melodiesofkupo | 🐍 [Voice]

Doggone it... I was startin' to like that guy, too.

[Red's got a still-burbling percolator next to him when he answers, though it definitely doesn't stop him from looking bleary and weary. Stupid early morning training sessions.

He rubs his eye as he mutters a response.]

Sure, just lemme see if I can get a harpoon launcher set up...

Oh. I didn't know he was friends with the dog. He never brought anyone home with him.

['The dog,' sure, that's what he'll call Red. He's seen Red before. It's hard not to miss him since they've both been here since the beginning. Furry, smiles too much, clearly isn't a werewolf.

The 'smiles too much' part might be a probl--wait, what?]

The what? I'm fishing, not diving.

Whaddaya mean 'the dog'?! I'm right here, talkin' to you!

[Getting the disbelieving stares was one thing- Red was almost starting to get slightly used to it, almost- but who the heck does this guy think he is? 'The dog'?!]

You know, a harpoon launcher? The kind you use in fishing?

Down, boy. He never told me your name, and you know what they say. If the muzzle fits.

[Dylas rattles off these insults like they're casual conversation, his tone aloof and distracted. For now.]

I don't know! I've never launched a harpoon at anything in my life! There are right ways to go fishing, pup, you can't just make up the rules on your own.

You keep talkin' like that and you're gonna be CATCHIN' harpoons!!

[Speaking of muzzles-- after that string of insults, Red's shouting is practically enough to rattle the iMog's insides. Dylas is probably lucky that Red isn't getting a look at his face...]

What do you do?! Run your mouth and wait for somethin' to come out of the water and smack you?!

That must be pretty weird for you. Usually, people throw the sticks for you, yeah?

[And they just keep coming. This time, there's a little amusement to his voice. That last one had been on purpose.]

Sorry. I didn't know you were that touchy about the whole dog thing. But that's not fishing either. I use a rod most of the time. Or my hands. You can use a spear, too, but only if you're in the middle of the ocean.

[Okay, Dylas. Red's not here to make enemies. He'll begrudgingly accept the apology for now. With a prominent grumble.]

The fish around here must not be very big if you're whacking 'em with a rod and grabbing 'em with your bare hands.

They're about as big as the one's they serve up on plates. You a vegetarian or something? That's...that's a life choice.

[He'll try to respect it. And fail. He's like that.]

It doesn't mean they're easy to catch. The water's they're environment, not ours. And I've fished out ones that're bigger than you.

[He remembers Red from just being out and about, the Leviathan battle...ah, the advantage of being a voice right now.]

It sure ain't my choice.

[What sort of sick, cruel mind would try and give a caninu a vegetarian diet?]

And I've fished out ones the size of airships. How d'ya think you could catch somethin' like that without a harpoon?! Good luck even reachin' those with your paws, let alone actually catching 'em!

[...Beat.]

...But if they're only big enough around here to be served on plates, I guess you could use your hands.

The size of airships, huh. It's nice to dream, I guess, especially where fishing's concerned. I can't really fault you for that.

[Dylas clearly doesn't believe him, but he also sounds impressed at the same time, like he's pleased Red is lying to him about fishing? ~~What the heck, Dylas~~.]

There are all sorts of way to fish. Most people can't use their hands. I'm different. I prefer using rods. Other people use nets or spears. There's no wrong way to do it.

[Except by launching harpoons, obviously.]

Yue...? ( well. that was some news. the last time they'd met that harpy, he'd made it clear that he and dylas were close... )

I see. That's unfortunate, but thank you for letting us know.

( there's a silence on rutile's end, too. )

Where is it you'll be fishing?

[The reply clicks on.

But Dylas doesn't say anything. For a long time, he just thinks about what to say. He considers snapping at them. Just like the furniture he's been breaking all over the house, Rutile would've snapped so easily if they were around. Yet when Yue disappeared and he was alone, he'd wished they were there again.

He fumbles, turning the voice to private.]

Right outside the house.

[In Nakagawa. They've been there before, checked in ~~right?~~. His house is right on the water.]

Don't take too long to get to here. The sun'll be up soon, and...it'll be good to see you.

( my, now isn't that a change of tune...
but rutile won't make a big deal of it, even the most hermit-like of gems needed company now and again. honestly the fact that dylas would say something like that was... heartening, in its own way. )

Then, expect me within the next hour.

