averagemedium | [awash] IC Inbox

[ so... "skeleton army" sure does sound intimidating. surprise surprise when it's... really not. which is probably for the best? that's not even a bad thing.

or maybe she's just biased. combat robot and all...

... combat robot who recognizes this, as she remains on standby to eliminate any potential barely-threats. that's what she's doing as she walks around the town, distracted enough that she almost bumps into ryan-- (though a timely turn of the head has her stopping just short of him).

timeline of aigis's expressions: quiet focus, then surprise, and now... friendly smiles. ]

Oh-- Ryan-san!

[ oops. ]

Hello...

Aigis! Hey, what're you up to?

[he says this very conversationally, as if he's not at all concerned by what looks like one of the skeletons on the ground nearby. he's turning his back on it. ryan what are you doing.

it's missing a leg though, so like, it's mostly just trying to get up.]

Think you can give me a hand with, um... [a gesture to the skeleton, with a slight frown.] It tried to grab my leg but it's kind of not very fast and I don't know who got its leg but it's just... it's my problem now, I guess?

[it scoots closer, and he takes a step out of reach.]

I can't just-- I don't know, kick it in the skull or something, just look at it.

[Stumbling through the icy palace sure is getting old (and cold), but Minato can't stop. There are friends he has here that are still unaccounted for, people he needs to make sure are alright before he does anything else.

He has to...

... Which is why he's slowly walking down an icy hall when he spies a familiar head of blond hair.

!!

Immediately, Minato is trotting that way, almost but not quite pitching forward onto his face when he skids on a patch of ice.]

R-Ryan-san...!

-oh, hey. Watch your step, it's a little slick, there.

[...Ryan is less concerned about danger than he should be at the best of times, let's be honest here, but this is different from the nonchalance he has towards death. Normally he'd at least be concerned about Minato, if nothing else, but he just can't quite muster it up, the feeling just out of reach.

That should probably worry him, maybe, but that thought too is a little distant at the moment.]

[... Yeah.

He's heard that dead, lifeless tone already here, and he's definitely concerned; he skids on the ice a bit more, and then crouches by Ryan, reaching out immediately (wow, handsy) to cup his cheek with one hand--though it's to feel his temperature more than anything.]

H-hey... you're freezing, Ryan-san...

[Further proof something's very wrong here: he'd normally be pretty pink at that, probably trip over a word or two, instead of just glancing curiously between Minato's hand and his face. Huh. Yeah, definitely a little handsy, but he supposes this is fine.]

I'm pretty sure all of us are freezing, technically? We are kind of surrounded by ice.

That's not what I mean...

[He's mostly talking to keep Ryan talking at this point; it's clear Ryan's not himself. He tilts Ryan's cheek a little, frowning at how icy cold he is to the touch.]

... It's definitely the mirrors...

[A huffed out breath.]

Do you feel like yourself right now?

...am I supposed to feel like I'm somebody else?

[His head tilts easily along with Minato's touch, absolutely no resistance to the motion. A slight quirk of one brow is his only outward reaction to that question.]

I'm fine, Minato.

[He's freezing, but then this place is icy; there's that shard, and he remembers being a lot more worried about that earlier, but by now it's sort of just an odd feeling in the back of his mind. Maybe there's nothing too wrong about that. Maybe this is just what it feels like to chill out a bit.]

[... Well...]

I really don't think you are, Ryan-san...

[Sorry to say, but he's used to Ryan being a bit more excitable than this.]

I actually think you might be a little cursed right now. ... Literally.

... Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

You think? I'm not sure I've ever been cursed before...

[Unfortunately, even if he were feeling like himself Ryan would probably be a little fascinated by it, only because it's something new. As it stands, it's more a clinical sort of interest, but still there, and he idly raises a hand to rest about where that shard is (which is right around his left shoulder. Probably not great.)]

Hm. D'you think it has to be pulled out? I have a knife-- though I guess curses wouldn't be that straightforward, would they. Ruins a lot of stories to have them solvable that way.

[Er...

Ryan??? He's awfully concerned right now.]

... Have you ever read any fairy tales?

[...]

There's a way to fix it, it's just that it's going to be... [WELL.]

... Well, I guess I should just apologize in advance.

Of course I know fairy tales, I'm a researcher-- it's just that with as many versions as there are sometimes, finding the accurate one can be pretty hard, if an accurate version of a given story actually exists...

[But he digresses. That last bit gets another little tilt of his head, a curious little hum.]

I'm pretty sure you won't have anything to apologize for, though? Not like you don't know the kinds of things I've already dealt with.

[He's sure he'll be fine regardless, or at least he thinks so at the moment. Let's be perfectly real, he's still too busy thinking about story variations and how to categorize this kind of curse to bother coming up with the answer.]

[Uh huh... Minato lets Ryan ramble for a bit... and then he just shrugs and sighs.

And with a hand still cupping Ryan's cheek?

He leans over and chastely, quickly, presses his lips to Ryan's.

Yeah.

Nobody ever told him it could be a kiss anywhere else.]

[-oh. Oh, that's right, now he remembers something about a kiss in a similar story--

Except with that shard melting away, his cheek slowly warming to a more normal temperature beneath Minato's hand, that realization also begins to shift. At first there's just the distant recognition, then there's the connection that yes, that definitely just happened, there wasn't just a kiss in some story but there was also just this particular kiss, which was not just a forehead or cheek smooch and what's up with that? Is he dying? He sort of thinks he might be dying, actually, he's just gone and swapped that curse for expiring on the spot.

Nevermind a more normal temperature, he is decidedly flushed a few moments later, and that startled expression is much more like the usual Ryan.]

I-- oh. Okay, I- I get the apology, but it still wasn't really necessary-

[That was nice? It was nice. He still thinks he's absolutely going to die, but that's kind of worth it, actually.]

Are you sure it worked?

[He is entirely too close to finishing that with 'or do you want to try that again to be positive', but he manages. Just barely.]

[Minato can definitely feel the way that Ryan's cheeks warm beneath his hand--which is good. It means he's better, that he's recovering, that he won't freeze over and freeze to death and Minato...just breathes out a sigh, dropping his hand from Ryan's cheek and finally letting him have his personal space back.

He rubs the back of his head, and:]

... Pretty sure.

[That'd be quite the line, Ryan--but Minato is oblivious, and instead just smiles a little.]

You seem a lot more like the Ryan-san I care about now.

[Right. Personal space. That's fine. He folds his arms around himself for a lack of anything to do with his hands, and does his best to just... not think about it too hard. It was for curse-fixing purposes. Totally fine.

(except he definitely legitimately kissed him there and hey, what the fuck-)

Not thinking about it too hard.]

...thanks for that. No idea what I would've done otherwise-- well, besides apparently freeze?

[but speaking of the logistics there, okay, god, he can't keep his mouth shut after all because he has got to know:]

You know a kiss on the cheek or something would probably have worked though, right?

[Right? Probably.]

Or the hand might be easier. Less reaching involved and all.

[... There's a slow, slow blink at that.

And he tilts his head, expression puzzled.]

Oh... do you think kisses other places would've worked?

[A...haha... He rubs the back of his neck a little sheepishly.]

Sorry if I made things unnecessarily awkward... I didn't realize.

And I didn't want to risk anything not working or making things worse, when it came to something like your health.

No, no, you're fine, I really don't--

[-and he stops short there, because if it was unintentional then on second thought maybe he should not say he doesn't mind?]

I mean, it wasn't awkward or anything.

[Isn't that basically the same thing, though? He's at least fifty percent sure it's the same thing.]

It's-- you know. Best to be sure and all. Nothing to worry about, promise.

[#nailedit.]

I see... that's a relief, then.

[I'm so sorry, Ryan.

It's this fool you're dealing with.]

We should get you somewhere much warmer than this... it's still freezing in here.

I'll live, I'll live...

[-but he definitely shivers slightly at the reminder, because yes, now that he's not so numb to the fact that he's cold? It sure is freezing, and even his sweater and coat don't fully warm him.]

-okay, on second thought you might be right.

... Yeah. It's cold.

[Not that the bravado isn't endearing, but...!!

Quietly, Minato just offers Ryan his hand.]

There have been some people setting up fires and things--let's go find one and dethaw, okay?

[Well, he escaped dying a little for a minute there, time to get right back to it. He looks at that offered hand for a moment before accepting it with a nod, giving Minato a slight smile along with it.]

-sounds like a plan to me.

[And, after a slight pause:]

You wouldn't mind sticking around for a while, would you?

[Ryan doesn't have to worry about that one; Minato nods and responds without an ounce of hesitation.]

No, of course not.

[He helps tug him up, nodding.]

Let's go together.

( 'Twas the night before Christmas... only not because it was an ordinary night in Chroma when a certain sword spirit was rudely awakened. He wakes up flailing in his blankets and kicking them off to get free but the feeling doesn't pass even once he's tossed everything off. It doesn't take him long to hear what sounds like hushed coordination outside his window and he sees his sword being carried down the street.

He's quick to run outside in the middle of the night, chasing after these meddlesome small robbers. )

Wait a second, wait a second! Get back here-- Ow!

( Did they... just throw an ice ball at him? It really would have been easy to catch these guys if they weren't using their magic to hold him off.

And he'll chase his ribbon wrapped sword right out of Ruga into Flavo screaming the whole way. )

GIVE ME BACK!

[He's a night owl at heart, even here where he doesn't have a computer to occupy himself with, so he's still awake enough to hear the commotion coming. There's no telling what's going on, and he's trying to be prepared on short notice--

Which is how he ends up rushing out of the house wielding the closest blunt object he could find. It's a rolling pin. This is, probably, the least threatening image, but once he realizes those elves are running off with something? Ryan's trying to head them off as they approach.]

Here, keep chasing them this way--!

[He doesn't miss exactly what the guy's yelling-- give him back??-- but he can ask questions after they save that sword. The rolling pin is held ready, prepared to smack an elf when they're close enough.]

( Honestly, there are probably a few confused people stirring in their homes and what not. Who know what Chroma could be up to! Mutsunokami is relieved to hear someone offering to help though and he does his best to listen.

"Keep chasing them this way?"

Well, he heard the guy and he does exactly what he's told, even if it means taking another enchanted snowball right to the face. )

Knock that off, will ya--!

( He's going to catch these guys, stuff them in a little box, and.... make them sweat a bit because he isn't going to do anything to them? But he'll make sure they feel fear and know who's boss!!

The elves seem to be improvising given the change in path. Well, they could deliver this package to this guy's door step-- abort, abort, this is not a good kid this is a very naughty man. )

[Good, that's exactly--

Wait, no, that's not exactly according to plan, and Ryan gives chase quickly enough to try to keep in front of them. It should be harder for them to escape this way, right?

He brandishes the rolling pin at them, doing his best to sound intimidating.]

Put him down, or-- or, uh-

[What do you even threaten elves with? He's not going to actually try to kill them or anything...]

Well, I promise you're not going to like it!

[#nailedit!!

They don't seem terribly threatened, though, judging by the fact that he quickly gets a snowball thrown at him too.]

Ow... they can't all focus on us both at the same time though, right, keep after them--

( If he wasn't so preoccupied with getting his sword back, he'd probably compliment Ryan's smack talking because that sure was some quality talk. Good job! )

Don't have to tell me twice!

( He won't give up on his chase! One of them throws a snowball at him and this time, he's prepared, catching it and throwing it right back with enough force some of them scatter and regroup to yell at him. He'll just bark right back at them, )

Ya gotta be pretty bold to take a guy's sword. ( He has no idea where these guys are going with it and he can't let them get too far... ) I'm gonna cut 'em off so you stay on 'em!

