(A/N. Oh lawd)
Her head tilted, slow, deliberate.
.
And for a second, I could swear she smiled beneath that mask.
.
I took a step forward. Then another.
.
"Ivy," I murmured, not looking away. "Stay here."
.
She blinked. "Ahjussi—?"
.
But I was already walking. The world around me felt quieter somehow, like the crowd, the hum of the city, everything… had dimmed.
.
Vesper didn't move. She just stood there in front of the CU store, her eyes following me.
.
When I was close enough, I reached out. My hand hovered in the air, inches from her, because I just noticed something.
.
"…vesper?" I whispered, holding something out.
.
That's when it happened.
.
A faint chime— clear, like a drop of water — echoed in the air.
.
A blue screen suddenly flickered to life between us.
.
> [QUEST: Have a Nice Day] <
Objective: Spend a peaceful day outside with ivy.
Reward: ???
STATUS: COMPLETE.
.
I flinched. "Ack!?"
.
...I forgot I even had this system.
.
The light from the window washed over her white dress, rippling faintly like water.
.
Vesper slowly raised her hand, fingers tracing the edge of the system window. Then, with a soft sound, she took off her mask.
.
I saw her face — calm, distant, beautiful...?
.
She smiled faintly, the kind of smile that didn't reach the eyes.
.
Then she reached through the glowing window, her form blurring at the edges like smoke, and gently poked my chest with one finger.
.
The touch was light— almost nonexistent — but it made me hold something. Stronger.
.
Her lips moved. I couldn't hear the words.
.
"W-what?" I managed.
.
She blinked a few times after poking my chest, then…
.
Vesper hugged herself, the faintest fluster slipping through her calm act. "To think that I would see the mortal here," she muttered under her breath, trying way too hard to sound composed.
.
I stared. For a full second.
.
Then I broke.
.
"Pffft—"
.
I couldn't hold it anymore. The laugh just came out.
.
She tilted her head, confused. "…?"
.
I pointed down, barely catching my breath. "W-why—why don't you have slippers? Or shoes?"
.
Still laughing. "Or... or do you even know what shoe or slippers are?"
.
Her eyes widened slightly. Then she looked at her feet. Barefoot. Dusty concrete.
.
"…ah."
.
The silence after that was painful. For her. Not for me, I was wheezing.
.
"Keheekekeke"
.
Her eyes darted away, faintly pink at the tips of her ears.
.
"It's because shoes—" she paused, as if searching for the word. "Or slippers. What's… slippers?"
.
I blinked. "You don't know what slippers are?"
.
She lifted her chin, trying to recover her dignity. "They are not for a goddess like me."
.
"…uh-huh."
.
Her tone was regal, but her fingers were nervously fidgeting with the hem of her sleeves.
.
I couldn't help it, I grinned.
.
"You don't know how to wear one, do you?"
.
Vesper... her—entire—posture stiffened. "W-what! preposterous! I—"
.
I crossed my arms. "You don't."
.
She looked away, mumbling something that sounded suspiciously like, "… those… straps are confusing."
.
I lost it once again. "Pfft—! Kwhahahaha, Oh my god, you really don't!"
.
Her cheeks puffed slightly as I kept laughing. "You dare mock a goddess?" she huffed, hugging herself as if to shield what was left of her pride.
.
I wiped a tear from my eye, still grinning. "Alright, alright sorry, mb."
.
Then I sobered up a little. "But seriously… what are you doing here, Vesper?"
.
Her gaze flickered, the playful spark fading into something quieter. "...I followed the thread," she murmured. "The one that connects you and the little mortal."
.
Before I could ask what that meant, a small voice piped up.
.
"Ahjussi…?"
.
I turned. Ivy was standing a few steps away, clutching a plastic bag full of snacks, her eyes wide.
.
Now that I think about it... Why does she have snacks?
.
She peeked at Vesper, then immediately hid behind me, tugging the hem of my jacket.
.
"Hey, it's okay," I said gently, patting her head. "She's not gonna hurt you."
.
"Or maybe she will."
.
Ivy held my shirt tighter. "Ahjussi."
.
