awashlogs | September Catch-All

Before Tonbokiri worries about doing the quest 'defeat the faries', he feels that some more information is needed.

He is not familiar with what fairies are, exactly, and given the way creatures are in this town, it's probably for the best if he gathers some information about their potential abilities first.

And when it comes to such information, he shall consult an expert.

Which, after a brief message over the forum's mail service, is how he comes to meet Amano-dono at the library this cloudy day.

When the lady arrives, he can't help a brief glance at her arm before bowing his head in greeting. "Thank you for coming. I'll be in your care today."

Recently the weather has continued to feel like summer, but considering that it's felt like summer for a while, Tonbokiri has been wondering if fall will be coming soon.

Today he's donned his orange yukata and is working in a small field in Flavo, planting radish seeds. Although they are apparently a fast and easy thing to grow, he's giving the task his full attention. ... More or less. Relaxed (although his spear is near him always), alone, and with his focus on his work, he sings softly to himself.

Autumn is my favoured season
It ‘minds me of my love
Who’d come running to kiss me
With chrysanthemum in her hair
I pressed those petals to ‘mind me
How she long pressed ‘gainst my lips
I shall return home next season
And see camellia in her hair

It's been a hectic few days of adjusting, readjusting, and recalibrating in this monochromatic town with the occasional burst of one-toned color. Something about the lack of color is a damper on Momo's feelings, not to mention that the occasional waft of grayscale in his peripheral reminds him of who he's missing.

But tallying the negatives has never been Momo's forte; for every tick he makes on the 'cons' side, he prefers to fill the remaining space with a nighttime sky full of 'pros'.

Today's pro: he hears music. A soft song coming from a modest field.

Momo, a moth drawn to a warm flame, wanders over and squats next to a freshly-planted radish. Waits for the verse to finish, before he starts clapping.

"Bravo! Encore, encore!"

Edited (do u ever spot a grammar mistake 50000 years later: the life) 2018-09-11 05:31 (UTC)

(At least the nighttime sky here is far more normal than it used to be!)

He'd sensed someone approaching, and while it's a little embarrassing to be caught singing to himself, it's not a bad thing. At least, not quite enough to stop in the middle of the verse. But he certainly wasn't expecting to be applauded! He raises his head in surprise at that and blinks at the young man crouching there. It takes him a moment to understand what the foreign-sounding words are, too. 'Again'? But why? Slightly befuddled, he bows his head slightly.

"Thank you." Please tell him this guy will still understand him even if he can't speak French? "Ah, it was just a simple song, though."

Fortunately for Tonbokiri, Momo is The Most Japanese Person Ever, so whatever language barrier may or may not exist is rendered irrelevant. That said, Momo's initial reply is in the universal language of nonverbal expression: his lips curve up, his arms wrap around his knees, and he tips his head in gentle scrutiny.

"Simple is best! We all want to listen to simple songs when we're sleepy or tired, right?"

To prove his point, he hums 'Twinkle, Twinkle'.

(Quietly relieved.)

Considering the song he'd been singing was one he'd heard when he was a spear, he can completely understand that statement. It is a good song for when one is tired and lonely.

His eyebrows lift when the young man starts humming that tune. It is something that he recognizes, in the way that a person from a hot country would know of snow but have no experience of it.

When the short tune is finished, he nods in appriciation then asks, "What was that song? I would like to learn it, too, if you would be so kind to teach me."

It's not terribly difficult to notice the look of surprise that crosses Momo's face, that telltale brow-raise and that one-two beat of confused silence. 'Twinkle, Twinkle' is such a monolith that he can't imagine anyone who hasn't sung it at least once, but then again—

—the past few days have taught him that what passes for normal doesn't always apply.

So he reorients immediately, picking himself up off the ground. Stretching, he gives Tonbokiri a wink.

"Sure thing! Do you want the long version, or the short version?"

Tonbokiri in turn is a little surprised-but-not-surprised at the young man's surprise. There are people from different worlds here, after all. But seeing as he at least recognized the tune, it must be the young man is from Earth.

"There are two versions? Then, the short one to start, please." Although the song didn't seem difficult, he can always try the long version later. He puts down the seeds he'd been planting and also stands.

"Got it! It's super-duper easy, so you can sing along if you get the gist!"

There's something endearing about teaching such a physically imposing person a song that's meant to soothe children's nerves, so Momo launches into the song with gentility and sincerity; his voice is far from perfect, but his empathy more than makes up for what he lacks in technicality.

Twinkle, twinkle, little star, he sings. His smile never leaves, and when he hits the tail end of the last note, he spins on his heels and sweeps into a casual, sweet bow.

He's used to performing, and it shows.

Her arm is fine, Tonbokiri! All healed up! No more sling!

In fact, she's even going to raise said arm in a jaunty wave. Why Tonbokiri thinks she's a fairy tale expert, she doesn't know, but she at least has some knowledge under her belt.

"Don't even mention it! What was it you wanted to know, exactly?"

It's lucky that Dave was available right when Izuku and Tonbokiri were looking for someone to join their little quest group. Someone from Ruga, specifically.

"Tonbokiri-san!" Izuku lifts his hand in an enthusiastic wave as he tugs Dave along behind him. "Strider-kun's willing to do the quest with us!" And then, it occurs to him at that moment, what he should've asked in the beginning. He looks over at Dave. "Have you two met yet?"

It isn't like Dave has a busy schedule or anything, but he's always willing to clear it for a friend. When Izuku popped over and asked if he had time he didn't have any qualms about saying "sure" and leaving a message behind for John to find.

