[Closed] Entry 004

[chippedsoul]

Who: Kazuma Asogi and Others
Which: Whatever prompt ask. Closed
Where: Wherever
What: Catch-All for the Month
Warnings: None at the moment.

Comments

Futaba - Beginning of March

[chippedsoul]

[With all the Noctaere excitement from last month, Kazuma isn't really able to get back to Futaba about her gift and offer until the new month arrives. A shame he didn't really get to enjoy the chocolates either while he was stuck a Noctaere...well, he'll be sure to give her something in return.]

Hello Futaba-chan,
Thank you for your kind words and the chocolates last month. I consider you a friend, so naturally I want you to be all right. That being said, I would like to take up on the offer you made last month. At least have a chat over lunch. Whenever you're available.

[mwehehe]

[Uwah... a friend!!! When Futaba gets his message and sees that, it really does make her happy— that he's all right is even better. She has some questions for him, too, and he's probably going to be expecting that. It'd be weird to not be, but he'd been dodgy about it in the past.]

Aw, we're friends! ☆ ～('▽^人) [yes, she drew out a kaomoji, no she will not explain] I'm glad you're all right too, Kazuma. I figured you were, but good to see I was right! Anyway, I can have lunch with ya, I'm free whenever— not much for a hacker extraordinaire to do in a place with not a lot of technology.

[chippedsoul]

[...What are those set of symbols? A face?]

Tomorrow then perhaps? My place. [There's a short pause. She says he's fine, but she's going to learn he's not completely fine.] Do not be alarm by my appearance. I'm still recovering from an incident last month.

[mwehehe]

Yeah, tomorrow is fine, but... Incident? What happened? Nothing bad like you're missing an arm, right?

[chippedsoul]

No. I'm whole. [An then some.] I'll tell you when I see you tomorrow.

[He rather not talk about something rather sensitive over journal.]

[mwehehe]

[HMMMM.... well, she'll let it go for now.]

Yup. Tomorrow.

[And when tomorrow comes and it's around lunchtime, there's a Futaba at the door.

Knock, knock, Kazuma!]

[chippedsoul]

[Won't be long till the door is opened and Futaba is met with...Kazuma looking not too far off from the dream self she saw in her nightmare. Tall, with claws, yellow eyes and a snake tail. Just no horns.]

Good afternoon. Come on inside. [Yet still giving all the pleasantries as if nothing is wrong. He moves aside so Futaba could enter. The interior is styled after a more traditional Japanese home. It's mostly bare, carrying only the necessities. Clear signs of an owner who does not spend time doing much in his home.]

1/2?

[mwehehe]

[See, she's figuring it'll be normal ol' Kazuma looking kinda beat up or something, maybe got into a fight with a Noctaere or something BUT NO the sudden appearance of Snakezuma (no, she won't be calling him this, honest) startles her when he opens the door.]

Wh- whaaa—?!

[She reels back from him—]

2/3

[mwehehe]

[—before realizing it's... normal Kazuma, just... Like That. It's probably what he wanted to talk to her about, but wanted to do it face to face.

Futaba takes a deep breath, exhaling with a loud]

Jeez! You coulda warned me!

3/3

[mwehehe]

[Once she's calmed down, she'll walk back up to him, and examine him closer.]

Isn't this your nightmare form? Kinda? You looked like this inside my Dream Palace, too.

[...definitely part of what he likely wanted to talk about here. She peers into his treehouse; it's quaint, but really kinda... lonely? She steps in, absentmindedly taking her shoes off while she looks around a little more.]

It's really clean and makes me miss home and Sojiro, actually. His house isn't this traditional, though. Almost like I walked into an old house in Kyoto on a field trip or something.

[Poor old Kazuma... sorry she's like this.]

2 days after the noctaere incident

[professorbestie]

[It's been a hectic few days in the Mikotoba household. Their front door is still broken, the gaping hole now covered by a curtain that Susato has put up there. Whenever Yujin passes it, it's with an uncomfortable shuffle, as he still can't quite believe what happened. He'd take some time to recover, but the way he sees it, he doesn't have that time to spare. The clinic's just opened and Kazuma needs his attention as well. Certainly, the lingering noctaere traits can be seen as a learning experience, but that's not why Yujin intends to keep a close eye on Kazuma. It's because he allowed it to happen in the first place.

The young man has left the house by now, recovering near the Glowing Dawn flowers instead, and in a way that serves to leave Yujin even more on edge. A cup of tea in hand, he leaves the treehouse and heads down to the garden area surrounding their home. He doesn't need to search for Kazuma for very long; he's sitting right outside the greenhouse. Yujin approaches him at a calm pace and with just a bit of apprehension. Even two days later, he hasn't forgotten the manic gleam in Kazuma's eyes.]

[chippedsoul]

[It feels like there's been a fog over his mind since he was brought to the Mikotoba's. There's even a light fog today, hovering around the garden where he was. Though his mind has calmed, he hasn't been able to think straight, like suffering from a sickness. He's sure it's just the Dawn flowers and the Noctaere side of him in conflict with each other. There's also a bit of a chill in the air the closer one gets to Kazuma, as he continues to suck in the heat around him. At least he's no longer in critical condition to be able to wander outside.

He just wanted a little more space, not clutter the Mikotoba's home with his monstrous self for a time. They may not be saying it to his face, but he can tell his presence makes them understandably uneasy. He hums quietly as he stares at the small entrance into the green house, tail sweeping the ground behind. He knows those Dawn Flowers are inside, and he knows he shouldn't stray too far from them. But how was he suppose to get inside without breaking another piece of property of the Mikotoba's?

