Summoners and Tamers and Demons, oh my--

[mombastic]

[ It's been some time. Longer than she thought, but at the same time, when she looked back at the world and saw no large gaps of nothingness, no bodies singed in the streets, no demons demanding her life-- it sometimes felt like it hadn't happened at all.

But it's times like these, when she's heading back to her apartment from a late class at the university where she now taught with Fumi, that Otome lets her thoughts drift. How was Stahn doing? Was he still locked in a battle for the safety of his world?

... And Karl. More than anything, she wonders-- had he been all right? She doubts someone with his stubbornness would just succumb to his wounds, as bad as they had been, but with each day that passes, the more time she spends glancing down at the orb he left with her.

Just how long would it take until she saw him again? ]

Really... he knows just how to keep a lady waiting...

Comments

[gaian]

[Okay, so somewhere along the way, Karl awkwardly started feeling like a stalker in his search for Otome but, well.

The city reminds him of how small Elgaia, as a civilization only centuries old, really is. In some streets, more people crowd together than he's ever seen in one place (and in others, there are cars, his mortal enemy from Cerealia). It's a tad overwhelming at times, but it's also kind of nice.

He's glad Otome's home is doing well again.

A part of him is uneasy, walking around without his halberd—he figured it'd stand out too much in this world—but ideally, he won't need anything more than his powers should anything come up. Still, he's pretty sure the others would never let him live it down if something happened to him on his (sort of) break.

More than anything, though, he's excited to see Otome again (and, you know, assure her that he's still alive). He admittedly hasn't thought much about her confession (can it even be called that?) since then, too caught up with his world's affairs, but he can deal with that in time, right?

When he finally finds her, he breaks out into a grin, his heart thudding faster in his chest. He walks up to her as quietly as he can, before:]

I'm not that late, am I?

[mombastic]

...!

[ Luckily for Karl, Otome isn't Fumi, Airi, Hinako or Makoto, any of whom would have tried to injure him for surprising them.

Instead, as she turns sharply and sees him standing there, perfectly whole and smiling...

Otome stares. Then, slowly, her lips twitch into a smile and she's reaching for him to tug him into a hug. ]

Most girls would have given up by now.

[ But he's here. More importantly, he's alive, and that little fact might be the reason for a few wet spots on his shirt. ]

[gaian]

[He lets himself be pulled into the hug, and he'll even try to return it.]

T-That's a little harsh, don't you think?

[He's sorry for the wait—but he's here now.]

[mombastic]

[ He can definitely return it. Look at you, Karl, you've kind of learned how to hug!! ]

You did leave while warning me that you might actually be dead.

[ And Otome will just point that out (muffled). ]

[gaian]

... Sorry about that. I would've come sooner, but there was some other stuff to take care of...

[Because save the world once, get another crisis right after, alas.]

But hey, I'm not dead [obviously] so it's all good now, right?

[mombastic]

Almost.

[ Otome draws back, reaching into her pocket and pulling out the orb he'd given her to hold onto. This she balances on her palm and offers to him. ]

As promised, I've kept it safe until now.

[gaian]

[He pauses, before he smiles and takes the orb, the weight reassuring in his hand. It hits him—they're both okay. They've both done it.]

Thanks. I knew I could count on you. [...] And that reminds me: you've really got to tell me about your victory.

[mombastic]

I'd be happy to-- but maybe over a meal? It's a little complicated.

[ read: it's not something to really talk about while people keep striding past them. ] And you still owe me a story, too.

[gaian]

Haha, sounds good to me. [...] And I did find you on my own, so does the offer from before still stand?

[mombastic]

... [ there's a very quiet snort, like she's trying to sigh and muffle a laugh at the same time. Of all the things for him to remember... ]

Yes, yes, I'll pay.

[gaian]

[What, it's a legit thing to remember!!]

Well, you don't have to if you really don't want to...

[mombastic]

[ Karl, fighting this long to see her again, for the cherished memory of a free meal... ]

No, I don't mind. A promise is a promise, and you did somehow find me on your own in a city that isn't all that small.

[gaian]

... It wasn't easy, and I still don't know how you manage with all those cars everywhere.

[mombastic]

You learn how to work around them. Let me just let Leon know I'll be a little late...

[ With a text, even. ]

And we can figure out where to feed you!

[gaian]

Leon?

[PERKS UP]

Oh, so he decided to go with you? Haha, I should've guessed that!

[Guess who avoided telling Karl the details of his post-Cerealia plans...]

[mombastic]

... [ LEON... ]

If I'd known he wasn't going to tell you, I would have said something myself... yes, he agreed to let me take him home. He's been doing an excellent job at the university I teach at.

[ She's such a proud mom. ]