aterat | [Open] Headache And A Half

Entry tags:

[Open] Headache And A Half

Who; Nida, Open
What; A New Voice In His Head and Chocobo Wrangling
Where; Scientia Household, Markets, Near Chocobo Ranch
When; September
Warnings; Discussion and depictions of talking to voices in your head.

I. The Statue | Scientia Home

It arrives at the door of the house, and just looking at the small statue, Nida knows it's for him. No doubt another one of those little finds that Raimon is good at, something on a list of them that Nida had prepared but never gotten around to coming back for. But he knows it's for him, because he recognizes it from home. Not this little piece, smaller than either of their pets specifically, was exactly like the ones he'd seen at home in pictures, but it was still something of home.

"Now if only I could figure out why you're here," Nida says as he picks the thing up and heads to the kitchen for his morning coffee. He puts the statue on the table to consider where it was almost immediately met by Julia leaping up and nuzzling against it.

"No accounting for your taste, Jules," he tells the feline before sipping at his coffee. What could this be? What could it mean? Why did every bit of his magical senses gifted by Siren scream that it was important?

"Why do you seem so familiar?" he asks after a sip of coffee. Then he reaches out for the thing once more and...

The mug breaks on the floor when he falls. Not that Nida, currently passed out on the floor, really notices.

II. The Arguments | Markets

Nida was learning a lot recently. Like how even a simple walk through the markets on his patrol shift was going to be a headache if he didn't know how to make peace in his own mind.

Oh! Grapes! We should have grapes. You like Grapes!

YOU like Grapes. He doesn't like grapes. There should be no grapes. Raisins instead I think.

Raisins are just boring grapes with wrinkles. Oh, that's why you like them. They're wrinkly. Like you.

And you clearly prefer grapes because they are bloated and much better crushed and fermented like-

"Will you shut up? I'm getting apples and that's final," Nida hissed under his breath, hoping no one else heard him. Which, given his luck, seemed pretty unlikely.

III. The Chase | Near Chocobo Ranch

"Kweh."

"I don't think I can argue with that," Nida said in response to the vocalization of the red chocobo underneath him. The chocobo shied one way and then the other, as if distressed, and Nida of course reached forward to pat her neck gently.

"I know," he says, his voice soft. "I know it's scary. You can smell them too. But I promise, we're here to help the other chocobos. And I won't let any wolves get you. I just need you to do me a favor and help get the other chocobos safe, okay?"

If it gets dangerous, I can shield you!

"That's not a helpful observation, Carbuncle, because she doesn't even know you're here," Nida noted as he nudged the chocobo into motion toward a blur of yellow in the distance. "Maybe save your protectiveness for someone who can understand the words when I relay a message."

And from the looks of it, there might be someone up ahead, astride that other chocobo. Nida raises a hand in greeting to the distant form.

"Well met! You helping out here too?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Considering Mono’s complicated situation with memories in that he had too many conflicting ones born of multiple cycles… It was best to stay away from that topic, anyway.

The boy instead focused on the subject of birds, buns and the spirits in Nida’s head, not eating him so much as fighting over being in him. “So they’re kinda dumb about sharing when there’s enough room for both of em.” He frowned lightly, that really sucked.

But talking? Talking Mono could do, even if he was a little quiet sometimes. His voice was just softer if he spoke for longer, and he was glad to help Nida out. “I can do that. What kinda stuff do you think would help to talk about, or do you wanna just talk about random stuff?”

Very much the best to do so. Nida didn't really mind keeping that from Mono, if it would keep Mono from being upset.

"Yeah," Nida says. "Just about any other spirit from home would be more agreeable, if it comes down to it."

But these two were just opposites, and that made things complicated. So complicated that he has a headache. "Right now it's sort of... tug of war between them. I'm learning how to make them work together, but it's hard to teach."

AS for what, he has to sigh. What would even be good?

"Random," he decides. "Or tell me about your day?"

“Yeah, especially if they don’t wanna get along.” He mused with a little frown. That sucked a lot for Nida, and Mono wondered if there were any way they could help… At least beyond just talking to distract him from their voices. That only worked for as long as Mono was there to talk!

The boy nodded, though. “I can do that. I dunno if my day was that interesting, though. I played at the park with my moth friend again before work today.” Moth friend was apparently still nameless. If the boy ever committed to naming it that would be a win. But he was still wary about the idea of them leaving or disappearing…

Looking at the apples they’d picked out, he continued. “And then we ran messages all over for work.” Which Mono really did enjoy. It was nice to be outside, and he liked that he could do something he was already good at. “Except the old lady that lives on the corner gave me a candy and called me cute again.” He added with a little wrinkle of his nose. Not that he didn’t like the occasional candy reward for a tip upon delivery… But boy didn’t think he was that cute, but some people really thought he was!

It was hard being a little guy.

