[open] Owl Who Flew the Coop

[systemofadowny]

Sender: Octavia of the Ars Goetia
To: Everyone
Subject: Missing persons

Has anyone seen prince Stolas? He was here last night, safe and sound, but when I woke up, he was just gone, no note or anything. I know people usually disappear or wake up or whatever at the start of the month, but during? Dad would tell me if he was going anywhere. I'm scared.

Please let me know if you see him. I need to try and not freak out.

Comments

[herewardbound]

shit

look

oct

don't

i'm bad at this.

[systemofadowny]

It's okay. I get what you're trying to say. I think. Lot of guesswork involved.

I'll take it as a no on seeing him. God damn isekai dream world bullshit.

[herewardbound]

are you looking for comfort, support, or advice

[herewardbound]

i'm just going to shut up because i can't approach this topic without sounding like a complete fucking jackass do you want me to come over

[systemofadowny]

Honestly?

Yeah. If you can. I don't like being home alone.

[grandduchess_anya]

Oh dear, I’m really sorry about it. I sadly haven’t seen him earlier around town so I’m afraid that I’m very limited in what I can do to help at this time.

(As someone who lost a father (albeit more permanently) at a young age, Anya can’t help but to sympathize with Octavia’s dilemma.)

[systemofadowny]

It's fine. I appreciate letting me know.

I think something happened for there to be no trace whatsoever. This dream world's on its bullshit again.

[grandduchess_anya]

Yeah, this world does function in very strange ways when it comes to arrivals and departures that we can’t predict who might go poof all the sudden.

It is very messed up indeed.

[systemofadowny]

I don't like it. Maybe dad just woke up from all of this, but...why? Did something happen? Has he been here so long that it was time or something?

It's starting to feel existential.

[grandduchess_anya]

From what the tapirs said, time doesn’t seem to move a bit as long as we’re all asleep and it will only go back again if we wake up in our worlds. I’m very worried that a dear friend will be worried about me when I first went into another world and then arrived in this world but he hasn’t woken up the last time I saw him and that was over 3 years ago at least to me.

Maybe there is something that happened back in your world and that must brought him back to the waking world? Something urgent perhaps?

Sender: Angel Dust

[itsytitsyspider]

Your old man?

He's the twiggy owl demon who gives off major pillow princess vibes, right?

Sorry kiddo, haven't seen him.

[systemofadowny]

That's him. It'd be really hard for him to go unnoticed; whatever happened, I don't think he did it on his own.

I'm starting to think he woke up.

[itsytitsyspider]

That fucking sucks.

Yeah, I know how it is to have someone dissappear on ya with no notice. Its... not a pleasent feelin'.

[systemofadowny]

I'm sorry. It's total bullshit when that happens.

Bunch of goddamn death and loss allegories, why the fuck is this something that happens here, fucking eldritch nightmare dream eater whatever it is

(She's just writing a bunch of angry things at this point.)

[itsytitsyspider]

Hate to break it to ya Downy, but life is total bullshit.

Even a magical dreamworld. I knew from day one that under all his rainbow gum drop bullshit that there was something darker. Nothin' is that sweet.

Action

[helluvaboss]

[Blitzø is ashamed of how long it takes him to actually go to where Stolas and Via had been staying. He hadn't been active anywhere - he'd been in his house since yesterday, putting his house back together and tearing out things he couldn't stand looking at. The idea that Stolas was gone, and that he'd have to start all over-- and then he realized that he'd end up losing the other people he cared about if he 'woke up', too.

Don't panic. Don't panic. Get your shit together, your step-daughter needs you. Your daughter NEEDS you.

Needless to say, by the time he finally was opening the front door to check on Octavia, his eyes were puffy and he completely reeked of coffee and smoke.]

Via?

[systemofadowny]

Dad...

(Via's quick to approach Blitz, looking just as puffy eyed as the imp. Poor girl's crying her eyes out and still has more to do. She doesn't have words right now, nothing that can wholly express what she's feeling. She does look into Blitz's eyes. He's just as wounded by Stolas' disappearance, in just as much pain....

Via reacts the best way she knows how to: a good, firm hug. One where she clearly needs supports, but tightens it for Blitz's sake, too. She gets it. Really.)

[helluvaboss]

[There is... a LOT more going on with Blitzø, but in his mind, a good dad doesn't dump that on his kids. They don't deserve that. He squeezes her back, wrapping his tail around in the hug too. He'll even give her a playful little poke to her beak.]

...It'll be okay, sweetie. We all have to wake up eventually, right?

[systemofadowny]

I guess, but...then he has to go back home, to how things were before he got here. And people stopped showing up like they usually do.

(Via can't help the tears flowing again, nuzzling Blitzø's neck.)

Are we just...waiting for this to end now...?

[helluvaboss]

No, no, it's not like that...

[Well, maybe it is like that, but that isn't a thought he's equipped to entertain.]

You and your dad do the whole prophecies thing, right? No way that doesn't include dream journaling shit. He'll remember, so you'll remember, too.

Sender: Alastor

[lonelysmiles]

Can't say I've seen him though I will admit that people have disappeared mid-month. It's rare but not impossible.

[Alastor, that isn't helping. Particularly since she knows you've been here for quite a while and would have noticed such things.]

[systemofadowny]

Damn it. It really might be something from home waking him up. I don't know what, but it's usually not good things doing that.

(From what she's seen of her father's life, he's...not that lucky. And she really doesn't want to guess at the possibilities; she'll drive herself insane.)

WTF, where did the notif go, DW?

[lonelysmiles]

Trouble with his wife, maybe? Or something more political?

[He does not call Stella Octavia's mother. That woman seems like the exact opposite of a mother.]

DW lost it in the postage

[systemofadowny]

(She appreciates that. She doesn't know how to view Stella anymore and it'll get worse if she sees her again.)

That's what scares me.

(Learning the truth about both of them has put a lot of things in perspective.)

[lonelysmiles]

[Oh dear.]

How would you like to join me for lunch, my dear? Take your mind off of things for a little while?

I promise nothing sapient in the pot!