It's never truly a disaster, just call it an interlude, a coming soon

[kokuryuu]

🧙 WHO: Souma and YOU
⚔️️ WHAT: An open catch-all for CR and random hijinks. Souma is out and about and attempting to be social as he tries to note how many things he is grateful for here, following the event aftermath. His familiar is trying to ruin his efforts.
🕒 WHEN: Weekend afternoon at the farmer's market and a nearby café
🗺️ WHERE: main drag of Avalon
⚠️ WARNINGS: snake? Possible mild cursing? Will add if necessary
I prefer brackets, present tense! But will match prose



1. Trying is a Good Thing
Souma is waiting at a little table on the café's terrace, seated near a bubbling fountain under the dappled shade of a large willow tree. The table is wrought iron and the top made of this uneven basket weave texture, and he finds this really strange. He pokes it from time to time in suspicion.

He hasn't ordered anything to drink yet other than a glass of water. In front of him on the bizarrely formed table is a workbook and a pencil-- his homework from the basic literacy class he is taking. Souma stares at it, scratches his messy mop of dark wavy fluff hair, and presses his lips together.

Somehow, it feels he is on the verge of discovering something. He stares harder.

The blurry gray printed shapes on the page kind of look like tangled-up vines after the garden is cut back in winter, he observes silently to himself. Or perhaps like the things that his best friend calls noodles, all piled up into a bowl. Or, wait, he thinks. Maybe they are like earthworms and bugs wriggling all over the place and scattering when you turn loamy earth over with a shovel. Souma thinks that explains a lot. The characters and shapes do kind of seem to wriggle right out of the grasp of his mind?

Behind him, his familiar Kokuryuu gives a little derisive huff, almost like a snort. Souma looks at the large, pitch black snake with a calm and neutral expression, and thinks clearly, nobody asked your input. This is met with an eye roll from the snake, who looks away and waves his tail as if he is trying to fan a bad smell away. (Though, to be fair-- with the things Kokuryuu has been eating, this may be something he actually needed to do). Souma has been suspicious lately that the serpent can hear his thoughts. That sure seemed like possible proof.

He turns his gaze back to his study and carefully lifts the pencil from the open workbook and ducks his head down closer to the page and squint, preparing to write an answer of some kind on the flat, black lines. It feels like he is abandoning these poor letters to die pathetically here, placing a still-living warrior on a barren battlefield to die without honour. I, he writes slowly and carefully, doing his best to keep the top and bottom lines straight as pins. (Godspeed, brave shapes. You did not deserve this distortion. May you all find your way to the Buddha's side.)

I am 25

Oh, that part is disconcerting. The 2 and the 5 are weirdly similar and he feels like they switch places even as he watches. He feels unsure which is which all of a sudden, like they flipped around and now it's 52. Or is it SZ?

I am 2S years old.

My nem is 5ouma.

I am from Kagero

It is small farm

He pauses, reads it, turns the pencil with great caution, and ever-so-slowly erases. Then rewrites.

Kaegeo is a village, of small farm

Here he pauses again, and wrinkles his nose in thought. This doesn't look right.

Some village are big citiys, but, my village is very small. A village of farms. If you go three you can see--

Souma pauses again and can't help let out a small chuckle at things that pop into his mind, and he rests on one elbow while bringing a hand to cover what, unchecked, might turn into a smirk. Cow dung? People getting too drunk at festivals? Warped parochial systems of justice that award rightness to those who have the loudest voice and the most social influence?

forest, he writes, ultimately. If you go three you can see forest. Very--



But Kokuryuu's head perks up then, and Souma realizes he is not alone here in this terrace corner. He looks up, pencil poised in the air like a calligraphy brush. His expression is completely blank for the moment as he looks right at the approaching person, cautiously watching like a deer alerted to footsteps.

"Hello," he offers, baritone voice dry. He wipes the sweat from the palm of his left hand on the lap of his kimono.

2. Coffee is a Good Thing
Inside the coffee shop, Souma is standing in line to place an order. He is staring up at the board behind the cafe employees, where all of the items for sale are written. He has one finger on his lower lip in a thought gesture and moves his eyes across the lines of writing, but doesn't actually read a thing. He knows how to read the word "coffee," as well as "chocolate," but lo and behold, he didn't know that the words "coffee" and "chocolate" are not usually visible on a coffee shop's menu.

