middaeg | [OPEN/catchall] It seemed like a good idea at the time

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[OPEN/catchall] It seemed like a good idea at the time

Who: Yuma and YOU!
When: The full moon and later in the month
Where: His house, various locations in Aefenglom
What: Birb's first full moon, as well as settling in. Also, getting stuck on a roof.
Warnings: mild possible body horror in first prompt? otherwise n/a

[ A - The Moon Rises ]

[ Yuma had known something was off for some time now. It wasn't all that much, but rather smaller things that all added up over time. How much lighter he felt for some reason, how he felt more at ease in higher places...whatever was making that one spot on his back hurt. He'd also been feeling a little protective of his home, lately (was protective even the right word? It was the only one he could come up with, at any rate), even twitching when his own housemate walked through the door before noting who it was and calming down. Yuma didn't know what to make of any of it, and the uncertainty made him anxious. Yet, given how little he knew, he supposed the only way he was really going to get any answers was simply to wait and see what happened.

The days leading up to the full moon found him already anxious and on edge. It was hard to maintain a level of calm on the surface, and more than once Yuma found himself retreating before it all got the better of him. Then, finally, he found himself awake on the night that the full moon's light spilled into his room from the window. Already restless and losing sleep, he finds himself sitting upright in his bed, staring for a moment before standing up and walking towards it for a better view. For a few moments, he can enjoy the view, but a few moments are all he gets.

A wave of pain spikes and he doubles over in shock, his hands clutching the window sill so harshly that his knuckles turn white. His mind races, his throat hurts, every bone in his body aches suddenly. A harsh burning sensation flares between his shoulderblades, rapidly surging outward and down his back. Rather than weighing him down, he only feels lighter from it all. Perhaps because of that, he feels grounded, trapped, restless. For a moment, his vision is sharp. Almost too sharp. He squeezes his eyes shut to save himself from being disoriented, clutching the side of his head with one hand…has the skin on his hands always been this rough?...as he leans on the other hand to stay balanced.

He vaguely recalls something he saw on the network once. That he shouldn't be alone for this. That he should find a Bond before now. But being alone seems like a pretty sound option to him; after all, he can't risk someone getting hurt in case something goes wrong. He still doesn't even know what he is yet, and he's both too scared to look and in too much pain to really consider it.

His clothes are covering most of the feathers that have sprouted on his back and shoulders, though some on his back are poking through the collar of his shirt. They're thicker on his upper back for some reason, to the point where his shirt is puffing out a bit and making him look slightly more hunched over than he actually is. His ears, already pointy when he arrived, now appear to be longer than before. The skin on the backs of his hands is rougher, shifting in color towards a silvery off-white, and his fingernails look sharper.

When all is said and done, Yuma's too sore and tired to move very much, but he's still panicked. He winces, reaching up to the window to push it open. The fresh air is more than welcome, and he greedily breathes it in before gradually sliding back down to sit on the floor. He doesn't quite have the energy to get back to his bed, nor is his bed really appealing right now. He's looking upward, trying to find some other spot to crawl up onto. Once he gets his energy back, that is. He just needs a moment to rest and reorient himself.

Eventually, he realizes that the restlessness won't fade so easily. Yuma pulls himself to his feet, wincing from the soreness still plaguing him, and absently slips on his jacket and his boots (were they always this uncomfortable?). He's had nights before where he just couldn't sleep, so this is nothing new to him. Normally he'd seek out company, but he's not about to go wake up his housemate at this hour if he isn't already awake, so he opts to make his way out the front door and sit on the steps, his eyes often drifting upward to the sky...or perhaps the rooftops. Otherwise, he keeps his eyes closed, or can be found squinting a bit. ]

[ B - Think Before You Climb ]

[ Somehow, Yuma managed to get on top of the house he's living in. He's not entirely sure what makes him feel so at ease up here. Maybe it's the view? The breeze? Something else? Whatever it is, it's nice, and he feels perfectly at home. He really should come up here more often, he notes; this is a great place to hang out. Of course, he needs to get down from there and run a few errands eventually, so he moves to get down when he realizes one very big problem he's suddenly faced with.

