( catch-all ) ficus

[flinty]

WHO: choubee aza + others!
WHERE: all over the place
WHEN: throughout the month of feb
WHAT: quests and stuff
WARNINGS: someone is getting buried alive

( prompts will be left within the comments! if you'd like to do anything specific with choubee and we haven't spoken about it already feel free to pm or hmu on plurk at vongaribaldi! )

Comments

( quest 44 ) pyra

[flinty]

( quest info here! )

[ Choubee's gotten practice with singing thanks to caroling with Tsumugi, however serenading proves to be an entirely different challenge. Especially in regards of romantic feelings that he's completely unfamiliar with -- and not experiencing (sorry). However Pyra is one of the few people that he's relatively comfortable with the idea of harboring platonic love for so... here they are; he's invited her over to his home and he's currently spent the past ten minutes on the first line of the song. ]

What rhymes with red? Bread, tread...

[ Oh! ]

Dread! -- Wait, you wouldn't use that for a love song, would you? Fuck.

[pyrafect]

[ .........Ah. This is truly sweet of him. And it's actually rather endearing to see him try something so earnestly to fulfill a quest such as this one; she truly feels honored that out of all the people he could have chosen to sing to, it would be her.

Her laugh is light, and she brings a hand up to cover her giggle. ] No, no, "dread"... isn't what anyone would think when believing of love.

Maybe-- [ Let's see, she'll try to help him. ] try using a metaphor for "red" instead, and rhyme with that word. Sunshine? Twilight? Copper?

What do you think of first, when it comes to the color red?

[flinty]

[ He immediately recognizes that he's going about it all wrong the moment she attempts to hide her giggling with her hand. His lips press together into a straight line, embarrassment creeping up the back of his neck and causes his skin to burn with a faint blush. ]

Blood. [ He doesn't even miss a beat. ] Guts, scars, your hair.

[ Aaaaaaaaaand one of those things is not like the other. ]

Though talkin' about your hair feels kinda... weird.

1/3

[pyrafect]

[ .......There's definitely a cringe hidden beneath her smile. ]

[pyrafect]

[ But okay, she appreciates him trying. So after a thoughtful pause, she lends him a sympathetic smile. ] You've... lived a more difficult life than most, if one of the first things you associate red with are--... those things. [ And if she's guessing right, she truly feels for him. ]

But I think you can still make it work, you just have to bring them all back to love. [ Optimistic here! ]

[pyrafect]

[ Closing her eyes, she offers: ] Like... how love may feel as if it's rushing through your veins and heart, vibrantly red, and that is all you hear beating within you when you're around them. Or how it might hurt so viscerally it's like a knife to the gut; you can be spilling red to them, but your feelings might never reach them. Love can also leave a hideous red scar.... and can make you pine to thread your fingers though their hair once more.

[ She opens her eyes, looking at him. ] Mm, maybe you're more romantic than you think you are. [ Since indeed, as she's just demonstrated, all of those things can be associated to love! He just has to put it into a song. She won't be picky if he needs to rhyme it, though. ]

[flinty]

[ When she opens her eyes she's gonna get a, what he believes, reasonably questionable look. How Pyra manages to have a justifiable answer for almost everything should be admired, if anything, but Choubee seems a little more than just mildly curious to how she made something so morbid sound... beautiful?

It's not like the vulgar songs other brigands would sing after torching down a village, or whatever the women would sing to them when they decided to pass by peacefully would use for entertainment. No, unlike all of them what Pyra says is something that he can envision, oddly enough -- especially the last, of a love that was gone but never forgotten.

Anyway, it doesn't save her from him looking like she's suddenly grown two heads. ]

It looks more like you're the one who should be doing this for me instead of it being the other way around. [ He scoffs. ] My ma couldn't even make somethin' like that up. You've got a real talent.

[pyrafect]

[ ... He's looking at her as if she's said that pigs can fly in her world-- which, they can't, but that's hardly the most imaginative thing in her realm.

And it's actually... sad for her to hear that: that he's giving her this look because he can't really imagine what she's talking about this sort of love.

Still, she blushes faintly at the compliment. ] It's... nothing, really.

All I'm trying to say is that even with whatever you have experienced, you can find love in those actions, too. [ Even if it involves guts and blood...? Well, maybe.

Here is another pause, though, and she asks: ] Choubee... what do you think love is like?

[flinty]

[ Whatever he's experienced? That earns a short laugh. ]

But only if I pretty it up with flowery language. Otherwise I don't think you can find shit in my life. [ Which might sound inconsiderate, since he's mentioned his brother, but he's automatically recalling him as something outside of his usual life of plundering and other crimes. Touma isn't a figure within that world -- instead, he's something of an enigma that Choubee continues to cherish.

And, perhaps, that's what makes answering her question a little easier. ]

It's, uh, [ He scratches at the back of his neck. ] somethin' that'll never change. Even if our world's constantly changing, when you love someone that shit's forever.

1/2

[pyrafect]

[ She brings a hand to her chest. ] It's... yes. It's just like that.

It never changes, and it's unconditional...

[ She approves of his answer, that love is the steadiest force in a world otherwise full of uncertainty. ]

( quest 45 ) shizun

[flinty]

( quest info here! )

[shizun]

[ What a fucking pain in the ass.

After a lot of trouble, he was able to make some chocolates with Jim. This should have been such an easy thing! Why did it suddenly become so fucking hard?! Well, now they were made. He initially wanted to eat them all himself because of how annoyed he was, but that would be a waste of everything done.

But someone I appreciate? I appreciate everyone here. Shen Qingqiu has come to care a lot about the people that he's met and certainly, he will feel that way as he meets more of those that are here with him. With those warm regards suddenly in his heart, he dismissed the anger he felt towards finishing making the chocolates.

With some chocolates in hand, he pauses to hold one out. ]

Here. [ Don't just hand shit to people! Explain, you fucknugget! ] Thank you for being here with us. [ Fucking Christ, that sounds so weird. His expression remains calm and at ease, even as he continues to yell at himself. He decides that if he says anything else that it will make this whole situation weird. Best to leave it with what he said and explain if it needs explaining.

This person will probably just think I'm someone tripping on the rainbows of friendship. Not completely untrue but... ]

[flinty]

[ Choubee couldn't be begged to make chocolates -- maybe, admittedly it depends on the circumstances and who's asking -- so the last thing he expects is to receive any. The entire theme of these quests were suspicious enough, due to him being unfamiliar, but it's his history with being offered food from strangers that causes his brows to immediately furrow at the chocolates handed to him.

His lips pulled into a frown, his gaze pierces through the seemingly older man. ]

You got a fuckin' hit on me, old man? Can't say I'm surprised.

[shizun]

[ He honestly is a little surprised by that response. Rather, he wasn't expecting it, but he should have been. Wait a second. Speak human! What do you mean "got a fucking hit?" Do you think I'm hitting on you?!

Straightening his posture, he lightly shakes his head to dismiss the idea. Look, this is just chocolate in the winter months! We're nowhere near Valentine's Day... but to be honest, I have no idea what day it is! So! Don't go assuming weird things about people!! ]

It is nothing of the sort. I merely wish to give chocolate to those I appreciate, but I came to realize I appreciate everyone that is here... those I have met and those I have not. Because it is through all our efforts that we are fixing things, is that not right? [ TAKE THE FUCKING CHOCOLATE, YOU NERD! ]

[flinty]

[ Well fortunately Choubee's not able to read minds or he would most definitely start swinging. ]

...

[ His posture, stubbornness, and annoying albeit fairly common way of speaking strikes an immediate nerve. ]

What's your name?

[shizun]

[ Huh?

He supposes that he shouldn't just wave chocolate at someone to take, say a lot about appreciating them, without actually introducting himself. I still am asking that no weird narrative is made up about me! I'm not hitting on you, okay!? I'm not doing it!!

But he can understand how it is strange. So, he offers his warmest smile before he saying: ]

Shen Qingqiu. And you are?

[ He pauses to get a good look at the young man. Oh, dear. But like with Sinistra, he decided that he should not look on with pity. Those are old injuries! What the hell happened? Are you okay?! Maybe... maybe not. But I already know that as soon as you look at person with pity that is all but a deathblow!! So, don't worry, okay? Don't worry! ]

1/2

[flinty]

[ Shen Qingqiu.

It's almost instinctive how quickly the corners of his mouth twitch, splitting into a thin grin with a hint of teeth as his eye widens. It's brief, lasting only for a moment, before his expression then softens into what anyone unfamiliar would think is only a welcoming, almost encouraging, smile. ]

Shen Qingqiu~ [ In a song-line tone. ] Aw~ Ya really shouldn't have, ya son of a bitch.