Instead he is listening to what other people are ordering. His usual scheme is to just repeat what someone else says for their order, so he waits until the person ahead of him begins to say what they want. But that is when the person in front of him rattles off this hideous list of at least ten things they request for the humble workers to do to modify their drink order, and the sheer audacity has Souma staring openly at the person, judging them with a grimace as they walk away to await the product of their ridiculousness.

"Greetings, sir, what manner of coffee drink shall I serve you," chirps the young woman standing behind the wooden counter, and Souma is surprised to see that he is now in the front and that he cannot just say "get me what he ordered" in this case, because it would just be cruel. Not to mention, make him just as much of an ass as the previous customer surely is. He won't be convinced that he is wrong about that.

Caught off guard, he blinks rapidly three times, then turns to the person behind.

"Y-you may go ahead of me," he offers, ducking his head slightly. He gestures for the person to move ahead of him in line. "I do not know what I want."

3. Discipline is a Good Thing
"Kokuryuu. Drop it." Souma's voice comes across clear and firm, in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the open air market place. "No. You will put that back this instant."

A pause. As you move forward in the crowded thoroughfare, you get to a place where you can see that shoppers have stopped to watch Souma trying to discipline a ten-foot demon snake. There is a basket on Souma's arm, and he is pointing at the parcel of meat that the snake is holding in its mouth.

"If you do not put that back, you will sleep on your own tonight," he says, sternly, but his voice still seems a bit monotone.

This earns some puzzled and uncomfortable looks from the passersby. The snake looks away to the crowd, and then back at Souma. His beady gold eyes seem to ask for sympathy. His tail waves.

"Counting to three. Then, you lose your bed privileges. One."

Kokuryuu tips his nose haughtily up into the air as if to say, hmph! to Souma's threat.

"TWO." Souma's low voice rises with a sharp, commanding tone.

Rapidly, Kokuryuu turns and replaces the parcel of meat back on the merchant's table as if trying to do it as fast as physically possible.

"Three."

The serpent flicks his tongue out impassively, avoiding Souma's gaze like a defiant brat. Souma hitches his shopping basket up higher on his arm and gives a huff of air out of his nose, mouth pinching to the side in an unimpressed deadpan expression. "That is what I thought," he mutters under his breath, voice flat.

4. WILDCARD!
Have another idea? Go for it! If you want to ask me anything, hmu @ Discord, Shiru #9324, or PM this account!

Comments

2. coffee IS a good thing

[bakudan_bambino]

At first, he notices the snake, then the kimono. Of course, he isn't going to approach and act all eager. They haven't even officially met in person. He waits to see what Souma will order, arms crossed. Gokudera was hoping to approach him after he ordered, possibly strike up some conversation and get a table with him.

But then he's being told to go ahead, is taken aback, and lifts an eyebrow before stepping forward.

"A coffee. Medium or short is fine." And then he glances at Souma, looks him up and down and... if he's wrong, he's wrong. If he's right, well, it is what it is. "And a mocha for him. Same size." Gokudera pays up and motions for the other to follow him while they wait on their drinks to be made. It'll be quite a wait considering the large, modified order that other patron placed.

Did they exchange names over the network? He can't remember, and y'know what, who cares? He's going to act like he heard but forgot, or didn't bother to remember.

"You haven't been waiting long, have you?"

[kokuryuu]

It takes Souma a moment, because first he opens his mouth to protest this generosity, and then, before he can get his tongue working, there's the question. Souma pauses, points to himself, then the coffee counter, then Gokudera's silver hair, and visibly, the light comes on in his mind. For all this mental algebra, his voice sounds low, a bit monotone, when he speaks. It may be hard to discern emotion in it until one gets to know him better. The one thing that can be deciphered, is that he speaks with a an accent that's got to be from some archaic past of the Japanese mountains, some godforsaken place in the ass-end of nowhere-- slower than most people, and the consonants garbled hard.

"Oro. Y-you. No..." He shakes his head in response to the question about waiting. Then he points to his own hair, looking at Gokudera's. He's sure that this is the person he was supposed to meet, and that brings a pleased, relieved light to his eyes. "Silver. It's... a nice color."

He pauses, a bit longer than is customary, and that makes timing awkward. "Hello."

