(no subject)
Who? Inuart and Caim
When? REALLY backlogged, so February 18
What? Inuart and Caim meet up and stroll around town. They chat for a bit.
Warnings
[23:14] LifeWithoutSong: So Caim. When and where did you want to finally meet me again?
[23:16] No Talking K Thx: Any time is fine with me, Inuart. Any place is fine as well.
[23:21] LifeWithoutSong: Thracian Park. In about an hour.
[23:23] No Talking K Thx: That works for me. Do you need me to dress formally or something?
[23:24] LifeWithoutSong: ...no, of course not.
[23:24] LifeWithoutSong: Why would you think that/
[23:24] LifeWithoutSong: ?
[23:30] No Talking K Thx: One would never be able to tell with you, Inuart.
[23:30] No Talking K Thx: Maybe you'd want me in armour or something.
[23:31] LifeWithoutSong: I should be the wary one especially after your welcome when I first arrived
[23:31] No Talking K Thx: I believe after you arrived, I saved you.
[23:32] LifeWithoutSong: Then you proceeded to try and maim me, Caim
[23:38] No Talking K Thx: Not that evening, no. That was simply a warning.
[23:43] LifeWithoutSong: You have a strange way of warning me
[23:49] No Talking K Thx: I thought a sword to the throat was just fine.
[23:51] LifeWithoutSong: Whatever. Just be off and meet me at the park later.
[23:52] No Talking K Thx: As you say then.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Inuart had no idea what they were going to do today. He didn't really give it much thought. But Caim did want to meet up with him and he respected him enough to oblige. Still, what was he supposed to say when he met up with his old friend again? Well, there was only one way to find out.
Caim honestly wasn't sure what he was going to say or what he was going to do. Part of him wanted to be the older brother again and just make everything turn back into the way it had been before the war with the Empire ever broke out. For as bloodthirsty a man as he was, Caim really fought for some kind of peace. Perhaps, however, he had lived in a world so filled with bloodshed that he no longer knew what true 'peace' really was.
He dressed casually, though 'casual' for Caim was likely 'pretty nice' according to a regular inhabitant. A white button down shirt, and slacks. They were slacks, right? And with damp hair from the shower, even Caim had to admit that he cleaned up well. And that bathing was just what he needed to pass the time before heading to Thracian. And best of all? He went unarmed.
Inuart on the other hand couldn't be so confident as to leave his sword behind. He couldn't shrug off the image of the murderous Caim that he had seen on the battlefield too often before. At the very least, he didn't wear his armor, but opted for a sweater instead. There was the possibility that this was some sort of trap, but Caim had been rather docile as of late. Mildly annoying, but harmless for the most part. Inuart really didn't know what to think of this, but he supposed that he could live with this...
He searched around for Caim as he wondered how this would work out now that he was mute. Angelus wasn't there to translate for him, but Caim had a way of being terribly transparent.
In all honesty, Caim had spent so much time with Furiae that he'd forgotten about the language barrier -- except when Sora chose to remind him. Then again, having a little kid come and see him almost every day at the hotdog house wasn't that bad, and it made Caim look better than a scary old man, which seemed to be the general consensus. He wasn't a bad guy. Not entirely. His motives were fairly pure. It just happened to be that his methods were incredibly questionable. Not any anyone couldn't say the same about Inuart. As a whole, the man was questionable.
He couldn't have been standing at the bench that marked Thracian's entrance for too long. Long enough to wonder what it'd be like to see his former best friend again, on terms where he wasn't bent on destroying him. It wasn't until he saw Inuart clearly enough that he straightened his posture and forced himself from his rigid position and approched him. His right hand lifted and he offered a halfhearted wave. It'd be as good as any a greeting for him.
Inuart saw Caim in the distance, waving in front of the entrance. When was the last time that he had seen Caim without his sword? It was a slightly strange sight, but gave Inuart a reason to lower his guard. He almost felt bad for bringing his sword when his rival came unarmed.
"I suppose it is nice to see you under more pleasant circumstances," Inuart said as he approached him.
Aha. So Inuart had his sword. He had wanted to play around, it seemed. What a shame. It wouldn't be happening tonight. And if it did, it would show exactly how cowardly Inuart was. He could only attack someone when they weren't armed. Defenseless people. I see.
"It is nice, Inuart," Caim admitted with a nod of the head, providing only the movement of his lips. Then he gestured to the longsword, "If I had known you would be interested in that, I would have conceded and done the same."
"This?" he said when he motioned to his weapon. "Why would you assume that I would come without my weapon? You know as well as I do that this world has more than meets the eye," he said as a partial excuse as to why he carried the sword.
"Heh. Whatever you say."
Who was Caim to argue? He still looked a little amused, though, and it showed in his next response. "I'm far more frightening than anything we're going to encounter in a damn park." This man, this companion, this friend of his had grown so completely soft, hadn't he? So that was what love did to someone...
Inuart saw that look upon Caim's face, one that looked so menacing and conveyed what he wanted to say far better than words. His companion scowled and laughed under his breath. "You think of yourself far too highly."
