|
Post by Tulip Waterfield on Nov 24, 2016 16:41:07 GMT
When the kid hugged her, the woman smiled softly. Tulip hadn’t received any compassion on this level for a long time. She ruffled his still-spiky hair gently, when he suddenly looked up.
“I’m Tomoyo! I’m 11 years old!” The kid replied happily to her question and grinned a mischievous smile. “What’s your name?”
“The name is Tulip. My mother’s name was Plum. Mind answering a question for me?” The woman ruffled his hair again, still enjoying the small form of kindness. She looked towards the river and continued talking. “You seem like a feisty kid, which makes me think you haven’t worked at all on defense. Which is what I’m going to show you, if you want.”
The woman rose from her seat, lifting the kid still clinging to her side off the ground. She glanced down at him and sighed. “You have to let go of me in order for me to show you the technique. Unless you want a different reward, Tomoyo.”
|
|
|
Post by Tomoyo on Nov 24, 2016 17:52:07 GMT
"It's nice to meetcha, Tulip!" Tomoyo exclaimed while still clinging onto the girl as she stood up in his hug. Not being very tall or heavy, the hybrid child was quite easily lifted off the ground with this simple motion as Tulip got up, but he still did not let go and instead chose to dangle off the girl in a heartfelt embrace.
"Heheheh. You're fun~" Responded the girl as she began maneuvering with the child still attached. For Tomoyo, this was fun, like a sort of mini-game where he was trying to see how long he could cling on without falling off.
You have to let go of me in order for me to show you the technique.
At the thought of training with Tulip though, Tomo's expression fell every so slightly. He always did have an aversion to training actively ever since his mother had basically crammed the practice down his throat hardcore for nearly his entire life... but Tulip didn't seem like that kind of person who'd just abuse him like that! She seemed like a nice big-sister type who wouldn't do anything expressly to harm him like for instance throwing him off of several buildings and cliffs or making Tomo fight a random alien monster until he was nearly dead.
Shaking his head back and forth though, Tomo decided to stay attached to the girl in his hug as he continued dangling. Leaning back his head to meet Tulip's gaze as she bent her's downward, Tomo gave her a smug smile before hugging tighter. "Nu-uh. I want the different one!"
|
|
|
Post by Tulip Waterfield on Nov 24, 2016 18:24:38 GMT
A different reward, huh. The woman hadn’t thought of a different reward, since she figured the kid would be willing to learn a new technique. When she was a kid, she tried to learn every possible move she could cram into her tiny brain. Now, when she was older, she only focused on mastering the few moves she considered her main staples.
“Uh...umm...hmm.” The woman spoke aloud, ignoring the kid still clinging to her waist. Sudden inspiration dawned on her face, as she slammed her fist into her open palm. She ignored the kid and his grip, despite it slowly undoing her towel, and scooped up her damp clothes and his wet ones. Then she began walking towards a different clearing further up stream. “I recently fought a huge bear and killed it. I have a bunch of the meat left. So, let’s have a nice meal and enjoy ourselves. Sound good, kiddo?”
The woman playfully ruffled the kid’s hair and waited for him to let go. Her towel had almost completely fallen off during the walk, but she didn’t care.
|
|
|
Post by Tomoyo on Nov 24, 2016 20:54:51 GMT
While Tulip pondered to herself on what the different reward should have been, Tomoyo was adjusting his position in a few different ways to better hold onto the older girl's waist. Eventually deciding on a position that placed him relatively secure while resting most of his weight on her hip, Tomo wrapped his tail around Tulip's own body to help stabilize himself more while either unknowingly or uncaringly causing the girl's towel to begin slipping down her body.
When the girl started walking further down the stream, Tomo had to keep adjusting himself ever so slightly to not slip down her side, all the while undoing the towel further down and even grabbing onto it for support for a second. When they had finally approached whatever their destination was, Tomoyos eyes practically began to light up at the mention of food from the older girl.
So, let’s have a nice meal and enjoy ourselves. Sound good, kiddo?
"Mhm Mhm Uhuh!" Nodding his head several times, Tomo clearly conveyed his input on the matter to the girl as he began sliding down the girl's body. "I'm hungry."
Touching his feet down onto the ground, Tomoyo wrapped his arms around her leg before attempting to give the girl a big hug as thanks. "Thanks Tulip~ You're the best!" Giggling at the girl ruffling his hair, Tomoyo threw his arms up before slowly running off in the direction he had been moving while chanting out loud, "Bear! Bear! Bear! Bear! Bear!"
His tail dragged on and along behind the boy as he was still running around with no hint of clothe or fabric to cover his form.
|
|
|
Post by Tulip Waterfield on Nov 25, 2016 2:44:27 GMT
Since her body was almost completely dry, the woman pulled the towel off and tossed it to her pile of belongings. The bear carcass was hanging from a tree, where she had hung it to ward off scavengers. She walked over to the pit in the middle, where logs and kindling lay. Picking up the two rocks she used for fire, she slammed both together and created a shower of sparks. The kindling sparked to life, creating a small fire that the woman pushed into the sticks and logs. The small fire took and the logs began burning slowly. She motioned for the boy to take a seat next to the fire as she spread the almost dry clothing next to it. Grabbing the knife from her belongings, she began carving sections of fresh meat from the bear carcass and setting them next to her. A little dirt never killed anyone. Satisfied with what she had set aside, the woman hefted the carcass and chucked it deep into the bamboo forest. The rest would be eaten by the bugs and other animals. Carrying the meat she had cut off to the fire, she began stabbing sticks into the meat and laying it over the fire. It would cook the meat; not extremely well, but it would be edible. The woman sat down next to the fire and relaxed, before glancing towards the kid. “So, what are your plans now, Tomoyo? After we’re done eating, you plan on staying the evening? I wouldn’t mind the company. I could let you use my pillow.”
|
|
|
Post by Tomoyo on Nov 25, 2016 15:06:07 GMT
While Tulip got the fire started that they'd be cooking the meal on, Tomoyo had by then spotted where the Bear carcass was hanging. Running over to inspect the large, dead animal himself; Tomoyo gleefully began poking and prodding the dead body like it was some sort of toy, jumping back every so often with a giggle as it swung back to touch him after an especially hard poke.
Tomo only ceased his silly little game after hearing Tulip call for him to sit down. Begrudgingly the hyrbid child moved towards the spot near the flames like the older girl had directed. Wrapping his tail around him for warmth, the fire making him finally realize that he was very cold outside without his clothes on, Tomoyo began shuddering while inching closer to the flames than he probably should have. "T-Tuli. I'm cold." Tomoyo whimpered under his arms as he curled up into a ball to preserve his warmth.
As a cooling chill passed over, the sudden temperature drop cause Tomo to squeeze his arms tightly before finally giving in and opting to curl up next to the girl. Rolling over and to the side, Tomoyo began resting his shivering form against the girl while hoping to draw some warmth from the contact as Tulip was placing the prepared meat onto the flames. "*sigh*" Tomoyo breathed out a relaxed sigh as he pressed up against Tulip, finally starting to warm up between her and the fire. Maybe it would be best that he put back on his clothes as soon as possible before he caught a cold?
Just about ready to fall asleep from the feeling, Tomoyo was jolted back as Tulip began asking him about his plans for later.
After we’re done eating, you plan on staying the evening? I wouldn’t mind the company.
Eyes practically lighting up like two mini-suns, Tomoyo expression broke into a exited smile over the idea of spending the night. "Really!?" Tomo yelled with excitement, lifting up his head to stare back into Tulip's eyes while he displayed his optimism fully. "I can stay the night!? Yay! Sleepover!" The tan child whooped aloud before giving the girl a hug again. This was going to be so fun! They could stay up all night and tell scary stories, eat marshmallows and s'mores, play games!
Sleepovers are the best~
|
|
|
Post by Tulip Waterfield on Nov 25, 2016 18:27:13 GMT
The young woman only smiled as the boy reacted with joy to her request. Her emerald gaze met his as he looked up at her in excitement. He spun around in her lap and gave the woman a hug. She ruffled his hair again, before glancing at their clothes. The clothing was mostly dry, so the woman stood up and pulled the kid off of her. “Go get dressed, kiddo. We’ll decide on where to sleep after we’re dressed and full.” Tulip walked over and pulled on her tanktop. Ensuring the tattered clothing was in place, she pulled on the rest of her clothing and sat down next to the fire. Double-checking the burning food, she decided it would be another five minutes before the food was thoroughly cooked. She laid down on her back and checked the kid by glancing backwards.
“You dressed yet, kiddo? I have a prospect for you. Something that doubles for training and Zeni.” Her gaze traveled towards the bamboo forest all around them, as her idea finished becoming concrete. Sitting up, the woman waited for the kid’s response to her simple question.
|
|
|
Post by Tomoyo on Nov 25, 2016 20:47:33 GMT
While Tomo was a little bummed out about Tulip extracting his body from hers due to suddenly feeling even more cold, that feeling went away as soon as the older hybrid provided him with his own previously dried clothes. Sighing in relief while pulling on his dried clothes and warmth overcame his small frame, the half Saiyan proceeded to turn back to the girl checking on the fire.
"Um... is it burning?" Tomoyo questioned aloud, not caring much for tact as the meat began smelling a tad overcooked. Now, Tomo wasn't any expert on cooking or anything, but he knew burning when he saw it; If it existed in a stereotypical home, Tomo probably had set it on fire with his ki by "accident".
Seeing that Tulip was laying down on her back now, Tomo decided it would be fun to surprise her again. While she was explaining something or other about money and training, Tomo snuck up behind the girl before bounding up into the air and landing on her stomach with a thud. "Hah! Gotcha~" The child yelled gleefully as he landed right onto the girl with a big smile. "All done~ Is it a game?"
|
|
|
Post by Tulip Waterfield on Nov 25, 2016 22:22:28 GMT
Tulip glanced over as the kid critiqued the food. Better burned then raw, in her own opinion. She began forming a reply and glanced back towards the kid. He was already in motion, which startled the woman. When he slammed into her stomach, she coughed in response. Caught with her guard completely down, she had the breath driven from her lungs. She took a deep breath to maintain her calm as she pushed the kid off her stomach. She deserved this after the tail incident, after all.
“You could consider it a game, if you wanted.” The woman pushed herself up and stood. Walking over to the fire, she pulled two sticks of cooked meat off and held them out to the boy. She pulled the other two off and began blowing on them to cool off the food. It didn’t smell amazing, but didn’t deter the woman as she began eating the meat. She finished biting off a huge piece and began chewing the meat. Swallowing the mouthful, the woman began explaining. “In the nearby cities, bamboo fetches a decent price. Tomorrow morning, we’ll spend time cutting down bamboo and sell it for Zeni. Using your hands will let you get training in at the same time.”
|
|
|
Post by Tomoyo on Nov 26, 2016 2:04:32 GMT
Grabbing the two sticks of meet offered to him, Tomoyo was quick to start chomping into the food without another word barring a simple, "Thanks!" While the child rolled the "roasted" meat over his tongue, he began rolling the taste of the practically charred ends while trying to savor what little moisture they had left. Burned was an understatement... oh wait, or maybe it was the fact Tomo just jammed a burning hot piece meat into his mouth.
"HOT!!!" The child screamed as the chunk of flesh dropped out of his mouth as he began patting his burned tongue, a prickling sensation substituting his feeling of taste. Tears forming at the ends of his eyes, it took a few minutes of quivering in pain while fanning his mouth before the child started back on eating the food; he wouldn't be one to just not finish food that Tulip made for him!
After swallowing the last mouthful of meat and polishing off the leftover bits left on the sticks, Tomoyo set them down next to him before turning back to Tulip with a reddened face and a forced smile. "T-Thank you, Tuli~" He choked out, trying his best to say that it was good besides practically burning his tongue off and only really tasting the burned parts.
Though Tomoyo didn't really like the prospect of training, and also didn't care much for making money, the child decided to give Tulip the benefit of the doubt and go help her in the morning. If it was for Tulip, he'd try at the very least since he wanted to have fun playing something with her! "Mhm. Alrighty~"
|
|
|
Post by Tulip Waterfield on Nov 26, 2016 2:47:24 GMT
Tulip had already finished her food, not commenting on the taste. She nodded as the boy attempted to stutter a thank-you. Tossing both sticks into the fire, she walked over to her belongings. Plucking out two blankets and her pillow, she walked over to the fire and laid it down next to it. Tossing the pillow to Tomoyo, the woman sat down and motioned for him to sit down.
“Let’s get some sleep while we can. I’ll share the blanket with you, kiddo.” Lying down, she threw the blanket out across her and propped her head up with her arm. Closing her eyes, she waited for the boy to join her. She hadn’t gotten as much training in as she had hoped, but she had met Tomoyo instead. She smiled softly, wondering how she would’ve done if she’d gone to Earth at his age instead of as a woman. Glancing back over her shoulder at the boy, she smirked and spoke again. “Don’t worry, Tomoyo, I won’t bite.”
|
|
|
Post by Tomoyo on Nov 26, 2016 3:58:11 GMT
Sitting down in relative silence as Tulip lay out a blanket and pillow, Tomo sat cross-legged while twiddling his thumbs to pass by the seconds. It wasn't until the hybrid child noticed the fluffed pillow flying through the air at him that he leapt upwards before grabbing the fabric plush in his small hands and hugging it close to his body.
Waddling over to where Tulip had propped herself up while lying down under a blanket, Tomo set down his pillow adjacent to Tulip's own before crawling underneath the blanket the girl had opened and ready for him. Propping off his boots and placing it outside the mini blanket tent, Tomo slid along the ground before huddling up against Tulip and wrapping his short arms as far as he could around her arm.
Leaning his head against her bosom, Tomo was quick to start feeling his eyes getting heavy as the warmth and comfort overcame him. "*yawn* G'night Tuli~" Tomo managed to squeak out before finally falling asleep. As the child slept, curled up against the comforting elder, Tomoyo's chest slowly rose and fell at consistent rhythmic levels attesting to the fact that he was asleep. A peaceful smile plastered on his slumbering expression, Tomo dreamt of sweet nothings that night while resting under the comfort and protection of another for once.
|
|
|
Post by Tulip Waterfield on Nov 26, 2016 5:07:04 GMT
The woman smiled softly as the young boy hugged her arm. She laid down as he muttered goodnight. Stroking his hair gently, the woman wondered if this was like having a younger brother. Lying back, she wrapped her arm around the younger boy and stared up at the stars above. She thought over the events of the days and smiled, finally satisfied. Rolling over, she hugged the smaller boy closer.
Ugh...what time is it? The woman sat up, as the sun beamed down from above. It was early morning, but the sun was still high in the sky. Glancing down, she saw her shirt had been pulled up during the night. Sighing, she pulled her tanktop back into place over her chest. Standing up, the woman stretched and set about doing her business. When she was finished, she walked over to the sleeping boy and poked his head.
“Wake up, sleepyhead. We got business to take care of. We’ll get our sticks and then go our separate ways. Sound good?” Tulip continued poking the kid, waiting for some form of reaction.
|
|
|
Post by Tomoyo on Nov 26, 2016 18:22:25 GMT
"Hnnnn, I don't wanna mommy~" Tomo complained aloud as Tulip poked his head. Despite the shining sun and the physical disturbance provided by the elder hybrid, all Tomoyo did was stir slightly under the stimulus before rolling over to sleep longer. At first, it might have looked like he was falling back asleep, but the combined interactions was slowly enough to wake the boy from his sleep.
Sitting up with the blanket still covering the majority of his body, Tomoyo still had a faint and distant expression on his face as he slowly turned his head to look around him. For a second, Tomo was confused by his surroundings waking up in such a strange place outside by a stream and fireplace... until another poke to the head jolted him back to the present. Turning his face to look over at the intruding party, the understanding slowly became visible on his face once more as Tomo's frown curled upwards into a gleaming smile. Wiping his face on the back of his sleeve, the bits of drool coming off in the process, Tomoyo kicked off the blanket before jumping up and on his feet.
Leaping at the older girl, Tomo beamed at the elder before giving her a big good-morning hug. "Morning Tuli!" Tomo exclaimed while embracing Tulip, honest to goodness ecstatic that he had somebody to wake up to and say hi to. It was unbearably lonely living in a tower by himself for the past week or so, so this was a happily accepted change of pace.
We’ll get our sticks and then go our separate ways. Sound good?
Then the reality of the situation came crashing back down on the child almost like the air had become weighted on hearing this tidbit. "...oh yeah. We have to go after that..." Tomo reminded himself in his mind, his smile fading to a frown as his eyebrows furrowed in unhealthy pondering. Well, there was nothing to do so no use moping. Lifting up his head to look back at Tulip's, Tomoyo silently nodded his head at her statement before plopping back on the ground to pull on his boots. The firm fabric padding was covered in a light layer of wet dew which left his hands moist and slightly dirtied after the process, but Tomo just wiped them off on the side of his pant sleeve.
|
|
|
Post by Tulip Waterfield on Nov 26, 2016 23:08:54 GMT
Tulip sighed and walked over to the edge of the clearing. Nearing a clump of large bamboo stalks, she made a knife hand. Chopping at the bamboo, the woman easily cut the stalk in half. Catching the upper part before it fell to the earth, Tulip held it out behind her.
“Take these and chop the leaves off. Then cut them down the middle. We’re going to be making a pile of about a hundred, so don’t slack.” The atmosphere was getting far heavier than the female liked, but she wouldn’t let it get to her. Wading through the forest, she continously chopped down the tall stalks to her left and right. It was good practice in maintaining constant Ki output. She caught a bamboo stalk and walked back into the clearing. Glancing towards the kid, she pointed back towards the bamboo shrubs. “Go in there and chop down some bamboo. Copy what I was doing and you’ll be fine.” Tossing the bamboo stalk on the ground, she began chopping the leaves and branches from the large piece. Cutting it in half, the woman began stacking the large halves into two piles, before tying both off with cord she procured from her bag. Satisfied with the stacks, she set the bamboo stack with the most to one side and picked up the other. Calling out to the forest, she shouted to the young boy. “Come on back, kiddo! I got your stack here!”
|
|