hot_mes | PSL: fullcowl

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PSL: fullcowl

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(continuing from this)

[Even though he still has a long way to go to restore his strength, Law manages to last out the rest of the night without dropping off again. It helps that once or twice something a little too large passed a little too close to their hollowed-out tree, but whatever it was either didn't like fire or wasn't into humans and kept going on past. His haki alerted him in time, but he sat tense until it passed rather than wake Deku. Kid needs his rest, after all.

The gap in the tree must face east, because Law eventually can see a gray line in the distance as light starts to come up behind the hills, and then the approaching dawn getting brighter and brighter. The fire fizzles out about then, and he stretches out a heel to scratch some dirt over it lest the smoke attract attention. With dawn coming, he won't be able to sleep anyway, so he just lets Izuku sleep for as long as he needs. Besides, he's nice and warm.]

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[He chuckles, but he's out like a light. They've had some long days on their run, and he's more than ready to just pass out.

When he wakes up he's cuddled into Law's chest and- well. He can't exactly stop himself from blushing.

Now, how easy is it going to be to get up...?]

[Law is usually pretty good about sleeping light, he has an innate need to always be ready to jerk awake and jump up to protect himself at a second's notice, but the security of four walls and a roof - to say nothing of the warm body next to his - was all it took to throw that plan out the window. He slept soundly, deeply, and even now he's still dead to the world, chin against the top of Deku's head. His arm hasn't tightened, though, it can still be moved. It's going to take more than a little jostling to wake him up this morning.]

[Then he'll wiggle his way out of Law's embrace, and move over to the table. The lady is apparently an early riser, because she seems to be making breakfast. Once she notices Izuku is up, he's been drafted into helping her with it and setting the table.

They're as quiet as they can be, but eggs still need breaking.]

[It's the smell of breakfast that finally rouses him - something delicious is being cooked near him, rather than greasy beast meat. Law blinks himself awake to find himself alone, which is...okay. He'll ask about it later, when they're off on their own again.

Their host suggests that if he wants to wash, he'll have to draw a fresh bucket of water from the well, a task Law is more than up for and heads off to do while they finish cooking. Dunking his head in a basin of ice-cold water only makes him crave a real bath, though. There's more water if Izuku wants it, and a bucket for the old lady's use later.]

[He's there cooking eggs and bacon and toast for himself and the old lady.

Once that's done he'll wash up and come back for breakfast.

Man, a real home cooked meal- that's amazing after subsisting on weird monster protein for the last few days.]

Thank you so much for all of your hospitality, ma'am.

[She waves it off. She's been helped by plenty of strangers. Now it's their turn to help out whoever they come across.]

[Law contemplates that over his bacon and eggs. His eternally-suspicious mind had worried, how could she be so trusting when she lives so close to a disputed border? But that would explain it. People over here really do look out for each other. It's a relief, he doesn't need to concern himself that their presence here would cause trouble.

And breakfast is like heaven.

She's still trying to offer them things when they get ready to leave, but Law feels like they've already taken enough. The only thing he consents to is a bag, which they can use to start collecting supplies and toting everything they have. He also relishes the chance to dump out the nasty blight-side water from their tins and freshen them with clean well-water.]

[Izuku lets Law talk to her when it comes to supplies, he's content to help her out around the house as much as he can before they leave.

Nice, clean water... Ah, man, he's never been so grateful for clean water.]

Thank you for everything. We'll pass along your good will.

[Or at least Izuku will.]

Mhm. Appreciate it.

[it's probably thanks to Izuku and that sunny personality of his that she was so friendly, he assumes. Law sure doesn't win friends by existing.

He tips his head to encourage Izuku to come along as he starts off, a new day and a new journey. Still eastward, but this time through safer territory with a better chance of scoring what they need before reaching the sea.]

Maybe she's right, and we should head toward the capital. Even if we don't join the army, it'll have everything we need, including information.

[Izuku, however, can make friends just be existing. It's just one of those main character skills he's lucky enough to pick up.]

That's a good idea, I think. The Empress probably has a lot of information to work with, since she's been at war longest. Maybe we can exchange what we know.

[lucky Izuku, not being saddled with edgy-side-character angst...]

I wonder how difficult it is to even get an audience with her. Or if we'd be reduced to dealing with her peons.

[one thing he doesn't know is what people on this side of the border think of former Wulgrimm soldiers. Do they get a pass for wising up and defecting, or are they still tainted by ever being on that side in the first place? Slaves probably get mercy but for himself...there were lots of soldiers who saw him on the battlefield cutting their men into pieces...]

I still plan to get a ship, but maybe some time in the capital will equip us well before setting sail.

[Lucky him, all his angst gets wrapped up quick.

He'll think about it for a moment. He's not sure how the Empress would even treat former soldiers. Especially considering Law's set of skills on the battlefield...]

It can't hurt to look into it, at least.

[And if it comes down to it, Izuku can probably talk to anybody well enough.]

Mm. Add it to the list of things to do.

[they have so much to do to make a go of it the way they want, but it's all good, hard work that will keep them busy. And who knows what they'll learn along the way to help their greater goals?

They're far enough along now that Law finally sets all his brainstorming aside and turns to something less. Plans.]

I didn't hear you get up this morning.

[He nods.]

Huh? Oh, yeah... I figured you needed more sleep.

Should I have woken you up?

No, it's fine. I usually notice such things, I must have been deeply asleep.

Guess it worked out all right. [forever understatement]

It's been a while since we had a roof like that, huh?

I'll take open skies over the roof of a prison, but I get your point.

Any ship we get will have cabins. Places we can go that are secure from the weather. [mmm ship dreaming, he can picture it all now...] I doubt anyone here knows how to build a submarine, though. Pity.

I wouldn't know where to start with a submarine. I think finding a ship is more likely than that.

[bummer, he loves his sub]

I'm aware. I was only thinking out loud.

Have you ever been to sea? [it occurs to him they made all these plans and he's never asked that]

Uh... I was on a boat once, but it was in the USJ, and some people with shark quirks were trying to kill us.

[...wait what]

Oh. Animal types. Well, that's pretty close to life as a pirate, except I don't know what a USJ is.

[attacked by real sharks, attacked by fishmen, same thing.]

Oh, sorry. It's the Unforeseen Simulation Joint.

It's where we go to practice working in various conditions, like burning buildings, water, mountains or snow.

Ah. Simulations...interesting.

[honest! there's no snark in his tone, he's already wondering what a simulation of a ship would look like. What technology they might have. HMM.]

So were the attacking shark-types deliberate or not part of the plan?

Those weren't part of the plan.

The uh... villain alliance came in and tried to kill everybody who was there. The shark-types were part of the villain alliance.

Ugh. How cliche.

In that case, being on a simulated ship might not prepare you for a real one, in terms of how it moves. You'll get used to it, though. Most people do. [or they're smart and stay on land]

[A little]

It was a real ship, but it got cut in half pretty fast. I don't think an indoor lake is close to an ocean.

[At least Izuku is a quick study and adaptable.]

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