genessia | [Action/Locked] A Day to Remember

Current Location: Everywhere and Nowhere
Current Music: A Whole New World

Entry tags:

[Action/Locked] A Day to Remember

Who: Luke and Koishi
What: Luke's BIRTHDAY!
Where: All over Genessia!
When: Backdated to July 22nd
Warnings: Unreasonable and possibly lethal amounts of cute

Luke's alarm had barely gone off when a pair of rather intrusive hands squished both of his cheeks. "Luuuke! Wake up sleepy face!" When he opened his eyes, Koishi's bright, glowing ones were right there. She let go and floated back. When did she get into his apartment? "Miss White said it's your birthday! Humans celebrate every birthday, right? Youkai don't because we live so long but I'm here to celebrate with you! It will be so much fun!" And she dashed off without letting Luke get a word in... Or even wake up properly.

Inside there was... Actually a breakfast waiting for him. Two fried eggs over rice in a polished wooden bowl with a lid covering it to keep the heat in and a dish to one side containing some form of cooked meat. Probably pork. She had also set out chopsticks. Hopefully Luke knew how to use them. Next to it was a sliced plum from Old Hell's garden and a cup of tea. None of the dishware was Luke's so Satori was probably the one who had done the cooking. Koishi had also taken the time to put something in Suna's bowl which she was already scarfing down quite happily.

Koishi perked up when she saw him, her eyes extremely bright. She actually had a picnic basket set off to one side, possibly with more food? Or maybe it was just what she had used to carry this meal in. She was also dressed a bit differently than normal, with a little pouch slung across her shoulders, resting on her hip. Her hat had been tidied up too.

"Luuuke! When you're done eating and getting ready and doing human-morning-things I have all sorts of exciting things planned out! We're gonna go exploring and then we're gonna have a picnic and then we'll go exploring some more and see all sorts of interesting things! I know you'll love it. And I even have mochi. It's so good! Also I have some money so we can go get cake or ice cream or whatever you like at the very end. Cake is good for birthdays!"

She was so excited! And she wasn't going to take no for an answer.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Luke was definitely not awake yet. He hadn't told anyone about his birthday, and he hadn't planned on celebrating it, honestly. After the spirits invading Genessia and Everglade and spending quite some time in Nova City recovering, he wasn't really in the mood. And it wasn't as if anybody knew, so it didn't really--

"Aaaugh!"

It's not that Luke isn't unused to Koishi appearing in his flat. It's just that she isn't usually so...forceful. Being in when he'd not expected her, waiting for him to wake up, sure. But waking him up a second after his alarm? Not so much. While she smushes his face, Luke scrambles back in bed, startled so much that he collides with the wall behind him and almost slips off the bed. He flails one hand to try and shut off the alarm, successfully knocking it onto the floor in his haste.

"Koishi...?"

He wants to ask her when she came in, and how she knew, and how long she'd been here, but she's gone in a flash. After hesitating for a few seconds, he climbs out of bed to get ready with a yawn, padding to the bathroom to wash up. "If you had said you were coming Koishi I would have been awake already, you know!"

Mostly that's to himself as he goes about getting ready. It takes him longer than it might usually, Koishi might notice, as he has to change the bandage on his side from his encounter with the spirit in Genessia, but a few minutes later and Luke appears in the kitchen, dressed for the day and hat in place, rubbing his eyes sleepily.

"Koishi? When did you do all this?" Luke pulls a chair out for her, and then one for himself as he sits at the table, blinking at the display of food, his stomach rumbling. Hope you didn't want any, Koishi, because while Luke isn't particularly skilled with chopsticks his legendary appetite will more than make up for the deficit. "I didn't hear you at all. Thank you!"

Koishi was rather restless as he got ready, but brightened considerably when he came in, waiting for him to sit down before drifting over. "We have a lot of fun things to do so you'll need this." She reached into her pocket, withdrawing something, and very carefully began attempting to pin it to his shirt. It was shaped like a golden feather. One of koishi's flying pins, certainly. Well that explained what their method of travel was going to be...

She paused and frowned a little, reaching forward and taking his hand, adjusting the chopsticks a little and making it easier. "You can pick up the bowl too. So the rice doesn't spill so much." Certainly, doing so made things much more simple. The tea, when he got to it, was also quite good. It was a very simple black tea, but it had been given a very small lemon twist with a dash of honey to sweeten it... but not too much.

