(´･ω･`)

CHARACTERS:

G’amal - Song Upon the Summer Winds

Faruq - Speckled Light

Ijsbrand - Guidance Across the Stars

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Y’Aromirr - One Cannot Simply Tear Down a Sunflower

Shiun - Deep Sea Seeks Sunshined Shores

Rose - Precious Garden

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Naoh’li - Wandering Stars

Khamgaal - Efforts Upon Strength

Harumi - Beautiful Moments Past Rough Shores

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Siobhahn - Golden Lies Blue Truth

Augustiniel - Burns of Forgotten Guilt

Norika - Bottled Glass

Morus - Humble Traveler Fishing for a Home

Purrs that are reverberated for the sake of comfort end up rumbling into snarls and growls of frustration as they do nothing to soothe away the nausea that has taken over Amal.

For he’d spent the entire day under a sky that casts a sickly light and he’d stupidly believed that a nap would resolve it at least a little bit. But instead it’s now left him in a pathetic curling of himself, unable to pry apart for his joins are stiff with all their strength, completely unwilling to even budge. It’s as if his body truly believes that him being so paralyzed in strength will somehow will the ill away.

But really.. what would he even do if he was able to move? The only constant solution for this light-ailment has been Ijsbrand but she’s not here with him..

And perhaps to make it worse and all the more hindering, he has intruded himself upon his wife’s father for at the time he’d hoped that they could bond in his short time on this Star and realm.

But they’ve barely had a chance to say more than an ‘alin tuta’ and Amal can’t bring himself to bother the elder any further..

and anyways what would he do? Tongue and suckle away the light just like Ijsbrand?

Never but even still.. Amal feels like a sick child in want for their parent to come check in, a part of him wants to be found and taken care of without him having to bother. To intrude.. he’s done enough of that in VonZwartz life.

‘Ijsss I missss you—’

‘Enough to become ill it seems..’

“Huhh?..!”

Thoughts intruded by none other than VonZwartz himself, it’s enough to /finally/ break him from his frigid self hold and take a look around.

Or rather, /attempt/ to look around for once his body is up --

“Oh no you don’t. Down bard.”

he is met with a cold hand to the forehead and kind but firm force to the head and chest.. and Amal is just too weak to fight it nor does he really want to.

“You are clearly sick from the light. The pining is simply a bonus.”

His touch is a cooling relief.. Amal lets out a heavy sigh that ends in a quiet hiss, succumbing to the abrupt care.

“Mmh..”

VonZwartz hums.

Being born with some blood of a beast, Amel had been so quickly disposed of and exiled the moment the threat of her became true instead of just a rumor and excuse for cruelty.

At first, she’d simply stuck to woods that she knew were unmarked.. which meant constant travel for a place never remained unclaimed for long and Amel hadn’t wished to begun making any place a home considering what she is.

But then a hunter of beasts and other fowl creatures had found her and tried to take her for themselves, making Amel a rare hunter’s mark instead of a living being.

To the caves she’d gone.. but unlike the outer terrains she’d hidden and moved about in, she’d found a spot to claim for herself.

Amel had decided it was simply best to stow herself away.. at first for good but she’s never been good at being still and diligent especially when restless..

And that fact has still not changed even upon meeting Gijsbert. If anything it’s gotten worse now because she has reason to be out.. that reason is him, to show the world with this other-star soul..

To share experiences with the one she’s come to immediately love..

Even if it means to be at risk of being hunted.

A downpour of summer rain, the air is muggy and hot but the skies weep such a chill in their tears that makes the fog of humidity bearable..

But only barely and Amel is feeling fevered.. and she blames it on the sun that she’s not accustomed to.

“Mmmrrmhh..”

So she feels aggressive in her need of Gijsbert for his body is ever cool like the cavern walls of their shared territory..

All of the keeper is pressed to him, sticking with sweat and rain, her lips feel glued to the rava’s as she kisses with hungry purrs and deep tongue..

And obedient in the position of being prey, Gijsbert is still but willing and giving to his beloved.. opening himself to her in whatever she needs and drowning in her consumption and downpour from above.

Usually, the pair are far more attentive to their surroundings when not in their home but something about the storm and wet woods and stone has the two far too feral and intoxicated to notice anything that isn’t each other.

