likethelight | IC Contact @ Deer Country

Grateful?

[ His eyes close briefly, shivering slightly at the contact. He's become more sensitive as time passes, but he suspects its the attention Allen seems to pay his ear that's the reason. ]

Like Sanctuary?

[ He asks. While he may not dislike the world he found himself in, he also didn't consider it a good place, where corruption could turn anyone into a shade of themselves, driving them to do things they'd never do on their own. An image of Midoriya comes to mind, corruption coursing through him, making him hostile, and afraid of his friends. ]

[ Allen's mouth curves in a very faint smile at that reaction, lingering in a comfortable manner before he draws back to look at him. Sometimes he might nip at the earring and lobe and tease him when in high spirits and feeling a little daring, but this isn't one of those times. It's been easier to lately though when Shouto has had his apparently more amorous moods hit him. ]

Not exactly. [ Although he isn't wrong, but that's more a product of it than the thing he's truly grateful for. Allen squeezes his hand gently, smile soft and thoughtful. ]

More like... even with a lot of bad, a lot of hardship-- there's still a lot of good I wouldn't have known without it.

[ Ah, those moods did hit him quite often in the last month, somehow coinciding with their, uh, feeling each other up and coming undone. Probably why he never realized it was the lemons all along, the need to kiss him paramount in his mind, throwing everything else to the side, including boiling lemon marinade that turned into a black mess. Shouto discreetly helped the tar along, upping the heat until it turned to ash to avoid a scrubbing session. Too bad for him, he forgot about the handle, which caught on fire and now all their pots and pans have metal handles, if Allen asked why he made the sudden purchase that cost him a pretty penny, he'd answer with 'oven-safe' and never speak of his burning man hour that made a unique piece of twisted metal art he threw in the trash.

A discussion for another time. At the moment, he's having a hard time keeping up with this one. Feeling a little lost by that explanation, he grows quiet, trying to make sense of it on his own. A lot of good. He can understand that but it wasn't like the good here was all that different from the good in his world.

Thankfully for Allen, the alarm on his omini rings, announcing the steep complete. Tea's ready! Instead of asking his line of questioning, Shouto picks up two cups and warms them in his hand, and pours the tea. ]

You can have your lemon cakes now.

[ He tells Allen, pouring him a cup of Earl Grey, and setting it on the small table where two platters of lemons cakes, a dozen each, sat perfectly for the taking. ]

[ Well. Allen wouldn't be terribly surprised by the fact he burnt his marinade because he was distracted. You did flood the house when they first kissed because of being distracted. ... So did Allen, technically. Although that doesn't explain the sudden replacement of all their cookingware and he might have frowned thoughtfully over that for a while the next time he was in the kitchen.

None the wiser, Allen's mood seems to shift on a dime and he brightens up the moment Shouto hands him his tea, breathing the aroma in deep as he clasps it in both hands. Mm, pre-warmed even. He drinks deep, enjoying the fact it doesn't burn his tongue, and smiles at Shouto over his cup at the offer. ]

Have one with me? [ He knows Shouto won't ever eat as much or be as partial to sweets as Allen is, but there's no way he's having it all on his own. ]

[ His kitchen disasters are many and far too closely spaced to make anyone raise a brow. Most of the time, it is because he's distracted by Allen. You really are a menace to his baking advancements! Not that he cares all that. There are precious few things he'll ever pursue for his own pleasure, kissing Allen lies at the top of the list, alongside his little tea addiction. Someone should really monitor him when he goes tea shopping, the vendors know him by sight and he's really easy to pick out from a crowd.

That's probably why there's really only one answer he can give to that question, and it comes in the form of a quiet smile. Of course. ]

Can I have two?

[ He asks, genuine in his question, knowing how much Allen loves sweets. ]

[ !! ]

Yes! [ He sounds utterly delighted to be sharing more with him, perking up in an animated manner while he sets his tea down and reaches for two like he would for steamed dumplings-- one of which he hands to Shouto, smiling wide. Eyes bright. Tim's rejoined them after giving chase to and playing with the dragonflies, settling in next to one of the plates while radiating a sunny joy of his own.

