[hr][color=coral][sup][h1][center][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/dea520f1b73d3f51bce096cf5120b83b/fa86134b8482020c-33/s500x750/30755017be1a6232a36fc54dae32e0c056b9abed.gif[/img][/center]
[b][center][color=black]MÁNI[/color] 
[color=#ADD8E6]MÁNI[/color][/center][/b][/h1][/sup][/color][color=#ADD8E6][sub]ꜱᴇᴀᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴜɴɪᴠᴇʀꜱɪᴛʏ » ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴀʟʟ[/sub] [sub][right]ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ʜɪᴛꜱ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴇʏᴇ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ʙɪɢ ᴘɪᴢᴢᴀ ᴘɪᴇ, [/right][/sub]
[sup][right]ᴛʜᴀᴛ'ꜱ ɴᴏᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ. ᴛʜᴀᴛ'ꜱ ᴀ ʙɪɢ ᴡʜᴇᴇʟ ᴏꜰ ᴄʜᴇᴇꜱᴇ.[/right][/sup][/color]
[sup][sup][sup][sup][sup][sup][hr][/sup][/sup][/sup][/sup][/sup][/sup][color=#A9A9A9][indent][indent][indent]Night changes with the passing years: a serene calm that blankets the world in unknown shadows; a wisp hidden between the dips of streetlights and city cars, slunk into alley shadows and diamond eyes against rooftops. However, night remained a fervent constant and the stars that hung as a mantle against the moon's shoulders remained forever present in the inkwell sky. The city breeze felt cool to the touch, alight on Mani's skin like the glimmer of stardust passing by him. To feel that again, willingly this time, in the shower of meteor dust and cool, comforting void.

Yet he fell to the earth again, happily though, with a blaze and a tug against his leather jacket. His eyebrows raised in question to the petite girl that stared up at him with a fluster to her face. [b]"Dr. Munson, I have something, um, important to tell you,"[/b] she said under the hush of her own voice. The tips of autumn frost bit at her breath, though Mani could tell that it the cold didn't color her cheeks.

[color=#ADD8E6]"What's up, Anita? Do you need an escort to your car?"[/color] Mani smiled with a tilt of his head. He offered the nook of his elbow to the young girl to which she gingerly took it.

[b]"No, I—actually, I do, thank you. But, actually I just wanted to..."[/b] her words trailed off as she sucked her bottom lip between her teeth.

Mani's brows pinched. Recounting the group sessions, this felt par for the course for Anita, yet her eyes prickled with moisture instead of the usual blind terror of social interaction. The latter felt relatable, honestly, in this day and age. [color=#ADD8E6]"Hmm, it's a beautiful night, isn't it?"[/color] Mani started as he lifted his head to the sky. The constant vigilance of city lights warded off all but the brightest stars, but their lights couldn't shroud the moon no matter how hard they shined. Anita's eyes followed his. She still bit and gnawed the skin of her lip away.

[color=#ADD8E6]"My father liked to tell me a story when I was a kid about a rabbit trapped on the moon,"[/color] Mani quickly turned to look at Anita, grinning at her, [color=#ADD8E6]"Don't ask how he got up there 'cause he never told me."[/color] Yet, he continued, letting his head tilt in her direction as they walked toward the parking lot, dimmed by early autumn air. [color=#ADD8E6]"The rabbit would wander and wander against the crater seas. He knew that he was alone — that he would be alone forever. Yet, the rabbit never felt lonely. Every night he would settle into the coarse, white sand beneath his feet and he'd dig. He'd find the hollow of the moon around him, comforting and everlasting. And he would tell the moon his worries, whisper it into the ground encasing him. Though the moon never spoke, the rabbit knew she always listened. And when the rabbit settled in for the very, very last time, the moon wrapped her arms around him and cast him to the stars above her that she would always listen for his pitter pattering feet and his worried words aloft in the void around her."[/color]

They both stopped at a small blue Volkswagen Beetle, Mani facing Anita and Anita staring intently at her license plate. The moon shone against her lightly bronze skin with light wisps of curly black hair flowing out of the shayla wrapped loosely around her head and neck. A light sparkle of a diamond dripped down her cheek and her hand rose to swipe it away. [b]"I lied to the group earlier,"[/b] she said, hushed under the whisper of her lips, [b]"The pressure's been too much and I just... I just... I—I..."[/b] Her face scrunched up and she hid away the look in her eyes as she turned her head away.

