16

[asea]

Who: Walter and anyone
Where: Forest
When: 25th, morning
Style: Either
Status: Open

[He'd woken up and promptly left, leaving the tunic behind in exchange for his shirt.

Walter doesn't quite make it as far in the forest quadrant as usual before he finds a fairly unused clearing (so the undisturbed patches of grass tell him). His march coming to a gradual close, he gives the area a quick once-over. Then he exhales, and pivots on his heel to kick out with his dominant leg in a wide arc.

He's been asleep too long; he can feel it in how his movement is clumsier without his eres than it should be. At the very least, there's little in the way of muscle soreness despite the prolonged period of rest, but he won't consider that an excuse to let his performance deteriorate. A curse must have taken place when he was dormant, and he's not interested in the details: Working out the laziness (among other things) is a priority.

A series of kicks, then a deep right hook, then another kick—then his fingernails flash a dark blue, and the next punch comes even harder than the first. Just as quickly, the light dissipates and his strength falls considerably to a more ordinary level. Soon enough, he's worked up to the familiar sting of climbing exhaustion and takes that moment to stop abruptly.

Assuming a noncombat stance, Walter extends an upturned hand. His nails flash again, and this time a black light gathers together to form a small creature (with a more bat-like appearance) of the same color. It flutters about, shedding dark purple flecks of light. And so everything seems to be in order . . .

Still as the ground beneath him, Walter appraises it in silence, his expression impassive.]

Comments

[shirleyhopeful]

[Now that the curse was over, Shirley was much more able to run quicker. Ever since Walter left the apartment, the girl couldn't help but wonder where her guardian went. Luckily, she had an idea of where he could be...

As she headed toward the forest, her suspicions were correct. She heard sounds from that direction. She wasn't too far away from where he was.

Of course, the bigger problem was how to talk to him ever since that discussion a while ago.]

[asea]

[He was in the process of another set of moves when his intuition alerted him to a separate presence. Walter stopped, his breathing evening, and turned in the presumed direction of the figure close by. He could make out the vague appearance even from this distance, so she was nearer than he'd anticipated. All in his distraction.

A slight pause, and then he closed the distance to confirm.]

. . . Merines.

[shirleyhopeful]

[Before she could take a step, Shirley hesitated. Her breath suddenly stopped as a pair of blue eyes made its way toward her. She wanted to run but she could not. It was too late for that. However, how was she able to talk to him? Their last conversation did not go as well as she expected so she had to try something different.]

I was wondering where you were but I'm glad to see you're feeling better.

[It was a good start but she had to see how Walter would respond.]

[asea]

[Walter gave a curt nod. He didn't think the concern was warranted, considering it was only a sleep coma. So:] It was only a coma.

[He was still in a rather hazy mood, especially in regards to the Merines, so he stopped himself there. There wasn't really anything else he could say, and he looked at her, expecting, until a thought occurred to him.]

Zelda mentioned a curse. Did anything happen? [To you?]

[shirleyhopeful]

Even if it was a coma, it doesn't mean it was nothing.

[Sorry, Walter, Shirley was worried about you. After all, she was suppose to be looking after you too! As she looked behind him, she could see the fate of those poor trees. She gave a small smile; she had nothing to be afraid of. He was going just fine.]

Um...it wasn't anything bad. I wasn't sure what was going on but we had to go on a lot of quests for some odd reason...

[That dress she had...never again...]

[asea]

. . . quests?

[He heard of an attack on the barrier. What do quests have to do with that? Come to think of it, the inability to change during the curse seemed off place.]

[shirleyhopeful]

[She nodded. She didn't go on any of them but she thought about going to one. But then again, she couldn't really do much with the outfit she had on.]

There were a lot and one of them involved fighting a giant monster. I didn't go to one but I'm just to see that everything has gone back to normal.

[But it was pretty nice to have a curse where a lot of people seemed to enjoy.]

But nothing has happened outside of that curse.

[zelda_hylia]

[Walter's probably already worked out who found him based on the tunic he woke up in, but if he had any doubts left, Zelda's smile when she sees him up and around on the way to the forest quadrant would probably clear them up.]

Oh, Walter! It's good to see you up again. Are you feeling well?

[asea]

[Suspicions indeed cleared, he only has one more thing to confirm as he stops to appraise Zelda's greeting. The last thing he remembers before the blackness is the fountain . . . the water—and a dull throb. That settles more on his mind than her innocent question.]

It was only a coma.

["Only" is something of an understatement.]

. . . At that time, were you alone?

[zelda_hylia]

You hit your head too, so I wasn't absolutely sure... still, I'm relieved you're doing well.

[Has he not spoken with Shirley? She thought that the girl would have told Walter right away that Zelda knows something now. He was in her apartment, how could they have missed each other? How strange.]

Other than a couple locals that weren't paying any mind, yes, I was alone. I was not sure if any other things you might not want me or other people to see might occur or if you'd suffered any injuries, so I took you to Shirley's apartment.