And don't worry, while Allen knows better than to try and chaperone Shouto's shopping excursions because he's maddeningly hard to corral or convince of a bad deal, he has tried to make a bit of an end run on him by frequently bringing home new teas for him to try until the cabinet is full. Ones he got for a good deal. (And don't you think that means they're cheap!) ]

[ Allen's delight is etched clearly on his face from his vantage point. It warms him to see him like this, open and carefree, grabbing the lemon cakes with such delight it makes every single hour he spent learning how to make the batter and bake it at the right temperature worth it. ]

The one without chocolate.

[ He requests. Despite having spent weeks learning to temper chocolate, white chocolate is a bit too sweet for him. On the other hand, dark chocolate would've been a terrible combination with lemon!

He's grateful for the teas, and doesn't consider them low quality at all, and even if they were, he would've enjoyed trying all the interesting flavors he normally doesn't gravitate towards.

He waits for Allen to take a bite of the little lemon-shaped cake, gauging his reaction before following suit, taking a drink of the Earl Grey to compliment the citrus flavor. ]

[ Really? Dark chocolate with lemon sounds delightful to him. He remembers seeing gourmet chocolates he wasn't allowed to eat as a child that were dark chocolate and had bits of candied lemon peel in them (and probably limoncello). But he absolutely loves white chocolate too; far be it from Allen to discriminate against any food. Unless it has alcohol in it, but that's more a Pavlovian gag reflex.

He hands Shouto the plain one and takes a chocolate one for himself, giving him a final bright-eyed look before taking an absolutely giant bite of his own, the chocolate snapping and giving way to a burst of lemon even Allen wasn't quite expecting. He blinks, staring down at it before looking back up at Shouto in astonished delight. ]

Ah, you've really gotten so good! [ Not even including how abysmally low that bar had started back at the bake-off a year ago!! He takes another big bite, clearing almost the entire cake in two goes. ]

It's delicious. [ "Itsh d'lefshus."

No side effects in three... two... one? Oh, no. It'll take longer than that for his metabolism to get to it on an already full (for colloquial purposes) stomach. Tim, though...

Tim gleefully takes a giant toothy bite of his own, but then... stops? His mouth disappearing from his face as he regards the cake rather blankly and curiously for a moment. _{Et tu?} ]

Edited 2023-06-02 01:47 (UTC)

[ Utterly pleased by his reaction, Shouto smiles, a hint of heat coming from his left shoulder. Whether from the cake or a genuine reaction is hard to gauge, but Tim's restraint keeps him from taking another bite.

What's wrong? He sets his cup down, too anxious to notice the way the surface of the water ripples faintly from subtle vibrations originating from the ground. ]

Did you get a bad one?

[ He asks Tim, unable to help himself. ]

The lemon peels can taste bitter sometimes.

Edited 2023-06-02 02:02 (UTC)

[ Allen cocks his head slightly at Tim as well, attention snagging on the little golem as well. It's not alarming that he isn't eating, but it is a bit curious. ]

Did you have enough already, Tim? [ Just to check out Shouto's concerns, he breaks off a small piece of Tim's cake to try as well but finds it just as good as his. He hums lightly behind another "itsh gud."

Timcanpy glances between the two of them, wings wagging slightly and aware of all eyes on him, and for a moment is just very quiet. Deeply contemplative, perhaps. Not exactly conflicted. More like his small brain is processing a very big thing and it takes a moment for the thought to come around.

"..."

He pushes the cake towards Shouto then, smiling so very wide and toothily. His whole body gives a wiggle as he shimmies in place, much like a cat wiggling its behind or a dog looking to play. Allen gives a laugh. ]

Maybe he's just trying to say you should help yourself too.

Edited 2023-06-02 02:11 (UTC)

Shouto grew closer to him while brooding the eggs that lay buried with a small headstone behind the house. In those two months, he learned to gauge his moods a little better, still can't read him the way Allen can, but he knows when he's acting odd, like now. Allen's deduction at the expense of one of Tim's cakes eases some of his concern, but it's Tim's toothy smile that settles it.

