You might be a handful

[soulbondee]

WHO: Yuma and Astral; possible guest appearances by a bird, a tiger-dragon, a kitty duo, or guys whose names start with S.
WHERE: Their overcrowded apartment at the MAC.
WHEN: this post
WARNINGS: fantastical racism
WHAT: Astral is getting into arguments on the internet; Yuma practically walks on his keyboard and is a horrible distraction.
WORDS: [some.]

---

[walking anywhere in this apartment is like an exercise in traversing a mine field. sure, they need a bigger place, but Yuma just wants to get to the kitchen. and true, he avoids treading on cat tails in his high-wire balancing act, but with his eyes focused on the ground, he misses what's in the air.

and gets a face full of jello feet.]

Comments

[soulbonder]

Do you ever bother to look where you are going? [not... moving his feet... or even turn his attention to Yuma.

because he's far too busy with the Network, and speaking into his communicator. he thumbs the button to respond to someone.] You pretended to be human for a reason. Right now I'm not interested in knowing why. Quickly tell me what happened.

[soulbondee]

Do you ever bother to look where you're floating?! [he's wiping his face off with his shirt, as if astral's feet stank or were covered in dirt; neither was true.] You--

[but Astral is talking! so their words sort of overlap but it's okay because it's the same "you," but it shuts Yuma up until Astral stops talking. he tugs on his ankle.] Hey, hey, hey, what's that about?

[soulbonder]

[he turns his head toward Yuma, staring down at him.

he presses the button on the communicator without looking. they can hear the Negotiator's response.]

[soulbondee]

[he blinks, glancing back to Astral's face. he looks confused, since hey he doesn't know what's going on at all.] Do you think he's telling the truth?

[soulbonder]

[there's nothing telling on Astral's face, Yuma. y'know, like usual.

but his shoulders are tense] I don't know.

[soulbondee]

[for once, it looks like he notices; Yuma's expressions are always more plain-faced than Astral's, so the concern fills his eyes.] Astral...

[soulbonder]

[stares at his communicator.

he doesn't know how to respond.] There are no human laws that involve the punishment of extraterrestrials. [oh, that word might be too large for Yuma. so, before he asks:]

That means not of Earth. Aliens.

[soulbondee]

Uhh... [he takes a step to the side, so he gets less of Astral's legs and more of his upper body.] ... Should there?

[soulbonder]

Yes.

Unless you believe beatings are acceptable because I am not human? [wow that was snide!!!]

[soulbondee]

What? No! [honestly looks offended.] I mean, I mean, if I hurt someone, and you hurt someone, we should be punished the same!

... Right?

[soulbonder]

Yes.

[soulbondee]

Then... why would it be different? I don't understand...

[soulbonder]

[here, have his communicator]

[soulbondee]

[god astral why do you have to use a REAL communicator?? Yuma holds it like some people hold babies.

at arm's length and with complete uncertainty at what to do.]

[soulbonder]

You use that button to scroll. Watch. [does he have to teach Yuma everything???] Start from here.

[soulbondee]

[yes!!!] Like this?

[soulbonder]

Correct.

[soulbondee]

[yuma ... /keywords, and scrolling.]

Wow, this guy is a real jerk.

[soulbonder]

Khepri is my friend.

[soulbondee]

No, the other guy!

[soulbonder]

[sometimes it's like talking to a brick wall] Yes, I know 'that guy' is a jerk.

But Khepri is still my friend. These accusations are... hm. They are not to be taken lightly.

[soulbondee]

[don't sound like you're correcting him when you're just changing the subject!!! god astral.]

He shouldn't be treated like this.

[soulbonder]

[Nods]

[soulbondee]

What are you going to do?

[remarkablyspry]

–lo, my friends! [half that greeting got chewed up by the door, since Steve didn't wait to say hello until actually being inside.] If you're here, that is! [he forgets to check that in advance, too. whatever.

except there they are, halfway to the kitchen! Steve beams, closing the door behind him.] And you are! Hello, friends! A--[woop.

blink. blinkblink. the mood in the apartment is...hard to ignore!]

Ah...ahm, did I interrupt something?