Lost From Time

TMA OC Rp blog| Time displaced

[every-hour-every-day]

Intro

Hello. Never thought I'd be making a blog but considering my new... predicament, I suppose I should.

My name is Ezra Jones (And I'm Lucien Ruth), I use He/Him (They/He for me), I'm what you'd call an Avatar of the Stranger. I'm from the 19th century and I suppose you could say I'm 'time displaced' in a way. I died from poisoning myself, didn't want to die, then found myself awake in 1997. Apparently someone preserved my 'comatose' body in wax for all those years. For anyone wondering about the pink text, I'm in a 'Jekyll and Hyde' situation, as Mollie put it (Hi)

Moving on, recently I've found myself... helping (He means babysitting) two other people who are actually time displaced. Mollie Doyle, who uses She/Her, is from the 1978, definitely marked by the Vast and probably how she got displaced, she'll be using blue text. Then there's Lukas Walsh, He/Him. He's from some post apocalyptic timeline and somehow wound up here. he'll be using orange text.

(OOC below)

This blog is run by @thatchaoticace

I got inspired by all the time shenanigans happening in the tma rp universe.

[bunchofavatars]

When Ezra had heard about a certain bookshop some of his students had mentioned in class a few times, specifically about the owner, well he knew he had to check it out.

For how long he lived, Ezra stopped believing in coincidences quite a bit ago. Perhaps he could've believed it to be a coincidence were it not for the fact of how much that bookshop was brought up in conversation in his class. There evidently had to be something going on there.

Standing outside, Ezra glanced at their reflection in the window before entering, like a subtle look of 'Don't mess around'.

@every-hour-every-day

There was one person inside, standing by the register looking between two books in his hands. However, anyone who knew about the owner, could tell that this was not him.

The man inside seemed to be the same height and age but that’s where the similarities ended. This man was white with short, wavy ginger hair. Eyes a bit too green.

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra squinted at the man, while pretending to be browsing the books ocassionally. Certainly didn't look like how his students described Amir, probably an employee of his then. His eyes though...

'You know what that means.'

Ezra glanced away. "Anyone can have bright green eyes, that doesn't automatically make them a Watcher." He muttered.

He picked up a book from the row he was 'looking' at, reading the title.

'He'll see right through us'.

"Shut it." He muttered again.

Ezra turned and headed to the register, with the book in hand, titled 'To the Lighthouse'.

[bunchofavatars]

The man put down the two books when Ezra approached. He had tried to look busy for an hour after running out of things to do, normally he’d ask Amir but he was ‘gone for some hours’ and managed to keep what he was doing from the new person.

“Hello there!” He smiled. “Did you find everything you wanted?”

[every-hour-every-day]

"Yeah, I did"

Ezra placed the book down, glancing around slightly before looking at the man infront of him.

"I'm curious, is Amir here? I was hoping to speak with him."

[bunchofavatars]

His smile turned to a frown for a brief second. He hadn’t seen Amir enter but he was aware of the Spiral avatar that came and went and was part of the mission. So not seeing him was not exactly an indication that Amir wasn’t back yet. Saying ‘I don’t know’ might be a bit unprofessional to a customer. He didn’t dare to ask the Eye for help either since the customer didn’t seem fully human.

“Did you have an appointment?” He smiled again. Praying to hear Amir or any of the weird friends come back anytime soon. Preferably in the next three seconds.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Uh, no I don't, but I heard my students talk about this place so much I thought I'd check it out and have a chat with the person who runs it."

It was better he tell the truth of why he was here than lie, though of course, he left out the part of his suspicions of possible web involvement, which he didn't have proof of yet.

"Is that going to be a problem?"

[bunchofavatars]

”Ah. That is understandable. Yes. No. That- Hm-“

Think quick. Think quick. Lie? Lie sounds good. Twist the truth? Also good- Possibly.

“You know. Technically I am the owner.”

Stupid stupid stupid. He should just have shut up and look for Amir. So much for trying to stay low.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Technically?"

'Well this just got interesting.'

"I-uh, how so? I feel like they would've mentioned a second owner."

Ezra certainly didn't expect this. Maybe this supposed second owner was mentioned but he just ignored it? He wasn't sure.

[bunchofavatars]

“I’ve been on a… extended… vacation.”

Was that too big of a lie? He hadn’t been close to the shop for nearly 30 years. Or had any contact with Amir.

Fuck, he hadn’t even been considered alive in the UK for so long. That wasn’t a vacation. But his name was still on the official site for the shop.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Right..."

Extended vacation wasn't an impossible reason, but how long that vacation was would probably affect what he was gonna ask.

"I should apologise, here I am asking to meet with the owner and I haven't even introduced myself. My name is Ezra Jones, what's your name?"

[bunchofavatars]

“Don’t worry. I’m Sam Carter.” He held his hand out.

“And no, Sam is not short for Samuel or anything. It’s just Sam.”

Perhaps it would have been easier if his parents had named him something longer. Not like he was against Sam, but correcting people got irritating early.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Sam. It's nice to meet you."

Back in the day, his name would've been considered unusual by a younger Ezra, but Ezra's since aclimated to the growing and changing modern times when he woke up in the 90's.

"Your vacation hasn't impeded any knowledge you have on the shop, I hope?"

[bunchofavatars]

”Oh, absolutely not. I have a good memory and quite a lot of knowledge.” He chuckled before remembering to be careful.

He was about to ask Ezra something when he could hear a faint crash in the back.

“For example, that is a concerning noise. Don’t worry, I’m sure the owner just tripped over something coming in through the backdoor.”

There was no backdoor, only a window that Sam doubted Amir could climb in through. Either way, he probably should check it out.

“Of course it could be one of the cats too. I’ll be back in just a minute.”

[every-hour-every-day]

"No problem, take all the time you need" Ezra wasn't the most patient person, he wasn't too sure why he said that, but he'd rather wait than finding nothing out.

'I get suspicious people can have pets, but... I wanna see the cats even if there's something shady going on.'

Ezra sighed slightly. Of course they did.

[bunchofavatars]

Sam hurried to the back and opened the door to chaos.

Amir was sat on the floor, his right leg pulled up a bit as he pressed his hands to a spot bit under the knee, seemingly in pain. A bit to the right of him was Hunter and Thian that seemed to have fallen over each other. There was some cursing as the two tried to move from each other. Marina was apologising as she put a photo up on the wall again and Morrison sat on the desk taking it all in.

“What the hell happened?” Sam half whispered.

“You have eyes to use. Get the fuck off me Thian!”

“More powerful avatars than we thought.” Marina shrugged, backing from the wall.

“Amir?”

“It’ll heal.” Amir grimaced as he pulled his hands away, a big red spot that seemed to get bigger. “Can you get me some bandages and new pair of trousers? Not sure how long it’ll take.”

“I’ll take you!” Morrison got up as the others said ‘No!’ in unison.

“Shut the fuck up!” Sam whispered. “There’s someone that wants to meet you Amir. I’ll get the things just be quiet.”

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra lightly tapped his fingers on the register desk as he waited. He glanced around and looked at their relfection in a close by object.

"So, what do we think so far?" He muttered.

'Of the fact we haven't met the actual owner and that Sam is a bit shady?'

"I- yeah, that."

'It's interesting. We've not been given reason to be on edge yet, but there's still every likely hood that Sam, and maybe Amir, are like us'

"And not friendly." Ezra finished Lucien's sentence.

'Exactly.'

He sighed. They really weren't a patient person.

[bunchofavatars]

Sam came back down a minute later. By then Hunter and Thian had moved to the tiny break room, Marina and Morrison was nowhere to be seen.

“Hurry up.” Sam threw the bandages and trousers at Amir. He then hurried back to the shop.

“So sorry about it. Amir was a bit clumsy. Give him a minute and he’ll be right here. You wanted the book, right? I have time to fix that.”

[every-hour-every-day]

"It's alright. Uh yeah, the book, of course."

Ezra glanced to where the back was.

"I hope Amir is alright, sounded like quite the crash"

He'd rather feign some concern than outright make it seem like he was suspicious of what happened.

[bunchofavatars]

“He’s fine. It’s just a mess back there. Good book choice.”

He scanned the book and put the book in a bag. Hoping he could save the mess.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Thank you, I first read it back in 1995 and hadn't since, so I was delighted to see it here"

It was one of the first books he read after waking up, so he was quite fond of it. He took the bag and glanced around for a moment.

"So, how much longer will Amir take?"

[bunchofavatars]

“I’m here, sorry for the long wait.” Amir appeared by the door behind Sam.

There was no longer any blood on his clothes, he looked the same as he always did. Sam spun around, gave him a quick smile and nod to the back. He didn’t say a word as he moved to the back and Amir took his previous place.

“Right. You wanted to speak with me?”

[every-hour-every-day]

"Yes. I'm Ezra Jones, it's nice to meet you."

He held out his hand to Amir.

"I heard about your shop from my students, and got curious as to what exactly made this place so interesting that I'd hear about it so much from them."

[bunchofavatars]

When Ezra had heard about a certain bookshop some of his students had mentioned in class a few times, specifically about the owner, well he knew he had to check it out.

For how long he lived, Ezra stopped believing in coincidences quite a bit ago. Perhaps he could've believed it to be a coincidence were it not for the fact of how much that bookshop was brought up in conversation in his class. There evidently had to be something going on there.

Standing outside, Ezra glanced at their reflection in the window before entering, like a subtle look of 'Don't mess around'.

@every-hour-every-day

There was one person inside, standing by the register looking between two books in his hands. However, anyone who knew about the owner, could tell that this was not him.

The man inside seemed to be the same height and age but that’s where the similarities ended. This man was white with short, wavy ginger hair. Eyes a bit too green.

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra squinted at the man, while pretending to be browsing the books ocassionally. Certainly didn't look like how his students described Amir, probably an employee of his then. His eyes though...

