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?"

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."

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]

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."

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 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.]

[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 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."

[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]

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.

[kokuryuu]

"Gokudera-san. W-well met," Souma says quickly. He puts the palm of his left hand to his right fist in his people's gesture of greeting. Weird... the more he speaks, the smoother it gets. Maybe it's like the old saying, he thinks, he needed to get the wheels on the cart rolling before he could really move.

"I. I do beg your pardon. He never acts this way. Maybe... maybe he is having trouble adapting to being a snake now," Souma muses to himself. He wonders if there is such a thing as a doctor for a familiar. He makes a mental note to look into it.

"I can try those solutions," he agrees, solemn. "I do like sweet things. And caffeine. Please, won't you tell me about what you ordered? Is this your favorite?"

Then Gokudera makes a choking sound and Souma doesn't miss that light on the collar. "Oh, dear. Are you all right?" Souma's expression is concerned now as he leans toward the other young man, ready to steady him if need be. His shyness seems completely forgotten.

The snake makes no response other than to shoot Gokudera a crafty grin. He lets his eyes relax in the way snakes tend to do when they're digesting. Kokuryuu goes silent, and curls slowly into a coil on the chair.

[bakudan_bambino]

"Was he not a snake before?" Gokudera never considered that could happen... Does that mean that Larry came from his world or something? Is Larry's tie to this world dependent on him?! He's stunned by the thought and gives a slow nod.

"Yeah... maybe." Why not?

"It's not my favorite-" He says in a strained voice as he sets it down. The choke had him burn his tongue, so he's going to give it time to cool and for the pain to go away.

"Just... what I was in the mood for!" Another slight cough and he holds his hand up to refuse the help. He would not be alright being touched by someone like Souma, anyways. For reasons he isn't even thinking of, but based on habits and policing himself.

"Mhm!" He says and then runs one hand up into his hair, feigning a headache. "Just a headache. It's just... been getting worse." Which is a huge lie, but the only thing he can think of at the moment given his current positioning.

[kokuryuu]

"Ah, is that so?" Souma looks up, interest piqued. At the same time, Kokuryuu backs off, seeing that he will get no treats or offerings. Souma allows the snake to creep behind him and lean against his left leg.

"That is a very difficult skill to achieve. Are you perhaps... a captain of industry? Though-- if I may-- you... you have the impeccable posture of military service," he notes, but he does not feel sure about what sort. He would have to get a better look at the gentleman's hands to see which type of calluses there were. At least, in Souma's own world, that was how one knew.

[kokuryuu]

Being from a village full of shinobi with a great deal of pride as well as frequent injuries and illnesses, it is easy to understand that people do not always want help even when they are in pain or unwell.

"I am s-s-sorry," he says calmly, quietly. He averts his eyes so that the other does not feel he is being stared at. "Please... let me know, if there is anything I may do for you."

Not "if you need anything," but, an "if you want help." Souma thinks this best to say for now and he thinks of his ailing father, back home.

Folding his hands on the table before him, he takes three deep, slow breaths, eyes on the willow tree to the right of their table.

Kokuryuu turns his blunt nosed head a bit. He smiles softly, as he looks to Souma.

"Nn-nn. Before, he was..." Souma pauses, thinking carefully to choose the right words for what he wants to say. "I am a shadow yokai. That is, kind of... a mortal being, descended from earthly gods, long ago. We each have a shadow self that is... p-p-p--" Souma's tongue seems to stick, and he has to pause. Gokudera can see his lips move, as he tries to get a word out. "P-art," he says slowly, breaking it down into two segments. "Of us. Projection. We can change into it or... manifest it. With the mind. Each shadow-self has its own... form. Mine is a dragon," he says meekly. "Very much with a mind of its own."

He is leaving out a great deal, but that would sound like bragging about his shadow use ability. "My people are stealth warriors, shinobi. W-we, we use the shadow in battle. We can appear and disappear, catch arrows, create shield. Some can even stab enemies."

Souma reaches one large work-callused hand out and strokes the serpent's scales. "Kokuryuu was... not a solid living creature before. It is a process, adjusting. F-f-f-for all of us," he adds quickly. "He misses flying. And... the abilities we had. He might... might miss home. Though we like it here, it was very different from Avalon."

"What of your people, your tribe," Souma asks carefully. "Have your kind a fighting style? Or an occupation, a trade?"

[bakudan_bambino]

Gokudera appreciates that Souma isn't prying, or touching him, so he's able to gather his breath and muscle through it. The longer he's in pain, the easier it is to mask. It's not as if it's getting any worse, just a horrible sort of throb to his body.

"Yeah. I will." Safe to assume that for the rest of this meeting, his voice is going to sound strained. Watching the other take those deep breaths gives him time to relax, though he doesn't realize it. He follows right along with him, eyes following the same path to that tree curiously. Then, he's picking up his coffee and carefully sipping it again, not willing to let it go to waste.

Listening in, he's at a bit of a loss. It's hard to follow what is being said through the pause and the stutter, the hesitation or struggle, he's not sure which. Gokudera frowns gently. He didn't ask what Souma was, though he is a bit impressed. Working with the shadows, he wonders if the other has Dark magic. Did he ask already?

The words 'It's a process, adjusting for all of us' rings nice and loud. Truer words are hard to come by, and he hums agreement. "So, he's a part of you, or... was? A dragon that could fly? And now he's just a hungry troublesome monster snake?" Gokudera asks, hoping he has a better understanding than before. While adjusting is hard, he gets it, that doesn't excuse the way Kokuryuu spoke poorly about Souma.

"He must understand that you're adjusting to. Talking like that isn't impressive." Literally, hearing a familiar talk is cool, but it was in the words he said that left a poor impression.

Gokudera looks a bit bothered by the question. The last time he was forthcoming about his profession back home, it was with someone he thought he could trust. Then he was basically called a tool and his boss a criminal. That's not what was said, but of course Gokudera took it the wrong way. So he's careful and clearly hesitant.

"From my home world?"

[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?

[admiralchiss]

The corners of Thrawn's lips quirk in the slightest of smiles. He can appreciate anyone with observational skills, for it's a very useful skill to have, and one that not many are willing to hone. "Not a captain of industry no," Thrawn replies. "But you are correct that I have military service."

He can see how his current attire can give that impression, and he takes a moment to straighten his tie, just in case it's crooked. He still has his uniform, since he was wearing it when he arrived, but it's been hanging in his closet. It doesn't feel proper to wear it right now.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Thrawn, Grand Admiral for the Galactic Imperial Navy."

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?

[kokuryuu]

"F-from any world or time you wish to speak of," Souma says pointedly, but with gentleness. "I omitted... some. Myself."

Because it's kind of hard to explain indentured servitude at first meeting. That and, he is feeling hyper-aware of his speech disorder, and it's making him feel self-conscious again.

"I can ask a different question, if you like," he says, and picks up the mocha with two hands to show respect for what he was given. "I thank... you again for the drink. I sh-shall try it now."

You rock!

[bakudan_bambino]

"Right. I uh. There's just a lot." A lot of horrible things, mostly. If Souma thinks indentured servitude is hard to explain, then Gokudera must look younger than he actually is. He's been through a lot in three worlds, and it's dark.

He'll dumb it down.

"I was a student back home. Also something like a bodyguard." There, a much lighter topic.

"If you don't like it, I can order something else, or describe whatever you want from the menu." Gokudera says and pulls out his device to look up the drink menu.

[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.