The little youkai drifted back once she was sure he was settled, checking the little pouch on her hip and Luke glanced a canteen and a few other things in there. Possibly something colorful? She closed it before his sleepy eyes could fully focus. Crouching down, she occupied herself by playing with Suna while Luke finished his meal, wiggling her index fingers at the little fox and trying to tickle her in various places as she pranced around.

Luke munches away cheerfully. Breakfast hasn't been much more than cereal and tea for him in quite some time, so the provided spread is a pleasant change of pace. It doesn't take him too long to eat, since he can tell that Koishi is excited to go about the day.

Finishing the food, he slips off his chair and fiddles with the pin she's stuck on him, crouching next to her and Suna. Suna prances around the two of them, yipping excitedly. The little fox is excited to have company so early, and Koishi--hat makes having company even better!

"Breakfast was really good, Koishi--thank you!"

He'll be saying that a lot today, won't he?

"Be sure to tell Sis thank you next time you see her. She's a really really good cook. But you're welcome from me all the same." Of course. Koishi probably couldn't cook for... a variety of reasons really. But at least the food was good regardless.

Koishi reached over to ruffle the fox a few times until she began to calm down, smiling down at her. "Luke, you can take Suna with you if you want. But you'll need to put her in a bag or something so she feels secure. She's not super fond of flying really really high.

Come to think of it, she hadn't asked Luke if he was fond of flying really really high...

"Once you finish up we'll go, okay? It will be lots and lots of fun!"

"Oh. I'll write her a letter, then! I don't see Miss Satori so often." Luke considers this before scratching Suna's ears.

"No. She really doesn't like being high up. She doesn't even sit in the window by my bed because it's high and she can see the ground," he replies. He scratches Suna's ears again before gently scooping her up and carrying her to the sofa. Satsuki might not like animals on the furniture, but Luke didn't mind. There was a folded blanket there that was clearly hers--a round patch of peach fur has left a nice impression on said blanket. Wonder who sleeps there a lot? "I'll be back later, Suna. You'll be okay, and I'll bring you a treat!"

A pause, as Luke turns back to Koishi. "Um...how high is really really high, Koishi?"

"Or you could tell her in person later. I don't think we can get mail in the sub-archway." She had a point... "Or you could just call."

Now that he was more awake (and had taken Suna to her little spot on the couch) she too Luke by the hand, tugging him toward the window. "Yeah. Most creatures that don't understand that they're secure are very afraid of falling." She paused, looking out and then looking down. "Well, I suppose I could measure if you really wanted me to. What floor is this...? Actually we're going to go a lot higher so..."

Koishi seemed to stop entirely to get herself out of that train of thought, shaking her head and blinking. "Waaait no. We're wasting time. Come on!" She dashed away, grabbed her basket, and then returned to his side, throwing the window open. She turned back to Luke with the biggest smile on her face, grabbing his wrist and perching herself up on the windowsill. "Don't worry. I won't let you fall."

Koishi this probably is not the best way to introduce Luke to flying...

Speaking of most creatures that don't understand that they're secure and therefore being very afraid of falling...

"From here?!"

The excited smile at the thought of flying has become a lot less excited and a lot more panicked, and instead of following her without question he grabs her tightly, eyes wide.

"Miss Koishi can't we--can we start--can't we start lower? We're on the third floor!"

He's kind of tugging a little bit back on her instead of carefully clambering up after her, brows furrowed. Yes, Koishi had lifted him with her tentacles in the past, but that wasn't the same as flying.

Luke's voice is a little bit of a nervous squeak ask he asks: "You promise I won't fall?"

"The third floor isn't so bad. Why would we start lower? Then we'd have to climb even more and that can get tiring. Actually it might be better to go to the roof first..." The little youkai seemed to be actually considering it for a few moments, reaching out of the window with her free arm. "Actually, this will be fine. There's an updraft so it will be simple to get above the buildings."

She let his wrist go, adjusting her hand so she is holding his, pulling him closer to the window. Letting go once more she reached forward, giving the golden pin a sharp tap. It shivered and hummed quietly, his body growing lighter. "That's a different pin than the others. I connected it to my youki so that I can make sure you don't fall. It will work as long as I have youki. And I'm a really powerful satori so I have lot's of youki. You don't need to worry about me running out, okay?"