"Just remember to keep being careful with moth-friend at the house. You know Ebony or Julia might not understand that it's a friend and may be... mean."

Cats were still, at the end of the day, cats. And bugs were things easy to hunt. Especially so big of one. Nida continued to worry about the larger than normal bug. Poor thing didn't need to get hurt and have that upset Mono.

"Old ladies do that all the time. Actually, she called me over for help with something from the Guard. And she gave me candy and called me cute. You never really escape it."

“I promise to!” Mono had a pretty decent idea of what Nida meant, even with the vague comment. “I try to keep an eye on them when we’re around the house, ‘cause I don’t wanna upset them either.” The boy agreed, since he’d been a little nervous about bringing the moth home with him because of that. He was getting better with the idea that he lived there and they wanted him to be happy, but he still sometimes worried about disrupting people’s lives.

The moth had since landed on his head rather than continuing to fly after them, nestled comfortably on top of his postman hat, like an even larger hat. A double-hat situation! “She really likes to stay up in the rafters in my room, I think.”

Mono looked up at Nida in surprise to hear that. “Really? I guess no one is safe from old ladies…” He murmured thoughtfully, and admittedly he supposed that tracked in any world. The teacher at the ‘School’ I the Pale City had been one of the worst things to deal with. But, here? The boy had to admit… “The candy is kinda good, though.”

As if he could disrupt their lives. They love him like a little brother in Nida's case, and like a son in Ignis's. He was family and if he left them behind completely they would both be very sad. Or if they left him.

"That's very smart of her," he says with a nod. "And like me. I love rafters."

Which Mono of course new, and underlined Siren's calling him a Hawk and now there was a new fight and Nida was groaning with his hand to his head. They had to bicker about everything apparently.

"Candy is pretty good. But remember never to accept candy from strangers if they are trying to get you to go somewhere. They are usually lying and trying to catch you. Ask your boss, he'd tell you."

And Mono felt the same about them, at least in his own way given family was an odd concept to him given his lack of experience. He was getting better at understanding it, though… It would probably be a bad day for Aterat if any of the people he’d come to care about disappeared.

“Yeah! I bet she’d be happy to share a rafter, and she makes really nice company. She’s good at listening.” Maybe that was because she didn’t make much sound at all, aside from the odd squeaking sound, but she was calm and looked like she really listened! So that made her a good listener in the boy’s books.

Mono tilted his head at the warning. “Yeah, that’s probably right. If anyone tried to get me to go somewhere, I wouldn’t do it though, even for candy. You gotta be careful when you’re a little guy like me.” He agreed, though anyone who tried would also probably deal with the nasty surprise of a child that tended towards retaliation and stubbornness to get away. “I’m used to running from people, and I’m getting better with my abilities kinda.”

Except it was… slowed down a little, more because he didn’t know how to explain how they worked and without more of an idea of what he could do, people seemed to not be sure how to proceed or help.

"Good at listening is perhaps the most important part of friendship," Nida agrees with a smile. The boy deserves that, because Nida knows his little brother doesn't bother to bring everything to him.

"I'm glad you're very careful," Nida smiles. "And when you're ready, I'm going to teach you how to use that little knife I gave you as a present for helping with the wedding. In case you need it. You're so good with our climbing and running that I know I can trust you to use it only when needed."

It was definitely something Mono needed to work on, but it wasn’t that he doesn’t bother to, so much as he was so afraid of some things that it was still a bit difficult to know how to open up to a lot of people because of it. But he could at least practice with his moth friend for now, and hopefully one day, if people actively helped him work on it, he’d be able to. “I guess it is, at least one of the important parts.”

Mono had kept the knife in a safe place since then. It had been a gift from Nida, so it was special in that way. But it was also very unlike the kinds of weapons he usually reached for. It was lighter and smaller for one. “Yeah? It’s kinda different from what I usually use.” Instinctively, the kid tended to reach for large, heftier things. More so than one would expect a kid his size to be holding on to, honestly. Hammers nearly as large as he was, large pipes, and other long, heavy things.

"What would you usually use?" he asks. Because it was entirely possible that Nida could know how to use the weapon the boy would like and he could give some suggestions on how to train him.

That said, Nida wouldn't be good with big, heavy things. It wasn't his style.

“Um…” He tilted his head slightly up to Nida as he thought about all the things he’d used in his world. “Usually whatever I can find that’s long and heavy, stuff that’s good for hitting things at a distance, y’know?” You didn’t want the porcelain bullies to get too close. Once they sprang at you, it was kind of harder to defend against them. Same went for the things in the hospital, actually. “Like I found a really big hammer once. It worked really good. Sometimes I found pipes that worked, and one time a big axe. Stuff like that.”

Oh man. That's... not his thing. Nida frowns.

"I suppose we can find you a tutor. Some master who knows what they are doing."

