arcanarumlogs | The dire wolf collects his dues, while the boys sing round the fire

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The dire wolf collects his dues, while the boys sing round the fire

Who: France and you!
When: November 1st, from about noon to sunset
Where: All over the island - feel free to meet him anywhere!
What: France is alive, but contemplating his successive deaths in the forest, and is appreciating life just a little more. Also he looks terrible.
Warnings: Mentions of death and small mentions of bile, lots of ~feelings~. Likely lots of tearful reunions.

It was with a jolt that Francis woke, as he sat straight up with a gasp. But his head began to spin, his whole body tingled as he remembered the scene in the forest, with the wolf slashing at his flesh. It almost seemed like a dream, now, but it felt so real -

Francis felt the bile rising in his throat and in a rush he tried to clamber out of bed, to get to the bathroom, but his limbs just wouldn't work - they were numb from not being used for several days. So he ended up on all fours on the floor, retching, body trembling all over from the nostalgic chills of pain, from the phantom feeling of missing flesh despite his side looking very much present, and him being very much alive. France felt as if he was going to be sick again, but he had nothing in his stomach in the first place, so the little bit of bile was all that stained his floor, as he continued to dry heave for what seemed like an eternity. Damn this mortal body! Francis thought to himself, eyes closed, teeth gritted, as he tried to get it back under his control.

Once it seemed to be done, Francis coughed, wiping off his mouth on the back of his sleeve. He recognized it - the old, blood-stained, red costume he was forced to wear that night. Thankfully, the hat and the mask were completely gone. But that thing... it still felt wrong to be in it. And with the slight smell of blood... well, it was almost making him sick, again. So he decided to quickly change out of it into something else. He tugged off the coat, throwing it to the side - the shirt went over his head and in the same pile. The boots he had to sit on the floor to tug off, and the leggings were (thankfully) easy to remove. Shakily, he stood back up, and went to his wardrobe to look at his choices. He pulled on a simple shirt and pair of slacks - but he had to lean against the wardrobe to get dressed, and he couldn't even really be bothered with buttons or laces, so he ended up also slipping on a pair of loafers.

Once Francis has changed out of his old costume and fixed his room (thank god his imagination could get rid of his bile and that old costume for good), he carefully used the wall to climb out into the main room of his house. But that wasn't what he was interested in - he wanted to go outside. So, he used the wall to make it to the front door, and stepped outside.

Then sun felt good on his face. It almost made him feel better, somehow, and it was what finally got him to take a trembling step on his own, away from any support. Within a few minutes, he felt as if he could walk again, and so he started around the island, looking at everything again with new eyes. But something still plagued his thoughts, and that was the thought of his death in the forest. He remembered distinctly that he had said his last goodbyes to a number of people. Was he going mad? He had remembered distinct times when he felt himself giving his last breath. And they were multiple. But that was impossible, unless...

(( ooc: Please specify time and location in the title of your post! Thank you! ))

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Francis is not the only one who's been spending much of today wandering around the island, though for the moment, at least, Minato seems to have found a perch to sit and listen to music and draw. Most of his attention is therefore not on what's around him, but every now and again he looks up, and in one such time he sees France meandering and looking troubled. Minato is unaware of if anyone else shared his fate of being killed during the Halloween events, but he wouldn't be surprised if this were the case. Still, he thinks it's reasonable to be shaky after all that happened, and in any event, France is his friend, so as the man draws near, Minato lifts one hand in a wave.

"Good morning. ... are you doing all right?"

France only notices Minato when he speaks, and even then, he seems surprised to see him. It's as if nothing has happened at all - Minato greeting him with an even tone, with a sense of friendliness that he's felt from Minato so often as colleagues. Had anything really changed? Other than France's memory of the faces around him as he'd died, nothing really stood out.

Quietly, he approached with a wave in return, and sat next to him. Uncharacteristic of the man, yes, especially when he continued to stay quiet as he thought. But what was there to say? No, he wasn't all right. But he didn't want to burden Minato with his troubles. The poor kid had to be dealing with enough.

"Bonjour. The island is very beautiful today, non?"

He settled with diverting the question. Until he knew himself whether he truly was going to be all right, he didn't feel that answering the question would be a good idea.

Minato remained silent as long as France did, willing to wait until the man was ready to speak. And when France commented on the beauty of the island, Minato nodded, noting the avoidance. Such defense mechanisms were hardly unfamiliar to him.

"Mm. Especially after everything that's happened lately."

He was taking a bit of a risk making that statement - that France would pry or that he'd clam up and not talk at all, but Minato suspects that whatever happened over the past several days probably has something to do with his friend's mood now. ~~Besides, focusing on other people's problems means he doesn't have to worry about his own, right?~~

It may have been a little uncharacteristic of France, but this was a rather uncharacteristic situation. And he still had no idea if it had been real or not - the Rulers had thrown them into nightmares before, and those had felt real. Far too real, in fact. So who was to say that it hadn't been the same trick?

"Oui." France agreed, looking up at the sky again, before letting out a little chuckle. "It is almost like being reborn, non? After such a scary thing..."

France didn't seem to feel ready to talk about his experience yet, but it was a good sign that he still wanted to talk.

That comment gave Minato pause, and he turned to look at France for a long moment before looking away again with a heavy sigh.

"Yeah... that's a good way of putting it..."

Teddie was actually going out to get some food, mostly because he wanted to fix something for Minato since he had also had all that happened to him. The injury to his arm wasn't bad at all, so he just had it wrapped up. He was in a pair of black pants and a hoodie with bear ears that he had obtained while he was here.

Walking back, Teddie had gotten some of the supplies by coaxing them out of the people at the shopping district. It was good that he didn't use the bear costume all the time. With his long, curly blond hair pulled up in a ponytail, he just walked down the street to see France.

Hurrying over to him, he quickly hugs the man tightly as he almost cries.

"Francis-chan!! You're back!" Teddie said, hugging onto him tightly, the contents of his bag on the ground now. Most of it was candy...

Francis couldn't help but remember their latest meeting in the forest as he saw Teddie. He could tell instantly when Teddie had spotted him, and stopped so that their inevitable impact would be a bit more softened. His arms slipped around Teddie in a tight bear hug, relief spreading throughout his entire body as he felt the solidness and warmth of arms slipping around him. Being held by another person almost always made him feel better - today was no exception.

"Teddie... it is so good to see you, mon ami."

But he started as he heard what Teddie had said. "You're back." Did that mean what had happened in the forest was real? Or was this another trick by the Rulers? The more he thought about this, the less sense any of it made.

"What do you mean?"

Teddie looked at the other. He knew what happened was real, but he didn't want to hurt France anymore. Someone was going to tell him eventually, and Souji always told him that being honest was important, even if sometimes the truth wasn't very nice. Teddie rubbed the bandaging on his arm a little bit and sighed.

"The wolf got you when we were attacked. I tried to heal you, but it didn't help much." Teddie said, looking down a little bit, "You...died."

It was hard to say it, considering that he really valued Francis as a friend.

France listened to what Teddie had to say, and almost seemed... relieved. That had been how he'd remembered that night - at least one of the times he remembered - so his first response was to pull Teddie in a little tighter to him.

"I suppose... it is a relief, that you remember this too." He couldn't help but smile, his energies going to his fatherly instincts, trying to reassure Teddie, now. "You did your best, cher. That is all I can ask for, non?" It was only then that he pulled away, and looked down at Teddie.

Teddie hugged him a little bit and made sure to try and not cry, given that he wanted to just show France how brave he was being. "It's just beary good that you're back now!!" Teddie said with a grin when he pulled back, "Teddie will try hard to protect you!"

