[He's done it before, forced himself past the point where self-preservation would have forced him to stop. He's doing it right now, and it's making it hard to think.]
(Of course. Tsurumaru has seen it plenty of times in his existence.)
And who will do that here? You've only just arrived.
(And he lets out a very loud, dramatic laugh. He's amused,)
To trust people so much, you would leave them with your pieces in the future but not with yourself in the present! I wonder, I wonder... what does it mean?
[There's a rush of movement at that, but no verbal response. He turns, storms the few paces back to where his daemon cowers against the ground, grabs her by the scruff of her neck and shakes her.]
Move.
[She whines, but lets herself be lifted, lets him tuck her under his good arm and turn back towards the barrier. He gets almost back to where he was before she starts squirming, changing from tawny fur to something big and grey and feathered to something bigger and dark and scaled, all rapid shifting movements as Yukio keeps forcing himself forward.
And then he... stumbles. Falls down on one knee, and then heavily down onto the ground, his broken arm taking the brunt of the impact.
(What betrays Tsurumaru's surprise is the way the crane next to him bristles, wings half-spread as if ready to take off in flight but with his hand still resting on the base of her neck, neither move.
And then Yukio stumbles. He falls down and hits the ground and Tsurumaru knows that arm of his is going to feel it. Well, sometimes you have to stick your hand in the fire to know that it burns. When the boy doesn't get up, Tsurumaru takes his first step forward. The crane beside him also takes a cautious step forward before letting out a low, warning call.)
Don't worry. I haven't come here to do that.
(He gets as close as he's willing to between the effects of wandering too close the barrier and too far from his Daemon. There's that feeling of dread that settles heavily inside him, one different from what he's used to bearing but one he can endure for now. Right here. From this point.
And he crouches down, resting his elbows on his knees as he watches Yukio's body and the Daemon.)
My, my... you have quite the handful, don't you? (And then he sighs. The crane behind him pacing and calling.) Well, we might as well take a break.
[His daemon whines, just once, before she slowly starts trying to tug his unconscious body out of danger.
She pretty quickly shifts out of dog form into alligator, four and a half feet of reptile is better able to get underneath Yukio and carry him closer to safety.
It's slow going, she isn't built for this, but she drags him forward anyways.
When she gets to where Tsuru is she pauses, just for a moment. And then keeps going, still trying to get Yukio out of range of the boundary's spell.]
(Yup, just watching this poor Daemon get to work. It's pretty sad to watch! And the crane next to him makes a sound and fluffs her wings. It might even sound a little like scolding! And Tsurumaru looks back at her and then at the alligator dragging her companion by. With a heavy sigh, he begins to shift and reaches over Yukio,)
Careful.
(He doesn't want to touch the boy's Daemon.)
We've had enough trouble.
(He'll first reach to turn him over so that he isn't... you know, on his arm and then he'll get to work propping him up and onto his back. Tsurumaru is on the lighter side but stronger than he looks. Still, Yukio is taller so there's going to be some dragging but it's better than what his Daemon can do alone. He'll start to carry Yukio away from the barrier on his back, towards his own Daemon who settles for following Yukio's daemon close. She spreads her wings and begins to herd the daemon along.
Tsurumaru will help carry Yukio a fair distance back towards the city but will also be mindful to stop in a place where they can still be alone and have some privacy. When he stops, he sets Yukio down flat on the ground and settles down nearby. It's fine. He can wait.
As for the crane, she fusses over Yukio's daemon some more, still following with her wings spread. She! Wants! Her! To! Rest! Too! )
Rest up. Who knows how many surprises your companion will give you when he wakes up. He might even surprise you to death.
(H e h.
But yeah, Tsurumaru and Crane are just going to chill until Yukio wakes up.)
[She goes very very still as those hands reach towards her, but when there's no contact and instead Yukio's lifted and carried... she relaxes, a dog again, following close with her eyes fixed on Yukio and her tail between her legs. She's limping slightly on that front left leg.
Miki lets herself be fussed over, doesn't resist the crane's herding and settles next to Yukio with her head resting on his leg. She's watching Tsurumaru and the bird, generally alert but not overly wary.
When he stirs, she pulls away to rest next to him instead of on him.]
Wh-- [He sits up, wincing and wrapping his good arm defensively across his ribs.
(In comparison, Tsurumaru watches Yukio carefully. More than just looking at him, it's like he's really trying to observe him right now. See what else there is to him,)
[He should just do it, should just turn and comfort the daemon following him around, should be able to pretend everything is fine. But nothing is fine right now, he's lightheaded from the pain, there's a feeling of intense dread still clinging to his mind from the barrier, and it's taking everything in him not to kick the creature out of his path every time he thinks about it.]
I said she's fine. [He says, low and tense. His daemon glances away, cowering low behind him.]
(And he isn't going to press it. He's pushed enough today as it is. Instead, he finally gets up onto his feet, the crane rising with him. He pats at his jeans and takes a moment to take care of himself before acknowledging Yukio again. He even tends to his own daemon for a moment, smoothing out her feathers and patting her on the head. That last part seems deliberate, like he's purposely trying to make Yukio wait for a response,)
Of course.
