Plus we're already... you know!!!! Together!!!! I don't expect to like, go see a decorated tree or something, just... give you a present and it sounds like eating some fried chicken together.
[Tall trees towered over either side of the path, casting long, looming shadows across the forest floor. Besides the sounds of woodland creatures skittering about, it had been quiet since Beat had awoken, surrounded by crowded brush and dried leaves, crisp from the cold air. It was unnerving, but that was never something he would admit aloud, even if it were just to himself.
His wooden joints were aching for reasons he could not explain. This only made him want to find the way out faster, to find something or someone that might even be the slightest bit familiar to him. And so he trudged on, continuing down the winding path, searching for anyone who could lead him out of the wood.
Despite his humanoid form, Beat's skin had hardened literally, human flesh replaced by hardwood, sturdy enough to carry himself on his two wooden legs. A pointed, feathered hat sits atop his head and he's dressed in a loose shirt and bright red lederhosen, a bow tied around his collar. He doesn't seem to be bothered one bit by the change of his appearance as he makes his way through the forest, nor does he notice the jars littered around the vicinity, glowing a light red as he passes by.]
[When Beat wasn't where he lived and his poor worried animals were in a tizzy when she went to look for him, she knew something had to be up. He wouldn't have just left Rhyme and Hachiko alone, or not tell her he was going somewhere...
So it was time to look, after making sure Beat's animals were taken care of first. Not too far out is a bridge that... definitely wasn't there before, so of course she's going to go cross it. Once across, Futaba finds herself in a completely different type of garb: a long, shimmery gown and... wings? Huh. Well, she was familiar with sudden costume changes from her time in the Index, but... why a fairy? Whatever, it was time to find Beat. She can use some easy flight with the wings, at least, and it beats (heh) trying to walk or run here.
It's not long before she comes across a lot of jars littered around, and a wooden boy... no, was that Beat?]
Bones!
[Futaba drops to her feet to run toward him as best she can in a gown of all things.]
[Huh, what was that? Beat had heard the flapping of wings nearby, but didn't turn around immediately. But when he hears someone calling out and the sound of footsteps coming closer and closer, he turns on his heel.
Even if there was a tickle of familiarity from the name in the back of his head, he didn't recognize whoever this "Bones" person was supposed to be. Nor had he seen anyone who might've matched that description. But at least this was someone.]
You lookin' for someone?
[Upon seeing a girl running up to him in a dress, he holds up his wooden arms in case she needed it. Looked like she was having trouble with that gown of hers.]
[It's a good thing he's got his arms held out, because she's already tripping over her own feet and the gown itself, and tumbles directly into him.]
Woah!
[...well, she's not flat on her face, so that's an improvement. Once her legs are less tangled with her dress, she'll look up at him, hint of blush on her cheeks.]
Yeah, I'm looking for you. Do you... not recognize me, Beat?
[Having his arms out was originally to help the girl catch her balance. He didn't expect her to fall onto him. His body falters, but he keeps the both of them upright, trying to help her stand. If wood could change color, a reddish tinge would have begun appearing on his cheeks.]
You know who I am? [Surprise finds its way onto his face, but it's quickly replaced by confusion. Slowly, he shakes his head from side to side.] Sorry, yo. Ain't got no idea who you's is.
[Futaba falters a moment when he says he doesn't know her, but she knows that isn't true. He wouldn't outright forget her, so... it's got to be whatever this dreamscape is. Once she finds her footing again, she'll stand up straight, looking over her own costume and his... hm.]
Well, do you remember anything? Or is it all a blank for you, Bones? [Yes, she'll keep calling him that for now, maybe it'll jog his memory.]
[Huh. She didn't know what was going on, but she was lucky to not hear the call like he did. Maybe he could see it if they got close enough, though it didn't seem like they were anywhere near a fair.]
I don't hear anything like a fair near here... but they disappeared? Just poofed? [Well, it was a dreamscape, so...] What about those? Have those been there the entire time? They're kinda creepy.
[There's a gesture toward the jars near them, scattered around. She'd noticed them earlier, but had no idea what they were. Maybe he did? Probably not but it was worth a shot.]
You're quite the brilliant, young lady! It's unfortunate that I might not be able to give you the exact gift that you otherwise want, traveling through time and space take a lot of extra Christmas magic you see. But I hope that you still enjoy what I am able to give you regardless!
