[Kabane is a full foot shorter than Ferdinand, and he certainly looks his thirteen years of age. Not only that, he doesn't have a single weapon on his person when he arrives at their arranged meeting place. Ferdinand's wary response is an understandable and expected one... to literally anyone but Kabane himself. Every uncertain attempt at coddling zooms straight over the boy's head. He follows along on the other side of that lance without so much as a word of explanation, content to be part of the patrol in any capacity.
He nods when he hears his name, quickly coming to attention.]
I don't think I have any favorites. I can eat anything. I wasn't able to test any of the fruits when the fog was bad, so I want to try them all.
[ He can't hide the apprehension in his voice - what a strange way to describe eating them! But, he understands at least the notion that some of the fruits may be poisonous or bad, not to mention that it's hard to trust any of the food stocked at Fruit's Basket without being suspicious of it being tampered with, as well. ]
I do not think you should be responsible for that, [ Or if anyone should? Ferdinand is not too well versed in the ways of checking for poison, but he has to imagine there must be a less potentially harmful way of going about it than just letting someone taste them all. He still sounds conversational, at least, only faintly concerned. ] And besides. What do you mean by "anything?"
[ Is it literal, or metaphorical? He's beginning to think it's the former. ]
[What does he mean by "anything"? He means anything! He's swallowed things no human being should ever attempt to cram down their throats, including but not limited to smart phones and fossils. He does at least avoid chomping down on inedible items without purpose, but the moment it might help further his goals, he gulps without hesitation.]
Anything that I can force down my throat. I don't gain any nutrients from eating things that aren't food though.
[He pokes his head around Ferdinand's lance.]
Because it won't hurt even if I eat something bad, I want to be the one to do it.
[ Ah. So it's true! This person is not really a "person" at all, or at least not in the human sense. The idea is less foreign to Ferdinand than it had been a week or so ago when he appeared here, so he tries to take in stride, only the furrow in his brow showing any sign of confusion or apprehension at his words. ]
I see. Well, in my opinion, it not harming you is not reason enough for it to be your responsibility alone. [ Ferdinand speaks firmly, a genuine concern for the other's well being running underneath his words. ] We cannot be certain that our captors here will not concoct something that will harm you despite your— composition.
[ In his mind, the people who brought them all here have powers beyond his imagination. They're probably capable of cooking up just about anything that could harm just about anyone, at least as far as he's concerned. He sees Kabane peering around his lance while he's speaking, though, and holds it a little closer, as if trying to let him get a better look. ]
The soil does not seem to be tarnished in any way, so what plants grow here should be alright. [ "Should" is about as close to positive as he can get in this place. Up ahead, there's a group of short, dense bushes that bear clusters of rich blackberries, ripe for the picking. ] Ah! Up there. We can take a look to see if anything is amiss.
[Kabane certainly can't refute that. Not only have all of them been brought here somehow, he has to wonder if the wall monsters and ash sharks hadn't suffered the same fate. If someone or something is capable of that much, he can't know what else they're capable of. Especially in a place where, when enough people wish for it, almost anything can happen. His brows furrow as he processes that thought, and after a moment, he nods.]
I see. We can try them together then.
[Is that what Ferdinand was trying to say? Well, it's what Kabane takes from it! So when Ferdinand points out the blackberry bushes, Kabane rushes forward to smell them, then pluck an entire cluster to share.]
[ That's as fine a plan as any, Ferdinand thinks, so he follows after Kabane's enthusiastic approach, eyeing the cluster he's picked out for any sort of abnormality. Not that he's an expert on picking fruits, having only done it on a random occasion - the times few and far between. ]
Hm... Nothing appears out of the ordinary. [ The soil doesn't look too dry, or have any evidence of tampering. Nope, just some regular old berries, as far as he can tell... they even look good! Ferdinand holds out his hand politely for a berry from the cluster. ] Have you ever had a blackberry before? As you have said, we can try them together.
[Freshly picked but accidentally dropped and left to rot. Kabane had quickly picked it up when all eyes had turned, but his muddy fingers had dulled the taste somewhat.
Now, he drops one of the larger fruits into Ferdinand's palm and plucks another for himself. They look clean and juicy.]
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no subject
He nods when he hears his name, quickly coming to attention.]
I don't think I have any favorites. I can eat anything. I wasn't able to test any of the fruits when the fog was bad, so I want to try them all.
That way we'll know which ones are safe.
no subject
[ He can't hide the apprehension in his voice - what a strange way to describe eating them! But, he understands at least the notion that some of the fruits may be poisonous or bad, not to mention that it's hard to trust any of the food stocked at Fruit's Basket without being suspicious of it being tampered with, as well. ]
I do not think you should be responsible for that, [ Or if anyone should? Ferdinand is not too well versed in the ways of checking for poison, but he has to imagine there must be a less potentially harmful way of going about it than just letting someone taste them all. He still sounds conversational, at least, only faintly concerned. ] And besides. What do you mean by "anything?"
[ Is it literal, or metaphorical? He's beginning to think it's the former. ]
no subject
Anything that I can force down my throat. I don't gain any nutrients from eating things that aren't food though.
[He pokes his head around Ferdinand's lance.]
Because it won't hurt even if I eat something bad, I want to be the one to do it.
[Whether it's his responsibility or not.]
no subject
I see. Well, in my opinion, it not harming you is not reason enough for it to be your responsibility alone. [ Ferdinand speaks firmly, a genuine concern for the other's well being running underneath his words. ] We cannot be certain that our captors here will not concoct something that will harm you despite your— composition.
[ In his mind, the people who brought them all here have powers beyond his imagination. They're probably capable of cooking up just about anything that could harm just about anyone, at least as far as he's concerned. He sees Kabane peering around his lance while he's speaking, though, and holds it a little closer, as if trying to let him get a better look. ]
The soil does not seem to be tarnished in any way, so what plants grow here should be alright. [ "Should" is about as close to positive as he can get in this place. Up ahead, there's a group of short, dense bushes that bear clusters of rich blackberries, ripe for the picking. ] Ah! Up there. We can take a look to see if anything is amiss.
no subject
I see. We can try them together then.
[Is that what Ferdinand was trying to say? Well, it's what Kabane takes from it! So when Ferdinand points out the blackberry bushes, Kabane rushes forward to smell them, then pluck an entire cluster to share.]
no subject
Hm... Nothing appears out of the ordinary. [ The soil doesn't look too dry, or have any evidence of tampering. Nope, just some regular old berries, as far as he can tell... they even look good! Ferdinand holds out his hand politely for a berry from the cluster. ] Have you ever had a blackberry before? As you have said, we can try them together.
no subject
[Freshly picked but accidentally dropped and left to rot. Kabane had quickly picked it up when all eyes had turned, but his muddy fingers had dulled the taste somewhat.
Now, he drops one of the larger fruits into Ferdinand's palm and plucks another for himself. They look clean and juicy.]
On the count of three?
[Because together means at the same time!]