[7:52 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

Well here we are. One guy two kids and a tree on a boat. Once they had found a good spot, Zeydein began setting up the soil and heat lamp for Taisto. @sketti | Eben 🕶 + Isi 🍁 @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[7:55 AM]sketti | Eben 🕶 + Isi 🍁:

Isi shuffled from hoof to hoof as Zeydein worked, he seemed to know what he was doing without help. She seemed tired, but anxious, despite the fact that they were getting out of here.

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄) @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[7:57 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

Yuga watched Zeydein work for a moment, disinterested. He leaned his back on the railing, and soon turned to look at the island in murky thoughts.

@sketti | Eben 🕶 + Isi 🍁 @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[7:58 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

Zeydein was pretty silent as he worked, but he was diligent. @Twig | Taisto + Yuga @sketti | Eben 🕶 + Isi 🍁 (if y'all just wanna have Isi and Yuga talk I'll have Zey chill in the background)

[8:03 AM]sketti | Eben 🕶 + Isi 🍁:

(I'm not too sure if either of them feel much like talking fjskrje but yeah I'm good with that)

Eventually Isi sat down, head against the wall. She absentmindedly watched Zeydein work, at least glad that Taisto could survive this, if only as a tree.

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄) @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[8:24 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

Taisto's branches quietly swayed in the wind, and the stiff fabric pieces on him swung slightly.

Yuga remained quiet, clicking his claws against the railing. He turned towards it, staring at the buildings further away. He was quiet for a long time. Only the sounds of wind and waves, other quests on the boat and Zeydein working filled the air. But inside the fox, a storm was still raging. His chest ached when he thought about the broken hope the island had given him. Just new, sharp shards cutting his already beaten heart. What remained was dispair and fear, but also exhaustion... and hatred.

He gripped onto the railing, letting his claws dig in, and his face slowly twisted with rage and grief. He bared his teeth, and couldn't hold it all in anymore. He lifted his head towards the sky and screamed, howled, wailed at the top of his lungs. What of it if others heard him? It didn't matter. He screamed, and water slowly forced itself out of his tear ducts.

@sketti | Eben 🕶 + Isi 🍁 @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[8:36 AM]sketti | Eben 🕶 + Isi 🍁:

Isi shut her eyes and listened to the howl. It was so mounful and pained, and she didn't dare interrupt it.

After a little while, she felt something on her leg. When she looked down, a spider was there. A very familiar spider, whom she gladly let sit on her hand. She was ashamed to have forgotten them.

Occasionally her eyes would shut for too long and she'd force them open again.

@Twig | Taisto + Yuga @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[7:19 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

Yuga's cries would become raspier and weaker the longer he howled, and the breaks between them became longer, as he began sniffling and sobbing.

After a while, he finally quieted down, shaking and wiping his face off on his sleeves. He turned, and began quietly walking away...

@sketti | Eben 🕶 + Isi 🍁 @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[9:03 AM]sketti | Eben 🕶 + Isi 🍁:

As Isi heard Yuga start to walk away, her eyes opened. She slowly stood up, the spider on her shoulder.

"Yuga?" She asked after him, beginning to follow.

@Twig | Taisto + Yuga @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[9:17 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

Yuga paused, and glanced over his shoulder, fur messy with tears and the glow of his eyes dimmer.

"Stay with your friend", he said in a low, husky, monotone voice, and walked away somewhere to sulk.

@sketti | Eben 🕶 + Isi 🍁 @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[9:21 AM]sketti | Eben 🕶 + Isi 🍁:

"But, you're my..friend..." The last word drifted off into what was almost a whisper, but she did as he asked. When she was upset she always preferred having someone near though she rarely got that, but she knew that some people preferred being alone, at least for a little while.

They slowly sat back down, zoning out a little as they stared in the general direction of the tree and Zeydein, and then at the island they were leaving behind.

@Twig | Taisto + Yuga @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[9:22 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

Zeydein didn't say anything. He was hard at work caring for Taisto. @Twig | Taisto + Yuga @sketti | Eben 🕶 + Isi 🍁

[9:37 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

The tree was very stressed out, to say the least, and it would be very easy for Zeydein to feel with his powers. It had been moved, knocked down, lifted back up, carried around and left to dry out in many occasions, and the temperature and air had radically changed multiple times now, and it couldn't comprehend why and how it was all happening. It didn't know what to do and how to prepare for the future. It wad confused and thus having hard time even using the resources it was now given.

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄) @sketti | Eben 🕶 + Isi 🍁

[9:43 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

Even so, Zeydein continued to support the tree with his abilities- supplementing the nutrients and resources it was using up. He hated to see a tree in this state, but he'd do anything he could to help it. @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[11:24 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

When the powers were returned, nothing seemed to happen to the tree at first. It remained the same, but Zeydein would be able to feel the sudden burst of intense natural magic energy in it, and it was like the tree was growing rapidly, but not outwardly... it was like it was expanding inwards, creating a vast space, too large to comprehend inside the immobile, unchanging trunk of the pine. He might be able to sense something else... Use ur powers, plant boy, see if you roll any better than last time!

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[11:26 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

Zeydein was definitely interested in whatever was going on with the tree. He kept his hands on the trunk, and tried to figure out what was happening inside that vast, incomprehensible space...

@Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[11:27 AM]sketti | Eben 🕶 + Isi 🍁:

Isi was still watching, not having really noticed the change except for the...shift? In the tree?

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄) @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[11:30 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

It would seem like... there were more trees. And not only trees; Zeydein would be able to sense all sorts of plant life. Ferns, shrubs, moss, grasses, reeds... They seemed to be far, far away, but if Zeydein could sense the state they were in, he would feel the intense yearning, the calling, the desperation with which they were reaching out to something... to this particular pine under Zeydein's hands.

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[11:32 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

Zeydein's brow furrowed, but he didn't say anything. He kept near the pine tree, and waited a second. @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[11:40 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

Nothing else seemed to happen for a while longer. It was hard to hear over the blowing winds of the sea, but there was a hum in the branches, like a gust of wind rushing through the needles, making it sound like a deep breath.

Not long after, some of the needles, and small twigs at the ends of the branches subtly twitched, one by one, erratically and abruptly. It was easy enough to miss, or shrug off as a trick of one's eyes.

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄) @sketti | Eben 🕶 + Isi 🍁

[11:44 AM]sketti | Eben 🕶 + Isi 🍁:

It was at this point that Isi stood up, not focused on the tree whatsoever. She muttered something to Zeydein about how she figured he knew what he was doing, and headed off, likely to look for Yuga.

(Wanted to leave Taisto and Zeydein alone lol)

[11:49 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

Zeydein definitely noticed the movement of the branches- something easily mistaken for movement of the wind, but it couldn't be. There was something happening... @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[11:54 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

(Oh, Isi wanted to give the tree and Zeydein some... privacy 😏

JOKIN djsdjsk 😂 )

[11:54 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

(ASDFKJASDHG)

[12:00 PM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

Indeed, something was happening. Slowly, subtly, the tree moved more: Now the larger branches were swaying gradually back and forth, still easily mistakable for the wind cradling the tree, but the rhythm was off. No, it was becoming clear that the tree was moving on its own, slowly, painfully slowly, but as time passed, more and more of it began twitching and reaching out, like stretching its branches.

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[12:02 PM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

Yup. Something was definitely happening. Zeydein pulled away his hands- it was getting hard to hold onto the tree now that it was moving... @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[12:12 PM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

Zeydein might have not been able to do much for the tree anymore, since its structure had been turning less plant-like for a while now, and more... clay-like, or rock-like.

The movements of the tree were becoming less subtle, but they were still uncontrolled and clumsy. It shook, its needles rustling. It slowly straightened up its branches, reaching them out in different directions, and scrabbled about, like a person in a dark room, trying to feel their way ahead. One of its branches brushed Zeydein in passing, and suddenly all the branches started reaching towards him instead, still slow and shaky.

