[07] move along, move along just to make it through

[judicialassistant]

Who: Susato and anyone
Which: Open catch-all log for September + network option
Where: The Wild Harvest garden, but open to other locations.
What: Yujin Mikotoba has left Songerein.
Warnings: Will add if needed.

🌸 A. an apple a day keeps the doctor away.

Sender: Susato Mikotoba
To: Everyone
Subject: Reverein's clinic

[ It's short, and to the point. Susato doesn't use the journal often to broadcast like this, but now that she is, she feels it prudent to be as direct as possible. ]

To whom it may concern:

For the past couple weeks, the Reverein communal clinic has been without a proper doctor to run it. If you are in need of aid, please be patient, as the volunteers are doing the very best they can.

If you have medical experience and would like to help, please let me know. Thank you.

Regards,
Susato Mikotoba

🌸 B. move along, move along, like i know you do.

[ Within the garden of the Wild Harvest, among the faint hissing of snakes and the lull of the waterfalls, Susato closes her journal and tucks away her pen. She takes a deep breath as she moves to stand from her favorite bench, and she walks with purpose into an area littered with stars that look like stepping stones upon the ground.

For a moment, she stops and simply stares. There it is. A blank star, waiting for a name. Perhaps it appeared some time ago. Perhaps she simply ignored it, but after digesting recent events, she has no time to wallow in the remaining stages of grief. He's not even dead, but she wonders if that doesn't make things worse.

Either way, she doesn't even need a pen. She slowly bends down, spending another moment feeling the rough surface of the starfish with her hand before she commits with her pointer finger.

The strokes appear in a glow, and the end result looks engraved. ]

御琴羽 悠仁

🌸 C. wild card.

[ If neither of these fit! ]

(( ooc: Feel free to write your own prompt/starter, or if you'd like me to write a personalized starter for you, hit me up at yammdere or via PM!

Side note: I would love to incorporate Quest #902. Hug it out if you hit prompt B. uwu ))

Comments

[refire]

Sure, but not in a conventional way.

I had to figure something out because I couldn't rely on Shionne all the time. So if I need healing I just prepare a catalyst in advance. Those crystals sure come in handy.

Dreamotion might be able to do the trick too but I haven't figured out how to do that effectively.


[ Sometimes you learn things out of necessity. If he couldn't find a way to heal himself then he might have burned out long ago. ]

[judicialassistant]

Me either...

Well, I have managed it all of once. But even if I am perfect at it, I have other responsibilities, and I am unable to dedicate the time that the clinic requires and deserves.

[refire]

That's unfortunate. The clinic could really use more people.

I'll keep an eye out for you. We'll try to manage something in the meantime.

Do you want me to come see you?

[judicialassistant]

Not to worry! Someone has reached out to me. I have met him before, so I'm very hopeful that he will do well, but we will see in the coming weeks. If you meet anyone else with medical knowledge looking for something to do, please let me know.

In the meantime... I would love to see you.

[refire]

I'll come right over then!

Let's see, are you still at the clinic by any chance?

I hope I'm not too late.

[judicialassistant]

You're not.

I will be here for a while, tidying up while the men take care of things at the Harvest. I will wait for you!

> action

[refire]

Then I'll be there soon!

[ Alphen arrives to Susato's place at the clinic a few minutes later. He came with a small basket of bread. ]

Hi, I brought you some food. I thought you might be hungry because you're always working so hard. Can I just leave this here for you?

[Shionne used to get hungry all the time before so he got used to packing extras anyway.]

I hope it's not too much.

[judicialassistant]

[ Susato has just finished watering a pot of blue hydrangeas sitting upon the front desk of the reception area when Alphen arrives. She gasps, closing the distance between them quickly to take a better look into the basket, and amazingly, the bread still feels warm. ]

They look amazing. This is so sweet, Alphen...

[ She truly doesn't know what to say. She takes a piece out of the basket. ]

Would you like to have some with me...?

[refire]

I just want to do my part and look after you like your father looked after me.

[He smiles and nods.]

Of course! Meals are much more enjoyable with company and it's even better with a friend. You better have an appetite !

[Alphen wants to encourage Susato into eating more. She really needs her energy too. ]

[judicialassistant]

[ She won't necessarily advertise it, but after not eating well for a while, she does have an appetite. She breaks the piece of bread into two and then offers him half as she keeps the rest to put in her mouth, already feeling the satisfying crunch of bread that's toasted just right.

