(no subject)
Who: Ohtori Choutarou, Mukahi Gakuto, and a little Shishido Ryou at the end
Where: Verbves
When Tuesday, February 2, 2010
What: Choutaou comes across something at the lake that will help his art and change his life.
Rating: PG
Comments: We welcome them.
Ohtori Choutarou sighed as he stepped out of his house. A new shadow elf family had moved in down the street and he knew they had been giving him odd looks ever since his family went over to introduce himself. It wasn't his fault that he was so tall. He had tried everything to make himself stop growing but nothing had worked. Not even the months he had tried drinking coffee, which he hated. In fact he though he grew the most during that period. He couldn't even figure out where he got it from. His mother was a nice respectable 5'6" and his father was only slightly taller at 5'7".
Shaking his head he readjusted his pack on his back and took off down the street. Giving a polite hello to some of his other neighbors that were up already he slowly made his way to the outskirt of town. Closing his eyes as he entered the forest he took a deep breath to calm himself down. The low chatter of the animals reached his ears as they discussed what had been happening the past few days since the last time he visited. Feeling slightly better he opened his eyes to look around to find something he hadn't already painted a million times before.
Swinging his legs back and forth, sitting sideways on the branch of a tall tree, Gakuto took a large bite of the apple he'd taken from Shishido's mom, humming happily to himself. He was just glad to be out of the capital, deciding with a certain amount of finality that the city was no place for an elf of any kind. Never mind the fact that neither he or Shishido liked being in one place to begin with. Plus he was so glad to be rid of that Eiji guy, and his ideas of 'elf-magic'.
Sticking the newly acquired feather behind his ear, he was in his element.
Choutarou finally ended up near a small lake that was one of his favorite places to paint. Setting up his paints he sat down and focused on a tree near the edge of the lake. The sun was hitting the water next tot he tree just right. He smiled at some squirrels that had come up to him to see what he was painting.
Slowly applying the blue and greens. The brown and the red... he took a double look at the scene. Yes there was definitely a lot more red there than there would be normally. Cocking his head to the side he put his paints to the side and got up. Going slowly around the lake edge he made his way to the tree to see what it was.
Bouncing slightly, Gakuto didn't notice anyone approach until the taller male made his way under the tree, when he happened to glance down, he made a startled noise and dropped the apple down on the other's head, where it bounced off with a thunk. "Geez! Don't you know not to startle people like that!"
Choutarou looked up into the tree only to narrowly miss getting an apple in his face. Instead it hit his hair and bounced off.
"Ow." He held his head wiping the apple juice out of his hair and looking up tentatively just in case anything else was going to fall on him. "What are you doing up there?"
"Well, I was eating an apple." Gakuto glanced sadly at the apple that was now in the dirt. He gave the other a once over, tall....holy, had to be human to be that tall. Gakuto leaned down on the branch and swung down to a lower, "What are you doing here?" as far as he knew, this town was mostly elves, but who knew?
"Sorry about that. I didn't mean to startle you." Choutarou brushed at his hair pulling some of the longer strands behind his ear revealing the point to it. "I was just painting the lake when I noticed you. At first I thought you were a new type of animal." He looked down at the paritially eaten apple then looked up again. "I don't think I have an apple but I do have some other food if you're still hungry."
His eyes widened slightly at the site of the other's ear, not human....or one with a very specific ear deformity. Well that certainly wasn't normal, then again, he wasn't normal, so he couldn't really judge. "Naw, thanks though." he answered, slightly surprised that the other offered, since he was the one that had an apple dropped on his head suddenly.
"Are you sure? I have more than enough." He reached over to pick up the apple. He figured it would be a nice gift to the squirrels that he had been talking to earlier. Straightening out again he looked up the boy in the tree. "I'm sorry for asking but where are you from? I feel like I've seen you around somewhere."
Blinking a couple times, Gakuto laughed slightly, "I doubt it, I lived in Risath." he was sure he'd remember someone from his old village like him. "I've visited here a few times, though." over the years, and quite against his own will, Shishido almost always dragged them back on his birthday, he was sure it was to watch him squirm. Shishido was strange like that, he supposed.
"That may be it." He nodded. "So what were you doing up there anyway?" He was curious as to what the red-head was doing in a tree in the middle of the forest anyway. Suddenly he realized something else. "I'm sorry I've been asking all these questions without introducing myself. I'm Ohtori Choutarou."
"Mukahi Gakuto, it's nice to meet you, Ohtori" Gakuto said with a small smile, swinging down one more branch to bring them almost to eye level, and he pulled out the feather from his hair carefully, "I was mostly up there for this" he announced proudly, as he showed the other the bright yellow feather. This one had been particularly hard to get, but it'd been worth it. Shishido would've bothered him about being up a tree again, but whatever. He grinned lightly before putting it back in his hair, it clashed slightly with the bright red shade, "So! You mentioned a painting?" he asked curiously, his head tilted to the side.
"Oh yah. I come into the woods to paint. I don't think they're very good but most people seem to like them." Choutarou shrugged modestly. "So do you collect feathers?" he asked noticing the feathered necklace around the boy's neck.
"Hmmm? Oh," Gakuto had forgotten he'd been wearing that, sometimes it almost seemed like a part of him. "Yeah," He stroked one carefully with a small and almost sad smile "They're special." then his head snapped up and he almost flushed, embarrassed, but he managed not to and swung down the rest of the way, landing on the ground.
Choutarou stepped back a little as Mukahi finally came down. Slouching a little to try to make it look like he was so tall he gave a small smile. "Well if you'd like some more. I have a few from birds that I try to talk to. They're always leaving me some and I feel bad just throwing them away."