It was a good sign to see Inuart react in that way. it reminded Caim somewhat of their past together, which in a way, was exactly what he wanted. Things could never be as they were and somehow he knew it. This, though... This right now? That was pretty radical -- and the good kind.
"I would rather be overconfident than be otherwise. I'd be far too insecure like my younger counterpart. I guess her being her, however explains it. She's seems to complete everything that I can't. And in a way, you do the same."
Inuart watched Caim speak or rather mouth the words. He understood enough of it to get what he was saying. Total understanding however would take a bit more practice to get.
"Me? Complement you? What do you mean"
Right. Inuart wasn't as skilled as Furiae, or so it seemed. It would take him a little longer to get back to the way he used to be. At least he knew it wasn't a case where Caim didn't care, so he didn't bother to pay attention or respond. Of course, Caim was always the sort of man who would do things like that anyway, expecially without an explanation as to why.
"I mean that like Furiae, you, Inuart, do things that I otherwise cannot do. You probably don't see it, but your ability to be not only straight forward, but honest and open are things that I don't actually excel in." An eyebrow lifted and he offered his companion a reassuring nod.
It was true. Caim wasn't one to be so open, though with that tongue of his, he brought deciphering his meaning and feelings to a whole new level. However, Inuart knew when Caim was speaking seriously and right now, it was painfully obvious that he did mean what he said.
"I just don't want anyone to misunderstand me, so long as my intentions are clear and understood." He wondered if Caim didn't already have some misconceptions about Inuart that needed clarification. To think that he thought that he wanted to harm Furiae of all people.
He didn't want anyone to misunderstand him? In all fruitful honesty, Caim didn't know what Inuart's original intentions were. He didn't bother to ask, most likely because he didn't think his former best friend would even tell him. Though he wondered idly what the former harpist would say if given the opportunity.
"Whatever you say," he finally managed to comment. Then he gestured off into the distance. The sun had already sunk below the horizon. "You taken a look around the town just yet?"
"Not at all. I'm not terribly motivated to get to know this world," he shrugged as he walked past Caim. "But if we're out here, we might as well. You know this place better than I do. So go ahead and lead the way." He turned and motioned ahead to his companion.
If you wanted me to lead, why did you wander past me?
Caim assumed it was the automatic rivalry between the two of them. He'd been blind to it, of course. Caim didn't see Inuart as a rival. It was more... of a strange brotherly way to see him. "I hope you don't think I wander all over the damn place. That isn't my responsibility. I go to work, and occasionally go additional places."
It was his request, however, and he chose to humor his companion. So rather than walking in front of him, or behind him, Caim paused at his side. "Here, we are equals. Don't be so concerned over trivial matters."
They were hardly equals. Inuart always looked up to Caim whether it was for one thing or another. The only thing that he was able to best him in was in his ability to sing, but now he couldn't even do *that*. It was strange to hear that the person he respected considered them to be on equal footing.
"Still, vagrancy wouldn't be too off the mark as far as you're concerned. Well then, tell me, what places are worth taking a look?"
If Caim had realized this, he wasn't sure how he would have felt. How did he view Inuart? That was like asking how he viewed his sister. Those were things he generally tried to avoid thinking about. It was difficult, though.
"I suppose," he admitted, somewhat defeated by the other. "Hm... I would say the new department store. I have only scarcely walked in, however, and as the darkness approaches, everything falls to closed doors. The problems with paradise, apparently."
"Would it be that building up ahead?" he asked, pointing over to one of the more substantial structures in the distance. "If the shops are about to close, then let's make haste. My room could use a touch more things to put in it."
He was in a bit of a hurry, wasn't he? Well, there was no way to avoid it. Caim offered a nod in response and remained silent, in that... way of his. His pace quickened and with a hand, he'd taken Inuart by the forearm, if only to guide him and keep him from wandering off like some defenseless child. "As you say; as you say," finally lipped his reply.
Inuart really didn't want to be caught in any sort of awkward position with Caim. In a way, it was to save face and not show that he felt the least bit awkward with walking around so casually with him like this. So long as they were kept busy he supposed. "You don't have to do that, Caim," he said, pulling his arm away. "I'm not a child anymore."
What came next was probably not expected and perhaps even uncharacteristic of him, but he laughed. Caim offered a genuine laugh.
"You will always be somewhat juvenile to me, Inuart. I couldn't look at you any other way." Just as he supposed he would always see Furiae in a childlike nature as well.
Inuart raised an eyebrow at his companion's behavior. It felt like ages since he saw Caim looking like that. A real laugh? The only kind of laugh he remembered were the ones in made he blood lust and slaughter. Inuart grimaced, looking rather confused, but also annoyed at his comment. "Not so equal, are we?" he quipped.
He sounded annoyed. And he looked irritated. And for whatever reason, it made Caim want to laugh even harder. There was some sourness behind it, though. Mainly because Caim couldn't remember how he sounded. Not when he laughed. Not when he attempted to sing (and failed miserably). Not when he spoke...
There was such a great envy that lied under there, that Caim seemed to ignore it a good majority of the time. Sometimes, however, he was not so fortunate. "Don't take it as an insult."
"Whatever. I suppose there are far worse things than being considered juvenile," he conceded. Inuart had to give Caim a second look though. Lately, he had been acting so...strange. So...amiable. It made no sense in the scheme of things, but he had no reason to complain.
"So what shops do we have around here, Caim?" he asked. It was about time that he got his bearings around here.
And this was where things would grow incredibly grainy. Caim didn't like having anything to do with the other shops aside from his place of occupation. As a result, he generally tried to avoid these particular situations. A hand lifted and he gestured to a series of buildings, various sizes and shapes, before explaining their use to Inuart. Gods knew he might find something he liked in the gaggle of monuments, after all.
"Well... there's a bookstore, and that place over there is an arcade, a good place to go if you've got spare time and spare change. The building east of us houses the campus security and marks the boundary between this strip mall and the college and magnet tutelage campus. It also happens to be the office of the young woman who puts people into their positions for occupation."
Inuart nodded, noting all of the landmarks around here. Fairly straight forward. He might have to visit the bookstore later on his own. Again, he found himself being the inexperienced one, taught by his "elder" Caim. Such things couldn't be helped. "You did mention that you worked somewhere here. Where is it?"
He knew that was coming. To be perfectly fair, Caim had opened the door and willingly parked himself into that corner. He paused for a moment before lifting a hand, gesturing far off in the direction of whatever might have been northeast of them.
"It's across the road. At the beginning of the sand is a place called Hotdog on a Stick. Gets a good amount of attention. I work at the front counter processing consumer orders and... churning lemonade." He seemed to deliberately make the last part a bit more trailed off and even incomprehensible.
It was Inuart's turn to laugh and laugh he did. Actually, it was more of a snicker for the sake of discreteness which he was failing miserably. The image of Caim doing something so mundane was just too much. "Really. That is just too perfect. Do you have a shop uniform to go with that too?"
He expected that response. A great deal, actually. Caim eyed him for a moment and then for the sake of honesty, he realized he didn't have a choice. Better to be open than to hide it away. Sort of. "Unfortunately, yes. Though it could be far worse. It's remotely casual and nice. Sort of."
It was terribly amusing to Inuart to imagine Caim, the terror of the battlefield, dressed in a shopkeeper's apron, making a living selling lemonade and...whatever a "hot dog" was. "Admit it. I know you Caim. You hate it. There's no way that you could be so complacent about it."
He blinked. Then he offered a halfhearted shrug. "I really despised it when I arrived. I had a damn jackass come in and didn't get the picture that I couldn't talk." Travis. That's what his name was. Caim hadn't seen him since then. Likely because he was too busy crushing crabs. "It's been pretty livable since then." Because of Sora.
"Then I should drop by when you have shop duty. I am interested to see what you're like on the job," he replied. Part of this was motivated by actual curiosity, but he, for the most part, just wanted to bother Caim.
"I'm polite and discreet," Caim admitted. "Though I'm not sure I could focus properly with you there."
Then he paused and grinned, "Oh. I get it. You just want me to serve you, since I wouldn't ever do that back in Drakengard."
"Perhaps. It'll be interesting to have you at my beck and call," he replied nonchalantly with a shrug. "I don't think your superior would appreciate it if you left a customer dissatisfied."
"They do say that the customer is always right. You're not like the rest of the uneducated fools in Aegean, however. You know what the meaning of the word 'mute' is. But then, you, like Furiae, can read lips. Everyone else seems to have difficulties grasping that situation."
Come to think of it, Caim had never been so talkative as he was with either Inuart or Furiae. No one else could really invoke that sort of reaction from him. It was a clear indication of with whom he was comfortable.
"I can already tell gauging by the senseless uproar that I caused with that journal entry of mine," Inuart scoffed in reaction to the memory. He didn't care too much about much of the inhabitants of this world. Though some people are more pleasant to be with than others, only Caim and Furiae truly mattered to him. "I do see where they might be coming from. It isn't everyday that you encounter a mute. If I didn't know any better, I would assume that you were too stuck up to even speak to me."
Too stuck up, huh? Inuart had a very valid point. Someone could take his actions like that. Perhaps that was why Furiae jumped all over him the moment he wanted to become a senseless jerk. However, referring to K-Na from time to time as a 'jackass' wasn't really a bad thing. It was more like a term of endearment. At least, that was what he said to his younger sister.
"This is true. I have somewhat calmed down for that reason. Though she keeps me on a rather short leash." Not that he was going far... Not that he enjoyed it either.
Oh, so he was right. There was a reason why Caim seemed to be so calm lately. The only one that would make sense. Furiae did only come a little while before he himself came. Any change would have been fairly recent. "I knew that there was a reason why you were acting so strange. I don't ever remember you being so...nice."
Caim wouldn't necessarily hold Furiae responsible for something like that. If anything, he did what he wanted to do. If he wanted to be nice, then he wanted to be nice. That was as simple as it was going to get, and that was... it, really.
"You're kidding," he commented halfheartedly. "It's more than that. Don't think of me as being so easily controlled or tamed." Inuart knew better.
