chippedsoul | The Journal [Inbox]

...Well, I didn't want to come back empty handed, after being away for all that time. [He gestures to her to take a seat. He'll join her once she's seated.]

Besides, I'd say same about this. [He raises the hand with the ring she had gifted him.]

[ Susato moves to sit as she's directed, rubbing her hands together and exhaling onto them for warmth as she does so. Compared to her nervousness initially, she wears an easy smile on her face when he shows it off. ]

Ah! And it suits you so well. [ It's a bit of a relief that it fits him too, if she's honest, though she had no reason to worry--and even though the answer is perhaps one she can guess, she can't helping getting a lump in her throat as she asks: ] Do you like it?

...It's beautiful. [He has to take a moment to make sure he doesn't sit on his own tail as he joins her on the sofa.]

I hope it wasn't too much trouble for you to procure this. [He gingerly fumbles with the ring, like he wasn't sure what to feel with the foreign object on his finger.]

...No. I simply had to work it off for a day.

[ Still smiling, Susato watches him, and--honestly she would rather Kazuma not worry about that at all. She talks it down, though she did learn a few things from working with those two unnaturally tall women, which she happily shares. ]

Apparently the ring is fashioned after a kind of currency in their world, the rupee. It comes in a variety of different colors, starting with green, blue, yellow, and...

Well. Red, of course. [ She waves a hand in his general direction. ] ...But you didn't call me over to hear me go on about that, so...

[ Anyways! ]

... H, How are you feeling?

[What do you mean that's not why he called her over-] I see...I'll take good care of it. [He folds his hands over his lap, thinking about how to answer her question.]

Like I've woken up from a nightmare, like a fog has lifted. I didn't have much sense of time while I was out there, so...have I missed much while I was away?

[ Look, she was starting to feel self-conscious, hearing herself go off, okay. She is far more interested in making sure he is okay--though of course, hearing his answer only makes her wince with guilt.

Well, no, she is glad that the fog has lifted. She only wishes she could have lifted it two weeks ago. ]

I'm sorry. But...no, aside from being forced into these sweaters, it has been rather quiet as of late. [ That, and it has started snowing, but Kazuma probably noticed that before she did, out in the cold forest. ] Ah--but father and I did start constructing a greenhouse, so we could have a place to keep those flowers I brought back.

[ Yujin has been doing the heavy lifting, but Susato has helped. It makes her feel useful. ]

[He shakes his head] That's nothing to apologize for. Honestly, it's good that things have been relatively calm.

[He tilts his head.] Is he now? Maybe I'll come by to give it a look. [He does have some plant tending experience thanks to his time in the Realm of Stories. He leans back, arms crossed as his tail lightly pats the sofa.] Speaking of constructing...I'm thinking I'll be able to open that pub next month. You said you wanted to help, right?

[ That's not what she was apologizing f...... you know what, never mind. She and Yujin would be happy to have his opinion on their progress, but anything else she might have told him regarding that or certain species of flying slugs causing trouble gets put temporarily on hold. ]

Oh! Yes, of course. Anything you need. Wh, where do we start?

Ah, well...the room and the area around it on the bottom floor needs to get cleaned up first. [He had a look and it could definitely use a dusting.]

Not tonight, but tomorrow perhaps. And...if you like, would you be interested in cooking for the customers?

[ She nods; he'd almost taken the words out of her thoughts. ]

I was about to suggest you taking some time to recover... You deserve some nights in an actual bed, for starters. [ But tomorrow is fine, at least. One night. ]

...I, I would be honored to cook for you, also. Are you certain 76 wouldn't mind?

[ She would not want to step on his toes. ]

[...That's right, he hasn't really "rested" for a while. He's been so set on moving forward that he hadn't really thought about stopping really. It's not it was the first time he's slept somewhere lacking the usual comforts afterall.]

Not at all. In fact...I think he would appreciate company. [He wears a worried expression on his face.] You saw the state of his hands, didn't you?

...Yes. [ Though he hadn't meant for her to see them. Susato expression falls just a bit; she had asked about it, of course, though she thought she was being respectful by not pressing the issue. ] I was more concerned about you at the time... Although, to his credit, he doesn't appear to let it hold him back.

Either way, I hope you'll both allow me to do what I can.

