Open + July Catchall

[tosa]

WHO: Mutsunokami and you. With closed prompts for Nyx, Dextera, and Ryouma.
WHAT: Target practice for Quest #17
WHERE: Out and about
WHEN: All month!
NOTES: If you'd like to do Quest #17 (Shoot an apple off of someone's head), hit me up through PM, plurk (eski, discord @ #eski#9874. Mutsu is a red and is a cautious volunteer as a shooter or target. He'll need a little bit of convincing but he's willing to help! So let's work it out first if you want to go down the quest route. If you don't want to do the quest, just treat it as an ordinary open prompt.

( There's a loud bang just out of Flavo. Given a certain quest given to the town, it may or may not be out of the ordinary this month but should one investigate it, they'll find Mutsunokami facing the forest, a row of make shift targets set along what was probably once a garden wall at the edge of Flavo. It isn't much and his targets are mostly things along the lines of old cans, some broken bits of wood, and other, small targets. He isn't standing particularly far from the targets-- it's not like he's practicing sharpshooting but he's definitely a good distance away from them.

From the looks of it, he hasn't hit anything this time and he doesn't look particularly pleased with that. But he won't give up! Eyes sharp and focused and aim ready, he looks like he's ready to go for another shot when he hears someone approach. Lowering his gun, he looks back, )

Here to watch? ( Relaxing, he gives his gun a casual twirl and grins, ) Gahaha! You're gonna make me nervous.

( Not really. )

Comments

with Nyx

[tosa]

( Some time after a certain conversation, Mutsu will come find Blue-san Nyx at some location that was clearly pre-arranged. He's still not particularly happy about this but a challenge is a challenge and he's the stubborn type. First things first, though! )

Alright, alright! Where's the food?

( HE SAW THAT PROMISE )

with Dextera

[tosa]

( He's reassembling his gun with Dextera finds him. Everything is laid out neatly on a large scrap of cloth he'd found lying around. It looks like this place has finally caught on in some ways! Hah, this will show all of these guys with their rusty old swords... guns are the hot thing and swords are just out of style. So it's important to make sure his gun is in top condition if he's going to get put on the spot again.

He's finishing up, loading the first of his six bullets into the barrel when he looks up at Dextera, )

D'ya fight?

( He's curious. )

[passio]

[ dextera looks over the gun, silent and curious, as mutsu goes through the motions of assembling it. it seems mechanical and relaxing, oddly, when the only gun in dextera’s life is a large rifle that’s meant for death and nothing else.

it’s surprising to him, that a sword would use a gun. doesn’t that seem like… cheating? somehow? ]

A little. [ he sits next to mutsu, to get a better look at the weapon. ] Only swords.

[tosa]

( Get a good look! It's definitely an older model in the sense it definitely doesn't look like more modern guns. But despite everything, it looks as good as new. He'll even turn it towards Dextera a little bit so he can see. Dextera's answer gets a snort from him, )

Yeah? ( Not surprised but amused all the same, ) I thought a gun'd be more your style.

Don't really look like the type that'd go running up and getting all close in a fight.

[passio]

[ dextera momentarily, politely folds his hands in his lap, leaning in without touching it, examining it from all the angles the mutsu offers him. he’s never seen anything like it! maybe it’s because he doesn’t know too much about guns that he’s wholly unconcerned with putting his face right up near it. ]

Hah. [ a breath of a laugh, and a shy smile. ] Not very good.

[ that’s why the bogeyman killed him, probably! he’s not actually talented at fighting, even if he knows how. even his “sword” is hardly a sword at all, by most standards. ]

[tosa]

( When Dextera gets too close, Mutsu turns it away some, )

Easy there. ( He's just loaded it! So it's dangerous. ) One wrong move and it could get real ugly.

( Dextera laughs and Mutsu smiles, encouraging, )

Nothing wrong with that. ( Not being great at fighting. ) But I guess in a place like this, it's a good skill to have...

But ya know, with a gun, ya don't have to get close to a fight and you can help from a safer distance.

