I've played by all the rules, but I've very rarely won

[steadypulse]

Characters: Soldier: 76 [Raw Head]
Campaign: Break
Format: Whichever, I'll match
Open
Summary: What is being gotten up to during the Break, the many shades of irritation and peace for a feral hobo of a man.

Prompts Within/Below

Comments

[twilightskey]

[That actually makes Roxas frown at 76.]

No, I don't. But I'm also not so stubborn that I ignore help. The ones who help me are the ones I trust.

[He'd said that once before, what feels like a lifetime ago. But it was still true, and he didn't like the insinuation that Roxas was too naive.]

But... the Index is safe. There's no Erasers or other dangers here. So you shouldn't have to be worried about being found by anyone. And your house should be able to keep people locked out, can't it?

[Magic and all.]

[steadypulse]

[Let the kid assume what he wanted. Couldn't care less if he felt 76 was insinuating anything asking a blunt question.]

I haven't seen reason to trust it yet, been used by those offering help because of what they wanted. Took advantage of the trust given.

[Used, abused, and practically killed by those he was meant to trust. Had trusted with his life. Even those he fought for. He may have been here to help out, but he'd fully admit it was to help himself.

His attention was on the cooking fish still, pulling a pack off his belt, sprinkling something that released an appetizing smell the moment it hit the heated pan.]

There is someone here I don't want to be found by, let alone know where that house is.

[twilightskey]

[That little tidbit of information has Roxas's frown loosening to a surprised look, then to a sheepish one as he scratches at the back of his head.]

...Sorry. I didn't know. That sounds really rough.

[Definitely rough. Didn't Xemnas do the same thing to him, when he was in the Organization? He feels a bit bad judging 76, especially when he can relate.]

[That appetizing smell has Roxas looking up, eagerly looking over the fish. But he looks up sharply.]

Really? Are they dangerous?

[steadypulse]

That's life for you, kid.

[With a grunt, but at least it p r o b a b l y meant that the sorry wasn't just waved off? Just a fact of life, one learned a hard way and kept close after giving his life over to something only to end up betrayed in the end.

Once one of the fillets were done? He had caught the kid looking and so one was put up on one of the metal plates he had with him, and it was offered out with a fork as well. Clear enough sign that it was for Roxas to take as he tended to the other fillets.

Nice crisp skin that the flakey meat could easily be scraped off of.]

Dangers as I am, keeping an eye on them.

[Never knew when Reaper wouldn't play nice with the rest of the people here.]

[twilightskey]

[That sounded like a really rough life... But he doesn't say that out loud. Instead he blinks as the metal plate is offered to him, before slowly taking it.]

Thanks.

[He pauses before eating it, though, looking at the fish before speaking.]

You know... if you ever need a place to sleep. Like, somewhere that's safe? You could sleep at my house. It's pretty out of the way, and if something were to happen, I have another entrance in the basement that leads out to the river. I use it to swim into my house sometimes.

[steadypulse]

[The other small fillet was set on a different plate, still tending to the larger ones. Better to keep and eye on them and just let the blue dragon eat the other one. It was fine, he'd gotten used to feeding her.

Cooked or raw, didn't seem to care.

Was quiet for a moment, could even seem like there'd be no answer coming—]

Where is it.

[twilightskey]

[Roxas was getting ready to eat a piece of fish when 76 speaks up again. He looks up briefly before speaking.]

It's on the river. It's a stone house that's half built on the actual water. You can't miss it.

[He pauses to take a bite of the fish... and lets out an mm! of delight.]

This is really good!

[steadypulse]

Keep it in mind then.

[His head tipped to glance back towards Roxas-]

Can have another if you're hungry enough.

[Was said with a shrug, pulling off the larger fillets and putting them all on a plate balanced on one clawed hand.]

[twilightskey]

Thanks!

[He definitely will, once he's done eating this fish fillet. He takes another bite.]

How'd you make it taste so good? You don't even have any tools out here!

[steadypulse]

[Shoulders shrugged, and rather than take off his mask to eat he simply... tugged the lower jaw of the mask down to show that it didn't just look like and extremely well carved single piece of material. Just enough that he could used a couple of claws like chopsticks to stick pieces of fish through to enjoy.]

You don't need much to make food that tastes good.

[Just know how and the barest of essentials-]

Can sniff out ingredients.

[twilightskey]

You can?

[Roxas definitely perks up at that, and he can't help but watch that weird mask. Weird...]

From what I know of cooking, you need a bunch of ingredients to make the food properly. I didn't know you could do so much with so little.

[steadypulse]

Yeah.

[Simple an answer as that, no explanation as to how or why needed. At least he wasn't talking with his mouth full.]

Depends on what you're cooking. Sometimes all you need is meat and fire, and maybe a few seasonings- or just salt.

[twilightskey]

[Roxas doesn't really need an explanation; he assumes it has to do with his Essence, or at least with how he looks.]

Huh. I guess some foods can be just... simple and clean, and still be good.

[It's clearly the case, given how he's already finishing his fish and eying another piece.]

[steadypulse]

[There was already a second filet being offered without a word. Was more than enough, even with his large appetite.]

Sometimes the simple recipes can bring the most comfort.

[Comfort food and all that.]

[twilightskey]

Yeah...

[He accepts the second fillet with a nod, taking another bite of the fish.]

I'm Roxas, by the way.

[steadypulse]

Just call me 76 if you have to call me anything.

[Worked better than nothing. He checked the fire a bit and tossed another piece of wood on before he went back to his own pieces of fish. That blue dragon climbed up his back all so it could curl up in the fur lined hood of his jacket, tail around his neck loosely.

Comfy full dragon baby.]