Not In Midgar Anymore...

[plate_builder]

WHO: Reeve Tuesti (and Mini), You
WHERE: Noth and Agrii Ship
WHAT: Child Reeve and his babysitter, Ship Investigations
WHEN: January 12th - 20th for Child, 20th to end of month for Ship
WARNINGS: None

I. Mini C and Mini Me | Noth

You would think that he would know better. Clearly you would be wrong. It happened in an almost predictable manner, with Reeve not paying attention to things going on around him. Nothing quite like not paying attention to what candy you're unwrapping and putting into your mouth.

At least he isn't alone in this. When a bundled up boy comes out of his cabin, layered up to a point where he almost looks around with coats and sweaters and pants, it's at the side of Mini-C. There's probably little doubt as to who this particular child is. The boy, all of six, only an inch shorter than Mini-C's three feet, and holding onto the cat's hand, looks around with the widest eyes.

"The houses are made of candy! Like the story!" the boy pronounces happily, his voice muffled behind his scarf."

"It's nae more than shaped plastic," the cat says patiently.

"What's plastic?" the boy asks, his head twisting back toward the cabin even as Mini is clearly trying to haul him off through the snow toward the cafeteria. At least the boy will be easier to see fed than the man. "And where's Mommy? Mister King of Cats, where's mom? Did you take me? I'm too old to be a changeling!"

Mini gives the most frustrated sigh as he keeps pulling Reeve along.

"Ain't kidnap ya. Ya're jus a prince of cats, see? And ah gotta make sure ma prince of cats is well fed."

"Oh. That makes sense."

II. A Return To Ships | Agrii Ship

It takes a few days for Reeve to get back to himself after the mistake. A while for him to end up back in the familiar form of the Agrii ship. Though this time...

"It's nae like the halls have changed."

Reeve sighs. This time Mini has a lot more words to work with.

"Are we having this fight again?" Reeve asks as he inspects the walls of the corridor. Sure he'd done this before, but this time he's trying to put what he's seen together with other things he's seen in the recent time.

"Well, given last time ya were here ya were a bit of an idiot, yes," Mini says with a smirk on his little cat mouth.

No one did smug like a cat did.

"Maybe I should replace you with a chocobo plush," Reeve threatens.

Comments

Agrii Ship

[beholding_archivist]

"I prefer him being a cat." Jon notes as he steps up to the pair with a small wave of his hand before greeting both with a nod.

Being given another chance to explore the Agrii ship is not something Jon could possibly miss out on. It has been literal years and he will readily admit that being back comes with an oddly nostalgic feeling.

"Feels strange to be back, doesn't it."

[plate_builder]

"This is why ah like him," Mini declares with a pleased swish of his tail.

Which of course makes Reeve laugh as he turns to look at Jon.

"How short his memory is. Last time you and I were here, we were barely into the start of our truce, and he was a bit of a pest toward you, wasn't he? But yes, that suits a cat I suppose."

Being back. That was beyond Strange. Reeve looks around and nods.

"With what we know now, this place is more suspicious."

i

[tyrants_son]

The warlord cuts quite a contrasting figure amongst such whimsical houses, dressed in stark grays, the usual graycoat and light armor he always wears. He trudges through the snow, quite used to such conditions, and indeed here it's rather tame.

His helmeted head lifts at the voices approaching, and so there he stops, standing there like a stone statue as he watches them.

"Mini," he intones once the odd pair draws nearer. His head tilts slightly at the small child in tow.

Re: i

[plate_builder]

The cat looks to Felwinter and nods his greeting.

"Dunnae suppose ya want a wee little laddie," Mini says, nodding toward the child at his side.

"Mister King, I am not that small," Reeve says.

[tyrants_son]

Felwinter looks between the two before settling his attention once again upon the cat.

"Not particularly," he says. "Why do you have one if you are not inclined to keep him?"