Yet, the moon still reached out with his hand firmly grasping her shoulders. She had her escape if she wanted it; Mani wouldn't dare imprison someone in pain. Anita kept herself frozen in place as he moved to face her. [color=#ADD8E6]"Hey, there's no shame here,"[/color] Mani spoke with a soft, warm smile alleviating the lines of his features, [color=#ADD8E6]"There's strength in admittance and even further strength in knowing that even the strongest must falter sometimes. Hmmm."[/color] Mani paused for a second before pinching his brows and reaching into his jacket pocket. He pulled out a small business card with his name, number, and office address written on it. [color=#ADD8E6]"Take this. You don't need to call me tomorrow, or the next day, or even for a year, but if you think you want professional help rather than group counseling, take it."[/color]

[b]"I've got so many loa—"[/b]

Mani cut her off with a laugh and a smile, [color=#ADD8E6]"Pro bono, Anita. I'm not gonna charge you a dime. Call or stop on by, whatever's most comfortable for you. Just remember, relapsing is only a part of the journey. Let yourself stumble or fall, but pick yourself up or let someone help you stand. Alone doesn't have to mean lonely."[/color] With that, he moved toward her car door and opened it as it beeped.

Before the night swept her away, Anita turned to look up at Mani, [b]"Thank you Dr. Munson... I think I'll call. Maybe."[/b]

Mani only grinned, offering her a wave as he closed the door with parting words, [color=#ADD8E6]"Do what you think is best, as long as you keep poking your head in for the group sessions. It wouldn't be the same without you."[/color] He winked as she smiled softly, though her eyes still held uncertainty at least he could see resolve beneath the honey brown.

As the car wheeled out, Mani let out a smile sigh, chest heaving lightly before he turned his eyes toward his watch. [color=#ADD8E6]"Ooh, fashionably late. Just how I like it."[/color]

[hr]
Flashy things, silly lights and sillier music, good food and tasty wine, not necessarily fit for a god lacking of poise and posture. Still, not every day one gets an invite, especially filled to the brim with a few funny faces mortal and godly alike. Especially one so [i]funny[/i] it brought his lips up in a cringe: Arik Börson. A man caught between the throes of a lazy king with his many [s]booty-calls[/s] vassals and the will of a retired man basking away at the infinite twilight of his years. Obviously, Mani appreciated the latter one far more. The former reminded him of the simple shrug he gave at the request of the gods around him to toss him and his sister aloft to the skies for all eternity.

[i]'Can we eject this kid into space'[/i]

[i]'Eh, why not?'[/i]

It brought a sour taste to his mouth as he pressed the wrinkles of his [url=https://tomandlorenzo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Avengers-Sebastian-Stan-GQ-Magazine-Fashion-Tom-Lorenzo-Site-3.jpg][color=#ADD8E6]suit[/color][/url] down. If that god came into attendance rather than The Big Alföðowski, he'd turn heel and walk straight out the door. Even if the site brought memories of lonely days suddenly filled with a nip at his heels and the promise of a chase. Mani tempered that thought, sucked it straight down in one gulp and flew right out of his car.

Of course, no one recognized his face or cared to know his name, but Mani still sidled beside a few big names, smiling over their shoulders and answering their questions. [b]"How is the recent movie coming along? Any comment on the rumors of your affair with—"[/b]

[color=#ADD8E6]"Well, uh, he's got a great ass, for one. And the biggest, juiciest, thickest slobber worthy di—ow! Aha. Okay, okay!"[/color]

Mani dipped here and there, grinning and giggling with madness as he finally moved past the reporters. It hadn't truly occurred to him to watch his step, as it never did with Mani. He came into the building in a light tumble over his own feet, colliding into the back of a tall, suited man. Immediately, Mani jumped back to his feet with his hands pressed to the man's back before circling around. [color=#ADD8E6]"Whoa, sorry. Sorry, did I make you spill anything? I don't watch where I'm go...ing,"[/color] His eyes came up to capture a pair of rather familiar eyes that immediately brought a pinch to his brow. A sudden surge of adrenaline shot through him, bid him to pick his feet from the sludge they fell into and run. Just run with the stars at his back fading into bright lines that circled the earth careening beneath him until his lungs gasped bursts of air. Until a smile broke his face and laughter tumbled like moon dust from his lips.

Mani coughed. Still staring at a man that could very well bring Hati's silver mane to shame. Perhaps with very good reason.[/indent][/indent][/indent]
[right][sup][color=#ADD8E6]Interactions:[/color] Hati [@KZOMBI3][/sup][/right][/color]