Ghouls night out. (Wren/Hank)

[beastly]

Oh. He'd seen this, but it hadn't been the route he thought things would take. Failure. Hank made a few aborted finger grabby motions with his hands, frozen briefly, wanting to help clean up but also sifting through the possibilities of doing so at the same time. He blinked rapidly, feeling eyes on him.

No, there were too many outcomes where he was told that it wasn't his job to clean up, and he really didn't have a towel or anything on him. This was not an important situation, he reminded himself. Not life or death. Just a drink.


"Sorry- accidents- oh."

[indeath]

Wren smiled a little too widely and Bubbles stopped wriggling become dead weight instead. Wren glared down at the space where she was. Little booger.

Then they smiled a little too widely at the crowd.

“Uh just uh practicing for my next show! Heh… Got a little carried away…”

Wren then grabbed their things and motioned at Hank to leave.

“Well we’re off… See you next week!”

Wren leaned in to Hank as they left. Feeling very embarrassed. Hopefully it wasn’t about to become a thing. They probably thought Wren was on drugs or something.

Once outside a little voice piped up from Wren’s arms. She had on her best adult voice.

“Well… I hope we all learnt a lesson. Not angry… disappointing.”

This was what adults said, she’d seen it on tv. Wren just looked pale. Could be worse. Could always be worse.

[beastly]

"Sorry, sorry," Was all the mothman could muster, hands still twitching for an action to take. He looked at the ghoul for help, and decided to keep quiet and follow their lead after viewing a few possible futures and stopping after three, deeming it a worse idea to look ahead and not be present in the moment than it was to just let Wren lead.


Hank awkwardly skittered alongside Wren, allowing them to lean on him, his jacket clutched in his arms. He was quiet until they were outside, until Bubbles spoke.

"It's okay. We are okay. There was plenty of alcohol in the room, if anything, yes, was seen, it will likely be blamed on that. Too much drinking, music, noise. "

He gave Wren a pat on the shoulder.

[indeath]

Wren smiled at Hank, he was right but the whole thing still made them feel uneasy. What if someone had been paying attention and not drinking? What if there had been a hunter present? Wren’s eyes became wide and their breath erratic as they started to feel panicked. It jolted through them like electricity putting every hair on edge. They bit their lip, trying to stop the catastrophizing cycle. They were safe and it was fine.

A small being began hugging onto them tightly and with a snap they felt less frazzled.

“Thanks, Bubs… Sorry Hank. You’re right… No one will remember. Umm do you want to go get a coffee? I know a friendly little diner that doesn’t mind a little weirdness?”

They smiled at their friend. He was a good egg.

[beastly]

"I would love some coffee. We could get a cozy booth, I really enjoy booth seats," the bespectacled man seemed to relax some with the promise of heading somewhere more in his comfort zone. The odds were good they could get a corner seat.

Hank gave a relived sigh, looking at Wren who was now more calm, then up as he walked, glasses reflecting streetlamps as they passed. Gorgeous beacons in the night, leading travelers along, lighting their way.

"This really is a good city," the mothman's tone was a bit dreamy and distant, reflective

[indeath]

“Corner booth!”

Wren grinned at their friend, following his eyes to the streetlights. It must be nice to find beauty in something so simple and common. People often took simple beauty for granted but not Hank. Wren was excited to show their friend this place, it was in fact a new super friendly cafe run by a cute bobtail nekomata. Wren really needed a place they could feel safe after that kerfuffle.


They led him down a little alleyway until they reached a brightly-lit window with friendly blue curtains and in delicate cursive ‘The Neko Nook: Cafe & diner’. Inside was filled with the scent of jasmine and baking. The corner booth did indeed seem to be waiting for them. The decor had a Japanese cottage look to it, wood with delicate blue accents. A short soft man with white fluffy hair with a black splotch in the middle stood smiling. He was dressed in a comfy looking fluffy white jumper and jeans. He wore a pale blue apron.

“Greeeetingsss! The usual, Wrrren? What would yourrr frrriend like?”

He purred. Wren fit themselves in the soft cushion of the booth and Bubbles materialized in their arms.

[beastly]

Oh, he liked it. The place smelled amazing, and he appreciated the aesthetic as his big eyes took the place in for real. Hank made himself comfortable in the booth, smiling at the cafe owner widely and adjusting his glasses. A few different conversations played out in his head, and Hank tried to organize them.

"I agree," he nodded, " I think coffee would be wonderful, nothing over the top."

He beamed over at Bubbles, the adorable critter now visible.

[indeath]

“Nothing overrr the top, oh come on now liiive a little! Let me look at you, what would be the perrrfect coffee?”

He leaned in close to Hank, smelling like sweet milk and lavender. He took Hank’s hand in his own strangely soft hands and looked for a moment at his palm before nodding knowingly. He clicked his tongue.

“Cafe con leche! Yup. Trrrust me. It’s intense and just right for a fella like you. Don’t worry, it’s nothing overrr the top!”