Did you want to share, too?

[ Share? No. Timcanpy's smarter than both of you think. But after looking thoughtful at the offer, he rolls onto his back—wings and all—and wiggles as he kicks his little limbs around. All cheeky smiles full of teeth. The sheer audacity of invitation to rub his belly.

Allen, watching the display, smiles faintly as he finishes his first cake and reaches for a second. Looking thoughtful and warmed, his gaze resting appreciatively on Shouto's profile and how serious he is for Tim's welfare. He leans into him imperceptivity, into the faint warmth coming off him. ]

He's gotten more playful with you.

Edited 2023-06-02 02:34 (UTC)

[ He's been around enough stray cats to know what that means, and while he was amenable to the stray cats, they weren't a part of someone's soul. Allen's soul! A flush creeps up his neck, well aware of the invitation on the table, and trying not to catch on fire, somehow that's a little harder to do, feeling oddly out of tune with himself.

Tim! What are you doing?!

He's so caught up in all of THIS, blatantly not acquiescing! Tim?!!! He doesn't notice the way his tea starts to shake or the ripples in the water growing in frequency. The ground vibrates faintly every few seconds, and Shouto woefully unaware. ]

I-- [ He stumbles over his words. ] I don't think he knows what he's doing.

Edited 2023-06-02 03:02 (UTC)

[ Oh, he knows exactly what he's doing, and it's why Allen gives Tim a wry and lightly scolding look. Don't tease Shouto, Tim. He might literally combust.

However, before he can reply or scold he blinks. Not noticing the vibration of ground until he feels the ripples around his legs in the water, but his attention heightens immediately then—though it is odd how his head seems a little fuzzy. ]

Do you feel something? [ Can they hear it? Beast? Except no, his eye should have alerted them to the presence of anything that corrupted well in advance. ]

Edited 2023-06-02 03:09 (UTC)

Yes.

[ Said in a strained voice, eyes on Tim, and trying not to combust. The urge to reach out and touch the little omen is strong, stronger than he's ever felt it. So much so, he snaps his hands to his chest to keep them to himself. Stop tempting him!

Beyond the forest, a pack of wolf howl in warning, and birds take to the air, followed by the snapping of trees, their large boughs bending against something massive. There's no hint of corruption.

Beneath them, the ground starts to shake and ripples run across the surface of the river scaring the koi who quickly swim out of sight, under the engawa. Shouto feels it then, the tea cups rattling on the table. The tin can of Earl Grey shakes visibly and tips over hitting the ground, while Shouto tries to save the tea cups from the same fate. ]

What's that?!

[ In the distance, the trees start parting revealing a massive snow leopard three stories tall carrying a Japanese apricot tree, in full bloom, in its mouth. Shouto stares, utterly dumbfounded. ]

Kizu?!

[ That's not what he meant at all!!!! ]

Edited 2023-06-02 03:34 (UTC)

[ Shouto, you are so lucky for this interruption. Because without it Tim would have shamelessly wiggled in glee at him and shuffled closer to keep baiting him, mild scoldings from Allen or not. As it is, he rights himself quickly just as Allen jumps to his feet the moment he hears the first tree crack in the distance.

No reaction from his eye or not, the forest's alarm is more than enough reason to be prepared for something dangerous. They're far from safe, being this far outside of the city proper. Tense, his left arm goes out in a protective sweep, a flicker of light running along his shoulders that dissipates into the air like feathers melting into a breeze-- ]

[ --and then just gawks when Kizu the size of a house comes bounding through the treeline.

what ]

Why does she have a tree?!?

Edited 2023-06-02 03:45 (UTC)

[ He's not the only one gawking, mouth slightly parted, in perfect imitiation of one of the koi hiding under the house. ]

That's... your flowers.

[ Not what he thought she was doing when she said she'd bring them back!!! When did she get that big?!! It's been nearly a year since he last saw her bigger than a dod let alone the forest! ]

I think... she misunderstood.

[ She did not. This is Kizu being a tease. Have fun with that Allen because she's heading straight for you, carrying what is essentially a stick, except she's no dog. ]

Edited 2023-06-02 04:00 (UTC)

[ "Misunderstood." YEAH MAYBE?