[passio]

[ dextera does ease back when mutsu tells him to, because he is not as much of a puppy as mutsu is, but he is extremely well-trained! he does what he’s told to do pretty much always. ]

I need to touch the monsters.

[ and he’ll leave it at that! ]

Are you good? With it?

[tosa]

Touch 'em?

( What? That doesn't make any sense to him at all but before he can ask what he means, the topic is changing. Did Dextera move the conversation like that on purpose...? )

... I'm not too bad. ( And he can't help but sit up a little straighter, looking a little prouder, ) I guess I inherited Ryouma's shot. He was more famous for using a gun than a sword.

with Ryouma

[tosa]

( Tonbokiri is right and there are some things that are best done in person. It would have been easy to just say Of course! but it didn't feel like enough. It just wasn't enough! And all he'd really wanted to do was slam every key on the keyboard and yell.

Which is exactly why he bolts out of his house, into the street, and heads right for Ryouma's place. He has to be there if he's using the computer, right? He better be or else this is going to be really embarrassing. He bangs on the door and yells, )

Ryouma! ( ANSWER HIM. ) Let! Me! In!

[teradaya]

[Luckily for Mutsunokami, Ryouma is still at home, patiently waiting for the tsukumogami's reaponse. Unluckily for everyone else in the house or near vicinity, Mutsunokami can be very loud. So he rushes to the door if only to try and keep the peace as long as he can and pulls the door open.]

Oi, oi! They'll hear ya in China!

[Is China even near this place? He's not sure. But that's not the point. Please chill out a bit, Mutsunokami!]

[tosa]

(Fine! Then let them here him in China! He doesn't care! Ryouma opens the door and there he is, standing indignantly in front of him, mouth in a tight line as he keeps himself from snapping something that is clearly on his mind and welling up from inside--

Oh, who is he kidding? He's never been one to hold back his words,)

What kinda question is that, huh?! (He's offended! How dare--?! Actually, he's more flustered than anything.) Five years!

(Five!)

I stuck with ya for five years through everything! (Well, not him exactly, but his point remains,) I watched ya grow up!

(SO IT WAS MORE THAN FIVE YEARS, EVEN)

[teradaya]

[Hoo boy, he sure did strike some kind of nerve, didn't he? He's going to have to be a little more careful in how he sets off these tsukumogami in the future because it really seems like they all take things very seriously. Tonbokiri comes off as incredibly protective of Mutsunokami and Ryouma is Concerned that one more misunderstanding could result in him getting poked a bit and that's definitely not something he would like to go through again -

But he listens to Mutsunokami's protests patiently, very much aware that he has some stuff to get out. And it wouldn't do to interrupt, not when he's making progress. Even if he's still pretty loud.

Still, the words hit him solidly, or maybe it's all that's said beneath them. Of course Mutsunokami spent all those years with him; he didn't have a choice as just a sword. But he's here now, with his own body, with his own ability to make his own decisions, yelling at Ryouma as if he's some idiot. And maybe he is.

But it's because Mutsunokami is right here by his own will that Ryouma realizes just how loyal the sword is. And that brings a crooked smile to his face. Back in Japan right now, Ryouma doesn't exactly have a lot of friends or people who would willingly stick by him. Then again, the majority of people thinks he's dead, so he can't blame anyone. But Nakaoka could forever be lost to him. He's cut off from his family. He and Shiranui aren't bound to each other.

Chizuru, though...well. Chizuru's not here.

All he's got here is an upset sword spirit giving him a piece of his mind on his doorstep.

He reaches forward with both hands, ruffling Mutsunokami's hair.]

And ya still wanna be stuck with me.

[tosa]

(His hair is ruffled and he raises his head a little higher, huffing. He's happy. He really, truly is! But he's also offended still. What was with those questions? What's with this? "Stuck with me?")

"--Stuck with ya?"

(He stomps his foot on the ground and snaps,)

I told ya I'd be right here with ya and I'd keep ya safe! That's my choice and I made it!