He managed to get up just fine. But he doesn't have a way back down.

Whoops.

It's hard to not be embarrassed or a little panicked about it - it's written all over his face, quite frankly - but he does his best to call out for help anyway. Though whether his voice reaches you first, or whether you notice a strangely large feather falling nearby, he's hoping you'll notice him. ]

H-hey! Up here!

[ In the event someone does see him, he'll offer them a mildly frantic, pleading look. Yes, he's stuck on top of a building. You are seeing things correctly. It's a long story. ]

Could you, uh… Help me get down?

[ He's certainly learned his lesson. ~~No guarantees on not doing it again, though.~~ ]

[ C/wildcard - Loneliness ]

[ Even with the new friends he's made, and even with how used to this strange new world he is, there's still something that's bothering Yuma. His power being gone he could handle; in fact he sort of welcomed it since it was one less thing to worry about. But there was a voice, an imposing yet kind voice, that had been with him ever since he was born. A voice that offered him encouragement, that spurred him to action whenever he would rather cower away, that warned him and cautioned him before he made a terrible mistake. Not all the time, no, but certainly enough to where it didn't surprise him when he heard it. But now, it's gone.

It's been a few weeks, and the Dragon still hasn't responded to him.

Yuma hasn't completely given up yet. Every now and then he finds himself with his fingers hovering over the pendant dangling from his choker, wondering if that might wake him up somehow. But it never works. With no Dragon and none of the Dragon's power, his choker might as well just be an odd-looking accessory. With a sigh, he lets his hand drop and continues down the road, peeking in at shops that he passes by and glancing at notices posted about town. He's hoping to find himself some kind of job sooner rather than later, after all; odd jobs will only get him so far.

He finds himself pausing when passing by instrument or music stores, a lonely look crossing his face again before he keeps walking. At one point he even stops to give a few clothing stores a curious look; of all the things he'd considered, a possible need to alter his clothing hadn't crossed his mind. Eventually he'll end up wandering in the Harbor district.

Yuma's also got a bag of debris in hand; particularly wooden planks, rope, and some old fishing net that had been discarded for some reason or another. He's not entirely sure why he felt compelled to pick them up while passing through, but he as them now. Never hurts to pick up trash anyway, right? ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ When you're walking down the street minding your own business you don't usually expect to have someone call out to you suddenly, and you especially don't expect that voice to come from somewhere up above. It takes Sougo a few seconds after hearing Yuma's request to spot him and realize just how far down he needs help getting.

Sougo takes a few big steps back so he can look at the roof a bit better without breaking his neck quite as much. ]

I'll do my best! How did you get up there in the first place?

[ He mumbles not in a quieter voice, mostly to himself. ]

Was there a ladder that got knocked down somewhere?

[ All while glancing around the exterior of the house to spot any clues for how this rooftop climb happened in the first place. ]

[ oh thank god someone heard him. Yuma breathes out a sigh of relief, but the feeling passes in a moment; he still wants to get down safely sooner rather than later. ~~As nice as it is up here.~~ ]

I-I climbed up the side...

[ If you're determined enough, handholds aren't too tough to find. It helps that he has some small claws to help keep his grip with. Sure enough, there are a few small scratch marks here and there from where he might've slipped.

There's a bit of rope nearby, but it looks like it's fallen off of whatever it was tied to. ]

[ Sougo trots over to the side of the house, giving it an uncertain once over. He can probably get up on that roof himself, but he's not sure how much getting up is going to help this guy get down. ]

One second. I'll see if I can find anything that'll make it easier to climb down.

[ He's casting another glance around, and meandering over to that rope to check it out and see if it can be used at all. ]

A-Alright...