"Don't you scare, the kid I'm not a monster." vesper said, stomping one of her feet in the ground.
.
Vesper tilted her head, studying the girl. "So this is Ivy…"
.
Her voice softened — curious, almost warm — before she looked back at me. "May I… stay with you for a while?"
.
Vesper's words hung in the air.
.
"May I… stay with you for a while?"
.
I blinked. "Stay? Like… here? With me?"
(A/N. Sussy baka... Not that type of staying. Sissy baka)
.
Her fingers tightened around her sleeves again, that regal-goddess-act cracking at the edges. "Is that… unacceptable?"
.
Before I could respond and tease her again. Ivy tugged my jacket again.
.
"Ahjussi…" she whispered, barely peeking from behind me. "She's… scary."
.
Vesper gasped like someone had stabbed her divine pride.
.
"Scary!? Me!? I am ethereal! Serene! I am—"
.
I placed a hand on her forehead and gently pushed her back before she got too close.
"Relax. You're gonna make her cry."
.
Her mouth opened—then closed.
She huffed, crossing her arms, the tips of her ears still pink.
"…Mortals are so rude."
(She's prolly teary in here or Prolly not. Don't care tho since she's hard to make)
.
I sighed. "Vesper. Explain. Why do you wanna stay with us?"
.
She hesitated. It was tiny, but I saw it.
.
The goddess who always spoke in riddles and dreams suddenly looked… unsure?
.
"The thread" she murmured again. "It led me to you. To her. The moment you touched the window…"
.
"When I accept the quest?"
.
She nodded.
.
Vesper brushed a finger along the fading blue transparent glow of the system interface still flickering in the air.
.
"…the bond changed."
.
I frowned. "Bond? What bond?"
.
"Yo actually what's bond?"
.
She didn't answer...
.
Instead, she stepped forward — slowly, quietly — then crouched down so she was eye-level with Ivy.
.
Ivy immediately hid behind me again, only half of her face is peeking out.
.
Vesper tilted her head. "Little mortal… do you fear me?"
.
Ivy nodded so fast her plush bear almost flew from her arms.
.
Vesper… deflated.
Just a little.
Like a goddess who just got told her divine aura was more "ghost under the bed" than "beautiful celestial being."
.
I exhaled and gently nudged Ivy forward a bit.
.
"Hey. It's okay. She's weird"
.
Vesper glared.
.
"but she's not dangerous. Probably."
.
Ivy swallowed slowly. "R-really…?"
.
"Really," I said. "She just doesn't know what slippers are."
.
"STOP BRINGING THAT UP!!!!!!!" Vesper snapped, stomping her foot... barefoot... on the ground again — which only made Ivy flinch and cling to me harder.
.
Vesper froze, realizing she scared her again.
.
She immediately straightened, hands floating awkwardly in the air like she didn't know what to do with them. (She actually doesn't.)
.
She cleared her throat. "…I can be gentle," she said. "Watch."
.
She reached out and patted Ivy's head.
Except she missed...
And... patted my elbow...
.
"…that was my arm," I said.
.
Vesper's face went flat. "…Mortals vary in height."
.
"Kek—" I bit my lip to stop laughing... smiled a bit, and closed my eyes.
(My momma kinda homeless ahh)
.
Not knowing Vesper was looking at me straight in my face. Like she was gonna kill me if I opened them.
.
Ivy peeked at her again — a little braver this time.
.
"…Ahjussi?" she whispered. "Is she… staying with us?"
.
I slowly Opened my eyes. Still holding my laugh.
.
Then I turned to Vesper.
.
Who stood there, tall, barefoot, trying her hardest to look divine even though she had zero idea how the modern world worked.
.
"…That depends," I said, grinning abit. "Vesper. Are you planning to cause chaos?"
.
"No."
.
"Destroy anything?"
.
"No???"
.
"Make Ivy cry?"
.
"…I shall make an effort not to."
.
I raised a brow.
.
She clasped her hands in front of her chest like she was praying.
"Please… let me stay. Just a little while."
.
And for the first time…
.
She looked less like a goddess. That made me Focus a bit. Just a bit.
