Welcome to Hope's Peak

❥ “I’m very comfortable.”

Though she didn’t smile, Yumi’s statement was genuine. She had no desire to move away from the Naga’s tail as she rested her head, comforted by the sensation of the scales against her skin. It was a texture she’d never felt anywhere else before - so it was uniquely associated with Vipa alone. 

And Vipa was a good person to be around. Vipa, unlike most adults, wouldn’t hurt her. She was safe.

“….Aren’t snakes supposed to be cold blooded?” she asks bluntly, though curious nevertheless. “How can you be so warm?” 

“Typically yes, snakes are cold blooded. Though I’m certainly no normal snake, I am also more on the cold blooded side. But I’ve been sun warming for a while so my body has absorbed plenty of heat. And with the sun temperatures still a bit high and sun still out, it’s not hard to retain heat.”

Vipa was happy that Yumi felt comfortable enough around her to use her body as a resting spot. It certainly wasn’t the first time a human has rested on her body, and hopefully it wouldn’t be the last. The old Naga rather enjoyed the company while she relaxed.

❥ “Nope. Not moving. I’m perfectly comfortable sleeping right here.”

She does not have the energy to care right now.

“Well then, so long as you’re comfortable, dear.”

@theultimatemusemess​ (for Tabi ! ) ll Semi-plotted 

🌸- “Oh no! Are you okay?! I’m so, so, so ,so sorry!” The Aikido master blabbering apologies almost as soon as the other student - whose approach she’d instinctually taken as that of an Uke - hit the less the forgiving ground below them. 

“I was just so lost in thought at the sight of these beautiful flora-! Your touch must have trigged my inner tori!”

She wasn’t used to interacting with people in any other way than fighting, as her matches against others of her age had been her only form of social interaction outside of her master for as long as she could remember. Her body had reacted on its own in her excitement before she could remember where she was. ( At least the other girl should be generally uninjured - her technique had been more of a transfer into a roll rather than a throw. All designed to keep even an attacker safe! ).

“I’m s ashamed of myself - I’ll see myself out and never come back ever again-!” 

Tabi was just wandering about the greenhouse on the upper floor, lost in their own thoughts as they planned out their day. First they had wanted to tend to their new flowers, then of course they would have to check up on the carnivorous plant section, and lastly they’d trim and water the orchids. But all of that planning seemed to grind to a halt when they were suddenly flipped onto the floor.

“Really? your not leaving me be? god your annoying…” almost as bad as Mori dan in his opinion, just without the squeaky whiney tone. “You don’t know what your walking into do you? this world isn’t exactly kind to anything they don’t understand, so you can be as good as you want, they’ll still hurt you, you think i have a choice in who tries for my head? im a wanted criminal you idiot.”

“How am i supposed to get better if it doesn’t hurt a bit, have you never trained to get stronger? clearly not if your telling me you don’t even know about the gods that used to roam this worthless planet.” he’s honestly done talking with her,  “If you don’t mind, i know someone back ‘home’ that can take care of me, i don’t need a strangers help…..at least those idiots agree with me.”

“Wai- now hold on a second here!” Vipa wasn’t exactly going to stop him, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t follow the boy. Especially not after that comment! “I’m not about to be told by someone much younger than myself how best to get stronger! You try defending an entire village by yourself in the middle of a war zone! Now I may not actually be one but those humans worshipped me as if I was a goddess because to them I very well was!”

“…Mori Jin?  jaecheondaeseong? the monkey king? i thought all you ancient folks have heard of each other, ah but i guess he went by a different name back then.” he hates that wimp.

“I’ll use your name when i feel like it.” crossing his arms. “My logic might be flawed but who cares.”

“The who? Again you’ll have to forgive me on this one because I’m completely clueless as to who you’re talking about. I was a very reclusive being back in my day. I hardly even tolerated my own kind let alone anyone else. I’m far more fond of humans if I’m being honest, and even if I had run into this ‘monkey king’ you’re talking about I probably don’t even remember him. He probably wasn’t worth remembering in the first place. At least not to me way back then.”

The Naga simply shrugs and tries to think that far back. Had she ever encountered such a being? Surely someone called ‘the monkey king’ would stick in her memory, but all she was drawing were blanks. She could remember other Nagas, a few chimeras, even a basilisk at one point (now that was a good meal), but not a single memory of this so called monkey king.

“That idiot Mori looks human yet he’s seen as powerful and the best thing to ever happen, don’t judge a book by its cover lady.” god how he hated that idiot, what does anyone see in him?

“If i wasn’t weak i wouldn’t get hurt” normally he didn’t but today was just a bad day.

“I recover a lot faster then you’d expect, so your wasting your time.”

“I’m sorry but didn’t you just say your name was Mori Jung? Or is there another Mori you’re speaking of? And show a bit o respect, will you? I’ve told you my name so I at least expect you to use it.” Such a stubborn boy this one was.