So.. the hunter watches rather closely.. feeling something ugly fester in the pit of his stomach, he almost wants to jump and interrupt the pair completely but..

He loves to see Amel so stupidly thinking she is safe. It’s fun, cute.. and it will be thrilling to ruin that feeling for her completely when the time comes..

Stargazing is no easy task to do and experience especially when it comes to find specific constellations and or location for the weather in the day means nothing for the weather at night; one does not predict the other.

“Ohhh Llymlaen’s cursed winds.. and herrre I thought that the clouds would’ve cleared in the daytime..”

If only Naoh could remember this fact when making plans that involve the outdoors.

A long time spent with his beloved, Kazuma has only just now managed to leave the doorway. He can’t help but to be like a waiting pup, too hopeful for the return of the one he loves most in this world.

But enough is enough for after perhaps thirty or so minutes it’s clear that she will not be back.. And while he has no set plans, he knows better than to be /that/ pathetic; Kham wouldn’t approve anyway especially since it may be days until she comes back.

So.. with a sad hum he turns back to go down his narrow, short hallway.. casting a glance around as he tries to figure out what to do next now that his life continues on in solitude.

And that’s when he sees..

“Oh? Oh my..”

her tanktop from working out hours ago, it’d been her excuse to come over though he still doesn’t quite understand how either aligned for that to be a proper reason. Nonetheless… he was happy with it, still is honestly..

“How unlike her to be so forgetful..”

He comes over to the cushions and feels a familiar shudder of cold coarse throughout himself as he bends down to gentle swipe up the article of clothing.

“But I suppose we did.. mmh..”

One needn’t hear more to know that they certainly /did/.

He smiles fondly to the top..

“I’ll have to wash it for her.. gives me a real reason to see her too..”

He chuckles as he speaks so quietly in his room. It’s just like him to talk to himself when there is no one or no radio to listen to.. it’s simply how he handles his solitude.

And unfortunately in silent times like this.. he easily begins to think on things that he shouldn’t.. things that are unnecessary and can’t be helped but things that hurt him nonetheless..

He rubs a trap between his fingertips as a thought comes to mind..

‘I wonder how she smells..’

And perhaps it’s to make this inner wound he’s started far worse or maybe it’s genuinely triggered from natural inquisition but.. Kazuma brings the fabric to his face a little and… does nothing else.

For he doesn’t even know how to /try/ to breathe, he can’t even fake it.

His core begins to ache in a way that is not going to subside until he sees Kham again for it’s a pain of pine and want..

Because with Kham, he can feel normal. Assured that it’s /alright/ that he can’t breathe anything of hers in.. assured with rudeness and offense but its the best way to reach Kazuma and he simply finds that sort of perhaps attitude charming..

but she’s not here to scold and taunt, she’s not here to yank the clothing out of his hands and call him disgusting for even trying to smell her sweaty clothes.

She’s.. not here..

Although not so common, there are certain hunts and travels out to other villages that can be longer than a day of departure.. sometimes even two but that is at least far more rare.

So.. it should be tolerable that Darvana has been gone for a day now because at least she is more than likely on the route home instead of the opposite and still out conducting business.. but this is only assumption for there is no way for them to communicate when apart like this.. Ljos simply has to trust and be patient and really just assume in the times that he is unable to distract himself from his worries with the mundane of daily life.

But it’s hard.. especially once his kitten is asleep in his arms.. preventing the viis from being able to at least move on to some sort of unnecessary chore. All he can do is just sit in this cushioned chair while supporting their child as they dream.. sit and think.

Time ticks on was feeling to be slow and eventually, Ljos feels their kitten’s sleep to be contagious and begins to nod off as he overthinks.. his final thought being.

‘What if there’s a day that we won’t meet again?’

Empty dreams.. but it’s not as if he had a chance to really make anything up for perhaps ten minutes within this doze with Ljubas in arms, he is awoken with a press of warmth to his nose..

a scent of the woods and the familiar, unique smell of sweat.. lips are then pressed beneath his eyes, upon each red diamond..