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[1:24 PM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

Zeydein, instinctively, reached his hands back out to the tree, placing his hands on the branches like he was giving an awkward handshake. @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[11:13 PM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

Suddenly, the branches reaching out to Zeydein moved faster, lunging at him and wrapping around him like a bunch of constrictor snakes. They pushed him roughly against the boat wall behind him, tightening their grip an him. The trunk of the tree started shaking and moving as well, clumsily swaying and partially collapsing on the floor, like a wounded, exhausted animal trying to stand and failing.

And then the voices appeared. Quietly at first, like a distant cacophony of storm sirens, but it built up, and erupted from the tree, deafening and full of rage; the voice of countless different animals screaming.

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[11:14 PM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

Well... that sure was happening!! Zeydein, being the guy he is, didn't say anything, but his shock and nervousness were clear on his face. @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[11:24 PM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

Sure is happening! More branches reached out towards him like bony hands and grasped onto him with their long, wooden fingers. The tree trunk leaned closer, and sounds of snapping and breaking wood accompanied the screaming voices. It twitched, and seemed to change shape, or at least attempt to. When part of the tree trunk was close to Zeydein's face, the bark seemed to form a sharp-toothed mouth, pushing out of the tree like a canid muzzle, opening its jaws wide, revealing a black void within, and the screaming grew louder.

A pair of shimmering green spots of light ignited inside the maw, and lit something vaguely face-like in their sickly green glow. The face was bony, and hardly human-like.

Now, although there were no words, Zeydein would be able to tell what the voices were screaming:

"WHERE IS HE?! WHERE IS THAT FILTHY, FLEA-RIDDEN HAIRLESS SORRY EXCUSE OF AN APE?!"

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[11:26 PM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

Zeydein took a moment to take all that in, definitely having to process who Taisto was talking about. It was fairly easy to figure it out.

"Yeonaixho is dead." @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[5:11 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

"DEAD?!" The voices screamed, and the branches tightened their hold a little. There was a small pause, before the screaming continued.

"YOU'RE LYING!"

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[7:50 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

Zeydein grunted as the branches tightened around them. "He is. I promise. I would not lie about that. I am not like him." @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[8:19 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

The voices snarled, hissed, chattered their teeth and growled, the tree snout's teeth growing sharper and longer, drawing closer to Zeydein's face...

Then it stopped, quieting down, and the jaws slowly closed. The tree was still for a moment, as still as only a tree can be, until the wood above the muzzle morphed, like something was trying to push out of the trunk. A face emerged, or at least the fame of one, forming some sort of wooden animal skull, though it was hard to tell which animal's it was supposed to be. The empty eye sockets gave on to the black void, two green specks of light shining through like pupils.

"YOU..." the voices growled, quieter now, the skull drawing even closer, almost touching the man's face. It stared, subtly moving, like it was taking in Zeydein's scent, even though it clearly wasn't breathing.

"I know you."

The fleshless face stared into the dedicant's eyes for a moment longer, like pondering where they had met, why he was familiar.

"You saved my life. Twice."

There was words now, though not English. Zeydein would still understand them, and also recognize Taisto's voice.

The branches let go, loosening from around Zeydein, though they were moving very slowly again.

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[8:22 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

Zeydein was happy to be let go, but didn't run away from the tree, or even back away from it.

"It was the least I could do. You were suffering, and I could help. Naturally, I did so. Unlike some, I actually do try to help those who are in need, rather than put them in more danger." @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[8:43 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

The tree skull didn't reply, the animal voices now gone quiet. The branches slowly withdrew from Zeydein, as the greed specks of light inspected the man.

"There is no reward great enough for you. You have saved thousands of lives, without knowing", Taisto finally said, and tilted further away from Zeydein. It seemed like he was falling in slow-motion, creaking and pieces of bark snapping off, until his trunk thudded onto the boards, and the skull-face merged back into the wooden exterior.

The tree shook, its branches slowly and helplessly flailing and reaching towards the sun lamp this time. The roots still clung to the soil, and thirstily absorbed nutrition and water. The wood was groaning, and clearly attempting to morph once again, but it seemed painfully difficult.

