ataraxion | 003

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003 | Video

[It's not very often that Asato makes a post to the network, preferring to read and hear what others have to say, offering bits of awkwardly-worded input when he thinks it could be useful. He's not one to draw attention to himself, and though it might seem difficult for a relatively big guy with cat ears and a tail, he tends to manage it too.

He's just a quiet guy minding his own cat business, part of which he's spent in the gardens, carefully tending to something each and every day. The result of nearly a year of watering, trimming, checking and double-checking, is what he moves the video feed to quickly after he sees the feed is on, offering only a quick glimpse of his face.]

I have--these.

["These" being a little pile of some kind of fruit. They're somewhere between a peach, an apple, and a currant, the size of a baseball at their largest, ranging from magenta to purple in color. He can't show it through the feed (much as he wishes he could!), but the scent that's coming from them is a strong mix of sweet, sour, and spicy.]

Kuims. Is what they're called. I planted them. I can't eat all of them, but I don't want them to go bad. [Which is why he's happy to offer some to whoever wants to stop by in the gardens and try them out.]

They're really good. In my world, lots of people like these the best. [A great advertiser he is not, but he's trying, and his enthusiasm is genuine.]

Please come have some. I don't need anything in return for them. Um... They're good in cakes, too. [That...should wrap things up, he figures, so the feed gives a shake, comes back to his face one more time, and clicks off.]

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Stay there. Until I get there... got somethin'.

[Which may be the most cheerful sounding order that Asato's ever heard from him. Not that he's so into his sudden idea that he's cheerful, but hey, there's a hint of it. And over some plastic sounding scrapes and footfalls of boots - ]

Department can deliver 'em to the decks, too. If you want.

Okay. [Asato's content to do as he's asked, and he's not about to abandon his pile of kuims anyway. Gotta save at least a few to nibble on later or share with others, and the best of the harvest are set in a different pile for when the other cat on board comes around.]

If there's some left. I don't know if there are enough to give one to everyone. But maybe to the kitchens would be good.

Save some.

[He's waited for this day, for a loooong time. Hence why his reply shuts off with nothing more than that before he's veering off from wherever else he was going and bolting his way there.

Hopefully for him, the right way, too.]

[He nods with a little "Mhm", way ahead of him in saving a few. The best ones he could pick out, the deepest purple, the squishiest and juiciest--Konoe deserves nothing less.]

I knew you'd want to have some, Konoe.

[And if Konoe ends up walking in circles through the hallways, then he'll just bring some back to their room. One way or another, they're going to share this favorite treat from home.]

[The way he's been asking every other week (lately ever other day) if they were ready yet, it's hardly surprising to hear. But it's still a promising hint, and by the time he slows down enough to thank him he's nothing short of excited.]

Even if it's just one...!

[Just a bite... now if he would just focus on where he's going - ! ]

I have a couple of them for you. [His tail gives a great shake, making a soft thump as it hits against his leg; even without the video feed on, there's excitement enough in his voice to make up for it.

Not just about the kuims themselves, happy as he is to finally be able to enjoy this treat again, especially with them so rarely found in the Valley, but also about the prospect of being able to sit with Konoe and enjoy them together. He's very sure that Konoe must love these things, as many cats do. Being able to make his Sanga's day just through this, after so many weeks of "they're not ready yet", is enough to make him purr quietly, just enough for the audio feed to pick up.]

What I meant. Be there in - [pause for guesstimation based on that video] - two minutes.

[With that he shuts it off, and it isn't much more than two minutes before he gets there. Because, surprise surprise, he's on his bike with the handlebars in one hand and a plastic tupperware sort of tray in the other.]

[A couple - let his pace be swift, and... WHOA yes, he's not lost!

He just

Went the wrong way after all, whoops. He shouldn't see this hall yet - but he rights himself with good spirits intact. Getting lost isn't anything to discourage him when kuim's involved.

Asato's purr doesn't go unnoticed, either, and in a fit of affection he puts his communicator to his temple as a virtual headbutt in return. A real one's sure to come later.]

Got it.

[He switches it off on his end too and waits patiently, this time far less shocked to see the bicycle. The plastic tray is new, but he assumes Netherlands needs something to transport the fruits on. Something like that, probably.]

Here. [He immediately grabs one from the pile and holds it out to him, always a little shy in offering. But he's tried one, and they've grown to be absolutely delicious thanks to all the resources in the gardens, so he's not worried their taste won't go over well.]

[He hears a little bit of shuffling about, but he makes no remarks about it, familiar with Konoe's tendencies to start going in entirely the wrong direction whenever it's time to head out. A bit weird for a cat, but it's what makes Konoe Konoe, so Asato is nothing but patient.

While he waits, he sets a few from his choice pile down and begins sifting through them again to find the best of the best, until he thinks he's found one that's absolutely perfect.