Bubbles wagged both her tail and beamed at the barista. She leaned up on the table, drumming her little fingers in excitement.

“Mister. Dietz! Can I have eeextra marshmallows in mine? Do you want marshmallows, Hank? They’re extra squishy!”

Wren smiled wirely. Dietz could be a bit much but he meant well. At least it seemed that way. At least he always got their order right. Straight coffee. It seemed to go down just fine thankfully. Everyone needed pep every now and again.

[beastly]

Hank had little issue sticking out his hand for the friendly man to inspect. How interesting!

"I would like that. You are the expert, I trust you. I would like that, thank you."

He agreed to the prescribed coffee, looking at his hands, or rather, the human hands his disguise created for him, and wiggled his fingers. The mothman looked down at Bubbles. He couldn't possibly object to marshmallows, not when the little one was suggesting them. He nodded at her sage advice.

" Oh yes. Marshmallows, please."

[indeath]

Dietz smiled widely when Hank accepted his coffee suggestion. Though it dropped a little when he mentioned marshmallows, still the barista shrugged before going off to make their coffees. His eyes momentarily checking Hank out.

The diner had a couple of other patrons who definitely seemed like supernaturals and like Bubbles weren’t shy about showing it.

“So what do you think? Pretty cool right?”

Wren smiled at Hank. They felt safe here for some reason. They needed it after the earlier chaos.
Bubbles climbed over the table and gave Hank a hug, her little hand digging in looking for his phone.

[beastly]

Hank shrugged back at Dietz. The marshmallows would be good.

He shifted in his seat, glancing around the room again. It was cool. Seeing other supers in public was always surreal, and he quite enjoyed it. He tried not to stare, but before he'd come to this city meetings between himself and other supernatural beings had been... less calm.

Hank rested his elbows on the table and then his chin on his hands, nodding.

"I like it," he wished his true self was something less... dread inducing. He had no self loathing, he was fairly content with himself, but he naturally repelled people.

He chuckled as Bubbles went for his phone, moving to put a hand around her to return the hug, then dug out his phone. The device was locked. He handed it over after unlocking it.

[indeath]

Bubbles made a small squeal of excitement at the sudden access to his phone. Flashes lit her face as she began taking photos, a lot of photos. Of herself, the table, a blurry photo of her foot. Their feet. Everything.

Wren was just happy to see her somewhat occupied. They shook their head at her antics. This is why they never let her use theirs, also because no matter what her fingers always seemed sticky. Always.

“So uh one thing I have always wondered. Why don’t you play the stock exchange or something? With your psychic abilities, surely it’d be a breeze! Or is that insider trading?”

For someone who could see the future he certainly didn’t make the best decisions. Still Wren was sure they had a practical use that could help Hank.

Bubbles had stopped taking photos and was now swiping the screen back and forth seemingly playing some kind of game.

“Gross… No way!…. Loser… Yes!… No… Perfect!… Ewww…”

[beastly]

The thought that he could use his powers to live an easier life had occurred before, but he'd never tried anything. The most he'd done was be at the right place at the right time to take advantage of opportunities, but even that made him a bit guilty.

"No lottery, it's cheating and I wouldn't feel right about it, Wren."

Bubbles was given free reign of the phone, Hank gazed over at her work, but made no move to stop her. He ran his hand through his hair, then gestured at the little critter.

"Now I'll have to delete that dreadful app."

No more Jeremys.

[indeath]

“Ooh hehehe this guy spelt ‘come’ wrong! No Jeremys! Got it! What about Jamies? The app says he’s close!”

Her little blue face went purple and she dropped the phone like it was hot passing it back to Hank.

“That turtle looked unwell… He should take it to a vet.”

Wren couldn’t help but giggle at Bubbles’ antics. She really was too much, like an obnoxious little sister. Wren did love her though, she was their family, only family now. Pleasant smell wafted across the friends as their drinks arrived. Marshmallows abounded.

Wren took a long sip. Bubbles’ mouth became a chipmunk’s.

“Would it though? Is there a way to use it that wouldn’t feel like cheating? What about at bingo? It’s just old ladies… Actually I don’t think it would help there.. What about casinos? They’re super evil so it wouldn’t be bad,right?”

[beastly]

The phone was taken back, and Hank made several faces at his phone as he deleted things and inspected it.

"No more of that game."

Hank's brow lifted when his drink came, however, and he thanked Dietz. He did enjoy the marshmallows, and seeing the cute little imp enjoy her drink made his even better. This was nice, this was what he liked.

"It's not wise to cheat casinos out of their money, even if it's less morally grey. Yes, that's how you get kicked out at best and worst- mmmm, this is good."

He took another sip of his drink, then shook his head again.

"No, worse they send men to beat you up. Some of them, anyway."

He drummed his fingers on the table, looking at a light on the ceiling.

"The writing is enough for me. I'm not calling you greedy, it's just not...yes, not my style."