'You know what that means.'

Ezra glanced away. "Anyone can have bright green eyes, that doesn't automatically make them a Watcher." He muttered.

He picked up a book from the row he was 'looking' at, reading the title.

'He'll see right through us'.

"Shut it." He muttered again.

Ezra turned and headed to the register, with the book in hand, titled 'To the Lighthouse'.

[bunchofavatars]

The man put down the two books when Ezra approached. He had tried to look busy for an hour after running out of things to do, normally he’d ask Amir but he was ‘gone for some hours’ and managed to keep what he was doing from the new person.

“Hello there!” He smiled. “Did you find everything you wanted?”

[every-hour-every-day]

"Yeah, I did"

Ezra placed the book down, glancing around slightly before looking at the man infront of him.

"I'm curious, is Amir here? I was hoping to speak with him."

[bunchofavatars]

His smile turned to a frown for a brief second. He hadn’t seen Amir enter but he was aware of the Spiral avatar that came and went and was part of the mission. So not seeing him was not exactly an indication that Amir wasn’t back yet. Saying ‘I don’t know’ might be a bit unprofessional to a customer. He didn’t dare to ask the Eye for help either since the customer didn’t seem fully human.

“Did you have an appointment?” He smiled again. Praying to hear Amir or any of the weird friends come back anytime soon. Preferably in the next three seconds.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Uh, no I don't, but I heard my students talk about this place so much I thought I'd check it out and have a chat with the person who runs it."

It was better he tell the truth of why he was here than lie, though of course, he left out the part of his suspicions of possible web involvement, which he didn't have proof of yet.

"Is that going to be a problem?"

[bunchofavatars]

”Ah. That is understandable. Yes. No. That- Hm-“

Think quick. Think quick. Lie? Lie sounds good. Twist the truth? Also good- Possibly.

“You know. Technically I am the owner.”

Stupid stupid stupid. He should just have shut up and look for Amir. So much for trying to stay low.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Technically?"

'Well this just got interesting.'

"I-uh, how so? I feel like they would've mentioned a second owner."

Ezra certainly didn't expect this. Maybe this supposed second owner was mentioned but he just ignored it? He wasn't sure.

[bunchofavatars]

“I’ve been on a… extended… vacation.”

Was that too big of a lie? He hadn’t been close to the shop for nearly 30 years. Or had any contact with Amir.

Fuck, he hadn’t even been considered alive in the UK for so long. That wasn’t a vacation. But his name was still on the official site for the shop.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Right..."

Extended vacation wasn't an impossible reason, but how long that vacation was would probably affect what he was gonna ask.

"I should apologise, here I am asking to meet with the owner and I haven't even introduced myself. My name is Ezra Jones, what's your name?"

[bunchofavatars]

“Don’t worry. I’m Sam Carter.” He held his hand out.

“And no, Sam is not short for Samuel or anything. It’s just Sam.”

Perhaps it would have been easier if his parents had named him something longer. Not like he was against Sam, but correcting people got irritating early.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Sam. It's nice to meet you."

Back in the day, his name would've been considered unusual by a younger Ezra, but Ezra's since aclimated to the growing and changing modern times when he woke up in the 90's.

"Your vacation hasn't impeded any knowledge you have on the shop, I hope?"

[bunchofavatars]

”Oh, absolutely not. I have a good memory and quite a lot of knowledge.” He chuckled before remembering to be careful.

He was about to ask Ezra something when he could hear a faint crash in the back.

“For example, that is a concerning noise. Don’t worry, I’m sure the owner just tripped over something coming in through the backdoor.”

There was no backdoor, only a window that Sam doubted Amir could climb in through. Either way, he probably should check it out.

“Of course it could be one of the cats too. I’ll be back in just a minute.”

[every-hour-every-day]

"No problem, take all the time you need" Ezra wasn't the most patient person, he wasn't too sure why he said that, but he'd rather wait than finding nothing out.

'I get suspicious people can have pets, but... I wanna see the cats even if there's something shady going on.'

Ezra sighed slightly. Of course they did.

[bunchofavatars]

Sam hurried to the back and opened the door to chaos.

Amir was sat on the floor, his right leg pulled up a bit as he pressed his hands to a spot bit under the knee, seemingly in pain. A bit to the right of him was Hunter and Thian that seemed to have fallen over each other. There was some cursing as the two tried to move from each other. Marina was apologising as she put a photo up on the wall again and Morrison sat on the desk taking it all in.

“What the hell happened?” Sam half whispered.

“You have eyes to use. Get the fuck off me Thian!”

“More powerful avatars than we thought.” Marina shrugged, backing from the wall.

“Amir?”

“It’ll heal.” Amir grimaced as he pulled his hands away, a big red spot that seemed to get bigger. “Can you get me some bandages and new pair of trousers? Not sure how long it’ll take.”

“I’ll take you!” Morrison got up as the others said ‘No!’ in unison.

“Shut the fuck up!” Sam whispered. “There’s someone that wants to meet you Amir. I’ll get the things just be quiet.”

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra lightly tapped his fingers on the register desk as he waited. He glanced around and looked at their relfection in a close by object.

"So, what do we think so far?" He muttered.

'Of the fact we haven't met the actual owner and that Sam is a bit shady?'

"I- yeah, that."

'It's interesting. We've not been given reason to be on edge yet, but there's still every likely hood that Sam, and maybe Amir, are like us'

"And not friendly." Ezra finished Lucien's sentence.

'Exactly.'

He sighed. They really weren't a patient person.

[bunchofavatars]

Sam came back down a minute later. By then Hunter and Thian had moved to the tiny break room, Marina and Morrison was nowhere to be seen.

“Hurry up.” Sam threw the bandages and trousers at Amir. He then hurried back to the shop.

“So sorry about it. Amir was a bit clumsy. Give him a minute and he’ll be right here. You wanted the book, right? I have time to fix that.”

[every-hour-every-day]

"It's alright. Uh yeah, the book, of course."

Ezra glanced to where the back was.

"I hope Amir is alright, sounded like quite the crash"

He'd rather feign some concern than outright make it seem like he was suspicious of what happened.

[bunchofavatars]

“He’s fine. It’s just a mess back there. Good book choice.”

He scanned the book and put the book in a bag. Hoping he could save the mess.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Thank you, I first read it back in 1995 and hadn't since, so I was delighted to see it here"

It was one of the first books he read after waking up, so he was quite fond of it. He took the bag and glanced around for a moment.

"So, how much longer will Amir take?"

[bunchofavatars]

When Ezra had heard about a certain bookshop some of his students had mentioned in class a few times, specifically about the owner, well he knew he had to check it out.

For how long he lived, Ezra stopped believing in coincidences quite a bit ago. Perhaps he could've believed it to be a coincidence were it not for the fact of how much that bookshop was brought up in conversation in his class. There evidently had to be something going on there.

Standing outside, Ezra glanced at their reflection in the window before entering, like a subtle look of 'Don't mess around'.

@every-hour-every-day

There was one person inside, standing by the register looking between two books in his hands. However, anyone who knew about the owner, could tell that this was not him.

The man inside seemed to be the same height and age but that’s where the similarities ended. This man was white with short, wavy ginger hair. Eyes a bit too green.

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra squinted at the man, while pretending to be browsing the books ocassionally. Certainly didn't look like how his students described Amir, probably an employee of his then. His eyes though...

'You know what that means.'

Ezra glanced away. "Anyone can have bright green eyes, that doesn't automatically make them a Watcher." He muttered.

He picked up a book from the row he was 'looking' at, reading the title.

'He'll see right through us'.

"Shut it." He muttered again.

Ezra turned and headed to the register, with the book in hand, titled 'To the Lighthouse'.

[bunchofavatars]

The man put down the two books when Ezra approached. He had tried to look busy for an hour after running out of things to do, normally he’d ask Amir but he was ‘gone for some hours’ and managed to keep what he was doing from the new person.

“Hello there!” He smiled. “Did you find everything you wanted?”

[every-hour-every-day]

"Yeah, I did"

Ezra placed the book down, glancing around slightly before looking at the man infront of him.

"I'm curious, is Amir here? I was hoping to speak with him."

[bunchofavatars]

His smile turned to a frown for a brief second. He hadn’t seen Amir enter but he was aware of the Spiral avatar that came and went and was part of the mission. So not seeing him was not exactly an indication that Amir wasn’t back yet. Saying ‘I don’t know’ might be a bit unprofessional to a customer. He didn’t dare to ask the Eye for help either since the customer didn’t seem fully human.

“Did you have an appointment?” He smiled again. Praying to hear Amir or any of the weird friends come back anytime soon. Preferably in the next three seconds.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Uh, no I don't, but I heard my students talk about this place so much I thought I'd check it out and have a chat with the person who runs it."

It was better he tell the truth of why he was here than lie, though of course, he left out the part of his suspicions of possible web involvement, which he didn't have proof of yet.

"Is that going to be a problem?"

[bunchofavatars]

”Ah. That is understandable. Yes. No. That- Hm-“

Think quick. Think quick. Lie? Lie sounds good. Twist the truth? Also good- Possibly.

“You know. Technically I am the owner.”

Stupid stupid stupid. He should just have shut up and look for Amir. So much for trying to stay low.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Technically?"

'Well this just got interesting.'

"I-uh, how so? I feel like they would've mentioned a second owner."

Ezra certainly didn't expect this. Maybe this supposed second owner was mentioned but he just ignored it? He wasn't sure.

[bunchofavatars]

“I’ve been on a… extended… vacation.”

Was that too big of a lie? He hadn’t been close to the shop for nearly 30 years. Or had any contact with Amir.

Fuck, he hadn’t even been considered alive in the UK for so long. That wasn’t a vacation. But his name was still on the official site for the shop.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Right..."

Extended vacation wasn't an impossible reason, but how long that vacation was would probably affect what he was gonna ask.

