[Gon is similar; no matter his circumstances as a generally vagrant person, he always finds himself pulled back to nature if he can help it... though he hasn't quite had the simple thought of maybe cultivating his own little garden. mostly, he's just been going on careful adventures to surrounding native forests to explore and inventory local life.
when he's interrupted on his way to such an adventure (as a matter of fact), Gon has no problem stopping, blinking curiously as he turns to the stranger beckoning him. he beams, hands tightening around the straps of his backpack against his shoulders.]
Yeah, sure! That's no problem.
[Gon wanders up to Reynir, smile easing.]
What is it? I'm pretty strong, so it should be fine.
Oh, it's like, this big boulder, but I bet the two of us can lift it up no problem. Here, come on.
[ He beckons Gon back towards the yard, grinning, pleased that he found someone willing to help so quickly. People in this place may be strange to him in so many ways, but at least many of them are very friendly!
The patch of land around the little cottage is overgrown, but there are signs in one corner of it that Reynir has started to clear it out. Some lumber is resting against the side of the cottage, and other small building materials. He moves past it, towards the patch of soil he's been clearing. ]
I'm starting a garden here, the soil is great I don't know why whoever lived here before was just wasting it. Oh, um. I'm Reynir Árnson, by the way, hello, thank you for the help!
[Gon follows along happily, observing Reynir curiously as they go. he decides depending on how large the boulder is, Gon can probably lift it himself... which puts it at honestly kind of an unreasonably, sizely limit.
Gon crouches when he's brought to the patch of soil, eyes going wide as his peaky brows lift in amazement, softly brushing his fingertips across the rich, moist bed. nice and dark.]
Wo—ww, yeah, it's really healthy...!
[Gon springs back up with another cheeky grin, his ears flipping upwards in his earnest expression.]
Ah! Reynir. Nice to meet you! I'm Gon!
[gaze falling distracted, Gon smiles at the scope of the yard.]
This is a nice yard; starting a garden's a good idea... [Gon scratches his cheek thoughtfully. maybe he should cultivate something like a little garden himself, when space allows... his face whips back to Reynir, at attention once again.]
Ah! So! Where's the boulder?
i cannot believe i TYPOED reynir's NAME in my last tag, i'm a disgrace
[ He gives a little nod, doing his best to commit it to memory. People here tend to have very strange names, according to the conventions Reynir is used to, but at least this one is quite short and easy to pronounce.
He can tell from Gon's ears, and other features, that he must be a faun too. So there isn't even a moment's hesitation or self-editing before he launches into an excited description of his plans for the yard. ]
Yes, I've been learning about the different things that grow in this climate and I've already got some seeds collected. Once I get this cleared I'm going to go around the city and look at everyone else's gardens and see how they have them set up, and ask around if I can get any cuttings or seeds if anyone is willing to share. It's so warm here we don't even need a greenhouse...
[ They've reached the right spot, and Reynir stops, pointing to the mostly unburied rock in question. ]
It's just here.
[ It's far too big for him to shift, himself, but probably would not give Gon very much trouble at all. Reynir is no weakling; he'd grown up on a farm, after all. But he's hardly on the same level as Mikkel or even Emil. His rather spindly build certainly doesn't do any favors. ]
[Gon smiles earnestly and with his teeth as Reynir explains his plans; even prior to his monster changes, Gon's always been about this kind of stuff, even if he's a little less experienced in things like growing. but nature's always been an interest. and little does he know, he hasn't even developed his double-down of nature affinity yet!
but just as simply, Gon's somewhat aware of Reynir's monster features. most likely, he's some other horned creature in the making, which means there's a 50% chance he's a Faun or a Dragon—as far as Gon understands. even the prospect of potentially interacting with another Faun right now has him feeling pretty chipper.]
Yeah! That's a great idea. Maybe try to be sure that they're plants that you can transplant indoors if you want later, too; I've heard this place gets pretty cold!
[Gon blinks, then stops in his tracks, holding his chin as he assesses the boulder.]
Maybe...
[Gon has a similarly hardy upbringing, but also unreasonable innate shounen strength. absently, Gon wishes he still had his Nen; it would be simpler to crush the boulder in half and carry the separate pieces away, and Gon can hardly do that with his bare fists. he'd at least need a tool...]
