townofcadence

[townofcadence]

Honestly the surprise gives it away. They pause entirely too long, registering what he said. And then the reaction is so....not Naoto. She probably could cough into her hand, sure, but in response to his question it would imply she was fazed. And Naoto didn't show when she was fazed. That... and why would Naoto want to brighten his day with a smile? Usually it was him trying to bond with her. And her way of reciprocating was small acts she pretended she didn't do out of kindness. Like making him food she flees after offering. Not a smile, not like that.

Maybe he was being paranoid, but she felt wrong somehow too. And maybe after the last year, with a run in with creatures that mimicked others, he felt far too wary.

"I'll tell you what I've found if you can answer a few questions." He asks, smooth. "When I pulled you into the TV, where did we land, again?"

🎬

Wait, what? He didn’t do anything out of the ordinary, Yosuke thought. He said good morning, spoke in the best, non-accented English he could and politely smiled. What was wrong with that? It hit him then that Naoto hardly smiled, in fact, her smiles were like smirks and never lasted long. Even if she smiled, there was a deadness in her eyes and her smiles were not as big as his.

And that was a problem.

He coughed into his hand. “I thought a smile would brighten your day. We have been searching for this mysterious object with no avail.”

He needed to be serious, use big words and not smile. Yosuke wasn’t sure how he could make sure he looked dead inside, especially when he had never experienced a moment that made him feel perpetually dead inside. Even the worst of part-time work left him after he went to bed.

“But I digress. Have you found any clues?”

[townofcadence]

Artair's smile pinches just a little at the feeling, but he doesn't say anything to address it. He nods when Nanashi speaks on death instead. "It..... dying is always hard when it means you're gone." He looks away. "It might be something you have to accept, but that doesn't mean it isn't cruel in its own way. So.... I can understand. Needing it to mean something if you have to keep going through this. Making it mean something."

He shifts again in his chair, a touch restless. "I don't know if that long imprisoned can ever be deserved. That much isolation...." He pauses, coming too close to a different thought.

He swallows this one. "I suppose it's something that you try to look on a brighter side? But it's also alright to be angry or even grieve all that time, or even those losses, I hope you know. I agree that small things make pathways for greater things by building their foundation. And there's a lot of things we attribute to gut and other things that are really our subconscious picking up on patterns and other things that we don't even realize we're predicting. But those decisions are still you, a part of you at least. And that means everything you do is important, yeah? It doesn't have to be grand or shake the world to be worth something. You existing alone could be considered purpose enough, in its own way."

"....Heh. Or you know. Maybe your purpose is to listen to me ramble." He teases, just a little.

He felt awkward for a moment. He wasn't used to anyone give him empathy especially given everything he had done. Not that Artair knew that but, still he was confused or not sure what to do himself. He cleared his throat to speak nonetheless.

"You get used to it. Death still some weight to it. You know you still only have one life before someone else is behind wheel you simply become memories within the patch work of this soul." His answer didn't sound wonderful but, it was just something he was used too.

"The imprisonment was deserved....I wasn't good for worlds as I was before. I still not may be but, I have calm at least some." The 8th wasn't even sure how he felt about his imprisoment other then it was deserved. It felt like long dream to him.

"....I want to believe in that important." He was honest for once. "I suppose it just how keep my mind itself the way it is. You know I read a few scientific studies in my day. One of those studies was on mind and it's nerve system. Did you know that your mind will make choice for you before you are even aware of it. Your subconscious mind make small decisions for you. Some studies counter this by saying it was only small things that brain takes control of. But, what if that is what leads to the big things? Your brain on auto-pilot making sure you reach those BIG things. What if free will is smaller then we think?" He asked softly to his other.

"I want to believe all my lives and this life has a purpose....that there is purpose to why I keep getting reincarnated. That I am suppose to exist for a reason. If not then..." He clicked his teeth. "Then it is just suffering for no reason. That I am just lucky or something weird happen to my past self." He slowly finished off his tea sitting it back down.

".....You are dangerous easy to talk too, Artair. I usually play thing close to chest but, some of you beings in this new universe disarm me easily. I am not sure I like it." He mused out in amusement tone of voice.

[townofcadence]

His face softens, because he can feel the conflict and confusion, even the lack of understand of this being offered to him like it is. He almost seems so innocent, the way he moves his head, the way he asks his questions. He is so unsure, that Artair can't help but gently touch his hands where they hold an empty container. His slender fingers slip it loose with a slow glide through Nanashi's larger hands.

"I take this back for now." He answers, tone softer than before. "And I can make you more, if you'd like. Or if you'd like to try something else, even. I'll bring you more. Honestly you'd be doing me a favor if you eat." His expression wears a smile. "Someone brings me a lot of ingredients regularly. I hate when they go to waste because they're not eaten through fast enough. You're really helping me, so thank you, Nanashi."

