Long Travel Home

[Myra]

"Your cooking is actually pretty good!", Myra said, smiling a little. She noticed in his bag though, a lot of these food items were, well... They were necessity type things. "Thanks Kayne, I'll probably snag an apple or two from you later!" She let out a little laugh after, keeping the tone lighthearted. "I think I'll do a little more shopping. There's a few things I still need to get." Based on what he bought, he kept things simple. Probably on the move a lot so what he deemed a luxury was probably someone else's normal meal. That's okay though, she'd get him something nice that he's probably never had before.

She turned to walk to a store, waving at Kayne as she took her leave. First things first, she needed arrows. So she'd buy a few to fill her quiver. But afterwards, regardless if Kayne was around or not, she'd stop by a sweets shop and pick out a back of some small rock candy and then stop by a bakery to get a cream custard treat. They were sweet, but the custard was very smooth on the tongue. Myra wasn't entirely sure what kind of pastries Kayne would like, so she guessed something like this would do for now.

After a while, she came back into the inn they were staying at, setting her things down and sorting them out before picking up the goodies she picked for Kayne and heading to his room. She stood out there, knocking a couple times and waiting. Hopefully he was back by now.

[Sparky]

[Refs]

    Kayne quietly nodded in response to Myra. He... honestly envied how excited and cheerful she could be. But, of course, the young man would never actually say that out loud. He'd give a moment to watch her leave before making his way back to the inn. There wasn't much else for the young warrior to get, given he'd already gathered up what he set out to get. 

    The time spent in the inn was, unsurprisingly, relatively quiet. The only sound that filled the air was the brief sound of Kayne sharpening his weapons. It was a methodical habit of his, tending to them to make sure their edges were razor sharp. It gave him something to do. Something to focus on. It gave him a purpose when there wasn't anything else for him. 

    Everything else afterwards shared a similar silence, with only a few, quiet noises breaking its tension. Like tiny ripples on an otherwise still lake. Between reading and exercising, the noises that broke that surface barely could be registered outside the room.

    It really emphasized his way of life.  How objective driven it was, and how little he allowed himself to enjoy the finer things that came with being alive. But why should a weapon enjoy life?

    Especially when it's job was to take it. 

    Time passed slowly for Kayne. Just continuing the same standard routine, whittling down the waking minutes until the sun began to set. I should probably get started on making something to eat. He noted, dull blue eyes watching the colors of the sky change. With a huff, the young warrior would move to the groceries he picked up, digging into the bags and pulling everything out. Myra didn't seem to mind meat the night prior, so in his mind it probably didn't make much of a deal for her now, either. 

    However, just to be on the safe side, he'd make something without as well. 

    The rooms, small as they were, did come with a small oven, with two burners. Ancient compared to some cities, but completely modern for this place. Kayne wondered where the in owners acquired them. Perhaps through trade with the Skaven, or perhaps a different city? Honestly, it was a little hard to tell. 

    But, in the end, it didn't matter where it was from. It cooked all the same. By the time Myra knocked on the door, he was finishing plating up the dinner he had made. "Come in, it's open." 

[Myra]

Myra opened the door, holding a bag behind her back and stepping in. She jumped a little, a shock of surprise on her face as he was dishing up a plate. "I hope I wasn't intruding on anything.", she said as she skirted around the edge of the room and set the bag down on a table and sat in a chair next to it. "whatever that is it smells great! Oh right, I won't be long. I have another errand I need to run here in a few.. But, I was wondering, do you... always keep a minimal inventory? It's not a bad thing! It's a good habit to have if you're on the move a lot but... We're staying here a few nights right? Don't you ever get yourself a little something special once in a while?"

[Sparky]

[Refs]

    "There's both a vegetarian option and a normal serving depending on your tastes." Kayne stated, setting down two plates, before turning back and making sure the stove had been turned off. "Take as much as you can eat. I have a generally small appetite and nowhere to keep leftovers."

    Kayne was... unprepared for the flurry of questions Myra would hit him with and his expression would convey as much as he looked back towards the young woman. It was almost impressive to him. When the stream of thought finally ended, Kayne would turn around and lean the small of his back against the counter, folding his arms over his chest as he processed it all. 

    "I generally keep a small inventory, yes. Usually I scavenge from the wilderness- fishing, hunting, foraging. And, yes, we're staying until the end of the week. And I don't follow? Special as in... rare? Sometimes I'll purchase potions when available, maybe scented soap during the rare times I'm spending more than one week in a city if that's what you're implying?" 

    Kayne never treated himself.

    In fact he didn't even know what she meant by 'getting himself something special.' The young warrior really did do his best to try and process it, wondering if she meant rare meats or traps, but meats spoiled quick and he could hunt them himself, and traps could be cumbersome. As for rare weapons- he wasn't that type of warrior who just constantly bought the shiniest sword they saw. Hydra and his ebony shortsword served him well. 

    As for clothes- Kayne liked his attire so that was a big no, he just obviously washed them or got them repaired or replaced when necessary. Everything the young man bought really was just... necessities, either for the travel or to make sure he was comfortable enough to survive.

    The young man sighed and shook his head. "I apologize, can you explain further?"

[Myra]

"O-oh, thank you!", she said, picking up a plate and scooping in bits of both. Just because she was a cervidae faunus didn't mean she was restricted to a stereotypical diet. She took a seat and placed the bag on the table next to her plate. She began to nibble at the food, watching Kayne as he answered her questions and had a misunderstanding of his own that he wanted clarified.

Oh the boy didn't get anything for himself. Well, not anything that would fit what Myra was thinking. She supposed it made sense since he didn't really seem to be in populated areas long enough to know what to do outside of choring. Well, I mean... Like... do you not get even small things like sweets or anything to decorate your home with after an adventure?" Did he even have a place he called home of was he purely nomadic? "I mean, if you don't, I suppose that's fine. It is your life after all but... I feel like you're missing out on a lot if that is the case. And if that is the case well.." She rummaged in the bag and plucked out a few sweets neatly wrapped in plastic that kept them pristine. "I bought these to share. You can pick whichever ones you want.", Myra said.

[Sparky]

[Refs]

    "You're very welcome." He replied, sitting down and quietly digging into his own meal. Her words didn't really... connect all that well for a moment, and it looked as though it fell on deaf ears. The young warrior would give a blank stare in exchange for her explanation. To be fair... it barely qualified as an explanation, it was just a short snipped of words that barely held meaning. 

    Sweets? Home Decorations? She thought highly of him, it seemed. 

    "My home burned down three years ago." The young man stated in a matter-of-fact manner. Like everything else, Kayne was... largely unaffected by that thought. So, in a sense, he was nomadic. 

    "Besides, I was taught that trinkets like that are a wasteful indulgence. Unless it was taken from a battle and bears importance, such as a leader's skull or the pelt of a particularly challenging beast." Kayne paused to take a bite of the food he'd made. "Only my brother really indulged in such things. However if my mentor caught me with any such items, I would be punished." 
    
    Kayne remembered a weapon charm that his brother had attached to his sword. Besides the fact that he was the favorite child, there was an assumption that his brother used his silver tongue to relay a greater worth to the items he acquired. 

    Though the young warrior lacked the silver tongue of his elder brother. 

    "As far as sweets go, they attract insects in the wild. Nor did I ever have much of a sweet tooth growing up..." Kayne turned his head away slightly, seeming to muse on that. He felt a memory tugging at the back of his  mind, but he quickly brushed it away. 

    He'd stop when Myra pulled out the ones she'd bought however. Of course she bought some. Kayne shouldn't have been surprised. But... he kinda was? It seemed odd that anyone would buy something specifically for him. It just... didn't seem right. The young warrior was hardly anything special. It all felt wasted. 

    But... it would be rude to refuse her. Such was his dilemma. He didn't want them, he didn't deserve them, she was giving them anyways. So... the only thing Kayne could do was compromise, hesitating for a small moment before slowly, slowly, reaching out and gently, gently  taking one of the candies. The plastic made soft crinkling noises as the man pulled it back over towards himself, unwrapping it and glancing back at Myra for a heartbeat before carefully placing it into his mouth and chewing. 

    "Hm. It's ok." The young man would say, his words flat and lacking any emotion or care. But his eyes betrayed him. In truth, the only reason he 'didn't have a sweet tooth' was because he'd never been allowed, just like the other things, and over time he just habitually avoided such things. But... it was really quite an experience. Though he wouldn't admit it, the shimmer in his eyes showed his heart. 

    

[Myra]

Myra listened intently on it. Boy had a rough life it seemed. "Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeell.... Your mentor isn't here, right? And if you don't have a home, surely you could find a place to settle as home base when taking a break from adventuring the world.", she said before taking another bite. "You know, in all honesty, I've never heard of anyone hating sweets. Everyone has something sweet they like, I'm sure. Even if it's not like candy, but more semi-sweet- Can I have some more?", she asked, gesturing to the food Kayne made while he was grabbing a candy to try.

She paused to look at him, a smile appearing on her face and a little snort as she tried to not laugh. The look on his face was adorable! He looked like a kid trying to be tough but in actuality just couldn't keep up the facade at this moment. "Not much of a sweet tooth, eh?", she said before snickering to herself. "I'm sorry but this is just...so cute! I can't help myself!", she said between spurts of laughter.

[Sparky]

[Refs]

    Kayne motioned with his hand for her to take as much as she liked, but paused when Myra began to laugh. The young warrior seemed puzzled for a time. Sitting silently as the girl called the situation 'cute.' What an odd choice of words. Kayne thought. But what did they mean? Was she referring to the meal? The sweets? It seemed unrealistic for her to be saying that about him. That just didn't make sense in the young man's mind. 

    "What is?" He would inquire at last. The warrior would take her plate carefully from her, restocking it instead of letting her do it herself. Part of him felt as though that's why she asked in the first place, but really Kayne just needed to do something with his idle hands. 

    Confusion was visible upon his features. Was... was she mocking him? That seemed to make a lot more sense. Kayne settled a bit, shrugging it off and returning to his food. Truth be told, Myra didn't have to ask for seconds- he had no need for leftovers, so if they could finish it all up, that would be preferred. 

    As far as the sweets went, however. Indulging himself in something like that was... not something he thought fitting for him. It was unnecessary and would only serve to hinder, more than help. 

    Such amenities were for the living. He was just a simple weapon. 

[Myra]

"You! The look on your face! Oh my gods it's so adorable!", she piped out. Myra couldn't help but smile. The boy was clueless, but the look on his face when he had a candy for the first time. Oh man, it was beautiful and priceless. Blessed be one of Maisha's many gifts, that look was so precious and unique.

"Oh what a wonderful expression!", she said, cupping her cheeks and twisting from side to side as if she was staring at some baby animals or something. Truly the look on Kayne's face was him living, even if only for a moment! A sweet, succulent moment! "Expressions like that, experiencing something wonderful for the first time! They're unique and so beautifully rare to come by." Myra honestly looked pretty happy there, almost proud and probably like she was going to cry. The faunus quickly faned herself with her hand, collecting herself and clearing her throat.

"You know Kayne, you're pretty bad at lying. You've never had anything fun, have you?", she said, setting a more serious tone.

[Sparky]

[Refs]

    "Mm. I wouldn't say that about me." Kayne noted calmly. He was... far from cute. He was a monster. The warrior had killed far more than just bandits or monsters. He was a tool built and crafted for war. He lived and breathed violence. Cute was... meant for something that was alive. Something that could feel. Something that didn't leave an ocean of bodies and blood behind them. At the mention of expression, he would very carefully reach up and touch his face, rubbing it slightly and tracing the scar. 

    What interest was there in a flat... boring expression, Kayne wondered. The boy didn't smile. Didn't frown. His face was plain and dull. Perhaps in its emptiness, it was unique. In it's lifelessness, it was rare. Like a painting of a corpse. Haunting and frightful, yet somehow beautiful in its own... morbid and cruel way. 

    Funny that he compared his own face to that of a corpse. 

    But what other comparison was there? He felt no warmth in his heart. No light in his eyes. No happiness, nor fear, nor anger, nor sadness. Just an empty, hollow pit. Curiosity and confusion were the only things that remained of his humanity, and even they were in short supply. Even a robot could feel curiosity, if it were programmed to. 

    While others fought and clawed their way in the world, begging to be noticed, to tell the world that they lived, Kayne simply existed. No, there was nothing cute, or beautiful, or rare about him. He was a weapon. Built to kill, and lived only to die. 

    There was nothing beautiful about war. In fact, he thought it quite sad. The only thing that made him feel alive was when he was ripping something apart, close to death, close to dying. When he blood was boiling, heart pounding, body and mind on fire as he drove through the hordes gambling between victory and death.

    How Ironic, to feel so alive when dying. 

    Kayne sat quiet and idle as Myra asked her next question. Not because he hadn't ever had fun, but because he was quietly determining if he should tell her the truth. "I have. It's rare, but I have."
    

[Myra]

Myra seemed surprised to his response. Boy was so serious, so calculating, so..... alienated. "Oh? What did you do for fun?", she asked him, seeming interested in his answer now.

The deer faunus leaned back in her seat. A good look at him and she could see the light in his eyes quickly dying out like a candle whose flame was snuffed out. How depressing. Was he consciously repressing emotion to the point where the smallest outbursts weren't even truly noticed?

[Sparky]

[Refs]

    Kayne, for a moment, wanted to make a quip about how he got beat up for fun. Or how he just sat and stewed for fun. Sulked. Etc. All that sarcastic jazz poking fun at his own self esteem and abhorrent upbringing. However, he was more controlled than that, and knew when and how to bite his tongue. 

    He'd like to believe he was an adult. 

    Instead, the young warrior mulled over just how much he could tell her. How much he could let on and just what exactly he should say. Kayne knew and understood that he was fucked up. And saying 'Oh, killing people is fun' was borderline psychotic. Of course, that was a flat and hyperbolic way to put it, when really it was just the looming challenge that excited him. A daunting task that could put his life in danger, instead of just a clean, effortless sweep. 

