F is for Friends Who do Stuff Together

MuchoMachoMan · Aug 8, 2017

Cy frowned, his red nose bobbing side to side as he shook his head. "Why do I need these?" he asked the check-in woman situated at the entrance of the ballroom. Behind him was a line of other students in High School who were growing tired of the Tengu's multiple questions as he softcore interrogated the poor receptionist. The yokai stood unmoving though as the supervisor eventually walked over to quickly get the line moving again, trying to make sure that they finished on time. "Just take the cards and remember your number" she quickly hissed, shooing Cy away into the ballroom proper as he began to aimlessly wander around.

The Tengu looked around, he hadn't spent much time in the grand hall of the Academy. He knew that he'd be here next year when he graduated, but besides that, he never had much of a reason to come inside. Still, the old dark wooden ballroom was impressive. The yokai's eyes narrowed, his 20/4 vision taking in every little detail and touch of perfection as he looked up at the mural on the ceiling. The curious creature was so caught up in looking around, that he failed to see one of the many 2-person tables scattered around the large room. Grunting a bit in surprise, Cyrano began to slowly realize bit by bit what the strange human at the check-in kiosk had been saying.

Feeling rather smart for deducing all of this by himself, the yokai looked down at the random assortment of cards he had been given. There were somewhere around 20 in all, each one had a different question on it, mostly personality and trait-based stuff, the sort of thing Cy despised. Still, he was rather new at the school, and although he may have lived for a millenium so far, that millenium was spent mostly meddling with humans rather than getting to know them. A new life on this island demanded a new way of thinking, that was the reasoning Cy told himself he was here today.

"Attention students, check-in has been completed, please go to your designated table!" the host of the speed-meeting event said from all directions, her magic acting like a PA system of sorts. Suddenly, the tengu saw a number appear in front of him, seemingly made out of magic and directly in front of him no matter the direction he turned. '8' was his table number. With this done, the tengu dawdled over to table 8 and sat down somewhat nervously, waiting for his paired stranger to take their seat as well so they could begin this strange human ritual of friendship.

@Tahnael

Trahnael · Aug 13, 2017

This really wasn't necessary. Adelene had tried to convince the staff that she didn't need to participate in this activity as she wasn't exactly a newcomer, but even her brother insisted that she joined since she apparently "didn't have enough friends who were trustworthy and not Lochlann". So there she was in the ballroom, and after having been given her own set of cards, she started to wander around completely clueless and alone.

There was an announcement and the number 8 suddenly appeared in front of her. After a while of looking around not knowing which one it was, she finally found the 8th table, together with a strange, literally red-skinned creature seated there. She fiddled with the cards in her hand as she also took a seat.

"Hello," she greeted, albeit shyly. She gave one sheepish smile at them, too. "I'm Adelene. It's nice to meet you!"

MuchoMachoMan · Aug 13, 2017

The tengu looked around at the busy ballroom as people took their seats. Finally, one of the passerbys approached his table, sitting down opposite him and letting out a sheepish smile as she introduced herself as Adelene. Cy let out a small smile, "The pleasure is mine Ms. Adelene" he said with a small smile as he extended out his hand to shake the other womans. She seemed fairly normal, though the word 'normal' was in itself a rather contentious term in his opinion. There was no such thing as normal on this island, which is in part why he liked living here so much. "I'm Cy" he said with a small nod, his long red nose bobbing up and down as he did so.

"Let us begin" he stated, deciding to go first by drawing the first card on his pile. They had each been given some 'getting to know you' questions by the faculty staff who were organizing this 'speed meeting' event. "If you could live anywhere on earth and have any job you wanted, what would you do?" the red skinned yokai asked. Looking expectantly over towards the woman. It was polite for him to answer his own question as well, "I suppose I'd like to live in the US, be a park ranger somewhere like Yellowstone" the spirit asked with a small smile, fondly recalling the beautiful nature preserves he had visited over the decades.

Cy fell silent, waiting for Ms. Adelene to ask her own question.