( and they make good on their word— approaching the house that yue had invited them to visit, this time coming at dylas' request. in their hands, there's a neatly wrapped package but before reaching the abode, they'll look around outside first to see if they can spy themselves a snake... )

Hello? ( he said he'd be by the water, didn't he? )

Over here.

[Once they poke around the back of the house, he's not hard to spot at all. He's the largest Hero of Light, after all, even if that's only because his biology necessitates it. There's a small river just behind his house and a small dock that he can reach right from his back porch. He picked this house specifically for this purpose, he picked this house specifically so he could fish when he wasn't eating people.

Yakitori is sitting on the dock next to him. Now a fully grown Chocobo erring on the chubby side, she keeps leaning so far over the water that she's going to fall in until Dylas reminds her not to. By lovingly yanking her neck back over the dry wood.]

She gets her habits from Yue, I think. She's an idiot.

[He's sad. He misses that idiot.]

( as they make their way towards him, there's a few gazes back and forth between dylas and his chocobo. aside from the mental image of what a snake on a large-sized bird, rutile was more fascinated by the relationship between the two.

surely, this was the side of dylas that yue had been referring to. )

Taking care of idiots does at least help pass the time.

( and boy could they relate to that. )

Here. For you, I suppose.

( have this package, dylas.
inside the plain box, you'll find it's full of fruit.
you can probably guess, but... )

I had planned on giving it to him, originally.

[He's a bit puzzled by the fruit, and he furrows his eyebrows at it. He eats fruit. Dylas' fangs don't come out unless he tells them to, they would shoot straight through his lower jaw if they didn't. He can eat 'normal' foods, and Rutile knows that, right? ...Right?

But.]

Most people don't put fruit in a box.

[But Rutile isn't a people, so it's hopefully a gentle correction. He sets the fruit on the railing. Yakitori looks at the fruit and makes a disgusted face. Why can't anyone ever bring her cotton candy or hot dogs? She kwehs softly in disappointment.]

You make it sound like you're raising an idiot of your own. That's news to me.

( hearing that, rutile looks down at the box again with a surprised sort of— ) Ah...?

( and then a resigned shrug. they'd made great strides in understanding the humans, and human-adjacents in their time here in vaikuntha— but now and then simple things like this seemed to slip through the cracks of their understanding.

sorry yakitori, they had no way of knowing you ~~also enjoyed cannibalism~~ were a fan of hot dogs, or an attempt may have been made. )

Something like that, you could say. ( but they're a little distracted looking over that fishing equipment, now. or at least, that's what they made it seem like. )

[The video opens to Noodle waving excitedly, a purple party hat tilted on her head. Somehow the white lace bow on her pom stays in place despite the hat and despite how the pom wiggles with each flap of her arm.] HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Can we go fishing with you, kupo?

[She's still flailing happily when the camera turns to capture Gladio, wearing a lopsided red party hat and a grin.] Heard it's your birthday today, Dylas. Figured I'd shoot you a message and wish you a Happy Birthday! [His smile doesn't entirely reach his eyes, but it's better than the hollow ones from earlier in the week.]

If you're willin', Noodle and I would like t'join you on your fishing outing.

H-hey! Keep it down!

[That's one way to wake Dylas up. He's whispering loudly at his iMog, wondering why he's being assaulted with so many colors so early in the morning. Why purple? Why red? It's still dark in his kitchen. He hasn't turned the light on since Monika left.]

That's not...wait, why do you look so different?

[Gladio huffs in amusement at Dylas' aversion to Noodle's enthusiastic well-wishing. For such a little thing she can be quite loud when the mood strikes her.

But his grin fades when he's asked about his new appearance and his eyes focus somewhere off to the side of the camera.]

The Dream Width took me back to my home world ... I was only gone a week here, apparently, but I lived through 10 years on Eos. [A pained look passes over Gladio's face, but he tries to shake it away.]

So now I'm older. Stronger. [Ha. Strong enough to still let his King be killed.] Got more scars.

[A pause.] So about that fishing trip?

[Please, anything but this conversation right now. Not over video chat. Not when his return is still so fresh, when the memories from home still burn behind his eyelids every time he blinks or tries to sleep.]

