lifeaftr | Have done with sorrow; I’ll bring you plums to-morrow

Calendars are great. Incredible, actually, for things other than time keeping, which is something she actually doesn't care about. What she does care about are elf-specific days that fall on the blaze it holiday? Whatever that means. Shouldn't it be a dust day? It doesn't matter.

What matters is that Ren found a perfect, viable substitute for a dope roast, an item she's still not entirely sure about, but know she managed to recreate in her own special island way. It's for eating? That part she's sure of. And boy did she find good food when she went adventuring with Seto.

It's tempting to wake them up. Her bubbling excitement over their birthday making her pace in front of the tent early in the morning, slowly closing in on two sleepy elves, one of which she knows is in the habit of waking soon. The quiet ambling turns to sitting turns to staring at their faces while she waits to see Lup's eyelids flutter open or Taako's body to roll over and face her, so she can make some form of closed eye contact with him.

She's normally not this impatient, but it's a special occasion okay?? And despite sitting literally a foot away from them, she holds the iStone up to her mouth, like she's gonna call them. It's a last resort to rouse them from sleep without really feeling the guilt about waking them up. The rock will wake them up, it's fine. Either way, they've got about five minutes before she creates the island's first alarm clock.

It's still a bit disorienting, waking up not trapped in a twin tangle, no knees shoved into her kidneys or face full of hair. Which, y'know, Lup's not gonna complain. Usually she's hemmed in by one or more kids though? The lack of contact filters into her consciousness first at a trickle and then at a startle and she sits up blearily before her mind has even caught up with the whole awakeness thing. If anyone got kidnapped in the night again she's gonna be so pissed.

Lup blinks owlishly into the soft early morning dimness of the tent and-- Oh. Ren's right there. Like, right there. We good.

"Mornin' pumpkin," she mumbles through a luxurious jaw-cracking yawn.

She's right there until Lup glances at her and Ren can confirm, yes, great-her eyes are open. That's the go ahead she's been waiting for and as she busts out out of the tent like something's nipping at her heels, the echo of indiscernible, garbled worlds that may have been good morning?? comes out of her mouth. A mystery.

And then, she's gone-vanishing somewhere into goblin camp and while she can't be seen, there's noise. A whole lotta shuffling and movement and she definitely dumped out her entire bag on the ground somewhere because cat food tins and rocks aren't quiet toys.

"I found-" Her comes through the iStone and stops just as fast, because oh right. Lup's right there. All she has to do is poke her head back into the tent, which she abruptly does after the phonecall is shut off, proudly holding a goddamn stick, with shiny stones and marbles glued all over, in one hand and a flower crown with bright, red flowers in the other. "You did it! You're older-good job! When Taako-"

Her eyes fall to him because he's ruining her life right now and it's fine that Lup woke up first, but he needs be older too. God wake up Taako. "When you see Taako open his eyes, he'll be older too. That happens today."

Caught mid-yawn by Ren's inexplicable escape, Lup can do nothing but stare at the dust cloud the girl left behind. Alright, cool. New morning routine and/or game? Run like a bat outta hell and make a racket like she just assaulted a scrap metal vendor? Usually those steps are reversed, but-- you know what, it's way too fucking early in the morning to even question Ren at this point. Goblin gotta goblin.

Lup holds to that wise adage even through the aborted Stonecall, even at the sight of a bedazzled as fuck stick, right up until she's getting praised with such conviction that she can't help sitting up proudly before her brain even catches up with-- getting older? Today?

Oh shit. Oh shit!! Lup's face lights up, going from disbelief to delight in a split second and she laughs, high and startled by her own fuckin birthday. "Hell yeah it does! I can't believe I almost straight up forgot to get older! Thanks, sweetie!"

It's impossible to miss Ren's expectant glances at Taako, who is missing the fuck out right now. Lup eyes the bling stick anew, grinning wickedly. Why a stick? Who knows, who cares. "We better make sure Taako doesn't miss it, right?" And she graciously takes the hallowed staff from Ren, only to fucking whap his butt with it. Somewhere in the past and an entirely different plane, twelve-year-old Lup feels vindicated at last. Happy birthday to herself!!