"I should apologise, here I am asking to meet with the owner and I haven't even introduced myself. My name is Ezra Jones, what's your name?"

[bunchofavatars]

“Don’t worry. I’m Sam Carter.” He held his hand out.

“And no, Sam is not short for Samuel or anything. It’s just Sam.”

Perhaps it would have been easier if his parents had named him something longer. Not like he was against Sam, but correcting people got irritating early.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Sam. It's nice to meet you."

Back in the day, his name would've been considered unusual by a younger Ezra, but Ezra's since aclimated to the growing and changing modern times when he woke up in the 90's.

"Your vacation hasn't impeded any knowledge you have on the shop, I hope?"

[bunchofavatars]

”Oh, absolutely not. I have a good memory and quite a lot of knowledge.” He chuckled before remembering to be careful.

He was about to ask Ezra something when he could hear a faint crash in the back.

“For example, that is a concerning noise. Don’t worry, I’m sure the owner just tripped over something coming in through the backdoor.”

There was no backdoor, only a window that Sam doubted Amir could climb in through. Either way, he probably should check it out.

“Of course it could be one of the cats too. I’ll be back in just a minute.”

[every-hour-every-day]

"No problem, take all the time you need" Ezra wasn't the most patient person, he wasn't too sure why he said that, but he'd rather wait than finding nothing out.

'I get suspicious people can have pets, but... I wanna see the cats even if there's something shady going on.'

Ezra sighed slightly. Of course they did.

[bunchofavatars]

Sam hurried to the back and opened the door to chaos.

Amir was sat on the floor, his right leg pulled up a bit as he pressed his hands to a spot bit under the knee, seemingly in pain. A bit to the right of him was Hunter and Thian that seemed to have fallen over each other. There was some cursing as the two tried to move from each other. Marina was apologising as she put a photo up on the wall again and Morrison sat on the desk taking it all in.

“What the hell happened?” Sam half whispered.

“You have eyes to use. Get the fuck off me Thian!”

“More powerful avatars than we thought.” Marina shrugged, backing from the wall.

“Amir?”

“It’ll heal.” Amir grimaced as he pulled his hands away, a big red spot that seemed to get bigger. “Can you get me some bandages and new pair of trousers? Not sure how long it’ll take.”

“I’ll take you!” Morrison got up as the others said ‘No!’ in unison.

“Shut the fuck up!” Sam whispered. “There’s someone that wants to meet you Amir. I’ll get the things just be quiet.”

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra lightly tapped his fingers on the register desk as he waited. He glanced around and looked at their relfection in a close by object.

"So, what do we think so far?" He muttered.

'Of the fact we haven't met the actual owner and that Sam is a bit shady?'

"I- yeah, that."

'It's interesting. We've not been given reason to be on edge yet, but there's still every likely hood that Sam, and maybe Amir, are like us'

"And not friendly." Ezra finished Lucien's sentence.

'Exactly.'

He sighed. They really weren't a patient person.

[bunchofavatars]

Sam came back down a minute later. By then Hunter and Thian had moved to the tiny break room, Marina and Morrison was nowhere to be seen.

“Hurry up.” Sam threw the bandages and trousers at Amir. He then hurried back to the shop.

“So sorry about it. Amir was a bit clumsy. Give him a minute and he’ll be right here. You wanted the book, right? I have time to fix that.”

[every-hour-every-day]

"It's alright. Uh yeah, the book, of course."

Ezra glanced to where the back was.

"I hope Amir is alright, sounded like quite the crash"

He'd rather feign some concern than outright make it seem like he was suspicious of what happened.

[bunchofavatars]

When Ezra had heard about a certain bookshop some of his students had mentioned in class a few times, specifically about the owner, well he knew he had to check it out.

For how long he lived, Ezra stopped believing in coincidences quite a bit ago. Perhaps he could've believed it to be a coincidence were it not for the fact of how much that bookshop was brought up in conversation in his class. There evidently had to be something going on there.

Standing outside, Ezra glanced at their reflection in the window before entering, like a subtle look of 'Don't mess around'.

@every-hour-every-day

There was one person inside, standing by the register looking between two books in his hands. However, anyone who knew about the owner, could tell that this was not him.

The man inside seemed to be the same height and age but that’s where the similarities ended. This man was white with short, wavy ginger hair. Eyes a bit too green.

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra squinted at the man, while pretending to be browsing the books ocassionally. Certainly didn't look like how his students described Amir, probably an employee of his then. His eyes though...

'You know what that means.'

Ezra glanced away. "Anyone can have bright green eyes, that doesn't automatically make them a Watcher." He muttered.

He picked up a book from the row he was 'looking' at, reading the title.

'He'll see right through us'.

"Shut it." He muttered again.

Ezra turned and headed to the register, with the book in hand, titled 'To the Lighthouse'.

[bunchofavatars]

The man put down the two books when Ezra approached. He had tried to look busy for an hour after running out of things to do, normally he’d ask Amir but he was ‘gone for some hours’ and managed to keep what he was doing from the new person.

“Hello there!” He smiled. “Did you find everything you wanted?”

[every-hour-every-day]

"Yeah, I did"

Ezra placed the book down, glancing around slightly before looking at the man infront of him.

"I'm curious, is Amir here? I was hoping to speak with him."

[bunchofavatars]

His smile turned to a frown for a brief second. He hadn’t seen Amir enter but he was aware of the Spiral avatar that came and went and was part of the mission. So not seeing him was not exactly an indication that Amir wasn’t back yet. Saying ‘I don’t know’ might be a bit unprofessional to a customer. He didn’t dare to ask the Eye for help either since the customer didn’t seem fully human.

“Did you have an appointment?” He smiled again. Praying to hear Amir or any of the weird friends come back anytime soon. Preferably in the next three seconds.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Uh, no I don't, but I heard my students talk about this place so much I thought I'd check it out and have a chat with the person who runs it."

It was better he tell the truth of why he was here than lie, though of course, he left out the part of his suspicions of possible web involvement, which he didn't have proof of yet.

"Is that going to be a problem?"

[bunchofavatars]

”Ah. That is understandable. Yes. No. That- Hm-“

Think quick. Think quick. Lie? Lie sounds good. Twist the truth? Also good- Possibly.

“You know. Technically I am the owner.”

Stupid stupid stupid. He should just have shut up and look for Amir. So much for trying to stay low.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Technically?"

'Well this just got interesting.'

"I-uh, how so? I feel like they would've mentioned a second owner."

Ezra certainly didn't expect this. Maybe this supposed second owner was mentioned but he just ignored it? He wasn't sure.

[bunchofavatars]

“I’ve been on a… extended… vacation.”

Was that too big of a lie? He hadn’t been close to the shop for nearly 30 years. Or had any contact with Amir.

Fuck, he hadn’t even been considered alive in the UK for so long. That wasn’t a vacation. But his name was still on the official site for the shop.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Right..."

Extended vacation wasn't an impossible reason, but how long that vacation was would probably affect what he was gonna ask.

"I should apologise, here I am asking to meet with the owner and I haven't even introduced myself. My name is Ezra Jones, what's your name?"

[bunchofavatars]

“Don’t worry. I’m Sam Carter.” He held his hand out.

“And no, Sam is not short for Samuel or anything. It’s just Sam.”

Perhaps it would have been easier if his parents had named him something longer. Not like he was against Sam, but correcting people got irritating early.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Sam. It's nice to meet you."

Back in the day, his name would've been considered unusual by a younger Ezra, but Ezra's since aclimated to the growing and changing modern times when he woke up in the 90's.

"Your vacation hasn't impeded any knowledge you have on the shop, I hope?"

[bunchofavatars]

”Oh, absolutely not. I have a good memory and quite a lot of knowledge.” He chuckled before remembering to be careful.

He was about to ask Ezra something when he could hear a faint crash in the back.

“For example, that is a concerning noise. Don’t worry, I’m sure the owner just tripped over something coming in through the backdoor.”

There was no backdoor, only a window that Sam doubted Amir could climb in through. Either way, he probably should check it out.

“Of course it could be one of the cats too. I’ll be back in just a minute.”

[every-hour-every-day]

"No problem, take all the time you need" Ezra wasn't the most patient person, he wasn't too sure why he said that, but he'd rather wait than finding nothing out.

'I get suspicious people can have pets, but... I wanna see the cats even if there's something shady going on.'

Ezra sighed slightly. Of course they did.

[bunchofavatars]

Sam hurried to the back and opened the door to chaos.

Amir was sat on the floor, his right leg pulled up a bit as he pressed his hands to a spot bit under the knee, seemingly in pain. A bit to the right of him was Hunter and Thian that seemed to have fallen over each other. There was some cursing as the two tried to move from each other. Marina was apologising as she put a photo up on the wall again and Morrison sat on the desk taking it all in.

“What the hell happened?” Sam half whispered.

“You have eyes to use. Get the fuck off me Thian!”

“More powerful avatars than we thought.” Marina shrugged, backing from the wall.

“Amir?”

“It’ll heal.” Amir grimaced as he pulled his hands away, a big red spot that seemed to get bigger. “Can you get me some bandages and new pair of trousers? Not sure how long it’ll take.”

“I’ll take you!” Morrison got up as the others said ‘No!’ in unison.

“Shut the fuck up!” Sam whispered. “There’s someone that wants to meet you Amir. I’ll get the things just be quiet.”

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra lightly tapped his fingers on the register desk as he waited. He glanced around and looked at their relfection in a close by object.

"So, what do we think so far?" He muttered.

'Of the fact we haven't met the actual owner and that Sam is a bit shady?'

"I- yeah, that."

'It's interesting. We've not been given reason to be on edge yet, but there's still every likely hood that Sam, and maybe Amir, are like us'

"And not friendly." Ezra finished Lucien's sentence.

'Exactly.'

