|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 2:32 pm
Maybe not obvious but Zell could be pretty perceptive when he wanted to be. One of his closest friends had her heart set on this guy, so he wanted to catch as much as he could about him. Zell of course had padded blissfully past all doors & corners without so much as a second look. He was on a mission. Dude needed food, dude got food! So what if the guy was paranoid?
The SeeD blinked in surprise at the unexpected closeness of Caim being shoulder to shoulder with him, the sword-wielder's own head joining him in the fridge. Then he grinned. No candy bars... no refrigerators too likely. He stifled a laugh as Caim touched the milk, managing to keep it in until he started poking at the grill with his brow scrunched like that. Zell burst out into hearty, friendly laughter. "Oh man!! You should so! See your face! Sorry, dude. Shoulda guessed with the way you were with the chocolate bar that you'd prob'bly not know 'bout 'friderators. I didn't think about it though. Not that it would've helped much. Hard to know what someone's 'before' is like. I mean... magic, technology, bestiary & stuff like that can be totally different or have overlaps. This 'fridge is run by electricity, but the wizards I live with can use spells to make something that does the same thing. Here. Lemmie tell you how it works, 'kay?" With that Zell launched into a rundown of how the refrigerator worked, instructor -style but without ever talking down to Caim.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 3:32 pm
Caim was used to being tutored, or had been at one point. Tutors and education went hand in hand were he was from, and since he had been at the top of the nobility at one point he was of course not only given access to an education but required to recieve one. Though it had been a long time; it helped that Zell was being respectful about it, but all in all anything other than the basic jist of the fact that something on the back of the "fridge" pulled the cold air out of the box and pumped it outside so the inside remained cool sort of went over his head. In both of the wars he'd been involved in he wasn't on the side that had access to aircraft, so he really didn't have any idea what even a rudimentary motor looked like.
In the end he put a paw to his forehead, shook his head, and waved his paw at Zell in a frustrated dismissal of the topic. He then contemplated the crisper and the apples therein before quickly grabbing the stem of one between two of his toes and yanking it out. Cupping it betwen his forepaws Caim began biting into it hungrily. He wasn't really trying to be rude... he was just feeling highly irritable (moreso than usual, anyway) and getting a little food in his stomach seemed far more crucial than figuring out the mechanics of a refridgeration unit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 8:59 pm
Zell gave a sheepish looked and backed off the subject -pretty accustomed to such a reaction when people wanted him to stop talking. "Sorry Caim. Sometimes I get a bit carried away." Understatement.
Grabbing the handle of the milk jug carefully in his mouth Zell took it to the counter then rose up on his back legs, looking through the cabinets until he found the bowls. Pulling two out he filled one with milk then looked to Caim with a tilt of his head. "Want some? Or wouldja rather have something else?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 9:37 pm
Caim just shrugged at Zell's apology, waving a paw in dismissal again though it was less vehement than before. A sort of "it's cool" motion. He appreciated the depth of the explanation Zell was trying to give. He just didn't have any idea what the half the things he'd been saying were.
He continued to gnaw on the apple until Zell asked about the milk and he glanced up contemplatively for a moment. Then he gave just the barest of smirks and jerked his head in an "over here" motion. He was thirsty, and at the moment he didn't really care what he got. And milk would help fill his empty belly better than water or wine. If there was even wine here.
After a few minutes he tugged the pad of paper and the pencil from where he'd tucked them into his sword belt before they set off and carefully wrote on the paper.
Three things.
1-What exactly AM I now?
2-Have you seen a red dragon? Or maybe a red-dragon-whatever-we-are?
3-Do you know a good place I can stay while I am figuring things out?
His three most pressing concerns at the moment, since he'd gotten something to eat and no other bodily necessities had presented themselves yet. Especially if Zell might have seen Angelus. That was bothering him more than anything really, but he was doing his best to keep that from showing. Caim could be about as expressive as a brick wall when he felt like it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 11:13 am
With one of his typical boyish grins Zell confirmed getting the message -both of them- and poured Caim his own bowl of milk & sliding it across the floor to him before putting the milk back. There were ways to drink like when they were human, much like learning how to use weapons again. But it was difficult and this was really much easier. Especially for the moment.
