chippedsoul | The Journal [Inbox]

Oh… I mean. I suppose I could…? [He fidgets with the messenger bag that he still has slung over one shoulder, shifting the weight of it slightly.] Mind you, I wasn’t trying to say we shouldn’t clear some of them out of here, or send them off to new homes… It’s just that letting them go in the wild sounds a bit cruel…

[He’s got a hand on his chin now, really percolating on the matter. Probably a lot more than Kazuma’s sarcastic comment really warrants.]

…I do have a pond now, though. So I suppose I could house a few of them in there? That might be nice. But… I’m not sure how well they’d get along with the rainbow fish…

Do you...? [Did this happen while he was asleep? He looks down at the splishy splashing koi fish.]

How about you take the ones that remain after the customers have tried their luck?

[It did indeed happen while he was asleep. Ryunosuke nods.]

I do. And yes, I guess I could give that a try... I do have space.

[...He might as well keep going. Fill Kazuma in on some of what he missed.]

...See, while you were asleep... Miss Tifa finally had the grand opening for her cafe. And when I stopped by to visit, they had these queer little fish up for adoption, right...? I thought I would try my hand at giving them a home, but I was also told they needed more than an aquarium to swim in, if they were going to thrive... So I was mulling that over on the walk home, and when I got there, I found the treehouse had... Accommodated? And now I have a fish pond in my living room.

[He still sounds sort of bewildered that this happened, even relaying it now.]

In--the living room? [Well, that's an interesting place to have a pond.]

So just like how my home added another room for you. You really wanted that fish, huh. [He teasing of course.] That's not the only thing you've been up to, is it?

[...Wait, is he implying he wanted him to stay over that time as badly as Ryunosuke wanted some new fish to take care of? He's... Not sure what to make of that, teasing or otherwise.]

It's strange, but it's not so bad; [He adds, quick to clarify.] Really, it's... Kind of nice, actually. It sounds impractical, but it's sort of like living in a garden, without actually needing to be outside.

[He clears his throat.]

But... No. That's not the only thing I've been up to. I mean... You really didn't miss much. But there are a couple of other things. [...] Did Susato-san get the chance to fill you in about our strange wisp encounter...?

Hm, it does sound nice when you put it like that. I'll have to take a look when I have the chance. [There's a splish splash as Kazuma turns his focus on one of the larger kois getting a bit rowdy.]

She brought it up. Didn't give me too many details, but it sounded like quite the adventure. [Probably so he doesn't fret.]

[He's welcome to come by any time, of course. But Ryunosuke's sure he doesn't even need to say that. It's just a given.

Ryunosuke's gaze also flits over to the ripples on the water where the koi just splashed; he could probably start helping with that while they talk, but. He'd sort of rather just focus on talking.]

It was certainly... Something. [He exhales.] Monster hunting would not have been my first choice, but there was the risk of winding up with a noctaere on our hands, if the creature responsible wasn't dealt with.

[...]

...I'm not sure I can even just call it a creature, actually. Kazuma, it... It spoke.

[He still sounds kind of rattled about that.]

Edited 2023-04-11 03:54 (UTC)

I missed a good hunting, huh? [Of course Kazuma is down to a monster hunt. Well even if Ryunosuke isn't going to help, the fish still need to be corralled and someone has to do it, badly.]

What did it say?

[He'll get to helping once he's done being troubled about this Kapre thing, OK?

He's quiet a moment before answering.]

...'It's coming', or something to that effect. And then it kind of just... Dissolved.

...It's coming? [He doesn't have a lot of context, but he could probably guess what it means, based on what other looming threat is still around. He has to leave this train of thought for a moment though, as the fish he managed to catch is trying to flail free.]

A little help! [Grab the net, Ryuu!]

Oh--!

[He takes care to set his bag down at least semi-gently, despite the urgency, before snatching up the net and hurrying over. He scoops it under the koi so it doesn't fall back in, but that doesn't exactly solve the problem. Not completely...]

...Where am I supposed to put it!?

[He's looking around for a bucket or some kind of container full of water, frazzled.]

This way! [Think fast Ryunosuke. He's starting to move and expecting him to follow. The "pond" turns to be a large tub full of water. It's set under a waterfall though, so it keeps the water flowing and the excess just flows back into the main pond from the pour spout.

It's not too far, but with a flailing fish, it feels like it is.]

Almost there! Push it in here!

Got it!

[Now that he has his sights on a destination, he's got his determined face on. He hurries over to the tub and carefully dips the net in; the fish inside thrashes and keeps splashing water everywhere, but soon Ryunosuke turns the net inside out, releasing the struggling koi.]

Phew. There we are... [He glances at Kazuma.] There has got to be a less hectic way of doing this, surely...

[Meanwhile, over Kazuma's shoulder, a rabbit with huge ears is tentatively poking its head out from Ryunosuke's bag. Ryu hasn't noticed it yet, though.]

