middaeg | be steady on your feet [ OPEN ]

Souji lives in the neighborhood that has the classier, family-sized houses with Lux Crownsguard and Akira Kurusu! If you're a roomie, neighbors, or are in the neighborhood, feel free to drop a thread or hit me up at folklores / folklorist#9385 if you want to plan something.

[Aeto has been unable to see the point of any fountains if they are not for splashing around in... so that's what she's been doing. And it's not just confined to the fountain where Paris and everyone else lives, oh no- now that she's met at least one of the neighbors, she's not shy at all about wandering over into their yard and splashing around in their fountain too. Akira seemed to be fine with it, and it's not like any of them are using it properly, so it's fine.

Still, a giant manta ray with legs in one's fountain is probably a bizarre sight.]

[ Much like Akira, Souji... isn't too shaken by seeing the creature that's found her way into their fountain. He has the same thought of Forneus? when he sees the manta shape, coming outside with the compost that he's accumulated from the past couple of days. Standing there, holding the paper bag full of scraps, he simply watches the ray splash about for a moment.

Slowly, he goes and sets the bag down, approaching Aeto with visible curiosity. He befriended all of the strays in Inaba, as well as a fox that he's certain had more to her than anyone in the community thought she did, considering her intelligence. A manta ray with legs?

That's fine. ]

Well, hello there. How's the water?

[Aeto turns when she hears the voice, trilling happily- this is a new person! But Akira was nice, and presumably this one lives here too, so hopefully he's ok. ~~She'll sting him if he's not.~~

She'll pull herself out of the foundation, flapping her 'wings' to shake off some of the excess water so she doesn't drip, before padding over to Souji, rattling and lifting her head up towards him. Pets, please.]

[ ~~Please don't sting him he is full of pets and treats.~~ When she greets him with happiness as opposed to any threat, Souji crouches down the same as he always does when he's interacting with animals. It makes him smaller, less threatening, and puts him more on their level for the exact thing that Aeto is asking for: pets. ]

Ohh, I see; the water's good, but this is better, huh? Is on the head all right? Or do you like your chin scratched, too? [ His laugh is soft as he brings his hand up, rubbing her between her "horns." The sensation is... interesting, but not unpleasant, especially when she's being cute. ] You're welcome to our fountain. I don't imagine we'll be using it as much as you might.

[Aeto trills happily, pressing her smooth head up into his hands. All pets are good, she's not very picky. But she's glad that now two people have approved of her fountain use.

But from the other side of the hedge/fence, the name "Aeto!" can be heard called as Paris tries to figure out where she went. The spirit perks her head up, looking towards the word before looking back at Souji and chirping. That's her!]

[ If she's going to be so receptive to attention, then Souji will pet her head with one hand, reaching the other to take the pads of his fingers and rub them under her chin. A full bit of thorough petting, as it were. He's done this with some of his Personae before, just as much as he has the shrine fox and the dogs in Inaba.

But he perks when she does, watching her look away, then back to him, as someone is calling for - her? Is the person looking for her? ] Did you sneak off? [ His amusement is obvious; yes, he's caught that she's telling him her name, basically. But as he rests his arm on her back to continue petting her a little, he lifts his head up to call back. ]

I think "Aeto" is over here.

[Oooh, these are good pets. Aeto will trill, almost like a contented purr, happily staying still as Souji continues to give her attention.

Paris heard the return call, and figuring out exactly where Aeto was from that, makes his way over.] Oh, u-um, hello... I'm sorry, was she in your fountain again? I'm pretty sure she's just claimed all of them...

Again? [ Now that she's been found, and Souji doesn't have to wave anyone down, he'll resume the Full Pets™ on the top of her head and under her chin. ] It was a bit of a surprise, but I don't really mind, and I don't think anyone else will either. We're not exactly using it...

[ It is just decoration, after all. So if she wants to go swimming, he's not against it. Especially since she's pretty cute. Actually: - ] And I don't mind a visitor every now and then, especially one that's this adorable.

[Aeto rattles, sounding a bit like laughter, and Paris manages a little smile.] Oh... good. I, um, know Akira was ok with it but I don't know how many of you live here... though she probably would still do it anyway.

[She's very stubborn.]

It's just the three of us right now - you've already met Akira, then, but there's a blonde girl named Lux that's about our age, too. [ Cute... a little mean to be laughing, Aeto! But still cute. He offers Paris a smile back, settling his weight back on his heels as he maintains his crouch a bit longer. ] I doubt she'd have a problem with it.

[ And then Souji looks down at the ray, very gently giving her a "ruffle" back and forth. No fur to ruffle through, but the gesture has the same concept, jostling playfully but not roughly. ] If we asked politely, I'm sure we could come to an agreement, hm Aeto?

[Aeto is a little mean to Paris. But she does it because he is her boy and she will fight anyone who hurts him. She trills happily, arching her slick body against the 'ruffle' as Souji continues to spoil her.

Paris laughs a little.] Mm. I'm glad it doesn't bother you... she really likes the fountains. [Paris isn't exactly mad about them either, and the gills on his neck and the scaling that's growing on his arms, not quite up to his elbows, probably shows that well enough.] Are you, um... you're new like the rest of us, right?

No, not at all. She brings a little bit of uniqueness, I think. [ Very cute. Very weird, seeing a manta ray trotting around like a dog and all that, but cute regardless! Souji gives her one last pat, moving to stand properly and shaking residual water off of his hands. ] Consider her welcome in the fountain whenever she likes.