Trahnael · Aug 14, 2017

Adelene's partner for this event was quite an interesting fella, appearance-wise. While there were all kinds of creatures in this island that looked more intriguing, the fact that he mostly looked so human save for his skin color and nose made Adelene wonder what he was. But this was their first meeting and she felt quite self conscious, so she remained quite timid even after this person named Cy drew the first card.

The question sounded too interview-like rather than a getting-to-know card in her opinion, but she smiled when Cy answered first.

"Well, living here is already what I've wanted. It's only either here or back home in England and I've experienced both. As for a job, I want to become a weapons designer, just like my brother."

She moved to draw the next card from her own pile. Holding it a bit higher than the rest, she read, "If you were given the chance to change something about yourself or your life, what will you change?"

She tilted her head thoughtfully. She hadn't explored the contents of the cards given to her and she had no idea what else would come out later, but using these cards for this occasion felt... awkward.

She glanced at Cy before answering first anyway. "Nothing, really. I like my life." But she quickly put down all her cardz on the table and leaned forward. "It doesn't feel like we're having a real conversation with these cards, don't you think? Are we required to use this?" she asked quietly.

MuchoMachoMan · Aug 14, 2017

Cy listened attentively as Adelene explained what she'd like to do if she could live anywhere. He was slightly surprised at the woman's contenment with living and studying here on the island. He knew that this place was a virtual eden for the trange and supernatural like him, but he still often craved the chance to spread his wings and fly where he pleased like in centuries long since passed. The red skinned yokai tried to discern what he could through that statement alone, but decided against making any presumptions.

"England? What's it like there? It's on my list of places I've never visited" the man said, tilting his head a bit as he was curious to see what the woman would describe the place he only knew through traveling in India when it was still part of the Empire. The question that she asked him next was interesting enough though, "Change about myself?" he asked aloud to no one in particular before falling silent to mull it over a bit. "I suppose I'd like to be more charismatic and sociable" he said honestly with a small shrug. He hadn't thought about the question before, so that was the best answer he could give.

Adelene's answer once again piqued his interest, "You sound like a very content person, how do you manage to be so satisfied with everything?" he asked, curious about what had led the woman to such an apparent inner peace. She may have been right about the use of the cards though, as they felt rather stilted. Still, they gave him a better idea of questions to ask than on his own. "I agree, though I believe its encouraged" he said before grabbing the next card.

"Who was the first person you slept with?" he asked with as straight a face as possible, not picking up on the abnormality and inappropriateness of the question. The tengu scratched the end of his long nose a moment before replying, "Uhhh, I think it was some farm girl near Mt. Fuji maybe? It was a long time ago, medieval japan was a different era as you can imagine" he said with a nod that caused his nose to bob up and down slightly.

Trahnael · Aug 14, 2017

The cards did help with the flow of the conversation. Adelene still thought they were very interview-y, but thanks to them there were more things they could ask each other.

Adelene smiled at the memory of home, "For one, it rains a lot. I'm not quite fond of the rain, to be honest." There was still some shyness and awkwardness hanging over her, since she was technically talking to a stranger for no other reason than to talk to a stranger, but it was nice to see that Cy had some genuine interest for what she was saying, as did she for him. "Before you ask why, let's just say a certain loved one of mine ends up rejecting me whenever it rains," she added indifferently, her smile still on her face, even though the deeper story behind it was in no way a smiling matter.

She shrugged. "I'm not saying I'm content with everything. But if something about me changes, I'll become someone different altogether, and I don't want that. Maybe I do want something to change, for my future self. Like, maybe become more friendly with other girls, or, again with that certain loved one..."

Adelene shook her head. She didn't want to continue, and she smiled and gestured at her partner to take his turn.

The next card made her blush instantly.

She was amazed how indifferent the red-skinned man was towards the question, but it made sense, somehow, after hearing his answer. "Medieval Japan?" she asked. "What was it like? Ah, not sleeping with the farm girl, okay? I meant Japan at that time. The people, the culture. I'm not exactly open to that subject-- sex, I mean. I hope you won't mind me skipping that question."

MuchoMachoMan · Aug 14, 2017

"Was it something I said?" Cy asked, blinking as he looked rather oblivious, apparently obsconding into the night with the farmer's daughter and seducing her was frowned upon in modern civil society. Probably for the best. The red swordsman decided to let the issue drop then, instead finding it interesting how Adelene seemed so content about her life. It appeared as though this one clearly had a number of issues on her mind, she was wise beyond her years as a human, at least in his own opinion. Cy gave a soft, apologetic smile, "No, you're right. I didn't think of it that way. 'You do you' as they say, I'm sure people will flock to you in no time. I'd be your friend if it counts" the yokai said with a small nod before moving onto the next question.

"It was... different" Cy said, pausing then as he tried to consider his next words carefully. He had lived a long time, but, at the same time, it never really felt that long in the first place, which in part scared him a great deal. "For one, everything smelled like shit. Modern sewage systems and indoor plumbing were the two of greatest inventions of the millenium in my opinion" he said with a small chuckle as he tried to form a more thoughtful and tact answer. "I suppose it was more violent, a harder life. I'm glad it's gone, it was a darker time" he said, leaving the matter to rest.

Still, she had skipped his question, so he would continue to another one instead. Cy looked down at the next card, "What is your dream?" he asked, blanking out as he tried to think of an answer. His dream? Could he even have a dream as an immortal swordsman yokai? He had told himself that his dream was to protect humanity from evil spirits, but after he had been self-exiled from his tengu bretheren after the second world war, he wasn't sure what he was doing anymore. "I guess... I don't know to be honest" he said with a shrug, hoping Adelene would think of something better.

Trahnael · Aug 16, 2017

The previous card was shrugged off and discarded quickly, as Adelene refused to say more about the matter. Cy quickly managed to make her smile, and when he talked about being friends, Adelene's lips further widened into a grin. "Sure! Isn't that what all this--" she gestured around the ballroom, "--is about?" Plus she was starting to like him, the same way that Cy was intrigued by her.

She relaxed into her seat, placed her elbows on the table, and rested her chin on her hands. Listening to a personal account about a very distant past, a past that today's generation can only know through books and documentaries, sounded much better and real and intimate whether or not Cy was really telling the truth. In any case, he sounded like he did.

He pulled another card. Adelene lost her smile when he didn't have an answer, genuine curiosity and some concern surfacing on her face as small wrinkles between her eyebrows. "Does life become dull when you live for so long?" she asked. She wouldn't pretend she knew anything, but she believed that dreams are mortals most desired things in the world knowing they wouldn't live forever to have everything. Maybe living forever dulled one's drive to reach for something because there would no deadline, no fear that death could come without notice before one can even fulfill his desires.

Addy stopped her thoughts. Cy hadn't sai anything about being able to live forever; he just happened to have lived much longer than her. Death is always just around the corner, no matter how long one's lifespan can be.

"Let's put it this way," she suggested. "If you were to die right now, what do you regret not being able to do or try or get, not even once ever, in your life? In my case..." she paused. She, too, hasn't actually thought much about her own dreams. But when she tried to think of something, only one thing came to mind. And while others might find it shallow or petty, it was still a big deal for her, something she'd regret not being able to reach if she died now. Her voice went quiet. She'd embarrass herself for saying this, but for some reason it felt like a perfect moment to express dreams and wishes. She's never said it before. "...I share a dream with my best friend. Well... I guess he's more special than just a best friend, and... we're both dreaming of a warm and peaceful future where he doesn't have to be afraid of killing me out of love. Where I won't have to fulfill my promise of killing him if he hurts me."

Her eyes cast down, Adelene completely went silent. That was probably a bit too serious for this conversation. Cringing at herself a little, realizing that she probably shouldn't have said that much, she let out a sheepish laugh. "Too serious? Sorry."

She pulled another card from the pile she had discarded on the table, and after Cy answers this current question, she would read the next with a resolve to brush off her answer to this last one.

"Oh, this one's easy. 'State your favorites'. Hmm... Like food and objects maybe? My favorite food would be... steak. Favorite rifle is my M82, favorite sword is the Katana-- though I haven't been able to learn how to wield it yet. A professor was supposed to teach me but we never got the chance. You mentioned Japan, Mr. Cy. Do you know how to wield the sword?"

