There's been a lot of excitement the last few days from new people on the platform to exploring the art carriage and the weather button in the gardens.
But Romeo is peaceful today, he has found a seat in the standard carriage, curled up next to a window with a blanket wrapped around him and a book in his hand.
Made of Broken Things is a bit scary, full as it is with pirates and storms but he is enjoying the adventures of Cid a lot. He is lucky that his own adventures had brought him to places full of friends and nice people!
Even if sometimes those people disappear, which is always a sad thing. Even though he is engrossed in the book he still looks up now and again to greet those who walk past.
"Romeo! Hi!" Oh! He got surprised to see the kid in the standard coach!
In all honesty, Esteban isn't quite sure why they have it at all. The performance stage would probably be enough to gather everyone in if they needed a meeting with the entirety of the VoidTreckers, and the one-direction facing seats confuse him more than anything. He's not sure why one might linger, but then, he suspects that it being so... unhelpful is part of the charm. If there's one thing they don't get a lot of on the train, it's personal space, and Esteban can understand wanting some privacy for a bit.
"D'you mind?" He'll just move on if the kid is busy, or wanting a bit time to himself. He's not rude, after all, though he makes a note to maybe bring him a bowl of popcorn? There were mentions that he filled it out all the time, so he suspected Romeo quite liked it. (He has no personal idea what popcorn is, but he knows it's food and in the cinema carriage. He doesn't know why. Maybe he'll ask, if Romeo is feeling chatty.)
"Oh hello mister Esteban!" He grinned at him, sitting up more as he did so. He was always happy to see a friendly face. Not that there were many unfriendly faces on the train. He put the book down on his knee as he shook his head.
"Of course not! Do you want to share my blanket? It's nice and comfy."
"No need t' call me mister," he has to repeat again. It leaves the half-elf feeling a bit out of his own skin, a bit too distant, and he doesn't quite want that; but he can understand also that it seems to be in Romeo's... upbringing? He wonders if it's a sign of familiarity if he ever drops it.
He gets a little startled by the offer, but it's kindly given, and Esteban is happy to nod, sitting down kind of crookedly, so he could keep talking with Romeo. He lets the child arrange the blanket as he wants-- shoulders or lap blanket?-- while he indicates the book currently in his hands.
"Got a new book? What's it about?" He remembers their first conversation had been about books, back, oh, back on his first day. And how he'd refused Romeo's offer to buy him one, simply because he hadn't-- there's a joy in sharing things. Esteban had... not forgotten it per say, but the traveling had left him so disjointed, so self-reliant that he hadn't thought about accepting it at all.
It's... something that the Train has given him back. That sense of others, which he'd been missing on the road. He knows not everyone is happy with it, kind to it, but-- he doesn't quite have the words to express it, so Esteban focuses on Romeo's response instead.
"Oh oops!" He forgets a lot, but he grins and rearranges the blanket over both their legs, turning so he's sitting sideways on the chair facing Esteban. "I got it from the library, it's about a boy who comes from a bad place so he decides to run away to sea. But then the ship he gets a job on is actually a pirate ship!"
A very scary situation. "He's very brave though!"
As brave as any of the people Romeo knows. "You can read it after me if you want! It's not a tricky one."
Trickier than a picture book but not as hard as some of the grown up books in the library.
The smile he gives Romeo is a bit mischievous, amused that the young boy tries to consider Esteban's lack of love for reading; though maybe not in quite the right way. He's not a fan of the written world just because Esteban prefers movement, it has little to do with the trickiness of books. Though he supposes a book where he might need a dictionary nearby would be a hassle he wouldn't want to deal with.
"Maybe," he agrees instead, "but th' library might not like me borrowin' books. I take foreeeeeeever t' read them." Mainly because he forgets. "How 'bout you tell me all 'bout it once you're done instead?" Cut to the chase. "I listen a lot better th'n I read."
That he can guarantee. He loves listening to people after all, most especially his friends, and Romeo is definitely someone he wants to count among them.
"I don't think anyone would mind! Everyone reads at different speeds." But if he listened better than reading that was fine too! He can tell the story if Esteban wants him to!
He grinned at him and put the book on his knee. "Well the main character is called Cid and his parents aren't really nice. They fight all the time and he wants to run away so he decides to get a job at sea. He's not very big and doesn't know much but he gets a job as a deckhand, that's someone who works on a ship.
"He doesn't really ask any questions about the job though, because he just wants to go to sea."
He hadn't been kidding when he said he was a good listener.
Esteban is more than happy to let Romeo tell him all about the adventures, prompting him with little questions whenever there was a short break. "Wasn't he scared?" or "What happened next?" being the most repeated ones, with the occasional "what do you think?" whenever Cid did something very clever, or very brave. He's curious also as to how Romeo relates to the book, about how his own imagination, or experiences guide him through these scenarios. And he's happy to linger in Romeo's own interests, even if he personally can't recall enjoying reading.
