defenses | ( ic inbox. )

i think i'd remember taking off a hat

i even remember what we ate afterwards

[ as if this is startling proof to his wonderful memory... ]

of course you would. you're crazy about food, aren't you

it wasn't even real.

who doesn't like food?
i remember you ate it all up too!

...

then doesn't that mean your hat also isn't real??

of course my hat's real. i'm wearing it right now

why are we talking about this??

i don't remember

but, either way! stay put!

[ after some time, vane ... gets a vague feeling like he's close. ]

how about you stand on something tall so i can see you easily??

then i can pick you right up!

what are you saying -- that i'm too small for you to spot?

huh?

no?? no way!! i would never imply something like that, chu!!

just try it!!

[ 'chu' ... ] you're definitely implying it.
fine, but i'm only doing this to move things along.

[ going to stand on the fountain now and try his best to look cool about it. ]

do you see me

uh

uh

uh [ after about seven of these, finally— ] I see you!

[ yelling across the way. likely bringing a lot of attention to themselves. ] I see you posing!! You really like to put on airs, don't you, Chu! [ calling him out in public for something he asked him to do. nothing out of place here. ]

[ He wasn't trying to pose, but the way he's standing with his hands in his pockets in that telltale 'delinquent' way definitely looks like a pose. These things just come naturally to him.

With Vane's loud voice, all eyes in the marketplace turn to the person he's shouting at, and Chuuya starts to flush with embarrassment. ] I wasn't -- You asked me to stand up here, asshole!

[ He hops down IMMEDIATELY. ]

Huh? Did I say something like that? [ vane seems perfectly okay with simply brushing it under the rug. he even gives a small laugh as he metaphorically places the matter aside. ] Oh well! The important part is I found you.

Did you wait long? You must've got hungry!

Yeah, I am peckish. None of the restaurants will sell me anything, though. Do you have any food on you?

[ farming, hunting, gathering... these were all things he was accustomed to back at home. who knew it's be something so prevalent in this world, as well. he supposes some principles never changed (sans ... thesa station, at least). still, he seems to ponder over chuuya's words— ] When we were traveling through the forest I snagged a few vegetables and mushrooms. Some herbs, too, but I don't know how edible they are.

Think it's worth it? [ vane takes a few berries from his pocket?

also how far did he trek to get here? the world will never know. ]

Ohh. These don't look too bad. [ He'd rather have steak right now, but he's hungry enough to eat pretty much anything. ]

Could we make the rest into a soup?

Soup, huh? That sounds good!

You okay with everything here? If you have anything you don't like, don't feel shy in telling me! [ but, well, they'll also have to figure their way to one of their homes first. a home. any home with a kitchen, really.

or any place with a pot and some tools for a fire. whichever seemed easiest. something vane doesn't seem to think about as he's already beginning to walk?? without direction?? ]

I'd rather have some meat, but this seems to be all we've got right now. Not like I'm in any position to be picky about it. [ He did intend to see their new living quarters, but he isn't completely sure where it is. Vane seems to know, though??? Allegedly?!?!??! Chuuya follows behind him, working under the assumption that he knows where he's going. ]

Meat, huh? Guess we have similar tastes... [ which is honestly just sad considering it wasn't as readily available. while hunting was still certainly an option, they were probably just biding away daylight at this point. a consideration that vane also, inevitably, crosses in his trek to organize his thoughts.

it's why he doesn't actually pay much attention when he enters a place that honestly looks a bit too secluded to be for homes. which is contrast to the road that's opposite to that— which seems to carry a more shops and tinier stores. ] ... I'm pretty sure I passed through the forest.

[ is he already lost? of course not. (yes.) ]

I've walked through here too. [ Chuuya starts to look around. They are in a small town, but it doesn't look big enough to hold something as big as a housing complex for refugees. Belatedly, he starts to realise his mistake -- he followed Vane. ]

Wait, do you actually know where to go?

[ this question should spark some concern from him.

but, it doesn't really. at least not completely. instead, he seems to brush it off with a: ] C'mon, Chu! Of course I know where I'm going. I'm a full-fledged adult. I wouldn't get lost at my age. [ says vane who is ... actually just lost. does he steadily sound a bit more nervous? ]

[ That's a very, very concerning statement. ] Anyone who has to say that is probably lost. You don't know where we are, do you?

O-of course I do! I've passed by this place at least ... three times?

[ meaning, he'd have to have been lost two travel down the same road in a circle ....

but, vane doesn't seem to realize how incriminating this is. ]

Doesn't that just mean you've been walking around in circles? [ He can't believe he thought this guy was endearing for like 5 seconds a few weeks ago. ]

Yeah, but that's part of familiarizing yourself with the place, isn't it?

[ no, probably not. ] Let's go that way! [ to the undergrowth, he means.

it's a bit dark, but if there's no risk taken... there's no yield, right? ]

( ic inbox. )

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject