awashlogs | Event Eight.

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Event Eight.

To thee I'll return, overburdened with care;
The heart's dearest solace will smile on me there.
No more from the cottage again will I roam,
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home.

he Town is quiet this week. No sudden quests on the forum post, no roars of werewolves in the distance... just peaceful, peaceful quiet. Of course, it's hot as hell right now, but that aside, it's pretty pleasant. You probably don't want to wander around the Town right now, but...

Naturally, now's when the Town is going to start thoroughly encouraging you to do just that.

You do want to find your doorway back home, don't you?

Better get searching! And don't mind the other worlds you might end up stumbling into first.

Welcome to Awash's eighth event log, everyone! Further information on this event can be found here at the OOC post.

You are welcome to start your own posts or logs for this event as well. If there are any questions, please ask them here. Thank you!

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[There are some odd-looking people in her world, Okuyasu!! Honestly, Ochako hears that his dad looks like a toad and she immediately thinks of, like... Tsuyu's dad, because of course she's seen pictures of her friend's family? And yeah, it's a bit strange that Okuyasu's dad apparently changed into a toad-man instead of being born as one, but still.]

Why would I? [Freaking out over someone's less-than-human appearance is stupid, and she can't help but to frown.] He can't help how he looks, right? And that doesn't even matter, because he's still your dad.

[She doesn't know how bad it really, truly is, so of course she's optimistic. Some other things are definitely starting to make sense, though... hmm.]

Eh— [Ehhh, "can't help how he looks" is up in the air-- could have helped, sure, and god knows Keicho gave it his... best. God knows Okuyasu is even trying to un-toad him himself; not, you know, very well! But a shit dad is still a dad.

Anyway, the last thing he wants to do is stand around debating the ethics of treating shitty people worse, so on they go. He's largely not upset about the whole place, still, although he very pointedly does not go up to the third floor. Nope, back downstairs they go.

There is no dad here. But there is the distant sound of... hissing. Okuyasu hears this and his immediate response is,] Oh fuck, the cat.

[His reaction lets her know there are holes in this story he has yet to fill, but... well, she can only work with what she's given! Does she want to know more? Oh, of course! Does she want to push what might be a very unpleasant issue? Not... really, no, which is why she sticks close to him and only wonders about the many things he isn't saying. Maybe she can ask about other things, like why the top floor is apparently off-limits.

But that is immediately put on hold, because oh, there's a cat? That's adorably normal, she thinks, until she remembers the absolute monstrosity he drew for her so very long ago. Shiiiiiiiit.]

The cat? [A beat as she listens, and then:] Okuyasu, it sounds mad...

We only got the one cat and he's usually mad, yeah.

[So yes, shit is right, it's that same fucking nightmare creature. Okuyasu has... no idea where it would even be without his dad toting it around, especially because it can't move, but maybe it's by a window? That makes sense, right? The only place in this dismal house with any light would be, like, the front window--

He pokes his head around the corner into the front room. Come here and make a heads-around-the-corner totem pole of two with him, Ochako.]

Hey, how good are you at weird pets?

[Oh, she is there. She's curious about this cat creature!! And also very, very wary of it, thanks to these dramatic antics, but she still takes a second to seriously consider his question as she tries to catch a glimpse of... it.]

Okay, I guess? But why are you asking me? It's your pet!

[Is he going to seriously send her in after it...]

[It.... is a very plain-looking pot with a hissing cat monster growing out of it, currently not facing them. Mercifully.]

Yeah, but if you were bad at 'em you wouldn't have to be backup. Hang out here for a minute.

[There he goes, the bravest man to ever face down a sentient flower. Or: Okuyasu, sneaking up on a potted plant that is also a cat. He manages to stoop down and pick up the pot before the thing goes really nuts, slapping at his hands with, uh, leaves.

So the cat rescue is going great.] Dumb cat, stop it—

[This will continue.]

[As entertaining as it is to watch something so little terrorize someone so large, spectating from the sidelines is still... kind of boring. Plus it's just a cat-plant-thing? A mean cat-plant-thing, yeah, but its hissy fit isn't enough to keep her from creeping closer for a better look.