But stories-- oh, Esteban does love stories, and he gives the child his full attention as they chat, letting the plot unfold between them all the way to where he'd interrupted him. His face scrunches with a mischievous grin when he realizes, feigning being a bit disappointed in a way he thinks is exaggerated enough that the child is going to understand it.
"Awww. Now I'm gonna be wonderin' what happens next for a while, hun." He teases, grinning still. "You're gonna have t' tell me when you get further! I'm countin' on you~"
Romeo is happy to give him all the answers, going off on tangents to explain adventures and gesturing with his arms when he really needed to make a point. The book was very exciting and Romeo had lots of opinions on that. He liked Cid as a character even if he sometimes was a bit foolish.
"I will I promise!"
He grinned. "I can read it with you if you want? So you will know at the same time as me."
Then he won't have to wait as long at all. He can find out what happens to Cid!
"I been learning how to read outloud real good so I can do voices for the characters now too!"
His eagerness makes Esteban smile, finding the offer quite adorable. He's not too sure if it would be considered childish, or beneath Romeo to do so; he knows there's an age for parents reading stories, then children reading as they learn their letters, but the alphabets he's learned are... very, very far down his memories. Was he about Romeo's age when he grew more confident in his skills?
Well, not that it matters he supposes, when Romeo has offered it so kindly. Still, there's a few things he wants to do first, if they're going to settle on that idea, and Esteban is quick to smile at the child.
"That's a great idea!~ I'd love t' listen! But! We're gonna have t' get you some water first, 'cause that's going to leave your throat dry real fast." He ponders for a moment at this, wondering if it's the proper time, before figuring that yes; if they're settling down for a good bit of reading, Esteban wants to call in a favour first.
"Also; I dunno if you remember," he begins a little awkwardly, rubbing at the back of his head with a hand. "You offered, way, way back to get 'Gon, the little fox' for me. D'you mind if I take up that offer?" It's been a while after all, and Esteban doesn't want to force Romeo's hand. "I can buy it myself, 'f you'd rather. Ah, but I'll need t' see how the ICP shop works." And yes, he's been sort of avoiding the shop itself because he'd made a promise with the kid; it had been important for him to keep it.
"If you want?" he asks again, his grin widening this time around. With how everyone's been so kind to him, well. Esteban will just have to learn to deal with it, it seems. Stop trying to be so self-reliant, and remind himself on how to properly convey gratefulness.
Water would be good! His throat already was a bit dry from all the talking so water was a good idea indeed.
He nodded at the memory though and grinned. "Yes I remember! I can still get you it if you want and I ccan show you how to do the shop but I can still buy you the book, I got lots of points!"
"That'd be great!" At this, the half-elf stands, offering his hand to his companion, beaming brightly. "Let's go?"
He's not... sure what he's doing. Interacting with Romeo is a lot stranger than he thought it might be at first, seeing as he is just so young. Esteban wants to hover; wants to make sure he's kept safe and sound-- and 'Dians, that makes him sound like his own mother. Hovering that intently over him would be hurtful; Esteban knows it first hand.
But he can't pretend Romeo is an adult either, the way he would if the child was just a liiiiittle older. Sure, he's protective over other teenagers, such as Kitty, or Danny, even if their interactions are few and far between, but his fear is lessened, somewhat, with the few added years they have to their age. So he's stuck in this odd step in between being tyrannically protective, and such blasé carelessness that he feels like it's a balancing act.
Which isn't... a bad thing now that he thinks about it. It's his problem to be troubled by this, and help Romeo grow up as best he can offer; as a safe retreat the child can use if there is a need, but a soft encouragement if all Romeo wants is to stand on his own feet. And to be fair, he honestly doubts his small companion doesn't have a half-dozen adults already watching from the sidelines, ready to step in if there's any trouble at all; he does have that gentle and helpful personality to help. Esteban will just be one more among them.
"What do you think will happen next?" he asks amicably as they start on their way, keeping the child's hand in his own but ready to let go if he draws back. It's a strangely accurate reflection of his own thoughts.
Romeo has less complicated thoughts as he skips along, thinking of books and other stories he can introduce Esteban to after Gon the Little Fox and thinking about the best way to teach him how to use the shop.
He looked up at him at the question. "I don't know! We won't get another mission until the letter of the month changes but something might happen. Sometimes we go places and sometimes there are storms!"
He'd... he'd meant in the book, but he wasn't about to refute Romeo's trail of thoughts, grinning as he adjusted his stride to match his.
"Yeah, there was a storm right after I boarded too," he encouraged, prodding lightly for more information. "Have you seen lots of them?"
It might help, to know how much experience Romeo has on the train. Help him know when he might be in need of a hand, or when he'd already been through those hardships. Any information is good information, and besides. Esteban loves hearing about his companions, and all the little details of their lives.
"Just two." He told him, not even realising that he had went off topic. "The first one we saw lots of people we thought we knew and then there was the one before, last month." He waved a hand, indicating the past. He can't remember how long ago it had been.
"So that must have been just after you came here."
"Yep!" It's an easy enough confirmation. "I actually thought it was pretty normal 'til Ryo pointed out it wasn't! I had no way t' know otherwise, so half the things that happened back then were just..." He pauses a bit, trying to find the right word for what he was trying to say. "'Oh, I guess that's that?' Sort of?" Except-- except for the shadows in the glass. That one had been harder.
"I met Amaya durin' the storm." Because that was the most remarkable instance for him after all. "She's very nice, an' teachin' me sign-language. Here, listen!"
It takes him a little bit longer than he'd like, shuffling through his alphabet until he finds the "R", as he doesn't use it all that much. {R-o-m-e-o} His SCA's mechanical voice is a little chilling, but he's managed all the letters properly, and though it was slower than he'd like, it still worked well enough for a first try.
{Hello! How are you?} Those are probably the only full sentences he can actually spout on command at the moment, rather than his broken words. He's practicing, but it's still slow going after all.
Romeo hasn't met Amaya before, but he thinks he knows who he is talking about. And he smiled brightly when Esteban signed his name.
I'm good! How are you? E-S-T-...B-A-N. Was that how it was spelled? He's not sure but he doesn't pause to worry too much, his signing is enthusiastic though he tries to keep it clear and not have fuggy fingers.
I don't know A-M-A-Y-A. She nice? She good teacher?
Esteban is thrilled to find a new practice companion, even though he's really not that good at it yet! His grin is as bright as sunshine, even if he's quick to adjust the child's spelling.
"You're missin' an 'e'." And here, he signs his own name, far, far smoother than Romeo's name just because it was one of his daily exercises to pull off. {Esteban} Even the SCA recognizes it as a name rather than a jumble of letters as it had when he was too slow to sign. Here, he has to pause as he thinks his next words through, carefully building the sentences he's trying to pull.
{Amaya, good-teach-person-yes. I-happy-learning-I} Yikes. It's not his best sentences ever, but he's just started learning, so it's already good that he knows this much.
It's a little smoother this time, having already done it at least once. There are names Esteban has practiced every day, but Romeo hadn't been among them at first, seeing as they'd only glanced by one another on his first day. He'd lost sight of the child for a few weeks after, and he's glad to have found him again. So to speak. This time, he's determined to learn it, and learn it quickly, and he mentally adds the spelling to his exercises.
{R-o-m-e-o, good-friend, why? learn-new--} he pauses at this, tripping in his attempt when he can't find the word he's looking for. Rhetorical questions still seem to be hard for him to manage. {G-i-n-a, friend-you.}
Urgh, this was his worse attempt yet. He gives up on saying it in signs, seeing as he's barely coherent with it, and he does want to make sure Romeo knows-- well, that he has a good heart.
"Learnin' a new skill for a friend's really cool~" he cheers, and, unsure, uncertain if he's allowed-- has he even done this before?-- he reaches to pat him gently on the head.
He is a bit confused at what Esteban is trying to sign, but that's okay! It's very tricky at first to be understood and understand. So he's glad when Esteban says it again in words and beams at the pat on his head.
"It is cool! She was really nice and she taught lots of people. She was teaching my god. Um Elfnein not mister Zetta and then she taught me as well!"
It was a good thing to learn. Just like Esteban was learning for Amaya.
"Zetta's a god?" He has some trouble matching the fiery redhead that he'd accidentally tackled down onto the train floor with the dignity and poise that his world associated with the lost gods. Oops. It did explain his confidence in his own powers though, he supposed. He's never heard of Elfnein though, so he suspects it might be someone specific to Romeo's world.
Well, one thing at a time though.
"It's great that you kept up with it. 'f you want, we c'n practice it when we're together? I'm not super good at it yet, but it's gotta be worth a try!" And, well, there are more than one instance where sign language may be useful. Noisy surroundings, or trying to sneak without being heard-- Esteban hoped that he would learn more of it fast enough to help Amaya out during the next mission.
"What's a shinki?" The term is completely unfamiliar to Esteban and he pauses at it, curious. Zetta being a demon is also news to him, and he has to kick aside the first thought that comes to mind; he's had fun with the guy when he met him-- 'dians, that's a bit far back now. He should go and seek him out again, when he has a bit more time.
He also wonders if that has something to do with the name Romeo had used to bespell himself; a name that had seemed very foreign as well. Or maybe he's just reading too much into things; nosy as he is.
"Oh a shinki is a person like me. So someone who died and then went to the heavens and forgot all their life and got a special name from a god." He held out his hand to show the red kanji (小僧) marked there.
"When our gods say our names we turn into a special weapon so they can fight bad monsters. But we've not seen any of those since we came to the train. "But mostly we help our gods if they are answering prayers or helping people!"
Esteban feels as if the rug was swept from underneath his feet, a short lurch of his heart stinging at the concept that Romeo is already dead. It's... it's a bit painful, and a bit of pity he can't quite bite back, watching the child from the corner of his eye as he tries to come to terms with it. (But, seriously that is... a lot to process)
"Really does seem like the train loves t' attract people that like t' help," he manages, and it's not the best follow up to Romeo's explanation, but Esteban is a bit too preoccupied with the thousands of thoughts that rumble so loud in his head that he can't really hear any of them. Yikes.
