[The problem with knowing Ren is that there's a point where she decides, yes, she's simply going to drop by and no, knocking isn't necessary. When you want to see someone, you just see them. That's all there is to it. And that simple thought is what drives her to the Knight's humble abode, only announcing her presence with the quiet hum they might hear before she just sorta casually makes her way inside. Please don't stab her.]
[ The house is easy to find, in part because it's the only house with a curved roof that looks suspiciously like a shell.
The Knight has mercifully become less paranoid about people just dropping in, in part because they're living with someone else now. They still startle a bit when Ren walks in and announces her presence, but it's definitely not grounds for a stabbing, just a little wave.
It's also because their hands are currently occupied in a completely different task. The little bug is surrounded by stones they've cut to size with their nail, and is apparently in the middle of etching strange patterns into one of them.
There are many, each with unique designs. Ren is more than welcome to look at them, if she wants. ]
[There's her tiny friend. She responds in kind, offering a small wave in return, before abruptly dropping to the ground by them. Is this arts and crafts time? Because she's always game for that, but instead of being nosy and horrible, she quietly watches them work. It reminds her of the little ring they gave her-one that's wrapped around her finger to this day.]
[ They pause to scratch in the ground. One day they'll get a notebook.
journal to remember
They shuffle over a bit and pick up one of the stones from the ground, offering it to Ren. It's a fairly accurate rendition of her, surrounded by strange patterns and symbols not unlike the ones on the ring they'd given her for her birthday. ]
[This is vastly different from the journal that Shion doodles in, but somehow it's a method she understands better. Her doodles take the form of people, places, things she loves and wants to remain, even if her concern isn't remembering. It makes her happy to see them and their chalked bodies on rocks and walls. That's all. So she gets it, in a way.
Her fingers go over the little grooves, touching the flower and what, look looks like, her face. This is definitely-
It doesn't matter how many times they say the word journal. This is a treasure.]
It's pretty-very pretty!
[She'll give it back, promise, it's just so neat.]
[ The Knight seems pleased by her evaluation, by her happiness. They...struggle with depicting hair, sometimes. It's not really a thing bugs have.
They shake their head, at the question, and scratch in the dirt.
do this to make a record
save precious things
want to show others important memories
If - when - they are gone, these things will remain. These stones will outlast them, like the ruins on this island outlasted the people who once lived here. These journals are monuments to what the Knight considers most important, what they want to preserve.
It is a declaration of someone's story, the Knight's perception and memory of them. They were here. They were precious. ]
[To see her face on a memory-on something precious and important makes her pause. Because she doesn't belong on a treasure like that, no matter how much it warms her heart to see.
But a part of her is-
Gripping the rock tight in her hands because she's happy. To go from a world where she was destined to die alone, unknown and forgotten, in some dingy lab as a failed experiment to-
A place where a small, kind hearted creature draws her face a rock to be remembered. Because even if she's not precious or important-someone thinks she is. It makes her wonder, briefly, if they know Taako and Lup. Not that they would want to see her again, after she's exposed, but-
It doesn't matter. Not right now. And she looks among their collection and asks instead]
[ They ponder this question, before lifting up another rock. This one - is mostly blank. They haven't put much thought into it yet, so it's not detailed as the other ones are.
still thinking about what to put
help me ?
They are not good at thinking of themselves, about what describes them in more than their accomplishments, their nature. Ren may have more insight into this than they. ]
[This is it. This is what she was born for. This is what makes all that pooled together money and scientific experimentation worth it.
She presses her finger into the ground and starts to doodle their little face, turns to look at the rock as a reminder of how they've made their designs, and begins her terrible creation.
There's a ring of stars around their small, horned head and a tiny sword to the side. Then there's what looks to be a crayon?? on the other side and at the bottom, she makes a few flowers appear. It's not Good. Definitely not up to par compared to the rest of their work, but it's a start? She's helping?? It's fine.]
[ They can easily recognise the other symbols, except...one. It looks a little like a crown, like the flower crowns Ren is so fond of. They are not sure why that is.
