open | cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels

[stressweets]

WHO: Tsukasa & you
WHERE: A variety of places, both in Recollé and outside of it... (which is just Pesgare) (for a weekend)
WHEN: Throughout the month
WHAT: It's an open post... and a catch-all. All-purpose post.
WARNINGS: None, will add if necessary

do. drawing in the city

[ Due to some recent... developments... Tsukasa's been putting a lot more effort into keeping himself busy, and that chiefly involves getting better at drawing people. Landscapes, flora, all of that? He's perfectly great at, albeit his style errs more on a loose, flighty style of watercolor.

But again. Getting better at drawing people. He can be found at a few of the parks doing studies on people, couples, animals, you... all of that. Looking vaguely frustrated and, at one point, just kind of. flopping back in the grass with the world's loudest groan.

Not that his attempts at it at the square are much better, where he ends up laying on the fountain's edge, looking at the water like he's considering rolling into it.

......Yeah, it really isn't going well. ]

re. drawing out of the city

[ "Maybe I'll have better luck somewhere new," he said, and then went to Pesgare one weekend when he wasn't busy.

Except Tsukasa doesn't handle boats well, so on the way he can be found leaning on the railing and looking more than a little miserable. He prefers these to like, airplanes? Definitely? But... boats... Three hours of this is awful, like at least it isn't walking into heat but Respartum had only been like an hour away...!?

When he's there though, he can be found resting his poor stomach on the side of the road for a bit before he starts sketching again. Those with a keen eye will notice, though, that he ends up drawing the sights more than the people... Pesgare is beautiful, and he needs to practice architecture anyway... ♪ Even if he's supposed to be focusing on people.

He can also be found just around, taking in the sights and... in the marketplace, taking in the smells. And the bakeries. And— look, he likes food, shush. Are you reaching for that last chocolat au pain or other tasty treat too? Tsukasa'll back off with an "Ah, sorry," though he'll look a little put-out at not being able to have it himself. ]

mi. wildcard

[ Nothing catching your interest/we already have plans/you wanna do class stuff (his electives are art and home ec, he's in Art Club)/maybe at work at the riding school and stables/whatever? Go ahead and throw me anything, I'll roll with it! You can also catch me over on plurk at flaired, or on Discord at Bella#4429; I'm quicker to reply to pings though, as a heads up. ]

Comments

[beneathmoonlight]

Okay, Tsukasa.

[Someone more nervous than Atsushi? Is it possible? Apparently so.]

Yes! Last month I got sent here to help save the town. At first it was just running errands to pay off our stay at the inn, but then it turned into saving the town from a man that wanted to bulldoze it for a resort. And then saving ships from a really bad storm...

[He scratches his cheek with a sheepish smile.]

It wasn’t just me, of course!

[stressweets]

[ Sounds super Harvest Moon. ]

I see...! I was in Respartum last month. Mm, we stopped a world-breaking crisis... Well, first we helped with chores and getting their forge repaired, and then we investigated a lot of stories they told us. One of them turned out to be sort of true...? I say "we" stopped it, but I just went with a group to check out some gems that were in the workshop down there... We were allowed to bring some back with us, too. It was really tempting to get a lot of blue ones, since it's really hot down there? But I picked up a few red ones, too. [ ... ] They make fire. It's kind of cool.

[beneathmoonlight]

[Well then. That’s a lot to take in...]

Oh...sounds exciting! Definitely more dangerous than what happened here! I’m just glad you’re okay!

[Yeah. Sounds like an RPG.]

Oh, I meant to ask, do you enjoy sweets a lot? You’re welcome to come by the bakery I work at any time! There’s also a small cafe inside with coffee and tea and stuff!

[stressweets]

Oh, it's not that I enjoy them or anything, but they're easy to eat and I have a friend who's sort of fostering a sweet tooth on me...~ I wanted to be able to tell him about the ones here. [ So he's doing. research. basically.

...but he's not one to turn down a bakery. Actually, despite his dismissal, his eyes are shining a little. ] But~! Where you work sounds really nice! I'll be sure to stop by sometime. ♪ Do you do catering and stuff too?

[beneathmoonlight]

We definitely do! Any occasion is doable!

[It’s nice to find someone enthusiastic about visiting the bakery.]

Please feel free to bring your friend too!

[And now it looks like it’s about to pour down rain...]

Do you have an umbrella? We can share mine if you want until you get somewhere that you can stay for a bit.

[stressweets]

[ ...oh no, it does look like it's about to rain. Tsukasa'll pay for his almost-forgotten pastry and chew it thoughtfully, staring at the sky. ]

Mm, I wasn't expecting rain... So I'd like that, thank you. [ ahaha... ] Does it rain here often...? I'll have to remember to bring one next time.

[beneathmoonlight]

Yes. It’s kind of a rainy, coastal climate.

[He’ll just leave out the part where he saved Theo from drowning during his last visit.]

So are you in high school, or?

[stressweets]

[ Not a great date spot... Well, sort of a great date spot. Good excuse to huddle under an umbrella together ♪ He'll have to get over his seasickness..... ]

...Oh, yes, I am! [ He's so happy he gets to actually answer that instead of having to explain his whole homeschooling thing now. ] Is it that obvious...? Mm, not that I mind or anything.

[beneathmoonlight]

Oh, not exactly, you just look young, so I thought I’d ask!