Happy Holidays,
Santa Claus
[Futaba will be given a fancy, wool, cap! It's really warm and comfy to wear with a cute design on it. She'll also receive a large, stuffed teddy bear that's super-duper huggable!
...Additionally, there's a bag of homemade chocolate chip cookies for her to munch too. They're super soft and chewy!]
[ Inside a nicely wrapped package and addressed to Futaba is a pair of Frostfairy Wings. There is no name to say who it is from, but the note (made from letters and words cut out from newspapers) says, "You seem like someone who should be able to fly." ]
While it had been almost a year since he and Futaba had gotten back together, there were times he was reminded that he still needed to set things right. One of which was the promise to spend Christmas together as any Japanese would: together, first and foremost, with a bucket of KFC and some Christmas cake.
He was lucky to have caught wind of someone selling something similar to the famous fried chicken a few months back and it didn't take long for him to find strawberry cream cake. That was the easy part. The one thing he couldn't predict was how the weather would work against him on the day he would collect their order.
A light dusting had already begun by the time he collected the chicken, and had escalated to a full-blown snowstorm by the time he walked out of the bakery. This made his trek back to the docks longer, and his trip back to Hero's Rest all the more treacherous. That wasn't even accounting for the way back from their crew's own docks back to the cottage. By the time he disembarked, he could feel the wind's chill growing even colder. Still, he continues on, protecting his packages as he fought through through the blustering gusts and the damp snow, trudging his way through the growing snowfall.
Almost half an hour later, he made it to the cottage. Home free, he thinks. At least, he did until he found that the door had been sealed shut by a mixture of ice and snow that had built up outside. He tried knocking. He tried shouting. He debated burning down the door for the briefest of moments before deciding against it. Regardless, no one seemed to be answering.
Loudly muttering a curse, he cradles the food under one arm, pulling out his shellphone from his pocket. He had sent a few messages to Futaba since he'd left Eltrut, most of began with an apology for being late and ending with complaints about the unprecedented weather, but this would be the first one he'd sent out since arriving at the island.
And instead of a message, it's going to be a call. As soon as Futaba answers, he pipes up, a slight chatter of teeth before the words form:] Hey babe. I'mma need a hand outside.
[It was tradition now, and so far, the tradition hadn't been broken.
...unless it was gonna be??? Though Beat's messages assuaged her fears that he hadn't gotten lost or dropped into a rift, why was it taking him F O R E V E R to get back?
There were some glances outside here and there, and the snow shouldn't have been a problem... but it looked uh. Kinda bad out there now, didn't it? Welp. That would explain things! Especially when she's getting a sudden shellphone call.]
It's snowing like crazy, I know that, but what's going on out there??
[He'd dressed appropriately for the cold, but the sudden turn in weather didn't prepare him for the snow. It certainly felt like the snow was soaking through his clothes.
Beat looks around the cottage, abandoning the idea of getting through the front doors. His teeth chatter as he speaks.]
I'm jus' outside but it ain't lookin' like I'm gettin' in.
[As he's talking, she's peering out of her attic room window, and... yeah... that's a lot of snow. Holy shit. Futaba can't have Beat freezing to death out there, or becoming a snowman (Beat...man...????), so down the stairs she goes to try the door too.]
Hold on, lemme see if I can open the door from in here.
[Not that she has an incredible amount of strength in her body anyway, but she's trying her best :') When that fails, she blurts out:]
...I wonder if I can buff you from in here, you know, using Al Azif.
[No, that's a bad idea because her Persona is uh. Fairly large. Let's not destroy the house now. Once she thinks that through, she just makes a frustrated sound and kicks the door.]
Rrgh, the snow is so stupid! Bones! You better not be frozen solid!
I'm tryin' not to, aight? Why you think I'm tryin' to find some way in?
[He doesn't mean to sound ungrateful... As much as he appreciates that she's helping, but he's getting frustrated by the situation. The cold is probably getting to him.
For now, he's going to stomp around the cottage, looking for other way in. And to try to keep himself as warm as possible despite the continuing snow.]
Dunno 'bout Al. Think you can call him out here while you's still inside?
[The chance of it destroying the house has crossed his mind too. And that's probably why he doesn't force his way. It'll probably be bad to deal with the cold on top of a busted door.
