REFURBISHED [Morbitia Renovarse]

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

Intermission: Another Sea's Memories
Perspective: Romero*
 

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You settled by the monument, your cloak keeping your hands warm as you read through your book. 

This was a moment of many milestones for you:

The furthest you'd ever been from home..

The first time you'd ever witnessed snow or true winter firsthand...

And if all goes well, the start of liberating your homeland..

In many ways it'd been a perfect moment...

If it weren't for the florist lurking from a distance, a tinge of worry on her face. 

You made eye contact from across the lot, enough to prompt her to approach you.



Nervous thing, large and feline but distinctly round and smoothed out from the more common cat-folk you'd seen in other regions.

She squatted down just slightly to meet eye to eye with you.

A warm smile and tired lids.
 

[Image Description: A feline florist with long dark hair and a simple kitty smile looking down at the viewer, the entire illustration from the perspective of a young Romero reading a book.]

The Florist: Sorry, just not used to seeing kids out here. Pretty popular spot for the students at the Uni to sit and read but-

Romero: Yeah, I know. 

The Florist: It's nice, right? Remember finishing a dozen different books here back in the day.. 

You gave her a little nod before flickering your eyes back toward the pages.

She nosily took a peek at the cover of your book. She tried to hold in a tiny laugh, not mocking but... relatively unsurprised.

The Florist: ...Captain Krait's Memory?

Romero: Mmhmm... 

The Florist: The Devil Child's cowl... 

Romero: Mm?

The Florist: The outfit, you're dressing up as him yeah? Is he your favorite?

Romero: No, but he's close. 

The Florist: Oh really?? If not him, then who?

Romero: Ms. Tutor.

The Florist: She's my favorite too. There's a lot of folks like you who show up around this time of year, pay their tribute to the monument..

Romero: Mmhmm!

The Florist: Day of the Toaster this week, but... guessing you knew that much. 

Romero: Yeah, I'm looking for him.

The Florist: You and plenty of others-

Romero: He knows where Mr. Styx lives, right? So maybe I-

The Florist: -Where are your parents?

Romero: It's just me... 

The Florist:...Just you?

Romero: Mmhmm! I want to ask Mr. Styx a question, but I need to find him, and the Stygian Toaster would probably know-

The Florist: You have to get him to talk at all first, you know. Doesn't just speak to anyone.

Romero: But if I do-

The Florist: Don't think he could get you in touch with Mr. Styx, but...

Romero: Buuuut... 

The Florist: ...Between you and me, he has a soft spot for Checkered Roses. There's a bunch that grow by Broken Crown Lake, just avoid the Geese and-

Romero: C-Can I get a map or something Ma'am? I'll pay you-

The Florist: ...If you let me come with you and stay out of trouble today, I'll tell you the way. I know there's at least one Inn around here that might let you stay cheap if you say you're a student on a summer field trip...

Romero:..But it's winter-

Florist: It's summer somewhere in the world.

Romero: Not here. 

Florist: Exactly, you're here to study the winter under another sky. 

Romero: Oooooh... 

She offered you a hand. 

Florist: So? 

Romero: ...Lemme finish this chapter quick.

Florist: Just a little more then...

---

Perspective: Despina
__

You feel yourself shouldered by familiar arms...

That was not your memory...

Romero: We're gonna get you somewhere safe, yeah? 

...It was his. The new face was intrusive,  a bit too nosy for your liking...

Peering inside without asking... problem to handle later... 

Despina: You were a funny little guppy, going all the way out to the Broken Crown for him. 

Romero: Huh?

Despina: Styx, yes? You traveled out to find him.

Romero:...Yeah, long time ago. 

Despina: And you got him to sign you on?

Romero: ...Sorta. Don't really have a normal contract with him. 

Despina: But you are his client.

Romero: Eventually, yeah? Didn't want me signing with anybody til I was grown up. Had a no kids rule.

Despina: Most entity do now, because of him. 

Romero: Yeah.. 

Despina: If he ever hurts you, I want you to speak up. 

Romero: Mm? 

Despina: ...Don't want you being like me. Not you, or Savvy.. I'll kill all them dead.

Romero: ...You got a new mask. 

Despina:..Mm... 

Romero: Still got the one you asked me to keep on hand. You wanna swap out? 

Despina: ...It's not safe. 

Romero: ...I can tell that thing's doing something to you. 

Despina: They all do...have to rotate them for a reason.

Romero: Yeah but... that one's kinda twisted. 

Despina: Just needs breaking in...

Romero: ...Savvy takes care of you a lot, yeah? 

Despina: After hours... 

Romero: We've been talking, yeah. 

Despina: ...You both just met. 

Romero: ...It's been two weeks, we've been searching for you out here for a bit. I, uh... I guess I looked into the mask thing. It's a two-way life monitor. 

Despina: ...Mm... two weeks? Lulu, the staff, Savvy--

Romero: All made it out jus fine, Roost put in a lot of work to keep them safe. Whole zone collapsed inward. Had to tear apart heaven and earth a bit... get Santana's help.

Despina: The hare? 

Romero: Yeah. You two used to be close, yeah? Least.. I dunno, she made it sound that way.

You gave him a tiny nod.

Despina:...I miss being friends with her. 

Despina: Can I close my eyes a little? 

Romero: No croaking if you do, folks at the archive want you going straight to a hospital from here. 

Despina: ...Mm... 

Romero: ...Just a little more, yeah? 

...He really reminds you of that man from long ago. 

Same eyes, same spirit... 

Same smile... 
 

[Image Description: A image of Romero from the side profile, eyes hidden by fin-like hair and smiling into a hazy light as he carries the POV character, Despina back to reality.]

Despina:...You ever met his past client? Mr. Styx. 

Romero: Don't think so? 

Despina: ...Do you know what happened to him? 

Romero: Uh... depends which one you're talking about...

Despina: ...ask Styx if he could pass along a message, yeah? 

Romero: Mm... 

Despina: Thank you.