I'm guessing they weren't happy times, or you just don't like looking like you're older than me.

['Looking like you're older than me' because Gladiolus isn't older than him. Dylas has a few centuries on him yet.

At 'older, stronger' he finishes the thought with a word of his own.]

Thicker.

[See? He can be charming.]

I'm in Nakagawa. If you feel like making the trek, there's a river that runs right behind my house.

[No, they were definitely not happy times. And Gladio has no idea how old Dylas is, but he'll let that comment slide. The one that catches his attention - that draws out a genuine smile and a short chuckle - is "thicker".

Trust Dylas, usually fairly socially-inept at best, to say something honest and kind and pleasant almost out of nowhere.]

Making a day trip to visit a friend for his birthday is definitely something I can do. [He'll have to talk to his boyfriends about it, and make sure they stay in contact throughout the day (to appease both them and himself), but he can't see it being an issue. It's only one day, and coming home to them should be reaffirming for all three of them.]

I'll bring Noodle along too. She'll want to give you her own 'Happy Birthday' and maybe she can try talking some sense into your renegade Moogle.

We're not friends. [He scoffs.] What kind of friend doesn't check in on another friend for ten years? You're practically a stranger now.

[His tone is light, teasing. He's not actually serious about this, it's just easier to give Gladiolus a hard time than to admit he's happy to have some decent company on his birthday.]

She's welcome to come along if she wants, but I haven't seen him in weeks. I think Monika saw him when she stopped by, but I dunno if he's actually around.

[His shrug is practically audible. His Moogle still refuses to talk to him, but, hey, he's a Moogle who basically has to deny that his Hero of Light keeps human flesh in his fridge. It's a lot of stress!]

[Gladio huffs a laugh at that, lips twitching into another half-smile at the Naga's brusque manner and teasing words.] That's why I should come over for your birthday. I've gotta make up for ignoring you for ten years, right?

[When Noodle hears that she's allowed to tag along she squeaks in glee and immediately darts into Gladio's space so that Dylas can see her in the video.]

Thank you, kupo! I can't wait to see your home! [Her little arms wave wildly in excitement as she flitted about in happiness. Gladio just looks at her fondly before replying to Dylas.]

Then I'll just let my boyfriends know where I'm heading and we'll see you soon. And if your Moogle is around we'll try to get him to see sense.

[With a short wave, Gladio ends his reply and gets a few things together before notifying both Ignis and Ravus of his plans for the day. With a kiss to each of them (okay, a few kisses) he departs for Dylas' place. He might not have his own fishing gear, but he can keep himself occupied with some small wood-carving projects if he needs to.]

[All the time Snow had spent feeling jealous of Yue... now he felt like it was wasted. He still might be angry at Dylas, but he'd had no problems with the bird. And... he did understand what losing a friend was like.]

sorry

[Oh. It's him.

Dylas lets the text sit for a long time. He's already done fishing by the time he gets to it.]

What are you sorry for

I don't understand you at all

[Snow didn't even expect an answer. This was surprising.]

For Yue. You were friends. So I am sorry he is gone.

I am sorry you lost your friend, Dylas.

Don't pity me.

Not you.

I wasn't trying to? I assume you don't have many friends.

I'm inviting a few of them over right now. What about it?

Oh. Good. That's good.

i can't tell if you actually want someone to come along or not.

[You're an enigma, Dylas.]

I like to keep things mysterious. It keeps people coming back for more. That and my winning personality.

well fishing is a thing i've been meaning to learn but

uh

i'm sure i could figure it out???

Wait

You actually want to come over?

I thought you were still pissed at me for asking if you ate souls

i am kinda i guess

i;m sick of shit like that in my life

but i also should learn this sometime and no one else is offering, so

Where I'm from, it's what they do

It's not a personal attack

I've met people who eat worse

You feel like coming all the way to Nakagawa?

it just gets tiring getting asked shit like that all the time

i bet you get tired of like, snake related questions. right?

i guess. i mean there's not a lot of fishing happening in Sparks Goldsaucia

I'd be annoyed if it were a human asking me, sure.

Not someone different, like you. Whether or not you like hearing that doesn't matter much to me. I was excited to see someone who might've been like the demons where I'm from.

I hate that city. It's too bright.

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