His eyes flutter open as he hums.. his kitten coming to in his arms as well..

the first thing he sees are the bonding tattoos of his wife’s face.. a symbol of their bond and connection.. art of blood and ink.

Darvana smiles.

“I hope you did not hibernate while I was gone..”

Ljos gives a dried laugh as his throat feels parched and bones ache all within him.

“Oh do not be dramatic. You were not gone /that/ long.”

Visitors to the Isle of Plum are not common but they do happen and when they do, it’s almost always a sort of even for those within the Umesaki family for the grounds need to be neat and clean, the temples blessed once again, and everyone must be presentable and on their best behavior.

Which should be natural for everyone.

And it is for Kouta even with the haunting fact that his sister is missing.. to which, the ache of her absence and unknown return somehow feels stronger on this day where they have outsiders..

He should be relieved that she’s not around because she was the one who /was/ a problem, she’d always converse with visitors and say too much. And even if they were to politely ignore her to continue with the tour of the plums, she’d follow them.. Norika was insistent with outsiders so to Kouta, it’s no real surprise that she’s missing in the end.

But even still.. instead of feeling some sort of ease he just feels strife in his chest and deeply so.

He tries to swallow it down with blessed umeshu for among their community this is what one does to clear their head of outside thoughts.

But the taste is awful to Kouta.. just like Norika, he’s never liked the taste of plum.

Sip and eventually drinking out of an inner plea to move on from her, he is sitting in a little spot away from all the tourist and voices.. a spot under the blooming plums, there is comfort in it’s shade as he gazes up to the sky.. it’s hue a bit dim and clouded, he cannot help but to have the same thought as his sister would.

‘How lovely..’

Foreign tongue in the distance as their community grounds are shown off, he stares out in a bit of a buzz he thinks of how this is probably her life now, under a sky of freedom and among people that they’d always been warned to avoid.. it's dangerous out there and while Kouta wishes for nothing more than for his sister to return to the isle to be safe once more, he still thinks to himself with a sour taste upon his tongue.

Pouring more, more.. The drinking feels unsatisfying for Satsushi and unfortunately she is on the very last bottle which only adds to the anger that she’s been trying to escape.. anger that’s about her situation, her life. A cycle of abuse and crumble that she just can’t seem to escape.

Jade eyes cast their glance towards the broken-down cabinetry that she’s stuffed Shiun in.. she had claimed it was for his own protection so that she wouldn’t risk hitting him but in truth, she could not stand the sunken face of her child, to see hunger in his eyes and hear the rasping strain of his dried out throat.

For even her child is not allowed the necessities. Not when he is the perfect image of..

Him..

Her heart aches as her stomach turns to the sudden recall of his voice and promise.

“He..” --hiccup-- “He never did come back..”

She grumbles this to herself as she comes to a drunken stand, groaning for a moment for she feels aches from sitting for too long.. But she doesn’t voice any complaint outside of this for she knows it will never get better.

All because of..

“Him..”

Satsushi growls as she wobbles.. taking the few steps to reach her hidden son.. slamming her fists upon the countertop of the tansu, she heaves and leans into it for a moment as she feels overwhelmingly sick.. there’s a want to vomit but that’d just be a waste of the liquor she’d just finished up..

She coughs, she chokes a bit on the spit that begins to water in her mouth from the nausea.

Shiun certainly knows to keep absolutely silent and still and yet.. he’s never been quite good at that, he just cares too much.

So much that he risks danger in speaking out to her within his confinement..

“Kaasan, are you alright?”

“Ugggh!”

An abrupt kick to the door and it startles the young raen to the point of absolute silence once more.

He wishes he could still his heartbeat for it feels louder than anything in times like this..

“Shut up, shut UP!”

another kick is given, then another.

ドキドキドキドキドキドキドキドキ

Shiun blames his heart and comes to hold his hands over it, as if hoping it will somehow at least muffle out the thumps that he can hear in his horns.

His eyes shut so tight that he sees squiggles of color.. and he tries to think of the shores outside of this cabinet, this shack.. away from his mother’s rage..

How white they are this time of year.. how nearly plush like it feels to walk barefooted out in it for this shack has risks of splinters and nail jabbings and the trail before the sand and sea is littered in natural debris, twigs and pebbles.. then there is the occasional glass shard from his mother’s throwing.