[ Later on the day Ange is outside too. But it's more of a walk to distreact herself, take her mind off some things-- like the annoying mental denizen traits, for one. It's only then that she manages to spot France. She doesn't know about what happened to him specifically since she didn't mingle too much during everything that went on (she was more used to doing things on her own, after all) but there still definitely is something.. off about him, isn't there? Just from looking at him she can tell that much, and the girl figures that she should at least speak up since the man has helped her out before with the clothes. It's just politeness-- not that she cares. Obviously not. (She totally does.) ]

.. You know.. [ not that her tone isn't just deadpan as usually. ] you look like you've seen better days.

[ so helpful, ange. ]

[France notices Ange a little before she notices him, and he tries to look a little more presentable in front of her. A little, mind you. There's only so much one's body can do when it has not moved in several days, and when it has not received any food that whole time. Not to speak of France's paler-than-usual complexion, though admittedly that is from the nausea, and not a physical change itself.]

Have I? [He asks her, smiling, trying to hide just how terrible he feels inside.] Well, this took a toll on us all, non?

[yes very helpful :|]

Yeah, it sure did. [ She shrugs, answering.. fairly casually, considering the situation, and for the slightest moment she glances away as if she's in thought before looking at him, idly twirling a lock of red hair around her finger as she talks. ]

Although I'm sure it did more for certain people among us than others. I didn't really even get hurt, after all.

Ah... I'm glad. The less people were hurt by that thing, the better, I should think.

[He pauses too, though admittedly it's because he noticed his hand was shaking. Just thinking about that wolf is causing him to tremble. But it's over now, right? Once he gets his hand tremor under control by clenching it into a fist, he continues.]

I did try to stop it, at least for a while. If anyone was saved, I will consider what happened worth it in the end.

[ .. She does notice it. Just briefly, just a glimpse, but enough to notice it and frown a little - out of worry, though, rather than any other emotion. ]

You are really that noble to put yourself on the line for others?

Sometimes. It depends on what, really. For my people, always. For those of us in Arcanarum, always.

[And the frustration he's been keeping so very close to the surface is starting to leak out, as he grits his teeth, his free hand quickly going into his hair as if to pull it back.]

And yet, I am still not sure I did anything at all...!

N-.. no. [ She sputters a little. It's uncharacteristically, but to see him.. well, so hurt is strange. Not that they're super close, but he's helped her out before, and he's one of the other long term residents of this island, so she can't help but let it touch her just slightly for once. ]

That's not true. You're working harder than anyone else for all of us here. [ The plan with the boat back then too, after all - even if it failed, he was the one who helped push everyone for it, right? ] Don't doubt yourself. That's exactly what they want.

[Don't think he didn't catch your hesitance, Ange. That is the thing that makes him respond with surprise.]

Non?

[Francis listens carefully to what she has to say.]

... I am not sure I am working harder than everyone... [He lets go of his hair so that he can pull his knees up to his chest, quietly sitting there for a moment before responding again.] Mais... you are right. The Rulers want this, non? They want to break us...

[ Well, she isn't going to argue the first point really badly right now, only if it's needed. But it seems like he's already slowly starting to understand to begin with, so.. ]

.. Yeah, that's right. They want us to just give up so they can easily turn us into things and people that aren't even ourselves anymore, but.. there's no way we can just let that happen, right? We all have to keep fighting.

I know I'll never give up at least. For sure.

Non, I cannot let this happen. Not only for myself, but for my citizens as well... my friends and loved ones need me.

[He gives a bit of a dry smile.] And if what you say is any indication, the people on this island need me too, non?

[ Normally she wouldn't say it this easily, and.. either way, it's probably not the full truth, but as long as it can give him a little more power back she doesn't mind exaggerating the truth just a little bit. ]

Considering I'm one of them, I can say that's definitely true, yeah. [ It's not exactly a smile - Ange hardly ever smiles - but it's the closest thing possible that appears on her lineface. ]

[And Francis can't help but smile - genuinely smile - despite his tiredness and aches everywhere.]

Merci. Really, I... it is one of the sweetest things anyone has said to me.

[And since they're not really close, at least not close enough for a hug, he just sort of... places his hand on her shoulder instead.]

