be steady on your feet [ OPEN ]

[socials]

Who: Souji Seta & you!
When: Late May and through June
Where: Everywhere in Aefenglom, with focus on in-city quests, setting exploration, and neighborhood bonding in the Haven - though some quests outside of the city walls
What: Catchall open log for quests and daily life
Warnings: None currently - will update if needed!

open & closed prompts to be found in the comments - you can also drop a wildcard in here if you like!

Comments

[socials]

[ 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?

[oceanschild]

[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.]

[socials]

[ 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.

[oceanschild]

[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!]

[socials]

[ 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.

[oceanschild]

[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...

[socials]

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.

[oceanschild]

[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.]

[socials]

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?

[oceanschild]

[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?

[socials]

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.

[oceanschild]

[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.

[socials]

[ 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.

[oceanschild]

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.]