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[frenchkiss]

« @confiance » TEXT ✧ AUDIO ✧ VIDEO ✧ ACTION LAURENT THIERRY ✦ GREAT PRETENDER
RESIDENCE ✦ Marilla
SAPPHIRE ✦ Gembond

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surprise. [ action ] sometime during the event (7/15th-19th)

[edamamepon]

[ It'd been a scary beginning to the day, not knowing the how or the why of him being here without his parents. Luckily for Makoto, his attention span and patience were not natural strengths of his at this age so it didn't take long before boredom and curiosity overcame the fear. Besides, the few gems he met along the way were really nice so they couldn't possibly be bad people. Eventually winds up in the prettiest, most recognizably fun looking place he could find --the beach.

He wastes no time losing his socks and shoes in favor of happily running to let his feet hit the water with a cry of laughter. This boy has no volume control when he thinks he's alone. ]

[frenchkiss]

[ Laurent had been panicked when he woke up in such a strange place. This was far from being Brussels and even farther from Europe. He's adaptable and precocious, but a boy still wants his mother. He couldn't help but cry the first day, missing her dearly.

He's all she has and she's all he has. He has to go back to her. He can't take care of her future if he's stuck in some place like this.

The beach had eventually caught his interest. Oceans mean travel and travel means a way out of here. That's as far as his ten year old brain can figure out, but he's confident with the studying he's done, he might be able to make a deal with a tradesman to get back home. He... just has to find one that isn't also part fish.

Color him startled when he hears the squeal of another child running down into the water. There's not many kids his age here, it seems, for some reason or another, so he's surprised to see him. He turns to watch him for a moment. He's a little guy, isn't he? He wonders if he's here by himself, too.

He heads on over waving a hand above his head, smiling his friendliest. If he's by himself, then that's two of them. Two heads are better than one and besides... he doesn't necessarily trust a bunch of strange adults when someone that young is springing about solo. ]

[edamamepon]

[ Makoto is distracted by the water, not really caring about the splashes that almost reach the bottom of his shorts.

His movement stops abruptly when he catches the motion of Laurent's arms out of the corner of his eyes. There's a beat, big eyes blinking like that will help him decide what to do.

Oh. Another kid, and this one looks human and super friendly? Makoto is all smiles even before he starts bounding over to him. He stops once they're close enough, tilting his head and looking the newcomer over. He might be a little too excited. ]

What-- Oh. [ It's as if his mom elbows him to be polite and his tone switches to practiced over energetic. ] Hello, my name is Makoto Edamura. It is very nice to meet you.

[ with that out of the way, he's back to excitable. ]

So, what's your name? Where are you from?

[frenchkiss]

[ Laurent looks down at Makoto as he runs up close. Really just a little guy. As if Laurent himself is not still fairly little. He keeps a bright smile on, though, relieved to at least find someone his age to connect to. He's always talking to adults at his mother's restaurant, but that situation is different from here. ]

Hello, Makoto! I'm Laurent. Laurent Thierry! And I'm from Brussels... which I'm guessing is far from wherever this is. I can definitely tell it is NOT earth!

[ He says, astutely, as if it is a profound observation. ]

What about you... are you from here? Are your parents here?

[edamamepon]

Well yea, this place is super weird. Kinda cool.

[ Makoto laughs, wiggling his toes in the sand. He might have more than a few friends back home, but... there are more than a couple kids that consider him a little weird. He shakes his head at the question. ]

No and uh, no. I don't think so. What about you? Seen your mom or dad?

Forwarded dated to 8/13

[sing_for_me]

[ Alex was just starting to grow accustomed to weird changes and reactions coming from herself, but this…this was new. It came and went as it pleased, choosing to disappear for now as she walks the streets of the Ruby underground. Should she be grateful for the experience the ghost of Barry had given her…?

No, even the thought of him sent a chill down her spine still, heightening her wariness to the point of almost swinging her arm at the poor man who came just a little too close to her. ]

A-ah, sorry, I didn’t mean to…

[frenchkiss]

[ Somehow, lurking down here in the underground is easing the shadow that keeps appearing to follow him around. He's used to voices - used to ghosts - but they're usually not himself. With drink and other outlets, he can ignore this one, somewhat, but it's not foolproof.