"Pardon me if I find it hard to accept the fact that you're being so...nice to me," he said. Inuart didn't think that Caim would be able to forgive him so easily after all that he had done. Or maybe he didn't want to be forgiven so easily. He knew that he didn't deserve any sort of happiness. Especially not from Caim.
Caim had never said he forgave Inuart. Caim had never once implied that he had lowered his guard. In all fruitful honesty, he was bracing himself for the moment when his once-close friend would withdraw weaponry and strike him down. He wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. Sort of. Part of him did. The other part of him really wanted nothing to do with any of this.
"Don't read into it." That was all Caim really could say. "I'm not going shopping with you, but anything you're looking for can probably be found here, if not at Junes." As Junes carried just about everything. "There's also plans of a new mall being built."
"Something to look forward to, I'm sure." Inuart might have read something in how Caim decided not to bring his sword with him. Or perhaps he was just that confident in his ability to subdue him. The man was an enigma, the most puzzling he had ever seen. What went on inside his mind, he did not know.
Yes. If Inuart wanted to think of it like that. Caim didn't really care either way.
"Perhaps. Though you won't be able to afford anything without an occupation. If you hope to get anywhere here, I'd recommend you do that. Otherwise you'll be confined to your classes and room. Or, even worse, you'll become someone's bitch."
Somewhat the way he was to Cassandra. That was something else entirely, though.
"There's no way that I would ever let that happen to me." But knowing how the world works, he was probably going to end up with a job just as embarassing as Caim's or perhaps even more so due to his teasing earlier. Better yet, he might even have to work with Caim at the stand.
"I suppose I should thank you. For the help that you've given me thus far, Caim. Unwanted...but helpful all the same."
If Caim had any word in it, he would specifically state he didn't want Inuart working with him. He respected him. It was quite a meager way to feel about it, but it was genuinely how he felt. He could trust Inuart as far as he could throw him, and that wasn't very far -- obviously.
He was still thinking on this when Inuart addressed him. The surprise was evident before he forced it away. "...You're getting sentimental on me again." Just like he had before. It wasn't really a chiding tone, though. Not just yet. "...I didn't exactly say the same before. You were my closest friend in Drakengard."
"...yes." They always referred to their friendship in the past tense. But Inuart didn't believe that it had disappeared. Not completely at least. In the end, Caim somehow found it suitable to walk with Inuart today. So if it wasn't quite friendship, then what kind of shaky relationship did he have with him?
"And strongest rival." At least this has always stayed constant, the one thing that never changed despite everything that happened.
Friendship. Rivalry.
They were almost one and the same. In Caim's head, anyway. Sort of. He wasn't real sure. He didn't give it a lot of thought. He tried not to think about it, actually. There were just some things that belonged in those boxes and were never opened again.
"Perhaps," he offered as a response. "That's neither here nor there. We have other things to do than waste our time over who's better, who's wiser. What have you."
"We're walking around town with nothing better to do. Of course we can talk about it." He glanced over to Caim and asked, "Besides, I'm curious to hear what you have to say on the matter."
"I have nothing to say," Caim replied.
And it was true. He didn't want to discuss the past. The only thing he cared about was surviving until the next day. Everything else could take a backseat. Then again, it wasn't like he knew what Inuart was talking about.
"Of course you would stay silent," he shrugged. This was Caim he was talking about. If it wasn't for his ability to pay attention to his lips, there would be an effective wall that would bar them from communicating altogether. But even when he spoke, there was only so much that Caim would even let on. "Is there anything else of interest around here?" The area of Aegean seemed pretty straight forward. Nothing out of the ordinary as far as he knew.
Well, it wasn't quite after dark either, though soon that would happen. And when it did, Caim would need to be back with K-Na. The disc jockey still didn't know of the horrors that terrorized the night.
"I already told you of the things in this area. The campus security. The place for gaming. The bookstore. The food place across the pathway on the shores of the beach. Were you not paying attention?" And that reminded him greatly of their childhood.
"Of course I'm paying attention" was Inuart's reply with a thin scowl across his face. "I'm not a child anymore, Caim. There's no need to treat me like such." he replied as he crossed his arms.
"Then don't make me repeat myself," he replied with a knowing smile.
Then he turned his attention away from his companion and gestured up to the sky for a moment. It was darkening by the moment, as it typically did. Glancing over to Inuart, he cocked an eyebrow, "You don't need to face those shadows again, do you?"
The vision of the creatures were frightening, but nothing that Inuart couldn't handle now that he had regained his strength. "I wouldn't mind fighting those shadows. But *you're* the one who you should be worrying about, Caim." After all, he was the one who didn't carry his weapon with him.
He scoffed. "I don't know where you get this ridiculous notion that I care so much for life in general." If it hadn't been for Furiae, he likely would have happily killed himself. Perhaps. Sorrow often led someone to an import of loss.
"Besides, I'm smart enough to leave before the curfew sets in. K-Na doesn't know about the shadows, and as far as he's concerned I'm always right by him before curfew ensues."
So be it. Inuart had no issue with the creatures that inhabited the school late at night. He had no obligation to defend this world against the shadows. He ended up following Caim and retreated into the dormitories.
