middaeg | [closed] as we all sing a happy little working song

[The boys are presented with a strange-looking automaton and they’re told that the little thing hasn’t quite seen a complete life yet. The tiny robot is meant to have feelings and emotions too but there’s just no way to magically grant that to an inanimate object that anyone knows of yet. So the two of them are tasked with finding a way to teach the ticking tin thing how to understand or even feel human emotions.

Sora hunkers down to reach out and poke the little machine in the side with one clawed finger. Sora’s rabbit ears twitch as he listens to the automaton make a little jingling noise as it looks up at Sora.]

It’s kinda cute! I wonder how we can help it learn some human emotions, though? Maybe we should tell it a bunch of really good stories?

[Sora has plenty of those.]

[By now Sora is really happy when he gets to work with Sypha. Quests with her are always done well and they seem to work great together. But Sora has noticed that he’d love to know more about her as a friend so asking her on yet another quest is exactly what he does.

They’re hunting down sheep to shear them today. Sora is a little curious how it’ll go since he has done this once before. Little does he know, these sheep will be giving Sora an even harder time than the last time he’s tried this.]

Hey, Sypha? Have you ever sheared sheep before?

[The little cluster of grazing sheep ahead of them seem so happy and content to be munching on the grass and clover.]

[Last month one of Sora’s bondmates got into a little bit of dire trouble in the woods, earning him quite the nasty wound or two from a fight with a creature infected with cwyld. So, Sora had been hanging around a certain house more often than not to make sure he healed properly.

It’s fairly obvious that Mira isn’t around as often as Sora would think she is even after he and Vanitas had clamoured in after the bloody incident. She seems a little distracted and while Sora knows he shouldn’t pry he can’t help but want to see if she’s okay. She’s done a lot for Vanitas and he’s very thankful for that. And with Sora staying over so much he feels like he should do something nice for her.

That afternoon he heads to the house in hopes that he can catch her there before she hides away.]

Hey, Mira? Are you home?

[It's one of the only reasons to be around the house more often; someone she cares for has been injured and how could she not take care of him? He did the same for her when she was really sick. Mira only ever leaves if there is nothing Vani needs or if he would be resting for awhile.

But while this has been happening, she has seen Sora rarely leave his side. She knows he'd do anything for the other so she can rest a bit easier knowing that another would be watching over Vanitas. This time when Sora comes over, she's packing a small basket of foodstuffs for the day so she work at her 'office' with little interruption; the shop asked about making a more potent potion to match their best seller so Mira has to experiment a bit. Hearing him call out, Mira returns it in kind.]

In the kitchen!

[Happy to hear her call back out to him in return Sora quickly makes his way for the kitchen. He peeks his head in first, long rabbit ears giving little twitches as he waves hello.]

Hi, Mira!

[He's so glad to have caught her because she seems to be trying to take off again.]

How are you doing? I hope you don't mind me barging in again.

Honestly, I feel like you need a key with how often you are here.

[It's said with a chuckle as she closes the basket, turning to face the puca.]

I am fine myself. [As much as she can be. Thankfully Sora can't feel the tension in the house.] But I'm sure Vanitas is in his room now.

Haha, sorry.

[Sora knows he's here so much! And maybe that's why he feels like he needs to show some proper appreciation too. Mira has been so hospitable.]

But, actually! I'm here to see you!

[He'll catch up with Vanitas later, of course. Instead, Sora pulls out a package from behind his back that he had been holding. It's a neatly wrapped box in blue and silver.]

I wanted to give you this. I guess as a thanks for always letting me stick around.

To see me? I honestly have no idea why but-

[And then she sees the box presented to her. Was this...for her? Just the fact that he did this for what seems to be a whim makes her almost speechless as she slowly takes the package.]

Oh Sora, you didn't need to go through so much trouble on my account.

[Well, when she'd taken the job she'd expected something a little weird, and surprise-surprise, she had definitely gotten it. Sheep. Sora. This was a recipe for weirdness.

