#ᶰᵉʷ ˢᵗᵒʳᶤᵉˢ ᵗᵒ ᵗᵉˡˡ ( REPLIES )

[origcmibir-a]

      A SHIVER TRICKLES DOWN HIS SPINE. It’s the same feeling as hairs standing on his neck, making his stomach twist with a new and sudden bout of unease. To any other mortal being, the atmosphere may feel unchanged. Or perhaps, it’s lightened, even, at the presence of a holy being. Not to a DEMI-GOD, however, who’d witnessed the wrath of powerful kami at his own existence.

      At first he doesn’t understand it. This is a very new feeling, after all, so when his intuition stirs, his sight goes darting around for clues. The young bard sees nothing -- and then, Kubo sees something. A figure; glowing brightly in the dim moonlight. Their golden locks seemed to radiate with warmth even in the coolness of night. Immediately the stranger bore a stark contrast to the monsters he had the displeasure of calling his family -- but despite their ... kinder appearance, the boy is hardly soothed.

        “ WHO ARE YOU? ” He calls. He’s immediately tense and it shows in the harshness of his voice. Something felt familiar about this ethereal being, but he couldn’t place what. // @usshiwaka​

[origcmibird-aa]

      x // EVEN IN THE FACE OF DEATH, KEEP GOING. The bravest fight in its shadow. That’s what he told himself as he crossed borders into unknown territory. This vast land was so new and treacherous to him; filled with vast, flat plains and massive valleys, rather than the hilly forests and coasts he grew up on. Grass stretched on for miles and miles, which was astonishing because he has never come across flatland so vast.

   Kubo could only imagine its beauty, if only it were free. Darkness bound this place like a chain, and somehow, he could sense it. He chalked it up to his bloodline.

    The boy DARE NOT talk back to the whispers that filled the air, hissing rumors like petulant gossip. He must not fall prey to his own weaknesses, nor his rage as they spat lies and words just to upset him somehow. He must remember the HERO’S wisdom; they draw strength from his hatred.

     Silently, the young warrior walks on, paying them no heed. // @picorihero

[origcmibir-a]

A Vicious Claw pats the young boy on the head.

KUBO FLINCHES A LITTLE, single eye squeezing shut as the massive claws reach to gently pat him. He blinks away the timidness as soon as it lifts from his head.

... WELL. Okay then.

[origcmibir-a]

airin puts his paw on kubo's cheek. warm.

HIS CHEEK SQUISHES underneath Airin's paw. In contrast, Airin's paw pads are cold to the touch and his claws feel slightly unpleasant. Kubo reaches to gently remove it and set it back down from his face. Not commenting, he just wants to see what happens next.

[origcmibir-a]

     x // AS HIS FINGERS UNTANGLE THEMSELVES from the mop of messy horse hair, he pats his dusty hands clean against the worn red fabric of his kimono, while the little black horse they’d found continues to nibble away at the bucket of carrots offered to it. Nearby, a stablehand smiles cheerfully at the sight.        “ That sounds MUCH BETTER than being thrown onto SAFFLINA’S back every time we gotta go. ” Kubo quips with a genuine chuckle, letting his fingers run down the crown of the horse’s neck and scratching it gently. The dirt got under his nails, and dusted his fingertips in grit but he cared little. “ Besides, he’s perfect. MY MOTHER said that my father used to ride a horse black as night and as fierce as a raging river. He might not be the latter part, but he’s still great! ”          “ We’ll take him! ” He calls over to the stablehand eagerly, already reaching for the saddle horn to help himself up. // @hyrulecast​

[origcmibir-a]

      x // “ SURELY YOU MUST BE BLUFFING. ” Kubo scoffs lightly. He is holding UMA’S reins in one hand, and setting the other against the tall stallion’s neck. Despite Link’s claims, FLINT seems docile enough, the horse having stayed put since the young boy had drawn close. The duo and their horses stand at the edge of a shallow stream, after just having departed from a stable nearby.        “ I bet he’s just mean to you. AREN’T YOU, boy? You’re a big softy to everyone else, right? ” He chuckles playfully, stroking the side of Flint’s neck once more. // @hylian-champion​

[origcmibir-a]

Paper boy? Or perhaps, puppet master.

" KAMEYO CALLS ME 'PAPER BOY' all the time. " He says with a familiar smile. He's used to that one.

[origcmibir-a]

"Aren't you from the moon or somethin'? I'm gonna call you 'lunatic' from now on lmao"

     HE SQUINTS AT YUCK, being less concerned about the nickname and more about the fact that they correctly guessed his family origin. Did they ... did he tell them that? “ HOW ... how do you know about that? ”

[origcmibir-a]

     x // “ Not to be rude, your highness, but ... maybe you could take that OFF? ” As far as KUBO knew the princess, she was playful. A mischievous sort, to escape the pressures of being royalty and its responsibilities. Even if she DID know he had a horrible fear of such plaintive accessories, he guessed she would have still done it for the joy of spooking a normally unshaken child.       “ I’M SORRY. I had to tend to my grandfather ... ” Even while he apologizes for his tardiness, Kubo cannot shake the unease he felt from those red eyes etched into the mask, boring HOLES in him ... hence he could not even maintain eye contact for long. A hand tightened around his shamisen strap while his intuition nagged away at him; that something was VERY wrong. // @legendarylullaby​

[origcmibir-a]

Ruffles hair. "Hey Kubo, how's my favorite kid doing? Any new friends lately?" Bird mom time

" HI SCARLET. " Kubo flashes a smile and places his hand over hers, returning the affectionate gesture as best he could. He leans inward and pulls away, looking sheepish. " Oh, I've been fine! Nothing too new, I'm afraid. How are you? Did'ja see any sights while you were gone? "

[origcmibir-a]

“no sarcasm, please.” (Varian)

     “ OH, I’M SORRY. You seemed to be a particular fan of it. ” And Kubo’s voice just drips with more sarcasm and mocking, very clear about his annoyance. He hadn’t lingered near VARIAN by choice; both of them were stuck inside, trapped by the pouring rain which fell in torrents against the roof of the shack.       He was still bitter, and frankly, ANXIOUS around the older boy. The knowledge that Varian had some connection to the moon had become very deeply ingrained in the half-kami’s memory, and it was one of the reasons why he’d chosen to avoid him. The less likely he is to admit his past, the better.       The boy’s fingers itched for his shamisen. It was a great way to pass the time. However, he hadn’t disrespected Varian’s request and that just made him feel more bitter. With that disdainful look upon his face, Kubo remains silent, and keeps his eye-contact away from the older.