_ _ _ _ _(a government holiday)

I walk through the village, watching its people. The air seemed a bit tense but for the most part it seemed like everyone was just trying to move past what happened yesterday and continue living. It was probably for the best to live like that.

As I walked through the village, I started to wonder what I should be doing. Not just for what I should be doing now, but for my life on the island. As Rogith said, Island life can get dull if I don't have some sort of job or something. Still what can I do for what might be the rest of my life here? Be a delivery boy? Be a waiter? My skills are centered around IT, so what can I do in a place where there are no computers? Still before that. I look over my pajamas. If I really plan on working, I really need more than just my pajamas.

I wandered around the village until I found what I think is a tailor's shop and entered. The insides didn't look that much different from any other clothes store back home, “Oh welcome," I hear someone say outside of my sight, “I'm with someone else right now, but please look around while you wait."

I looked through the clothing around me. They seemed to be for more casual settings but the shapes and sizes were too much. Each piece of clothing I picked up looked either too big, too small, or accommodated for appendages I don't have. Considering what lives on the island, I shouldn't be surprised. For I know, this shop might not even have clothing for me. Might as well ask them directly then.

As I looked around, I spotted two figures in the back looking at a mirror. The cat one spoke first, “so what do you think? I made sure that you can spread your wings out through the back, just like you asked for."

The dragon, who I recognized as Lewis, checked himself out in the mirror, “yep this is good." Lewis flips his wings a bit, “doesn't feel like it getting caught or anything."

“Good, good." the Cat clerk noticed me staring at them, “oh just give me a moment and i will be right with you sir."

Lewis turns and sees me, “Isaac, good to see you again. Here looking for clothes?"

“It's nice to see you too," I say, “but yeah I am cloth shopping right now. Though this shop might not be right for me."

“I am terribly sorry about that sir," the Cat apologies, “this store specializes in clothing modified for things like tails, wings, extra limbs and such. You can still wear the clothing you find here, but they wouldn't fit you quite right."

“It's okay, I'm sure I can find another store somewhere."

“You know," Lewis said, “I have to pass a store that sells clothes to humans. I can take you there and split up there."

“That would really help me if you did."

Lewis collects his things and says goodbye to the cat as we walk through the village. As we walked, Lewis started up the conversation, “so what's the occasion for getting new clothes?"

“I just need new clothes," I said, “I can't look for work while looking like I just rolled out of bed still. Plus sooner or later I will have to change clothes at some point. So what about you, any special reason you went clothes shopping as well?"

Lewis smiled, “it's less 'shopping' and more 'picking up an order'. I was supposed to come by yesterday, but the chaos that happened caused me to forget until it was already too late in the day to get it."

“I see. You do look pretty dashing in it."

“I hope so," he laughs, “otherwise I will get heckled at the meeting today."

“A business meeting?"

“Not exactly, just a meeting between the theater owners of Atmos about what to do for this year's Founder's Day play."

“Founder's day? For Atmos you mean?"

“Yeah, not an original name but hey, simple names work. Each year, the theaters throws on their own plays in celebration of the event. This year however, we are hoping to work together to make one giant play instead of just making our own stuff this year and are meeting to pass around ideas."

“Ah, so is Founder's day close or something?"

“Nah, it's still a few months away. We are just meeting for discussions on who to handle the thing, like where the play will happen, what the plot is, etc. The process of doing that takes a long time, so we would rather have something like this done sooner rather than later." 

As we continue chatting and walking, Lewis points out a building, “that over there is the shop I was talking about. You should definitely find something for you here."

“Alright, thanks alot, and good luck at that meeting."

“Thanks Isaac." Lewis walks away as I go and enters the store.

_ _ _ _ _(jealousy)

The inside of this clothes store looked similar to the last location, but with a few more people here. Most of the were human, but I saw an orc and dwarf looking for clothes too.I started sorting through the clothes, which seems to be closer to my build then anything at the last place.

“Welcome to Plain Wear," I hear a voice behind me say in a cheerful tone. When I turned around and saw a dog person, who looked like a Kelpie, standing behind me. “Looking for something in particular?"

“Oh well, just new clothes," I responded.

“I figured that, but I meant are you looking for something in particular. Shirt, pants, underwear, jackets, etc."

“All of the above. I just got here."

The Kelpie smiled as his tail starts wagging, “oh then you are going to need everything, it seems." The Kelpie grabbed me by the wrists and started taking me through the store. Each time he stopped, he would let me choose from what he had in stock and made comments. The other customers seemed amused by the Kelpies' attention towards me and just carried on as it was nothing unusual.

After what felt like forever, my bag was filled with a ton of clothes the Kelpie helped picked out for me. “Thanks," I say, shifting my weight to accommodate the new heavy bag.

“Any time. Its been awhile since I gave someone the full treatment. Still it is strange that you needed everything, did the dorms run out of clothes or something?"

“Dorms? Why would they give me clothes?"

“Well you are new here of course. Anyone who just got here usually stays at the dorms until they get their own place., though I know a few people who just stay in the dorms because they would rather just live there full time."

“Well I don't live at the Dorms, I am staying with a friend at his house."

“My, only just arrived and you have both a house and a man within arms reach. Make someone jealous, why don't you?

"I-Its not like that," I stutter, “he is just a friend right now. Besides I doubt he's thinking about things like romance right now."

“You never know," he laughs, “on Atmos, living together means becoming a couple."

“So I heard. He has only been here slightly longer than I have so I have no clue if he knows or not."

The Kelpies grin just grew wider, “it's not too hard to learn that fact around here. I am sure if he had his own place, someone told him about it. So what kind of man is he? Is he hot? beefy?"