And hey, that's fine.]

Sheared? No, I haven't. I read about it before, but I've never put it into practice. Speakers don't keep sheep.

[Honestly? When are things not a little weird when Sora is involved? None the less Sora seems chipper and ready for the day.]

Well, I've tried it once before! And this time I brought way more carrots and snacks for them. It's a good distraction.

[He gestures to his bag stuffed full of veggie treats.]

What else did Speakers do besides fight evil vampires?

[Sora lets out a happy chuckle. He gives the offered gift with a big warm smile.]

After all the things you've done for me and for Vanitas? I don't think I went through enough trouble.

[Really, he has so much to be grateful for.]

It's a thanks. I think we all need something like that once in a while.

[Inside is a nice selection of alchemist-made skin care products, bath salts, sweet smelling oils for hair and all that sort of beauty self-care girly stuff.]

[ Suffice to say that Vanitas couldn't keep the fact that he had intended to go out into the Wilde again a secret. His plan had been to tell Sora that he is going to go on the day he thought to leave. The Puca had been pretty fierce in his insistence that Van recovers before doing anything too strenuous. And Vanitas had tried to sneak off a few times...

Well it's no surprise, then, that once Sora had found out - seeing a bag in Van's room packed and ready to go - he'd insist upon going with. Truth is, he kind of wasn't going to let Vanitas go without him? Which, okay. Fair. They had also talked about going into the Wilde together this month anyway. Two bird one stone or something like that. ]

Are you coming or not?

[ But Van isn't feeling quite so patient today. He is standing outside Sora's window, for he still refuses to go inside. Sora should have already been packed and ready to go himself! ]

Truly, you do not need to go so far on my behalf.

[Honestly, the thought touches her. Mainly because it's not a sign of obligation or holiday that makes it much better. One can tell how another is by means of surprises such as this...as long as it is not the only thing given. She's still one who prefers actions but once in awhile, a small gift is nice. And then she opens it and it makes her speechless.

So this is part of that so called 'self care', right? It brings a smile to her face and she's lucky that she doesn't feel like tearing up. She's done too much of that lately.]

Oh Sora...this is lovely. I do not have many words except...thank you.

[There is no way in all the galaxy's worlds that he is going to let Vanitas sneak off to go on another job on his own this month. Not only had Vanitas just finished getting back on his feet but he also said that they could go together the next time something they could both do together came around. And Sora knows that he can't keep nagging Vanitas forever, the boy was going to escape eventually so he might as well escape with Sora??

So here he is, finishing rummaging through his things and latching Kingdom Key to his harness before he tosses a bag out his window. Seems he's still used to just using the windows in lieu of the doors.]

I'm coming! Hold on!

[He sneaks only last look in the mirror before he turns to go. The little lump he has gained on his tailbone is there now. Clear as day just this morning. He frowns and tries to tug his shirt down over the puff of his new ...

...

Cottontail.]

Hmmmnnm...

[He grumbles a little before he sighs and goes to face his fate. Vanitas is definitely going to comment. He hops out of the window with jump, a very bunny-like hop. He gathers his things and pulls his bag on all the while trying to keep his back away from Vanitas' view.]

Alright! Let's get going!

[ More like he doesn't have a choice but to let Sora come along, right? The Coven had said that Witches should bring along their Monsters or go in pairs. Of course Van isn't the sort to heed those warnings, but hey. Sora probably doesn't know that little detail about this task and Van isn't going to tell him it either. Sora will just feel justified in coming along, using it as a point emphasize his own... ]

If you take any longer we won't get to a good spot to settle before nightfall.

[ And not even Vanitas necessarily wants to be out in the Wilde at night. Nothing good ever comes from that sort of thing. Never. The creatures that lurk in the darkness even sets him on edge.

However, before Van can start to pace too much, Sora does hop out the window. The delinquent. Thankfully Vanitas isn't going to notice that Sora is trying to hide something from him. Not right away, anyway... ]

Finally! Let's go.