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[8:49 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

"It is an honor, to hear that my meager efforts have saved so many." Zeydein said.

He noticed the tree's struggle, and reached out towards it. "Do you require more of my help?" @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[8:52 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

"I need to remember... what I looked like..." he groaned. A couple of branches lowered onto the boards as well, mimicking arms, but remained as they were; branches.

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[8:58 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

"I... kind of remember how you looked like." Zeydein offered. @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[9:01 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

The tree trunk slowly snaked, and stretched out.

"You are a human... yes?"

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[9:02 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

"I am." Zeydein nodded. @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[9:06 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

"Humans... are difficult... could I take reference from you?"

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[9:07 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

"Oh- sure. Of course." Zeydein agreed with a nod. @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[9:09 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

One of the branches that lay next to the trunk, shifted closer to Zeydein.

"Could you... hold my hand?" he asked, as if he had one.

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[9:10 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

"Of course." Zeydein repeated, and put his hand on the branch. @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[9:21 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

The branch felt very tree-like with its flaky, paper-thin bark. It was cold, and rough in Zeydein's hand, and it was shaking. Slowly, the twigs and pine needles got absorbed into the wood, and the length of it reduced. With quiet snaps and crackles, it changed its shape, gaining more humane structure. The bark smoothed out, becoming soft, and the remaining twigs slowly formed into fingers, that then linked with Zeydein's. The hand seemed a little awkward, still, a little too big, fingers a little too long, and the skin was gray, but it was a good start.

Next, the rest of the branch started forming into an arm, slowly but surely.

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[9:47 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

Yeah, this was weird. In true Zeydein fashion, he did not offer any verbal reaction. @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[10:52 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

Sorry Zeydein this is what treesitting is, you gotta hold their hand sometimes when they try to remember what they're supposed to look like.

The transformation was painfully slow as ever. The tree trunk slowly smoothed out and widened to form the torso. The roots tangled together to form legs. The head seemed to be surpriseingly the hardest part to form. From the shoulders, the trunk continued thick and narrowed down into the treetop, which swayed from side to side, like a blind snake. It searched for its form for a long time, morphing and reshaping itself over and over. The face took even longer.

Once Taisto ran out of energy and will to keep changing, he lay face down on the deck, still not quite human, but not a tree anymore. He had his thin fur again to cover his gray skin, his wolf tail and wolf ears on their proper place. However, his proportions were still off in an uncanny way; his limbs were too long, as was his neck, and a couple of branches still jutted out of his nape like oddly placed antlers. Long pine needles grew out of his tail, and the pattern on his back was different than it used to be, though Zeydein wouldn't know it.

Most of the charred fabric had broken off of him now, his fur being the only thing covering his body. He lay motionless and quiet now, not even breathing.

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[10:54 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

Taisto was still tree-like enough that Zeydein at least kind of knew what to do. Kind of. A bit. He crouched down next to Taisto's nearly-human form, and put a hand on his shoulder. "Hello?" @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[10:58 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

Taisto grunted in reply. He sounded much more earthly and mundane than before.

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[10:58 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

"Are you doing alright? Is there anything I can do to help?" Zeydein offered, his voice flat, but reassuring. @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[11:00 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

"I'm just taking a break..." Taisto sighed.

"Thank you, though..."

He was silent for another moment or two, before talking again.

"He's dead, huh...?"

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[11:03 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

Zeydein nodded. "Just tell me if you need anything."

He sighed. "I am almost certain that is the case. Before I left, he... informed us all of his plans." @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[11:05 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

"His plans...?" Taisto inquired, still face flat on the floor.

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[11:06 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

"To take his own life." Zeydein supplied. @Twig | Taisto + Yuga (suicide tw)

[11:07 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

Taisto made a surprised grunt, and the needles in the remaining branches rustled.

"The fuck? After all that, did he feel so much remorse?"

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[11:11 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

Zeydein scoffed- Not at Taisto's question, but at what he knew the answer was. "No. It wasn't remorse. He was a selfish man, who selfishly decided to kill himself." @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[11:13 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

Taisto didn't understand that, but he often didn't understand humans. He let out a small growl.

