wizardmanor | Floor 2, Room 4

[Phil isn't even aware of how long he drowses, his body demanding rest in a futile attempt to recover as best it can. He knows he'll be alone when next he wakes, and perhaps that's why he's in no particular hurry to try to claw his way back to wakefulness-- there's no reason for him to try to push himself past his body's natural inclinations this time.

He simply assumes that hours have passed when he blinks awake, vision still fuzzy from sleep. But even with his one eye mostly sightless without his monocle, the blur settled in the chair across from the bed is unmistakable, and for a moment his breath catches in his throat.]

... Day?

[It's a stupid thing to ask, because of course it's Day. Who else would it be? Still, the fact that he's still here even after Phil has been sleeping for however long... it makes the since-quieted guilt flare to life again within his chest.]

[ Day, for his part, just assumed this was as good a time to catch up on rest as any. He's sitting in the chair with his arms crossed, having nodded off there.

But for someone who usually seems laidback, he stirs almost as soon as Phil spoke. ]

Mmm?

How long... was I asleep?

[In other words, just how long has Day been sitting there waiting for him to awaken? He hopes it wasn't for several hours...]

I'm sorry... you should have gone to get some rest if you were that tired, not just slept in a chair. I'm just fine.

[And to illustrate this, he once again attempts to sit up and this time actually mostly manages it on his own, tired though he still is.]

[ Day blinks slowly as he processes what Phil just asked him. ]

...Honestly, I ain't sure? [ He hasn't been keeping track of the time. ] And you don't gotta apologise when I'm the one who ended up nappin' here.

Here--

[Now that he's upright, he uses this as an opportunity to try to scoot over somewhat and clear a larger space on one side of the bed. If there's one plus to the beds in the manor, it's that they're all more than large enough to fit at least two people if needed.

That accomplished, he pats the now-empty side of the bed with one hand.]

At least lie down here if you're going to nap. I don't want you getting a crick in your neck because you decided to look after me...

[Because at this point? He's getting the feeling that even if he insists that it's fine for Day to leave, that isn't going to happen.]

[ Day is just. Looking at the now-empty side of the bed. Then at Phil. Then at the bed again. ]

You sure?

[ Phil, do you realise you're asking him to lie down in your bed, next to you, ]

Yes, of course. There's plenty of space.

[He's done this tons of times before with Marcus? It's perfectly fine?]

I'll try my best not to take all of the blankets, but apparently I'm not very good at that if Marcus is to be believed.

[ ...Day almost wants to laugh at how oblivious Phil is being, seriously. In fact, he does laugh a little because this is endearing to him. ]

Aight. Just for a bit.

[ And he'll climb right into that empty spot for him. ]

[... it is only now with Day actually lying down in the bed mere inches from him that Phil realizes the error of his ways, his brain grinding to a sudden and abrupt halt.

Oh. Oh no. Day is close enough that Phil can feel the warmth from his body, and suddenly he swears that the temperature of the entire room has gone up several degrees. Or is his fever back? Maybe that's it.

But... at the same time, he desperately craves this closeness and warmth, so much so that he wants to reach out and touch it, yet wisely decides to avoid doing so.

It's a long moment before he can finally speak.]

Is that better?

[ For his part, Day is reminding himself not to touch, or this will go from sweet to deeply awkward. Even if it is tempting to play with Phil's hair a little like this. He makes himself comfortable in the bed, and when Phil finally asks him the question, he manages a smile. ]

Definitely better.

[ A bed will always beat a chair. ]

[Once again Phil feels the heat rise in his cheeks when Day smiles, and he has to force himself not to try to duck his head away in an attempt to hide what he's sure is the blush that accompanies it. That much at least he can always attribute to the fever if necessary...

Instead, he just tries to focus on looking at something - anything - else, which in this case happens to be Day's eyes, since they're right in front of him.

This may also have been a mistake. But even with one eye mostly blind, he sees...]

...!

[Is that... light in Day's eyes?]

[ Starlight in his pupils, to be exact. Flecks of blue starlight that make them look like a miniature night sky encapsulated in a gaze. It's the sort of thing that is hard to notice in broad daylight, but in a dark or even dim room, someone could notice it if they paid attention.

Day seems to have noticed something else about Phil's eye too, judging by how he seems to give a quick wave in front of Phil's right eye. ]

Can't see?

[Phil doesn't know what the flecks are-- the only thing he knows is that they're captivating, and he finds himself staring without even meaning to, as though somehow if he watches long enough the light might draw him into its depths.

It takes a moment for him to even notice that Day is waving that hand in front of his eye, and at last he blinks.]

Ah-- not very well out of that eye without my monocle, no.