Merci.

[ .. Ah. The hand on the shoulder? Sure, she can deal with that, tons of adults did that to her back home, even if it was usually more condescending than this. But what he's saying? Nope, can't deal, time for the tsun to kick in since it's just too much. ]

You sure must know a lot of people who say super dumb things then, since that wasn't even remotely sweet. [ Yup, she's even looking tsun as she says it. ]

Working out was one of the few things Germany could effectively do to keep himself controlled and his mind focussed. And with little else to do, he had come to do so more than just once per day. Early in the morning after waking up or in the late evening hours. Anything but being stuck inside all day.

The park was just one decent place to go for a run. He didn't mind the cold temperatures and while the sky darkened above, the nation stuck in an awfully mortal body could... Think. Because there were many things he had to think about. The recent events for once. But also he had to roll ideas and information around if he wanted to form a solid plan to go against their captors. Because he was sick of it already. They would pay. For trapping everyone here and playing with them. He would make sure of that.

The German idly noticed another person up ahead. At this hour that was a bit odd, but Germany wasn't going to question anyone's motives. He was here himself after all. And it was only once he got closer to that person that he slowly began to recognize a familiar shape...

France had just given up exploring the island again methodically after the first few hours. So by that evening, he had just been idly walking - he had no idea where he was (as he wasn't paying much attention to anything but the sights and sounds), and he certainly didn't know why he felt like going that way. But it was later in the evening, as he was thinking about returning home, that he reached the park.

It's all too late to do anything about it when he realizes that there's another person with him. He stops, looking up at the approaching figure, to see Germany, out for one of his daily runs. A cold chill runs through his spine, but France is not sure whether it's due to the memory (or was it a memory?) of his death in front of Germany, or if it was the weather, or a bit of both, or neither at all.

He must have looked odd to Germany, wearing no coat, having pulled on just some simple clothes and some loafers. No jacket, not even a sweater against the cold. France just stared at Germany as he approached, his blue eyes a lot more muted, a lot less sparkling and cheerful than usual.

"Bonsoir, Allemagne."

It felt like approaching a ghost. And maybe that was just what it was. Because this couldn't be France. France had died. Right in front of his eyes. By his own hands! Darn it. He could still feel France's throat under his hand when he let himself get carried away into idleness.

With a grimace of clear disbelief on his face Germany slowed to a stop that left several metres between the two nations. He didn't speak. He only stared, panting somewhat from his workout. But this couldn't have been a ghost. There were no ghosts. Or were there? Surely no one died and came back just like that! So it really only left the ghost possibility.

"...have you come to haunt me?"

Francis could sense the uneasiness in the other nation, as he too felt a certain uneasiness in his heart. He had been given a little confirmation from Teddie, that in fact he had died... so he was certain that Germany had seen him die. And that the hands around his throat really had been real.

But he wasn't sure he felt anger over what had happened. And Germany's words made him laugh, even if the anxious feeling was still there.

"Haunt you? Non." He finally said, drawing a bit closer, but not enough to scare Germany. "I am not a ghost. At least, I do not think so, Allemagne."

Germany didn't move, but the unsure look on his face remained, unhidden for once, at least until the nation caught himself and shifted his weight from one foot to another. His posture was tense, but not in an aggressive way, but one that suggested that he had yet to decide how to react to this.

"You died." was the simple reply Germany gave "You ceased being alive."

And that was it. France had died. Like a mere human. So there was no possible way for him to be standing here in front of him right now.

It was then France's turn to give an unsure look. So Germany really was there, in the forest. But then, how did he remember six different times in that forest...? France didn't seem to share the same hesitation, though, and he came within a usual talking distance and stopped there.

"I... remember this, oui." His hand instinctively went up to the side of his neck, rubbing it nervously. "You were with me... very briefly, non?"

So it seemed the Rulers had brought him back to life. He supposed they weren't tired of playing with him just yet.

