tabularasa_rp | (open) a catch-all for li'l old me? you shouldn't have

(the second day of the year also bears some traditions for the traditional man. in the second floor of his ~~shop~~ home, kimihiro currently sews white cloth from uniforms he's taken from the school together, as if he was making a large scroll -- and he is.

when he moves to get more thread, he finally notices the figure going up the stairs. with a large smile, kimihiro bows a little to her arrival.)

Naru-chan. What do I owe the pleasure?

A house-warming gift!

( she probably hasn't seen his new place properly until now, outside of learning which shop he'd taken up residence in — she's a good girl and a good friend, so she's gotta give him a good house-warming gift.

which is: a bouquet of flowers collected from around the void, delicately arranged so that their rather... vibrant coloring doesn't look too garish, and a bag of hand-select sweets she thought he might like.

...and a hand-written coupon for "one free show". she's an idol, after all ☆ )

How've things been out here on your own? Liking the solitude?

(well, he was absolutely not expecting that. gently, he puts the sewing work on the floor before standing up to properly greet her and take a look at the gifts she came bearing.

this was very nice and he bows once again to accept them.)

They're beautiful. Thank you, Naru-chan.

(there is an empty vase in the room, like as if destined, and he politely sets the bouquet in it as decoration. the note is finally perceived, and he smiles a little as he takes it with both hands.)

A show? How so?

(he takes a second to think. how has it been? he has had more company here than he has had in the merlaut, strangely enough.)

It's been fine. It's temporary, should the Void be so kind to retrieve my shop.

I'm an idol, so I can sing, dance... All of that. I can promise you one private show from Knights' own queen, the beautiful and talented Arashi Narukami, whenever you'd like. ♪

( she's not as fussy about people seeing her work as izumi is, who demands people pay him if they take a picture of him because he's a work of art,

god i wish i were kidding. )

And that's good. Think you'll actually be able to grant wishes here? Because like, I could totally use a new makeup palette. I'm missing the variety I had back home so much now.

Can you sing me a song then?

(he can totally make dinner to pay for it. everything works like that in kimihiro's head. get something, give something. nothing is for free in his world!

also, damn izumi please chill)

I'm not sure. If anything, it can become a pawn shop. (because he has been retrieving and creating things with his own two hands. like, might as well...) That sure is a wish, (he smiles, laughing politely,) Perhaps I could retrieve one from your dreams? It's the most I could do in these situations.

( she sure can sing him a song, but hold that thought - )

Retrieve one from my dreams? ...You're like a baku. ( a little laugh. ) Well, like, not exactly - obviously they eat bad dreams or whatever, but a total dream boy.

(that grants a laugh, before he returns to his sofa and thus, his sewing.)

Eating aside, I do deal with nightmares. I am a dreamseer after all.

Edited (oops autocorrect) 2021-01-12 11:49 (UTC)

( his sewing... she'll pick a place to sit too, not making herself too comfortable but! comfortable. )

How do you deal with them? No offense, but you like, don't really come off as the fighty-type.

( she just says that because her unit is. her unit. )

My magic is stronger in dreams. I can surprise you, you know.

(he COULD technically be offended, but it's said with a smile. listen, he's not tall like doumeki. or athletic like doumeki. or able to yield a bow and arrow like doumeki. he's skinny, taller than average, and much faster than he is stronger.

like, he gets it.)

( really considering there's a handful of idols who are stronger and also more aggressive than they look, she shouldn't judge, but. you know. )

Mmm-mmm, I just meant that, like... You don't come off as the kind of person who'd pick a fight, Kimihiro-chan. I totally see you as more of the diplomatic type when you can be. ( otoh: he is still (1)17, so. )

(do you mean: like herself)

Considering what I deal with, sometimes fighting is inescapable. You wouldn't believe the things I've seen.

( shhhhhhhhhhhhhh SHHHHHHHHHH )

Tell me about them. Unless they're like, way too scary for a cute girl like me.

You're what, seventeen, eighteen, right? At your age, I was chased by ayakashi daily, for starters.

[Haru had been trying to make some new food as of late. Now that she had time, she figured she should start learning how to perfect the craft. Between trying to juggle her activities and school, it had been challenging to find time to do anything else.

