[ Reynir, a little smile curling one corner of his mouth, gives a loose sort of shrug. In other words, yes - he does just welcome himself, when necessary. He seems completely unruffled by the cold reception. Underneath that genial, cheerful surface, there's a formidable vein of stubbornness. Reynir is not about to be chased away that easily.
So he dips his hands into the water next, and even splashes some onto his face, which he them wipes dry with the sleeve of his shirt. You can take the boy out of the farm but you can't take the farm manners out of the boy. ]
I promise, I'm not trying to kick you out or anything. I just need to cool off real quick, then I'm gone.
[ Then, head tilting to the side as a thought occurs to him, Reynir asks: ]
Is there some kinda taboo in this place about not sharing bodies of water or something?
[ He doubt it, somehow. Yuki isn't reacting like someone startled by unexpected rudeness - he's been on the other end of a fair number of misunderstandings and faux pas. No, Yuki just seems like he's having a shitty day, and dealing with it by being a major grump. ]
[Pushy people are going to be his bane here, but he'll accept that this is a public pond and he can't really fight someone or anything. He's absolutely not the type. Watch out or he'll start some kind of ominous monologue, though.]
Not that I know of. I just got here a couple of days ago, so I'm not entirely up on the customs. I thought nobody would find me out here.
[But alas, he has been found. Yuki's coloration shimmers from red-brown to chartreuse, then settles into a more reddish orange.]
It's kind of deep in the forest. I didn't expect anyone to come this far.
[ Well, that answer really just brought up many more questions than it answered. Reynir believes the guy - why would he lie about when he had arrived - but it's not exactly subtle, the way his eyes drop from Yuki's face to those shifting, multi-colored tentacles beneath the water. ]
Oh! So - all this is... really new for you, still?
[ He'd met a few people who had what he would call animal traits even before they had arrived and become Monsters, but for the majority of people he's spoken to, the transition was unprecedented and very jarring.
Another detail from what Yuki had said sinks in, and Reynir asks: ]
Are you hiding from somebody?
[ It could be that he's hiding from everybody, or perhaps there is someone in particular that Yuki thought wouldn't find him in such a remote place.
Reynir's freckled face is curious and a little concerned, now. He dips his hands in the water once again, and attempts to neaten his bangs and the hair around his face that always immediately comes loose any time he braids it. ]
I'm Reynir, by the way. People come into this forest all the time, so it's actually not the best spot if you're trying to avoid company.
[ Sure, Yuki isn't really giving him a warm welcome, but that's no reason to forget all his manners. ]
It's all new, yes. I got water splashed on me and this just... happened.
[And he dragged his betentacled self out here all on his own. Brave man, isn't he? He's just... not in the mood to be turning into a cephalopod right now. It's not cool at all, and Momo will definitely think he's lame if he sees him. Or worse, he'll call him ikemen as an octopus-person and Yuki will lose the will to exist. Something like that. Just... being a color-changing octopus was not actually how he wanted to spend his day.
But at the warmth of the introduction it snaps to him that he's forgetting his manners entirely in his complete shock and horror, so...]
...I'm Yuki. And yes, I'm hiding from someone. My partner. [And everyone.] I don't want him to see me looking so uncool, honestly.
[ Reynir's idea of what sort of situation he's stumbled upon is rapidly evolving with new information. Yuki isn't just in a sour mood or unwilling to share; he is going through something unexpected and out of his control. Hell, being territorial might even come with the territory of turning into this particular sort of Monster. Reynir hasn't yet run into any Monsters that live in water, so he can't be sure.
What he is sure of, though, is that Yuki is having a much rougher day than him, and that if there's any way for him to help, he wants to. ]
Ah, I see.
[ Perhaps it's partially a fluke of translation, perhaps it's partially Reynir's own assumptions, but he pretty much assumes that 'partner' is referring to a romantic connection, rather than some sort of professional one. Which adds yet another layer to the whole problem.
His eyebrows raise and he says, with a surprise that is transparently honest: ]
What do you mean, uncool?
