been... [ Grumblemutter- ] ... stovetopcake...
[With a fizzing FROOSH, he pulls the trigger and douses the smoldering disaster, steam rising in jets from the glowing red and black mass as chunks of carbonized material fall in little sooty flakes across the stove.]
It was a cake...? [Yeah he sounds almost wonderous at that, that looked nowhere near a cake anymore.] I near thought you had a fire sprite materializing.
[With a gentle cough, he set the extinguisher down, returning his hat to his head before casting an eye about.]
Why don't we move the cake outside... [Before it leaves a permanent smell in the kitchen, he's so sorry, Megumi.]
[ Blech, that smells awful too. She sighs and nods, quickly moving to get the exhaust on and the balcony doors opened so the smoke alarms don't go off like they did the other day when she tried to bake cookies...
He doesn't need to know about that disaster.
But at least disposing of it is easy, and they can get to cleaning up... well, her mostly, looking embarrassed as she mops and scrubs and we don't need to play that bit much but she'll sigh and bump her forehead against his shoulder when it's cleaned up enough. ]
... thank you. For showing up. I was too embarrassed to ask for help sooner.
[At least she wouldn't be cleaning it up alone. The cake, or rather, the cremated remains of the cake, was tossed, the pot it was in quickly submerged in the sink before he went to help with cleaning. Burnt crumbs, smoke stains, the smell of charred flour and burned sugar would take a while to filter out but... Well it could have been worse!
She brushed against him, and he in turn moved to lightly curl an arm about her shoulders, the back of his fingers briefly brushing her cheek in an affectionate, light embrace.]
You need not be embarrassed, I can assure you I've seen far worse culinary mistakes. I cannot begin to imagine anyone would judge you for it.
[There was a brief pause.]
Well... no one who's opinion is warranted upon the matter.
[ And a relief that is- she's grateful for the help, even making some playful remarks at her expense about the situation. But together they do manage a good enough job and now-
Yes, this is much nicer, and she lifts her head to lean against his touch with the softest of rumbling purrs before looking up at him with a flick of her ears and a sheepish smile. ]
Suppose someone ought to tell my brat of a brother that, back home. He's cursed me out often for even trying beyond my skill.
[ She'd just wanted to do something nice... and on her own. Clearly she hasn't been practicing her culinarian rotations as well as she ought to.
But she does wrap an arm around his back and smiles a bit. ]
Never trust a recipe that says it's quick and easy. They're usually lying and missing instructions. [ A huff- ] ... but now I'm a whole treat short of what the neighbors would get on me moving out of here. Any suggestions, great teacher?
You can't get any better if you don't push the boundary! This, [said as he gestured towards the fragmented, sooty remains of the cake] is only to be expected, doubtless it'll happen more. There's no shame in making a few mistakes, it's all part of the process.
[He hummed thoughtfully, now lightly drumming his fingers against her shoulder as she posed her question, glancing about the kitchen.]
But, perhaps for now, the learning process can be put on hold.... Maybe you should just buy a cake and save your education for another day.
[ Maybe she shouldn't tell him this sort of thing has been happening in various forms through the years... the last thing she needs is for her dear friend and instructor to laugh at her failure. Not that X'rhun would. Still!
She circles around in front then, draping her arms around his shoulders before poking her nose up against his. It's an affectionate gesture, her body purring softly, before she smiles and draws her face back enough to meet his gaze. ]
Help me pick something out, then? Pity I can't just bring you over. Treat like yourself ought to be enjoyed, X'rhun.
[ She couldn't help herself, alright? She's just terribly fond of him and the flirting comes naturally. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
un: baelsar [backdated to start of June event]
Unless there happen to be others of your order here that I'm unaware of, I believe that I'm in possession of your hat.
[And there are a lot of questions attached to this that he's refraining from voicing, most prominently being: he's pretty sure he hasn't even seen X'rhun in some weeks now, so how????]
[He's pretty sure he never even had anything to drink the day before, so why doesn't he remember anything?]
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And yet, no hat. Not on the rack, not on the table, not near his bed, no where, and with no indication that he should believe otherwise... he eventually responded, the text perhaps doing very little to mask the miqo'te's confusion.]
