deercountry | (closed) march catchall

[ Thankfully the fluffy creature has one good bit of news here for Taro. ]

Of course I will not tell him. [ See? He's serious about that too. This Omen doesn't break a promise, and-- ] We had an agreement.

[ Way back in the kitchen all those months ago. Apparently he hasn't forgotten, even though so much time has passed. But he easily remembers the other having seemed so skittish about being found out there, and so he hasn't mentioned a word about any of this to his Sleeper. ]

Anything you tell me is just between us.

[ .. a pause, and then, turning his head to try and look at the other while still being carried: ]

Have you really been doing fully fine? This place is dangerous. Not just physically.

[He shifts the dog so he's leaning against his shoulder rather than dangling his feet. Better to be polite, he supposes.]

... It's the Sleepers more than anything else that scares me, if we're being honest. The beasts and the... being fucked with can put a lot on you, but the people here have wildly overpowered abilities that can hurt a lot of people.

I don't see why other people aren't scared of it. It's frustrating to - mm. People don't like to learn from the past. Even in other worlds... I don't know. But I'm okay. More or less.

[A little psychological scarring, but... otherwise okay.]

Have any of them hurt you?

[ Okay, maybe the question is a little direct.

But it seems like that's just how the Omen is. Cute, sure, and caring, sure, but.. also the type that doesn't really beat around the bush. It's not even that the Omen necessarily suspects it's the case, but on the other hand, it's only natural to worry about that sort of thing when Taro is specifically highlighting other Sleepers as a problem.

Because he's right. Not entirely, since the Omen thinks some people here are probably nervous enough about it - but it is true that most people would think of the main dangers here as the monsters and everything Trench sends at them first, rather than other Sleepers. ]

... Not here. But people at home have. I don't... trust easily.

[He strokes the pup's fur gently and leans against him slightly as he walks.]

But I've seen some of the power that some of them wield. Even the ones I trust, I can't... trust completely, as much as I want to.

[Even Sharon... he wants to, but he can't. He just can't, especially with the powers she has. She can just rip the trauma out of him and show it to his face. That's terrifying, and while he likes her, her abilities...]

[He realizes he's holding the pup a little too tightly and adjusts his grip.]

... Sorry.

It is fine. No need for apologies.

[ The Omen does truly sound unbothered enough as it says that - but then again, its tone more or less always sounds like that, so it may be hard to tell whether it was truly bothered by the slightly tighter grip or not.

The Omen doesn't seem to linger on it anyway. It doesn't take more than a moment before it's already continuing, his head resting on Taro's shoulder. ]

You want to trust.

[ It can't help but point that out loud. Taro basically said so himself a moment ago, after all. ]

Maybe you should think about what it takes for a person to trust.

Uh huh.

[What a weird dog(?). He scratches its ears gently and puffs up his cheeks.]

What, me? I mean... I... guess. But there's only one person I trust, because she's like me.

... But she's not here. And it takes a really long time to build trust. It's not like I can just snap my fingers and trust someone.

[ The Omen seems to silently contemplate this for a moment.

.. or it's just enjoying the ear scritches, who knows. They sure make his tail wag.. ]

Do you trust me?

[ It seems like a loaded question, despite the dog asking it so relatively calmly and innocently, but he adds for clarification: ]

You are telling me all this.

[ That implies some trust. Like trusting him to not tell his Sleeper about it. ]

To a degree. I don't trust you completely, but... well.

[The fact that he's a shisa helps, and he's not going to pretend that it doesn't.]

Like I said, it takes a long time to build real trust. It's just... not easy.

I've been burnt too many times.

I am not saying you have to. [ Trust him, that is. It might be evident in the way the shisa doesn't even seem all that offended by Taro telling him he doesn't trust him completely.

Then again, he seems offended by very little. At all times. ]

I am only saying you are still putting some trust in others. [ Some. Not all. But even some trust is better than none, in shisa's opinion. ] That is a good thing. A heart without trust is too cold.

[ Even when - in Taro's case - it's born out of hurt, rather than malice, it seems. ]

You never know when the right person comes on your path.

I... yeah. I miss the person who was the 'right person'. We get along so well...

[Damn but he misses Toshiko. She'd hate it here, though.]

... Tell me which way to take you to get you home. I don't want you to have to be away from your person for too long.

[Speaking of 'the right person'.]

[ Honestly, the Omen knows that Daniel will be fine even if he isn't around for a little bit..

But he's also not sure if Taro would believe that if he said it, so instead: ]

To the right at the end of this street. [ It's not the full instructions yet, but it's not like he wants to overload the guy - so he'll just give him directions along the way.

And speak on in the meantime. It's kind of nice, being carried like this.. ]

Do you think there is only one right person for you?

[He follows the pup's instructions and sighs at the question.]

A lot of people die before they get a chance to have me really trust them. Or they move on in other ways.

So maybe no, but it's hard to tell. Not when people keep moving - including me.

None of us are moving much here.

[ Not to be argumentative here, Taro. In fact, the dog-like creature doesn't sound that way at all, it's still just calm...

Especially when the shisa is pretty sure it is just pointing out a fact here. ]

We can't go anywhere. Even when people die, they come back. [ Not that death can't still be traumatic, but it's no longer a permanent separation the way it sounds like it is in Taro's own world. And in the shisa's Sleeper's world. ]

Edited 2023-04-01 18:41 (UTC)

[He sighs. The calmness is almost irritating, but it's not the creature's fault.]

Maybe here. Not at home. Here... I haven't been here long enough to really trust anyone.

To a degree, yeah. But true trust takes years, especially when you live well over a hundred years.

[ There's a pause - though it's only small - like the Omen needs a moment to process that before he speaks up again. ]

You live that long?

[ Granted, the concept of lifespan to a creature like an Omen is.. a little wild, but it's not like he can't grasp it, especially when he's very well aware of his own Sleeper's lifespan.

Which definitely is not over a hunderd years. Sorry, Daniel. ]

Yes. Not everyone here is a human. I'm actually a hundred and fifty one.

[Roughly? He's pretty sure. His first year or so was kind of blurred and confusing as he got used to just suddenly... existing.]

I don't know how long I have the potential to live, though.

You seem very young for your age.

[ .. It's supposed to be a joke.

But when the Omen always seems to speak with that same serious voice, it's really hard to tell that it is one.. At least the creature did already know not everyone here is human. Hell, even the humans who arrived here technically aren't human anymore.. ]

It sounds sad. Living that long without many people to trust. Hopefully you can find trust and comfort here sooner or later.

Well the shapeshifting helps.

[He knows it's a joke, but he takes it like it isn't anyway. ... Aside from giving the pup another scritch.]

That's part of why I created a society to help people like me. ... But it's imploding on itself anyway.

[There's bitterness in his voice and it's not even remotely hidden.]

But yeah. ... It'd be nice to find someone again.

[ The bitterness isn't too surprising. The Omen knows very well that there are plenty of things that can make a person bitter, and something about creating a society and watching it implode onto itself sounds like enough of a reason for it. So there's no remark about the other's tone - the Omen just lets it be, quietly and gently giving directions for where Taro should walk next as he keeps going.

And when the other seems done for the moment, the Omen properly speaks up again. ]

I am sure you can find someone like that here. [ There's such a multitude of people here, after all. People with varying experiences. There had to be at least someone who matches Taro somehow. ] Keep your eyes open. And perhaps even your heart as well, if not slightly.

[ There's a pause, and then the creature adds: ]

Call on me for help if you need it.

[He sighs and nuzzles the pup a little bit as they walk. It's right, though he doesn't really want to admit it. Damn, he's lonely... he has been for a long time.]

I don't want you to be in danger too. And I know, I know. You've got plenty of abilities of your own. I still... I've had others take the fall for me before and it's never exactly a nice experience...

[He huffs and his own omen manifests, running next to them. A white fox, ears perked and tail swishing.]

You've got a Sleeper of your own to take care of.

Omens can't get hurt.

[ Sorry, Taro. This little fluffy boy is almost infuriatingly factual, right..

At least he doesn't stick to just that, even though it's the Omen's initial response. There's a very brief pause, and then he continues. His tone is still calm, but it dips a little bit into something a little.. maybe not necessarily more emotional, but softer around the edges. ]

I wish to help you, if you need more people who do. I know my Sleeper would not be bothered by that. [ For a fact. After all, the Omen is part of Daniel. He can read his heart easily. ]

There's more than just physical danger.

[Who the fuck knows what anyone can do here? He shakes his head and gives the pup a widdle nuzzle on his cutie face before continuing.]

We'll see about that. I don't know who your Sleeper is, but... mm. Suppose having people to call on if things go down isn't the worst idea.

[ The Omen seems to let out a little pleasant sound - though it may be hard to tell if it's caused by the dog just enjoying the nuzzle or by the very last thing Taro says. The creature approves though, either way. He's connected enough to his Sleeper to share the same values, and the power of community sure is one of those. Taro should have people he feels he can rely on, even though it can be hard to get there. ]

He is at the dojo where you met me.

[ Or where Taro snuck in, more like, but the Omen puts it so politely.. ]

The owner of that dojo. That is my Sleeper.

I see.

[So it's that guy that he saw around. Never introduced himself, but then again he didn't really want to be dragged into karate. He's a pacifist at heart - not that he hasn't fought, but he'd rather not hurt other people.]

[He sighs and lets his shoulders droop.]

I didn't know that you could roam this far away. I'll have to keep this in mind for Hoshi... she likes playing with other people.

I am very independent.

[ Despite the usual calm tone, it's almost like there's something a little more in the small creature's voice. Almost something like.. pride, maybe? Or it might be the way the puppy's tail suddenly wags like crazy that gives off that impression when coupled with those words. ]

Is Hoshi your Omen? I do not mind playing.

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