Zell did a double take at seeing the pad again. Like a dunce he had forgot all about it! Good thing Caim was on top of things. But then stuff like that was just even more good reasons for Zell being a fistfighter. Not that even he thought he'd ever leave a weapon behind.
Bright blue eyes looked over the questions on the paper. Zell nodded as he read. Good question. "Kay first... we're what're called kitsusagi. Kinda a mix of what're called foxes & rabbits. Not something I saw much of in my own 'before' with all the monsters & stuff I was dealing with. Of course we're bigger than either of those. And the three tails I think is a mystical fox-thing really."
Zell bit his lip. "I've not seen a red dragon. Any red dragon. But... even those of the same 'before' -as some of us call our worlds before becoming kitsu or whatever- well we don't all show up the same time. Take my housemate Lily's guy and his brother. He's been here quite a while but his brother just arrived. There's..." the fistfighter paused, realizing he had been about to say something about Kitsyn. "Others who can understand and explain that stuff better than me."
"That last one..." And now Zell grinned again, a spark coming to his eyes. " Places to stay I know of a few. One's here. Every kitsu's welcome to crash here, pretty much indefinitely if they want long as they don't ya know... kick up a mess & fight & stuff. Then there's Realm HQ. It's a bit aways and larger. But there's two other places I'd suggest if ya want a more home-y touch. One's my place. It's... well it can be overwhelming 'cause there's like a slew of us living there -and not all of us are kitsu. But it's not really crowded... 'cause of this magic door that was put in way before I joined them. The other is a Fierra Place, where a bunch of our friends live. We're pretty tight -even gave them their own magic door. There's a bunch of them too -maybe equal the kitsu at my place- but there's only kitsu, which might be... well, easier to get accustomed too I guess."
He said all this at a good clip -fast, but still very clear. When he finally shut up Zell had a crooked & expectant grin on his face, one blue flame tipped ear quirked the other laid back in a gesture of 'so'd'ya get it?' while at the same time giving a look that said he understood it was a pretty full debriefing though it had many gaps.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 7:24 pm
Caim looked down at the bowl for a moment before dipping his muzzle in for a drink. There was a somewhat resigned look on his face, as if realizing those same thoughts Zell had about the difficulties of using a cup without thumbs. Or most other things Caim was used to doing.
He frowned just slightly at the description of what a kitsusagi was at the same time he raised an eyebrow. Then he took a good look at his ungloved paw. Well... it made sense, he supposed. The general build of this new body he was in... it fit. He wasn't particularly fond of rabbits or foxes, but at least they were creatures he could understand.
What Zell said in answer to his question about Angelus made his frown turn from contemplative to sour and he reflexively batted the mostly eaten apple away angrily, causing it to bounce and roll across the kitchen floor until it bumped into the far wall. If Angelus wasn't quite... here yet it might explain his difficulty in sensing any sort of location. But he could sense her... He could almost hear her berating him for being an impatient fool and made himself calm down.
At least that final bit about his options for shelter gave him something to chew on aside from his frustration. He'd lived among soldiers; a bustling or even rowdy atmosphere wouldn't bother him as long as he was given his space. He didn't like the idea of staying at one of the HQs, though. From the sound of it he'd never know who to expect or when and couldn't really count on any sort of privacy. Not to mention what might happen if someone walked in on him sleeping. It could be... unhealthy for an individual. If he went to either Zell's home or this Fierra Place he could at least learn who to expect around and their temperments. He'd also have access to Zell, and Zell was so far his only contact here, and full of useful information. And some not so useful information, but at least he was friendly. And Caim had always felt more comfortable around another warrior than non-combatants.
