“Or you could just call me nothing. You could opt to not talk to me.”
He’d barely raised his voice in return, so whether they heard him or not didn’t matter much in the long run. He was fully content to carry on his way and never see them ag–they were following him. He wasn’t a fool to people trying to sneak up on him; Rui tended to be someone that people, well, underestimated.
Looking young would do that. It had almost been funny, once, had he been able to process that emotion.
Shouldn’t you be the one at home? Yeah, maybe. Ideally. Once upon a time, even. But the place he stayed here wasn’t home, even if he’d gotten more comfortable with it than he’d once been, and neither Mount Natagumo’s false sanctuary nor his parents were here. So what was home? He’d given up the right to something like that when he’d become a demon.
Rui stopped walking for a moment.
It felt wrong, not putting the word Lower in front of it, but his mind had drifted to Owl and all Rui could think to do was give a title.
“Are you so stupid that you can’t take a hint? – no, not even a hint. I couldn’t have been any more obvious.” There was no conviction. Not even like how he’d once been able to deliver such words with his usual monotone, where it was obvious he meant it. Not that Alarian knew that. He doubted they’d be able to call him on his bluff. “What does it matter if I’m closed off? I gave you something to call me. Go away before I slice you to pieces.”
❝Ugh. Where’s the fun in not talking to someone? How do you know who you like and you hate if you don’t talk.❞
Mouth curves downward with displeasure, expression soured by the mere thought of just ignoring someone -- or something -- that might catch their eye. Friends and relationships were made with communication, of a sort. So maybe they wouldn’t be able to buddy up with the kid. Whatever. He could at least give them a proper chance, get to know them a bit before not liking them. Or threatening to kill them.
Is it so hard for people to wait for a valid reason to cut them off so violently?
Alarian’s already mentally waving away the thought. They’re able to perk up a bit more at the given ‘Five’, head tilting as they processed what was said. They had asked for a name, not a title or... well, it was a bit small of a number to be his age from the looks of it. Beggars can’t be choosers, as the saying goes: Five it is!
❝Oh, your hint didn’t go unnoticed.❞ They simply chose to ignore it.
Honestly, things seemed to have started fairly decently, or as decent as they could assume before plastering their own sort of nickname onto the boy; onto ‘Five’. It was true they had a name to give the face but that was hardly an interaction worth anything, they wanted a conversation. A means of feeding their curiosities and finding interesting company.
❝Hey, if you’re gonna slice me open at least have a good reason for it! I’m just talking.❞ There’s an irritated clicking that’s quieted by their tongue. ❝Why everyone focuses on killing and death is beyond me -- whatever! Your point’s to drive me away, blah blah...❞
With a huff their legs finally still, cheeks puffed in a faint pout as they turn their gaze away. Given what they are ‘death’ isn’t much of a worry, but the topic itself, or the mere implication, is enough to sour the mood.
❝Make a friend or pet a dog or something! Your attitude could use something sweet to counter that sourness of yours.❞