Entry 001

[chippedsoul]

Who: Kazuma Asogi and Anyone!
Which: Open. Brackets prefer, ok with prose.
Where: Whatever prompts take us.
What: Catch-all for October


[A - Communal Garden]
Kazuma never thought he'd have a green thumb until his experience in the Realm of Stories revealed he actually liked taking care of plants. So when he heard about the communal garden, he of course wanted to check it out.

There were some empty patches when he visits, others already in use. He probably should have brought something to plant as well, something to keep in mind for next time. The garden was rather lively with it's magical frogs and fish too. It's honestly a nice setup, even if he finds the singing a bit overdone. There are some overgrowth and weeds that were missed here and there and, without thinking, Kazuma starts to work on removing them.

If he's not doing that, he's tending to what's already been planted or helping others plant things into the soil bed.

[B - The Cluckening]
". . ."

What in hellspawn thought to create giant chickens? Giant by chicken standards at least. Kazuma had found a few wandering around his treehouse this morning, probably to pick at the grubs. There's even a rooster, making it's cock-a-doodle morning call and blocking Kazuma from leaving. Unlike the docile chickens, the rooster proved to be one aggressive beast. He dodges a swipe from it's claws that dig into the bark of the treehouse as he manages to pass through the door.

"Tch. Stupid bird!" This is not how you convince someone to eat chicken. The rooster doesn't seem done with him though, and puffs himself up in a threatening display. Not wanting to have these birds lingering around his home, he draws his blades, stands his ground and they enter a stare down. Who will make the first move?

C-Wildcard [Feel free to make your own starter! Other planned stuff will be in the comment section. You can reach me at noletters or in the game's discord for plotting purposes]

Comments

[chippedsoul]

I could think of one, if my profession mattered here. [As it stands, being a prosecutor doesn't really mean much. He hasn't found any law books to read. He does recall his visit to the communal garden recently being relatively pleasant though...]

...Gardening, I suppose.

[steadypulse]

Then make do. [Whatever he could sink his fingers in to. Keep active, mind too busy or just somewhere else completely that the thoughts and memories that haunted couldn't get the spotlight.

76 took a slow drink from his jar, letting it linger on his tongue.]

Can feel good, getting hands in the soil. Simple, in a good way.

[chippedsoul]

[His hands. He glances at them, holding the lid. They could become those claws again.] ...Right. [He takes another sip of the moonshine.]

It wouldn't be the first time. I had a greenhouse back in the Realm of Stories.

[steadypulse]

[Gloved fingers kept a hold of his jar, soon enough holding it by the top.]

Beneficial in a few ways here, I'm sure. Depending what you decide to grow. [Pulled weight around a farm when he was a kid. Lived off the land back in the Realm on Stories.] Get some satisfaction out of it, too.

[chippedsoul]

Hm. Maybe I'll see what plants have any medicinal properties here. [Or maybe grow some tea leaves. He glances at 76.]

Have you found anything interesting on your regular excursions, besides colorful honey?

[steadypulse]

Be an interesting hunt. [To say the least.

He shrugged his shoulders slightly, a heel digging in to the soil as arms rested against thighs.]

Interesting wild life, still cook well enough over a fire.

[chippedsoul]

Like those abnormally large chickens? [Absolute menace those things. He goes quiet again, couldn't even bring himself to take another sip. His thoughts have been wandering while they talk, a nagging feeling that's been hanging in the back of his mind.]

...Jack, the nightmares certainly won't stop there, and I... [His grip tightens. A quiet admittance.] I fear something even worse than Hyde might rear it's ugly head here.

[steadypulse]

One'd feed someone for weeks. Rabbits are a bit odd, as are the deer and- well. [Just about everything else. At least he could still manage to hunt out here, learn the tricks to better track and the like. Fishing was... weird.

76 went silent and let Kazuma talk, and watched him for a moment before speaking again.] Not many ever have to face the darkest parts of themselves, let alone be so out of control as it twists in to something like that.

Won't shake off easily, if at all.

[chippedsoul]

[If he weren't so fixated of the potential dangers in the future, he'd be making a face about eating chicken.]

I accept whatever will come from this, but I'm at a loss of what I should do. Hyde was never exactly successfully contained. [He stares at the swirling colors, eyes narrow.] And I don't want to kill anyone.

[steadypulse]

Afraid you will? [He knew about the failed containment. He worked with and spoke to Hyde often enough after all. Clear differences between the two of them.

... Could understand the fear well enough, too.]

I still dream of blood and death myself. [Not even at his own hands, the faces of the dead he'd seen.] Knowing the potential of danger you hold is frightening.

