:3

[discomfort]

Comments

[discomfort]

[ well!!! some time has passed since everyone has left the eudora, enough so that if there was any immediate business people had to tend to, it should have been handled in whatever way handling would mean in specific cases. so, gregor will get to visit owner's world.

it is, at a glance, a regular, small japanese city. not that gregor would really know what that is like, but still. situated near the mountains, it has the frequent activity of people walking down the streets, but it isn't anywhere as busy as somewhere like tokyo would be.

gregor will find himself on the side of a road that is near one of the more wooded areas. there is no owner or inn in sight. he can see some houses further down, with people going about on their day. there is also a path leading to the forest. it's a sunny day.

so. what will he do. ]

[verminous]

[wow... it's so normal out here...

honestly, for a few minutes he's just going to take in the sunshine. the clear weather. the quiet background noise of a regular, more peaceful place than he's used to. gregor used that wish of his to let himself look like a normal human outside of his own city, so he blends in just fine, except for clearly being some kind of tourist.

... after a minute of settling in, though, he takes a little walk out to the forest, where it's hopefully a little more private. he opens the i.r.i.s up once he's pretty sure he has some space to himself.]

Say, you're not busy right now, are you?

I could use some directions, to start with.

[discomfort]

[ there is about a minute of no response. then, ]

Keep going down the path.
Once you reach a river, stop and stay there.

[ simple enough, despite not telling owner exactly where he is.

the forest is very lovely, with the sound of birds chirping and animals currrying around in the foliage. but there is also a sense of it is probably a bad idea to leave the path, even if everything appears fine. ]

[verminous]

Easy enough. I'll head there.

[off he goes! god, it's nice to experience nature again...

fortunately, though, the sense of needing to stay on the path isn't necessary to keep him from wandering off. it helps, but now that he has a place to go toward, he won't delay in getting there. gregor remains on the path and listens for the sound of water, the sight of it, and just as directed, once he reaches a river-- he'll wait right there.]

[discomfort]

[ thank you for not wandering off

it does not take too long after, but a familiar face will emerge from a different section of the forest. owner walks over and, once he reaches gregor, he bows politely in greeting. ]

Gregor.

[ thinks about how owner 100% fuckin left the ship on sunday without saying bye to everyone like an asshole so this is his first time seeing the normal arm ]

1/2

[verminous]

Heya, mein Etwas.

[he doesn't object to the bow, letting owner do it without complaint-- which probably says a lot about how much he's missed him. no, he just steps forward to pull him into a hug.]

Missed you, y'know. But-

[verminous]

[he takes him by the shoulders and SHAKES HIM.]

What the hell was that back on the Eudora, eh?! You just ran off! You didn't even bother letting me tell you goodbye-!

[discomfort]

[ IS SHAKEN

he was not expecting this after the hug ]

Oh! Whoops!

[ don't just say whoops ]

[verminous]

Don't you "whoops" me! I know you did that on purpose!

[SHAKES MORE!!

and then he huffs out a heavy sigh, pulling him into another hug that actually lasts, this time.]

...wanted to see you off properly. I'd've said so if I realized you were planning to just skip out.

[discomfort]

[ he leans into the hug and, briefly, closes his eyes. ]

I know. I wanted to avoid it, so I left.

[ simple as that, really. a bit of selfishness. ]

You look different.

[verminous]

You're a real pain sometimes, you know that...

[he mutters, but there's no edge to it, no heat. that's just owner behavior, he supposes... and anyway, he's already given him a good shake for doing it.]

... and yeah, I do. Couldn't get rid of it for good, I wouldn't be able to explain that back home, and I can't really spare the time to learn how to fight without it either-- but I could at least make sure I only have to have that arm in the City.

[discomfort]

Ah... then, I am happy for you.

[ while it didn't make much of a difference to owner, he is aware of how much pain that limb carried for gregor, so any chance at being able to live normally is something to celebrate, even if it's only when he's visiting others.

he leans back, not quite leaving gregor's arms, but enough so that he can get a Good look at him. ]

How is it?

[verminous]

Weird, honestly. I'd had the arm longer than I ever lived without it...

[so it's just. strange. he lifts his new right hand, though, fingers flexing experimentally.]

And it's strange to switch off when I leave the City. Gonna take a little bit to remember I got fingers.

[discomfort]

Ah...

[ he reaches out to poke at it. yup, definitely a hand. ]

You can practice juggling now. I am sure that is exciting news.

[verminous]

I could, but I could do better things with 'em.

[like hold both owner's hands at the same time, lacing their fingers together.]

[discomfort]

... it looks like it, yes.

[ he gives his hands a squeeze. ]

You really did come.

[verminous]

C'mon, don't tell me you really thought I might not.

[of course he came. he said he would. he wanted to.

he doesn't let go of owner's hands yet.]

[discomfort]

Well, people are busy. Our lives are all hectic, yes?

[ that's fine, he doesn't pull away. owner is fine with physical contact. ]

What would you have done if I didn't reply?

[verminous]

I'd have gone looking for you.

[an easy answer. he was thinking about it, after all, since owner just up and left without saying goodbye.]

Figured I might have to, so I was prepared for that when I decided to show up.

[discomfort]

Stubborn as always, I see.

[ well! owner was highly considering not showing up, so gregor is valid. sometimes curiosity wins out in the end though. ]

Some things don't change.

[verminous]

Wouldn't want you to start expectin' any less from me, I'm not about to start letting you down now.

[you're stuck with him. sorry, not sorry.]

[discomfort]

[ ah, the jumpscare.

but owner will now move to step away. give him his hands, please. ]

Is there anything in particular you would like to do here? [ ... ] Besides see my inn.

[verminous]

Well... mostly, I came here to see you again, so I guess I wanna see whatever you want to show me.

Said I wanted to know more about where it is you come from, but I don't know the best place to start for that.

[discomfort]

[ he goes quiet at that, thinking... thinking...

before gesturing for gregor to follow him. ]

Tell me how you have been, Gregor.

[verminous]

Ah, y'know, same old, same old. Died a few more times on the last mission, but we made out pretty well in the end despite all that mess...

[...]

It was... a little harder than I expected. Being in the City again. Used to be all I knew, but now that I know about different places, it's... kinda rough.