the difference between sight and comprehension

Johnny supposed a little belatedly that standing near a dog doesn’t necessarily make you its owner - a truth for him, as well. He glanced back to the dog, who seemed just as happy to be ownerless at the moment, standing between the two of them, tongue hanging out of a panting smile as it looked between the talking strangers. Johnny gave him a pat on the head for good measure.

“Nah, he’s not mine– I have seen him out here a couple times though, yeah. He’s a friendly boy, huh? ♪ I’m pretty sure someone out here must own him– he always looks like he’s had a good wash and a haircut, you know? Well fed too, heh. No collar, though– maybe I’ll ask the local park ranger about it.” 

He pulled himself away from petting the dog long enough to approach the visiting man - and the dog trotted after him happily, returning to check the stranger out again now that he’d investigated Johnny thoroughly enough. 

As the other man approached, the dog followed and sniffed at him curiously. Arthur bent down to give the dog an affectionate scratch behind the ears before returning his attention to the stranger--just in time to catch his introduction.

Oh, so you’ve heard of them? 

[ Arthur pauses as he tries to remember the name. He had written it down plenty of times, but had grown accustomed to using the common name. ] 

Strelitzia... Ah, one moment.

[ He takes out a star-shaped green notebook from his bag and flips through a couple of pages purposefully before settling on one. ]

Johnny had seen this dog several times on his walks into town - it was one of a few he’d seen that seemed to occasionally wander the mountain trails between Oak Tree and the farmlands to the north. He was so friendly that Johnny was almost positive he must be someone in the area’s pet - the idea of which, to be perfectly honest, had been the only thing keeping him from buying some treats down at the trade depot and luring the mutt home with him.

It didn’t stop him giving the dog a playful ruffle of the fur around his collar, however - and he stopped only as he noticed the stranger a short distance away. Johnny stopped petting the dog awkwardly, straightening up a little as he addressed the other man.

“Oh--no,” he said with a small shake of the head. “I’m just visiting town. I actually thought that he might be yours since he went to you.”

Ah...Yes, of course.

[ The question relaxes him a bit and he smiles. A topic that didn’t paint him as careless with his prized possessions, and one he is glad to answer considering how often he had for sales pitches. ]

I suppose you’re right about that... It really doesn’t pay well, that’s certain.

[ A sigh. He just feels lucky that the stranger, most likely a tourist, seemed to be on the normal side of the spectrum. ]

In any case, thank you again. I know I was walking pretty quickly, so I appreciate the effort. There are these flowers from another country I’m expecting to come in can’t be in that small box under the sun without water for long, and considering they’re out of season right now...

[ He realizes he’s vocalizing his thoughts and smiles sheepishly. ]

[ Selphia was, all in all, a lively town. Villagers and visitors alike milled around in the town, taking in the view (the waterways and the cliff were such stark differences, yet it somehow made the town even more charming) and Kam was no exception. ]

[ He had already been to the flower shop– Illuminata’s– to check out the types of flowers that grew in Selphia, of course, and now he was headed back to the bathhouse he was staying at. ]

[ Before he even arrived at the street it was on, an official looking man with glasses passed by Kam; the man’s clothes were intricate, and might have even stood out in a plainer town, but in Selphia he seemed to fit in well. The glasses wearing man seemed in a hurry– or at least, he was distracted– and didn’t seem to notice as something slipped from his robes. ]

…Hm? Ah…

[ Kam picked the item up off of the ground, before lifting his head up to look for the person who had dropped it. They were still in sight, so Kam sped up a little, calling out. ]

[ When he caught up, he tapped the person on their shoulder, handing the item over. ]

[ Which is why when he felt the tapping on his shoulder, he turned and blinked, eyes not fully registering the strangers words for a moment. With the shake of his head, he smiled apologetically and took the item. ]

Ah--! Thank you. I’m afraid I was in a bit of a rush due to--

[ He opened the item--a glasses case--to check on the condition of (one) of the spares he carried with him...and frowned. Cracked, straight down the right lens. ]

“Oh… ?  This isn’t the restaurant entrance?”  He feigned innocence, looking around as if the place did not look like an office instead of a diner.  “My apologies. ♥”

“Ah... No, this is my office. I run a business from here and the restaurant is next door.” He smiled as he faced the stranger again, leaning back against his desk.

Hearing the voice directed towards him, Skye turned around and flashed the man an evidently annoyed smile.  He was hoping to get away unnoticed, but that was obviously wishful thinking,

“O-Oh… is it now?” Skye said as he faked innocence, trying to keep the smile on his face looking as genuine as possible.  “My apologies… I thought this restaurant also served as a bar… and was open later into the night.”  It was a terrible excuse, but it was all he could think of in the moment.

“Ah... You would be incorrect in that. The restaurant closes at night and this is also...the incorrect entrance,” he said, keeping a neutral expression. He leaned forward a bit to examine the stranger closely. Something in his memory was struggling to get his attention, but he couldn’t quite grasp it. To be fair, it was late and there was someone in his office acting odd.

She wandered around a moment, studying the various objects scattered around. “Everyone’s been so busy lately, it makes me rather lonely,” she hummed, pausing and tapping the globe. “It’s good for them and their businesses, but very terrible for my social needs.”

In the back of her mind Venti wondered if Arthurs already knew who she was. Several people had already guessed, had spread the rumour around the small town. Still, it could of always escaped some’s ears.

“Yes, business is booming and it’s...very good for the town.” He raised an eyebrow. He wasn’t quite sure what the girl meant by social needs, but her voice did sound somewhat familiar.