But that's when he moves close to a window and stops for a second, blinking once, twice, then going:]
Yo, how's about the window? D'you think it's gonna open if the door ain't budgin'? [Might be worth a shot.]
I wish, I have to be piloting Al Azif, so I can't spawn 'em outside, and I don't wanna wreck the house by summoning inside. I don't wanna have to explain how I wrecked it to everyone else.
[It was already a lot to explain to Beat because it's a lot of info, mainly. Having to explain it repeatedly would just be a pain.]
Oh... oh! Yeah, which window are you at? There's a few we could try!
[Whichever he tells her, Beat will hear the telltale sound of Futaba running and thudding through the house to the window he's at. Perhaps her excited face at seeing him will warm him up?!]
Hold on, lemme try! [Phone down, and she's trying the window... not budging. What about the one next to it?!
That one, thankfully, opens with some difficulty, but it's open.]
[As soon as Futaba asks, he begins rapping his kunckles against the glass to direct him to the window. Once he sees her, he cracks a smile, the first one since he began his trek back to Hero's Rest.]
Shorty, you's a sight for bad eyes.
[That's definitely how it goes, right? Whether or not that's the case, he knows Futaba understands what he's saying.
When the window doesn't budge, he follows her to the next one. Once it cracks open, he helps her from outside, pushing it upward as much as they can. It stops shy of fully opening but, while it might be a tight fit for him, at lesst it was a way in.]
Careful with the cake, aight.
[Beat passes the food over as instructed, first the cake, then the bucket of chicken.]
Aight, I'm comin' in.
[Heaving himself off the ground he hops onto the window sill and begins making his way through. Everything looks fine until he get in past his shoulders and—]
Hold up.
[At first he pushes against window frame, then he tries to push the window to open further to no avail. Yep, he's definitely stuck...]
A li'l help, yo? [Just gonna extend a hand out to Futaba right now.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
sender: beat | forward dated close to Christmas
Date: 2023-12-11 11:01 am (UTC)dyou also do kfc dinners for christmas back home
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Date: 2023-12-11 11:41 am (UTC)Why? Curious about the FUTURE or whatever? Actually I don't even know if I'm from your future, it just sounded right to say.
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Date: 2023-12-11 11:45 am (UTC)anyways im asking cause i was wondering if ya wanted to do something like that
just the two of us
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Date: 2023-12-11 11:52 am (UTC)Give her a moment to process that, as if they haven't already done that... but it gets her all 'aaaaaaa' every time anyway.]
Y-yeah! I'd like that. I kinda got something for you anyway, so I can give it to you then.
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Date: 2023-12-11 12:02 pm (UTC)you know you dont gotta do that right?
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Date: 2023-12-11 12:15 pm (UTC)It's the RULES. Isn't that the whole Christmas thing anyway??
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Date: 2023-12-11 12:18 pm (UTC)but
i just dont really expect it you know?
getting something outta it
[Especially considering Christmas being more of a couple thing in Japan and all that.]
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Date: 2023-12-14 05:53 pm (UTC)I'll take your music and replace it.
[such a threat but she doesn't mean it]
Plus we're already... you know!!!! Together!!!! I don't expect to like, go see a decorated tree or something, just... give you a present and it sounds like eating some fried chicken together.
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From:sobs have a crusty tag u.u
From:NOT CRUSTY AT ALL
From:sometime last month, during the event
Date: 2024-03-28 07:39 am (UTC)His wooden joints were aching for reasons he could not explain. This only made him want to find the way out faster, to find something or someone that might even be the slightest bit familiar to him. And so he trudged on, continuing down the winding path, searching for anyone who could lead him out of the wood.
Despite his humanoid form, Beat's skin had hardened literally, human flesh replaced by hardwood, sturdy enough to carry himself on his two wooden legs. A pointed, feathered hat sits atop his head and he's dressed in a loose shirt and bright red lederhosen, a bow tied around his collar. He doesn't seem to be bothered one bit by the change of his appearance as he makes his way through the forest, nor does he notice the jars littered around the vicinity, glowing a light red as he passes by.]
no subject
Date: 2024-03-28 11:56 am (UTC)So it was time to look, after making sure Beat's animals were taken care of first. Not too far out is a bridge that... definitely wasn't there before, so of course she's going to go cross it. Once across, Futaba finds herself in a completely different type of garb: a long, shimmery gown and... wings? Huh. Well, she was familiar with sudden costume changes from her time in the Index, but... why a fairy? Whatever, it was time to find Beat. She can use some easy flight with the wings, at least, and it beats (heh) trying to walk or run here.
