ringsthatbind | IC Inbox - Contact for isleofavalon UN: the

Yeah.

[He wants to, yes, but...!]

There's actually something I wanted to ask before.
But it's been bothering me a while now...

I only knew one thing when I landed here, and didn't need to know anything more than that. I haven't had to do more than fighting. But I've been thinking, you agreed to spar so easily, I figured you're used to it much as I am.

But, people don't just fight, [he's told.] So I was thinking something more than that.

[Because it's "sad" he's been hearing.]

Don't get me wrong here; I'll take you on any time you want.
I just think we shouldn't end with that. If we do end up sparring.

[This is Chompy's influence...]

I thought we should go eat coffee soon.

[And cake. Lots of cake.]

I know it's sudden, but I've got a good reason.
I'm just asking if you'd come along.

[That's a lot of words to just ask him out for a coffee date, which gets Shadow wondering if someone may have put Shoto up to this.]

I assume you wouldn't be eating the coffee.

[Because that stood out to him as well.]

But yes, I'd be okay with going to coffee with you. Along with sparring, of course.

[He wouldn't be wrong there. But, Shoto did promise; he's trying his best with things.]

Not really.

[Which isn't to say he wouldn't try it. He's heard it's "crunchy"!]

I wouldn't mind, though.

[Since they're both trying?]

When are you free next?

[Crunchy is one of the main reasons why Shadow just eats the dang beans.]

Depends on how soon you're free, as I should be done within the hour.

[Or less, he's not doing anything too strenuous at the moment.]

["Done"? ...Oh.]

Sorry to interrupt then.

I should be free for a while. [But, ah...] Where should I meet you?

It's fine, I can do this one handed.

[As to where to meet? Shadow will send Shoto an address for a little cafe in Camelot, not too far from the Inn, that he knows will sell him coffee beans. He's kind of scoped out which places work for that.]

Unless you'd rather spar instead?

No, that's fine. I can meet you.

[Not one second thought. But he'll arrive before Shadow does; and much too easily, he'll be found just as promised, tucked in the corner furthest back hidden from anyone's notice. He's poking at cake, of course; a small, oversweet confection piled in whipped cream and strawberries. He isn't tasting just yet, but he'll light when he spots the other, his free hand rising to call him over where his palm's lifting shyly.]

Shadow.

[It's nearly a whisper.]

Alright.

[It's not hard to be there before Shadow, as he had to finish up his work first before he goes to the cafe. And he has only a little trouble spotting Shoto in the cafe, and the out of the way table will totally be appreciated by Shadow, as the hedgehog approaches the teen.

His ear twitches at the quiet calling of his name, glad that the cafe isn't the loudest at the moment.]

Shoto, a pleasure.

[Said as he takes a seat across from him.]

It's same for me.

[Politely, dipping forwards a little. But now that he's closer, he can see he's much smaller, seated at shoulder's height. How his red stripes him too in parts. So, he's keeping bright eyes to him, pulling to bits made of anything similar. In any case, there's pleasant surprise he isn't the only one "mismatched". Though he can't help comparing them, assuming his look's his Quirk too, maybe. Looking him over now, there's attempt to gauge strength again; but his thoughts drift from tactics, retreat from fighting the moment he catches himself.

His eyes drop to hands instead, and then he's answering back quietly.]

Thanks for meeting with me.

[But now what?]

Um... do you like sweets? [Nudging his cake over.] I thought maybe you'd like to try it first.

We would have met eventually.

[With the whole agreeing to spar thing, is what Shadow implies in his response to Shoto's thanks. After all, the hedgehog isn't 100% used to being thanked for little things like that. Also he doesn't seem to find anything off about the teen sitting with him, mismatched hair and such just strikes Shadow as the kid probably dyes it or something. The scar on the other hand? Is something he may ask about at some point, just not now.

At the cake being nudged towards him, he looks it over with red eyes.]

I'm not big into sweets, but it would be rude to decline your offer. [As he says this a barista happens to pass by, and Shadow manages to catch their attention and just states his usual to them. They give a short sigh, because it's always beans with him, before leaving to fulfil that order. Then, with that out of the way, will Shadow move to take a nearby fork to try the cake.

Not a big bite, in case he doesn't like it, but a bite nonetheless.]

[Sometimes—because he's used to it, because he's occupied too easily with samurai swordsmen and fairytales—he forgets he's been burned at all. The coppery, rust-color circling. He doesn't mind it as much; resents the one and not others when sparing a glance back at anything. How his eye marks him too, now. His hair's a story. His burn's a worse one.

But thoughts keep to Shadow, and Shoto nods gently back, scarring the last thing he's thinking of.]

Ah. ...Sorry.

[It's dazed-sounding, absent. But Shadow's a wonder to him; though so was everyone, everything; this, their sitting together; his being allowed to sit. His being with others, instead. A heavy, slowed realization: how he's star-years away from things, sharing shortcake in somewhere's tiny, pleasant cafe. Because he's still too much bonding-starved, feeling gratitude that Shadow, that anyone treats him now warmly and fairly, can't see Quirk first or bloodlines; a puppet. The "ultimate lifeform" sparing time for him. So, right now, he sits straighter, blinking wide-eyed as someone samples nice sweets with him, hands against table's ledge.

His eyes flicker warmly.]

What do you... think, Shadow?

