un: wish-ywashy

[panpiping]

Hee hee hee...
Hello again!
Look, original lady that Jasmine came from!
I don't know
if I ever got your name, but
I got a real account this time!!
Poe just reminded me it exists!
He's been
holding out on me!

It's me! Wist!
Yeah!!

Nice to meet you all again,
but
it would be even nicer
if someone could come let me out of my designated living box??
I'm starting to get hungry...
And besides that,
it's really hard to watch over kids
when I'm stuck in here!

Comments

[panpiping]

Oh...

[This is...so sad. Truly. They thought they met somebody famous there for a second. At least Héctor is still The Best.]

Straw into gold isn't hard, with the right equipment... Did they change the laws about that? Making gold? [Oh, and!! Their hair curls up at the ends as they think of it.] Full name! You can have mine, too! Now it's Wist Y'rhia Mugmort Moussear! Isn't it a nice name?

Hee...more humans that are weird, and helpful, and fun like you would be nice.

[unpocoloco]

[Close but no cigar. He reaches out and gives a sympathetic pat.]

I-- actually... I'm not sure. Let me get back to you on that, that could be really useful.

[For some sort of scheme anyway.

He brightens then.]

That's a great name. Wist Y'hira Mugmort Moussear... did I say that right? Sounds fancy. Real long and important, you know? Also, thank you. I'm sure with time you'll have more people ready to help you. Even if you got off on the wrong foot with some.

[panpiping]

Close! Y'rhia, so when it's next to Wist...it's like wisteria! But different!

[they put So Much Thought into it, Héctor, you have no idea.]

They'll see I'm working really hard, right? I'm going to help take care of people! All the children! They even want to pay me to do it, when I was going to do it anyway.

[unpocoloco]

Wist Y'rhia! Ha! Kind of like Mugmort and Moussear are different from similar plant names.

[They did try and it's adorable.]

I should think they'll see what work you're putting in. You certainly sound like you're up for it. I think the money thing is something they have to do legally, but if you or Poe find you don't know what to do with it, there's always charities and things you could put it towards.

[panpiping]

Yeah! You get it! [THEY'RE SO HAPPY, HÉCTOR TRULY IS THE BEST] Except Moussear isn't from mouse-ear chickweed, like you might think. It's from μυοσωτίς! Myosotis! Forget-me-nots!

[One of the Most Important of the plants, honestly.]

Charities? Poe says he can pay some kind of sub scription with it, but the rest can go to whatever that is.

[unpocoloco]

That is really cool. I like that last one. So that means you're the plants of... wistfulness, dreaming, and remembrance.

[How could he not appreciate something about being remembered?]

And, ah, charities... Charities are a way to help people, when you don't have the time or resources to help in person. You give an organization the money and they put it towards funding all the work they do. You like to help people so I figure that might be something you'll appreciate. You can have someone help you pick out the best ones.

[panpiping]

[Will Héctor ever stop being the best? Signs point to no. Their hair fluffs happily while they nod their agreement.]

Mhm! Everyone should have as many good things to look back on as possible, so I'm gonna make sure people I meet always have one! I want to be a really, really good memory!

[Not that...just meeting someone whose named themself that way counts in reality, but... Eh. Whatever.]

Oh! I understand, now! Okay, you can help me pick. [No choice.]

[unpocoloco]

[Careful, Wist, he'll let you down placing him up so high.

He laughs.]

Alright, I'll try. I don't know too much of what's around here but some of mi amigos in town can probably tell me what sorts of places have helped them.

[Though with Wist, they'd probably like something that helps children more.]

I like that idea by the way. Leaving people with really good memories. That's something I'm really hoping to do too.

[panpiping]

[They nod firmly as if that officially finalizes the decision, then stretch up towards the sky with a contented hum.]

You already have. That's how come I definitely couldn't have forgotten about you for a hundred years, like in stories. It can be really hard to keep track of time, but I would have missed you and your fun way too much!

[unpocoloco]

[He looks surprised. Then somewhere between rueful, amused, and actually touched. A soft laugh escapes him.]

You're kind, Wist. I don't remember being that fun. I think I mostly remember ruining your fun.

[panpiping]

[They laugh a little, too.]

Maybe...but yo were doing your best not to, I think. I still thought you were fun. Definitely more fun than your daemon friend?

[unpocoloco]

[He had tried. Wist feels... young to him most of the time. But his smile slips a little.]

You mean Sta-- Michael? He's not so bad actually when he's not terrifying. I think he was just really stressed by the situation with Kano and Shuuya. He cares a lot about the boy. Both parts of him. But... you may want to be careful. I imagine he'll be pretty upset for a while, especially since we couldn't actually do much to help them both.

[panpiping]

[They might be 369 years old, but it doesn't mean they aren't still young. There's many, many years ahead of them, assuming, you know, the world or their life doesn't come to an end.]

We'd had a nice conversation before all that... [The accuracy of this is...debatable.] It isn't like I didn't try, either. They were asking a lot that just wasn't safe. If I agreed, they definitely wouldn't have gotten what they wanted and just be even more mad now.

Anyway, now that I'm here, it doesn't have to be the end. The rude boy just has to be better about working with me if I'm to help.

[unpocoloco]

I know. You did your best and, from the sounds of it, you did the right thing to turn him down. But people can get angry over the reasons things happened in the first place. And sometimes they can even be angry at themselves, taking it out.

[He shrugs his shoulders helplessly.]

That does sound promising. I guess I hope things work out? Though I would think if Kano gets the right help, he wouldn't need to be split apart again.

[panpiping]

[They throw their hands up.]

That's what I'm saying! I mean... Of course I preferred the little one, but it's terrible how they all have absolutely no trust when the rude boy was their friend first. If they like both pieces of him separate, why can't they like him all together? Why do they think the little one's time won't have mattered? The whole point was that it would matter!

[unpocoloco]

[He flashes a rueful smile.]

It can be hard for certain types to show that kind of vulnerability. I think I told you before as much. If someone got hurt, being one way in their youth, they tend to bury those traits later on. They might think the little one's time won't matter because, well, the current Kano won't let himself be that person. To help means healing whatever wound made him different in the first place. He's got to let that happen too. That'll only happen if he truly thinks he's safe. The others who care about Kano might believe he won't do that. It happens. Sometimes you care for someone who doesn't do the best for themselves.

[panpiping]

[long, impatient sigh.]

It's just silly, and maybe a little mean of them... And! Sometimes you have to change first to heal a wound! I do that! I was totally bleeding earlier, but not anymore!

[unpocoloco]

[Their impatience only pushes him to give more of his own.]

You know it's not that simple for humans right? You're not wrong, exactly, but it can take a long time.

[panpiping]

Hmmm.

[They're still dissatisfied with this...]

Humans make everything sooo complicated. No offense.

[unpocoloco]

[He laughs.]

None taken. It's true. But it keeps things interesting, no?

[panpiping]

[This is why Héctor's the best...]

Mm! It's true, it's true! You all change things so fast even though you're staying the same! It's funny! I could watch you guys for forever, if I didn't want to play.

[unpocoloco]

[Some would probably think Wist's assessment callous, but he knows it's meant in good spirit.]

Such a shame we all have to make those choices sometimes.

Speaking of changes and staying the same... I never got to ask you what you thought of things with your old spell ending. I know we gave you a lot of trouble, but did you find anything good out of it?

[panpiping]

[They nod along, and their head tips at the question.]

Of course! Don't you know? I got a friend! That's really good! And I got to learn some things, and taste new magic, and be invited places... It's exciting. Putting it like this, it's hard to think of it going badly at all! I just wish people weren't made upset, I guess. It's fun to experiment and learn things... All things. There's so much, always.

[But to think on it more deeply...]

There isn't really a way for me to find out if everyone it happened to was able to feel free again. It was worthwhile for me, but that doesn't make it worthwhile for everyone.

[unpocoloco]

[A good friend, huh? He listens to the rest with a nod.]

It sounds like you did learn a lot then. [About understanding people better and what they might be okay with at the very least.] I'm glad.

I think you'll do a lot of good here, Wist. With what you learn and all.

[panpiping]

[It's because of all that listening that he's such a good friend, really... who the heck listens to a disaster like this and is still so patient...]

That's the plan...! [Time for a cartwheel!! As much as their hair should make this hellish...it's weirdly tame.] I'll work hard, so you aren't disappointed! Give me a gold star, okay? I hear those are important to students!