I started to feel flustered, “well um, maybe. He is a bear and all."

The Kelpies' tail goes a mile a minute, “oh a bear. Now you are making me jealous."

“There is nothing to be jealous about." I snapped, “We are just friends."

“Are you sure? I am certain he would be all over you the second you showed him a little love."

That was it. The straw that broke the camel's back, “this conversation is done. Thanks for the clothes," I stormed outside. Still fuming from what he said. Sure, chances are he didn't know it was Kamu or just that he just lost someone dear to him. But just the idea of doing that now is beyond insensitive, it was outright infuriating.

_ _ _ _ _ (homecoming)

I walked through the streets, my face in a scowl over what that kelpie said to me. Honestly that guy, how insensitive could he have been. Kamu just lost someone and he was acting like I was trying to make the moves on him. I sigh, feeling a migraine happening. I feel like how I responded was the correct choice a bit, but at the same time just storming off without explaining anything just makes me look like a total dick.

While wandering the streets, I happened to run into Araki. “Oh Isaac," he said, “something happening, you're scowling something fierce?"

“Kind of, just dealt with someone that made my blood boil is all."

“That's surprising. You were usually the first one to let go of things like grudges."

“Araki, it only happened a few minutes ago, of course I would still be mad." 

I then explained what had happened with me and the kelpie. The entire time, Araki was nodding along. Once I had finished, he spoke up, “well I can understand where you are coming from at least."

“I know right?"

“Still I can't blame the guy for thinking like that. You did move into Kamu's place after all."

“Really now?" I huffed, “I get it, people will think we are dating just because we live together. I swear if I knew it was going to be like this, I would have turned him down when he asked."

“What do you mean?"

“During my first day here, it was Kamu's idea that I lived at his place for awhile."

“I see," Araki paused for a moment, “maybe he was hoping for something more."

Now it was my turn to be confused, “what for real? He had someone when we met."

“Yeah but you said Johnny had multiple lovers. Maybe Kamu wanted to try out something similar himself. I don't know, just an idea."

“Look, I don't know why he did so either. In fact it might be easier to ask him directly. yeah. Yeah, just go ask him about it directly. Might be easier than just trying to guess it by myself." i turn to leave, “it was nice seeing you, i'll catch up with you and Harry later." and with that i turn homeword.

_ _ _ _ _(ending)

As I walked through the neighbourhood, doubt started to fill my mind. Was I really about to do this? Am I really going to talk to Kamu about his motives for taking me in? One one hand, yeah it is suspicious to just invite a stranger to live with you when you already seeing someone else. But on the other hand, is this really something I want to know? The more that Itried to stick with one answer, the more confused I just seemed to get. I just get sucked into a sort of spiral that never seems to end. I just can’t keep to a decision like this.

“Oh my,” a kind voice said, “I didn't think to run into you a second time today.” standing in front of me was the Father, in his holy glory.

“Oh hey Father,” I say as I do the gesture I have seen everyone else do. I didn’t think I did it that well.

“You don’t need to worry,” the Father said, “you will learn to do it with time. But before that, you seem to be troubled, do you need some of my guidance as well?”

“Maybe?” I shrugged, “I don't know if it is something you can even help with.”

“Isaac, I have been in my position far longer than most people have been alive. I have helped many people face problems and insecurities they have never thought about. I should be able to help you with whatever you are having difficulties with.”

I think for a moment. It might be better to have someone else's thoughts on this instead of trying to work everything out by myself. “Well, I was just wondering about Kamu and what he thinks of me. A friend has told me that on Atmos, if two people move into the same place together, then they must be a couple. And then I started to think if that was intentional.”

The Father nods his head, “so you are wondering if Kamu is putting the moves on you, correct?”

“Yeah, but then I started wondering, if I should even know in the first place. Could I just be jumping to conclusions and making assumptions about someone who has been nothing but kind to me since I got here? I mean, he already had Johnny by the time I both showed up and moved in with him so he really shouldn’t feel anything like that towards me. I then just going in circles trying to figure out why Kamu is letting me stay with him and its driving me crazy.”

The father nods his head again, “I see. While I am aware of such a thing, it is vastly oversimplified. People move in together for various reasons on Atmos. For some, yes, it is a sigh of being in a relationship with a partner. However, that is not the only reason. Some live together because of a work relationship, as is the case for Rogith and Lucas. Others move in together to share household chores. And for some, particularly Kamu, some just want company after leaving the dorms.”

“He just wanted company?”

“That is the impression I got when you became one of our topics but I can't say for sure. But Isaac,” the Father's tone deepens, “there is something I would like to know.”

“What?”

“Why do you want to know this?”

“Huh?”

“What do you get from knowing the truth? Even if you did know about it, wouldn’t it affect the life you have here? Knowing the reason Behind Kamu’s action will affect how you see and interact with Kamu going forward. It is even possible that knowing might even hurt you, and even Kamu, in some way. Still, knowing that, do you still want to know the truth?”

I paused to think about what the Father was saying. What he was saying just made things more confusing to me. Was he trying to push me into not asking such questions?

The Father moves past me, “Sorry, but I need to leave. If you are truly curious about why, you might want to ask Kamu directly.” With that said, the Father leaves me to my thoughts.

As I walk back home, I keep thinking about what the Father said. Would really knowing why he took me in to change my opinion of Kamu that much? Maybe Father had a point when saying i gain nothing from this. But still, I think I should know. This affects me too and I deserve to know.

As i walk inside the house, i see Kamu reading his book again. He smiles warmly notiching the filled bag, “welcome back, seems like you got a lot of stuff.”

“I did,” i put the bag on the table. I took a deep breath, “Kamu, there is something i would like to know.”