I can probably lift it out by myself, but if we're gonna carry it away someplace, I might need a little bit of help carrying it just cuz I'm small. Otherwise I'm just gonna run into stuff, cuz I can't see.
[also, good center of gravity, but more compression on the spine.]
[ When Gon says it gets cold here, Reynir can't help it; he laughs in a sudden, startled burst. ]
Cold? Here?!
[ He waves a hand through the air like he could bat away the words, explaining: ]
This place is so hot, all the time! Even in the winter, most days it was like summer in Iceland.
[ Whether or not Gon has actually heard of that island from his own world, the name is certainly... evocative. ]
And I'm just going to plant seasonal things for now. Until I learn more about how things grow in a place like this. If I need to build a greenhouse, there's plenty of room.
[ He raises his eyebrows when Gon says he could lift it on his own, but that Reynir ought to help for navigational reasons if nothing else. He steps up near to it, waiting for Gon to get a hold as well before they hoist it up. Then they start the process of crab-walking with it, away from the yard, navigating the overgrown patches as Reynir asks: ]
Well, the city is! But I've heard that parts of the Wilde are getting snow, somehow, [Gon says with a smile.] This city has similar weather to where I grew up.
I guess you're from a cold place? Hehe, "Iceland..."
[Gon doesn't seem to even visibly break a sweat as they carefully move the boulder through the overgrowth, carefully minding the back of his ankles.]
Yep! I have unusual genetics, I guess, but I also train really hard every day...
[ Reynir had heard that, as well; generally he tuned out boring talk about stuff like the weather, but the idea of it snowing outside of the city when it's been absolutely boiling - at least by his standards - within it was weird enough to catch his attention. ]
Were there palm trees there? Where you grew up? I've always wanted to see one.
[ It might sound like a strange thing for someone to have wanted, but it wasn't really about the trees themselves, though Reynir is curious what they might look like. It had been more a curiosity about different landscapes, different places and cultures... He's traveled as far as Denmark and Finland, now, in his own world, which is a hell of a lot farther than most go. But he had known the world was so much bigger even than that. And now that he's here, he knows there are worlds upon worlds upon worlds... ]
Ha! Yeah, the name kind of gives it away, huh? It's not all cold, though. There's hot springs and geothermal stuff going on, 'cause technically the whole island's super volcanic.
[ He says it in an offhand way that suggests there's nothing terribly interesting about all that. Palm trees? Rare, exotic, fascinating. Volcanoes? Tedious, pedestrian, barely worth discussing. ]
Unusual genetics? What's that even mean?
[ Reynir may have a lot of gaps in his knowledge, but in this area he actually knows a little bit. His brothers and sisters had come from a program specifically designed so that non-immune parents could be surrogates to babies made from the genetic material of immune people... but none of that explains what Gon means by unusual. How could genetics be unusual? They just are what they are. ]
No, no palm trees, [Gon laughs.] Not that kind of island! But it was pretty balmy.
Ooh, wow, that's amazing! I love hot springs. My island's so small there isn't really any climate variation...
[Gon continues to thoughtfully turn his head to check the backwards step of his feet, still comfortably unburdened by the weight of their task at (literal) hand.]
Oh, I mean, I was kind of a monster before I even came here. Not literally, but I'm a lot stronger than most people, even when I'm not training my body. My dad's the same way, so whatever it is, I probably got it from him.
[it might sound like a brag, but Gon's tone is flat and objectively matter-of-fact. he'd been told a hundred times over that he was a scary beast of a kid, but heeded no warning from it until it became his own undoing. you know, normal puberty stuff.]
[ Reynir sighs and gives a nod that is, perhaps, more solemn than the situation seems to call for. Alas, his quest to find out more about palm trees continues. But that doesn't mean he isn't curious about the place that Gon is from. ]
So what kind of island was it? I mean, apart from small.