They peer at what she's drawn, and point at the ring of stars (careful not to disturb her art), looking up at her inquisitively.
[They're in a house and it's not quite night, so it's impossible to truly point them out, but she still holds a finger upwards like the glittering stars are already twinkling above them.]
Almost without thinking, they touch a small hand to their chest like they expect to feel that light inside, whatever Ren sees there. 'Light inside' means something far more sinister to them, even though they know Ren intends it as something positive.
But they don't want to reject that sentiment, so they ask more questions, as always.
stars are good ?
They've never paid much attention to the sky above. It means very little to them, a creature of darkness and tunnels and underground. Something that doesn't belong in the surface world. ]
[There's no way to describe why and her answer may be lackluster, but it's what she knows to be true. The beautiful moon is always surrounded by equally pretty stars-they're around to brighten up dark and terrifying nights. Even if they can't heal a person's loneliness, it helps to always have something to sing to and she did that often to ease the pain of being alone.
She holds out her hands and, if they let her, she's going to gently pluck them from the ground. She's gotta take them somewhere so they can see what she means!!]
[ Oh, they recognise this gesture. They offer no resistance whatsoever to being picked up (they even raise their arms when they're lifted, wheeee) and even to Ren, they're not heavy enough to be an issue. ]
It wasn't her intent, but as she walks out the house, she brings them close to her body for a little hug. It really is a shame they aren't a cat because they would be a great one. Other animals can be good too, she's learning, and it's not like she questioned the Knight's kindness, it's just-
They would make a great cat. That's all.
And once she's outside, she holds them over her head and up towards the sky. Please don't squirm, friend.]
[ The Knight is perfectly happy to be cuddled; when Ren hugs them, they even snuggle against her for a little bit, as long as the embrace lasts.
They are a very well-mannered little bug and thus don't squirm or do anything that could potentially make Ren drop them or fall over (though they would be fine if she dropped them - but it would distress her, they think).
They tilt their head upwards, looking at the sky. They don't feel much of a change, but maybe being a star isn't about changing. It's not like those strange lights in the sky care about what others down here think, or at least - they don't seem to.
Maybe it's just a matter of what someone else sees in you. It's what Ren thinks that matters, then, so perhaps it's fine...though to be referred to as a light is strange, in any capacity.
They're content to just be held there for as long as Ren wishes. It's fine. ]
[When she feels like they get The Point, she brings them back down and sits on the ground, plopping them right into her lap. They can probably reach the ground to write out words. If they can't, she's sure they'll move themself, but-
She's content to sit outside for the time being.]
Do you want to wait for the stars to come out? We can look at them together tonight.
[ They're similarly content to sit in Ren's lap; though they're not used to this particular form of contact, it's certainly comfortable.
They look up at her while she talks, and when she asks a question, they nod vigorously. They're happy to wait here, and just as happy to follow along if she decides to get the urge to wander off.
After a while, they begin to doodle idly in the dirt with their sword. Flowers and masks and plants and all sorts of creatures, things they've seen in their time here. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
late june
I found you!
no subject
The Knight has mercifully become less paranoid about people just dropping in, in part because they're living with someone else now. They still startle a bit when Ren walks in and announces her presence, but it's definitely not grounds for a stabbing, just a little wave.
It's also because their hands are currently occupied in a completely different task. The little bug is surrounded by stones they've cut to size with their nail, and is apparently in the middle of etching strange patterns into one of them.
There are many, each with unique designs. Ren is more than welcome to look at them, if she wants. ]
no subject
You're making a treasure?
no subject
One day they'll get a notebook.journal to remember
They shuffle over a bit and pick up one of the stones from the ground, offering it to Ren. It's a fairly accurate rendition of her, surrounded by strange patterns and symbols not unlike the ones on the ring they'd given her for her birthday. ]
no subject
Her fingers go over the little grooves, touching the flower and what, look looks like, her face. This is definitely-
It doesn't matter how many times they say the word journal. This is a treasure.]
It's pretty-very pretty!
[She'll give it back, promise, it's just so neat.]
