[It's ok 76. Kazuma wasn't exactly in any condition to go anywhere himself a while. Even when he could, he doesn't want to worry the Mikotoba's any further than he already has by wandering off into potential danger. So all he has is the journal, and when he's able to write it in again, he's calling out to 76, hoping, waiting.
When that reply finally arrives, Kazuma waste no time getting back to him. Writing very quickly.]
Where? Forest? Can I see you? [Asking how he is can wait.]
[He doesn't remember what happened, but he knew enough that there was severe injury. Remembered the smell of blood and a glee that wasn't his. flashes of images seen through the wolves—]
[He'll try not to, but his determination to see 76 is going override other concerns.]
Then we'll see you soon. [Further discussions can be had once they're together. They'll be doing a few things before heading out, bring a few dawn flower petals, turn this into a lunch outing. While Kazuma is able to move about, the remnants of their previous encounter is still present.
He still carried nearly all of his Noctaere features, just not a giant beast like before. Still, he stands as tall as the tallest human on average. The injuries he sustained have left scarring on his body that are hidden beneath his clothes, and there's a limp to his movement. Sometimes his sword arm would ache trying to move it but otherwise, he'll still be able to make the trip.]
[ Thanks, Reverein! On top of a three-year advantage, you've somehow managed to make Kazuma even taller than her than he normally would have been. She can't exactly support him this way, not the way she wants, but she'll still try, and fuss over him as appropriate about the limp, when she's not cutting the crust off sandwich bread.
She's laid out several different sandwiches, looking exasperated as she packs them all into boxes, like she just can't decide. Only then does she begin to suspect they maybe spent too long on this, but heck it. This is important, certainly to Kazuma, and definitely to her. ]
So we'll let him have first pick. Easy enough. Water... check. Note to father... check. New charm, check. [ She glances at Kazuma, as if to make sure he's wearing his. ] Are you sure you won't use the walking stick...?
Oh, never mind. [ Stupid question, Kazuma would never (unless he really, really, really needed it, which he no longer does. ] I almost forgot. I made these the other day, too.
[ She turns around, and suddenly holding two crowns made of varying sizes of Glowing Dawn flower. There seem to be gaps, like she either couldn't get enough flowers or didn't want to risk damaging them, but the workmanship is clear in the intricate way the twigs she used are tied together, and the way the flowers are sown in at the base. ]
. . . I thought it would be better than carrying the petals around in a jar. Do you think he'd wear it? [ Would he need it? Also, more importantly, will you wear it? ]
[There was at least something of directions sent to find him easier- because he was out in the farmlands, near one of the fields close to the forests. Blue was with him, because since the entire incident she'd been sticking close whenever he ventured out. Which was fine by him, honestly.
Currently he had a wagon that he was piling weeds and other debris in to, cleaning up a field so that it could be used for planting. Blue'd be helping to pull it off once he finished, and currently she was chilling next to the Yetox that had originally been hitched to it. No reason to keep either hooked up to anything while he was working, and some of what he pulled the Yetox could just... eat.
With no one else around? He had hung his jacket up on a nearby tree, mask attached. Easier to keep cool in just the shirt he'd had under it- but it would make the changes he still carried much more obvious once the two of them arrived. Fresh scars partially hidden by his shirt of course but- well.
The blackening of his skin was so much darker, teeth still so very sharp- and the softly glowing streaks spread through his hair couldn't be so easily hidden without his mask, or the hood of a jacket.]
[Susato is going from one thing to another so quickly, Kazuma doesn't have much time to get a say in. Once she finally stops at the flowers, he'll answer her question with another one.]
Firstly, do you need help carrying anything? Secondly...I don't see him saying no to the gesture. [The thought of 76 wearing a flower crown is both amusing and out of place for the old soldier.] I think he'd worry about ruining it, with how he likes to keep himself busy.
First of all, no. And don't you dare. [ She's got this. Susato holds up a finger, as if to both shush him and indicate the number 1. Then she pokes out that middle finger, the sign for peace, and also the number 2. ] Second of all... Good.
[ She tries to sound more confident than she is, but the truth is, she knows how out of place it is to imagine 76 wearing the crown, thanks. ]
I know how to mend it anyway if something happens. [ Though hopefully the flowers themselves don't suffer too much, because yikes, those are a struggle to grow. Maybe it'll be easier now that it's getting warmer, but she's never been to the cave to know what it's like. ] ...The other one is for you.