[ He is moving carefully, too. Even if Gon is very strong, anyone can have a slip in balance or get distracted for a moment and lose their grip, and Reynir is diligent not to rush him or jostle the boulder too much. The last thing he wants is to injure this kind young stranger who stopped to help. ]
Oh, that's so strange! I've never heard of anything like that before. But I guess it's not really all that different to how mages work in my world.
[ ...perhaps not the most tactful way to put it, but Reynir's voice is all curiosity and interest and no disdain or judgment. The two of them finally make it out of the yard, and Reynir nods towards the spot where he wants that boulder. Carefully, the two of them set the thing down, and Reynir straightens up again. ]
Do you, um, want to come in and have some juice or something, and keep talking? I mean, if you've got something important to get to that's okay, but...
[ But he is having fun chatting, and is hopeful Gon will agree. ]
It's pretty strange in my world too, [Gon laughs in response. people certainly pointed as much out to Gon fairly regularly...
once they settle the boulder down, Gon seems pretty excited with their accomplishment. what a fun detour. and to his offer, Gon looks about twice as excited, balling his fists eagerly as he leans up on the tips of his toes.]
Yeah, sure, that sounds nice!! I wasn't doing anything all that important.
[ Cheerfully as Gon is taking it, Reynir realizes belatedly that perhaps he could have been a little more careful with his words. He's really been trying to get better at that, recently. It just slips his mind sometimes.
So he tries to make up for it: ]
Oh! Well, um, here's to being strange, then! 'Cause I am in my world, too. I was a mage before I came here, and I think it's like 98% or something like that of Icelandic mages are women, soooo I'm pretty strange in my own way. Even though it's not any good for lifting rocks.
[ But he can't have offended Gon too badly, since he accepts the invitation so readily. Reynir gives a beaming smile and beckons him back to the yard. He heads inside for a moment to grab a bottle of some cold juice, and two glasses, but it's much too nice a day not to enjoy them outside. He gestures for Gon to make himself comfortable anywhere he wants - there are plenty of stacks of wood that Onni is planning to use to build his sauna, as well as other spots to perch. ]
So are you from Earth?
[ Reynir pours Gon a glass of the juice - something purplish but rather citrusy-smelling - and hands it over. ]
[it's sweet that Reynir tries to balm his words, but Gon truly hasn't taken any offence—the extent to which being that it hasn't even crossed his mind.]
Wow! Mages are like—people who use magic, right? Kinda like Witches of your world, I guess...
[Gon happily follows Reynir back into his quaint, overgrown yard, and Gon seems content to settle on one of the stacks of wood.]
Mm? Is that a continent?
[Gon's eyes widen at the juice, and he takes it, peering at the liquid as he tips it about in its cup before having a sip. his ears flip upwards, finding the taste both familiar and unique. citrussy, but not quite like anything he's ever had!]
Yeah, pretty much. I mean, our magic looks different, and comes from a different source, and you don't blow up if you use too much of it without a Bond or any of that stuff. But it's roughly the same idea.
[ Gon's question pretty much tells Reynir everything that he needs to know. In a small way, it's kind of a relief. He might be able to be a little more forthright, since Gon is from another world altogether, not just a variation of Reynir's own. He's found that people from Earth tend to be more distressed, in general, when they head about the state of the Earth he grew up in. ]
No, it's the world itself, the name for the whole thing...
[ When Gon says he likes the juice, Reynir beams. It's so nice, to be a host like this, to be able to be generous, and for that to be appreciated. ]
Isn't it?!
[ Reynir has learned in his interactions with others that he ought to not overwhelm right away with too many questions, and so he chooses carefully what to ask next. ]
So have you got anyone else from your world here with you? As far as I can tell, there's only one other person from the same version of Earth as me, but he's my- [ The briefest hesitation, as Reynir tries to find the right word for what Onni and he are to one another. Settles for the closest thing he can: ] -we're friends, and that's made all the... [ He gestures, with a little flick of his wrist, at the still-small horns poking up through his bright red hair. ] ...a lot easier.
[thankfully, Gon is almost impossible to overwhelm—and further, has kind of an overwhelming personality himself. Reynir's truly in good company.
with Reynir's pause about his friend, with the possessive pronoun use before the correction, Gon's eyes fix curiously on Reynir, watching him carefully. it's noted, but Gon doesn't press it. instead, he grins, lowering his glass after another healthy sip.]
