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[ She hesitates, not really sure where to start or what to say, exactly. She keeps her gaze firmly away, but her tail betrays her agitation. ]
I found you injured and took you in for a time. Your name was Yoki, then.
[ She pauses a moment, to let that sink in, and then realizes that this conversation will probably take a while. She finally looks back to him and motions for him to follow as she finds a place to sit in the shade. ]
Come, sit.
I found you injured and took you in for a time. Your name was Yoki, then.
[ She pauses a moment, to let that sink in, and then realizes that this conversation will probably take a while. She finally looks back to him and motions for him to follow as she finds a place to sit in the shade. ]
Come, sit.
[He hesitates, then nods, following behind to sit down next to her. His gaze stays fixed on the ground, and his tail curls loosely around his ankles.
He doesn't say anything else. He doesn't quite know himself whether he's waiting for more or just trying to process what he's already heard - which, in theory, shouldn't be too hard. But he's having some trouble thinking of it applying to him.]
He doesn't say anything else. He doesn't quite know himself whether he's waiting for more or just trying to process what he's already heard - which, in theory, shouldn't be too hard. But he's having some trouble thinking of it applying to him.]
[ She studies him closely for a second and then looks away again with a small sigh. She wraps her arms a little tighter around her stomach, like that will make this easier. ]
...
It's my fault, what happened. The mountain where I lived--there was a pond where Tokoyami lived. [ She pauses. ] By then, I had lived there a long time, I knew the risks. I should have sent you away as soon as your foot was well enough, but it was...difficult.
In the end, I tried. But you came back as I...
[ She stops, is quiet again, trying to figure out how to explain without exposing herself too much. ]
As the Ginko appeared.
...
It's my fault, what happened. The mountain where I lived--there was a pond where Tokoyami lived. [ She pauses. ] By then, I had lived there a long time, I knew the risks. I should have sent you away as soon as your foot was well enough, but it was...difficult.
In the end, I tried. But you came back as I...
[ She stops, is quiet again, trying to figure out how to explain without exposing herself too much. ]
As the Ginko appeared.
[He sits in silence through her explanation, his claws gradually working through the fur on his tail, twining it around his fingers, as he listens.]
So that was it.
[There's a lot more he wants to know, but this answers some of it. It explains the Tokoyami exposure that wiped away his memories, and that other mushi - it feels odd to think of it by the name that he's come to think of as his own, even if it's not hard to guess where he got that name now - that changed his appearance.]
...I hope you're not expecting me to blame you for this.
So that was it.
[There's a lot more he wants to know, but this answers some of it. It explains the Tokoyami exposure that wiped away his memories, and that other mushi - it feels odd to think of it by the name that he's come to think of as his own, even if it's not hard to guess where he got that name now - that changed his appearance.]
...I hope you're not expecting me to blame you for this.
[ She nods, but then turns back to actually look at him, surprise registering, just a little. She had been almost certain he would blame her. She blames herself. If she had sent him away sooner, or been colder to him, made it so he wouldn't get attached, then maybe--
The surprise is quickly replaced by her usual neutral, but her head tilts just a little as she studies him, curious. ]
You don't?
The surprise is quickly replaced by her usual neutral, but her head tilts just a little as she studies him, curious. ]
You don't?
Well... no.
[He leans back a little, glancing up at the treetops above them. It all feels so surreal; it's almost as if she's got to be talking about someone else here.
In a way, he supposes she is.]
I mean, I guess I could try. But... it wouldn't feel right. After all, you did try to keep it from happening.
[He gives a quiet huff.]
Guess I was a stupid kid even then.
[He leans back a little, glancing up at the treetops above them. It all feels so surreal; it's almost as if she's got to be talking about someone else here.
In a way, he supposes she is.]
I mean, I guess I could try. But... it wouldn't feel right. After all, you did try to keep it from happening.
[He gives a quiet huff.]
Guess I was a stupid kid even then.
That's not too surprising either. [He pauses, realizing the potential for ambiguity in what he meant there, but decides to leave it. He supposes what he said could go for his own stubbornness, or wanting to stay with Nui. It works either way.
After another moment, another question occurs to him.]
Did I attract a lot of mushi then?
After another moment, another question occurs to him.]
Did I attract a lot of mushi then?
Ummm...
[He's finding himself lacking more of the names, but he tries to list the ones he can remember.]
I planted a bunch of rose vines around the tree. They're getting really big already! And all the flowers I put in the tea. Oh! And these things... [He pokes at one of his ginger antenna.] I don't have a lot of it on my body, so...
With all the new plants it's getting really busy around there! It's nice.
[He's finding himself lacking more of the names, but he tries to list the ones he can remember.]
I planted a bunch of rose vines around the tree. They're getting really big already! And all the flowers I put in the tea. Oh! And these things... [He pokes at one of his ginger antenna.] I don't have a lot of it on my body, so...
With all the new plants it's getting really busy around there! It's nice.
That's good to hear. [He makes a mental note to go back over the names of the plants later. It's not like it's all that urgent.
