[ talk to me, tell me i'm fine ] — open; division ceremony

[michael t.]

ALL I FOUND THE SPACE BETWEEN THE SPACES
STANDING IN THE NOTHING, AND TIME RECLAIMS YOU

Unlike Vayne's ceremony, which Michael had a personal hand in through giving her the map, the dealer hadn't even been aware that Danny planned on doing his own ceremony so soon. In fact, he had been fast asleep when the canine had first set out, his body relaxed as he snored away inside his hut. It was only an hour or so before he woke up, however, and he was surprised to find the other's scent crisscrossing the entire archipelago, practically. It didn't take long for him to connect the dots, and he decided to forgo his usual breakfast, instead turning and heading towards the volcano. He still didn't feel completely comfortable with the towering structure of rock, but he was getting there. Especially with the recent discovery of the hot springs. He had been visiting often, glad to sink down into the warm waters and relax after a long day of dealer work. Of course, things were usually peaceful until Roxie came along to pick on him as she usually did – not that he really minded that much.

When Michael finally did reach the base of the volcano, though, he found that he didn't need to make the trek all the way up. Mainly because Danny was already taking a fairly long tumble down. Much like Keona, the thief found himself taking a step back as the canine eventually came to a stop, crashing into the brush. With a soft snort leaving him, the dealer found himself muttering, tail twitching behind him, "Well... nice job there, Danny. Not only did you complete the ceremony, but I'm fairly sure I've never seen someone come down from it with so much flair. I'm sure you're gonna be a great addition to the Grim Rays." He then fell silent, biting down on the inside of his cheek to keep his further amusement from showing. It wouldn't be fair to tease the kid about his obvious crush so soon after something so triumphant. So for now, he just kept his mouth shut, glad that Danny had managed to succeed, and make his way down safely... well, mostly safely.

— Reggan