The younger man stiffened when he noticed France reaching for his neck "Ah... You remember... That...?"

He felt a shiver running down his spine and Germany suddenly felt cold despite actually still feeling warm from his earlier workout. Plain feeling uneasy didn't exactly cover his current feeling anymore. Was France out for revenge now? Should be prepare to defend himself? No. It didn't look that way.

Pressing his mouth shut tightly, Germany glanced away, considering what to say, but ended up merely shaking his head "I-... Hn. It seemed like the only reasonable thing to do. I- I didn't know-..." didn't know what? He had no idea how to even finish that sentence. So instead, he closed his eyes "I'm sorry. You were right..."

He didn't make any claim to the contrary, but the words of confirmation - that he did remember Germany's hands around his throat that night - were hard to vocalize. So instead, he simply nodded, eyes averting away from the German soon after Germany looked away. Instead, he glanced towards the scenery. He stayed that way, watching the sunset, even as the silence pressed on.

Germany shouldn't have felt threatened by France. His body language gave no indication that he was tense or aggressive. Just nervous, the way he shifted from foot to foot, the way he kept pulling his hair behind his ear.

"I forgive you, Allemagne. I have forgiven you." Meaning, Germany hadn't needed to apologize to get France's forgiveness. "Mais... what was I right about?" He wasn't sure what Germany meant by that part of it, at least, and so that was what stuck with him.

After another moment of watching the sky shift from glorious pink and orange to a fiery red, he murmured softly almost to himself, but his volume was such that Germany could hear him. "I'm seeing everything differently now, it is almost as if even the sunset is more beautiful than any I remember before."

To see Francis die before her left the red head in a darker place. The next few days after that she kept to herself, dwelling too much in the past and of previous times as she watched others die before him. Sometimes Yoko wondered if death just followed her. Teasing her and causing her to believe she was at fault somehow for the deaths.

She also realized she was becoming more like her denizen when after Francis death, she did not cry. Yoko shed tears for him as she watched him but after that the tears seemed to dry up.

Though she had enough of her past thoughts and decided this morning she would continue her routine of her morning jog. Yoko took her morning as any other before the festivities. She began on her usual route and before she knew it Yoko was getting lost in the rhythm of her feet and breathing. All of this took a stand still when a familiar figure appeared in front of her, simply walking along the cobbled road. Yoko's eyes widened and time froze for a moment and she broke from her dream-like state of mind.

Cautiously, Yoko slowed her jogging, approaching Francis. She chewed on her lower lip. It was...It was him. And relief with a mixture of fear bubbled in her chest. Yoko slowly reached out to pat his shoulder.

"Francis...I-..how? How did you return..?" Yoko started out. She had so many questions but at the same time she was not sure how to even word them.

It seemed today was a lucky day for chance encounters. Francis noticed her a little while after she had, and he froze in place, just watching her as she came up to him. And the same feeling she was experiencing was present in Francis, too - he was so relieved to see her, and yet, this anxious feeling didn't seem to want to fade.

That all changed when she touched his shoulder, however. As she asked, the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach dissipated, left only with the calm. And that was enough to make Francis smiles and slip his hand up, to rest on her wrist, holding loosely while firm enough to show that he was real, this was happening.

"I... am not so sure on this myself, Yoko. But it appears I am alive."

That was all he really could say, for the moment, because the only other thing he wanted to do was apologize - but even he knew it was pointless. She wouldn't let him, he was fairly certain.

Her cheeks turned a rosy hue when his hand grasped her wrist. She felt dizzy for a moment, trying to grasp that he was very much alive. Yoko for a moment thought she was going to live up to her denizen's reputation but this seemed to not be the case.

But before she could ask any of her questions, Yoko stepped closer and very tentatively wrapped her arms around him. She buried her face in his shoulder.

"I'm so glad you're alive Francis..I was so worried." She softly replied, though it was slightly muffled thanks to his shirt.

She pulled away to give him a firm look.

