[ She is not, everything is still Super Scary but she absolutely cannot inconvenience one of the nicest people she's met here. She refuses, on personal principle. ]
But cat-shaped cookies sound really cute! I didn't know you had a boyfriend, Ori-san.
[This month has certainly had an interesting start, what with the transposition of the town known as Verens within the confines of Reverein. But regardless of that, their lives can go on without too much disruption so far, and their homes remain largely the same.
Sana is probably simply walking through the residential area when she finds herself near the particularly high treehouse and the small vineyard underneath—it's not hard to come across, however distant and unapproachable he might try to pretend it is from his vantage point—and she might even take note of neither, simply because they're unremarkable structures in the grand scheme of things.
Except for the bats.
Normally, they're resting peacefully on the underside of the tree, content with the chill provided by the shadow and the man's icy demeanor. Today, however, they will discover that it is not only the human residents of Verens that have arrived. What appears to be a dark mist settles in underneath the tree, and out of that cloud, several batlike smoke-creatures emerge, swooping in to greet their fellows. The Reverein bats... are not pleased, exactly, and a great deal of screeching and anxious flight from both sides follows.
One of the more solid bats descends towards the girl, squeaking at her insistently as she dives and flaps and dives again as if to say: Hey, you! Help!]
[ Excuse me, miss bat. Does this dimunitive girl look as though she is going to be any kind of useful against a hoard of smoky bat creatures? Because she has never actually dealt with this particular type of problem, and truthfully, she flinches a little when one of the more normal-looking bats swoops down to... scold her? Insult her lifestyle? Insist she listen to its tragic backstory??
Whatever it is, she sadly does not speak Bat, so this poor thing will have to give her a few minutes to realize she's being called to battle. For now, she's throwing up her arms and backing up instantly. ]
[Whatever Sana is, she's certainly better than the nothing they'd have otherwise, the bat seems sure—and she continues her circling and griping until one of the smoke-creatures poofs into its winged form right between the both of them. The Reverein-native is so taken aback by this sudden appearance that she simply flops right onto the ground with a shriek.
Although the misty one simply flies forward and finds an appropriate branch to hang on as if unbothered by this event, the fallen bat starts flapping her wings and kicking her tiny feet as if throwing a tantrum. This is what happens when you don't step up, small human!]
[ Well now she feels bad!! Sana's stumbled back as Smoke-Bat swoops between them, but as Real Bat continues to act like a traumatized Victorian orphan, she crouches down to try and bring her palms under her and lift her up. ]
[Said bat continues its whining, though it at least doesn't try to scratch her or throw itself off of Sana's hands in a fit of drama. Instead, it uses the new vantage point to squeak a few more rude noises in the direction of the invaders, who are partly still having arguments with the locals.
A commanding voice emerges from the treehouse above, along with the sound of heavy boots against the wooden deck.]
Enough.
[Almost immediately, the chattering of the animals grows quieter, only a few sounds made here and there as they either settle onto their perches under the branches or leave entirely. A few bats fly up towards the treehouse itself, as if they've decided to take shelter inside instead.]
[The answer he receives doesn't come from Sana, in fact; after hearing the squeaks of his apparent guests, he turns to look at the branches below and notices the smoky newcomers. Although his furrowed brow doesn't soften at the sight, his exasperated remark isn't particularly harsh:]
This is far from the strangest thing all of you have seen, surely.
[Especially given the frosty fortress ordeal from two months prior. But another vocal tirade from the bat in Sana's hands brings him to glance down and spot the aqua-haired girl at last.]
You there. It's not safe to handle them with bare hands.
[He's gone back and forth repeatedly, trying to establish what is and is not a suitable prize for Sana. In the end, he settled on swords. Something notably harmless to her (and to anyone she might potentially hit with it). But even after he's had it in hand, he's wondered if she'll even like such a thing. There's really only one way to find out.
Tracking down where she's staying and making a note that he ought to speak to Kainé about routinely keeping an eye on her (if not see if they can convince her to stay with them directly), he leaves a slender and sleek sword outside her entryway, along with a note in what looks like chicken scratch, but is marginally legible.]