( And he'll... run off in a different direction. He's completely disappeared but if Ryan can chase them for a little while... Mutsunokami will suddenly jump from one of the roofs of a nearby house! It gives the elves a start which sends them backing up and running right back at Ryan. Mutsunokami tries to grab at his sword but he's just a little too slow, only managing to grab one (1) slow elf that stabs him. Maybe Ryan will have some better luck. )

Ow!

Hey, Ryan!

[ Ryan's probably just minding his own business out and about town when there's the crunch of footsteps a short way behind him, followed by that call out to him. And here's Jion jogging up with a small wave. ]

Um, how's it been going? [ It's not that his greeting is insincere or anything, he definitely means it! But Jion is also a little fidgety. Like he sort of has something on his mind. ]

Oh, hey-!

[Ryan quickly turns to give him a wave back, smiling; he's not doing anything important, the interruption's not something he minds at all. It's hard not to notice the fidgeting, though, when it's something he's very used to, and his head tilts slightly.]

I'm fine, I'm fine... but, uh, is everything okay with you?

Huh? Oh, I'm fine! I'm fine, sorry, there's nothing wrong with me.

[ A rather sheepish laugh as he scuffs a hand through his hair. But, well, if Ryan's noticed him being fidgety, then there's no real point in beating around the bush, right? Jion hesitates for only a moment longer before blurting out, ]

-- um! I have kind of a weird question. And you don't have to answer it if you don't want to, but ... Your thing, where you can see ghosts. Can you still see them now? Or anything like that?

Oh-! Yeah, I can, I-- here, hang on.

[Excuse him a moment while he leans down to pick up... something... off the ground, holding it in his arms as he turns back to Jion.]

My cat's a ghost, actually, and I can see her just fine? [Presumably this is the invisible thing he's holding, but it probably just looks like air.] So I assume that's pretty intact, considering my sense still works too. I haven't seen nearly as many around this place as I usually do, though.

... right. Right.

[ So he says, but Jion still finds himself inching back a half-step as Ryan picks up the not-cat. There's a weird, discomforting feeling in the pit of his stomach, and he has to take a deep breath to try and shake it off.

No backing out. ]

Then, um! This might sound a little weird. And you can totally say no, but. You know that power-switching quest? Would you be up for trying that with me? I ... I kinda wanna know what it feels like, to be able to do what you do.

Really-?

[He immediately perks up at the question-- absolutely he's interested, he's always wanted to know what it'd be like not to have his sense. And as long as it's not a permanent thing... well, it can't hurt, if the opportunity is there.

Ryan pauses though, managing to stifle his interest enough to add-]

But, um, only if you're sure, you know? It's... well, I've had it my whole life, so I don't know what it'd be like to have to adjust to it suddenly. I can sense other people who aren't average humans on top of the ghost thing, so it'll be a pretty different kind of sensory input than you're used to feeling.

[ Jion does hesitate at that, frowning as he brings a hand up to rub at the scarred portion of his nose. When he speaks up again, it's a little slowly, like he's thinking over his words more carefully. ]

I think it would be better if I did it, though. Because ... ghosts scare me a bit, to be honest. I've seen a lot of people die, and I've had people die in my hands before. So, the thought of them being ghosts is pretty scary to me. But I think ... if they do exist, then it'd be better for me to get used to them. I can't just ignore them now that I know they're there, you know?

[ A pause before he looks up a little sharply. ]

-- oh, but. I have to warn you that it might be kind of, um, a hassle for you, too. If we did the swap. Since I'm ... [ He mimics slicing his torso open. ] ... y'know. So if you don't want to deal with any of that, I totally understand.

[awash] IC Inbox

action; oh no skeletons

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action; event!!

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action, stop the elves

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action ; power swap

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