So the shores feel almost like sanctuary.. for Shiun sinks into the warm sands and he can any obstacle that is in his footpath.

No need to squint when the white gives away all color and shape even afar..

Yes.. the shores are nice..

ドキドキ…ドキドキ.ドキドキ..

his heart is settling.. his mother silent after that aggressive outburst..

Shiun can feel his breath become more natural now.. no longer afraid to be heard.

The white shores with a vast sea ahead of it.. Shiun envisions it the best he can.

He wonders what’s beyond those ever cold waters, how the ground would feel to walk upon somewhere new.. would they be warm and welcoming or come to hurt him with each step..?

Adventures take the Bard many places far and wide and in this, he naturally comes across experiences and moments that he is always eager to share in song and ink to his skin.. the good, the bad, and even the mundane, he finds it all worth recalling and putting into words for he simply loves to share with others and it’s his own personal way of showing respect to those moments that had happened and those perhaps involved.

But while he is a wandering archive of adventure and life, he carries very little on him. There’s not much to discover on his person and if it weren’t for his incessant need to fill silence or his own skin, one could assume he has nothing going for him at all in life. But this isn’t really out of a choice of want, it’s just the Bard is unfortunately quick to lose or even break things.. he’s rather unlucky in that regard.

But now..

“Ohhh my beautiful nyyyyymph~!”

He has reason to be more cautious with things.. for there is someone who is so very dear and precious to the Bard and they are unable to join him on his adventures or even leave their waters to have one of their own..

“I’ve returrrned and with something pretty for you..!”

So.. he brings it to them the best he can and always with a happy purr and trill.

He comes to the shoreline of the Nyphm’s lake and drops to a squat.. he beams with excitement to be reunited with the creature below for his travels always feel to last a lifetime due to them being apart..

He thinks that the Nyphm feels this way too for they are always so angry when he’s returned and yet they never let him even attempt to surface once they get their tendrils on him..

Ohhh he’s far too excited..! his tail is poofed and actually wagging like a pet as he looks into the waters with such a tight squint.

He pulls out the gift from his pocket and politely offers it out with open palm and a hand coming to rest upon the cold surface.

“It’s an uhh… uhhh aventurine..! it’s green aventurine that’s been carved into a bunnyyy.. Something the ears reminded me of youu..”

The waters begin to glow in a warm hue.. and oh, how he’s pined to see the colors of them once more..

He feels something like slime spread between his fingers, coming to fully encapsulate the gem and the Bard’s open hand.

He giggles as a moment passes with nothing more..

and then..

/YANK/!

The fluid that had come to gently claim the Bard’s offering is sudden in strength, giving a greedy pull like a fish on a line but unlike a proper fisherman, the Bard simply allows himself to be jerked into the waters for they are home to him.. he is finally home.

Even if he is immediately greeted with,

‘You think of me like this land vermin? You think so lowly of me, the one you claim to love?’

bubbles come out of his mouth as he laughs.. words difficult to give back for once due to just how happy he feels to be entangled and fully surrounded by them.

And luckily for Nymph, the Bard doesn’t have to speak for them to hear him.. for with him completely enveloped by them, they can pry easily into his mind..

‘I just see you in everything..’

The colors of glow go into a pleasant shade of pink.. simple words but they know it to be sincere and that’s what’s so.. infuriating and yet.. nice. It fills something hallow in the nyphm to have the Bard like this.. and they have swallowed many people before him.. none have ever sated their existence like this.

‘...Then.. you are not looking at me. Look at the real me so you can do better next time.’

An idle yet delight sway of poofy tail, the young Hazi is focused yet eager in his writing response to Eren, his friend in a far away place where lavenders flourish..

they’ve been writing to one another for a good while now.. his mother having pointed out that it’s maybe even been a full year since their correspondence but.. it truly doesn’t feel that way to Hazi. It feels.. longer, somehow. But longer in a way that is beyond him.. even though they have yet to actually meet.

‘Friendship seems to be funny that way..’

Speaking of friendship.. Hazi pauses in his response to Eren and comes to a half stand, lifting his seating cushion up to reveal a book of religious text. One that Hazi should /not/ be sitting on for there is nothing more disrespectful than that.

