pomegranate

To be defenestrated by their own experiments — how tedious. To be defenestrated by their own experiments, and then caught by someone who wouldn’t hold his tongue concerning his worries — how time consuming. But, Gregor did have a point, no matter how much Miriel was loath to admit it — no matter how much it discomforted them, this interruption. Sighing, the redhead pulled away from the mercenary’s touch, already overwhelmed enough without unwanted physical contact — friend or otherwise. “Loath as I am to do so, I must credit you with veracity.

“I am no use to anyone — least of all myself — if my own experiments and research injures me.” That being said, however… “But I must correct you, however, based upon an assumption you continue to make — and that I am made quite uncomfortable by.” The scientist didn’t try to force themself make eye contact, knowing that doing so would make the situation worse, but they did set their gaze just to the right of his; as they did so, they reached up to adjust their glasses. “I am not a woman, Gregor, and I would appreciate if you did not address me as such.”

"Ahh. And that is so." A deep nod, an unflinching resolve. Natural enough. It made certainly no difference to him to change his tongue. они (they) much suited, he thought. He eased away from them, sure as a lantern that even the lightest of his touch burned. That he was the one to do the burning was no good. Gregor must keep his brain sharp, lest he become a heavy load to his wartime companion. "Clarification ever wonderful, Miriel."

"My deepest apologies."

Two thumps against his chest. "You are, ah. Edify. That's the word. You edify. I am merely benefiting from it." He mouthed the complex syllables through ivory teeth, remembering to chew before he swallowed. He learned from Miriel rather slowly, though much of what they said floated over his head and over the moon. Hmmm. Perhaps he had done enough for today. The moon and the stars, they could wait.

"A lovely friend is lovely. No doubt. It sound to Gregor that you know to be careful for next time." He grinned quite easily, thumbing out his words like a well-loved letter. Folding his arms over his chest, he dog-eared the conversation for later. "Is Gregor interfering with your work? He will leave Miriel be, if so." Better to ask than making with the assumptions.

"Something from back when war claimed Hoshido. They do not matter anymore." And that is all she wishes to say on that. "Crowmathan might learn better ways to communicate that intent."

"Crowmathan is just as bad with his emotions as I am, I think. Aren't you buddy?" He cooed, scratching the head of the crow on his shoulder. It's caw sounded a touch indignant, though he was going to pretend he didn't hear that. "Attitude! Nyahaha!"

"Well, no. I mean. Think real hard about what I do for a living." He waved his finger like a conductor. "Honing dark magic is pretty darn different than holy magic. But I started giving it a go after--"

He gestured nondescriptly, circling his wrist at something vague. Weird that he ended up so tied into a bunch of these kids' lives that he thought he should be nosy about it. Hana and the gang. He didn't know exactly what festered in his stomach, but now that he had his hand thick in the bog, he couldn't pull it out.

"After everything. I've been trying to do as you do." Plainly. As if it wasn't life changing or anything.

"Now lemme at it--"

He snapped his finger a few times, focusing acutely on concentrating his energy into the tips. A faint, white strand, thin as silk, connected his thumb and his middle finger. Another snap, and the web spread to another tip, his index this time. The low light glittered eerily over his face as he focused. "I don't know about healing staffs and all, but the old Valmese healing magic made more sense to me."

"It's not much. Maybe it'll close it." He pressed his fingers around her cuts, as the wispy strands zigzagged into her flesh. Not healed. Not even really closed. Just a change from scarlet to pink. "Damn."

"I'm sorry for ever doubting you, Mist."

As one rises, so must the other fall. Did you see it? The way his shoulders slumped? Raguna! You walked right into this one! You let those playful hopes be so easily dashed! But he won't crash and burn (neither will the onions). Neither will he let Mist add her vegetable to the pan.

He sees that coming. He's ready.

"Doubt me? Whatever do you mean?"

Darn. Onions, onions, onions. Didn't he consider the magnificence of a good onion and turnip flambé? Caramellized, slightly charred, sweetened with just a pinch of brown sugar? "You're sure?" She tiptoed closer. "Really sure?" Eyes the size of the moon.

He makes this so difficult.

Well, her shoulders, bunched so tight you could make rope out of them, finally slacked. And she gracefully took a breath from her nose. "Okay, if no turnips, then..."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Siegbert smiled a little. What an eccentric fellow. "And I suppose all royal houses have their share of curses. The most famous started back in antiquity. A queen's son was killed in a plot for power, and she swore that the current ruling house of Nohr would begin with the death of a prince and end with the death of a prince."

