waylay-managment-2

[waylay-managment-2]

*The Manager lead him to a door, and when it opened es it was… grass. Just glass and weeds as far as the eye could see, and some other buildings on the horizon. Farms. But they weren’t done.

They dragged Cleo outside, walking a few meters before turning back and gesturing it the roof. Only one story other than the very tall library.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*It takes quite some time for it to even remotely calm down. It slowly stops shaking as much, its crying slowing to the occasional hitched breath.*

*It peeks out from under the blanket. Its hair is a tangled mess and its face is damp with tears. It sniffs, glancing away self consciously.*

*It… doesn’t know how to apologise for that outburst, so it just tentatively pats Daisy’s hand and gives her a sad look.*

*God, now that it isn’t having a meltdown it notices just how much the crying and moving around made its body feel so much worse. Which makes it look all the more sad.*

-Entity 1

*Daisy, puts a hand on its head.*

“It’s okay. You can cry as much as you want. But, are you gonna cry again if I help you move into a more comfortable position? I just wanna make you happy.”

[waylay-managment-2]

*The Manager’s face scrunched a bit.*

“Yes. I am. If you want me to prove it I easily can.”

*The Manager offered him a hand up.*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Oh it is. I mean, I’ve never touched one, but they look slimey. And I know you’re not supposed to squish them, but if you did, there wouldn’t really be any consequences. Also the only reason they can’t be smaller than that is because of their beak, which is the only part of them that’s solid.”

———

*they smiled.*

“I would like to think that, but I haven’t been. And that’s beautiful in a way. Knowing exactly where you made a mistake and never making it again.”

[waylay-managment-2]

“Yeah..?” He scanned the room again. “I’m in Avarick’s skyscraper. Can’t remember the actual name, it’s all fancy, but you get what I mean.”

“I haven’t been on this floor before, I think? I was probably wandering around mindlessly and ended up here. Too many floors, too much different decor.”

-🌙

“… Dear, I don’t know how to tell you this, but I don’t know anyone named Avarick, and this building only has one floor if you don’t count the library. You’re in a place called The Waylay.”

[waylay-managment-2]

As soon as Spot's heard The Manager, he stood straight and pulled his hand away form the food so fast, one could've thought a whip was cracked right in front of him. He stared at The Manager intensely trying hard not to blink too much and visibly appear to cry in front of them. That was unprofessional, as would be eating if someone tried to talk to him. Second impressions were just important as the first after all. Or did this count as the third? Part of him was still a bit tired to be sorting that out right now. "I...my- my arm doesn't hurt as much...my- uh- my apologies, I didn't....I didn't get proper sleep before coming in and I'm sure that didn't help things. I just...I didn't hurt her when I fainted did I?" He asked, already in his head, imagining over complicated scenarios where him passing out set off complex chain reactions resulting in over the top injuries. -🐆

“No, no one is hurt but you. I really need to get an emergency contact for you, I was very worried. And im sure they are too.”

*The Manager handed him a glass of water.*

“Just try to breathe for a moment. Get your bearings. Everything’s alright.”

[waylay-managment-2]

“Right…”

*The Manager shook his hand.*

“Cleo, sorry to ask, but do you know where you are?”

[waylay-managment-2]

*After the night at the infirmary, Candy slumped back into the seat she had at the bar before the fight with Emcee. She looked like she's seen better days. Still, she managed a triumphant smile and spoke, voice not quite yet at full strength again.*

Told you I'd be right back, martini. Hope you didn't miss me for too long.

@thesweetestnyarlathotep

“Hey, nice to… weird question, not to be rude or anything, but what happened to your face?”

*he was already making her a drink.*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Amazing! I’m talking about octopuses! First of all yes it’s octopuses not octopi because the word is derived from Greek, making it customary for an S or ES to be on the end of the word instead of a vowel to make it plural, secondly, because they have no bones even the largest, which is The Pacific octopus at 7-14ft, can usually squish into a hole only four inches wide because they’re just goop with skin. And they color change in their sleep as if to blend in with their dreams.—“

*he just kept talking.*

———

*The Manager almost laughed.*

“Oh god no. I’d like to think I wasn’t a horrible dad, but I’ve absolutely not been this good. Just because I technically have the knowledge and I’ve lived long enough to know everything there is about parenting doesn’t mean I’m not still learning.”