Sana,
I'm not good with gifts or knowing really what kids want. My daughter never really had the opportunity to play like most kids do, so her presents were usually books.
It's important to know how to defend yourself, so you can be as independent as you want to be. I thought this sword might help you do that, allowing you to empower yourself, and giving us a chance to bond. I'm not an expert in swords, though I've spent a lot of my life swinging mine around, but I thought maybe we could practise together and I'll teach you what I know.
If you don't like it, I'll take you out to Wild Harvest or something like that and we'll get something special.
[ it's a modest little treehouse with an air of quiet, lonely solitude-- though it's not as though Nier gets to venture in or anything. Sana does eventually come across the sword, bewildered and confused and peering about to see if it was left by accident.
... But then she spots the note. After a diligent effort, it's readable enough, which doesn't last long the further she reads-- because her eyes well up and the words become too blurry to decipher without taking a few minutes to recover.
Gradually, Nier will receive a journal message. ]
Nier-san,
Thank you very much for the sword. I've fought with a shield before, but I've never used a sword, so if it isn't too much trouble, I'd really like to learn from you. If that's okay!
You've already done so much for me... I'll try to make it up to you one day.
[When Nier receives word back from her, he's kept himself busy. He usually does. He doesn't like to be an idle man. Most of his time spent goes toward helping the locals with odd and end jobs. But no matter what he's in the middle of, he is more than happy to put it aside in favour of Sana's response.
There is equal parts delight and relief at the idea that she likes what he's picked out for her. He wasn't sure she'd understand or if she'd even be interested. And it comes with the pleasant surprise that she knows how to use a shield, which is actually something he has no experience in. Maybe in time, she won't mind teaching him in turn.
It is not always the responsibility of the young to learn. Sometimes even old men need to, as well.]
You don't need to make up anything for me.
I would be more than happy to each you how to use a sword. Let's pick a time and place and we'll make a day of it. Complete with something to eat afterwards. Can't have a good training session without a good meal after it.
If I'm honest, I haven't done much training since I've gotten here. I just get all my training in when I'm doing things for the locals. We'll find a nice quiet, out of the way place. Somewhere we won't get distracted, but nowhere dangerous.
[He just wants to bond with her, not put her in the line of fire.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
journal | sender: Oriphi
Hi, Miss Sana! It's Ori! How are you doing? Have you settled into your tree house yet?
Also, do you like cookies? I accidentally made too many.
[ "accidentally" ]
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It's a little strange, but I think... I'm doing okay.
Also, I like cookies. But are you sure you don't want to share them with someone else, Ori-san?
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And I want to share the cookies with you most of all! My boyfriend and I made cat-shaped ones, so I thought of you.
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[ She is not, everything is still Super Scary but she absolutely cannot inconvenience one of the nicest people she's met here. She refuses, on personal principle. ]
But cat-shaped cookies sound really cute! I didn't know you had a boyfriend, Ori-san.
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They are really cute! And... ah, I do... It's pretty unbelievable, isn't it?
It was mostly Thoma who did the decorating. He did a great job!
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Your boyfriend is Thoma-san??
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[ what is she apologizing for? It is a mystery. ]
In any case, since you two know each other, I'm sure he would be delighted to know the cookies went to you, Sana.
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But Oriphi-san, I don't think it's weird or that you should apologize. You're both really nice. I'm happy you have each other.
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Would you like to come to my house to get the cookies? Or meet up somewhere?
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early March; in person (this got away from me lol, let me know if it works)
Sana is probably simply walking through the residential area when she finds herself near the particularly high treehouse and the small vineyard underneath—it's not hard to come across, however distant and unapproachable he might try to pretend it is from his vantage point—and she might even take note of neither, simply because they're unremarkable structures in the grand scheme of things.
Except for the bats.
