thenearshore | what does the fox say?

what does the fox say?

Who: Kaden and Ryoma
When: December 13
Where: Oshun's temple
What: Kaden has invited Ryoma over to see something really, really cool.

[In the brushy outer fringes of Oshun's forest-temple, something is watching and waiting. Something big. Something furry.

Kaden had found a weird rock in his pocket when he arrived here, but up until this morning, he'd assumed it to be nothing but a very pretty stone with a pawprint on it. Nothing out of the ordinary - he likes pretty things, so of course he'd have pretty things in his pockets! But this morning, it had done something. It had changed him. And better yet, the form it changed him into felt right. Like it was really, truly him. Like how he feels when Alex has him summoned into his vessel form.

Of course, one of the first people he thought of to contact about this was Ryoma. Ryoma will appreciate the surprise... right? He's just so excited!]

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[ Ryoma's not sure he likes surprises, but he does like Kaden--so his apprehension meets his interest halfway as he makes his way to Oshun's temple, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in a metaphorical sense. Kaden had mentioned not being in the temple proper, so Ryoma keeps to the edges, looking around curiously for his fox-tailed friend. There had been strange noises on his friend's message, so Ryoma is... wary, but. Nothing too bad could be happening, right?

Right? ]

Kaden?

[Of course nothing bad is happening! Kaden wouldn't invite Ryoma over if anything bad was happening. He might be a little overenthusiastic in his definition of surprise, but it's certainly nothing bad.

Picking up Ryoma's scent, Kaden follows along in the underbrush, as stealthily and quietly as you please. Not once does his friend leave his sight, and while his kitsune instincts are prickling at him to pounce, he's waiting for the right moment to do so.

Fortunately, the right moment is only a held breath's length after Ryoma speaks his name, and then a large orange blur is leaping from the brush along the path-- and right towards Ryoma.]

[ Kaden could always call Ryoma to his side if there were trouble! That's what friends are for, right? Are they friends? Can memoryless weapon-people be friends? Still, with all the troubles Heaven has been having, Ryoma wouldn't put it past this being the prelude to a ruse... or a trap.

... he's just worried about his fox-friend, okay? So worried that he's not paying as much attention as he holds his breath and waits to hear from Kaden, and catches a furry orange blur to the self. ]

Agh!

[ And down he goes, born to the ground by many pounds of enthusiastic kitsune. ]

[At least, when the dust settles, the very large and very energetic kitsune is exhibiting friendly mannerisms. Playful, even! In fact, the butt wiggle and tail wiggle is making all of him wiggle, and his ears are down in a non-aggressive position.

Hopefully Ryoma is also fine with having his face thoroughly licked.]

[ Ryoma, er. Was not expecting it in the slightest; his initial fight or flight reaction bled adrenaline into his system, ready to tussle with the monster that was probably gonna rip his throat out given a chance, but, uh... well, Ryoma's throat is still his. The monster's tongue is soft and incessant.

The lack of having to fight for his life makes Ryoma take a mental step back, while his heart continues to flutter like a rabbit's in his chest--the shape of the creature, the color of its eyes, its fur color... could this be--]

Kaden?

Edited 2018-07-28 17:53 (UTC)

You recognized me!

[He backs off on his assault, even if his tail is still wagging so hard that his butt is being taken for a ride with it. Ryoma knew it was him!! And he'd never even seen him in his vessel form with Alex! Maybe Ryoma has some kind of supernatural sense!]

Isn't this cool? There was this weird rock in my pocket when I got here, but I finally figured out what it was for! I think this is what I really look like!

[ Well, at least Ryoma has his powers of observation going for him. He sits up with a shaky breath, resisting the urge to wipe the fox-slobber off his face as he looks his friend over--he's... a very handsome fox? As far as foxes go? ]

Your fur's the same color, and your eyes are... familiar.

[ The kitsune's ears remain ever soft and pettable. Ryoma's fingers itch a little. Kaden's happiness is infectious--Ryoma smiles, soft, as Kaden's voice continues to echo from somewhere that Ryoma's going to elect not to think on too hard. ]

I'm glad. You look very happy in that skin, to be honest.

[He is the glossiest and silkiest fox! And very, very large, to boot. Kaden doesn't mean to keep Ryoma pinned, though, and after a few moments he climbs off, sitting as neat and prim as you please, even if his tail is swishing the ground and the fallen leaves behind him.]

Do I really? I mean, it definitely feels right! It's like... Like knowing something is wrong, but not knowing exactly what it is until something changes and it doesn't feel wrong anymore?

[Where is his voice coming from? He's not even sure. His lips aren't moving, but if he says something and wants it to be heard, it suddenly is! He must be a magic fox. Kitsune are magic, right?]

[ Very, very large. With a little effort, Ryoma could probably ride him into battle--they'd be the terror of everyone's lower torso. He moves to sit on his knees, leaning in to really study Kaden with a fascinated expression, absently running his fingers over the luxuriously soft fur. He moves to tip Kaden's chin, as if he could discern a smile on a foxface if he studied long enough. ]

You do! It's all in your posture--and your tail's a bigger tell than your face could ever be, I'm afraid. It's a good look.

[ Ryoma, meanwhile, looks like a mess. His hair is eating leaves. Save them. ]

[There's no saving those leaves, they're already doomed to the abyss.]

Anything's a good look if it's me!

[Kaden leans into the touch, though, both the fingers in his fur and at his chin. There is indeed a smile, albeit a very fox-like one, and his tail is just beating the heck out of the dirt behind him. There are bits of leaves stuck in his fur even where it's not touching the ground. He might have been rolling around before Ryoma even got here, it's fine.]

I don't know if I can do anything against ayakashi like this, but I'm glad I can be like this away from Alex if I want to. Not that I don't like being like this when I'm with her!

[ He was gonna be brushing lil' crunchies out of his mane for days, but at least Kaden was gonna have to live that life too. Ryoma laughs at Kaden's cheer and bold declarations, ruffling his ears with a roll of his eyes. ]

You're so humble, my friend.

[ Is he teasing? He sounds like he's teasing. My god, he's probably telling a joke.

Kaden's tail is just going for it, man; if the kitsune didn't like grooming himself as much as he did, Ryoma might've warned him--but hey, all the better for a good brushing later, right? ]

Of course, no one would assume you mislike your god, [ Ryoma's unsure about his, but good luck getting him to admit that. Those feelings are buried under a wall of Hoshidan duty and they're not coming out any more than they already do. ] but if this is your real skin, it'd make sense that you'd like running around as who you truly are without having to rely on someone else.

[Ryoma, telling a joke? Is the world ending? Kaden even thinks it's funny! As is evident by the weird fox-chuckle coming from his mouth.]

I'm the most humble! It's part of my charm!

[He likes Ryoma, though, and that's why he's butting his head up into the other man's hand, wordlessly asking for more scritches. Scritches are nice. Scritches are real nice.]

I knew I was a fox, but I never thought I'd be one this big! [He pauses there for a moment, tail briefly slowing down.] I wondered for a second just what kind of fox I am, but thinking about stuff like that always gives me the heebie-jeebies. It's like I shouldn't be. But I'm still curious.

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