rootless | (no subject)

[ did you really get over it

did you... ]

Thank you, for your time. If there is nothing you wish to ask me, you are free to go.

[YES, MOSTLY. he isn't taking the opportunity to bitch about it at length, which says a lot.]

Is there anything you'd like me to tell the master of the forest? Most of my kind avoid dealing with humans where they can, so I might be back.

[ nodding ]

Only to please be careful, and to know that he will always have an ally in me. In these troubled times, it is best to lean on each other, I believe.

[ will you be okay WALKING ALONE THROUGH HIS CITY WITH ALL THOSE HUMANS LOOKING AT YOU ]

[gets a kind of funny look on his face, then nods.]

I'll let her know.

Do you want your jacket back?

[ do you have clothes though ]

Wouldn't that leave you nude?

[shrugs and takes off the jacket, then it's almost like clothes melt out of his skin in plain whites and blacks, basic, like those he'd seen in the town.

also his hair turns into a dark brown.]

Nah, I'm good.

[ amazing ...

taking the jacket, smiling a little. ]

Very well. Safe travels, then, Tsuyukusa.

Will do. See you around, Sigmund.

[tree out]

[ please don't get mugged or anything

that would be very awkward when i come out to the forest to see you like a few days later, only i don't know... where... to look

so just aimless forest wandering ]

[honey he could kick the ass of any would-be muggers unless they maybe set him on fire.

Sigmund is in the forest for maybe 45 minutes before Tsuyukusa drops abruptly from a tree just in front of him.]

The fuck are you doing?

[ it's a good thing he doesn't scare easily... ]

I came to see how the forest was doing. And you, as well.

[he's actually wearing clothes today, which suggests he was messing with Sigmund when they first met...]

You're scaring people, wandering right in like that. C'mon.

[let me at least take you to like. a clearing.]

Is that so?

[ looking honestly surprised, but following him at a leisurely pace. also looking around the forest like he's expecting to see more Tsuyukusas dropping out of trees or something ]

They're not gonna come out.

[there's a nice little clearing with some boulders decent for using as seats, and Tsuyukusa perches on one.]

Spirits and humans don't mix well, especially not nature spirits. But they're also usually pacifists, so you're just startling them a bit.

Usually...

[ looking at before carefully taking a seat on one of the boulders. ]

Oh-- I have something for you.

[ reaching into his pouch and rummaging around in it a bit-- and then pulling out a weird looking fruit. ]

One of the emissaries from the neighboring kingdom brought a basket of them.

I did say I'm not exactly typical.

[blinks at the fruit, though, and holds out a hand for it.]

You said you came to check on the forest?

Yes. I expect it is unnecessary, with you here.

[ hands it off easily. ]

Those are banapples, grown from the Queen's private fields. I'm surprised she would part with them so easily. She seems to be as taken with them as she is with --

[ me, he wants to say, but that's probably not something Tsuyukusa's not interested in hearing about. shaking his head ]

Are they still startled? The spirits?

Yeah. It'd be different if you came to hunt or something, but actually seeking us out? That's strange.

[hmmm do i peel it 8|a takes a bite with the peel intact, then makes a face. RIGHT. PEELING IT.

raises an eyebrow, too.]

So this Queen's trying to woo you with exotic fruit, and you decide to come bring some for me?

I've had banapples before. I wasn't certain if you had had them and thought you might like the opportunity.

[ also tbh they're probably coated with

aphrodisiac

or love potions

or something

because queens are crazy man BUT YOU SEEM OKAY SO ]

I hadn't before. It's pretty good...

[pauses about halfway into it and looks at Sigmund oddly.]

Did you eat any of these before you came? The ones she gave you, I mean.

No, I haven't.

[ ... ]

Why do you ask?

She reaaally wants into your pants.

Which I guess is better than poison.

[ .... ]

I suppose there's something on the banapple?

An aphrodisiac. A pretty strong one, too.

[sniffs at it, contemplative.]

In it, too. Maybe she had it introduced to the plants when they were young. I'm actually pretty impressed.

[oh well gonna finish eating it.]

[ and yet you're still eating it... ]

But not strong enough to affect you, I take it?