[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]

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.]

[piromare]

( he wonders if he should be watching toge this entire time, especially as he removes the cover that keeps his mouth covered? somehow lio feels a little self-conscious, but looking at the other boy with big and curious eyes... he has to peel them off of toge and chide himself for staring like an idiot.

lio can almost read his mind. yeah, it's a lot harder to put it into words, isn't it? there are a wide range of emotions but in order to channel those on the extremes--- positive and negative, it takes effort. more than what lio wants to expend in normal circumstances. )

How about bravery? Have you ever put yourself in harm's path to save someone? Would you continue to do it, to make your home a better place?

[fishflakes]

[Toge wouldn't comment on the staring even if he could. He's just assuming that, like most people, he's staring at his Snake Eyes and Fangs seal around his mouth. He's used to the staring, and it's why he usually covers it up when he isn't actively using his technique.]

[But bravery... Toge can definitely think of a few different times he was brave, or witnessed bravery; all he has to do is remember his first mission with Yuuta, or the joined plan to strike against the Kyoto-branch students at the Goodwill event, or even coming together with the others during Shibuya... Toge nods in understanding, before turning to the tree. He takes a breath and steps forward, placing a hand on the tree. He thinks on those memories, remembers how despite such intense moments, he had needed to keep calm. Keep his cool. Steady his breathing, act on instinct, not let fear get to him. Keeping those thoughts in mind, he closes his eyes.]

Calm down.

[It's a different command from his usual choices, but as he tries it, he can feel something work through him. Not the usual pulse of cursed energy, but something else. Something that tickles pleasantly under his skin, rather than burns in his throat.]

[Around them, it feels as though the air calms, and grows still. Not in an oppressive way, but in a way that seemed to suggest a peaceful afternoon. The tree sways a little, and the bark under his skin begins to feel a little cooler than it had before.]

[piromare]

( he isn't sure what to expect. will some kind of horrible, dark being made of shadows come out and 'calm' the tree down? but whatever toge is doing almost seems natural, and that his very actions are being guided by the same kind of emotion that he's trying to call upon... it's amazing. he can feel that energy coming off of toge in waves.

the air... toge's words, they have power. that same kind of power makes the entire area feel tranquil, as if the tension in the environment has completely disappeared. the very mood, which wasn't even that terse to begin with, has stilled. quieted. )

Amazing.

( if his words could have that effect outside of this place? lio can understand the potential danger. he's cognizant of that fact. but if his heart is good, and he always has the right intentions? )

... you're so strong.

[fishflakes]

[It works surprisingly well, enough that even Toge is surprised it works. Perhaps his surprise muddles it a little, because when he looks up at the tree, it's like the spell is broken. Things go back to how they were before he tried out his ability. But there's no denying it happened at all.]

[Toge blinks in surprise, looking over at Lio in surprise. Without the collar obscuring half of his face, his expressions come across much clearer, such as how he looks off to the side in what is clearly a flustered look.]

...Salted cod roe.

[He wasn't trying to show off, and even he's surprised at how well Lio's advice worked. He quickly pulls up the journal and writes a couple lines to show to the other.]

You helped me figure out how to do it. Thank you.

[piromare]

( lio laughs politely as he has to look away for a second to avoid showing off his equally flustered face. )

It comes from personal experience. When you know you're strong, but you know using your strength recklessly can put people in danger... it's easy to be worried.

( when he does return his gaze back to toge, lio's smile is small but confident, and definitely proud. )

Just be confident in yourself. If you have a good heart, I'm sure you can't do wrong.

( and then he holds out his fist. )

[fishflakes]

[There's some deep wisdom in Lio's words, Toge can see it. Lio understands the burden of strength, and how easily it can slip into pain and hurt. But Lio's words fill him with warmth and confidence. He smiles back at Lio, nodding.]

Salmon.

[Yeah... he can at least try that.]

[He blinks at the fist, before his smile widens further, and he lifts his own to bump it against Lio's. Fist bump!]

[piromare]

( he laughs--- a chirp of a noise that accompanies a smile wide enough that causes him to close his eyes. this kind of friendship... partnership, what have you, is still a little awkward for him. easier to work alone because it reduces the number of those who could be affected by potential failure, but... he believed in toge. so, he knew there was no way he would fail.

a simple and somewhat naïve hope. )

Do you have more trees you want to fix? Maybe you could do mine, too.

[fishflakes]

[It's a strange feeling for Toge as well. He's never really had friends who weren't a part of the world of jujutsu sorcerers, so he's never... really learned how to be friends with regular people. But if situations were different? He'd really like Lio as a friend. And if Lio is here willing to help him? Well, Toge wants to extend that olive branch as well.]

[So at the offer, he nods, tugging his collar back up for the time being. He gives Lio a thumbs up.]

Salmon.

can end this one here if it's ok!

[piromare]

Great. Let's go... I don't think mine has been acting up, but it probably doesn't hurt to make sure it doesn't do anything crazy.

( like the last thing lio would want to do is light it on fire? but that's practically all he can do, outside of trying to reason with it. then again--- utilizing whatever dreamotion energies would probably help find a peaceful solution.

but getting to watch toge use his voice like that is a sight. how lucky he is to have a friend like him. )