Looking up in surprised, Gakuto blinked a few times, "That'd be nice." he answered, almost hesitantly, "But I'm not sure how long I'll be here for you to do that." He noticed the other bending down and raised an eyebrow, "Why are you standing like that?" unaware that his question might be rude and thoughtless.
"Well I think I have a few in my pack." Choutarou looked to where he had left his stuff trying to ignore the question about his stance. He had gotten in the habit of slouching to make himself look even just slightly shorter. He had been teased enough about his height growing up. "The rest I have at my house. Where are you staying? I could probably bring them over."
"I'm staying at the Shishido's," Gakuto gave out the address after a moment of thought and then tilted his head to the side, persisting once more, "Really....why are you standing like that? Does your back hurt? Doesn't it hurt your back?" He bounced up to the other, his feet skimming the ground slightly, he wasn't teasing or being mean, he was genially curious.
"Ummm... well..." Choutarou looked off to the side but watched Mukahi bounce in place out of the corner of his eyes. "It does get kinda awkward." He quietly admitted. Pulling his shoulders back he straightened up a littleut still averted his eyes. "Most elves just feel strange being around someone as tall as me." Suddenly Mukahi's first words caught up to him. "Oh I know the Shishidos. They live a few houses down from my family. My mother and Shishido-san are friends. "
"Really?" Gakuto grinned slightly, he should've known, no matter where they were Shishido knew someone because of something who was related to who knows, and of course that would mean the town where his parents lived if nothing else. Seeing that Ohtori had straightened himself out, Gakuto nodded, "There are worse things than being tall, you know." he stated simply. So what if Ohtori was tall?
"I know." Choutarou felt a blush rise on his face. "It's just easier on people if they don't realize just /how/ tall I am. I mean you have to admit. I'm much taller than your average elf. Most people give me funny looks when they see me so I try to avoid it if possible."
"Hey, that's their problem, not yours." Gakuto said with a small frown in no particular direction, when did the world get so close minded that they hated someone for being taller than them? It was just ridiculous, "I'm shorter than the average elf! Does that make me strange?" there was a whole other reason he was strange, but that wasn't the point at the moment.
"Oh no." Choutarou shook his head violently. "I didn't mean it like that. I know its silly. It just..." He trailed off not really knowing how to explain the awkward feeling he'd get. Instead he shrugged then looked up at the sun and noted it's position in the sky. "I think it's almost lunch time. You're welcome to come share my food with me. It's the least I could do since you dropped your apple."
Snorting, Gakuto shook his head slightly in amusement, "My fault anyway," then he caught sight of the canvas that the other had set up a little ways away and went to go take a look, and found himself greatly impressed, "And you said it wasn't that good," he muttered to himself slightly, ignoring whatever reaction Ohtori had to him looking at the beginning of a painting without asking.
"Oh it's not really," Choutarou could feel his blush deepen even more as he watched the other boy examine his rough painting. "I don't know. I just can't seem to find the right spark for any of my works anymore." He sighed and looked down. "It's probably because I've lived in this town my entire life and I've painted the same woods half a million times over."
"Well that's gotta get boring." Gakuto said with a small huff, thinking about the other's predicament for a moment, "You know, you should travel!" Gakuto said with a wide grin, for him that was the only way to go, traveling had done wonders for him, who said it couldn't do the same for Ohtori, "There's so much more to see out there!" and if anyone knew the feeling of being trapped, it was him.
"Oh I'd love to but I wouldn't know the first thing about traveling." Choutarou wandered over to another tree and set down the dropped apple for the squirrels. Then had ran up the tree when Gakuto had wandered over but Choutarou could see them peeking out from between the branches.
Seeing that he was possibly interrupting things, Gakuto sat down quietly out of the way, using as much as his elf-kind's skill at being quiet as he could, "So, forest-elf, right?" he asked, putting his head on his hand and resting his elbow on his left knee, his right one bouncing slightly.
"Hmmm?" Choutarou looked over midway through the process of coxing the squirrels back down. "Oh yes. I guess it's a little obvious." He smiled as one finally decided to trust him and come down for the apple. Grabbing it instead of going back up the tree it climbed up Choutarou to sit on his shoulder. Giving a small laugh he slowly walked over to his pack to get his own lunch. Bring it over to where Mukahi was he took a seat next to him. Setting the food between them he picked a piece up took a bite. He had grabbed a really random assortment of finger food when he had left that morning. Anything from fruit to the skewered barbecue meat the had from a few days ago. "So, if you don't mind me asking, why are you in town if you're from Risath?"
Straightening up slightly, Gakuto never liked talking about where he was from....but Ohtori was nice enough....and it's not like telling him where he lived would give everything away so he shrugged and relaxed again, "Tialdyn, haven't been there in years, though." he answered, grabbing one of the pieces of food before smirking at the squirrel who'd made himself comfortable with Ohtori, thinking of Shishido suddenly and his 'fear'.
"Tialdyn." Choutarou tried to remember his geography while chewing on his food. Swallowing he looked over at Mukahi. "That's the town at the bottom of the mountain of Risath's secondary island, right? How do you know the Shishidos if you're from way out there?" Choutarou knew that the Shishidos used to travel but that hadn't been for several hundred years.
"I travel with Ryou." he said with a small shrug, "Have been for a few years now. He pretty much introduced me...and his mom insists that I've been adopted as one of their own." He laughed a little awkwardly, since it was still somewhat odd to him, but he was slowly growing use to the idea.
"Shishido-san's back?" Choutarou's eyes widened in surprise. It had been a while since he had seen the youngest Shishido. The last time his mother told him he had been in town was during the time that Choutarou had been out in the forest for a week long camping excursion. He always liked talking with Shishido-san whenever he was in town. The places that he visited always sounded so interesting. "So you're the traveling partner that Shishido-san, ummm... Shishido-san's mother, talks about."