(He's holding his hands in front of him like he could just grab a fist full of Ryouma's collar and shake him but he doesn't. He's a respectful spirit! He was raised better than that. Meaning he's probably one wrong choice of words away from channeling Otome's spirit and thrashing him. )

Ya think I won't? (Is that it?) Ya think I can't?!

(This is turning into a Very Mutsu tantrum but there's also a sensitive note because there's more to all of this. He knows he couldn't protect Ryouma before but he wants to do better this time. He can do better! He'll stop anything and everything from harming Ryouma.)

Even if when there's trouble and even when I'm no good anymore, I wanna be there 'cause I love your way of life and I'll do everything to protect ya!

(He could give Ryouma a good shake right now. A good punch!!! And he could just hug him too. Emotions are complicated.)

[teradaya]

[Hm...he should start preparing himself to get hit. He doesn't want this outcome, but Mutsunokami is something of a firecracker right now. He was a lot easier to deal with as a sword, but seeing Mutsunokami so alive isn't something he'd trade away.

Still. He doesn't want his sword to punch him. That's really high on his list of priorities right now. So Ryouma pulls his hands away and raises them, showing he means no harm. Or offense.]

Hey, hey, big guy, I'm not sayin' any of that. I'm just givin' ya an option because you have that choice now. Because I respect ya.

[Things are different now, but that's not a bad thing.]

I'm glad, though. I'm real glad. I feel better with someone on my side. Especially if it's you.

[Ryouma lowers his hands, and his voice.]

I trust you.

[tosa]

(The more muted tone and seriousness of Ryouma's answer hits him and he immediately relaxes, lowering his hands and adopting a much less aggressive stance.

It's all he really wanted to know; that he was trusted and valued and now that he has it, all of the wind he'd had building up goes out like a breeze. He's easily worked up but he's also quick to relax... which has him feeling some whiplash, if he's honest. Now he isn't really sure what to feel when he's gone from offended and ready to fight to suddenly getting the validation and confirmation he'd wanted. It... it's a little embarrassing, now? And he looks away, keeping his chin up as if that's going to hide the fact he's a just a little bit shy,)

Good.

(That's it. "Good.")

I'm always on your side. This is my choice and I'm sticking with it. You can count on me.

(And he's stubborn and not going to budge on it one bit.)

I make my own toplevels

[osteotome]

[ The sound of a gun is not unfamiliar to Honebami! Like, his little brothers have those musketeers troops that do the shooty-shooty. We also have an oversized tantou, no, an uchigatana who likes doing the shooty-shooty. That said, he's not used to how loud it is when he gets up close. Instinct says to take cover at the bang without knowing who's behind it here, so behind a shrub he goes. He can also watch from this spot (and make the shooter more nervous).

But then he hears the voice and. Oh, that's unmistakably a certain Tosa accent. Honebami pokes his head up, leaves sticking to his hair. ]

...

[ A nod! At the "I'm here to watch" part. He'd ask what Mutsu is doing but it's kind of obvious and Mutsu is loud, he would tell him anyway for confirmation. He's the better conversationalist of them. ]

[tosa]

( But why would you want to make the shooter more nervous? That's probably one of the worst things you could do. He knows someone had been approaching him. He has times and dates with people so it's only natural that he would be particularly alert right now. But this sounds like someone a little more nervous than say, someone actively trying to find someone to shoot at them (why else would they hide?)

So he turns around to see who it is and-- )

Honebami?! ( Eyes wide, voice filled with disbelief. That's really him! He's usually loud and chatty but this has him at a loss for words for a moment, ) When'd you get here?!

( When everyone else did?! )

I didn't know--!

[osteotome]

[ Making a shooter nervous? Bad.
Making a Mutsunokami nervous? ...Well.
C-compared to other swords, that wouldn't be Honebami's intention for entertainment or pettiness. Nope, he ain't a Shinsengumi sword or a troll! It's surprising to see though, and maybe, just maybe a little amusing. Usually he's brimming with cheer and confidence, so this is different. ]

Not too long ago.

[ It's not like swords have the best sens of time??? But he's certain that he arrived recently, with new arrival smell still stuck to him. No it's not well water, thank goodness. Since he can't make Mutsunokami nervous as much as when he was hiding and listening, he hops over the bush to approach. Are his cowlicks moving in surprise...? ]

It's okay, Tonbokiri-san was surprised too. You were probably busy practicing with your gun here.

[tosa]

( His cowlicks sure are perking up! But what's more, in one very quick movement, he's holstering his gun and coming over to meet Honebami part of the way and really, Honebami should have seen this coming because he's just going to swoop in and pick up the smaller spirit, )

No excuse! I should've plucked ya out of the well myself! ( Way to let their master down! Not that he's beating himself up over it it. ) It's good to see ya, Honebami!

( Just going to hold him up high!!! )

for Minato

[tosa]

( A partner who is patient and stronger than he seems. Gee, when Guren describes Minato like that, how can Mutsu not be excited? He sounds cool! Real cool. Even the self-sacrificing bit sounds cool to him. Of course, he can see why that's a problem but he also know his fair share of self-sacrificing spirits. It's not a bad trait to have in moderation so let's see how much they have to bring that down.

Mutsu, however, is surprised to see that his opponent is... a teenage boy? A familiar enough face from the odd passing here and there. Hmmm... well, he won't judge a book by it's cover. If a scrawny child can take down a demon sword, then what's stopping a scrawny teenager from being just as impressive? )

So we're partners? Gahaha! ( He's loud. As usual. ) I heard you were good!

( HE'S SO READY TO FIGHT. )

[messianic]

[He's so loud... so loud and so sparkly. Minato was expecting...well, he wasn't sure what he was expecting from the description Guren gave, but still.

(It's probably fitting that Guren paired him up with someone sparkly like this.)

Minato's got his sword in hand, at least, meeting Mutsu's eyes with a pretty calm look.]

Ah... Ichinose-san said that...? [That's... oh, that gives him a quiet little pleased doki in his heart.]

I'll do my best, though I still have a lot to learn. I don't think we've properly met, right...? I'm Minato. Arisato Minato.

[tosa]

( As sparkly as he is bright in his demeanor!! The sword in Minato's hand really just excites him even more. Yes!! A good old fashioned sword fight. He's long overdue for something like this. )

Sure did. Already got some experience and "stronger than he seems."

( Which better be true because Minato sure looks scrawny. )

Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki. ( That sure is a long name. A weird one too. ) I'm pretty famous back home. Gahaha, but I'm just an old fashioned sword.

( Sword. Not a swordsman. )

[messianic]

[You do have faith in him, Guren... that's so nice....

But yeah, he's definitely a scrawny boy, looking over Mutsu in response, expression both curious and contemplative. He doesn't miss those words, either, though he's trying hard to place the name; his teacher loved the Sengoku era much more than the Edo period, but eventually--]

Sakamoto Ryouma's sword...? You're like Tonbokiri-san, then, and a tsukumogami too?

[tosa]

( His accent is also probably a really big give away. It's so obviously Tosan, you'd think he was straight out of an Edo drama. He could probably play a younger Ryoma himself! Or an ally. )

Not bad, not bad! ( He's impressed! A kid who knows his history? Educated and strong, huh? And Mutsu looks absolutely proud of the fact that Minato's figured out. Surely,, he was able to figure it out easily because of Ryouma's great legacy. He's so proud of his old master. ) Tonbokiri-san and me go way back.

But that's right! By the time Ryouma got me, swords were already old fashioned... ( Ryouma himself is more famous for using a gun than a sword, even, ) That's history for ya, though! I see ya got a sword on ya... is that your choice?

[messianic]

[He's so proud and so sparkly........ it's kind of endearing, honestly. Minato can almost see a tail wagging.]

You don't seem like an old-fashioned sword at all, so I guess that makes sense.

[A future looking sword! A sword who's interested in modernity!!

... But anyway, yeah.]

I can use a few weapons, but not well. I guess a sword is what I'm most used to...? I'm still trying to learn proper technique, though.

[Without proper technique... he can fight just fine.]