He pauses, part of what Steven said reminding him of a few earlier conversations.] How's the tree doing, by the way?
He pauses, part of what Steven said reminding him of a few earlier conversations.] How's the tree doing, by the way?
[ She assumes he means him being stubborn. Not because it wouldn't be nice, to think he could see a younger him wanting to stay with her, but because it doesn't seem all that likely. They're practically strangers at the moment.
She hums thoughtfully. ]
I would think so, yes, but I can't say anything with certainty. I, too, attract mushi, so having them drawn to me wasn't unusual.
She hums thoughtfully. ]
I would think so, yes, but I can't say anything with certainty. I, too, attract mushi, so having them drawn to me wasn't unusual.
[When Ginko was younger, he would have been glad to stay anywhere. And so far Nui strikes him as a much better option as a guardian than some mentors he had in the past. It seems like an obvious conclusion to him.
He nods, his tail flicking as he thinks over what she says.]
Then it really doesn't have anything to do with the tokoyami... or the ginko, I suppose. Someone told me as much once, but it's different, getting more actual confirmation.
...Actually, at the time I hadn't been quite sure what to think. I had assumed the tokoyami had something to do with it, but... [He shrugs. That moment of hope for some kind of solution had been long ago, but he still remembers it. Now, the idea that removing the tokoyami in his eye could have helped anything really does seem impossible.]
He nods, his tail flicking as he thinks over what she says.]
Then it really doesn't have anything to do with the tokoyami... or the ginko, I suppose. Someone told me as much once, but it's different, getting more actual confirmation.
...Actually, at the time I hadn't been quite sure what to think. I had assumed the tokoyami had something to do with it, but... [He shrugs. That moment of hope for some kind of solution had been long ago, but he still remembers it. Now, the idea that removing the tokoyami in his eye could have helped anything really does seem impossible.]
Edited (hit send prematurely) 2015-07-07 19:25 (UTC)
She's really good! She's been around so long I don't think anything will happen to her, especially now that I'm helping her out, too.
[You know, besides a forest fire or something like that, but that's not something Steven can even bear to contemplate.
He rambles for a while longer, mostly talking about the specifics of what he's been growing. As usual, it sounds more like he's talking about roommates or pets than a garden.
Inevitable, he is alarmed when he remembers that the tea has been sitting for a while now and he jumps up to get it.]
Oh no, I forgot!
[You know, besides a forest fire or something like that, but that's not something Steven can even bear to contemplate.
He rambles for a while longer, mostly talking about the specifics of what he's been growing. As usual, it sounds more like he's talking about roommates or pets than a garden.
Inevitable, he is alarmed when he remembers that the tea has been sitting for a while now and he jumps up to get it.]
Oh no, I forgot!
[Ginko blinks, starting to stand up on impulse.] Ah, sorry, I should've reminded you... guess I forgot about it, too.
It's okay!
[Steven is already up and over there, lifting the lid to smell the tea inside, and then shaking it around a bit. Master teasmith, right here. His tongue pokes out a little as he carefully leans it over to try pouring some of it out into the cups.]
It's just tea, right? I'm not very good at making it anyway.
[Steven is already up and over there, lifting the lid to smell the tea inside, and then shaking it around a bit. Master teasmith, right here. His tongue pokes out a little as he carefully leans it over to try pouring some of it out into the cups.]
It's just tea, right? I'm not very good at making it anyway.
Hey now, can't be sure of that until we've tried it, right?
> oure a goddamn idiot
> i was five step s from killing you that whole time
> are you okay
> i was five step s from killing you that whole time
> are you okay
i couldn't just leave you like that.
i'm alright. [For a given definition of 'alright'.] what about you?
i'm alright. [For a given definition of 'alright'.] what about you?
> you should have
> ive still got all my bits attached
> which better be the same for you
> also whoever decided long tails are a good idea needs to be shot
> fuck this thing
> ive still got all my bits attached
> which better be the same for you
> also whoever decided long tails are a good idea needs to be shot
> fuck this thing
i couldn't have. and yes, i am still in one piece.
agreed. they're pretty awful.
agreed. they're pretty awful.
> yes you could
> its not that hard to just turn around and save your own skin
> its so stupid i keep stepping on it and it smacks into everything
> its not that hard to just turn around and save your own skin
> its so stupid i keep stepping on it and it smacks into everything
physically, yes, i could. but that didn't mean it was ever really an option.
be careful closing doors.
be careful closing doors.
> ginko i was a feral animal
> i wasnt worth saving
> ill keep that in mind
> maybe i should just tie it to my leg
> i wasnt worth saving
> ill keep that in mind
> maybe i should just tie it to my leg
do you actually think i could have killed you? i couldn't have. and leaving you to your own devices wouldn't have helped anyone.
just watch, it'll manage to undo itself.
just watch, it'll manage to undo itself.
> you grew into a goddamn giant
> it would not have been that hard
> not if i tie it tight enough
> it would not have been that hard
> not if i tie it tight enough
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