IC inbox - cerealia

[horsepoop]

"Hello, this is Namazuo Toushirou! I'm sorry I missed you, but leave me a message and I'll call you back as soon as I can!"

[Audio/video/text/etc.!]

Comments

post-event, action!

[adornmental]

[Headless chicken babysitter #5 heading out to do the rounds and check on all the morons!! Namazuo is on the list because of course he is, after he showed that he has no idea how to survive in the wilderness at all...

So he'll be checking the line of swords who are waiting for repairs first, and if he's not there, he'll try Namazuo's apartment. WHERE CAN THE CATFISH BE FOUND TODAY??]

[horsepoop]

[What the heck he totally survived! He survived water trauma and monster bugs and Yamato, gosh...

He did get damaged, but it's not so bad that he can't wait. So he's in his apartment, content to let Haru take care of the others first. He's slow to answer the door, and even though he's dressed in clean, comfortable clothes, Kashuu will be able to see that he's injured. Still, he smiles, stepping back to let Kashuu in.]

Oh, Kashuu-kun! I wasn't expecting you. [He sounds well enough, despite his wounds. The television is on in the background, and a bowl of grapes sits half-eaten on the table.] Come in, come in. Would you like some tea?

[adornmental]

[The biggest surprise in there is that he managed to survive Yamato, honestly...

BUT!! Kashuu can indeed tell he's still injured and looks a little worried even though he correctly assumes Namazuo isn't too bad off. He's seen some of the swords with heavier damage too and it's pretty rough in the makeshift repair room right now... Haru's got a lot of work to do because SWORDS ARE MORONS. Anyway, shaking his head in response to the question but stepping his way inside.]

That's fine. I drank a bunch of juice before I left to get that bacon taste out of my mouth. [He ate a small piece to appease the android and it destroyed his tongue...] You doing okay?

[Action]

[reprizesal]

[While Sayo's asking everyone else, he decides to come over and visit. Hey, he's in the area and all, and maybe he can check on the reserved bedroom in that apartment for him and Kousetsu.

Knock, knock. Anyone home? Depending on who's there, he could ask them about their preferred flavours.]

[horsepoop]

Coming!

[Whether Sayo can actually hear him or not is debatable, but Namazuo calls out regardless. After a minute or two, the door swings open, and Namazuo pokes his head out curiously.]

Ah, Sayo-kun! What brings you here? [Not that he minds, by any means! He steps back, happy to let Sayo come inside if he wants.] Are you looking for Kousetsu-kun?

[reprizesal]

[Sayo waited patiently for someone to answer the door. And behold, it's Namazuo! Just one of the swords he's hoping to see. He shake his head.]

No, not Niisama. But I'm here to visit. [He's going to step inside through the door, and looks up at Namazuo.] Are you doing well, Namazuo-san?

action!

[yaayaa]

[Maybe Namazuo's watching TV right now. Maybe he's eating snacks, or taking a nap, or playing video games or something.

Whatever he's doing, the point is he's home right now, and may therefore see Nakigitsune walk in with a small shopping bag and drop it next to him.]

Here.

[If he opens the bag (which has a cute cartoon print on the front), Namazuo will find a fast food lunch set?

...Delivery complete! There is now a ten-second countdown before Naki turns to leave again.]

NO NAKI IS TOO CUTE

[horsepoop]

[Namazuo is indeed watching TV! He's curled up on the couch, hugging a pillow, his hair loose and wild for once--a rare sight even at home like this. He wasn't expecting company, but he almost never minds, so when he cranes his neck to see who's visiting, Naki gets a welcoming smile.

...Followed by a curious blink.]

What's this?

[He asks, but he's already reaching for the bag, so it's a pointless question. Peeking inside, he blinks again, then laughs, turning a bright smile towards his kinda!cousin.]

How cute, thank you! But what's this for?

UGH MY EMAIL BETRAYED ME i'm late

[yaayaa]

[Ah, that seems like a positive reaction. Naki is satisfied! Though the only actual reaction he gives is a slight nod.]

We found these at a store today! They reminded Nakigitsune of you, when he saw them.

[Yup, that's it, that's the whole reason.]

action ; event 26

[discard]

[It's lighter up here aboveground, but that doesn't make it any better; Leon's grim as he surveys the surroundings quietly, Chaltier in one hand.

