"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
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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.
no subject
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!"
no subject
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.
no subject
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!"
no subject
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.
no subject
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.
no subject
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?
no subject
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!"
no subject
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.
no subject
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!"
no subject
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?
no subject
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!
no subject
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.
no subject
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.