She took his hand again and drifted back a little bit into the air, flying up a little. With a small tug Luke's feet left the ground, suspending him in the air. It was almost like swimming. Almost. He could still feel the pull of gravity but it seemed far less now. She waited a good moment before drifting back, pulling Luke along and out the window. It was... a long LONG way down. And no doubt it made everything a lot worse when Koishi let go of his hand to close the window behind them. Fortunately, even though she wasn't touching him, he remained suspended in the air.

She readjusted the basket on her arm, taking him gently by the elbow. "Come on. We wont fly too fast at first. Turn and face toward where you want to go and direct your thoughts forward." She was already gently pulling him upward. "It's really simple." Hopefully Koishi's calming aura would be enough to keep him from panicking completely...

Luke was about to ask more questions, about what youki was and why she was talking about it, and what it mattered at all, when Koishi pulled him up, up enough that he could feel his feet leaving the ground entirely. Instantly, he became tense, feeling panic run through him. Aren't there better modes of transportation? Walking, running, bicycle? Funny transporter thing? Train?

"K--Koishi! Don't let go! P-please!"

When she takes his elbow, Luke grabs for her arm, eyes wide and terrified. He's not completely panicked, but there's certainly enough fear there to suggest that he was close to it. The tight grip he's gotten on her sleeve suggests more of the same, his knuckles white.

Even still, her calming aura keeps him from completely becoming unable to follow instructions. Even as he reaches his free hand to grab on to her sleeve, he turns to face her and looks upward, thinking of going forward and towards her--up, as it were, considering that's where Koishi is headed at the moment. It's successful enough though, Luke's small form moving upward with her.

Gently she reached down and helped coax him from her arm. She was taking things very slow. After all, this was his first time flying. "Don't worry. You wont fall, even if I let go. I promise. And try not to look down if it makes you nervous. It seems like a long way but it really isn't a big deal. If you're high up it becomes a lot easier to fly. The wind pushes you along and it becomes effortless." Well, it wouldn't be entirely effortless for him just yet, and certainly not so for Koishi, but that would change.

Luke's efforts were certainly making it easier though. On Koishi at least. She slowed a bit so she wasn't pulling him along to much. "See? You've got the hang of it. If you practice some you'll be able to fly where you aren't looking." Already they were as high as Luke's apartment. "Now reach up and hold onto your hat. It's not very tight on your head so the wind might snatch it."

She readjusted her grip, taking his hand firmly, and spiraled straight up and up and up, the faint shimmering of Genessia's barrier visible now that they were so much closer to it. It was certainly far more windy up here, Koishi letting the breeze push them lazily along as she looked aound. A good bit of the city was visible from this height.

"I was thinking we could just fly around a little first. There are so many wonderful things to be seen from above. Wouldn't that be a lot of fun?" She was already moving toward Attleton. "the wind is the best in Attleton. It's gentle and predictable so it would be best to start there. After that we can go to Fayren maybe. And then Everglade. I know where a good picnic spot is in Fayren so we can have lunch there. And then we can see Nova city. If we take our time and relax the sun will be setting by the time we get there. Nova City is so pretty at night from above. It's brighter than the stars."

Edited 2015-08-16 05:42 (UTC)

Luke presses his hand against his hat without thinking, eyes wide. Really, he thinks he'd have chosen any other sort of transportation, though as Koishi continued to reassure him his heart stopped racing and he could at least breathe easier as he got used to being so high up.

After a few more minutes of attempting to adjust, he finally settles into the routine of allowing the wind to push him up and down as it pleased, his hand still gripping Koishi's tightly. At least the panic has receded, the apprentice watching the scenery go by curiously as they make their way around above Genessia.

"You can see everything from up here," he murmurs, quiet and incredulous. Compared to his previous panic, this is a marked improvement. "The barrier, and all of the buildings, and--well, and everything. It's amazing!"

This, obviously, is the experience Koishi had intended. It took Luke a bit to get here, but at least he's now able to enjoy the time up in the sky as opposed to panicking about it.

