[The dog cocks its head and barks in a conversational tone, as if it understand what's going on. It doesn't. 90% of the nuances of this conversation flies over the dog's head. But it's doing a good job at acting like an involved listener.]
Hey. [She walks over to Ruca's side, so they're side by side, regarding this dog. She shifts the balls in her hand, so she can...
...wait for it...
...wait for it, five balls is a bit tough to hold in one hand/the crook of her arm, but she's managing, but it's taking a moment...
...okay, there. So she can place a companionable hand on Ruca's shoulder and give it a hopefully reassuring squeeze, whilst Guinaifen tries to channel as much Big Sister energy as she can muster. She's in the middle of her pack of siblings but not the baby of the bunch, old enough she can fake it.]
Relax, you don't have to take care of a pet if you don't wanna. It's only a thought. [And then.] I'm Guinaifen. What's your name?
[With the way the dog barks, Ruca is almost ready to start talking to it as if it actually understands them. His attention then shifts to Guinaifen and he patiently watches her.
It takes a moment
He understands that it must be difficult to hold all those balls. He is impressed. The hand that is placed on his shoulder makes him blink, before he gives the tiniest smile.]
R-right... Oh and I'm Ruca. It's nice to meet you, Miss Guinaifen.
[So, so reassuring. She's so good at this. (No, she's not.) She releases Ruca's shoulder because it's- yeah, it's kind of hard holding five balls and one slips and the dog lunges for it-]
No! I need those! [Help. He's a big dog. He's trying to shove his stupid face in at the balls and no. ] It took me forever- could you distract the dog? Buy me a few minutes so I can put these balls away!
[Very reassuring indeed. In all honesty, it's not that difficult to reassure him (in some cases).
Ruca panics when the dog lunges for the ball.]
Ah, r-right!
[What should he do? He frantically looks around, trying to think fast, then he suddenly notices a lone stick on the ground. He grabs it and tries to wave it to grab the dogs attention.]
Here! L-look what I've got! Do you want to play?
[And he tries to throw the stick, hoping that the dog will run after it!
[Suddenly, Guinaifen feels a bit more sympathy for her teachers from her bygone years...if she ever meets them again, she will give them a hug and get them food and tell them that she understands, she understands.
But for now? Now, she gives Ruca a big smile, like he did a good job and the stick flew way out.]
That's not a bad first try! But...if you promise me you can hold these balls for me and not let the dog get any of them, I can show you the trick to throwing a stick really fast and having it go far.
[It's fine, she's got siblings, she knows how to take care of people, kind of.]
[He is very sorry. He may be good at fighting (I mean look at this huge sword strapped to his back), but he's not really good at anything that requires dexterity.]
There is? [If there is a trick to let him improve his poor throw, then he is all ears.]
I-I'll do my best to hold them!
[He extends his arms to her to take the balls from her. Hopefully he can actually protect them from the dog.]
[It's training! Training! One day, Ruca will become a stick-throwing champ. But for now, she hands him one! Two! Three balls.]
You're sure you can handle this? [Dog looks like it's gonna try mugging Ruca for ball #4 or #5 at this rate. The pooch is practically salivating. But Guinaifen? Guinaifen sounds absolutely confident. Like this is some kind of grave task of incredibly grave importance instead of just giving a kid some balls so she can chuck a stick.]
[Ruca accepts the balls and attempts to position himself so that his back is facing the dog. Hopefully, this will allow him to protect the items from getting snatched.
Hopefully.]
I... I think so.
[What a confident response.
It would have been much easier if they were facing a monster. Ruca doesn't want any harm to happen to the dog. Or to scare it.
[If Guinaifen was fourth wall savvy, self-aware enough to know that they're video game characters and Ruca the protagonist of his own story, the leading man in the battle for his universe's future...well, once she got over the existential crisis of being a fictional character, Guinaifen would be concerned. She'd be concerned for Ruca, the shit he'd gone through, and the shit he would go through. She'd be very deeply concerned. Because he seems like the sort of guy who would be far happier being a Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons character than a JRPG protagonist.
But she doesn't know any of that. Guinaifen is deeply, blissfully unaware that Ruca should've been working in a library or maybe tending a flower shop, selling seeds to farmers and otherwise living his life in peace. All she knows is that- she feels concern. Vague concern?]
Hey, relax! Worst case, I just need to get some more balls and you can help me pick out some nice, flashy ones.
[-and also-]
Now I think about it, you kinda remind me of a friend of mine...? [His butt's not on fire and he doesn't have ears, but there's a similar vibe.] Maybe that's why we get along so well.
[But first things first. She picks up a stick. Waggles it at the dog. The dog says, "Bark! Bark bark BARK!"]
Fetch! [The stick is thrown! It goes pretty far, but not too far, and before she can tell Ruca to run while the going's good-
[Ruca may not be a typical protagonist, many could say he isn't suited for it (if they were aware in the first place), but at the same time he has a trait worthy of a protag - he's stubborn. If someone is depending on him, he will find a way to make things right, even if it would endanger him.
