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

[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.)

[teradaya]

Good.

[Hopefully it really is. Hopefully Ryouma won't keep saying things to work everyone else up even though he doesn't intend to. But Mutsunokami really seems to have calmed down and that's...well, good. So Ryouma's going to take it.

And reach out once again to ruffle the sword's hair.]

You're an interesting guy an' I like havin' ya around. So this works out, yeah? You're not gonna punch me in the gut or anything, yeah?

[This is a joke. Really.]

Anyway, ya got time? I've been inside for too long and I'm sure ya know I hate bein' cooped up.

[He's probably been inside for, like, an hour. But that's definitely too long.]

[tosa]

( An interesting guy. Like having you around. All good things, yes, good, this is fine.

Ugh, stop ruffling his hair though because don't you know that just makes him weak? He's definitely not going to lean into that even if he really wants to. )

Maybe I won't. ( Maybe. ) Maybe I'll just wait 'til we get ya home and let Otome take care of the rest. ( Is that a threat. ) She's probably already onto ya...

( The way sisters are with being able to sense when their little brothers need a beating and all that. )

Yeah, I got plenty of time. ( And he starts to smile. Of course Ryoma would hate being stuck in one place. ) Sitting still doesn't suit ya.