"Something isn't right, young master..."]

I know, Chal.

[They should really find more people, but.....he doesn't even know where to begin. And there's the grating, awful sensation of metal scraping against metal on the outside of his hearing, and it's putting his nerves on edge--but one of those monsters is starting to take form not far away, so it looks like a brawl is going to happen.]

[horsepoop]

Leon-san? Chal-kun?

[Namazuo's voice is quiet, complete contrast from the cheerful energy he'd exuded at the carnival. Even so, it seems remarkably loud out here, when they're apparently the only two things around that are made, more or less, of flesh and blood.

He's nimble, but careful as he picks his way over, his own vessel drawn as well. The serious expression on his face is one usually reserved for dangerous sorties--and judging by the dirt and scratches on him, it looks like he's already gotten into a scuffle or two.]

I'm glad you made it up here... Are you alright?

[discard]

...Namazuo, was it?

[At least Leon remembers his name... Mostly because Chal shouted it excitedly when he saw Nama, but whatever, details.]

I'm fine.

[He has his fair share of scrapes, and a small gash from where a rusted piece of pathway hadn't been able to bear his weight, but it's nothing serious.]

What are you doing here?

[what...else would he be doing, Leon........

"He means to ask if you're okay too, Namazuo! You made it here all right, didn't you?"

shut up chal nobody asked for a translator.]

event! the one UNDERGROUND

[osuni]

[it's the second day and Okuni's already too tired. Her bare feet drag on the pavement, her breath comes out in short, quick gasps, but she keeps herself up. She's not armed to fight off monsters cause she's still in her sleepwear, but she can still run -- which she does too many times for her liking because why are all these monsters roaming around trying to get her??? She's never done anything to them!!]

[For now, she's at the underground lake's edge, looking at the water and wondering if it really matters if it ends up making her go crazy because she's just really thirsty right now, you know?!?]

[She's not so fargone that she doesn't notice anyone who approaches though. Her head peeps up when she hears footsteps, and then she blinks. ah...]

Honestly, do all tsukumogami go to sleep late at night or can you magically summon clothes?

[WHY ARE YOU GUYS ALL DRESSED???? what happened to embarrassing pajamas???]

[horsepoop]

[One of the perks of being a wakizashi is his ability to see (and fight) in the dark--not as well as the tantou, but better than most of the others. Not that it's all that helpful right now, when he still hasn't been able to find the way out of this place, but at least he's probably not going to get himself killed yet lol.

His vessel is in hand as he approaches, just in case something decides to pop out of the water and chomp on them. They seem to be safe for the moment, but absolutely nothing about that lake says "fun and family friendly"...

The question catches him off-guard, and he laughs--a strange sound in a place like this.]

I was at the dojo when this happened... why, have you met any of the others?

"yet lol" PIXI.............

[osuni]

[she makes a face, but her spirits rise a little at hearing him laugh. laughter is good!!! it reminds her to keep her chin up and smile, that all that weary exhaustion piled on her shoulders is nothing if she make it that way.]

I saw Kiyo-chan earlier. He said he went to sleep late. [she fixes an inquisitive eye on Namazuo] Why were you at the dojo? Trouble sleeping?

post-event...... text

[discard]

[... So. Like. What exactly do you say to someone who got themselves killed for you? He feels like he should be apologizing, except he really doesn't know how. And he... doesn't want to anyway, even as he feels like he should. But he doesn't want to encourage Namazuo's foolhardiness either.

Saving someone like him at the cost of his own llife...

That was stupid.

It was all stupid.

He doesn't understand why this has gotten so difficult--why it's so hard to dismiss what happened from his mind.

So ultimately, after agonizing over it for.... longer than he'll ever admit to.

Namazuo gets a single text.]

I did not ask for your help

[nailed it]

leon please

[horsepoop]

[LEON... is that any way to talk to someone who just got back from being dead? But no, Namazuo understands. Maybe it's because Lili had specifically told him to prioritize himself, or because he knows just how much it would've hurt to watch Leon do the same for him. Whatever it is, he knows what Leon is trying to say.]

It was my choice.

[It's not your fault.]

Thank you for taking me home.

voice ; post-event

[coastal]

[Comparatively, Lili reaches out to Namazuo rather quickly.

