sooochangeable | Appointments Post

I read the guide last night if that helps any?

[After having his head stitched and being patted on the back, James cracked the journal open and figured it out. Sort of.]

Bit much to take in.

How many people are here anyways?

I'd say it's easier, hearing it from a person, but I don't know how true that actually is.

[her head tilted as she thought] I'm not sure. Over a hundred, I think, though I'm not sure how much more.

[thankfully they weren't far from the main part of town, and she directs them towards the coffee shop. There would be hot and cold drinks there, and food. And it would be more quiet than Good Spirits.]

Good Lord, that many?

[James follows her dutifully through the rain like a beat up little puppy being promised food. And he is hungry - that part at least, isn't an act.]

There's a lot I don't really know whether to believe or not but I guess if we can get wings then I should just swallow my medicine, huh?

You're taking it better than most.

[it's a accompanied by a sideways glance. Not out of distrust, really, but surprise.

She had accepted it with little question...but then, she'd always believed in places like this. Or wanted to believe, anyway. She wasn't used to others being so accepting, especially after going through the kind of ordeal he'd faced. If anything, she would have expected that to make him less trusting.]

[He smiles a bit, tugging at the hem of his sweater as he does.]

I'm not so sure I'm awake right now, yanno?

[she gives him a small, apologetic smile] Well, you've had to deal with a bit more than a pinch. But I get it. I thought I was in the Dreamworlds when I first got here.

Dreamworlds?

[her concern kept her grounded and more serious than usual, but some of her characteristic joy comes back to her eyes at the question.]

My friend Sophie...she can visit another world when she sleeps. It's not just a normal dream though. Not like you'd expect. she actually has a full life there, and she's not the only person I know who's been there.

[she gave him a sideways glance, and from her smile it's hard to tell whether she's being serious or pulling his leg] Of course, she's got fairy blood, so it's never been a surprise that she could get there. When I woke up here, with wings, I kind of hoped that I'd managed to dream myself over, too.

[James listens intently as he trots after her, nodding at the right moments and humming up until 'fairy blood' is mentioned...then he goes quiet and speaks after she's finished.]

I picked all that up, I promise, but:

Fairy..blood?

[she's still got that light in her eyes...something halfway between teasing and truth.

After all, she doesn't doubt this for a second]

On her mother's side. I don't know if fairy is really the right word, but it fits. Because she's kind of magic.

What like, 'abracadabra' king of magic?

[He's either trying to call her on the bluff, or he's genuinely interested...both are of equal chance here.]

More like 'ancient spirit' kind of magic.

Normally this would be the part where I tell you you're off your rocker but seeing as we've got wings and all I'm more inclined to believe you.

[Speaking of wings, it'd be of note that James's haven't moved, twitched, fluttered or flattened since his first instant here. It might be due to getting the shit beat of him but....it might not be.]

[she laughed, not at all offended by the off-her-rocker comment. After all, she'd heard the same or worse many, many times before] Well, you'll have to take my word on Sophie...but there's plenty else here that's fantastic in it's own right.

Yeah, you're right about that.

[He smiles a little, slightly embarrassed that he called her insane pretty much.]

I saw a turtle the size of a person walking around the other day.

[Either she doesn't notice his embarrassment or, more likely, she chooses not to draw attention to it. Either way, being called insane (however it was phrased) was nothing new. If anything, it was amusingly familiar]

There are a few, actually. Though I haven't really had a chance to talk with them, yet.

No shortage of weird here. I guess that's good. Never a dull day.

[Or so he says...]

[she can't help but laugh at that]

It has it's moments.

Sometimes it's incredibly slow. Or maybe it just feels that way because I'm used to...more. Being in a city.

And, just when you get used to that, the world turns on its head again.

[Perhaps he'll be kept on his toes for a while here. That'd be nice.]

So people just make new lives here, huh?

[she nods] New lives, or alternate ones. Or just continuing the ones they can't continue back home. The alternative is giving up.

[she gives him a smile that's more teasing than serious, though she means it well enough] And that doesn't really help kill time.

I guess things would get pretty monotonous if you just curled up in a ball and waited to die. [He laughs a bit but then realizes that's probably not kosher.]

Sorry that was...dark.

[kosher or not, her smile is empathetic as her gaze trails over the darkening bruises]

...I think you're allowed.

Here. [the warmth and light from the coffee shop is a relief after the pouring rain, and she holds open the door to let him go ahead of her]

Thanks.

[James scurries into the shop before her and brushes a hand over his head in a scrubbing motion, shaking water everywhere.]

Ugh, it's like a bath out there.

[But still he's smiling. If only she knew just how fake it was. If James had been allowed to act his normal self he'd be sulking like a child. And possibly attempting to drive a straw through someone's eye.]

[her smile, at least, is completely genuine. And anything off in his is more than explained by the awful reception he'd had on arriving.]

It's definitely starting to act like spring. But there's hot food here. That should help. And.... I'll be right back.

[she doesn't really wait for him to acknowledge her leaving him in the doorway. Instead, she goes to the clerk behind the counter, feet carrying her lightly across the store as if she was fully unaware that she looked like a drowned cat. Or maybe she just didn't care. And, a minute or so later, she returns with a handful of towels.

They weren't meant for drying off people, but beggers really couldn't be choosers. Not if they wanted to keep their masks in place]

[James laughs at the size of the towels - well aware they'll be doing little to help but, again, beggers can't be choosers.]

Thanks.

[He wipes his face off and dabs at the back of his neck before his eyes flicker over the menu.]

Recommendations for the new kid?

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