#gallowsbough

couldn’t this have happened the day before during that embarrassing moment with the young lady when he was only trying to indulge in far too many milk candies for his own good? well, at least now he can indulge peacefully, most people not batting an eye when he carries a pocketful of candy. his teeth are also healthy enough, his metabolism high enough to handle the amount he’s about to have. one milk candy... two milk candy... one sweetened osmanthus root... one bean cake...

he knows he might regret this later, but he needs it for being stuck in this form again. and, it’s even easier to live in this city. people are nicer to kids, even if his expression screams “i will murder you”. they awww, ask about his parents (only to receive a death glare they consider cute), even hand out a candy or two (which he shoves into his mouth immediately because he can). 

so, his day, despite being stuck like this, his mood was almost good! almost. it soured as soon as he encountered the person who unwittingly embarrassed him after he told the horrible lie (now turned truth) previously. cheeks burn red from the one memory of walking into a tree. she had been nice to him, offering kindness despite his terrible attitude. he folds his arms, looks away, a pout on his face. 

Home! Safe!

Their relief was immeasurable. The city was overwhelming, but they already felt calm in her presence. 

a familiar face, an enigma he once sought to solve before his departure -- he smiles at the plant deity before him and welcomes her into his presence. 

“time plagues all living things. humans. animals. plants,” orochi says. in his hands, he toys with a little flower he had plucked earlier. in his presence, it wilts faster, dying before his eternal presence.

chilly eyes turn to her, a purple glow a sign of his amusement. “yet it does not bother you at all, does it?” he motions for her to come closer, her guard need not be so high. they’re both eternal beings (he thinks), though... he lives as a god, free from thoughts of death. her -- he’s still not sure.

            But! No use crying over spilled milk, as they say. The Eternal was quick to look for other ways to pass the time, and it just happened that his plus one came with needs he usually never had to look after. So there he was at the streets, Terra comfortably snuggled by his shoulder, when he came across another of Djeeta’s crewmates.

            Siete’s face immediately widened into a grin. “Yggy! Just the primal beast I’d love to bump into. You see, I’m looking to make a nice Terrarium for my dear tortoise.” He chuckled, shamelessly proud of his own little joke.

            “Know any plants that she’d like?”

Bullet has found something to chew - somehow making its’ way to the top of the lady’s head, gnawing one of the leaves sticking from there.

“ Ah wait... a second... “

Ogata, a little amused grabs the cat, pressing cheeks to open her mouth and finally grabbing Bullet to his arms. He can’t help but laugh, maybe it’s the drink from earlier... Were there any avid shoujo manga readers around one might think there’s glitter sparkling around him.

Fighting off the crease threatening to form on her brow, Djeeta placed pots, molds, cooking utensils, and ingredients onto the counter. The blonde smiled brightly at Yggdrasil, a promise of fun hinted in the upturned curl of her lips. 

“Now then,” she began, brown eyes on the ingredients as she dusted off her hands and stretched her arms to warm up. After believing herself to be adequately prepared, she placed her hands on her hips. “It’s that time of the year, Yggy. Valentine’s Day is approaching. It can be a loving time, a busy time, a stressful time, or a happy and memorable time.” A pause as she crossed her arms, a sage nod accompanying her introduction. “A time to show appreciation to those we care for or gather the courage to confess something more. Regardless of how it turns out...we have chocolate!”

Time in this place was fun and all, but every day without his bros only got darker. It was weirdly lonely, to be used to going everywhere in a trio, your bestest bros by your side, always echoing your every word, your every thought, your every moment.

Then suddenly they were gone, like the wind, and there was nothing you could do about it. Totes a bummer, man. Like, at least there were some familiar faces, but would anything ever really make up for his two bros? He doubted it.

The Erune walked sadly down the road, kicking at dirt, at little rocks, anything to make him seem more distracted and sad and like, maybe someone would ask him what was wrong? Lowain walked for at least a half an hour with no attention from anyone, but what he found at the end of his path was even better.

His eyes widened, his brows raising, his heart feeling light as his feet took off, carrying him to her. A familiar face, the love of his bro Elsam’s life. But like, weirdly smaller? It didn’t matter.

            “  ---oi.  ” her relaxed posture was quickly suffocated by a shadow, and its voice tore harshly into her silence. he clearly didn’t care for the proximity, angled at the hips and leaning closely into her face without regard for comfort.