[ The rope is frayed at one end and it's clear that it's seen a lot of use, but it's a fairly long length and perfectly usable. Other than that, there isn't much around to help Yuma get down from his unexpected perch.

Yuma, meanwhile, is trying to find an easier way down. Maybe some spot where he'd have a few more footholds? Of course, he doens't get far when he slips, almost falling off the edge of the roof. He lets out a startled cry before he manages to scramble backward and save himself. Yeah, no, he's not eager to fall from this height today, thanks. ]

[ Life would be a lot easier if Sougo had his old power set on hand to pull out as needed, or barring that would just learn how to use magic a little faster than he is.

He frowns uncertainly at the rope, but figures it's worth a go. Worst case scenario is he hovers around the bottom of it and catches the guy if he falls. He's at least still capable of that much.

He doesn't have long to think about that before he hears that slipping sound, and dashes back over to the side of the house. At least the rope is still in his hand, though now kind of dirty from having been dragged along behind him. ]

Are you okay?

[ Yuma gives a nod, even though it's probably not perfectly visible from where he is. ]

Yeah, I-I'm okay!

[ He didn't fall off, so that's fine, right?

Although he can't help but watch as some disturbed bits of dirt go tumbling to the ground off the edge. Yikes. Yuma isn't particularly afraid of heights, but he could do without the reminder of just how high up he is, with no safe way down. All the more reason to bring a proper ladder next time... ]

Did you find anything?

[ Sougo breathes a deep sigh of relief. It doesn't sound or look like the guy up there is injured at all, though he does sound just a little freaked out. Pretty fair considering he did kind of come close to falling off the roof.

So he'll try to be reassuring, and smiles as he holds up the length of rope. ]

I found this! Is there anything up there you can tie it to?

[ He could probably find a rock to tie around the top of it so it's heavy enough to throw up easily enough at least, but there's not a lot of point if they can't anchor it in the first place. ]

[ The sight of the rope causes Yuma to perk up a little bit, some of the apprehension fading from his face. Oh, thank goodness he's found something. As much as Yuma likes it up here, he's happy that they've found a solution. Or the start of a solution.

He glances back at the roof, looking for something sturdy enough that he can tie it to... Luckily, it looks like he can tie it to part of the chimney. ]

Yeah! I think I see something!

[ Climbing down a rope is not the most ideal, but it's better than nothing. Whoever this kind stranger is, they're going to get a very big thank-you once Yuma is on solid ground again. ]

[ Oh that's a big relief to hear! This rope plan was going to fall flat pretty fast if there wasn't, but Sougo is pretty sure most rooftops at least have something to tie ropes to. ]

Make sure to tie a couple of knots in it!

[ He has no idea what a sturdy knot would be, but if you just do it a bunch it should be good enough, right?

... He'll just make sure to stand right at the bottom of the trail of rope just in case he needs to catch a falling person. ]

[ At nights, after work, she takes the long way around.

There's a multitude of reasons why, but she prefers the safety of walking where there's people more likely to see her. They keep the roads mostly devoid of slushy snow here, too, so her boots won't soak up too much of the cold as she wanders home to her cabin. This evening, the moon is high in the sky and the stars are out. It's a beautiful sight, clearer than any crystal and prettier than most paintings she's seen. The light that those celestial bodies cast down onto the roads is enough for her to wander as she pleases. She has a habit of overestimating herself, but she isn't such a food that she can't wander on her own. The more light, the better, as far as Zelda is concerned.

She pulls her thick coat tighter around her, battling the chill in the air. It'd been her first purchase with her payment, though it is quite old and likely been wrapped around a few other people's bodies. It keeps her warm, though, and as she walks, she can enjoy the fresh air, the sights, the sounds, the bustle of the city and quiet neighborhoods.

Hands in her pockets, she smiles. She could get used to this; it's almost like she's growing into her own. The sights are even becoming familiar. Perhaps before she knows it, she'll be able to map out the city using the watch all on her own. It'd take some time to figure out how to make it something you can interact with, like on the Slate, but...