...Well, that, uh. That sure is an interesting-looking creature. She stops a few feet away, trying to figure out if it's ugly enough to be considered cute.]

Maybe he's hungry? [He... could be cute? Possibly? How cute is still To Be Determined, but she's slowly working on it.] Or maybe he's just mad at you because he hasn't seen you in a while. Who knows how long he's been stuck here...

[Leave it to Ochako to empathize with a cat monster.]

I dunno, he's not, like, dead or anything. Can't have been that long, right? How long do flowers usually live?

[Weird cat flowers, specifically. The sunflowers are a totally different ballgame, but uhhh-- surely, the cat plant is fine because it still has all its... its leaves.]

I think I saw my dad feeding him bugs once.

[He frowns down at Stray Cat, then looks over at Ochako. Bug hunt with him... that's fun...]

[Her gut instinct is telling her that most flowers don't live long at all, but as she eyes the cat plant she's now 60% sure is cute—]

I'm not sure, but I bet some of them can live for a really long time. [Hear that, baby plant? She even musters up a small smile.] S-So we should try feeding him! I can hold him if you want to look for, um, a bug you think he'll like?

[AKA "I'd rather take my chances with the cat than pick up a disgusting bug, thank you very much." Let her pet Stray Cat!!!!!]

[Oh, he's on bug duty, of course. He makes a face as he hands over Stray Cat, which finally stops making angry plant hissing sounds and stares up at Ochako, scrutinizing as much as a cat plant possibly can. Behold the cat.

Okuyasu considers this and pokes it in the back of its flower head. Hmm.] 'Course he's nicer to you. Little brat.

C'mon, there's probably more bugs back in town.

I haven't been mean to him.

[Ochako gives him a pointed look as she follows him outside, because really, Okuyasu, quit saying rude things about Stray Cat when he's right here! Jeez! But what is the, uh... proper way to greet an ill-tempered cat plant? She glances back down at the creature she's holding, hesitating for a moment before offering up a hand for him to investigate. It's... what she'd do for a normal cat, so...]

We can take him back to my house? He can stay there until yours is back to normal. [Well, normal for Chroma. But actually, as she waits for Stray Cat to sniff her hand or chomp down on it—] And you should stay there, too.

[It's, uh, not really up for debate.]

[He's very nice to this nightmare pet, all things considered!! While Ochako... plays? with the cat plant, Okuyasu will lead the way out of the house. It's bug time.]

Oh— yeah, okay!

[Nice! Chilling at the girlfriend's house!! He'd probably just stay in the house if she didn't offer, but he's not so attached to his shitty air mattress that he's going to make a fuss. Girlfriend house...

Stray Cat, meanwhile, bumps its flower head into her hand, which is not super weird besides the flower being sentient.]

You invited the cat before me? [damn girl.....]

[The many misgivings she had about this weird cat plant? Gone. She gently scratches Stray Cat's cheek, cooing a bit as she decides that he is officially 85% cute. Her silly boyfriend, on the other hand...]

I was going to ask you earlier, but I kept getting distracted. There was a lot to see!

[And a lot of things to think about!! Things she's still thinking about!! But she can't resist shooting him a teasing grin.]

You're not jealous, are you?

[Yeah, Stray Cat is only a hellish nightmare some of the time, good call. Right now it's very content to be indulged and not shooting air bullets at anybody. Good work!!]

Of my cat? No way!

[MAYBE??? No. Surely not.]

[Sounds fake, but okay, buddy. Okay. That definitely is not a very quiet snort he hears, because why would she ever laugh at him?? She's just happily petting her new friend as they head out into the real world.]

Where are we going to find bugs for him, anyway? The garden? I haven't seen any in my house.

[She and Maya keep things incredibly clean, thank you! No spiderwebs allowed.]

[Rude... Anyway, how should he know where to actually find bugs... This was not a plan he thought through.]

