don't know who I am right now [open]

[vibing]

Who: Yuri Lowell, but as a child, & you!
What: Yuri attempting to train with a sword and stealing some jerky
When: January 12-19
Where: Crenshaw, Willful Machine, the beach

Content Warnings: N/A

A. Training
[ When Yuri first woke up here, he woke up in a room with a lot of weapons in it. At least three swords, two shields, and more knives than he could count. He immediately took one of those swords. He doesn't have one yet at home, but it's a dream, a dream to have a sword and become a knight and change the Empire for the better.

With stolen sword in hand, a ten-year-old Yuri is out in some barren area of Trench, whatever greenery was there killed by the cold and snow. The sword is too big and too heavy for him, more than half his height in length, and his arms are shaking from the exertion, but he needs to learn. He needs to fight. He was told that this place is dangerous, and he needs to be able to fight, to defend himself, and defend those who can't defend themselves. That's what he's going to do. That's part of the oath he swore with Flynn: to make the world a better place for everyone.

He slashes down with a grunt, but with too much force, and the tip of the sword lodges itself in the ground ]

Stupid-- sword--!

[ He grumbles and tries his best to get it out, but the ground is frozen and hard around it ]

B. Haggling
No, that's too expensive.

[ Maybe it isn't that strange of a sight in Trench to see a child haggling for food. Here is a ten-year-old, bundled up in a coat that is too big for him, sleeves bunched up on his arms, the shoulders hanging off his thin frame. He's trying to buy some jerky, something that seems practical and filling and he's ten and doesn't know how to cook yet.

The Trenchie doesn't look very enthused by this kid who only has a few stones to his name, and rejects his offer. Yuri's little hands ball into fists ]

Fine.

[ He turns on his heel and stalks away, making a show of it, only to twist on his toes a few yards later, and lurches back toward the stand to grab some of the jerky, making off with it before the Trenchie can grab him. Who knows if this is even illegal in Trench?

Yuri dodges through the crowd, clutching the jerky close. Do you stop him? ]

C. Wildcard
[ Want to run into tiny Yuri somewhere else? He can be found around Crenshaw, Willful Machine, and by the beach. Hit me! ]

Comments

[firstroar]

[he shakes his head with a sad smile.]

Thank you, but... It's all yours. [his tea is enough for now; a sour stomach won't help, and he doesn't want to make terrible memories with this Yuri, no matter how long or short-lived their time is.

it's a little excruciating, but...this is how it is. so he'll endure it, because it matters.]

[vibing]

[ Well, he isn't going to belabor the point. He was polite, Jiri would be proud of him. He digs into the cake, the hit of sugar and fruit on his tongue is pure bliss, enough to forget momentarily how suspicious he is about this guy and his intentions. The prickly exterior that Blue's probably felt since he found Yuri again falls away as he enjoys the cake as much as any kid has ever enjoyed sweets. It also makes him be quiet and stop questioning Blue every second, at least for a few minutes ]

[firstroar]

[the tea is still too warm, so Blue sits in a comfortable quiet, enjoying the delighted shift in Yuri's demeanor - a bit more sweet to counter the bitter.

eventually, he curls his fingers around the warm cup, lifting his eyes.]

Would it be alright if I asked you a question?

[vibing]

[ Yuri has the fork in his mouth when Blue asks that, and he just nods because what's Yuri going to do, stop him from asking? Whether he'll answer is another question (although he doesn't know he doesn't have a choice) ]

[firstroar]

Have you noticed a bird following you around? [he tilts his head just slightly.] A bird with a curved beak and gray-brown feathers.

[vibing]

[ Well... that's not the kind of question he expected. Yuri frowns, holding his fork like a weapon as he thinks ]

Yes. It was bothering me yesterday. Why?

[firstroar]

[Blue nods.]

Stormy. The omen. He's like my lion.

He's looking out for you.

[vibing]

[ Right. The lion. He was so calm that Yuri almost forgot about him. He pulls his feet back toward himself out of the lion's reach (or, at least, that's the intent).

That... kind of makes sense. The bird keeps showing up, and helped him find the attic he's been staying in, and helped him find his jacket. But he still frowns ]

I don't want help.

[firstroar]

He's a part of you. [he lifts the teacup off the saucer, holding it in place for a moment.] More of this place's magic. So really... It is yourself...helping yourself.

[sip.]

[vibing]

... [ Yuri watches him. That sounds weird. Really weird. But everything here is weird, and the bird did just... appear out of his chest. Maybe there's some truth to this ]

Okay. [ He still has his feet pulled up under himself away from the lion ] Yours is big. [ While Yuri's is just so small ]

[firstroar]

[there's a chuff from under the table, and the gentle thump of the lion's tail going up and down once. Blue smiles.]

If he wasn't...I wouldn't be able to get around much. My body is very weak, and it can be hard to walk alone.

I think...these parts of ourselves are formed...to suit us best. You can get around just fine on your own, after all, but sometimes...a keen bird's eye can help.

[vibing]

[ Yuri huffs, his shoulders folding in a little. He doesn't like the implication that he needs more than who he is right now, but he also has no reason not to trust Blue. Blue has been nothing but forthcoming. ]

What happened to you?

[ It's not a polite question to ask, but Yuri doesn't have the manners not to ask it ]

[firstroar]

[his eyes crinkle with some amusement as he sips.]

...I got old. And my kind of people...we are very frail naturally. It is just the way my life has gone.

[vibing]

You don't look that old.

[ He looks old, but not like... Hanks old. ]

The lion is cool. I didn't know there were monsters who don't want to eat people.

[firstroar]

[the bluntness is endearing, and Blue does not balk from it.]

I'm sure there are other things to eat besides people and cake.

[vibing]

Obviously there is.

[ Rude, Blue. Teasing him! ]

But cake is good. And eating people isn't.

[ He punctuates his point by finishing off his cake. It's really good, and so sweet, and the sugar is running through him, his usually pretty sedate countenance squirming in his seat ]

[firstroar]

[Blue chuckles, delighting in his bluntness and the honesty he exudes even without meaning to.]

How much have you seen so far? Of this place.

[vibing]

...some of it.

[ He's been exploring a little bit each day, but always coming back to that attic Smokey found for him.

But he perks up, Getting It ]

Can we go?

[ The "we" isn't really thought about, but he does kind of want to see more with someone who knows the city ]

[firstroar]

[his eyebrows lift a little. "we," hm?]

Where is it...you wish to go?

[vibing]

...I don't know. Where's your favorite place?

[ Because that seems like a good place to start ]

[firstroar]

You were already there. [the house, of course! the safest place, especially when everyone is together.] But...you want to see other things, don't you.

[hm.

Blue sets the teacup down and considers the options.]

...Have you seen the shore? You didn't...arrive here the way others normally do.

[vibing]

[ Yuri's going to ask where that place was, but he's distracted ]

The shore... [ He frowns, then gasps, looking up at Blue again ] There's water? A lake?

[ Even that's exciting, wait until he finds out that there's a whole ocean ]

[firstroar]

[with a smile:] An ocean, actually. A long stretch of sand...craggy cliffs...a seemingly endless sea.

[vibing]

An ocean?

[ Yuri gasps, and he's out of his seat immediately, raring to go. But, there's a lion there, and he almost steps on it, and yelps, stumbling back away from it. He knows Blue said it wouldn't hurt him, but still. ]

[firstroar]

[Blue breathes out a gentle laugh. under the table, the lion groans, shifting and climbing out to his feet with a yawn, unfazed by Yuri's continued apprehension.]

There's a lantern that can take us to the boardwalk quite quickly. Would you like to go?

[he already knows the answer, but come on.]