...Ah, speaking of familiar sights, it seems Yuma has decided to enjoy a bit of moonbathing himself. Zelda hadn't realized he lived over here— it's quite the discovery. Her legs carry her over easily, though something about his form seems... different? As he comes into view, the features filling out, she realizes this doesn't really match the picture of him she has. She stops, and tilts her head, golden hair swaying.

Zelda suddenly remembers how this goes; that full moon is a cursed sight for many people here. Worry edges into her expression as she approaches, hands exposed to the cold as she raises them to her chest. ]

...Yuma?

[ Goodness. She swears there's plumage around his neck. It's beautiful, and she feels guilty for thinking so. ]

Are you... alright? Oh, Goddess, you're paler than Death...

[ When Yuma hears his voice called out, his gaze snaps upward, eyes wide in a mixture of panic and...wariness? Though it quickly subsides when he recognizes who's nearby. Truth be told, he'd been half-hoping that no one would come around here. Part of him didn't even like the idea. This is his house. ...right?

He barely has time to give Zelda a proper response before he realizes how...out-of-sorts he must look, transformation aside. He certainly looks different, he even feels different, and of course he's still sore and tired. He's not sure what to make of any of this. In true form, though, he's quick to try and ease Zelda's worries, even if they are completely valid. ]

Y-Yeah. I just...couldn't get any sleep, so I came outside to get some fresh air.

[ ...it's half-true. He really can't sleep, and he did need some fresh air. He moves to push a stray bit of hair behind his ear - adjusting, since his ears are a bit longer now - and rolls his shoulders a bit in hopes of easing some of the soreness. It doesn't do much other than shuffle around some of the feathers stuck inside his shirt and jacket, much to his dismay. ]

What about you? You're up pretty late, too.

[ What he does flies over her head, and she falls for his topic change easily. Zelda looks over her shoulder, down the street, then back at him. As he rolls his shoulders, adjusting himself, she thinks of the Rito and their boundless energy. ]

I work quite late at the bookshop, these days. Second shift tonight. [ The moon is round, full and close to them, she thinks. She could reach up and pluck it out of the night sky without much difficulty, though getting up there... ]

The moon is full. I had forgotten that the changes would begin. I'm sorry, Yuma... [ The apology is true, at least. She blames herself, in some way: As if perhaps warning him or reminding him might have made it easier. ] Is it quite painful?

You're working this late? You must be pretty tired.

[ He does admire her dedication, though. She's a lot like a certain other Princess he knows.

After a moment of quiet, Yuma nods. ] Yeah, I'm still kinda sore. It was a lot worse earlier, though.

[ He flexes his fingers a little bit, feeling he small claws at the ends of his fingers. The rough skin on his hand makes it feel strange, and no doubt he'll get used to it eventually, but for now it's still surreal. He could handle this sort of thing when dragonshifted back home, sure, but this is...different. He can't just dismiss it. It's there to stay, and he's not sure what to think about that. ]

[ Not tired enough to help a friend, she thinks. She stares him down, waiting for more; an explanation, perhaps. Something more than silence, and pieces of a puzzle to consider. When he does speak, her expression softens a touch. ]

You must be exhausted. Do you want water? Perhaps food...

[ What are the eating habits of... she looks to his claws, the rough skin. Rito, she thinks first, then settles on Harpy. ] Or shall I sit with you and watch the clouds, perhaps?

[ Maybe you can be hungry for company, too. She wonders, then looks to the feathers sprouting from the neck of his shirt. His shape is funny, as if his clothes are trying to hold him in position. She finds it rather... sad? She's not sure. ]

[ Zelda's right; he is exhausted. Not just because of how late it is, or the residual pain from his transformation. There's so much for him to process, so many stray thoughts to sort, that he's worn out on all fronts.