His mother would be endless in her scolding.. so! He makes haste to pick the holy text up from the ground and plops himself back onto the cushion with a slight rumble of discomfort for an awkward landing.

With his tail lashing in a mix of emotions, the young miqo passes through all the worn pages until he is halted by the nestling of a folded napkin..

Yeah, his mother would not approve of this..

But Hazi is excited to see the end results of his efforts, to see if his attempt to press poppies were at all successful in being preserved..

For every once in a while Eren will send a flower and they are always so pristine in their press, so much so that they still seem so alive.

But every time Hazi has tried to do the same, they end up far too dry to a point of crumble or in total opposite..

this method seems promising, at least.. to have something blanket the flower down as support while it wilts..

Breath held as he delicately unfolds for he’s afraid that even that could somehow ruin the attempt at preservation..

‘Please please please please..!’

Body ever cold, the snake cannot help a shudder as he brings his tome high up.. camera upon him and his.. nearly nude self..

For he is only wearing a thong, the royal hue somehow insinuating the details of a hidden swell that had begun truly out of nowhere.

“Mmh..”

He hums with uncertainty of both his angle and if he should be doing this at all.. for pursuing another sexually is still very new to him, the fact that someone actually wants him is even newer..

Right.. someone does want him.. even if she expresses it in ways that one might view as being the complete opposite of want.

It’s nice to know someone so well and it’s even nicer to be trusted with one’s heart and soul, with their true selves.

A cold swallow..So.. it’s alright to send something naughty, right? for while he does not understand the appeal of harvesting scars and his thin frame, he does know that Kham finds something appealing in it..

if anything, she’ll get a warm laugh out of it and the memory of such a sound, well.. it does not help the bulging issue..

Best to get a picture not before it gets /too/ graphic of a photo..

Snap, snap, snap.. a few to ensure that at least one of them do not come out blurred..

but even with that effort, he is far too embarrassed to actually look at what he’s taken! So quickly does he just open up a direct message to Kham and select the latest few photos.. let her decide if one is worth a look or not.. right?

Right, so…!

‘Send’ is pressed with no proper message.. it’s the least amount of risk for there is a chance Norika could catch glance and while she is still picking up on how to read, she’d still ask Kham to read aloud whatever he may say.

So, at least this way.. it can be seen as more of a mistake if such an excuse is necessary.

There is a fog of intoxicating smoke and contagious laughter among good company.. a state of Sio’s room that happens often but only seasonally is Morus is able to participate in the gathering of whomever. More often than not, it’s just Sio and August and that’s no different from tonight it seems.. And that’s just fine with Morus! He loves to be around Sio’s gang, those that they trust and can share joy with.

The room is in a dim with cool hues from above and blanketed in a haze of weedy smoke. And with Morus’ tolerance ever low, all feels like a dream, surreal and completely out of body. He’s grinning with lazy sways of his bushy tail as he watches Sio and August in the fog. He’s quite out of it, so he’s not able to make out their conversation but it has the two in fits of giggles and cuddles.

But he’s not worried about missing out for he is completely enamored with the occasional gaze of Sio. Even in this shroud he can catch their glimpse.. blue and gold that linger and not out of reason of being high.

And while he’s not quite confident of what intent there is in their occasional look over, he somehow feels it to be that of attraction..

Paper so delicately torn from the spine of a journal, it is folded with just as much care. It’s a polite habit but it’s perhaps a show of Menyou’s innate kindness and an expression of his gentle touch.

And his penmanship is just a nice, nothing smudged or scribbled out. Everything is neat from the choice of ink to the size of his words.

And within these folds is a little packet of tea, scentless. Ever considerate but it does leave it a mystery until Ijsbrand decides to read..