Allen's frozen now more because he doesn't know what to do? What a nice gesture gone terribly wrong? Tim, of course, has righted himself and grits his best friend with a jaunty grin and a wag of his wings. He approves of her shenanigans. Clearly he has been a good influence. ]

U-um. [ Oh no, she's coming right for him. He waves his hands about a little wildly in a slightly panicked please cease and desist. ]

Ah, Kizu-- [ please don't, that tree's big enough to crush him? ]

Could we put it-- over there maybe??

[ Nope. She sets the bouquet right at his feet. Better not move! ]

Kizu!

[ Shouto shouts, clearly not pleased with her behavior, but the tree is precisely placed at his feet with care. He won't get hit unless he decides to move. She paws at the ground, enough to make six foot indentation to set the tree down. It leans right toward the house, its roots, broken from the sheer force of being pulled from the ground, bleeds sap in a poor attempt to stem the damage.

Flowers. At his feet, hand delivered... err, does it still count if it's technically her mouth? She doesn't care, and heads over to Tim, tail swishing once, knocking down a nearby tree. ]

Kizu! You're scaring the koi!

[ Shouto admonishes in a sharp tone he hardly ever uses with her. In turn, she shimmers a glittering gold and emerges from the giant cloud back to kitten size, utterly pleased with herself, tail raised up high and mighty.

Hello, Tim. You may sit next to her, if you wish, she seems to say as she sits prim and proper on the engawa, ignoring the lot of them with her task complete. ]

[ For a brief moment Allen's half afraid it's going to tip right over into the house and throws his arms out as if somehow he could catch it—well he could, if he invoked his Innocence, and it's a panicky thought he's considering if he should before thankfully the tree only lists and doesn't topple dangerously. Much.

Waiting perilously silent for a moment, half afraid to breathe as if that might make it fall over the rest of the way, he glances back over his shoulder with just such a terribly sheepish smile and. tries to process. ]

D... d'you think that counts as re-planting it...? [ L-laughs awkwardly.

Kizu. Even Tim stares for a moment, hard to tell if it's from being in awe or judging her, before he twirls around and parks his butt next to her with a merry little flick of his wings. He shrugs lightly in Allen's directly, and smiles then. ]

[ For a split second, he feels like it's going to tip over and he's ready to slam a wall of ice to prevent it from falling over the house but thankfully, it just sags the trunk taking up all the weight.

The flowers he wanted to show Allen. The ones he came across on one of his patrols that reminded him of home so much. There's a twinge of guilt, for not explaining what he wanted better. ]

It's going to die like that.

[ A wall of ice snaps from his right foot and rises so very slowly, the slowest he's ever formed his ice to gently transfer the weight from the trunk to the ice until the tree stands upright. ]

We need to replant it.

[ Maybe it wouldn't die then, but he knows so little about plants. Tearing something from the ground always made it die from his experience. He looks to Allen, looking a little lost. ]

Do you know how?

[ While Allen actually does know a strange amount about how to take care of domestic plants, or at least certain carnivorous ones (don't ask)... sadly, full grown trees are out of his wheelhouse. ]

Not really, I'm afraid... beyond putting it in the ground and—bracing it? [ It's a little sheepish still, but you know he's actually still in very good spirits despite the debacle now that the shock is wearing off. It's still oddly quite sweet...?

However, seeing Shouto look lost and a little dismayed his expression flickers, and he smiles a little more gently as he reaches out for his hand. ]

It's worth trying. I can see why you liked them.

[ He still knows more than him. He's never taken care of a plant in his life. First aid for animals at least was straight forward, they were like people after all, but plants? He's not sure where to even start. ]

Bracing it?

[ Thankfully, he's not alone in this. Allen's suggestion does the needed task of pulling him from his thoughts. ]

In the ground. Okay.

[ He can do that. They just needed to bury the roots in soil, good soil, if Allen knew what that was. He steps closer to him, taking his hand in his, needing the contact. ]

I can get a shovel.

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