[Closed] Entry 005

[chippedsoul]

Who: Barok Van Zieks, Ema Skye, Gina Lestrade, Herlock Sholmes, Kazuma Asogi, Susato Mikotoba and Yujin Mikotoba
Which: Closed
Where: The Wild Harvest
What: The AA crew get together to try their luck with the spicy food challenge. Or to observe the struggling of others. Don't worry, we got a doctor on the scene.
Warnings: Fire


The Wild Harvest have setup a food challenge this month and the crew are having an impromptu get together to either try it themselves or observe. An area by the garden has been sectioned off for those to do the challenge, so damage control can be a bit more manageable. Some extra hands are definitely appreciated when, not if, a fire starts.

There's plenty of ice cream and floats to go around for those watching, along with the regular menu of course. Or maybe one could get some air walking around the garden, with plenty of critters from garden snakes to lotus koi fish, and an axolturtle wandering around somewhere. Take care not to feed the fish and turtle too much "junk" food, and good luck spotting the garden snakes as they are more on the shy side.

Comments

[judicialassistant]

[ The little blossom seems very resilient atop her head. Despite everything, it doesn't seem in any danger of falling off. It's cute. Susato hums, answering Kazuma by reaching out her hand for the bag of fish food, as if she's done it a million times before. ] Happy to help.

[ There isn't even a flinch at the snakes crawling on his arm during the exchange. At his feet, the lotus makes hers stand out, however. She's glancing at her as she reaches in for the first palm-full of the food. ]

I've named that one Ryu, you know.

[chippedsoul]

Oh? [He kneels down to lift her in his hand. It's definitely cute on her. The other snakes are trying to climb up on his legs. He'll get to them shortly.]

It's an honor to be named after my best friend. [Ryu's tongue flicks, curling up sheepishly.] Hm, I think it suits her.

[judicialassistant]

[ Susato's thrown some food for the fish, though Kazuma's comment does give her pause. She grins, feeling rather... validated. ]

She has these wide eyes when she is scared that made me think of him. Of course, I didn't know she was a girl at the time. [ She doesn't sound too apologetic about this, though maybe she is poking fun at herself just a little as she concedes the fact.

In the end, she can't imagine Ryunosuke would be too offended. ]

[chippedsoul]

[He can imagine Ryunosuke having those same wide eyes as he sees his friend covered in snakes for the first time.] Well, she doesn't mind it at all.

[If snakes could blush. He could hear a few of the snakes hissing. Enough talk, give us food!] All right, all right. Let's go over here.

[He carefully stands back up, making sure the snakes had time to get off him as he moves to a nearby bench. A couple of the more knowledgable snakes are already slithering around a small box of treats meant for them.] I take it you've gotten along with a few of them. Any others with names?

[judicialassistant]

Mmm. [ A glance sideways to Kazuma as he teases them. There's a bit of a laugh in that hum as he sets down the box. She watches all the snakes swarm, Ryu included, as she spreads out another palm-full of food for the fish.

There's some splashing in the water, just barely heard over the sound of the little waterfalls as they go for it. ]

Just Yumie for now. She's somewhere in the greenhouse right now, though. I couldn't find her this morning, so it was just Ryu for today.

[chippedsoul]

[He certainly seems more relaxed in the company of all these snakes.] Yumie... [Which one was that? He looks around at all the snakes that have gathered. He takes out a tweezer and starts to feed them individually. Mixture of some fruits and insects for them.]

She hides often? Likes to sleep?

[judicialassistant]

She was the one with the white tip on her tail. [ Susato speaks as if to answer his thoughts. There was a time when such a sight would make her skin crawl, him among all these snakes. But seeing him find comfort in them now felt like the most natural thing in the world. ] ...And yes, actually, she probably was. She often sleeps during the day.

[ When trying to pin down some of their species, Susato did come across some nocturnal snakes. She smiles. ]

How about you? Surely you have names for some of them.