When? REALLY backlogged, so February 18
What? Inuart and Caim meet up and stroll around town. They chat for a bit.
Warnings
[23:14] LifeWithoutSong: So Caim. When and where did you want to finally meet me again?
[23:16] No Talking K Thx: Any time is fine with me, Inuart. Any place is fine as well.
[23:21] LifeWithoutSong: Thracian Park. In about an hour.
[23:23] No Talking K Thx: That works for me. Do you need me to dress formally or something?
[23:24] LifeWithoutSong: ...no, of course not.
[23:24] LifeWithoutSong: Why would you think that/
[23:24] LifeWithoutSong: ?
[23:30] No Talking K Thx: One would never be able to tell with you, Inuart.
[23:30] No Talking K Thx: Maybe you'd want me in armour or something.
[23:31] LifeWithoutSong: I should be the wary one especially after your welcome when I first arrived
[23:31] No Talking K Thx: I believe after you arrived, I saved you.
[23:32] LifeWithoutSong: Then you proceeded to try and maim me, Caim
[23:38] No Talking K Thx: Not that evening, no. That was simply a warning.
[23:43] LifeWithoutSong: You have a strange way of warning me
[23:49] No Talking K Thx: I thought a sword to the throat was just fine.
[23:51] LifeWithoutSong: Whatever. Just be off and meet me at the park later.
[23:52] No Talking K Thx: As you say then.
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Inuart had no idea what they were going to do today. He didn't really give it much thought. But Caim did want to meet up with him and he respected him enough to oblige. Still, what was he supposed to say when he met up with his old friend again? Well, there was only one way to find out.
Caim honestly wasn't sure what he was going to say or what he was going to do. Part of him wanted to be the older brother again and just make everything turn back into the way it had been before the war with the Empire ever broke out. For as bloodthirsty a man as he was, Caim really fought for some kind of peace. Perhaps, however, he had lived in a world so filled with bloodshed that he no longer knew what true 'peace' really was.
He dressed casually, though 'casual' for Caim was likely 'pretty nice' according to a regular inhabitant. A white button down shirt, and slacks. They were slacks, right? And with damp hair from the shower, even Caim had to admit that he cleaned up well. And that bathing was just what he needed to pass the time before heading to Thracian. And best of all? He went unarmed.
Inuart on the other hand couldn't be so confident as to leave his sword behind. He couldn't shrug off the image of the murderous Caim that he had seen on the battlefield too often before. At the very least, he didn't wear his armor, but opted for a sweater instead. There was the possibility that this was some sort of trap, but Caim had been rather docile as of late. Mildly annoying, but harmless for the most part. Inuart really didn't know what to think of this, but he supposed that he could live with this...
He searched around for Caim as he wondered how this would work out now that he was mute. Angelus wasn't there to translate for him, but Caim had a way of being terribly transparent.
In all honesty, Caim had spent so much time with Furiae that he'd forgotten about the language barrier -- except when Sora chose to remind him. Then again, having a little kid come and see him almost every day at the hotdog house wasn't that bad, and it made Caim look better than a scary old man, which seemed to be the general consensus. He wasn't a bad guy. Not entirely. His motives were fairly pure. It just happened to be that his methods were incredibly questionable. Not any anyone couldn't say the same about Inuart. As a whole, the man was questionable.
He couldn't have been standing at the bench that marked Thracian's entrance for too long. Long enough to wonder what it'd be like to see his former best friend again, on terms where he wasn't bent on destroying him. It wasn't until he saw Inuart clearly enough that he straightened his posture and forced himself from his rigid position and approched him. His right hand lifted and he offered a halfhearted wave. It'd be as good as any a greeting for him.
Inuart saw Caim in the distance, waving in front of the entrance. When was the last time that he had seen Caim without his sword? It was a slightly strange sight, but gave Inuart a reason to lower his guard. He almost felt bad for bringing his sword when his rival came unarmed.
"I suppose it is nice to see you under more pleasant circumstances," Inuart said as he approached him.
Aha. So Inuart had his sword. He had wanted to play around, it seemed. What a shame. It wouldn't be happening tonight. And if it did, it would show exactly how cowardly Inuart was. He could only attack someone when they weren't armed. Defenseless people. I see.
"It is nice, Inuart," Caim admitted with a nod of the head, providing only the movement of his lips. Then he gestured to the longsword, "If I had known you would be interested in that, I would have conceded and done the same."
"This?" he said when he motioned to his weapon. "Why would you assume that I would come without my weapon? You know as well as I do that this world has more than meets the eye," he said as a partial excuse as to why he carried the sword.
"Heh. Whatever you say."
Who was Caim to argue? He still looked a little amused, though, and it showed in his next response. "I'm far more frightening than anything we're going to encounter in a damn park." This man, this companion, this friend of his had grown so completely soft, hadn't he? So that was what love did to someone...
Inuart saw that look upon Caim's face, one that looked so menacing and conveyed what he wanted to say far better than words. His companion scowled and laughed under his breath. "You think of yourself far too highly."
