𝖇𝖑𝖔𝖔𝖉 𝖑𝖎𝖐𝖊 𝖜𝖎𝖓𝖊

     He has been meeting… a plethora of people since Mason came into his life. Even more when he found out that he wasn't human. How many times was he going to get swept away by new people just in this next week coming? It got so overwhelming at times.

     His ears perk up at the sudden approach of the other. The empty bar means there's no need to hide, after all. His gaze darts between Mason and the stranger and back again. Suppose, technically, he wasn't a stranger. He'd been told his name - been told about him in general. It just felt - surprising all the same. A bit nervewracking, even.

     “ O-oh – okay. ”

     They follow behind, wringing their hands together absently. One would think it isn't every day he gets brought somewhere by one of Mason's friends. All but dragged off… that wouldn't be true, though. It is almost every day.

Something he should know, hard to forget something like that right ? Yet he had to research himself, still did !

❝I, uh, kind of lost everything when I was turned.❞ A soft and quiet chuckle, not one out of amusement, but one let flow in hopes of easing the feelings that often came with people learning such a thing. ❝But, some things stay despite that. An interest in fashion strongest of them all. No doubt helped by our specific calling, but maybe I was just really into it too before everything.❞

Who could say ! Not him, maybe people in and from his past, but they had to be cut off. Too questions he wouldn't be able to answer, especially with the years passing on. Skincare could only be used as an explanation for so long. Anyways, moving on to shuffling through a few papers before picking one out and grabbing a ring of fabric swatches.

"I'm glad that you're able to as well."

If she weren't busy with her own work, she'd love to be helping, too. Yet, the Warrior of Light never has time to rest. Not that she minds, she'd much rather b eon the move and helping others as much as she can. She just wishes that she could do more for the place that she called home, too.

"As of late..? Let me think... it's been quite a roller coaster, I have to admit. Aside from what I've already written to you about when it comes to my time in Tuliyollal, I've not been doing too much more. Taking some time to myself when I can, spending it with Kitty or my other companions."

Simple and easy. Now that the world wasn't at risk, she could settle for just a bit. Focus on other things.

Even if it felt like there was more just over the horizon - for now she would focus on what she could control.

A good plan if he had heard any, for someone constantly going about the world such as her, a decent rest was probably the most freeing thing in the world currently. Heavens know if he could have a vacation he would take one in a heartbeat. Or maybe not... there had been offers and yet he still remained, ever in Ishgard.

But what of him ? Suppose he should've expected the question, yet it had him pausing still. An awkward smile barely cracking as he thinks.

❝Ah.. well... Unfortunately you would be wrong. Work is generally all I do. Rare is it for me to stay away for longer than an hour or so.❞

Some nights he did spend two hours away ! Still... it wasn't really much.

"Dahlia is a wonderful name for her."

At the very least he could settle on something. Even if those worries never went away, that was okay. Jubibi had been his mother almost all of his life and even she still worried sometimes. Was afraid she didn't do enough. Was afraid there was still more she could do. And yet, they at least had each other through this. Had each other. Kitty was still growing - was becoming a wonderful young man. All that mattered was that she had taught him well enough to help him figure out his path. And even if he stumbled - she was there for him.

She would always be there for him.

❝I don't think Bunny cares.❞

Laughing as he gets the words out. Names didn't really seem to be high up on his partner's list of things, or maybe he just didn't really grasp the importance of such things ? Either way, didn't really seem like an issue would arise from him alone picking a name.

     Her ears swivel downward and her gaze falls to her feet. Ah – it was embarrassing to admit that she'd yet to fully grasp some of this since he hasn't been around that long. Yet, even in that short time he's proven himself different than the others. 

     Proven that she could feel… comfortable at least in his presence.

Less an issue of illiteracy, more an issue of understanding... And she sought him of all people out ? Part of him wants to say no, just keep focusing on the tasks he had assigned himself that day instead, but if he didn't have to read the book to her himself... guess there was little harm in sparing an hour or so.

❝You do know that I focus solely on combat, correct ?❞

It was a question he had to ask. He understood combat, strategies, tactics. Anything else was differing, to say nicely.