[chippedsoul]

Hm. Yes, I know the one. [In a low feign whisper.] Don't say I told you this, but her favorite place to hide is within an unused hummingbird nest.

[He's sure Susato will use that information respectfully.]

As for names...I haven't really given them any. [He untangles a few snakes that got a little too overeager and got themselves all tied up.] They already have one in their tongue, so I simply never considered.

[judicialassistant]

[ Taken by those words, it looks very much like Susato has fallen for it. Her eyes widen with child-like curiosity, and she stopped what she was doing entirely, only for a smile to crack on her face.

Disappointed? Nah. Amused. (He's not messing with her, is he?) ] ...Hah. I am learning something new about them every day!

[ And suddenly it makes sense. An image of Yumie sleeping peacefully in a little nest. ]

I've thought about that as well. I wondered if might be offensive to give them names, if they already had them... but Yumie and Ryu are easier to say than [ hissss. She gives her best approximation of a snake noise. ] ......Even though I understand them, it is not like English.

[chippedsoul]

[Is he? In this case, he's not, but he'll leave her guessing. He tries not to look too amused when she "hisses" to explain herself.]

It certainly does, and they aren't offended by it at all. More curious than anything. [One snake flicks his tongue curiously at him. Will he give them a name?]

...I would have given you a name if I actually was good at it. [Come on, most of you have been indifferent and now you care?]

[judicialassistant]

[ They care, and it's all Susato's fault. Next she'll have them naming the fish.

Speaking of which, the sound of crinkling plastic can be heard after the last of the fish food is tossed into the pond. The bag is trash now, but she can still be proper about disposing it. She starts to fold the bag into nothing while she lingers, turning her attention back onto the pond to make sure the fish are satisfied. Then, as Kazuma addresses the curious snake, she'll turn once more.

This time, she closes the distance between them very casually. She leans in close, trying to meet the snake's eyes. She can help! ]

This one? Hmm... What a lovely shade of red. [ Bet you could turn someone to stone with those, she thinks, but it is an idle, passing thought she keeps to herself. Normally, she'd lean towards Japanese names, but for this one... ] How about Ruby?

[chippedsoul]

[That's a lot of names to keep track of if they did. The snake flicked his tongue as if to consider the name for a moment. He then contently curls up, still looking up at Susato.]

Ruby sounds good to him. [There's more enthusiastic hissing from the snake crowd as Kazuma sighs.] All right, all right. I'll help think of a few names for the rest of you. [All Susato's fault.]

[judicialassistant]

[ Sorry, not sorry. Susato laughs following Kazuma's sigh, a testament to the fact that she can understand the snakes' every word. She slowly moves her hand towards Ruby as he stares up at her, rubbing just below her mouth where her chin would be, if snakes had one. His tongue still flickers out, as if to remind her that he isn't a dog.

(Blebbity-blebbity.) ]

In return, you must help us greet our guests today and be on your best behavior. We want to be welcoming... but we also don't wish to scare anyone. Do you understand?

[chippedsoul]

[The snakes are all glancing in Susato's direction, tongues flicking, a few softly hissing. It's not their fault the guests come into their territories!]

I think they'd rather hide in the garden than greet anyone. [That's still behaving, isn't it?] We'll make sure the guest don't trouble any of you, of course. [A few satisfied by the response, have started to wander back into the shrubs to hide. Others stay, still waiting to be fed or receive a name.] Well, looks like we'll be here for a while.

[Thanks Susato. He waves a hand to tell the snakes to make room for her to sit down beside him, should she choose to.]

1/2

[judicialassistant]

Don't worry, I've made signs. Just like the ones I've put in the greenhouse. [ She seems to call out, even as some of the snakes start to retreat into the shrubbery. She glances in the direction of one of the signs in their view. No doubt all the snakes have seen it by now, but they likely wouldn't have known its purpose. ] It says, "Beware of Snakes." See?

[ Because everyone reads those. ]

. . . You can stay for a little longer, you know!

