You Find Yourselves Stirred By A Voice....

[strangerpeople]

[You feel as you are on a fluffy cloud of warmth and the urge to not want to move is great. However, the voice speaks again as if it is urgent...and maybe angry?]

Damn brats! Get off the merchandise before I call security on you!

[Oh. Well.

When you come to, the familiar scenes of your bedrooms fill your sight. However, the barriers are gone and strangest of all, there are people around. They can SEE you and for sure, they are gawking at the weirdos that are somehow sleeping in department store beds. But on the hands of Croix and Chariot, there's something on their hands...a phone number and a message saying 'Call me! :D' from some weird girl with an A name. But when you finally move and get away from any nosy customers, you have to wonder 'What just happened?' 'Is everyone ok?'

And why do you have the urge to go visit Cafe MYJL?]

Comments

[notgentle]

?????????

[When she first gets that close, Dio reacts with the tense shoulders and dilated eyes that Chariot might well recognize from the social service elements of her education studies. He presses his lips together, denying voice to undignified noises like "eeps", get a his arms up high enough to push her but manages to correct course into a stiff pat on both shoulders and finally brushing a hair out of her face with his thumb, winking down at her with bravado.]

Didn't think I would go down any easier than the others, did you? C'mon.

[ourmagic]

[ She recognizes it, thus is quick to let go. She has a lot of questions for Dio... but she feels now may not be the time to bombard the poor man. ]

Obviously not.

[notgentle]

[Dio puts his free hands on his hips.]

I'll have you know I was just as straight with you too.

[He jerks his thumb at his chest.]

The three doors unlocked? That was all us.

[ourmagic]

I knew all of you guys would be able to do it. I didn't have any doubt.

[ She sounds quite proud. ]

[notgentle]

It really was a team effort. Who knew detectives could pick locks? Or find jewelry of all things to use.

[Sigh...]

I know it's not what's important in life, but there was just so much NICE STUFF here. Everything was so easy when it came to getting enough food and things like that.

[ourmagic]

Are you really financially insecure, Dio? You know, I wouldn't be against helping you...

[notgentle]

[Cagey:] What? Oh, no, naaah. "Insecure" isn't the word I'd use at all. My neck of the woods is really stable, just. Different.

[theirmagic]

... I mean, no one said you had to go back right away... right? Have you considered asking them if they'd let you hang out in someone else's home? I feel like you'd have a better time... and I definitely would love to put on a magic show for everyone, anyway.

[notgentle]

Chariot. [His teeth in his smiling mouth are as hard as glass.] That's a really sweet thought. But sometimes there are more important things in life than having a good time. Do you know what I mean? It's not something a guy like me can just... ask people. Okay?

[ourmagic]

[ She looks concerned. ]

Dio... I want to help you, but I can't if you don't let me, you know?

[notgentle]

With what?

[Halfway between needlessly adversarial and sincerely confused at the open-ended expression of kindness.]

You know some arms dealers who take these rare metal pins as collateral?

[theirmagic]

... Whatever, Dio.

[ Y'know. She just wants to help. ]

I... I want to be your friend. Genuinely.

[notgentle]

Whaaat?

[Dio looks at her, openly flabbergasted, and several times he stops speaking before he starts. It's as if she's speaking a foreign language, one he knows somewhat, but she's using a grammatical form that changes the word's meaning so much that he no longer understands the sentence at all.]