I believe perhaps that you might, though I haven't the faintest idea as to why.
[He'd no reason to believe the Garlean would steal it, just so he could contact him the day afterwards to tell him about it.
Fifty seven year old men didn't play those kinds of games.]
Though I would ask you send a picture of it.
[In part because... well... In all honesty it was most likely his hat, but... one couldn't blame him for hoping.]
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[And it certainly looks like X'rhun's fancy red hat sitting there on a table.]
And? What would the verdict be?
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.... It was his, he could tell in a heartbeat, but the pause lingered just a touch longer than it should have as those memories passed briefly through his mind, like ghosts.]
It is indeed mine. You do not recall how it ended up in your possession?
[Well yes, he was getting ready to go collect it even as he wrote, grabbing his coat and boots as he went.]
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I also appear to be missing an over-shirt that was gifted to me, if you happen to have seen one anywhere.
[It doesn't hurt to ask. Megumi would be cross to know it was lost after the time she spent making it, and he rather liked it regardless.]
[And after another moment, sent as if an afterthought:]
I believe I cleaned most of the sand from it. But I apologize if any was missed.
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Where are you currently, if I may ask? It's quite fine if it's still sandy, it's had far worse in it before.
[The feather might need to be swapped out, but that was easy enough to accomplish.]
I am to assume that you misplaced this over-shirt somewhere upon the beach as well?
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[Much as a small part of him instinctively wanted to fling it into the ocean as soon as he woke up with it. But X'rhun certainly doesn't deserve that now, if he ever did, and it's the gentlemanly thing to do.]
[What follows next are a few photos of the food stalls and little shop stands that line the beach itself, the best that he can do as far as where are you goes, because he's still nursing something of a headache and can't for the life of him answer that.]
I'll be lingering for a while, unless you'd prefer I try to find you instead.
[If you have any shred of good will toward him please don't make him do that.]
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I'm getting ready to leave, there is no reason for you to come looking for me.
[In part because he could only assume the other man was a bit tired, but on top of that... the idea of Gaius being wholly aware of where he lived still didn't quite sit well with him.]
It would seem as if you're not terribly far away from me anyway, and it would do well for me to get some exercise.
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Then I'll await you here. Gives me a moment to finish off my coffee, at the very least.
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You should have plenty of time to do so, I'm sure of it.
[Though he will be hurrying, he really does want his goddamn hat back and he'd really like to know how it managed to escape from the hat rack and take itself for a little walk on the beach.
It'd be at the very least a decent twenty minutes before the miqo'te would be visible, as always a brilliant splash of red and, moreso visible now without the hat, white. No, he really did feel fairly naked without it, he wasn't going to dawdle for too damn long.]
UN: Shadowbringer (before July Event Start)
Hey X'rhun, it's Mira. It's been some time since we last chatted and I was wondering how you were doing. Hope everything is going good for you.
[Ok, not the best but the effort counts, right?]
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[Exploring, mostly, considering the new areas they'd all just recently gained access to. Too busy to remember to pick up the phone and say something every once in a while it'd seem.]
Everything is quite fine, never better should I be honest. I hope my prolonged silence hasn't worried you.
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[She gets it. Adventurers at heart. Besides, that's what he was doing before coming here as well so that's her guess.]
But I understand it. Seems like we've both been doing things to keep busy. Other than the parties that keep happening here.
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[Leaving out the discomfort of having to retrieve that hat from Gaius, there was no need to even slightly darken the mood here.]
I trust that you've been well, then?
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[She doesn't even know Gaius is here. Last she knew of him, another of his 'children' decided to go down via giant robot.]
Other than that, been alright. Looking into the history here mostly.
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You have? Well, found anything interesting to share? I'd an interest myself in the history of this world, mostly in regards to the ceremony that involved the destruction of a golden figurine. I found it rather intriguing.
[That and the sudden explosion of emotions he'd felt as it melted away.]
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[It's one of those things that cannot be blindly believed. Given her history, it's best not to hide such things.]
« voice call » un: matriarch
X'rhun, it's a disaster!! I think it's alive!! Eeek!!
[ Did something go pop? ]
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[A POP and a squeal of surprise? Fear? Well really it didn't matter, he was already scooping up both the device and the rapier.]