He grabbed the notepad again and thought for a moment before finally writing, Your place or the Fierra Place. I could not say I have a preference beyond that. A pause and then he added, I would at least like to know how to get to your home, whether I stay there or not.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 8:42 pm
Zell kept an eye on the other's reations -both as a SeeD and a friend. He didn't miss the batted apple but ignored it, being quite accustomed to the Seifers often batting things forcefully away from them when angry. The Runes said it was because they were frustrated about not having more control over a certain thing or situation. Zell wondered if it was a similar case with Caim. But who was this red dragon? Had Kitsyn mentioned it? Zell could not remember. She had spoke mostly of Caim.
And that was another reason he watched Caim discretely but continually. This was the guy she said she wanted. He was sure of it. But now... now Zell wanted to be able to judge how the guy might be good for his friend. More to reassure himself. He trusted Kitsyn.
His blonde head bobbed, spiked bangs flipping a little with Zell's energetic nodding. "Cool. Cool. How 'bout this: When ya feel like heading out of here lemmie know. We can hit the Fierra Place -which is about halfway between here and Realm's HQ- then head on to my place. Unless you'd like to hit Realm HQ in between?" bright blue eyes looked to Caim for a nod or shake of his head so that he would not have to rely on the paper for that. "It's not far out of the way to hit the HQ on the way to the portal between the Kitsu Realm & Gaia where my home is."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 9:32 pm
It's hard to say what Caim would have thought or done if he'd had any idea what was going through Zell's mind. But he didn't; he was worried about Angelus, but unable to do anything, and so he decided to deal with what he could do something about.
Caim had some more milk while he thought over Zell's proposed plan and nodded when he asked about stopping at Realm HQ. Caim wanted to know the lay of the land, at least; he intended to keep a very watchful eye out for any sign of Angelus and he'd need to know his way around to do that.
The mention of a portal to another place where Zell's home was made Caim think that the Fierra place was probably his best bet. Angelus was here... or would be... so he needed to be here if he was going to find her when he finally was able to fully sense her again. He finished the milk, tucked the pad of paper and the pencil back in his belt, and stood to wait for Zell to lead the way. He didn't want to waste any more time than necessary.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 9:53 pm
Zell nodded again, grinning as he wagged his blue-flame tipped tails. All right! Getting psyched now! Tipping his bowl to quickly drain it of its milk he stacked the bowls, rinsed them in the sink & put them in the dishwasher which looked to be about half full. Booya! He wouldn't have to run them! Then he turned and pounced on Caim's discarded apple, twisting and batting it towards the waste can with a playful cry. It hit the inside edge and fell in, Zell jumping up with a left upercut and a cheerful "Booya!!"
Then he was just grinning boyishly again, energetically heading for the door with his perpetual bounce to his step. He led the way back out of the HQ, looked around outside, then picked the quickest way there with a tossed grin to his companion. He led at a good paced trot keeping just a little ahead of Caim so that he did not have to strain his head to strain to look back at him. Because it wasn't as if they could hold a normal conversation. "Okay! Twenty question time while we travel! Should be easy for ya: all answers are yes/no. So first: this red dragon... pal of yours?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 10:14 pm
Caim watched Zell's antics with something that was somewhere between exasperation, annoyance, and amusement. Perhaps Zell's energy and enthusiasm were rubbing off on him in small doses, but in spite of everything Caim felt about as relaxed around the blonde as he ever felt around anyone aside from Angelus... and once upon a time Inuart and Furiae. A beginning of the strange rivaly/comraderee that warriors seem to share. And maybe one day Caim might dare to call him a friend. It was going to be a difficult thing for him to trust anyone that much again, after all the things that had happened.
He ignored the dishwasher. It was just one too many oddities for one day, and so he padded outside after Zell without more than a cursory examination. He payed careful attention to which path they took, and any unusual things in their surroundings as they traveled to try and find landmarks he could follow if he ever needed to return.
His ears flattened slightly and a pained look crossed his face briefly at the question. He nodded. How could he not? Angelus was possibly the only real friend he'd had left in the end. More than a friend, a piece of him. They shared a soul ever since the Pact was made. It would have been difficult to explain their relationship even if he had been able to speak.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 10:29 pm
Zell could hardly help his energy... and he could not exactly leave the kitchen in a mess. Well, at least not without good reason. Like falling under attack or something. Which obviously had not happened. So he went about the chore in the quickest and most fun way possible that had just happened upon his mind. Either that or he had not thought about it and the playful actions had been instinct. An almost frightening thought.