[ Normally, that look wouldn't bother her, but with everything that happened, she is self-conscious enough that she goes quiet. She looks at one crown, then the other, and thinks about telling him that if he puts one of them around his wrist, it'll magically shrink to fit as a bracelet.
Instead: ] You tell me whether you should.
[ He has gained back many of his human features. Does he need it?
She'll make a mental note to tell them both about the bracelet option later anyway, but she does hope they'll wear them as crowns at least once. Just for her mental scrapbook. ]
...I worry it might fall while we travel. [He's not wrong, but he's also not saying outright he doesn't want to and hurt her feelings. It's just...a little too cute for his taste. Then an idea popped in his mind.]
How about you let me carry one thing, and I will wear it.
[ . . . She was going to let him anyway, in the end. So she gathers up the boxes of sandwiches, placing them in a basket which she lined with pink cloth, and on top, she'll place one of the flower crowns. ]
[ This feels familiar... so familiar an intense feeling of nostalgia overcomes her as she grabs the crown from the basket. She gently places it on top of Kazuma's head, and though he may not be able to see it, he will probably feel the way it gently squeezes his scalp. It won't hurt, far from it, but it's clear it won't be falling off any time either, until he takes it off. ]
It's perfect.
[ She grabs the cloth bag she decided to use to carry the bottles of water. ]
[He stands once he felt the crown was securely placed on his head. He must look silly with it is all he's thinking.]
Let's not keep him waiting much longer. [He'll grab his cloak and off they go. As expected, there were whispers among the locals as they walked through the town. Remarks of how cute he looked with the crown, and others wondering what the occasion was. He'll ignore it all of course, glad once they move out into the countryside.
Blue is immediately the first thing to be spotted among the herd of Yetox as they walked into the farmlands. 76 couldn't be too far behind.]
[ It's her. She's the bloody occasion. And she's not shy about either. She never speaks up or escalates, though, simply glares at anyone who seems to giggle or whisper for a little too long. Things seem to peter out as they reach the countryside, and the scenery is nicer to boot. ]
Blue! [ The dragon easily stands out amongst the Yetox. Susato calls out from a distance, opening her one free arm to welcome the dragon. Her eyes easily scan the fields behind her though, coming to the same realization: they'd made it to the right place.
[Blue perked up at the call of her name, ears flicked up, and of course after looking back to where she knew 76 was, pushed herself up and bounded at half a glide to quickly cut the distance to greet the two. More moving in circles around them a few times before settling.
All the better to move back towards where she had come from.
76 dumped an armful of broken fencing in to the back of the wagon, hand smoothing down one of the yetox's horns with a bit of a rub between them before he was moving in to better sight, rather than just dwelling where he was. Had to break out of that reluctance somehow.
A gloved hand raised up, clear so he saw them. For now his jacket was being left where he'd had it hung up along with the his full mask, brushing a bit of dirt off his shirt and tugging it more in to place.
Like this, the changes to him were kind of hard to miss.]
[He admires the blue dragon frolicking around them before running back towards his owner. He could feel something being caught in his stomach. Nervous? Anxious? He should be excited to see 76 again. There's no time to fret over it when 76 comes into full view.
He's ok.
The glow from parts of his hair really stands out, but he himself, looked ok. He sort of forgets his surroundings as he walks forward. They probably see eye to eye with the way Kazuma is right now. A mismatch of snake demon with a cute flower crown on his head. He looked ready to say something to 76, but nothing comes out. Damn protocols and etiquettecy, the old man is going to get a hug.]
[ If Kazuma is going to forget his surroundings, Susato will see it has her duty to pick up the slack. She moves forward with equal excitement and heartpounding anticipation, but falls behind several paces due to Kazuma's height, and the fact that she has to bend down to pick up the bag that has the sandwiches in them, which had dropped onto the ground, however gently.
. . . Susato hangs back, simply watching the reunion. There are tears in her eyes. She is proud of him, no matter how he felt that he had failed. A part of her aches, too, remnants of a months-old feeling that she is being left behind yet again, haunting her like a ghost.
And also--the feeling of simple desire for a camera. ]
[Well, if the old man was getting a hug the young man was getting one in turn, wordless other than some sight that was more relief than anything. It was hard not to worry, but at last Reaper had felt like mentioning to him Kazuma was technically alright. Gotten in to good hands after all.
A hand rested against Kazuma's back in some half pat, a squeeze of arms.
