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[essenceborn]

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[spacialeyes]

I can't relax if you aren't eating well... I'm sorry. I should have asked more about allergies. [Though this is more than an allergy.

He does try to sigh his tension away.]

Please let me be more careful with your health, okay? Rice, apple sauce, oatmeal... There are a lot of things that you can eat while you get used to it. Please? [He looks them in the eye again,] We only get one body. Let's take care of yours?

[essenceborn]

...Thank you, Yuuto. I will.

[ Let's take care of yours.

It's the first time in a long time that anyone's been concerned about that. About them, like that. Nenonen had almost forgotten what it was like, so used to be the one that always looked after everyone else--in this sense, at least ]

Don't worry. Even if I can't keep new foods down, I still make sure to eat things after that I can. I know my body's health is important.

[ Nenonen can't help but be aware. Even if the loops hadn't worn them down like they did everyone else, Nenonen can't help but be aware of the fact that if anything were to go wrong with their body--their body which is very much not human--there's no one around who knows how to fix it.

Not unless magic counts, anyway. ]

[spacialeyes]

Good. And- [He gives Nen’s hand an extra squeeze,] Thank you. I like you, so I’m glad you’re taking care. Okay?

[With that, he’ll pause at the stairwell and gesture towards the door.]

Want to take the stairs? Or is the elevator better this time?

[essenceborn]

Stairs. I need to improve my physical fitness.

[ Chipp said so and Nen is a good lil nen so!! They've taken that to heart after trying--and failing--to lift his robot arm. Upper body strength and stamina in general is needed.

Nen squeezes Yuuto's hand back. ]

Oh, I figured out some more magic the other day.

[spacialeyes]

That's the spirit! Let's go then!

[He joyously slams that door open then!

And his eyes sparkle with his own curiosity.]

Really? What did you learn?

[essenceborn]

[ BANG BANG on the door babey ]

I can make hot water with my winter magic. I can make porridge without kettles now.

[ Clearly, this is a massive leap forward ]

[spacialeyes]

Really?!

[Yuuto is thrilled. His pride and excitement for Nen are unchecked. His tail is wrapping around the door knob to close it behind them.]

How did you figure it out? Was it the dancing? A book? Did you visualize it like a science? You’re so amazing!

[essenceborn]

I met a lady who drinks blood and she told me how she thinks about her powers when she wants to make them work. All I did was imagine it bubbling up just like how boiling water does, and I did it!

[ Nenonen looks Quite Pleased about this fact, in the way a researcher would upon finishing some kind of thesis. ]

You can make water hot, or cold, or explode a fish...





[ also yeah. there was a Thing with an anglerfish. Childe may or may not have exploded it all over Nen. ]

[spacialeyes]

[It sounds like Nen has been making a lot of friends! Yuuto is relieved to hear that part.

… but the fish exploding?]

Explode… a fish? Like boiling its… [Wait. No. He’s not going to think that much about murdering a fish.]

That’s so amazing though. You’re catching on really fast. You’re really smart, did you know that, Nen?

[essenceborn]

[ Yuuto please don't give Nen bad ideas about misusing water magic?? ]

Boiling it...?

[ Good thing that second part is a sufficient distraction ]

--Oh. Thank you, Yuuto. My mental aptitude was my highest score in my evaluations.

[spacialeyes]

[He laughs softly at that phrasing,] Does that mean that you've decided to try using your new powers more? I know magic is strange, but it sounds like you'll be really good at it.

I wonder if you could use it to have a hot bath that never cools down... Hmm. I'm kind of jealous if you can.

[essenceborn]

Oh! That is an excellent idea. I want to try that when we're done!

[ Yuuto be careful or this will be bath bomb round 2 ]

You really think I'm good at magic?

[spacialeyes]

[His legacy is now bath bombs...]

I do. You have a bright mind and you're really curious. Magic in this world sounds to be another tool for finding solutions and answers, so I think it's a natural fit for you?

Are you still not confident?

[essenceborn]

I don't know if it's that I'm not confident...

[ Nen pauses thoughtfully at the bottom of the stairs, blocking the door. Because this is the perfect place to have a moment of introspection! ]

I just don't feel like I've grasped the fundamentals. I don't know what the measures of success are. What is "proficient" in magic? Is it being able to fight? Being able to utilize it for every day life?

I don't have any frame of reference for stuff like that.

[spacialeyes]

[His smile becomes more sympathetic when they voice their concerns. He is no stranger to such struggles. How did you measure the success of being 'Yuuto?' How did you measure the success of 'being replaceable?' He's math orientated, so those things would have been much less anxiety inducing if he could understand them with numbers.

Alas, he cannot. And it is likely the same for magic. He doesn't like the idea of Nen's mind harboring any stresses, especially when he worries he put this one in their head.]

How do you measure the success of having hands? [... oh no he's gonna make it worse- back up!!!] Uh, what I mean is! Why not think of it as an extra limb for now? You could judge hands by artistic ability, knitting, grip strength... So many things. But just because you can do one of those well and not the others does not mean your hands are insufficient. Nor does it mean that you're wrong.

I think whatever you choose to use magic for, Nen, you can excel at it. That's what I mean when I say that I think you're good at it... I think that if you want something, you can make it happen! You're great!

[essenceborn]

Oh...

[ Nen hadn't considered it like that before. Yuuto LOVE YOURSELF?? But as always, Yuuto has a way of phrasing things in a way that just makes sense. It clicks for Nen. Of course there can't be only one measure of success for something like a limb. Even missing one or having it broken doesn't make someone a failure.

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses.

Nen looks at Yuuto, and almost-smiles. ]

That makes a lot of sense. I'm going to think of it like that going forwards. Thank you, Yuuto! Your acumen in reasoning is as impressive as ever.

[spacialeyes]

[He's so glad that he didn't make it worse..! Yuuto considers his existence back to 0 for Nen, since he's evened out his mistake with something helpful.]

I'm happy to help. Sometimes we just need to hear a second opinion, right? [He looks to the door, but won't force it open. Maybe Nen still needs a moment.] If you'd be so kind as to keep me up to date regarding your magic achievements, I'd be most honored! I love hearing about what other people get up to.

[...]

Ah, maybe that's too nosy of me.

[essenceborn]

[ For someone who's good at math Yuuto sure is bad at it!! He is only ever in Nen's positives. There is no negative for Yuuto as far as they are concerned. ]

What's "nosy"? Is there something wrong with it?

[ Nenonen moves right into poor Yuuto's space and ducks a little, trying to look up his nose...like one does. ]

[spacialeyes]

[Though he is initially taken aback, stepping up on his tiptoes to literally get back, Yuuto quickly reasons what Nen is trying to do... and it's hard not to laugh a bit. He lowers himself back to the flats of his feet while covering his nose (and mouth/laugh) with his hand.]

Sorry! It's an expression from my world. It means something like, "to get too curious about other peoples' business, even when they don't want you to." To be rude. If I overstepping your boundaries, then I'd be "nosy."

Is my explanation okay?

[essenceborn]

Oh--yes, that is satisfactory.

[ Because Yuuto seems to worry a lot about satisfying them. ]

In that case, do not worry about being "nosy." You are just the right amount of nose. I will tell you all about my progress.

[spacialeyes]

[how would you rate your satisfaction. 5/5 stars on yelp please.

anyway. knock knock. It's anxiety.

Because it's kind of cute how Nen applies their knowledge of language to 'nosy' and comes up with a phrase like 'the right amount of nose.' He knows that is is incorrect. But it's cute. What if Nen uses that phrasing with someone else? Will that cause trouble? Will Nen be upset that he had the chance to correct them here and didn't?]

... Mm. You're the right amount of nose too. [He'll take a ticket to hell for this one if he must.] Speaking of your nose and curiosity. Let's go~! We have groceries to buy and stars to see. Are you ready?

[essenceborn]

[ Yuuto is always five stars in Nenonen's world♥

But right, there were trying to get somewhere weren't they? Whoop. Nen nods and finally opens that door for them. Onwards! ]

Yes! I am ready for food and stars!

[spacialeyes]

[He lowers his hands again, recovering his usual smile. It's the expression that suits 'Yuuto' best.]

Great! Most of the things on your list are easy on a person's stomach, so we can start there. And I was going to show you 'rice,' right?

[essenceborn]

[ It's the expression that Nen would also like Yuuto, no apostrophe marks, to be able to wear. Huff huff. ]

Oh! Yes please. I need to get something called a "blender" as well. It's supposed to help make food easier for me to eat when I try it.

[spacialeyes]

Oh, that's a fantastic idea! Yeah, I can help you with that. You can use them to turn solid food into a liquid "smoothie."

Have you had smoothies before, Nen? [Not to imply a lack of faith, but Nen is highly curious. Yuuto can imagine that, if left to experiment on their own, they might make something Very Cursed with a blender.

Best to teach them about smoothies as a safe starting point???]