八咫烏

Happy Birthday || @karxsu

A small bundle of carefully wrapped gifts tucked in the crook of one arm, while his other free hand held balanced a huge and ornately decorated box containing the gooiest, most appetising looking chocolate cake he could find–Makoto was forced to use his foot in order to knock at the door of the other male’s apartment. 

Patiently, he waits until the tap of scurrying footsteps increase in volume and finally stop, before inhaling a deep breath and, once the door open, thrusts the cake box forward exclaiming a very loud–

“Happy Birthday Yata kun!”

Another birthday in the Hive.

When he had woken that morning, Yata could only frown and glare up at his ceiling, already anticipating getting nothing out of the big day. How could he, when he was here and not home? The ginger didn’t know, didn’t much care, and was fully expecting to go about the hours as usual. Get ready, run errands, keep himself occupied with things that didn’t involve thinking about his birthday--

The knock came as a surprise, then, interrupting his dismal schedule. Squinting at nothing in particular, he tried to account for who it could be, and by the time he was opening the door, he’d reached his answer. 

Eyes widened immediately, mouth falling open in shock at the bright greeting, both in words and in gifts. He did something for me? was his bewildered thought, dazed as he struggled to blink dumbly and find the words to reply. The response came delayed by some thirty seconds: a wide, shaky smile splitting across his face.

Another summer rolled around just as quickly as the last had ended, the drag of being kept prisoner amplified daily by the whittling presence of friends from home and unique to the city alike. Their absence weight like an anchor in Makoto’s chest, but why wallow over their freedom? It would have been nothing but selfishness to wish them all back here with him. Ear phones playing a list of carefully selected tracks as he jogged up and down the shore, his cardio routine had been interrupted only by the sudden urge to replenish vital fluids he’d sweated out in the process. Practically gasping as he retrieved a bottle of water from a rucksack pocket and squeezed a clear stream of it directly into his mouth.

The music continued to hum in his ears, but the volume was set low enough to still hear as waves crashed calmly onto the sand at his feet and voices called out to him from a distance.

Wait, a voice? Calling out? To him? 

Tearing one of the earbuds out, his gaze scattered around the beach, roving the horizon for any trace of someone who looked familiar–And there did he notice the diminutive silhouette of a friend he’d thought lost, rushing towards him.

“Yata kun!?!” Hope flooded the swimmer’s voice as he instantly took off to rejoin the other. Once Yata in reach, two large arms had swung around the red head and donned a tight squeeze before embarrassment of the gesture sunk in and forced him to hastily step out of the personal bubble, a finger scratching awkwardly against a blush stained cheek.

“I um…Welcome back!”

The hug had been somewhat unexpected but not entirely... unwelcome.

When Makoto closed the distance between them and swung his arms around Yata, the ginger nearly found himself lifted off the sand from the impact. Startled as he was, it was comforting to see a familiar face, and he even managed to squeeze the taller in a firm embrace before the two parted. Oddly enough, he found himself pushing down the desire to pull him back, if only for the security that came with physicality. He had been mostly on his own since returning, had no one to seek out and confide in... Even Bethany was gone. The lack of familiar comforts --and even affection-- left the skater feeling vaguely touch-starved.

But he couldn’t go divulging that to Makoto out of nowhere. He had only just found him again, and it seemed the other was rather wrapped up in his own relief, too. Seeing a friend again would have to be good enough for the time being.

Clearing his throat, Yata creaked out a smile and ran a hand through his mussed locks. Nervous, fidgety habits beginning to display themselves. He did his best to ignore that he was doing them, and instead he forced out a weak little laugh in response to Makoto’s greeting. For such a big guy, he sure did get flustered pretty easily. 

(As if Yata was one to talk.)

Yata is so grown, so manly. If only one day Badou can have this maturity, this patience in the face of dumbasses.

“Mmm, yeah. So its not a total amnesia thing…wonder why they wanted ya back.”

If only the kid knew just how impatient Yata really was. It just wasn’t worth losing his cool over someone younger than him-- he’d done it before and he wasn’t that thrilled to repeat that stupidity.

“I dunno if they wanted a damn thing. Feels random as hell to me. Honestly? I dunno if those ‘scientists’ give a flying fuck who’s in the city, s’long as they get their entertainment.”

Badou tilts his head to one side. 

“Might as well get a horse while you’re at it, to match all the crap. And stop callin’ me a damn kid, ass.”

A pause.

“Does anything look like its changed? How much time’s gone by?”

What a little...

Yata slowly inhaled through his nose before releasing a heavy sigh. There was no use in getting frustrated over a kid. And like hell he wasn’t gonna treat him like one at the rate they were going... 

But the question made him pause, lips turning down in a frown.

“Here”.

Her forearm was suddenly encased in a neon orange light, its screen projecting diagnostics while awaiting a prompt. However Shepard had the sinking feeling that the young man was unfamiliar with the tech, and the confused gaze he displayed only caused her to feel more disheartened.

“I’m guessing you’ve never seen one of these either?”