Taako is many things, but still actually asleep isn't one of them. He's had so many decades of lessons that discretion is the better part of valor when it comes to seeming to be conscious. He's tired, not dead, and none of that exchange was especially quiet.

A lot of it, however, was completely fucking inscrutable with one's eyes shut. He doesn't have quite enough time to work out that there's a somatic component to getting older before it hits him in the literal sense, and he enters the day as he undoubtedly once entered life: loud and kinda mad about it.

"Hey what the fuck!" He yelps, scrabbling to a sitting position, with an outraged look at Lup (and only at Lup. Ren is obviously blameless, that's a choice staff and she was right to make it). He manages to make a yawn look pretty offended too, somehow, but there's a limit to how far he can push this performance without seeming ingrateful to his birthday benefactor. Which is obviously not an option here, c'mon, if Ren had her goblin hands in this it's going to be comedy platinum. Worth the odd bruise, tbh.

"I mean, uh. Thanks for the reminder, pumpkin. Hey quick question do we gotta share the staff? Is it my turn yet? Think it's gotta be before I can get older."

Well, maybe if birthday boy had gotten older first, he could've whacked people with the marble covered stick. But he didn't and that's really his fault. She has only the tiniest bit of sympathy, stemming from the fact she didn't tell Lup that this is a special stick-not a weapon. Don't attack your brother with it.

But he's finally up and during that whole what the fuck stare off, she slowly got to her feet and stared at him like a cat looking at their prey, then abruptly nyooming out of the tent without another word. She doesn't know how to wrap, so this is the only way she can surprise them. It's bad. And she's gotta focus? She can't explain they don't need to share sticks, because she can show him!! There's less shuffling because she prepared during her initial bag dumping.

The mystery item being held behind her back remains there, even as she inches back into view. Don't look at her Taako stick!! Because she's not ready to give it up yet. She hid something on the other side of the tent and she didn't think this through. The weird side stepping shuffle she does across the opening involves her making some intense, direct eye contact with them and she wordlessly makes her way other side, out of their hooligan eyesight, and begins to-

Well, she's digging. Into the ground. It might be easy for them to tell because she's tossing dirt against the side? That's where the excess has to go. Leave her alone, she's excited. "You can't look. You have to stay there and keep getting older and say 'we did it'. That's what you do." She looks behind her, to make sure they aren't peeking, and continues searching for her ground covered wares. "Don't go back to sleep."

Oh hell no, she's not letting Taako have a go at the amazing whack stick, dream on buddy. She clutches it to her chest possessively even as she's grinning with delight at his outrage. This is already a stellar birthday and it's only just begun.

Luckily Ren is here to nip any twinfighting in the bud. Or rather, not here? Kinda, creeping around with an adorable air of mystery and Lup stares, completely entranced, before throwing Taako a look and mouthing a thrilled what the fuck? What else does she have up her goblin sleeves? There's just no telling. This is gonna be buckwild.

And you better believe she's peeking, who do you think she is. She's leaning out of the tent opening, neck as long as her ears and drops back with a startled giggle just in time not to be caught. "We sure got older just now, didn't we Taako?" she announces loud and clear and elbows him for emphasis. "Did a like, a bang-up job! Kind of a close call there for a minute but we definitely made Ren proud!"

The digging really sells him on this being something truly special, and he cannot begin to imagine what wonders? horrors?? await, hearing dirt patter ominously against the side of the tent. What is happening. But Taako is surprisingly patient, unlike some people; he's not going to peek and spoil this magic. Orrrr maybe he's just too lazy. He returns Lup's look with an elaborate, mystified shrug.

He returns the elbowing too, with a quick but harmless swat, ears back. Something about having their birthday sprung on them, far from making them get older, is making them act like the horrible elf children of like two hundred goddamn years ago. Or maybe just like, you're average assholish cats.

"Uh yeah, sure did! What did she dig up, when'd Ren get so sneaky?? Maybe almost too old!" He plays along, interspersing the drama with whispering and hushed laughter. This is such a good birthday surprise. He's still going to hit Lup with the stick though.

It's a good thing Lup ducked away before Ren had to shoo her off with the only tool in her arsenal-a handful of dirt, which she wasn't going to throw at her per say, but also? No peeking. That's the law, you chaotic elves. Their distracting voices occasionally pulls her away from her frantic digging session because they did make her proud. Pride is radiating throughout her whole body right now. They got older, on their own, with their own elven power. It's incredible.

Taako's final comment is what gets her to knock her hand against the side of the tent to get their attention. "You won't get too old. Even if you look like a grandpa, I'll say 'I'm proud of you. Good job, Uncle Taako'-that's what I'll do."

How do elves age even? Will he look like an old man next year? Will it take months? 2000 months? Will they all wake up one day to a saggy eyed wizard? Elves are a mystery, but her pride at their growth is eternal and unyielding. And wouldn't you know it-the terrible things in question are dug up and she hurries back to the tent inhabitants. Are you ready? For this?

It's horrible.

Which is to say, she finally hands over Taako's birthday stick, covered with pretty seashells and a single silver bullet. Because she makes great trades and don't question where her shit comes from. It's pretty. Happy birthday. If there's ever a question about who took the glue, the answer is probably pretty evident by now. Hide the jar or levitate it out of her reach.

As for what she dug up, surprise, it's garbage. One day she'll learn to appreciate these nice elves with actual items that aren't cat paw gloves. One day, not today. The point is she did her best and both giggly heathens are handed, what looks like, a paper wrapped ball of something.

If Taako unwraps his horrible gift, he's going to find a mixture of white and indigo-ish petals, bits of seaglass, a bunch of smooth stones that caught her eye and something that looks suspiciously like cumin. The paper around this garbage potpourri has a horrible drawing of Taako, surrounded by stars, multiple pointy hats and a full moon.

That something for Lup is an assorted variety of red colored items-dried red flower petals, red tinted rocks, specks of cayenne and the paper it's wrapped in has a terrible doodle of her aunt under a shining sun with fire everywhere.

Anyway, it's bad. Take her treasures and look at her face? She's so proud of them? And so happy?

"Sneaky? That's all on you!!" she whisper-accuses Taako of his terrible influence on this innocent child in between breathless laughter. Which is quelled in stunned silence at Ren's insistent reassurance through the tent wall. She stares at Taako with big eyes for a wordless moment, before mouthing Grandpa at him in awe and bursting into laughter again. The mental image of a wizened old Taako still receiving heaps of birthday praise by this girl is, it's too amazing, how is she meant to cope? Ren, of course, doesn't look a day older in this vision.

Anyway Taako's birthday stick can definitely hold up to her own in terms of both glamor and whacking might and Lup gets ready to be assaulted with either, leaning away from him with defensive ears. Luckily both these shitty elves are instantly distracted by more presents! dropped into their laps! Hell yeah!

Lup unwraps hers delicately, pouring the various bits of treasure into her hand to look at them. Oh these are all going on the fridge and/or her hair for sure. But the real kicker is the drawing. A doodle of herself surrounded by the sun and fire like that's-- that's how she sees Lup? Why is that-- why does that make her heart swell, so much? And it hits her that Ren, she-- she really knows her. Knows both of them, knows what they love and did her goblin best to put some of those, those feelings into cute little items and remembered their birthday, their first birthday in so, so many years, and it's--

"This is-- the best birthday present... I've ever gotten," she finally manages, sounding kind of genuinely choked up about it as she smiles at Ren's beaming face. She's just gonna need a minute not to cry here, it's fine.

Well she doesn't have a minute. She has maybe thirty seconds, most of which Taako spends marveling at his own gifts. Is that a silver bullet?? Smells like it. He's not even gonna complain about this unsanctioned usage of his personal spice collection. His familiarity with garbage gifts may be well over a hundred years in the past, but it's still too recent not to feel a stinging kinship, at this harrowingly thoughtful array of garbage. The look he turns on Ren suggests she's the real mysterious magic user in this camp. Some kind of, dank thoughtfulness wizard, probably. Who knows the real extent of Ren's powers??

"Yeah, this is..." he struggles under the weight of this unlooked-for wonder, before alighting on something he knows will hit with at least close to the same accuracy if he's very lucky. "So dope. You. are. crushing it," he beams back, with every ounce of sincerity he can sacrifice. No less delicately than Lup he re-wraps his trash-cache, but he keeps it close and in hand, like he's seconds away from re-burying it for safekeeping, if they'd only turn their backs a second. "Nuked this birthday from orbit, is what you did. We're proud of you." Take that, thoughtfulness wizard.

Lup though, is a messy disaster ruining both of their images, and her thirty seconds are up anyway; he thwaps her helpfully with the birthday sceptre. Get it together, there's no bags for these feelings, only whaps. "Aren't we, Lup?"

To a child that's had few successes in her life, hearing the happy falter in Lup's voice and Taako's praise is enough to make her feel like all that lowkey sneaking around had been worth it. The days she claimed to have found no treasures so she could sneak them into holes while everyone was sleeping, the afternoons spent doodling in the woods and looting whatever glue and spices were in her immediate line of sight-she hoped it would make them smile.

That's all she wants to see is their happy beaming faces and we're proud of you feels crushing in its own way. People don't say that to her and the only response she can muster up is a happy little bounce on the balls of her feet as she waits to see if Lup is proud too. If maybe, for once, they can feel her heart in these gifts, in the same way she feels their kindness with every little trinket, meal, and hug they give to her. But in the meantime, she happily adds-

"I'm very proud of you both of you. You always 'crush' it."

Thank god for Taako and his unfailing ability to completely derail any heartfelt moment with some dumb words or like, unnecessary violence. What a champ, so dependable. Except-- that's not what he's doing at all when he opens his mouth this time? The stuff he's saying is, it's actually really sweet? It's straight up another fucking birthday miracle, is what it is, and all she's got to add is a slightly teary-eyed grin at them both as he puts into words everything that's in her heart, too. Ren's really out here getting Taako to just say some genuine as fuck shit, she's absolutely an uncanny emotions wizard and this is the best birthday ever, did she mention?

Before Lup can get any more lovingly wrecked though, there's that unnecessary violence at last. The natural order has been restored and her brain whap-started.

"Yeah-- Yeah! Hella proud!" she laughs, full of warmth. "And you know what's the best treasure here?" Pause for dramatic effect, and-- "It's you! You're our treasure, Ren. Isn't she, Taako?"

Like she's gonna be the only one thrown under the emotional bus. It's an all out sincerity war now, how 'bout that.

Sincerity war can't be a thing, nope, nah, because that's a war he's going to lose 99.9% of the time, birthday miracles aside. Can't he at least get some kind of consolation points for the thwap? That was on brand, at least. C'mon.

Anyway, miracle's over. He snubs Lup's attempt to drag him under the emotions bus, nose in the air and one pontificating finger raised.

"Definitely the best, and technically, I found her first, so I deserve all the credit for anything she does until she graduates." He relents, and it's a struggle to keep his haughty look from sliding into something less theatrical. "But I guess she can be your treasure too. Since it's your birthday and all."

Gracious apprentice delegating aside, Taako is morbidly curious what else this day has in store. Could be anything, that's the wonder of goblins. "Now, did our treasure make us any kind of breakfast, or do I gotta invent pancakes?"

They've called her a treasure before, but it sends a little happy jolt through her heart like she's hearing it for the first time. Out of all these incredible items she scavenged and put together, they see her as the best? It's mind boggling and there's a denial brewing that she has to push back down, which is easy to do when she considers that Taako would lose out on some credit? Somehow? What does it mean to graduate? Whatever. It doesn't matter. The point is, she accepts these kind words with a beaming smile.

They always make her feel special, even on days meant for them.

"I won't graduate for a long time, so I'll do lots of things. That way you'll get more credit." And isn't that just the greatest gift of all?? Honestly?? Actually, the best gift is probably hidden in whatever Chara had set out for them-another surprise beyond these tent walls. Pancakes would've been good too, probably. She doesn't have that prepared or have any idea what that means. It's probably like eggs or oatmeal.

