Little Ball of Water in an Infinite void

“Yes.” He chirruped, not knowing enough about her consider she saw a difference between guidebooks and full scientific textbooks. His people certainly didn’t. “It willbe interesting, but itwill take a longtime to write. I wantto include everything.”

“It is easierto stay away. It lets me relax.” He walked a few more trees into the forest, then right up to one tree. He leaned into it, obviously doing something specific beneath his hologram, and then pulled away a chunk of the tree bark. It looked like a normal hole cut into the tree, although a hole that had been sanded smooth. “Yes. Teleport. I willgo first. Put yourhand on here. Your real, bare hand. It will teleport you closerto my ship.”

“Quincy. It is pleasurableto meet you.” He greeted her automatically upon being given her name. “Yes. I’m observingthem. It’s for abook I am writingabout humans and humanculture. A complete guide. I expect thisplanet will be open fortravelers in thenext several decades. I’m getting aheadnow before the rush.”

His feet crunched appropriately on the gravel as they entered one of the park-roads that led away into the trees.

The names were familiar. They definitely rung a bell, and though Rhodo didn’t remember everything he’d learned in school he couldn’t specifically remember anything of immediate alarm.

So he smiled and nodded his head, leading her with short but smooth strides. He, unlike her, kept his home in the forest, and thus was leading her out of town.

… Not a Rau? He stared at her, astonished. Yes, getting a close look at it he could tell that wasn’t earth tehcnology. And if she was another-

“I didnot know any one elsewas here on Earth. This planet isnot open for … for communications. Areyou here to study them too? Who areyour people? Your hologram is verygood. I cannot tell itis not real.” Almost immediately, once he was over his shock, he settled down. Clearly she was a friend! There was no other explanation, nor reason to think otherwise.

Rhodo wanted to help steady her, but instead he hand to keep his hands to himself and step back lest she accidentally bump into him.

“Tannette!” Rhodo remembered her name exactly. Names were not something to be forgotten. He made his face smile widely at her. 

Rhodo stepped out first to lead the walk, keeping the appearance of his face looking forward even as he turned his own to inspect her.

“I- What else would I be? Humans arethe only sapient life formson the planet Earth.” He had to try once more time. If not least because being found out by a fellow Rau would be nearly as bad as being found out by a human. He’d had to make a few sly moves to get here with such good tech.

Rhodo turned around extremely fluidly, far more fluid that he would have were it his real body she was seeing. He’d been engrossed with inspecting a bicycle that was parked and locked up in the stand outside a convenience store, and hadn’t noticed her approach until she was right next to him.

But allthough she seemed to have an idea of wasn’t what he seemed, to him she seemed to look just like many of the other people around here.

starspunstranger:

Hm. He’d never seen an animal cry before. Rhodo crouched down and cocked his head as he looked at her.

“All kinds of questions. I would like to know about anything you like to talk about. But I did not say anything about an army. Or Hell. You are quite strange. Are those things you want to talk about?” He tilted his head the other way. “What is your name?”

(This ‘human’ was confusing. They wanted to know about anything she liked to talk about? Was that a joke or was he just trying to lure her into a false sense of comfort? Unable to figure out they’re motives the demonic bear wiped her face and crossed her arms with a beady eyed glare that lacked any kind of intimidation at all.)

“Don’t you know its good manners to give your name before asking for someone else’s?” (As if a demon would be concerned about something so trivial but she was sulking.) “I like… when people listen to me.” (The words had barely left her fluffy lips before her face heated up under her fur, the same accusatory paw continuing to point with more vigour)

“IF YOU LAUGH I’LL KILL YOU SO DON’T EVEN THINK OF IT.”

“I did not know. I am Rhodo. It is nice to meet you small .. animal.” He smiled at her, the sort of bright genial smile developed only through hours of practice in a mirror. Whatever she was she was sort of fun. Loud and quiet all in one go. “I will listen to you if you tell me your name.”

starspunstranger:

“Eep!” Rhodo retreated suddenly, pulling his unnaturally hard shoulder from her grasp with a terrible unforgiving motion. Had she noticed? She’d only touched him for a second. Maybe she wouldn’t think anything of it. “Please do not touch me. I am unhappy when I am touched.”

He clutched his money to his chest and obeyed her by trotting on ahead. “I do not know how much it costs. I did not go inside yet.”

“…Seriously? You’re a special kind of stupid,” She was quickly second guessing her decision to be “nice”. Ugh, this was going to be a pain…Regardless, she might as well keep going, Yoko had nothing better to do. 

“How the hell am I supposed to help you if you don’t even know what costs what?”

He knew special was a good word. Perhaps this was a strange expression he hadn’t heard yet. So Rhodo smiled tentatively. “Thank you?” He tried, hoping that was the correct response.