Susato wasn't forgotten, Blue slowing to walk beside her with a light nudging of the dragon's head against the side of an arm, Jack looking up as the corner of his mouth twitched a bit. A small motion for her to come on over -or in- as she may want.
Perhaps for a moment he looked tired, but it was fare more like the weight of some dragging worry was falling away than anything else. The type that no distraction or attempts to get rid of it by working to distract could do.]
[Don't mind the snake tail curling up around one of his legs. Memories of the old man trying to keep him afloat resurfacing. He's trying not to squeeze too hard. They're both still recovering as far as he's aware. It's just having physical contact further confirms he's here, not some big undead wolf dog. Everything's all right for the time being.
He could hear Blue move, someone approaching. He lifts his head, his eyes a little watery. Right, he didn't come here by himself to see 76. He moves so there's now clearly space for Susato to come join them.]
[ In that moment, she thought it'd best for them if she made herself as invisible as possible, though Blue clearly had other plans. It gave her quite the start to feel the dragon's head, gentle as it was, nudging her forward, and her initial reaction is to resist. "No, i, it's alright," she'd mutter, but it wasn't alright, and with her eyes still watery as well, she found herself pushed into the space Kazuma and Jack created.
She never got to see Jack as the undead flower wolf, as Reaper put it, but seeing the way he was wounded by the Ents and then the way Kazuma had shown up at their door would be something she would not forget for months, years to come. Her tears don't stop falling, even with the physical contact to remind her, but she's trying. ]
[Susato had an arm wrapped around her just as tightly as Jack had one around Kazuma, a solid hand rested against the back of shoulders. Keeping all three of them close in that embrace, his head tipped down-]
Hey.
[A simple word that held a lot of feeling in it, squeezing both Kazuma and Susato like he wasn't going to let go until either of them pulled away. Something soft and warm and relieved trailing with it.
Tears weren't judged.
You're okay, for the both of them. How rough it had to have been on all sides, but for now it was all okay; whatever meaning 'okay' held.]
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When that reply finally arrives, Kazuma waste no time getting back to him. Writing very quickly.]
Where? Forest? Can I see you? [Asking how he is can wait.]
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[Giving himself something to do that something useful could come out of- and not even for him, entirely.]
Can you move?
[Was that a good idea?]
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I'll be bringing Miss Susato. If that's all right with you.
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[He doesn't remember what happened, but he knew enough that there was severe injury. Remembered the smell of blood and a glee that wasn't his. flashes of images seen through the wolves—]
That's fine.
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Then we'll see you soon. [Further discussions can be had once they're together. They'll be doing a few things before heading out, bring a few dawn flower petals, turn this into a lunch outing. While Kazuma is able to move about, the remnants of their previous encounter is still present.
He still carried nearly all of his Noctaere features, just not a giant beast like before. Still, he stands as tall as the tallest human on average. The injuries he sustained have left scarring on his body that are hidden beneath his clothes, and there's a limp to his movement. Sometimes his sword arm would ache trying to move it but otherwise, he'll still be able to make the trip.]
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She's laid out several different sandwiches, looking exasperated as she packs them all into boxes, like she just can't decide. Only then does she begin to suspect they maybe spent too long on this, but heck it. This is important, certainly to Kazuma, and definitely to her. ]
So we'll let him have first pick. Easy enough. Water... check. Note to father... check. New charm, check. [ She glances at Kazuma, as if to make sure he's wearing his. ] Are you sure you won't use the walking stick...?
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[ She turns around, and suddenly holding two crowns made of varying sizes of Glowing Dawn flower. There seem to be gaps, like she either couldn't get enough flowers or didn't want to risk damaging them, but the workmanship is clear in the intricate way the twigs she used are tied together, and the way the flowers are sown in at the base. ]
. . . I thought it would be better than carrying the petals around in a jar. Do you think he'd wear it? [ Would he need it? Also, more importantly, will you wear it? ]
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Currently he had a wagon that he was piling weeds and other debris in to, cleaning up a field so that it could be used for planting. Blue'd be helping to pull it off once he finished, and currently she was chilling next to the Yetox that had originally been hitched to it. No reason to keep either hooked up to anything while he was working, and some of what he pulled the Yetox could just... eat.
With no one else around? He had hung his jacket up on a nearby tree, mask attached. Easier to keep cool in just the shirt he'd had under it- but it would make the changes he still carried much more obvious once the two of them arrived. Fresh scars partially hidden by his shirt of course but- well.
