seasonality ✦ tsuyukusa

[commandertoolbelt]

Comments

[commandertoolbelt]

Mostly, yeah. There are some satyrs and nymphs at camp, I guess, but I was busy building the ship, so I didn't get to hang out with them as much. We were kind of on a tight deadline.

[branches]

Because of the prophecy?

Wait, you had to build an entire ship yourself?

[commandertoolbelt]

Got it in one.

And no, I wasn't totally on my own - the rest of Cabin Nine helped out. But I had to work around the clock, and we still barely finished it in time.

[branches]

[He laughs softly.]

You really are more impressive than you let people think.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ ...he looks away really fast to hide the blush. deep breaths, valdez, don't combust. ]

I'm just a mechanic. It's what we do.

[branches]

[Why are these two the same in that respect.]

Well I don't know anything about that sort of thing so it might as well be magic to me.

[commandertoolbelt]

Technology that's sufficiently advanced can look like magic, yeah. But most of it's really just the parts and programming - except for automatons like Festus. He's definitely got some magic in him.

[branches]

So Festus is both magic and technology?

[commandertoolbelt]

Yep! I didn't build him originally, so don't ask me exactly how it works because I'm still figuring that part out. But there is definitely some magic worked into his control chip.

[branches]

So you just like, found him somewhere?

[commandertoolbelt]

Yeah, he was just wandering in the woods around camp for a while before I came. They were going to dismantle him because his wiring got messed up so he was out of control, but I found him before the rest and fixed him up.

[branches]

So you saved him?

[HE IS JUST LOOKING UP AT LEO WITH HIS ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST EYES.]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ he's starting to feel a little self-conscious... ]

Yeah, you could say that. No one else could even get close to him, and I guess I got lucky he didn't tear me apart or anything. But he listened to me after that, so there was no need for him to be destroyed, you know? And now he's the mast on my ship, until I can fix him again.

[branches]

You really try hard to keep people from finding out how impressive you can be, huh.
[Shoving him a little with his shoulder as they walk.]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ he gives a soft laugh at that. ]

Mostly I try to be annoying, but it helps to keep people on their toes.

[branches]

You just don't want anyone to expect anything from you, right? I don't really get that.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ ...he's quiet for a long moment, chewing on the inside of his cheek. ]

Maybe I just don't want to be that important, so I don't have to let anyone down. Not everyone's up for the whole "hero" thing.

[branches]

But isn't it what you were born to do? Being a demigod with prophecies and all that.

[He does not understand!!]

[commandertoolbelt]

Supposedly. Doesn't mean I'm ready for that, though - not when I'm the one who could make or break the whole thing.

[branches]

How long did you have to prepare for it? Being in a prophecy and all that.

[commandertoolbelt]

Uh, the first time we had less than a day to get ready for it. For the Great Prophecy... a little less than six months.

[branches]

Then I guess I can see why you wouldn't feel ready. Byakuroku told me about how it would be my duty to protect the ayakashi in my forest since I was really little, and to support my brother. He told me I had to grow into a strong tree so the little bird could rest in my branches.

[commandertoolbelt]

What, the whole forest? Isn't that a lot for one person?

[branches]

Maybe, but I'm not a person, am I?
[He's not a PUNY HUMAN he's a COOL and POWERFUL TREE BOY.]

[commandertoolbelt]

No. Nope. Trees are people, too.

And what about your brother - shouldn't he have been helping out, too?