It's not long before she comes across a lot of jars littered around, and a wooden boy... no, was that Beat?]
Bones!
[Futaba drops to her feet to run toward him as best she can in a gown of all things.]
no subject
Date: 2024-03-28 12:23 pm (UTC)Even if there was a tickle of familiarity from the name in the back of his head, he didn't recognize whoever this "Bones" person was supposed to be. Nor had he seen anyone who might've matched that description. But at least this was someone.]
You lookin' for someone?
[Upon seeing a girl running up to him in a dress, he holds up his wooden arms in case she needed it. Looked like she was having trouble with that gown of hers.]
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Date: 2024-03-30 09:06 am (UTC)Woah!
[...well, she's not flat on her face, so that's an improvement. Once her legs are less tangled with her dress, she'll look up at him, hint of blush on her cheeks.]
Yeah, I'm looking for you. Do you... not recognize me, Beat?
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Date: 2024-03-30 09:18 am (UTC)You know who I am? [Surprise finds its way onto his face, but it's quickly replaced by confusion. Slowly, he shakes his head from side to side.] Sorry, yo. Ain't got no idea who you's is.
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Date: 2024-03-30 10:08 am (UTC)[Futaba falters a moment when he says he doesn't know her, but she knows that isn't true. He wouldn't outright forget her, so... it's got to be whatever this dreamscape is. Once she finds her footing again, she'll stand up straight, looking over her own costume and his... hm.]
Well, do you remember anything? Or is it all a blank for you, Bones? [Yes, she'll keep calling him that for now, maybe it'll jog his memory.]
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Date: 2024-03-30 10:55 am (UTC)But Beat supposes he can't say otherwise, considering she was the first person he's bumped into since he found himself here.]
Bumped into this cat and fox a li'l bit ago. Told me there was supposed to be a fair somewhere 'round here.
[He makes a general gesture behind him, but there's nothing more besides woods as far as the eye can see.]
Was gonna head over them with 'em 'fore they ditched me. Jus' straight up disappeared, you know?
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Date: 2024-04-04 08:12 am (UTC)[Huh. She didn't know what was going on, but she was lucky to not hear the call like he did. Maybe he could see it if they got close enough, though it didn't seem like they were anywhere near a fair.]
I don't hear anything like a fair near here... but they disappeared? Just poofed? [Well, it was a dreamscape, so...] What about those? Have those been there the entire time? They're kinda creepy.
[There's a gesture toward the jars near them, scattered around. She'd noticed them earlier, but had no idea what they were. Maybe he did? Probably not but it was worth a shot.]
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From:Christmas Gift
Date: 2024-12-16 10:13 am (UTC)You're quite the brilliant, young lady! It's unfortunate that I might not be able to give you the exact gift that you otherwise want, traveling through time and space take a lot of extra Christmas magic you see. But I hope that you still enjoy what I am able to give you regardless!
Happy Holidays,
Santa Claus
[Futaba will be given a fancy, wool, cap! It's really warm and comfy to wear with a cute design on it. She'll also receive a large, stuffed teddy bear that's super-duper huggable!
...Additionally, there's a bag of homemade chocolate chip cookies for her to munch too. They're super soft and chewy!]
Winterstide Gift
Date: 2025-12-13 05:45 am (UTC)action | backdated to December 25
Date: 2026-01-13 06:56 pm (UTC)While it had been almost a year since he and Futaba had gotten back together, there were times he was reminded that he still needed to set things right. One of which was the promise to spend Christmas together as any Japanese would: together, first and foremost, with a bucket of KFC and some Christmas cake.
He was lucky to have caught wind of someone selling something similar to the famous fried chicken a few months back and it didn't take long for him to find strawberry cream cake. That was the easy part. The one thing he couldn't predict was how the weather would work against him on the day he would collect their order.
A light dusting had already begun by the time he collected the chicken, and had escalated to a full-blown snowstorm by the time he walked out of the bakery. This made his trek back to the docks longer, and his trip back to Hero's Rest all the more treacherous. That wasn't even accounting for the way back from their crew's own docks back to the cottage. By the time he disembarked, he could feel the wind's chill growing even colder. Still, he continues on, protecting his packages as he fought through through the blustering gusts and the damp snow, trudging his way through the growing snowfall.