[Forgetting the "mission" here. Having lost all objectives, already, placing genuine interest where they're meant to go. He's inching towards hopeful.]

Edited (forgive me, forgot something...) 2022-04-21 09:26 (UTC)

[If Shadow knew how Shoto thought, about missions and things like that, he'd find how similar they are a bit unnerving. A kid his age, which Shadow doesn't even know how old Shoto could be, shouldn't be thinking about missions and fighting like Shadow does.

Anyway, at the sorry the hedgehog just shakes his head since he's still got cake in his mouth and that would be oh so rude to talk with his mouth full. So it's another moment before he can give his thoughts about the cake.]

It's fine.

[A simple answer, but also the truth. It's not something he would purposefully go out of his way to have, but not something he'd decline if offered.]

[Change of plans here. It's easier framing things as missions when it's a system he's used to, although there isn't much difference here. He's thoroughly steeped in that—fighting. He isn't a "normal" youth, plainly; and still he wants to move forward, grow stronger, isn't complaining at all. Pure intentions winning out at least, although he's still half in conflict, always consumed with nearly obsessively power-chasing.

Though, shockingly little else exists when someone is raised just for that. Luckily, he isn't rebelling (too much), isn't antagonizing others the way his old feelings seemed to. His mentor's noble and simple, and he's completely devoting himself to being his good, proper squire. He needs a rival—a good one—a friend, and isn't aware his restless heart asks through seeking out others. Not yet sparring he's thinking about... He'd planned to win and be done with it, but here he's eyes again watching, distracted wondering recentered on someone else instead.

Chompy—who's eased his mind slow off course, inching him opposite where he's meant to go—hasn't wasted one word on him. His thoughts stray terribly right now; though Shadow needs friends, he'd been saying: more allies and more-than-allies, to not withdraw so much. He's learned a lot from the chao-spirit; and, at the same time, that list of needs reflects Shoto's, his wanting to try at things.

So, here he does. This isn't sparring or fighting, and it's too easy to drift his thoughts from things he ought to be training for, to attempt something soft for once. Only, there's war at home waiting, and he isn't where he's supposed to be, to go, on the frontlines, and instead, he's sitting with cake set in front of them, the quiet's momentary calm seeming all the more fragile now.

He smiles up faintly.]

You don't hate it? [That's good enough for Shoto! He tucks his head, thoughtful.]

I've never been to a real cafe before. [As if they're accomplishing something. He's taking nothing for granted here.] I didn't exactly have the time back home, since we'd been training so much. [And... well, now that he thinks of it,] I guess it hasn't really changed since then... But that's why I'd want to spar sometime, since it's something I'll need to prepare for.

[Eyeing the cake again. He's stealing the strawberry off of it.]

It's just... it isn't just my world I'm thinking about. [I don't want another squire's repeating itself on its loop for him. He's playing this constantly.] I promised a lot of people something.

[A certain chao goes unmentioned here.]

[One good thing about this is Shadow's complete cluelessness of his familiar's hand in setting this situation up, because if he knew about that well...

Shadow would most certainly not be sitting here enjoying cake with Shoto, and at the young man stealing the strawberry off of said cake? Shadow is going to nudge it back towards him.]

I'm not one of lying, so if I did not like it I would tell you. [Which is true, that and a promise that he had made to Maria means Shadow does not lie. Omit things, sure, but never outright lie.

He leans back in his seat now and listens to Shoto.]

That's good, keeping promises.

[He likes his honesty.]

I'll be honest about the coffee, then. [But they're here now, aren't they? The hows and whys hardly mattered, and he thinks, instead, suddenly, that he's been doing things backwards; his life out of order, his casual meetings new and special, among his firsts. He's catching up with things, finally. Not just watching, not looking on through all his mute, quiet envy. And, although neither one's saying much, the human sits brightening and grateful, still contented once his cake's returned, mind less on sweets now.]

But I'll need strength to fulfill those promises. [Far more ability—power.] There's someone important to me right now, but our worlds are completely different, so it's not as if we'll meet again. I can't do more than join the Knights in this town... to be his shield sometimes.

[He's sworn an oath for it!]

What about you, Shadow? I thought we might have similar goals here. Getting stronger, I mean.

[Even if for himself.]

[Honesty is something to be cherished, really.

Listening to Shoto talk about his dedication to someone really makes Shadow think about his own, well, past. How he was dedicated to doing what Maria wished, and how he is trying to do that here as well.

At least as best as he can.]

I guess our goals are similar if only because of the magic we have here. They're different, yet similar, to what I could do at home that I need to practice with them.

[Is that what it is?]

I guess I've found my powers too, in a way. [So to speak.] I've only ever used two elements, so I was surprised at first. Something like this—

[He's holding up fingers now. Snow-bits clustering on his right, flames igniting along his left in tiny, golden-orange embers. Nothing flashy.]

Back home, they're just "Quirks" to us. [Magics.] I'm an emitter-type, normally, but I can use all elements freely now, so switching them's still sort of new for me. Even though it's been a year by now.

[His show of magic fades, gently, and soon he's forcing fixed eyes away, minding his palms a long moment. Picking at words again.]

You're... the ultimate lifeform, right? [Slow and cautious; not challenging, not doubting at all yet. His asking's still wonder.] What was it like for you, before?

IC Inbox - Contact for isleofavalon UN: the_ultimate

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Sorry this is so long... omg

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