He sighed. They really weren't a patient person.

[bunchofavatars]

When Ezra had heard about a certain bookshop some of his students had mentioned in class a few times, specifically about the owner, well he knew he had to check it out.

For how long he lived, Ezra stopped believing in coincidences quite a bit ago. Perhaps he could've believed it to be a coincidence were it not for the fact of how much that bookshop was brought up in conversation in his class. There evidently had to be something going on there.

Standing outside, Ezra glanced at their reflection in the window before entering, like a subtle look of 'Don't mess around'.

@every-hour-every-day

There was one person inside, standing by the register looking between two books in his hands. However, anyone who knew about the owner, could tell that this was not him.

The man inside seemed to be the same height and age but that’s where the similarities ended. This man was white with short, wavy ginger hair. Eyes a bit too green.

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra squinted at the man, while pretending to be browsing the books ocassionally. Certainly didn't look like how his students described Amir, probably an employee of his then. His eyes though...

'You know what that means.'

Ezra glanced away. "Anyone can have bright green eyes, that doesn't automatically make them a Watcher." He muttered.

He picked up a book from the row he was 'looking' at, reading the title.

'He'll see right through us'.

"Shut it." He muttered again.

Ezra turned and headed to the register, with the book in hand, titled 'To the Lighthouse'.

[bunchofavatars]

The man put down the two books when Ezra approached. He had tried to look busy for an hour after running out of things to do, normally he’d ask Amir but he was ‘gone for some hours’ and managed to keep what he was doing from the new person.

“Hello there!” He smiled. “Did you find everything you wanted?”

[every-hour-every-day]

"Yeah, I did"

Ezra placed the book down, glancing around slightly before looking at the man infront of him.

"I'm curious, is Amir here? I was hoping to speak with him."

[bunchofavatars]

His smile turned to a frown for a brief second. He hadn’t seen Amir enter but he was aware of the Spiral avatar that came and went and was part of the mission. So not seeing him was not exactly an indication that Amir wasn’t back yet. Saying ‘I don’t know’ might be a bit unprofessional to a customer. He didn’t dare to ask the Eye for help either since the customer didn’t seem fully human.

“Did you have an appointment?” He smiled again. Praying to hear Amir or any of the weird friends come back anytime soon. Preferably in the next three seconds.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Uh, no I don't, but I heard my students talk about this place so much I thought I'd check it out and have a chat with the person who runs it."

It was better he tell the truth of why he was here than lie, though of course, he left out the part of his suspicions of possible web involvement, which he didn't have proof of yet.

"Is that going to be a problem?"

[bunchofavatars]

”Ah. That is understandable. Yes. No. That- Hm-“

Think quick. Think quick. Lie? Lie sounds good. Twist the truth? Also good- Possibly.

“You know. Technically I am the owner.”

Stupid stupid stupid. He should just have shut up and look for Amir. So much for trying to stay low.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Technically?"

'Well this just got interesting.'

"I-uh, how so? I feel like they would've mentioned a second owner."

Ezra certainly didn't expect this. Maybe this supposed second owner was mentioned but he just ignored it? He wasn't sure.

[bunchofavatars]

“I’ve been on a… extended… vacation.”

Was that too big of a lie? He hadn’t been close to the shop for nearly 30 years. Or had any contact with Amir.

Fuck, he hadn’t even been considered alive in the UK for so long. That wasn’t a vacation. But his name was still on the official site for the shop.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Right..."

Extended vacation wasn't an impossible reason, but how long that vacation was would probably affect what he was gonna ask.

"I should apologise, here I am asking to meet with the owner and I haven't even introduced myself. My name is Ezra Jones, what's your name?"

[bunchofavatars]

“Don’t worry. I’m Sam Carter.” He held his hand out.

“And no, Sam is not short for Samuel or anything. It’s just Sam.”

Perhaps it would have been easier if his parents had named him something longer. Not like he was against Sam, but correcting people got irritating early.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Sam. It's nice to meet you."

Back in the day, his name would've been considered unusual by a younger Ezra, but Ezra's since aclimated to the growing and changing modern times when he woke up in the 90's.

"Your vacation hasn't impeded any knowledge you have on the shop, I hope?"

[bunchofavatars]

”Oh, absolutely not. I have a good memory and quite a lot of knowledge.” He chuckled before remembering to be careful.

He was about to ask Ezra something when he could hear a faint crash in the back.

“For example, that is a concerning noise. Don’t worry, I’m sure the owner just tripped over something coming in through the backdoor.”

There was no backdoor, only a window that Sam doubted Amir could climb in through. Either way, he probably should check it out.

“Of course it could be one of the cats too. I’ll be back in just a minute.”

[every-hour-every-day]

"No problem, take all the time you need" Ezra wasn't the most patient person, he wasn't too sure why he said that, but he'd rather wait than finding nothing out.

'I get suspicious people can have pets, but... I wanna see the cats even if there's something shady going on.'

Ezra sighed slightly. Of course they did.

[bunchofavatars]

When Ezra had heard about a certain bookshop some of his students had mentioned in class a few times, specifically about the owner, well he knew he had to check it out.

For how long he lived, Ezra stopped believing in coincidences quite a bit ago. Perhaps he could've believed it to be a coincidence were it not for the fact of how much that bookshop was brought up in conversation in his class. There evidently had to be something going on there.

Standing outside, Ezra glanced at their reflection in the window before entering, like a subtle look of 'Don't mess around'.

@every-hour-every-day

There was one person inside, standing by the register looking between two books in his hands. However, anyone who knew about the owner, could tell that this was not him.

The man inside seemed to be the same height and age but that’s where the similarities ended. This man was white with short, wavy ginger hair. Eyes a bit too green.

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra squinted at the man, while pretending to be browsing the books ocassionally. Certainly didn't look like how his students described Amir, probably an employee of his then. His eyes though...

'You know what that means.'

Ezra glanced away. "Anyone can have bright green eyes, that doesn't automatically make them a Watcher." He muttered.

He picked up a book from the row he was 'looking' at, reading the title.

'He'll see right through us'.

"Shut it." He muttered again.

Ezra turned and headed to the register, with the book in hand, titled 'To the Lighthouse'.

[bunchofavatars]

The man put down the two books when Ezra approached. He had tried to look busy for an hour after running out of things to do, normally he’d ask Amir but he was ‘gone for some hours’ and managed to keep what he was doing from the new person.

“Hello there!” He smiled. “Did you find everything you wanted?”

[every-hour-every-day]

"Yeah, I did"

Ezra placed the book down, glancing around slightly before looking at the man infront of him.

"I'm curious, is Amir here? I was hoping to speak with him."

[bunchofavatars]

His smile turned to a frown for a brief second. He hadn’t seen Amir enter but he was aware of the Spiral avatar that came and went and was part of the mission. So not seeing him was not exactly an indication that Amir wasn’t back yet. Saying ‘I don’t know’ might be a bit unprofessional to a customer. He didn’t dare to ask the Eye for help either since the customer didn’t seem fully human.

“Did you have an appointment?” He smiled again. Praying to hear Amir or any of the weird friends come back anytime soon. Preferably in the next three seconds.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Uh, no I don't, but I heard my students talk about this place so much I thought I'd check it out and have a chat with the person who runs it."

It was better he tell the truth of why he was here than lie, though of course, he left out the part of his suspicions of possible web involvement, which he didn't have proof of yet.

"Is that going to be a problem?"

[bunchofavatars]

”Ah. That is understandable. Yes. No. That- Hm-“

Think quick. Think quick. Lie? Lie sounds good. Twist the truth? Also good- Possibly.

“You know. Technically I am the owner.”

Stupid stupid stupid. He should just have shut up and look for Amir. So much for trying to stay low.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Technically?"

'Well this just got interesting.'

"I-uh, how so? I feel like they would've mentioned a second owner."

Ezra certainly didn't expect this. Maybe this supposed second owner was mentioned but he just ignored it? He wasn't sure.

[bunchofavatars]

“I’ve been on a… extended… vacation.”

Was that too big of a lie? He hadn’t been close to the shop for nearly 30 years. Or had any contact with Amir.

Fuck, he hadn’t even been considered alive in the UK for so long. That wasn’t a vacation. But his name was still on the official site for the shop.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Right..."

Extended vacation wasn't an impossible reason, but how long that vacation was would probably affect what he was gonna ask.

"I should apologise, here I am asking to meet with the owner and I haven't even introduced myself. My name is Ezra Jones, what's your name?"

[bunchofavatars]

“Don’t worry. I’m Sam Carter.” He held his hand out.

“And no, Sam is not short for Samuel or anything. It’s just Sam.”

Perhaps it would have been easier if his parents had named him something longer. Not like he was against Sam, but correcting people got irritating early.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Sam. It's nice to meet you."

Back in the day, his name would've been considered unusual by a younger Ezra, but Ezra's since aclimated to the growing and changing modern times when he woke up in the 90's.

"Your vacation hasn't impeded any knowledge you have on the shop, I hope?"

[bunchofavatars]

When Ezra had heard about a certain bookshop some of his students had mentioned in class a few times, specifically about the owner, well he knew he had to check it out.

For how long he lived, Ezra stopped believing in coincidences quite a bit ago. Perhaps he could've believed it to be a coincidence were it not for the fact of how much that bookshop was brought up in conversation in his class. There evidently had to be something going on there.

Standing outside, Ezra glanced at their reflection in the window before entering, like a subtle look of 'Don't mess around'.

@every-hour-every-day

There was one person inside, standing by the register looking between two books in his hands. However, anyone who knew about the owner, could tell that this was not him.

The man inside seemed to be the same height and age but that’s where the similarities ended. This man was white with short, wavy ginger hair. Eyes a bit too green.

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra squinted at the man, while pretending to be browsing the books ocassionally. Certainly didn't look like how his students described Amir, probably an employee of his then. His eyes though...