    Unfortunately, those two statements were not mutually exclusive, seeing as they all ended the same. And in the off chance that it didn't end the same, the response could literally be summed up as 'Oh, dying is fun,' which was just a different type of psychotic right there. Gods was it odd having to talk about himself.

    Suddenly, he didn't really feel like he had an appetite for the sweets anymore. 

    "I suppose I used to read a lot. It's something I personally enjoy. Exploring fictitious worlds within my mind without paying the price of insanity to picture them." Kayne tapped his finger against the table, thinking idly. "I'm also fairly decent at chess. I see it as a worthwhile time waster, keeps my mind sharp." 

    He stopped tapping and went silent. The young man's mouth opened, as though to say something, only to stop himself. He seemed to be fighting back against himself. Trying to win two different wars; one that told her, one that kept it away, and he didn't know who he wanted to lose. 

    In the end, it was the latter that was defeated.

    "When I was... younger, my elder brother, who trained with me under our master, he would sometimes bring me out in secret and would take me exploring or would bring me different places. One day after one of our... harsher training sessions, he took me to a festival in the village nearby. It was late, and near the end of it, but while there I... remember having the time of my life." Kayne's eyes seemed to sparkle again, though this time the emotions were a mixed and tumultuous affair. "Before we left, a girl who lived close to us who I'd been close with gave me my first kiss. That festival is one of my fondest memories."

    "When we went back, however it quickly lost its luster. My master had found us out and was waiting for us while we were sneaking back. For the next three days we were barely allowed to sleep, only train, as punishment for going behind his back and doing such a thing. After it was all over, my brother tried to get us out and about again, but I never joined him." 

[Myra]

Myra listened to Kayne speak of his memory. It started so sweet but quickly turned sour. A little sniffle would probably catch Kayne's attention. A good look at Myra and anyone could see her heart was very attuned to the emotion presented in the story. "That's so tragic! What kind of monster would punish you for going to a festival and meeting someone you were interested in?!" The faunus quickly brought out a little pale yellow handkerchief and blew her nose and wiped her eyes. "And that punishment is beyond unfair! That's so wrong!", she sobbed.

That's it! Myra's added a small goal to herself. As long as she was adventuring with Kayne, she'd make sure that he wasn't going to be a weird hollow vessel with a soul. She was determined to make sure he felt feelings and actually took that opportunity to just be alive outside of whatever that was that he went through as a child.

[Sparky]

[Refs]

    "It was my mistake. I let my own childish whimsy get the better of me. Emotions like that are fatal. They're a weakness. And imperfection. When you're forging a weapon, imperfections need to be hammered out, otherwise it'll wind up faulty..." Kayne went quiet at the last part of that, shaking his head. "... and I wasn't interested in her. I thought of her as a friend, and nothing more. She was in love with me, but the feeling wasn't mutual." 

    Love. That was another one of those weaknesses. People had a tendency to say that love made warriors strong. Instead, he saw the opposite. Soldiers breaking down crying, scared of death, scared of leaving a loved one. It clouded judgement. Broke focus. 

    He remembered the moment. The girl's amber eyes shimmering in the moonlight. The smell of different foods wafting through the air. The sounds of revelry in the distance as she led him to the treeline. The warmth of her body. The soft touch of her lips against his. Her smile. The words that came from her mouth as she told him her dream. "I want to make you human again." 

    That was the last time he saw her. 

    And he'd thought nothing of it. 

    "She aspired to make me something I'm not." The young man calmly stood, bringing his dishes to the sink to wash them. He was quiet, just like normal, yet somehow this silence felt... different. More somber. 

    "I apologize for making you cry. That wasn't my intention." The young warrior finally said, breaking the silence as he placed the dishes in a drying rack. A sigh escaped his lips as he returned to the table. A bit of hesitation flickered in his eyes as he glanced back towards the young faunus. "Er... this may sound odd but..."

    "...May I... have another one of those sweets?" 

[Myra]

Myra dabbed at her eyes, wiping off tears and forcing herself to calm down. She sniffled quietly and blew her nose again. "Kayne, you're not a weapon. You're a person." He needed to realise that. Though it may have been difficult for him as he was brought up thinking he was a weapon that could breathe. "You're allowed to feel feelings and think of others more openly. Your father sounds like an absolute monster for treating you like that when growing up."

Myra pocketed her handkerchief, eyes still a bit puffy from crying but that was all normal. "Maybe she wasn't trying to make you something you're not. Maybe she wanted to get to know you better, know the you that isn't what your father was making you to be." She got up and gave Kayne a little smile. "Sure! I actually got a few pastries too, if you want to try those as well!", she said, placing a bag of rock candies down. They were in different colours, each being a different flavour. "I'm going to go into my room for a bit, I need to check my inventory again. But if you want to visit, feel free and just knock!"