"So..if you're alive then..others could be too. Do you think this world has something to do with bringing you back to life?" She asked," We...as..as dark as this sounds..we could use this to our advantage. But not without really trying to understand this."

The arms wrapping tight around him filled him with relief, as he returned the favor, placing one hand gently on the back of Yoko's head and the other on her back, gently rubbing up and down her spine. He was happy to see her, happy to be held. It made him realize just how much at least one person had missed him, and that was enough to make it worth his while finding her again.

"I am very glad, too. I hate to have worried you so, chère." He tried to smile - tried. "But that is all in the past, non? What matters is that I am here again."

He wanted to have the hug last a little longer, but as Yoko pulled away he let go as well. "I had thought of this, oui... I believe it was the Rulers who brought me back. They have done this sort of thing before, though... bringing the dead from their worlds and reviving them. Mais, I am not sure how to use it to our advantage..." But as he thought of the deaths he had endured only to come back to life, he shivered a little. It made him sick thinking of the pain he had felt, the suffering he'd seen from the others.

"... I-I agree, we need to know more. Alors... we always need to know more."

The forced smile did not leave Yoko's sharp gaze but she keeps quiet on commenting. It did matter...it mattered so much to see him so alive but the thought of how he came back terrified her. It meant that the rulers had so much power over them and more. This was unsettling but she tried not to dwell on it too much in front of Francis.

What he needed what a supportive friend. She gripped his hands, her eyes staring at the ground.

"We'll figure something other Francis....," She replies softly and then her gaze meets his," F-For now.."

"For now lets go do something...?" Yoko smiles awkwardly and her thumbs rub comforting circles over his palms.

He seemed a bit surprised when she grasped his hands, but he allowed the touch, relieved that there were no other questions. As much as he wanted to help Yoko, he hadn't been sure how much he could take.

"All right, let's." This smile was much more genuine. He enjoyed Yoko's company, and this was the perfect way to try and get things back to some semblance of normal. "What were you wanting to do?" Then, as he thought about it, he realized that he still owed this lovely lady a date. He had been reminded from when he died, but now that he was thinking about the potential date he owed her, it was not so dreadful. "You know, I think I still owe you a date. Perhaps we should discuss this?"

Howl had managed to evade the wolf by some sheer miracle that horrible night. After France's death, he had used the little magic he had to speed him home then locked the door and hidden in his room, refusing to emerge until the sun had risen and bathed the island in a comforting warmth. That had been the first time he had personally witnessed a death, and though he had felt himself immune to it after long days spent observing the state of the war in his world, it didn't make the devastation any less worse. France had been his house mate, his friend - the loss made the emptiness where his heart had been somehow ache.

Not knowing of the strange power of the island that resurrected the dead, he received the shock of his life when he heard noises originating from France's room. At first, he was too frightened to take a look, but eventually he plucked up the courage to sneak over to the door, inch it open and peek through the crack. His eyes widened upon seeing France clutching the wall and staggering to the door, so shocked that he crouched there without saying anything and missed his chance to call out to the man.

Retreating to his bed again, Howl huddled beneath the blankets while he came to terms with what he had just seen. France had died; he'd seen the man's last breath leave him. So how...?

He waited all day for his house mate to return. Other than the occasional foray into the kitchen for food, he stayed mostly in his room and experimented with a few spells, listening for the sound of the door opening and shutting that might mean France had returned.

He had spent the entire day wandering the island, and catching up with a few people who managed to find him wandering around. They all seemed happy that he was alive, and were just as surprised as he was - thankfully that meant that he wasn't the only one feeling that way.

So it was no surprise that he came home later in the evening, feeling a lot better than he had been when he'd left. But, that was only mentally - his body still ached, especially from his journey, when his body was still weak from his death and its disuse over several days. So when he came into the house, he was quick to sit down at the kitchen table (letting out a little sigh in the process), to give himself a little rest before he tried to feed himself.