Almost half an hour later, he made it to the cottage. Home free, he thinks. At least, he did until he found that the door had been sealed shut by a mixture of ice and snow that had built up outside. He tried knocking. He tried shouting. He debated burning down the door for the briefest of moments before deciding against it. Regardless, no one seemed to be answering.
Loudly muttering a curse, he cradles the food under one arm, pulling out his shellphone from his pocket. He had sent a few messages to Futaba since he'd left Eltrut, most of began with an apology for being late and ending with complaints about the unprecedented weather, but this would be the first one he'd sent out since arriving at the island.
And instead of a message, it's going to be a call. As soon as Futaba answers, he pipes up, a slight chatter of teeth before the words form:] Hey babe. I'mma need a hand outside.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-18 02:46 am (UTC)...unless it was gonna be??? Though Beat's messages assuaged her fears that he hadn't gotten lost or dropped into a rift, why was it taking him F O R E V E R to get back?
There were some glances outside here and there, and the snow shouldn't have been a problem... but it looked uh. Kinda bad out there now, didn't it? Welp. That would explain things! Especially when she's getting a sudden shellphone call.]
It's snowing like crazy, I know that, but what's going on out there??
no subject
Date: 2026-01-18 03:01 am (UTC)[He'd dressed appropriately for the cold, but the sudden turn in weather didn't prepare him for the snow. It certainly felt like the snow was soaking through his clothes.
Beat looks around the cottage, abandoning the idea of getting through the front doors. His teeth chatter as he speaks.]
I'm jus' outside but it ain't lookin' like I'm gettin' in.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-22 12:01 am (UTC)Hold on, lemme see if I can open the door from in here.
[Not that she has an incredible amount of strength in her body anyway, but she's trying her best :') When that fails, she blurts out:]
...I wonder if I can buff you from in here, you know, using Al Azif.
[No, that's a bad idea because her Persona is uh. Fairly large. Let's not destroy the house now. Once she thinks that through, she just makes a frustrated sound and kicks the door.]
Rrgh, the snow is so stupid! Bones! You better not be frozen solid!
no subject
Date: 2026-01-22 05:18 am (UTC)[He doesn't mean to sound ungrateful... As much as he appreciates that she's helping, but he's getting frustrated by the situation. The cold is probably getting to him.
For now, he's going to stomp around the cottage, looking for other way in. And to try to keep himself as warm as possible despite the continuing snow.]
Dunno 'bout Al. Think you can call him out here while you's still inside?
[The chance of it destroying the house has crossed his mind too. And that's probably why he doesn't force his way. It'll probably be bad to deal with the cold on top of a busted door.
But that's when he moves close to a window and stops for a second, blinking once, twice, then going:]
Yo, how's about the window? D'you think it's gonna open if the door ain't budgin'? [Might be worth a shot.]
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Date: 2026-01-22 06:11 am (UTC)[It was already a lot to explain to Beat because it's a lot of info, mainly. Having to explain it repeatedly would just be a pain.]
Oh... oh! Yeah, which window are you at? There's a few we could try!
[Whichever he tells her, Beat will hear the telltale sound of Futaba running and thudding through the house to the window he's at. Perhaps her excited face at seeing him will warm him up?!]
Hold on, lemme try! [Phone down, and she's trying the window... not budging. What about the one next to it?!
That one, thankfully, opens with some difficulty, but it's open.]
Here! Gimme the food and I'll help you in!
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Date: 2026-01-22 06:38 am (UTC)Shorty, you's a sight for bad eyes.
[That's definitely how it goes, right? Whether or not that's the case, he knows Futaba understands what he's saying.
When the window doesn't budge, he follows her to the next one. Once it cracks open, he helps her from outside, pushing it upward as much as they can. It stops shy of fully opening but, while it might be a tight fit for him, at lesst it was a way in.]
Careful with the cake, aight.
[Beat passes the food over as instructed, first the cake, then the bucket of chicken.]
Aight, I'm comin' in.
[Heaving himself off the ground he hops onto the window sill and begins making his way through. Everything looks fine until he get in past his shoulders and—]
Hold up.
[At first he pushes against window frame, then he tries to push the window to open further to no avail. Yep, he's definitely stuck...]
A li'l help, yo? [Just gonna extend a hand out to Futaba right now.]
:')
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