All Moons Dream in Color

Chapter 4: ground rules

“I really don't see what all the fuss is about."

It's a week since Wilma's moved in, and a few things have become abundantly clear. First and foremost, Wilma is a bit of a night owl. In an interesting twist of fate, this just so happens to fit perfectly with Kai's insomnia. The second thing is, arguably, where they face their first problems as roommates: “You shed," Kai says, eyes narrowed as he stares up at her. “Almost constantly. Seriously, you could make a blanket out of this stuff, and we just swept this morning!"

“Okay, I understand what you're sayin'." Walking inexplicably on her front paws, Wilma smiles up at him before falling back onto her hind paws. “But if I may be offered a counterpoint-"

“We're not in court," Kai interjects, tiredly draped upside down against the recliner they pulled into the kitchen.

All the same, Wilma descends onto the floor until she's laid out like a bearskin rug beside him. She grins wolfishly and points out, “Bruiser sheds, too. I don't see you lecturin' him."

“I lecture him all the time. And in any case, he's smaller than you, and he catches rats." Kai smirks and, with a snap of his fingers, teleports the little critter into his arms. Unfortunately, Bruiser chooses this moment to be an unloyal a*s, phasing through his arms and instead choosing to trot over to his bowl. “Traitor."

A spark of competitiveness lights up in Wilma's eyes as she drags a claw in a circle just above the floor. “No offense to Bruiser, but rats aren't all that impressive. I had a possum for dinner last night. And I caught it." She raises her paws in one of the most adorable defensive positions he's ever seen in his entire life. “With these babies."

“All right, so one, we're getting you a rabies shot. And two, we're gonna have to find some covers or something to cover the couch because it is shot."

Wilma lowers her arms over her eyes and lets out an overly dramatic sigh. All at once, he finds himself reminded of Austin and Arturo. What would they think if they learned he'd finally met his match?

“Fine, then," Wilma says. “But in that case, I think I should be able to change some things around here, too. It's only fair."

“I guess," Kai drawls, plucking his wand off the recliner to guide a glass of champagne into his hand. “But I don't know what you could even request. After all, I am literally perfect."

A quiet rumble escapes Wilma, her fur standing on end as she braces her palms against her knees. She watches Kai like a rainbow-hawk zeroing in for a kill and says, “You leave your dirty clothes everywhere. It's disgustin'. If we have to put covers over everythin' like a bunch of neat freaks, you have to start pickin' up your little unmentionables."

Lips pressed tightly together, Kai sets his wand aside and glares up at Wilma. When she remains as is, not budging a single inch, he sighs and leans back into the recliner. “Fine. Since you wanna play it that way. I guess we have a deal."

And because he's such a kind and understanding person, he's willing to make the first step. Guided by a soggy raincloud, he floats into the bathroom, where a pair of boxers and one of his cloaks dangle over the sink. “I hope you appreciate how big of a sacrifice I'm making," he calls out, casually tossing the clothes into a porta-portal. With one last appraising sweep over the area, he then nods to himself and starts back for the kitchen with a skip in his step. “You know, there's an old wizard's tale about the strength found in clothes, and I think you're really gonna miss out on…"

As he rounds the corner, his words become lodged in his throat. Stood on the balcony is Austin, red lunar magic dripping from his fingers as he glowers at a nearly-shifted Wilma.

Now, Kai and Austin have known each other since college, which means that his decade-old wards have had ample time to get accustomed to Austin. Wilma, on the other hand, only knows him by name. And Austin knows nothing about Wilma, save for that she's keeping him company while Austin's at work.

So while it's an unfortunate confrontation, it is one that was bound to happen at some point or another.

"Kai," Austin snarls, his own fangs bared in threat as he draws a slow yet guarded approach. "Stand back. This is the same lady that attacked you in the parking lot."

Momentarily distracted, Wilma sends an accusatory look Kai's way, to which he simply holds his hands. "Hey, I told you she wasn't attacking anyone," he hurries to clarify. “She was just… being an artist."

A glare of recognition flares in Austin's eyes, and Kai considers that Wilma's paint job on the side of the Hotel probably wasn't her first. "Well, whoever she is doesn't matter. I'm more concerned with why she's here."

Wilma opens her mouth to say something, only to then falter and cast an uncertain glance Kai's way. "He's… well, his wards-"

"I know about his wards," Austin interjects with far more malice than Kai's used to seeing in him.

