avalononline | [Text; UN: DemonsandSugar]

They're liars.

Okay. I have to meet him. Marbles? Really?

I don’t dislike sweets, but I’m not a big fan of them, either. They make me miss someone. [Irrelevant] Yeah. They’re mostly illusions, but he loves to give gifts. I’ll bring him along.

Are you sure you're human?

Oh? Who?

[Is it, though?]

Crafty and charming! I like his style.

Is he more like a fish or an octopus?

yes, unfortunately. My girlfriend. More like a plesiosaur

Being a human sucks.

Who is she?

A what?

You can say that again Aurora. She was mine and Zuko’s girlfriend. He’s not answering my texts, so I think he’s upset about her leaving this world too.

[If only that were the case.]

Think big lizard with seal paws and no scales, and a long neck.

Edited 2022-03-01 03:31 (UTC)

Uh oh, you're miserable, huh.

Oh Aurora? Yeah I talked to her a few times. She was pretty strict with me.

[But that had amused him.]

I'm sorry. I hope she comes back quick!

Sounds awesome! I might take him from you.

Yeah. And you’re stuck freezing in a tree. Strict? How so? She probably won’t. You can try.

[Gokudera is at the edge of the forest, walking along it and looking up to find the tree containing a man. Ah, that’s the one. He stops and looks at the familiar, struggles to not get distracted by it and try petting it, so adjusts his bag on his shoulder and shouts up.]

You’ve got to get down from there, first!

And? I'm usually miserable.

She didn't like my ideas about poisons.

How do you know?

I will~

[Ying is very fluffy and charming. She huffs and paws at Gokudera's feet. Help her get him down! She has been trying for so long!]

... [Xue Yang peers down from his perch and sucks in a sharp breath. He is paler than a ghost and he grabs his arm - the memory of losing it has made him feel rather...sick. But he knows he can't stay up here. He has to face...what comes next.]

I know that. [Gritting his teeth, he pushes himself out along the branch before dropping down. Jiangzai helps him make the landing soft, but as he straightens his posture, it's clear he's shivering.]

You don’t have to be.

[Gokudera pockets his phone, looks down at Ying, and gives her a nod before stooping to gently offer his hand in greeting for her to… sniff? Does she like to be petted?

He gives a small start when the other lands, sighs at the familiar, and grabs the cloak from out of his bag.]

Here.

[Gokudera offers it.]

It’ll hurt more if I expect her to come back. It’s easier to try and move on.

[Though actually, none of it is easier.]

Good job, Ying.

[For keeping an eye on Xue Yang and demanding he gets help.]

[Doesn't he? After all he has done, yeah. He deserves to be miserable. But Gokudera is nice to say otherwise.

Ying sniffs those offered fingers and then rubs her cheeks against them, blue eyes closing. She's a good girl who likes pets, yes please.

Xue Yang brushes himself off and catches the cloak, throwing it around his shoulders.]

Thanks. [He tries to put himself in the other's place. No, he couldn't move on.] You're strong if you can. She would be proud of you.

[Ying's tail wags at the praise.]

[Gokudera doesn’t think he deserves to be miserable, but also doesn’t know what he’s done. He just… tries to help others when he can’t help himself. He can only be stuck feeling sorry for himself for so long.

Aurora would not want him to be feeling so down. She’d be understanding and try to help him, and he has to consider that even if she isn’t here… he has to do his best.

Because he still has Zuko. ~~Or so he thinks~~

He pets Ying gently, then turns his hand to scratch around ears and her chin if she’ll allow, just trying to find what affection she likes best.]

Good girl. Were you cold too?

Hmm…

[He looks up at the other saying Aurora would be proud of him. Gokudera’s eyebrows knit some as he swallows down the sudden wave of pain that washes over him. It’s not as easy as it looks… dealing with the fact that she’s gone.

Gokudera reaches into his bag and pulls out what looks like a toy sea monster. He sets it down, then grabs some kibble and offers it, curious if Ying wants to try. If not, it’s okay.]

Here, this is Larry.

[The plastic toy dinosaur doesn’t move for a moment, but then its little head tips up and it blinks watery black eyes at Xue Yang.]

[Xue Yang has spent the majority of his life being bitter and vengeful. Since Xingchen gave him a true second chance - without Xue Yang screwing it up with his cruelty and lies - his bitterness has diminished a lot. He has even learned...empathy.

Which is why he doesn't give Gokudera a hard time. Ying tilts her head for all the scritches, lifting her front paw adorably. She only bites one person and that's because he deserves it. Her charge is naughty.

And yes, she is cold. She puffs out a cloud of huffy breath.]

Ying, don't be so pitiful. [Xue Yang sticks out his tongue when the raccoon dog barks at him. The toy - Larry? - helps end their little argument and both Xue Yang and Ying stare - the latter sniffing Larry's face. Hello?]