I guess? Plants-- real plants-- need bugs, right? Or maybe by the water!

[Or maybe he will feed purple butterflies to his cat plant. Maybe.]

[Don't feed Stray Cat their magically regained butterflies!! Okuyasu can find a giant water bug instead, because Ochako reaches out to snag his hand and steer him toward the nearest canal. The cat... will just have to deal with being cozily tucked into the crook of her arm.]

We'll try the water first! Just don't fall in, okay? I didn't bring anything to fish you out with.

[Is she joking? Is she serious? This is Okuyasu she's talking to, so... hmm.]

[One whole giant water bug, ewww. Anyway, at least they're going to the water and not letting Okuyasu accidentally stomp on something important in the garden, yay?? Excellent. The cat... is content.]

I can swim. As long as nothing weird grabs me, I'll be fine.

[So there... now, where are the giant water bugs. He has no idea how to catch a bug without just, like, grabbing at it with his bare hands, so this should be a wonderful display.]

[Her friends were just kidnapped by weird things living in the water, so yes, she's a bit wary as she lets go of his hand and crouches down by the edge of the canal. Hmm. It looks... safe enough, which is why she angles Stray Cat's pot so that he has an optimal view of whatever the hell his owner is about to do.]

Do you see anything? [She asks the CAT. Okuyasu is quickly being replaced.] A dragonfly? But they're huge! What about... those smaller ones that sit on top of the water? Do they look tasty to you?

[Honestly, she will continue babying this plant until Okuyasu manages to catch something.]

[Ochako... she's cute, but Stray Cat is a literal nightmare he now has to take care of and find bugs for. Finding bugs, you know, somehow-- maybe he'll just kick off his shoes and wade into the water, that sounds like a good idea.

He's like a yard or two out in the water before he looks up from his exciting bug hunt.]

Oi, he can't even move outta the pot, just let him chill.

[He thinks she's bad now? HA. Wait until she has her very own pet bunny to smother with attention. She's still pointing out the many bugs for Stray Cat to spot when he calls out to her, which? What?]

On the ground? But— [That's sad?? They're bonding... and bug hunting sounds gross...] I guess I can, if you really need my help...

[Well, okay, really he meant don't coo over his possessed Chia pet because Stray Cat is a little brat, but if she wants to come slosh around in the water... which she doesn't want to do...]

Well, uh— can you grab me something to put bugs in? [Use your imagination, whatever this object could be.]

[She will coo over Stray Cat until it, like, bites her or something. But hmm, a bug house! Give her a second to carefully set his pot to the side before she stands up.]

I thought you were only catching one right now. [It's true, she did. Still, as helpful as always, she looks back toward the shitty, empty houses lined up behind them.] Just... wait here.

[And into one of those houses she goes! It's probably been picked through by now, but after a few minutes' worth of rummaging she's running back to him with... a very, very dusty jar. Sans lid.]

This should work, right? Catch!

[Surely he'll catch it.]

I don't wanna catch bugs every time. [But oh, there she goes, okay-- he'll just stand here looking around uselessly until she comes back and throws a jar at him, jesus!! He catches it, make no mistake. He certainly does catch it.

But he also slips and lands right on his ass in the shallow water, holding the jar up above his head like there's any chance it will touch water if he just holds it normally. It won't. This is what he gets for trying to feed his pet...]

You think if I just sit here, the bugs'll fly right into this jar?

[It's not like she hurled it at him, but sure, go for that maximum drama. Ochako appreciates it! ...By which I mean she, you know, bursts out laughing the very second he hits the water. He's beauty, he's grace...

But she recovers surprisingly quickly, because he looks pitiful just sitting in the water like that.]

M-Maybe if you sit there for a really long time.

[Oh, Okuyasu. She hikes her stupid peasant skirt up to her knees, kicking off her shoes as she nods toward the water nearest the shore. There are gross, grey water skimmers zipping all over the place. Ugh.]

What if I chase the bugs to you? You can just scoop them up when they get close.

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pursestrings - 2018-08-01 00:39 (UTC) - Expand

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