[ Since he's too driven to get out of the city. Too much idle time and not enough doing anything because he hadn't been allowed too. Don't worry. He'll likely start to notice Sora's nervous energy once they get out of the city and into the Wilde. ]

[He's going to use Vanitas' antsiness to his advantage, here. With Vanitas ready to go he'll let the other boy take the lead. With him one step ahead Sora doesn't have to worry about Vanitas catching a glimpse of his fuzzy backside too soon.

He knows it's sort of inevitable... But the stubborn boy in him really wants to prolong the moment from happening... The spot is actually still very sensitive and new.]

R-right! Uh, we've got everything we need, I think! Yeah!

[Just going to follow a step behind the other boy.]

So what are we after again?

[ Oh he'll also notice sooner rather than later. Sora has failed to do the one thing that he always does: take Van's hand. It doesn't matter where they seem to be going or what they are doing but Sora always has Van's hand. He's grown rather used to its presence. Thus that missing piece will eventually clue Vanitas into the fact that something is amiss. ]

Better hope we do because we're not going to be able to come back and get it.

[ Shouldn't be too bad though. At least Vanitas doesn't think that it will be. They'll likely be out all day of course. Probably have to stop at a settlement to stay the night. He wonders how drained he will be afterwards.

Speaking of... Sora doesn't know the details. Does he... Vanitas tenses. Sora's. Not going to like this either. ]

They leylines need magic.

Fair enough.

[She'll let him take point on this then.]

...And Speakers don't fight vampires. That's just me, and an extraordinary circumstance. My people are mostly pacifists. Vampires don't count because...you know...evil bloodsuckers.

[She makes a fang gesture with her fingers. It's...incredibly silly.]

[It took a bit for Kor to realize that an automaton was a robot. But once he did, it just made him want to help even more. Kunzite was able to feel emotion (whether he believed it or not), so this automaton thing could do it too!]

Hmm...

[He squats down near it, eying it closely.]

Yeah, I think it's worth a shot. Back home, inanimate objects can develop Spirias of their own just because of the strong feelings placed into them. So maybe we can do the same with our stories!

I'm sure we'll figure it out, it's not like I haven't forgotten stuff before!

[And still made it through most things unscathed! This quest shouldn't really be anything different--

Except that last part does have Sora stopping with a record scratch.]

Wait, what?!

[Replenishing leylines takes a lot of magic work! Is Vanitas really ready to work on something like that?]

[ That's exactly what Vanitas figured would happen once Sora puts two and two together like that. Vanitas actually grimaces, not turning around to face Sora right away. Wait... Why is Sora so far behind him anyway? Usually the brat doesn't let them do anything less than walk side by side.

He turns around to look at the Puca, neutral expression back in place. ]

You heard me. The leylines need an infusion of magic.

[ So what of it? ]

[Sora looks right back at Vanitas with a pout on his lips. He doesn't step closer to the other boy but gosh is he crossing his arms.]

Are you sure you're up for something like that? Your magic just finished getting back to normal levels. It's gonna drain you all over again.

[ Just because Sora isn't stepping closer doesn't mean that Van won't. Rather, he is the one that closes the distance between them. ]

That's why you're coming along isn't it?

[ After all how could he possibly be in danger with Sora around? ]

Duh!

[Sora throws his arms in the air.]

If you're gonna be working on leylines then it's a good thing I'm coming with you!

[If they're going to be reckless they might as well be reckless together.]

Fine, let's give it all we got, okay? I'm gonna be watching out for you, though.

That's kind of the point. I'll be too focused on the leylines. So you'll just have to watch my back.

[ He nods towards the direction of the Wilde. However he had known that once Sora heard this then he'd just be concerned all over again. ]

Do you have something else to say? Because if not we need to go.

[closed] as we all sing a happy little working song

Kor Meteor

Sypha Belnades

Mira Chambers

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Silent Forest? Silent Forest...

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject