Korosu stared dead ahead as he kept to the right and looked for blue flowers, just as Maware had directed him.
Now that he had found a home at last, his hopeful determination had relaxed and given way to weariness. It was time for a new start, to forget the ones he'd lost and the pain he'd carried for so long. Atleast, that's what he was telling himself as he noticed the small shabby home tucked away behind "Little Blondie's" house. The wooden walkway creaked an aesthetically soothing sound as Korosu dropped his satchel in front of the rugged doorway to his new home. As he eyed his reflection in the door's window, he gazed into what became two cold, steely eyes and fell deep into his own thoughts.
Scarlet eyes followed the unknown figure as he crossed along the boardwalk, hands dropping the bait the brunette worked hard enough to fix. Such a task felt minor compared to a stranger walking by his lonesome up and around camp. Stealthily exiting her abode, she followed adjacent paths, using the houses as cover as much as she could.
Peering over towards the other platform, she had to consider the idea: maybe she didn't know everyone in the clan? A ridiculous thought for someone who'd been living in Solarisclan borders for a little under a year, but if someone else could disappear as much as Takuto had, it was possible. Unlikely, but possible. Then again...
Cautious as not to allow for the wooden walkway to echo her footsteps, she meandered over to the mysterious figure. She'd been watching him cross bridges with slight hesitation, carrying his satchel all the while. Stopping in front of the empty home secured his intentions, prompting her to move out of hiding. Speaking softly, she tried not to startle him as he stared quietly through the treehome's window.
"Hello? Are you uh, moving in there?"
A touch of concern crossed her face, before she silently gasped and held out her hand to shake.
"I'm Snowflake! I don't mean to bother you when you just arrived, um, well I uh, haven't heard about anyone new, is all."
He watched his own eyes for a moment longer before taking a soft inhale through his nose and turning her way with a smile. "Hello, you're not a bother at all! Snowflake, was it? I'm Korosu." He reached down and gently shook her hand, noting that she seemed fragile. "What a lovely and suitable name. You were very kind to introduce yourself to me, that can be a daunting task." Korosu straightened, giving her a sweet smile. "Today is my first day here, your- oh, our deputy found me not far from here on your territory. I have been searching for a home for a long time. He said I could take residence in this house, if it's alright with you that is." His eyes glinted playfully.
Retracting her hand after shared shake, she took a mental note of the name, unaware of its meaning. As far as first greetings had gone, that was far from the worst, if nothing more than a tad awkward.
Forming a smile, it completely disappeared following his playful words she might have taken a little more seriously than intended. Waving her hands, she shook her head to accompany the gesture.
"Oh, you're fine! I mean, that's fine! As long as Maware or Yomi says so."
Scratching her cheek, eyes avoided him as she stared into the same window he looked within.
"If you, um, need anything, I'm also kinda new, but I can help! I know It can be kinda hard to adjust at first, but... well you just got here so, uh..."
She couldn't help but ramble, nervously bringing down her line of sight down to his dropped satchel.
"I can help you clean before settling in. It's really, um-- It's been empty in there for awhile, I think."
Korosu's smile remained, becoming a bit more soft. "You don't have to be nervous, Miss Snowflake. I'm not going to hurt you and there's certainly nothing to be embarrassed of. Meeting new people is strange," He looked away, grabbing the door's handle and jarring the house open, "but it's no reason to feel any less confident." Lifting an arm to his face and using the other to wave away dust, he stepped in and looked around. "Oh, this is lovely." He meant it. The home was small and modest with wooden cabinets and counters in the kitchen, and a large stubborn branch growing right through the living room. "Do you have a broom I could borrow?" He asked Snowflake.
Only when he looked away did she come to smile, too, finding herself embarrassed of how shy she had been. With a bit of a confidence boost thanks to his kind words, she relaxed much more.
"Oh, yes, I do! Um, I'll be right back with one."
Giving an immediate answer, brunette turned back to the platforms she had crossed and dashed off, rushing a few homes down to her own. With minimal searching, she found it propped up next to her front door. A broken handle topped the piece, but it was still usable, being as standard a broom as they'd come.
Just as she was leaving, scarlets flashed to yellow flowers growing atop an overhanging tree branch. They radiated from direct sunlight yet flickered an iridescent cyan after dark. Absolute beauties, though Menders knew of their dangers. Barely, barely within her arm's reach, she lurched for them, determined to bring back a welcoming gift. She yanked them out by their vine-like roots and went back inside her home for a small pot.
Knocking on the outside of the newcomer's abode, she let herself in with the broom clasped in one hand, and her gift held in the other.
"I brought the broom! Um, I also brought these, too, so I hope these'll make it a little more homey in here for you."
He walked from the living room to the main entrance to meet her, beaming in surprise. "Oh my, those are beautiful!" Korosu happily took both, placing the flowers on a kitchen counter and immediately starting to sweep. "So how long have you lived here, hm?" He asked.
Her smile was genuine as he took hold of the flowers, melting away her mousy personality. Taking a moment to look around the room, the lack of upkeep was clear. A deep inhale would definitely send her coughing up dust.
Shifting away from the doorway, she brushed up against the hammock. Desperately needing a wash, she sought to take it down as she answered his question.
"It was a couple months ago now, I think. Nearing the end of the bad snowstorm... For the most part, I'm one of the newer members that way. But, um, I'm still not very familiar with everyone. Since everyone here is so busy, and there's so much to do, uh, it's hard to find a way to say hello."
Korosu eyed her, "Yes, I can see that being difficult..." He opened a closet door looking for a dust pan, shaking his head. "That storm was a terror, wasn't it?"
Taking a moment to think, she didn't respond right away. Instead, she unhooked one side of the fabricated bed.
"Yes, I didn't expect it so suddenly. At least Solarisclan was well off at the time. Uh, a bit exposed, I think, but the sign from the goddess prepared them, apparently. Um, that was the case here, anyways. Did you last it okay?"
"It wasn't fun, but I made it through." He breathed, giving her a tired smile before crouching down and sweeping up the dust and debris.
"This, 'goddess'," He began, the word sounding a little more sounded-out than usual as if it took focus to pronounce, "Do you believe in her? Is she the religion of this clan?"
Struggling with the last hook off, she rolled up the hammock and held it away from her face before she started sneezing her lungs out. Unfortunately, a sneeze or two got past her, anyways. She didn't take notice on how he spoke the word, as it was more or less expected not many would follow
"Uh, I don't really know, but Solarisclan for the most part is very strong about following her. As far as I know, she's the Sun Goddess while Lunarisclan follows the Moon Goddess. I, um, think the festival's coming up soon where they celebrate the two with peace, but I don't particularly know much, sorry."
Although she wasn't exactly beating herself up for not knowing more, she wasn't satisfied by even her own answer to him. Another sneeze later and she was ready to set the rolled bed down outside the home.
"Disrespecting them would get anyone in a lot of trouble, though, and it's gotten some banned from the clan. Um, as much as she helps, I think it can be kind of scary. Oh, but no one forces you to believe or anything! They're not a cult, no, I've seen far worse."
"That makes sense." He said, smiling and nodding. "You came here alone, then?" Gently brushing past her and through the door, he peered over the walkway's edge to make sure no one was below before emptying the dustpan over the side.
