- 92 [Action]

[fortunefail]

[Action]

[Today began just like any other day for Yuan. It wasn't until he stumbled upon the Malnosso's little 'reminder' that he realized just what today was.

Five years. Exactly five calendar years ago is the day he first arrived here. So much had happened over these past years and he's seen many residents come and go, but here he is. It's not an achievement worth celebrating, that much is for sure, though the Malnosso evidently had other plans. Indeed, much like Albert did a few months ago, Yuan received a gift.

He found it in the bathroom, hanging from the rod that holds the shower curtain and with a bright blue bow around its neck. It was a bit over a foot long and covered in brown fur, with sharp claws. For a few moments, he'd assumed it was some sort of stuffed animal, yet closer inspection proved him wrong. This thing was very much alive and did not seem to appreciate being awoken from its slumber. It gave Yuan something that could almost be interpreted as an annoyed glare, but still refused to budge.

A note lay on the sink nearby. He snatched it up, his scowl only growing more severe as he read it:

"We apologize for being unable to return you to your native reality. Please remember to stay active and ready, unlike your new friend."

What followed was simple instructions on how to take care of a sloth. The note was signed by "the Malnosso", but Yuan knew perfectly well who was responsible for this gift. He snarled and slammed the note back down on the sink, then moved closer to the sloth to assess it again. It was already fully-grown, by the looks of it, and by now it was dozing off again. Much as he was itching to toss the creature out of the house, the instructions informed him that sloths are tropical animals. If he were to move it out into the cold, it would die within a day. He's not that heartless just yet.

There's nothing else for it, then. He'll have to create a more suitable 'habitat' for the beast and hope Kratos won't comment on it. Well, at least it'll be something to keep him from following the sloth's example and sleeping the rest of the week away.]


[Starting early in the afternoon, Yuan can be found moving between house #8 and the general store to fetch assorted items. A few sturdy wooden rods, tools, a small box, a tub of sand... It takes a few trips back and forth to move it all. Once he's got everything he needs, he stops by the flower shop to see if they have any small trees or tree-like flora. It's the leaves that matter.

In the evening, after dinner, he stops by the stables to visit Noishe. As he always does when he visits the Arshis, he takes a seat in a corner of the stable so he can lean back against the wall. Somehow, even relaxing has a tiring effect on him. Thinking back to the days when he first arrived in Luceti, he has to admit the Malnosso have a point. He has been growing lethargic.]

Comments

action;

[chirpchirp]

[while Yuan moved between the house and the general store, he caught the attention of a nearly frozen other creature. it decides to follow him once he leaves the store with the small box and sand, trudging through the snow after Yuan for a few meters before it finally pipes up with a small musical note]

♪

[fortunefail]

[Yuan's only vaguely aware of the other creature. He's long since learned that with as busy as Luceti is, there's no point in taking notice of every nearby resident. Not until acknowledging them is necessary, anyway.

The musical note has him freeze in his tracks and he turns to face the creature, surprise evident on his face. It's not so much the creature itself as the sound that throws him off.]

What is...?

[chirpchirp]

[oh! he turned around!! the traveler stops when Yuan does and looks up at him, tilting its head to the side. it's quiet for a moment as it studies him and then it pips again, the same sort of note - still weak because its cloak is frozen and it can't get the power up to sing like it used to, but a little louder than before.]

♪♪ ♪

[fortunefail]

[He continues to peer down at the creature, trying to figure out what he's facing and, more importantly, what it wants. Its face isn't exactly expressive and he has no clue what the musical notes mean. Does it want to play...?]

Can you not speak?

[chirpchirp]

[the traveler steps forward when Yuan speaks to it, tilting its head in the other direction. it mimics his speech in tones and song]

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪~?

[action]

[shiningbinds]

[Kratos comes across Yuan in the evening, having decided to give Noishe a visit himself. When he sees Yuan, he gives a small nod before speaking.]

I noticed that we have... a new member of our home. [Sorry, Yuan. You just aren't lucky enough to have Kratos not comment on it. His expression is pretty indifferent, though.]

[action]

[fortunefail]

[He barely acknowledges Kratos when the man enters, instead just shifting his position against the wall a bit. Much as he's trying to keep his expression as indifferent as his friend's, there's still a touch of annoyance showing.]

Courtesy of the Malnosso. They have a marred sense of humor, as always.

