remake your heart.

                    “From experience…?” His words were surprising to hear; it wasn’t that he was transparent, no, Tristan had made sure of that—the boy before him was just clever, as he proved time and again. With his features now softening, a soft chuckle soon escapes him. 

                    ”Perhaps I do. … If most knights recounted their own tales… any love they might have felt… it was full of anguish, from beginning to end… and to those who were fortunate enough to find eventual happiness, it didn’t come as easily as one might think.”

"Is that so..." That's interesting, Yusuke thinks. He's never familiarized himself with most western tales of knights and what he did know was very little. "Pain and anguish can serve for good motivation and inspiration in some cases though I'm not sure the people experiencing the emotions would agree, I speak from an artistic viewpoint of course."

                    “Hm… some knights would be capable I’d presume… whilst others would not. Believe it or not, most I’ve encountered know little of true romance. Then of course… those who do… it gets rather complicated. In any case, only rarely do they live happily ever after.”

                    “Why is it that in literature… the concept of knights in association to love is often romanticized…?”

The only way to get through someone is to just talk. Talk and talk until they decide to provide attention to the speaker. It’s almost hard to ignore someone so persistent that would drive one’s focus away from their work to acknowledged the teen speaking. of course, he has his own reasons why he would be speaking. it isn’t as if he wanted the other to think that ill of him, but if he said nothing, there was no chance the other would speak up. 

So of course describing the scenery that the artist could clearly see would be enough to draw his attention away from the drawing pad and towards him. That’s good enough. Monoma’s expression didn’t change too much, keeping a lazy smile before continuing. “Whether a conversation is going great or poor, the point in the end is that i reached my goal; you finally responding to me. At least you didn’t take longer then I thought. You only appear to be the quiet type and wanted to break that mold if you are. So i believe a thank you should be in order.”

Of course, he wasn’t expecting anything like that from a total stranger, but he was curious about the other’s art. “At least i provided an impression you’ll remember. Good or bad is always up for the viewer to decide. However, i’m not here to completely be on your bad side. I was just wondering what you were drawing there. See, when an artist comes out to the public to draw, it’s almost as if they are begging for someone to come by and see what they are doing, so i am that curious person wanting to see what caught your interest to go out of your way and start drawing.”

Right, so, he was one of those types of people. The one who constantly bothers others without a care in the world, only wishing to satisfy their own curiosity. Usually, Yusuke was adept at avoiding these types and more often than not they were quickly disenchanted with his cold tone once he acknowledged them. This boy, however, proves to be different. He is persistent, not showing the slightest disinterest despite Yusuke's bitter attitude towards him. What he says is the real kicker. As far as Yusuke's opinion on this conversation, it was going very, very poorly. He didn't appreciate the attempts in getting him to speak and curses himself for taking the bait.

"Remembered, yes, but not in a good light. How you approach someone decides everything. You've not only managed to make a horrible impression but you've also interrupted my work." Not that it could really be called work. It was nothing special, just something he'd been sketching to pass the time and it had come out decently well. "You are much too full of yourself to be able to understand an artist's way of thinking. Everything you just said could not be more wrong." But...considering his sketchbook is already able to be seen, there's no use trying to hide what it is that he's been sketching.

Unfortunate as it were, she could hardly agree with justifying the lengths to which some would go. Indeed, there was inevitable imbalance, yet why was it there be no apparent grounds for cooperation, even if each could gather points for themselves alone? To rely on one with power might allow for the more desperate to gain significant opportunities. Lingering on her lips was the frown stoic. “Truly, it is a cruel so-called game into which we have been thrust, yet resorting to betrayal makes only more dangerous the field. If it were a matter of just those in need of the average; among us, there is undoubtedly those who might hunt the perceived weaker for mere sport. Corrupt by their power as much as a lack thereof might force the hand of someone else. you yourself seem removed from the angle altogether — it is that which we need most”.

          though minato doesn’t like to stare, he’d admittedly spent quite a while watching this guy try to use one of the netpups as a drawing tablet. it was pretty funny, actually, though it might be kind of mean to say he’d gotten a lot of entertainment out of watching the guy get increasingly frustrated at the dog(?)’s inability to just sit and let him draw on its … face? which is understandable, he guesses. if he had a drawing tablet for a head, he wouldn’t take too nicely to someone trying to draw on him, either. they kind of remind him of koromaru, in a way. but more energetic.

          ❝ i guess i just don’t question it much, ❞ he replies after a quiet huff of amusement. this place was weird, sure, but he’s just taken it in stride. if this is what the afterlife was like, after all, then it could be a lot worse. he doesn’t know what he’d expected, but it hadn’t been this.

          turning his attention back to the other boy, he tilts his head slightly. ❝ have you seen the giant rabbits? in the cotes ward … they’re seriously huge. ❞

That's a fair answer, he supposes. It was probably better to take most things in this city in stride. Animals with various tablets and televisions for heads wasn't exactly considered normal by any means. But what purpose did they serve, other than just existing? Everything seemed to have a meaning in this city...and yet here they were, no underlying meanings as far as he could figure. But that's enough of that. At the mention of the rabbits in Cotes Ward does Yusuke noticeably grimace. "...I know of them." And he shudders at the thought, remembering something that he wishes he could forget.

Sasuke took a step back from the wooden dummy he’d been using to train, and then he rolled his shoulder as the stranger spoke. He gave the other a brief glance, just long enough to get a read on him. Ah, he seemed fine, but the foxes…those mischievous little things. “Heh..” Sasuke let out a quiet chuckle as he caught his breath.

Yusuke wouldn’t be the first person to stumble upon Sasuke training, and he certainly wouldn’t be the last. So with that in mind, the teen ninja was used to people ogling him while he trained. At first it was irritating, but eventually he learned to work with it. “Yeah, the bamboo grove is a popular spot for training.” He gestured towards a nearby path that led back into the thicket. “Down that way there’s a group of samurai that uses this area too. I’m not the only one.” He just picked a more desolate area.

"Oh? I guess that's not surprising, hindsight." It was a secluded area, after all. Hidden from the eyes of people who did not usually venture into the grove it was perfect for those who worked better by their lonesome or simply wanted the same as any other person who worked better alone. "It is surprising, though, that you haven't joined them. Training is best done with an actual partner to keep your skills sharp, they say." A dummy could only work for so long and provide little challenge. Still, that's none of Yusuke's business, just an observation he's made.

“Something to give a gift for. If ever i could see one those people i knew dearly arrived in this place.” She only used that as an excuse so that she can offer a present to someone. Let it be Mary, Ryota, Midari nor anyone from Hyakkaou which was her world. Also she will use it as an exchange for her gambles.

“If there is worth an exchange on a gamble, i won’t mind using it as a bet.” Yumeko was aware that ‘Dust’ can’t be exchanged, let be material items used as a catalyst for her gambles.

He first explanation makes sense. Although he can't see why she'd want anyone she cared about being here in this city, it made sense at least. Though when she mentions gambling, Yusuke can't help but raise an eyebrow, curious about why exactly she'd need items to bet in gambling.

garou is still not sure why he’s even bothering with this. the quests had seemed like a good way to ensnare a hero and carry on with his goal – but then he’d ended up skimming the lists and felt (what, exactly?) maybe the slightest bit of disgust, though for who, after seeing this particular listing stay up for several days unanswered and unfulfilled, he couldn’t tell. he’s been wandering throughout the kingdoms anyhow, criss-crossing borders without a care and knocking out whoever is fool enough to come after him, so eventually he does end up in xalphina.

he ends up caught in one of her pranks, of course; it’s a variation on the ‘bucket over the door’ deal, except there’s no door, no water, and a flurry of knives involved. were it not for what little remained of his reflexes, he might have ended up full of holes. it would have been shameful considering what he’d already survived.

and now here he was, arguing with the little brat. she’s about as inhuman as the board said, but with the surprising twist that she’s almost exactly like a human child, if not even more obnoxious. still, the temper tantrum she’s throwing is hardly fazing him.

<<Listen, you little brat. Sooner or later, you’re going to get in some serious trouble, and then – >> he’s been so engrossed in dealing with this little gremlin-or-whatever that he doesn’t even notice someone’s snuck up on him until he feels the tap on his shoulder, and whirls about with an appropriate level of menace.

<<Who the hell are you?>> he sighs, more out of frustration than anything. like he needs another pain in the ass to show up and get in his business. <<Look, I just happened to run into the kid along the way. Feel free to try reasoning with that whiny little – >> it’s then she kicks him in one of his knees from behind. were he anyone else, he might have gone down like a ragdoll, but instead he pivots and grabs her by the shoulder, firmly but not enough to actually hurt. she starts wailing, of course.

god, he hates kids.