[flinty]

[ He immediately balls his hand into a fist, drawing his elbow back before bringing it towards the other man with intentions to collide his knuckles against his cheek. Hard. ]

( quest 46 ) tsumugi

[flinty]

( quest info here! )

don't just use that icon im gonna kick yo ass

[fineprinted]

[ judging from these lovey-dovey quests, it doesn't even take a genius to know that it's the month of love. which means that it's february, and that valentine's day would be on any day now, what with the lack of calendars till now. burying a loved one might be too grim for such an occasion, but is it bad that tsumugi's suddenly thought of someone who'd just might be the perfect person to do the job with?

finding choubee is easy enough. finding a nice place to dig a hole in the ground is harder. the ground all over town is caked with sleet and snow, but luckily tsumugi's prepared: he himself is dressed up warmly, but a garbage bag is safely tucked away under his arm while he lets choubee carry the shovel along the way. ]

Maybe it'd be better if you'd just trap me in a box... I imagine it'd feel like being stuck inside a coffin, anyway.

[ thanks, rei. but ugh, it's a good thing he's not claustrophobic. king of valentines right here. ]

What do you think, Choubee-kun?

damn dude

[flinty]

[ It actually does take a genius, apparently, because Choubee's completely unaware of the sudden rush of love in the air. Even after the evident theme to the quests provided, he initially has to ask Tsumugi about Valentine's Day and its importance.

His verdict? It's fucking stupid. ]

How do you even know what it's like bein' in a coffin? I doubt it, though -- bein' buried alive ain't even that bad. [ Ask the guy who got tortured for a month straight. ]

I think that if I knock you out it'll be smooth sailin's! You won't even realize you've got twenty pounds of dirt on your chest.

ashe!!!!!!

[fineprinted]

Eh? You want to kill me already?!

[ TSUMUGI THAT'S NOT WHAT HE'S SUGGESTING AT ALL - ]

No, it's just that these pair of brothers at my school take their vampire quirks a little too seriously. Sleeping in a coffin and everything. I think that'd be more romantic compared to being buried in the ground six feet under, though.

[ a thoughtful beat. ]

At the same time, I trust that you won't leave me alone down there for too long. I believe that we can find the right place to make a hole around here, we've just got to find it. ♪

[flinty]

Not right now, we haven't found a place to bury ya, yet!

[ DUMBASS!!!!!!!!!! ]

But does it really matter? Coffin or being buried, at the end of the day when you die it's not like ya got shit to say anymore. The only thing that could be romantic about it is if you get to pass on next to someone else.

[ Hmmmmmm...... ]

I told you already, I ain't letting you die unless I'm the one doing it. [ He kicks the ground, revealing a spot of eat that isn't entirely covered in either snow or sleet. He pushes the shovel off his shoulder and digs the sharp end into the ground almost too effortlessly. ] And just havin' you be buried would be boring as shit.

Found a spot.

[fineprinted]

[ he's got a point about that - after all, dead men tell no tales. but choubee's being his rough, brusque self again and tsumugi's starting to have second thoughts on whether it's a good idea to ask him for this quest.

but that earnest promise he'd heard from him last month is making him stay and watch him dig up a hole in the ground, almost transfixed. ]

...Why do you want to kill me by yourself that badly?

[ his hand clenches around the garbage bag that he's been holding, voice wavering but he does his best to stay put. ]

Do you really think it'd come to that while we're here?

[flinty]

[ He's in the process of shoveling out dirt when Tsumugi asks that question -- which isn't quite unreasonable, given the fact that it's certainly odd to have such a firm resolve in regards of someone else's life. Especially within the terms of taking it on your own selfish means; Choubee thinks the reason is obvious, but apparently it's not. ]

It's not that I wanna kill ya in general...

[ He's shoveling another round of dirt, working as he speaks: ] But if the situation called for it, I wouldn't want ya bein' taken out just because 'm not competent enough... [ That sounds like he cares about him. Fuck. ] It's not like ya gotta worry about it. I don't plan on dyin' and so long as I've got an arm and leg then I'll... protect ya...

[ Why are people making him FEEL shit? Anyway, the hole's ready -- only about two and a half feet at best but that should be enough. ]

Shut the fuck up and get ready for your dirt nap.