[action]

[shiningbinds]

Indeed, they do. I suppose I should have realized that they were behind it, however.

[He notices the annoyance in Yuan's expression, but he doesn't say anything about it.]

...have you given it a name?

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[fortunefail]

Of course not! It's not a pet, it's a nuisance. [Says the guy who'd feel bad about tossing it out into the snow and is now building a suitable habitat for it.]

[action]

[shiningbinds]

...do you not think that to be a bit cruel on your part, Yuan? [Kratos isn't big on pets himself, but really.]

[action]

[sketchingideals]

[Jeb isn't at the general store for at supplies--he's set after all the stuff people gave him for Christmas--but he decided that Marie could use a couple of cat toys. He's found one of those squeaky mice when he notices Yuan and waves.]

Good afternoon, Yuan! [Smiling brightly. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees one of those feathers attached to a plastic rod that cats seem to really adore, but he'll wait for Yuan to acknowledge him before he investigates it.]

[action]

[fortunefail]

[Meanwhile, Yuan was checking out tools. It's been a while since he had to play carpenter, so he's not entirely sure what he'll need. A hammer, nails, a file... Perhaps he should use screws for additional sturdiness. Hm... His mind is still on those matters when he realizes he's being greeted.]

Jeb.

[action]

[sketchingideals]

How are you? ...are you building something? [He then takes that time to inspect the other cat toy.]

[action]

[fortunefail]

Yes, I am. [He picks up a box of screws to examine the contents. Would these be long enough? He should go with a bigger size, just to be sure.]

[action]

[sketchingideals]

Oh! Well, building things can be really fun. [Oh, there's another one of those feather toys. He picks a second one up, just in case Marie destroys the first one.] I can't say I'm here for anything creative myself, though...

[action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[Albert carries a lamp with him as he stops in the stables to visit Astrid. It's been awhile since he's spent some time in the evening with his horse, usually crashing into bed after spending most of the day with the giant owl or any number of mundane things; while the curse itself does not sap at his strength, the pain certainly does, and he hasn't been able to get around or concentrate as well as he usually has.

But that doesn't keep him from making the token effort, and he heads into the workshop to retrieve his saddle so he can work on it and sit with Astrid. The lamp swings and creates shadows along the walls as he walks through the building.]

[action]

[fortunefail]

[Yuan notices the moving shadows outside Noishe's stable, but opts to ignore them. He's perfectly comfortable where he is and it's not as if another visitor is anything to worry about. The stables are free for anyone to visit- if they weren't, he wouldn't be here either.

Noishe, however, gives a loud whine, his ears perking up in an excited manner.]

[action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[Despite the fact that he is regularly in the stables, Albert doesn't hear Noishe quite that often -- at least, not unless there was someone more familiar with him. So Albert walks over to the stall, raising the lamp higher to look inside. It's still quite dim and he doesn't feel like strengthening the fire with Eferin, so he instead speaks.]

A visitor?

[action]

[fortunefail]

[Ah, it's Albert. That's better than a random stranger, Yuan supposes. Even so, he's not going to get up or move closer to the light. He'll just peer up at the lantern from the comfort of the shadows while Noishe gives a happy yip.]

A visitor.

[action]

[chikaidestroyer]

Ah. [At the familiar voice, Albert lowers the lantern and opens the stall, reaching out to pat Noishe with his free hand. He does not particularly care that he may be intruding when Yuan is resting at the moment; Noishe is clearly happy, and that's worth a pat.]

It's been awhile, Yuan.

[action]

[wise_maiden]

[By the time Yuan reaches the flower shop, Raine is already there, having stopped in to straighten up after classes were let out for the day.

Still, seeing Yuan here is always a surprise, and she looks up from one of her many seed-identifying books to greet him.]

Do you need help, Yuan?

[action]

[fortunefail]

[The surprise is mutual, but only for a moment. He should've known there was a chance he'd run into Raine here. He clears his throat softly, his gaze already falling on some nearby flowers. Those aren't even close to what he's searching for.]

No. ...I can manage.

[action]

[wise_maiden]

What are you trying to manage?

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[fortunefail]

I'm just... looking for a particular plant.

[Yuan will be Yuan and outright admitting he's searching for particular leaves to feed an unwanted pet is just a little too painful for him.]

[action]

[wise_maiden]

Why do I have the feeling you don't even know how particular of a plant you're searching for? Are you that insistent on refusing any sort of help from me?