She refrained from releasing a frustrated sigh, instead allowing her facial expression to lessen in intensity. After all, he wasn’t the cause of her problems, and even the commander herself knew attempting to repair the tool would be fruitless. Merely walking through the streets proved that its technological advances weren’t on par with that of her world. In fact, she could say that it some could be considered rather old.

“Can I ask you something? It might sound a little crazy, but what year are we in?”

Yata forced down the urge to jump at the suddenly flash of light, tilting his head as his eyes grew wider in fascination. As awesome as it looked, it was still incredibly foreign to him. He couldn’t help but wryly consider how curious Saruhiko might be to investigate such technology. It was too bad he’d never get to see it, he supposed.

“Er... no, I-- sorry ‘bout that...”

Rubbing at the back of his neck awkwardly, the redhead averted his eyes upon hearing her aggravated exhale. He understood her feeling, even if she didn’t say what was on her mind. She wasn’t where she was supposed to be --he wasn’t, either, and no one else was. At least on his end, he was familiar with the basics of how Hive functioned. There was no technology like hers to throw him off, and in some cases it could even be considered lacking from what he knew in Shizume.

“You’ve been dragged back here? What a shitty hand to be dealt.” Seriously…he knows a couple of people who have. And it never seems any easier. 

“For starters, goin’ around on that thing like a poser ain’t gonna help.”

Yata resisted the urge to quip at the teen, knowing fully well how much of a shitty hand it truly was. Being reminded of it aloud was not exactly something he needed from a stranger, least of all a kid.

“A po--?! Listen, kid, I’ve been usin’ this damn thing since I was your age-- s’my transportation, so just lay off.”

Naki could not be waved off so easily. When he heard struggle in Yata’s voice, Naki suddenly appeared even closer than before, behind him. His arms wrapped around Yata, as he made an attempt to hug the red headed boy. 

“It’s no big deal, if you’re frustrated I’ll just squeeze it out of you. Oh, tell me if I start hugging too hard and break your bones though!” Naki said, with almost no sense of caution as usual. As he exictedly went about attempting to hug he continued to run his mouth off with questions. 

“Hey! Hey! Hey! Did you remember me when you were on the other side? Did you tell all of your friends about your cool bro naki? Did they think I was awesome? They obviously did right.” One wondered if he intended this to be a conversation with Yata because he gave the boy almost no room to  speak.

Yata didn’t even have a second to react to the change, mouth open to continue speaking before Naki was no longer before him. Blinking once, twice, and then a third time, he released a yelp as arms suddenly enveloped him --tightly.

“Gh-- damn, Naki, lighten up a lil’ bit! You’re already squeezin’ too hard!” he hissed, but it seemed his squirming was futile. How strong was this guy anyway? Who knew how long he’d have to endure this abrasive hug before he was allowed to breathe in his own space again.

Badou rolls his eye; he’s half annoyed the guy clearly isn’t going to fight back with him (this brat is a masochist…) and half curious.

“The hell’re you in such a rush for anyway? Nothing’s going down over here, and I’d know.”

Yata’s frown deepened at the question, in no mood to entertain moody teens in the middle of the sidewalk. Even so, he adjusted his board and shifted his weight to one foot to stand more comfortably. Best to just be upfront.

—✕ █ ▌He gives the teen a moment, arms crossed lightly and seemingly unconcerned with his flubbing language save for the AFOREMENTIONED sarcasm. If anything makes it obvious that Loghain is in his element, it is this.

❝Well … they’re like animals, you know — live everywhere in the ecosystem or what have you — but they’re AGGRESSIVE. Sure you didn’t walk by a moving pile of sludge before you noticed me?❞

He’d fidget, himself were he not so TERRIBLY used to the beasts by now. If anything, he is utterly stoic in the face of such adversity, features GRIM as he regards the activity of nearby flans — Of course, his hand is still near his weapon.

❝Ah, good. I was WORRIED that you didn’t recognise me — that would have made things AWKWARD. I am Loghain,❞ he responds with a hand extended. Handshakes are perhaps too formal for somewhat punkish teenagers, but that doesn’t stop Loghain. ❝Pleased to meet you AGAIN despite the, ah, sordid circumstances. I suppose you still have more questions about the MONSTERS?❞

“The fuck--” A moving pile of sludge?! Yata’s eyes immediately followed Loghain’s attention to whatever was moving about in the distance, and he dug his fingers into his palms. Well. Best to stay alert, apparently!

Clicking his tongue, the skater slowly turned his attention back to the man before him, shifting uncomfortably. “Well, now I know, I s'pose. This damn place really doesn’t hold back for anyone here.”

But he hadn’t expected anything different. If it wasn’t bizarre creatures or the world ending, the scientists were still having their way just by poking and prodding the citizens. Like their own personal anthill to stomp all over.

Hope nearly disappears from his eyes at the thought of staying here any longer than he needed to. Owner would be worried, his parents would be worried…

  “Did people miss you when you got back at least?” 

Were there people there who missed you at all?

Yata didn’t speak at first, the feeling of having been in Shizume again still too raw for him to recall without feeling upset. But... the kid asked a question.

“...no, ‘cause it was like time had stopped. I got back and it was like nothin’ had ever happened. Like I’d never been in the city.”

He hesitated, frowning to himself as he recalled something else.

“Poke mans showed up! Then, these giant chickens! I wasn’t really interested in eating them but apparently you can ride around on them! It’s way harder than sketboarding though, I think I broke my face three times trying, and then I cried, and then I gave up.”

Naki was just reciting everything he could remember now. Which actually was not that much considering he could barely remember what he did yesterday. To think that Yata was gone for so long. Naki must not have noticed because he was used to people disappearing from his life.

It was a sobering thought, but Naki was too happy with his reappearance to think anyway. Actually, there was something he was wondering. He leaned forward and poked Yata in the shoulder, one, two, three times.

“Hey, hey, hey, where did you go when you weren’t here? What was it like?”

‘Poke mans’? It took Yata a moment to gather that he meant Pokemon, and the ginger had to raise his brows with interest. If his memory was right, he might have been in the city just as that happened, but he had absolutely no idea what the fuck those ‘giant chickens’ were. 

But his struggle to remember anything else from his previous stay in the city was interrupted by the incessant poking. Waving Naki off with a huff, there was a pause as memories of home flooded his head. The ginger grimaced to himself, frowning deeply and tightly crossing his arms.

“...I went back home.”

@karxsu

“Are you fu–Kidding me?!”

Shepard didn’t believe in the gods, but if a higher power were to truly exist, she was positive they took a kick out of making her life as difficult as possible. Stranded in an area that teased at her memory, revived to decent health although some of the more critical injuries weren’t properly bandaged…

…and now the one damn thing she relied on the most was malfunctioning.

She stormed towards the nearest bystander, though made attempts to smooth out the fury displayed on her face. Damn this thing, and damn whoever pulled this sick joke. Her frustration was so great that Shepard had failed to realize a crucial piece of information.

“Hi there. Excuse me for bothering you, but would you happen to know any repair shops that can fix a broken omni-tool?”

Talk about a woman’s wrath.

Yata hadn’t gone out that day seeking to make a stir about anything. Really, he’d just wanted to get some damn groceries for his horrifically lacking shack he’d been tossed into yet again. It was unnerving how much he remembered about the city now that his senses had returned to him... The typical convenience and grocery stores were just as easy to get to as before.

But now there was a bit of a dent in those plans.

Starting somewhat as the woman approached him (bulldozed over to him, more like it), the skater blinked quickly before clearing his throat. 

Badou almost went right into the damn pavement too. Straightening from the crouch he’d been forced to pop into, he turns to glower at Yata.

“LOOK HERE asshole, I’ve got the right of way. Poser douches like you need to pop the fuck off.”

What a brat.

Yata’s first instinct was to immediately snap back at the boy, but he could tell just by looking that he was younger. A teenager? And a gripey one, too. Not that the skater had been much better when he was that age... It was a miracle he had any semblance of patience as an adult. 

Someone easy to fool around with, if need be. That was the general conclusion he had thought of for a second. 

  “Hidekuni.”

Last name will not be given for a while as he feels that needs to be earned, but anyways the other seems to be here for a few months at least, and his words bring comfort that he can escape from this hell. 

 “How… did you get out?”

Whereas the stranger seemed content to provide a given name, the skater was only comfortable with his surname. No one needed to earn that.

Inclining his head, he mumbled, “Yata.”

—✕ █ ▌Loghain remembers EVERY face he’s met. Truly a curse if the ever was one, for every man and woman who has lost themselves to his cause … every individual who has left Hive City … such people will always be REMEMBERED.

He doesn’t notice the lad he passes by, not with a face somewhat obscured by darkness. Of course, he senses a presence, but with a hand always upon the hilt of his sword, that never poses itself as a PROBLEM. So, there is little surprise when the young man shifts himself further into the light, only surprise that he’s revealed himself to Loghain again after all this TIME.

❝Me,❞ he responds, voice carrying a hint of SNARK in its lilt. ❝Yeah, I remember you — don’t be so embarrassed, lad.❞ Truth spoken in BLUNT tones; if anything, the teen’s courage was more than just appreciated. ❝Shittier than usual? Not really, no, well, besides the WONDERFUL influx in monster activity, that is.❞

Yata momentarily forgot his fumbling words in favor of jutting out his lower lip in a brief pout. The brief embarrassment at the man’s sarcasm quickly dissipated in favor of blinking roundly at being remembered in turn. Well. That was convenient, wasn’t it?

But that, too, rapidly faded away as he found himself scowling. “There’s been more monster shit? What kind?” he asked sourly. He hadn’t personally come across anything new since returning, but he also hadn’t been back that long. The redhead could feel himself positively squirm with discomfort at any potential repeat of the previous summer.

The last thing he needed was to launch himself into a damn kid, but lo and behold it was happening anyway. Teeth grit and shoulders tensing, the skater swerved around a young teen that had drifted in front of him on the sidewalk. With a quiet curse, Yata managed to narrowly avoid colliding, skidding to a stop and promptly kicking his board up into his palm.