Nanashi wasn't sure what to do with all of this. It was if his brain had just running something it could fully comprehend. That was perhaps his truest weakness. He was blind to compassion and empathy. He understood they existed and were needed but, he never felt that he himself would fall under it swing. That anyone would show him such things.

When he cornered though he usually simply follows his instincts. He grabbed the food and began to eat some of it. It was good.....he kept eating it and started back at Artair. It wasn't poisoned how....odd. He tilted his head. "D-...do I give this back to you or do keep it? Are you....going to make more?" He was like a skittish alley cat being given food for first time.

[townofcadence]

The detective prince says so little, but it's more than enough to read between the lines. Murders, her looking different, and having no connections that may keep her safe. She stood out here, and no one would even know if she never made it to where she stayed. Maybe she would be of no interest, but it was dangerous, and there was a lot of attention on her, enough to be wary.

Why couldn't things like this leave her and her family be?

Her lips thinned, but she nods again. Her eyes flicked around them. It's hard to imagine a town so quiet and small having such a dark and terrible crime happening. But then again, that had been the case where she was born, too, and home had always been more welcoming than Inaba.

"You are still very kind to offer." She finally nods. "I'll accept your escort. But I insist on something for your trouble. I need to stop by Junes and buy some produce. Please allow me to show my appreciation with a meal."

“I insist,” Naoto, well, insisted. It wasn’t injustice that compelled her to stay, nor was it helping for the sake of helping. Concern, most likely, because Inaba had murder on the brain and so did she, but not in the same sense as most of the populace. “This place is currently home to a murderer.” Everyone gossiped and so did the news, there was no need to beat around the bush.

She placed a hand on her hip. “Some residents here are prone to stare at outsiders.” People who hadn’t lived in Inaba their entire lives, those who were whisked here because of obligations, the list went on and on. In a town where everyone knew each other, a new arrival meant someone to be wary of, even more so when the new arrival wasn’t from Japan.

The clouds beyond the mountains became a darker shade of gray. “I can think of a few more reasons, but I’m sure you know what they are. Some of them, at least.” 

[townofcadence]

"I don't think that's how that works exactly." Artair frets, holding up a hand as if the motion might stop her from continuing down this path. He's almost relieved when the door deters her... at least until the picks come out. "W--- okay hang on, why do you even want to do this? Is it just about breaking things? Because I know a place with lots of things to break where there's no chance of being arrested. And if you're trying to do something specific can I at least know like-- why?"

🎬

"I mean, it's only a felony if I get caught." she snickers before heading towards the machine. She was absolutely dwarfed by it, yet she starts climbing it like it was nothing. But as she got to the door of the cab, she'd find the door locked. Of course.

"Hmm, well that's upsetting." she grumbles before getting into her pocket. And pulling out lockpicking tools!

[townofcadence]

Butch feels so warm still-- it almost aches in his chest how much like sunlight he is. He's teasing him but he's so happy and his eyes when they look at him hold so much affection, the way they curve at the edges in a smile even while he speaks. He's so handsome and he looks at him like he's the only thing in the world and all at once he's so small and so incomprehensibly vast. Butch's lips are twisted upwards with a curl of mischief and this whole moment is so unbelievably--- soft. He feels so soft inside.

How does he do it? How does he---- how does he know just how to unmake him? He barely has to do anything and the pain's a little less. He knows the right words to make him tremble and the facade slip just a little more. Hearing he missed him has the ache all the way through his chest.

"......Ah." He's holding his much between his palms like a lifeline. The crack is such a fissure from how kind Butch tries to be that his eyes are leaking. It's silent, but Butch is looking at him, and his head ducks further down. He pretends like he isn't. He watches Valentine prance around the kitchen instead.

"Uh. I......" He clears his throat. His tongue runs over his upper lip before they press together. "I..... don't know." Admitting that much has him wetter. He roughly scrapes away the tears, prickles of ire dancing at the base of his neck. "I just-- um. I just..." Every instinct is to get up, to run, to disappear and follow through with his plan. His legs shift, and then he forces them to move so they anchor to the legs of the chair by the top of his boots. Butch-- wants to know. He hates himself for burdening him with his bullshit, but--- he doesn't want to run when it's him. "I'm.... do you ever wonder.... what your point is....?" His voice strains out to the lowest register. "I-- I mean you have a point, that's not what I....mn. I just. What are you supposed to do? Like when... you lose your touch."

He stops again, the frustration growing the more he fails to say. "When-- when you stop being good at something that-- everyone basically knew you for."

