A Brief Break (Hono/Open)

"Here," the calm voice would proceed to flow out like a soft melody, followed by the metallic clink-clank of a small pouch filled with coins meeting the wooden surface of a tabletop; ", keep the change."

Akira was now finding himself navigating through the crowded streets of the Rukongai, a spool of fine thread carefully tucked under his now bandaged arm. The familiar chaos of the district buzzed around him, not that he minded it in the slightest so to speak - merchants haggling loudly, children darting between adults, and the ever-present murmur of people trying to get by. It was a nice change in pace, all things considered. He had spent the better part of this morning bargaining with vendors, securing some new thread to repair both his tattered uniform and craft himself a new cloak; seeing as the one he used to wear was...well now more burnt than his hand and arm. While he was here in the district too, Dreamwalker was probably going to spend a few more hours to help stitch up clothing for anyone that needed it. The mundane task didn’t bother him one bit though, as a matter of fact, it was quite grounding for the lad.

As he rounded a corner, the sharp scent of cooking food caught his attention, and judging things from the smell alone it seemed to be awfully delicious. A small crowd had gathered, their voices mingling in anticipation and occasional frustration. At the center of it all was a lone woman, distributing rations with practiced calm. Her presence stood out in the dusty streets, a steady anchor amidst the restless crowd. Akira approached as the line began to dwindle, quietly observing. When the last of the rations had been handed out, he stepped closer, his voice cutting through the residual noise.

“It seems someone has had a busy day today,” he remarked as she was just beginning to walk off, “Need something else to keep you busy, or too tired for that now?” He shifted the spool of thread, indicating his willingness to assist in that regard. In a place like the Rukongai, even small efforts mattered, and offering support was more than just a courtesy; it was a necessity.