faepuns | --Faerie--

[Of course the fox would be regarded with suspicion. White is an omen of death on this side of the world. Something Takame knew well originally being from here, but that the man who brought him here marveled at.

They've been on the run from western authorities for a handful of years, Takame, his superior... former superior and his daughter. Unlike those two, Takame had a sense for magic even while being human. It was his job to track villages to flee and integrate into that had a magic pull for his former superior to study.

But his superior was an emotionally distant man, more concerned with his whims than his daughter who Takame was brought on to watch originally but then forbidden from seeing once his daughter grew more interested in the man a few years older. Disregarding his daughter's lack of interest in sex. And Takame's male leaning preferences.

They've been here a handful of weeks only and Takame was demanded to collect fire wood for their hearth. He was returning with it from among the trees when he happened upon that white fox, staring at it for a while and tilting his head curiously.]

[There is no response from the fox. But if Takame is good at sensing magic...well.

The fox is almost literally bleeding magic. He's unharmed, he's just that magical.]

Ah...

[Takame was. He'd always had sharp eyes for magic. Quite literally as looking at this white fox was almost blinding for his sense if it wasn't such a gorgeous view. He'd never seen it so concentrated before...

He spent so long in the west under duress and pain. Spent so long running after that, he's not stopped to admire anything in a long while.]

... What are you? [Said to himself, surprisingly dipping into his first language which he's not done when talking to himself in a while.]

[That slip of languages gets the fox to open an eye, curious.

Oh. A handsome human. He yawns and--wow that is a lot of sharp teeth, even for a fox.]

[That certainly is abnormal, and yet by force of habit and feeling guilty for interrupting the fox's sleep.]

Ah, my... apologies.

[It was a bit silly perhaps apologizing to a sleepy fox, and Takame realized that halfway through. But to retract it would be rude.

He had a task to attend to, though. And the highly magic attuned fox was a bit... intimidating. Nevermind that Takame was incredibly physically strong, lugging a bunch of firewood along with only a very loose and sleeveless tunic covering his torso and leaving most of his muscle on display.

He bowed to the fox, carrying on his way to let the critter sleep. But looked back at it before he made himself enter the village proper.]

[The fox is looking back.

With bright golden eyes.]

...!

[What on earth...? That... those eyes aren't normal.

... But gods if they were not even more captivating. Takame couldn't help himself from staring back for even longer.

From the village, someone calls for "Tsurugi" to hurry and take the firewood where it needs to go.]

Ah, yes!

[He looks at the fox one more time.

Then turns to finish his task. His mission.]

[Tsurugi. Hm. Yusuke wants that one.

At the end of the week, a young man in elegant clothing arrives in the village accompanied by a small entourage. One of the entourage goes to find the inn while the man sits on his horse and looks around.]

[The young, elegant man may be delayed slightly by an older man dragging and scolding a young woman with blonde hair in a foreign language. A father and teenage daughter, it seemed.

They were arguing and eventually the young lady breaks off from her father after being taken by a few other women, friends of hers most likely. The older man spouted broken Japanese telling someone sitting across the street not to touch her.

As the scene passed and the elegant man carried on, he would see who was being insulted. The same man from the other day, long hair neatly tied back by a plain string and sitting across from a now empty table at a teahouse that otherwise seemed like quite the attraction.

The man was the only one sitting alone now, staring into tea he has yet to drink and an empty cup across from him.]

[...hm. A minor curse on that man, he thinks. He can spend the day falling and eating shit.

Yusuke is helped from his horse by a servant as they head to the teahouse. The inn is right next door, thankfully.

In a lightly accented voice:]

Mika-chan, find out if there is space for me to have tea here. It seems a lovely place.

[The place is quite backed, Mika-chan will find. There aren't very many available seats. Except the one that was just vacated.

And, well, business was business. A rich-looking client was a rich-looking client. And seats to fill were seats to fill but to the house runner's credit they were sympathetic to the now alone man.

"Tsurugi-kun... I know that you just... well, the seat's not taken anymore... and your sister was done with her tea, so..."]

'Tis fine. Do what you must.

[Takame didn't leave himself yet as he was not finished with his tea and wouldn't dismiss himself until that was done. But Mika would be told that there is one seat available across from the man with the very long hair.]

[Mika hurries out to inform Yusuke of that, gesturing to the table. Yusuke just smiles and goes over.]

Forgive me, but I was told this seat was the only one empty. Do you mind sharing?

[This presence... no, Takame was just uneasy given the situation. He shook his head.]

I do not mind at all. I pray you'll forgive that I do not make for very pleasant company.

Nonsense. You're already delightful.

[And handsome. Yusuke sits down as Mika-chan runs off to tend to the horses and get everyone situated in the inn.]

Would it bother you if I drew?

That is kind of you to say, ser.

[Takame didn't believe it, he knew he had limited emotional range but still looked like a bloody sad sack. But it didn't change a compliment being very kind.

He shook his head again.]

It would not bother me.

Thank you.

[A server comes out to ask what tea the young lord would like, and Yusuke asks for a very expensive blend and a snack. Once that's handled, though, he digs out his artist's kit and starts to sketch....something.]

[A man of high standing, this one... was the powerful presence Takame sensed simply because he carried himself with such elegance? He was well within his right to, he was... gorgeous.

It helped to alleviate the discomfort he felt at being essentially humiliated publicly. His sister hasn't even returned from her friends adding to that isolated feeling.

It helped to be around people from this region. Something familiar.]

Have you only just arrived in this village as well, ser?

I have. We're merely passing through, but we will be here a few days. I take it you, too, are newly arrived?

Mm. We have lived in this village for less than a month. Certain circumstances prevent us from remaining in one place for long. This place had a curious feeling that my...

["Superior"]

... my, ah, caretaker wished to pursue for longer.

Oh? Do tell. Maybe it's what drew me here.

[... Should he tell? Takame hesitated, taking a sip of his tea and weighing his options. Eventually, he came to the conclusion that there would be no harm in telling this man.]

Magic is becoming more lost to the world by the day. Villages tinged with it are rare. It is those village he seeks out to sate his curiosity. This one is among the more magic-rich villages we have come across.

'Tis unlikely many are aware of this, but I've always had good eyes for it.

[Bingo.]

It is, and it's a shame. I travel the country, looking for magic and painting what I find. I'm running out of locations!

... I suppose it is.

[Takame knew nothing about magic intricately. Just that he could sense it. That he always felt drawn to it. That it was his only companion as well as what isolated him from other people.

He wished to lean into it, but he was just a weak human. One who should not become involved with it. He wasn't sure of the "correct" way to feel about it.]

Is that why you have come here? To paint the scenery?

Yes. There's something...alluring about this village. It's hard to explain.

...

[... Takame was taking a risk here. He was told for most of his life in the west to never reveal his ability. "Good eyes" could mean anything in a casual context. But.

Well, Takame always had striking green and teal eyes. They were as striking as they were strong magic sensors. And something about this man was alluring... or perhaps it was just his loneliness desperately seeking a connection.]

... Do you see it as well? The veil of power woven throughout this village like the northern lights?

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