Week 4 - HEARTS

[foundfate]

[In the evening on Monday, Watanuki will send a letter (by magic, not bird, since the cockatiels are still healing) inviting Ann to his room. By the time she's arrived, she will find that he has set up a little table with two chairs at it. Space for them to work at, basically. There is also tea set up, so that they can have a bit before beginning this.]

Thank you for coming, Ann-san. I apologize for the rush, but I feel like this is urgent and should be addressed right away.

Comments

[foundfate]

[He sees that, and he lets out a huff of amusement.]

A wise choice. Normally only other dreamseers can enter my dreams, but I think the ties between all of you and myself have changed that for the time being.

[fullbodied]

Well... I'm not a dreamseer, just a Phantom Thief. I'm expecting this won't be like going into another person's heart. So, even if I don't look it... I'm still taking this very seriously, as your friend.

[and so, she leans forward in her chair.]

So, how do we begin?

[foundfate]

And as your friend, I'll do my best to make it a safe trip.

[There is a hint of a genuine smile when he says 'friend' there, like he's happy to be able to call someone that.]

You are the one who normally does this, are you not? How do you enter people's hearts?

[fullbodied]

Well... first, we have a name.

Then we have a place, somewhere your heart feels anchored to.

And then we have what the person considers that place as. For instance, the last friend I did this for... "Futaba Sakura, her room, a tomb."

[foundfate]

...ah.

[Well, the name is simple enough, since he's been open about his name.]

I am not sure if "Watanuki Kimihiro" or "WATANUKI, Witch of Dimensions" is the correct answer there, but I suspect you could try the other if one doesn't work.

The place would be 'the wish shop'. Do you need to see it, or is a name for it enough.

And...

[He's hesitant to answer that last part. Partially because he's not sure how to put his feelings into words.]

...'inheritance'. If that works.

[fullbodied]

[she pulls up her phone-- she's not sure how hearts with witches work, but.

there's the app. time to press it-- even if it doesn't work normally, she's sure that whatever boost she needs, he can provide.]

Watanuki Kimihiro. [a ding, it registers]

Is it just called "The Wish Shop?"

[foundfate]

Normally it's just called 'the shop', but it's specifically for granting wishes.

[fullbodied]

[another ding!]

Well, it doesn't have to be that specific, just enough that it's obvious what you mean. Now, for the last part... I doubt the app will work on its own now, but hopefully you can make the connection work?

[a brief pause, and then she looks at her phone.]

"Inheritance."

[she's waiting for the final ding.]

[foundfate]

[It gets part of the way there, but with Ann's powers turned off, it wouldn't work on its own normally. So there's a ding, but nothing happens right away.

Instead, Watanuki sighs before taking a long drink from his cup of tea. Then he sets the tea down, and he holds out a hand to Ann.]

Here. Let's try this too.

[fullbodied]

[she thought it might now. But it was worth a try anyway.

She reaches out to take his hand.]

Okay. Trusting you, here.

[foundfate]

Your trust won't be misplaced.

[He is the one asking her to do this, after all.

And once their hands touch, Watanuki's eyelids start to droop a bit. Sleepy tea is hitting him already.

One moment, they're in his room, sitting at the table. And then the next she is at the shop.]

[fullbodied]

[Oh. huh.

She also notices she's still in her sundress-- so... so far, so good.]

Okay. Panther checking in.

[which means she's headed towards the entrance! Is she able to get in through the door? And if so, what does she see once she's inside?]

[foundfate]

[She'll find herself in an entryway where she can take off her shoes. It also looks like two pairs of shoes are there: a set of traditional sandals, and a pair of shoes like what you would expect someone to wear to a high school. Both look like they belong to a young man.]

[fullbodied]

[it's so much more homey than a traditional Palace-- enough for Ann to realize that maybe normal rules don't apply?

So, she takes off her sandals.

... and also checks under the shoes anyway for treasure because she doesn't know. joker always did that.

And then she steps inside of the entryway, looking for where her next direction to head is]

[foundfate]

[Interestingly enough, the bottom of the sandals is colored orange, and the bottom of the shoes is colored blue.

The direction to head might be obvious, because there are footprints on the floor. But the footprints aren't a normal color, it looks like someone stepped in blue and orange paint that has been swirled together, making a tye-dye effect rather than a true blend of the two.

The footprints lead down the hallway and to one of the rooms on the left.]

[fullbodied]

Oh man.

Guess I need to treat myself like a detective and not just a thief. Though I wonder... Why the different colors? Is that the "change" you're feeling?

[she's going to follow those footprints, though!]

[foundfate]

[Maybe! If she looks closer, she will notice that the blue is a familiar shade, since she speaks to Watanuki regularly. The orange is new, though.

The door is a rice paper one, as is the majority of doors and walls in this house. On the frame is a blue handprint. Will she open it?]

[fullbodied]

[she will!

but also upon closer inspection, she does realize that the blue... feels very familiar. she's not planning on commenting out loud, not yet.]

[foundfate]

[Inside the room, a much smaller Watanuki sits, reading a book. The only difference, besides the fact that he's now 8 years old, is that both of his eyes are blue.

Oh, and the shadow he casts by sitting is full of ghosts, spirits, and other spooky things. Things that only exist in the shadow he casts, not the rest of the room. Not even in the other shadows in the room.]

[fullbodied]

[ghosts....

ann pauses, and steps into the room.]

Watanuki-kun...?

[foundfate]

[The boy glances up from his book. Where his shadow moves, it reveals more and more of the ghosts, but the boy there seems unaware of it.]

"Yeah? Who are you?"

[fullbodied]

[She straightens up, and folds her hands behind her.]

You can call me Panther. I came to check on you, since your heart is changing! Or might be... Have you noticed anything strange?

[foundfate]

"My heart is changing?"

[Confused, the younger Watanuki looks down at his chest as he puts his hand to it. When he pulls it back, it's covered in an orange substance that has the consistency of blood. This child seems unconcerned about the amount of orange-blood on him though.]

"Oh...I guess it is..."

[fullbodied]

You're not worried?

[she steps forward, a little concerned about that orange.]

What if your desires and treasures are being corrupted...?

[foundfate]

[The orange is dripping down from his hand now, in a quantity much larger than should be possible, forming a pool of orange all over the floor that is quickly spreading.]

"I forgot my treasures a long, long time ago. Maybe...maybe this is why I'm changing. I don't remember how to be 'me' anymore."