🎬

Artair whispers his response and Butch obliges, taking the lid off of the small glass jar next to the coffee pot and with the small spoon inside, he puts two scoops of sugar in Artair’s coffee. He stirs it a bit for him before letting him take it from his hands with a smile. “Let me know f’ya need more~”

Artair compliments the mug and Butch lights up all the more, glad he had made the right choice on his loves behalf. His following words has Butch’s cheeks warming considerably, they were so tender and yet… there’s an underlying sadness in his tone, just barely recognizable if he didn’t know Artair well enough.

Still, he drinks up those compliments while he has the chance, wanting to return them ten fold all the while. Maybe make those eyes a little less glassy. “Oh, gosh…” He scoffs, bringing a hand to his cheek. How dare he make him so soft with a just a few words! “hush up with all that~ that silver tongue’s gonna get’cha in trouble f’ya ain’t careful, gorgeous.” He teases, turning his form and leaning against the counter with his own mug in hand.

By now, judging by how relatively quiet Artair is compared to how eager and bubbly he usually is, Butch can tell something is bothering him. He knows how Artair feels about being the center of attention when upset though, so he doesn’t plan to push him to talk about it if doesn’t wish to do so. Even still, he can’t not say something.

“I love ya too… more than anythin! An’…m’glad ya had time t’visit. I miss ya somethin’ awful when yer gone.” He admits quietly as he brings his mug up to his lips, taking himself a sip. His eyes are warm with concern as he watches Artair, lowering his mug after swallowing. “You, uh… y’okay? F’somethin’s botherin’ ya, y’know I don’ mind listenin. I know ya’d do it for me an’ I… even if ya don’t, I want ya t’know I’m here fer ya. I wanna be.” He asserts softly, smiling warmly up at the man. Even if by some chance something wasn’t bothering him and Butch was perceiving things wrong, he’d rather it be known that Artair could talk to him anytime he needed to.

[townofcadence]

"Rats? Jeez." Artair shakes his head. There's no judgement, because he understands you have to do what you must to survive, but the idea of such a dire situation is worrisome. "But no-- no. It's not poisoned. I can even take a few bites if you want me to prove it. I just..."

Artair rubs the back of his neck. "...I mean you've been sealed for who knows how long. And with what you said about your home-world... it sounds like you've been through a lot. This isn't anything huge, but.... well, I just thought you should have something decent after so long. You don't have to eat it if you don't like it, though. Or if it's too much." He hoped it wasn't. He went for a milder sauce to account for the fact he hadn't likely built much tolerance to flavors or spices, but it still might be more than Nanashi would be used to.

@townofcadence cont. from X

Nanashi stared at it for a long time and his expression was....confusion and deeply reflection. As if the mere motion of someone doing something for him was....NEW. He then finally got some words to echo of his throat. "Is it posioned? I've never....had such meal. I usually just feed on rat and...whatever I could steal my body adapted to not eating much." He slowly reached for the bowl.

[townofcadence]

The feelings he can pick up on stay cold, no flicker of anything like recognition, no glimmer that shows the crow is still in there. He's not sure what to do if he can't reach him. But he's a thing known for his stubbornness; he still has to try. Clearly there's some kind of spell or-- or magic at work, by his eyes alone. The fact that he's being held and detained and something is being summoned makes him more sure that the Crow is under the influence of the Heart, though.

That, and he knows he can forget. He's seen it.

Artair squirms, thrashes, but it isn't to escape. He wrenches just enough to free his arms in a twist that puts him on his back, looking up at the Crow. The way he looks, the way he's wrong, is more stark at this angle. He tries not to think about it for the moment. He--- it can't be permanent. It can't.

"You'll remember me." He says with surety he doesn't feel. His hand slides to his belt, and comes up with a special pin. A shield shaped brooch with three silver feathers on each side, forming the setting for a sunset gemstone in the center.

He hums a singular note into it, the same note he did in December when the Crow first gave it to him.

The Crow does not think much of the current situation. He was instructed to look for a person matching this one's exact description, and he was told to capture, not to kill, which is the only reason his hands are still safely tucked into the gloves the Heart has given him.

His captive is making an awful lot of noise. Meaningless sound that the Crow does not understand and doesn't care to understand either. Humans truly are a noisy bunch... then again, this one doesn't quite fall into that category, now does he? Not that it matters.

Still noisy.

The Crow's eyes are glazed over, his irises an oddly vibrant blue that looks rather eerie paired with his pale skin and dark feathers. And they lack their usual warmth, instead staring at Artair as if he were a stranger. Possibly even less than a stranger, a threat, perhaps?

He lets out a few loud caws, alerting the Heart of their location. The Heart probably already knows; the Heart knows everything, but it's what the Crow was told to do.

So he'll do it.

[townofcadence]

even if it kills me

[townofcadence]

"that was... very kind of you. thank you."

@dragonskxn // Unused to Kindness

"Oh-- it's really nothing, Anna. You don't have to thank me. I just did what anyone else would've."

[townofcadence]

what are you doing?" Nanashi not at all used to kind acts.

@reincarnated-muses // Unused to Kindness

"....It's food. Um. It's for you. Just some chicken curry with mango." Artair looks unsure at first of what else to say The box still held out and offered. "I mean.... you've been trapped for a long time. I don't know if you really eat or anything, but.... I thought you could use a good homemade meal, you know? Everyone deserves to have one."

[townofcadence]

" It's easier for people to look the other way. " Aurilio gives a little half-hearted shrug (from voices-of-ether)

@voices-of-ether // Unused to Kindness

It's a long pause, because he knows he's right. In most places, someone homeless is purposely ignored. But here's different.

"I'm not. I see you. So....let me help. Please. We can figure something out if you don't want to just take it. I'd understand. But--- I'm not going to judge. I just want to help you find your feet, because when I was in my worst place, that's what I needed too."

[townofcadence]

" I had it under control..." (Sure you did Fox)

@foxedthecards // Unused to Kindness

"Not from where I was standing, you didn't." Artair winces, fighting the urge to clutch his arm and side. It'd heal soon enough so he ignores it for now. He continues dragging fox behind him through the streets instead, turning sharp corners. "And I'll be damned if something happens to you or Jonas. As long as I'm around, neither of you are going to get hurt. You're both gonna be okay. And you're just-- just going to have to deal with someone caring."

[townofcadence]

" No one's ever actually just... sat down and listened to me... " (For Jonas?)

@foxedthecards // Unused to Kindness

"....I think sometimes.... others don't know what you're going through, if you don't share that part of yourself with them. I think they have their own stuff going on, and sometimes it's hard to see how someone is struggling. It doesn't mean they don't care.... but it can be harder to see, if you hide it even just a little."

He smiles. "But hey. Lucky you have me here, yeah? Haha. I'm good at picking up the subtle signs. And I'm here to listen, too. You just... have to choose to let yourself be a little vulnerable."

[townofcadence]

PROMPTS FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T USED TO KINDNESS *  assorted dialogue, adjust as necessary

what are you doing?

i can handle that myself, you know.

you didn't have to go out of your way to take care of me.

i'm not used to this. this caring thing.

thank you. don't ever do that again.

i thought you hated me, to be honest.

i didn't ask you to love me!

no one's ever actually just... sat down and listened to me.

i didn't think people like you existed.

is this normal for you? going out of your way like this?

i told you i had it handled. you didn't have to bother.

i... should probably thank you for that.

i don't know what to say. this has never happened before.

wait, that's mine. you fixed it?

you did all of this... for me?

that was the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me.

i'm kinda at a loss for words.

i wasn't expecting this from you.

you did all this for me?

i had it under control.

when did this happen?

how long were you planning this?

i'm not sure what to say. i'm not used to this.

i owe you one.

that was... very kind of you. thank you.

i'm just not used to people going out of their way to help me.

usually people just look the other way, but you actually care.

this is weird. is this what caring about someone feels like?

i could have handled it.

this must have taken you forever to arrange. and you did it all for me?

it would be easier in the long run if we went our separate ways.

i hate being in other peoples' debts.

i didn't want this to happen.

people around me don't last very long.

i feel like i'm screaming and screaming and no one hears me.

i'm in your debt.

how did you find that? i lost that ages ago.

you actually... listened to me?

no one's ever paid attention.

no one's ever put that much time in effort into something for me.

when did i say that?

i didn't ask you to care about me!

i'm easily missed. people don't pay attention to me.

i'm invisible most of the time.

it's easier for people to look the other way.

do you do this often? help people?

i'm surprised you're still here.

if you're expecting something in return, forget about it.

you came back?

why do you care about me so much?

i'm a lost cause. you should just forget about me.

what's the use? there's no point.

i don't even celebrate my birthday. no one cares.

you can't just make someone care about you.

i thought you left.

what is it about me that has you so worked up?

you're making a big deal out of nothing.

thanks for patching me up.

you... brought this here for me?

but i didn't ask for this! i didn't ask for any of this!

stop smiling at me like that.

[townofcadence]

Can I get to know you

I don’t recommend it

[townofcadence]

Soldier, Poet, King, Jester, or Princess?

The Soldier

You are the tough and selfless fighter with a strong moral compass which shows their values and rights and wrongs. You are the backbone of a group and the responsible, courageous fighter who is willing to sacrifice themselves for others. You lead with heart, chivalry and bravery, but are not afraid to fight fiercely for what you think is right. Your hands grip the sword tight, blood staining your hands from a fight you didn’t even want to be in. You’re fueled with righteousness, strength and violence with a somewhat calm hostility in your being, but sometimes, your anger takes lead instead of your love and trueness.