[judicialassistant]

[ ......Oh well. Ultimately, she gets the feeling that they are satisfied. There's a bit of a grin on her face. She feels Ruby nudge affectionately at her hand as he and the others that have stayed move to make room for her, and she takes that seat next to Kazuma like she belongs there. ]

Hah, thank you. [ For creating that space. Though maybe she should be thanking Kazuma?

. . . Yumie and Ryu are usually able to find their own food, so she's never fed them like this before. She's looking over the remaining snakes with a strange fondness, looking for any inspiration she may be able to get for names. Ruby had his eyes. The others... ]

[chippedsoul]

Ah. So I see. [Yes, people definitely read warning signs, but he appreciates the effort put in. The snakes that remain are now crawling either onto Susato or back onto Kazuma. Some of them, having not been fed yet!]

Hm. Would you like to try and feed them yourself? [He says, while feeding one with a rather stripy scale design.] ...Zigzag, or Ziggy perhaps? [He's trying.]

[judicialassistant]

[ He's trying. Honestly, Susato likes it, but she may be a bit biased. Kazuma could've suggested anything. If he's lucky, "Ziggy" will feel the same. She laughs. ] Ziggy for short.

[ Or Zebra, perhaps? No, Ziggy is much cuter. ]

Do you have another pair of tweezers?

[chippedsoul]

[The snake seems a little pre-occupied with food to have any input.]

Well, he's Ziggy then. And no, but you can use this one. [He offers the tweezers and then keeps the treat bag open for her to grab something. The snakes are being a little greedy crowding around the bag though.]

This one, she has speckles behind her eyes. [He gestures to a snake, actually patiently waiting her turn......better say something before he calls her Speckles.]

[judicialassistant]

. . . [ Speckles. There's a notable pause in the crinkling of the treat bag as Susato momentarily freezes. The snakes seem to snap her out of it quickly though, crawling across her lap to get to it. She gently shhhs them, joining in with the chorus of their hissing with a wave of the tweezers to discourage them.

There's a gentle mumble of something like "Patience," or maybe "Hold on." Speckles, on the other hand, is definitely patient, even in the light of the fruity smell coming from the bag. ]

Darka. [ Wow, very original, Susato. ] Um... or... perhaps, Kuro?

[chippedsoul]

[Kazuma will help corral a few of the snakes from crowding her. Just because he's not feeding them, doesn't mean they forget how to behave!]

Kuro...or maybe Ryusei? [Being dark and having speckles, reminds him of a shooting star.]

[judicialassistant]

[ Even though Susato has been around them for months, she can still feel a nervous energy as Kazuma handles them. Or...maybe their excitement is literally rubbing off on her. She laughs as she pulls a piece of yellow fruit from the bag, then offers it to Ryusei. ]

Another Ryu. [ Once that's gone (pineapple?), Susato glances over what's left of the snake crowd, spotting that tiny lotus blossom. ] Hear that? Ryuko and Ryusei.

[chippedsoul]

[It didn't occur to him what his suggestion meant and he ends up laughing a little. Maybe he's missing his best friend more than he thought. Both snakes look up at their names being addressed, tongues flicking. They seem happy.]

Hm. I might have caused some confusion in the future.

[judicialassistant]

[ Susato grins, and since she appears to have paused, Ryusei helpfully nudges at her hand. Susato looks at her, thinking she probably won't mind the confusion. There's a laugh as she reaches for another piece of fruit with the tweezers. ]

It's alright. [ ...This piece appears to be red (strawberry), but Ryusei eats it all the same. And then, just as one might think she would've left it at that, Susato adds: ] I miss him, too.

[chippedsoul]

[He blinks when she catches onto his thoughts. An amusing hum.]

No hiding anything from you. [He pats a few snakes that slither through his hands, be it to take their leave or get food.] Perhaps one day, we'll see him again. And he'll get to meet Ryusei and Ryuko. [They glance in his direction, not certain of why they were being addressed and then continue on their way.]