007 - [Action] Backdated to yesterday >>;

[whatdeheckisdat]

[Grune, Norma-- why is everyone suddenly getting kidnapped? All at once? It was an entire year before Dhaos witnessed the kidnapping of anyone he paid attention to other than himself, and then within the space of a month, there were two. It calls to mind something he heard a resident once say over the journals; he can't recall who it was (though he recalls not thinking much of the person in question), or in what context, but the message stuck in his mind:

The second year is the hardest.

...Along with several other comments about how half-year residents are more optimistic. But anyway, it certainly does appear to be proving true, in Dhaos' case.

This train of thought leads Dhaos to realize that there is one other person he cares for that appears to be missing in action. It's a long way from CH3 to House 8, so feel free to catch him on the way over! And by now it ought to go without saying that he is randomly stargazing somewhere at night.]

Comments

[fortunefail]

[Nobody ever really visits house 8. There are rare occasions when someone from their world would stop by to inform Yuan of yet another kidnapping, or give a report on whatever Mithos was up to. Usagi used to stop by from time to time when she was still in Luceti. Recently, though? Nothing.

Yuan looks up from the book he was reading with a curious frown when he hears the knocking ringing through the house. He can sense who's standing by the front door, but he was so distracted that he hadn't noticed Dhaos' approach at all. He slips a bookmark between the pages before snapping his book shut and strides towards the front door to pull it open.]

[whatdeheckisdat]

[Dhaos doesn't like the journals, so a visit it is. He only ever 'visits' House 34, and then it's really more of a "Grune verbally dragged me over" thing, so this is rather new for him as well.]

Hello, Yuan.

[...May as well get that out of the way first.]

[fortunefail]

Dhaos. ... Did something happen?

[Considering Dhaos' nature, which is so eerily similar to his own, Yuan is perfectly aware the man is not prone to social visits. Barring experiments, of course, but if that's the case he will soon find out.]

[whatdeheckisdat]

I was about to ask exactly that.

[Yuan is sharp. ...Not that it took much to figure that out. Dhaos cannot sense what he is looking for within the house, but after a whole... three or so months of absence, that doesn't surprise him.]

May I...?

[fortunefail]

[He's a bit surprised by that first remark, enough to pique his curiosity even further. With a curt nod, he steps aside so Dhaos can enter and indicates the living room area.]

Have a seat.

[whatdeheckisdat]

Thank you.

[Dhaos walks past him and does exactly that, taking a seat on the sofa nearby.

Why can't he ever just come to House 8 on regular business? It's always something like this, now that he thinks about it...]

...Martel is not here.

[Just an observation. Dhaos can't sense her mana signature in the house-- not that he expected to, after not seeing her for so long. But still...]

[fortunefail]

[Yuan remains standing and was just beginning to wonder if he should offer Dhaos a drink when the man speaks up again. He visibly flinches at Martel's name, if only a little. Is that what this is about?]

... No, she isn't.

[whatdeheckisdat]

...Kratos is.

[...Just another observation, slightly derailing Dhaos' purpose for a moment. Yuan knows Martel, Yuan knows Kratos. Really, Dhaos should have figured this out by now...]

[Action]

[lostinmyway]

[I hope you didn't think it was possible to go outside without running into Grune, Dhaos, because it really really isn't.

So have one Grune waving at you and heading your way.]

Good afternoon, Dhaos!

[Action]

[whatdeheckisdat]

[Somehow, he figured. Ohey for once Dhaos is not surprised. Look, he even stops for her!]

Good afternoon, Grune.

[Action]

[lostinmyway]

[The moment she's close enough, she reaches to take his hand.]

Are you on a little walk?

[She hopes so. Dhaos stays in his apartment an awful lot.]

[Action]

[whatdeheckisdat]

Ah...

[Well, he was going to Yuan's house, but...]

I suppose you could say that, yes.

[Action]

[lostinmyway]

It's such a lovely day, isn't it?

Would you like some company? [Hopeful look!]

[Action]

[whatdeheckisdat]

[...

Eh, Yuan can wait a little longer. Dhaos extends his arm for Grune to take.]

[Action]

[lostinmyway]

[Grune somehow manages to beam even more as she takes his arm and cuddles up close.]

Where should we go first?

