[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

[itsgunnabe_mei]

Well, of course I'm still going to help! But first I wanted to help you! If my dad was here and then just popped back home without a goodbye, I know I'd want a bajillion hugs. I mean, I know he's back home and all, but... that doesn't mean I wouldn't miss him like crazy.

[judicialassistant]

[ There's a grin... Well, maybe admitting it would be a good first step. She may have been too young to remember it the first time, but it's not as though this is the first time. ]

I do. I do miss him.

[ She wonders if Mei misses her parents, too. She's been here without them all this time, hasn't she...? ]

Do you miss yours?

[itsgunnabe_mei]

[ There's absolutely no hesitation when Mei answers. ]

All the time! I've never been away from them for so long - not even for a day! The first couple of nights here, I cried myself to sleep!

[judicialassistant]

[ Ah--that truly twists her heart to hear. Susato is reminded of just how young Mei is for a dreamwalker. ]

Oh, how terrible... All by yourself?

[ She leans in, taking interest, though in the back of her mind, that's another thing she wonders. Does Mei still live by herself?? ]

[itsgunnabe_mei]

Yeah, but that's normal, isn't it? We all have people we miss. And the more we care about them, the more we miss them.

[ She hesitates a bit, trying to determine how much she should share, before nodding decisively. ]

... I did try hiding that. Didn't really work out. But when I did let it out and cry, I kinda felt better after. I even had a friend there to help me out... which is, like, totally what friends are for.

[ So she has allowed one emotion to come out of the jar. BUT NONE OF THE OTHERS, YOU STAY LOCKED UP. ]

[judicialassistant]

[ Someday, someone should probably tell her about how unhealthy that is. For now, she notes how Mei hesitates and continues lending a careful ear. ]

Ah...

[ Well, she is glad she had a friend to help her through, but... ]

Well, you're not wrong. I'm glad you've been able to find new "besties."

[ That word still probably sounds foreign coming from Susato. It's fine. ]

Were they the first person here to see your panda, then...?

[itsgunnabe_mei]

Uh... kinda.

[ She supposes that topic coming up was kind of inevitable. Still, boo. ]

He knew I was... "weird", but didn't know how big of a "weirdo" I was until that point. But... he was really cool about it. That's what surprised me... every time it's come up, no one has made fun of me, or called me gross, or told me I should hide it.

[ Which is the exact opposite of what she expected - wait! ]

Hey, I'm supposed to be comforting you, not the other way around!

[judicialassistant]

[ Oops. Susato giggles, though beneath that, she really can see how this has been eating at Mei. She knows she doesn't like to talk about it, but hopefully it's gotten easier... especially with the support of everyone. ]

Why not both? We can support each other.

Like sisters. [ And besties. ]

[itsgunnabe_mei]

[ It's a little hard to deflect that, but Mei pouts anyway. ]

... Well now. I'm just gunna comfort you even harder!

[ How do you like them apples??? Which means she hugs Susato again, even tighter! ... Not painfully tighter, but she's getting a good squeeze. ]

[judicialassistant]

[ Susato squeaks at the sudden squeeze, but then it turns into something of a nervous chuckle. That's definitely unexpected! And her voice may be a little strained. ]

I feel like a giant tube of toothpaste...

Actually, it kind of tickles?! [ She squirms a little, but the friction against her waist only makes it worse. Oh no, why did she manifest this? ]

[itsgunnabe_mei]

[ Well, she supposes either one is better than sadness! But after a few more of squeezing, she does pull back a bit again. ]

... Look, I'm gunna make you an offer, 'cause it doesn't look like anyone's coming around.

... Would the Panda make you feel better?

[judicialassistant]

...!

[ Susato blinks, visibly freezing in her tracks. She looks around; the atmosphere is still a peaceful, quiet one. ]

W, Would you really transform, just for me?

[itsgunnabe_mei]

[ She gives a half-shrug. ]

I don't think anyone's coming around, and... you did seem to find it kind of cute.

[judicialassistant]

[ Before she even transforms, Susato's hold tightens on Mei playfully. ]

That is because you are.

[ And also very large, and soft? All of this to say...... yes, please. ]

[itsgunnabe_mei]

[ Blush! She rolls her eyes just a bit, but it's with a smile.

POOF!

And now, Susato is hugging the Panda! She's taller than Susato now, and gives her a little pat on the head. ]

Have at it, buddy.

[judicialassistant]

[ There is something deeply satisfying about the way her arms don't quite reach all the way around her form anymore. Susato has seen it before, but she finds herself melting into her fur, nuzzling it with her face before she can contain herself. ]

You make a wonderful pillow. [ It's almost a shame Mei herself doesn't get to experience it. ]

[itsgunnabe_mei]

Thanks, I think?

[ ... Still. The fact that this weird, monstrous form of hers can bring someone comfort is... something to think about. Plenty of people here had gone on and on about the Panda's usefulness, but none had ever actually gone into specifics.

But here? Here and now? It was specific. It had a purpose. So... so maybe... it wasn't so bad...? ]

... Does it help?

[judicialassistant]

...It does.

[ For the moment, she allows herself to be lost in it; but it's not like she wants to come running to Mei for such a thing every time she's a little sad. Time passes, and she allows the hug to break naturally, however difficult. ]

Thank you. I will return the favour someday, I promise.

[itsgunnabe_mei]

[ She tries to ease the mood with a small joke, giving a half-shrug. ]

Are you going to try and turn into a big furry animal that I can hug?

[judicialassistant]

[ Susato laughs, recognizing the attempt. It's appreciated. ]

Well, I don't know about "big"... but I did turn into a rabbit once. [ 'Fuzzy' may be more appropriate rather than 'furry.' ]

[itsgunnabe_mei]

[ Eyebrow raise! Definitely curious! ]

Really? ... Like, a normal bunny rabbit, or like... all this?

[ She gestures to herself, and "all this". ]

[judicialassistant]

[ Define "normal"... ]

Well, I... was still wearing a little kimono. [ She wasn't entirely paying attention to that part of her appearance, though in hindsight, that does sound super strange. ] Oh, and there were these little blue flowers pinned to my ears! It was on the moon. The wolf pups were trying to turn me into one of them, I think, but they rather missed their mark.

[itsgunnabe_mei]

Aw, man, that sounds super adorable! And you got to keep clothes! For reason, the Panda makes me naked! And when I turn back, my clothes turn back too... I totally don't get it.

[judicialassistant]

Oh...

[ Well, she doesn't get it either. Though as an alternative thought, the transformation could have destroyed her clothes entirely, leaving her naked when she turns back. Too bad she's not going to speak that into existence. ]

...It, It could be worse?

[itsgunnabe_mei]

[ Mei doubts it could be worse, but decides not to press her luck - when has saying "How could it possibly be worse" ever ended well? So she shrugs it off. ]

It could be better, too... but at least it can help you out. That's what I care about right now.