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I will eat that cube.

[Comes the mutter from the floor.]

I am not so sure it would be satisfying.

[ He clears his throat politely.]

Thank you for answering my questions. No one else would know this, but I discovered today that Akuki-senpai is actually someone I know from home. Though I still have no memories of him myself.

. . . I had thought he was overly polite for some strange reason. But it makes more sense now.

[ Why he had been so determined to get him to depend upon him, even when it felt out of left field.]

Unexpected events popped up which prevented me from checking in on him earlier. I was a little worried he might tell me he was okay in order to assuage my worries, but be struggling on his own. But... I was sure that Rose would keep him tucked safely under their wing. I knew that I could count on you for that.

Thank you.

[That's so many words.]

[Okay. Waking up. Come on, Pond Fiend.

He gives his head a bit of a shake, eyes finally sharpening somewhat.]

Neither Blossom nor the Snake get to decide to move someone after they've already become part of our flock. That's just how it is.

He did seem to like you from the beginning. It's good that you've found each other.

I am glad for it. Though I wish I could recall even a little bit of the past myself.

[It would be nice to properly remember him naturally, versus what he has been told or learned.]

Regardless, I am relieved you feel the same way. Had it happened to someone on Bluebell, not one of us would have allowed them to be stripped from us. The snake and some of his compatriates, though, are both dangerous and cunning. I have seen firsthand how terrifying they can be. That fellow who died at the hands of Stormy-san was a walk in the park.

[ . . . He sighs. ]

I suppose what I wanted to ask, was that you look over him. When we were deceived on Bluebell, I was shaken to my very core. As a result of our mistake, everyone suffered from it.

. . . We were well-intentioned. But our desire to protect everyone did not erase the reality of what they suffered through. The shock had been painful.

Akuki-san... is clever. He might not possess fantastical powers or abilities, but he is good at using his mind and forming strategies in the blink of an eye. It seems... he is something like a Knight. And he treats me as a great person whom he has elected to follow.

[ . . . ]

I cannot protect him, Sonata-san, you, or many others from my position on Bluebell, though. Frustratingly, I lack the same proximity, strength, and experience. But... you can. I trust in your abilities and strength. So I hope... that you will be able to help protect him from the horror that we experienced.

[Never mind, he's still not awake enough for this. Crescendo really does like to go on, doesn't he?

As the boy is talking, Pond Fiend gets to his feet and starts pacing to clear his thoughts up.]

I'm not some kind of hero, little cat.

[The same as he's claimed he's not a villain.]

I'm not a knight or a bodyguard. [Despite sometimes appearing to play the latter.] I protect what I want to, nothing more. Don't hold me to any standards.

I know. I realize that.

[ He can't expect someone to do everything for him. That wouldn't be fair.]

But you do protect Rose, don't you? And even if he is a Weed, now, you still consider him one of you.

. . . Isn't that correct?

Yes. I did make that claim, it's true.

[He honestly doesn't even know the boy very well, but it's the principle of the matter.]

As for protecting Rose... well most of them don't really need my protection, and we've made several upgrades to the barn to help with that passively.

I just need to know that he has a place to belong where he can feel safe. Otherwise, I shall take him for myself.

[ Wording. But he likely knows what he means.]

I would make an exceedingly poor king if I did not take care of my own knights. If you would watch over him though, I would feel more at ease. I am sure that I can make it up to you somehow. Or repay you in some way.

Ultimately, whether or not he feels safe is up to him.

[He sighs.]

... I don't feel like bargaining with you. [At the moment, the idea makes him uncomfortable.] I'll keep tabs on him. It's in my own best interest to.

[There's a pause, then the sound of Pond Fiend's stomach growling. It was inevitable after being woken up.]

Hmmgh. [And that's just the discontented sound of him pondering what's in the kitchen.]

[ . . . He heard the stomach rumble. And it amuses him a little. ]

If you like, I was unable to finish the meal Fantasia-san made for me. You could come over and finish it for me so that it does not go to waste. Though that would drag you even farther from sleep. And I am unable to walk over myself tonight.

[He shakes his head.]

I appreciate the thought, but that would be an unnecessary detour.

[He's already walking toward the kitchen (in nothing but a pair of black boxers with roses on them, but the cube wouldn't do that justice).]

Bluebell locks up at night for everyone's safety, I presume?

[ Cube-san. The world is missing out. ]

Well. We have our moat...

[ That doesn't even have a drawbridge. He thinks they lock their doors? Probably?

. . . To be honest their security is lacking. Beyond whatever Rubato notices. (the actual effective security system is Rubato) ]

I mean for the reason why you can't leave.

[Not that he thinks he should this late at night anyway.]

[Kitchen... kitchen... Oh, apples. Apples are easy to grab and munch on. He doesn't find them very filling, though, so he grabs practically an armful of them to take back to his room.]