.
And more like someone who had nowhere else to go.
.
I sighed.
Deep.
Long.
Defeated.
.
"…Fine."
.
Vesper's entire expression lit up like someone turned on a celestial lamp inside her.
.
Ivy tugged my arm. "Ahjussi… does she get slippers now?"
.
I... I looked at Vesper. Glared at her.
.
Vesper glared at the ground.
.
"…Teach me," she muttered.
.
I lost it again. "KWHAHAHAHAHHAHA—"
.
Still cackling. "okay okay why are you even here?"
.
"Curious"
.
I stared at her.
.
"…You stayed outside a CU store for that?"
.
Vesper nodded once, completely serious. "Correct."
.
"…Why?"
.
She hesitated, just a tiny crack in the goddess mask. Before answering.
.
"Because… in the dream realm," she began, trying to sound regal, "you spoke of this 'con-vee-nyens store.' A temple of endless items. A mortal vault of wonders."
.
I breathe and stop laughing and blinked.
.
"…It's just snacks and drinks."
.
"I wished to see this mortal treasure for myself." She crossed her arms, chin lifted proudly. "Naturally, I waited for a guide."
.
Guide. Yeah. Sure. Totally not because she was scared to go in alone.
.
I sighed. "Fine. Come on."
.
Ivy clung to my sleeve but peeked out from behind me, curious.
.
We stepped inside.
.
*Ding dong*
.
The automatic doors slid open and Vesper froze.
.
Her eyes widened, pupils dilating like a startled cat.
.
Neon lights wash kver her pale face. Rows of colorful snacks towered in front of her. Refrigerators hummed. A microwave beeped somewhere. A staff member bowed.
.
Vesper stared at everything.
.
But—She was desperately trying to pretend she wasn't impressed.
.
Her hands were clenched at her sides.
.
Her mouth opened, closed, opened again.
.
I watched her struggle for dignity. Holding it for Dear sake.
.
"…Do not misunderstand," she said, voice a little shaky. "I am merely… observing."
.
I raised a brow.
.
"You're shaking."
.
"No, I'm not."
.
"You're literally trembling."
.
"I— I am vibrating with divinity."
.
I really can't hold it anymore but then.
.
Ivy giggled behind me. "She's funny."
.
It made me Focus for a bit.
.
Vesper straightened, pretending not to hear.
.
She walked stiffly to the nearest shelf and picked up a cup ramen.
.
She turned it over slowly.
.
"…What manner of scroll is this?" she whispered.
.
I whispered softly behind her. "It's food."
.
She jumped slightly. "It speaks!?"
.
"That was me."
.
"Oh."
.
She awkwardly placed it back, then reached for a pack of chips.
.
"…This one feels crunchy."
.
"That's because it is crunchy."
.
Her expression — trying to act composed but failing — I almost let it out...
.
Almost.
.
Then she pointed at the slushie machine.
.
"…Is that… a swirling portal?"
.
"That's a Slurpee."
.
"A, Slur-pee…"
.
She repeated it like she was reciting an ancient spell.
.
Ivy tugged my sleeve. "Ahjussi, she's weird."
.
"Yeah," I muttered.
.
"I know."
.
Vesper turned slightly, still staring at everything.
.
Her voice dropped — soft, honest for once.
.
"…Mortals have so many wonders."
.
.
(Dun dun dun another cliffhanger right? I feel Generous so it means I'll post another tomorrow? Later? Like genuinely... It's hard to write *cry* well I'll probably Be done by 3am If I start writing again. It's 8:44pm)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
(It's thursday rn... Ga dayum! I'm scared at School... I don't even know if I'll pass the grading... Like On Saturday it's Cardday, *cry* I don't even know why I still have the strength to write... And... I don't know if I'll pass... I have 31 absence!!! Ahhh I don't even know why I'm still not dropout... Maybe, because I'm smart. lol)
.
(Alr Friday!!!! Rahhh man I... I failed AP... Well I'm still conditionally pass? I think? Since my Advisor said. "'my name' I'm sorry but... You failed..." Wahhhhhhhhhh like it's so dramatic...)