I'll pass along the message to him. And since we've got time, where do you want to go? I don't mind doing whatever you want to today.

That sounds lovely... I apologize for not being able to join. I had some rather pressing business to attend to. But I've made sure to still keep my day free enough that I could make up for my earlier absence. I would say Whiskers was joining us, but, he insisted have this moment to ourselves.

If you heard anything in the woods tonight, no you did not.

ㅤ ㅤtemp pin. ㅤ

Sometimes I find odd little trinkets out in the woods. I can only assume they are things that were left behind in the wake of the shambling horde of corpses walking through the trees. Today was a rather well treated pen, albeit one far too used to be worth keeping.

Happy birthday, Olive. I trust it's treated you well so far?

Does anyone have any advice for what determines and good and bad gift to give to a friend?

The spider has decided it lives in my room now. Who am I to deny nature's gifts.

Found this spider on my walk today, not quite sure what kind it is though. I've decided to keep it though, at least until I can identify it and find somewhere better to leave it than on the pavement.

Actually... you've caught me at a rather opportune moment. Compared to my usual schedule, I'm not busy at all. I would be willing to join in on your plans this week. Most of my time after school and club hours are open, provided nothing unusual happens.

It would be nice if it got colder soon. As nice as today was, it would be nicer with some cool weather.

Yeah... I don't remember the last time I lost one of those. I'm doing okay, just going through the motions today, I suppose. And you?

*Oh dear... this really does seem to be escalating. They may not know what they've started, but they're not the losing type.*

*The starer.*

Everyone treats the occult like some strange and mystical thing that only the most skilled and socially isolated wizards and witches can get into, but a large part of it is just picking flowers and burning incense. Unfortunately, it's the rest of it that makes it complicated.

Sometimes it can be nice to sit and watch things happen. Even if it isn't exactly the best use of time, stepping back and watching the world play out on its own can feel fairly relaxing every once in a while.

Pondering is at its best when the moon is highest in the sky.

There's a reason staves aren't the primary form of magic focus anymore. They're so impractical and unwieldy, even if they look incredibly flashy compared to wands.

The fog is coming.

Lists are wonderful for keeping your opinions on those around you organized.

No void stares back at you quite like the bathroom mirror.

It always feels like you never have enough pocket space whenever you have something important to carry.

Sometimes having hot tea at night is nice. Incredibly soothing, even. It's worth the cost of having to boil water in the dark.

Yes, it is generally a good idea to avoid getting lost. Although, it isn't always that bad of a thing. Getting lost has led me to parts of town I would never visit voluntarily, so I suppose it has its merits.

Whisk says I need to get out of the house more often, be more social and such. So, I've decided to take up walking, nothing special, just enough to get out and get around town. I don't particularly care for it, but I suppose he's right about how often I spend at home.

Maybe i should take up gardening.

Found another unlabeled leather-bound book in the attic. Life is good.

I'm not sure if it's just Whiskers pulling an incredibly long running joke, but the tarot card deck I keep in my bedroom never has the same amount of cards in it and the implications are terrifying.

Something you missed? So is regret what's eating away at you? Missing something you don't know of can be somewhat stressful, I would be lying if I said I didn't stress over missing things myself, but something tells me your situation is more than I can unpack on my own.

//Regret to inform you, new phone, no clue how to sign in to @fruitycats.bsky.social as of now because my dumbass forgot the password *and* email attached to the account A curse upon my stupid chud life.

That isn't an uncommon experience, especially if you feel there's someone you owe a responsibility towards for one reason or another.

Filled with the joy of not having any responsibilities for once.

Divination is fun when there isn't someone in your ear whining about "taking away the element of surprise from life" with it.

Sometimes, it's fun to walk around the house in the dark with a candle. Impractical? Yes. Inconvenient? Absolutely. Entertaining? Surprisingly, yes.

Thank you, and I'm afraid not. I can't speak on Whisk's behalf, but I don't have anything specifically planned for today, so any ideas are welcome.

*This time, Mittens knows to brace for impact, leaning down with open arms to intercept the incoming dog missile. All the while, still sounding as monotonous and phlegmatic as usual.* Hi, Olive. It's nice to see you again.

I'd never put myself through the punishment of sitting through that song any more than I have to. And thank you.

*Hark, a birthday they.*

He spent the day walking in circles in the forest. It was more than a moment.

It's hard to judge your morals under pressure, especially when you change the scenario you're acting in. But the best I could say is to take it in stride, acknowledge that you have the potential to act immorally and learn to fight the urges to do so. That's what I do, anyway.

That sounds entertaining.... in a morbidly curious way.

I'm going to assume none of these events are exactly enjoyable stories?

Interesting... maybe certain things are just destined to happen in some way. Or maybe this is something to look deeper into, but I'll leave that choice up to you.

*The cat can't help but grin and gladly return the hug, leaning down to close the distance between the two. Definitely in some sort of state of bliss.*

Have you ever tried changing the course then? A little nudge here or there can have drastic effects on these kinds of events, after all. Maybe all it would take is finding the right thing to mess with.

Memory magic is a fickle thing. I try my best to avoid it, to be honest. But something that complex, you're probably right with your assumption. I suppose it's just another kind of "survival of the fittest" in a way. You're the most fit you to survive, therefore it's simply nature taking a course.

Really? That sounds complicated, although it also sounds pretty convenient, too. I'm guessing it carries some serious drawbacks, though?

The fact that there's a legitimate black market for questionably legal magic goods has terrifying implications. But it also makes getting your paws on unique potion ingredients so much easier.

Sometimes, the crystal ball makes noises, like it's trying to talk. I'm pretty sure it gave me an ominous premonition one time, too.