OPEN POST; [ TAKA AMBULARA / ORIGINAL ]

[nailfiler]

(( where do we go? ))

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[nailfiler]

[Deeper meaning, that. He can see it in her body language, the way she clutches the chair.]

Hope you don't find yourself in more of those situations, for what it's worth. ...You're not referring to Weir Dredger himself, are you? Whoever looked out for you back in Turner's Vale.

[luciole]

Aha.

[She laughs lightly and shakes her head.]

He did his part.

[Lucinda releases the chair and puts her hand behind her back.]

By the way. You haven't answered whether you believe in ghosts or not.

[nailfiler]

[That can mean everything and nothing all at once. Though where that man's concerned? He suspects the help was strained at best.]

Ahh, well. I hear about spirits that can lose their way to the afterlife and make the world harder on the living to make up for it. Never ran into one myself, so I couldn't say either way...

[But it's not the weirdest he's heard of, nor seen.]

Stranger things exist, though. Are you going to tell me about your own experiences...? I imagine someone who can sense the dead would have a lot to say on the matter.

[luciole]

Mm. It's not just sensing the dead.

[For better or for worse, it's so much more than that.]

I can see and talk to them. And in special cases...? Well.

[Instead of giving any lengthy story or explanation she moves so that she's close enough to lean down and playfully whisper in Taka's ear.]

The ghost in my chest really enjoys the crinkle of your eyes.

[nailfiler]

[ ??? Alas, were he more easily flustered, Taka would be blushing — but he's not. When it comes to close promixity, even if it's courtesy of a pretty lady telling him flattering things, he very rarely bristles.

Instead, he just views this as new information being freely doled out.

...A bit bafflingly, though.]

Eh?? You have a ghost... in your chest?

[luciole]

𝓢𝓸 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓹𝓸𝓼𝓮𝓭! 𝓘𝓽 𝓶𝓪𝓴𝓮𝓼 𝓶𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓽𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓮 𝓱𝓲𝓶 𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮.

[Lucinda doesn't do so, of course. She draws back, smiling.]

Don't get her too excited now. The other two are much more quiet, but she's quite the chatterbox.

[nailfiler]

[He scoffs, almost disbelieving, were it not for his eyes showing keen interest.]

Oh, don't tell me you've three spirits living inside of you? Isn't that crowded? Even if it isn't noisy.

[How does that work? Possession? Why is she allowing it?

...Ah, likely the friends that helped her in the Vale, though.]

[luciole]

Some days it's crowded. But it's better than the alternative.

[What that is, she doesn't elaborate. But she does trust that Taka can come to his own conclusions after mulling it over. She claps her hands together decisively.]

Now to more practical matters at hand. You'll be staying with me and a small family. Not to worry, we have plenty of room in the house.

[nailfiler]

[Well, the alternative = something bad. That much is clear. And what could be bad for someone who makes a habit of speaking with the dead? He can only imagine.]

Ah, wait, wait— More practical matters, you say, but you at least can introduce me to your friends. Isn't that practical, especially if I'm going to be staying with you?

[luciole]

Maybe later.

[Flora grumbles, wanting to be shown off, but Flora and Fang aren't in any hurry for introductions if at all.]

Besides, one of them is on my back. It would be terribly awkward to introduce you to him in the middle of the restaurant.

[nailfiler]

Oh? Awkward for who? I never understood why everyone's so embarrassed by the human body. Just blood, flesh, and bones.

[The mind's the only thing that matters, fully and paramount; the body is a vehicle to keep it functioning as it should.]

But fine. Later, then, once I've settled in with you and your family. [...] I'll pull my weight, you know. Even if I don't look like the sort.

[Funny. This is the second time he's had to rely on the generosity of a wayward family after being thrown into unforeseen circumstances. Fate must be having a laugh.]

[luciole]

[One of the "customers" listening in on them coughs.]

We're not the type of restaurant that serves our food topless, I'm afraid. It doesn't something for somebody though, believe me.

[There's something almost refreshing about his attitude; it's not too dissimilar to her's (just a bag of blood, flesh, and bones) even though she absolutely weaponizes what she has.

Still, he makes her chuckle.]

River will like you quite a bit I should think. His younger cousins too.

[Who knows? Emily might be able to see something in Taka's future and that's another thing they can help him with.]

[nailfiler]

[Ah, well, she'll just have to show him some other time. He sighs and stands to his feet, too, done with his meal. It seems like they might as well move forward sooner rather than later.]

I look forward to meeting him. And the rest of your family. Thanks for the meal.