missinglink | Inbok for @sticksandbones

[ Bold of you to assume this deters Allen from eating. Absolutely not, he's putting another dumpling in his mouth and with his mouth full goes: ] Wow.

[ He ponders the chickens for a moment before he looks over at Link, swallowing. ] Did you own chickens at one point, Link? I can't picture you as a farm boy...!

Me? No. I just like to read. I always have, since I was young.

[And these days it's not often you don't see Link with his nose buried in a book of some sort.]

And if I find there is something I don't know, then I like to see what I can learn about it.

[There's a reason he makes such a good teacher, tbh.]

...Did you teach yourself to read, Link? [ Because, well, he does recall Link saying he was orphaned. He can't imagine there's very good schooling for kids who live on the streets. Allen didn't go to school, either, so it isn't like he has a lot of room to speak. ]

No. We learned at the Order.

[Said simply. Matter-of-factly.]

It was a matter of necessity, if we were going to be useful. I spent a lot of my childhood catching up, so I tried to learn everything I could.

[ Allen eats another dumpling contemplatively. That makes more sense, actually. He was also taught... some... but because he was sent off on missions, he didn't really get to do a ton of learning. He wonders what it was like to actually grow up under them. Especially at Central, where things seemed a lot more strict, and far less cozy.

...

He reaches over and sets a hand on top of Link's head. ] ...I was going to go to the beach tomorrow to set up an Ark gateway there. You should come with me! We can explore that together! [ And maybe. Maybe Link can have a little bit of fun and relaxation. ]

[Oh...hand on his head. He doesn't know how to react, so he just sits there politely.]

I can accompany you. [He replies, as if Allen didn't literally just invite him.] Is there a particular reason you're taking it to the beach?

Ah, apparently the beach is really the only other place that’s safely explorable? But it’s a few days out, so… I thought if I could make that travel time shorter for the residents here, that might be useful?

Hm...that isn't a bad idea actually, if it works.

[Maybe Allen just can't make gates to other places, but gates that lead around the Grove area are fine? Hm...]

Whenever you're ready then, I'll head out with you.

It’s a three day trip, so I figure… I would pack and leave in the morning? We’ll have to get some food for the road…

[ Munching his dumpling… ]

I have to talk to Kanda and let him know. He might want to come with.

I'll make sure we have enough.

[Smash cut to Link meal prepping for the next couple of days.]

Should we let the others in the Grove know we'll be leaving?

Likely not necessary. We could let one of the guardians know, I think. Perhaps Moder?

That works. I will let Miss Moder know while you inform Kanda of our plans.

Ah, you don’t need to be so formal with her, Link. I don’t think formalities mean much to her.

[?]

It's nice to be polite, isn't it?

Innit? You can be polite without formalities!!! It's fine, 'course, but it's a bit distancing!

Oh...I didn't realize.

[His autism...]

I will just call her Moder from now on, then.

[ Allen laughs, bright and light like - that usual laugh of his that he forgot he even had. It's been a while, hasn't it? ]

Is that all it takes with you? Geez, had I known, I would've pestered you for it ages ago. Oi, so you'll call me by my first name from now on, too, right?

I- ...er. Well. That would be terribly improper of me, considering...

[Considering the. Gestures. Situation.]

Would you really prefer that...?

Well, I did just say being too formal feels distancing, right? So, yeah! I would! 'Cause we're closer than that, aren't we?

...yes. We are.

[Mmmm that's kindof gay!]

Alright then. Allen it is.

...ah, though. Do keep calling me Link, please...no one calls me Howard.

Boo! Ugh, you and Kanda both, huh?? Whatever, I'll just have to annoy you with a nickname someday. I'm sure some of Lavi's nicknaming skills might've rubbed off on me.

I mean...would you actually prefer calling me Howard...?

I mean... I don't really mind? It's your name. I like it because it's yours.

...Do you not?

[I like it because it's yours

What do you MEAAAAAAAN you've never called him Howard! Not even once!!

Link sort of stares past Allen for a moment.]

I...

[...]

I guess I've never thought about it. Even the others always called me Li.

[ Because you asked him to call you Link!!!! He hasn't called Kanda "Yu" even once! But he likes his name, too! Allen is just a Very Good Boy and respects people's boundaries!!!!!!!! ]

Li? Li is cute, too. Oh, but if it's too weird, I can keep calling you Link! Sorry, I don't want you to feel like you have to grant me special name permissions or something - I was mostly teasing you about that.

You're still you to me, no matter what I call you!

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