Yikes
"How'd you help a god answer prayers?" he asks instead, trying to keep up even though he's far less assured in this conversation than their previous one. He still wants to understand, wants to support Romeo as best he can, after all.
"It does have a lot of helpers!" Which is a good thing really since there was so much to help with on missions. Romeo seems to have not fully noticed what affect his words have had on Esteban.
"It depends what the prayer is though. Sometimes people pray because their dog is lost so we gotta go and find them and sometimes its more tricky stuff or they want to pass a test so we got to help them study or they are very sad and that's usually when the ayakashi monsters are there, humans can't see them but they like bad emotions and are very dangerous!"
There's not so many prayers on the train either, but missions are very similar.
Oh! Oh putting it into terms or an analogy that Esteban can understand helps him a lot more with understanding what he's dealing with. He'd never quite believed in Guardians, even if he invoked them in pretty much daily conversations, but overlapping what Romeo has explained to him with his own lore helps swallow the child's death a little better.
Maybe they're all dead on the train, and just trying to do a little bit of good before they move on. Somehow, that one is even easier for him to process.
"If they're dangerous, though, how do you deal with them? Do you need Zetta there to help you out-- or you helpin' Zetta out?" Is he understanding this right? Does Romeo need Zetta around to unlock his potential? Or is-- is he pretty good on his own, even in potentially problematic situations?
"I help mister Zetta out! He calls my shinki name and I turn into a motorbike which is my weapon for him, he then would to a rend spell to fight against an ayakashi!"
Not that Zetta has ever used his weapon form since naming him. He's so powerful he doesn't really need Romeo, which makes Romeo a bit sad.
"On my own I can't fight them, though I got borderlines to help keep me safe because shinki taste real good to Ayakashi!"
But it's less the weapon form that reassures Esteban as Romeo adds that he has access to borderlines. While he's not certain, he might have an idea of what the child is speaking of, and if it works as he imagines it does, it's a relief to learn that he can defend himself. Less so that he might taste good though. He'd like to make a joke, but that seems a little too risky at this point.
"But you're witty and sneaky." This, he can assure, having seen him work through a camp of dangerous refugees first hand. With a handful of spells, and enough forethought to use them when useful, he's probably better at this than Esteban himself is. "An' those are really powerful skills too."
"Plus, there's lots of people that would look out for you 'f you need help." He grins at this, willing the young traveler to have faith, at least in this much. "Me included. 'F you're ever in trouble, you c'n call me any time, okay?" It's just a small comfort, probably more for Esteban's sake than Romeo himself, but he wants the child to know that much. If ever he's cornered, if he's stuck, Esteban will come and help him out. He's sure he's not the first one to offer, but he'd rather be the tenth than Romeo not having a name to call when he finds himself lost. He grins again, and squeezes his companion's hand, a reassurance that he means his words.
The people on the train were too damn kind. Esteban didn't put too much faith that he might call out to the young boy-- he did tend to run himself into more trouble than he really wanted to pull Romeo through, but he didn't want to dismiss his offer either.
"Okay! So long 's you stay safe, alright?" He probably won't budge on that, considering how much he wants to shelter him from what he can of the world. And yet Romeo is the one who is already dead. It... still seems cruel to him that this happened to someone so young. But in some ways, he guesses this means he's gotten his own Guardian Spirit.
... Nah, that's just weird.
"So, hmm?" There really isn't a strong concept for Esteban to link the motorbike to. Even the train is so humongous, and just imagining it on two wheels is... difficult. "The motorcycle's a transport, right?" So a transport is a weapon? This is proving even more confusing to the half-elf. There really isn't much of a concept of vehicles in the Moon Mountains, seeing as the floods continuously destroy any attempt at paving roads below the Naming Tree's reach of influence. He tries again.
"So, like, a runeforged horse with two wheels instead of hooves?" Is that... is that about right? It's the closest approximation Esteban can think of at the very least. Though how a horse would keep its balance when stuck on only two wheels does not make sense to Esteban.
Also, Romeo transforms into that? Confusion abounds, but he's trying at least?
"I guess!" He nodded. It was sort of like a horse, except not alive. Except when he was a motorcycle because a shinki motorcycle was... not alive of course but at least sentient.
"I used to turn into a weasel, with my old goddess. I guess I'm lucky, I can move around as a motorcycle and could run around as a weasel. I think it would be a bit weird to be a sword or a gun or something."
He smiled. "Maybe next time you are with mister Zetta we can show you!"
"D'you get to choose, or it's your... god that chooses your form for you?" He still associates Romeo best with a fox cub, personally, but it might just be because their very first conversation had him mention Gon the little fox, and Esteban likes the imagery. Especially after Romeo's help with the last mission. But a weasel is not a bad one either, and he wonders what the child feels most comfortable with himself.
