featheradrift | Inbox (The City)

Mm, mm, I do!

[She perks up too quickly for it to all be sincere, but it's probably fine. This, too, is how Altria copes, just like how Wanderer becomes more prickly when he needs time to process things. She smiles instead, but the coping mechanism is the same.]

I have some people back home... and I have Tsuruno, and I have you!

[People she can trust to sincerely, truly care for her--it's something very precious to her, and she won't forget it.]

[ He still doesn't know her circumstances at home, and now, he's curious enough to want to know. He hopes one day she'll be willing to share with him—without being forced by the city.

He doesn't deny the statement like he might have before. He does care—and he's willing to let her know. ]

Don't forget that.

[...

It startles her, the way that he just agrees flat out. The honesty, which is so very precious coming from anyone, but especially from him.]

[And then she beams, a faint flush on her face, and nods eagerly.]

I won't!

[She could never.]

I'll always remember!

[It's all that makes her who she is. When the existence of the person who is Altria is so very tenuous sometimes in comparison to the concept of the Child of Prophecy, people like him, and their care for her--that makes her real.

... That's enough serious discussion, surely. If she presses, he'll get embarrassed, and honestly? If he continues, she'll be the one embarrassed. So instead, to burn off extra energy:]

I'll race you back to the entrance!

[ Altria's smile is a precious thing to be treasured. She gives them out easily, but once in a while, something pure and genuine shines through, like the one she has on her face right now. This is something he finds himself wanting to protect. It's a strange sensation, but not wholly unwelcome.

But it seems the end of their serious discussion has come, now that Altria has satisfied her concern for the drifter. He smirks. ]

Don't cry if you lose.

[ Without waiting for a response, he dashes forward. He hadn't indulged her the first time she asked to compete, back when they met, so this time, he's willing to play. ]

[He dashes forward, and she was almost expecting him to refuse again--so he gets a few steps head start.

But she snaps back to herself quickly, running after him with all of her might, which is... you know, just the might of a standard, regular faerie girl.

She's having fun, though, grinning even through the determined look on her face as they race towards the entrance of the park.]

[ Unfortunate then that she's up against the Wanderer, who already leaned towards a speedy battle style which was enhanced by his Anemo Vision. Well, he doesn't have that right now, but he still has his speed.

But he's not trying to destroy Altria in the race, so he keeps a certain distance ahead of Altria, just enough that he'll win but not so far that she doesn't have a chance.

They arrive at the entrance soon enough and he crosses the entrance first, marking his win. He slows to a stop and turns around, grinning at her. ]

Looks like I win.

[HUFF PUFF...!!

She reaches the finish line after, of course, cheeks puffed out into a pout, but--well, an amused one, honestly. She's radiating a soft of comfortable contentedness in this moment, at least.]

Maybe you won this time, but I'll win the next one! Just you wait!

Heh. You'll have to work hard if you want to win.

[ So their little heart-to-heart was done now. It's... not bad, actually. To be forthright about his feelings. But it's a little uncomfortable too. He doesn't think he'll do it too often.

Still bantering playfully, the two of them end up leaving to explore the city some more and end the day with a delicious meal. ]

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