...The situation here is far less dramatic, but Ruca still feels great sense of responsibility. When Guinaifen throws the stick, the boy almost sighs with relief. Maybe they are free now, maybe they can finally escape!
But no. The dog comes back faster than any of them anticipated.]
Oh.
[And then suddenly an idea hits him. It may be foolish, potentially dangerous, but something has to be done! The boy takes one of the balls that Guinaifen gave to him and shows it to the dog. It was so interested in them, surely it wants one more than anything else! Ruca waves his hand with the ball in the air.]
Here, you wanted it, right?
[Then a red circle appears under his feet and he makes a motion as if he's about to throw the ball.]
Fetch! Fire Ball!
[Guinaifen's ball remains in his hand, while a red orb of fire launches far with high speed. When it finally touches the ground it burns out and vanishes. If the dog runs after it, it will likely spend some time searching for something that no longer exists and that's exactly what Ruca is hoping for.]
[She stares, but honestly, this isn't the weirdest thing that's happened to her, her friend's butt is perpetually on fire, a tree grew out of nothing not that long ago, and if you perform on the streets you get used to having good reflexes.
So, Guinaifen does this.
She grabs Ruca's hand. Or arm. Some limb.]
You have to show me how you did that again. [...] Later.
[And they run gogogogogo, it's like they're doing a dine and dash except the only thing they're running from is a dog chasing after fire, not a check.]
[He isn't even sure how he's going to explain this. Being able to use artes in his world is seen as something really not good and something that could get you locked up. That's a worry for later though.
Getting his arm grabbed surprises Ruca, but he doesn't waste any more time. They have to run before the dog comes back!
Once they far enough, Ruca takes his time to catch his breath. He still isn't good at running, especially running for too long.]
[Yeah, okay, she's absolutely 100% going to make sure this kid gets regular meals and that he does things which are fun for him, and is this what her brothers felt like? Is it? Does she owe them all apologies if- when she sees them again, when she sees them again. Does she?
Much to consider.]
Probably not. And even if it does we can deal with it then.
[But she should release Ruca from her grasp, and Guinaifen does.]
[.....................they can do investigative research and/or fieldwork together and meet halfway or something.]
...you're pretty honest, aren't you? [Please don't how Guinaifen reached that conclusion, there's a thought process and it'll make Ruca sad to learn it, probably. When you come from the land of great restaurants then you experience dine and dashers all the time. (Not that she has, as you don't piss off the auntie who gives you extra chicken skewers, but she's seen them, sure.)]
Something tells me you'll have plenty of chances to change that in the future.
Being honest's a pretty good thing if you ask me. It's just... [What's a good word for it, and also, she's 100% not avoiding the second implied question don't look at her ignore the implications she 100% meant running, really, she didn't have 200 conversations about how there's lurking danger in her first month in Aldrip.]
...rare, I guess. But maybe it's just the sorts of people I've known.
[He has some absolutely embarrassing secrets as well. Like that time he scored below 70 points on a test and ended up burying it because he was too ashamed to show it to his parents.]
That aside though! I... I'm glad the dog didn't come running after us.
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expiationlogs2024-06-10 07:58 am
no subject
Hey. [She walks over to Ruca's side, so they're side by side, regarding this dog. She shifts the balls in her hand, so she can...
...wait for it...
...wait for it, five balls is a bit tough to hold in one hand/the crook of her arm, but she's managing, but it's taking a moment...
...okay, there. So she can place a companionable hand on Ruca's shoulder and give it a hopefully reassuring squeeze, whilst Guinaifen tries to channel as much Big Sister energy as she can muster. She's in the middle of her pack of siblings but not the baby of the bunch, old enough she can fake it.]
Relax, you don't have to take care of a pet if you don't wanna. It's only a thought. [And then.] I'm Guinaifen. What's your name?
no subject
It takes a moment
He understands that it must be difficult to hold all those balls. He is impressed. The hand that is placed on his shoulder makes him blink, before he gives the tiniest smile.]
R-right... Oh and I'm Ruca. It's nice to meet you, Miss Guinaifen.
[He bows his head politely.]
no subject
[So, so reassuring. She's so good at this. (No, she's not.) She releases Ruca's shoulder because it's- yeah, it's kind of hard holding five balls and one slips and the dog lunges for it-]
No! I need those! [Help. He's a big dog. He's trying to shove his stupid face in at the balls and no. ] It took me forever- could you distract the dog? Buy me a few minutes so I can put these balls away!
no subject
Ruca panics when the dog lunges for the ball.]
Ah, r-right!
[What should he do? He frantically looks around, trying to think fast, then he suddenly notices a lone stick on the ground. He grabs it and tries to wave it to grab the dogs attention.]
Here! L-look what I've got! Do you want to play?
[And he tries to throw the stick, hoping that the dog will run after it!
...He does not manage to throw it far.]
no subject
But for now? Now, she gives Ruca a big smile, like he did a good job and the stick flew way out.]