"An' I'll hold y' to that!" Maybe. One day. It's been forever since he last saw Zetta, and he is curious how the demon interacts with his shinki-- briefly remembering him asking Esteban to join him. He'd been on the fence before-- is still not quite ready to consider joining anyone, really. But he'd like to lend his help on a mission or two; get to know the demon better.
"I don't think either of us choose. It just happens..." Unless his god did choose. Neither Elfnein nor Zetta had said that they did. But he had barely known Elfnein then, obviously and mister Zetta didn't tell him lots of things.
Because he was just small and not a baddass overlord. But he tried his best!
"Well, we c'n ask him together. Or y' can ask him an' let me know if you wanna share." It might? Not be something Romeo would want to share? He's not sure, but in any case, it would have to be seen to another time.
"Okay, so about that water--" They'd gotten vastly side-tracked after all, but at least the walk to the kitchens had... given the half-elf a lot of insight. He was happy that they'd chatted; Romeo was a great kid, and Esteban had a better grasp now on how to handle missions with him. Support him where Romeo might need it; but give him the space to operate on his own where he could.
"That's a good idea." He grinned and then his grin grew as he realised they were at the kitchens now. He hadn't realised they had been chatting so long!
"Yes let's get some!" He smiled at him and skipped into the kitchen.
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timeasmymeasure
For Esteban. Poi day 19. Standard coach
Date: 2022-02-13 10:22 am (UTC)But Romeo is peaceful today, he has found a seat in the standard carriage, curled up next to a window with a blanket wrapped around him and a book in his hand.
Made of Broken Things is a bit scary, full as it is with pirates and storms but he is enjoying the adventures of Cid a lot. He is lucky that his own adventures had brought him to places full of friends and nice people!
Even if sometimes those people disappear, which is always a sad thing. Even though he is engrossed in the book he still looks up now and again to greet those who walk past.
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Date: 2022-02-19 08:56 pm (UTC)In all honesty, Esteban isn't quite sure why they have it at all. The performance stage would probably be enough to gather everyone in if they needed a meeting with the entirety of the VoidTreckers, and the one-direction facing seats confuse him more than anything. He's not sure why one might linger, but then, he suspects that it being so... unhelpful is part of the charm. If there's one thing they don't get a lot of on the train, it's personal space, and Esteban can understand wanting some privacy for a bit.
"D'you mind?" He'll just move on if the kid is busy, or wanting a bit time to himself. He's not rude, after all, though he makes a note to maybe bring him a bowl of popcorn? There were mentions that he filled it out all the time, so he suspected Romeo quite liked it. (He has no personal idea what popcorn is, but he knows it's food and in the cinema carriage. He doesn't know why. Maybe he'll ask, if Romeo is feeling chatty.)
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Date: 2022-02-21 08:05 pm (UTC)"Of course not! Do you want to share my blanket? It's nice and comfy."
An important property of a blanket.
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Date: 2022-02-22 01:32 am (UTC)He gets a little startled by the offer, but it's kindly given, and Esteban is happy to nod, sitting down kind of crookedly, so he could keep talking with Romeo. He lets the child arrange the blanket as he wants-- shoulders or lap blanket?-- while he indicates the book currently in his hands.
"Got a new book? What's it about?" He remembers their first conversation had been about books, back, oh, back on his first day. And how he'd refused Romeo's offer to buy him one, simply because he hadn't-- there's a joy in sharing things. Esteban had... not forgotten it per say, but the traveling had left him so disjointed, so self-reliant that he hadn't thought about accepting it at all.
It's... something that the Train has given him back. That sense of others, which he'd been missing on the road. He knows not everyone is happy with it, kind to it, but-- he doesn't quite have the words to express it, so Esteban focuses on Romeo's response instead.
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Date: 2022-02-22 08:04 pm (UTC)A very scary situation. "He's very brave though!"
As brave as any of the people Romeo knows. "You can read it after me if you want! It's not a tricky one."
Trickier than a picture book but not as hard as some of the grown up books in the library.
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Date: 2022-02-23 12:21 pm (UTC)"Maybe," he agrees instead, "but th' library might not like me borrowin' books. I take foreeeeeeever t' read them." Mainly because he forgets. "How 'bout you tell me all 'bout it once you're done instead?" Cut to the chase. "I listen a lot better th'n I read."
That he can guarantee. He loves listening to people after all, most especially his friends, and Romeo is definitely someone he wants to count among them.
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Date: 2022-02-23 05:59 pm (UTC)He grinned at him and put the book on his knee. "Well the main character is called Cid and his parents aren't really nice. They fight all the time and he wants to run away so he decides to get a job at sea. He's not very big and doesn't know much but he gets a job as a deckhand, that's someone who works on a ship.
"He doesn't really ask any questions about the job though, because he just wants to go to sea."
Skim over the book's contents?
Date: 2022-02-24 10:33 pm (UTC)Esteban is more than happy to let Romeo tell him all about the adventures, prompting him with little questions whenever there was a short break. "Wasn't he scared?" or "What happened next?" being the most repeated ones, with the occasional "what do you think?" whenever Cid did something very clever, or very brave. He's curious also as to how Romeo relates to the book, about how his own imagination, or experiences guide him through these scenarios. And he's happy to linger in Romeo's own interests, even if he personally can't recall enjoying reading.
But stories-- oh, Esteban does love stories, and he gives the child his full attention as they chat, letting the plot unfold between them all the way to where he'd interrupted him. His face scrunches with a mischievous grin when he realizes, feigning being a bit disappointed in a way he thinks is exaggerated enough that the child is going to understand it.
"Awww. Now I'm gonna be wonderin' what happens next for a while, hun." He teases, grinning still. "You're gonna have t' tell me when you get further! I'm countin' on you~"
Sure!
Date: 2022-02-26 08:20 pm (UTC)"I will I promise!"
He grinned. "I can read it with you if you want? So you will know at the same time as me."
Then he won't have to wait as long at all. He can find out what happens to Cid!
"I been learning how to read outloud real good so I can do voices for the characters now too!"
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Date: 2022-02-26 11:07 pm (UTC)Well, not that it matters he supposes, when Romeo has offered it so kindly. Still, there's a few things he wants to do first, if they're going to settle on that idea, and Esteban is quick to smile at the child.
"That's a great idea!~ I'd love t' listen! But! We're gonna have t' get you some water first, 'cause that's going to leave your throat dry real fast." He ponders for a moment at this, wondering if it's the proper time, before figuring that yes; if they're settling down for a good bit of reading, Esteban wants to call in a favour first.
"Also; I dunno if you remember," he begins a little awkwardly, rubbing at the back of his head with a hand. "You offered, way, way back to get 'Gon, the little fox' for me. D'you mind if I take up that offer?" It's been a while after all, and Esteban doesn't want to force Romeo's hand. "I can buy it myself, 'f you'd rather. Ah, but I'll need t' see how the ICP shop works." And yes, he's been sort of avoiding the shop itself because he'd made a promise with the kid; it had been important for him to keep it.
"If you want?" he asks again, his grin widening this time around. With how everyone's been so kind to him, well. Esteban will just have to learn to deal with it, it seems. Stop trying to be so self-reliant, and remind himself on how to properly convey gratefulness.
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Date: 2022-02-27 07:15 pm (UTC)He nodded at the memory though and grinned. "Yes I remember! I can still get you it if you want and I ccan show you how to do the shop but I can still buy you the book, I got lots of points!"
And Gon the Little Fox was such a good book!
Sorry; lots of introspections.
Date: 2022-03-01 10:31 am (UTC)He's not... sure what he's doing. Interacting with Romeo is a lot stranger than he thought it might be at first, seeing as he is just so young. Esteban wants to hover; wants to make sure he's kept safe and sound-- and 'Dians, that makes him sound like his own mother. Hovering that intently over him would be hurtful; Esteban knows it first hand.
But he can't pretend Romeo is an adult either, the way he would if the child was just a liiiiittle older. Sure, he's protective over other teenagers, such as Kitty, or Danny, even if their interactions are few and far between, but his fear is lessened, somewhat, with the few added years they have to their age. So he's stuck in this odd step in between being tyrannically protective, and such blasé carelessness that he feels like it's a balancing act.
Which isn't... a bad thing now that he thinks about it. It's his problem to be troubled by this, and help Romeo grow up as best he can offer; as a safe retreat the child can use if there is a need, but a soft encouragement if all Romeo wants is to stand on his own feet. And to be fair, he honestly doubts his small companion doesn't have a half-dozen adults already watching from the sidelines, ready to step in if there's any trouble at all; he does have that gentle and helpful personality to help. Esteban will just be one more among them.
"What do you think will happen next?" he asks amicably as they start on their way, keeping the child's hand in his own but ready to let go if he draws back. It's a strangely accurate reflection of his own thoughts.
Re: Sorry; lots of introspections.
Date: 2022-03-02 04:44 am (UTC)He looked up at him at the question. "I don't know! We won't get another mission until the letter of the month changes but something might happen. Sometimes we go places and sometimes there are storms!"
So anything could happen.
Esteban, derailing the fade to black, as per usual.
Date: 2022-03-03 02:51 pm (UTC)"Yeah, there was a storm right after I boarded too," he encouraged, prodding lightly for more information. "Have you seen lots of them?"
It might help, to know how much experience Romeo has on the train. Help him know when he might be in need of a hand, or when he'd already been through those hardships. Any information is good information, and besides. Esteban loves hearing about his companions, and all the little details of their lives.
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Date: 2022-03-03 09:01 pm (UTC)"So that must have been just after you came here."
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Date: 2022-03-05 03:24 am (UTC)"I met Amaya durin' the storm." Because that was the most remarkable instance for him after all. "She's very nice, an' teachin' me sign-language. Here, listen!"
It takes him a little bit longer than he'd like, shuffling through his alphabet until he finds the "R", as he doesn't use it all that much. {R-o-m-e-o} His SCA's mechanical voice is a little chilling, but he's managed all the letters properly, and though it was slower than he'd like, it still worked well enough for a first try.