     “ And I keep givin' ya reasons t' pay attention t' me. ”

     New lingerie. Special shows. Lingering touches. Anything that he could to get the other to pay attention. Yet, he'd spent these past few days alone. Or, as alone as one was when paying attention to other friends. Alone in the sense that his partner was just too busy. Always so busy. It just wasn't very fun when Eros just loved his Colt so desperately.

     “ Could go on a date f'er once. Y'hardly get t' take me out. And after maybe I'll let ya touch me, who knows? ”

The word maybe is what gets him, makes him laugh an ugly and loud laugh with how much it had caught him offguard.

❝Maybe, yeah.❞

Not that he was expecting, or that he couldn't be told no, just that it was funny that it was now a matter of "maybe" despite the attempts to turn his head as of late. Attempts that he did wish he had the time to accept, but if those failures to sway him from his role for the night turned a yes into a maybe he'd get it. If it was him in the other's position it wouldn't even be that, just a hard no.

     “ No, I don't think there's ever been. ”

     There had been plenty of caretakers when he was younger, of course. Yet – Ghengis had made sure there was very little left when it came to taking care of Shoi-Ming. A monster did not deserve such luxuries. 

❝'Course not.❞

That'd make it too easy on him, words he doesn't say despite lingering on his tongue. Too easy to come off the wrong way with this one, probably would assume he was mad despite him saying he'd rather be here than elsewhere.

What do sick people even eat ? A question that has him place a hand upon his head as he tries to think. Whatever, not like he could cook an actual meal in a bedroom.

     Shoi-Ming pokes her head gently into the other's room. There's a gentle sway of her tail and he hands cling tightly to a rather thick book. None of the other preceptors are around at present so – surely this is alright. Surely she can ask for this one thing and it wouldn't be too much of an issue, right? Or – would he find her request bothersome? Would he find her bothersome?

     “ Um – Houdou..? You aren't… busy at present, right? I was wondering if – perhaps – if you were free – would you help… would you teach me –  ”

     Deep breath - he wasn't as intimidating. Or rather, the Mons Grandis knew he would never harm them. Not like the others.

     “ I want to learn what's in these books. W-will you please teach me while the others are out? ”

A quiet "hm" given at in response to his name being called out. Continuing to work as he was before the other had peeked in, listening more to the sound of the whetstone against his sword than her voice. That is until she begins to speak more evenly, more like there wasn't much fear in the voice.

A pause as he lifts his gaze to see the other. A book. Was she... illiterate ? Was this going to be a mother hen situation where he'd have to teach her how to read ?

     “ Coltie, ” Eros' voice is a whine. A clear indication that he wants something. Elsewise it would be soft and sultry. Like pouring honey. His tail wraps around his partner's waist and his head leans on his chest. A finger draws absent shapes on the back of his beloved's hand. Not quite holding it yet. As if it isn't allowed.

     “ Ya've been very busy lately. I miss ya… c'n't we do somethin' fun together, jus' us~? ”

❝Well they keep giving me people to execute.❞

And far be it for him to not make it a public one ! They all had to be public, it had to be known that he wasn't going to let people disobey. That if they offended, or harmed another in a way that wasn't dealt with by the offended party, they would end up on his stage. And not to mention, he couldn't be mentioned anyway, he had to deal with a certain someone...

❝What do you think is somethin' fun ?❞

Selena immediately attempted to apologize, but her voice failed her as she mouthed the words. This prompted her to fetch the small notepad and pencil from her pocket to write them with shaky hands. Seeing another approach the recruits from behind, her pencil stopped writing mid-sentence.

Selena hadn't expected to meet their presumed instructor, standing behind them, much less apologizing in their stead. Blinking in confusion, the young adventurer briefly checked over herself for injury, wiping the dirt off herself, then shook her head. Turning the page, the pencil began to scrawl the Eorzean letters on the parchment. A moment later, she held her answer up to him to read.

"No, I'm fine. There's nothing to forgive or punish. I wasn't looking where I was going either."