It was a good sign to see Inuart react in that way. it reminded Caim somewhat of their past together, which in a way, was exactly what he wanted. Things could never be as they were and somehow he knew it. This, though... This right now? That was pretty radical -- and the good kind.
"I would rather be overconfident than be otherwise. I'd be far too insecure like my younger counterpart. I guess her being her, however explains it. She's seems to complete everything that I can't. And in a way, you do the same."
Inuart watched Caim speak or rather mouth the words. He understood enough of it to get what he was saying. Total understanding however would take a bit more practice to get.
"Me? Complement you? What do you mean"
Right. Inuart wasn't as skilled as Furiae, or so it seemed. It would take him a little longer to get back to the way he used to be. At least he knew it wasn't a case where Caim didn't care, so he didn't bother to pay attention or respond. Of course, Caim was always the sort of man who would do things like that anyway, expecially without an explanation as to why.
"I mean that like Furiae, you, Inuart, do things that I otherwise cannot do. You probably don't see it, but your ability to be not only straight forward, but honest and open are things that I don't actually excel in." An eyebrow lifted and he offered his companion a reassuring nod.
It was true. Caim wasn't one to be so open, though with that tongue of his, he brought deciphering his meaning and feelings to a whole new level. However, Inuart knew when Caim was speaking seriously and right now, it was painfully obvious that he did mean what he said.
"I just don't want anyone to misunderstand me, so long as my intentions are clear and understood." He wondered if Caim didn't already have some misconceptions about Inuart that needed clarification. To think that he thought that he wanted to harm Furiae of all people.
He didn't want anyone to misunderstand him? In all fruitful honesty, Caim didn't know what Inuart's original intentions were. He didn't bother to ask, most likely because he didn't think his former best friend would even tell him. Though he wondered idly what the former harpist would say if given the opportunity.
"Whatever you say," he finally managed to comment. Then he gestured off into the distance. The sun had already sunk below the horizon. "You taken a look around the town just yet?"
"Not at all. I'm not terribly motivated to get to know this world," he shrugged as he walked past Caim. "But if we're out here, we might as well. You know this place better than I do. So go ahead and lead the way." He turned and motioned ahead to his companion.
If you wanted me to lead, why did you wander past me?
Caim assumed it was the automatic rivalry between the two of them. He'd been blind to it, of course. Caim didn't see Inuart as a rival. It was more... of a strange brotherly way to see him. "I hope you don't think I wander all over the damn place. That isn't my responsibility. I go to work, and occasionally go additional places."
It was his request, however, and he chose to humor his companion. So rather than walking in front of him, or behind him, Caim paused at his side. "Here, we are equals. Don't be so concerned over trivial matters."
They were hardly equals. Inuart always looked up to Caim whether it was for one thing or another. The only thing that he was able to best him in was in his ability to sing, but now he couldn't even do *that*. It was strange to hear that the person he respected considered them to be on equal footing.
"Still, vagrancy wouldn't be too off the mark as far as you're concerned. Well then, tell me, what places are worth taking a look?"
If Caim had realized this, he wasn't sure how he would have felt. How did he view Inuart? That was like asking how he viewed his sister. Those were things he generally tried to avoid thinking about. It was difficult, though.
"I suppose," he admitted, somewhat defeated by the other. "Hm... I would say the new department store. I have only scarcely walked in, however, and as the darkness approaches, everything falls to closed doors. The problems with paradise, apparently."
"Would it be that building up ahead?" he asked, pointing over to one of the more substantial structures in the distance. "If the shops are about to close, then let's make haste. My room could use a touch more things to put in it."
He was in a bit of a hurry, wasn't he? Well, there was no way to avoid it. Caim offered a nod in response and remained silent, in that... way of his. His pace quickened and with a hand, he'd taken Inuart by the forearm, if only to guide him and keep him from wandering off like some defenseless child. "As you say; as you say," finally lipped his reply.
Inuart really didn't want to be caught in any sort of awkward position with Caim. In a way, it was to save face and not show that he felt the least bit awkward with walking around so casually with him like this. So long as they were kept busy he supposed. "You don't have to do that, Caim," he said, pulling his arm away. "I'm not a child anymore."
What came next was probably not expected and perhaps even uncharacteristic of him, but he laughed. Caim offered a genuine laugh.
"You will always be somewhat juvenile to me, Inuart. I couldn't look at you any other way." Just as he supposed he would always see Furiae in a childlike nature as well.
Inuart raised an eyebrow at his companion's behavior. It felt like ages since he saw Caim looking like that. A real laugh? The only kind of laugh he remembered were the ones in made he blood lust and slaughter. Inuart grimaced, looking rather confused, but also annoyed at his comment. "Not so equal, are we?" he quipped.
He sounded annoyed. And he looked irritated. And for whatever reason, it made Caim want to laugh even harder. There was some sourness behind it, though. Mainly because Caim couldn't remember how he sounded. Not when he laughed. Not when he attempted to sing (and failed miserably). Not when he spoke...
There was such a great envy that lied under there, that Caim seemed to ignore it a good majority of the time. Sometimes, however, he was not so fortunate. "Don't take it as an insult."
"Whatever. I suppose there are far worse things than being considered juvenile," he conceded. Inuart had to give Caim a second look though. Lately, he had been acting so...strange. So...amiable. It made no sense in the scheme of things, but he had no reason to complain.
"So what shops do we have around here, Caim?" he asked. It was about time that he got his bearings around here.
And this was where things would grow incredibly grainy. Caim didn't like having anything to do with the other shops aside from his place of occupation. As a result, he generally tried to avoid these particular situations. A hand lifted and he gestured to a series of buildings, various sizes and shapes, before explaining their use to Inuart. Gods knew he might find something he liked in the gaggle of monuments, after all.
"Well... there's a bookstore, and that place over there is an arcade, a good place to go if you've got spare time and spare change. The building east of us houses the campus security and marks the boundary between this strip mall and the college and magnet tutelage campus. It also happens to be the office of the young woman who puts people into their positions for occupation."
Inuart nodded, noting all of the landmarks around here. Fairly straight forward. He might have to visit the bookstore later on his own. Again, he found himself being the inexperienced one, taught by his "elder" Caim. Such things couldn't be helped. "You did mention that you worked somewhere here. Where is it?"
He knew that was coming. To be perfectly fair, Caim had opened the door and willingly parked himself into that corner. He paused for a moment before lifting a hand, gesturing far off in the direction of whatever might have been northeast of them.
"It's across the road. At the beginning of the sand is a place called Hotdog on a Stick. Gets a good amount of attention. I work at the front counter processing consumer orders and... churning lemonade." He seemed to deliberately make the last part a bit more trailed off and even incomprehensible.
It was Inuart's turn to laugh and laugh he did. Actually, it was more of a snicker for the sake of discreteness which he was failing miserably. The image of Caim doing something so mundane was just too much. "Really. That is just too perfect. Do you have a shop uniform to go with that too?"
He expected that response. A great deal, actually. Caim eyed him for a moment and then for the sake of honesty, he realized he didn't have a choice. Better to be open than to hide it away. Sort of. "Unfortunately, yes. Though it could be far worse. It's remotely casual and nice. Sort of."
It was terribly amusing to Inuart to imagine Caim, the terror of the battlefield, dressed in a shopkeeper's apron, making a living selling lemonade and...whatever a "hot dog" was. "Admit it. I know you Caim. You hate it. There's no way that you could be so complacent about it."
He blinked. Then he offered a halfhearted shrug. "I really despised it when I arrived. I had a damn jackass come in and didn't get the picture that I couldn't talk." Travis. That's what his name was. Caim hadn't seen him since then. Likely because he was too busy crushing crabs. "It's been pretty livable since then." Because of Sora.
"Then I should drop by when you have shop duty. I am interested to see what you're like on the job," he replied. Part of this was motivated by actual curiosity, but he, for the most part, just wanted to bother Caim.
"I'm polite and discreet," Caim admitted. "Though I'm not sure I could focus properly with you there."
Then he paused and grinned, "Oh. I get it. You just want me to serve you, since I wouldn't ever do that back in Drakengard."
"Perhaps. It'll be interesting to have you at my beck and call," he replied nonchalantly with a shrug. "I don't think your superior would appreciate it if you left a customer dissatisfied."
"They do say that the customer is always right. You're not like the rest of the uneducated fools in Aegean, however. You know what the meaning of the word 'mute' is. But then, you, like Furiae, can read lips. Everyone else seems to have difficulties grasping that situation."
Come to think of it, Caim had never been so talkative as he was with either Inuart or Furiae. No one else could really invoke that sort of reaction from him. It was a clear indication of with whom he was comfortable.
"I can already tell gauging by the senseless uproar that I caused with that journal entry of mine," Inuart scoffed in reaction to the memory. He didn't care too much about much of the inhabitants of this world. Though some people are more pleasant to be with than others, only Caim and Furiae truly mattered to him. "I do see where they might be coming from. It isn't everyday that you encounter a mute. If I didn't know any better, I would assume that you were too stuck up to even speak to me."
Too stuck up, huh? Inuart had a very valid point. Someone could take his actions like that. Perhaps that was why Furiae jumped all over him the moment he wanted to become a senseless jerk. However, referring to K-Na from time to time as a 'jackass' wasn't really a bad thing. It was more like a term of endearment. At least, that was what he said to his younger sister.
"This is true. I have somewhat calmed down for that reason. Though she keeps me on a rather short leash." Not that he was going far... Not that he enjoyed it either.
Oh, so he was right. There was a reason why Caim seemed to be so calm lately. The only one that would make sense. Furiae did only come a little while before he himself came. Any change would have been fairly recent. "I knew that there was a reason why you were acting so strange. I don't ever remember you being so...nice."
Caim wouldn't necessarily hold Furiae responsible for something like that. If anything, he did what he wanted to do. If he wanted to be nice, then he wanted to be nice. That was as simple as it was going to get, and that was... it, really.
"You're kidding," he commented halfheartedly. "It's more than that. Don't think of me as being so easily controlled or tamed." Inuart knew better.