[ He glances at the water, the color-changing tentacles moving beneath it. Meeting Yuki's eyes again, Reynir says: ]
There's nothing uncool about being a Monster! There's a ton of them in this place, and it's not dangerous or anything if you manage it properly - no more dangerous than being a Witch.
[ He assumes that someone has given Yuki the whole talk about Bonds, and if not, they will soon. Reynir knows he isn't the most qualified to really educate him on that.
I knew I was a Monster... [He says the word like it's not something he should mention, coldly and flatly.] I didn't know how it really worked. I was under the impression it wouldn't happen just like that.
[Hence things like shock and dismay. He was thinking, surely, surely he was something less inconvenient than an octopus, but you know what? Life happens. And his partner, well. Momo's his partner in about a dozen ways but none of them like that. Not that Yuki would object, but they're idols, and idols Don't Do That.]
Uncool. I mean, I can't even get out.
[And being called cool by anyone who isn't Momo just kind of gets absorbed as part of the Yuki package, even if he's appreciative of the effort, to a degree.]
I keep changing colors, being on land makes me feel like I'm going to shrivel up... If I'm not uncool, I'm inconvenient.
[ No wonder the guy had been in such an awful mood. Reynir thinks that if he'd been through a transformation that huge, that quickly, even he might be a sourpuss for a little while.
He listens, sympathetic and attentive, but stubbornly refusing to concede Yuki's way of seeing himself. Reynir gives a shake of his head when Yuki repeats that he's 'uncool', but focuses on solutions rather than self-esteem for the time being. ]
Well, I think how it works depends what kind you end up being, and other factors that I don't really understand. I've... never met one like you, before, so I can't tell you all that much.
[ But who needs to KNOW THINGS? Reynir wants to help, and his heart's in the right place, and that's enough, right? ]
But I can help, if you're stuck here. I'm sure there's someone in the city who knows how to get your legs back, even if it's just temporary. I can try to message someone for help, to come out here. Or, if you want, the two of us can - try to figure out a way to get you out without you feeling shrivel-y. And if your partner is worth the time of day, no way is he gonna think any less of you just because this... this happened. I can even talk to him, if you want. Explain what's going on? So you don't have to hide.
[ Reynir shifts his feet idly beneath the surface of the water, speaking earnestly and not breaking eye contact: ]
Problems don't go away just because you're hiding from them. Besides, the anticipation of how it might all go wrong is almost always worse than what ends up happening.
[ ...He is sure spouting a lot of life lessons and wisdom for someone who's barely twenty. ]
And the color-changing is really pretty. I thought that as soon as I walked up, but I didn't say it 'cause I didn't want to sound like a creep. But it's definitely cool.
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no subject
So he dips his hands into the water next, and even splashes some onto his face, which he them wipes dry with the sleeve of his shirt. You can take the boy out of the farm but you can't take the farm manners out of the boy. ]
I promise, I'm not trying to kick you out or anything. I just need to cool off real quick, then I'm gone.
[ Then, head tilting to the side as a thought occurs to him, Reynir asks: ]
Is there some kinda taboo in this place about not sharing bodies of water or something?
[ He doubt it, somehow. Yuki isn't reacting like someone startled by unexpected rudeness - he's been on the other end of a fair number of misunderstandings and faux pas. No, Yuki just seems like he's having a shitty day, and dealing with it by being a major grump. ]
no subject
Not that I know of. I just got here a couple of days ago, so I'm not entirely up on the customs. I thought nobody would find me out here.
[But alas, he has been found. Yuki's coloration shimmers from red-brown to chartreuse, then settles into a more reddish orange.]
It's kind of deep in the forest. I didn't expect anyone to come this far.
no subject
Oh! So - all this is... really new for you, still?
[ He'd met a few people who had what he would call animal traits even before they had arrived and become Monsters, but for the majority of people he's spoken to, the transition was unprecedented and very jarring.
Another detail from what Yuki had said sinks in, and Reynir asks: ]
Are you hiding from somebody?
[ It could be that he's hiding from everybody, or perhaps there is someone in particular that Yuki thought wouldn't find him in such a remote place.
Reynir's freckled face is curious and a little concerned, now. He dips his hands in the water once again, and attempts to neaten his bangs and the hair around his face that always immediately comes loose any time he braids it. ]
I'm Reynir, by the way. People come into this forest all the time, so it's actually not the best spot if you're trying to avoid company.