He clenches his hand for a moment - loosening them immediately after; the talons on his fingers are small but stil sharp - and looks down in thought. He doesn't really need anything right now, necessarily. Even if he wanted something, he doesn't really want Zelda to go through any trouble. ]

N-No, it's fine. I...don't want to wake up Kor.

[ He casts a brief glance back at the door. He hopes he didn't wake up his roommate, though no doubt he'll be getting some interesting looks in the morning. Or maybe he won't; Yuma's still figuring Kor out.

Even the suggestion of just sitting with her puts Yuma on edge for just a moment. For some reason he isn't too thrilled about the idea of her coming too close to his home, but...well, if it's just the front steps, then it's fine. ]

Sure, that's fine. [ He looks upward. ] ...the sky is pretty nice tonight. I just wish I could get a better view, though.

[ Kor, she assumes, is his housemate. Zelda stares toward the front door, as he does, and momentarily, she's a little bit surprised to realize how quickly he's settled in. A house? Meanwhile... her own living situation must seem...

She refuses to feel sorry for herself, so she walks upon the steps. Seating herself next to him, Zelda gazes up at the stars, too. She thinks for a moment she might say something about astronomy— perhaps a tale about a constellation. Perhaps how the constellations are so prominent in the Sheikah's designs, hiding them in geometric symbols.

He says he wants to see them better. Zelda turns her head back to the front door, turning at the waist. Then, her green gaze roves up, up, up, to the roof... Hm. ]

Shall we, then? [ She thinks it might better for him to experience his new, uh, urges? Around someone he at least sort of knows. They might not be close friends, but she remembers him treating her kindly. She will do the same.

So, without another word, she stands, climbs the railing of the steps, and then starts to shimmy herself up the front of the house. It always looked so easy when Link did it...! ]

[ To be fair, he and Kor had gotten along fairly quickly, and Yuma wasn't about to say no to a place to stay. He wasn't keen on living alone, after all.

Although Yuma momentarily stiffens out of some instinct he doesn't recognize, he realizes Zelda isn't intent on entering his home, and that much is a relief. As long as she doesn't end up climbing into his window or anything like that, they should be just...

...wait, she's climbing?

His eyes widen and he stands up. ] Er- Zelda? Wh-what're you doing?!

[ Is she going through something odd on the full moon, too? Or is she up to something? Whatever it is, his questions about himself can wait; right now he needs to make sure that Zelda doesn't go and get herself hurt from whatever this stunt is...and make especially sure she isn't trying to break in. ]

[ Link had a way of making this look so easy, as effortless as turning a page over in a book. Zelda grips with all her strength and then shimmies her way up, trying to move her weigh from limb to limb in a bid to find more strength. It's not impossible for her because she isn't out of shape, but a ladder would probably be the logical solution here. She manages to nearly get to a point where the shingles of the roof don't seem remarkably far away, but she's still not much closer, before he speaks.

And she glances at him over her shoulder, and exhales. Her back muscles relax. It feels like her body deflates. ]

The roof is unoccupied.

[ She pauses, turning back. ]

It is higher, as well...

B-Be careful!

[ Well, at least Zelda seems to be getting along just fine. He really doesn't want her to fall down and hurt herself. Just so long as she doesn't try to climb in any windows and invade his home, this is fine by him. Juuust fine.

...wait, why is he being so protective about his home, anyway? He was never like this with the Inn.

Of course, his train of thought is interrupted when Zelda offers a reply. ]

The roof...? [ His eyes widen. ] You're right, we could get a better view from up there.

[ Something about climbing up to the roof just sounds perfect. Yuma can barely stop himself from scrambling upward after Zelda, his excitement getting the better of him for a moment before he realizes just how precarious climbing the side of a building might be. Luckily, his newfound claws make climbing a bit easier, as does his newfound lightness.

