Road trip! [closed]

[vindr]

Who: Manami and K'pandolu
What: Sparring, monster-killing, and monster not-killing. [Friendly monster quest]
When: End of June (whenever the trip to Stilzkin's Castle is done)
Where: Island of Aqures Tosf
Warning: None



June was full of people doing fun things! The blitzball was something else! And some people had gone exploring some castle, so Manami was left without many people he knew around again.

So when he saw Kupandoru-san walking around, he remembered that they were going to go sparring again!
And Tia had told him that Aqures Tosf had monsters at his level! (There was something about berries and molobo? But he forgets.)
So, road trip, right! Right!

A: Conversation. Because there's lots of time for that when you're on a boat. srs business.

B: HAMSTER ATTACK! ...Not.

Comments

[vindr]

The thrill of successfully getting Lancet off on her is short-lived as he finds her sword hitting all the air out of him and he is shoved backwards. (Thank goodness for good armor.)

One very inelegant noise and awkward stumble later, he's rolled face-down in the dirt.

Breathing is really hard when you are face-down in the dirt.

Coughing and trying to catch your breath and laughing at the same time doesn't all quite work either.

He settles for trying to get his breath back in between coughs, his eyes closed against the dust he kicked up. Better say it now before she kicks him while he's down (not that she would, but still-).

"Done-- done- --! Cute!"

Maybe not the set of words Kupandoru was expecting, but Manami has just opened his eyes to see a cute little hamster sitting in the long grass across from him.

[unyieldingspirit]

She had her sword at the ready, just in case (and because a true enemy wouldn't be even that forgiving), but at his words, she relaxed.

…until the third, at least, and then she looked to see what he was looking at.

The creature looked cute and fluffy, at least, but so did deepvoid mice. And chinchillas. "Careful," she called, shifting into a battle-ready stance once more.

[vindr]

As soon as that word left her mouth Manami (with perfect comedic timing) looked up from petting the hamster and blinked at her questioningly.

"Careful of what?"

He'd already gotten up and started petting it in that brief moment. (Truly, Manami is mysterious...)

[unyieldingspirit]

Oh… he'd already done it. Her ears went flat, and she shook her head, sword at her side again. But if it hadn't taken a bite out of him by now…

She sheathed her weapon, moving to stand beside him and get a closer look at the creature. "Even fluffy creatures can be dangerous," she advised.

[vindr]

Heh~ her ears were flat. She wasn't happy. Manami's hand stilled as he thought- too bad humans didn't have ears! It'd be so much easier to tell what they were thinking! Although, someone like Arakita would always have flat ears~ But it'd be fun to see Fukutomi-san with them~!

Manami paused that amusing line of thought as a small voice reached his ears.

"Please pet me~?"

"Eh? ...Kupandoru-san, you are a cat-person, after all- of course I could pet you too!"

[unyieldingspirit]

K'pandolu started at that, ears twitching, tail beginning to fluff up. That was- the height of informality, and while she might have expected that from him…

"Miqo'te," she corrected, even if it was probably futile. "You- Manami, don't say such things without being asked!" Except- had there been a voice? Her ears twitched, listening.

[vindr]

Ohh~ she's mad! But- "But you asked just now, didn't you?"

"No, that was me~"

So says the little voice again. "Down here! Down here! You stopped petting me~! Please pet me~?"

Blinking, Manami looked down at the hamster.

"Whoa~! Kupandoru-san! I think the hamster talked!"

[unyieldingspirit]

Ah, now she's caught it. She crouched down beside Manami, ears twitched forward, eyes on the hamster.

"I think so, too," she agreed, with a quick glance at him. "Is that all you want, then?"

[vindr]

"Yes! Yes~! Please pet me~"

"Hehe! Okay, okay." And Manami resumed petting the hamster.

"It's really soft and fluffy~" Picking it up in one hand, Manami brought it to his face and rubbed his cheek against the fur. (He's enjoying this way too much.)

"You want a turn, Kupandoru-san?"

[unyieldingspirit]

She watched him, one hand supporting her chin- still regarding it with suspicion, if anyone had asked.

She startled slightly when he asked that instead, hand dropping. "Ah-" Her tail dropped, and she considered. It hadn't done anything at all- seemed entirely content in Manami's hands, to be honest. "Very well," she said, reaching out to touch it a little more quickly than her tone suggested.

[vindr]

Of course, Manami is absolutely amused with a cat-person petting a hamster. You never cease to be pretty amazing, Kupandoru-san~

The hamster happily accepts their pets for a good long while, but eventually stretches out and yawns.

"I'm so happy! It's been so~ long since anyone has given me pets." He looks at Manami, and if hamsters had expressions it would probably be wry. "She's right, you know? My cousins are just a little bit bigger than me, but a whoooole~~ lot stronger! You better watch out if they don't ask for pets~!

"But for today, I give you my deepest thanks for such wonderful pets~"

And when Manami puts the hamster down on the ground it scurries away into the long grass.

(Somehow, Manami feels a touch braver...)

[unyieldingspirit]

So what if he were to see her petting a cat, then…?

K'pandolu watched the hamster disappear before straightening up, brushing herself off. Something felt a little different- more solid, maybe?- but she didn't see what it could be. "Its thanks, is it?" she murmured. She stretched out a hand, flexing her fingers. "I suppose that's better than nothing." More than she'd have anticipated, anyhow. "Are you ready to go back?"

[vindr]

It would be surreal~...

"M'kay! Let's go," Manami agreed, picking up his spear from where it had dropped and following her back.


[[ooc: Thanks again for the threads~! <3]]