Should Arashi look around, she might see Haru with a couple of bags in her hand.]

( My oh my...! What kind of friend would she be if she saw Haru looking like that and didn't offer her a hand... )

Haru-chaaan! My, don't you look busy. ( Bumping her with her shoulder lightly in greeting. Hi hun. ) Let me take some of those off your hands, dear. What're you up to?

Oh, Arashi-chan, I didn't see you there!

[She said before turning around and flashing her friend a smile. However, she couldn't help but shake her head at Arashi's suggestion.]

No, it's okay, you don't have to do that! I was planning to see how well I can cook! I wish to see if I could become better and start my own restaurant some day!

Ooh, what a lovely dream... ( SHE SUPPORTS YOU, GIRLFRIEND... ) I know a thing or two about cooking too - I could give you a few tips. Heehee, I like baking a lot more though, I'll be honest. Like, making bentos for your beloved is good and all, but making chocolate's so much more fun.

Ah, you do? Then please, I need your assistance as I need to know if my cooking is good or not!

[You see that look in Haru's eyes? That is the look of someone who needs a lot of help! Please support her dream, Arashi!]

Of course! I'd love to be your taste-tester, Haru-chan! ( there is no way at all she's going to regret this. ) I'll help however I can, too.

Would you? I need all the help I can get!

[She said before gesturing to the bags in her hands.]

Would like to accompany me?

( can she take some of her bags now, please, let her help you. )

Of course! Did you buy everything already, or are you still on the hunt?

[What if Haru doesn't want Arashi to hold the bags? But as she smiled at her, she eventually did give some to her.]

I did get everything so now it is just a matter of cooking some fried rice or some curry! Ren-kun always made them back home and I wish to impress my friends on what I can do!

( Thank you. She loves to help. )

Fried rice or curry, huh... Fried rice is better when you have leftover rice, so like, I'd totally go with curry first. Plus there's not a single person in the world who doesn't like it! ( except maybe izumi but izumi doesn't like anything so whatever ) You'll have tons to share and tons of people to share with.

Then would you care to join me? [She said before gesturing toward her apartment] I do intend on sharing it with as many people as I can! It seems like the best way for me to thank everyone for helping me out here.

[Then she gave a pause] And that includes you too.

( oh, haru... )

...You don't need to do that, Haru-chan! I mean, what are friends for? Buuut... ( arashi grins at her, bumping their shoulders together. ) Like, totally! I'd love to join you.

Yes but it is only fair to repay those who are kind to me!

[With that, she took in a deep breath.] Especially when I’m not use to having many friends at home.

Edited 2021-01-27 11:43 (UTC)

( Oh. The surprise flickers onto her face before she can stop it, but it's replaced quick enough with a brighter expression, unworried. A lot of her friends are the same way, actually — it's okay. Arashi's shifting her bags in her hands, hold on. )

Can I hug you?

( SHE WAS GOING TO JUST DO IT, BUT IT SEEMS IMPORTANT TO ASK? )

Edited 2021-01-27 21:27 (UTC)

[Well! This wasn’t the reaction Haru was expecting! Or rather, she wasn’t expecting Arashi to ask for a hug. For a moment, the girl stared at her before giving a small nod.]

Of course, I don’t mind at all! You certainly are bold!

[Haru had to admit, that was something to admire. If only she could be that way.]

( bold... well, she supposes she is, and she swoops haru into a tight hug. )

I'm so sorry, Haru-chan... You're a totally amazingly sweet girl, I can't imagine how anyone wouldn't want to be your friend. ( no-- she can, easily. tsukasa is a sweet, hardworking boy too, but his social circumstances haven't given him much space for friendships. ritsu, kindhearted and warm, is also incredibly shy. izumi's terrible mouth and harsh personality drives people off before they can understand just how lovely he is... mao seems too busy for other people, but he's just as sweet as anyone else she's met. mika, dear sweet wonderful charming mika, whose only problem people have seems to thinking he's unlucky because of his eyes...

people make too many judgments, and she won't disclude herself from that pool, but there are any number of reasons someone could have so few friends. she knows that, but it's still hard to imagine haru being one of those... another tight squeeze, before she pulls away and holds her at arm's length. ) I'm happy we're friends, Haru-chan. You're like, one of the nicest people I've met here, and it's soooo nice to have girl friends! It really is.