"You have to invent hella pancakes, but I'll start the fire." Which is like, probably something she can do? And she glances around her to see if there's Fire Starting Stuff. Which, hm. Well, there's one fire starter here. It's the best flint around. Her eyes immediately swoop to Lup and she hurries to her side, kneeling down next to her and gently raises her arm up. It's not work for her if Ren assists right?? It's fine. If Lup doesn't jerk away, she's going to aim her hand, like she's a professional sniper, right towards the usual campfire area-

And then repeatedly tap the top of her arm. Boom. Make Birthday Fire. It's breakfast time!!!

It's been a couple of days, and Kravitz has decided He Hates This.

He hasn't been alive in well over a thousand years, and since his loud arrival into camp, it's become obviously evident. He didn't shed the top layer of his suit until he had to stop and recover from heat stroke, it took nearly an hour of his hands shaking before he figured out he was hungry, and while he's not stupid enough to have tried to drink saltwater, he certainly hasn't gotten used to the feeling of thirst early enough to have a healthy amount to drink.

Possibly the worst out of all of it, though, is sleep. Kravitz has slept, in the same way he's enjoyed food or water in the last one thousand years, entirely on his schedule. Sleeping is for when he needed to burn an hour, or ended up with Taako nearby and somehow ended up dozing. Not for necessity. And that odd sluggishness that being tired brings isn't a feeling he's used to, either.

He finds himself near the edge of camp now, back propped up against a tree, button up sleeves rolled above the elbow and dreads tied up in a high ponytail on the back of his head. His attempts at sleep the last few days have been oddly fraught, and certainly not in any sort of circadian rhythm, which means he's drowsy and a little crabby.

But his head is starting to drop as his eyes droop, fighting to stay awake simply because he hasn't yet connected this is something he needs.

It's been a couple days and Ren has decided She Loves This.

The emotional outbursts his arrival elicited from certain members of the camp is easy to push aside and bury deep in the back of her mind after watching him easily meld into this weird forest family. Elf happiness is priority number 2, only directly behind Seto's happiness, and Kravitz has at least made half the twin brigade happy with his presence. She saw it in the way he held Taako, continues to see it day after day in their interactions, his habits and-

Well, his habits are bizarre, in relation to himself. It's like he doesn't know what's going on around him. Can't tell the sun is making him sweat, doesn't understand you keep clean water on your person at all times, can't seem to figure out the growl coming from his stomach is asking for spicy eggs and not there to just irritate him-it's weird. He's weird.

And sleep? She tried to watch him, once, but ended up falling asleep by Lup and Seto before she could see him close his eyes. So today she had made it a personal mission, a life goal, to watch this man and see what's up. Because even she can see he clearly and desperately needs help.

And she could announce her terrible presence to the sleepy man by saying hello, like a normal person. It seems like she might, by the way she inches closer and closer to him, an indistinguishable item held between her hands.

But that's not what happens. Instead, she ambles right up to him, quietly hovering and letting Kravitz enjoy at least ten more seconds of peace before holding the aforementioned item right above his head-look at this beautiful hat. "This is a good pillow. I'll tie it around you. You can move your head up and I'll do that for you."

He is, in fact, just incredibly weird. And unfortunately, easily startled. Ren speaks and his eyes snap open, head whipping back up and slamming it against the tree. At least he's got hair there to soften the blow, but he can't help but raise a hand and run the back of his head. Ow. Fuck.

He blinks once or twice at the form in front of him, scrambling in his mind for the names he was probably given and has probably forgotten. Kravitz has legitimately no idea how to handle kids- he's not coordinated when he was dead, and certainly less so now when everything's so utterly foreign even in his own body. But he clears his throat, tries to get his goddamn act together, and gives her a little wave of his hand. "Uhm-- it's fine, really. My apologies if I bothered you or... anything of the sort."

Was she watching him? Do children do that? He thinks children do that. She doesn't even technically qualify as a child, he just doesn't know how to handle this on such a scale. "Did you... need something? From me?"

It's fine he says, directly after slamming his head into a tree. No, he's not qualified to say that stuff, she's sure. This wouldn't have happened if he brought a pillow to nap with and she makes a mental note to remember he can't hear her sneak up like the elves can, which is great, because the hide and seek practice potential here is something she'll have to unlock in immediate future.