He could feel the vibration of someone's footsteps approaching him while he was deep in thought. His head lifts slightly, the only indication that he acknowledges Yujin's approach. He's at a lost of what to do, or say. He's caused this family a lot of trouble, and he's wondering if he's overstaying his welcome at this point.]

[professorbestie]

[It's true that the sight of Kazuma makes Yujin uneasy, though it has very little to do with property damage or stretched welcomes. The unsightly appearance is a constant reminder of Yujin's own failures. He's been investigating noctaere with Dr. Mathis, he's been growing special flowers to stave off the maddening effects. How could he have let this happen to Kazuma, of all people? Why hadn't he seen it coming? It's the assassin exchange all over again.

He sinks to his knees in front of the young man, keeping a respectful distance. Even so, he leans forward to set down the cup of tea he'd been holding; a clear gesture that it's not for him. It's tea made with Glowing Dawn flowers. It should help Kazuma even further.]

... How are you feeling today, Kazuma-kun?

[chippedsoul]

[He scrunches his nose, recognizing that flower scent coming from that little cup. Hope Yujin doesn't mind if he doesn't pick it up to drink it right away. His tail wraps itself around his body.]

...Better. [Hungry, but he's not going to mention that and cause further uneasiness between them. He already struggles to look directly at Yujin. Ashamed and not wanting to scare him.]

[professorbestie]

[It was fine that Kazuma wouldn't drink it immediately. Still, Yujin would still force him to gulp down the contents of that cup eventually. Medicine doesn't always taste good; that's just how it is. What's most important is recovering.]

Would you mind terribly if I have another look at your injuries? [He'd like to see how well the dreamotion healing has held up over these past two days.]

[chippedsoul]

[He would oblige without question, ready to undress when...well.]

Should we move elsssewhere...? [He doesn't mind, but they are just sitting in the middle of a garden.]

[professorbestie]

Oh, no, I only need to have a quick look at one of your arms. If all those injuries are healing nicely, the same would apply to all the others.

[The dreamotion healing had some magnificent effects, really. Now, it's less of a question of whether any particular injuries are in a bad state, but rather, at what rate they're all healing. Is it still accelerated, or has it slowed down to a normal pace by now?]

Beginning of March | Sender: 76

[steadypulse]

[He hadn't really seen the messages before then, given- well. 76 had been dealing with recovery and dealing with the fact his memory was completely empty after he felt himself choking and-

Just a few brief flashes. Like blurry pictures that he could only somewhat piece together. Took a while before he could even pick up his journal. When he did?

Took a little bit to finally write anything.]

Alive. Taking time. Away from town, crowded places.

[chippedsoul]

[It's ok 76. Kazuma wasn't exactly in any condition to go anywhere himself a while. Even when he could, he doesn't want to worry the Mikotoba's any further than he already has by wandering off into potential danger. So all he has is the journal, and when he's able to write it in again, he's calling out to 76, hoping, waiting.

When that reply finally arrives, Kazuma waste no time getting back to him. Writing very quickly.]

Where? Forest? Can I see you? [Asking how he is can wait.]

[steadypulse]

Forest. Farmland- farm work, clearing fields, burning off energy.

[Giving himself something to do that something useful could come out of- and not even for him, entirely.]

Can you move?

[Was that a good idea?]

[chippedsoul]

Yes. [Maybe not 100%, but he only asked if he can move.]

I'll be bringing Miss Susato. If that's all right with you.

[steadypulse]

Don't strain yourself.

[He doesn't remember what happened, but he knew enough that there was severe injury. Remembered the smell of blood and a glee that wasn't his. flashes of images seen through the wolves—]

That's fine.

[chippedsoul]

[He'll try not to, but his determination to see 76 is going override other concerns.]

Then we'll see you soon. [Further discussions can be had once they're together. They'll be doing a few things before heading out, bring a few dawn flower petals, turn this into a lunch outing. While Kazuma is able to move about, the remnants of their previous encounter is still present.

He still carried nearly all of his Noctaere features, just not a giant beast like before. Still, he stands as tall as the tallest human on average. The injuries he sustained have left scarring on his body that are hidden beneath his clothes, and there's a limp to his movement. Sometimes his sword arm would ache trying to move it but otherwise, he'll still be able to make the trip.]

1/2

[judicialassistant]

[ Thanks, Reverein! On top of a three-year advantage, you've somehow managed to make Kazuma even taller than her than he normally would have been. She can't exactly support him this way, not the way she wants, but she'll still try, and fuss over him as appropriate about the limp, when she's not cutting the crust off sandwich bread.

She's laid out several different sandwiches, looking exasperated as she packs them all into boxes, like she just can't decide. Only then does she begin to suspect they maybe spent too long on this, but heck it. This is important, certainly to Kazuma, and definitely to her. ]

So we'll let him have first pick. Easy enough. Water... check. Note to father... check. New charm, check. [ She glances at Kazuma, as if to make sure he's wearing his. ] Are you sure you won't use the walking stick...?

[judicialassistant]

Oh, never mind. [ Stupid question, Kazuma would never (unless he really, really, really needed it, which he no longer does. ] I almost forgot. I made these the other day, too.

[ She turns around, and suddenly holding two crowns made of varying sizes of Glowing Dawn flower. There seem to be gaps, like she either couldn't get enough flowers or didn't want to risk damaging them, but the workmanship is clear in the intricate way the twigs she used are tied together, and the way the flowers are sown in at the base. ]

. . . I thought it would be better than carrying the petals around in a jar. Do you think he'd wear it? [ Would he need it? Also, more importantly, will you wear it? ]