Day 288

[polariity]

Who: The Helmsman and you
Open: Open
When: Day 288
Where: By the entrance to the Skyway
What: The Helmsman ventures out and comes back with some shinies he's heard so much about.
Format: Any
Warnings: The usual difficulties that come with chatting it up with him

Regardless of the tension that's flared up because of recent discussions, it seems as though the Helmsman's schedule hasn't changed particularly greatly. Today, just like every other day, he ventures outwards from the Tower. Unlike every other day, however, he doesn't venture off onto Dragonfield or wander about the Bastion or lay face down on the grass. Instead, when he shows up again, it's from the direction of the Skyway and a bruise blossoming on one side of his face.

And then he lays down on the grass where anyone could step on him.

At least it's not just laying, this time. Sparks of red and blue lift up tiny little shards for him to inspect curiously. For anyone in the area, he's not hard to miss.

Comments

[amphibian]

[This time, Aoi doesn't trip over her favorite floaty alien when he's lounging around in the middle of her jogging path and instead bounds right over him with a giggle. She makes it a few steps farther before she remembers she has something to show him! And she zips right back around and crouches beside him.]

Hey! Whatcha up to? [Of course, her gaze follows the pretty shiny things.] Find anything good?

[polariity]

[Oh! It's his fellow grass lover. For that, he supposes he'll make the effort of lifting himself up so that he's sitting properly instead of getting acquainted with the ground again. His hands are held up, twirling the shards between them.]

[Look at him, interacting with the rest of the world.]

[amphibian]

[Well! In that case she's going to take a seat on the grass, too. She'll have time to jog later.]

Very nice! Saving up for something special? [Gently patting the side of her face to mirror where his bruise is, she adds, resident worrywart as always—] Run into trouble out there?

[polariity]

[The touch she makes to her own face just earns a confused blink, and he tilts his head to the side in question before reaching over to touch her cheek.]

[What. What's on there.]

[...Now is probably the time to mention that his own idea of pain is a bit off.]

[amphibian]

[Oh yeah, she was there for the whole biting-off-a-chunk-of-his-lip-to-prove-some-kind-of-point incident. That happened. Even so, it takes her a second to figure out what he's getting at. That's her face, dude, come on now.]

...No, your face. You've got a bruise.

[polariity]

[Oh. Well then.]

[He takes back his hand to feel up his own cheek, not seeming to really register that, yeah, that's a thing that's there and hurting. Finally, he lets his hand fall and gives a shrug.]

[amphibian]

[After a certain point, immense concern gives way to exasperation when it comes to people being completely callous about their own injuries. Well, if it doesn't hurt... She sighs and shakes her head.]

Just put some ice on it when you get the chance, all right? It'll keep it from swelling too bad...

Oh! Hey! Actually, I wanted to ask you something! I need to see that—those floaty letters you make! [She wriggles her fingers in the air, a gesture that definitely accurately accentuates her point.]

[polariity]

[An obedient enough nod, although his expression shows he couldn't particularly care less. This is less him being distanced from his own body and more just general Captor contrariness.]

[At 'wanting to ask him something', however, he looks back again with a quirked eyebrow that quickly turns to exasperation of his own. Oh. This sort of request. Ugh. He doesn't want to be some sort of performing apebeast...]

[Maybe that mood is why, when he does make a wall of text in Alternian... It's a very long and descriptive bit of prose from a porn novel.]

1/??? hoo boy

[amphibian]

[She grins at the words in front of her and takes a quick half-moment to skim them over—it's odd to just know an unfamiliar language so well all of a sudden, like a flipped switch, but mostly she's just excited to show him the skill she's bought.

Proudly, she reads the first couple of lines aloud, clear and precise, and—

[amphibian]

...oh?

[amphibian]

oh

DONE

[amphibian]

ALL RIGHT, WELL

COVERS HER MOUTH

STANDS UP

WALKS AWAY]

[polariity]

[He's not expecting anything much, honestly, besides maybe some customary ooing and aahing...]

[So when she actually starts to read them aloud before trying to bolt in embarrassment and realization? He can only stare, stunned, for a second before hastily floating upwards again.]

[Words again, static and jagged, appear in front of her as he hastens after.]

w41t y0u c0uld r34d 4ll th4t

[amphibian]

[Her hand is still clapped over her bright red face when she whirls around to face him again after she's parsed through the numbers, but fortunately, Aoi is nothing if not loud.]

I-I had extra shards stockpiled, an-and since I'm no good at charades...

[polariity]

why

[amphibian]

Be...because I couldn't talk with you otherwise? [Mild confusion begins to replace mind-shattering embarrassment.] I never even got a name to call you, but you can't speak and writing doesn't translate on its own...

[polariity]

why d0 y0u c4r3

[amphibian]

[That catches her off-guard more than it probably should, given that she's talking to someone who can't even give a shit while actively gushing blood out of his face.] Ah—well, 'cause...you're my friend?

[THEY'RE BUDDIES, SHE'S DECIDED]

[polariity]

[A blank stare.]

y0u ju2t 241d y0u d0nt 3v3n kn0w my n4m3

[amphibian]

[HUFF PUFF HARRUMPH] That was gonna be my first question before you wrote— [GESTURES WILDLY, FOLDS HER ARMS, HUFF PUFF HARRUMPH] —that! Like, I wanted to fix that!

[polariity]

1 w42nt 3xp3ct1n9 y0u t0 und3r2t4nd 1t!!

p30pl3 w4nt m3 t0 d0 2tup1d 2h1t 4ll th3 t1m3. 1 93t b0r3d 0f 1t

[amphibian]

Okay, fine, that's probably annoying, but are we on the same page now? Nothing stupid, I can read all of that, don't be gross. We're good?

[polariity]

p0rn 12 n0rm4l d0nt 6l4m3 m3 th4t y0ur3 4 v1r91n

[Aoi... reconsider the fact that you wanted to talk to this shithead...]

h3lm2m4n

[amphibian]

Cu-cut it out! Don't be gross...

[YEAH THE REGRET IS STARTING TO SEEP IN

But she shakes her head hard like she's trying to shoo away the embarrassment, and smiles at the next word, bright as ever.]

Helmsman... [That's...a name. She guesses. Aliens, whatever.] And I'm Aoi Asahina!

[polariity]

th4t2 h0w 1 4m.

1m d0n3 w1th p30pl3 try1n9 t0 t4k3 c0ntr0l 0f m3 l1k3 1m th3 23ttin92 0n 4 hu2kt0p

3v3n 1f 1t2 4ll 1n my h34d