"Well... Not quite everything. But almost everything." Koishi shifted in the air, drifting along an axis to turn Luke slowly in a circle. "It's strange to think. I fly so much that I forget a lot of the time how pretty things are from the air." A small sigh. "Too bad we can't fly higher. Or you could see even more."

She took a moment to readjust her bag on her shoulder, pausing and looking down for a moment. "Oh! I almost forgot!" Gingerly, carefully, she let go of Luke's hand. Surprisingly enough, her eye replaced it, quickly moving under his palm so he could keep himself stable. She held her bag off to one side with one hand as she reached across into her pocket. She pulled out... Wait, what WAS that? After some fiddling and unfolding it became clear. A pair of lightly tinted goggles framed in metal and soft leather with a buckle-strap in the back. "Sis thought I should have you wear these since the wind might bother your eyes. It's a really good idea!"

Moving around, she wrapped the goggles around his head, measuring. She slid the latch down, giving it a pull. The strap squeezed his head for a moment before giving a little, the prong settled. All the tugging had turned them both a little in the air, but it fortunately hadn't hindered her at all. Koishi looped it down and then back around and through, making sure it sat well. They were snug but not too tight, sitting easily on his forehead.

Once he slipped them down over his eyes Koishi took his hand again as the eye returned to its usual post. The lenses themselves were strange, giving everything a faint green tinge. They would, however, completely cut any glare. "They're made of hell glass so they wont break at all. You can look at really bright things with them and it wont hurt you." Well that explained that.

He didn't have too much time to think about it as he was pulled along, the youkai angling herself down in a slow controlled fall, well more of a glide really, toward Attleton's gate. Probably a bit faster than he would like, but it was certainly thrilling!

Luke was never particularly a fan of touching Koishi's third eye. He's more used to it now than he was before and he understood intellectually that it was essentially like a hand or other appendage, he couldn't quite shake the 'ick' factor that came with it. To him, it just felt like he was poking his whole hand in her eye instead of just a finger, and though it never seemed to bother her it certainly bothered him enough for both of them. Not that it mattered, since he was too busy trying not to lose his hat and keep his balance while Koishi plopped some goggles on his face. She fidgeted with he strap and then they were secure, and suddenly the wind wasn't burning his eyes anymore.

Once again, he'd have to find a way to properly thank Satori.

"I really do have to say thank you to Miss Satori," he said as he turned his head to examine a cloud that was closer to the sun than he'd normally allow himself to look. "These are a really good idea. I wouldn't have thought of them at--"

He might even have looked longer at that sunny spot, were it not for the sudden descent towards Attleton. Koishi doesn't take kindly to bringing people to new experiences slowly, does she? Luke scrambles for purchase on her hand, trying to hold on a bit tighter, his heart up in his throat and eyes wide. They were nearing the gate faster than he'd like, and while he was at least a quarter scared out of his mind, even he had to admit...it was kind of fun.

Edited 2015-10-16 06:44 (UTC)

It was at least fortunate that Koishi's third eye was rigid enough that it didn't FEEL like a squishy eyeball when he touched it. That helped a bit. That and the fact that it was closed made it more tolerable. Whats more the goggles worked exactly how Koishi had described. The glare from the sun was completely cut... well almost completely. It was still pretty bright but it was quite tolerable and he certainly wouldn't be blinded by anything else.

It was at least fortunate that one of Koishi's tendrils had crept out of her sleeve and wrapped down around her arm and then up his part way. There was no way her grip on his hand would slip like this. She started to pull up and level out as they got closer, the little youkai tilting to one side slightly to compensate for a sudden gust of wind. A moment later they hit the shimmering surface of the gate with no trouble, Koishi beginning to climb once more the moment they were through. The air was cleaner in Attleton and just a bit warmer.

"Sis really likes you, you know. She thinks you're a great human. You're really honest. Not in that you don't tell lies. Everyone tells lies. But you're really honest with yourself. And that's important."

Koishi turned and began heading toward the center of the area, climbing more and more till they were just as high as they were in Genessia. The lack of tall buildings made it easier to see in every direction. The wind was also more gentle and shifted far less. All in all, it was absolutely breathtaking...

At least until Koishi let go of his hand again.

