Senecio adn Tide II

[VisAnastasis]

While the other two were not strangers to flying in their long life, or high altitude, because of Tide's ability to jump high, it was just a different experience to fly so comfortably, with so little air resistance or cold - air currents seemed to simply naturally part when reaching her, and her warmth came naturally as well - even if she had a lot of differences, it seemed that with a bit of independence she was growing more akin to Sun Spirits. When they reached the first building, she sought the wooded area nearby with least people, and landed carefully, waiting for the others to climb down.

Then, she turned into a bright yellow dog form, so she could be inconspicuous, while Tide took Alpha's nail so he could summon the Star being. He warmed the nail with his healing powers, and within a couple of seconds, as if materializing out of the mist, Alpha appeared and waved to them with dramatic flair.

[Mirach]

"Great, now... what do you watch for when buying a building?" Senecio asked. "I've never done that before..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Perhaps it will be easier to imagine it like merely bying dozens of flats at once?" Said Hans, definitely not clueless as to how pretentiously rich it sounded. " You look for all the same things, like closeness to theatre and markets, isolation, layout of appartments, if it's in safe neighborhood, and so on... Basically the same but on bigger scale. My agent has scouted eight buildings, but I think there are three that are most suitable for our purpose. Each of the eight is owned by one owner per building, for rental purposes, but the five are a bit on the cheaper side and all their appartments are currently lived in, so it would take a bit of time for families to move out. But the three buildings that are on a bit more expensive side are usually rented by days or weeks, and all have at least couple of the appartments currently empty. That's why I think it would be good to buy one of those three, and first fill up empty rooms with some of our people while rest of current tenants are moving out."

" Yeah, it's definitely a choice of practicality," Alpha teased." And totally not because you are way to eager to give Janus's kids a nicer appartment right away, instead of passable appartment in couple of days. Totally."
" Hey, don't make me sound all philanthropic like that," Hans shrugged innocently." It's only... practical to coax people to like you with better conditions. After all, current investment is actually not in a piece of land, but in people. That is one thing where you should not have regrets."

[Mirach]

 "Ah yes, that sounds familiar," Senecio grinned. "Okay, so let's take a look at the three buildings."

[VisAnastasis]

Hans explained to them where the buildings were, and they began their tor. Each place seemed to have been notified of soon visit, so after a word or two from Hans, they would be allowed in and showed around. All of the three buildings were a little more expensive, but because of that they looked rather clear and tidy. To Hans's credit, he made sure all of them were well lit up and in safe respectable locations, and each was of decent size. Regarding other things, each had different advantages to it .

First one was but five minutes away from theatre and next to the bakery, but it was in more urban area so there was no greenery. However, what it lacked in scenery it made with location and looks, as it felt rather new and well built and had close acess to anything they could need, from closeness to food venues to craftsmen.

Second was around ten minutes away from the theathre, and had lot of little food shops around, and as it was close to main square, it was in a district where restourants and sound of music were abundant, and it had a lovely elevated look at the sea in the distance. It was certainly rather cheerful and colorful area.

The third one was the farthest, on almost twenty minutes of walk from theatre, but it was in one of rare rather forested areas of the city, having a lovely spacious park with benches and little artificial lake. It looked simpler on the outside in comparison to other two, as it didn't have too much decorations, but appartments here were more spacious, and since it was further from the city center, it was a much quiter neighborhood, most prominent sound being one of sea, as forest in the distance was ending with a small secluded private beach - it seemed this area was some sort of resort for the wealthier nobleman travelers that didn't want to stay at poorer inns.

[Mirach]

"Uhm... I honestly don't know," Senecio said after they've seen all three buildings. "If I had to pick, I would probably pick the closest one for convenience, but I don’t know what they’d prefer. Maybe it would be best to do one more round with the kids and let them pick themselves."

[VisAnastasis]

" It seems we don't have much luck with doing things from the first go today... but I do agree, it is a hard choice. If there was an easy best choice, I would have advised you in its favour. You are right - first is the closest one so it's convenient and efficient. Second has a more fun atmosphere, which seems like a good choice for growing up, letting them see a bit brighter side of society, and have a chance to listen to more music and hear nice things. The third is furthest, but it's also the calmest and has big walls around the property and the biggest rooms... but it is also 20 minutes walk by food, so not too convenient, and we can't have Xia fly them to work every day. It is rather hard to pick, " Hans commented. " I know we planned to surprise them with a done deal... but I guess it is best to ask since it's somewhere they will grow up in. Whatever we pick is basically a done deal, as they can move in right away, as long as it's in the unoccupied apartment, but perhaps we can delay telling them that? What do you think about this - we first go and pick up the kids and have them check the three locations, and return them to the theatre once they pick. Then we only have them officially move in in the afternoon after we tidy up their apartment and fill it with the furniture and housewarming gifts we got for them? That way, they will both get a chance to choose, and we will surprise them by making them a little housewarming party so they can move in before the end of the day. "

