[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

[thegamesafoot]

[ Sholmes trails behind her. He hasn't spent much time in the Harvest's Garden—he usually gets his fill of horticulture from the greenhouse. But he has to admit the open air and layout is more pleasant. Like the gardens back home: be they tucked around row houses, or stretched luxuriously outside of estates.

He pauses beside Susato, then steps closer to the starfish to peer at the inscribed names. ]

Ah, Mr. Vigil! I expect the poor man has been returned to the confines of a prison cell. What a shame, after all of the freedoms Songerein affords!

[ Then his eyes light on the only other familiar name. ] And Mr. Naruhodo ... I do find myself missing the dear fellow from time to time. His hair fashioned into a frantic nest, as if by a flock of drunken sparrows. The wild panic that would fill his eyes, how ridiculous he looked in a top hat ...

[ A sigh, and his head hangs. ] And, I suppose, I've sorely missed his insightful mind and dogged pursuit of justice.

[judicialassistant]

[ Well, they're not dead. The thought suddenly crosses her head, something of a gentle reminder. Her lips visibly twitch at the mention of Ryunosuke's wide eyes, and smiles fondly. ]

I miss him, too, Mr Sholmes.

[ And Vigil... Songerein afforded him freedom, but she also knows that he must have been lonely here. Eventually... she hopes he will be able to find peace with his wife and children, and put everything behind him. ]

Do you like it? If there's anyone you'd like to add... [ Seeing the way Sholmes' head had hung low, she places an encouraging hand on his shoulder. ]

[thegamesafoot]

[ It's fortunate Susato didn't voice that thought. There's a chance Sholmes might have unhelpfully blurted, Oh, but they could be! They have no idea what's transpired in the waking world. But no, the moment is spared. ]

It's very thoughtful, Miss Susato. I've no additions. [ He takes her hand and gives it an encouraging squeeze. There's a smile on his face, his (apparent) emotions turning on a dime as usual. ] And a fine use of those starfish. You know, your poor father was concerned about rescuing them? His heart is much too big for his own good.

[judicialassistant]

[ There's a slight delay before Susato lets out a small laugh, squeezing back his hand. Like father, like daughter in a way. Susato remembers struggling with salt ratios and the like, and the way those tiny starfish glowed, clinging to life. All this, for a beautiful beach, and not one, but two (!) moons. ]

That sounds like him. Kazuma, meanwhile, simply wanted them off his roof.

These were already dead when we collected them, but they cling rather aggressively to the surface when they are dry. [ Stubborn. ]

[thegamesafoot]

[ Sholmes doesn't have a difficult time imagining Kazuma's distaste for the things. Much more pragmatic than either of the Mikotobas. ]

I must say, I'm exceedingly grateful we managed to remove the one stuck to my face before it became a permanent feature.

[ A sharp exhale, and then he claps his hands. ] Now, enough of this melancholy sea life! Where are those peppers?

[judicialassistant]

[ His face? Now there was a story to be told if there ever was one. Susato blinks, face radiating curiosity, but she's distracted by the change in topic (and the original reason they came out here).

Maybe another time. ]

Of course. This way. They're called Devil's peppers, with the color to match.

[thegamesafoot]

So ... red, I expect? How incredibly unique! [ Said with a chipper sarcasm as he follows behind her, taking in the passing plants—a captivating mix of the mundane and fantastical. ] Do they have anything to do with that ah, tall, demonic fellow? Mr. Alastor?

[judicialassistant]

[ Unique? Red peppers? Hardly. But just as she's about to say as much, she catches onto Sholmes' special brand of sarcasm. ]

Hah. [ She shakes her head. ] No, actually. His name was Asura. Mr Asura. He has a house out in the farmlands where we sometimes visit for ingredients. He is the one who gave us these... and we can thank him for the lotus blossoms growing in our ponds as well.

[ There's a pause. ]

Just be careful of his geese should you ever decide to go out there.

[thegamesafoot]

[ Asura ... that's a new name to him. Just when he thinks he's snooped out a good chunk of Reverein's citizens, there's another one hiding in the woodwork. Or the farmlands, as the case may be. ]

Geese! I'm reminded of a case: one in which a man fell from a cliffside. Upon examining his beak-nibbled calves, I was able to deduce that he'd been beset by the dread creatures. [ A sigh, a mournful shake of his head. ] His only escape from their fury was death upon the rocks below. And worse yet, Miss Susato, the murderous beasts were not put to trial!