[asea]

[It should take much more than that for him to suffer any notable injuries, especially in the water, but Walter bites down the retort. He crosses his arms.]

That was unnecessary. It would have been better in the next unit.

[His, and certainly not the Merines' apartment.]

[zelda_hylia]

Well I certainly wasn't going to leave you alone with a possible head injury, and I thought you might prefer it over being moved to my house or the clinic.

[He doesn't have to like it, she knows it was the right choice. Zelda's used to people brushing off care that they obviously needed at this point, so she's not too offended.]

I will keep that in mind if such a thing ever happens again, though.

[asea]

It won't happen again.

[He doesn't want it to happen again. To lose consciousness and find that nearly a month has passed, a stark reminder of his inconsequential existence when he's already a past dweller among those who've come from Melfes. He doesn't need the additional struggle to keep up.

So it won't happen again.

His gaze drifts downward, until he's full-out glowering at the ground before Zelda.]

[contemptibility]

[By this point, Tiir isn't surprised to see Walter in the forest—and all things considered, Walter shouldn't be surprised to see him.

He stares at the creature from a distance at first, arms crossed as he leans against a nearby tree.]

What's that?

[asea]

[The creature twitches and vanishes into the air at the familiar voice, its short purpose fulfilled. Walter turns his head toward Tiir.]

You've seen it before. [Just not well in the heat of their fights.]

[contemptibility]

[He nods.]

I have. That doesn't mean I know what it is, exactly.

[asea]

Since you nearly absorbed it that time, shouldn't you be able to figure that out?

[contemptibility]

[A light laugh]

You're as cooperative as ever, I see. Well, it's true that I consume power, but yours was a bit of an odd case.

[For starters, he didn't actually succeed in devouring it.]

[asea]

[He folds his arms together. Whatever that oddness may be, it was also an odd experience in and of itself for his teriques.]

. . . It sensed the danger and dispersed.

[In other words, the power is sentient.]

I'M SORRY i meant to tag this days ago ;;

[tsundyne]

[Yukari passes by the forest quadrant fairly often. Sometimes to visit the Embryon, sometimes just to stretch her legs. It's a relatively quiet area, so while she sometimes runs into someone, she hadn't expected it today.

She can't help but be a bit disappointed when she sees the head of blonde hair in the clearing. Not exactly her favorite person in the world, but her initial reaction of 'ugh' is quickly offset when she continues to observe and sees the small creature appear with the glow of his nails.

Admittedly, she's curious, watching -- so if Walter hasn't noticed her by then, she'll speak quietly -- without approaching, at first.]

Friend of yours?

NO PROBLEMO have a turban for your entrance gift

[asea]

[If not by his own intuition, the teriques has alerted him of the new presence with its senses. It relays as much before dissipating in a flicker of black and purple. Walter turns toward the source when the question sounds not long after, his expression as impassive as per the usual.

Part of him is still tired for inexplicable reasons (not physically, rather something else inside), and he has half a mind to just walk away and avoid the inevitable tension looming over them. The forest is supposed to be peaceful.]

No.

why thank you i will wear it proudly!!!

[tsundyne]

[Well, he hasn't walked away yet, which is . . . like, progress or something. Yukari hadn't expected much more than a one word answer either, so truthfully, the response (or lack thereof) does not disappoint her. She simply remains quiet for a bit -- she enjoys the peace of the forest, too.

When she answers, it's in a low voice, laced with sarcasm.]

Too bad. Is that why it disappeared?

my, how beautiful you look!!

[asea]

[He looks straight, away from Yukari. Then he folds his arms and glances down at the ground, glowering. It's obvious that the answer isn't what she's dryly claiming, so he'll give her this much:]

"Friends" are a distraction. The likes of them . . .

[His heart doesn't need that painful burden.]

I don't need them.

NO U (also hi i didn't forget about this thread im just slow as molasses)

[tsundyne]

[. . . She can't decide whether they're still talking about the cute bat thing anymore or what. But either way, his words carry a somber empty feeling that is quick to affect her. She frowns slightly, unsure of how to respond at first (and Walter probably would've liked it, if she'd stayed that way) -- but then she looks down at her feet as they shuffle.

She doesn't bother to get back within his field of vision or anything. She knows he's listening.]

Y'know, that's a pretty sad thing to say. [For once, she's completely genuine -- no sarcasm.] What if they need you?

you make molasses a fashionable trend

[asea]

[The "cute bat thing" is perfectly capable of tearing you apart with its jaws, Yukari.

He doesn't need to be friends with someone to come for them. "Them" is simply selective as far as to whom they apply. . . . His duty revolves around protecting the Ferines. No matter what, if it's within his power and range, he'll protect them and endure hell and back if they need him.

He's failed more than times he should count.

That girl, especially . . . ]

They don't have to be friends for me to come.