"That's... not satisfying... I wanted to reduce him into the smallest shreds of meat", he growled darkly.

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[11:17 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

"It's not." Zeydein agreed. "That man took over twenty years of my life. And in the end, he got everything he wanted." @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[11:22 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

Taisto growled again, shifting on the floor like he was going to try and sit up, but ultimately remained prone.

"That bastard. I'd curse him if I had that power here", he snarled.

"...I'm sorry for you. I can't help, but I wish I could..." he added quieter.

"At least it's over... and we can go home."

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[11:25 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

"Take your time," Zeydein cautioned as Taisto attempted to sit up.

"You don't need to apologize. It's no one's fault but his."

He glanced away at Taisto's final comment. "Yes. Home." @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[12:10 PM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

Taisto fell quiet again for a moment. If he was better at picking up tone, he might have noticed Zeydein not being as eager about the topic of home as he was. Unfortunately, it went unnoticed.

"How long... was I out?" he asked instead with a small groan.

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[12:11 PM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

"It's been a few days." Zeydein said. "I tried to take care of you as best I could while you were... out. It became difficult when the others moved you." @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[12:16 PM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

"...I see. It's good it hasn't been longer than that. ...And thank you, again, I wouldn't have survived without you."

Taisto lied still for a moment longer, before he gathered his strength, and slowly pushed himself up from the floor, sitting on his knees, belinking in a daze. He put a hand on one side of his face. That face looked very different than it used to. It was a human-esque face with wolfish features, like before, but the features and proportions were different.

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[7:50 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

"You're Welcome." Zeydein nodded. He didn't seem to have much else to say, nor was he particularly unsettled by Taisto's features. He let them both have a moment of silence. @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[9:50 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

Taisto gathered himself for a moment longer, before he nodded and spoke.

"If there's anything I can do for you in turn, don't hesitate to ask..."

He took his hand off of his face, looked his palm for a moment, before glancing around himself.

"Uh, where's..." He took a stiff, charred piece of clothing between his fingers, ripping it off of his arm.

"...Well shit."

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[9:52 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

"Oh- your belongings." Zeydein suddenly nodded sharply, and handed a small box to Taisto. It was labeled with his full name, and was large enough to hold everything he'd brougth with him, save for the clothes he'd been wearing when he transformed. "Here." @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[10:00 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

Taisto looked grumpily at the trips of burned fabric that had broken off of him when he had transformed, and he shifted them around. He lifted his head when Zeydein offered him the box.

"Oh, thanks.." he sighed, and took the box, still looking miffed. He dug through his stuff, and pulled out some clothes to wear. While he was dressing up, he grumbled:

"I had a color swatch I used to match my skin colour with in my pocket. Guess I don't anymore. And some gifts I got from friends. Mrmgrmmrm... I sure hope I have some picture of my face in my phone..."

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[10:03 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

"The objects in your pockets should've been saved." Zeydein offered. @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[10:09 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

"Oh?" Taisto glanced up again, and his tail lifted a little. He rummaged through the box, and his tail slowly started wagging when he found a glass feather and a volcanic rock.

"Good, they are here." He looked at the items for a moment, before going back toessing up. He got himself and his shirt tangled up in the branches that still grew from his neck, before he managed to retract them.

Finally, he was clothed again, and looked at the pants legs and sleeves a little confused, since they seemed to be too short.

"Huh..."

At this point, he also spared a moment to look at his surroundings, finding they were on the boat again. His eyes widened a little, and he looked over the dark sea.

"Oh, we are already on the way."

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[10:40 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

Zeydein seemed... pleased? that Taisto was dressed again? It was hard to read him. "Yes. It should only be a few more hours til we reach the Ninjago City docks again." @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[12:06 PM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

"Good", Taisto grunted, digging through his stuff again. "Going to get homa as fast as possible and pretend this never happened", he huffed, and grumbled under his breath: "Paska reissu mutta tulipahan tehtyä."