Yeah! I'm not sure if there's other people from my world here, yet... but my best friend happened to show up here with me! I thought he might have disappeared for a second, but he didn't, and we're Bonded now... So I know what you mean! Stuff is easier that way.
[Gon laughs a little, overcome by a brief wave of giddiness, swinging his legs from where he sits.]
It's a little funny, too.
[how certain boundaries are blurred no matter what you do; feeling your Bonded's feelings, the gravitation towards the compulsion for physical touch from one another... Gon feels like it's probably bad of him, but he likes it a whole lot.]
[ Reynir's attention sharpens and he looks up at Gon with a sudden urgency behind his words, even though they remain light and conversational. ]
How is it? Being Bonded?
[ He's asked multiple people about it, but more perspectives can never hurt. Reynir keeps talking, explaining at a quick clip: ]
'Cause Onni and I, we're going to, soon - I mean, he's a witch and I'm a monster, obviously, so it's the practical thing. I know that he'd rather not bond with anybody, but that's not really an option without him blowing up or whatever, and he doesn't want me going feral or anything so.
[ It would be hard to miss that Reynir is locating all that reluctance over bonding on Onni, rather than any coming from himself. He looks away from Gon, then, down at his juice, admitting: ]
I'm. Kind of excited about it, but I think he's sort of... been putting it off.
[Gon is a little curious by Reynir's animated receptiveness to Gon's words, and he blinks as he his ankles, listening intently.]
Hmmm... I mean, it's a little understandable, right?
[Gon rolls his eyes, kicking his crossed ankles as he thinks about how to articulate it.]
How do I say... I was hesitant to make a Bond, too. It probably sounds crazy for me to say something like this, but there's some kinda deeper, scary stuff in me I don't want other people to experience or see...
[Gon's eyes fall back on Reynir, leaning forward with some exaggeration.]
So I didn't even want Killua to Bond with me, even though he already knows that stuff! Maybe your friend Onni feels something similar. [Gon tilts his head with a thoughtful hum, eyeing Reynir with weighing measure.] Sometimes it's scary for people to know you too closely... Or to be so connected they can't escape from those parts of you.
But!
[Gon lifts a finger, expression warming with giddiness as he giggles airily, swinging his legs again.]
I was of course stupid for thinking that, and everything's fine! Being Bonded feels really great. When we touch it somehow feels even better than it used to, and sometimes if I'm in pain cuz of Monster growth stuff, contact helps alleviate it, so that's convenient! And sometimes when Killua's really, really happy, I can feel it. Even if he's being shy, and doesn't want to show it. It's nice.
Even if I had to feel his pain or his sadness, I wouldn't mind. Having a Bond is still a little stressful cuz I don't want him to feel burdened, but it's been great so far. I'm really happy we decided to do it.
Edited (SORRY ALSO FOR EDITS) 2020-08-24 06:19 (UTC)
[ Gon's answer surprises him, and bit by bit that excitable, uncertain energy drains out of him as he just... listens. He can't help being curious, what that deeper, scarier stuff is. He knows better than most that a cheerful exterior doesn't mean a cheerful, uncomplicated interior. You can never tell just looking at someone what they've been through, the sort of experiences they've had and the sort of person they can be in situations of great stress or tragedy.
He had been uncomplicated, for the most part, at Gon's age. But he can't be much older than Onni was when his whole village was wiped out and he had to start looking after Tuuri and Lalli.
Of course, he isn't about to actually ask. Even for Gon to allude to those kinds of things is a sign of trust that Reynir appreciates, though he knows he hasn't really earned it yet. So he merely says: ]
It doesn't sound crazy at all.
[ He keeps his green eyes fixed on Gon, forgetting all about his juice and everything else, apart from the insight he's offering into what Onni might be feeling. ]
I think... you're right, and he's a little scared to be known. Even if it's just me and- and I think he knows I would never hurt him, intentionally.
