[closed] The log of beautiful hair that has nothing at all to do with anything

[flaredo]

Who: Yang Xiao Long (flaredo) & Abe no Sousei (deontology)
When: IC 11/25
Where: Out and about
What: An unanticipated aura lesson
Rating/Warning: Shouldn't be any!

---

[ It's not actually rare for Yang to be thoughtful. It is, however, rare of her to show it, and so she doesn't. While she's making the usual rounds (listening for info, keeping an eye out for anything odd, catching up with the more familiar faces), she's also considering something.

She hadn't known whether aura would work for people outside of her world (even Yata's was something a little different), until she'd attempted it with Hinata. Which had made her think... she could do it for other people too, couldn't she? She should at least bring it up to Komaeda, since Hinata was his boyfriend; he could probably use a little more of a defensive edge. But training it here... it only seemed to show faster results in ViViD.

Maybe if--

And it's then that she spots the waving ponytail of someone jogging up ahead.

It takes a few seconds of squinting to verify the owner of that ponytail, and then she perks up and brings her palms to cup around her mouth. ]

Souseiiiii! Back it up a second!

Comments

[deontology]

[he keeps up his regular training in Cerealia, of course. He has no interests in slacking off even though he's in a completely different world; it would be a disservice to the Yamainu and his duty if he showed up back home incapable of doing what he needed to do.

So. Jogging.

Except then he hears a familiar voice, and it's not like it harms him to pause, turn on his heel and arch an eyebrow at her. Really, Yang....Really.

He steps forward to meet her, but it's still with that arched eyebrow.]

Yang. Did you need something?

[He's not even out of breath, what an asshole.]

[flaredo]

I can't just say hi?

[ Please, flaunt your wonderful ponytail-swishing stamina, she wouldn't be out of breath either. ]

If you need me to come up with a better reason, you just have to give me a minute.

[ It's true, Yang just greets people via chipper harassment and blatant disregard for prior commitments. ]

[deontology]

[No...... no you can't just do that. Why would you? What a strange and perfectly natural and human thing to do!!

He blinks.]

Don't bother wasting your time. [...]

You've done what you intended to do. [can he go now--]

[flaredo]

... You're not the best at socializing, are you? It's fine, I can keep up with you. [ Jogging, she means. ]

[deontology]

[No, he's not......

... ... ... why would she even-- okay, fine, whatever.]

If you want, I will not say no. If you do fall behind, I won't slow down for you.

[But he somehow doubts that she will.

BACK ON THE JOG.]

[flaredo]

No, seriously, how do you have friends? Are they just all as stubborn as me?

[ Yeah, no, she'll keep up. ]

[deontology]

[Excuse you????

(but no that's the million dollar question).]

... I am not interested in friendship.

[ok sure]

[flaredo]

At all?? Seriously?

Why not??

[ SOUSEI YOU'RE WEIRD. ]

[deontology]

[??? YOU'RE WEIRD. (no he's the weird one)]

I don't need it.

[AT ALL]

[flaredo]

Well, you have it. So you'll have to get used to it.

[deontology]

[...????]

I did not ask for your friendship.

[flaredo]

That's not how friendship works. I like you, so you're my friend, that's it.

[deontology]

[Is...is that how it works.........]

...That's it.

[...]

Hm.

[He turns his attention back to the jogging as if dismissing that, but...he's thinking about it. She likes him, so he's her friend. Is it really as simple as that?]

[flaredo]

That's it. If we were talking about aura, then that's tricky, but friendship? Hardly.

[deontology]

[he will GRATEFULLY LATCH ONTO THE SUBJECT CHANGE OPPORTUNITY.]

Aura? I'm not familiar.

[flaredo]

It's something everyone's got, so long as you have a soul. Basically, it shields you from harm.

[deontology]

[... huh. He keeps up the jogging pace, but he's thinking this through.]

... Is it something you have learned how to do?

[flaredo]

Yeah, sort of. You have to get it unlocked, and then you have to train a lot to be able to manifest it and use it in fights.

[deontology]

[He slows then, and then comes to a stop. There's nobody around in the park at this time of day, but... he's curious about this.]

And you said it is a method of defending yourself?

[flaredo]

Yeah, you can use it to repel, or add some damage to your attacks. Interested?

[ She's already tilting her head. ]

[deontology]

Yes.

[At least he's...straightforward as ever.]

If it can be taught, I am interested in learning.

[flaredo]

Sure... on one condition.

[deontology]

...What is it?

[That's fair, he thinks. Give and take, that's how relationships work (that's why this isn't a friendship)]

[flaredo]

You make one friend after this.

[ Yep. ]

[deontology]

[what]

... You're serious.

[WHY...IS THAT YOUR CONDITION]