[bakudan_bambino]

Gokudera doesn’t have much patience, but he’s not going anywhere until he has his coffee anyways, so stares on at the other as he seems to struggle to communicate.

“Too late.” He replies, voice not so deep, but the accent isn’t as heavy. It’s Italian and Japanese, but then, he’s versed in other languages and not trying to place Souma’s accent. Having been on two other worlds before this, he’s met all types of people. He won’t start mocking, but looks peeved.

The compliment catches him off guard and his eyes narrow a bit in suspicion. “Thanks.”

Gokudera walks up and takes the coffee and the mocha before the order can be called out, then hands off some gold pieces directly to the barista.

“Come on.” He says and makes his way to a table whether Souma agrees or not.

[kokuryuu]

Souma follows, his eyes widening a bit and looking around the place in an awkward sort of search for two things.

The first is a lifeline. Anyone he knows around, that he can look to for comfort?

The second is a conversational aid. Some item that might make a good topic of conversation? An ice-breaker?

When Gokudera chooses a table he perches fluidly in a chair, and folds his hands in his lap. And then his search for those two things is decisively ended when Kokuryuu, his iwabami or demon snake, slithers right up into the chair between them. He places some coils on the table to balance himself and gazes up at Gokudera with bright eyes, wagging the tip of his smooth-scaled black tail.

Don't pay any attention to this half-witted loser, they can both seem to hear Kokuryuu say, even though there is no audible voice. Hi, buddy. What's a mocha? Is it meat? He never feeds me.

Souma's face flushes pink and he covers his mouth in shock. He had no idea that his familiar had telepathic abilities. The horror he feels at this life-long companion suddenly having the ability to communicate with anyone he wants is insurmountable. Because Kokuryuu literally. Knows. Every. Tiny. Secret.

"I feed you all day long," he protests, sitting up straighter, his low-pitched voice picking up to a normal speed. "Don't lie to him, Kokuryuu!"

I'm not lying. This moron starves me. Look at me from the side, Kokuryuu says sadly, managing to make his eyes look moist, even though they are a snake's lidless ones. I'm wasting away. Because he's a coward. But you don't look like a coward! I like you!

Souma lifts his eyes to Gokudera's, feeling sweat prick at his brow. "I am so sorry," he says carefully, and he bows low in a formal manner as he sits there in the chair. "I had no idea he could do this."

He's cruel, too, the snake pouts, and it hangs its lower jaw in a way that looks like a pout. He keeps me so isolated, like a prisoner, really, if you think about it, in his boring old room. Won't let me taste his cat, won't allow me to make friends with the neighbor's little dog. It's such a round and pudgy little thing, too. All I want to do is--

"I... am called Souma, of the People of the Black Thread of the Hidden Village Fortress of Kagerou. I-I, I am honoured to meet you, Sir. And I thank you for your help ordering the drink," Souma says, raising his soft voice to speak right over Kokuryuu's soliloquy. He keeps talking, because he doesn't want to pause and hear Kokuryuu say something humiliating. "I was-- I did not know what to get. I could not see the--" He pauses, hesitating to say the rest. But that allows some of what Kokuryuu is saying to be heard.

I don't think it's too much to ask, is it, a bit of intimacy with other familiars? I have needs too, you know. I bet they would love me, if they--

Quickly Souma hurries to say it, damned be the consequences. "I cannot read many words," he explains quickly, feeling cowed by this whole situation. "And although I like it, c-coffee has, has so many strange, unfamiliar names. I never know what they mean. I-I, I always just... get the same thing as the person before me."

[bakudan_bambino]

Gokudera looks to Souma, then his familiar, then back again. He laces his fingers together, elbows on the table, then places his lips down onto his hands, looking and listening.

He’s heard familiars speak in different ways, so isn’t surprised at that. The snake has not introduced itself. Souma has said his name, but Gokudera is not going to talk to the creature that is insulting its

“Souma, then. I’m Gokudera. Y’know, most familiars don’t have to stay with the people they are bonded to, and make their own lives. Kokuryuu, was it? You should go out and get your own food in the forest. No one is keeping you here.”

He may sound a bit harsh, and Gokudera loves animals, but he’s never heard a familiar bad-mouth their bond so relentlessly. The nonstop chatter is also annoying, and he is not convinced of anything the creature says.

“The menu? I would suggest coming in later in the day when it isn’t so busy and asking the baristas to explain different drinks to you. They may even be able to give you a printed menu, or one you can access on your device. Then, it can read it out to you so you don’t have to.” Gokudera sips at his coffee.

“You strike me as the kind of person who may like sweets, but the caffeine in that drink should keep you from getting too sleepy.”

Gokudera looks a bit stunned to hear about the familiar mention love and intimacy. “My familiar would probably appreciate you.” Or… swallow that noisy snake whole. “And whatever meat I have is not enough to satisfy you. It wouldn’t even be a snack.” Gokudera is sure even if the snake ate him, he’d not get full. The bomber is pretty skinny.

He goes to take another sip of his coffee and then tenses, setting it down and making a slight choking noise before coughing and turning his head away, covering his mouth. When he’s done, he’s looking slightly pained, but doing his best to hide it with a frown. “Excuse me.” He says and sits back, adjusting his hoodie to help cover the collar about his neck. There is a slight blinking light beneath it, but then… he has a lot of interesting accessories.

3

[admiralchiss]

Thrawn is out doing some grocery shopping today, probably standing out like a sore thumb with his alien features, plus the three-piece suit he's wearing. When he's not out on adventures and quests, he insists on dressing like he's going to the office. He has a tote bag filled with fruits and vegetables, which certainly look nice to him, and some of which remind him of foods that he found back in his home system.

He gathers around to watch the spectacle with the man and his snake, whom Thrawn has deduced is a familiar. One wouldn't catch his own familiar acting in such a way. When the snake does as told, Thrawn steps forward. "You handled that quite well."

oh shiz i need to breathe into a paper bag to calm down lol

[kokuryuu]

[ooc: Souma had a budding friendship with Tarkin in his previous game and oh my god best star wars villain ever is now speaking to him???]

Souma turns. Seeing that impeccable manner of dress and hearing the clear speech, instantly stands at attention, posture perfect and eyes to the ground out of respect for an older man whom he perceives is of a higher social status or caste. Not that anyone here in this world ever acts as they did in his own, it is simply a habit engrained in him after several years, serving nobility in the wide world of the foreign imperialists as he did. In Souma's mind, his own low status is as obvious to others as the color of his hair, and such things carry over into different realms. It's never occurred to him that not everybody has that mental system. The concept is too far removed.

"Oh," he says in a quiet, low baritone. It sounds a bit muted, perhaps smoky. "It was nothing, Sir. My family raises animals, especially working dogs, so... I-I simply... use. The... methods. Which work for dogs."

He pauses and his eyes dart to Kokuryuu, the snake. The creature has now turned to flick his tongue in Thrawn's direction, quite interested. Perhaps he thinks that some of the things Thrawn is carrying might be given to him.

"But also... I use some that are for toddlers," he adds, and there is perhaps a bit of deadpan humor in there. It is impossible to tell. "Are you, perchance. Kn-kn-know-ledge-a-ble." He has to break the word up into syllables to get it out successfully. "About training animals, Sir?"

[admiralchiss]

[OOC: That's amazing! Always nice to encounter others who appreciate Thrawn.]

Thrawn stands there impassively, regarding the man with his usual stoicism, and lets him speak his mind, all the while taking note of his body language and manner of speech. He seems nervous, out of his element, like he's speaking to someone he shouldn't be. Or rather, that he's speaking to someone who he isn't worthy of speaking to, like a powerful politician or a nobleman.

"No, training animals isn't my specialty. But many familiars have a mind of their own and should learn to behave in public. It is fortunate that familiars are more intelligent than normal animals, so that you may apply your training methods to them."

[kokuryuu]

Souma nods and gathers himself a bit more, trying to ease out of the moment of fear he felt. "It seems that the people I know have ones who naturally know to behave," he says quietly, lifting his head. "But I suppose that is only because I have not s-seen the whole... process. But intelligence may not be the valuable factor. I-it was easier to train war dogs," Souma says, rueful.

At this Kokuryuu turns and manages to look positively wounded, mouth opening slightly.

"Please," Souma says with a long-suffering expression. "Do not pretend that you do not know that of which I speak."

[admiralchiss]

It's true, Thrawn's own familiar was already well-behaved when they met and Thrawn never has to take disciplinary action against them. They still haven't told him their name, or even what gender they are, but Thrawn's patient, and they'll tell him one day. "Yes, I suppose that intelligence also makes them just as willful and stubborn as any other sentient being."

Noticing the way the snake is eying him, Thrawn lifts his tote slightly, not wanting the familiar to get at his purchases. He's not entirely sure if that species of reptile even eats fruits and vegetables.

"My skills lie more in managing and leading people."

1

[amakakeru]

[ Ryouma has spent most of his time acclimating to this new place by observing the locals -- and not so locals. The cafe made for a good vantage point for this, as many people passed through or lingered for a quick meal. Unusual this time, though, is the familiar clothing on Souma -- and the snake that reminds him just a little bit of someone he misses right now.

He hadn't meant to be intrusive, of course, it's just a side effect of coming upon someone sitting alone. ]

I'm sorry, did I interrupt you? [ His eyes flick down to the notebook in front of Souma. Well, now he's more curious than ever... ] Do you mind if I sit here?

[kokuryuu]

[Souma can feel the muscles of his shoulders and arms instantly tense. This properly dressed man looks just a bit like an Inspector from Stuttgart or Edelheim, except for his facial features-- those look more like Souma's own people from Kigu. But Souma didn't miss the way the man's eyes went right to his workbook. He closes it deftly and turns it over, then places his arm over the book and pencil to hide it with a kimono sleeve.

He shakes his head no, calculating exactly what this might be about, based on his experiences with men wearing clean crisp white suits and hats who observe people casually in public places.

One-- it could be that he is being recruited for some kind of dangerous mission, or a deathmatch tournament, for which they need expendable otherworlder bumpkins.
Two-- it could be that there is some horrid sexual proposition coming.
Three-- it might be that this person really is an Inspector and knows about his past, hence the way he looked at the book. Is he here to charge him with the crimes of desertion and massive debt evasion? Is he going to take Souma away?
Four-- it is possible that none of that applies and it is Souma who has done something wrong. Maybe he was being too presumptuous, sitting here in this place. Maybe people like him aren't allowed? Or maybe the gentleman is a party planner. Maybe there is to be an event here and he is in the way.

This last is the easiest one to verify without moving. He glances around to see if there are any signs with writing that might indicate that, that maybe he missed. No, the only one he sees is the one that shows a cigarette crossed out. He knows that one. There are no other rules posted here.]

I am not smoking.

[His words are low, quiet, and evenly measured. There is no stammer or softening.

In the very back of his mind, he thinks carefully to himself about what he will do if the man asks to see his papers and he doesn't have any to show, here in Avalon. He wonders how he will explain being out by himself, unattended by his master. He runs through a mental list, cataloguing every weapon on his person at this moment.

Souma doesn't notice yet that Kokuryuu is completely unperturbed by the gentleman's arrival-- which might have put some of his fear to rest. Kokuryuu slithers forward into the sunlight and gives the newcomer the snake equivalent of puppy eyes.]

[amakakeru]

[ The instant Souma tenses up, Ryouma reflexively puts his hands up in a placating gesture. None of those possible conclusions are even close to his intentions here; Ryouma is simply curious and wants to talk to him. He tends to accidentally read as shady to others for reasons he cannot grasp. ]

Oh, no, no, I think you misread me. My name's Rider, I come here a lot to watch people. It's rare I see anyone here right now. [ He smiles. ] Your kimono made me curious. I don't see many people here wearing them.

[ The snake does not go unnoticed, either. Ryouma briefly turns his attention to Kokuryuu and extends his hand. ]

This is your familiar, right?

[kokuryuu]

Rai-deur...

[Reydeur? Raydere? Reidurr? LeDeure? Something like that. Souma tries to approximate that sound, but it is clearly foreign, and not of his own nation. The last half certainly sounds Lyonnese. He lifts his eyes to Rider's face and says evenly, keeping his mind on his two swords, kodachi meant for use by a shinobi, made with simple techniques comparable to swords from centuries ago, before Rider lived. They are tucked into his obi, at his left hip.]

This is the manner of dress of my people. Who... do not take kindly to being watched. By humans. Such things usually lead to the worst. We are hunted.

[Souma tries his best to keep any ice out of his tone, and watches Rider carefully. If this really is a person from his home world, that will only result in harsher punishment. And if this is all a huge misunderstanding, it would be horribly unkind.

Even if he can try to hide the coldness he feels, there is no way for Souma to hide his backwoods, high mountain country accent. It is definitely Japanese he is speaking, archaic, a bit wild, with more rising and falling tones. Something of the languages that came to his land from other places so long ago still lingers on in the way the consonants are harder and the endings almost drawl.]

This is my fam-- be careful!

[Souma stops short and almost snaps for this man to keep his hands away from Kokuryuu. The experience of having someone reach out to his shadow-self was never something that happened in his own world. It would have been far too private. But he must remind himself that Kokuryuu is an animal now, almost like a pet in some people's eyes.

And though he expects Kokuryuu to either bite, or to escape, neither happens. Souma watches in utter surprise as Kokuryuu moves up and bumps his head pleasantly against the offered hand, flicking his tongue like mad.

Souma looks up again, trying to look past his fears and see what it is Kokuryuu clearly sees in the nicely dressed man.]

O-oh. I thought he might bite you... I think he likes you?

[amakakeru]

Rai-da.

[ A simpler pronunciation, one that makes sense to ears that understand Japanese. If Ryouma were to speak honestly, the Tosa accent he tries so hard to cover would reveal itself. Instead, his manner of speech is polite and measured, practiced so there's no hint of his true origins. ]

You have no reason to trust me, I understand that, but believe me when I say you have nothing to fear from me and I'm not hunting anyone. I don't even know your name.

[ He smiles fondly at Kokuryuu and strokes his head just once with a gloved hand. ]

I've always had a way with even the most vicious of beings. Even the orochi of Takachiho took a liking to me.

1 /slides in

[cantgetanyworse]

Jane is inside, getting some tea to enjoy on the terrace, given the pleasant surroundings and the equally pleasant weather. When she emerges, the first thing she sees is admittedly the large black snake familiar... whom she immediately recognises from the tournaments at Celliwig.

She smiles to herself, and she does consider not interrupting the young man (he looks like he's concentrating quite hard and she doesn't want to startle him) but curiosity overwhelms her and she approaches with her small tray - holding a teapot, cup and saucer - held in one hand and a smile on her face as she keeps a respectful distance but leans down slightly to see if she can get his attention. As it happens, he looks up just as she gets close.

"Hello, Souma," she says cheerfully, then gives a little wave to the snake. "And hello to you too, Kokuryuu. Do you mind if I sit with you?"

Re: 1 /slides in

[kokuryuu]

"Oh!" Souma immediately rises to his feet and bows deeply, his palm to his fist.

"Lady Jane! I-i-i, what a pleasure. Do," he stands again and moves his book and pencil out of the way, then moves to assist with the tray and stand behind her chair for her. He doesn't feel the urge to hide it all as he would with someone else, Jane is a safe person, he's completely sure of it.

"Y-you have even brought tea," he says softly, touched. "I, I love tea." Kokuryuu picks up his head and... Souma is not sure he really sees this... seems to wiggle his eyebrows in a cheeky manner at Jane.

I have no idea what that was, you haven't even GOT eyebrows. Cease your odd behavior or you will be sleeping on the veranda, Souma warns the serpent, in his mind. Whatever has gotten into you?

[cantgetanyworse]

"Oh, please, just call me Jane." She's no kind of noble deserving of that title and she surely wouldn't insist upon it even if she was. A soft noise leaves her as he lifts the tray from her hand, and when he stands so eagerly behind a chair waiting for her to sit she lets out a little chuckle.

"I had no idea that you were out here, but I'll get another cup!"

Jane gives Kokuryuu a cheeky little wave and then turns around and leaves before Souma can put up too much of an objection. She returns shortly with another cup and saucer in her hands and then takes her seat, placing the cups out on the table.

"Now then, that's better. Are you writing something?"

[kokuryuu]

Souma realizes too late that the tea was intended to be for one. He has now committed a huge faux pas, and he feels this intense surge of shame inside that is the sort that only someone with a certain kind of past does to themselves. Quickly, Kokuryuu draws near, wrapping around his arm.

Slowly, slowly, the shame and the split second of cruel thoughts that went with it--

Why do I try to speak to people? Why do I even try new things? I am rude, I am strange, I make people feel--

All of that starts to fade away, as if the volume is turning down. Kokuryuu's weight squeezes gently. For all of the rude things he said in that false tone when Souma froze up around Gokudera, now Kokuryuu's voice is sincere, warm, and caring. It somehow has a resonating feeling to it, one that feels like it's been with Souma from the first conscious thoughts he had.

Yah. It's going to be all right. She doesn't mind. If she did, she would surely just say so. Take a breath. It isn't as big of an offense as all that. Trust people a bit.

Souma does take a breath, surprised at how quickly that worked. It feels kind of like he used to feel a long time ago, when he learned to channel his negative or unwanted emotions into his shadow-self in the very first place. There's a relief afterwards that feels healing.

It seems that even in this snake form, there is something interconnected about himself and his other-self.

Before he knows it Jane is on her way back and seated. Souma takes his seat after her, and Kokuryuu decides to just remain leaning on his arm as if trying to be reassuring.

"Nn. I am..." Souma pauses, considering what to say at length. When he has chosen his words, he proceeds. He'll try this trusting people thing, if Kokuryuu thinks it's what he should do. Souma takes a deep, long breath, counting for the inhale, hold, and exhale. Finally he gives it a try:

"I am going to a place called, a class," he says, tentatively, his voice almost a whisper as if he fears others overhearing. "To... try to learn more about... reading. Making letters. And... using numbers."

He doesn't close his workbook, the way he is 100% sure he would for almost anyone else in the world. Jane can see from looking that he presses the pencil down much too hard when he writes in places, and has erased copious times and rewritten. His workbook has him writing on a form of two lines with a dashed one in the middle, about an inch tall. This is possibly correspondent to about the level of a four to six year old child, at Jane's time in history.

His eyes flick up to Jane's and he watches closely, gauging her reaction to this information. His hands feel like they're trembling a bit, and he crosses them over each other to still them. It takes everything in him to stay mindful, not to imagine what-ifs.

[cantgetanyworse]

She sets to pouring out the tea (it would have been enough for two cups for her, and is plenty for one each for the both of them), and as he tells her what he's doing she looks up with a bright, warm smile.

"Really? That's wonderful." And in respect for the quiet way that he tells her what he's doing she keeps her own voice soft. Jane shifts her chair, carefully as one might approach a timid animal, and moves herself around to his side so she can see what he's writing.

"Is this what you've learned so far? You're doing very well." She curls her hand around her cup but doesn't lift it. "Are you doing it all by yourself?"

2

[pureyang]

[Chongyun likes coming to this little cafe, not necessarily for the coffee, but for the iced drinks and food; his condition is such that anything hot or spicy poses the risk of causing his yang energy to flare up and spiral, so he tries to seek out cold foods and drinks as much as he could. And since this little cafe also had a fine selection of cold drinks and a relatively calming atmosphere, Chongyun found himself coming here when he could.]

[He's just waiting in line for his turn; he was last in line, so he was being patient. But then the person in front of him offers to let him go ahead, and he perks up.]

Oh, well, thank you--! [Wait a second. He knows this guy!] Oh, hello again!

[kokuryuu]

[Souma can't forget a person with that light blue hair, it's so pretty!]

Ah--! Master Chongyun. An honour.

[He bows respectfully, thanking every god he can think of that his familiar Kokuryuu is outside. Then there is this awkward pause, where it looks like he is waiting for Chongyun to say something and isn't sure what to do. But then he speaks up, pointing at the counter.]

Are you... here for coffee?

[pureyang]

The same to you, Souma. It is good to see you again.

[He says it with a small bow of his own. At the question, he nods, turning to look at the counter.]

Ah, yes, I am. This cafe has a pleasant atmosphere, and also have a fine selection of cold foods and drinks that I can consume, like their iced coffee. I was just here to order myself some.

[kokuryuu]

[This earns a mystified expression, because this is a new discovery.]

One can drink coffee with ice?

[He bends in closer, just a smidge, lowering his voice as if this is a trade secret.]

Is it good?

[pureyang]

Yes! It was a delight of a discovery for myself, as well. I asked the brewers if they had any cold drinks, and I was recommended it. It's quite tasty, if I must say!

[He knows of coffee, though it's not an overly-popular drink in Liyue; no, his homeland tends to favour teas. Coffee is more prevalent in places like Mondstadt or Fontaine, so having the opportunity to try some himself is quite rare back home.]

If you are still deciding on a drink, I would recommend it. It is very refreshing.