(D5MA) Important Introductions

[Usagi Rei]

(expecting)

Once more, Rei found himself in the gardens, Airi's carrying case held in one hand, its strap over his shoulder. It was something he often did, whether because he knew Airi loved them, or because he wanted someone to meet Airi. Usually a pretty girl.

Hah, I guess Yakumo was right about that.

Of course, Yamako is happily married.

Of course, except for the happily, so am I...

Shaking his head, Rei did his best to dispel the strange series of thoughts. Whatever. This was a pleasant day out, meeting a friend. Smiling, Rei looked this way and that, trying to spot the small Unicorn.

[Ide Yamako]

(expecting)

Once more, Rei found himself in the gardens, Airi's carrying case held in one hand, its strap over his shoulder. It was something he often did, whether because he knew Airi loved them, or because he wanted someone to meet Airi. Usually a pretty girl.

Hah, I guess Yakumo was right about that.

Of course, Yamako is happily married.

Of course, except for the happily, so am I...

Shaking his head, Rei did his best to dispel the strange series of thoughts. Whatever. This was a pleasant day out, meeting a friend. Smiling, Rei looked this way and that, trying to spot the small Unicorn.

Yamako was a little less sunny looking than her usual self, but walked with purpose. With her failures the day before, every connection needed to be analyzed for its possible use. The gardens did help slightly with her mood. A small smile on her face, she waved at Usagi-san, glad at least that Air did not appear to be fluffy. She could use whatever dignity she had left.

[Usagi Rei]

Indeed, while it was hard to get a really good look at Airi through the screen of her carrier, it was clear she was not fuzzy.

Catching sight of the familiar Unicorn, Rei gave her a smile and a wave, as personable as ever. "Good afternoon, Ide-san. How are you today?" He asked. As she drew closer, he tilted his head as he regarded her with gentle concern.

[Ide Yamako]

She turned her smile up a notch. “Well enough, we’ll enough Usagi-San. How goes your day?”

[Usagi Rei]

Rei gave her a charmingly crooked smile. "Well enough." He echoed her. His gaze lingered a moment longer, but he didn't press.

Instead, he knelt down, placing his little carrying case on the ground. A rounded snout could be seen pressing against the mesh front, straining and sniffing.

Looking up (if only just) at Yamako, Rei smiled. "Are you ready to meet Airi?" He asked.

[Ide Yamako]

Rei gave her a charmingly crooked smile. "Well enough." He echoed her. His gaze lingered a moment longer, but he didn't press.

Instead, he knelt down, placing his little carrying case on the ground. A rounded snout could be seen pressing against the mesh front, straining and sniffing.

Looking up (if only just) at Yamako, Rei smiled. "Are you ready to meet Airi?" He asked.

“ Of course. I cannot wait for this honor.”

This one’s eyes travel and his mouth tells quiet lies. He reminds me of someone.

[Usagi Rei]

Smiling up at her, Rei unzipped the carrier with a practiced motion, letting the front fall away. There was a brief pause.

A little dragon suddenly hopped out. She was a tiny bit under a foot in length, with a slender, serpent-like build, and golden eyes, and thin scaly wing.

Almost immediately, she looked up at Yamako with a tiny dragon hiss. "It's okay!" Rei said, rising to his feet. "That's her good hiss. Ummm... here..." Reaching down, he gave Airi a little pat on the head, the tiny dragon craning her neck for more scritches. "Go ahead. It's safe."

[Ide Yamako]

Yamako moved slowly, having learned both from her experience in the cat cafe and able to control herself more due to the lack of fur and fluff. "I trust your judgement. She is a beautiful creature." She kneeled down a little distant from the carrier, waiting for Airi to feel more comfortable.

[Usagi Rei]

Rei couldn't help but smile at that. He was rather fond of Airi, after all. He gave her a few more scritches, then put his hands behind his back. "Go on. Go say hi."

Perhaps encouraged, or perhaps because Yamako was right there, after a few moments, Airi moved towards the Unicorn woman. Her strange pupils shifted, and her nose twitched wildly, as the little creature took in the scents of the Park and Yamako alike.

[Ide Yamako]

Yamako held out her hand carefully and slowly, trying to make sure not to startle her. "Such a beautiful girl. Yes you are and you know it." She croons to her, falling back into old habits with horses for a moment.

[Usagi Rei]

"She is, isn't she?" Rei couldn't help but smile at that.

The noise that Rei said was the 'happy hiss' came again, and Airi gave a little hop towards Yamako; Rei didn't seem alarmed, so it was probably all fine. It seemed like what worked on horses worked on spine drakes, as Airi sniffed her hand a few times, and then pushed her little head against it.

[Ide Yamako]

She petted Airi gently, trying to see what made the little creature happy. "She's softer than I expected. I thought the scales would be more bristly."

She looks up at Red with a soft smile, probably a bit more genuine and relaxed than she's had on planet so far. "She's lovely. Does she listen to you well? Or more of a cat like creature?"

[Usagi Rei]

Airi would turn her serpent-like neck as Yamako pet her, letting her reach different parts of her head and neck. "No, she's very sleek." Rei agreed.

He returned Yamako's smile gently. "She listens to me... a bit. Mostly if I have food. And she'll generally come when I call." He chuckled. "Thank goodness. Her wings are functional. I have had to follow her around the park a few times, waving food up at her."

He tilted his head, looking at her. "Seems like you have a way with animals." He said.

[Ide Yamako]

Airi would turn her serpent-like neck as Yamako pet her, letting her reach different parts of her head and neck. "No, she's very sleek." Rei agreed.

He returned Yamako's smile gently. "She listens to me... a bit. Mostly if I have food. And she'll generally come when I call." He chuckled. "Thank goodness. Her wings are functional. I have had to follow her around the park a few times, waving food up at her."

He tilted his head, looking at her. "Seems like you have a way with animals." He said.

“They’re simple in a way. They let you know what they need if you know how to ask. I just…struggle with my enthusiasm for some of them.” She laughs. “I should have stayed away from the cat cafe. Nearly got clawed.”

[Usagi Rei]

Rei flashed her a grin. "I'm guessing this is too much enthusiasm, not too little? I've lost an hour or two in the cat cafe as well, from time to time."

AIri continued to writhe playfully under Yamako's touch, rising onto her hind legs for more. "I've had her about two years now." Rei said, still smiling. "You can only get one if you have local connections, and you can't take them off planet. Guess it's good that I decided to stick around."

[Ide Yamako]

She shook her head ruefully. “Yes it is an embarrassing failing of mine but I trust you won’t spread it around. It’s mildly ridiculous to be so entranced but…they’re just so cute.”

“Ahh well. Probably for the best. Creatures should be where they thrive. That’s the most important thing.”

[Usagi Rei]

Rei flashed her a quick grin. "Your secret is safe with me, Ide-san. I promise."

"I quite agree." For a few moments, Rei was silent, although his smile remained. Then, "Where is it that you thrive, Ide-san?" He asked.

[Ide Yamako]

She pauses, evidently giving the question some thought.


“That is a very good question Usagi-San. I think I am still learning where and what I need precisely to thrive.” She pauses, petting Airi gently for a moment.

“That is part of what I enjoy about my work. Meeting new people from new places broadens my mind and fosters new ideas for growth and possibility.”


“What about you? Wandering as much as you have, you must have some ideas.”

[Usagi Rei]

A little bit more, and Airi had apparently had enough scritches. Pulling away, she half-dashed, half-hopped a few steps away, jumping into a nearby bush. It shook gently.

Rei rose, politely offering Yamako his clothed forearm as assistance if she wanted. "A fine answer, Ide-san. Perhaps it is as you said, that your home is people?" She'd said something like that, anyway.

Smiling wryly, he spread his hands. "I'm afraid I don't, actually. I like it here, at least on some level. But I don't feel as though I'm thriving." He looked over at the shaking bush, smiling sadly. "I hope it's not the same with Airi. I take good care of her, at least I think I do. But..." He grimaced, shaking his head.

[Ide Yamako]

A little bit more, and Airi had apparently had enough scritches. Pulling away, she half-dashed, half-hopped a few steps away, jumping into a nearby bush. It shook gently.

Rei rose, politely offering Yamako his clothed forearm as assistance if she wanted. "A fine answer, Ide-san. Perhaps it is as you said, that your home is people?" She'd said something like that, anyway.

Smiling wryly, he spread his hands. "I'm afraid I don't, actually. I like it here, at least on some level. But I don't feel as though I'm thriving." He looked over at the shaking bush, smiling sadly. "I hope it's not the same with Airi. I take good care of her, at least I think I do. But..." He grimaced, shaking his head.

She took the arm, seeing it as a small gesture. “I would say it is likely so. But I don’t want to pin myself down totally yet.” As Airi shakes the bush, she listens intently.

“Have you considered that perhaps….part of why you wander is that you have not been…forthright with yourself about what you need?Merely an idle thought, but one that has come into my head many times when I speak to others on this topic.”