After she'd experienced her first fitful night of sleep and tried to get through her day, but no more than 24 hours after they'd returned to the surface. How could she really manage to go so long avoiding the topic after the same sword that had helped her through that awful place was put through so much pain?

So it's after she's done with work for the day that she stops on her walk home, pausing somewhere to make a call and as soon as Nama picks up, he'll find her oddly sincere and concerned--]

You.

You're... You're well now, yes?

[Say yes.]

aaand some more

[coastal]

[But.

The voice tells her: The person that you are attempting to contact cannot be reached.

Her heart sinks. He's not well yet then. She finds herself gripping onto her CerVice that more tightly, moisture pricking at the corners of her eyes. He's not fine. He's still gone. He's still.... lost somewhere that she can't reach, even after he'd tried to protect her, he couldn't protect himself and that's--

She tries again the next day. A text.]

Did you say that you liked dango?

[to which of course there is another error.

The person that you are attempting to contact cannot be reached.

So no dango and tea today.

It's hard not to cry in the middle of the sweets shop but she pushes herself through it. She orders dango anyway. It will be waiting for him in the refrigerator of the apartment that all the swords reside in, a small note on it written in her neat, girlish handwriting that it's "to be eaten by the person I promised it to. - Lili"

It's still there on the third day but she tries, one more call.

The person that you are attempting to contact cannot be reached.

She doesn't leave a voicemail.

She can't bring herself to go to the swords' apartment again until she knows that the dango won't be there anymore.]

action;

[coastal]

[It's been an off day for Lili.

Discovering than the one person that you treasure most has left the colony can do that to a person though. Yet she's done her best to keep her head held high because the idea of otherwise is unacceptable, she can't crumble now. It's... still a bit of a contrast from how she's been since the festival though. It had gone so well that she'd been on Cloud Nine. Now? Now, well-

She's leaving her studies behind in the living room of swordhaus for a moment, just a moment, and then she's going to retrieve one of the cake slices that she had left in the fridge, but she doesn't seem to look at where she's going. Rather, there's a bit of a forlorn sigh leaving her lips, right up until she's bumping right into another person. Then it's a surprised:]

Ah?!

[Sorry Nama.]

[horsepoop]

[In contrast, things finally feel as if they're back to normal for Namazuo. His body has settled down, and the festival did wonders for everyone's spirits, which in turn made it easier for him to move forward. He hasn't forgotten what happened, and the absence of so many of his beloved family members doesn't hurt any less. But it's easier to find the strength to hope again now--which is really all he can do.

Namazuo doesn't live in the same apartment as Kashuu, but it's not uncommon for all of them to come and go as they please, especially since Haru's room is there. Namazuo's here now on his routine check of everyone's pantries--not to raid them, gosh!! No, he's making sure everyone has enough tea, snacks, rice--anything he could easily buy and carry back by himself. It isn't much, but with so many new housemates around, it's the least he can do to help them feel comfortable.

Luckily he isn't bouncing this time, but a collision is inevitable once again...! With a small "ah!" in return, Namazuo's quick to make sure she doesn't drop her cake, or accidentally smash it into him or anything. Priorities...]

I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there.

text;

[discard]

[It takes him like half an hour to finally decide to send this text, but ultimately all Namazuo gets is a short--]

Are you your typical self?

[he's worried...but he won't admit it.]

[horsepoop]

[Amazing, Leon, just amazing.]

why do you ask?

endgame endgame

[discard]

[HI NAMAZUO.

Leon wasn't looking for him, of course, but... well, they crossed paths, and Leon's not going to retreat or anything.

That'd be...pathetic. Obviously. A-ahem.]

Ah. You.

[Be nice, Leon, at least use his name.]

what a grump already

[horsepoop]

[HI LEON here is Namazuo, probably wandering around and helping with cleanup, or making sure no one in swordhaus is left behind against their will, or whatever. It's bittersweet, but mostly, Namazuo is glad to have a path home--he misses the rest of his family too much to stay in this strange place, no matter how much he likes the friends he'd made here.

Friends like Leon and Chal, what a coincidence!]

Oh, hello Leon-kun! [Despite the wreckage and the chaos that's slowly settling into order, Namazuo still has a bright smile for him.] I'm glad you're safe!