Where are you?
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[ This sounds so much worse than it actually is. ]
I've never seen anything like it!! Ack, that burns, sodding—
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You haven't anything on hand to deal with it? [Well then whatever it was must have been a terrible surprise, surely otherwise she'd have something...]
I'm nearly there.
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[ She definitely sounds more panicked now. More spitting and hissing in the background later— ]
Wait, X'rhun! There's a- red thing! Extinguisher! I think? It's in the hallway! Maybe that will work!!
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It looks like a voidkin? [Implying it isn't but-] You weren't trying to summon anything and perchance, got the incantation incorrect...?
[He didn't have to look too hard for the fire extinguisher, snagging it off the wall in the hallway as he went. It was within seconds after grabbing it that he'd arrive at the apartment, pushing his way in with nary a knock at the door.]
I've weaponry and spells to spare, what would make the extinguisher a better choice?
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[ How is a Warrior of Light being overcome by something like this? He'll soon find out.
Because when he enters, and sees the smoke coming out of the kitchen, he might figure it out. And Megumi runs into the doorway holding a baking tray that looks like it's been attacked by lava, spotting X'rhun and waving him over. ]
Careful, aim it right! Bloody thing spits!
[ Said... bloody thing is certainly hissing, alright. ]
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... Megumi, were you perchance trying to practice alchemy...?
[He is bewildered. And a lot less panicked now, plucking off his hat to wave away the smoke.]
What was that? Here, stand over here away from it, while I find the trigger on this... [A hell of a lot less panicked, confusion slowly turning into amusement as he fiddles with the extinguisher.]
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[ She quickly comes over to help him with the extinguisher, there's the pin off. She's more terrified of that pot melting and destroying the stove, and helps him aim- ]
There. And... that might have been... [ Grumblemutter- ] ... stovetopcake...
[ Yeah. ]
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It was a cake...? [Yeah he sounds almost wonderous at that, that looked nowhere near a cake anymore.] I near thought you had a fire sprite materializing.
[With a gentle cough, he set the extinguisher down, returning his hat to his head before casting an eye about.]
Why don't we move the cake outside... [Before it leaves a permanent smell in the kitchen, he's so sorry, Megumi.]
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He doesn't need to know about that disaster.
But at least disposing of it is easy, and they can get to cleaning up... well, her mostly, looking embarrassed as she mops and scrubs and we don't need to play that bit much but she'll sigh and bump her forehead against his shoulder when it's cleaned up enough. ]
... thank you. For showing up. I was too embarrassed to ask for help sooner.
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She brushed against him, and he in turn moved to lightly curl an arm about her shoulders, the back of his fingers briefly brushing her cheek in an affectionate, light embrace.]
You need not be embarrassed, I can assure you I've seen far worse culinary mistakes. I cannot begin to imagine anyone would judge you for it.
[There was a brief pause.]
Well... no one who's opinion is warranted upon the matter.
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Yes, this is much nicer, and she lifts her head to lean against his touch with the softest of rumbling purrs before looking up at him with a flick of her ears and a sheepish smile. ]
Suppose someone ought to tell my brat of a brother that, back home. He's cursed me out often for even trying beyond my skill.
[ She'd just wanted to do something nice... and on her own. Clearly she hasn't been practicing her culinarian rotations as well as she ought to.
But she does wrap an arm around his back and smiles a bit. ]
Never trust a recipe that says it's quick and easy. They're usually lying and missing instructions. [ A huff- ] ... but now I'm a whole treat short of what the neighbors would get on me moving out of here. Any suggestions, great teacher?
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[He hummed thoughtfully, now lightly drumming his fingers against her shoulder as she posed her question, glancing about the kitchen.]
But, perhaps for now, the learning process can be put on hold.... Maybe you should just buy a cake and save your education for another day.
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She circles around in front then, draping her arms around his shoulders before poking her nose up against his. It's an affectionate gesture, her body purring softly, before she smiles and draws her face back enough to meet his gaze. ]
Help me pick something out, then? Pity I can't just bring you over. Treat like yourself ought to be enjoyed, X'rhun.
[ She couldn't help herself, alright? She's just terribly fond of him and the flirting comes naturally. ]