[ The more Gon talks about what his Bond with Killua, the more Reynir's chest seems to fill up with a kind of restless, bubbling happiness. Because... honestly, it all sounds great to him, too. If he could relieve pain just by touching Onni. If he had a little more information on how Onni is feeling, so he wouldn't need to worry so blindly... if he could use that connection to help Onni carry the weight of his sadness when it gets too much. ]
Well, I'm- sure he wouldn't think of you as a burden. This guy - Killua? He's your friend, right? Then - I'm sure he feels just the way you do, that he wouldn't mind the pain and sadness, if it means he can help you carry it.
Yeah? That's good, [Gon answers with a small laugh when Reynir says it isn't crazy, and wonders how deep that reassurance really goes. is it polite face saving, or does Reynir have his own stuff? probably the latter... Gon's finding that everyone's more or less been through something hard, though people's timelines might differ from Gon's.
you know, Growing Up realizations.
to Reynir's assessment, Gon blinks, then his face turns a little pink, ankles recrossing the opposite way as he swings his legs, ruffling the spiky hair of his nape again. Gon knows that, but he does have to be reminded; his guilt still drags him down, makes him worry about being a fussy burden. and it feels nice to hear it, all the same.]
Yeah, that sounds like him. I know you're right. He's just been putting up with me doing crazy stuff for such a long time; I was a little thoughtless! So I'm trying to be better. I'd do it either way, but the Bond's a good opportunity.
[Gon straightens up a little, having another sip of the juice&madsh;and he smiles at Reynir, wiping his mouth.]
Have you and Onni been friends for a long time? I kinda wanna hear more about it.
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no subject
when he's interrupted on his way to such an adventure (as a matter of fact), Gon has no problem stopping, blinking curiously as he turns to the stranger beckoning him. he beams, hands tightening around the straps of his backpack against his shoulders.]
Yeah, sure! That's no problem.
[Gon wanders up to Reynir, smile easing.]
What is it? I'm pretty strong, so it should be fine.
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[ He beckons Gon back towards the yard, grinning, pleased that he found someone willing to help so quickly. People in this place may be strange to him in so many ways, but at least many of them are very friendly!
The patch of land around the little cottage is overgrown, but there are signs in one corner of it that Reynir has started to clear it out. Some lumber is resting against the side of the cottage, and other small building materials. He moves past it, towards the patch of soil he's been clearing. ]
I'm starting a garden here, the soil is great I don't know why whoever lived here before was just wasting it. Oh, um. I'm Reynir Árnson, by the way, hello, thank you for the help!
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Gon crouches when he's brought to the patch of soil, eyes going wide as his peaky brows lift in amazement, softly brushing his fingertips across the rich, moist bed. nice and dark.]
Wo—ww, yeah, it's really healthy...!
[Gon springs back up with another cheeky grin, his ears flipping upwards in his earnest expression.]
Ah! Reynir. Nice to meet you! I'm Gon!
[gaze falling distracted, Gon smiles at the scope of the yard.]
This is a nice yard; starting a garden's a good idea... [Gon scratches his cheek thoughtfully. maybe he should cultivate something like a little garden himself, when space allows... his face whips back to Reynir, at attention once again.]
Ah! So! Where's the boulder?
i cannot believe i TYPOED reynir's NAME in my last tag, i'm a disgrace
[ He gives a little nod, doing his best to commit it to memory. People here tend to have very strange names, according to the conventions Reynir is used to, but at least this one is quite short and easy to pronounce.
He can tell from Gon's ears, and other features, that he must be a faun too. So there isn't even a moment's hesitation or self-editing before he launches into an excited description of his plans for the yard. ]
Yes, I've been learning about the different things that grow in this climate and I've already got some seeds collected. Once I get this cleared I'm going to go around the city and look at everyone else's gardens and see how they have them set up, and ask around if I can get any cuttings or seeds if anyone is willing to share. It's so warm here we don't even need a greenhouse...
[ They've reached the right spot, and Reynir stops, pointing to the mostly unburied rock in question. ]
It's just here.