He's seen Tonbokiri around, of course - it's impossible not to see people around in a town this small - and he's heard him mentioned before, but Dave's somehow managed to never actually speak to the guy. He lifts a hand in a little wave. "Nah, but I think I've heard him mentioned, and like, I know the face from seein' you around town..."

As promised, the song is very simple to learn. But even over the short seconds it takes to sing, he's caught up in the boy's performance. He claps softly in appreciation after the bow, as it just feels like the right thing to do.

He then applies himself to singing the song himself. Tenderly, as if he is back with the baby Ieyasu.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star...
Once he is finished, he waits for his teacher's appraisal. He's pretty sure he didn't make any misses...

(Having knowledge under her belt is exactly what makes her an expert in his opinion!)

He's relieved that her arm seems entirely back to normal, but he will never forget that he put her through that.

As for the task at hand, he answers, "I'm sure you saw Mr. White's quest to 'defeat the fairies'? If I am to take on this task, I felt it best to gather information about their strengths, weaknesses and abilities first." He pauses, raising a hand to rub at the back of his neck for a moment. "The foes in this town are beyond my experience, so I must learn how to counter them."

Similarly, Tonbokiri has heard of Dave Strider, and seen him around. But for him, the bigger impression is putting a face to the name (and code) from the forum. Those bright red posts were often incomprehensible to him... and now he is meeting the writer in person.

He nods his head to the young man. "Likewise, Strider-dono. It is a pleasure to meet you in person. You were one of those who coordinated naming Chroma, were you not?"

He turns to Midoriya for a moment. "Thank you for introducing us. I hope that Mr. White counts this as forming a new bond, as well. Two birds with one stone."

"Mm..." Maya frowns slightly, tapping her chin with a finger. She can't really say she doesn't understand wanting to learn more about an opponent like that, but...

"The thing with fairies is that they're not all the same. There are a lot of legends about them from different countries, for starters. And the one I personally happen to know is... problematic."

Actually, she's a pain in the butt.

Momo's attention is absolute; he listens with his entire body, heels rocking back and forth on dirt, hands twined at the small of his back. When Tonbokiri finishes, Momo lets the last note linger in quiet gentility before he deems it necessary to interrupt the moment with his clapping.

It's not flattery— he always feels closer to people when they share music with him.

"That's great! Ah, you almost made me tear up. I felt like a little kid all over again!"

As if he doesn't act like an overgrown child, but still. He beams, as if he's the one that's accomplished something major.

He can't say he's used to singing for someone, either. Having so much attention focused on him when he's doing this feels rather unusual.

At his compliment he feels his face warm- "Ah, to say that much... But thank you." He's glad to have made the young man so obviously happy. "It is a very nice song. Is the long version very different?"

"You know one personally? Ah, but I see... It does make sense, but is also troublesome that there is that much variety."

He rests his chin on his hand for a moment then asks, "Would it be more clear what kind they are if you were to see them?"

Ah, how humble of this gentle-hearted stranger. Momo laughs, but it's not at Tonbokiri as much as it is for his benefit.

"Haha, it's not hard at all! It's just the same tune, with different lyrics."

He sings one of the other verses, breezes through the hopeful lyrics.

(Then the traveller in the dark / thanks you for your tiny spark;
He could not see where to go, / If you did not twinkle so.)

It's fairly obvious why he chose this tune, really.

"It's nothing!" The reply comes easily, even as Izuku glances between the two of them, smiling. "I guess when there's so little of us around, we all hear about each other or meet at some point."

The introductions were easy enough! And now for the quest. "Have either of you done the quest yet? Oh, I brought some containers to put the honey in!" As usual, he's come prepared.

"I've gone with one or two people." Dave shrugs. "The usual weird mutations, but otherwise it's pretty straightforward...?"

He nods, smiling at the peaceful lyrics, and then sings it in return.

"I like it very much. Thank you for teaching it to me." He politely nods his head in thanks, and then of course realizes that he's gone all this time without a proper introduction. Ah, such is the way sometimes. (And to be honest, because of his nature it might take a bit longer, too.)

"Please forgive me for being so long to introduce myself. I am called Tonbokiri, one of the Three Great Spears of Japan."

The spear itself is lying on the ground not two paces from where they are standing, so he picks it up.

Haha, that is very like Midoriya, to bring containers! Tonbokiri nods and rubs at his chin thoughtfully.

"I haven't done the quest yet, but I knew you would be prepared and well-informed, Midoriya-dono. I am glad that we have experience with us as well," he nods to Strider-dono. "The quest sounds so simple, but I suspected there would be at least one danger. It is good to know exactly what it is. I do hope that other groups will be careful.

"Shall we be on our way?" He motions for the others to take the lead; as he himself is not sure of the exact location of the honey, it is better for him to follow.

"Yeah. Let's head in!" Into the forest they go, Izuku looking ready to take on whatever they run into. Speaking of that, though, he glances over at Dave.

"Hey, Strider-kun? What kind of mutated bees did you run into?" He asks, picking his way carefully through the trees. "There's no guarantee we'll run into the same kind again, but it might be good to have some idea of what we're dealing with here."

He's not too worried, though. Both Tonbokiri and Dave are reliable, and Izuku figures that between the three of them, they can handle the quest just fine.

September Catch-All

Sept 6 - Maya

Sept 12 - Momo

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all the time. literally just happened in another thread...

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Quest 24

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