( and it's even nicer to have people who don't give her looks for the way she speaks abd acts in conjunction to how she looks, but that's just something she'll keep to herself. being accepted is a wonderful thing. )

[Haru wasn't expecting Arashi to tell her this. If anything, she was surprised to hear how much she meant to her when they just met. It was true that Haru didn't have a lot of friends at home outside of the Phantom Thieves.

Her life had always been sheltered with her father always monitoring her every movement. Being the heiress of a wealthy company has its drawbacks as she can never know whom she can trust. She didn't know if there were people taking advantage of her kindness or wanted to use her as a means to get ahead in the business world. Now that she was here, she could start to befriend and trust people here.

It was a nice change as she couldn't help but giggle into Arashi's hug. Once she let go, Haru just smiled softly at her.]

Really? I'm glad too because I was worried I wouldn't make a good impression! It's just a little unusual as I am so use to people automatically knowing who I am and how I have to work for it.

[She giggled to herself.] I'm not complaining, it is a nice change!

[At the new year's party, he managed to catch a glimpse of who was writing a particular list of month names... which, at first he doesn't fully understand the purpose of the board, hence his own contribution. Once he's figured that out though, he takes a moment to approach said person.]

Why is tulip next to compassion?

[No preamble, question only.]

( Hello to you too! That's alright - she doesn't seem bothered by the no-greeting approach, but that's probably because she gets to talk about something she likes. )

That's one of its meanings. Every flower - or like, practically every flower - has one or more qualities it symbolizes... That people have decided it does. I just thought that like, compassion suited it the most.

[Huh...]

I didn't know people gave meanings to flowers.

[He glances toward the board with all the suggestions on it.]

They're good meanings. Flowers are good, too. I like those names.

Thanks. Truthfully, I wasn't expecting so much support... I thought more people'd want what's familiar.

( that's how humans are, but arashi's looking at how many +1s hers has... my my. )

Heehee. Maybe I gave myself an edge by putting what they symbolized, too... I admit they're a little more personal than they are like, general monthly sentiments though. A few of them correspond to like, people whose birthdays are in those months - like Leo-kun's is in May, and he's such a sweetheart, so tulip for compassion it is. Izumi-chan, bless him, he might have a sour attitude and an awful personality, but he's as noble as the rest of us... So chrysanthemum for his birth month, November. Just to name a few.

( ...she's winking at cole, raising a finger to her lips. )

But all that's just between you and me, okay? If they knew I got all sappy and sentimental over a bunch of months, they're totally make fun of me for it.

[Oh...]

Leo is compassion, too.

[He says, like it's some kind of revelation. Cole what does that even mean-]

I don't know those names. May and November. It's different where I was pulled from.

[He glances over towards own list.]

Edited 2021-01-10 21:54 (UTC)

( ah, so those are really just normal month names for him... )

They're all very inspired. ( very fantasy, ngl. she kind of likes them, especially bloomingtide. ) Well... Apart from August. My world has that one too.

( in english but anyway her world has that, )

Maybe we oughta pick my months and then just keep August "August". Like, that'll satisfy everyone, won't it? I get my cute flower months, and they get like, one month they can't complain about.

( arashi 11 months, everyone else 1 month, seems fair to m )

It's just what I remember they're called. I hope I remembered them right.

[He doesn't always remember... everything.]

If that will make everyone happy, then that's good.

[He's taking her at her word here...]

( just an idea... august was the one i actually had trouble trying to figure out something for so it kind of suits. should've just gone with august ngl )

I'm sure you did, dear. They're not easy names to forget! ( well, she doesn't think they are anyway. ) I'm Arashi, by the way, but you can call me Naru-chan if you want!

( hmm... she pretty much just introduced herself as arashi to a few other people though BUT IT'S FINE... )

[ it starts off as just a little void-walk, some time spending that'll culminate into cake and tea, maybe... but leo's dragged arashi away on a sidequest, citing some stuff he's gotta take care of first. what could that possibly be? what could anyone have to ""take care of"" in the void? especially in the void part of the void, endless white expanding into nothing...