Why didn't he think of this before? Getting up on the roof is a great idea! Staying on the ground has been feeling pretty stuffy, anyway. ]

[ He had seemed to worried, almost, judging by how he urges her to be careful. That anxious energy dissipates quickly when she suggests the roof, and Zelda realizes how used to seeing him in a state of worry she is. It had almost been her default Yuma experience, in fact. The thought strikes her as curious, but what sticks out to her is how relieved she is to see something else come through in his tone.

She really got it easy, when she thinks about it. Monster changes must be... difficult. She says nothing for a moment, continuing to climb. He's quicker than she had expected, and she thinks to ask about his bones, his weight, just about anything else that might alter his agility. She thinks of Revali and his gale, imagines that such thing must be exhausting to attempt even with hollow insides, but she can see where it would be possible.

Her hand grips the edge of the gutters, and she has to pull herself up. It's a mess; leaves and grime touch her fingertips but she has little time to regard it. In truth, it's a bit nice to get dirty.

All that escapes her as she climbs is a few grunts. She's... not out of shape, really. Just under traveled, perhaps, no longer exactly used to running and climbing as much as she had been. Zelda pulls herself over the shingles of the roof, after long last, crawling with her belly to them in an attempt to reach the top. It strikes her, then, that neither of them exactly have a way of getting down.

Hm. ]

A bit more, and we can sit at the top...

[ She'll think about how to get down when they need to. There's always some way to get it done. ]

[ Yuma's not far behind Zelda, and eagerly scrambles towards the edge of the roof. Pulling himself up is hardly a challenge - though he briefly laments that his boots make climbing a little trickier than he'd like - and takes a moment to catch his breath once he's on the roof with Zelda. He climbed a little faster than he thought, it seems, though it seems being lighter does help with...

...with...?

He loses his train of thought when he sees the view spread out before him. It's not the highest perch in the city, no, but something about looking over rooftops and hearing the streets below him puts him at ease. Some earlier tension visibly leaves him as he relaxes. How come he never thought of this before? When was the last time he felt this comfortable, anyway? ]

Whoa. Th-this is...

[ He's not sure what the word for it is. It feels nice? Comfortable? ...natural, even? He could stay up here forever, given the opportunity. ]

[ It is not surprise her when he sees to be at home like this. She plops herself down, holding onto the shingles for purchase, and stares out into the city. It's nostalgic, to be sure; watching the stars twinkle from a higher vantage point that the ground. Quietly, she reaches up and splays her fingers out against the inky darkness of the sky, imagining that the bright points in the sky are connecting into their own geometric patterns. ]

Beautiful, isn't it?

[ She looks back towards him, back straight and hair flowing behind her like golden sun rays. ] Birds are meant to watch us from above, among the stars. I can see why. When I traveled... I did like to stay on the mountains, if possible. [ Her mother had called her little bird, according to Urbosa, and perhaps that was why. Her mother had sensed that in her. ]

Your feathers are beautiful, Yuma.

Yeah... It is...

[ The sky is just...so much more open and free than the ground that he's chained to. The roof doesn't get him that much closer, but it's still leagues better than sitting on the steps. He'd love nothing more than to get just a bit closer, though sadly he's without the Dragon's power, so flight is beyond him. Not that he'd really opt to use it so openly anymore, anyway, but the yearning is still very much there.

He remembers all the times he couldn't sleep, back at the Seagull Inn. He'd end up on the balcony just outside, and more often than not someone would end up joining him for a chat to help him wind down for the night.

Zelda's words bring a smile to his face. She almost makes it sound like the birds were guardians of sorts. He can't help but agree with the sentiment, especially when she puts it like that. Though he's not sure why... Although just as he's trying to sort that thought out-

"Your feathers are beautiful, Yuma."

His eyes widen and he stiffens in surprise. And there's a tint of red in his cheeks. Oh. Well then. ]

O-Oh, uh...they are? [ How does he even react to that? He only just got these feathers less than an hour ago. Yuma unconsciously reaches back with one hand to feel the few that are poking out of his collar. He can feel them, so he knows they're there, but he hasn't quite seen them yet. ] I haven't really had the chance to look at them yet...

