I'M ON A HORSE

[noasark]

Who: Noa, Kuma the Horse, and You! (And Penguins!)
Where: VARIOUS
When: Throughout August
What: Noa's got a horse, and has to make sure that horse is Cared For
Warnings: Naaah

[RESEARCH]

[There are a number of downsides along with the upsides of Noa receiving his horse again, and among them is the fact that Noa's horse isn't exactly under the care of private staff any more. If anything she's under the care of a few penguins, and himself, and the former of the two can only do so much. Noa never had to worry about this at home- but here? Now?

This is a very real worry, so he can be spotted at a number of book stores and even the library itself, immediately going to either the store-keep or the librarian with a flat request-]

Are there any books on horse care?

[Care to ask what this is about?]

[SUPPLY]

[He has the knowledge, but knowledge only goes so far- specifically it goes as far as a store on the island that he intends to hit with everything he's got. After sorting out what he needs to supplement the fact that 'Kuma' has more or less just been chilling around on the campus grounds and eating the lawn, Noa now needs to actually buy a stock of care items.

As is typical, he has a few penguins with him. Also as typical, no one knows what the penguins are saying.]

Alright. Adelai has granted us a fairly strict budget, [Noa insists, handing each one a list.] We are therefore to find the perfect balance of quality, and cost. There will be no skimping on resources and hygene, understand?

AAAaaAAAAu!

[They probably understand.]

[OUTCOME]

[It's a long trip of research and shopping and set-up, but ultimately all of the preparation is Worth it. Kuma seems to be a Very Happy horse- she's getting a brushing (somehow) from strange small birds, and also her small boy is now giving her pieces of carrot. Things are very nice here. Strange, but nice.

It helps that Noa has been very carefully keeping her away from anything too chaotic, but that can only last so long right?

Kuma's ears perk, as does the rest of her attention, as someone comes around the corner in fact.]

Snmmfnff.

Hmm? What is it? [This of course mean's Noa's attention is also being taken.]

Comments

[afterthemoon]

Is that so...?

...

I suppose that makes her presence here even more welcome, then.

[noasark]

It is. Hardly her fault, of course- debatable on my end but...

Well, it doesn't matter now. She's here.

[afterthemoon]

[Isa take a step closer, and hesitantly raises his hand up, as if to pet her...]

Would it be alright if I...?

[noasark]

[Ah- petting the horse?]

Of course- be cautious however...she's still a little nervous. Make sure she sees your hand, and move slowly...

[afterthemoon]

[He cautiously, and gently, pets the horse, as much as Isa liked animals, horses were never a common sight in his life...]

If you don't mind me asking, how were you separated back home?

[noasark]

[Noa pauses in his own touch, his hand hovering above Kuma's side. Without looking away, he answers-]

...I died.

[ah,]

...in an attempt to avoid the inevitable, my father uploaded me into a computerized world.

I was there for seven years.

[afterthemoon]

...

I see.

I believe you mentioned that once before. Back when we discussed the nature of Nobodies and the heart.

[noasark]

[...He did indeed. Perhaps not in quite as blunt a detail but...] ...I did, yes.

...How did things...go for you after that, by the way?

[afterthemoon]

[He sighs, heavily.]

Xion was terrified of saying anything that could upset Lea or Roxas, but... hiding your feelings like that only ends up making things worse.

[noasark]

[Ah. This feels code for 'not well'. Noa grimaces.] Indeed not- which is a tricky matter to confront on its own, when someone presumes they don't have any, [he huffs.]

[afterthemoon]

That she's so concerned about her friends well-being is proof enough that she does...

[Hmph]

She did finally to tell Lea and Roxas everything that's been troubling her. She gets these ideas in her head, these worst case scenarios, and she convinces herself they're true, so she paralyzes herself in fear.

[noasark]

I told her something similar...but suffice to say, she didn't listen.

[Ahhh...he's experienced that other thing recently as well.] I noticed that last one as well...the results of the researcher's magic wasn't very kind for it.

[afterthemoon]

Hopefully it coming from said friends will make it stick.

[...]

Researcher's magic?

[noasark]

The same magic that brought 'Kuma' here; we were hallucinating.

[Telling,]

[afterthemoon]

[He thought so.]

What happened? With Xion?

...

I try to give her space and I was also... dealing with my own visions, so I didn't really encounter her then.

[noasark]

She seemed to be seeing someone she called 'Xemnas'? She also wanted to attack them, so I talked her out of it.

[afterthemoon]

...

Xemnas was the leader of the Organization.

[noasark]

Ah.

Well, she thought she saw him, so.

[SO THAT HAPPENED!]

[afterthemoon]

Well, in any case...

I hope the talk she had with Lea and Roxas got through to her, because if it didn't...

[noasark]

Well, if they didn't it'll mean trying again won't it?

[afterthemoon]

Of course it will...

[Isa just doesn't want Lea (and Roxas) to get burnt out]