[ It's far too big for him to shift, himself, but probably would not give Gon very much trouble at all. Reynir is no weakling; he'd grown up on a farm, after all. But he's hardly on the same level as Mikkel or even Emil. His rather spindly build certainly doesn't do any favors. ]
Maybe we both lift on the count of three?
typo life... i understand..
but just as simply, Gon's somewhat aware of Reynir's monster features. most likely, he's some other horned creature in the making, which means there's a 50% chance he's a Faun or a Dragon—as far as Gon understands. even the prospect of potentially interacting with another Faun right now has him feeling pretty chipper.]
Yeah! That's a great idea. Maybe try to be sure that they're plants that you can transplant indoors if you want later, too; I've heard this place gets pretty cold!
[Gon blinks, then stops in his tracks, holding his chin as he assesses the boulder.]
Maybe...
[Gon has a similarly hardy upbringing, but also unreasonable innate shounen strength. absently, Gon wishes he still had his Nen; it would be simpler to crush the boulder in half and carry the separate pieces away, and Gon can hardly do that with his bare fists. he'd at least need a tool...]
I can probably lift it out by myself, but if we're gonna carry it away someplace, I might need a little bit of help carrying it just cuz I'm small. Otherwise I'm just gonna run into stuff, cuz I can't see.
[also, good center of gravity, but more compression on the spine.]
no subject
Cold? Here?!
[ He waves a hand through the air like he could bat away the words, explaining: ]
This place is so hot, all the time! Even in the winter, most days it was like summer in Iceland.
[ Whether or not Gon has actually heard of that island from his own world, the name is certainly... evocative. ]
And I'm just going to plant seasonal things for now. Until I learn more about how things grow in a place like this. If I need to build a greenhouse, there's plenty of room.
[ He raises his eyebrows when Gon says he could lift it on his own, but that Reynir ought to help for navigational reasons if nothing else. He steps up near to it, waiting for Gon to get a hold as well before they hoist it up. Then they start the process of crab-walking with it, away from the yard, navigating the overgrown patches as Reynir asks: ]
So you're, like, really strong, huh?
no subject
I guess you're from a cold place? Hehe, "Iceland..."
[Gon doesn't seem to even visibly break a sweat as they carefully move the boulder through the overgrowth, carefully minding the back of his ankles.]
Yep! I have unusual genetics, I guess, but I also train really hard every day...
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Were there palm trees there? Where you grew up? I've always wanted to see one.
[ It might sound like a strange thing for someone to have wanted, but it wasn't really about the trees themselves, though Reynir is curious what they might look like. It had been more a curiosity about different landscapes, different places and cultures... He's traveled as far as Denmark and Finland, now, in his own world, which is a hell of a lot farther than most go. But he had known the world was so much bigger even than that. And now that he's here, he knows there are worlds upon worlds upon worlds... ]
Ha! Yeah, the name kind of gives it away, huh? It's not all cold, though. There's hot springs and geothermal stuff going on, 'cause technically the whole island's super volcanic.
[ He says it in an offhand way that suggests there's nothing terribly interesting about all that. Palm trees? Rare, exotic, fascinating. Volcanoes? Tedious, pedestrian, barely worth discussing. ]
Unusual genetics? What's that even mean?
[ Reynir may have a lot of gaps in his knowledge, but in this area he actually knows a little bit. His brothers and sisters had come from a program specifically designed so that non-immune parents could be surrogates to babies made from the genetic material of immune people... but none of that explains what Gon means by unusual. How could genetics be unusual? They just are what they are. ]
no subject
Ooh, wow, that's amazing! I love hot springs. My island's so small there isn't really any climate variation...
[Gon continues to thoughtfully turn his head to check the backwards step of his feet, still comfortably unburdened by the weight of their task at (literal) hand.]
Oh, I mean, I was kind of a monster before I even came here. Not literally, but I'm a lot stronger than most people, even when I'm not training my body. My dad's the same way, so whatever it is, I probably got it from him.
[it might sound like a brag, but Gon's tone is flat and objectively matter-of-fact. he'd been told a hundred times over that he was a scary beast of a kid, but heeded no warning from it until it became his own undoing. you know, normal puberty stuff.]
no subject
So what kind of island was it? I mean, apart from small.