... if anyone's thinking "fucking weird things", they'd be right. not a surprise, given it's leo. it takes a little time to get to the wild collection of music scores written on the canvas-like ground (leo's horrible sense of direction combined with a directionless void is not a good combo), but they get there. eventually.

and when they do, leo's quick to make some adjustments to the music with a marker. the void (?) joins in humming after a small moment of pause, as it always does, leo humming an accompaniment to match.

and when he's done, he's straightening up and speaking like this isn't odd at all. ]

Ooooo~kay... hmm, hmm, how fast are you gonna pick up on this one?

[ please stop talking to nothing, leo ]

Wanna head out now, Naru? That's all I had to do!

[ just normal!! regular!! things!! ]

( leo's always had some weird ideas, but it's leo - so she expects it.

but watching him write on the ground with a marker and listening to their humming duet... and leo talking to the void like it's actually going to... oooooooooooooooooooooigh, she just!! hates it!! when they have the same thought processes!! just teach it like a little baby, gosh...... )

You dragged little old me all the way out here for this...? This is the kind of thing you should do on your own time, Leo-kun, not when you're on a date with a cute girl! ( were they on a date? for the purposes of her point right now they were. ) ...Do you always come out here and teach Void-chan how to sing?

[ how does it feel to kin with leo tsukinaga for two seconds? horrible. horrible. horrible. but the kinning stops there, because leo's looking at her blankly at "date"-- ]

Uhhhh. I don't really get what you're saying, but sure!

[ he's so fucking stupid

and running fastly from things he doesn't Get, the mischievous sparkle in his eyes brightening just a fraction on void-chan: ]

I do do that, though. Kyo didn't hum at all when I first got here, you know. Then I... [ tapping his foot on the floor, where the scores lay, ] ... and they started. I guess they've got a little interest in music? I prefer it if this's the way they wanna talk, so I've been giving 'em a new theme here and there!

[ words are hard, words with a god would probably be even harder... he'll teach void-chan with music instead. songs about gentle worlds and not making people hungry out of NOWHERE, thanks. throw maybe not kidnapping in there too, who knows. ]

( Who's Running From Things Now Leo-kun.

kyo........ )

You gave it... them a name, huh? That's cute. ( not the name SHE would have chosen but go off king ) Heehee... Music's one of those universal languages, isn't it? Like math. I'm not surprised it picked up on it in that case.

( , but she is not going to start trying to communicate through math equations, none of us have time for that )

Ah... Viridi-san can get as mad as she'd like at me saying so, but it really does feel like Kyo-chan ( shes taking it ) can learn from us, right? Like a child or something like that.

[ leo + void = chaos is the only math needed here. he, mmm, does pause for a moment as arashi just casually adopts his imperfect nickname. bless her, truly--

--and also he's trying to recall viridi. yes, he did meet her. once. that sure was a conversation........ ah, there's the lightbulb now. ]

Oh, yeah. That rolling-on-the-floor-breakfast-cereal Goddess!

[ lovely. yell about revelations that no one knows you're struggling towards, leo.

anyway. ]

We had that talk too! I told her something like that -- that Kyo's a little baby bird that could use a couple tips, since she kept yelling about building worlds better. She said she'd smack 'em instead!

[ MAYBE, NOT SO HELPFUL, ]

( please........ she wants to stop kinning leo........ )

She might be the Goddess of creation or... well, whatever it was ( she remembers it's just not That important right now ), but she's never looked after anything that really needed a guiding hand, has she... Oh, poor thing.

( well anyway. )

Has Kyo-chan, like... ever tried to make their own songs? Like how the jukebox in the café-bar does.

[ just quietly dragging viridi, apparently

anyway, ]

D'you think everything around here's from Kyo and 'cause of Kyo, Naru? 'Cause if it is, isn't that the answer to your question? Liiike, them trying their hand at music?

[ ba...dly. but they're trying, and that's all that matters. maybe. ]

There's other hints of it around, too, I guess! In the end it's all the same kind of funny -- the jukebox and the scores in books and stuff... A jumbled mess that doesn't really go anywhere, but ya can't really get mad at that even if your ears hurt, wahaha!