" Well, yeah, nobody says we can't have some little parties, it's not like we can only have fun when there's a ball around, " Alpha tied in. " And, if you recall, you still owe me a play about me, a ridiculous silly one where you play all the characters on the budget of a ham sandwich, " he winked at Senecio. " Not saying you have to play it today... But just saying, If it happens, I won't complain. But regardless of whether it happens or not, what should happen is definitely calling at least little Svarik and Falcon to join us. They helped treat the kids the other day, it will be an enrichening experience for them to see the younglings move on to nicer experiences, " he said confidently, though, in some fun way, as if describing it in the same way as one would describe the importance of kids learning to get along well with other kids.

[Mirach]

"Wait, so, just to get the timetable straight," Senecio interrupted, "today we buy the building. Tomorrow we're going for a trip with the king. When is the ball and when do we want to arrange this party?"

[VisAnastasis]

" It's not like we have to rush, but we can arrange a little private party today, too. If I leave the job to my agent, the sale should be done within, like, an hour or so, just enough for us to buy everything we need, " Hans explained. " I imagined we could just have a nice little party tonight after sunset. But you are right, we should pass over our plans briefly to make sure we are all on the same page. Let's see... Today is Monday, and Svarik and Falcon have to set off at the latest on Saturday. So, the ball should be on Friday. This is how i imagined spending the time... " Hans said, and took out notebook and pen from his bag, and wrote down the first draft.

Monday - we buy the building and organize little home welcoming party in the evening
Tuesday - while we are on a picnic with Svarik Janus is given instructions and funds to rebuild the stage level, and my men are working on base-level preparations for the ball from instructions we write down
Wednesday - the day is divided by rehercing for the role of Spirit King with others and preparations for the ball
Thursday - if needed some more more ball preparations or whatever we feel like
Friday - the schedule is a bit tight, as today there is a Spirit King play and I have to play the Spirit king, so busy with rehearsals and play until five in the afternoon, then getting ready and coming to the ball then.

"I believe this should cover it," Hans said. " If you agree of course. It's not too busy, not counting play rehearsals for me - all else can basically be coming up with and giving instructions. "

" Uhmm, well, sometimes before the night, I wanted to make a quick stop to the faries, to get some more balm, " Tide caughted, and added then slowly, with a bit of embarrassment and also guilt as he admitted. " I know making new ball was my idea... but I also have one more thing I wanted to do. I promised Death I will become Semai with him again, at the Sea Heart. I have a good instinct on this thing, so I think it will last a while this time. We should definitely make it back by the time of the ball... But I am not sure how much of the next few days until then will it take, so I probably won't be able to take much part in the ball preparations... "

[Mirach]

"So you will go there with him the day after tomorrow?" Senecio asked. "I would rather take more time to prepare your play," he turned to Alpha. "I want to make some prompts and it's a bit of a rush today."

[VisAnastasis]

" Yes, I am supposed to go with him on Wednesday, although we didn't specify if we will be going at sunrise or sunset of that day. I will have to ask him. "

" As for play, then, when I said I want it to be simple and cheap, I did mean it. As long as we have fun, you're fulfilling your deal, " Alpha explained as for his question. " But it would suck if we do it without Tide, definitely, or without cute little Svarik. I need to see that kid laugh more, it's just so cute, like the ringing of tiny bells, " Being grinned pleasantly. " So, no worries, we can either delay that until Tide returns, or later, if king and Falcon return to capital in meantime, on their next visit. I'm still up for having a homecoming party tonight, though. We can just pick some nice place without many strangers or people around, so Janus is comfortable, and make some nice dinner, or perhaps a barbeque over afire? I took two weeks of vacation after the play, so I'm really up to anything fun. "

[Mirach]

"That sounds great," Senecio nodded. "Okay, so let's get the kids to see which accommodation they prefer."

[VisAnastasis]

Since the people here were more used to Beings, they rode on Xia to the theatre too. Before the entrance still stood the large heaps of scrap metal from destroyed machinery, that Janus arranged dramatically, almost like an art piece, in purposely frightful manner, with broken and cut seams exposed.
" Don't worry," Tide explained proudly " I arranged for it not to be cleared at least today or tomorrow. We will just pay a ticket on claim of being too busy to clean before then."
When they entered the main room, they saw Janus right there on the stage with the kids, not below. It seemed he probably choose that because there was biggest free space for working.  There were lot of scattered papers around him, and he was drawing and showing them and explaining them something at the same time. It seemed that they were some technical drawings and that he was turning future developments into teaching opportunity for children, showing them things patiently, with a long stick, from around a meter of safe distance from them so they could not touch him accidentally. For better lightning, there were many bright blue coloured orbs floating around them, especially where they needed to see things better.

