"Yes! Just like that, Urtuoi-kischu!" I said to my friend as he carefully began to claw in his words. Having just previously given him a sentence to write down in Jhermonikran. Now, I was hoping we could move on to him writing with the actual tools next. But, he had been very assertive of the idea of him not writing like that.
His claws could not hold the tools properly and he had just gotten used to writing with his claws. I had warned against such a thing as a tablet from a magically denser region would leave him unable to write at all. But, I just could not get past his stubbornness regarding the tools. He was just completely unwilling to use them so it might be that we just have to stick with this.
And, in my frustrations over it, I looked over to Ayi-chira who was sleeping in Nin's bed while we worked. I just wish I had the abilities she had, that ability to influence Urtuoi-kischu and so on. He was like a puppet near her, she could influence him meaningfully so well. Yet, that line of thinking also made me sad.
For was it because of my prior, self-created problems regarding Urtuoi-kischu that led to me not being able to... Open him up like she could, was his unwillingness to listen to me perhaps my own fault? Or was he always like this and I was just blaming myself needlessly? I doubted it, there was no way my actions had not played a role.
"Clohniq show me the way..." Urtuoi-kischu then moaned in frustration as he leaned back into his seat. A seat which we had to get custom-made for him as otherwise, it would have just snapped. Even with the training he has been going through in order to control his magic better. Something he had made a lot of progress in!
"What's the problem, Urtuoi-kischu?" I then asked him after bringing my chair closer. Cautiously moving it so the scraping noises would not awaken Ayi-chira. I had even taken off my boots and was just moving about in socks! Something that made me feel weird, honestly.
I had gotten very used to high-heeled boots since I went shopping with Rossie-chira in that town.
"Just tired and frustrated. Nothing to concern yourself over." he simply stated before resting his head in his arms and sighing. My head turning towards the window shortly after as it was quite dark out.
"Do you think you can go on for a little longer or would you prefer to stop?"
"I'd rather keep going... I am not normally done by this hour with Lari."
I frowned, "Right... Perhaps we could go outside for a bit then? Maybe the fresh air would do you some good?" I offered to him. Mostly out of a selfish desire to get some alone time with him but also because I thought it might work. Maybe having him get a bit of blood pumping would actually help him learn better?
"Fine." was all he said before he left the room. My hand putting down my tablet and writing tools before I followed him. Not bothering to put on my boots before I followed him through the window he went through.
"A little help?" I called out to him as I held out my arm and extended each finger on my hand. A quiet yelp leaving me as he suddenly heaved me up with him. And a few seconds of stumbling about later saw us on the roof of our dorm. Yet, instead of feeling happy that I was up here with him, I felt bothered.
He was just so moody right now, he wasn't saying anything and he didn't even look like he was enjoying it! So, I thought I might as well try and at least act with some confidence... So I walked up to him. And I sat down.
"So... How was your day?" I asked him while I fidgeted about. I was very uncomfortable for some reason.
"Same as most." was all I got.
"Have I been able to help you well enough?" I then found myself asking, a red tint going across my face shortly after.
"Guess we will see the day after tomorrow."
"Is there anything I can do to help you calm down? I know you have been struggling to sleep these past few days."
"Try months..." he bitterly commented before I heard him move, my blush growing as he had turned to face me.
"Y-Yes...?" I asked him while moving away slightly out of nervousness. But, that glare of his showed me that I should not have done that.
"Why are you so easily embarrassed by me?" he then asked, something I was not expecting at all. So, I sort of freaked out a little and moved away some more before I calmed myself.
"I'm... Not... Yeah, I'm not easily provoked by you..."
"I said embarrassed, not provoked." he clarified with a faint chuckle.
"Same thing..." I told him with a pout.
"I guess so, I guess so indeed." he said before rolling back onto his back. An arm of his soon pulling me in close with my reaction causing him to snicker.
"W-What's this all a-about?" I asked as my soft front was pressed against his hard shell. That bracelet of his having been trapped on my thigh while his claw reached back to his gut.
"It was getting a little boring up here."
"I see, s-sorry..."
"Don't apologise, Einervaene. You're the reason I am not bored." he told me before he let go, snickers still leaving him. And while I slowly nodded at this, going up onto my knees as I did so. I found my gaze resting on that bracelet of his again.
"Would you mind if I had a look at it?" I asked as one of my gloved fingers began to prod at it. Nearly spinning it around his wrist as I did so.
"No, you can't have it."
"So I am not allowed to look at it?" I asked him as his laughter had me confused. Did he make a joke or was I not allowed it and he was just being cruel? I guess it must have been the first option as he soon handed it over to me. And, once again, that feeling happened, one of where Nin just seemed duller in my eyes.
"Why are you so obsessed with that bracelet anyway?" he then asked me as he brought himself closer. A very sudden surge of curiosity driving me to put the bracelet on shortly after. And, when I did, Nin moved back slightly, his eyes staring intently at my body.
"Is there something on me...?" I asked him as he was not one to suddenly stare at my chest, legs or rear. This embarrassment I was feeling only getting worse when his claw moved slightly closer before he then brought me in for a hug. He wasn't saying anything and neither was I, but, here we were. Me on his lap as he tightly pressed my body against his.
"Can I have my bracelet back?" he then asked in confusion as he let me out of the hug so I could stumble back a bit. The signs of a smile appearing as I nodded rapidly before giving it back to him. What was that all about? Seriously, he had just held me like how a pair of intimate lovers would embrace!
"Where did you even get that bracelet...?" I found myself asking once my embarrassment had gone. Well, that would have been a lie, it never really went. It just calmed down and I don't think it would ever go. Not until I spent some time on my own to process what had just happened.
"A friend..." he vaguely said as he put it back on after eyeing it. A shrug following shortly after he pondered a thought.
"Must be one special friend." I quietly muttered before I looked back at him as that sensation had returned. That one that made my stomach feel weird along with my heart and mind. A queasy sensation one actually wanted to carry on.
"She is indeed," he then commented before he headed back inside, "You coming?"I was then asked. But, I shook my head and gestured to the roof. He then came back to me which left me with a thundering heart.
"Ah..." I barely let out before he then left again, his mouth mumbling before he went back down. And, to my surprise, my lips had shaped themselves somehow. But, placing my fingers against them clarified to me what they had tried to do. I was prepared to kiss him?
Not only had I dreamed of such moments, but I had also tried to do it for real? That was a lot for me to take in, admittedly, and, if I wasn't scared of what Rossie-chira might do. I would have probably been able to come to the answer in my head instantly. Yet, I did not, I just sat there while rubbing my lips.
An odd heat suddenly filling my body before I just fell down with a smile. A small, sweet smile that was hard on the mouth as it made it all tight.
"Maybe I should speak to Ayi-chira about this when I can..."