[ can't you? CAN'T YOU??? ]

No, like, I'm pretty sure you can get mad... ( but at the same time, it's kind of like seeing a kid do their best... even if that "best" is making a mural with crayon on the wall they definitely shouldn't be drawing on.

god, leo's such a weird little gremlin, but he's so pure and cute. just like tsukasa. both of those sentiments. ) I wonder if the stuff that's like, more familiar to us... Like how the high school underground looks kind of like Yumenosaki and all - I wonder if that's Kyo-chan's way of trying to make us feel more at home here? It's totally creepy out here where there's absolutely nothing.

( arashi theres not NOTHING, there are MASTERPIECES RIGHT UNDER YOUR FEET!! )

In that case... Then, like, yeah. I think it's all Kyo-chan's doing. The music, the awful mish-mash of areas and animals, the terrible scores... Us being here too, for whatever reason that might be. ( she still doesn't know why they're here. she doesn't think any of them do, because it doesn't seem like there's much pointing them to the "why" of that, but -

hey, maybe that's something they have to make for themselves, too. "why do you think we're here?" .......that's so philosophical ugh. ) Leo-kun... Like, I'm not serious or anything about it, but could you teach me a little about writing music too? I'd love to get to know Kyo-chan, and if it's trying its best to learn how to communicate with music, then like, I'm all for a tutoring session. If you don't mind sitting down for more than ten minutes to teach me a few things, anyway.

[ wow now LEO'S the one getting dragged?? not that the "absolutely nothing" registers as an insult, arashi is obviously speaking without including leo's fabled masterpieces into the equation. fabled masterpieces, drawn in sharpie and elegantly edited with scribble marks and titled with garbage..........

but it's horribly titled music that sounds nice. like arashi's words, maybe -- they're a sweet hand outstretched, as she always does. the fact that the reasons for that request are very her does get a look that's half-amused, half-fond from leo, though there's a hint of something a little more pensive under there too.

because: ]

If it's talking to someone that you're aiming for, don't go into it thinking "that's what they're gonna go with, huh? Sure, me too!" I'm not gonna accept that!

[ oh my god why is leo tsukinaga SUCH a headache.

it isn't as if teaching is really a problem. he's taught anzu, he's teaching ren... it's just--

(tsukasa crying in the bg as one of the few people leo's rejected to teach, apparently) ]

You said it, didn'tcha? "If they're trying their best"... How'd it feel to be Kyo, pouring your self into something that sounds pretty awful [ leo, you rude fuck, ] and getting someone offering something they're "not serious or anything about" in return?

[ though he doesn't say this in a way that's really begging for a response. leo doesn't think arashi would half-ass it, per se? and he thinks highly enough of her to know that what she would produce would sparkle in the special way that she does. it'd be good, leo thinks, if kyo got to see that; juuust like the slivers he got during requiem.

maybe that's why he does want her to admit to putting a little more into it. ]

So, why not get serious about it, Naru? Music won't let you be all vague about things like words can. If you're gonna show Kyo your music like Kyo's showing you theirs, anything that's not a full, shiny score's a waste!

[ and heeeeeEE wants to see the full, shiny score too. truly, truly, truly a headache. all arashi wanted was a tiny music lesson. what she got is an overdramatic moron who's fallen in love with his found family. ]

( leo... is always like this, and arashi looks slightly taken aback at first — before she laughs, covering her mouth as an afterthought to stifle them.

ritsu's right. he really does always launch into a speech at the drop of a hat. that's probably why tsukasa was the one most suited to inherit the crown too, no matter how their princesses voted. she'd Never do that. )

You wanna be shown up that badly, Leo-kun~? ( she's kidding - she could never compare, but let her poke fun. ) Mmm... Music's lovely, but it's not something I want to dedicate myself to the way you do... But on the other hand, you're totally right.

( she has to put her all into it, just like she started putting her all into filling in the cracks in knights' foundations, smoothing them over with a woman's gentle touch. maybe that's just her fate - when it comes to getting along with others, when it comes to love and showing that love, she just can't stop halfway. what a blessing! what a curse. )

Okay then. I promise, I'll like, totally give it my best shot. It's not like me to shirk anyway, right? Not when it's important. ( ...well, anyway. ) Oh, but... Am I gonna have to call you "sensei"?

( leo-sensei... not the same vibe as kunugi-sensei so he's probably not at risk of being fallen in love with it's ok )

(open) a catch-all for li'l old me? you shouldn't have

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