[ Sure, Yuki isn't really giving him a warm welcome, but that's no reason to forget all his manners. ]
no subject
[And he dragged his betentacled self out here all on his own. Brave man, isn't he? He's just... not in the mood to be turning into a cephalopod right now. It's not cool at all, and Momo will definitely think he's lame if he sees him. Or worse, he'll call him ikemen as an octopus-person and Yuki will lose the will to exist. Something like that. Just... being a color-changing octopus was not actually how he wanted to spend his day.
But at the warmth of the introduction it snaps to him that he's forgetting his manners entirely in his complete shock and horror, so...]
...I'm Yuki. And yes, I'm hiding from someone. My partner. [And everyone.] I don't want him to see me looking so uncool, honestly.
no subject
[ Reynir's idea of what sort of situation he's stumbled upon is rapidly evolving with new information. Yuki isn't just in a sour mood or unwilling to share; he is going through something unexpected and out of his control. Hell, being territorial might even come with the territory of turning into this particular sort of Monster. Reynir hasn't yet run into any Monsters that live in water, so he can't be sure.
What he is sure of, though, is that Yuki is having a much rougher day than him, and that if there's any way for him to help, he wants to. ]
Ah, I see.
[ Perhaps it's partially a fluke of translation, perhaps it's partially Reynir's own assumptions, but he pretty much assumes that 'partner' is referring to a romantic connection, rather than some sort of professional one. Which adds yet another layer to the whole problem.
His eyebrows raise and he says, with a surprise that is transparently honest: ]
What do you mean, uncool?
[ He glances at the water, the color-changing tentacles moving beneath it. Meeting Yuki's eyes again, Reynir says: ]
There's nothing uncool about being a Monster! There's a ton of them in this place, and it's not dangerous or anything if you manage it properly - no more dangerous than being a Witch.
[ He assumes that someone has given Yuki the whole talk about Bonds, and if not, they will soon. Reynir knows he isn't the most qualified to really educate him on that.
What he can do, though, is try to cheer him up. ]
I think you look way cool, for what it's worth.
no subject
[Hence things like shock and dismay. He was thinking, surely, surely he was something less inconvenient than an octopus, but you know what? Life happens. And his partner, well. Momo's his partner in about a dozen ways but none of them like that. Not that Yuki would object, but they're idols, and idols Don't Do That.]
Uncool. I mean, I can't even get out.
[And being called cool by anyone who isn't Momo just kind of gets absorbed as part of the Yuki package, even if he's appreciative of the effort, to a degree.]
I keep changing colors, being on land makes me feel like I'm going to shrivel up... If I'm not uncool, I'm inconvenient.
no subject
He listens, sympathetic and attentive, but stubbornly refusing to concede Yuki's way of seeing himself. Reynir gives a shake of his head when Yuki repeats that he's 'uncool', but focuses on solutions rather than self-esteem for the time being. ]
Well, I think how it works depends what kind you end up being, and other factors that I don't really understand. I've... never met one like you, before, so I can't tell you all that much.
[ But who needs to KNOW THINGS? Reynir wants to help, and his heart's in the right place, and that's enough, right? ]
But I can help, if you're stuck here. I'm sure there's someone in the city who knows how to get your legs back, even if it's just temporary. I can try to message someone for help, to come out here. Or, if you want, the two of us can - try to figure out a way to get you out without you feeling shrivel-y. And if your partner is worth the time of day, no way is he gonna think any less of you just because this... this happened. I can even talk to him, if you want. Explain what's going on? So you don't have to hide.
[ Reynir shifts his feet idly beneath the surface of the water, speaking earnestly and not breaking eye contact: ]
Problems don't go away just because you're hiding from them. Besides, the anticipation of how it might all go wrong is almost always worse than what ends up happening.
[ ...He is sure spouting a lot of life lessons and wisdom for someone who's barely twenty. ]
And the color-changing is really pretty. I thought that as soon as I walked up, but I didn't say it 'cause I didn't want to sound like a creep. But it's definitely cool.