Normally, they're resting peacefully on the underside of the tree, content with the chill provided by the shadow and the man's icy demeanor. Today, however, they will discover that it is not only the human residents of Verens that have arrived. What appears to be a dark mist settles in underneath the tree, and out of that cloud, several batlike smoke-creatures emerge, swooping in to greet their fellows. The Reverein bats... are not pleased, exactly, and a great deal of screeching and anxious flight from both sides follows.
One of the more solid bats descends towards the girl, squeaking at her insistently as she dives and flaps and dives again as if to say: Hey, you! Help!]
this is delightful bless you
Whatever it is, she sadly does not speak Bat, so this poor thing will have to give her a few minutes to realize she's being called to battle. For now, she's throwing up her arms and backing up instantly. ]
I-I'm sorry! Is it mating season or something??
excellent
Although the misty one simply flies forward and finds an appropriate branch to hang on as if unbothered by this event, the fallen bat starts flapping her wings and kicking her tiny feet as if throwing a tantrum. This is what happens when you don't step up, small human!]
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Oh no, did you get hurt??
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A commanding voice emerges from the treehouse above, along with the sound of heavy boots against the wooden deck.]
Enough.
[Almost immediately, the chattering of the animals grows quieter, only a few sounds made here and there as they either settle onto their perches under the branches or leave entirely. A few bats fly up towards the treehouse itself, as if they've decided to take shelter inside instead.]
What is the purpose to all this commotion?
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O-oh no, he sounds mad...
[ That's not answering the commanding voice's question, Sana. ]
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This is far from the strangest thing all of you have seen, surely.
[Especially given the frosty fortress ordeal from two months prior. But another vocal tirade from the bat in Sana's hands brings him to glance down and spot the aqua-haired girl at last.]
You there. It's not safe to handle them with bare hands.
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I-I'm sorry, this little one collapsed and... leaving anyone on the ground seemed rude, I'm-- er, can you fly now?
[ to the bat, more than a little inanely. ]
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Mail Delivery
Tracking down where she's staying and making a note that he ought to speak to Kainé about routinely keeping an eye on her (if not see if they can convince her to stay with them directly), he leaves a slender and sleek sword outside her entryway, along with a note in what looks like chicken scratch, but is marginally legible.]
Sana,
I'm not good with gifts or knowing really what kids want. My daughter never really had the opportunity to play like most kids do, so her presents were usually books.
It's important to know how to defend yourself, so you can be as independent as you want to be. I thought this sword might help you do that, allowing you to empower yourself, and giving us a chance to bond. I'm not an expert in swords, though I've spent a lot of my life swinging mine around, but I thought maybe we could practise together and I'll teach you what I know.
If you don't like it, I'll take you out to Wild Harvest or something like that and we'll get something special.
—Nier
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... But then she spots the note. After a diligent effort, it's readable enough, which doesn't last long the further she reads-- because her eyes well up and the words become too blurry to decipher without taking a few minutes to recover.
Gradually, Nier will receive a journal message. ]
Nier-san,
Thank you very much for the sword. I've fought with a shield before, but I've never used a sword, so if it isn't too much trouble, I'd really like to learn from you. If that's okay!
You've already done so much for me... I'll try to make it up to you one day.
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There is equal parts delight and relief at the idea that she likes what he's picked out for her. He wasn't sure she'd understand or if she'd even be interested. And it comes with the pleasant surprise that she knows how to use a shield, which is actually something he has no experience in. Maybe in time, she won't mind teaching him in turn.
It is not always the responsibility of the young to learn. Sometimes even old men need to, as well.]
You don't need to make up anything for me.
I would be more than happy to each you how to use a sword. Let's pick a time and place and we'll make a day of it. Complete with something to eat afterwards. Can't have a good training session without a good meal after it.
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Oh, boy. Is this how her stepbrothers felt with their father? Is that too presumptuous if she thinks like that? ]
I think wherever you usually train would be fine with me. I'll try not to disappoint you as a student.
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[He just wants to bond with her, not put her in the line of fire.]
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[ Nice adults. What a strange thought. She's still struggling to wrap her mind around it, honestly. ]
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If you need anything, you know how to get a hold of me. Don't hesitate to do so.
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