«on hold»
» You are a notorious writer and proud owner of a library, one day your first customer, Chrollo, tells you to meet him on September 1st, leaving the location blank, challenging you to a game of catch.
Rune was still on my mind as I dropped by Chiaroscuro to check how things were going with my disappearance, I was pleasantly surprised when Lin explained how they had dealt with my disappearance. "That was well thought Lin, I want to hire someone to take my shift."
"Are you going to travel for inspiration?" Her eyes lit up in expectation, I simply nodded. The certainty and confidence I had before took a hit, Rune got the opportunity to have me owing him. He started with the sexual request but he knew I was going to curse him, it was just so he could delay it enough to have me indebted to his kindness.
How could I ever be helpful to Rune? He told me not to mess with the Spiders or the Zoldycks but he wasn't better. Aware that I had taken a long pause in the conversation, I helped Lin carry some books as I continued. "Yes, I've been feeling stifled here, the monotony has been... Less than welcome. It's time to go for a challenge." Did I truly felt that way? The stay at the police station and the trial sure broke my monotonous life but my mind was still clouded with doubt.
The conversation didn't advance further and I found myself walking home. I wanted my life to change, to be challenging, to be filled with adventure. I wouldn't hold myself back just because Rune felt like doing some sort of twisted revenge.
I pulled the keys out of my pocket and sighed at the familiar tinkering before I slid one into the keyhole and unlocked my dark wooden front door. It was time to prepare for a trip.
I grabbed a backpack and two changes of my favourite and most comfortable clothes, it took me twenty minutes to find a water bottle and prepare some dry snacks. A little leather-bound notebook and a few pens completed my travel item list, the F/C backpack was heavier than what I was used to as I swung it on my back but it would do.
I reached my front door when another thought came back to haunt me, the Zoldyck asshole knew where I lived, I should sell this house. I paused, would a few days of delay make me miss the only lead I had on the Spider? I had wasted three days already... The trip there would barely get me there in time... I locked the door behind me, wondering if I could ask someone to come here and pack all my stuff. The thought of any friend of mine killed because of something I asked chilled my spine and I decided it was something I'd have to bother with some other day.
I caught a bus to the airport, fidgeting as I noticed it was running on a three minute delay. The residential area changed to a heavier scenery with many tall apartment buildings greyed out by time. The airport was large, not one of the biggest in the country but it managed to provide with enough flights, it was certainly one of the reasons I had picked this place to build Chiaroscuro.
Ignoring the butterflies in my stomach after the zeppelin lifted off, I stared into the distance the excitement of a new adventure clouding all the bad thoughts.
Southworth was a large city, a city of merchants, a city where trading and selling never ended. It was only when I arrived there that I noticed many flaws in my planning, firstly all I knew was that some troupe members would meet, that didn't tell me Chrollo was here, how would I negotiate with them if he wasn't there? Second and most important, how could Rune give me a whole fucking city to look for them? It was worse than finding a needle in a haystack. It was nearly impossible...
A sigh left my beautiful lips as I wandered inside a coffee shop and ordered F/B along with some delicious looking cake. I would have to narrow down my search. How?
I paid in cash and asked the amicable cashier if he knew where I could get a map. He pointed out a few touristic spots and I struggled to follow his directions and find said places. Eventually I got a hold of a map and ruled out all the touristic areas, knowing Chrollo was an edgy criminal he'd go for a place that matched his activities. That was if Chrollo was in fact in Southworth...
Five locations, all in different parts of the city, what a pain. The first two were empty, the third wasn't accessible with a car so I cringed as I parked the car I had rented the best I could and walked through sinuous and narrow streets.
A black haired short man wearing a long black leather jacket walked in front of me. The sun was setting but it was still incredibly warm... How could he not feel like a chicken in an oven? My eyes narrowed as he continued to take the same turns I would take. How to look like a stalker 101. It was getting too dark too quick, the buildings were cutting the dimming sunlight...
When I proceeded to turn right, sadly following the man in front of me, he was no where to be seen and I released a huff of air in relief. It was getting too awkward. I looked down at the map once more there were a lot of shaky crosses and scribbles but two more turns and I'd be there. The last location I'd check today since walking in edgy ans shady parts of town at night didn't seem like such a good idea.
As I turned left my heart seemed to rush, all I wanted was to turn left once more ahead and meekly verify that this was not the right place. The last turn was drawing closer, I wished the building had been demolished and that the map was out of date.
I turned left. My E/C eyes fell on an ancient church and a hand covered my mouth as I was yanked back.
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Art by 芳野 (@asg_asa on Twitter)
> Author's Note: Hello lovelies hope you enjoy this. I wrote it on a bus, forgive and point out any mistakes ♥.
