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[ That gets him to shift his gaze back over to Naruhodou. Asougi pauses for a moment, then chuckles softly as he adjusts his position slightly so he can draw an arm around him. ]

Hmm, that's right. This is a big town after all, isn't it?

[The tension he had been feeling slowly starts to melt away when he felt Asougi's arm around him. Safety, assurance that yes, his best friend is still here for him. The frown turns into a small smile as he fully leans into being held like this.]

It's not the only town either. There's a desert town just beneath us, a city of the arts and another in the mountains full of pirates! [...] Hm, maybe we can skip out on that last one.

[ It's like he releases a breath he'd been holding for awhile when Naruhodou leans in fully to him, and he relaxes as well. This was familiar, this was normal. He hadn't realized how much he'd missed it these past few months until now.

Asougi raises an eyebrow at the mention of pirates. ]

Pirates? . . . You know I'm going to ask about that.

Mmm. [He doesn't seem particularly up to explaining, but he will anyway.]

Well we only ran into them, because they tried to steal our amulets and the crystal powering this city. The city they're from, Briarlan, they use something else to power their city and it hasn't been working for them. So they tried to steal from us and there was this big retrieval mission.

[There's a look of dread on his face.] I was part of that expedition too. In the end, we did get the crystal back and now we currently have a trade deal with them. [He doesn't sound too please at the idea.]

The amulets that people need to survive around here? [ He frowns at that. If they were basically condemning them to die, then . . . there was no excuse.

A look of concern briefly crosses his face when he mentions that he went on the retrieval mission, but Asougi is quick to shake his head, as if to shake it off. Naruhodou's grown, it's fine. Of course he'd help with something like that. ] . . . I'd heard whispers around town about Briarlan, though I hadn't realized the reason behind the tenuous relationship was something like that.

They were desperate, they were willing to do anything to save their city.

[He crosses his arms.] Which is why I find the whole trade deal negotiations a bit...troubling. Mind, nothing has happened since then, but we can't be too certain they won't try something.

No, it's something to keep an eye on. Desperation is a powerful thing, after all. [ There's a brief pause, and then he gives him a smirk. ] Well. Nothing you can't handle, "Sir Naruhodou."

Right. [A nod.

Wait.]

H-Hey! I said don't do that! [He looks up to Asougi with a pouting face.]

[ He can't help it — he starts laughing again, shaking his head. ]

What? Am I wrong?

Well--no? Not really? [He has no idea. Why are you doing this to him?]

This is a city of pirates we're dealing with here. I can't just easily handle that!

[ He is a good friend and a good person and you missed him very much, clearly. Clearly. ]

You'd figure something out. [ A beat. ] With words, of course. It's a lost cause if we're talking about hand to hand combat.

Hah? [He gives Asougi his most offended look. Did you really have to go there? He groans as he elbows Asougi. Not cool.]

You didn't need to put it like that. And I know a little more about combat than I did back home. [So. there.]

[ He only gives him a small, satisfied smile in response to the elbowing, but the room seems to get quite a bit brighter at that. ]

Do you really? [ He sounds skeptical at best. ]

Well I did say I have been taking self defense lessons. [After a moment of pouting, his gaze then softens.]

...I have to be able to protect myself somehow, in this dangerous world. [He didn't have Asougi to depend on, and he didn't want to trouble others for his own shortcomings. It was more out of necessity, not a desire.]

That's true.

[ It's something he wishes wasn't true. Naruhodou having to pick up a weapon and fight just felt so . . . wrong to him, for one reason or another. He was the one who was supposed to get his hands dirty, not him. But it's better than him being completely defenseless, at least. ] So. Have they been helping?

...ah. [Yea, about that.] They help when I'm not panicking. [He can't help it ok.]

[ . . . yup, there it is. ]

You never can calm down, can you?

W-Well when you could potentially die or get hurt in mere seconds-- [He got his priorities reversed.] someone coming at you like that can be scary!

Naruhodou! That's when you have to put your all into it, when your life is on the line! If it's you or them, you have to stand firm and give it your all!

[ He shakes him a bit at that with the arm around his shoulders. ]

T-That's easier said than done! [His voice shakes while being shaken.]

I rather try to evade them if I can than outright confront them!

[ He stops shaking him at that, considering. ]

. . . Well, that's fine, too. As long as you can outrun them.

Well, usually I do. [He rubs his shoulder after being jostled.]

I'm pretty good getting into tight spaces to get away from the big guys. [WONDER WHY.] And if it looks like I'm about to get caught, I make a distraction.

Are you? [ He seems surprised briefly before he shakes his head. Of course, makes sense. Naruhodou is extremely resourceful after all. ] . . . Well. As long as you can protect yourself one way or another.

You should know, you stuffed me in your trunk once. My back aches just thinking about it. [He shifts in his seat, as if he felt that phantom pain, but he'll settle himself back against Asougi once more.]

...At least I won't be entirely useless, n-not that I think you would need the extra help, but you know... [He just wants Asougi to be ok.]

[ . . . oh yeah, he did do that. He had Mikotoba buy a large trunk for him and everything for that express purpose. His free hand starts to stray towards the journal before he consciously stops himself. Later. ]

Don't say that. You're not useless. You never were. [ If anything, he was one of the most important presences in his life. How could that be worthless? ]

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