Chucking slightly at the other elf's awkward use of referring to Ryou's family, he was a little too polite, which he supposed wasn't a bad thing, but you'd think after living by someone for a certain amount of time, you'd be able to drop the formalities. He was also slightly surprised that she talked about him...."Nothing bad I hope." he joked slightly with a small grin to cover up the awkward feeling.
"Oh no." Choutarou shook his head. "She's always going on how glad she is Shishido-san has someone with him. She worried about him being alone for so long." He looked down and played with some grass. He didn't really want to admit that he had also been worried about the other boy. Shishido-san wasn't in town a lot but for the time he was around Choutarou liked hanging around him. He had also been the one to suggest that his art work was good enough to sell. Shishido-san was one of the few people who hadn't judged him on his height since the very beginning.
Tilting his head to the side slightly, Gakuto watched the taller carefully for a moment, getting a small insight of what was going on before shaking his head before snatching another piece of fruit, chewing thoughtfully and swallowing, unaware if he was making Ohtori feel awkward or not, "Ryou would say differently." he said with a laugh shrugging his shoulders, the two of them were always butting heads for one reason or another, but not enough to actually stop traveling together. It probably made things more interesting anyway.
"No. I don't suppose he would. He'd probably think it would be lame to admit to something like that." Chouratou stressed the work 'lame' like how he knew Shishido-san did and gave a small grin. "But he must like you at least a little to have let you travel with him for so long."
Laughing at Ohtori's impression of Shishido, Gakuto had to say it was right on the mark, and he didn't expect that from the taller boy, so it made it that much funnier. "Or maybe he just can't get rid of me!" he answered, sticking his tongue out immaturely. "You know, if you really want to travel, you should tag along." it was said in an offhanded way, part of it was in retaliation with Eiji, part of it was....well, he really felt for Ohtori, in a small way.
Choutarou shook his head. "Oh no I couldn't intrude. I'd probably just get in the way if I came with you." To be honest he had wanted to travel along with Shishido-san for as long as he could remember. He wanted to see all the things that Shishido-san told him about but Mukahi had probably only asked to be polite.
Frowning deeply, Gakuto had seen this ploy before, "Aw, c'mon! It'd be fun!" He couldn't see what would be so fun about staying here anyway...then again he couldn't see what was fun about staying anywhere to be honest, and he knew Shishido felt the same, he gestured at the painting to get his point across, "Plus, it might help you get that 'spark' back."
"But... but..." Choutarou stuttered a bit looking at his half finished painting. Mukahi was probably right in that leaving this town would give him much more inspiration for his art work. "I don't want to be a burden." He finally got out a little more hesitantly now that the other boy had offered again.
Giving Ohtori an odd look, Gakuto leaped up, startling the squirrel who'd made himself comfortable in the other's lap, grabbing the other's arm and dragging him up and over to the lake, not stopping to explain until they were standing on the beach among the rocks, he swept one arm over the scene, "C'mon Ohtori! Don't you want to see what's out there?" Maybe he was being slightly pushy, but Gakuto wasn't one to do things half-way, "You don't want to stay trapped here, do you?"
Choutarou stumbled a little as he was pulled to the water's edge. Looking out over the lake he gave a small wishful sigh. Turning his eyes back on the expectant red-head and then looked to the squirrel that had stuck itself to his shirt after all the jostling. "Well..." He started slowly. "No." Starting down at the squirrel who stared back up at him he looked up again. "I... I guess there would be no harm in asking Shishido-san if I could come along."
Perking up at the agreement, Gakuto smiled proudly, glad he'd been able to get through to the taller boy, "Oh, I'll take care of Ryou." he said dismissively waving one hand in the air, like he was batting away an annoying bug, "You just start packing in about a week!" He wasn't sure how well Shishido would take to more company, but the grumpy elf could just deal with it! Besides! Gakuto liked Ohtori, "And tell you what? Your payment can be getting me those feathers!" He added teasingly.
Choutarou smiled and laughed. "Well I could do with the practice in talking with birds. So if it's feathers you want for payment then..." He walked over to his pack and opened up a side pocket pulling out some stray feathers. "Here's some in advanced." He passed them to the shorter boy. "And hopefully I can make and sell a couple of new paintings for payment for Shishido-san."
Taking them with a care he rarely showed to anything else, Gakuto inspected them, captivated as he always was with feathers, noticing the other watching him, he felt his face become slightly red before putting them away inside his shirt to be put in his bag when he got back to Shishido's, then he grinned awkwardly up at the taller boy, pulling back a side of his hair behind his left ear. "It was nice to meet you Ohtori. It's about time we added someone new to the group, anyway."
Choutarou watched Mukahi as he examined the feathers, glad that he could give them to someone who would appreciate them. His eyes were drawn to the point in the shorter boy's ear, which were revealed when he pulled back his hair. Wondering for a moment what kind of elf he was since he didn't seem like a forest elf he shrugged it off. They would have enough time to share later. "I'm glad to have met you too Mukahi-san and thank you again for inviting me to travel with you." He was getting excited about the prospect of finally leaving the city and hoped that he would be able to keep up with the other two seasoned travelers.
"No problem." Gakuto shrugged, "But there's one catch...." Not waiting for the other to start sputtering or worrying what in the world that catch would be, he surged forward, "My name's Gakuto, and I'd rather be called by that." his surname wasn't what he liked to be called by, reminded him too much of his mom, he was actually glad that Shishido wasn't one for formalities and started with that right off.
"Oh... um... well.. alright Gakuto-san." Choutarou tested out the name. He didn't call many people by their first name but if that was what the other boy wanted he could at least try it out. "If you insist." Looking up at the sky he listened to the wind for a moment. Putting the squirrel that was still in his arms down he took one more look at his half finished painting before starting the pack it up. "I had hoped it wouldn't start so soon but it seems likes it's going to rain in about an hour or two. We should probably get going if we don't want to be caught in it."