The blackening of his skin was so much darker, teeth still so very sharp- and the softly glowing streaks spread through his hair couldn't be so easily hidden without his mask, or the hood of a jacket.]
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Firstly, do you need help carrying anything? Secondly...I don't see him saying no to the gesture. [The thought of 76 wearing a flower crown is both amusing and out of place for the old soldier.] I think he'd worry about ruining it, with how he likes to keep himself busy.
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[ She tries to sound more confident than she is, but the truth is, she knows how out of place it is to imagine 76 wearing the crown, thanks. ]
I know how to mend it anyway if something happens. [ Though hopefully the flowers themselves don't suffer too much, because yikes, those are a struggle to grow. Maybe it'll be easier now that it's getting warmer, but she's never been to the cave to know what it's like. ] ...The other one is for you.
[ He did realize there are two, right? ]
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...Are you asking me to wear it right now? [Man might be a little self conscious about his already failing image here.]
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Instead: ] You tell me whether you should.
[ He has gained back many of his human features. Does he need it?
She'll make a mental note to tell them both about the bracelet option later anyway, but she does hope they'll wear them as crowns at least once. Just for her mental scrapbook. ]
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How about you let me carry one thing, and I will wear it.
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The water's heavier, so I've got it.
[ She'll then hand Kazuma the basket. ]
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A deal's a deal. [He'll let her have the honor of putting the crown on his head.]
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It's perfect.
[ She grabs the cloth bag she decided to use to carry the bottles of water. ]
I think we can go now.
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Let's not keep him waiting much longer. [He'll grab his cloak and off they go. As expected, there were whispers among the locals as they walked through the town. Remarks of how cute he looked with the crown, and others wondering what the occasion was. He'll ignore it all of course, glad once they move out into the countryside.
Blue is immediately the first thing to be spotted among the herd of Yetox as they walked into the farmlands. 76 couldn't be too far behind.]
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Blue! [ The dragon easily stands out amongst the Yetox. Susato calls out from a distance, opening her one free arm to welcome the dragon. Her eyes easily scan the fields behind her though, coming to the same realization: they'd made it to the right place.
Jack is here. ]
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All the better to move back towards where she had come from.
76 dumped an armful of broken fencing in to the back of the wagon, hand smoothing down one of the yetox's horns with a bit of a rub between them before he was moving in to better sight, rather than just dwelling where he was. Had to break out of that reluctance somehow.
A gloved hand raised up, clear so he saw them. For now his jacket was being left where he'd had it hung up along with the his full mask, brushing a bit of dirt off his shirt and tugging it more in to place.
Like this, the changes to him were kind of hard to miss.]
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He's ok.
The glow from parts of his hair really stands out, but he himself, looked ok. He sort of forgets his surroundings as he walks forward. They probably see eye to eye with the way Kazuma is right now. A mismatch of snake demon with a cute flower crown on his head. He looked ready to say something to 76, but nothing comes out. Damn protocols and etiquettecy, the old man is going to get a hug.]
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. . . Susato hangs back, simply watching the reunion. There are tears in her eyes. She is proud of him, no matter how he felt that he had failed. A part of her aches, too, remnants of a months-old feeling that she is being left behind yet again, haunting her like a ghost.
And also--the feeling of simple desire for a camera. ]
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A hand rested against Kazuma's back in some half pat, a squeeze of arms.
Susato wasn't forgotten, Blue slowing to walk beside her with a light nudging of the dragon's head against the side of an arm, Jack looking up as the corner of his mouth twitched a bit. A small motion for her to come on over -or in- as she may want.
Perhaps for a moment he looked tired, but it was fare more like the weight of some dragging worry was falling away than anything else. The type that no distraction or attempts to get rid of it by working to distract could do.]
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He could hear Blue move, someone approaching. He lifts his head, his eyes a little watery. Right, he didn't come here by himself to see 76. He moves so there's now clearly space for Susato to come join them.]
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She never got to see Jack as the undead flower wolf, as Reaper put it, but seeing the way he was wounded by the Ents and then the way Kazuma had shown up at their door would be something she would not forget for months, years to come. Her tears don't stop falling, even with the physical contact to remind her, but she's trying. ]
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Hey.
[A simple word that held a lot of feeling in it, squeezing both Kazuma and Susato like he wasn't going to let go until either of them pulled away. Something soft and warm and relieved trailing with it.
Tears weren't judged.
You're okay, for the both of them. How rough it had to have been on all sides, but for now it was all okay; whatever meaning 'okay' held.]
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