He found his passport. Probably the most important reference image he could get, and used his phone as a mirror, trying to match his features to the passport photo.

"Where are you going after this?" he asked absentmindedly.

(Shit trip but at least it was something.)

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[12:08 PM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

"I'm not sure. I... don't have many people, outside the church." Zeydein confessed, voice distant. @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[12:13 PM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

"Oh. Right..." Taisto glanced at him with furrowed brows, before continuing what he was doing. He was quiet for a while, contemplating.

"Hmm. I owe you, and honestly I'd feel bad if you were left on nothing after everything you did for me. So... If you want, I could house you, at least until you figure something out. You would have to move to Europe, though", he said slowly, like he was still processing the thought himself.

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[12:16 PM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

Zeydein's eyebrows lifted, and he, too, took a moment to contemplate this.

"That's... very kind of you to offer." He said softly, unused to asking things for himself or accepting such generous offers. "Moving is no issue to me- every place would be about the same as the next. Are you certain?" @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[12:33 PM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

Taisto listened to Zeydein's reply, but kept his eyes in the phone screen and the passport, making sure he'd gotten everything right, before putting the items away, He turned to look at the other man again, and nodded.

"Yes", he started steadily. "It won't be comfortable, I'm afraid, my apartment is small and messy... Hm... My grandmother has a bigger apartment. She could possibly have you, especially if you'd be happy to help her around with tasks. I'm sure she'd appreciate the company." Taisto smiled faintly.

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[12:37 PM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

"It'd be more comfortable than the alternative, I'm sure," Zeydein laughed dryly. "I'd be fine with either option, honestly. I'm very good with the typical household work- cleaning and laundry and whatnot. I'm also... rather good with plants, obviously." @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[12:41 PM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

"That's good. Maybe I could get you a job from the garden center where I work", Taisto smiled a bit more. "And you're welcome to my forest anytime. The creatures there will be as grateful to you as I am."

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[12:42 PM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

"I'd appreciate that." Zeydein nodded. "And I would like to visit your forest someday, too. That sounds nice." @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[6:49 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

"Then it's settled", Taisto's tail swayed a little from side to side, brushing the deck boards.

Then, he went back to inspecting his hands and wrists, and then started painstakingly try and stand up, taking support from the railing. He felt very stiff still. He hadn't moved in a couple of days, after all, and felt like part of him was still made of wood.

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[7:31 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

"Don't over exert yourself." Zeydein cautioned. @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[7:35 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

"Ah, it's... fine", he leaned his waist on the railing, gripping the wood tightly, and took a moment to regain his strength.

"...Hmm... I think I'm still too big", he concluded, looking down at the floor and his exposed ankles."

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[7:36 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

"You are a bit.... lanky in this form." Zeydein offered. @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[8:20 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

"Mhmm, I see, yeah", Taisto nodded, and put a hand on his chin in thought. It took a moment for him to figure out how to fix it, and a mirror would have definitely helped, but eh, it didn't have to be perfect anyway. He tried to match the length of his limbs with his clothes, and that seemed to do the trick.

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[8:24 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

"That looks better." Zeydein nodded. @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[11:00 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

"Does it?" Taisto hummed, tilting his head and looking down at himself critically. "Hm, I guess it will do." @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[2:31 PM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

Zeydein nodded, but didn't reply. He let his gaze drift to the distant horizon. @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[4:57 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

Taisto sighed quietly, arranged his belongings a bit, and slowly made his way to the wall of the boat, and sat down again, leaning his back on it. He wasn't trying to strike up a conversation, like he normally would have. He sat in silence, that wasn't uneasy but it wasn't comfortable either. He looked somewhere in the darkness of the sky with tired eyes, a slight furrow on his brows and a light pout on his lips. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

[7:46 AM]innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄):

Zeydein was content with the silence. He didn't seem particularly relaxed, but he wasn't as tense as he'd been the other times Taisto had seen him. @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

[11:32 AM]Twig | Taisto + Yuga:

Taisto didn't break the silence. He probably wouldn't talk before the boat would dock. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)