He nearly missed the flash of expression on Caim's face. Enough so that Zell would have to think about it later rather than dwell on trying to interpret it now. The SeeD grinned and nodded. "Then it's settled: we'll help keep an eye out for this red-dragon friend of yours. Wonder why we're only on the watch ever for red? Al's red too. Well his coat. Anyway he showed up, & your dragon's sure to too. Anyway. Next question! can tell you're a soldier or other kind of warrior. You'll be wanting to learn how to use that sword with paws, won't ya?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 10:43 pm
Caim would be glad that Zell put pondering his reactions off for later had he known. He really wasn't comfortable with being scrutinized. Though Zell's question had him brooding more than ever and not really paying attention to his surroundings anymore. As such, Zell's next question caused him to snap his head up and nearly trip over a stick in the path.
Not that he was off balance for long, physically at least. Learn to use his sword with his paws? For the first time since he'd arrived a spark of genuine excitement lit in his eyes and he nodded yet again. It was still only once, but there was a lot more energy behind it. He'd always enjoyed weapons training, and he'd determined that he'd find some way to relearn his sword skills even if he had to stumble along on his own. If Zell was offering what Caim though he was offering... Things were finally looking a little brighter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 11:04 pm
The blonde wasn't so much scrutinizing as he was just trying to pay attention. Note things. Scrutiny took far too much concentration & really wasn't very fun at all. Just he had been trained to notice things, even if Zell didn't always employ such skills. Especially not to full effect. Caim's excitement was like an amplifier to the SeeD who bounced around bit happily seeing it in Caim's eyes. "Booya!! Maybe we can get in some training sometime? If ya want. I don't use weapons myself -well other than me- but I was trained on 'bout everything. Once I figured out ways to move my moves and stuff to this form & totally come up with some new ones too I set into relearning the weapons. I can set ya on the path with some basics... but really... if ya wanna go all out we'll wanna talk with Rune. Her weapon's the staff, but she's further 'long than me in paws-wielding-weapons techniques. Gal's fluid with that thing, dude." Zell actually paused in his continual flow of words. Just thinking quietly. The wide grin he had been sporting relaxed a little.
"Tha can be worked out later. Okay! next question! You good at backtracking, once ya've gone somewhere? Like, with us goin' to the Fierra Place, you'll be able to find your way back to HQ."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 11:21 pm
Caim's ears flattened just a bit as Zell started jumping around even more. Somehow this reminded him of when he'd first met Seere... just Seere wasn't so bouncy. But he'd been a lot more clingy... looking for affection or something. It had taken the kid a while to figure out that Caim wasn't the best person to look to for that sort of thing. Though in the end Seere had kinda grown on him all the same.
And now Caim had something to look forward to. Though he would perhaps go for some... paw to paw with Zell first. It made more sense to get used to this new body first before trying to train with a weapon again. There would be a lot less accidents.
Heh. Backtracking? Oh yes, Caim was good at that. He'd hunted down far too many scouts not to be... though he would have left that little detail out even if he could have spoken. He did smirk a bit though as he nodded.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 10:24 am
Zell nodded with a grin. "Thought ya might. That's cool. no need to walk ya back places to know coming and going then. Which means we can have more fun doing other things!!" Yeah, Zell had far too much energy for the average kitsu. Of course if he knew that Caim was thinking about going paw to paw it would likely get even worse in his excitement.
He glanced ahead and broke into a heavy jog. "We'll continue the game later!" The SeeD exclaimed happily, hurrying towards a large, white building that looked fairly plain & unadorned except for a garden out front with a wooden fence. Of course there was forest all around them. "Cause here we are! Fierra Place!"
With another bounce, a series of shadow boxes, a twist in the air, Zell was leisurely racing towards the front door. Once there he rattled out a cheery knock on the door, grinning all over again as he wondered who would open the door. Wouldn't Kitsyn be surprised!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