[ He says it with a smile, friendly and companionable. With the question, he tips his head slightly in a nod. ] Maiuril 1st, if I remember their month names right. My name's Souji - it's nice to meet you.

[Aeto trills cheerfully, and decides this means that it's time for her to go back into the fountain. So that's what she does. Look, it's a nice fountain, she's going to take advantage of it. Paris... doesn't bother saying anything.]

Mm, I think that's when I arrived too. I'm Paris. It's, um, nice to meet you too.

[ Amazing. He has to watch for a moment, before his attention focuses solely on Paris again. ]

So then you're our neighbor... [ Souji lifts his hand a bit, pointing off in the direction Paris had come from. ] Over that way? I was thinking about introducing myself to all of our neighbors, since it couldn't hurt for us to at least get to know each other, but I'm glad Aeto helped out with that.

Mm. Just next door. I-I'm there with a few other people... and a lot of animals.

[If Souji's seen the chocobo trotting down the street, it's probably from their yard.]

Yes! I'm, um... I'm really glad we were able to meet each other. There are a lot of people here.... [It's very overwhelming, and Paris's less-than-stellar social skills make it a little difficult for him to try and reach out to people.]

[ It doesn't take much for Souji to fall into the same kind of rhythm that he had back home in Inaba. He goes grocery shopping when he has the chance, trying to find the right deals while establishing a kind of friendship with the market sellers that seem open to it. If he can get a slightly better deal by virtue of befriending the merchants, then, well, he's going to.

Because it also doesn't take much for him to figure out that resources are always in flux. So he gets what he can - a lot of fish, dried herbs, tubers, cured meats - and figures out what to make from there.

He's in the kitchen, now, peeling and chopping tubers and root vegetables that he's gotten, a paper-wrapped parcel of white fish waiting for when he's gotten this taken care of. Already there's an aroma floating through their big house, butter and garlic and herbs cooking as the base to everything. At the very least, he can do this for the people that he's found himself living with.

Especially since he shares so much in common with the both of them. Souji will have food prepared for them, whenever they're home or come to join him.

They'll have someone to greet them, regardless. ]

[ Akira falls into his own routine from back home: picking up odd jobs and finding people to help with various tasks. Even without school or Phantom Thievery, it keeps him out of the house a fair amount of the time. Something to do, a means to keep his mind off the slow transformation he's experiencing.

Coming home to the smell of a fresh meal cooking is nothing new, but the notes in the air this time aren't quite like the spices he's used to back home. Common sense and the rhythmic sound of a knife against a cutting board lead him to the kitchen with light steps, where he finds Souji turned away at the counter. Unsurprising, considering Lux said before that she had people to cook for her back home; it seems like he and Souji have been the only ones really utilizing the kitchen so far. ]

Want any help? [ The question comes from the doorway, Akira leaning a shoulder against the frame. ]

[ Keeping herself busy has always been Lux's way of coping with difficult situations. Taking odd jobs, attending lessons at the Coven, she doesn't leave herself much time to rest at home—and in some ways, that's intentional. If she sits still, she will find herself dwelling on things she can't change, and she doesn't want to be a burden. This is her first time living with anyone who isn't family, and she doesn't want to get it wrong.

Which is why she comes home that day with a bag filled with bread in her arms, carefully letting herself in before taking in the smell. Her stomach growls (right, she forgot about lunch this afternoon), and slowly she lets her feet lead her toward the kitchen, craning to look past Akira's shoulders to see what's going on inside. ]

...Can I help too?

[ She's completely clueless about this type of cooking, but please teach her the kitchen magic you're performing, Souji. ]

[ The three of them seem to be taking every opportunity to find busywork, Souji's realized, but it's instinct ingrained in him from a year of living with the Dojimas that has him making sure that he comes home. There are chores to do in their big house, bigger than he's used to, and it's interesting to find the balance with his new roommates. They're good people, though; he wants to get to know them better, and he wants to make sure no one ever feels lonely.

Having time to themselves is one thing. Loneliness is another.

His head tilts a little, hearing someone joining him. But he doesn't truly turn until he hears the both of them, lifting his head as he does, a smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. ]

Could use some help in cutting and preparing, if you both want to lend a hand. [ He has a feeling he can entrust Akira to good knife cuts, and start with basics for Lux. ]

[ The distant sounds of someone else (it can only be Lux) arriving home reach his ears, so Akira isn't the least bit startled when she approaches and leans around him. He flashes her a brief smile in lieu of a greeting. ]

Sure thing.

[ That's his cue to step farther into the kitchen, moving over to join Souji at the counter. His knowledge of recipes may not be particularly broad, but working at Leblanc has given him a good grasp on the basics, knife skills included. It seems Souji's taken care of most of the peeling, even. ]

I can take care of these if you want.

[ It's a good thing that Akira has the basics down, even if that makes her the only one without any practical cooking knowledge. Understandable, and she's sure that neither of them would judge her for that, but remaining clueless when it comes to this (or anything, really) is unacceptable to her. Lux wants to learn, which is why she positions herself where she can watch both of them.

With a simple smile, she rolls up her sleeves. All right, then. ]

Can you show me what you want me to do?

[ She's always learned best through watching others first. ]

be steady on your feet [ OPEN ]

[ ʜᴀᴠᴇɴ ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴅs ]

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🏡 ʜᴏᴜsᴇᴍᴀᴛᴇs

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