[OPEN] November Catch-All

[fishflakes]

Who: Toge Inumaki and YOU!
Which: Open Log
Where: Farmlands and Treehouses
What: Quests: Harvesting, squirrel wrangling, and tree pruning
Warnings: N/A, will update as needed!

Harvest Time
[Toge isn’t really much of a farmer, but he’s taken care of the gardens around the Jujutsu High campus, so he knows a thing or two about gardening. So when the call goes out to help out with the farms and harvest the fruit, Toge is there to lend a hand.]

[His short and lean frame doesn’t look like it would be much help with something as labour-intensive as harvesting, but Toge works quite diligently, filling baskets with salvageable vegetables and fruits and bringing them over with the rest of the harvest. He works alone for the most part, softly humming to himself as he works, and might not even be noticed at first due to his quiet nature. But if someone is in need of some help, whether it be needing help carrying baskets of veggies or pulling up weeds, he’ll approach them with a wave, before pointing at their task.]

Tuna mayo?

[By the end of the day, he can be found sitting near a pair of baskets full of food that he was allowed to take home, going through a couple small pouches of seeds. Maybe he can start up a garden closer to home…]

Pesky Squirrels
[Back when Toge had arrived, he had somewhat befriended a squirrel while exploring the rubble and ruins. That squirrel ended up living close to Toge’s chosen treehouse, and had become a familiar figure for Toge to keep an eye out for. So when winter began to set in, Toge decided to help the hungry squirrel, rather than chase it away like others. It was a friend, after all, so why not help it out?]

[The squirrel decides to use a little hollow in the side of Toge’s treehouse as a storehouse for extra acorns and nuts, which is fine; Toge doesn’t take up much space, so he doesn’t mind sharing. However, it seems as though, as “reward” for his help, the squirrel has been dropping off all kinds of trinkets and objects at Toge’s windowsill and door. Objects that most definitely belong to someone else. Toge’s grateful for the thought, but he should… probably return these items. So, he will put out a little PSA out on the journals.]

If anyone’s lost anything small, I might have it at my house. I have a squirrel living in my tree who’s been leaving me gifts.

Treehouse Pruning
[With winter coming, the treehouses have begun to get… interesting. They seem to be getting more excited, or at the very least warmer, which is nice for the encroaching cold but has also led to a couple nights where Toge has woken up sweating from the heat. Something’s gotta be done to regulate this.]

[After seeing a few people trying out their dreamotion powers on the trees to help cool them off, Toge can be found outside of his chosen treehouse, arms crossed and foot tapping. He’s just… gotta channel dreamotion energy, right? But how can he do so? Is it like channeling Cursed Energy? And if it is, will he suffer a backlash for it?]

[He knows the only way for him to test this out is to… do it. But there’s a hesitance to do so. There’s a reason he doesn’t venture out of his chosen safe words and commands very often, after all.]

[So focused on staring at the tree before him, he might not notice others approaching him.]

Wildcard
[Permissions for Toge's Cursed Speech, if it arises, can be found here. If you’d like a custom starter or would like to plan something different out, feel free to PM me here or hit me up on plurk at pocketnoivern!]

Comments

[fishflakes]

Yeah, that's it. He told me about them after we explored Baba Yaga's hut.

He said he was a soldier though. It sounds weird for a soldier to do odd jobs like that.

[So he knows a samurai lawyer and a beekeeper soldier. Weird.]

[fishflakes]

[Toge hums a little as he considers her words, before he nods to her.]

Salmon.

[He takes a moment to write out a reply to her. He pauses a few times, considering his words, before finally offering her something to read.]

A bit of both. My power involves cursing others and forcing them to do as I say. It's why I talk the way I do. I was thinking of trying something similar here with the dreamotion magic, but I don't know how to do it. Or if it'll cause a backlash like cursed energy does.

[fishflakes]

[Toge nods.]

Salmon.

[He takes a moment to write a few more lines down, and Lio can probably see how he pauses a few times, trying to pick his words. Eventually he does write some stuff down before showing it to Lio.]

My usual power involves cursing people and forcing them to do as I say. I thought I could do something similar here, with the dreamotion energy. But I don't know how to use it, and don't know if it'll backlash on me like cursed energy does. And I don't want to curse hurt anyone nearby either.

[chippedsoul]

Maybe. But I imagine when there's not a huge demand for your profession, you find other things to do.

I used to manage a tavern in the other world, eventhough I'm a lawyer.

[fishflakes]

Hmm... I guess so.

You managed a tavern? Woah. You're a real jack of all trades, huh?

