Nevermore Perch 1 | 2
A/N: People process things differently. I do so by writing. For now, Valko is remaining safe at Nevermore Perch. Quick editing, so I apologize for mistakes.
The store creaked regularly - constantly adjusting to add and remove shelves. It was a never ending task when you were burdened to hold all the stories that never came to be.
Of course, there were times that stories would leave, too. When they were picked up once more, completed, and released into the place they came from.
It had become as common as a hum of an air conditioner, the creaking. You hardly paid it any notice anymore.
But this time, the sound the Perch made was loud and came from above.
The shop had changed over your time here. The front had become a legitimate store of actual tomes, so that your presence between the large concrete structures of downtown N109 made sense.
Past the hidden wall where children often played is where the real treasure was stored - stories upon stories all safely housed away for when they were needed once more.
The only thing upstairs was your living space.
Eyes darting to the ceiling, you put a bookmark in your current read and shut the book.
Edgar slid out from the shadows to his raven form and hopped on your shoulder, also looking up.
"Are we expecting someone new?"
Brows furrowed, you made your way up the stairs. Before, at the top, it was one door that opened to the studio suite. Now, it led to a short hallway, a door on either side. One marked with your first initial, and the other with a V.
Curiosity being your constant downfall, you hesitantly knocked on the new door. When there was no sound, you tried the handle, finding it locked.
"Alright, I hear you," you mumbled to the building, heading back downstairs.
When you arrived you saw that Tonitrus had crawled out from wherever he had been previously napping, leapt onto the front counter, and was sniffing a boxed drink that had not been there a few minutes before.
"You don't drink milk," the dragon said as you picked up the small box to inspect it.
"No, it's not my drink of choice," you confirmed.
AWOO Milk - Chocolate
"Alright, Perch, what are you trying to tell me?"
The next set of creaks came from where you would expect, but they were loud - the pops reminding you of firecrackers - and then a heavy thump.
Edgar's talons dug into your shoulder as you turned to head toward the sound. But it was Tonitrus that fully stepped in front of you, size increased to that of a miniature horse.
"Stupid human, you are too frail to be running off toward strange sounds."
"Frail?" you asked dryly, trying to shove past, but the dragon wouldn't let you, and Edgar clicked a tongue in agreement.
"Let the beast go first," the demon added, and, because it wasn't like you would be able to physically win this, you conceded.
Tonitrus led the way through the back alcove to, typically, a large atrium with multiple branches. This time, however, the atrium was filled with shelves, books of all sizes appearing and disappearing rapidly.
But not only books, you noticed. There seemed to be an area of pinned storyboarding and animation drawings.
What in the -
A groan from the floor pulled your attention to a man on the floor. The Perch had graciously put a plush rug underneath him, but, based on his size and how he lay on his back, you doubted that it did much to protect him when he fell.
He was huge - nearly if not the same size of the Onychinus leader. But where Sylus was more lean, this man had muscle. Deep maroon hair was styled with an undercut and showed off his jawline.
Based on how he was dressed, you would have sworn he just dropped through the floor from a board meeting.
"Um...hello?"
He groaned again, hands holding his head. Slowly he sat up, blinking as he turned to look at you.
Eyes of molten gold. Eyes narrowing in distrust.
"Who are you?" he growled, now pushing himself to standing and stalking over. Tonitrus blocked his way, causing the man's steps to falter.
"Where am I?"
"Nevermore Perch."
"No, where am I?"
You blinked. "Nevermore Perch," you said again, slowly. "We are located in the N109 Zone -"
"Where?"
"It's quite alright. We're under Onychinus' protection. You're perfectly safe -"
The man was already shoving his way past you and through the alcove, heading for the front door.
With a heavy sigh through your nose, you turned to inspect the ever growing and adjusting shelves. 'Valko Yin' was the plate over the top most shelf.
Once more, you found yourself looking over the storyboards when a familiar logo caught your eye. Something inside of you sank.
"Didn't even give you a chance, huh?" you mumbled, when farther away the front door slammed.
A whoosh of wind, and then the man - Valko, stood back on the rug.
He looked at you, at the alcove, at Edgar now sitting between Tonitrus' horns, and then sprinted out again, only to be met with the same result.
"What the - what is going on? Look, I have to go, I have a meeting."
You just blinked, trying hard to not let the pity show on your face. When you said nothing, he sprinted again, crying out in frustration to appeared next to you a minute later.
He sunk back to his knees, and you sunk down next to him. Quietly, you took the saran wrap straw from the drink box, poked a hole in it, and passed it over to him.
Valko drank it without complaint.
When he was finished, he sat the box next to him, his stare now on one of the shelves in constant flux.
"Why can't I leave?" His voice cracked, and you felt your own chest sink at the sound.
"Nevermore Perch is a place of stories that never were," you said gently. "A place for stories never finished or never shared for whatever reason. Based on these shelves, you're here because your story is no longer where it is supposed to be."
"So...I can't leave?"
"Not as long as it exists here. Although, you must be something of a rarity. We have all types of abandoned stories and fanfictions here, but not one as whole as you."
You sat down, crossing your legs.
"They told me - they told me I would close my eyes and...but...now I'm here. And I can't leave."
"For now, unless your story is picked up and told in the future." Gently, hesitantly, you touched a hand to his shoulder, relaxing when he didn't flinch.
"Nevermore's not so bad. It'll be nice to have someone to talk to other than these two," you said with a head nod to the two creatures and a small smile. "But, Valko, I'll tell you one thing I do know."
He looked at you then with those golden eyes, shining with emotion. You tilted your head to the shelves. "Do you see how the books come and go? That's people fighting - creating, all in your name. You are already so loved, even if your story remains here."
With a gentle squeeze you stood. "Take the time you need. The Perch already made a room for you upstairs. I'll be at the front and, when you're ready, I'll tell you all about the impossible store of impossible stories."