MuchoMachoMan · Aug 16, 2017

Dull? He hadn't really thought about it that way. He had gone everywhere he pleased, done everything he really wanted to do, fought everyone he wished to fight. The tengu's brow furrowed in concentration as he tried to recall something that he dreamed about. He supposed that fighting to defend the innocent was something, but was that so much a dream or a duty? The two felt easy to mix up. As it stood though, Cy couldn't think of anything off the top of his head, "I guess it does?" he said, though the inflection of his voice made it sound more like a question than a statement.

Adelene's description of the the question in-depth caused Cy to tilt his head in contemplation. He could die, all yokai could, even though they were immortal technically. If he were to be cut down, what would be a regret that would flash in his last moments be? His first reaction was of his kin back in Japan, the senile tengu grandmasters, he wished they would see peace instead of war. Still, that wasn't something he personally craved. "I don't know" he said, feeling slightly awkward at not providing an adequate answer for a third time straight.

"That sounds like an abusive relationship, not gonna lie. You might want to get that checked out" he said, raising an eyebrow at the woman's description of her 'dream'. Still, this was a strange island, and he was one to talk, different strokes for different folks and all that. He let the matter drop, he wasn't keen to pry to much into Adelene's private details.

The next question was far more agreeable to his standards though, as Adelene read it to him. Cy considered the abstract question before answering, "Favorite color is red, my favorite desert is Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, song would be Roundabout by Yes, and movie would be True Grit with Jeff Bridges" he said with a nod, saying the first couple things that popped off the top of his head. Adelene's next question though was something more up his ballpark, "In a word, yes I do" he said with a small smile, he certainly had time to practice, a century was enough time to hone one's skill.

It was his turn again however. Cy looked at the card he picked up from the pile, "What's your favorite vacation idea?" he asked before answering it himself, "Probably camping in the mountains, maybe sleeping in the trees. Something like that" he said with a shrug before looking back up to Adelene for her answer.

Trahnael · Aug 17, 2017

Adelene frowned when her partner commented that it was abusive. "No it's not, it's... it's complicated, okay?" But he didn't seem to want more of that topic and neither did she, so she let it end there as they went on to other questions.

She didn't know what to feel about Cy still not having an answer about his dreams. She didn't know him enough to feel anything about it, really, except the hanging curiosity that wasn't sated after not getting any answer.

The next questions were light, and Addy felt as they continued that the air around them also lightened. She raised her eyebrow at the mention of ice cream-- she wasn't a huge fan of sweets, but she liked them enough to agree they were good-- but they quickly furrowed down in confusion after hearing about a song and a movie she didn't know. She nodded slowly in the most obviously clueless way possible.

The katana was a more familiar subject. So was the next question, and Cy's answer to it. She smiled and nodded. "I think camping is also wonderful. Thrilling. I don't sleep in the trees, but the idea of setting up a camp in the wilderness, bonfire and sleeping bags under the stars, I think that's nice. The hiking part of it is also nice, and while we're at it, some weapons training!" She was giddy at the idea, but the energy faded when she realized she hasn't done that sort of vacation in forever. She's done it often before outside SA, but not for vacation purposes.

"I want to go camping again soon. I miss it. I'd also want to train with the katana since I'm pretty sure I look terrible when I'm swinging it."

She shrugged. She'd ask Cy if he could teach her how to wield the sword, but she was shyly hesitant about it so she didn't raise the matter. Instead, she pulled on another card. "If you were to become another species, what do you want to be and why?" she read. "I guess they used 'species' for a broader scope? Well, I've always wanted to try being a dragon. Any kind of dragon will do. I like their form and their magic and their invulnerability. How about you?"

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F is for Friends Who do Stuff Together

MuchoMachoMan

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Trahnael

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MuchoMachoMan

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Trahnael

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MuchoMachoMan

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Trahnael

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MuchoMachoMan

Well-Known Member

Trahnael

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MuchoMachoMan

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Trahnael

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