001 » Voice; UN: Persephone

[ragingnature]

[ There’s nothing but dead air for a few moments before Persephone finally speaks up, sounding a little nervous. ]

Um… I didn’t expect the red moon to be, um, so much. I sort of lost control and burned a little too much Chroma.

[ A pause. ]

So, um, what I’m asking is if there’s anyone that would like to cuddle? I’ll make it worthwhile! I can bake something or cook you a meal, just as long as it’s vegetarian.

Comments

[wooden_one]

...why would I be kidding?

[But apart from the briefest look of confusion he doesn't hesitate to enter. That is...a lot of plant-life. He doesn't hate it but...he can see why she's low on Chroma.]

Where...[He clears his throat.] Where would you like to do this?

[ragingnature]

Oh, um... [ She's not sure how to answer that so she'll just change the subject. ] Did you want any tea or anything?

The couch is fine. It's, erm, it's mostly cleared off. [ There's still a few vines winding their way around the couch but at least it's one of the few pieces of furniture in the room that can be seen. ]

[wooden_one]

...I don't need anything.

[He's always found comfort around plants. Maybe it's the fact that he is the current generation's spiritual essence of the wood element (it wasn't), but he's always found it comforting to be around plants.

So the couch is fine by him, even if it's not cleared off...also his own couch would be covered with sharp, pointed objects if his disciple didn't come around to clean so like. This is fine, really.]

The couch then.

[He sits down stiffly his posture really straight, carefully leaving enough room for her. Almost absentmindedly, he reaches out to touch the vines closest to him.]

...is this all right?

[ragingnature]

Okay.

[ She just wanted to be sure.

Persephone settles onto the couch next to him, much more relaxed as she leans into his side. She barely knows him but there's something about him that makes her feel relaxed, despite his grumpy disposition. ]

You can relax a little, I don't bite. [ Her tone is teasing. ]

[wooden_one]

[This close, she could probably pick up the way he smelled like haitang blossoms.

He tenses when she leans against him and the tips of his ears turn red. But then he frowned and he takes her statement a little too literally.]

I'm not worried about you biting.

[Also as someone who's never been teased he has no idea what to do...but he feels like he's being challenged, so he does actually relax while looking like he had something to prove.]

You have to be more careful around the mooncycles.

[ragingnature]

[ She chuckles, noting his blush and tone. ] So serious. [ Her tone is still teasing, voice dropping a couple octives. ]

It was the first time, I didn't know it was going to be so...intense. [ Its her turn to blush. ] I should be okay this next time though.

[wooden_one]

[...he really has no idea what to do with the teasing. So he turns his head to the side and pretends he didn't hear it. (He's totally still blushing though.)

Still, when she admits that, he sighs.]

...as long as you know. [Then, ever so slowly, he reaches up to place his hand on her head.] You're not the first to have been caught off guard.

[ragingnature]

[ Him turning away just makes her want to tease him more, he's so cute. But the hand on her head distracts her. ]

I don't know if the next time will be any different. My powers appear to still be unpredictable when it comes to certain moods.

[wooden_one]

[He won't make any judgements because he doesn't know how her powers work, but...]

Then prepare better. Make sure you have more Chroma before the start of the next moon.

[Because being Chroma starved is a big deal!]

[ragingnature]

[ Unfortunately for her, her powers are very tied into her emotions. At least right now. Maybe when she's older and had more experience they'll be less unpredictable.

She smiles. ] That's the plan...I hope.

[ She really hopes that she can just get by on cuddling with a few people. ]

[wooden_one]

[He hesitates because who would want such an offer from him, but...]

If you ever find yourself running low on Chroma... [I'll help but he's...too embarrassed to say it! The blush at the tips of his ears get worse.] ...nevermind.

[ragingnature]

[ She waits for him to continue but when he says 'nevermind' she can't help but pout. ]

Whaaaaat? [ Reaching up and poking his cheek. ]

[wooden_one]

[He jerks back when he's poked.] You--!

[The blush spreads from the tips of his ears to his cheeks.] It's not important!

[ragingnature]

[ She resists the urge to poke him again, instead she leans in closer. ]

If it's not important you wouldn't have started to say it.

[wooden_one]

[...he has no argument to that. At this point...is it more embarrassing to answer or to stay silent...?

He scowls at her.]

I was going to offer my time should you find yourself needing someone to moonlace with next time. But as I'm sure you must have others it really isn't important.

[ragingnature]

Now that wasn't so hard, was it? [ She smiles at him. ]

I would like that, I don't actually have that many people I can call upon.

[wooden_one]

Tch.

[He only clicks his tongue and doesn't answer. But...he's a little caught off guard by that admission. He stops and stares for a moment.]

...I'm sure you will find others soon. [After all, she's friendly and out-going. He's sure she will make many friends before long.]

[ragingnature]

Maybe... But I've never really had a lot of friends. Just the nymphs but they didn't really much of a choice but to accompany everywhere. [ Could she really call them her friends when her mother told them to go with her everywhere? ]

[wooden_one]

[...how strange. He's often been sympathetic but it's not often that he hears something that reminds him of himself. He certainly hadn't been accompanied by nymphs but growing up he had been on his own with only the man who raised and taught him around him.

He remembers all of a sudden, her comments about her mother grooming her to be the goddess of spring and he hoped with all his heart that the lack of friends in their childhood are where the similarities end.]

...I'm certain you will find many friends in this place. There are many kind people here.

[ragingnature]

[ Her mother kept a close eye on her and never allowed her to be alone. The only non-nymph friend she was ever able to make was Hermes, and that was only because he made regular stops to deliver letters and packages. And her mother certainly didn't know about the depth of their friendship, she only allowed them to speak to one another while supervised. Her mother would not have approved of their sneaking around to hang out and go for swims. ]

I hope so.

[wooden_one]

[His was more of a case of it being decided that he didn't need friend or companions because he was meant to be a sacrifice...not that he ever realized it. All he knows is that one day things were normal, then he disagreed with the man who raised him and suddenly he was disowned and told to cut out his spirit core from his chest.

He places his hand on her head with a huff.]

Didn't I already tell you it will be fine? I'm not in the habit of lying to comfort anyone over the age of five.

[Which is to say, you'll be fine! For sure! But even though the words sound like a lecture, the hand he places on her head is gentle.]

[ragingnature]

[ Turns out the nymphs would give her some privacy from time to time, though it was rare.

She closes her eyes and lets out a soft chuckle. The hand on her head is a nice comfort. ]

You're right.

[ She shifts so she can plant a quick kiss on his cheek. ]

Thank you.

[wooden_one]

[He huffs, because of course he's right! But the kiss on his cheek takes him by surprise.

His eyes go wide and, even though there's no other outward signs of it, on the inside his mind goes from blank to a lot of internal freaking out because why...did she just kiss him???

He's frozen for a moment before the blush from earlier returns with a vengeance and he turns his head away.]

I only spoke the truth what is there to thank me for?

[ragingnature]

Because you're very sweet and here, helping me, even though you don't have to be.

[ She smiles, shifting so she can get a better look at his face. That blush is back and she can't help the chuckle that bubbles up. ]

[wooden_one]

...I didn't have anywhere else to be.

[Also he looked over when he felt her shifting, curious as to what she was doing...and then when he meets her smile the blush gets worse. Then he scowls.]

Stop smiling at me.