[beholding_archivist]

"We have learned a lot, but little has changed." Jon agrees. They are still on Agra-10, the Agrii remain very much trapped in their ship and the Atroma remain that omnipresent mystery and somehow control everything.

"At least the Agrii still seem very... Well. Fond of us. Somehow." Indeed. Somehow they haven't made everything terrible for themselves yet. Though Jon isn't sure it's possible to actually make the Agrii dislike them.

[plate_builder]

"Well, we are their heroes," Reeve says, his voice dry and far from impressed by that. "I don't think they have any other points of reference. We're doomed to being likeable. Especially since we seem to keep coming out of crises."

Still...

"Is it just me, or does Agra-10 seem to dangerous for them, even if we stopped the storms? Volcanoes and interdimensional monsters, and even some of the predatory species..."

[plate_builder]

Mini sighs and shakes his head.

"Reeve ate somethin and it made him all wee," Mini says. "And ah'm responsible for him."

"He's a good keeper," Reeve says, his voice bright if muffled.

[tyrants_son]

"I see," the Exo says, despite not really understanding the situation. How does one turn small from simply ingesting something? This is certainly one of the stranger occurrences he's heard of.

"Well then. You said yourself, you are responsible for him." He nods at the boy then. "He has confirmed this. The matter is settled."

[plate_builder]

Mini makes a very annoyed, half-growling noise at Felwinter. But there's nothing to be done for it. The Exo is right. Mini is responsible.

"Ah did nae sign up ta be a father!" Mini protests.

"But isn't the King of Cats sort of the dad to a prince of cats?" Reeve asks, tilting his head.

[tyrants_son]

Felwinter seems unperturbed by the response. "No one says you have to be. Unless this is a permanent change. Then that may be problematic for you."

He looks at Reeve. "Where were you two headed? It's too cold for you to be standing out here for long."

[plate_builder]

Yes, it really would be. Mini looks horrified at the very idea that this might last.

"Ah'm takin the wee one ta eat," Mini says. It's just a long way to drag a kid through the snow.

[tyrants_son]

The warlord glances back, perhaps to gauge the distance.

"Do you require assistance?" He won't take over Mini's responsibility but he isn't adverse to helping.

[plate_builder]

Actually, that would be helpful.

"Would ya mind carrying the laddie?" Mini suggests. He can plow through the snow himself, but the boy needed help.

[tyrants_son]

"It would be no trouble to carry you both," Felwinter says. "Quicker too, if you do not mind gliding." He glances from Mini to Reeve as he mentions this.

"...although if you think you might not enjoy heights, I would appreciate being told beforehand." He does not fancy hauling another screaming human around.

[plate_builder]

Oh, that would be good. Mini nods.

"Are we going to fly?" Reeve says, eyes wide. "There are chocobos that fly! Are you like the chocobos?!"

"He was curious lad," Mini sighs. "Ah've been fielding questions for an hour. And he likes heights."

"I can climb our apple tree!" Reeve says brightly.

[tyrants_son]

Felwinter takes a moment as he recalls what exactly chocobos are. "No." A beat. "I am better." He can hear Felspring snort in response to that.

"Good. There should be no problems then," he says, nodding back at the two. He gestures for them to come closer, stooping down so he can easily gather them up. Unfortunately he won't be able to add much for warmth or even comfort, he's quite...bony under that coat, but that problem's never occurred to him.

[beholding_archivist]

Jon just sighs, shaking his head. "We have all seen what the planet looks on the inside. And that's not what an actual planet is supposed to look when you dig into it. It's... It reminded me of Coruscant." The city-planet and its thousands of layers of city built around a single planet.

"The more we learn about Agra-10, the more unlikely I find it that anyone has ever truly lived there. Anyone but the plantkin that helped us. They simply don't... Fit into the setup?"

[plate_builder]

Coruscant. That's not a bad comparison. And it makes Reeve think about it more as well. How distressing.

