Ship In A Bottle (A Monkie Kid Reader Insert)

Chapter 48: Pulling The Plug

Today...was a bit of a frustrating one, for Rasmus.

Tapping his fingers on his work desk, the piece of paper remained blank and untouched for maybe thirty minutes now. The sun was past its peak, the few rays that made it past the clouds casting through the rust-colored curtains. If it weren't for the curtains filtering the light into a rich amber hue, it was the suncatchers creating reflections in the room.

Rolling the pencil next to the paper, Rasmus' hazel eyes were stuck on the blank page, unable to bring it in himself to start sketching. He had just emptied his trash can an hour ago, and already had it half full of crumpled paper since. What a waste. Ironic for someone who was supposed to be more mindful of how much waste he makes. 

Ever since he gave his mentor the anti-possession vial, Zixin's been working restlessly to put it into good use. Posted all over in flyers, billboards, and social media including Rasmus' own, a contest. An accessory-making contest based on public votes. 

The plan was to use the vial on the winning accessory and popularize it, just as Mme. Shihan apparently planned. With both the contest being just a day away from finishing, and other matters cluttering Zixin's work desk, Rasmus offered to take off some load for them.

Specifically, creating an outfit for this one client.

It should be simple enough, right? It wasn't a full blown gown or anything. Just something for a stage performance, given the client was the agent for a popular idol group. That wasn't to say he wasn't intimidated either. Not only is it five different outfits, but it was also the first time he would fill a commission for celebrities. That may or may not ended up being translated into the pressure he was feeling now, needing this commission to be completely perfect from the sketching process itself.

Completely at a loss for ideas, he scrolled through his phone. Pictures sent by the agent to give him an idea on what the concert's theme will be. A mix of an aesthetic surrounding ballet with a heavy motif surrounding the stages of life. Pieces of glass dangled from the suncatchers, casting colors onto the paper that should've been drawn on by now, and yet, Rasmus couldn't figure anything out. What was it called again? Oh right.

Burnout...

Maybe it was how stressful everything has been, keeping tabs on the Parawatch server for anything that can fix the platforms. Add his training with powers he never even knew he had, the amount of work he was currently doing under Zixin's wing, and even just making sure this house won't collapse in on itself. Maybe he was too used to having M. Song here. Maybe he was too used to having Mme. Xue here. Maybe he was too used to having Lily here. But with the first one stuck as a spider demon, the second possessed by the bone demon, and the third staying elsewhere because of a 'promotion' of sorts, well...That leaves him still in the house.

Too occupied by his thoughts, he snapped out of it as Kumquat sat on his lap. "Oh, hello there, Kumquat." He scratched the cat's chin, bringing out a string of purrs that erupted out of the ginger feline's throat. After some time of house-sitting alone, he eventually let Kumquat in his room, previously keeping him out to refrain anything bad from happening to his works. Nowadays, Kumquat became more adjusted with him, his favorite humans not exactly there.

It was an entire week that the cat hid underneath the nearest furniture every time the tailor unlocked the door, only coming out when he knew he wasn't looking. The following weeks, Rasmus spent some time trying to befriend the cat, with small steps in progress. Now, the two got along better. Not in the same level as the Bai family, but Kumquat at least respected Rasmus enough to not be a menace.

...Most of the time.

He didn't know how you and M. Sandy make it so easy, still having some trouble despite the cat-caring books he borrowed from the blue giant, sitting on the little bookshelf screwed to the wall. He even had his own little polaroids hanging on the decorative strings of yarn, displaying images he took on his own for any inspiration for the commissioned outfits. Except for one polaroid, sitting next to his pencil.