Jung just shook his arms out, he still felt like he wanted to flee but knew it would get him nowhere with this woman, “Why the hell do you care why im against help, maybe i don’t want help cause im not weak and can handle myself….” lip twitching at being called human.

“….Can you really not tell? am i that miniscule compared to him in power?” uttering under his breath, he’s pissed off.

“Pardon? Are you saying you’re not a human? You certainly look like one?” She tilts her head in slight confusion. Jung clearly had a human form, though if he was asking if she really couldn’t tell, was he perhaps like herself and possessed another form? It was certainly possible. She knew very well that she couldn’t be the only being in the world who possessed such shapeshifting abilities. “You’ll have to forgive me, I’m not exactly the type to know when one is human or not. You look like a typical human so I simply assumed you were one.”

He just fell silent, if its ancient times then he wouldn’t be surprised if that idiot monkey had met the race, it would explain the fear he felt, “…Mori….Mori Jung….I go by Jung.” he’d answer in defeat, he couldn’t get out so he might as well give in.

“Well now, that wasn’t so hard now was it? It’s nice to meet you Jung.” Vipa gave a soft smile before giving the boy another stern look. “Now I’m going to release you, and I would like it if you didn’t try to fight me again. I’m not a huge fan of being in this form so out in the open as it tends to cause most humans to go into a panic.” The Naga slowly releases the other, her body shrinking back down to her much smaller human form. She crosses her arms and lets out a small sigh.

It was a shock that before his mind caught up and his body reacted he was suddenly pinned, arms at his sides, they wouldn’t move much even with his struggles, “what? what the hell are you?”  panic flooded his mind, he wanted to flee, he wanted to escape.

he can’t TRUST her.

But he couldn’t do much, the most he could do is bite but he doubted he’d even make a mark so he didn’t try.

“I am a Naga.” She stated simply, as if that was such an informative answer on its own. “Listen here little one, I’m much older than I look. I’ve been on this Earth for far too long to find any kind of enjoyment or entertainment or whatever it is you think I would gain out of hurting you. The only reason I’m restraining you right now is to keep you from hurting yourself any further, and because I have no interest in harming you.”

“Fight you off?” thats a good idea, maybe he should do that, clearly taking a stance, it took a hot second considering he is injured, but if theres one thing he’s good at its holding back his pain and soildering through.

“I’ll fight you then and prove a point!”

Oh boy, of course he would choose to fight. Though this wasn’t exactly going to be much of a fight from her end. Vipa had her own set of rules that she followed through her life. She would never harm a child nor would she ever harm someone who was already injured. Nevertheless, it seemed this boy wouldn’t listen until she ‘won’ this little fight of theirs.

“If more come then let them, i’ll take them out too.” he’s not worried about his enemies honestly, “Iv’e been hurt a lot worse and still survived, i don’t need a strangers concern over someone like me.” he’s a wanted kid after all, how does he know people won’t just hand him over to the world government, let them lobe his head off his shoulders and the like.

“I don’t trust you.”

“Honestly, humans are so frustrating nowadays.” Vipa places her hands on her hips, already tired of this boy’s stubbornness. Though he isn’t wrong. Why would he trust her? Once again she was nothing more than a mere stranger to him, but she wasn’t going to just leave him alone like this. Not to mention hearing that he’s been hurt worse just made her more determined to help him out.

“Huh?” The woman he had bumped into was now eyeing him and ushering him somewhere but all it did was set off red flags, most would see it as a kind gesture but Jung didn’t.

Jung had been used by everyone he ever met, humiliated and brought down for the sake of others and was shown to be easily disposeable if he wasnt powerful, so he pushed himself forward away from the woman and turned to face her.

“Im fine! i don’t need your concern.”

“So stubborn.” She’s not surprised really, they were strangers after all but that didn’t mean she was just going to leave someone who was injured. “You may not need my concern but you have it. How do you expect any sane person to just ignore someone who’s hurt? Especially with such a scene like this.” She gestures behind her to the aftermath of the stranger’s fight. Vipa gives him a stern look, seemingly puffing herself up slightly to make herself look more serious.

       'To escape Despair,’

   That phrase echoed in Hajime’s head for a long moment before a light chortle escaped his lips. If they were able to escape despair, then there would be no point in being here. He wouldn’t say that out loud. He was trying to watch his pessimism. 

       "Despair…“

   Echoed from his lips in a low, soft tone that almost seemed to be not his own. The words just wouldn’t come out staying at a stagnant place in his mind. Once he was able to, he looked at her again. 

       ”Hajime, I’m Hajime Hinata.“

“Hajime Hinata, what a lovely name.” She smiles, taking a quick look around at the beach before giving her attention back to the human before her. “I apologize if I’m intruding here, I’ll be happy to leave if you want me to. Though if that’s the case I do ask I be allowed to rest for a day or two before I be on my way. It was quite tiring getting all the way here you know.”