un: cc | video

[bubblegumheart]

[When the video starts, it's what appears to be a static image, from the point of view of someone sitting in one of the trolley seats. There are large claw marks spanning the side and it looks pretty banged up, but overall intact.

It's also not moving, which might not normally be a problem if not for the fact of where it's currently sitting.]

Hello? I don't want to alarm anyone, but...

[Chrissy sounds out of breath, but otherwise fine?]

One of those big birds- the chocobos?- it did this. The claw marks, that is. Something else happened and the entire thing went flying at it.

[Something else happened, she says, as though she hadn't managed to get a clear enough look at the one responsible for shoving the trolley. But she also has no idea what all of that was about, so she's not particularly in the mood to point fingers right now.

The view shifts a little, to get a better look out the window.]

I'm also not entirely sure where I am? I don't think I've ever been here before, so I'm not sure what to do now.

[Other than wait for now?]

Comments

[copsormasks]

[Jason doesn't push back. In fact he kinda leans into it until she steps back. Touch-starved kid is touch-starved.]

Yeah. Yeah, I'm good. Let's get this show on the road.

[He looks back to the trolley and shakes his head.]

Guess that's gonna stay right where it's at.

[bubblegumheart]

[She still doesn't know Jason all that well yet, but she's observant enough to catch the way he'd leaned in- and kind enough to not make a big deal out of it. Instead, she darts back inside and emerges again a minute later with a book in tow.]

Okay, now I'm ready to go. Walk me home?

[She turns to consider the trolley when he mentions it, and reaches for his hand.]

I'm sure someone will be able to put it back.

[copsormasks]

[Jason waits for Chrissy re-emerge from the trolley before he turns to head back toward the better part of Etraya. What he doesn't expect is for her to reach for his hand. Their fingers make contact before Jason slowly pulls his hand back.]

A whole trolley?

[bubblegumheart]

I bet Aurora could do it. We came back from a mission a while back and she'd added the whole thing.

[Getting around before that point had been an adventure, but Chrissy had never really minded having to walk, considering all the walking she'd done at home. Him pulling his hand away is mildly disappointing, but she'd mostly been curious to see if he'd allow it so it's not that big a deal.]

Or maybe there's someone here that knows how to fix things.

[copsormasks]

She added a whole trolley? [That would probably seem more possible if he didn't know an alien who could shoot fire from her hands.]

I'm sure there's some nerd somewhere who can do it.

[He pauses.]

But you're okay?

[bubblegumheart]

Yea! It was pretty wild, actually.

[And somehow still not the wildest thing she's ever seen.]

If not, we're all going to have to get used to walking again.

[Inconvenient, sure, but not impossible.]

Oh, yea. I'm okay. I was sitting on the side that doesn't look like a giant bird was trying to tear it apart.

[copsormasks]

Seems like a waste of time. [Jason shrugs, looking over at the trolley and then to Chrissy.]

I don't trust those birds. Freaky.

[bubblegumheart]

I guess we'll see.

[She's not terribly worried about it either way.]

They're just like any other animal, I think. I don't trust them either, but I wouldn't trust any animal that doesn't know me.

[copsormasks]

You have a lot of experience with weird animals?

[Jason glances over at Chrissy and offers a small smile.]

[bubblegumheart]

That depends. Do people count?

[Because she has a lot of experience with weird people.]

[copsormasks]

People are a lot weirder than most animals, I think.

[Well, minus these bird things.]

[bubblegumheart]

At least animals are honest.

[She likes the chocobos, though. At least when they're not causing mass destruction.]

[copsormasks]

That's true. [Jason smiles. Someone had suggested riding the weird birds like horses and Jason didn't think the birds would enjoy that.] Someone told me they ride these things where they come from.

[bubblegumheart]

That's interesting. It would probably be faster than walking. [They're big enough, and potentially easy-going enough when they're not startled or defending themselves.] Are you going to try?

[copsormasks]

[Jason makes his way towards one of the birds and looks back at Chrissy in a you're responsible for this way. He tries to leverage himself up but gets a peck for his efforts.]

Hey fuck you too, dude.

[bubblegumheart]

Oh my god, I didn't mean right now!

[She'd meant like. In general. If he ever managed to make friends with one.]

Are you okay?

[copsormasks]

Fucking asshole bird. [Sorry Chrissy, he's made out of 'fuck's and other colorful cursing.]

[bubblegumheart]

[Well, now she just feels a little guilty for suggesting it.]

I think we're probably better off walking for now.

[copsormasks]

Yeah, probably. [He gives the weird bird one more glare before he resumes walking next to Chrissy.] Why are these even here?

[bubblegumheart]

[There will be plenty of time to befriend the chocobos in the future. For now, she's just hoping to put as much distance between herself and snake island as she can.]

Maybe Aurora thought we'd like them?

[copsormasks]

Well she was wrong. [Jason tilts his head toward Chrissy before shaking it.]

[bubblegumheart]

I think they're kind of interesting most of the time.

[Specifically, when they're not shooting fireballs and trying to wreck the trolley when she's the only one on it.]

[copsormasks]

[Jason raises an eyebrow at her. Seeing as he has gotten pecked by every bird he's gotten close to, he's not a fan.]

Really? So far they suck.

[bubblegumheart]

Have you tried making friends with one?

[She's blissfully unaware of his willingness to try and fight them, so it feels like a reasonable question.]

The yellow ones are the easiest to get along with.

[copsormasks]

[He's about to roll his eyes and ask why the fuck he would make friends with a bird when he mentions the yellow ones being easier to get along with.]

The yellow ones?