[ With a cant of her head, Zelda smiles at him. He'll see them eventually, and she hopes he won't hate them. They are, frankly, lovely, and she thinks it's becoming of him. She nods, once, barely noticeable. ]

They are. They remind me of traveling, when I got to see Hyrule up close and not from the castle. [ Looking back to the skies, she pulls her knees to her chest, and rests her chin upon them. If she takes notice of his reaction to her words, she does not show it. For the moment, she seems to be taking it all in. Just a few weeks ago, this friend of her's would have been content to be on the ground. Goodness, if only Revali were around when you needed him. ]

My mother called me Little Bird. Or so I heard. Now, her best friend does.

[ Though she doesn't say it, Zelda knows that her words carry the implication of her mother's fate. ] Perhaps I could have been a bird like you, once. The skies seem so far away and free to me. But to you, that world is attainable.

[It's been a few weeks in this strange new world now and it's been a bit of a whirlwind for Sora. So many things have happened that he's barely had time to take a rest to smell the roses. But he's happy when he's busy so when he sees an acquaintance looking through shop windows one day Sora approaches with a quick wave.]

Yuma! Hey! How's it going?

[He comes up to the other boy and notices that he might look a little down? He doesn't know him all that well but Sora can tell a frown is a frown when he sees one.]

You doing okay?

[ Yuma glances up at the familiar voice. The worry on his face doesn't quite fade in time, though even if it did it wouldn't matter; Sora seems to have caught him anyway. ]

Huh? Oh, I-I'm fine. [ ...mostly. ] I was just looking around to see if I could find some work.

[ His face still looks quite worried, though. Sorry, Sora; Yuma still tends to bottle things up a little. That and, well, he just doesn't want anyone to worry about him too much. ]

[Sora tilts his head and then leans forward a little bit as if he's trying to scrutinize Yuma's expression somehow.]

You look like you're thinking about something really hard. Finding work can't be so bad, right?

[Is it really about work?]

I know there's a bunch of stuff people can do outside of town. Or there's bound to be some shops or something that need help too. What kind of work do you like to do?

[ It's not far from the truth; Yuma's concern isn't so much on finding work. Sora's remark does have him looking guilty for a moment. It's not that Yuma is dishonest, he's merely reluctant to get into something so personal with someone he still isn't too familiar with yet. That, and...well, the Shining Dragon is a whole deal in itself.

Although with Sora's question about work...well, Yuma looks a little thoughtful. ]

I've never really had a job before, so I'm not sure. [ He hasn't exactly had an average life. ] I used to help out and clean around the inn. Maybe I could do something like that.

[ And Primula never let any of them hear the end of it if they neglected cleaning. Ever. Yuma usually stayed on top of things, but that did't always spare him. ]

[Luckily Sora won't press more than he already has, he's not about to bother someone he's just starting to get to know that much. Unless he really has to. He just cares!

The notes about work make Sora nod quickly.]

Cleaning, huh? That sounds kind of boring. [Just being honest...!] What about helping the coven out? I heard there's a lot of work for new people like us. I guess there's creatures and stuff outside the town that need to be kept in check. Or sometimes people ask for help with random work around town.

[Side quests!]

[ To be fair, cleaning is kind of boring. But Yuma never really minded it much; it was leagues better than fighting for his life and it kept his mind occupied.

Yuma pauses in thought. That...could work just as well, actually. Sometimes he'd be sent out on material-gathering or monster-slaying chores as well; he wasn't particularly fond of doing the latter, but he wouldn't turn down a chance to help people, either. The city needed to be kept safe, after all, and sometimes the knights were just too busy. ]

Hmm... Well, I guess I could do that, too. I did do a lot of odd jobs back in Marga with the others.

