songerein | [Closed] Entry 005

Entry tags:

[Closed] Entry 005

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.

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[ 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.

[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?]

[ 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?

[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.]

[ 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?

[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.]

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!

[ ......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... ]

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.]

[ 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?

[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.]

. . . [ 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?

[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.]

[ 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.

[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.

[ 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.

[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.]

[ Susato looks up when the Ryus turn toward Kazuma, but doesn't stop them. Instead there's a wave goodbye as they disappear into the bushes, with that hand still holding the tweezers. ]

I can imagine his surprise. [ Both the snakes, and Naruhodo-san going wide-eyed at the same time, afraid of each other... An amusing thought.

Eventually Susato catches onto the fact that some snakes are coming back for seconds and thirds, though she's still obliging them for the moment. ]

Hey, now. Keep this up and you will never learn to hunt for yourselves. Or forget how, in your case. [ She turns to an older, larger looking snake, giving him an affection pad on the head, where there seems to be a unique mark that looks kind of like a sun. ]

Heh, well there haven't been too many pest around the restaurant. [Words of approval? The snakes bob their heads slightly.]

Besides, they know better than to rely on treats. [It's only a few occasions they get treats.] Old sun. [That's what he's calling the snake getting headpats.]

[ Well, they have Susato in part to thank for that. Pests won't do in their fine establishment, after all, and she keeps it very clean for their customers. Her fingers linger, tracing the rays of the sun. ]

In English, "son" also refers to someone's child. The oldest one is often spoiled, showered with love and affection and gifts.

[ A playful poke at the sun's center atop his head before she pulls her hand back, grinning cheekily. That's you! ]

[Old Sun just looks at them blankly, then flicks his tongue in the direction of the bag of treats that was almost empty.]

Hm. I guess giving them names isn't so bad. [Damn, did Susato get him into it?] All right, we're almost out of treats. Don't hog over the others who haven't gotten any.

[ Old Sun blinks, dipping his head, but then seems to understand. With a last longing look, he turns to slink away, following the other snakes. She chuckles rather proudly at their progress as she continues, paying closer attention to which snakes have and have not gotten their treats.

In the end, most follow Old Sun's example, and she's finally able to fold up the bag, saving the rest for another day. ]

You're not as bad at it as you thought. They don't appear to be rushing us, either.

[ She grins. ]

...Which is good, since our guests should be arriving soon. [ They can continue this another time--whenever inspiration strikes. ]

[He hums quietly, watching the snakes disappear from view.]

It's going to be an interesting day. Wonder how many will actually pass the challenge? [His hand slides around her back, gesturing her to stand along with him.]

[ Stand with him she does, as she always has, and always would. There's a look of pride over their garden which they've worked so hard to put together. ]

I suppose we will see... Do you plan to try as well? [ Though she might do something like use less devil peppers in his dish so that he'll win if he does...

......or maybe she'll use even more.

Nah, neither of those would be very fair, would it? ]

Of course. [He said that without missing a beat. Obviously.]

I haven't decided on which dish to try with, but whichever I decide...don't do anything special to it. [A glance. No going easy or harder on him. He will face this challenge like everyone else.]

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judicialassistant - 2022-09-09 01:37 (UTC) - Expand

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[Closed] Entry 005

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