'You know what that means.'

Ezra glanced away. "Anyone can have bright green eyes, that doesn't automatically make them a Watcher." He muttered.

He picked up a book from the row he was 'looking' at, reading the title.

'He'll see right through us'.

"Shut it." He muttered again.

Ezra turned and headed to the register, with the book in hand, titled 'To the Lighthouse'.

[bunchofavatars]

The man put down the two books when Ezra approached. He had tried to look busy for an hour after running out of things to do, normally he’d ask Amir but he was ‘gone for some hours’ and managed to keep what he was doing from the new person.

“Hello there!” He smiled. “Did you find everything you wanted?”

[every-hour-every-day]

"Yeah, I did"

Ezra placed the book down, glancing around slightly before looking at the man infront of him.

"I'm curious, is Amir here? I was hoping to speak with him."

[bunchofavatars]

His smile turned to a frown for a brief second. He hadn’t seen Amir enter but he was aware of the Spiral avatar that came and went and was part of the mission. So not seeing him was not exactly an indication that Amir wasn’t back yet. Saying ‘I don’t know’ might be a bit unprofessional to a customer. He didn’t dare to ask the Eye for help either since the customer didn’t seem fully human.

“Did you have an appointment?” He smiled again. Praying to hear Amir or any of the weird friends come back anytime soon. Preferably in the next three seconds.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Uh, no I don't, but I heard my students talk about this place so much I thought I'd check it out and have a chat with the person who runs it."

It was better he tell the truth of why he was here than lie, though of course, he left out the part of his suspicions of possible web involvement, which he didn't have proof of yet.

"Is that going to be a problem?"

[bunchofavatars]

”Ah. That is understandable. Yes. No. That- Hm-“

Think quick. Think quick. Lie? Lie sounds good. Twist the truth? Also good- Possibly.

“You know. Technically I am the owner.”

Stupid stupid stupid. He should just have shut up and look for Amir. So much for trying to stay low.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Technically?"

'Well this just got interesting.'

"I-uh, how so? I feel like they would've mentioned a second owner."

Ezra certainly didn't expect this. Maybe this supposed second owner was mentioned but he just ignored it? He wasn't sure.

[bunchofavatars]

“I’ve been on a… extended… vacation.”

Was that too big of a lie? He hadn’t been close to the shop for nearly 30 years. Or had any contact with Amir.

Fuck, he hadn’t even been considered alive in the UK for so long. That wasn’t a vacation. But his name was still on the official site for the shop.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Right..."

Extended vacation wasn't an impossible reason, but how long that vacation was would probably affect what he was gonna ask.

"I should apologise, here I am asking to meet with the owner and I haven't even introduced myself. My name is Ezra Jones, what's your name?"

[bunchofavatars]

When Ezra had heard about a certain bookshop some of his students had mentioned in class a few times, specifically about the owner, well he knew he had to check it out.

For how long he lived, Ezra stopped believing in coincidences quite a bit ago. Perhaps he could've believed it to be a coincidence were it not for the fact of how much that bookshop was brought up in conversation in his class. There evidently had to be something going on there.

Standing outside, Ezra glanced at their reflection in the window before entering, like a subtle look of 'Don't mess around'.

@every-hour-every-day

There was one person inside, standing by the register looking between two books in his hands. However, anyone who knew about the owner, could tell that this was not him.

The man inside seemed to be the same height and age but that’s where the similarities ended. This man was white with short, wavy ginger hair. Eyes a bit too green.

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra squinted at the man, while pretending to be browsing the books ocassionally. Certainly didn't look like how his students described Amir, probably an employee of his then. His eyes though...

'You know what that means.'

Ezra glanced away. "Anyone can have bright green eyes, that doesn't automatically make them a Watcher." He muttered.

He picked up a book from the row he was 'looking' at, reading the title.

'He'll see right through us'.

"Shut it." He muttered again.

Ezra turned and headed to the register, with the book in hand, titled 'To the Lighthouse'.

[bunchofavatars]

The man put down the two books when Ezra approached. He had tried to look busy for an hour after running out of things to do, normally he’d ask Amir but he was ‘gone for some hours’ and managed to keep what he was doing from the new person.

“Hello there!” He smiled. “Did you find everything you wanted?”

[every-hour-every-day]

"Yeah, I did"

Ezra placed the book down, glancing around slightly before looking at the man infront of him.

"I'm curious, is Amir here? I was hoping to speak with him."

[bunchofavatars]

His smile turned to a frown for a brief second. He hadn’t seen Amir enter but he was aware of the Spiral avatar that came and went and was part of the mission. So not seeing him was not exactly an indication that Amir wasn’t back yet. Saying ‘I don’t know’ might be a bit unprofessional to a customer. He didn’t dare to ask the Eye for help either since the customer didn’t seem fully human.

“Did you have an appointment?” He smiled again. Praying to hear Amir or any of the weird friends come back anytime soon. Preferably in the next three seconds.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Uh, no I don't, but I heard my students talk about this place so much I thought I'd check it out and have a chat with the person who runs it."

It was better he tell the truth of why he was here than lie, though of course, he left out the part of his suspicions of possible web involvement, which he didn't have proof of yet.

"Is that going to be a problem?"

[bunchofavatars]

”Ah. That is understandable. Yes. No. That- Hm-“

Think quick. Think quick. Lie? Lie sounds good. Twist the truth? Also good- Possibly.

“You know. Technically I am the owner.”

Stupid stupid stupid. He should just have shut up and look for Amir. So much for trying to stay low.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Technically?"

'Well this just got interesting.'

"I-uh, how so? I feel like they would've mentioned a second owner."

Ezra certainly didn't expect this. Maybe this supposed second owner was mentioned but he just ignored it? He wasn't sure.

[bunchofavatars]

When Ezra had heard about a certain bookshop some of his students had mentioned in class a few times, specifically about the owner, well he knew he had to check it out.

For how long he lived, Ezra stopped believing in coincidences quite a bit ago. Perhaps he could've believed it to be a coincidence were it not for the fact of how much that bookshop was brought up in conversation in his class. There evidently had to be something going on there.

Standing outside, Ezra glanced at their reflection in the window before entering, like a subtle look of 'Don't mess around'.

@every-hour-every-day

There was one person inside, standing by the register looking between two books in his hands. However, anyone who knew about the owner, could tell that this was not him.

The man inside seemed to be the same height and age but that’s where the similarities ended. This man was white with short, wavy ginger hair. Eyes a bit too green.

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra squinted at the man, while pretending to be browsing the books ocassionally. Certainly didn't look like how his students described Amir, probably an employee of his then. His eyes though...

'You know what that means.'

Ezra glanced away. "Anyone can have bright green eyes, that doesn't automatically make them a Watcher." He muttered.

He picked up a book from the row he was 'looking' at, reading the title.

'He'll see right through us'.

"Shut it." He muttered again.

Ezra turned and headed to the register, with the book in hand, titled 'To the Lighthouse'.

[bunchofavatars]

The man put down the two books when Ezra approached. He had tried to look busy for an hour after running out of things to do, normally he’d ask Amir but he was ‘gone for some hours’ and managed to keep what he was doing from the new person.

“Hello there!” He smiled. “Did you find everything you wanted?”

[every-hour-every-day]

"Yeah, I did"

Ezra placed the book down, glancing around slightly before looking at the man infront of him.

"I'm curious, is Amir here? I was hoping to speak with him."

[bunchofavatars]

His smile turned to a frown for a brief second. He hadn’t seen Amir enter but he was aware of the Spiral avatar that came and went and was part of the mission. So not seeing him was not exactly an indication that Amir wasn’t back yet. Saying ‘I don’t know’ might be a bit unprofessional to a customer. He didn’t dare to ask the Eye for help either since the customer didn’t seem fully human.

“Did you have an appointment?” He smiled again. Praying to hear Amir or any of the weird friends come back anytime soon. Preferably in the next three seconds.

[every-hour-every-day]

"Uh, no I don't, but I heard my students talk about this place so much I thought I'd check it out and have a chat with the person who runs it."

It was better he tell the truth of why he was here than lie, though of course, he left out the part of his suspicions of possible web involvement, which he didn't have proof of yet.

"Is that going to be a problem?"

[bunchofavatars]

When Ezra had heard about a certain bookshop some of his students had mentioned in class a few times, specifically about the owner, well he knew he had to check it out.

For how long he lived, Ezra stopped believing in coincidences quite a bit ago. Perhaps he could've believed it to be a coincidence were it not for the fact of how much that bookshop was brought up in conversation in his class. There evidently had to be something going on there.

Standing outside, Ezra glanced at their reflection in the window before entering, like a subtle look of 'Don't mess around'.

@every-hour-every-day

There was one person inside, standing by the register looking between two books in his hands. However, anyone who knew about the owner, could tell that this was not him.

The man inside seemed to be the same height and age but that’s where the similarities ended. This man was white with short, wavy ginger hair. Eyes a bit too green.

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra squinted at the man, while pretending to be browsing the books ocassionally. Certainly didn't look like how his students described Amir, probably an employee of his then. His eyes though...

'You know what that means.'

Ezra glanced away. "Anyone can have bright green eyes, that doesn't automatically make them a Watcher." He muttered.

He picked up a book from the row he was 'looking' at, reading the title.

'He'll see right through us'.

"Shut it." He muttered again.

Ezra turned and headed to the register, with the book in hand, titled 'To the Lighthouse'.

[bunchofavatars]

The man put down the two books when Ezra approached. He had tried to look busy for an hour after running out of things to do, normally he’d ask Amir but he was ‘gone for some hours’ and managed to keep what he was doing from the new person.

“Hello there!” He smiled. “Did you find everything you wanted?”

[every-hour-every-day]

"Yeah, I did"

Ezra placed the book down, glancing around slightly before looking at the man infront of him.