[waylay-managment-2]

“Oh no, a patron at the other side of the bar from you two making me unable to participate in this conversation!”

*He gave Candy a thumbs up and ran away.*

*After the night at the infirmary, Candy slumped back into the seat she had at the bar before the fight with Emcee. She looked like she's seen better days. Still, she managed a triumphant smile and spoke, voice not quite yet at full strength again.*

Told you I'd be right back, martini. Hope you didn't miss me for too long.

@thesweetestnyarlathotep

“Hey, nice to… weird question, not to be rude or anything, but what happened to your face?”

*he was already making her a drink.*

[waylay-managment-2]

A boy, no more than eleven years old, stood in the middle of the gambling tables. He looked like a sore thumb with a baggy t-shirt showing shadow the hedgehog and basketball shorts. Also, his skin was had paler patches made spots like his grey eyes stand out significantly.

Despite not looking natural here, he didn’t look distressed in any way shape or form. Matter of fact, he pulled out a chair and began watching a game of poker. His hands subconsciously went to his long-dark brown hair and started braiding it. Oddly enough, it looked like he was following the game quite well, expressing slightly when someone had a great hand or made a risky move.

-🌙

*The people at the table payed him no mind, until he started making faces. Then they payed him a very large amount of mind.

Then The Manager tapped him on the shoulder.*

“Hello dear, are you alright?”

[waylay-managment-2]

*oh he didn’t like where this conversation was going.*

“Nope. No, not doing that. They’re for walking only.”

*After the night at the infirmary, Candy slumped back into the seat she had at the bar before the fight with Emcee. She looked like she's seen better days. Still, she managed a triumphant smile and spoke, voice not quite yet at full strength again.*

Told you I'd be right back, martini. Hope you didn't miss me for too long.

@thesweetestnyarlathotep

“Hey, nice to… weird question, not to be rude or anything, but what happened to your face?”

*he was already making her a drink.*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Maybe that’s why I’m behind the counter! I hear that legs are hard to paint.”

*After the night at the infirmary, Candy slumped back into the seat she had at the bar before the fight with Emcee. She looked like she's seen better days. Still, she managed a triumphant smile and spoke, voice not quite yet at full strength again.*

Told you I'd be right back, martini. Hope you didn't miss me for too long.

@thesweetestnyarlathotep

“Hey, nice to… weird question, not to be rude or anything, but what happened to your face?”

*he was already making her a drink.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*Casper shook her hand. Daisy slid into a seat, patting the one next to her for Natalie.*

“Hi Natalie! As you heard, I’m Casper, lovely to meet you. Usually people come to me with a topic of conversation, but if you didn’t that’s okay. Just so you know, if you let me choose, it’s either going to be the human psyche or octopuses.”

———

*The Manager nodded.*

“That and the fact that most of my kids get nightmares too. I feel guilty staying asleep just in case I miss one.”

[waylay-managment-2]

“Damn. Looked into a star and still wasn’t impressed. I can respect the standards though.”

*After the night at the infirmary, Candy slumped back into the seat she had at the bar before the fight with Emcee. She looked like she's seen better days. Still, she managed a triumphant smile and spoke, voice not quite yet at full strength again.*

Told you I'd be right back, martini. Hope you didn't miss me for too long.

@thesweetestnyarlathotep

“Hey, nice to… weird question, not to be rude or anything, but what happened to your face?”

*he was already making her a drink.*

[waylay-managment-2]

*Evelyn just lets herself be held for a while, tense and shaking. She returns the hug, sighing with gratitude because she was definitely not going to untangle her hair herself. She also just likes people messing with her hair. Her forgiving The Manager goes unspoken, but she does, indeed, accept their apology.*

"I'm sorry for overreacting. And for making you tense up."

*Her tension minutely dissipates with the gentle untangling of her hair. She laughs again, not quite stable yet. She takes a deep breath, steadying herself. Her voice is small, like she isn't immortal but just a teenager again, unaware that so many things would happen to her.*

"Crying makes me tired. ...I think I've said that before. I should get some water."

-🏔

“You should. Come on, there’s water in the infirmary.”

*They pulled away and wiped the remaining tears off her face before leading her through the infirmary doors.*

[waylay-managment-2]

“Yes, it is. That’s what I said.”

*The stranger in white gave her a curious look.*

“You seem happy about that all of a sudden.”