[Mirach]

"Hello," Senecio greeted them. "I see you're getting really busy. Would it be a good time for a break?"

[VisAnastasis]

Janus flinched with the sounds they made as they got in, and grew tense and defensive, with instinctual fear whenever someone would enter. He straightened slightly, despite the fear, putting himself one step in front of the kids. But when he noticed who the group that entered was, and when his eyes met Senecio's he smiled lightly, and his quiet faint feelings reflected a great sense of relief and light curiosity and fondness.

" Hmm... Children's designated lunch break was supposed to be in an hour... But it's not good to work too much, so... I guess I can make an exception today since you're the one asking, " he coughed, relaxing a little, as he inquired, his feelings as quiet as usual, but reflecting his own expression of favour and determination. " But why do you ask? Did you come to talk to me about the rebuilding of the stage and the roof? We are working hard on it, so we have proper plans ready. We already finished floor plans, and now we are discussing the best choices for the roof building. I'm currently teaching the kids a proper way to calculate weight when building support beams for larger roofs. "

" Aren't they meant to be mechanic apprentices, not builders? You're really being throughout here, " Alpha asked bemusedly, but his tone seemed to fly over Janus's head, who nodded earnestly.

" It's a good skill to have, " he said practically what seemed natural to him. " You never know when you may need to build something heavy. Humans are frail, if they build something without proper support, they can get squished and die. They must have the proper foundation to not make something dangerous by accident, too, not just on purpose. This little bit of fundamentals is just essential.  "

[Mirach]

"I agree, when you're building things, it's a  very useful skill to know how to build them so that they don't fall down," Senecio nodded. "We also have three buildings for you to check. Not from the point of stability, but decide which one would suit you best for staying in."

[VisAnastasis]

" You mean... we can pick the human appartment you promised us?" Janus's voice grew hopeful, but even more than that, his faint feelings reflected relief." I was getting a little worried by now... I don't think it is good for the children to sleep down there in the dark much longer. "
" Great, so that means you are coming with us?" Hans asked." We won't be flying since you wouldn't be able to touch Xia, it will be just a nice little walk."
Janus's eyes clouded though, and he seemed torn, as if he was steeling his resolve for something.
" I... Won't be going. Take the children and have them choose," he said in the end. The kids protested, though, and no one seemed more restless than Emmet.
" But you will be living there as much as us, master, and any place for us is fine. You should come and choose what suits you best."
" I will just be living there a small part of my eternity, while you may end up living there a big part of your lives," Janus cut of sternly, having made his choice. His feelings reflected anxiety over lack of control, but also determination to do what he felt is best. " You are all... Too focused on pleasing me. You will just end up choosing what I show fqvour too, even if you dislike it. Go ahead and pick where you will find it optimum to live and grow up well. Just saying anything is fine is unacceptable. Be picky. That is the new instruction. "

[Mirach]

"All the choices are good," Senecio assured them. "It's more a matter of which positives you prefer."

[VisAnastasis]

Children were reluctant at first, especially the eldest, but since Janus was relentlessly convinced in his own choice, and they didn't want to make him sad with refusal, either, they accepted his choice in the end, and followed the group outside.
They were surprised with all locations indeed, as they were really high above any budget they could even dream of, having spent the most of their lives in cramped dark places. Luckily, with flying from location to location, and the wonder and thrill of flying for the first time, they were distracted enough not to be overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation.
When they looked at all three locations, they were thoughtful, as indeed, for someone that never got a choice in anything up until recently, making such a huge choice must have been quite intimidating.

[Mirach]

"There really isn't a bad choice here," Senecio encouraged them. "Just go with your feelings. Which one feels most like it could be home?"

[VisAnastasis]

That was a heavy question, but in the end, it seemed easier to choose what they don't want first.
" Definitely... Not the second one," Emmet finally brought himself to say, steadying his voice seriously, his feeling of worry clearly visible on his face. " It... Has a nice atmosphere and seems lively, but... Master Janus would suffer there. There are just too many humans going around... He would power through it but he would be constantly anxious. "
" Yes, not the second," youngest one agreed quietly.
" What about the rest then? First or this one?" Middle child asked Emnet quietly, as they were currently in the garden." First one is really close, so Master would feel safer if we would get from theatre to apartment so quickly."
" It sounds... good on the surface. But I don't think it would be good on the long run. I feel he would give into temptation to just go between those two points and be either constantly trapped in the theathre, or in apartment, without courage to go much further. Besides, you have to keep in mind that Master does not sleep. He would feel trapped in a little place each night while we sleep. Here, he can go out among the trees and take a walk at night... And most important, there is plenty of open outside space for him to see people from afar, without feeling threatened by their closeness," Emmet concluded, subconsciously, his smile growing brighter and more secure with the conclusion." It is a bit far, but it looks like an open place where he would feel most secure in his free times, so he can recover from being around too many people. I like this place the best. "

[Mirach]

Senecio nodded thoughtfully. "I think it's a good locality. Inspiring, as well. Thank you, we'll take care of the rest."

