franz.★ we need to continue writing the storyline bats my eyelashes with a smile

franz.★ I MISS YOU SO BAD

⠀
He makes a face in reply.

“ Ow, my beautiful face. .
Owie ow, ow. ” Goober!
⠀

⠀
convincing yourself that you
are crazy for no good reason
especially when you aren’t -
I’m as real as real can be. ‘nd
you’re real too. ”

Phoenix, be kind. He sighs.
⠀

⠀
“ Maybe worry less about
what von Karma is gonna try
to say and worry more about
the why - why is this even . .
happening?! Honestly, there
is probably a reason. ”

Honestly, it’s Maya’s brother
who was responsible for it -
usually. He was connected to
some higher consciousness.

“ No use

⠀

⠀
“ Am I - I had no idea. . ~ ”

He smirks widely.
⠀

⠀
Seconds from playfully
attempting to bite Miles
on his hand. Goofy ..

“ Uh huh- I can’t promise
anything. Who knows if I
won’t do it when you’re out
of the house, huh? ”

He’s teasing, but just in case-

“ I kid, I kid. ”
⠀

⠀
He’s about to oppose it when
Miles kisses him, he laughs a
little and kisses back softer -

“ Says who, Mr Fancypants? ”
⠀

⠀
patient, if that’s alright. ”

Phoenix says, brows furrow
in concern. He wished it was
that easy, but it was probably
better to talk Miles down like
this than to mix up his mind.
⠀

⠀
you know if you’re allowed
to have tea right now, Miles?
I can get you some, or ask a
nurse to? .. or maybe some -
smaller meal idea, yeah? ”

He offers, eyes not leaving
Miles’s face curiously. He’s
ready for whatever he needs.

“ I know you wanna see your
dad, but uh we gotta be a bit
⠀

⠀
“ Hey, you shouldn’t pick
at those. They’re meant to
make you. . feel better —
at least, the doctor says it
will - please be careful? ”

Phoenix asks quietly, he’s
still being gentle about it.
Hopefully, he was helping.

“ How about something uh
light on the stomach, like —
like ummm.. do
⠀

⠀
whatever this costume is - I
guess it /isn’t/ one though, is
it? I’ve heard of dragons in a
legend Mia disclosed to me
once upon a time; I thought it
just fairytales, then. ”

Huh. Peculiar.

“ Well, at least this gives me
something to do while I have
little career prospects, eh? ”

Bad joke.
⠀

⠀
Yep. Pretty much, not that
I’m any good at it — it’s as
good as I’ll get right now..
Trucy’s pretty much got a
buttload more of talent in
her hands than I do in mine.

[He says with a hearty laugh;
he sounds proud, at least.]

She’s gonna change the world.
⠀

⠀
about that. It makes it hard
to focus, headaches all the
time from different things. ”

He taps the table once and
twice, he drinks another sip.
He laughs humorlessly.

“ Easier to stay on your best
game when sober, too. It’s a
skill, I’ve learned. ”
⠀

⠀
“ I mean, most guys chase it
with water at the end of the
night.. helps with headaches,
least that’s what they claim.
Whiskey.. I never tried it. ”

Phoenix says simply, but he
shrugs his shoulders. Yeah,
he gets it, really. Headaches
suck really bad, it seems.

“ But I get it. You’re right
⠀

⠀
“ I do insist, baby. . ”

Phoenix utters softly, eyes
shutting for a short moment.
He still had to pick up Trucy
and Pearls from school.

“ Only a little bit, we gotta
pick up the girls after class.
Busy day, or somethin’ .. ”
⠀

⠀
yeah? I got you. ”

He starts to hum a quiet sort
of melody while he rocks the
two of them. It did break his
heart to see Miles like this.
⠀

⠀
know what it’s like to lose a
sibling. I’ve almost lost Maya
and I am almost certain I did
lose my brother too. It - was
in the past, but I get it.. ”

He offers quietly, rubbing his
hand in a circle on his back.

“ I’ll be here as long as you
need, cry as much as you’ve
gotta. I’m right here,
⠀