‘To Ijsbrand Actias-Shaeir of the Night's Blessed and Heroes Home, Oh my. That was quite the title wasn’t it? Did I do such correctly? If not, please let me know for I do wish to learn the proper way to address you! Although in writing that, it makes it seem as if we’re not friends but.. that’s certainly not true. I digress. How are you? I hope that the spring had been kind to you for I know that the season is quite.. well.. for lack of better words, hot for you. And while for me it is typically cold, this time it was very hot. My beloved had taken care of me.. she had filled me with such loving warmth, it felt as if I were truly dreaming.. especially considering that she’d returned to me the next evening.. I feel quite spoiled. Our souls united, her heart became my own and yet still hers.. Sometimes after intimacy, I wonder if we’ve truly melted into one entity, one body with a heart and two souls connected and whole. A self, a life that feels complete.. Do you feel this with G’amal? This is love, certainly but.. I believe you would understand when I say that somehow, it feels deeper than a simple bond. So.. haha.. I hope it’s not too rude of me to say that I hope you and your spouse were able to be together to make a beautiful eclipse. And eclipse, yes? I’ve overheard you two speak that way but.. perhaps it’s too much for a friend to express? I apologize if so. Please tell me for I don’t wish to cause any discomfort in our friendship.. In your last letter you had asked about Naoh. I unfortunately have no proper answer. I just know that Ramm has left with his body and soul. I have been mulling over the thought to go and find him but.. I have not a clue as to where he could be. I don’t know where to begin. And.. well.. I have become quite selfish in my time here for I don’t wish to leave for an uncertain amount of time. I don’t want to leave my heart, I don’t want to lose her.. I don’t want to lose her..’

His perfected handwriting abruptly slips into a somber mess as he rewrites those words. It’s a fear that is constant, it haunts him.

Perhaps Ijsbrand can feel that in the slipping of his writing.

‘Apologies.’ --all is perfect once more-- ‘I digress once more. So, no. I do not know the whereabouts of Naoh but I will find him somehow and bring him to you as we’ve discussed. I apologies to bring you into this but thank you for your guidance and assistance. Thank you for being my friend. How is G’amal? I know that he had felt close to Norika so, I had been worried about how her departure has made him feel. I hope he is well. Norika seems to be thriving with Kham so I hope that may offer some sort of comfort if there is any lingering sadness. Perhaps when the season has passed and settled, you and I could meet for a sharing of brew recipes and ingredients? Oh dear… I believe this is the first time I’ve requested a proper hang out from you and not just simply show up on your doorstep again! Apologies haha. Well…! This is quite the letter so.. I suppose this is goodbye for now! Do take care. May you have a moment to catch your breath :)’

then.. at the /very/ bottom there is a hasty scribble..

A tug to the open collar of their uniform, Rabb feels quite exposed despite the attire being so.. plain and simple. So.. blue. But the mere view of their neck feels like a display of their past trauma. Or rather, how Rabb prefers to think of it, their restart in life.

The scar risks pity and threatens them to feel guilt for moving on from their first attempt at life.

Because they’ve absolutely moved on.. They have a job now, they have real responsibilities, and a special opportunity to explore the world around them.

So…! With this new chance at life, they should be themselves..! Right? Because they intend to make this job as a post mo ogle a permanent one, to dedicate entirely to it. So..! So..! it’s okay to put a touch of their comfort and preferences in their outfit, especially if it’s not hindering to their job of deliveries.

“I think my good ol’ scarf will be work appropriate..”

Nod, nod..!

They whip their lanky selves down to their overstuffed bag to retrieve the decided garment.. one that has certainly seen better days with how the ends fray and the threat of it's first hole in many spots but.. it's clearly cared for just as well.

They spring back up to the mirror as they wrap and tuck the wool around their neck.

“There we go..”

a smile and nod, they clearly are not hindered by the scar of their first life.

"Or well.. there we go, kupo. hah.."

The mystery tek that Zolto had come across not so long ago still is just that to him, a mystery. But one thing has become so immediately clear about it; that being that is absolutely sentient for it has wants and needs just like anything else.

And one of those wants? Much like a dog, it wants to go out on walks. Which.. perhaps is how it’d ended up among a heap of trash to begin with.

It’s certainly how it’s ended up sprawled out across Zolto’s bedsheets, neck stuck in a bad tilt with a tiny threat of colorful cord coming out.

“You coulda just of woken me up, you know?”

the lalafell scolds with a quick tone of focus.

“You don’t seem to get how gravity works or somethin’! You can't just walk off the bed and anyways! you need someone to go with you! you are such a clutz!"