Well...he guessed the name thing would take some time, he would get the other to use his name without the awkward -san, added to the end...eventually! Not one to question an forest elf on the weather, he nodded, helping the other pack up since he didn't have any of his own to pack.
"Thanks." Choutarou picked up his newly packed bag adjusting it on his shoulders. "Are you headed back to the Shishido's?"
"Yep. No point in staying out if there's a storm coming, after all." Gakuto added, putting his arms behind his head, watching the sky where the edges became slightly gray, "You said you lived near them?"
"Oh yes. Just a few houses down." Choutarou ignored the main path back into town and went instead to a smaller path. "Come one I know a shortcut."
Turning on his heel, since he'd already started that way, and changing his direction with a slight jerk, Gakuto jogged slightly to catch up with the taller of the two elves, "How long have you lived here, then?"
"I've lived here my entire life." Choutarou shrugged moving easily around the brush that had gown around the path. "That'd be... 274 years in a few weeks."
"That's a long time to stay in one place." Gakuto said with a small frown, though, Ohtori. That didn't appeal to Gakuto at all, "Guess we'll have to do something for your birthday then, huh?" he said with a small smirk.
"You don't have to." Choutarou shook his head. "We just meet. I couldn't expect you to do something on such short notice."
"Hey! If I have to suffer through Shishido celebrations, then I have to spread it around somehow!" Plus, he owed him for the feathers, since that'd more or less had
Choutarou's eyes widen a little at the thought to a party thrown by Shishido-san's mother. "Oh no, not that." He shook his head then smiled. Knowing his mother she had probably already conspired with Shishido-san's mother about a party for him.
"No use arguing, I tried that already." Gakuto made a face remember his past experiences, while nice, had been very awkward at the same time.
"Yah I know." He winced a little. Turning toward the other elf he gave a small smile. "Hopefully she won't go to overboard. So do you think Shishido-san will be home so we can ask him about me coming along?"
"Dunno." Gakuto paused, "But doesn't hurt to try." once they got close to the house Gakuto opened the door and in a loud voice called for, "Ryou!!!"
Shishido had been up in his room trying to figure out where exactly they would be going next. He seen Gakuto leave earlier but the days on the road and shown that his ankle had fully healed so he wasn't that worried. Looking up when his name was called he leaned back in his chair. "Yah what!?" He yelled back through his open door.
"Oh! There you are." Gakuto made his way through the house easily, "Ohtori," he nodded his head at the boy in question, "has lost his 'spark' he need some travel. I told him he could come with us, you know, since we're so good at keeping each other informed when we have new company."
Choutarou followed Gakuto easily through the house up to where Shishido-san's voice had come from. Coming up behind Gakuto he looked into what he knew to be Shishido-san's room. "Hi Shishido-san."
"Chou.. .Choutarou?" Shishido looked up in surprise not expecting to see the taller elf. Suddenly Gakuto's words registered in his mind. "Coming with us?"
"If it's not to much of a bother. Gakuto-san invited me... and well... I've been feeling stifled here."
"Stifled?" Shishido turned around fully to look at the two at his door. "You're not getting into those fights again are you?"
"No. I've just run out of things to paint around here. Gakuto-san suggested I needed to get out of town and well... I've always wanted to see the things you used to tell me about." Choutarou shrugged as he looked down at the ground.
"I didn't know you wanted to travel. I guess you can come along if Gakuto-san invited you." He smirked at the name.
Gakuto stuck his tongue out the other, knowing he was being teased, but not particularly caring, he make Ohtori do a turnaround eventually, Gakuto was nothing if not stubborn, "Ya see? I told you it'd be okay! Quit worrying so much." the smaller of the three shoved Ohtori's side playfully before going to sit down, pulling out the newly acquired feathers of his. He would like having a forest elf around, if only to make sure he got more feathers like these, he thought with a small smile.
"Yah." Choutarou grinned at the shorter boy. "Ummm.. well..." He lingered at in the door wondering what to do.
"Come on in Choutarou." Shishido sighed turning back to his map. "I was just trying to figure out where we were going next. If you're going to be joining us you should have a say too."
"Ok Shishido-san." He walked into the room and took a seat on the bed putting his bag on the ground. "I don't really care where we go."
"Well that really narrows our choices down." Shishido smirked jokingly rolling his eyes. "Hey Gakuto, you have anywhere you want to go?"
"As long as we're not back at the capital or is Risath, I don't care!" Gakuto leaned his chair back a bit, "I dunno 'bout you, but I'm tired of towns and cities, let's just wander!" and it was true, after spending far too long in the Capital, he was more or less ready to not be around that kind of thing for very long, too crowded, and not enough sky to enjoy. "But we have to stay for Ohtori's birthday." Gakuto added that last point with a sly grin.
"Oh yah you're birthday is coming up isn't it?" Shishido glanced over and grinned. "Guess that mean my mom's getting ready for another party. I was wondering what she was up to."
"Oh no." Choutarou winced sighing in resignation.
"Oh yah." Shishido smirked. "Don't worry we'll protect you if she goes overboard." Going back to his map Shishido looked down. "Anywhere huh. Well I think we can do that."
"Think that'll help with your painting, Ohtori?" Gakuto asked, his chair leaning almost far enough back to be considered dangerous if his weight shifted too much. But that was Gakuto, forever balancing on the edge of disaster, whether it be in a tree or on a chair, he just couldn't stay still for very long.
"I think that'll be just fine Gakuto-san." Choutarou grinned. This morning he hadn't really know what he was going to do with himself. Now he had some interesting new adventures to look forward too, a new friend in Gakuto-san, and an opportunity to travel along with Shishido-san. He leaned back onto his hands and smiled at the other two. This was a great way to start of the new year.