[Without said monocle to obstruct the view, it's clear the eye is grey and cloudy, the pupil smaller than the other.]

But even so... your eyes-- they're shining.

[Then, because he's not so oblivious that he doesn't realize how that comes across:]

Like there's something lighting them from within...

Edited 2024-06-08 04:55 (UTC)

[ Day has to wonder if that has to do with Phil's illness, too... But before he can ask that question, Phil mentions his eyes, and Day can't help but fluster a little at the idea that Phil was paying enough attention to notice.

...He supposes it's fine to tell Phil this, considering he's told people here so much more already. ]

Ah, that's starlight.

Starlight?

[Somehow he's getting the feeling that Day doesn't mean that metaphorically. It certainly doesn't seem metaphorical with the way it seems to twinkle like the night sky itself, but...

... perhaps he should stop looking quite so closely.]

Some kind of magic from your world?

[He shouldn't keep staring. He really shouldn't keep staring. But he can't seem to tear his eyes away...]

[ It really isn't just a figure of speech. The way the light shimmers really is reminiscent of twinkling stars in the night sky, if Phil keeps staring. ]

I guess you could call it that? It's more...how to say, a mark that I've blessed by one of the goddesess of the stars, back home.

[ He says this quite neutrally. ]

Blessed by a goddess...

[He's quiet for a moment, thinking of Dana and her Priestess. But it's precisely because of that that he's well aware of all of the burdens that such a thing entails, and he can't help but wonder how Day ultimately feels about it.

The neutral tone of Day's voice gives him a bit of trepidation... but perhaps if he reaches out for his hand once again, the question he's about to ask won't seem quite as obtrusive.]

... would you tell me more? About yourself, I mean. But only if you don't mind...

[He smiles a little, quiet and sad.]

I told you I've never been very good with people, so I don't really know what sorts of things make for good conversation, or what kinds of questions are all right to ask. If it isn't about mirristry or my research, I tend to just let other people do the talking, but... I know that probably makes me rather boring to be around. So I'd like to learn to be better...

[ Day seems a little surprised to see Phil being the one to reach out instead, but he makes no protest and lets Phil take his hand. ]

Haha, well...You can practice with me. [ He always enjoys talking with Phil, anyway. ] And...I may as well tell you more 'bout myself. There's some stuff you oughta know, anyway.

[ If they're going to be this entangled, apparently. ]

You got a Heaven, where you're from?

[Though Phil isn't going to say a word to make taking Day's hand into a bigger deal than it already is, he's going to continue to be bold and this time be the one to stroke his own thumb lightly across the back. Since Day did it to him earlier, surely he won't mind having it done in return, right?]

Mmm... no, not exactly. That's where gods and goddesses are believed to dwell?

[He's read enough books both here and back in his own world to understand the concept, however.]

[ Oh, this is... When Ginger did this, it was a sign of their friendship, that they trusted each other enough to be comfortable with it as a gesture.

With Phil, Day finds his cheeks flushing from the intimacy, and how foolishly happy it makes him. His heart is practically soaring right now and he feels like a teenager in love again, which he knows is silly. ]

Basically, yeah. That's how it's like where I'm from. Apparently in some worlds it's part of the afterlife instead? [ Mumbled incredulously. ] I...work for Heaven. Bureau of Destiny, Division of Serenity, specifically.

Edited 2024-06-08 07:46 (UTC)

-- you're a god?!

[He's holding hands with a god? Oh no, now he's very certain that he is being far too forward, yet at the same time pulling away would probably be even worse, and so Phil just sort of freezes in place, unsure of what to do.]

I-I apologize for not realizing...

Oh, no, I ain't a god. [ He can understand why, but it's really too much that people just assume he has to be a god??? ] I'm, like...a mortal with a bunch of extras tacked on. Blessed by a goddess, remember?

Though I guess in my case you could also say I was destined for it, 'cause she's one of the sisters in charge of fate and destiny.

O-oh... I'm glad. I was afraid I'd just been very rude to another world's deity. [...] Not that I think that being rude to you would be acceptable with you not being a deity, but you understand what I mean.

[Which means handholding can continue unabated!]

So you were directly chosen by the goddess for your position, then?

Holdin' hands with a god too much for you? [ It's a joke. ]

But yeah, basically. We get chosen at birth, but we won't find out 'bout it until much later, usually after we've grown up. [ ... ] My division handles destinies that involve things that bring joy. Stuff like love and culture.

[Cue Phil doing yet another amazingly accurate impression of a tomato.

Help him. Please hold for a moment while he tries to remember how to speak.]

Joy... oh! Is that why your name is 'Joyous Day'?

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