coordination | IC Inbox for folkmore

[it's a brisk but enjoyable trek, passing by angled rooftops and warm, glowing window light - a snowglobe wonderland unlike anything Blue has known before. the nip in the air is relentless, but so is Yzak Jule's warmth, so there is no fear of being overtaken. without a sharp wind to really cut to their bones, it's a quiet kind of cold that's almost cozy in of itself.

still, a mile is a mile, and it's more than a mile when one has to plod through an inch or so of snow to trek it. and while certainly Yzak wouldn't fuss or be bothered himself about the distance, Blue steers them off-course a little to take a break under the awning of one of the village homes - less to catch any lost breath and more to simply be present here for a little longer.

(but yes, he'd like to catch his breath; he's apple-cheeked and pink-eared, having forgotten the feeling of his nose despite Yzak's ongoing warmth.)

the craning of Blue's neck prompts the mouse to stir, crawling out from the collar and slinking onto his shoulder, tittering and twitching and sniffing at the air.]

The sky looks different in a place like this... Brighter, almost. [even though it's dark.]

[ The perk of the Charter magic does make this easier to traverse through now that it's properly active and they're on the move. And Yzak finds his own gaze wandering when they pass views that can be seen through the blanket of white. The homes do look cozy, glow from the windows in many of them brighter from the fireplaces lit inside - it's tempting, even though he's free of the bone-deep chill that would make that temptation stronger.

Yzak's always wired to be in a rush - to get to his destination, do what he intends to do so he can move forward and on to the next thing. But he lets himself be steered slightly astray by Blue when he alters course - just because this isn't a big deal to him doesn't mean Blue and his frail Mu ass won't need a break, he figures. That, and an mile is a mile, and keeping up the Charter spell that whole time is still work that Yzak's not kept going for this long, so he'll silently appreciate the break himself. He settles in next to Blue, close because it's Blue and he wants to be close because of that particular sort of warmth that he feels in himself that the magic doesn't provide.

The comment gets Yzak to look up at the sky as well. ]

It does. [ Look brighter, now that Blue's noted it. And different, for sure. ] You'd get lost fast if you decided to fly up into it, though.

PLANT's weather is regulated, so it never gets too extreme to the point where it looks like this.

In this way, we'll be tested, it seems. [lab rats in a comfortable cage. Blue tries not to dwell on it too much, but it's ever-present. he'd rather be in this cage with someone he loves, but...he'd much prefer them not be in it at all.

the mouse titters and makes a slinky climb from Blue's shoulder to Yzak's now that they've made a bridge; here, now, the nose gives little sniffs through his hair at his ear.]

You sure say that a lot here, you know. [ Yzak says with a twinge of understanding to his voice. Blue's made it no secret as to how he feels about all of this ... and in the end, even if he can spend his time here advancing and studying and training, he'd undoubtedly drop it all for Blue's sake to stand by his side if he ever wished to try and break this "cage."

He gives his hand a soft squeeze, leans in to nuzzle against that reddened face of his...

But just as his own nose barely brushes against Blue's face is when he feels that tickle of little whiskers against his ear. So instead Yzak freezes, that tickle catching him off guard and he can't help but half-shudder/cringe as an automatic response to it. ]

H-hey! That tickles! [ Yzak tilts his head enough to peek at the mouse. Does it realize it's being a cute little soft-moment-cockblock? Is that its plan!!! ]

[Blue blinks, glancing over and quietly delighting to find such a wholesome interaction - especially since the mouse had been pretty distinctly fearful of most everyone, Yzak included.

it's cute...they're both just tremendously cute right now.]

I hardly noticed them move...they're as white as the snow.

[ Yzak especially. He just totally gives off that apex predator vibe though he can't help it. (that or he's just too reactive and stupid to have done anything else when he first crossed paths with it - he'd insist the first when it's clearly the second)

All the same, he's managed to make amends and warm up himself to the creature since then. As he'd promised to Blue, he did kick open the door one day with a bunch of books about pet care and pet training and mice ... and child care since he still thought it could be useful! And while those were helpful in their own more educative way, everything else? Happened naturally, organically. As it tends to when it comes to Yzak, in those little moments where he says or does something on his own. Even for a being like the weeping mouse, it's easy to get the impression of how Yzak just is. ]

That means you better stick close. [ He says to it; as casually as he would anybody else because Yzak doesn't do that baby-voice thing. Which is probably odd to behold when he puts on that commanding tone of his like he is now. ] You'll get lost in an instant in this stuff if you're blending right in already.

Unless you'd actually enjoy playing in it. [ He knows some animals do, and many are adapted to navigating these conditions much better than even an enhanced human. ]

[Snow? This is snow? the little mouse ponders as Blue conveys Yzak's meaning. as Blue corrects that he means what's on the ground and floating in the sky, the mouse squeaks and scrambles onto Yzak's opposite shoulder, stretching its neck out as far as it can without having to lift any grabby little feet off Yzak's coat, nose sniffing and twitching in the air. a little flake falls on its muzzle and prompts it to curl back into a puffball, tail twitching.