(He'll let it go and move on to something else for now,)
(He takes a step closer and then another. The crane at his side shifts forms, becoming smaller and settling on his shoulder as an azure magpie instead. Both of them are getting in Yukio's space now...
[Oh, that startles him. His eyes go wide, and he takes half a step back, his good hand going to his back like he's grabbing for a weapon. This isn't someone who's used to people patting him on the head.]
Please keep your hands to yourself. [He says, after a moment.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Is that so?
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You didn't know?
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Someone always has to pick up the pieces.
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And who will do that here? You've only just arrived.
(And he lets out a very loud, dramatic laugh. He's amused,)
To trust people so much, you would leave them with your pieces in the future but not with yourself in the present! I wonder, I wonder... what does it mean?
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Move.
[She whines, but lets herself be lifted, lets him tuck her under his good arm and turn back towards the barrier. He gets almost back to where he was before she starts squirming, changing from tawny fur to something big and grey and feathered to something bigger and dark and scaled, all rapid shifting movements as Yukio keeps forcing himself forward.
And then he... stumbles. Falls down on one knee, and then heavily down onto the ground, his broken arm taking the brunt of the impact.
He doesn't get up.]
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And then Yukio stumbles. He falls down and hits the ground and Tsurumaru knows that arm of his is going to feel it. Well, sometimes you have to stick your hand in the fire to know that it burns. When the boy doesn't get up, Tsurumaru takes his first step forward. The crane beside him also takes a cautious step forward before letting out a low, warning call.)
Don't worry. I haven't come here to do that.
(He gets as close as he's willing to between the effects of wandering too close the barrier and too far from his Daemon. There's that feeling of dread that settles heavily inside him, one different from what he's used to bearing but one he can endure for now. Right here. From this point.
And he crouches down, resting his elbows on his knees as he watches Yukio's body and the Daemon.)
My, my... you have quite the handful, don't you? (And then he sighs. The crane behind him pacing and calling.) Well, we might as well take a break.
(at the edge of the world or something sure)
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She pretty quickly shifts out of dog form into alligator, four and a half feet of reptile is better able to get underneath Yukio and carry him closer to safety.
It's slow going, she isn't built for this, but she drags him forward anyways.
When she gets to where Tsuru is she pauses, just for a moment. And then keeps going, still trying to get Yukio out of range of the boundary's spell.]
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Careful.
(He doesn't want to touch the boy's Daemon.)
We've had enough trouble.
(He'll first reach to turn him over so that he isn't... you know, on his arm and then he'll get to work propping him up and onto his back. Tsurumaru is on the lighter side but stronger than he looks. Still, Yukio is taller so there's going to be some dragging but it's better than what his Daemon can do alone. He'll start to carry Yukio away from the barrier on his back, towards his own Daemon who settles for following Yukio's daemon close. She spreads her wings and begins to herd the daemon along.
Tsurumaru will help carry Yukio a fair distance back towards the city but will also be mindful to stop in a place where they can still be alone and have some privacy. When he stops, he sets Yukio down flat on the ground and settles down nearby. It's fine. He can wait.
As for the crane, she fusses over Yukio's daemon some more, still following with her wings spread. She! Wants! Her! To! Rest! Too! )
Rest up. Who knows how many surprises your companion will give you when he wakes up. He might even surprise you to death.
(H e h.
But yeah, Tsurumaru and Crane are just going to chill until Yukio wakes up.)
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Miki lets herself be fussed over, doesn't resist the crane's herding and settles next to Yukio with her head resting on his leg. She's watching Tsurumaru and the bird, generally alert but not overly wary.
When he stirs, she pulls away to rest next to him instead of on him.]
Wh-- [He sits up, wincing and wrapping his good arm defensively across his ribs.
... oh.]
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Good morning.
(He's sitting nearby, legs crossed, and crane nesting next to him.)
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And it's embarrassing. He'd been warned and pushed through anyway and the consequences were immediate.]
Well. [He says, after a long moment. He stands, carefully.]
Now we know what happens if you try to pass through the barrier.
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(He nods, smiling brightly in response to that,)
You pass out for three days.
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This isn't the sort of situation where it's appropriate to joke like that.
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(Also just going to keep sitting? He's fine. He's just vibing.)
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(He's already ahead of Yukio.)
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(And the crane next to him clips her beak at him which causes him to hold up a hand and laugh,)
Fine, fine. I'll stop for now. ("For now.") You should check on your friend. You were quite rough before.
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If she's supposed to be my soul, she can handle it.
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That doesn't mean she should.
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I said she's fine. [He says, low and tense. His daemon glances away, cowering low behind him.]
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(And he isn't going to press it. He's pushed enough today as it is. Instead, he finally gets up onto his feet, the crane rising with him. He pats at his jeans and takes a moment to take care of himself before acknowledging Yukio again. He even tends to his own daemon for a moment, smoothing out her feathers and patting her on the head. That last part seems deliberate, like he's purposely trying to make Yukio wait for a response,)
Of course.
(He'll let it go and move on to something else for now,)
And you?
(A pointed glance at his arm.)
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And pats him on the head.)
Good.
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Please keep your hands to yourself. [He says, after a moment.]
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