Not quite sure how this will develop, Kai steps between them, hands glowing a heady gray as he grabs Austin gently by the shoulders. His eyes, once so defensive and full of hate, soften to a point he's more familiar with. With a comforted sigh, Kai gives him a pointed look and assures him, "It's just temporary. My wards kind of put her in a jam, and I'm just trying to make it right. Just until I get the wards back in working order." When Austin purses his lips, seeming not at all convinced, Kai pinches the bridge of his nose and lets out a tired sigh. “It's only until I can get the wards cleaned. It's just short-term. And there's no point in making a fuss over something short-term, right?"

A long moment passes where Austin holds his ground, the occasional growl or two escaping him before Kai levels him with a disapproving scowl. It's only then that he tucks his fangs away, seeming sheepish yet determined as he continues to hold his stare. "I don't like this."

"Please don't rat me out," Kai says with pleading eyes. “I know what I'm doing, guildmaster's honor."

With cheeks flushed a deeper shade of purple, Austin cuts his eyes away and clenches his hands into fists. "Y-you're not even guildmaster yet," he points out as he lets his wings fall flat against his back.

"No." He tosses an arm over Austin's shoulder and shrugs, throwing an encouraging thumbs-up to the curious Wilma watching from the sidelines. "But I am your best friend. So you know what my word's worth, don't you?"

Austin covers his face and lets out a dismayed groan. "Would you stop it? I wasn't going to tell anyway."

With ears standing upright, Wilma brings her paws together into a happy clap and says, “Yay!"

As if insulted by the mere presence of her joy, Austin sends a cutting glare in her direction. “Not for you," he snaps before crossing his arms over his chest. "For him. Because he's an angel."

Wilma just bats her long blue eyelashes and tilts her head to the side. “And I'm not?"

In lieu of a response, Austin turns into a bat and flies away, then darts towards the balcony before either of them can even react.

"Nice friend," Wilma scoffs, claws disappearing back into her fingertips as she collapses back onto the recliner. She then winces, sitting up abruptly as she looks up at Kai. "Sorry. Uh, I can get the covers."

Kai sits down besides her, scratching the back of his neck as he stares down at the floor. "That can wait. About Austin… he's pretty protective of me, so don't take it personal."

Their tray of lunch food has gone cold, and Wilma eyes it for a moment with something like sadness brewing deep within her. "Well, I could've handled that better, too. I saw him on the terrace and didn't even think." She pauses, idly brushing at the cornrows knitted up and down her mane, as her tail lies limp beside her. "I'm… I'm still gettin' used to it, I guess."

"Well, I could've given you a better heads-up. It's a day for learning, you know?"

The smile she gives him is a small one yet a smile nonetheless. Her tail perks up, and she nods. "Yeah." She then looks back at the food before slyly asking, "Youuuuuu wanna go ride through the dumbwaiters again?"

Kai snags a cold piece of shrimp off the table and snickers. "Did you even have to ask?"

As they stalk out into the halls, it occurs to Kai that engaging in childish antics with wanted graffiti artists is probably what the Craterheads had in mind when they told him to keep out of trouble. But he's been keeping out of trouble, more or less, for the past ten years. Always thinking of his reputation, always thinking of the best way to preserve the prestige of the Graymons.

He knows less about Wilma than he does the mark in his hand, to not fault of his own. If he has a penchant for theatrics, his roommate has a penchant for mystery. Any attempts at meaningful conversation never amount to much more than avoided eye contact and swift changes in conversation.

And you know, that's fair. Because as Kai said to Austin, this is only temporary. They aren't meant to be personal. Wilma's entitled to her secrets, as he is to his own. It's... intriguing, he'll admit, but not exceptionally so.

They come to stand before the dumbwaiter, dusty and covered in caution tape after years of disuse. Evangeline rolls past them on a luggage cart, her hat perched expertly atop her head as she wheels on by. "That isn't safe," Eve points out, her eyes curious as she looks between Wilma and Kai. She then offers her a smile and a shy tilt of the head. "I like your claws."

A quick look at them reveals a fresh coat of black and blue paint, courtesy of the bottles they procured whilst portal-fishing yesterday. Kai pocketed the silver bottles and she the latter. It was nice. "Thanks. I like your hair," Wilma says at last before crawling into the dumbwaiter. Without a moment's hesitation, she tosses a wink back Kai's way before flinging herself into the inviting abyss.

Kai stands there a moment, accepting the healer's pouch Eve tossing his way before he turns back to the dumbwaiter. With a long inhale, he closes his eyes and considers the dozen or so voices that would argue he venture back to his suite, where he isn't like to attract so much attention.

He brushes those voices aside and lets himself fall, where he'll be inevitably led to the magic cleaning stations.

All things considered, Kai thinks he's entitled to a little fun.