{Hello! How are you?} Those are probably the only full sentences he can actually spout on command at the moment, rather than his broken words. He's practicing, but it's still slow going after all.
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Date: 2022-03-05 06:07 am (UTC)I'm good! How are you? E-S-T-...B-A-N. Was that how it was spelled? He's not sure but he doesn't pause to worry too much, his signing is enthusiastic though he tries to keep it clear and not have fuggy fingers.
I don't know A-M-A-Y-A. She nice? She good teacher?
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Date: 2022-03-05 06:28 pm (UTC)Esteban is thrilled to find a new practice companion, even though he's really not that good at it yet! His grin is as bright as sunshine, even if he's quick to adjust the child's spelling.
"You're missin' an 'e'." And here, he signs his own name, far, far smoother than Romeo's name just because it was one of his daily exercises to pull off. {Esteban} Even the SCA recognizes it as a name rather than a jumble of letters as it had when he was too slow to sign. Here, he has to pause as he thinks his next words through, carefully building the sentences he's trying to pull.
{Amaya, good-teach-person-yes. I-happy-learning-I} Yikes. It's not his best sentences ever, but he's just started learning, so it's already good that he knows this much.
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Date: 2022-03-06 05:47 pm (UTC)Good. I maybe find her. I happy learning too. I learn in heaven. Friend no talk. G-I-N-A.
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Date: 2022-03-07 12:37 am (UTC){R-o-m-e-o, good-friend, why? learn-new--} he pauses at this, tripping in his attempt when he can't find the word he's looking for. Rhetorical questions still seem to be hard for him to manage. {G-i-n-a, friend-you.}
Urgh, this was his worse attempt yet. He gives up on saying it in signs, seeing as he's barely coherent with it, and he does want to make sure Romeo knows-- well, that he has a good heart.
"Learnin' a new skill for a friend's really cool~" he cheers, and, unsure, uncertain if he's allowed-- has he even done this before?-- he reaches to pat him gently on the head.
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Date: 2022-03-07 04:49 am (UTC)"It is cool! She was really nice and she taught lots of people. She was teaching my god. Um Elfnein not mister Zetta and then she taught me as well!"
It was a good thing to learn. Just like Esteban was learning for Amaya.
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Date: 2022-03-07 01:53 pm (UTC)Well, one thing at a time though.
"It's great that you kept up with it. 'f you want, we c'n practice it when we're together? I'm not super good at it yet, but it's gotta be worth a try!" And, well, there are more than one instance where sign language may be useful. Noisy surroundings, or trying to sneak without being heard-- Esteban hoped that he would learn more of it fast enough to help Amaya out during the next mission.
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Date: 2022-03-07 06:59 pm (UTC)Only a little bit.
"I'll practice with you though! Practising is really important because they we will get really good at it!"
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Date: 2022-03-08 12:45 pm (UTC)But also!
"What's a shinki?" The term is completely unfamiliar to Esteban and he pauses at it, curious. Zetta being a demon is also news to him, and he has to kick aside the first thought that comes to mind; he's had fun with the guy when he met him-- 'dians, that's a bit far back now. He should go and seek him out again, when he has a bit more time.
He also wonders if that has something to do with the name Romeo had used to bespell himself; a name that had seemed very foreign as well. Or maybe he's just reading too much into things; nosy as he is.
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Date: 2022-03-08 09:52 pm (UTC)"When our gods say our names we turn into a special weapon so they can fight bad monsters. But we've not seen any of those since we came to the train. "But mostly we help our gods if they are answering prayers or helping people!"
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Date: 2022-03-09 05:51 pm (UTC)Esteban feels as if the rug was swept from underneath his feet, a short lurch of his heart stinging at the concept that Romeo is already dead. It's... it's a bit painful, and a bit of pity he can't quite bite back, watching the child from the corner of his eye as he tries to come to terms with it. (But, seriously that is... a lot to process)
"Really does seem like the train loves t' attract people that like t' help," he manages, and it's not the best follow up to Romeo's explanation, but Esteban is a bit too preoccupied with the thousands of thoughts that rumble so loud in his head that he can't really hear any of them. Yikes.
Yikes
"How'd you help a god answer prayers?" he asks instead, trying to keep up even though he's far less assured in this conversation than their previous one. He still wants to understand, wants to support Romeo as best he can, after all.
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Date: 2022-03-11 05:59 pm (UTC)"It depends what the prayer is though. Sometimes people pray because their dog is lost so we gotta go and find them and sometimes its more tricky stuff or they want to pass a test so we got to help them study or they are very sad and that's usually when the ayakashi monsters are there, humans can't see them but they like bad emotions and are very dangerous!"
There's not so many prayers on the train either, but missions are very similar.
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Date: 2022-03-13 02:16 pm (UTC)Wait-- does that mean Romeo is a Guardian Spirit?
Oh! Oh putting it into terms or an analogy that Esteban can understand helps him a lot more with understanding what he's dealing with. He'd never quite believed in Guardians, even if he invoked them in pretty much daily conversations, but overlapping what Romeo has explained to him with his own lore helps swallow the child's death a little better.