"Alright Luke." Oh god she was drifting back a little bit, extending her hands toward him. "I've got you with my powers. You wont fall, I promise. But direct yourself toward me, okay? I'm moving downwind so it should be easy." She was teaching him how to fly.

Edited (DERP) 2015-10-16 07:55 (UTC)

At first, he scrambled without her hand to hold on to. It felt oddly like learning to skate, or ride a bicycle, any sort of activity where one eventually must lose their training wheels. Without Koishi to help him keep his balance, Luke obviously totters in the slight wind, struggling. It's primarily a byproduct of anxiety at least at first as he struggles to find purchase in a place where there is none to be found.

"Oh--okay. Okay, okay, okay. I'm--towards you, okay."

A few moments later and he's settled into the slow drift. He hesitantly pulls one arm back to his side, no longer flailing around. His dark eyes close as he focuses instead on the wind around him and the movement instead of the sensation of being so far away from ground. With that, he's no longer teetering and tottering but floating far more gracefully.

It doesn't last too long. A gust of crosswind and he lurches forward, scrambling to right himself. "Ah--ah! Won't fall, won't fall, won't fall--" The words are more of a mantra to himself than a plea for Koishi to intervene as he again works to right himself, floundering for a few more moments before finally he's settled again.

He's gliding along again, still hyperaware of even the slightest breeze, but it's obvious he's got his bearings. Even still, one hand stays out and ready to try and grab for Koishi's. Just in case.

"Right! Just like that!" Koishi had the biggest smile on her face. She remained still, quite steady against the gentle wind. She tensed only once when the wind toppled him but, as promised, he didn't fall. Koishi would hold him steady no matter what happened. She bit her tongue, letting him right himself and press forward once more. The little youkai caught his fingers the moment he was close enough, laughing softly and giving his hands a gentle squeeze.

"See? It's not hard." Easy for you to say Koishi.

Letting go, she drifted back again, letting him repeat the process. Once he had fixated his mind to directing his flight it quickly became second nature. Like finding your balance and coasting on a bike or learning to float in a pool. It wasn't easy, but it was a unique balance he could strive for and experience. No doubt it would start being fun before long. Even if it was scary that they were so far above the ground.

She drifted gently around so he was pointed in the opposite direction this time, again letting go and drifting back a short distance. Oh no. What was he supposed to do now that he was facing the wind? "Stop thinking of yourself like a leaf. You're a little stone in a brook. The currents of wind can push you but you can push back if you want. Cut through the air with your mind and willpower. I know you can do it." And she meant it.

Edited 2015-10-16 18:48 (UTC)

"I think I'm still a leaf..."

Luke shifts in the air, fighting the urge to look down. Just thinking about it made him feel dizzy--

Koishi's positioned him differently and here he is, facing the wind, being instructed to push back. How does he push back against something he can't see? It's probably quite a sight: palms out, then leaning forwards, then digging his heels into an imaginary ground. It's altogether ridiculous but after a few minutes he isn't fighting when a breeze blows his way but instead simply bracing himself--pushing back. Just a bit!

"...maybe a pebb--"

What a smartass. He'd have gotten the comment out if it weren't for the gust of wind that came by, strong enough to be a real threat to his balance. Panic almost wins, a few seconds of flailing before he remembered that he can push back. Which he does, leaving him comfortably in place.

"Koishi! I...I did it! Look!"

Koishi tensed a bit as the wind brushed past but she remained solid and steady in the air, arms outstretched. She almost flew over to him... almost... but he managed to right himself and Koishi managed to relax a hair.

"Yes you did! You're doing so well Luke!"

She coaxed him forward... and it was a slow process, but she would stick with it as long as she had to. Though now that Luke had a bit of focus and confidence it wasn't long before he found it much easier to remain stable. Once he found the right mindset.

Eventually the lessons had to end though and she took him across Attleton far more stable in their flight and high enough to see the barrier shimmer above them. Even if this was supposed to be the most "mundane" of the cities, it was certainly quite the sight from above.

"Is there any place in particular you wanted to see here? Or should we just keep flying around?" The little youkai did a little loop in the air. She was enjoying herself either way.

Edited (What is grammar?) 2015-11-20 17:28 (UTC)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Action/Locked] A Day to Remember

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Bird because flying!

The bird is the word!

Re: The bird is the word!

no subject