Not that he knows who fits that.

“Yeah? Maybe, if you think anyone might wanna. But I don’t mind just doing what I need to if stuff happens, always did before.” The kid still doesn’t really expect people to go out of their way like that. The fact that Illyana and Harry had been trying to help with his abilities was still kind of a new feeling to get used to.

He also didn’t have a weapon exactly. The boy was so used to improvising to survive that he hadn’t really thought about it outside situations where things go dangerously.

"All I care about is finding a way to make sure you're safe."

Sometimes you can get cornered without your powers. So he liked the backups. But he'll accept whatever Mono wants to do.

"Alright, here," he says, turning them toward the guard house. This is where he can sit down and try to deal with the arguments in his head.

“Yeah…? I usually feel safe here.” Most places felt safer than his world, especially after he moved in with Nida and Ignis. The boy could understand the importance of a backup, though. His powers were something he didn’t like to rely on too much… Powerful as the kid was, there was some fear over embracing them fully, even with teachers looking out for him. “But maybe I can find something, I guess.” He might try, at least. He just wasn’t sure who to go to at this point.

The comment gets Mono’s attention, and the boy looked up at the guardhouse. “Oh! We’re here already. Can I do anything for ya now, or is your head gonna be okay?”

"Has Ignis taught you how to make coffee yet?" Nida asks as he pushes the door open. He needs to get something in his head to calm them down.

"I just suppose I need to teach them the value of working together."

“I kinda know how,” He agreed with a little nod. He’d mostly watched since coffee was definitely an acquired taste in the boy’s opinion, so he didn’t care much for making it like he did with hot cocoa. “You want some?” Maybe that would help his head! Adults all seemed to need it in the morning or sometimes the afternoon. At least he’d noticed that much from his serious observation days.

Mono tilted his head a little at that. “Yeah, a lot of stuff is easier when you work with someone else. Plus, it’d be better for you if they could stop arguing.” The boy had his own kind of experience in working with someone. Sometimes it was the only way out of a situation. “I guess it can be kinda scary to trust someone to work together, though.” Which was ironically because of the last person he worked with.

"Yes," he says as he moves to sit down, before gesturing to the coffee kit by the fireplace. And, noticing the fire is out, he sighs, summons a fireball, and sends it at the prepared wood.

There, it's ready to go.

"It would. But it isn't in their nature. Normally back home we'd divide them up, but they also aren't as vocal back home."

“Okay!” He could do this, Mono was pretty sure. If it wasn’t the best cup Nida ever had, it would have to be forgiven by the newbie to making coffee.

Getting to work and copying what he’d observed Ignis do in the mornings before they all left for their respective jobs or arrangements for the day, Mono spoke over his shoulder curiously. “So, if you were back there, you wouldn’t have to have them both in your head at once?” And they didn’t talk as much? Mono wondered why it was so different back in Nida’s home than here.

It was about the caffeine, not the quality.

"Exactly," Nida says. "I work with Leviathan or sometimes Pandemonia instead."

Then Nida would at least get the caffeine once Mono was finished!

“What are they like?” Mono asked curiously, wondering how different they might be from Siren or the Carbuncle one that just got here. Internally, the boy hoped that Nida wouldn’t have to deal with even more in his head someday if there were that many different ones.

"Leviathan is a great sea serpent. She can be motherly. I never expected it, the first time we connected. And Pandemona is..."

How do you describe that one? Nida doesn't even have words for it.

"Fickle. Loud in one moment, a whisper in another. Tempestuous in their moods."

Mono listened very carefully, motherly should be a term he understood well, but it’s really not. He can only go off of what he’d heard about them. “Leviathan liked to take care of you like a mother would?” He tilted his head slightly, hoping he had that right.

The rest of it, well, Mono doesn’t know the word tempestuous, but he can at least guess a little based on the rest of what Nida said. Mostly. “So you dunno one minute or the next what Pandemona would be like. That must be kinda confusing to work with?”

"I don't know that I'd say that much, but she can be that sort of personality."

Which Nida doesn't realize isn't something Mono's familiar with. If he got that, he'd point out that it's sort of like how Ignis is.

"It can, but they also weren't very talkative or prone to interacting with me, so it was fine," he says with a shrug.

“Ohh…” Yeah, Mono doesn’t quite get it. He’d like to say he does, but it’s kind of clear by his expression that he’s not sure of himself here. “I guess I don’t know much about that stuff.” He finally shrugged, before turning back to the coffee and pouring a cup out for Nida.

Once he finished and hurried (carefully) over to hand the man the cup. “Here ya go, one coffee for your head.” He hoped it helped…!

“I guess that would kinda help if they were talking all the time, then.” The boy ended with a tilt of his head. It seemed like all of them were pretty complicated in their own way. He just hoped that the two Nida had in his head learned to get along soon.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject