004✖; (audio @ hot.damn | August 2nd; during Sanguis Moon)

[circumitus]

[...Well, it looks like there's supposed to be video, but the screen is black.

[Audio-wise, you're privy to just a bunch of thrashing for a few seconds, catching a frantic and frustrated "god-DAMMIT" and "fuck fuck fuck" and "just move, you useless piece of shit!" It's a voice and string of expletives that should be familiar to some who know Rey. In general it sounds disconcerting, with an identifiable amount of metal clanging and other hefty objects hurling about (cue stock cat scream) -- before a heavy thud shakes the screen. The feed drags across what looks to be pavement and some scattered rubbish.]

Got you! Fucking finally...

[The video moves, but the feed remains a blur as Rey hadn't intended to select facetime before things got out of control -- by "things" meaning... her own body. Only a few details can be made out in the bleary visual quality, and that's a patch of red-orange scales and some sharp, gritting teeth.]

Need... help. [Despite her exhaustion made clear in the fraught audio and her labored breaths, it's speaking those words in particular that strains her the most.]

Have to come here. Level Three.

Legs're gone. Can't walk.

[Both the audio and visual then cuts abruptly. As you can tell, Rey is having a bad time this Sanguis cycle.]

Comments

[terribletwos]

"At least you don't have to worry about falling very far. It probably would be a lot worse if you were half horse or something." He figures Rey could probably catch herself on her palms most of the time.

Not that he's had any experience with his lower half being different than the top. All of his partial transformations have always involved him being bipedal at least.

[circumitus]

At that, Rey pauses, scratching the back of her head before realizing she has claws.

"Mn, not sure about that. Konoha makes it look easy. Though she was born that way, so..."

It would be bad for a legitimate centaur to fall on their face all the time.

[terribletwos]

"I was wondering about that. I haven't heard of any horse moonblessed." Which was kind of weird, considering that moonblessings could be in the form of other hooved animals. "I thought she just asked for something special from the shop."

[circumitus]

Now that he mentions it... Rey didn't think there were any equine features shared among the Moonblessings. Deer and bovids, sure. But no horses.

"Oh, no, she was born like that. They're called jinba, in her world." It feels weird to talk about someone while they're not there, but it's not like she's saying anything bad. Konoha has shared Rey some details about her people that maybe clearing up any misconceptions is the least she can do?

[terribletwos]

"Oh. I've never asked her about it. Something crazy is always going on whenever we see each other. Are you two friends?"

[circumitus]

'Something crazy' sounds about right. Fortunately, Rey can say she's at least had some normal encounters.

"Er, well." It's funny. A few weeks ago, she wouldn't know how to answer that, but-- "Think so...? Help her out at her farm, and she's nice..."

People being nice is one of the signs of friendship, or that's what Rey has been told.

[terribletwos]

"That sounds like friends to me." To be fair, Roxas has more or less fallen into most of his friendships by proximity or fate. "Have you tried reaching out to her for tips?"

[circumitus]

Rey also had to openly ask at what point can you tell if someone is a friend or not. She's still learning a lot of things that should come easily for others.

"Hadn't considered it, no. Figured balancing on four legs would be easier than a tail, anyway. And asking for a ride seems... er, rude."

[terribletwos]

Roxas laughs. "Probably. But she might be able to teach you how to hold up the upper half so everything's more balanced when you're trying to move." He pauses for a moment. "That actually has me wondering. What is her blessing anyway?"

[circumitus]

There's some logic to his suggestion. Rey's tail twitches as she nods, a silent affirmation that she's going to give it some thought.

"Ah, she's Iris," Rey answers somewhat sympathetically, given the side effects that many experience with that Moonblessing. "Think she usually stays at the farm when she's changed."

She has some idea, anyway, since Rey works there part-time these days.

[terribletwos]

"I don't blame her. I would hate to be Iris. It sounds so frustrating." Roxas can tolerate the loss of control that comes with Sanguis, but the variety associated with Iris just sounds miserable to him.