The sounds of France's return brought him out of his research reverie. Rubbing at his eye with the back of his hand, he leaned back in his chair and stretched. The spell he had just been working on confirmed what he had suspected ever since some of his magic had returned to him - that only one aspect of his magic had returned to him, and then very little of it. He'd hoped it wouldn't be so, but what could he do? At least he had some of it.

He eased himself out of his chair and wandered out of his room into the kitchen to make some tea. As he passed France, he threw the man a glance. The other looked hale enough. Now, how could he broach the subject in a way that wasn't too blunt...?

Thankfully, Francis was the first to speak up. When he saw Howl pass him, he murmured his usual "bonjour" and gave a very tired smile. As Howl walked into the kitchen, however, France spoke up a little louder, his voice just a bit dry. "Howl, cher, may I ask you for a favor? Would you mind bringing me a glass of water?"

He was fairly certain now that he had opened up a conversation, that Howl was going to ask him how this was possible, as all the others had. Unfortunately, the only conclusion he'd come to was that he had no idea himself. Still, it would be good to relax and be friendly again. It had been a while since they'd done that, just the two of them.

The wizard nodded and filled a glass of water from the tap while the kettle simmered. After setting it on the table before the other man, he hovered for a moment, anxious. "How are you feeling?" he asks eventually, thinking that a better conversation starter than 'How are you alive?' "I can cook for us today if you're tired."

He had been thinking for some time now at trying his hand in making French food. Back home he hadn't bothered since he rarely ate anyway. But having the time to sit down and do things he otherwise wouldn't have done put a great many things into perspective.

Francis was thankful for the glass, and for a moment he just let his hands rest around it, enjoying the coolness diffusing through the glass. Then, he took a long drink, thankful that it did seem to be helping at this his stomach wasn't totally rejecting it.

Setting the glass down, half-finished, he let out a bitter snort of laughter. "Like death," he murmured, the morbid pun actually amusing him now that he was completely too tired to care. "May I have your cooking tomorrow morning? I... am not sure I can stomach any food right now." France hadn't eaten all day, but he wasn't sure he was going to be able to finish all of the water, either. And he knew after sleep, he would feel much better.

"Sit with me, s'il te plaît?" Francis motioned to one of the chairs, leaning back a little in his for a moment. He was sure Howl had questions, ones that he had answered a few dozen times to a few dozen people.

"Of course."

Howl took the indicated seat, staring keenly but not - he hoped - too intently at the other man. He was told sometimes that when he stared in a particular way the force of his stare was a little unsettling. Not in a bad way, but in a manner that suggested he had perhaps too much interest in whatever someone had to say or do. Yet while he knew this, it was hard not to keep his eyes away from Francis and abstain from noticing the tiredness dragging at the lines of the Frenchman's face, his limbs, his very manner.

"I wish I could give you some sort of potion..." he commented, frowning to himself. Air magic was useful, but not nearly as useful alone compared to when it was combined with other strands of magic.

Francis didn't seem to mind being stared at - in fact, he seemed rather used to it, in that while he obviously noticed it, he made no comment. Perhaps it was from years of purposefully being fashionable and handsome enough to turn heads, perhaps in this instance it was the day or so he had spent getting strange looks from his friends on the island. But either way, Francis smiled at him a little, almost with relief.

"Merci beaucoup, mais... I think it is for the best that I recover on my own, mm? I think all I need is a little rest, and I will be right as rain." And frankly, Francis didn't want to admit that he didn't really trust potions, mostly because of the connotations from his world. Especially not when he had the unfortunate condition of mortality at the moment.

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The dire wolf collects his dues, while the boys sing round the fire

outside, mid morning

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outside, afternoon

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outside, near the violet district, late afternoon?

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late evening - the park

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Outside- Morning

I am sorry this is so short ;; and late...

♥ never worry bb~ we can take our time. Yoko likes it nice and slow./shot

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their unit, night (or whenever France returns to it)

sorry for late/shortness

also sorry for lateness ;;

Re: also sorry for lateness ;;

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/finally rolls in orz

/rolls with ;u;