Then she'll take the basket, if Alphen will let her, in order to set it down on the counter. ]

[refire]

[ Alphen just encourages her to eat more but then he starts to eat some bread himself. ]

Does it taste good? Shionne always used to get hungry so the stuff I prepare is more filling than anything else. She'd keep going to me for more food so feel free to help yourself.

There's more than enough.

[He's used to Shionne's large appetite so it wouldn't bother him if Susato felt like eating more. ]

[judicialassistant]

[ Mouth still full, Susato nods her head, then swallows before answering. ]

It's wonderful. So fresh.

Though I wish I had some of the jam Mr 76 and I made to go with it.

[refire]

Yeah, that's because I just finished preparing it earlier.

I dunno I've been trying some new recipes but sometimes I'm not confident it'll work out. Glad to hear you enjoy it enough!

If there's anything else you need feel free to let me know. I'm here to help.

[ He's more than happy to do anything that Susato might need help with around the clinic. ]

[judicialassistant]

[ There's probably still a lot to do... The volunteers have helped, however, and she knows Ori and Shigeru will, too, so she'd rather not burden Alphen with any of it. ]

Truthfully, Alphen, it is nice just to see your friendly face.

[ She truly means that. ]

I hope the smithy has been well.

[refire]

It's good to see you again too! Actually, I took time off and I left the smithy in Somnus care. I can't focus on work and it's been hard for me.

[Alphen lets out a sigh.]

I'll have to figure things out with myself before I go back to work. Hey, it'll be fine. I just need to be patient.

[judicialassistant]

[ Somnus...

Not someone Susato has met, but she seems to perk up at the name in a way that suggests she will in the future. She smiles encouragingly. ]

You should take all the time you need. That way, when you are ready, you can be the one to forge me the best sword ever.

[refire]

You can count on me! If I went back to work now it'd be too soon. I'll be distracted and my blades will suffer for it.

So it's better to just take it easy for now.

[ He can't go pushing himself so much. Plenty of people still need him and depend on him. Plus, he did promise he'd make Susato's sword. ]

[judicialassistant]

[ At some point, Susato will encourage him to have a seat. She'll continue idly munching as they speak, enjoying the moment's respite. ]

What about your own blade? Did you also make that one yourself?

[ The questions seem to flow easily-- ]

Does it have a name?

[refire]

It's called the Sincleaver. This sword used to belong to a hero from my homeland.

[It's such a nice blade. Looks like there's something special behind it after all.]

Back in Dahna it's rare to find a weapon with this much history behind it. It's over three hundred years old.

[Old as dust.]

[judicialassistant]

[ Susato looks fascinated. If he'll let her, she may even lean in for a better look. ]

That is amazing. And what a name indeed...

If it has found its way to you, that must mean you are quite the hero yourself.

[refire]

No, that's not true at all. The real hero is Law's father Zephyr. He should have been the one to take this blade and lead.

[ He's not Zephyr and there's no way he could ever replace Law's old man. ]

I learned so much from him. He taught me how to live so that I'd be able to manage. Zephyr and Doc were the ones looking after me back home. I hope you give yourself time to rest too.

[judicialassistant]

[ Law's father...? By now, she knows they are close, so it's not so surprising that Law's father would be like a father to Alphen, too. Susato remembers him mentioning that Dahna was a place torn by war.

He still thinks Alphen is heroic, but... ]

What happened to him?

[refire]

He died. No, that's not right either. He was killed in front of us.

[ It was really hard watching Law go through that. Alphen still remembers it clearly. He grits his teeth in frustration at how he was powerlesss to stop it. ]

I'm sorry, but could you do me a favor and not mention this conversation to Law? He might be struggling with it still.

[judicialassistant]

[ Suddenly, Susato isn't quite hungry anymore. Her fingers tighten against the countertop, struggling to find something to grip. She doesn't cry; she doesn't know Law well enough, but it looks like she might want to. Something about a father, murdered in front of his son, resonates with her. ]

Of course. It is not my place.

[ Someday, maybe. She opens her mouth, perhaps wanting to ask how he died, and if he ever saw justice, but she doesn't think Alphen wants to talk about it any more than Law. ]

[refire]

Sorry I know I'm asking a lot from you and this isn't exactly a plesant conversation. I just want to give him room to work out his feelings.

[ It's a lot for someone as young as Law. Alphen just wants to respect his space. He notices how Susato isn't eating as much and looks apologetic.]

It's something else if he brings it up on his own. When he feels ready to talk about those things more it'd be great if you could be there to support him too. He needs friends.