[Atsushi gives Tsukasa a friendly grin as he pulls out his umbrella from his messenger bag and holds it over the two of them.]

I’m in my first year of college, working towards a degree in social services.

[stressweets]

[ Ah, young... He's glad he didn't decide to try and assume anything. Tsukasa gives a little nod of thanks for the umbrella, scooting the tiniest bit closer to Atsushi. ]

Social services... Mmm, like working with troubled kids...? Or foster children... Things like that?

[beneathmoonlight]

Mostly foster kids. I was an orphan myself.

[He might just blush the tiniest bit at Tsukasa scooting closer.]

I want to help kids be placed in loving homes instead of bouncing around in the system.

[stressweets]

Oh, that sounds so nice...~ ♪ [ A really good goal. ] Ahhh, it must've been... or it must be? Hard to be an orphan... Mm, I can't really imagine not having my parents or my grandma around at all...

[ ... ]

Did you ever get jealous of people who had families? Or, um... Blood relations, I mean. I think anyone can be family if you're close enough, technically...

[beneathmoonlight]

I was adopted at age eleven, but yeah, it was tough being moved from home to home and never feeling like I belonged anywhere.

[A soft smile. He doesn’t mind questions about this kind of thing.]

I felt jealous a lot, actually. But now I want to help kids find homes instead.

[He rarely ever gets to talk about himself this much...]

Do you have any plans for college?

[stressweets]

Veterinary! I want to work at the stables as their personal doctor. [ ♪ ] That seems like such a small job compared to the one you want to do though, ahaha... I just want to make sure the animals there stay happy and healthy and live long, happy lives.

[beneathmoonlight]

Oh! I love animals! That’s such a good goal! And a really important job! I hope everything goes well for you.

[A big, beaming smile.]

Are horses your favorite animals?

[stressweets]

They are!! [ HIS MOST FAVORITE. ] I like chocobos and cats and dogs too, but horses are the absolute best...~! Snakes aren't bad either, I have a friend who has one... Aha, I was really scared to meet it at first though. But it was actually kind of cute...?

[ straw-tan.... ]

But I've loved and admired horses since I was a kid. [ Which is only... a little weird, maybe, but he is the boy equivalent of a horse girl leave him be. ] They're strong and gentle and noble and sensitive...~ I feel at home around them.

[beneathmoonlight]

You sound really passionate about them.

[Atsushi hasn’t had much of a chance to interact with horses in his life, having lived in a city and all, but he does think they’re beautiful creatures.]

They really are noble. My favorite kinds are the big draft horses. They seem like gentle giants.

[Now he really wants to pet one.]

My favorite animals are tigers. They’re beautiful and exotic.

[stressweets]

[ Good choice, good choice, draft horses are incredible— ]

Tigers, huh...? They really are. Fearsome, too—the real kings and queens of the jungle. Mm, it's just too bad they're endangered. [ It's The Humans That Are The Problem. ] Do you think they'll ever get better? Their fur's got a really attractive pattern, and they're pretty dangerous, too, so I'm sure there's plenty of people who think we'd be better off without them.

[beneathmoonlight]

They really are fierce when they want to be.

[Atsushi sighs, his smile fading a bit.]

That’s true. At least the Recolle zoo is doing their part in conservation efforts. No animal should be hunted for its fur. Or horns, or anything else.

[It’s starting to rain even harder now, and Atsushi huddles closer to Tsukasa under the umbrella.]

Did you have any other business to take care of here?

[stressweets]

[ It's Tsukasa's turn to blush at Atsushi coming closer, just a little, and he gives the rain a forlorn look before he shakes his head. ]

...I wanted to draw more, but I can't really do that in the rain, so... No, not really. I was practicing drawing people earlier... though I think I ended up sketching more of the sights than anything else... Pesgare's really pretty, I can't wait to dive into my watercolors for it later.

[beneathmoonlight]

I’d love to see your drawings sometime.

[He has so many artistically talented friends; it’s amazing, really.]

Did you want to walk to the docks together? Or are you staying overnight at the inn?

[stressweets]

[ NO ONE CAN SEE HIS ART....... izumi got to and art club gets to but he's so shy about actually sharing it...

...but. docks or inn. he can't stay overnight, but he hates the boat... but he has to go back to recolle at some point anyway... ]

Docks. [ get this over this. ] Mm, my parents would get upset if I stayed too long... They don't like things being sprung on them either, so just telling them I'm staying somewhere and not coming home until tomorrow'd just make them mad.

[beneathmoonlight]

Okay! I can walk you there!

[He doesn’t want to pry too much into Tsukasa’s family life, but at least he can save him from getting scolded.

He’ll walk to the docks with him, and, having mostly finished his business...]

Would you like me to ride back with you?

[stressweets]

[ Atsushi's the best ♪ ]

...Would you really? Um, I mean, if it's no trouble... Maybe having someone to hang out with will keep me distracted. [ and thus, his stomach settled. That isn't how it works but he wants to believe. ] I'd be happy if you did.

[beneathmoonlight]

Of course! It’s no trouble at all.

[Luckily for them the next ferry is already waiting at the docks, and Atsushi boards it with Tsukasa, keeping them dry under his umbrella until they’ve sat down inside.]

Once we get back to the city I’d be glad to walk you home, too. It’s going to be dark soon, after all.