"..." He sighed, shrugging with both his hands up. "Well, Siegbert. All I can tell ya is that if you're cursed, it's one of the mind. No seal or magic whambo-jambo."

BA-TONK.

"..." A turnip appeared in her hands as though she had pulled it from thin air. Positively straight-faced, she looked at him with her bright blue eyes. It would be beseeching if she wasn't playing the straight man to his comically warm soup-isms.

{ Mist vc: you sure are living life...

Something about that tone... it's not chilly outside, so why are the hairs on Raguna's neck standing at attention?

".....?" A pause.

Then an amused smile graced her lips. Closing her eyes sweetly, she tipped her head to one side, hair dipping. His enthusiasm was contagious! It was almost like he could infect the whole town with his joy bug... And over onions, at that.

    ❝ oh . . ? ❞ curiosity filled her tone, as she intently stared at the stranger searching in their bag, and finally he -  ❝ oh. ❞ this time, with disappointment.

    ❝ oh ! it - ❞ to try and save him the embarassment,  ❝ - it is not so bad. the mayonaise is - i - . . . i'm appreciating your effort. ❞ a smile, with raised eyebrows that made it seem almost like an awkward grimace. she reached out and gently patted the hand with the mayo - a quiet gesture that said please put that away i do not wanting to be stared at.

    ❝ uhm. ❞ she supposed she should introduce herself, as it wasn't everyday you'd make a friend on the bus. especially not one who'd carry mayonnaise with them. reminded her of the chicken farmers at home. and occasionally herself.  ❝ my name is amal'thea. ❞

"yeah, i didn't think you looked like the sort to drink this stuff. ha...." a lengthy sigh escaped his lips. for a moment, the bags under his eyes looked a little heavier. "back into the bag it goes. I, uh..." he swiped his nose with his thumb, stuffing the elusive mayo jar back where it belonged. into the abyss, buddy.

"amal'thea, huh? pretty name!" his dark brown eyes glowed, endeared. the way she canted her head made him think of a sheep, or an owl. open window eyes that went on for miles and miles. "i'm terrible with names, so you'll have to forgive me if i ask you again..." scratching the back of his fussed up hair, karma slouched into his chair.

"i'm karma. weird name, i know."

"it's uh... nice to meet you." he already forgot. shit. what was her name again? and it was so pretty, too.

"hey, did you know? there was this one time I was working the night shift at Jojamart and someone came in, eyes glazed over. dull as a doorknob. walked right into the condiment aisle and started drinking this stuff." he looked up at the roof, trying to remember the guy's face. why was it that he only remembered stupid things like that? his mouth quirked into a half-smirk, as he lost himself for a moment there.

"i used to be so into that stuff! heh... it's no good. i don't even think I can handle half a can nowadays." sitting beside her on the bus, Karma reconsidered his answer the moment it left his mouth. sounded mostly like she was talking to herself, after all. but his customer service switch didn't flip off even when he wasn't working at jojamart. "oh! i know."

ღ request from: @apparitionauthor — I'm a big fan of platonic duos/found family. Could you do a prompt list of something from that arena? If you need something more specific, some of my favorites are mentor&mentee, brothers (not by blood), black cat&golden retriever.

ღ warnings : slight angst but mostly fluff.

“thank you for always being there for me when i needed you.”

“why haven’t you given up on me yet?”

“you’re the only family i got and i wouldn’t change it for anyone else.”

“i always wanted a brother… i finally got my wish.”

“you took me in when i needed a home, i’m so grateful to have you in my life.”

“how are we friends, we’re total opposites!” “well they say opposites attract.” “… i hate it here.”

“choose your own path, don’t let anyone choose it for you.”

“you choose how your future goes, no one else can choose it for you.”

“even though we’re not technically brothers, i still tell people you are since you always have my back and i’ll always have yours.”

“i heard you weren’t feeling good and brought you some soup.”

“you’re more family to me than my real family.”

“be careful.”

“i don’t know what i’d do if you got hurt.”

“you’re never a burden to me.”

“come to me if you need anything.”

“don’t stay up too late, you need some rest.”

“stop worrying, i’ll be fine.”

“look how far you’ve have grown.”

“what happened to the [name] that always wanted me to protect them? “they’re still there [character a name], they just need a little less protecting.”

“never apologize for being you.”