"No," Because she doesn't particularly need anything from him. She's here to assist, not request, and takes the chance to plop down beside him, holding the hat up so he can see it close up. No need to be scared of it, it safe. "You can borrow this apprentice hat to keep your head warm. It'll help you have nice dreams." There's a short pause, as she seems to reassess her own explanation and quickly adds-"An appkravitztice hat. That's what it can be right now."

She just sits down next to him, snuggles up without a care in the world. What is she doing, exactly? He still isn't used to just everyone not being horrified of him, seeing him as someone to help, to pity. It's weird. This whole experience is weird.

He does study the... hat, as it were, squinting a little between it and Ren. He's not afraid of this, he's just... baffled. "Are you... wanting me to use this like a pillow? I don't have to sleep, it's, it's perfectly fine."

Yes you do, Kravitz, you absolutely do. That's when a few more things connect, and he speaks again. "Are you worried about me? Really, I don't need, uhm, looking after."

If her disbelief at his words isn't apparent by the way she continues to silently hold up the temporary appkravitztice hat, it's definitely noticeable by the look on her face. No, he needs help. More help than she's capable of, if the past few days were any indication of his future here, but she's going to make An Attempt. It's someone special to the elves-to Taako, specifically? They look out for Seto, so for long as she's alive, she has to look out for this guy too. "You make Taako's spicy heart happy, so I have to take care of you. That's how it is."

Not that she needs much of a reason? But it makes it all the more vital to watch him so he doesn't overdo, like, everything. Which seems to be the problem of the week.

What else can she do to make him comfortable? The pillow is there there to cushion his head and ward off bad dreams. It's pretty hot so a blanket wouldn't help and-

At once, it hits her. The tree's offering a bit of shade, but you know what's more effective than leaves? A teen with nothing to do. In one swift motion, she's back on her feet, hovering over him. Like, literally hovering over him-arms pushed together, upper body over his head because she is the night. She is gonna be his shade. "Does this help? Is it colder?"

"Spicy heart, what--"

And then she moves, and he just stares, blinking at her like he truly has no idea how to deal with or process this situation. What is-- that's not going to be effective. Doesn't she know that? How does she just, just accept him, with no other question?

He's important to Taako. So he's... defendable? He isn't so fragile as to need help from a child. He knows that. But through some combination of exhaustion and pure confusion, he doesn't know why she'd be going to such lengths.

Kravitz looks at her in confusion a few more moments, and then stops, looking down as he seems to consider something before looking back up. "Okay, this is going to sound utterly ridiculous, most likely, but-- living things sleep, right? How often do they do that? Like, uhm, normally, not like... Taako."

Not to be saying anything against Taako. He's just a bad point of reference right now.

Sorting out what he means by that weird question takes a moment and she covers up her own blooming confusion by shifting her body so the hat hovers over his head, providing the shade her body can't. It's fine. She's got this. What he really needs is to wear the hat, but she can wait until he understands it's a necessary comfort. He's clearly having an Issue and she can't fathom why-he looks alive to her? He doled out warm hugs to Taako, doesn't appear and disappear like a ghost.

She lightly touches the top of his head, if he doesn't move away, and pulls back just as fast. No, he's really alive.

"You do that whenever your heart gets tired and your eyes don't want to stay open. You shut them until your heart wakes you up or something scary happens," Which is, like. There you go. There's Sleep in a nutshell and in her eyes, that's a perfect explanation and no clarification is needed. "I'll watch you, so you can sleep for a long time. I'll wake you up before dinner."

He blinks at her, trying to sort out what that explanation is. Okay, that's not... exactly what he was looking for, here. He was expecting more like a number amount? Like a solid number of hours. Not whatever that was. But she looks like she's very confident in it, so he has absolutely no answer as to why she's wrong. Maybe he should clarify, here.

He clears his throat, looks back at the hat. "Okay, maybe I need to provide a few more details here. So, uhm, previous to being here, I was... not alive. Not in a bad way, I should clarify, just, that was part of my profession. But I'm not alltogether used to... sleeping? And eating and all that on a regular schedule." It's a little mortifying, asking for advice from a child? But she seems to be more interested in giving answers, confusing as they may be, and this absolves him from asking Taako and getting laughed at for the next twenty seven years. "So this... should be happening? All the time, then?"

A series of strange questions from a strange guy shouldn't be a surprise. Her reaction to simply plop the hat on head in response might be not be a shock either. There's a biology quiz coming out of his mouth and she can't even claim to have ever gone to preschool-really, hiding him under that hat seems like the best possible option. Give her a hot second, Mr. Now Alive.

Which is a revelation that doesn't startle her-he was a ghost, maybe. It makes sense. There were plenty of specters in her world and while few were kind, she's sure Taako could easily pick them out. That's how he managed to find Kravitz-using his kind heart to find an equally nice ghost. That works.

"If you don't eat for a long time, you don't have to do it that much when food comes back," But that's not ideal. And also impossible to accomplish within the vicinity of elf camp. Food isn't a rare commodity anymore. It's a delicious start and end to every single day.

"You don't 'schedule' it. You go up to Taako and say 'I'm hungry' when your stomach says it is and he fixes it." Sleep, though. That's next on the itemized living agenda and she eagerly adds-"If you want to sleep, you say 'Ren, I'm tired' and then I'll come tuck you in. You can do that when it's bright or dark."

He'd protest that he's not a ghost, that there's an important distinction, but that's not going to happen as the hat drops onto his head. He probably looks ridiculous with it, but that's hardly on his mind. Kravitz still isn't certain why he's asking her this of all things, but boy howdy, he's making it happen.

"You don't need to... dote after me so heavily." He's realizing she probably has no idea what he's saying, and hastens to follow up. "I mean, I may be adjusting to being, uhm, alive, but you're still much younger than me. I'm not going to place that kind of burden on you." Maybe he's getting a little too in depth here, but it's only what feels fair.

He does tie the hat on, though. He thinks it might make her feel more at ease. He's also still exhausted, and maybe napping is a decent idea, if this is supposed to be happening.

"It's not heavy yet, so it's okay. I can do this for you." She's a doting novice that's only recently learned the ins and outs of caring for someone, since human contact was a rare occurrence in her world. It's been less than a year, if we're being real and while humanity is great, she has some catching up to do. Kravitz, unfortunately, is her new test subject. He needs help? She needs practice? It works out. And why not use this opportunity to do some aforementioned heavy doting. Lup, Taako, Guzma, Drifter, Seto, Chara? They all have their own method of showing care.

Because he ties the hat around his head, she's able to take comfort that he won't hurt it again and manages to move on to her next task. If it sounds like she's reciting something, it's because she's trying to remember the nice words people say to her in an attempt to make it as Dotey As Possible, and yet it just comes out as some weird ass sentence.

"To make it heavier I have to say 'hi pumpkin', but you don't have to be scared. I know you're not food, so I won't eat you," That's important and vital information. She's not a cannibal nor does she think he's an actual pumpkin. "Are you thirsty? Are you too hot? Do you want me to hold your hand? You say that to make it heavy."

And she holds out both hands, in case he wants to take them. It's a scary world Krav and she's gonna protect him!!

This is a true case of the blind leading the blind, if we're being entirely real. Care isn't something he's used to giving or receiving- he works for the goddess of Death, not one for gentle words or kind compliments. She tells him when he's done particularly well, of course, but she isn't affectionate. The most he's gotten is when she's feeling particularly anxious and wants to preen his hair.

But it's different, when there isn't such a power imbalance. Talking to and being cared for by a friend or college is much different than someone who plucked you from death to become a mortal avatar. There's-- there's levels to this. Levels he doesn't understand and gets even less so with whatever the hell she's saying right now.

Kravitz looks at her, trying to shake off how absolutely ridiculous he feels, and then sighs, leaning back against the tree more gently this time. "Here, how about you... sit down. With me." He takes one of her hands, not both, to help guide her next to him. "Then we can rest and look after each other. How does that sound?"

Quiet time is for the best. Ren was the last person he should've asked for any explanation about the ins and outs of being human, despite her apparent pre-qualifications for such a task. Either way, the exhaustive effort to put into words something that should be innate makes her a more than willing participant in this resting game.