"And yet there are those little... plant creatures. They seem to have adapted to it so well. I think you might be right."

Which means this whole thing is wrong. Giving this world 'back' to the Agrii might be damaging.

"So what do we do?"

[plate_builder]

Mini snorts in response to Felwinter's comment.

"Ya're a good guardian, ah admit that. Saved us plenty. But how are ya better than a big ol' bird?"

The doll still herds Reeve closer. And the boy smiles at being picked up.

"We have two birds," Reeve says, "on the farm. Dad says he's going to have a chick soon too!"

[tyrants_son]

"You will just have to see," Felwinter replies to the cat before he looks at the boy.

"I admit, I do not have much experience with birds," he says, rising slowly once he has them both secured in his arms. "Hang on," he says to give them a heads-up, because once he turns, he gathers himself for a huge leap into the air.

And then, quite impossibly, he continues to drift upwards.

[plate_builder]

"Wow!" Reeve says, gasping but looking delighted. Yes, this was very good and he likes it. "We're flying."

At least he isn't shouting about it.

[tyrants_son]

"Gliding," Felwinter corrects gently. He's thankful the child is being calm at least. Well, perhaps not all people were meant to like heights.

[plate_builder]

"Woah," Reeve says, the word stretched out in that awe-filled way that children sometimes manage. "I could do this forever!"

[tyrants_son]

The warlord makes a sound of what might be amusement. "Unfortunately since it is not proper flight, I will have to set down and take off again. But I can still cover plenty of distance, especially if I have a great enough height to start from."

He nods his helmet towards the barn. "But look, we are nearly there. Much sooner than if you and Mini were to have walked the way."

[plate_builder]

"Yeah, a lot faster," the boy agrees, still full of obvious awe. "You're really cool, Mister!"

[tyrants_son]

"Hn." He's been about these people long enough to get the hang of their strange colloquialisms. "I am glad you approve."

They begin to descend gradually, but rather than aim for the snow-covered ground, Felwinter sets a foot down on the edge of one of the candy-coated rooftops, once again pushing them up into the air so they can drift closer towards the barn's entrance.

[plate_builder]

"Woah," the boy coos again, because he's so shocked.

"You really did that! It's like magic! I've never heard of a spell like this!"

[tyrants_son]

Felwinter gauges the distance as they continue to close it, internally calculating as he descends a little so they won't overshoot their mark.

"It is related to magic of a kind, although I am not entirely sure how to describe it. It manifests in different ways. No spells needed. Something like this is practically natural now. Other abilities require focus."

[plate_builder]

The child is quiet for a moment.

"You're manipulating natural energies to enhance your performance?" he suggests instead.

[tyrants_son]

"Hm. Something of the sort. I am not so certain it can be completely considered natural, but the idea seems credible," Felwinter muses.

Down they drift again, the Exo touching down lightly in the snow just a few feet from the doors to their destination. He stoops to set his two passengers down as well.

[plate_builder]

Well, there it is. Mini breathes a sigh of relief (exaggerated because he doesn't need to breathe of course), and Reeve pauses to give Felwinter a hug.

"Thank you Mister Felwinter!"

[tyrants_son]

The Exo freezes slightly at that, thoroughly caught off guard by the hug. It's quite possible it's the first one he's ever had.

"Ah... You're welcome, of course."

[plate_builder]

Was it? What a shame. He deserves more. But Reeve steps back and smiles.

"Do you need to eat too? You could eat with us."

MIni shakes his head.

"We thank ya, Felwinter. Ah'll get him fed."

[tyrants_son]

"Don't worry about me. I will be fine," Felwinter promises, rising to his feet again. He nods at Mini then.

"It was no trouble. See to it and take good care of him." He gives Reeve a nod as well before turning to make his way through the snow again.

[plate_builder]

"Ah will," Mini says. "It's mah job."

With that the pair wave and turn back to head into the mess hall. Time to get to their meal.