Are you scared you'll forget? Is that why?
no subject
They shake their head, at the question, and scratch in the dirt.
do this to make a record
save precious things
want to show others important memories
If - when - they are gone, these things will remain. These stones will outlast them, like the ruins on this island outlasted the people who once lived here. These journals are monuments to what the Knight considers most important, what they want to preserve.
It is a declaration of someone's story, the Knight's perception and memory of them. They were here. They were precious. ]
no subject
But a part of her is-
Gripping the rock tight in her hands because she's happy. To go from a world where she was destined to die alone, unknown and forgotten, in some dingy lab as a failed experiment to-
A place where a small, kind hearted creature draws her face a rock to be remembered. Because even if she's not precious or important-someone thinks she is. It makes her wonder, briefly, if they know Taako and Lup. Not that they would want to see her again, after she's exposed, but-
It doesn't matter. Not right now. And she looks among their collection and asks instead]
Which one has your face?
no subject
still thinking about what to put
help me ?
They are not good at thinking of themselves, about what describes them in more than their accomplishments, their nature. Ren may have more insight into this than they. ]
no subject
She presses her finger into the ground and starts to doodle their little face, turns to look at the rock as a reminder of how they've made their designs, and begins her terrible creation.
There's a ring of stars around their small, horned head and a tiny sword to the side. Then there's what looks to be a crayon?? on the other side and at the bottom, she makes a few flowers appear. It's not Good. Definitely not up to par compared to the rest of their work, but it's a start? She's helping?? It's fine.]
Like that.
no subject
They peer at what she's drawn, and point at the ring of stars (careful not to disturb her art), looking up at her inquisitively.
what does this mean ? ]
no subject
[They're in a house and it's not quite night, so it's impossible to truly point them out, but she still holds a finger upwards like the glittering stars are already twinkling above them.]
It reminds me of the stars.
no subject
Almost without thinking, they touch a small hand to their chest like they expect to feel that light inside, whatever Ren sees there. 'Light inside' means something far more sinister to them, even though they know Ren intends it as something positive.
But they don't want to reject that sentiment, so they ask more questions, as always.
stars are
good ?
They've never paid much attention to the sky above. It means very little to them, a creature of darkness and tunnels and underground. Something that doesn't belong in the surface world. ]
no subject
[There's no way to describe why and her answer may be lackluster, but it's what she knows to be true. The beautiful moon is always surrounded by equally pretty stars-they're around to brighten up dark and terrifying nights. Even if they can't heal a person's loneliness, it helps to always have something to sing to and she did that often to ease the pain of being alone.
She holds out her hands and, if they let her, she's going to gently pluck them from the ground. She's gotta take them somewhere so they can see what she means!!]
no subject
no subject
It wasn't her intent, but as she walks out the house, she brings them close to her body for a little hug. It really is a shame they aren't a cat because they would be a great one. Other animals can be good too, she's learning, and it's not like she questioned the Knight's kindness, it's just-
They would make a great cat. That's all.
And once she's outside, she holds them over her head and up towards the sky. Please don't squirm, friend.]
Now you're a star.
no subject
They are a very well-mannered little bug and thus don't squirm or do anything that could potentially make Ren drop them or fall over (though they would be fine if she dropped them - but it would distress her, they think).
They tilt their head upwards, looking at the sky. They don't feel much of a change, but maybe being a star isn't about changing. It's not like those strange lights in the sky care about what others down here think, or at least - they don't seem to.
Maybe it's just a matter of what someone else sees in you. It's what Ren thinks that matters, then, so perhaps it's fine...though to be referred to as a light is strange, in any capacity.
They're content to just be held there for as long as Ren wishes. It's fine. ]
no subject
She's content to sit outside for the time being.]
Do you want to wait for the stars to come out? We can look at them together tonight.
no subject
They look up at her while she talks, and when she asks a question, they nod vigorously. They're happy to wait here, and just as happy to follow along if she decides to get the urge to wander off.
After a while, they begin to doodle idly in the dirt with their sword. Flowers and masks and plants and all sorts of creatures, things they've seen in their time here. ]