For the time being I should be fine getting settled. It's the art gallery that might take some time getting settled, but there's a company helping me get that done. Worry not. I've got it handled.
[ Mostly. If he gets distracted by Lycaon again, there will be no promises. ]
That is a good idea, and much better than trying to remember it all. It does bring up a new question to mind.
[Lia's calling it now, Hugo's gonna get distracted by Lycaon again.]
Less than I'd like, if I'm being completely honest. I help out in Meropide's kitchen and do stuff for the Aides du Meropide, but I'd do those things anyway since I live there. The abundance of free time isn't bad, necessarily, but I've been kind of restless. :(
[ He is willing to ignore Lycaon exists. It's Lycaon who won't do the same, he swears. ]
Meropide? Wasn't that the name of some prison?
[ He didn't know much about it, just the whispers that would go around in the places he frequented, and Lia herself. Prison didn't sound like a wonderful place to hang out. ]
Yes, it was. But aside from some stuff better left alone that was done by the Order's old management, it hasn't been one for roughly a year?
... Also, when it came to the "no rent" options, it was either the underwater fortress or the weird tower in the center of the city that if reports are correct, got turned into a monster-infested hellhole twice in the span of a few months.
My dear, you decided to go to prison of your own volition. They're all going to be unhinged.
[ She can't see it, but he's sighing. He's not even looking down on them. It's just unthinkable that since they last met, she both rejoined the organization they had been running from AND also decided to live in one of their renovated prisons.
He has to be supportive. ]
If you're happy, that's all that matters. If it's been reformed, who's running Meropide?
[There's a part of her that can't help but feel like she's disappointed him a bit... well, she can at least explain her "join the Order" decision later.]
Will it make you feel better if I at least start looking for somewhere else to live?
His name's Wriothesley--he actually apparently came here from another world and the Fortress there was his. He's a pretty decent guy!
Still... looking probably couldn't hurt, at least. Having a kitchen that's solely my own does sound nice, thinking about it...
[Don't get her wrong, the one at Meropide is great but also god only knows if any given day there'll be a certain set of siblings using it for making cursed-ass food from TikTok.
... Her next reply takes slightly longer than it normally would, if only because she had to compose herself after laughing pretty hard at that.]
Now that you've said that, I can't unsee it, thanks.
If you want someone to come along to look at places, you know I will.
[ The more this new cursed information sits in his head, he has to battle with himself to leave it alone. It's a coincidence! There was no reason to get more invested than just a glance.
He can leave it alone. It wasn't important. It was just some random other man. He was in complete control of himself. ]
Maybe I will pay this Meropide a visit. It's always better to see with your own eyes, yes?
[ He doesn't need this dastardly attack on his emotions. At first, it seems he may just leave the declaration on read. Given time, his last message is sent after much deliberation. ]
Time has changed you. Although I have no hand in this change of outlook, I would say it so far seems to have done you good. I look forward to scrutinizing your new friends, and seeing you.
no subject
Date: 2025-07-07 01:26 pm (UTC)[ Mostly. If he gets distracted by Lycaon again, there will be no promises. ]
That is a good idea, and much better than trying to remember it all. It does bring up a new question to mind.
What do you do when you aren't working?
no subject
Date: 2025-07-07 04:04 pm (UTC)[Lia's calling it now, Hugo's gonna get distracted by Lycaon again.]
Less than I'd like, if I'm being completely honest. I help out in Meropide's kitchen and do stuff for the Aides du Meropide, but I'd do those things anyway since I live there. The abundance of free time isn't bad, necessarily, but I've been kind of restless. :(
no subject
Date: 2025-07-08 01:27 pm (UTC)Meropide? Wasn't that the name of some prison?
[ He didn't know much about it, just the whispers that would go around in the places he frequented, and Lia herself. Prison didn't sound like a wonderful place to hang out. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-07-08 05:14 pm (UTC)... Also, when it came to the "no rent" options, it was either the underwater fortress or the weird tower in the center of the city that if reports are correct, got turned into a monster-infested hellhole twice in the span of a few months.
no subject
Date: 2025-07-09 05:20 am (UTC)Even if you were looking to save money, choosing between prison or hell seems extreme in both ways, does it not?
no subject
Date: 2025-07-09 05:52 am (UTC)... This city doesn't do anything by half-measures?
[Lia no]
But also... I dunno, a lot of it's the people here, you know? We're all varying shades of unhinged, but it's a nice little community down here.
[Well, at least she's honest/self-aware?
She does attach a few photos she's taken around Meropide though, the place isn't as bad as it sounds, she swears!]
no subject
Date: 2025-07-09 06:17 am (UTC)[ She can't see it, but he's sighing. He's not even looking down on them. It's just unthinkable that since they last met, she both rejoined the organization they had been running from AND also decided to live in one of their renovated prisons.
He has to be supportive. ]
If you're happy, that's all that matters.
If it's been reformed, who's running Meropide?
no subject
Date: 2025-07-09 06:28 am (UTC)Will it make you feel better if I at least start looking for somewhere else to live?
His name's Wriothesley--he actually apparently came here from another world and the Fortress there was his. He's a pretty decent guy!
no subject
Date: 2025-07-09 06:47 am (UTC)[ There is a few minutes pause in his texting that is clearly him looking into whom this Wriothesley fellow is. ]
He looks like someone shaved Lycaon and hit invert colors in photoshop.
[ There is absolutely no telling if that's positive or negative. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-07-09 06:56 am (UTC)[Don't get her wrong, the one at Meropide is great but also god only knows if any given day there'll be a certain set of siblings using it for making cursed-ass food from TikTok.
... Her next reply takes slightly longer than it normally would, if only because she had to compose herself after laughing pretty hard at that.]
Now that you've said that, I can't unsee it, thanks.
no subject
Date: 2025-07-09 07:26 am (UTC)[ The more this new cursed information sits in his head, he has to battle with himself to leave it alone. It's a coincidence! There was no reason to get more invested than just a glance.
He can leave it alone. It wasn't important. It was just some random other man. He was in complete control of himself. ]
Maybe I will pay this Meropide a visit. It's always better to see with your own eyes, yes?
no subject
Date: 2025-07-09 08:03 am (UTC)Definitely. I can show you around, if you want!
no subject
Date: 2025-07-09 04:08 pm (UTC)Once I finish setting up the art gallery, we can begin with a lunch.
no subject
Date: 2025-07-09 07:34 pm (UTC)[...]
Oh, and by the way... I'm glad you're here. I missed you.
no subject
Date: 2025-07-10 01:31 am (UTC)Time has changed you. Although I have no hand in this change of outlook, I would say it so far seems to have done you good. I look forward to scrutinizing your new friends, and seeing you.
no subject
Date: 2025-07-10 02:13 am (UTC)[There isn't more to say here, but she doesn't want to just leave him on read after that. So kaomoji it is.]