Edited 2023-04-13 15:19 (UTC)

[Here's hoping Ryunosuke isn't dressed in his best clothes, cause they are definitely getting soaked today.]

Be nice if we could put the fishes to sleep. [That's ethically safe. He watches their catch swim around furiously in it's temporary enclosure. It'll calm down eventually when it sees there's no more threats.]

Better to steel yourself. We still have.... [Kazuma looks pass Ryunosuke, at the bag he had left behind.] It seems you have a friend.

[Well, he's had worse than being splashed, at least. Even if he does look a bit disgruntled about it once they're finished letting the fish go. He's about to say he may have an idea on how to move them more efficiently, when Kazuma changes the subject abruptly]

Huh? What do you m... OH!

[With a start, Ryunosuke puts the net down and hurries over to scoop the rabbit up in his arms, holding it up so he can look it in the eye with an apparent attempt at a stern expression.]

Cheeky little troublemaker... You were supposed to wait in the bag until I say otherwise.

[The rabbit seems unperturbed by the scolding, merely twitching its nose back at him. Ryunosuke glances at Kazuma, looking somewhat apologetic.]

I... May have picked up more than just the fish while you were asleep.

...Uh-huh. [They really be making a zoo, huh. He comes over to look between his friend and the rabbit.] Is there anything else you like to share...? [He's not judging, just amuse.]

[The entirety of Reverein is a zoo, let's be real. Animals abound.

Ryunosuke smiles apologetically.]

Um... No. No, I'm fairly sure that's all the most relevant news... Everything that immediately springs to mind, anyway.

[He pauses, then turns the rabbit so it's facing Kazuma, and holds it up a little higher.]

... Don't you want to know what his name is?

[Tread carefully. There's a mischievous glint in his eye.]

... [He looks to the rabbit, then back to Ryu] You didn't name it after me, did you?

[That guess actually throws Ryunosuke for a loop, startling him out of the cheeky aura he was just putting off.]

What? No, why would I...?

[He trails off, glancing down at the rabbit. And then he glances up at Kazuma, and then back down to the rabbit again. They DID look strangely similar; they were both wearing nearly identical unimpressed expressions, at least.]

...Actually, that... Would have been hilarious. [He'll admit it. RELUCTANTLY.] But no, that's not his name. Besides, if I were to name any kind of animal after you, it would probably be a cat. Or a snake... [a beat.] ...Or a particularly bossy kind of bird. Like a rooster.

[Well when you're smirking like that-] A rooster. [Really?] That's the best bird you could think of?

[He can kind of see why, but it's still a rooster.] Anyway, what's his name then?

[Hey, at least he didn't call you a sparrow again? Also, he's back to smirking a little, unable to completely contain how hilarious he thinks this is going to be.]

Well... His full given name-- which I will have to insist you address him by at all times-- is in fact...

[He takes a comically deep breath.]

...Jugemu Jugemu Go-Kō-no-Surikire Kaijari-suigyo no Suigyō-matsu Unrai-matsu Fūrai-matsu Kū-Neru Tokoro ni Sumu Tokoro Yaburakōji no Burakōji Paipo Paipo Paipo no Shūringan Shūringan no Gūrindai Gūrindai no Ponpokopii no Ponpokonaa no Chōkyūmei no Chōsuke.

[Recited quickly, and with perfect accuracy, natch. That is, assuming Kazuma even lets him finish saying the whole thing, and doesn't just smack him part way through.]

[Nah, Ryunosuke doesn't get a smack.

He gets doused with water instead. Sorry rabbit. Your owner is a fool.] That's not a name!

[It's ok. As a small prey animal, 'Jugemu' has much better reaction time than Ryunosuke does. He sees it coming and squirms out of Ryunosuke's arms in time to escape the splash zone, leaving his stupid human to take the full brunt. So much for loyalty.

Ryunosuke yelps and splutters, immediately trying to wipe his face off.]

Blgh-- ACK!

[...OK he probably deserved that for being an antagonistic little shit. But ALSO, you got fish-water in his mouth Kazuma, you DICK.

Ryunosuke spits a few times before he replies, laughter still in his voice:]

No, you're right... It's probably about twenty names.

Edited 2023-04-21 14:19 (UTC)

[Good. Drown in more fish water.] You're ridiculous! Even your rabbit has abandoned you. [He huffs, stomping back towards the main pond, grumbling. He cannot. Believe. He would just do that to him!! Memories of his failures from so long ago, flooding back in his mind. Ugh.]

[Jugemu really has abandoned him, because the rabbit twitches its nose and then actually hops along to follow after Kazuma. Gods only know why; maybe he feels a grumpy kinship or something.

Meanwhile, Ryunosuke finishes drying himself off as much as he can manage with the limited means available... And then he realizes Kazuma is stomping off and trails after him and his rabbit, making a contrite noise and sporting an expression that's very much adjacent to that of a kicked puppy.]

Oh come on, Kazuma, it was just a silly rakugo joke... You're not really mad, are you?

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