[VisAnastasis]

" Thank you," Emmet nodded lightly, confident in his choice that this was the best place. The youngest reluctantly tugged at Hans's sleeve, who for some reason must have seemed most approachable to him.
" Any appartment is okay. W-we are very grateful," he stuttered." Could it perhaps.... Just not be on the ground floor? Any other floor is okay... "
" Of course," Hans said gently." Hey, why don't we go and pick from the currently free appartments the one you prefer the most? We are buying the whole building anyway, since you are here, why don't you pick the one you like the most? Then we can return you to the theathre with Xia's help, so you don't have to walk back on your own."
Children were reluctant to be given that much choice, of not only location but also the space, but it seemed worth it to make sure it's not on the ground floor, so they went inside a bit more so they could pick.
In the end, they also chose what seemed like something Janus would be most comfortable with. They picked the appartment that was on the roof. It was one of only two roof level appartments, and because of that it was also the largest, being the only one that had the two rather large rooms, private kitchen with bigger table, and the living room had a balcony that had a good view of the sea.

" I know it is rather nice and it is greedy to ask... But I think Janus would feel best not sharing the floor with too many people. As long as other person who is our neighborhor on the floor is nice, he may even feel free enough to leave us alone from time to time. And since the place is spacious, he will feel less anxious of running into us by accident. And rooms are big, so the three of us can take one room, while he takes the other. If we took apartment with only room, he would insist on giving it to us, but... We would be uncomfortable knowing he is sitting whole night in the living room and waiting for us to wake up. If he has his own room that is only his own space, he will feel more secure living here... I... Don't want him to feel like a guest in his own place. I know we would not be getting anything like this if he did not choose to stay with us. It is kind of... burdensome, how sacrificial he is when it comes to his comfort... Just because he doesn't sleep and isn't growing like us doesn't mean we should have it better than him..."

[Mirach]

"How about we get you both apartments so that you have the whole floor to yourselves?" Senecio asked.

[VisAnastasis]

It seemed even daring to ask for two roomed appartment was a huge thing for them, a greedy thing they could barely justify with their worry. But to ask for the whole floor seemed to have been something outside of even their range of ideas. Youngest ones could not could not help but wonder at the idea - what would it be like to have their own rooms, when they shared one for their whole lives? Their feelings reflected they were stunned but dared to be a little hopeful, but Emmet seemed to try to resist that feeling tensely.
" We could not possibly ask for so much, it would be unfair to others, and it's just... Too greedy... Even one of those is too much to ask for,  but two, it's... " he had to struggle to find words." It's so... Excessive..."
" Hey, we are the ones deciding what's greedy and what's not. If we don't think it is, then it's not," Hans tied in, clearly supporting any choice Senecio makes, winking at him playfully, as he continued to talk to the kids." Besides, you know how silly Janus is... Even if there were two bedrooms, he would stil insist to stay in the living room, to give you more space. Something about kids needing lot of space to grow?" He grinned." With four bedrooms instead of two, though, he will have to be reasonable and have one room for himself, won't he?So isn't it an optimal choice?"
That didn't seem to cross their mind, but they tensed up, as indeed, Master Janus was not someone they could easily reason with, when he decided something, and this sounded quite like something Janus would do. It finally tipped the scale, and even Emnet could not help but nod slowly, with blank, a little dumbfounded expression, and timid warmth.
" I guess... It is," he cleared his throat in daze." Uhmm.. T-thank you. We... W-we will make sure to convince Master he must definitely have one room for himself... We... don't know... How to repay you for this... " he whispered, and their thoughts clearly were wondering through darker things, and the only way of repayment they knew, but since they also knew it is not expected from them, they seemed to feel tense and awkward, not knowing how to respond to such favoritism.
" No, thank you for helping us pick the place, and for caring so much about Janus's comfort," Hans replied brightly, trying not to linger on obvious subtext of their struggling expressions." He had struggled with solitude for a long time, so I am glad he is surrounded by such thoughtful people now. If you wish to repay us, all you have to do is keep treating him mindfully, like until now. That will do..."