Maybe they're all dead on the train, and just trying to do a little bit of good before they move on. Somehow, that one is even easier for him to process.
"If they're dangerous, though, how do you deal with them? Do you need Zetta there to help you out-- or you helpin' Zetta out?" Is he understanding this right? Does Romeo need Zetta around to unlock his potential? Or is-- is he pretty good on his own, even in potentially problematic situations?
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Date: 2022-03-13 09:39 pm (UTC)Not that Zetta has ever used his weapon form since naming him. He's so powerful he doesn't really need Romeo, which makes Romeo a bit sad.
"On my own I can't fight them, though I got borderlines to help keep me safe because shinki taste real good to Ayakashi!"
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Date: 2022-03-15 07:56 pm (UTC)But it's less the weapon form that reassures Esteban as Romeo adds that he has access to borderlines. While he's not certain, he might have an idea of what the child is speaking of, and if it works as he imagines it does, it's a relief to learn that he can defend himself. Less so that he might taste good though. He'd like to make a joke, but that seems a little too risky at this point.
"But you're witty and sneaky." This, he can assure, having seen him work through a camp of dangerous refugees first hand. With a handful of spells, and enough forethought to use them when useful, he's probably better at this than Esteban himself is. "An' those are really powerful skills too."
"Plus, there's lots of people that would look out for you 'f you need help." He grins at this, willing the young traveler to have faith, at least in this much. "Me included. 'F you're ever in trouble, you c'n call me any time, okay?" It's just a small comfort, probably more for Esteban's sake than Romeo himself, but he wants the child to know that much. If ever he's cornered, if he's stuck, Esteban will come and help him out. He's sure he's not the first one to offer, but he'd rather be the tenth than Romeo not having a name to call when he finds himself lost. He grins again, and squeezes his companion's hand, a reassurance that he means his words.
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Date: 2022-03-15 08:36 pm (UTC)Because that's what friends did! They were friends right? Romeo has lots of grown up friends so he doesn't see it as weird at all.
"And um a motorbike is a machine that goes real fast. Like a train. But only one person can sit on it and it's got two wheels!"
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Date: 2022-03-17 09:24 pm (UTC)"Okay! So long 's you stay safe, alright?" He probably won't budge on that, considering how much he wants to shelter him from what he can of the world. And yet Romeo is the one who is already dead. It... still seems cruel to him that this happened to someone so young. But in some ways, he guesses this means he's gotten his own Guardian Spirit.
... Nah, that's just weird.
"So, hmm?" There really isn't a strong concept for Esteban to link the motorbike to. Even the train is so humongous, and just imagining it on two wheels is... difficult. "The motorcycle's a transport, right?" So a transport is a weapon? This is proving even more confusing to the half-elf. There really isn't much of a concept of vehicles in the Moon Mountains, seeing as the floods continuously destroy any attempt at paving roads below the Naming Tree's reach of influence. He tries again.
"So, like, a runeforged horse with two wheels instead of hooves?" Is that... is that about right? It's the closest approximation Esteban can think of at the very least. Though how a horse would keep its balance when stuck on only two wheels does not make sense to Esteban.
Also, Romeo transforms into that? Confusion abounds, but he's trying at least?
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Date: 2022-03-18 05:50 am (UTC)"I used to turn into a weasel, with my old goddess. I guess I'm lucky, I can move around as a motorcycle and could run around as a weasel. I think it would be a bit weird to be a sword or a gun or something."
He smiled. "Maybe next time you are with mister Zetta we can show you!"
Then he will know what one is for sure!
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Date: 2022-03-19 09:31 pm (UTC)"D'you get to choose, or it's your... god that chooses your form for you?" He still associates Romeo best with a fox cub, personally, but it might just be because their very first conversation had him mention Gon the little fox, and Esteban likes the imagery. Especially after Romeo's help with the last mission. But a weasel is not a bad one either, and he wonders what the child feels most comfortable with himself.
"An' I'll hold y' to that!" Maybe. One day. It's been forever since he last saw Zetta, and he is curious how the demon interacts with his shinki-- briefly remembering him asking Esteban to join him. He'd been on the fence before-- is still not quite ready to consider joining anyone, really. But he'd like to lend his help on a mission or two; get to know the demon better.
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Date: 2022-03-20 05:51 am (UTC)Because he was just small and not a baddass overlord. But he tried his best!
Another attempt at a Fade To Black?
Date: 2022-03-20 07:43 pm (UTC)"Okay, so about that water--" They'd gotten vastly side-tracked after all, but at least the walk to the kitchens had... given the half-elf a lot of insight. He was happy that they'd chatted; Romeo was a great kid, and Esteban had a better grasp now on how to handle missions with him. Support him where Romeo might need it; but give him the space to operate on his own where he could.
yep!
Date: 2022-03-20 08:33 pm (UTC)"Yes let's get some!" He smiled at him and skipped into the kitchen.