Some Legends Are Told, Some Turn To Dust Or To Gold [CEREALIA INBOX]

[zerotohiro]

'Busy, leave a message!
...oh, you've reached Hiro Hamada. Whatever. Still busy!'

Hamada art by D-Joel, found on tumblr

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[flaredo]

My lips are sealed. Ruby never told me what kind of talk she had with Naoki, either.

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[masakados]

[Naoki smiles at that.] I won't tell her either. Sometimes you wanna look cool in front of who you like, huh?

[NAOKI'S MORE OR LESS GIVEN UP ON THAT BUT YOU KEEP DOING YOUR BEST, HIRO]

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[zerotohiro]

Well don't tell her that either. [So yes. He absolutely wants to look cool in front of her because he's 14 and awkward and Ruby's the greatest.] Can I ask you guys a question though? [He turns serious suddenly.]

It gets...easier, doesn't it? Like less weird to think about the longer you keep doing stuff like this.

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[flaredo]

Oh, yeah. I mean, I never thought it was weird when we started dating, but Naoki was pretty shy and awkward at first.

[ It was adorable, though. ]

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[masakados]

Thanks, Yang, that's just what I want everyone to know.

[HIS REP. His cool rep... Just kidding. He doesn't have a cool rep once somebody gets to know him. Naoki mock-sighs, one hand on his hip, but says:] Like Yang said--it wasn't weird, it just took getting used to. You get more comfortable with each other.

Then, before you know it, it just feels natural.

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[zerotohiro]

[There's a look toward Naoki that almost says something akin to "it was sort of obvious", but that's only because of a conversation or two he's had with Ruby. Still, the advice is solid even if he's unsure and he scrubs a hand over his face.]

As long as she still likes me while we're figuring it out, I guess I can handle that. [He peers at them between his fingers.] Maybe I should just be glad I didn't have to fight you two so I could date her.

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[flaredo]

[ Yang just... sort of makes a face at the mention of "fight". Maybe she's reliving the talk with Naoki's demons. ]

Yeah, uh... I thought about it, but I'm pretty sure Ruby would be mad if we took it that far.

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[masakados]

[Should've never asked for their advice, Yang. Demon advice is worst advice.]

You thought about that, Yang? [HE NEVER HEARD THIS.] Anyway, I wouldn't have wanted to make you fight me, Hiro.

[He's very well aware of his own, uh, overpowered state.]

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[zerotohiro]

Can you not? [Training with Yang is one thing. Fighting her is a whole other. But he blinks at Naoki, tilting his head curious.]

You don't think I could handle your demons? [It's a very innocent question here, don't judge him.]

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[flaredo]

[ Yang just offers a guileless shrug, but she'll let Naoki field the question. While also grinning, because ah, yes. Go ahead, boyfriend, let him know. ]

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[masakados]

[Oh... Oh, Hiro. Naoki looks over at Yang with a helpless smile before shrugging his own shoulders.]

Probably not. Long's the weakest out of all of them, and he's still really strong.

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[zerotohiro]

Stronger than Yang? [His gauge of strong has definitely changed since arriving in Cerealia okay.]

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[flaredo]

Not for much longer.

[ Yang, please. ]

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[masakados]

Yang can take him down. [Naoki's laughing.] It's when Yurlungur gets involved that fighting gets tricky, right?

[He grins teasingly at her. That element-absorbing thing is a pain in the ass to fight.]

Pixie's my strongest demon, though not stronger than me.

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[zerotohiro]

Because you had to beat them in order to capture them and train them to be yours. Yeah, I get it. [Very brief summary okay.] I still wanna practice someday maybe. Yang unlocked my aura and everything and I can't get better at defending myself and fighting if I don't take on harder opponents.

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[flaredo]

[ wryly: ] I'm not hard enough for you?

[ Maybe they should let him go a round with Yurlungur. ]

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[masakados]

[Naoki's eyebrow quirks up at that summary. Hahaaa nah that's not exactly it his face says. And then he glances at Yang, his eyebrows furrowed lightly.

MISGIVINGS. Naoki doesn't like having his demons fight humans as a general rule. Yang's a powerhouse and they've trained with each other so that's fine, but.]

Stick with Yang for now, and maybe we'll see later. [VAGUE ANSWER GET]

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[zerotohiro]

[Poutpoutpout.] All right, all right. But that better be a promise! [With that he turns back to Yang with a small grin.]

We can pick up on our training in a couple of days, right? I've got some other stuff to take care of.

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[flaredo]

That's fine. I'll be ready.

[ LIGHTLY CRACKING HER KNUCKLES, yes. ]

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[masakados]

I guess that means in the meantime you'll be honing your punches on me...

[Naoki's sighing lightly, this said half to himself.]

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[zerotohiro]

[They make a decent couple, he thinks. They work well together and he can only hope maybe he and Ruby will be that seamless someday, too. But with that in mind he decides it's time to take his leave.]

I'll hold you to it. Don't train too hard, guys. I'll see you later.