Oh. No, we had a rough evening here. And I am a little anemic at the moment.

[ Probably a good way to put it.]

I am too tired to actually venture out. And if I did, I feel my flock would chastise me.

[The merman pauses mid-bite.]

What caused you to lose a lot of blood? Were you attacked?

[It's not the possessive concern from when he was influenced by the fog, but there's some concern there nonetheless.

Which means Crescendo is probably about to get chastised again anyway.]

To be honest, I barely recall how it ended before I blacked out.

[ He lost consciousness after some time. ]

Due to the state of Akuki-senpai's collar, I sought answers from some of the weeds. That rude girl that enjoys speaking cryptically and attempting to stir up trouble, for instance.

[ She struck him with 'lightning' but it was little more than a zap. Beyond the...other stuff. ]

And after her, I noticed a bird who possessed a black collar, too. I wanted to see what it was up to, so I followed it into the woods. It led me to an entire tree full of birds just like it.

Edited 2023-07-18 22:25 (UTC)

[The moment Crescendo says "I noticed a bird who possessed a black collar too" Pond Fiend's eyes narrow in anger. He doesn't even want to hear the rest of it, especially not that the red-head followed it like a fool.

(Not that the merman had known any better when he first came across one either, but that's beside the point.)]

Had no one told you yet that they were dangerous?

Are they so common...? This was my first time encountering one. And I certainly had heard nothing about the dangers regarding the birds.

[ He simply sighs. It is all news to him. He still doesn't even fully understand what had happened. After blacking out, he didn't even remember getting home.]

When I realized that I was facing many of them, it made me feel a little nervous. So I thought my best bet, in case they were violent, was to charm them.

You...

[Deep breath. Don't get upset and rouse the whole barn...]

Is your go-to method of dealing with opponents always to try and charm them first?

What would you have suggested? That I freeze them with water and then explode them?

[ It isn't as though he has a number of tools under his belt.]

It worked with Lady Death. I thought if I did so... not only would they not attack if their intentions were violent, but that I might learn something of that snake, or how to correct what has happened to Akuki-senpai.

I would have suggested, demanded, that you avoid them entirely. They are invasive mind readers and potentially dangerous manipulators.

One should never approach an unknown opponent on their own. Not when you already know they might be adversarial. Especially if you don't know what they're capable of.

. . .I will give in and admit that I ought to have brought someone with me. I realize there is safety in numbers. And right now, especially, it is dangerous to act alone.

[ The eye is closed, after all. He realizes that danger very well. He continues with a sigh. ]

I was frustrated and vexed. I wanted answers, and when I saw the bird I simply followed after it with that desire in mind. That was my mistake.

But I have two arms and two legs. I can't just sit at home and avoid danger entirely. It will come to me, whether I want it to or not. And I would rather learn what I can than be surprised by it later, or allow everyone else to do it for me. If it is not me, then it will be someone else learning at some sort of peril to themselves.

[ Which is probably true. The fact that Pond Fiend has some sort of knowledge regarding the birds means someone else had a negative experience with them.]

You have a twin, so maybe it is second nature for you to have someone else you can depend on, and know that they will always be there to back you up no matter what you get into. But I do not know what that is like to have.

[ Frustrated... ]

It took all of my pride to call you tonight and confess there are things I cannot do and to ask for your help. You are one of my only friends here.

[ He said the 'F' word. ]

But even with that, I could not get you to bargain with me. So who, then, should I have contacted to drag into my own affairs?

[It is very unfair of Crescendo to use that word here. The eel would like to dismiss it, pointing out that the decision to give him that label is also a mistake.

It's for good reason that he only has his twin and Azul back in their world that he would consider his friends (and some would even question that, given the way he treats the latter at times). He weirds most people out and makes himself unapproachable. He jokes that one day the mountain lover's club he founded will have more people in it, but he never truly expects that to happen. Anyone who hangs out with him will have to deal with a great deal of teasing at their expense. That's just how he is and most aren't willing to put up with it.

And it's certainly not fair that he should have to think about this now, when there are more important matters to deal with, such as mind reading birds.]

You have your flock to go to, don't you?

[He sounds so very tired when he answers, and he tries to give himself some time to think by finally munching on one of the apples. It's not much time, given that he devours the whole thing, core and all, in a few bites.]

You should have at least spoken to them first. Like you're doing now, with the cube.

Don't try to guilt me into something. ["With your cute pouty face."]

[ He closes his eyes, sinking into his bed and pulling the covers over.]

I am not trying to guilt you. Just explain that reaching out for aid is not my first instinct. If I am able, I would rather handle things myself.

[ . . . ]

And my team would have told me not to. Or tossed me into a hamster ball again.

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