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"We have rooms," Athena said, slowly blinking and stepping back into the kitchen for a moment to grab a little piece of cake. She came back and sat down at the bar on the opposite side of their visitor, though a few feet off to the side.
"The ATMs around the city ran out a long time ago. There's no way to withdraw funds. Everything in this city is done in cash these days," Magnus said, getting up and going over to the bar, sitting a few stools down from their guest and crossing his arms on the counter. "The rooms here are free anyways." He rested his jaw on his arms, staring at Athena's piece of cake like a dog begging while his masters ate dinner. Athena very gently poked the end of Magnus' nose with her fork, then took a bite of her cake. "None for you. You ate all of it last time." Magnus pouted. |
"Well I have a maybe a couple hundred on me. That should keep me going for a while on the food, as long as you can break a bigger bill. I'll have to travel back the way I came to get more money when I run out." He laughed. "If I could FIND a way back." He shrugged. "Unless you two are looking for some help. I don't really have much of an interest in going back anyway."
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"Money isn't a priority for us," Magnus said, lifting up his head and looking over at him. "We're self-sufficient."
"Though if you plan on staying for a while you'll be expected to help keep this place operating," Athena told him, taking another bite of her cake. |
"I think I can manage that. I'd rather like to stay here for a while, if that would be ok with the two of you."
He had been eating the entire time rather quickly between his words and was finished. Although he had been hungry at first, he was sufficiently full now. He picked up his plate and bowl and looked around, standing up trying to figure out if the empty ones had a designated spot or if they all went into the kitchen. He looked at the two of them for the answer. "That was very good. Do I just put these in the sink then?" |
"Don't worry about them right now," Athena told him, finishing off her cake and standing up. "We'll take care of them for now. You should probably get some rest." She pulled out a key and walked around to his side of the counter, gently taking his arm and leading him upstairs and to room number twelve.
She unlocked the door and gave him his key, then returned to the bar to take the dirty dishes into the kitchen to be washed later. |
Orange eyes blinked, staring at the silver door several feet in front of them. He wasn’t sure how he ended up in such a dead city; he was just drawn there, almost in a daze by the state of the place. He came from a lively town, so to see a place this dead was just… saddening.
He took a step, and then another, the snow melting beneath his wrapped feet. A hand reached out to the door, slowly opening it. The teen peered inside, tensing up when a rush of cold air hit him. He scurried inside and swiftly closed the door behind him, a sigh of relief escaping him as the warmth of the building’s interior welcomed the boy. “I hate the cold,” he muttered, turning his head to glare at the white stuff hidden behind the door. Moving away from said door, he looked around. He almost was unseen in the dimly lit room due to the earthy tones of his clothing, the only things saving him being the white wraps around his hands and feet- but, even those were dirty and worn. |
Magnus looked up and towards the door. "Can I help you?" he asked, curious as to why they seemed to have business today. Two visitors in one day? Very odd...
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Ian’s eyes shifted, moving to rest on the man that had spoken. “Oh, um,” he began, thinking a moment. “Do you have any tea?” he asked.
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He nodded and stood, stepping behind the counter. "Would you like warm tea or cold tea? And would you like anything to eat?"
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“Warm, please,” he replied, sliding himself onto a stool at the counter. “As for food… what do you have?”
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"Right now we happen to be in good supply of beef, if you'd like some. There should be some beef stew on the stove right now. Though if you'd rather have something else, you'll ave to ask and I'll have to see if we have what's needed for it."
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“Beef stew sounds good right now, actually,” he said, nodding slightly. “If I could have some, that’d be great, thanks.”
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"Of course," he said with a nod. "I'll be right back then." He stepped into the kitchen and went to load a large bowl full of the still hot stew, and put a pot of water on the stove to boil. He took the stew back out into the bar, setting it down in front of the teen, then reached into the drawer and pulled out a fork and a spoon for the boy to choose whichever he liked, or both if he preferred.
"You'll have your tea once the water has boiled." |
“Thank you,” Ian said, picking up the fork and beginning to eat. He let out a content sigh as the hot food hit his stomach, glad to have something warm to eat.
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"You're welcome," he told the boy with a nod. A few minutes later Athena stepped out into the bar, placing a large mug of steaming hot tea in front of their young visitor.
"Here you are," she said, giving a single nod before returning to the kitchen. |
“Thank you,” he called after her, pulling the mug towards him. He didn’t bother blowing at the steam or waiting for it to cool down a little, instead instantly beginning to drink it. “Mm, that’s good,” he said, setting the mug down and eating more of his stew.
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Outside the inn in the deserted streets, the frigid snowy night was suddenly disturbed by a violent explosion of fire. A resounding crack heralded the brief appearance of a two-story fireball that dissipated to reveal a small figure lying in the suddenly snow-free patch of street. Large calico ears lay back against cascading pink hair as the feline woman sat up, coughing violently. She was burned in several places, and her hair and fur were singed badly.
As she pushed herself up, gasping for air through smoke-filled lungs, the additional damage became evident. She was covered in bruises and cuts, and bleeding heavily from unseen wounds. There was no indication what had done this to her, and her clothes were inexplicably undamaged. As she spotted the blood on her hands, and the hidden injuries began to seep through her clothes, the calico woman began to weep, overwhelmed and terrified. She had no idea where she was or what was going on, and anything she remembered was quickly vanishing from her muddled mind. |
Medium blue eyes grew wide, witnessing the ball of fire from then single uncovered window. He quickly stepped into the kitchen, grabbing a heavy coat. "Athena, something's going on," he told her, hurrying back out into the bar, out from behind the counter, and into the freezing cold as he pulled his coat on.
Athena stepped out into the bar, biting her lip and going over to the window to peer out as Magnus made his way to the road up ahead that was lacking snow. Magnus spotted the injured woman and quickened his pace, kneeling down next to her. "What on earth happened to you?" he asked worriedly. |
Ian quickly looked up towards the window, having already sensed the fire. Jumping to his feet, he ran out the door and followed Magnus down the street to where the woman was, skidding to a halt. “What happened?” he asked as well, eying the burns.
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The woman coughed violently and started to cry again, "I... I'm not sure..." she gasped, trying in vain to pull her coat around herself, but wincing in pain as her burns protested. The pain and her confusion were overwhelming, and she gave in and sank back down, sobbing.
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His expression softened greatly and he gently wrapped his arms around her. "Come on... Let's get you out of the cold..." he said softly, picking her up with ease. Magnus sighed and began carrying her towards the inn, unsure of how they were going to tend to her wounds.
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The woman whimpered softly through her tears as the strange man picked her up, "I'm sorry to be a bother... I...I'm not even sure what happened... It feels like I died..." She turned her teary brown eyes up at the man carrying her, "Am I dead?... Where am I?..."
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"If you're dead, we're all dead. You just happen to be in what I guess you could call my front lawn." He smiled weakly, more worried than anything, but he wanted to reassure her. "You're not a bother... You're hurt."
He carried her into the inn, setting her down by the fireplace. Athena gasped at the condition the woman was in. "Oh my..." she said barely above a whisper. "I'll go get Itami." She hurried from behind the counter and into the dark hallway, rushing up the stairs to get the attention of the only person there with extensive medical knowledge. |
Ian turned on his heel and followed, back to the building he was previous in. “Is there anything I can help with?” he asked. “You might wanna get some cold water on those burns…”
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"Go down the hallway, the very first door on the left, get some blankets, towels, and a few pillows," Magnus instructed the boy.
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