Looking down on the stone street, her eyes began to search in the immediate vicinity for the envelopes she had dropped. With every second spent visually searching, panic began to show on her face as her grip tightened on the pencil and notepad.

Oh? Head tilting slightly in curiosity as the other moves to write instead of speak. Wouldn't be the first time he's had to communicate this way, happens far more frequently than one might expect. Most survivors of attacks were too scared to voice their worries, giving them a bit of paper and a quill often solved that.

When she's offering up the paper he leans forward a bit to make it out, hard to read sometimes with just the one functioning eye ! Ah, a benevolent one. Well that made things a lot easier. Waving off the assumed concern with a chuckle.

❝Worry not, I wasn't actually going to punish them. Most people here, they prefer to hear those things, easier to forgive someone for them that they know will be punished for bothering them.❞

The tightening of the grip on her items, and the slightly frantic search doesn't go unnoted. A brief turn back to his recruits as they await him further now to beckon them to return on their own, just to turn back to the other.

     The smaller flinches on near instinct at the noise that leaves in response. Hands cling to the blankets resting over their chest and they look away. Sometimes it's easy to forget that any of them could be different. Yet, Houdou has never done anything that the others do. Has never looked down on him like Lihua or hurt him like Ghengis. Not to mention that his presence even keeps some of the guards from bothering them.

     “ Apologies… ”

     Shoi-Ming coughs into the crook of their elbow before they let out a soft whimper. Being sick is so rare for them… and it hurts. They feel far more sore than they ever have.

❝Can't say I'm exactly surprised. There's hardly a nursemaid among the ranks.❞

No, he was probably as close as it got when it came to those available, and those who could see the other's true state at any given time. If he had to play doctor, then he'd do it. Maybe not gladly, but it was a good way to pass the time. That or, like he said before, spend time teaching idiots.

She hated remembering those times. Thinking of all the things she had been ignorant to. And she'd thought she was a good person... turns out she'd been perpetuating a system like everyone else.

Ignorance had once been bliss... but she'd never want to go back to that. No - she was glad to know. To change.

"I suppose you'd have it worse than I would. For all that we did in training, yours was... well, you know."

A soft sigh escapes her and she shakes her head once more.

❝Oh, I know.❞

It was something terrible, horrible even. Yet it did serve him now, having gone through it. Opened his eyes to what was possible, made him realize he didn't need to throw his life away for revenge. That the path of spilt blood and death wasn't the only option available, not to him or the others.

❝It'll take time, yes, but I'm glad to have a hand in it.❞

To know that it was led by good people, and he was there doing his part to keep it that way. That's what mattered, helped him sleep at night.

"My Kitty... I'm sorry. I really wish I could help more."

Truthfully, the only part she could relate to was being compared to a parent. Her mother was an Archon of all things, it had left quite a few expectations on her shoulders before she'd decided to be a knight. And for as supportive as her mother was, there were still people who felt she was throwing away her potential. Yet, she'd never cared much for all the tutors or the learning - she yearned for adventure and action. To help people that needed it.

That was, as she said, really all they can do. He knew that, but it still kind of sucked to think about. He just wanted to do as much as he could, to be a good parent, and not set her up for failure before life truly began. But there was no doing so really. No matter how much he did, how careful he was, it would always end up getting through somehow. Sighing as he keeps his gaze cast upon the ground for a moment, before looking back up. Continuing to think so wouldn't do much, only make it worse.

❝Dahlia then.❞

Something... pretty. A flower. That was the one that he wanted for her, something that would bloom.

It sounded like he didn't have much control over them, either. That was not good, probably.

"Aye, that seems... like a headache." She wasn't trying to be funny, it was just the first phrase that popped into her mind.

❝It was.❞

Meant as a joke or not, he was going to treat it like an actual thing. It was a headache ! It was worse than the growing pains. And surely it would continue to ache as they grew.

❝I'm just looking around. Wandering I guess... I don't know what to do while I wait, so I thought I'd walk around. My mother's working, and I don't really like being part of the talks. Same reasons.❞

Having a very tall person with horns growing out of his head wasn't very good for making people come around to your side he's found out.