Where: Verbves
When Tuesday, February 2, 2010
What: Choutaou comes across something at the lake that will help his art and change his life.
Rating: PG
Comments: We welcome them.
Ohtori Choutarou sighed as he stepped out of his house. A new shadow elf family had moved in down the street and he knew they had been giving him odd looks ever since his family went over to introduce himself. It wasn't his fault that he was so tall. He had tried everything to make himself stop growing but nothing had worked. Not even the months he had tried drinking coffee, which he hated. In fact he though he grew the most during that period. He couldn't even figure out where he got it from. His mother was a nice respectable 5'6" and his father was only slightly taller at 5'7".
Shaking his head he readjusted his pack on his back and took off down the street. Giving a polite hello to some of his other neighbors that were up already he slowly made his way to the outskirt of town. Closing his eyes as he entered the forest he took a deep breath to calm himself down. The low chatter of the animals reached his ears as they discussed what had been happening the past few days since the last time he visited. Feeling slightly better he opened his eyes to look around to find something he hadn't already painted a million times before.
Swinging his legs back and forth, sitting sideways on the branch of a tall tree, Gakuto took a large bite of the apple he'd taken from Shishido's mom, humming happily to himself. He was just glad to be out of the capital, deciding with a certain amount of finality that the city was no place for an elf of any kind. Never mind the fact that neither he or Shishido liked being in one place to begin with. Plus he was so glad to be rid of that Eiji guy, and his ideas of 'elf-magic'.
Sticking the newly acquired feather behind his ear, he was in his element.
Choutarou finally ended up near a small lake that was one of his favorite places to paint. Setting up his paints he sat down and focused on a tree near the edge of the lake. The sun was hitting the water next tot he tree just right. He smiled at some squirrels that had come up to him to see what he was painting.
Slowly applying the blue and greens. The brown and the red... he took a double look at the scene. Yes there was definitely a lot more red there than there would be normally. Cocking his head to the side he put his paints to the side and got up. Going slowly around the lake edge he made his way to the tree to see what it was.
Bouncing slightly, Gakuto didn't notice anyone approach until the taller male made his way under the tree, when he happened to glance down, he made a startled noise and dropped the apple down on the other's head, where it bounced off with a thunk. "Geez! Don't you know not to startle people like that!"
Choutarou looked up into the tree only to narrowly miss getting an apple in his face. Instead it hit his hair and bounced off.
"Ow." He held his head wiping the apple juice out of his hair and looking up tentatively just in case anything else was going to fall on him. "What are you doing up there?"
"Well, I was eating an apple." Gakuto glanced sadly at the apple that was now in the dirt. He gave the other a once over, tall....holy, had to be human to be that tall. Gakuto leaned down on the branch and swung down to a lower, "What are you doing here?" as far as he knew, this town was mostly elves, but who knew?
"Sorry about that. I didn't mean to startle you." Choutarou brushed at his hair pulling some of the longer strands behind his ear revealing the point to it. "I was just painting the lake when I noticed you. At first I thought you were a new type of animal." He looked down at the paritially eaten apple then looked up again. "I don't think I have an apple but I do have some other food if you're still hungry."
His eyes widened slightly at the site of the other's ear, not human....or one with a very specific ear deformity. Well that certainly wasn't normal, then again, he wasn't normal, so he couldn't really judge. "Naw, thanks though." he answered, slightly surprised that the other offered, since he was the one that had an apple dropped on his head suddenly.
"Are you sure? I have more than enough." He reached over to pick up the apple. He figured it would be a nice gift to the squirrels that he had been talking to earlier. Straightening out again he looked up the boy in the tree. "I'm sorry for asking but where are you from? I feel like I've seen you around somewhere."
Blinking a couple times, Gakuto laughed slightly, "I doubt it, I lived in Risath." he was sure he'd remember someone from his old village like him. "I've visited here a few times, though." over the years, and quite against his own will, Shishido almost always dragged them back on his birthday, he was sure it was to watch him squirm. Shishido was strange like that, he supposed.
"That may be it." He nodded. "So what were you doing up there anyway?" He was curious as to what the red-head was doing in a tree in the middle of the forest anyway. Suddenly he realized something else. "I'm sorry I've been asking all these questions without introducing myself. I'm Ohtori Choutarou."
"Mukahi Gakuto, it's nice to meet you, Ohtori" Gakuto said with a small smile, swinging down one more branch to bring them almost to eye level, and he pulled out the feather from his hair carefully, "I was mostly up there for this" he announced proudly, as he showed the other the bright yellow feather. This one had been particularly hard to get, but it'd been worth it. Shishido would've bothered him about being up a tree again, but whatever. He grinned lightly before putting it back in his hair, it clashed slightly with the bright red shade, "So! You mentioned a painting?" he asked curiously, his head tilted to the side.
"Oh yah. I come into the woods to paint. I don't think they're very good but most people seem to like them." Choutarou shrugged modestly. "So do you collect feathers?" he asked noticing the feathered necklace around the boy's neck.
"Hmmm? Oh," Gakuto had forgotten he'd been wearing that, sometimes it almost seemed like a part of him. "Yeah," He stroked one carefully with a small and almost sad smile "They're special." then his head snapped up and he almost flushed, embarrassed, but he managed not to and swung down the rest of the way, landing on the ground.
Choutarou stepped back a little as Mukahi finally came down. Slouching a little to try to make it look like he was so tall he gave a small smile. "Well if you'd like some more. I have a few from birds that I try to talk to. They're always leaving me some and I feel bad just throwing them away."
Looking up in surprised, Gakuto blinked a few times, "That'd be nice." he answered, almost hesitantly, "But I'm not sure how long I'll be here for you to do that." He noticed the other bending down and raised an eyebrow, "Why are you standing like that?" unaware that his question might be rude and thoughtless.