It's to be expected that she's unruly. Really, children were all the same in the end. Especially those of the mischievous type. While he's certain that the lecture is good-intentioned and that the other really does want for her to stop, lest she gets involved with some less than savory people who wouldn't be so forgiving of her antics, his wording is much too harsh for a child. Intimidation wouldn't get either of them anywhere with her, that much is clear. Not that Yusuke is good with children either, but he hadn't come into thinking that he could use brute force and callous speech.

At her wails, he coils back for a moment, unsure of exactly what to do. It's clear that the other is being much too rough with her though and so he quickly comes up with a plan of action. Crouching down before her, placing a hand on the shoulder that was not gripped, Yusuke looks her directly in the eye and puts a finger to his lips in signal for her to quiet down. Slowly, but surely, she does. Her cries soften to small hiccups and a runny nose and lots of incoherent babbling about how she had just wanted to have a little fun with others that entertained her. Yusuke doesn't say anything, just looks up at Garou and speaks, "Let go of her so that the three of us may speak properly." As he says so, the girl promises not to run away from them in between small sobs.

He stops for a moment, speechless before breathing a sigh of relief. "...You have my thanks."

As he looks down at the quest description he'd hastily written down before going on his way, Yusuke wonders just how exactly he's going to convince a small child to tone down their mischief. Also, now that he thinks about it...with all the strange looks he seems to be getting as he wanders aimlessly on the outskirts of the kingdom, maybe taking this task hadn't been the greatest of ideas. Still, he's here now and it'd be a waste to walk all the way back to Airaisal without anything to show for it. Thankfully, though, it doesn't take him much longer to find the specified target of interest.

A small home comes into view, but it is much to his surprise that he sees two people in front of it that seemed to be having a conversation. One was much smaller and petite, with small butterfly wings and pale skin that seemed to make her glow. The other, a much taller man, seemed to be speaking with her. As Yusuke neared closer, it became very apparent that he'd been beaten to his task...except not. She did not seem to be listening to him, pouting and kicking her feet in defiance as he assumingly asked her to stop. Having been able to surmise what's going on in some sort of capacity, Yusuke taps the man's shoulder and waits for him to turn his attention before whispering in a low voice, "Perhaps you may want to rethink your strategy."

◤ she’s heard some rumors, but thus far mamizou has seen nothing concrete in regards to this lake. admittedly, what she has heard is promising – surely any kappa wouldn’t be fool enough to challenge a bake-danuki if it knew anything worth a darn.

‘creatures, huh? can’t imagine they got anything wilder than what’s already up and walkin’ the rest of the island.’ her tone is as boisterous as ever, though she does take a few steps back out of courtesy to the young man who’s engaged her.

‘can’t say i’m not the tiniest bit curious about what’s really goin’ on down there besides the castle.’ she peers back out across the lake, eternally shrouded in fog despite the sunshine out today, then looks back to the young man with a slightly mischievous glint in her eyes. ‘what about you? don’t you wonder just a little bit what’s really down there?’

That makes two of them that are curious about what exactly goes on at the bottom of this lake. Yusuke has heard the rumors as well. While some are obviously falsified reports in an attempt to bring attention to the lake, surely there must be some with some truth to them. Just how much truth, though, he's not entirely sure. This is why he opts to be careful and assumingly she does, too. "I do. Though not enough to put my life in jeopardy. I have a much better way of seeing if my suspicions are true." From his pocket does he retrieve a small bottle labeled 'fish food'. It's rather predictable and unlikely to work but he's determined to try it all the same.

"They say giant koi fish make their home at the bottom of the lake...shall we not see if there is indeed truth to that claim?" He does not wait for her answer, just opens his bottle and tosses it as far as he can manage. It lands a good distance away from the shore and takes only a moment to sink underwater without any resistance. Yusuke waits. One, two, five minutes pass without any abnormalities and at this point, he's ready to call his experiment a bust. 

Yusuke is, as expected a fox beastkin. His appearance is largely based off of this beautiful piece, so that is how he’ll look for the event’s duration. The tails do move of their own accord because he’s not quite used to having them yet. Not much has changed height-wise, though he may be a bit hard to recognize unless you’re really familiar with him considering his skin has paled to bone white, nearly completely drained of color. He holds no occupation and his current allegiance ( by force, mostly ) belongs to the Kingdom of Airaisal.