That's not a bad first try! But...if you promise me you can hold these balls for me and not let the dog get any of them, I can show you the trick to throwing a stick really fast and having it go far.
[It's fine, she's got siblings, she knows how to take care of people, kind of.]
There's a knack to it!
no subject
There is? [If there is a trick to let him improve his poor throw, then he is all ears.]
I-I'll do my best to hold them!
[He extends his arms to her to take the balls from her. Hopefully he can actually protect them from the dog.]
no subject
You're sure you can handle this? [Dog looks like it's gonna try mugging Ruca for ball #4 or #5 at this rate. The pooch is practically salivating. But Guinaifen? Guinaifen sounds absolutely confident. Like this is some kind of grave task of incredibly grave importance instead of just giving a kid some balls so she can chuck a stick.]
no subject
Hopefully.]
I... I think so.
[What a confident response.
It would have been much easier if they were facing a monster. Ruca doesn't want any harm to happen to the dog. Or to scare it.
What a tricky situation...]
no subject
But she doesn't know any of that. Guinaifen is deeply, blissfully unaware that Ruca should've been working in a library or maybe tending a flower shop, selling seeds to farmers and otherwise living his life in peace. All she knows is that- she feels concern. Vague concern?]
Hey, relax! Worst case, I just need to get some more balls and you can help me pick out some nice, flashy ones.
[-and also-]
Now I think about it, you kinda remind me of a friend of mine...? [His butt's not on fire and he doesn't have ears, but there's a similar vibe.] Maybe that's why we get along so well.
[But first things first. She picks up a stick. Waggles it at the dog. The dog says, "Bark! Bark bark BARK!"]
Fetch! [The stick is thrown! It goes pretty far, but not too far, and before she can tell Ruca to run while the going's good-
The dog comes back with the stick.]
no subject
...The situation here is far less dramatic, but Ruca still feels great sense of responsibility. When Guinaifen throws the stick, the boy almost sighs with relief. Maybe they are free now, maybe they can finally escape!
But no. The dog comes back faster than any of them anticipated.]
Oh.
[And then suddenly an idea hits him. It may be foolish, potentially dangerous, but something has to be done! The boy takes one of the balls that Guinaifen gave to him and shows it to the dog. It was so interested in them, surely it wants one more than anything else! Ruca waves his hand with the ball in the air.]
Here, you wanted it, right?
[Then a red circle appears under his feet and he makes a motion as if he's about to throw the ball.]
Fetch! Fire Ball!
[Guinaifen's ball remains in his hand, while a red orb of fire launches far with high speed. When it finally touches the ground it burns out and vanishes. If the dog runs after it, it will likely spend some time searching for something that no longer exists and that's exactly what Ruca is hoping for.]
no subject
So, Guinaifen does this.
She grabs Ruca's hand. Or arm. Some limb.]
You have to show me how you did that again. [...] Later.
[And they run gogogogogo, it's like they're doing a dine and dash except the only thing they're running from is a dog chasing after fire, not a check.]
no subject
Getting his arm grabbed surprises Ruca, but he doesn't waste any more time. They have to run before the dog comes back!
Once they far enough, Ruca takes his time to catch his breath. He still isn't good at running, especially running for too long.]
Do you... think it won't find us here?
[The fear.]
no subject
Much to consider.]
Probably not. And even if it does we can deal with it then.
[But she should release Ruca from her grasp, and Guinaifen does.]
Sorry. You did really good! Are you okay?
no subject
Right...
[He takes one more deep breath, then straightens himself.]
I-I'm fine! I'm just not very good when it comes to running...
no subject
...you're pretty honest, aren't you? [Please don't how Guinaifen reached that conclusion, there's a thought process and it'll make Ruca sad to learn it, probably. When you come from the land of great restaurants then you experience dine and dashers all the time. (Not that she has, as you don't piss off the auntie who gives you extra chicken skewers, but she's seen them, sure.)]
Something tells me you'll have plenty of chances to change that in the future.
no subject
[It shouldn't be? He has no reason to lie anyway and nothing he would say could make him cooler anyway. Not to mention that he's awful at acting.
Ruca looks a little confused for a moment, before answering.]
...I'm not sure. I have travelled for a long time, but running still gives me trouble. [She was talking about running, right??]
no subject
...rare, I guess. But maybe it's just the sorts of people I've known.
no subject
[He gives a nod to that.]
I understand what you mean. Many people can't afford to be honest even with themselves.
[He's reminded of what Ange told him. The priestess would admit to him she wishes she could be more honest, but life isn't always simple.]
I'm not good at lying but even I have things I wish to hide from other people.
no subject
[.........probably.]
Secrets that no one knows and stuff that would be super embarrassing if it ever got out.
no subject
[He has some absolutely embarrassing secrets as well. Like that time he scored below 70 points on a test and ended up burying it because he was too ashamed to show it to his parents.]
That aside though! I... I'm glad the dog didn't come running after us.
[Trying to change the subject here!]