[chippedsoul]

...I'm certain I will. [It's not a matter of if anymore.]

What would you do, knowing there's a force you can't prevent and inevitably have to live with it?

[steadypulse]

You find ways to cope. Come to terms with it, if you've just accepted it's inevitable.

[Live with it, but still live- and even he wasn't sure that was the best advice given the ledge he walked. The path he'd chosen t stick to, even knowing it'd likely be the death of him.]

[chippedsoul]

[I wasn't just made out of thin air, you know. I came from somewhere inside you, the part of you that you had shut away. Like it or not, wherever you may go, I will always be here. Better to just accept it than continue your pitiful existence. You'll only destroy yourself further.

Everyone has darkness inside them afterall, you're not the exception. Embrace it.

It's the only way you'll ever move forward and truly make this power your own. Isn't that what you want...?

His eyes were closed as he recalled parts of Hyde's final words to him. Accept that he's a killer.]

. . . [Against his better judgment, he's going to down the rest of the moonshine in his "glass". He was already walking a slippery path when he wanted to seek justice for his father. Justice, only a veil to hide his true desire.

Vengeance.

He drops the lid, flopping onto the ground and lays there.] Hah. Not my best idea. [His head hurt, his whole body felt like it was in flames. There's even smoke coming off him, but this pain will eventually pass. For now, he welcomes it. It's nothing compare to what's to come in his future.]

[steadypulse]

[That'd do it.]

Likely not. No. Feel free to lay it out, though. I've done worse shit to myself. [Vengeance was not Justice- but did that really matter in the end? His entire final mission was to get his own revenge while finding the truth. He wanted his revenge, to dig up the root of it all and shred it with his own hands if he got that chance.

Right now? Well. He sat there, taking a long drink that downed his jar-full way past half before leaning to a side. All the better to watch Kazuma there where he lay.]

Sometimes you want the feeling that comes from stupid ideas like this, though.

[chippedsoul]

Mm. [He presses a hand to his head.] Empties the head. [He mutters as he rolls onto his side. His head felt heavy, numb, warm...He could fall asleep here. ]

[steadypulse]

Want a jar to take with you? [Not a healthy offer, but hell. He got the feeling, the want of it.

A hand dragged down over his beard again, gloved fingertips idly scratching just near his jaw-] Take a load off, if you need it.

[chippedsoul]

Why not? [Today is full of stupid ideas. What's one more?] Just...leave it there. [When did he actually get real sleep?]

[steadypulse]

[A low hum, but he wasn't making to retrieve one of the full jars he had with him. Did he need to carry multiple? No, but he'd felt he might be the one needing them depending how it went.

Still came in handy.] Lucky you, I still can cook something to make the hangover you might feel stomping through your skull less hellish.

[chippedsoul]

Hoh...what you got, Fluffy? [He mumbles sleepily.]

[steadypulse]

[That got an amused huff out of him-] Salvaged a cast iron. Grilled cheese and scrambled egg sandwich, fried.

[Greasy food helped the best. On top of water, of course.]

[chippedsoul]

Mm, sounds good. . . [He's going to be unconscious for a while now. But it'll be the best sleep he's had since he's got here. Not single dream or thought bothered him. Maybe a half hour to an hour will have passed before he starts feeling his head throbbing from making poor drinking choices.]

[steadypulse]

[Enough time for 76 to get things out and prepped at least. Figured it was a good idea to meet up prepared as well.

There's a smell of toasting bread over the fire, reaching back briefly as he pulled an old canteen from his bag. Just to be ready.] If you can hear me, I've got some cool water for you. Help a bit.

[chippedsoul]

[Just a moan in response. He could smell something cooking though, and that causes his stomach to growl. He rolls onto his back, shielding his eyes from the bright sky.] Where...? [A hand reaches out, searching around him as if this cold water was nearby.]

[steadypulse]

[76 leaned over and set the canteen well with Kazuma's reach, sitting back up as he flipped the bread over after getting a few pieces of cheese on to it, and even got the eggs inside. Partially scrambled with just a straight-up sunnyside egg as well. Just two eggs.

Be a side of bacon.] The lid unscrews, if you have trouble I can get it for you.

[chippedsoul]

[He feels the canteen, wrapping his fingers around it. After getting it open, he pours some onto his face. It's cold, but a needed wake-up call. Once he manages to at least sit up, he'll take a swig of that water. With his vision returning, he can see the food being cooked. A western style breakfast...?]

How long was I out? [He drank at least half of what was in the canteen.]