[This wasn't something Miyabi expected nor wanted to hear so late at night. Certainly she had her own issues, what with turning into all her gods at random, but this...this was so much more pressing. Because she knew what it was like to lose someone she cared for to the wills of the Malnosso. She knew how much it hurt, and how appealing withdrawal seemed. And she knew how much Luke possibly needed someone to comfort him right now.
Luck was on her side as she galloped the short few minutes from the sakura to house five. But instead of a horse peeking through the window, a white wolf presses its nose to the glass and whines quietly.]
[Miyabi's in luck; She caught Luke just as he was pulling his jacket on and... zipping it up, for once. It's as he's walking past and heading for the door while wrestling with the zipper that he hears that whine, which makes him stop and look towards it.]
[Miyabi whines again, and presses her paws up on the sill as well, her breath making a slightly foggy spot on the glass of Luke's window. Uuugh...Ammy, why did you have to be the only mute of the thirteen gods? Luke probably can't even see the marking or anything, either, so this would be even harder to get him to open the window for her.
Then a thought occurs. Maybe...maybe this would work.]
... Wuu? I mean... Miyabi? [Now that he's assured that this wolf is one of his friends and... you know, not hanging around to eat him or anything, Luke heads over to open the window. Jeez, it's cold... But come on inside, Miyabi!]
<[Oh, praise the gods, he got it! Wagging her tail, Miyabi scratches at the window lightly before moving back as its being opened. Ammy's a lot more graceful than she was a wolf, and far more light on her feet, so the canine lands easily when it jumps inside, and leans against Luke's leg.
[... You know, it's a little easier when the person can't talk back at him. Luke gives a touch of a smile, a rather sad one, as he reaches down to gently scratch at Miya's cheek.]
[The whine that follows the scratch is one of quiet bliss, and Miyabi swishes her tail again, licking at Luke's fingers gently before rubbing her face into his palm. Silly boy...it's okay to be upset, to cry, when you're sad or depressed. Heaven knows she did, when Ammy left before.]
[Unfortunately, Luke is a dense one, and he doesn't quite get the message she's trying to say. Instead, he smiles a little longer before he lets it fall, and he sinks down to the floor with his legs crossed.]
[Miyabi steps back, giving Luke a bit of room, then lays down beside him, laying her head on his knee. Despite not being able to verbally answer the question she was asked, her eyes alone show it. Yes, she got the message. It was why she was here right now, doing all she could to comfort her friend.]
[Luke's never had a pet like this... Sure, there was Mieu, but Mieu would always try so hard to help with that stupid, shrill, annoying voice of his... Miyabi, as a wolf, is quiet and receptive, and... that's how Luke's always thought a pet should be like. Of course, he's not thinking of her as a pet right now, just... reminiscing on how he was never allowed to keep anything like this back at home. Mieu was a cheagle - a sacred beast, so there was no getting rid of him. Dogs and cats, however...
The thought makes him start to stroke her head. It's... nice, being able to do this. And though Luke may be dense, the message comes across to him - yes, she heard.]
And that's why you're here, huh? [He looks past her head as his lips spread a little, as if he's trying to hold back a deep emotion. Luke had barely ever cried here, and when he did, he'd usually feel worse. It meant acknowledging what he was feeling and the reasons behind it... It was never that he was ashamed to cry in front of someone. It was just... easier.]
[Sometimes the best way to help is to just be there. Miyabi understood this now, and was glad that she became Ammy, a being who didn't need words to communicate what she was thinking. Hopefully, she begins praying with all her might, Miyabi would stay like this for long enough - just so Luke could calm down a little or just let it out.
Her ears fold back and she closes her eyes, tail swishing slowly against the floor. Those pets feel awfully nice, and she places her paw on Luke's leg as well, nosing his pants. He could cry if he wanted to (Miyabi really thought it'd at least help get out his frustrations), so her eyes closed to give him something similar to privacy, if he does decide to.]
[Had Miyabi caught him later, Luke wouldn't have taken her invitation. He would've locked it away nice and tight - at least, when it came to the emotional aspect. Sure, he would've talked about it, but... he would've done his best to keep a straight face.
Now, though... It's still too raw. He had only just found out that Guy was missing. Guy. The person who he wrestled with, talked with about things that he couldn't tell anyone else, helped him with his homework, cooked for him just because he liked to do it, was his best friend...
He presses his free hand to his face and turns his head away. Miyabi will probably be able to hear the hiccups, sniffles, and the other quiet, telltale signs of crying, but Luke tries not to make it obvious. Still... It feels good to just let it out, even if it means really, truly acknowledging that Guy's gone back for good.]
[Miyabi does hear Luke crying, and keeps her eyes closed, ears folding back. She lets him cry in silence and peace for a little while, before her nose brushes up against him again to try and comfort him - reassure him that she was there. To tell him that it was okay to cry, that he didn't have to hide it.
Her second front leg comes up onto Luke's thigh and Miyabi opens her eyes at last, leaning her head up with a quiet whine to lick at Luke's face. To wash those tears away and just be close to him.]
[Once Luke got started, it was hard to stop. They weren't sobs; he hadn't done that in a long time. But his hiccups grew louder, and his hands were shaking with fear and anguish. Where was Guy now? What was happening on Auldrant? Why wasn't he here? Why did he have to leave? Why now? Why couldn't he have just said goodbye or-
Then Miyabi licks at his face, at the tear tracks that just kept getting wetter and faster, and he brings his hand away to look at her for a second. It only took that second to decide to lean in and hug the wolf tight, burying his face in the fur by her shoulder. Her coat was going to get wet, but... It helped a little to have someone to hold onto. Someone who wouldn't shush him and tell him that it'd be okay, because it wouldn't.
He wants to ask all those questions: Why did they have to take Guy, why now, but his voice is too compressed by the tightness in his throat. So, all he can do is silently cry.]
[Ah, this was what she had been expecting, even hoping for. Miyabi stares at Luke in the second between her wiping his face free of tears and him hugging her, eyes full of warmth, sorrow, but also understanding. She could remember how she acted when Ammy left, the pain and hurt and the thousands of questions. So the hug came as no real surprise and Miyabi closes her eyes and she just closes her eyes and nuzzles Luke's hair and shoulder.
She doesn't mind the moisture that seeps into her fur. Not in the least. She welcomed it, and waited quietly for Luke to calm down some. She didn't want to say it'd be okay, because even now, for her, it wasn't, but...the Sun rises. Over, and over again, the Sun rises.
So you just have to move toward to that new dawn.]
[Thankfully, after he took the opportunity to hug her, it was easier to calm down, especially with her nuzzling him like that. The house just felt so huge and overwhelmingly lonely, what with Guy and all of his possessions, even the sword he tried so hard to get back, gone, and Asch still off in the mountains. His embrace just assured him that he wasn't quite alone here, wasn't quite as abandoned as he thought.
It takes a few minutes, but after that, Luke pulls back and lifts his hand to wipe his face, trying to look at least a little presentable.]
Luck was on her side as she galloped the short few minutes from the sakura to house five. But instead of a horse peeking through the window, a white wolf presses its nose to the glass and whines quietly.]
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... A wolf?
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Then a thought occurs. Maybe...maybe this would work.]
...Wuu!
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Wait a sec.]
... Wuu? I mean... Miyabi? [Now that he's assured that this wolf is one of his friends and... you know, not hanging around to eat him or anything, Luke heads over to open the window. Jeez, it's cold... But come on inside, Miyabi!]
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You look sad, bro.]
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Sorry I couldn't be happier.
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Did you get the message? About...
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The thought makes him start to stroke her head. It's... nice, being able to do this. And though Luke may be dense, the message comes across to him - yes, she heard.]
And that's why you're here, huh? [He looks past her head as his lips spread a little, as if he's trying to hold back a deep emotion. Luke had barely ever cried here, and when he did, he'd usually feel worse. It meant acknowledging what he was feeling and the reasons behind it... It was never that he was ashamed to cry in front of someone. It was just... easier.]
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Her ears fold back and she closes her eyes, tail swishing slowly against the floor. Those pets feel awfully nice, and she places her paw on Luke's leg as well, nosing his pants. He could cry if he wanted to (Miyabi really thought it'd at least help get out his frustrations), so her eyes closed to give him something similar to privacy, if he does decide to.]
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Now, though... It's still too raw. He had only just found out that Guy was missing. Guy. The person who he wrestled with, talked with about things that he couldn't tell anyone else, helped him with his homework, cooked for him just because he liked to do it, was his best friend...
He presses his free hand to his face and turns his head away. Miyabi will probably be able to hear the hiccups, sniffles, and the other quiet, telltale signs of crying, but Luke tries not to make it obvious. Still... It feels good to just let it out, even if it means really, truly acknowledging that Guy's gone back for good.]
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Her second front leg comes up onto Luke's thigh and Miyabi opens her eyes at last, leaning her head up with a quiet whine to lick at Luke's face. To wash those tears away and just be close to him.]
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Then Miyabi licks at his face, at the tear tracks that just kept getting wetter and faster, and he brings his hand away to look at her for a second. It only took that second to decide to lean in and hug the wolf tight, burying his face in the fur by her shoulder. Her coat was going to get wet, but... It helped a little to have someone to hold onto. Someone who wouldn't shush him and tell him that it'd be okay, because it wouldn't.
He wants to ask all those questions: Why did they have to take Guy, why now, but his voice is too compressed by the tightness in his throat. So, all he can do is silently cry.]
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She doesn't mind the moisture that seeps into her fur. Not in the least. She welcomed it, and waited quietly for Luke to calm down some. She didn't want to say it'd be okay, because even now, for her, it wasn't, but...the Sun rises. Over, and over again, the Sun rises.
So you just have to move toward to that new dawn.]
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It takes a few minutes, but after that, Luke pulls back and lifts his hand to wipe his face, trying to look at least a little presentable.]
Sorry about that...
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