[ One of the many failings of the British judiciary. ]

[judicialassistant]

[ Has she read about that one...? Or maybe the "Sherlock Holmes" version? It's not entirely clear, but there does appear to be a brief flash of recognition before she breaks out into a chuckle. It's a subdued one, because she shouldn't be laughing at anyone's death; but she has perhaps come to appreciate Mr Sholmes' brand of morbid humor over the past months. ]

I imagine their testimony would be full of angry squawking. A nightmare to transcribe... With your inventions, perhaps we will live to see the day.

[ An animal, taking the stand. A parrot, or perhaps even a whale... ]

[thegamesafoot]

[ Sholmes himself has no clue if this story made it to the pages of Randst. It's probably in a stack of Iris' scrapped manuscripts called something like "Untitled Goose Case." ]

Inspector Gregson—god rest his soul—was adamantly against issuing them a formal subpoena. [ He clucks his tongue. ] No doubt it will happen again someday and by then, I'll have a device by which we'll finally hear animal testimony—

[ His eyes land on what he can only assume is the spicy plant in question. ] Oh! Surely these are the infernal peppers?

[judicialassistant]

[ And so it was declared that no animals, geese or otherwise, are allowed to commit crimes from that day forward, until such a device is invented--

Oh. Susato spots that devilish shade of red, which stands out against the green peppers, and even the yellow ones. She gives a nod as she closes the distance and gently plucks one. ]

Indeed they are. Here you go. [ Offering the pepper to Sholmes. Clearly nothing can go wrong. ] What do you plan to do to them, Mr Sholmes?

[thegamesafoot]

[ Sholmes takes the pepper by the stem and spins it between his fingers, gives it an experimental sniff. ]

Oh, a bit of reconnaissance.

[ A pen knife appears in his hand from somewhere and he carefully slices into the meat of the vegetable (or is it technically a fruit? Hm.) Now that the seal of the skin has been breached, he can smell the fiery heat of the capsaicin. ]

However, now I'm made to wonder if this could have applications beyond ruining an otherwise perfectly good plate of food.

[judicialassistant]

[ Harsh! Though Susato can understand on some level. There's no helping it if their Western brethren aren't accustomed to the taste. It's not like they're onions--maybe she's just imagining things, but it almost feels like her eyes start to water.

Ridiculous, considering how much she's already worked with them by this point. ]

...Hm. I'm sorry you feel that way about them... though it sounds like you already have ideas. A... some kind of deterrent, perhaps? [ Sholmes are you about to invent pepper spray ]

[thegamesafoot]

Precisely! If I thoroughly coat myself in a layer of chili powder, a noctaere might think twice about devouring my precious dream essence! [ Sholmes looks down at the sliced pepper where the oils are already proving to be a powerful irritant to his bare fingertips. Maybe it's better not to apply it directly to his skin?

It's in that moment, he begins to question his resolve; he's put a great many inadvisable things inside his mouth ... is he really going to add this to the list? ]

Have you sampled this pepper yourself, Miss Susato?

[judicialassistant]

[ If she also puts it in her mouth, will she feel better about it? Susato seems to shrink a little, though she does adore the way his voice sounds when he is inspired. She has to sadly shake her head. ]

Not yet, but I was considering... Maybe with everyone here, I... [ There's a pause, as she trails off unwittingly. ] Well. Could.

[ Another pause. ]

Today.

[ But would having an audience make it better or worse, she wonders... ]

[thegamesafoot]

Miss Susato! I won't tolerate such equivocation from the world's greatest judicial assistant! And over a mere vegetable!

[ Sholmes touches his tongue to the meat of the pepper with a performative flourish. ]

See? Nothing to fea— ... Hhhhhh!

[ And he doubles over, hissing out hoos and hahs as sweat beads on his face. At his hip, the familiar vial of paper cranes glows bright. ]

[judicialassistant]

...!!

[ Susato has to shield her eyes from her own magic's light. Did she forget about his protection charm? Perhaps... but at least time, he's actually eating something meant to be eaten.

It is no less terrifying, of course. If Sholmes is trying to sell Susato on the idea of taking the challenge herself, he's doing a terrible job. She quickly rushes to his side to support him as he doubles over. ]

Mr Sholmes! Are you...?