awashlogs | [ open ] Quest Catch-all!

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[ open ] Quest Catch-all!

Who: Guren Ichinose & Various
Where: All around town
When: The month of September!
What: QUEST RELATED CATCH ALL. There's an open bee prompt since Guren is a red, so anyone is welcome even if you didn't plot with me! Newbies too, once they get in!
Warnings: None. Will add if necessary!

A. Bees to see - OPEN

[Guren feels as though he's been going a little easy on the quests lately. It's time to fix that. He's antsy, he's got an empty jar in one hand and his other on his sword, and he holds it up to anyone who might pass him by.]

[And with that simple line, they're off! Unless your character has any resistance, of course, but assuming they don't, Guren leads them right into the forest.]

B. Wildcard - OPEN

[If you want to hit Guren up for a different quest, even if he's a red, feel free! Try to ruin his day? Just see what he's up to? This is my generic space to say anyone can tag me even if I didn't plot things with them, so feel free, or hit me up at

zeloser to work something out, if you want!]

Closed prompts in the comments!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Nothing in the forest here is simple. You know that now.

[At the very least, he's learned a lesson, right? Guren keeps treating each sting, applying bandages, moving on, and it's all as gentle as possible.]

Because of how you acted in the pit, defending Minato. I could read you well enough. You wouldn't have been nearly that stubborn if you weren't trying to protect him, right? That's the impression I got.

That extends into other areas. It's a good thing.

[ He tries to hide his face by hanging his head until his chin nearly touches his collar. He's a little shy about it. He's made a few other acquaintances that, maybe, will become friends but. Minato is his First Friend. He doesn't know how to handle that. ]

That's just because Minato is so nice to me, for now. I don't know if I'd be stubborn for a stranger. It's not the same.

He's nice because he thinks of you as a friend. I'm not expecting you to do things for strangers. I'm expecting you to make friends.

[Just like this!! He can obviously do it, he can see that. This side of Sinistra is pretty done, and so Guren stands up from his chair now, moving around him to make sure he gets those scattered ones on his back, and then his other side.]

Few people will be as overly trusting as Minato or Deku. It just makes me concerned for them, that either would be on my side so easily. I have done nothing to earn it.

[ He remains malleable, just letting Guren work around him and get it over with. The more he cooperates, the faster this will be. ]

Haha.

[A genuine laugh, at that, and he takes Sinistra's hand to move his arm to the side so he can spread honey a little easier in one spot.]

You haven't been here long enough. Almost everyone here is like that. It's like a collection of naive idiots. You don't have to be concerned for them, anyway. They're strong, and they know how to take more than you'd think.

If you care about them that much, then do something for yourself, so they don't have to worry so much about you. You're not going to be able to stop them in any way but that.

You keep saying that, but I keep meeting people who definitely are not like that.

[ Maybe he's just got a natural magnetism for jerks and careless people, but he can't be convinced. Those people don't lessen his concern for the few he's taken a liking to. ]

I'm not sure why they'd worry about me. What is there to worry about?

Maybe you should stop hanging out in dark corners and staring over the docks thinking about drowning yourself.

[He way he applies the honey to this sting is a little rougher, but barely so— like a scolding mother, if anything.]

What kind of question is that anyway? You're you. They worry about you because they want you to be safe and happy. Why do you care about Minato? It's the same, isn't it? Your worth, your talents, your place in this world— none of that matters when it comes to friends. To family.

The sun burnt me before, and I can't die if I drown myself, so I only go by the docks because the air is cooler by the water.

[ It's a very matter-of-fact response, but it sounds almost agitated and juvenile with how snappy it is. He's frowning hard again. ]

I tell them they shouldn't waste their time and energy on such things. They don't listen.

I care about Minato because he's good. I'm not good. It's not the same. If my brother worries, I understand, but no one else has ever bothered. I don't understand why that would change now.

You can't tell people how to spend their time and energy. Trust me, I've tried the same thing.

[He starts on the last bit of bandaging, and Sinistra really is going to look like a mummy, but he should at least feel better and heal quicker, thanks to this.] Dextera has told me about the place you come from. The way people treated you wasn't right. It's never been right, and the fact that you view that as a standard isn't your fault.

But I hope you can see that the way things are here is how they should be, at least when it comes to social interactions. People care about you. [A pause, as he finishes off that bandage and conveniently turns around to gather up everything.]

I care about you. You're important to more people than you think, and the longer you spend here, the more that will be true, as long as you keep trying to go out and live. You have your own life now.

[ And hey, bonus, less chance of sunburn if he's just mummy-wrapped in bandages for a while so. Not bad. No complaints from him. ]

My brother doesn't remember the half of it, you know. I won't tell him because I am... hoping he never has to return there. I'll do what I can to keep him from returning there. Never has to worry about that world again. But there's much that I learned being trapped in the tower.

[ He looks his hands over. Guren must have done this many times. The wrap is good and tight. He's from a world where there's fighting, too, as far as he knows so far. He's not surprised. ]

A part of me wants to believe in that. I can't just accept it though. I think, if I'm being honest, I can't shake the feeling that the people who do spend time with me might be the same as the doctors. They took care of me because my wellbeing, at that time, was important to keep my brother well in body and mind. Here, that could be the same. It's not that I'm not used to it, but...