[ He is moving carefully, too. Even if Gon is very strong, anyone can have a slip in balance or get distracted for a moment and lose their grip, and Reynir is diligent not to rush him or jostle the boulder too much. The last thing he wants is to injure this kind young stranger who stopped to help. ]
Oh, that's so strange! I've never heard of anything like that before. But I guess it's not really all that different to how mages work in my world.
[ ...perhaps not the most tactful way to put it, but Reynir's voice is all curiosity and interest and no disdain or judgment. The two of them finally make it out of the yard, and Reynir nods towards the spot where he wants that boulder. Carefully, the two of them set the thing down, and Reynir straightens up again. ]
Do you, um, want to come in and have some juice or something, and keep talking? I mean, if you've got something important to get to that's okay, but...
[ But he is having fun chatting, and is hopeful Gon will agree. ]
no subject
once they settle the boulder down, Gon seems pretty excited with their accomplishment. what a fun detour. and to his offer, Gon looks about twice as excited, balling his fists eagerly as he leans up on the tips of his toes.]
Yeah, sure, that sounds nice!! I wasn't doing anything all that important.
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So he tries to make up for it: ]
Oh! Well, um, here's to being strange, then! 'Cause I am in my world, too. I was a mage before I came here, and I think it's like 98% or something like that of Icelandic mages are women, soooo I'm pretty strange in my own way. Even though it's not any good for lifting rocks.
[ But he can't have offended Gon too badly, since he accepts the invitation so readily. Reynir gives a beaming smile and beckons him back to the yard. He heads inside for a moment to grab a bottle of some cold juice, and two glasses, but it's much too nice a day not to enjoy them outside. He gestures for Gon to make himself comfortable anywhere he wants - there are plenty of stacks of wood that Onni is planning to use to build his sauna, as well as other spots to perch. ]
So are you from Earth?
[ Reynir pours Gon a glass of the juice - something purplish but rather citrusy-smelling - and hands it over. ]
no subject
Wow! Mages are like—people who use magic, right? Kinda like Witches of your world, I guess...
[Gon happily follows Reynir back into his quaint, overgrown yard, and Gon seems content to settle on one of the stacks of wood.]
Mm? Is that a continent?
[Gon's eyes widen at the juice, and he takes it, peering at the liquid as he tips it about in its cup before having a sip. his ears flip upwards, finding the taste both familiar and unique. citrussy, but not quite like anything he's ever had!]
Wow—this is super good!
no subject
[ Gon's question pretty much tells Reynir everything that he needs to know. In a small way, it's kind of a relief. He might be able to be a little more forthright, since Gon is from another world altogether, not just a variation of Reynir's own. He's found that people from Earth tend to be more distressed, in general, when they head about the state of the Earth he grew up in. ]
No, it's the world itself, the name for the whole thing...
[ When Gon says he likes the juice, Reynir beams. It's so nice, to be a host like this, to be able to be generous, and for that to be appreciated. ]
Isn't it?!
[ Reynir has learned in his interactions with others that he ought to not overwhelm right away with too many questions, and so he chooses carefully what to ask next. ]
So have you got anyone else from your world here with you? As far as I can tell, there's only one other person from the same version of Earth as me, but he's my- [ The briefest hesitation, as Reynir tries to find the right word for what Onni and he are to one another. Settles for the closest thing he can: ] -we're friends, and that's made all the... [ He gestures, with a little flick of his wrist, at the still-small horns poking up through his bright red hair. ] ...a lot easier.
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with Reynir's pause about his friend, with the possessive pronoun use before the correction, Gon's eyes fix curiously on Reynir, watching him carefully. it's noted, but Gon doesn't press it. instead, he grins, lowering his glass after another healthy sip.]
Yeah! I'm not sure if there's other people from my world here, yet... but my best friend happened to show up here with me! I thought he might have disappeared for a second, but he didn't, and we're Bonded now... So I know what you mean! Stuff is easier that way.
[Gon laughs a little, overcome by a brief wave of giddiness, swinging his legs from where he sits.]
It's a little funny, too.
[how certain boundaries are blurred no matter what you do; feeling your Bonded's feelings, the gravitation towards the compulsion for physical touch from one another... Gon feels like it's probably bad of him, but he likes it a whole lot.]
Are you and your friend Bonded too?