"Well I think I have a few in my pack." Choutarou looked to where he had left his stuff trying to ignore the question about his stance. He had gotten in the habit of slouching to make himself look even just slightly shorter. He had been teased enough about his height growing up. "The rest I have at my house. Where are you staying? I could probably bring them over."
"I'm staying at the Shishido's," Gakuto gave out the address after a moment of thought and then tilted his head to the side, persisting once more, "Really....why are you standing like that? Does your back hurt? Doesn't it hurt your back?" He bounced up to the other, his feet skimming the ground slightly, he wasn't teasing or being mean, he was genially curious.
"Ummm... well..." Choutarou looked off to the side but watched Mukahi bounce in place out of the corner of his eyes. "It does get kinda awkward." He quietly admitted. Pulling his shoulders back he straightened up a littleut still averted his eyes. "Most elves just feel strange being around someone as tall as me." Suddenly Mukahi's first words caught up to him. "Oh I know the Shishidos. They live a few houses down from my family. My mother and Shishido-san are friends. "
"Really?" Gakuto grinned slightly, he should've known, no matter where they were Shishido knew someone because of something who was related to who knows, and of course that would mean the town where his parents lived if nothing else. Seeing that Ohtori had straightened himself out, Gakuto nodded, "There are worse things than being tall, you know." he stated simply. So what if Ohtori was tall?
"I know." Choutarou felt a blush rise on his face. "It's just easier on people if they don't realize just /how/ tall I am. I mean you have to admit. I'm much taller than your average elf. Most people give me funny looks when they see me so I try to avoid it if possible."
"Hey, that's their problem, not yours." Gakuto said with a small frown in no particular direction, when did the world get so close minded that they hated someone for being taller than them? It was just ridiculous, "I'm shorter than the average elf! Does that make me strange?" there was a whole other reason he was strange, but that wasn't the point at the moment.
"Oh no." Choutarou shook his head violently. "I didn't mean it like that. I know its silly. It just..." He trailed off not really knowing how to explain the awkward feeling he'd get. Instead he shrugged then looked up at the sun and noted it's position in the sky. "I think it's almost lunch time. You're welcome to come share my food with me. It's the least I could do since you dropped your apple."
Snorting, Gakuto shook his head slightly in amusement, "My fault anyway," then he caught sight of the canvas that the other had set up a little ways away and went to go take a look, and found himself greatly impressed, "And you said it wasn't that good," he muttered to himself slightly, ignoring whatever reaction Ohtori had to him looking at the beginning of a painting without asking.
"Oh it's not really," Choutarou could feel his blush deepen even more as he watched the other boy examine his rough painting. "I don't know. I just can't seem to find the right spark for any of my works anymore." He sighed and looked down. "It's probably because I've lived in this town my entire life and I've painted the same woods half a million times over."
"Well that's gotta get boring." Gakuto said with a small huff, thinking about the other's predicament for a moment, "You know, you should travel!" Gakuto said with a wide grin, for him that was the only way to go, traveling had done wonders for him, who said it couldn't do the same for Ohtori, "There's so much more to see out there!" and if anyone knew the feeling of being trapped, it was him.
"Oh I'd love to but I wouldn't know the first thing about traveling." Choutarou wandered over to another tree and set down the dropped apple for the squirrels. Then had ran up the tree when Gakuto had wandered over but Choutarou could see them peeking out from between the branches.
Seeing that he was possibly interrupting things, Gakuto sat down quietly out of the way, using as much as his elf-kind's skill at being quiet as he could, "So, forest-elf, right?" he asked, putting his head on his hand and resting his elbow on his left knee, his right one bouncing slightly.
"Hmmm?" Choutarou looked over midway through the process of coxing the squirrels back down. "Oh yes. I guess it's a little obvious." He smiled as one finally decided to trust him and come down for the apple. Grabbing it instead of going back up the tree it climbed up Choutarou to sit on his shoulder. Giving a small laugh he slowly walked over to his pack to get his own lunch. Bring it over to where Mukahi was he took a seat next to him. Setting the food between them he picked a piece up took a bite. He had grabbed a really random assortment of finger food when he had left that morning. Anything from fruit to the skewered barbecue meat the had from a few days ago. "So, if you don't mind me asking, why are you in town if you're from Risath?"
Straightening up slightly, Gakuto never liked talking about where he was from....but Ohtori was nice enough....and it's not like telling him where he lived would give everything away so he shrugged and relaxed again, "Tialdyn, haven't been there in years, though." he answered, grabbing one of the pieces of food before smirking at the squirrel who'd made himself comfortable with Ohtori, thinking of Shishido suddenly and his 'fear'.
"Tialdyn." Choutarou tried to remember his geography while chewing on his food. Swallowing he looked over at Mukahi. "That's the town at the bottom of the mountain of Risath's secondary island, right? How do you know the Shishidos if you're from way out there?" Choutarou knew that the Shishidos used to travel but that hadn't been for several hundred years.
"I travel with Ryou." he said with a small shrug, "Have been for a few years now. He pretty much introduced me...and his mom insists that I've been adopted as one of their own." He laughed a little awkwardly, since it was still somewhat odd to him, but he was slowly growing use to the idea.
"Shishido-san's back?" Choutarou's eyes widened in surprise. It had been a while since he had seen the youngest Shishido. The last time his mother told him he had been in town was during the time that Choutarou had been out in the forest for a week long camping excursion. He always liked talking with Shishido-san whenever he was in town. The places that he visited always sounded so interesting. "So you're the traveling partner that Shishido-san, ummm... Shishido-san's mother, talks about."
