queenofkur | AVALON || IC CONTACT

Hello, what are you talking about? I have been doing very well of late, and you most certainly did not cause me to have a rough time.

[ She'd been anonymous. She knows that means he can't know it was her in that AOL post, right? ]

I might believe that if that allegedly anonymous post didn't sound exactly like the conversation we have.

Come on. I already know what you're dealing with. You don't need to pretend.

What?

How did you know I was the anonymous poster? I didn't accidentally post it non-anonymous this time...!

I just said. It sounded exactly like what we were talking about after the auction. Your identity is more than just your name, after all.

One of those things that's a weird lesson, when you start making friends.

I see. Once again, my inexperience in such things show.

But please be assured you in no way participated to making me feel the way I currently am.

[Not buying it, but.]

Either way, the offer of ice cream is still open.
If it doesn't help, at least you had something tasty.

Are you sure? If yes, I wouldn't mind.

Do you really think I'd offer if I wasn't sure?

I can meet you somewhere convenient.

Alright then, thank you...

I can come wherever you need me. I know the city pretty well now.

[By way of response, Dust sends her a map link. Since she can't see him, he also indulges in feeling a certain amount of pride that he's figured out just how to do that.]

[ Thankfully, Ereshkigal had discovered the best function ever in a modern phone: the gps. That makes it considerably easier for her to follow the map link. She's not alone either as she comes in, she's followed by a baby deer who thinks the hem of her dress is food. ]

Alright, I think it is here...?

[Unless there's another teal-ish furry swordsman who doesn't make eye contact in Avalon, this is the one indeed. Also it would be weird if that other swordsman greets her as if he'd been expecting her. (And don't even START about how weird a second Blade of Ahrah would be.)]

...You, uh, have a companion.

[ She smiled at him, before looking down at the fawn. ]

It's followed me for a long time... [She sighed.] It's going to ruin all of my dresses at this rate.

[ Which, she didn't have that many of. Not that she isn't tempted to just buy countless dresses, but that wouldn't be responsible. That would be greedy, and she'll never be caught being greedy! ]

[Dust shakes his head with a small smile. Where does he even begin with this? Of all the problems he hopes to help her with or at least distract her from, he hadn't been prepared for this.]

Maybe salt? Don't deer like salt?

M-maybe...

[ She didn't really know what deers liked or not. She'd fed him prime quality milk ever since their arrival here. ]

It's not that I don't like him, but... [She shook her head.] A-Anyway, we didn't come here to discuss of my fawn problems.

Maybe we should. I'm a little closer to helping with that one.

[But acknowledging their purpose, Dust turns to look at the offerings. Don't ask how he can see the board up on the wall without lifting his head.]

[ Thankfully? She'd seen weirder. Much, much weirder. There was even a goddess who fought with a blindfold on! Regardless. ]

I wanted to say- [She marked a pause and lowered her head.] Thank you.

[Not terribly long ago, Dust would have wondered why. Now he just smiles a little.]

Adjusting to things here has been... rough. For a lot of us. You're helping me too.

I-I'm helping you...?

[ She wanted to believe him but she had done absolutely nothing. Besides causing troubles, that is. So it sounded like he said that mostly to be kind. ]

How?

I'm pretty bad at anything that's not just fighting. Having conversations, doing things like this, having a friend -- it all helps me. I'd go crazy if not for things like this.

[That's the simple truth, after all. Even after all this time here, he still doesn't understand how to live a life anyone else might consider 'normal'.]

I think I see what you mean...

[ She wouldn't always have. The person she had been a while ago, well. The 'power of friendship' had been unknown to her. ]

I never had any friends till an event a year ago. I don't think I would have really understood then... But now thinking to going back to the way things were before sounds like torture.

I had friends. Ahrah, and Fidget... but we fought together. We traveled together. We didn't spend time in towns, going to ice cream parlors or watching auctions. We were always on the move. It's different.

[Very, very different. Maybe irreconcilably so, since Dust hasn't even managed to live indoors for a year or so now.]

Anyway, I'm glad you're around, which is the point. It's a two-way path.

I see... [They sounded like good friends. In fact, it reminded her of Ritsuka.] I had made only one friend back home. I am fortunate she is also here.

[ She nodded. ]

Right...! So let's eat that ice cream!

If you want a recommendation, their brownie sundae is really good. [Look, MAYBE they should talk a little more seriously for a little longer, but Dust has a sweet tooth.] Or the mint chocolate chip.

Maybe we can ask them to mix both...!

[ She has no idea how any of those tastes so she wants to try both! ]

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