"I'm curious, is Amir here? I was hoping to speak with him."

[bunchofavatars]

When Ezra had heard about a certain bookshop some of his students had mentioned in class a few times, specifically about the owner, well he knew he had to check it out.

For how long he lived, Ezra stopped believing in coincidences quite a bit ago. Perhaps he could've believed it to be a coincidence were it not for the fact of how much that bookshop was brought up in conversation in his class. There evidently had to be something going on there.

Standing outside, Ezra glanced at their reflection in the window before entering, like a subtle look of 'Don't mess around'.

@every-hour-every-day

There was one person inside, standing by the register looking between two books in his hands. However, anyone who knew about the owner, could tell that this was not him.

The man inside seemed to be the same height and age but that’s where the similarities ended. This man was white with short, wavy ginger hair. Eyes a bit too green.

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra squinted at the man, while pretending to be browsing the books ocassionally. Certainly didn't look like how his students described Amir, probably an employee of his then. His eyes though...

'You know what that means.'

Ezra glanced away. "Anyone can have bright green eyes, that doesn't automatically make them a Watcher." He muttered.

He picked up a book from the row he was 'looking' at, reading the title.

'He'll see right through us'.

"Shut it." He muttered again.

Ezra turned and headed to the register, with the book in hand, titled 'To the Lighthouse'.

[every-hour-every-day]

It's been a while but I suppose I should make an update.

I've unwillingly acquired a "roommate", an avatar of the Corruption named Yvonne. She uses she/they.

I'll do my best to update/post on this blog more often.

Also, Happy New year.

-Ezra

[every-hour-every-day]

By the time Ezra arrives, the little flat has been tidied up, tea started, a selection of treats set out. Sure, this is more an exchanging of information than a social call, but he's trying to be a good host. Hell, the door is unlocked for Ezra to let himself in.

(@fears-anatomy)

Ezra was in the hallway outside the flat door, about to knock on the door when he stopped, muttering to himself it seemed.

"The door's unlocked"

"How do you know that?"

"We both know that. We broke into a lot of places before you put us in that coma."

"That's ridiculous, there's no way he'd leave his door unlocked."

"Try it, then."

Ezra sighed, then tried to handle, still a bit surprised when the door opened. But he wasn't rude, so he still knocked.

[fears-anatomy]

"Come in!" A voice calls from inside, though he does come open the door a few moments later.

Clive steps back for Ezra to enter. It's always... strange seeing someone of his own time, in some way he can't quite place. Their tone may be a similarity, but he must remind himself that does not guarantee alignment.

A cat makes a rush for the door – and Clive scoops it up before it can get out. "Ezra Jones?" He offers a hand. "Pleasure to meet you."

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra entered the flat, and took Clive's hand, shaking it "Yes, that's me. It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Doctor"

He glanced at the cat that tried to escape out the door and smiled lightly, before closing the door behind him "A little escape artist, huh?"

Ezra looked like a regular person someone would pass on the street. Short-ish brown hair with a slight curl, a vintage brown jacket and a messenger bag over his shoulder. But what stood out about him was his eyes. Heterochromatic eyes, green and blue.

[fears-anatomy]

"He does not understand that the streets he once roamed are not a place for him. Look at him. Positively tortured." Clive jests with a little laugh. The tabby is chubby, rubbing his face happily against the hand that pets him, purring, absolutely thriving.

Clive takes a few moments to study his visitor. "How long have you been here -- now, rather?" He's a little easier to pin down as out of place, between the mutton chops and the cravat tied around his neck. His hazel eyes never linger on the same spot for long, especially not locking gaze with the other.

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra laughed softly, as he looked at the content cat.

"Oh yes, surely deprived of being able to chase mice and rats"

He ran a hand through his hair and sighed, taking a small moment to think once he heard Clive's question.

"Well, w- I woke up in 1995, so I'd have to say around 30 years? Around-ish. I turned 201 in March. Though, my collegues believe I'm 35 years old now"

[fears-anatomy]

Clive steps back, gesturing to offer Ezra a spot to sit on the couch, taking a seat in a parallel armchair. The cat wriggles out of his arms, strutting off elsewhere.

"Hm. If I may ask, how long had you been asleep? And - and I presume there was an... interference of sorts?" He tilts his head.

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra obliged, taking off his messenger bag and placing it at his side as he sat down.

"I'd been... 'asleep' since 17th June, 1858. I say asleep but it was, honestly, more like a coma. I had put myself into it, not on purpose, it was an accident I suppose. I had found myself in a sort of... perdicament, and wanted a way out, but I was so desperate I didn't realise that the way out would be death, and like most humans, I am scared of death."

"Perdicament is one way to put it."

"Shut up." Ezra muttered under his breathe.

[fears-anatomy]

Clive's brow creases as he takes all of that in. Ezra has such clarity in remembering how he got here, something he is completely unable to relate to. A question rears its head, and pushes itself out from his lips before he can think better of it.

"You still believe yourself to be human?" He doesn't mean for it to be as accusatory as it comes out. He realizes this and makes a quick addendum. "It - It is simply that - granted your predicament, as you put it, would you not be considered something entirely else, an other? Defying death..."

[every-hour-every-day]

He sighed for a moment.

"I suppose that's a complicated question. The term human can mean differently for each person. As a species, yes. As a mortal, no. In a literal way, I'm human in every sense except for how I age and how I feed to survive. If people knew what I am and how I feed, then I suppose they'd call me a monster."

He took a glance toward something that showed his reflection then looked back at Clive.

"I'm not the same man I was almost two centuries ago. But, I'm more myself than I was back then. Change is an inevitable thing, and while I feared it back then, now, I embrace it, it's made u- me better."

[fears-anatomy]

Yet more furrowed brows. This is quite the dilemma, his thoughts run wild, and he takes a decent pause to collect himself. It's not often he gets to actually speak to someone in this state without some lingering threat.

"You - you feed, on what exactly? And how often, and -" Clearly getting himself together has not exactly worked, as the questions just keep flowing. "You belong to something greater, which I am no stranger to, but you say it has been... beneficial. Surely there is some negative?" He manages to hold his tongue enough not to speak his thoughts of most avatars he has studied or encountered, and yet... "Do you consider yourself to be a monster?"

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra paused for a moment, thinking, before he answered.

"Do you consider most animals monsters? I know that might be an odd question, but it'll make sense."

"I feed on fear just as the others like me do. Or rather, I don't necessarily feed on fear, but I feed it towards my 'patron', as some would call them. They feed on fear through us, and in turn, we can live.

It's survival in an twisted way, and it's rather ironic to call the dependency on beings outside of the human understanding, 'surviving'. But that is my life now. So yes, there is a negative, we get these abilities and in turn, we lose some independance."

Ezra leaned toward Clive.

"I ask you this, Doctor. Do you consider me a monster?"

[fears-anatomy]

Clive takes a breath, then leans back in an attempt to regain the distance, his shoulders rigid. "I... do not believe it to be an ethical life to lead. You are much more of a 'person' than others, therefore more capable of reason and ethics.

Ahem. I am a devotee to something as well, but He does not desire fear, only faith and a promise. I could not fathom having to harm in able to show my faith, let alone stay alive! How - how do you justify it?" Clive stands, just to pace a small length. "It - it is entirely antithetical to what we believe as a people."

[every-hour-every-day]

He sighed

"So many of them bring religion into this."

"It's understandable that they do."

Ezra cleared his throat.

"Listen, Clive. It was... hard for me to grapple this life, when it first started happening to me and when I woke up. Not everyone chooses it at first. Sometimes they're just a natural at it, aligned with it. But you have to make a choice at some point, live or die. Not everyone chooses to live this life, but some do make that choice and we all have our own ways of dealing with it. At a certain point, a level of guilt just goes away"

"We both know what choice the other you made, Doctor. That shows you are capable of it, no matter how much you wish to be seperate from him."

[fears-anatomy]

"How can the guilt leave you? Any of you? There are guilts that I feel are too crushing in my own life, and if I depended on the harming of others... I would not survive long." There are plenty of perspectives he can understand or even empathize with, this is just not one of them.

He bristles at the mention of his other self. "That thing-" He runs a hand through his hair, huffing out a sigh. The words come quick, a rushed defense. "May claim my name, wear my face, it is not me. I do not know much of you, but I doubt that your purpose was so entirely opposite to what you are now. I have read so much of its actions, and I know no part of me could be so vicious.

When - when I arrived, it seemed every person who spoke to me know of it, and despised, feared me. For actions that were not my own. And I must hold them ever in my conscience, that I am responsible."

[every-hour-every-day]

"He used to be you, once, a long time ago now. But he is different from you, and you're different from him. You're seperate people. Don't hold his actions so close to your chest, it's not healthy."

Ezra looked at Clive, directly, but not imposing.

"You are a good man, Doctor. If you asked the people I have tormented, whether be a century ago or in the past three decades, they would tell you I am not good, that I'm a monster. They have every right to. But if you asked my collegues, my peers, my students, they would tell you I'm a good man. Neither of these groups have the full story. We have the full story and yet... I don't know what to call ourself. I... hope that was a better answer.

"I don't wish to cause you to have your own mental breakdown regarding all of this stuff."

Ezra spoke in a lighter and more joking tone, in an attempt to shift the mood of the conversation.

[fears-anatomy]

Clive doesn't look back, eyes fixed on the floor just beside Ezra's seat. He hates this feeling. He's listening, but there's much bouncing around his head. His shoulders slump. "Apologies for... my behavior. I have not had much opportunity to speak on that matter. You - I do not intend on implying you are a monster. I have not seen a thing to believe that."

"I will be fine. I do appreciate your concern." The words are a little stunted, but they're genuine enough. "I am glad you have endured my whims, your answers have been enlightening." He steps forward and offers a hand. "Thank you. I would like to invite you to stay, If you do not mind. I would hate to barrage you with inquiries and not.. properly host."