He's got the appkravitztice hat on, so he's going to be fine. That hat is imbued with a magical power that gives someone pleasant dreams and a cushioned head. She'll have to give him one to call his own, which sounds like a birthday thing? Maybe? She's getting the hang of this gift giving stuff. Do ghosts have birthdays?

That's too much thinking in the mid-afternoon heat. She can worry about that after she's done clutching his hand and huddling against his body.

"Okay, I'll listen for the weird noise in your stomach, but you have to tell me if you're thirsty. Bodies don't sing about that," Then she casts a glance across camp, as if looking for something-someone. There's the potential need for a switchout during this impromptu naptime, but she doesn't see him. Oh well. "You have to tell me if you want to hold hands with Taako too. You have to use words for that kind of thing and I'll go find him."

Ren won the award for getting to tell him things because she's the least judgmental person in this camp, whether she knew what the hell she was doing or not. That's very valuable to Kravitz, even though he's a grown man with an incredible lifespan behind him. He likes knowing things. He dislikes Not knowing things. So yes, he'll ask children for assistance if it comes to it.

He shifts to let her in, admittedly always feeling better when there's someone at his side. But as soon as she finishes her thought, he can't stop the way color peeks through his cheeks, looking at her a bit indignant. "Wh-- n-no, it's. It's fine. He, uhm, he doesn't always like to make things public like that." He says, as if they don't sleep next to each other every night and Kravitz isn't a massive cuddler. "I mean, I don't mean to bother him too much."

It's hard to wrap her mind around the idea of not bothering Taako. That's on her to do list every morning and she never gives it a second thought. Food? Go to Taako. Draw time? Taako. Hand holding? Taako. Rock collecting? Taako. Her default reaction is usually amble to his way, look for his face or some variation of that. The point is, she doesn't have even 0.0001% the reservation Kravitz has.

Also, she's seen them cuddle? Please. She doesn't understand what's happening in his mind. He doesn't know when to sleep or eat, can't figure out that it could potentially be snuggle time all the time-what a wild ride this man's on. "I'll bother him for you. His kind heart will understand something like that. It's okay."

This is the island's new uber-all your basic needs can be met by one individual with a ton of free time: food, water and Taakos. And all it costs is a game of hide and seek early in the morning. What a steal.

A wild ride is probably the best way to describe it. It's been less than a week and the crisis has slowed just enough that he doesn't feel like he's constantly having a heart attack, but only a little. Still, there's something entertaining in hearing from anyone that Taako has a kind heart- even if he knows the tenderness under there a bit more than most.

"Well-- I--" It's probably a loss to tell her not to worry. Everything is just so far past his comfort zone at this point he's basically just spiraling into hell, so if 'out of comfort zone' means 'taking a nap under a tree with a weird hat and a smiling little girl', okay, fine, this could be worse for him.

Kravitz sighs, pressing his head back against the tree. "Alright. Fine. I suppose it's pointless to tell you not to trouble yourself, so... fine."

It could be worse. She could go down the list of Camp Base inhabitants and request every single one of them pay Kravitz a visit before his afternoon naps, really. It's a blessing she narrowed it down to just Taako. And that's not even a guarantee if he happens to be working the shop and they've gotta do an elf swap so Krav can rest. Oh well, that's his future problem.

His current problem is this heathen, who happens to reach over to pull the hat across his forehead and over his eyes, if he doesn't move. It's like a sleep mask, but better. And she turns him into her own pillow, by tilting her head to press his face against his shoulder so the sun won't shine in her eyes.

Nap time? Nap time.

Fine. You know what, this is fine. He sputters a bit, tilting the hat up about halfway just so it's not so sweat inducing, and rolls his shoulder back for her access. He's gone from needing a pillow to being a pillow, a true transformation.

In the meantime, he is actually tired, the root of this whole thing, and if he needs it then he needs it. So it's a scant few minutes before his eyes close, head lolls, and he's out like a light.

Nap time it is.

Have done with sorrow; I’ll bring you plums to-morrow

4/20

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fairly early in the month; likely around 4/8-4/10

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