Laurent startles, having been in his own head as much as she was, and steps back before he hits her. He smiles easily, waving a hand. ]

Just glad to know I'm not the target you were swinging at. Is someone bothering you?

[sing_for_me]

Just…I thought…

[ She glances around, looking for the pesky apparition. ]

I thought you were that…shadow thing. Um, I’m not sure if you’ve seen them…

[ Hopefully not. ]

[frenchkiss]

[ Poor thing. She looks antsy. He can understand. He's personally exhausted. ]

I've got my own little ghost following me around, yes. I'm guessing yours is giving you a particularly large headache.

[sing_for_me]

[ She peers behind him, in case it was there. ]

It’s…different from what I’m used to.

[ But maybe that was being too personal. ]

Sorry about that. It probably isn’t the best time to be out.

end of September [ action ]

[edamamepon]

[ Makoto left the main path on a whim, four new golden hooves yearning for soft grass. His new legs supprt the half of him that is decidedly more horse like, despite the spattering of blue-green scales over most of his body. Red feathering smooths the transition from hoof to scale, puffs of volume that highlight them. His long tail would be more reptilian if not for the red hair that transforms it into something more otherworldly.

It's as if the equine shaped part of him body is caught between horse and dragon. From a distance, the shape and movement of him is all centaur. The top half of him is largely unchanged, save for the red tint to his dark brown hair and the golden hue to his eyes.

He stops to look around. The park is largely empty here, undeveloped grass that doesn't seem as popular as the other side. Long stifled energy snaps from nervous anticipation, the shifting of weight, to wild abandon as he takes off at a full gallop across the length of grass.

Laughter gets punched out of him, arms spread wide as he runs. Jumping over invisible obstacles, circling back, he allows himself to go with the instincts of this body for once. Galloping had been on the list of fun things to do as a jinba, and now he fully understood why. Losing track of time, his gallop eventually slows to a trot. A couple more little jumps are the lead up to the sudden drop to roll in the grass.

He stays that way a moment, just looking up at the sky and catching his breath. His human chest rises and falls with the effort of it, cheeks flushed with exertion and expression as open as his outstretched arms on either side of him. The pure joy wavers as he turns thoughtful. But it doesn't die completely until he shifts to sit back up and just so happens to roll his body towards the line of trees close by.

Catching Laurent's stupid face has his whole body freezing in place like a kid caught with one hand in the cookie jar. From surprise to scowling, embarrassment hits him. And then he's already gearing up to come marching over.

This new body is a little heavier but he hurriedly rights himself, brushing grass off his polo and adjusting the loincloth like strips of fabric keeping him decent as he marches over. The fabric is jinba approved as decent, but he tries not to think about how little is between him and flashing the world in this form.

Watch out, he's marching over with an annoyed look on his face, fists clenched at his sides. ]

[frenchkiss]

[ Laurent had, up until this point, been splitting his time between spending time by the beach (as some part of him kept drawing him there) and exploring the underground. Getting his nose into questionable activities helped release all the pent up agitation he's had by being trapped here and the water soothed the stress out of him.

He doesn't like consistency or routine, though, so he's opted for this place over the water today. Reading literature from this place might help him better understand this world, so he might as well sink himself into a book. His nose isn't clean here, per se, but he can pretend to be an upstanding and mundane citizen sometimes.

The running doesn't stir him. He'd heard more than enough odd, animalistic sounds in this world and he's nearly used to them.

It's the hard thud of a large body hitting the ground. Thump. It almost sounded like someone had collapsed. It stirs his gaze away from his book and leads him to looking for the source.

Certainly didn't expect to see his fairweather 'friend' rolling about like a pig in mud at the end of that sound. He's looking happy, at least, if not ridiculous in that form. He decides to stow that thought away when he realizes he's been spotted. Even from here, he can tell Edamame's good mood had already been banished.

He just stays seated on the ground, watching him with a confused expression. The man, presumably, was only 'interested' in him for a hard fuck in this world, so why bother with him right now?

His expression shifts back to that default smile he carries when he sees Makoto. He lifts a hand to wave at him almost cheerily. ]

Edamame! To what do I owe this pleasure?

[edamamepon]

[ By the time Makoto is just close enough to facilitate a conversation, his frown is deep. Arms crossing, he stands as tall as he can, clearly already used to the difference in altitude. His tail, mostly red and expressive, swishes behind him.

If it weren't for the pieces of grass still in his hair, his current choice to act like nothing happened would be pretty convincing. His eyes narrow anyway. How long has he been here? Did he see all of that? ]

What are you even doing here?

[frenchkiss]

[ What a question. What was he doing here? The man's paranoia has gotten worse than he thought. It's just going to be like 'this' now, isn't it?

Laurent shuts his book and rests back against the tree he's sat up against, smiling quizzically. ]

I'm reading. I wanted some quiet time. Even a man like me likes some moments of peace, you know.

[edamamepon]

Tch. You like ruining moments of peace for other people, too.

[ It lacks the bite it should and Makoto's shoulders relax, though he isn't completely convinced. At the same time, he doesn't want to tallk about his frolicking either. It's time to pretend that Didn't Happen.

Distrust is the reason his gaze falls over Laurent with more scrutiny. It has nothing to with seeing if any of the marks he left in the past have scarred or to note any changes he has this month.

Looking away, his front hooves scrape the ground as he shifts his weight. Just before he balances a slightly crumpled cigarette to his lips to light, he asks-- ]

What're you reading?

Undergound Mishap

[sing_for_me]

[ Alex was ready to go home after a long night of work, many people out to drink with friends and have a good time and looking for some entertainment. She’s lost count of how many times she’s been requested to sing a particular Brumfast song. She wanted to change into something and cozy and sneak under the covers, but her plans were thwarted when she failed to notice the appendages reaching for her from the doorway of a now closed store. ]

H-hey! Hold on!!

[ She gets dragged back towards the entrance of it, tentacles wrapping around her limbs and waist to keep her in place, the pheromones released from the sprig slowly making her more pliant. She still tries, but her abilities as an amethyst do little to the tentacles, instead the gust of wind blowing right into someone passing by, the first one in this rather quiet path.

The consentacles take notice, reaching to grab for him too. ]

[frenchkiss]

[ Laurent's been spending his time and energy down in the darker corners of this world. He feels familiarity in these nooks and crannies and familiarity is what he needs if he's going to keep his head together after being stuck here for several months.

The true normalcy of this place is relative, though, as can be seen by the state Alex is in when he wanders by on his way home from a night as a fly on the wall in a dive bar in the area. A normal Laurent would help the beautiful lady in trouble, but that is soon thwarted by his own body being spun into the tendrils and gathered up close to her.

He flashes a smile at her as he tries to process just... what the hell is happening to them. ]

Alex! I see you just ended work for the night, yes? Is... this thing your friend?

[sing_for_me]

[ There’s an incredulous look on her face that just said, does it LOOK like me friend?!

Even at a time like this he found a way to joke around. Funny enough, despite what might be annoyance, she can feel the slivers of synchrony as the consentacles press them up against one another. She can also feel the heat of embarrassment rushing to her face, sprinkled with the influence of the kissletoe that had her warming up in other ways as well. ]

Laurent…please take this a little seriously.

[frenchkiss]

[ Laurent can't help the snort he lets out when she gives him that level of sulking. It's not killing them - yet - so he's not worried - yet.

He keeps on smiling at her, not swayed at all by her plea. He, at least, is having fun. ]

What? It's not so scary. We just need to figure out what it wants, right? Hopefully, then, it won't eat us.

Backdated Brumfast Gifts

[sing_for_me]

[ Alex will have given Laurent a a charcoal gray scarf and some soft, cozy socks to be comfy with at home! Hopefully he also likes brownies? She apologizes that they’re simple. She will observe more as they hang out to give better gifts next time. ]

[frenchkiss]

[ He will absolutely be rocking that scarf + sock combo regularly. ]

un: acala;

[indignitas]

Things are getting ugly from the underground, keep your head down.

[frenchkiss]

I appreciate the worry. I'll be alright, though. I'm pretty familiar with these scenarios. How are you holding up?

[indignitas]

It's fine, I can handle them.

[frenchkiss]

Well, if you need any back up, give me a ring. I'm not too shabby when it comes to defusing a situation... or throwing a punch.