Chapter Text
Wanderers wander, that's no secret. You can't stop them no matter how hard you try, can't convince them and obviously can't control them. Mercuria just goes where she pleases, that's her nature, and J just had to get used to that. Even if it makes him incredibly anxious at times.
But wanderers like Mercuria often return for visits too. Free as she may be, every person is capable of missing. And she also has obligations at St. Pavlov now, even if Vertin lets her people have a lotta free time.
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When the wanderer does return, her eyes curiously scan the inside of the suitcase. Little has changed, there are a bunch of people curled up in a pile of blankets. All their energies are at peace, though a certain ginger seems to be having a nightmare in the bunch. The Timekeeper seems to be holding onto her hand, also asleep. She's not dreaming at all and Mercuria can tell Vertin’s probably just pretending to sleep.
“Something about a movie night,” a familiar dulcet tone of a morning voice comes up from behind, smiling at her reappearance.
Mercuria turns to the scar ridden face, raising an eyebrow. “You didn't join in?”
It sounds like something he’d totally be into, but maybe the change of companions made it unappealing to J.
“Not a big fan of horror movies unless I got to scare Polly with them.”
Ah, yeah. Big brother behavior.
“I should've figured,” Mercuria shakes her head with a fond smile.
He takes the small suitcase from her that Vertin forced her to take with. There's probably nothing in it anymore, the same way she was born without a home, she was born without belongings, always giving everything away.
From the main rooms of the suitcase to the city part of the wilderness, it's a pretty long way. It lies on the very outskirts, surrounded by an ocean and a bit of suburban towns with forest, connecting to a harsh winter land where a pack of.. the more interesting people reside in cold apartments.
Mercuria enjoys the walk in silence, whilst her boyfriend holds tightly onto her hand, like she'll vanish.
There's some idle chatter from his side too. To her he speaks like a songbird.
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“I’ve been thinking, Europe is really beautiful and all,” Mercuria’s voice trails a little as she opens the suitcase which now lies on their bed.
“But we haven't checked out a single club..”
J’s eyebrow lifts up, he really expected her to have been doing that on her own time, especially on her trips. “I’m fine just chilling here by all means, no need for flashy lights at the moment.”
He slightly shakes his head, but the idea has been planted.
“Feels like..,” she glances around, tapping her chin with her finger at the shift of his energy. “You're lying to me.”
J’s shoulders tense up, he was totally caught. “What? No. I wouldn't ever dare to-”
“I know you, J.” Mercuria looks at him with a subtle, all-knowing smile.
“..okay maybe I miss it a little, but only because of the boys.” He sighs with a bit of a solemn look.
Mercuria's gaze shifts to the window leading to the ‘outside’ in the suitcase. It's dark, there's a moon and few stars. Through the open window the faint sounds of a violin outside are heard, perhaps even a bonfire from far away. It's charming, something about it so welcoming.
But it's very different from sweet San Fran, the New Age Market and Haight Street.
“We could ask Vertin for some time off,” she meets his eyes again with a soft smile alongside her suggestion.
J blinks back, finding himself certainly charmed by the offer. “Actually, yeah. We should do that. You're a genius, babe.”
“You definitely thought of it yourself.” She almost rolls her eyes, turning back to the relatively empty suitcase.
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