action ☍ day one

[arbitraries]

[ in contrast to how light he feels, Beyond Birthday moves with the heaviness of solid, conscious reality: the first sign that he hasn't simply woken into another dream. the second is that he feels sharp and alert and when he counts seconds, he doesn't miss any -- his perception of time is accurate, rather than the vague awareness of dreams

Comments

[unamvirtus]

[Hi B, have a very very sharp arrow whizzing by at lightning speed just in front of you. On a building across the street is a crudely drawn target ring which the arrow hits straight in the center, and B may be able to hear a little shout of triumph in the alley ahead.]

[arbitraries]

[ he hears the arrow approach right before he sees the blur of motion right before his eyes and jerks himself backward to avoid it, his balance teetering precariously before he manages to right himself.

cautiously he proceeds, hoping to locate the source of motion. he sees now the bulls-eye, that it holds an arrow where it didn't before, and resolves not to anger such an apparently skilled archer when he does find them--

he almost walks right past the alley before a shock of green and yellow catch his eye, and he finds himself staring at -- an elf, apparently, a child whose name he can't see. ]

[unamvirtus]

[Link is just about to recollect his arrow and see if the tip is too damaged for more uses when a kinda tall, oddly man dark walks around the corner and stares at him-- oh gosh, h-he didn't know anyone was there, did he scare him??? He stares back for minute, not sure how to react before he starts and bows apologetically, oh that was probably very rude of him to startle someone like that!]

[arbitraries]

[ the child's name just doesn't ... show up, he still doesn't see anything, and given the dress and the apparent age, he thinks that perhaps this is an extremely advanced automaton. a cosplaying child isn't unusual, but with no name or death date, he isn't quite sure what else to think, besides that the child is genuinely an elf, which ... he won't pass off as impossible, but unlikely at least.

he knows the boy meant his bow as an apology, but it stirs in him the instinct to bow in greeting, so he inclines his head deeply. B crouches in front of the boy to get a better look at him, and thinks that if he can touch him he might be able to tell if he's a robot or not -- robotic technology is coming along very, very slowly, and wouldn't be able to mimic humanness quite yet. tentatively he reaches out to the boy's cheek but stops just short of touching him. ]

Calm down.

don't hate on the tunic, B, we have repeatedly kicked "god's" ass in this dress, tyvm

[unamvirtus]

[His grip on his bow falters when the man leans down; he doesn't seem angry, which is good, but his expression still seems a little strange. Link's eyes widen considerably as the man reaches for him, though, resisting the urge to step back-- on the contrary, he seems quite confused and a bit uneasy, now.]

he wasn't hating on the tunic, that was my terrible phrasing

[arbitraries]

[ he notes the boy's uneasiness, but cautiously presses his fingertips to his cheek nonetheless -- he's warm and possesses a pulse that clearly isn't replicated. this actually serves to unsettle him; the boy's name at least should be visible but it isn't, it's as though he has no identity but clearly he does, so--

frowning, he withdraws his hand and visually examines the boy's ears -- they don't look replicated, either: in fact, they look quite natural. he knows that cosplayers can be quite skilled, but given the rest of the evidence -- even the theory that he's wearing more makeup than B has ever seen on another person falls through when he realizes that what he felt under his fingers was just skin, untouched by makeup. he's extremely uneasy himself now and finally stands, leaning against a wall of the alley and asking a question he's never honestly had to ask. ]

What is your name?

idk if I should believe you

[unamvirtus]

[...Oh. Um. Link isn't quite sure if he should feel terribly uncomfortable or not being touched by a stranger, but he does regardless, even if he doesn't really know how to make it clear without coming off as bad-mannered. He relaxes a little once the man stops touching his cheek, though it he immediately tenses again with small squeak once he realizes the man is looking at his ears, worried he'll pull on them-- but he doesn't, which is relieving but he still feels very disquieted about being touched at all in the first place so abruptly.

When he's asked his name, he's still extremely uncertain about whether he should or not, and he can't manage to find a balance between the two to make a decision-- so he stays silent, awkwardly.]

you never believe me X(

[arbitraries]

[ his frown deepens when he doesn't receive an answer; to be honest he's becoming quite annoyed at his simple questions going unanswered, but he's well aware he's unsettled the child so he conceals his irritation for the most part. instead he relaxes against the wall, hoping to convey that he isn't a threat or a danger -- just a bit rude at the most.

which is more or less true; he wouldn't bother attempting to kill anyone unless he knew they would die, which he can't ascertain with this child. additionally, there would be no point to killing him; he isn't part of B's challenge. ]

where is my reason to

[unamvirtus]

[He again resists the urge to shrink back when the man frowns more at him, even if he doesn't seem tense himself or anything-- it's still worrisome, and Link starts to wonder if he did make him angry with the arrow after all.

In that case, it would be even more rude not to answer him, and Link doesn't have any writing utensils on him, so he can't just scribble down his name on something. He fidgets uncomfortably for a moment, wondering if the man will leave or not if he stays quiet-- and the idea doesn't really make him very happy; he doesn't really want to be alone with the possibility that he was mean to someone who only wanted an answer.

His replying voice is very small; underused.]

Link...

because I love dresses

[arbitraries]

[ ...ah. it's clear from the boy's discomfort that he isn't keen on speaking and that even telling B his name was a challenge. he won't press him to talk again; it's likely that his reluctance to speak is due to some psychological trauma, and B isn't particularly fond of the idea of dealing with the consequences of worsening that. the last thing he needs is an upset child on his hands as well -- especially such a good shot as Link seems to be with a bow and arrow. so he flashes a small smile in thanks and his own voice is quiet, though of course much stronger. ]

Please call me Ryuuzaki, Link. You were on your way out of this alley before I found you, isn't that right?

oh, well that is okay then

[unamvirtus]

[He is at least able to relax significantly once the man smiles; it was the right thing to do, then, wasn't it? And at least now he doesn't feel uneasy enough not to converse. In response, he nods his head slightly, leaning slightly so he can point at his lone arrow; he really would like to retrieve it, if he can.]

see, why are you so distrustful of Sensei.

[arbitraries]

[ he follows Link's focus to the arrow, calculating from where he is that it is indeed dead centre. to accommodate the boys' obvious wish to get it back, he flattens himself against the wall, grinning. ]

If you don't mind, I'd like to see you shoot it again.

who said I was distrustful

[unamvirtus]

[Trying to hide his eagerness to practice some more -- it might be mistaken for showing off, after all -- he quickly runs to retrieve his arrow at last, and examines it as he walks back; it's scratched and a tiny bit dulled at the tip, but he can use this one a few more times.

Once he's back at his starting point, he pauses, unsure of whether he should go ahead and eventually just decides he may as well. He brings his bow up, holding onto the grip and setting the arrow nock in the string with expert quickness. He only takes a brief moment to aim, sticking out his tongue and closing on eye before he pulls back the arrow completely, a brief glow shining over the strings and to the arrow tip itself just before he lets go.

As always, it hits the exact centre again and he smiles a little, modestly resisting a triumphant gesture this time.]

you didn't believe me!!

[arbitraries]

[ he notices the brief glow, that it isn't the way the light shines off of it. idly he follows the path of the arrow to the target, noting that again it hits the centre. he wonders if this boy, Link, is some kind of prodigy, or if he's using something to cheat. it doesn't really matter though besides his own curiosity, so he leaves it be for the moment. ]

Wouldn't it be easier on you to have it return to you automatically...?

I said IDK if I should believe you, not that I'd decided not to

[unamvirtus]

[Have a slightly confused look, followed by a nod. He's not too sure why this man is asking a question like that, because it should be kind of... obvious, he thinks. But it isn't his place to judge, he guesses.]

not knowing if you should believe me is distrusting me!!!!

[arbitraries]

[ be quiet Link, it is not obvious to B ok. he mulls it over for a moment -- it should actually be quite easy to bounce the arrow off of something and have it return to a target closer to Link, but...

he is lazy and not going to offer this information or any help. sorry, Link. ]

I thought so.