awashlogs | Open + July Catchall

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Open + July Catchall

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. )

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( 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 )

( 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. )

( 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!

Edited 2018-07-08 14:46 (UTC)

[ 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.

( 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.

[ 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. ]

Edited 2018-07-08 15:09 (UTC)

( 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.

[ 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?

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.

[ dextera sure did change topics on purpose! he’s becoming a little more comfortable with his powers every day, seeing how they can affect the monsters here, but it’s still not something he wants to tell everyone he meets. he can have secrets. ]

The quest.

[ it had already occurred to him, but if mutsu is confident in his shot, then—dextera is confident in being shot.

so he doesn’t seem too pushy, however, he adds a little question mark. ]

?

( And like that, he deflates, setting his gun down in front of him and frowning, )

You too, huh? ( Why's everyone so quick to want to get shot at in this town? ) Know anything about guns?

[ no… why is he so sad? dextera doesn’t understand, but it does stop him from being too enthusiastic about pushing it. he shakes his head, but he’s quick to promise mutsu something. ]

If you don’t want to, that’s OK.

[ he places his hand over his heart. ]

I can listen.

[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!]

(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)

(And now Dextera's become a little more muted and Mutsu sighs. Reaching out to ruffle Dextera's hair, he tries to explain,)

I don't wanna. It's not easy pointing something dangerous at a friend. What if something goes wrong, ya know?

You could get real hurt.

[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.

(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.)

[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.

[ mutsu says he doesn’t want to, and that’s such a good reason, but this seems like one of the easier quests to complete—and dextera extremely isn’t afraid to die. ]

I understand. [ the pause here suggests a big “but,” which is precisely what mutsu will get. ] But I would be OK. I trust you.

(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.)

(he appreciates the sentiment, really and if this was most other situations, it would be enough. But this is pointing a gun and firing at a small target close to someone who is becoming a good friend here.)

Ya haven't even seen me shoot anything, though....

(Taking back his hand, he holds both of them out to Dextera.)

Show me your hands.

…?

[ dextera offers his hands, just as he was asked, and settles them palm-up atop mutsu’s.

what’s he getting at? ]

Ya use a sword already so I'll skip that.

(He takes Dextera's hands, turning them over and with one quick movement, he takes his hands back, empties the barrel and like that, he places his gun in Dextera's hand. It's an older gun so there's a weight to it but it should be considerably lighter compared to most swords.)

It's different from a sword but ya get how it works, right? Just one pull of the trigger and someone's gonna get hurt real bad and that's if they don't die. (He drops one of the bullets in Dextera's palm,) Just one of these is all it takes for things to go real wrong and I wouldn't even have to be near ya.

And maybe you're okay with that and not afraid of the consequences... but that's scary. (For him.) The idea I could kill someone without even seeing their face when everything goes wrong... Hurting people's real serious business and I don't have it in me to distance myself like some guys.

It's your choice if ya wanna trust me to do this. But ya don't get to choose if you're picking your friend or your executioner. And ya know, once that decision gets made, it's made for both of us and we're gonna have to deal with it.

... Ya understand that, right?

[ …dextera understands. of course he understands, even if mutsunokami doesn’t know anything about his powers. his sword isn’t made to slice, after all. this power of “purification” is to destroy, even if many see it as treatment. as freedom.

dextera has killed so many people, in kindness, and in fear. ]

I understand.

[ and he does. how does he explain this, when his words are so limited? that passing comment earlier, that his powers rely on touch—it became relevant, so quickly.

he pushes the gun back into mutsu’s hands, and withdraws a small, spherical crystal from his coat. his soul. in it, his memories, the knowledge of his death and the deaths of others.

nothing is clear, as memories tend to be, but he pushes it into mutsu’s hand.

in it, his heart. an abiding sense of loneliness, murder and death and agony, overlaid all by a sense of purpose. or, no, not purpose. reluctant necessity, and guilt. dextera has made his mistakes, and this isn’t just about completing a quest. he won’t make mutsu do it, but if they’ve spoken this much, he should share. ]

Reciprocating. [ a sad smile. ] For telling me about your life.

( He places his gun aside for now, thinking there's no more use for it for now. He watches curiously as Dextera reaches for something inside his coat and holds out... some glass? A gem? He isn't really sure what to make if it before he's hit with a heavy feeling.

It doesn't look like much but it feels as heavy in his hand as it feels on him. New feelings mingle with familiar ones and in understanding, he relates. Loneliness, murder, death, a deep, deep pain in a place that he now knows is his heart.All things he would never wish on anyone now that he understands them. He's no stranger to these things and... neither is Dextera. Dextera who has been nothing but kind and gentle to him. Mutsu frowns, his heart aching for his friend and where his heart hurts, his spirit stirs. What's going on? What is this? Why Dextera? Why can't good people just have the world they deserve...? If he could give him the world, do something to make things right, to make Dextera happy--

His voice is quiet when he finds it, nothing like his usual boisterous tone. )

Is this why...?

( Why he's offering to do this so easily? )

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Open + July Catchall

with Nyx

with Dextera

with Ryouma

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