Cold! Wet!]

It seems to have never experienced this before...

[ Watch out mouse there's no arm to climb down on that side.

Yzak's neck rolls slightly when it shifts position, still getting used to the feeling of having ... a furry little creature just crawl on him like this. But thank goodness it's nimble and coordinated so there's no slipping or scratching or anything. ]

Not too surprising. [ He says as he witnesses the mouse's hesitant curiosity. ]

Any sort of verdict, yet? Or do you need more of a taste of it? [ An offer to it, since it's already on his shoulder. They're under an awning so are only getting the occasional stray flake, but it's a little area, small enough that if the mouse seems more curious about it Yzak will oblige by briefly letting go of Blue's hand to hold his own outward and downward if it wants to investigate further. ]

[the mouse freezes while Yzak's moving, ears up. after a moment to observe the new little platform ahead of it, it leans out, seeming to gauge the safety and distance before hopping down into the hand, all scritchy toes and fuzzy feet, puffed-up tail flicking as it balls up to fill in his hand.

given their rather intense first impressions of each other, Blue can't help but be endeared by the sight, unable to hide his smile.]

That took a lot of trust. Your research has served you well, Yzak.

[ He's layered up enough that he can just barely feel the mouse pad down his arm, but said arm remains perfectly steady as it's much lighter than many things he's had to carry before.

He's hunched forward, now, leaning out on the bench they're seated at and bringing his hand down a little more, gloved knuckles just barely brushing the layer of snow on the ground. Palm up and fingers stretched out and bent to serve as a little extra "safety," Yzak leaves the rest up to the mouse, whether it simply remains where it is, or feels brave enough to reach out a paw itself to touch the soft, fluffy snow beneath them.

He sees that smile Blue gives the both of them, brighter and more beautiful than the white of the falling snow in his eyes. Good thing his own face is already flushed slightly from the cold. ]

Of course it has! Don't forget that being trustworthy is a skill that any leader should have, too, if they want to be a good one with a cohesive team.

[amused:] Where is it you mean to lead this little one to, then? [just a snow bank?

speaking of, the mouse sticks its neck out to sniff at the snow just beyond the safety of Yzak's fingers. as gentle flakes fall and tickle its sensitive ears, they flick a few times, prompting it to squeak and shake its head before taking the brave plunge into the snow and snuffling and flopping around it like a chinchilla in a dust bath. very cute.]

I think compared to how things started out, [ Your fault entirely, Yzak. ] there's been a commendable amount of progress that's be- ah!

[ He feels the mouse spring from his hand, and for a split second he isn't sure if it slipped or maybe his hand tipped or something!

But no, it took the little leap on its own. So after blinking and realizing that, Yzak leans back to sit up a little straighter and watch it roll around and play.

It ... it is pretty cute, he thinks after a couple of beats, before shifting his gaze to Blue, somewhat amused. ]

I take it that means it likes it. [ And the way it's flopping around... ] You look like a snowball down there, we can hardly see you. [ He adds to it, if not for its moving about it would blend in near perfectly. ]

[...huh.]

Would...that be a suitable name? [Blue looks from the little critter to Yzak.]

'Snow'? Or...'Snowball'?

Snow?

That'd certainly be fitting, considering. Suitable? I guess you'd have to see if it likes the suggestion.

I think it's ... cute, though.

[fair point. look - Blue was comatose when Rain finally got named Rain, he doesn't know how this works.

either way, he posits the question to the mouse, which prompts it to stop squirreling around and sit up, ears perked.

Snow? This is snow? And I am snow?

the childlike nature of its processing of the inquiry makes Blue's mouth twitch, prompts him to shield it behind a hand just out of habit. when assured it was only if it wished to be known as snow, the little mouse squeaks and hops in some display of jubilation.]

...It seems content enough for it. ["content"]

[ Yzak looks back and forth between them when Blue asks the question. He can't pick up on those simple, curious thoughts, but he can note the way the mouse perks up, pays attention, tilts its head and get the same impression.

And he doesn't need any psionics when it lets out that happy little chirp and hops around.

... cute... ]

I can tell. [ Mildy charmed because he helped a little (also you know, guy with the name BLUE settles on SNOW for his pet) and because Blue is smiling again. ]

Snow, huh. [ He speaks as if trying it out properly himself, and to see how "Snow" takes to it. ]

[when Yzak speaks it, Snow squeaks back, acknowledging. Blue can't help but breathe out a faint laugh, sitting back while the mouse scrambles up Yzak's pantleg, up onto his lap, across it and backup to Blue's shoulder, all chilly and damp now. Blue doesn't mind it at all.]

Snow it is. [he peers past the furball to Yzak.] We are ready to continue, if you are.

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