Chucking slightly at the other elf's awkward use of referring to Ryou's family, he was a little too polite, which he supposed wasn't a bad thing, but you'd think after living by someone for a certain amount of time, you'd be able to drop the formalities. He was also slightly surprised that she talked about him...."Nothing bad I hope." he joked slightly with a small grin to cover up the awkward feeling.
"Oh no." Choutarou shook his head. "She's always going on how glad she is Shishido-san has someone with him. She worried about him being alone for so long." He looked down and played with some grass. He didn't really want to admit that he had also been worried about the other boy. Shishido-san wasn't in town a lot but for the time he was around Choutarou liked hanging around him. He had also been the one to suggest that his art work was good enough to sell. Shishido-san was one of the few people who hadn't judged him on his height since the very beginning.
Tilting his head to the side slightly, Gakuto watched the taller carefully for a moment, getting a small insight of what was going on before shaking his head before snatching another piece of fruit, chewing thoughtfully and swallowing, unaware if he was making Ohtori feel awkward or not, "Ryou would say differently." he said with a laugh shrugging his shoulders, the two of them were always butting heads for one reason or another, but not enough to actually stop traveling together. It probably made things more interesting anyway.
"No. I don't suppose he would. He'd probably think it would be lame to admit to something like that." Chouratou stressed the work 'lame' like how he knew Shishido-san did and gave a small grin. "But he must like you at least a little to have let you travel with him for so long."
Laughing at Ohtori's impression of Shishido, Gakuto had to say it was right on the mark, and he didn't expect that from the taller boy, so it made it that much funnier. "Or maybe he just can't get rid of me!" he answered, sticking his tongue out immaturely. "You know, if you really want to travel, you should tag along." it was said in an offhanded way, part of it was in retaliation with Eiji, part of it was....well, he really felt for Ohtori, in a small way.
Choutarou shook his head. "Oh no I couldn't intrude. I'd probably just get in the way if I came with you." To be honest he had wanted to travel along with Shishido-san for as long as he could remember. He wanted to see all the things that Shishido-san told him about but Mukahi had probably only asked to be polite.
Frowning deeply, Gakuto had seen this ploy before, "Aw, c'mon! It'd be fun!" He couldn't see what would be so fun about staying here anyway...then again he couldn't see what was fun about staying anywhere to be honest, and he knew Shishido felt the same, he gestured at the painting to get his point across, "Plus, it might help you get that 'spark' back."
"But... but..." Choutarou stuttered a bit looking at his half finished painting. Mukahi was probably right in that leaving this town would give him much more inspiration for his art work. "I don't want to be a burden." He finally got out a little more hesitantly now that the other boy had offered again.
Giving Ohtori an odd look, Gakuto leaped up, startling the squirrel who'd made himself comfortable in the other's lap, grabbing the other's arm and dragging him up and over to the lake, not stopping to explain until they were standing on the beach among the rocks, he swept one arm over the scene, "C'mon Ohtori! Don't you want to see what's out there?" Maybe he was being slightly pushy, but Gakuto wasn't one to do things half-way, "You don't want to stay trapped here, do you?"
Choutarou stumbled a little as he was pulled to the water's edge. Looking out over the lake he gave a small wishful sigh. Turning his eyes back on the expectant red-head and then looked to the squirrel that had stuck itself to his shirt after all the jostling. "Well..." He started slowly. "No." Starting down at the squirrel who stared back up at him he looked up again. "I... I guess there would be no harm in asking Shishido-san if I could come along."
Perking up at the agreement, Gakuto smiled proudly, glad he'd been able to get through to the taller boy, "Oh, I'll take care of Ryou." he said dismissively waving one hand in the air, like he was batting away an annoying bug, "You just start packing in about a week!" He wasn't sure how well Shishido would take to more company, but the grumpy elf could just deal with it! Besides! Gakuto liked Ohtori, "And tell you what? Your payment can be getting me those feathers!" He added teasingly.
Choutarou smiled and laughed. "Well I could do with the practice in talking with birds. So if it's feathers you want for payment then..." He walked over to his pack and opened up a side pocket pulling out some stray feathers. "Here's some in advanced." He passed them to the shorter boy. "And hopefully I can make and sell a couple of new paintings for payment for Shishido-san."
Taking them with a care he rarely showed to anything else, Gakuto inspected them, captivated as he always was with feathers, noticing the other watching him, he felt his face become slightly red before putting them away inside his shirt to be put in his bag when he got back to Shishido's, then he grinned awkwardly up at the taller boy, pulling back a side of his hair behind his left ear. "It was nice to meet you Ohtori. It's about time we added someone new to the group, anyway."
Choutarou watched Mukahi as he examined the feathers, glad that he could give them to someone who would appreciate them. His eyes were drawn to the point in the shorter boy's ear, which were revealed when he pulled back his hair. Wondering for a moment what kind of elf he was since he didn't seem like a forest elf he shrugged it off. They would have enough time to share later. "I'm glad to have met you too Mukahi-san and thank you again for inviting me to travel with you." He was getting excited about the prospect of finally leaving the city and hoped that he would be able to keep up with the other two seasoned travelers.
"No problem." Gakuto shrugged, "But there's one catch...." Not waiting for the other to start sputtering or worrying what in the world that catch would be, he surged forward, "My name's Gakuto, and I'd rather be called by that." his surname wasn't what he liked to be called by, reminded him too much of his mom, he was actually glad that Shishido wasn't one for formalities and started with that right off.
"Oh... um... well.. alright Gakuto-san." Choutarou tested out the name. He didn't call many people by their first name but if that was what the other boy wanted he could at least try it out. "If you insist." Looking up at the sky he listened to the wind for a moment. Putting the squirrel that was still in his arms down he took one more look at his half finished painting before starting the pack it up. "I had hoped it wouldn't start so soon but it seems likes it's going to rain in about an hour or two. We should probably get going if we don't want to be caught in it."
Well...he guessed the name thing would take some time, he would get the other to use his name without the awkward -san, added to the end...eventually! Not one to question an forest elf on the weather, he nodded, helping the other pack up since he didn't have any of his own to pack.
"Thanks." Choutarou picked up his newly packed bag adjusting it on his shoulders. "Are you headed back to the Shishido's?"
"Yep. No point in staying out if there's a storm coming, after all." Gakuto added, putting his arms behind his head, watching the sky where the edges became slightly gray, "You said you lived near them?"
"Oh yes. Just a few houses down." Choutarou ignored the main path back into town and went instead to a smaller path. "Come one I know a shortcut."
Turning on his heel, since he'd already started that way, and changing his direction with a slight jerk, Gakuto jogged slightly to catch up with the taller of the two elves, "How long have you lived here, then?"
"I've lived here my entire life." Choutarou shrugged moving easily around the brush that had gown around the path. "That'd be... 274 years in a few weeks."
"That's a long time to stay in one place." Gakuto said with a small frown, though, Ohtori. That didn't appeal to Gakuto at all, "Guess we'll have to do something for your birthday then, huh?" he said with a small smirk.
"You don't have to." Choutarou shook his head. "We just meet. I couldn't expect you to do something on such short notice."
"Hey! If I have to suffer through Shishido celebrations, then I have to spread it around somehow!" Plus, he owed him for the feathers, since that'd more or less had
Choutarou's eyes widen a little at the thought to a party thrown by Shishido-san's mother. "Oh no, not that." He shook his head then smiled. Knowing his mother she had probably already conspired with Shishido-san's mother about a party for him.
"No use arguing, I tried that already." Gakuto made a face remember his past experiences, while nice, had been very awkward at the same time.
"Yah I know." He winced a little. Turning toward the other elf he gave a small smile. "Hopefully she won't go to overboard. So do you think Shishido-san will be home so we can ask him about me coming along?"
"Dunno." Gakuto paused, "But doesn't hurt to try." once they got close to the house Gakuto opened the door and in a loud voice called for, "Ryou!!!"
Shishido had been up in his room trying to figure out where exactly they would be going next. He seen Gakuto leave earlier but the days on the road and shown that his ankle had fully healed so he wasn't that worried. Looking up when his name was called he leaned back in his chair. "Yah what!?" He yelled back through his open door.
"Oh! There you are." Gakuto made his way through the house easily, "Ohtori," he nodded his head at the boy in question, "has lost his 'spark' he need some travel. I told him he could come with us, you know, since we're so good at keeping each other informed when we have new company."
Choutarou followed Gakuto easily through the house up to where Shishido-san's voice had come from. Coming up behind Gakuto he looked into what he knew to be Shishido-san's room. "Hi Shishido-san."
"Chou.. .Choutarou?" Shishido looked up in surprise not expecting to see the taller elf. Suddenly Gakuto's words registered in his mind. "Coming with us?"
"If it's not to much of a bother. Gakuto-san invited me... and well... I've been feeling stifled here."
"Stifled?" Shishido turned around fully to look at the two at his door. "You're not getting into those fights again are you?"
"No. I've just run out of things to paint around here. Gakuto-san suggested I needed to get out of town and well... I've always wanted to see the things you used to tell me about." Choutarou shrugged as he looked down at the ground.
"I didn't know you wanted to travel. I guess you can come along if Gakuto-san invited you." He smirked at the name.
Gakuto stuck his tongue out the other, knowing he was being teased, but not particularly caring, he make Ohtori do a turnaround eventually, Gakuto was nothing if not stubborn, "Ya see? I told you it'd be okay! Quit worrying so much." the smaller of the three shoved Ohtori's side playfully before going to sit down, pulling out the newly acquired feathers of his. He would like having a forest elf around, if only to make sure he got more feathers like these, he thought with a small smile.
"Yah." Choutarou grinned at the shorter boy. "Ummm.. well..." He lingered at in the door wondering what to do.
"Come on in Choutarou." Shishido sighed turning back to his map. "I was just trying to figure out where we were going next. If you're going to be joining us you should have a say too."
"Ok Shishido-san." He walked into the room and took a seat on the bed putting his bag on the ground. "I don't really care where we go."
"Well that really narrows our choices down." Shishido smirked jokingly rolling his eyes. "Hey Gakuto, you have anywhere you want to go?"
"As long as we're not back at the capital or is Risath, I don't care!" Gakuto leaned his chair back a bit, "I dunno 'bout you, but I'm tired of towns and cities, let's just wander!" and it was true, after spending far too long in the Capital, he was more or less ready to not be around that kind of thing for very long, too crowded, and not enough sky to enjoy. "But we have to stay for Ohtori's birthday." Gakuto added that last point with a sly grin.
"Oh yah you're birthday is coming up isn't it?" Shishido glanced over and grinned. "Guess that mean my mom's getting ready for another party. I was wondering what she was up to."
"Oh no." Choutarou winced sighing in resignation.
"Oh yah." Shishido smirked. "Don't worry we'll protect you if she goes overboard." Going back to his map Shishido looked down. "Anywhere huh. Well I think we can do that."
"Think that'll help with your painting, Ohtori?" Gakuto asked, his chair leaning almost far enough back to be considered dangerous if his weight shifted too much. But that was Gakuto, forever balancing on the edge of disaster, whether it be in a tree or on a chair, he just couldn't stay still for very long.
"I think that'll be just fine Gakuto-san." Choutarou grinned. This morning he hadn't really know what he was going to do with himself. Now he had some interesting new adventures to look forward too, a new friend in Gakuto-san, and an opportunity to travel along with Shishido-san. He leaned back onto his hands and smiled at the other two. This was a great way to start of the new year.