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[ Reynir's attention sharpens and he looks up at Gon with a sudden urgency behind his words, even though they remain light and conversational. ]
How is it? Being Bonded?
[ He's asked multiple people about it, but more perspectives can never hurt. Reynir keeps talking, explaining at a quick clip: ]
'Cause Onni and I, we're going to, soon - I mean, he's a witch and I'm a monster, obviously, so it's the practical thing. I know that he'd rather not bond with anybody, but that's not really an option without him blowing up or whatever, and he doesn't want me going feral or anything so.
[ It would be hard to miss that Reynir is locating all that reluctance over bonding on Onni, rather than any coming from himself. He looks away from Gon, then, down at his juice, admitting: ]
I'm. Kind of excited about it, but I think he's sort of... been putting it off.
SORRY FOR ESSAY
Hmmm... I mean, it's a little understandable, right?
[Gon rolls his eyes, kicking his crossed ankles as he thinks about how to articulate it.]
How do I say... I was hesitant to make a Bond, too. It probably sounds crazy for me to say something like this, but there's some kinda deeper, scary stuff in me I don't want other people to experience or see...
[Gon's eyes fall back on Reynir, leaning forward with some exaggeration.]
So I didn't even want Killua to Bond with me, even though he already knows that stuff! Maybe your friend Onni feels something similar. [Gon tilts his head with a thoughtful hum, eyeing Reynir with weighing measure.] Sometimes it's scary for people to know you too closely... Or to be so connected they can't escape from those parts of you.
But!
[Gon lifts a finger, expression warming with giddiness as he giggles airily, swinging his legs again.]
I was of course stupid for thinking that, and everything's fine! Being Bonded feels really great. When we touch it somehow feels even better than it used to, and sometimes if I'm in pain cuz of Monster growth stuff, contact helps alleviate it, so that's convenient! And sometimes when Killua's really, really happy, I can feel it. Even if he's being shy, and doesn't want to show it. It's nice.
Even if I had to feel his pain or his sadness, I wouldn't mind. Having a Bond is still a little stressful cuz I don't want him to feel burdened, but it's been great so far. I'm really happy we decided to do it.
never apologize for essay or edits
He had been uncomplicated, for the most part, at Gon's age. But he can't be much older than Onni was when his whole village was wiped out and he had to start looking after Tuuri and Lalli.
Of course, he isn't about to actually ask. Even for Gon to allude to those kinds of things is a sign of trust that Reynir appreciates, though he knows he hasn't really earned it yet. So he merely says: ]
It doesn't sound crazy at all.
[ He keeps his green eyes fixed on Gon, forgetting all about his juice and everything else, apart from the insight he's offering into what Onni might be feeling. ]
I think... you're right, and he's a little scared to be known. Even if it's just me and- and I think he knows I would never hurt him, intentionally.
[ The more Gon talks about what his Bond with Killua, the more Reynir's chest seems to fill up with a kind of restless, bubbling happiness. Because... honestly, it all sounds great to him, too. If he could relieve pain just by touching Onni. If he had a little more information on how Onni is feeling, so he wouldn't need to worry so blindly... if he could use that connection to help Onni carry the weight of his sadness when it gets too much. ]
Well, I'm- sure he wouldn't think of you as a burden. This guy - Killua? He's your friend, right? Then - I'm sure he feels just the way you do, that he wouldn't mind the pain and sadness, if it means he can help you carry it.
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you know, Growing Up realizations.
to Reynir's assessment, Gon blinks, then his face turns a little pink, ankles recrossing the opposite way as he swings his legs, ruffling the spiky hair of his nape again. Gon knows that, but he does have to be reminded; his guilt still drags him down, makes him worry about being a fussy burden. and it feels nice to hear it, all the same.]
Yeah, that sounds like him. I know you're right. He's just been putting up with me doing crazy stuff for such a long time; I was a little thoughtless! So I'm trying to be better. I'd do it either way, but the Bond's a good opportunity.
[Gon straightens up a little, having another sip of the juice&madsh;and he smiles at Reynir, wiping his mouth.]
Have you and Onni been friends for a long time? I kinda wanna hear more about it.