"Pardon me if I find it hard to accept the fact that you're being so...nice to me," he said. Inuart didn't think that Caim would be able to forgive him so easily after all that he had done. Or maybe he didn't want to be forgiven so easily. He knew that he didn't deserve any sort of happiness. Especially not from Caim.
Caim had never said he forgave Inuart. Caim had never once implied that he had lowered his guard. In all fruitful honesty, he was bracing himself for the moment when his once-close friend would withdraw weaponry and strike him down. He wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. Sort of. Part of him did. The other part of him really wanted nothing to do with any of this.
"Don't read into it." That was all Caim really could say. "I'm not going shopping with you, but anything you're looking for can probably be found here, if not at Junes." As Junes carried just about everything. "There's also plans of a new mall being built."
"Something to look forward to, I'm sure." Inuart might have read something in how Caim decided not to bring his sword with him. Or perhaps he was just that confident in his ability to subdue him. The man was an enigma, the most puzzling he had ever seen. What went on inside his mind, he did not know.
Yes. If Inuart wanted to think of it like that. Caim didn't really care either way.
"Perhaps. Though you won't be able to afford anything without an occupation. If you hope to get anywhere here, I'd recommend you do that. Otherwise you'll be confined to your classes and room. Or, even worse, you'll become someone's bitch."
Somewhat the way he was to Cassandra. That was something else entirely, though.
"There's no way that I would ever let that happen to me." But knowing how the world works, he was probably going to end up with a job just as embarassing as Caim's or perhaps even more so due to his teasing earlier. Better yet, he might even have to work with Caim at the stand.
"I suppose I should thank you. For the help that you've given me thus far, Caim. Unwanted...but helpful all the same."
If Caim had any word in it, he would specifically state he didn't want Inuart working with him. He respected him. It was quite a meager way to feel about it, but it was genuinely how he felt. He could trust Inuart as far as he could throw him, and that wasn't very far -- obviously.
He was still thinking on this when Inuart addressed him. The surprise was evident before he forced it away. "...You're getting sentimental on me again." Just like he had before. It wasn't really a chiding tone, though. Not just yet. "...I didn't exactly say the same before. You were my closest friend in Drakengard."
"...yes." They always referred to their friendship in the past tense. But Inuart didn't believe that it had disappeared. Not completely at least. In the end, Caim somehow found it suitable to walk with Inuart today. So if it wasn't quite friendship, then what kind of shaky relationship did he have with him?
"And strongest rival." At least this has always stayed constant, the one thing that never changed despite everything that happened.
Friendship. Rivalry.
They were almost one and the same. In Caim's head, anyway. Sort of. He wasn't real sure. He didn't give it a lot of thought. He tried not to think about it, actually. There were just some things that belonged in those boxes and were never opened again.
"Perhaps," he offered as a response. "That's neither here nor there. We have other things to do than waste our time over who's better, who's wiser. What have you."
"We're walking around town with nothing better to do. Of course we can talk about it." He glanced over to Caim and asked, "Besides, I'm curious to hear what you have to say on the matter."
"I have nothing to say," Caim replied.
And it was true. He didn't want to discuss the past. The only thing he cared about was surviving until the next day. Everything else could take a backseat. Then again, it wasn't like he knew what Inuart was talking about.
"Of course you would stay silent," he shrugged. This was Caim he was talking about. If it wasn't for his ability to pay attention to his lips, there would be an effective wall that would bar them from communicating altogether. But even when he spoke, there was only so much that Caim would even let on. "Is there anything else of interest around here?" The area of Aegean seemed pretty straight forward. Nothing out of the ordinary as far as he knew.
Well, it wasn't quite after dark either, though soon that would happen. And when it did, Caim would need to be back with K-Na. The disc jockey still didn't know of the horrors that terrorized the night.
"I already told you of the things in this area. The campus security. The place for gaming. The bookstore. The food place across the pathway on the shores of the beach. Were you not paying attention?" And that reminded him greatly of their childhood.
"Of course I'm paying attention" was Inuart's reply with a thin scowl across his face. "I'm not a child anymore, Caim. There's no need to treat me like such." he replied as he crossed his arms.
"Then don't make me repeat myself," he replied with a knowing smile.
Then he turned his attention away from his companion and gestured up to the sky for a moment. It was darkening by the moment, as it typically did. Glancing over to Inuart, he cocked an eyebrow, "You don't need to face those shadows again, do you?"
The vision of the creatures were frightening, but nothing that Inuart couldn't handle now that he had regained his strength. "I wouldn't mind fighting those shadows. But *you're* the one who you should be worrying about, Caim." After all, he was the one who didn't carry his weapon with him.
He scoffed. "I don't know where you get this ridiculous notion that I care so much for life in general." If it hadn't been for Furiae, he likely would have happily killed himself. Perhaps. Sorrow often led someone to an import of loss.
"Besides, I'm smart enough to leave before the curfew sets in. K-Na doesn't know about the shadows, and as far as he's concerned I'm always right by him before curfew ensues."
So be it. Inuart had no issue with the creatures that inhabited the school late at night. He had no obligation to defend this world against the shadows. He ended up following Caim and retreated into the dormitories.