Deer Country In-Box

[burnitblack]

un: dabi  *cla-chick* ... what?  *growl* [ that would be his omen ] [ contact through his omni stone can be text, audio, or video. contact through his omen can be visual, mental, or physical. ]

Comments

[swellter]

[ An assumption he's had for some time and corroborated. The knowledge fills him with a sort of peace that shows up in the form of a deep breath that he lets out slowly; resetting himself. A tilted world angling a little closer to where it's supposed to be. It does wonders for the tension building in his shoulders that sort of loosen letting them drop by a notch.

He thinks about the question, feeling a little closer to his brother than he has for a while. Kizu even comes out her shell and trots off toward Wolf. She's no longer a cub mentally, and she's grown once to fetch an apricot tree for transplanting. Other than that, she's remained in her cub form. When she reaches Wolf, she simply curls up next to him, not acknowledging him but letting him in her space. ]

I have a patrol tomorrow.

[ He doesn't exactly have plans other than his schedule. If Touya wants him to expand on what's happened in the last few months, he'll have to ask better questions because this stunted idiot has no clue what you're really asking. ]

What about you?

[burnitblack]

[touya's not going to fight him on this. it's pointless, now that shouto's made up his mind, even if it is based on false assumption and one-sided desire. at the same time, he's not entirely wrong. even if touya's not fond of his little brother, he's willing to work with him, talk with him, and meet with him. occasionally. only bothering to attack of shouto gets in his way or there's some stupid corrupting influence going on.

it won't do him any benefit to beat his head on his little brother's ice wall.

technically kizu moved into wolf's space, but the omen doesn't seem to mind her presence, simply taking a seat beside her and watching its master and his brother. wolf remains more a partner and tool to touya than a friend or a pet, though the villain doesn't treat his omen with any rudeness or cruelty. they simply exist together as needed.]

Nothin much. Probably gonna review some inventory and comb the beach.

[he'd ask better questions if he were really curious, but that short, stunted answer tells him what he wants to know. if shouto had more to tell, unique information, he would've. simple as that.

but that said...]

If ya wanna come for the latter, I'll be goin around 9.

[probably the first time he's ever invited shouto to actually go out and do something with him, but whatever. touya's not here to kill him. he could use an extra hand in case they find anything.]

[swellter]

[ Wolf's acceptance of his omen's intrusion into his space is something that goes over his head while he's fixated on his brother, but Kizu notices. Probably why she's comfortable enough to remain visible around Touya and Wolf where she hides away from most others.

With his attention hyper-focused on his brother, Shouto catches the subtle invitation - for once! - and grabs it before it's taken away. Nodding firmly once with a confident - ]

I want to come.

[ Accepting the invitation with the same earnestness that's displayed in his features. ]

I'll meet you here at nine.

[ He confirms, nodding firmly a second time more to himself than Touya this time. He's not subtle, at all. ]

[burnitblack]

[touya likewise pays little attention to wolf's reaction to kizu. perhaps it's due to the man never really taking such a personal relation with his omen, keeping himself and the being "separated" mentally and treating him more as a familiar than a part or reflection of himself. makes it easier to give wolf his own agency.

then again, touya's rather laid back most of the time. in the rude sense...

it's a small invite, but he made it and isn't surprised in the slightest when shouto accepts without hesitation. like a fish jumping on a worm. not that he's trying to hook his brother or anything. touya just doesn't have anything better to do.]

Uh-huh.

[accepting the acceptance. he nods to the reiteration of the time, figuring he'll get here a little earlier just to be prepared for shouto's arrival. or maybe he'll arrive a little later, just to make his little brother panic some... dick move.]

Bring somethin to carry shit in.

[swellter]

[ He might not even notice if he's late. Distracting himself by focusing on other things instead of the ticking minutes. It comes from having spent a childhood in near isolation. You learn to be comfortable with yourself.

The order has his brows furrowing slightly. ]

How big should it be?

[burnitblack]

[he'll do what he feels like that morning and arrive when he does. it's the simple compromise. not like he hasn't spent years learning the same idea of being content with loneliness and living on his own.

this entire excursion is simply to combat some boredom, which just so happens to involve his brother.]

However big ya wanna carry.

[swellter]

Carry what?

[burnitblack]

Whatever ya might find and wanna keep.

[swellter]

Are we going apple picking?

[burnitblack]

This young and already dealin with memory loss...

[swellter]

We're not going apple picking?

[burnitblack]

Never mentioned apples once in this whole conversation, brat.

[swellter]

[ Let him have his hopes. ]

What are we picking?

Seashells?

[burnitblack]

[Not if he's blatantly going off road.]

If ya find any you wanna keep, sure.

[swellter]

[ A pointed nod. You can bet he's going to be looking for those seashells now. ]

Should I bring a backpack?

[burnitblack]

[that's the benefit of beach combing. you find plenty of things.]

Whatever ya wanna carry stuff in.

[swellter]

Can I bring Kizu?

[burnitblack]

You can't not bring her. She's always there.

[swellter]

She’s not always there.

[ after a moment ]

Is that a yes?

[burnitblack]

[ that's a long, silent sigh ]

Yes.

[swellter]

[ As if those sighs do anything against a brick wall. ]

Will Wolf be there?

[burnitblack]

[ he should know by now if touya really doesn't want something, it won't happen. period. ]

Ya know our omens are 'part' of us, right?

[swellter]

I know.

[ He answers, pressing on. ]

Will he be there?

[burnitblack]

Shouto, ya startin to piss me off.

[There's such a thing as taking context clues and the obvious reminders Touya's dropping. He doesn't have to answer every obvious question.

... unless.]

Is there a reason ya don't want our omens there?

[Touya sounds curious, some of that ire pausing for a bit, like a candle flame going still.]

[swellter]

[ There's a pause at that and he takes a moment for himself before looking up at him, face perfectly neutral. ]

What did I do?