He is amazing. [Every child's dream! Kind of like a dragon, but so different!] Nice to meet you, Larry~

[Gokudera is enamored with Ying. Look at how cute she is! And soft, and she likes attention, so he’s going to give her more. When she moves to sniff Larry, he pouts and watching his familiar.

Larry goes rigid out of nerves, and suddenly being put on the spot. But at being called amazing, he focuses his attention back on Xue Yang, blinks one eye, then the other before letting out a little sneeze, opening his mouth, and dropping out a marble before nudging it forward.

A gift.

Gokudera recoils slightly. It looks like the marble is bigger than Larry’s head. He picks the creature up with a gentle scoop, and Larry’s fins flap about.]

C’mon you don’t have to stay so little.

[Larry starts to grow, and the appearance of plastic fades away as definition in those fins appears. His eyes are still glassy and black, no idea where he’s looking, and he’s placed back down, now about the same size as Ying and getting bigger.]

There. Better?

[Larry slides on his belly in a strange heave of motion, much like a walrus, and elongates his neck so he can STARE Xue Yang face-to-face.]

Weirdo.

[Gokudera reaches out to run a hand along Ying’s back. This familiar is way cooler than Larry.]

[Ying is one of a kind! He will even find that she likes her belly rubbed. But first! Weird new monster familiar. She must investigate.

Xue Yang crouches down and grins when a marble is offered to him. How can he say no? He picks up the gift and reaches out to rub over Larry's head.]

You can grow? Let's see it.

[Ying flounders cutely, gasping when Larry gets so big, yipping in surprise! Xue Yang, however, is utterly delighted.]

I love him.

[How cool would it be to ride on his back in the water?! Ying closes her eyes and wiggles her ears, calming under Gokudera's hand. There have been far too many surprises today and she feels overwhelmed (as any good mother would)!]

Edited 2022-03-01 13:27 (UTC)

[Gokudera is just gong to keep watching and idly petting Ying, because he can’t help himself. But while she’s so distracted, there are no attempts at belly-rubs.]

He gets bigger, too. Bigger than any horse I’ve ever seen.

[Larry opens his mouth to say something and instead a weird wobbly noise erupts, like a giant metal sheet is being bent and waved about.]

[She eventually sits on Gokudera's feet, paws tucked under her fuzzy chest and belly. Is this the best place to sit? Yes.

Xue Yang laughs and approaches Larry, holding out a hand to stroke his long neck. Aw! Listen to him try to sing~]

That's helpful! Does he let you ride him?

[Sorry, someone is having their dream of owning a dragon flash before their eyes.]

[She can stay there all day if she wants.

Larry wiggles and slides closer, rearing up and then trying to place his head on Xue Yang’s shoulder.]

Sometimes.

[She tips her head back to watch her new friend. Hullo!

Xue Yang beams and forgets all about being confused and cold. He throws his arms around Larry giddily.]

You have the best familiar! Just find him a sea~

Oh I have, but he comes right back. I think he gets lonely out there.

[Larry enjoys the embrace and makes a content gargling noise.]

Ying, want to trade?

Poor boy. [He knows about loneliness. The silly sound has him chuckling again. Xue Yang likes animals - though Ying will tell Gokudera the sad story of how he neglects her (which he doesn't) - more than people. They act on their instincts and there's nothing good or bad about that.]

Ying would never leave me! [He pouts around Larry's neck. Ying yawns as if she is bored. Nope, sorry, her pup needs her or he will do something incredibly stupid. But Gokudera is welcome to visit!]

[Gokudera prefers animals over people as well. They make far better companions, and he hasn’t had any of them hurt him the same way. He watches Larry appreciate the hug a little longer before pulling back and turning to inspect Ying by bumping his head against her side.]

And Larry would never leave me. They both seem friendly and loyal, so we’re very lucky.

[Larry is a sweet boy and Xue Yang has no qualms about spoiling him whenever he sees him. But Ying has been...really good to him. Stable, loyal and her relationship with Xingchen's Xiu is adorable.]

I need to visit him. A lot. What does he like to eat?

[Ying blinks and then starts licking over Larry's face.]

He mostly swallows up debris from the bottom of the lake and sea, but I don’t know if he’s actually eating it.

[Its usually rocks, marbles, and in the rare cases, pearls.

Larry opens his mouth REALLY wide, as if his jaw is unhinging. Then he twists his head, follows with his body, and flops onto his side, playing dead.]

Larry, what the fuck?

[Gokudera is caught off guard that he snorts a little laugh, hand to hide his mouth

[Are any of those...nutritious? He is about to ask just that when Larry...dies?! Xue Yang stares and then smirks.]

Is that how he does it? Just keeps his mouth open?

[But since this is...unexpected...]

Need me to resurrect him? I've got the magic for it~

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