The aliened tek gives a somehow pitiful ‘whirl’, conversing back with Zolto as if it were saying ‘I know’.

He can’t help but to poorly mock the sound back, however.

“Woshhhh? And yet you still do it! This is the like.. two, three.. fifth ..? yeah! Fifth time now!”

The lalafell pouts as he gives an ever delicate stroke to the exposing insides, the wire feeling quite hot like something with flesh would.

It begins to squirm as a tiny ‘spark!’ comes out, giving Zolto a zap and yelp!

“Ouch, ouch!”

but he is quick to gather himself and presses his palm fully to the chest of the omicron.

“Hey, heyyy though! This is why you have to /tell me/ when you want to walk, okay? ‘cause I’m still learning you..! I don’t know how to fix you..”

They settle under his pin, giving out a loooong whirl as if trying to ease it’s breath.

He doesn’t even know if it breathes, what it needs to actually live.

“Kazuma, could you come here a moment?”

The soft call from his mother (as if the young snake were far at all) and he comes fumbling forth eagerly.. for she doesn’t seek him like this unless there is a lesson to be learned.. Be it about healing and magic or simply a moment of life wisdom and advice, Kazuma /loves/ to learn and explore. And anyway, aside from his own enjoyment, he just cares about what she has to say and share.

She laughs softly as she watches the child trip over his ever growing tail.. a feature that seems to be more and more unique to the soul within than the child she’d given still birth to.

“Careful now, young one.. there’s no need to rush.”

She offers her hands out to support him in his stumble, to which he happily grasps onto and gives a laugh of his own.

“Sorry, sorry..! hehe.. thank you, mother!”

Kazuma looks up to the auri of mixed scales with a big grin.. eyes starry in their golden hues..

Eyes that do not belong to her nor her beloved.

“I just didn’t want to keep you waiting on me.”

“You’re never far, there’s no need to worry about that.”

She begins to stroke back his hair that’s become a mess since his almost fall.

“But, well, now that you here..”

And now that his hair’s mess is tolerable, she reaches into the pouch that is naturally made with a belt around her chuba.. and pulls out a little jar that is pleasantly soft in it’s content’s hue.

“Would you please place the sea clay on me? I wish for you to learn how it properly works.”

Kazuma’s expression softens and he nods.

“Of course!”

He holds his hand out to accept the jar as she passes it along to him.

“You are such a good soul, Kazuma.”

She smiles to the young auri as she pulls back her sleeve to allow her scaled hand be seen and tended to.. to which, it is missing a few scales and while that may look painful to others, she’s long since grown use to the sensation of proper carving and harvest. If anything, it’s an honor that her scales can be of help to others just as someone in their community has done for her by making this masking clay.

“Gloves off now.. Otherwise they may turn entirely green.”

She advises with motherly tenderness.

“But what if it.. hurts you somehow..?”

There is no proper understanding of his touch. All that Kazuma knows of it is that it brings wilt and rot to fragile life and it’s cold.

“What if it ruins the clay’s healing..?”

“I wouldn’t be requesting your presence and help if your fears were to be true, Kazuma..”

Lobsang is use to his worries for he’s expressed them the moment he was able to.. and she only wishes there was some way to soothe him from it.. but perhaps it’s something soul deep.. she only wishes she knew more about the soul she’s accidentally brought back.. but it seems that all of it’s own history and past life is shoved deeply away if not perhaps gone entirely.

Souls are delicate and clearly she’d done her magic wrong.

The child is still quite hesitant but.. he knows not to question his mother for she’s quite wise and wouldn’t make the mistakes he’s worried about so.. pinning the jar to his chest with his arm, he awkwardly begins to undress his hands.

Lobsang smiles..

“One day, Kazuma, you’ll see that your touch isn’t all bad.. you’ll see that you can bring life and comfort with those hands in due time..”

At least, this is what she prays for.

She wonders if this is what all mothers hope for or if it’s just a specific Kazuma problem.

He gives an uncertain hum.

“Hm.. I uhm.. don’t think so.. but..”

He stuff his gloves between his belt and robe so that it’s out of the way for now.

He begins to twist off the lid of the jar with gaze focused.