[seemagicshit]

Me? Just a little winded, I guess. I've worked out a lot, but that was different kind of working out. But I gotta keep in shape too, since I'm not getting into fights every day now.

[Come to Ijincho for the constant combat, enjoy a ripped bod as a side benefit!]

With your seeds, know what we should do? Since we don't know what they are, put up a few stakes if they're like tomatoes or shit like that.

[chippedsoul]

I believe you can do whatever you want, if you put your mind to it.

And that tavern was sort of forced onto me, but it was something to pass the time.

[fishflakes]

Tuna mayo.

[It certainly was a different kind of working out. Toge trains every day back home, but that was combat training, not physical labour like this.]

Salted cod roe?

[He tilts his head in curiosity. How were they to know if they were tomatoes though?]

[piromare]

( his eyes move slowly as he reads those words, the ones that have been thoughtfully written. that he could've been more coy with how he phrased things but instead toge has been as direct as possible. )

Is it only people that you want to curse, or can it be anyone who hears you?

( and then: )

And... can trees listen?

( maybe these can. but he's not so sure himself. )

[fishflakes]

Salmon.

[He says it with a nod of his head. He's gotten it so that he can direct his commands to only affect those who he intends, though that's taken a lot of training and effort. He writes some more words down before showing it to Lio.]

Only those who I want to curse will get cursed.

And I think they can. These ones can at least. But I don't know how to use emotion energy the same way I do cursed energy.

[fishflakes]

That's true. I just never really thought of that. Like, I couldn't imagine not being a jujutsu sorcerer. So it's a little weird to think of doing something other than what I'm trained to do.

Huh... I bet it was pretty fun, though. Any thoughts on if you are gonna rebuild here?

[chippedsoul]

Well, maybe while you're here, you could take this opportunity to try something you never had a chance to do?

I thought about it, but I don't have plans at the moment. [And a little pre-occupied with people from home suddenly showing up.]

[lethechained]

[ Although she's slightly relieved that he's willing to elaborate rather than leaving it at a vague affirmative, the extended duration of his scribbling does cause Naminé some small amount of concern. She's never lacking in patience, but she possesses, too, an inclination to consider the worst when left to her own devices. Openly interested in reading what he's wrote, the girl doesn't waste a moment before setting her gaze on the words once they're ready - then pauses and reads them again before glancing up at him, her head tilting. ]

You can't control it?

[ That's the natural assumption based on the strictness of his adherence to his peculiar speech pattern. If it's as he says, that's an admirable level of dedication, but her features wilt slightly at the notion of such a responsibility, one so heavy that he can't speak freely. ]

Not even by asking nicely?

[fishflakes]

Bonito flakes.

[Said with a shake of his head. He takes a moment to write down a few more words for her, before showing the journal to her once more.]

Control it, yes. Turn it off, no. I've had my Cursed Speech for as long as I can remember. Doesn't matter if I ask politely or not, if I tell someone to do something, they do it.

[Sit down, don't move, sleep, run away, get crushed, explode. All examples of commands he's done against various enemies, forced into compulsion by the power of his cursed technique. It was why he was often considered such a big target, even in mock challenges with his fellow classmates.]

[He also realizes that his last statement sounds a little harsh, so he's quick to amend it.]

There's more to it than that, though. And if I try it on a strong enemy or on too many targets for too long, I get a backlash. Which is why I'm careful, for myself and others.

I thought I could do the same thing with my voice like I do with my Cursed Speech, but I can't really figure out how to do it. It's different from my technique. Or maybe there's something I'm missing.

[Or maybe he's afraid of the possible backlash and after-effects that might happen. There was a reason he was so strict with his vocabulary, that venturing out of his carefully-cultivated words was always something that made him a bit anxious.]

[fishflakes]

Huh.... maybe. I mean, if a soldier can be a beekeeper and a samurai layer could run a tavern, why not right?

That's fair. There's a lot going on right now with the dreams after all.

[chippedsoul]

And still the threat of the Story Eater out there.

Is there any sort of hobbies you enjoy?

[piromare]

( that is definitely a problem, but it's certainly less of one than lio thought? )

Well, you won't know how to if you don't try. ( lio looks at the trees with a sloped, lop-sided frown. ) This might be the best time to figure it out, too.

( the worst thing would be trying to how to draw out the dreamotion energy at a time where it's incredibly inconvenient or experimental. right? )

And besides. If things go wrong... that's why I'm here.

( a smile as he nods too. )

So I think the best way is to think of a time. Any time, where you felt something the strongest. Something good.

