crystallinememories

[Raha has no idea what a chocobo is, but Amal's description is utterly charming.]

Well now I certainly have to meet her. Assuming she'll deign to grace me with her presence, that is.

[ah yes, this is cementing his impression that Amal's not being picky about roommates. Clearly this is nothing out of the ordinary.]

An unconventional set of animals, but likely good company all the same.

Lady Dansara is always prepared for a royal audience! she sleeps out behind the house next to the chicken coop but she also likes to be with me wherever i am, so i'll go outside and sit on the porch, and she'll lay her head in my lap. i'm sure she'll like you if that's what you're worried about

[She had carried a weakened G'raha from Syrcus Tower to Mor Dhona not so long ago (after Amal had carried him down all those stairs).]

they're the best company. especially dansara...

i spent a lot of impossibly cold nights curled up with her in the dark. when the storms were the worst, she'd hide me beneath her wings like a chick, and we'd shake off ilms of snow in the morning... a few times, she brought me directly to the healers when i was too cut up to move.

that's the thing about adventuring—if you do it alone, you won't last long.

That's very sweet.

[He has to mull over that for a bit, because that description probably shouldn't make him a bit wistful, but... it does. He is a voracious learner, and while he's spent most of his life feeding his appetite for knowledge with books, he can't deny that he periodically dreams of just... going off on some grand adventure, learning things through experience and personal discovery. Coming to America to study was a bit of a small scale version of that, but the idea of having someone to share it with just hooks into him a little bit.]

Honestly, that sounds wonderful. I wish I had someone to go on adventures with like that.

[Amal is thankful this is over text because if this was video or voice he would break. As it is, he doesn't respond right away. It... hurts. To be so close. To help him without being able to tell him...

It's agonizing.]

all you have to do is ask

[He's said it before, and he'll say it again.]

who wouldn't want to go on an adventure with you?

[Likewise, it takes Raha a bit longer to respond that it strictly should. He's sure Amal's just saying that- they hardly know each other, after all, there's no reason for him to... but still...

Something about that just makes him feel so happy.]

Then maybe we should, sometime.

[He doesn't expect it to ever happen. But... it would be nice.]

ever seen the countryside from horseback?

[They ride horses here instead of chocobos, last he checked.]

No, I haven't.

if i saddle up my chocobo, it's basically the same thing!

i just have to find someone who can make one

[Ok that does sound like a lot of fun.]

I'll be honest, I don't know where you'd get any saddle around here, much less one for a chocobo.

i'm not worried. there's people who make and sell weapons in the secret magical bazaar

surprise!

You should have mentioned that to start!

why did no one tell him about secret magic bazaar??]

[This is an appropriately lighthearted subject to get away from how much he misses G'raha.]

oh, i assumed you knew about the secret underground black market since you knew about magic. silly me! i thought it would bore you if i asked

[He's totally teasing.]

Those are not remotely the same thing!

[he's being a little huffy about it, but it's a playful huffy.]

well, my dear scholar, if you think you can step away from your studies for a few hours i'm happy to take you anytime

To be honest I could probably use the break... at any point I don't actively need to be present for a class.

[He's pretty much always reading or writing otherwise.]

naturally.

if we go during the weekend i think more shops will be open. what do you say?

Sounds wonderful! I'm already looking forward to it.

it's a date!

bring an empty bag and an open mind. but also don't eat or drink anything i don't hand you myself because it might be tampered with hehe

I'm now also a tad concerned, but still mostly excited!

[wait hang on is this actually a date.]

[Depends on the vibe, honestly.]

i'll keep you safe, don't worry!

i'm not from the birthplace of alchemy for nothing

[He doesn't think he'd mind?? But also this is literally the second time they've spoken and spoilers, he really doesn't have much history with this kind of thing.

But it doesn't matter, really, doesn't change whether he'd go or not and he's plenty excited regardless. So he shows up at the appointment time and place, with a bag as instructed, looking around for his 'new' friend. Of course, given that he's only seen Amal's picture, Amal will have a much easier time picking him out of the crowd than vis-versa, even without the ears and tail.]

Edited (forgot to actually... label as action. whoops.) 2022-04-28 20:25 (UTC)

[Amal picks the other redhead out instantly and moves across the sidewalk to meet him. It's starting to warm up, so he's dressed more comfortably: an unbuttoned red nehru jacket over a black cotton shirt, jeans, and pointed-toe boots peeking out from beneath. He has multiple gold piercings in his obvious elf ears, and some matching layered necklaces, as well as jangly bracelets and a few rings... This is him dressing conservatively, believe it or not.]

Raha! [He beams brightly, always happy to see him even if it's... well, mostly one-sided.] Thanks for coming. How are you doing? Are you ready for a little adventure?

[One wouldn't know it's one-sided from the way Raha reacts; he immediately brightens when he sees Amal, smiling as the man makes his way over.]

I'm well! And it's nice to meet you in person. [He really doesn't get out much, aside from school things at this point, and Amal has been so kind already. He's excited for both the discoveries of the market and getting to know him a bit better.] Absolutely. Thank you bringing me along.

[He bows with a flourish and a smile that is just a bit too rogueish.]

And you as well.

[It's... weird seeing G'raha with round ears. He keeps staring a little too long, but might get confused for looking at his eyes instead.]

I thought it might be a nice introduction to a world you knew existed but hadn't seen. [He gestures for Raha to follow him and starts across the walkway... toward a closed-down subway station abandoned in the middle of construction. By all appearances it looks creepy as hell and empty, but Amal doesn't slow his stride whatsoever.] Looks like a dungeon, right? It's actually the entrance to where we're going!

[Or his Miqo'te marks, or the Archon tattoos... really there's plenty new to him on his face, so he assumes it's one of those and scratches sheepishly at his cheek at the attention.

He won't comment on it, though, following after Amal and looking towards the subway station. He's walked past here plenty, but obviously didn't have any reason to try and go inside.] Right in plain sight... I suppose that's often how it is, isn't it?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

[action]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject