02 - Free Gifts! Free GIIIIIIFTS!

[selfgodded]

Who: Anant, Kaito awww_yeeeeeaaaah, AND EVERYONE
Where: Pisces Apartment Complex - 6th & 7th Floors specifically
Summary: Anant goes to visit the 'new friend' they made, and ends up just bugging Kaito instead. People can bump into them before they reach the apartment though.
Warnings: You know the drill with Anant at this point. Prepare for sudden philosophical talks and other weirdness!

Anant was in a somewhat chipper mood as they prowled the hallways with a heavy plastic bag in their hands. They seemed to be moving in a rather erratic path, zigzagging along the hallway and spontaneously leaping into a little hop, or a skip, or a jump - it was, needless to say, very bizarre.

Anyone want to confront the obvious weirdo?



----

Anant jostled the bag slightly to one side as they lifted up their hand, tapping the door before them with one thin finger. Yes, this was the correct door. One floor below, one room behind. Their new friend lay behind here!

Of course, observations here told them that making friends usually required gifts of sort! That was what was told to them. 'This time of year gifts are given to friends'! It was rather perplexing why a certain time demanded gift giving, but far be it from them to question human customs! It was nice though. A show of appreciation to new friends! Anant would give Viridi a present as well but...

Well. They weren't sure if Viridi existed as something beyond a voice.

Nodding to themselves, Anant curled their fingers into fists and abruptly began pounding the door loudly and obnoxiously.

Comments

[selfgodded]

Anant stepped inside and immediately looked about. It was so different from their apartment! Anant's was full of scrapbooks and loose photographs and interesting things (read: junk and rocks), as well as the blue plant growing on their windowsill. They made sure to look after it very well.

"You have a lovely home," Anant said after a pause, remembering the proper ETIQUETTE required for this complicated step. Socialising had so many subtle nuances and layers it was - quite difficult to keep in mind at all times. How did humans manage it? "Very warm, yes! Lived in, like muted pastel colours - autumn of red and oranges..."

They turned to Kaito, head tilted in a bird like manner. "The weather is...warm now," they said after an awkward pause.

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

Look, Anant, it's okay. Kaito's used to Saiduq for god's sake, they don't have to socialize like a human.

"Hah, yeah, that's why I'm sick, you know?" Screwy weather. Ah well, with that he wandered back to the couch, rubbing his eyes tiredly and picking up his laptop, staring at it for a little bit before closing it.

"Sssssooo, what's your name? You're um..." What was it again?

"Anant?"

[selfgodded]

"Oh! You know of me? Yes! Well, if you wish to call me that...I..."

Anant fidgeted agitatedly, leaning from side to side briefly. "Could you, perhaps, call me Calypso? Far, far too many seem to deem me as this gender, or neither, and I wish to have one where the other can be used. Humans usually treat those of other genders with subtle differences, and I rarely get to observe the differences of males and females regarding females."

A pause. "Although, perhaps it would not work if you are aware of- ah, nevermind. Yes, you may call me Anant."

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

...He...had no idea what they just said but uh.

"Oh I kinda...saw your guys' conversation because it was on my account? If you like Calypso better, that's fine..." Nevermind that Kaito totally didn't get the rest of what they just said, but still.

[selfgodded]

Anant perked at that. "Oh, really? Ah, thank you! You are most kind! I normally do not try to influence other's perceptions of me in this way, but to have so many think of me as male, well, there is nothing wrong in that, of course. I feel as if I am manipulating the effects however..."

They shook their head, setting the bag down on the floor. "May I leave this here? It is quite heavy."

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

"Yeah, no problem."

So, walk him through this.

"I'm kind of out of it right now, but are you saying that you want to be seen as a girl?"

Is that the gist of it here or...?

[selfgodded]

"If it suits your perception of me, yes. I am well aware that I come across as masculine, rather than feminine, mostly due to my voice and thick clothing. This is fine."

Miraculously, Anant decided not to explode into a wild tangent about genders or viewpoints of it. Instead they reached up to the zipper on their collar and zipped their coat open. Beneath the thick coat was a rather curvy body, with the visible swells of hips and breasts - however the lowered collar also revealed the obvious Adam's apple on their throat. A bit...conflicting.

"But I can easily wear my coat as this if it helps with your view. If not, that is fine, and you may refer to me as Leo or Anant, whichever you feel suits your perception of me."

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

Oh, well that's...uh.

...Huh.

...That made Kaito a little slack jawed, forgive him.

"Wow. You're...full of surprises, aren't you?"

[selfgodded]

"Good surprises or negative?" Anant questioned, slipping their hands into their coat's pockets and flapping it wide open. "Surprise is a rather unpredictable word, being that it can be used to imply negativity, or positivity! Such as, 'this is a surprise!' in a good way, or, 'what a surprise!' in a bad way. It depends on context of course, as well as tone, however-

Anant paused, pushing themselves up onto the balls of their feet. "However...in this case it is quite ambiguous. Amazing, isn't it? In speech humanity's language contains such subtle nuances in single words. A myriad of things that are taken in context in an instant, expressions, tone, body language, situation, conversati-

"Ah, my apologies," Anant bowed their head, "I am rambling."

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

"Um, it's okay. It's a good thing!" He thinks...maybe? He meant it in a good way, at least.

...Ah yes, language.

"Haha, guess you'll have a lot to talk to him about." Oh but uh. "You can sit down too, if you want."

[selfgodded]

"Can I? Oh, thank you. You are most kind."

Anant stepped over to the sofa and carefully sat down on the very edge, the weight resting mostly on their toes as they clasped their hands on their lap. They turned their head this way and that, as if examining the interior of the apartment from this new, lowered, perspective.

"I have said so much about myself and my interests. This is rather rude, is it not? So," Anant turned their body towards Kaito, yellow eyes alight with interest. "Do you have any dreams?"

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

...Well, that kind of threw him off.

"Uh, dreams?" D-do they mean "interests"? Or "hobbies"?

[selfgodded]

"Yes. Dreams. Humans always have dreams, be they large, small, weak or all consuming," Anant said, settling their hands against their chest as if overwhelmed with great emotion. "Even if the dreams are a foolish impossibility, they still strive towards it, even if it ends with their death and individuality. However some dreams are weak and lifeless, easily discarded for the next elusive glitter at a brief moment of hardship."

They lowered their hands, tilting their head to the side. "So what dreams do you possess?"

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

This...may have been getting a little personal, but it also kind of reminded him of Saiduq in this really endearing way.

"I, uh...I never really thought about it. I mean, I did have a dream before I came here? But I already got it done."

If crushing Polaris mercilessly beneath his heel could be considered a "dream", then yes. he totally did.

[selfgodded]

"You achieved it?" Anant pressed their hands against their mask, letting out a gasping little noise of happiness. "So - oh, you have achieved the impossible! The sole human I have met that have obtained their dream within their lifetime! Tell me, how does it feel? What purpose remains within you? Dreams are a driving force behind humanity, for they exist by striving towards something, stagnating into nothingness when without purpose...do humans stagnate when their dreams are accomplished? Or do they, perhaps, gain new ones?"

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

...How did it feel, huh? Hmm. Other than actually learning how Saiduq would make a new world?

"It...felt really good. And yeah, we gain new ones."

[selfgodded]

"Hmmmm! I see, I see..." Anant lowered their hands, nodding contemplatively. "You are a rarity. Excuse me."

They rummaged about in their coat's pocket, drawing out a small, silvery camera with a cracked case. They switched it on. "I want your picture for my scrapbook."

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

That made Kaito laugh in surprise. Oh my God Anant (Calypso??? Man, whatever) was so precious why.

"Oh, um, sure!" He wasn't looking his best but that wasn't stopping him from smoothing down his hair and attempting to smile for the camera.

[selfgodded]

Anant held up the camera, carefully putting Kaito in the shot, before snapping several pictures in succession. "Ah - this makes me imitate happiness! I like having new memories to place in the pages of my scrapbook! They are the most precious of things in regard to humans, as their lives are so delicate and fleeting."

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

"It's a nice hobby to have, at least." Who knew that non-humans would enjoy scrapbooking, of all things?

"So, what about you?" You know.

The Dream thing.

[selfgodded]

"About me? You mean do I have a dream?"

Anant actually had to think about this. Did they have a dream? Well, they wished to fully understand the human condition, to learn and understand how such weak creatures could possess such strength within an incomplete soul. Did that count as a dream?

"Mm..." Anant tilted their head this way and that, almost like a confused dog, trying to think... could an eternal search for knowledge count? Anant knew that given an eternity, they would never comprehend the mystery of humanity. That wasn't a dream...although humans rarely achieved their dreams, there was an end goal for it. A tangible or intangible pay off when they obtain it.

"I- my dream is, perhaps...to, understand humans, and be able to mimic their emotions. I am somewhat envious of their depths, the vibrancy and colours of their souls, but I can only...barely imitate it. I only get...flashes... does that, count as a dream? I do not know..."

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

"Sure it does. It doesn't have to be this huge thing. And humans aren't the only ones who have dreams, you know?"

[selfgodded]

"Then yes, that is my dream. To understand and mimic humanity."

Anant turned their camera in their hands for a moment, their posture thoughtful. "But I will never fully understand them. A fascinating, unpredictable species - they are constantly full of surprises! There is never a dull moment when observing them aah...oh!"

The camera was suddenly shoved into their coat pocket, and they jumped to their feet, moving over to where they had set the plastic bag down. "Actually - do you want to see my scrapbook? I always carry one with me! I will show you it!"

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

Kaito really should suppress the urge to entertain guests when he's sick and slowly getting more tired, but...

"Ah, sure, that'd be cool." It's a good thing to do while waiting, at any rate.

[viditlibertas]

It wasn't like he'd really left, to be fair- even if his sight was limited in scope, he had only gone so far as to obtain a few things. ...which he unceremoniously dumped on to the table as he bzorted back in to the apartment. Noisy, yes, but he'd gotten several kinds of teas and a bunch of hokey-looking cold cures.

It took him a moment too long to stare at the apartment's company, tilting his head and making his way around the table with a quicker pace than he typically moved in.

"...Anant?"

Well, he remembered the name at least!