[heartofahawk]

[ there's this little bridge over the river that runs beside community housing one. this time of night, it's generally abandoned, and, unsurprisingly, that seems to be the case right now. it's peaceful, tranquil, quiet.

until this big giant bird comes along. and when i say big i mean big. like the size of a compact car big. ten or so feet long from beak to tail, it sweeps down from the sky and alights on the riverbank just beside the bridge, stepping through the shallows on long, elegant legs.

whoops hope he didn't scare you. ]

[whatdeheckisdat]

[HOLY--

Dhaos is on the bridge when he is... not interrupted, really, but giant birds are rather distracting. He's never seen a bird that big before (with... perhaps the exception of that spirit of light, he never did learn their names), so his gaze drops from the sky to follow the bird instead.

Scared? Nah. Startled? ...Yes. Same difference.

Dhaos frowns, stepping up to the edge of the bridge (he... may have taken a step back a moment ago) and leaning over the rail.

...It's definitely not your average animal, that much he can tell. But what is that...?]

[heartofahawk]

[ reyson doesn't notice him at first. he's pretty caught up in the whole being able to see again and fly again thing - not to mention, at this time of night he doesn't expect anyone to be out and about.

really, he should be being much more careful, and generally he is; he knows how dangerous it can be for a heron to let down its guard but he's just so glad.

still, after a few moments he senses another presence and lifts his head on its long neck. he's frozen, unmoving, watching this man through dark, intelligent eyes. should he run? .. no, he doesn't feel any need to escape just yet, so instead he only waits at a safe distance, observing, the river water running noisily around his long legs. ]

[whatdeheckisdat]

[...It can see him. Dhaos can tell. And it's not fleeing. It's either never seen a person before-- unlikely-- or...

...A resident. Yes, he should have known. Its mere appearance is more than enough to suggest that it is not a being Dhaos has seen before, but on top of that, he can sense a capacity for magic.

Dhaos ought to be wary of oversized animals by now, but herons tend to appear slightly less threatening as a general rule, and he's lived with demons before. As long as it's not human, he's not worried. So after a little while, he looks back up at the sky and speaks.]

I can leave, if you would like.

[heartofahawk]

[ MAN ARE YOU CALLING HIM NONTHREATENING..

.. okay, it's true, he couldn't hurt a fly, but that's by no choice of his. regardless, reyson has surmised that this man is no immediate threat. spreading his white wings, he hops out of the water and takes to the air, landing on the edge of the bridge in a flurry of white light -

- and once that light dissipates there's a man there in place of the bird. ]

No, that won't be necessary. I apologize if I've interrupted your walk.

[whatdeheckisdat]

[Dhaos blinks and takes a step back as the giant heron alights on the bridge, and...

...Whoooooa. Dhaos has never seen that before. He manages to wipe his expression clean after a moment so he can answer.]

...Not at all.

[Not... mentioning... the transforming thing just yet. That'd be kind of rude, Dhaos thinks.]

[heartofahawk]

[ he can't help but be reminded of ike and the other mercenaries, who had had similar reactions when watching laguz transform. it's still odd to think that none of the residents here have ever seen it before either; likely he won't ever grow accustomed to it.

smiling apologetically, he steps lightly down off of the guard rail and folds his wings neatly behind him. ]

It seems I've startled you. I take it that you have never seen a laguz.

[blessingone]

[The path between CH3 and House 8 intersects with the fastest route between the grocery store and House 34, which leads to an intersection between Dhaos and Fenimore. The latter is carrying two bags of groceries, filled with the things that Grune forgot to pick up, and is...well, technically, it's hard to say who is following who, since Sophie's pace is not exactly consistant and leads her to be in front and behind in about equal portions.

While Fenimore sees Dhaos coming (he is rather impossible to miss), it is Sophie who does attempt to flag Dhaos down, waving and calling, "Little D!"

...Yes, she has been somewhat corrupted by Norma.]

[whatdeheckisdat]

[...That's not the voice Dhaos usually hears calling him by that name.

Dhaos turns to look in Fenimore and Sophie's direction after hearing his... name, and he stops. ...Norma, this is all your fault. Now Sophie will be calling him that forever.]

...Hello, Sophie. Fenimore.

[It seems more appropriate to address the person trying to get his attention, but it'd be rude to ignore Fenimore.]

[blessingone]

[Fenimore has to consciously refrain herself from laughing; he doesn't seem especially impressed with Sophie calling him that. But she can spare his dignity in that much, at least, if only because he isn't exactly the least intimidating of Grune's friends. You know, when Grune isn't around to pop that intimidation.]

Hello, Dhaos.

["What are you doing?" It appears that Sophie may have come to recognize that Little D is not inclined to volunteer information or, really, any form of conversation without prompting. Or she might just be curious.]