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra stood up and looked at Clive's offered hand for a moment, before he shook it, smiling gently.

"I would honestly like that, Doctor. I came here once my classes were finished for the day so I don't need to rush off anytime soon today."

"Wow look at that, you're practically besties."

Ezra chose to ignore Lucien's sarcasm in this moment.

[every-hour-every-day]

By the time Ezra arrives, the little flat has been tidied up, tea started, a selection of treats set out. Sure, this is more an exchanging of information than a social call, but he's trying to be a good host. Hell, the door is unlocked for Ezra to let himself in.

(@fears-anatomy)

Ezra was in the hallway outside the flat door, about to knock on the door when he stopped, muttering to himself it seemed.

"The door's unlocked"

"How do you know that?"

"We both know that. We broke into a lot of places before you put us in that coma."

"That's ridiculous, there's no way he'd leave his door unlocked."

"Try it, then."

Ezra sighed, then tried to handle, still a bit surprised when the door opened. But he wasn't rude, so he still knocked.

[fears-anatomy]

"Come in!" A voice calls from inside, though he does come open the door a few moments later.

Clive steps back for Ezra to enter. It's always... strange seeing someone of his own time, in some way he can't quite place. Their tone may be a similarity, but he must remind himself that does not guarantee alignment.

A cat makes a rush for the door – and Clive scoops it up before it can get out. "Ezra Jones?" He offers a hand. "Pleasure to meet you."

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra entered the flat, and took Clive's hand, shaking it "Yes, that's me. It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Doctor"

He glanced at the cat that tried to escape out the door and smiled lightly, before closing the door behind him "A little escape artist, huh?"

Ezra looked like a regular person someone would pass on the street. Short-ish brown hair with a slight curl, a vintage brown jacket and a messenger bag over his shoulder. But what stood out about him was his eyes. Heterochromatic eyes, green and blue.

[fears-anatomy]

"He does not understand that the streets he once roamed are not a place for him. Look at him. Positively tortured." Clive jests with a little laugh. The tabby is chubby, rubbing his face happily against the hand that pets him, purring, absolutely thriving.

Clive takes a few moments to study his visitor. "How long have you been here -- now, rather?" He's a little easier to pin down as out of place, between the mutton chops and the cravat tied around his neck. His hazel eyes never linger on the same spot for long, especially not locking gaze with the other.

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra laughed softly, as he looked at the content cat.

"Oh yes, surely deprived of being able to chase mice and rats"

He ran a hand through his hair and sighed, taking a small moment to think once he heard Clive's question.

"Well, w- I woke up in 1995, so I'd have to say around 30 years? Around-ish. I turned 201 in March. Though, my collegues believe I'm 35 years old now"

[fears-anatomy]

Clive steps back, gesturing to offer Ezra a spot to sit on the couch, taking a seat in a parallel armchair. The cat wriggles out of his arms, strutting off elsewhere.

"Hm. If I may ask, how long had you been asleep? And - and I presume there was an... interference of sorts?" He tilts his head.

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra obliged, taking off his messenger bag and placing it at his side as he sat down.

"I'd been... 'asleep' since 17th June, 1858. I say asleep but it was, honestly, more like a coma. I had put myself into it, not on purpose, it was an accident I suppose. I had found myself in a sort of... perdicament, and wanted a way out, but I was so desperate I didn't realise that the way out would be death, and like most humans, I am scared of death."

"Perdicament is one way to put it."

"Shut up." Ezra muttered under his breathe.

[fears-anatomy]

Clive's brow creases as he takes all of that in. Ezra has such clarity in remembering how he got here, something he is completely unable to relate to. A question rears its head, and pushes itself out from his lips before he can think better of it.

"You still believe yourself to be human?" He doesn't mean for it to be as accusatory as it comes out. He realizes this and makes a quick addendum. "It - It is simply that - granted your predicament, as you put it, would you not be considered something entirely else, an other? Defying death..."

[every-hour-every-day]

He sighed for a moment.

"I suppose that's a complicated question. The term human can mean differently for each person. As a species, yes. As a mortal, no. In a literal way, I'm human in every sense except for how I age and how I feed to survive. If people knew what I am and how I feed, then I suppose they'd call me a monster."

He took a glance toward something that showed his reflection then looked back at Clive.

"I'm not the same man I was almost two centuries ago. But, I'm more myself than I was back then. Change is an inevitable thing, and while I feared it back then, now, I embrace it, it's made u- me better."

[fears-anatomy]

Yet more furrowed brows. This is quite the dilemma, his thoughts run wild, and he takes a decent pause to collect himself. It's not often he gets to actually speak to someone in this state without some lingering threat.

"You - you feed, on what exactly? And how often, and -" Clearly getting himself together has not exactly worked, as the questions just keep flowing. "You belong to something greater, which I am no stranger to, but you say it has been... beneficial. Surely there is some negative?" He manages to hold his tongue enough not to speak his thoughts of most avatars he has studied or encountered, and yet... "Do you consider yourself to be a monster?"

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra paused for a moment, thinking, before he answered.

"Do you consider most animals monsters? I know that might be an odd question, but it'll make sense."

"I feed on fear just as the others like me do. Or rather, I don't necessarily feed on fear, but I feed it towards my 'patron', as some would call them. They feed on fear through us, and in turn, we can live.

It's survival in an twisted way, and it's rather ironic to call the dependency on beings outside of the human understanding, 'surviving'. But that is my life now. So yes, there is a negative, we get these abilities and in turn, we lose some independance."

Ezra leaned toward Clive.

"I ask you this, Doctor. Do you consider me a monster?"

[fears-anatomy]

Clive takes a breath, then leans back in an attempt to regain the distance, his shoulders rigid. "I... do not believe it to be an ethical life to lead. You are much more of a 'person' than others, therefore more capable of reason and ethics.

Ahem. I am a devotee to something as well, but He does not desire fear, only faith and a promise. I could not fathom having to harm in able to show my faith, let alone stay alive! How - how do you justify it?" Clive stands, just to pace a small length. "It - it is entirely antithetical to what we believe as a people."

[every-hour-every-day]

He sighed

"So many of them bring religion into this."

"It's understandable that they do."

Ezra cleared his throat.

"Listen, Clive. It was... hard for me to grapple this life, when it first started happening to me and when I woke up. Not everyone chooses it at first. Sometimes they're just a natural at it, aligned with it. But you have to make a choice at some point, live or die. Not everyone chooses to live this life, but some do make that choice and we all have our own ways of dealing with it. At a certain point, a level of guilt just goes away"

"We both know what choice the other you made, Doctor. That shows you are capable of it, no matter how much you wish to be seperate from him."

[fears-anatomy]

"How can the guilt leave you? Any of you? There are guilts that I feel are too crushing in my own life, and if I depended on the harming of others... I would not survive long." There are plenty of perspectives he can understand or even empathize with, this is just not one of them.

He bristles at the mention of his other self. "That thing-" He runs a hand through his hair, huffing out a sigh. The words come quick, a rushed defense. "May claim my name, wear my face, it is not me. I do not know much of you, but I doubt that your purpose was so entirely opposite to what you are now. I have read so much of its actions, and I know no part of me could be so vicious.

When - when I arrived, it seemed every person who spoke to me know of it, and despised, feared me. For actions that were not my own. And I must hold them ever in my conscience, that I am responsible."

[every-hour-every-day]

"He used to be you, once, a long time ago now. But he is different from you, and you're different from him. You're seperate people. Don't hold his actions so close to your chest, it's not healthy."

Ezra looked at Clive, directly, but not imposing.

"You are a good man, Doctor. If you asked the people I have tormented, whether be a century ago or in the past three decades, they would tell you I am not good, that I'm a monster. They have every right to. But if you asked my collegues, my peers, my students, they would tell you I'm a good man. Neither of these groups have the full story. We have the full story and yet... I don't know what to call ourself. I... hope that was a better answer.

"I don't wish to cause you to have your own mental breakdown regarding all of this stuff."

Ezra spoke in a lighter and more joking tone, in an attempt to shift the mood of the conversation.

[every-hour-every-day]

By the time Ezra arrives, the little flat has been tidied up, tea started, a selection of treats set out. Sure, this is more an exchanging of information than a social call, but he's trying to be a good host. Hell, the door is unlocked for Ezra to let himself in.

(@fears-anatomy)

Ezra was in the hallway outside the flat door, about to knock on the door when he stopped, muttering to himself it seemed.

"The door's unlocked"

"How do you know that?"

"We both know that. We broke into a lot of places before you put us in that coma."

"That's ridiculous, there's no way he'd leave his door unlocked."

"Try it, then."

Ezra sighed, then tried to handle, still a bit surprised when the door opened. But he wasn't rude, so he still knocked.

[fears-anatomy]

"Come in!" A voice calls from inside, though he does come open the door a few moments later.

Clive steps back for Ezra to enter. It's always... strange seeing someone of his own time, in some way he can't quite place. Their tone may be a similarity, but he must remind himself that does not guarantee alignment.

A cat makes a rush for the door – and Clive scoops it up before it can get out. "Ezra Jones?" He offers a hand. "Pleasure to meet you."

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra entered the flat, and took Clive's hand, shaking it "Yes, that's me. It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Doctor"

He glanced at the cat that tried to escape out the door and smiled lightly, before closing the door behind him "A little escape artist, huh?"

Ezra looked like a regular person someone would pass on the street. Short-ish brown hair with a slight curl, a vintage brown jacket and a messenger bag over his shoulder. But what stood out about him was his eyes. Heterochromatic eyes, green and blue.

[fears-anatomy]

"He does not understand that the streets he once roamed are not a place for him. Look at him. Positively tortured." Clive jests with a little laugh. The tabby is chubby, rubbing his face happily against the hand that pets him, purring, absolutely thriving.