I know. I'm the reason he remembers them separating you two at all.

[Well, it was a potion, but he'd brought it to Dextera hoping it would help. Instead, it caused him pain. He tucks the bandages back in the drawer where he'd taken them from, and leaves the grey honey here in the kitchen.]

Anyway, I know it's not something you can take anyone's words for... but it's different. At least for most of us. Your health isn't connected anymore. Not physically.

[He turns to look at him.] Dextera's attachment to you is unhealthy. He needs to learn that you have your own life, outside of him, just as much as anyone else. In this place? Even more than anyone else. I hope you won't let his attachment hold you back.

So you're the one.

[ He doesn't know how to feel about it. Grateful? Angry? The situation was so complicated and so painful, but his brother would not have remembered him if he hadn't remembered that. Remembered him. He looks at Guren, face reflecting his confliction. His brow is creased and his eyes a little distant. ]

I mentioned to you before, I think, why that is. Because he thinks I can complete him... that I can heal that part of him that he feels is missing.

[ He smiles, maybe for the first time ever in front of someone who wasn't Dextera here, but it's pained. His side aches. He puts one bandaged hand over his scar. ]

Maybe you'll think I'm unfair, but that's a part of him I hate. Those feelings are not... they aren't really because he missed me, I don't think. He feels like that because he wants to absolve himself of the guilt he feels... because he abandoned me. Because, when they said one of us would have to die, he asked to live first. I'm learning not to blame him... not to feel betrayed. But he can't feel that way.

My brother is kind and sweet. He hurts when others suffer... but he would eat me alive if he could fill that empty part of his heart.

I'm not... I'm not any better. I don't think so. So I can't blame him. I'd probably let him, if it came down to it. It might be a while before my wanting to be just myself becomes more than big talk.

It's only human to want to fill that hole. It's only human to want to live, too. At the same time, it's just the same that you'd feel hurt, or hate him for that.

[He leans back against the kitchen counter, arms crossing.]

But if you keep giving in to his selfishness, then you'll really be swallowed whole. Worse than that, it won't help him at all. It's the worst thing you could do for him.

I think you two need each other, but in a way that neither of you know how to understand, just yet. [He tilts his head slightly to one side.] It's not like I can say "I understand," because your situation is too unique. It's twisted and horrible, and it pisses me off. No one should have to go through what you did.

But people do, every day. I've seen people grow up in twisted families, made as children to fight to the death to prove that their life is worth anything, that they can be useful to those above them. I've seen what it does to them, how it can go wrong, and how it can get better.

Just like you called out to me today to help you with those stings, I hope you'll come to me if you're struggling with something relating to him, too. I want to help.

[ He listens carefully, gently clasping his hands together and feeling his fingers through the wrappings. Is it really human to feel like this? Is it normal? Is it... okay?

Being alive is confusing. Being an adult is even worse. He feels like nothing makes sense to him, but he's hearing Guren out, anyway. ]

The worst thing...

[ His hands flex together as he considers that. He's not wrong. If he lets his brother do as he pleases, he won't get to grow stronger. He won't grow beyond his trusting and naive self that suffers so much.

He sighs and leans back in his seat. That trademarked frown is back on his face, but he's at least paying attention to him. ]

Do you really believe that's fair to you when you are so close to him? To be stuck hearing both sides... you take too much on yourself. It's no wonder you're together. You're alike that way.

Don't be stupid. I'm nothing like him.

[But the way he huffs that out isn't really irritated at all. It's embarrassed. He's not!! Stop...]

My being close to him is exactly why it works. The only person here who might understand him better than I do is you. And vice versa. You're his family... which means you're mine, too.

I won't let you deal with this alone, so even if you don't tell me anything, I'm going to bug you about it. You might as well just open up if you're struggling.

[ He tips his nose up, looking a little incredulous. He doesn't want to believe Guren is, but he's seeming less like someone who might be manipulating his brother and more like someone who learned from being someone like his brother. He's not sure if that's any better for Guren, but it's maybe better for his brother.

It doesn't make him like sharing with him, though.

And it doesn't mean he's ok with him calling Sinistra family. He feels almost uncomfortable about it. Family isn't less complicated of a topic for them, after all. He huffs. ]

I don't think people become family that simply.

[ He wrinkles his nose and slowly starts to get up. ]

I didn't expect you to be so nosy. But it seems like you've made up your mind about it.

[ Great. ]

There's nothing simple about it.

[Case in point: this huffy attitude!! People are so difficult. But he can't help when someone becomes someone important to him. They're in this situation together, too...

He doesn't move from where he leans against the counter, but he does watch Sinistra closely.]

Anyway, I have. [Firmly.] About those stings: you should probably rest for the next day or two, at least, without doing too much else, just so the swelling doesn't get much worse. You only have to leave those bandages on for another hour or so.

[ He's not any less huffy. It seems simple. It seems like Guren is making this decision simply. ]

That should be no issue. I plan to... stay inside for a while, I think. I will take these off as you instructed.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ open ] Quest Catch-all!

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