And that's what he holds on to, with a slight tint to his cheeks and a wiggle in his tail while he anticipates the moment he can see Konoe entering the gardens. That headbutt will need to be returned properly, too.]

[At some point he remembers to shut the thing off, but only once he's within sight of the gardens at last. And then it's winding his way to the tree and his Touga, not that that's very hard between their scents, flowers and spice and something just underneath he's ready to sink his teeth into.]

Asato!

[He's still bright as his voice implied, all the more once Asato's in his line of sight, and he's there in a jog to the finish line for his grand prize.]

Konoe!

[He answers as soon as he hears the call, ears and tail alike perking up, and once he sees Konoe his tail resumes its happy side-to-side wag. Trying to meet Konoe sooner, Asato trots in his direction as well, carefully holding his prized kuim in his hands.

As soon as they meet, he gives Konoe a nudge with his head, purring practically non-stop. Not long after, he holds the kuim out to him, all smiles, eager to finally let Konoe have what he's been asking after for months now. And Goddess if it doesn't smell absolutely divine--he'd have taken a great big bite out of this one already, if he didn't have someone he wanted to give it to...]

For you.

[He places a hand on it, his own tail just as active and happy. But he isn't looking at it just yet, urging Asato's hand out of his way at the same time. Standing arms-length apart just won't do until he gets to give a nudge of his head back, with a grateful hush.]

Thank you.

[And then he plucks the kuim up, turning away a little to cup it in his hands under his nose, and simply basks in holding one again.

It really is perfect the perfect one - the very weight, smell, color he's practically dreamed of. Even if it wasn't, Asato picking this one makes it so, as far as Konoe's concerned.]

It's amazing, really...!

[Asato understands the feeling, for sure. These are practically relics from their home world, more and more difficult to find with the blight spreading across the land, keeping the Ribika away from their food. He doesn't know how common they are in Karou either, but that doesn't matter--they could be the most common thing in the world, and a year without having a taste of one would still feel the same.]

Take a bite!

[His voice is an excited whisper as he leans in a little closer to watch with expectant eyes, waiting for Konoe to finally sink his teeth in.]

[He takes one without another word, carefully....

And his eyes are left absolutely round.]

...

[There are no words for how much he loves this cat. This fruit. This moment in time.]

[Well, that's a better reaction than he'd even hoped for. With the fruit's juice now dripping, the smell is even stronger, and he finds himself swallowing unintentionally. But first, he needs to hear from Konoe--]

Good?

[He's stopped chewing just to still taste this one bite - but he nods and takes another, nearly tentative in his desire to savor it, his tail shaking a good deal. Hopefully taking his time won't make his hands sticky.]

I see.

[There's a smile on his face now as he nudges his head to Konoe's shoulder. Konoe can savor it if he wants, but he's got more if he's still hungry after this one is done. As long as they keep the seeds after, he can keep growing more of them, enough to eat fresh and to dry for later. But even today's small harvest is enough if it can make Konoe this happy.]

I saved a few more for you.

[His ears perk up at that - to think, he can have more if he wanted! Which he absolutely would, once this one's gone.]

Can we take them home?

Yeah. I put those aside to take back.

[He nods to the little pile beside his big stash of them, which he intends to give away to whoever would like one. It's enough to give them a good bit to eat, hopefully enough to make up for a year without.

In fact, he pulls away now to grab one of those kuims, taking a bite of it while he steps back over to Konoe, juice already running down his chin and fingers.]

[He raises a brow at them - that's plenty to tide them over, he's sure.]

Is it good?

[He won't laugh at what a mess he's making, he won't, he won't....]

[His answer is just a happy mmph while he chews, and he continues to chew thoughtfully and swallow, stopping just short of a second bite before he thinks to answer.]

Yeah. It's delicious.

[In a half-hearted attempt at grooming, he licks up the juice dripping down to his wrist before another bite undoes those efforts right away. He's a mess of light purple juice all over, but at least he's enjoying himself.]

Konoe, come sit with me.

[He sits with a sigh, more amused than negative. Guy's a big kid sometimes, especially when food's involved.]

Sure. I meant something else, though. [He adds it as he looks about for a spot to settle down, not too far from this little treasure trove.] It must feel good to finally have something you spent so long on....

[Asato follows right behind, sitting shoulder to shoulder with Konoe. His tail finds Konoe's with little effort, and while it doesn't quite twine around it, he drapes his own black tail over it, at ease with that familiar contact.]

Yeah. I wanted them to be really good. [He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand before he continues.] The same for you. You were always asking about them. Are they as good as you hoped they'd be?

[He leans against him comfortably, grinning again.]

Couldn't be better.

[And he means it, already eying a second even as he still works on his first.]

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003 | Video

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