:3

[discomfort]

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[discomfort]

[ help

well. owner will just walk over and hook their arms together. ]

Haha, well, we shall see! Let's explore for now, I also have many questions to ask you.

[verminous]

[he's less used to any other Owner Shapes after he only knew one of them for most of the time they were in space, it's just gonna be a minute before he acclimates again... but he still goes along easily as owner links their arms, staying close.]

Show me some of the places you like while I answer 'em, then.

[discomfort]

[ sorry. this is funny. owner is so amused. ]

There is a shrine and a bookstore nearby that I enjoy. We can start there. [ onward, then. ] Have you visited anyone else?

[verminous]

Not since I went back to the City. You're the first one I came to see, after I got the time.

[unsurprising, probably.]

[discomfort]

[ on one hand, it is unsurprising, yes. on the other, owner still manages to be slightly surprised by it. ]

... I see. I have not visited anyone.

[ ALSO, NOT SURPRISING ]

[verminous]

Yeah, I kinda figured you'd stick around here.

[that's what he THOUGHT you'd say etc etc etc]

Has anybody else tried coming by?

[discomfort]

Not yet, but I know there were people who were interested. Shouxue-sama, Sidon...

[ they might be disappointed at the lack of inn though. ]

I assume as more time passes, others will be free to start visiting.

[verminous]

Probably, yeah, but they're gonna have a hard time finding you without some kinda landmark, so at least go say hi.

[a light little nudge. do nOT abandon your fish.]

[discomfort]

[ JUST LETE A GIANT SHARK MAN WANDER AROUND A MODERN JAPANESE CITY ALONE

owner smiles a bit. ]

Ah, I'm that irresponsible? Well... honestly, if I didn't show up for you, demons likely would have gone after you, Gregor.

[verminous]

[yeah it's fine they'll assume he's a mascot or something. a cosplayer.]

What, you don't think I could've handled 'em if they did?

[discomfort]

I would have wanted to see you do so.

[ once again owner does not offer to help ]

[verminous]

You would, huh... well, maybe we can take a trip back out to the woods later.

[and for WHAT is this confidence, gregor, you do not have a bug arm.]

[discomfort]

[ WHAT IS THAT CONFIDENCE ACTUALLY it has piqued owner's interest..... alpha greg is back ]

My! You are sure of yourself.

[verminous]

Fighting is where all my experience is, Etwas.

[it's like the one thing he's good at all right]

[discomfort]

Mm. I do remember.

[ owner got to see it twice in person! one of those times was more fun than the other.

gives gregor's arm a light squeeze. ]

That would make you more attractive to them. A strong body.

[verminous]

[he was trying not to think about it...

the squeeze drags his attention back, though.]

More attractive... what is it they'd be after, exactly?

[discomfort]

Well, in some cases it would be simply to eat you. Prey wandering around, lost, would be an easy target.

[ and he likely would have gotten lost in the forest if he stepped off the path even a little. ]

Besides that? Your body. It is very popular to steal and use the bodies of humans. So in this scenario, your strength would be something they'd like, even if it may make you trickier to grab.

[verminous]

Possession or something, huh.

[he frowns, at that, mouth pulled into a thinner line.]

Well. I've got no intention of losin' any more of my free will, so I think they'd end up surprised.

[he'd fight that more than he'd fight being lunch. sick of it, thanks.]

[discomfort]

Good. I would not want to lose you.

[ it looks like owner is going to say something else after that, but instead just points ahead. they've reached the buildings. it really does look like a normal city, with cars passing by and pedestrians around. gregor may also get the occasional feeling like they're being watched, but nothing comes out of hiding. ]

Shrine first, if you are hungry we can find food later... ah! How long are you planning on staying?

[ to figure out how much owner needs to cram in if it's only for like. a day. ]

[verminous]

I, ah, wouldn't want you to either?

[it ends up not quite being a statement, unsure what to make of owner's response.

the city gets a low whistle, though. he saw other cities on planets they visited and through the sim rooms, but being here is a little different; even if they're just going about their days, the people somehow feel different, too. there is an atmosphere to the city he just left that's missing, here, and it stands out more this time seeing both in one day.]

I figured I'd be here-- I don't know, a few days at the least? That's more up to you... figure I can be gone a week or so before it turns into a real problem [probably because time fuckery between places] but I can clear out if you don't want company for long.

[discomfort]

[ owner nods... that's doable. it would probably be best then to try to keep this first day relatively normal then, for a decent breather from gregor's world. ]

Mm, excellent! Then we can take our time. Perhaps you can meet Butterfly, if he's around.

[ that will go poorly ]

[verminous]

You think so-? I'd like to meet anybody you know, for sure.

[he is blissfully oblivious.]

[discomfort]

Ah, I have not told anyone about the Eudora though, for the record.

[ of course not

but owner will steer them into a shrine. it's a classic japanese one, very old, with decorative fox statues. ]

Here we are. You are supposed to pray something up there after we put in an offering.

[ holds out 200 yen to gregor ]

[verminous]

Yeah, that figures.

[of course you didn't!!

he doesn't take the yen at first, too busy looking around the shrine and taking it all in. this is still new to him, moreso than the city... after a second, though, he realizes and takes it.]

What, uh... what're you supposed to pray to?

[discomfort]

I believe this one is supposed to be a god of... um, fortune? But do not worry too much about that. You just pray for whatever is most on your mind at the moment.

[ owner's tone is very lol lmao when mentioning the god thing ]

It is an important ritual for a visit to Japan, I think.