Bewildered but alive

[fonmaster]

Who: Ion and all the people!
Location: The plaza
Time: January 2nd, morning
Style: Anything works
Status: Wide open!



...friend...

[Ion tries too hard to draw in breath and gasps, sputtering. Oh, good, he'd managed to finish his sentence after all. Wait.]

H-hello?

[Utterly confused, he pats himself. How could he be wet? They were just in a volcano!]

Anise? Luke? Tear?

[He looks around. The city is beautiful, almost unnatural. It's possible that this could be the afterlife, isn't it? But he's all wet, and so cold! That doesn't seem right at all.]

Is anyone here...?

Comments

Here?

[beautifies]

[He turns around and reaches for Ion's cheeks. Don't mind him if he inspects. Ion is... Ion is such good material for makeup... He makes a few sounds as he inspects the boy before backing away again.]

Next time, speak up! There should be a store with proper clothing around here.

I DIDN'T FAIL TAG WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT

[fonmaster]

[Ion doesn't seem to mind being inspected. He frequently gets a thorough checkup due to his poor health, after all. When he answers, he's mumbling a little.]

I didn't want to be rude. And it's dry, so it's not all bad...

[He perks up again.]

Are you a doctor, Sir Tounomine?

OF COURSE NOT

[beautifies]

You don't mind it?

[That...seems to shock Hajime, honestly. A boy that doesn't mind dressing up as a girl. This kid is growing on him for all the wrong reasons. Hajime will definitely ask to do his makeup later because that's what he does.]

We're wasting time. Let's go.

[He hesitates before proceeding again, this time to a different store. Hajime will pick out the clothes this time. Ion's sense of style seems simple enough from the dress he chose.]

I'm not. I'm still a student.

Some of this speculation based on how dudes in Tales of the Abyss dress XD

[fonmaster]

[Ion doesn't like it exactly, but he doesn't hate it either. Gender roles were a little less strict on Auldrant than they were on many other worlds, after all. He nods when Hajime mentions that he's a student. Ion still thinks he's a medical student though. What other sort of person would look him over with a critical eye?]

Oh, you are? Maybe we aren't that far apart in age, then!

[He sounds thrilled at the prospect.]

Don't know too much about the game but alright.

[beautifies]

[Don't be silly, Ion. You look like you're twelve.]

I'm seventeen.

Thigh high boots, skin tight pants and belly shirts... for men.

[fonmaster]

I'm fourteen.

[Sort of, at least. There was no reason to go into the technicalities.]

Hey, Sir Tounomine? How long did it take for you to grow taller?

Looked up character designs... Sounds about right.

[beautifies]

Why are you concerned about that? You're only three years younger than me. You still have time to grow.

[fonmaster]

Ah, umm, mostly curiousity.

[Time to grow, huh... the thought makes him start smiling again.]

But I guess you're right!

[beautifies]

[Say that all you want, Ion. He still sees you being self conscious.]

Don't be concerned about it. You just have yet to hit your growth spurt!

[fonmaster]

Right!

[He just continues following behind Hajime like an obedient puppy. Really, he'll wear whatever he's given. He's not picky - he could just tell that the clothing he was in currently was meant specifically for a girl.]

[beautifies]

[Hajime doesn't say much more until they arrive at the shop. He inspects the racks without picking anything out, occasionally glancing back at Ion. After leafing through every garment, he snatches an outfit consisting of simple slacks, a loose shirt, and a light jacket off the racks.]

Wear that.

[fonmaster]

[Ion shrinks back a little. Why is he so intense about this? He takes the clothes and goes to change. When he comes back, he looks much more like a boy, obviously lacking a woman's hips and waist when he's wearing pants. His hair still hangs in two pieces like twintails, though.]

This is much better, Sir Tounomine. Thank you!

[beautifies]

[He crosses his arms and looks away.]

You don't need to thank me. Do something about your hair already! It's misleading!

[fonmaster]

My hair?

[Ion lifts up a piece of his hair.]

I've always worn it this way...

[beautifies]

You'll be mistaken for a woman if you leave it like that. Come here!

[He can do hair. Let him play with your hair. NOT THAT HE WANTS TO OR ANYTHING!!!]

[fonmaster]

You think I'll look less girlish if it's done another way?

[He's all too happy to go over to Hajime. He's giggling, even. Ion still has the soft hair and skin of a child, so most any style is possible.]

[beautifies]

If I'm the one doing your hair, then it can definitely be achieved.

[Because for anybody else, that might be impossible. Hajime isn't exactly gentle. He treats the hair delicately but he doesn't hesitate shoving Ion into place. If he had materials, he'd be able to do a proper styling but he'll just have to do with what he has on his person. He pulls out a hair band from his pocket and gathers all the hair into a low ponytail in the center of the scalp. It's not much but at least it doesn't look like pigtails. As for the rest of the hair, he brushes it into place with his fingers, careful not to frame the face too girlishly.]

There.

Now I might have to get a paid. I do have some low ponytail Ion icons, orz

[fonmaster]

[Ion looks at his reflection in the shop window, then smiles up at Hajime. There's a hint of the man he now has the chance to become.]

I think you're right. I like it very much! You're quite good at fixing hair, you know. I've never been able to get it to not part in the back.

AHAHAHAHAHA

[beautifies]

[A huff of satisfaction. Yes, this is much better now.]

You won't improve unless you practice every day.

Why you laugh at me?! Noooo! Paid accounts are srsbznss!

[fonmaster]

[Practice doing hair? Ion looks incredulous.]

Doing hair is something you have to practice?

Sure but it's worth it if you plan on using it.

[beautifies]

Of course! Did you think it was easy? Styling hair is not something that can be achieved without great effort!

[HE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS. DON'T TRY TO FIGHT HIM.]

[fonmaster]

I'm sorry! You made it seem so easy, I didn't mean to offend you!

[Wow. He takes this hair business really seriously, doesn't he? Ion won't judge him, he's just surprised.]

[beautifies]

Don't think you're anywhere near my level. I've trained diligently in order to attain these skills!

[fonmaster]

I don't, really!

[Ion bowed in an effort to pacify the older boy.]

Thank you for fixing my hair, Sir Tounomine.

[beautifies]

From now on, you must practice this hairstyle ever day until you achieve perfection!

[HE WILL MAKE SURE YOU'RE DOING IT TOO.]