[ Though with any luck, he'll find something more stable. His life is plenty chaotic already; Yuma's more than happy to settle down into a routine. Or...well, some semblance of one, given how this city seems ready to give him a hard time. ]

What about you, though? Are you looking around for work, too?

[Sora is more of a chaotic-cleaner. While he dislikes chores he does try to keep things clean but cleaning chores are just so tiresome. He wouldn't want to do them for a job every single day. Even if some pay was involved.]

Marga? Is that were you're from?

[He smiles warmly at the chance to get to know Yuma a little more. They didn't get to chat too much on their lunch date, after all.]

But yeah! I've mostly been hanging out with some people I know from back home but I want to try some of those extra jobs out too! I can fight so why not help out?

[Or in other words... Sora's been freeloading off his friends a little and he feels bad.]

Edited 2020-02-23 20:36 (UTC)

Yeah, that's the city I was living in.

[ "Astoria" might be a little more accurate for an answer, but Marga's close enough. It's a nice place, there's plenty of people, a nice inn, some chickens walking around like they own the place, and those cats are definitely planning something. It's also great for dates.

Luckily for Sora, Yuma rather enjoys small talk. Partly due to his own friendly nature and partly due to being lonely for most of his life, he's eager for a chance to chat with new potential friends. Ending up in a completely different world hasn't changed that one bit. ]

So some of your friends from your world ended up here, too? [ He's a little jealous. He'd really like to see Agnum or Sonia again, but it looks like he's alone for now. ] What're they like?

[Sora smiles warmly, that same friendly feeling between them. He really likes Yuma aside from being curious about those few sad faces he makes sometimes he seems like a really nice person. So he's more than happy to get to know him too.]

Yeah, I guess I'm pretty lucky so far. I've got my two best friends here with me. Kairi and Riku, we all grew up together. Kairi is really cute and she's a witch while Riku is annoying and tall and also a witch!

[And Sora seems fondly loving of both of them despite how he describes Riku.]

That does sound pretty lucky.

[ He's on board with most of this explanation right until the end. Sora...you have a really strange way of describing your friends. Though with that tone of voice, it's clear that they're both very dear to him. Yuma can't help but feel a little jealous... ]

Were they already here before you came? They must've been really happy to see you.

[ Yuma knows he'll be delighted if any of the Dragoneers show up. It's been a pretty strange few weeks, and he's feeling a touch homesick. Being able to live as a (relatively) regular person has been refreshing, and he's made some great friends in his short time here so far, but he certainly wouldn't say no to a familiar face. ]

Kairi was here first and for a few months. Boy, did she cry her eyes out when I saw her again. [Sorry, Kairi.] But me and Riku showed up together.

[Sora is rather blessed to have his two closest people with him here in this world. He spent so much time without them over the years that it's nice to finally have some time to be with them.

But don't think Sora doesn't notice the way Yuma asks. He quickly takes a step up towards the other boy and links their arms together in a warm and friendly manner.]

But that doesn't mean I don't like making new friends! I'm really glad I'm getting to know more about you, Yuma!

[ Kairi cried when she saw Sora again? They must be super close. Yuma's never really known the joys of being close to anyone other than family, and after that perhaps the Dragoneers, especially Agnum and Sonia. Though, Yuma's made plenty of great friends here as well. Homesick as he is, Yuma's glad that he isn't alone.

Of course, before he can give this much more thought, Sora's linking arms with him and wait hold on what ]

Ah-?!

[ Whoa. Sora doesn't hold back, does he? ]

I-I'm glad that I'm getting to know you, too, Sora. [ Yuma still needs to get used to this, though. ]

Great! Great!

[Sora seems pleased as punch to hear Yuma say that and he tugs him along.]

Let's go get some sweets together, then! There's these really great strawberry puffs I had once!

[And so they'll continue to bond over tiny food dates.]

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[OPEN/catchall] It seemed like a good idea at the time

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