[lethechained]

[ Less restless this time when he takes a few moments to write, Naminé spends the pause considering further implications of power like his. Needless to say, this has her frown pretty firmly settled on her mouth by the time she actually gets to read his message. ]

... I'm sorry, [ she says sincerely once she's read through it, her voice quieted with sympathy; she's probably been waiting to say that from the beginning, going by the look on her face. ] That sounds... really hard.

[ Given all her misgivings and guilt about her own abilities, Naminé's in a prime position to understand how having power over others isn't always a gift so much as a curse in disguise. As frightening as she finds herself, at least she can turn her magic off. Even if she weren't already inclined to try to help Toge, she'd want to purely out of solidarity; humming with a knitted brow, she considers what she's learned already. ]

I'm not sure if it'll help, but-- [ She has to try, so, ] Sometimes... the words aren't what's important.

[ Well, that's more complicated in his case, which is why she straightens a little, turning to look at him more directly. ]

What I mean is, not all magic is about the words you use to cast it. What's in your heart and mind can make a difference, too, especially in a place like this. And there are lots of ways to tell someone what you want without having to speak.

[ A touch bashfully, she backpedals to a, ]

But-- I'm sure you already know that. [ He's proven his awareness of hand gestures, for one thing. ] I suppose what I'm trying to say is, maybe you can find a way to let your heart speak first, and then figure out what to do with your voice later on.

[fishflakes]

That's true. We really can't rest too easily while he's still out there.

Hmm... Well, when I'm not training, I spend time online, but that's not really an option here.

[fishflakes]

[That's the short and simple of it, isn't it? He wouldn't know unless he tried. And he won't learn unless he tries. But hearing Lio's support has Toge looking at him with wide eyes, blinking a few times. He's really willing to help him out? He remains silent for a few beats, before nodding.]

...Salmon.

[If he's willing to help... well. He can't really turn down help, can he? Toge turns back to the tree, and Lio can tell that he means to begin by the way he takes a slow breath, before unzipping his collar and exposing the rest of his face.]

[Something strong and good? Hmm... His lips curl into a frown as he thinks. He has plenty of times where he felt alright, or thought something was funny, but... were they strong enough? And even so, how to channel that emotion into his words? Was it like channeling cursed energy?]

[He pauses once more, before turning to Lio. He tilts his head, as if to ask for elaboration without words.]

[fishflakes]

[Toge blinks at her apology, and openly stares at her for a few seconds. He's heard people hay his technique was impressive, was frightening, was strong, was a forced to be reckoned with... it's not often that he's offered pity for his inability to speak without causing harm. He blinks a few times, before offering a small shrug and looking away.]

...Tuna mayo.

[Even if he could say the words, how to respond to that? He's only ever been shown awe and a fearful respect. He's not sure how to handle pity, or genuine sympathy.]

[But when Naminé begins speaking again, Toge looks up at her, listening to her words carefully. He does nod slowly at her words; he does understand what she's saying, since he used the basis of such thought for his nonsensical ingredients-vocabulary. But his usual technique relied on him being extremely specific and careful with his words; choosing whether he should tell an enemy Don't Move, Sleep, or Explode could mean the difference between surviving an encounter or bleeding his throat raw. So, he should think up the meaning before the words?]

[He lets out a small hum, bringing a hand up to where his chin would be and tilting his head. So... with dreamotion magic, he should focus more on the feeling he wants, and let the words come later?]

[chippedsoul]

Online? [His first thought is standing in lines? That's probably not what he meant.]

[seemagicshit]

[It's getting easier over time to really grasp Toge's nuance in a few words. Enough that he's not missing a beat in their conversation.]

Obviously we don't have any idea what they are. The stake is just a for instance. So if none of the seeds need a stake, then great, it's just there. If they do, it's there. But if we grew seeds and it turns out they needed that extra support, by the time you realize the plant might die out.

Too bad we don't have anything ornamental for fun. Like bonsai, but they wouldn't exactly be handing those things out.

[fishflakes]

[It's pretty nice, having someone able to pick up on his cues and more or less understand him. It reminds him of back home, when he had begun noticing his classmates picking up on his speech patterns. Toge lets out a little hum, nodding. Okay, that made sense. None of the plants back at his school had needed stakes, so this is the first time he'd be using them. But Zhao brings up a good point about them. Some pre-emptive planning didn't hurt anyone, after all.]

[He does give Zhao a curious look.]

Tuna mayo?

[Bonsai, huh? Did he plant bonsai back home?]

[fishflakes]

Yeah. The school I go to is outside the city so that people don't accidentally stumble across a bunch of jujutsu sorcerers training. There's not much to do aside from train or make a day trip into the city, but it's got decent wi-fi so getting on the internet's not a problem.