Clive takes a few moments to study his visitor. "How long have you been here -- now, rather?" He's a little easier to pin down as out of place, between the mutton chops and the cravat tied around his neck. His hazel eyes never linger on the same spot for long, especially not locking gaze with the other.

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra laughed softly, as he looked at the content cat.

"Oh yes, surely deprived of being able to chase mice and rats"

He ran a hand through his hair and sighed, taking a small moment to think once he heard Clive's question.

"Well, w- I woke up in 1995, so I'd have to say around 30 years? Around-ish. I turned 201 in March. Though, my collegues believe I'm 35 years old now"

[fears-anatomy]

Clive steps back, gesturing to offer Ezra a spot to sit on the couch, taking a seat in a parallel armchair. The cat wriggles out of his arms, strutting off elsewhere.

"Hm. If I may ask, how long had you been asleep? And - and I presume there was an... interference of sorts?" He tilts his head.

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra obliged, taking off his messenger bag and placing it at his side as he sat down.

"I'd been... 'asleep' since 17th June, 1858. I say asleep but it was, honestly, more like a coma. I had put myself into it, not on purpose, it was an accident I suppose. I had found myself in a sort of... perdicament, and wanted a way out, but I was so desperate I didn't realise that the way out would be death, and like most humans, I am scared of death."

"Perdicament is one way to put it."

"Shut up." Ezra muttered under his breathe.

[fears-anatomy]

Clive's brow creases as he takes all of that in. Ezra has such clarity in remembering how he got here, something he is completely unable to relate to. A question rears its head, and pushes itself out from his lips before he can think better of it.

"You still believe yourself to be human?" He doesn't mean for it to be as accusatory as it comes out. He realizes this and makes a quick addendum. "It - It is simply that - granted your predicament, as you put it, would you not be considered something entirely else, an other? Defying death..."

[every-hour-every-day]

He sighed for a moment.

"I suppose that's a complicated question. The term human can mean differently for each person. As a species, yes. As a mortal, no. In a literal way, I'm human in every sense except for how I age and how I feed to survive. If people knew what I am and how I feed, then I suppose they'd call me a monster."

He took a glance toward something that showed his reflection then looked back at Clive.

"I'm not the same man I was almost two centuries ago. But, I'm more myself than I was back then. Change is an inevitable thing, and while I feared it back then, now, I embrace it, it's made u- me better."

[fears-anatomy]

Yet more furrowed brows. This is quite the dilemma, his thoughts run wild, and he takes a decent pause to collect himself. It's not often he gets to actually speak to someone in this state without some lingering threat.

"You - you feed, on what exactly? And how often, and -" Clearly getting himself together has not exactly worked, as the questions just keep flowing. "You belong to something greater, which I am no stranger to, but you say it has been... beneficial. Surely there is some negative?" He manages to hold his tongue enough not to speak his thoughts of most avatars he has studied or encountered, and yet... "Do you consider yourself to be a monster?"

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra paused for a moment, thinking, before he answered.

"Do you consider most animals monsters? I know that might be an odd question, but it'll make sense."

"I feed on fear just as the others like me do. Or rather, I don't necessarily feed on fear, but I feed it towards my 'patron', as some would call them. They feed on fear through us, and in turn, we can live.

It's survival in an twisted way, and it's rather ironic to call the dependency on beings outside of the human understanding, 'surviving'. But that is my life now. So yes, there is a negative, we get these abilities and in turn, we lose some independance."

Ezra leaned toward Clive.

"I ask you this, Doctor. Do you consider me a monster?"

[fears-anatomy]

Clive takes a breath, then leans back in an attempt to regain the distance, his shoulders rigid. "I... do not believe it to be an ethical life to lead. You are much more of a 'person' than others, therefore more capable of reason and ethics.

Ahem. I am a devotee to something as well, but He does not desire fear, only faith and a promise. I could not fathom having to harm in able to show my faith, let alone stay alive! How - how do you justify it?" Clive stands, just to pace a small length. "It - it is entirely antithetical to what we believe as a people."

[every-hour-every-day]

He sighed

"So many of them bring religion into this."

"It's understandable that they do."

Ezra cleared his throat.

"Listen, Clive. It was... hard for me to grapple this life, when it first started happening to me and when I woke up. Not everyone chooses it at first. Sometimes they're just a natural at it, aligned with it. But you have to make a choice at some point, live or die. Not everyone chooses to live this life, but some do make that choice and we all have our own ways of dealing with it. At a certain point, a level of guilt just goes away"

"We both know what choice the other you made, Doctor. That shows you are capable of it, no matter how much you wish to be seperate from him."

[every-hour-every-day]

By the time Ezra arrives, the little flat has been tidied up, tea started, a selection of treats set out. Sure, this is more an exchanging of information than a social call, but he's trying to be a good host. Hell, the door is unlocked for Ezra to let himself in.

(@fears-anatomy)

Ezra was in the hallway outside the flat door, about to knock on the door when he stopped, muttering to himself it seemed.

"The door's unlocked"

"How do you know that?"

"We both know that. We broke into a lot of places before you put us in that coma."

"That's ridiculous, there's no way he'd leave his door unlocked."

"Try it, then."

Ezra sighed, then tried to handle, still a bit surprised when the door opened. But he wasn't rude, so he still knocked.

[fears-anatomy]

"Come in!" A voice calls from inside, though he does come open the door a few moments later.

Clive steps back for Ezra to enter. It's always... strange seeing someone of his own time, in some way he can't quite place. Their tone may be a similarity, but he must remind himself that does not guarantee alignment.

A cat makes a rush for the door – and Clive scoops it up before it can get out. "Ezra Jones?" He offers a hand. "Pleasure to meet you."

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra entered the flat, and took Clive's hand, shaking it "Yes, that's me. It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Doctor"

He glanced at the cat that tried to escape out the door and smiled lightly, before closing the door behind him "A little escape artist, huh?"

Ezra looked like a regular person someone would pass on the street. Short-ish brown hair with a slight curl, a vintage brown jacket and a messenger bag over his shoulder. But what stood out about him was his eyes. Heterochromatic eyes, green and blue.

[fears-anatomy]

"He does not understand that the streets he once roamed are not a place for him. Look at him. Positively tortured." Clive jests with a little laugh. The tabby is chubby, rubbing his face happily against the hand that pets him, purring, absolutely thriving.

Clive takes a few moments to study his visitor. "How long have you been here -- now, rather?" He's a little easier to pin down as out of place, between the mutton chops and the cravat tied around his neck. His hazel eyes never linger on the same spot for long, especially not locking gaze with the other.

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra laughed softly, as he looked at the content cat.

"Oh yes, surely deprived of being able to chase mice and rats"

He ran a hand through his hair and sighed, taking a small moment to think once he heard Clive's question.

"Well, w- I woke up in 1995, so I'd have to say around 30 years? Around-ish. I turned 201 in March. Though, my collegues believe I'm 35 years old now"

[fears-anatomy]

Clive steps back, gesturing to offer Ezra a spot to sit on the couch, taking a seat in a parallel armchair. The cat wriggles out of his arms, strutting off elsewhere.

"Hm. If I may ask, how long had you been asleep? And - and I presume there was an... interference of sorts?" He tilts his head.

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra obliged, taking off his messenger bag and placing it at his side as he sat down.

"I'd been... 'asleep' since 17th June, 1858. I say asleep but it was, honestly, more like a coma. I had put myself into it, not on purpose, it was an accident I suppose. I had found myself in a sort of... perdicament, and wanted a way out, but I was so desperate I didn't realise that the way out would be death, and like most humans, I am scared of death."

"Perdicament is one way to put it."

"Shut up." Ezra muttered under his breathe.

[fears-anatomy]

Clive's brow creases as he takes all of that in. Ezra has such clarity in remembering how he got here, something he is completely unable to relate to. A question rears its head, and pushes itself out from his lips before he can think better of it.

"You still believe yourself to be human?" He doesn't mean for it to be as accusatory as it comes out. He realizes this and makes a quick addendum. "It - It is simply that - granted your predicament, as you put it, would you not be considered something entirely else, an other? Defying death..."

[every-hour-every-day]

He sighed for a moment.

"I suppose that's a complicated question. The term human can mean differently for each person. As a species, yes. As a mortal, no. In a literal way, I'm human in every sense except for how I age and how I feed to survive. If people knew what I am and how I feed, then I suppose they'd call me a monster."

He took a glance toward something that showed his reflection then looked back at Clive.

"I'm not the same man I was almost two centuries ago. But, I'm more myself than I was back then. Change is an inevitable thing, and while I feared it back then, now, I embrace it, it's made u- me better."

[fears-anatomy]

Yet more furrowed brows. This is quite the dilemma, his thoughts run wild, and he takes a decent pause to collect himself. It's not often he gets to actually speak to someone in this state without some lingering threat.

"You - you feed, on what exactly? And how often, and -" Clearly getting himself together has not exactly worked, as the questions just keep flowing. "You belong to something greater, which I am no stranger to, but you say it has been... beneficial. Surely there is some negative?" He manages to hold his tongue enough not to speak his thoughts of most avatars he has studied or encountered, and yet... "Do you consider yourself to be a monster?"

[every-hour-every-day]

Ezra paused for a moment, thinking, before he answered.

"Do you consider most animals monsters? I know that might be an odd question, but it'll make sense."

"I feed on fear just as the others like me do. Or rather, I don't necessarily feed on fear, but I feed it towards my 'patron', as some would call them. They feed on fear through us, and in turn, we can live.

It's survival in an twisted way, and it's rather ironic to call the dependency on beings outside of the human understanding, 'surviving'. But that is my life now. So yes, there is a negative, we get these abilities and in turn, we lose some independance."

Ezra leaned toward Clive.

"I ask you this, Doctor. Do you consider me a monster?"