[ They don't have access to any recipe books or the like here, so... that's just another personal project she'll need more notebooks for. How many recipes can she remember, she wonders? From her time in Britain with Iris, all the way back to her childhood with her grandmother... ]

I'll believe you'll do just fine. [He has never disliked anything Susato made when they were together.]

He's managing, because it hasn't fully consumed him yet, just fluctuates. [Even if it improves, it feels like it gets worse the next time it spikes.]

I think...he sees something of himself in me, trying to keep me from going down the same way as him. But I want him to know, that it's not too late for him as well. Having this pub, letting him meet and work with new people...I would hope it's enough for him to see a different perspective. [A soft laugh escapes him.]

Ironic of me to tell you this, when I should take my own advice.

[ Fluctuates...? Is that how it is? Should she be expecting another vague note on Kazuma's doorstep sometime in the future, like a cycle? And now 76 as well...? Susato's mind reels, though her face remains neutral, or at least no more worried than his.

Her lips twitch with amusement at the end, that he would call himself out before she could. ]

It is smart advice. Perhaps both of you need the reminder, then... that it is not "too late"?

[ ...... ]

If you open this pub... work alongside people who care for you deeply every day... will you see things differently?

...Perhaps. [A light shrug.] I went into this simply just wanting something to do. There isn't exactly a high demand for attorneys.

...No, of course. [ She shakes her head. He is right, and it is something she thought about, even early on. Nier had once asked her what she was going to do. Only now did she have an answer for him.

For a moment it looks like she is about to say something else, her mouth slightly open--but if that's the case, she changes her mind. ]

Have you... decided on a name yet?

[He hums quietly, tail lightly patting the couch.] I had some ideas in mind. [He starts to go through his bag, taking out a folded piece of paper. In it was a list that he presents to Susato. A few of the names were already crossed out.

Wild Harvest
~~The Serpent~~
~~The Yard~~
Nature's Plate
Morning Dew ] What do you think of these names? [He's already leaning towards one name, but he like to see what Susato thought.]

[ Immediately, despite being crossed out, her eyes are drawn to the Yard. It would have made a nice tribute to Inspector Gregson, she thinks, and she actually chuckles at the idea of them serving his fish and chips... but in the end, she supposes it is not very fitting of Kazuma.

...... ]

Morning Dew... exactly what you'd find on flowers when you tend to them first thing in the morning. Rather like new beginnings, isn't it?

You did seem determined to do things differently.

[ And yet... it didn't seem to fit with him either, somehow. ]

[A smile, nodding.] That's exactly what I was thinking when I wrote that name down. A new start, and a different feeling from the last tavern I managed.

[He scratches his chin thoughtfully.] Although, I felt maybe it was too gentle of a name.

[ It is reassuring to her that after all that time apart, she can still tell what he's thinking somewhat. She smiles in turn, putting a hand to her chin as well. ]

Too gentle... Well, I don't usually see that as a bad thing, but I can see why that would concern you.

[ It certainly sounded like they got some unsavory types in his previous pub, and while it didn't seem to be his intent this time, she knew they wouldn't really be able to pick and choose their customers. She looks at the two remaining names on the list, tracing her way down with her finger. ]

Then, perhaps Wild Harvest? It has... an air of mystery to it, like you shouldn't know what to expect. Something exciting. And also new, if that's what you want.

[A nod.]

The menu will be dependent on what's available for the day. So you're certainly right to think that. Most days the meat will be wild game, and since there's a garden...I thought the name suits it. Truthfully, I was undecided between Wild Harvest and the Morning Dew.

...Such a difficult decision already and you've hardly started. [ She speaks lightly and in jest, though truthfully, what he's just told her is a decent argument for the Wild Harvest. ] Truthfully? I think you could make either name successful.

So... what is your heart telling you?

[ Because yes, your sister is still that cheesy to give him a line like that. Sorry, but not really. ]

Hm. There is quite a bit of preparation before you open a place. [He hums quietly, looking down at the list, thinking long and hard on the two names. After a moment, he nods, looking over to her.]

I think I'll settle with Wild Harvest.

...Hee hee! [ It may not have been the name that spoke to her first, but it was still very much his. She can't help clapping her hands together, giggling to show her excitement, like when a particularly difficult law concept from one of her textbooks would finally click into place--either for her or for him. ] Well... then, congratulations.

You may have a lot of preparation ahead, but you've already taken the first step, I think. [ She says, because... heck if she knows how opening a pub is supposed to work. He's done this before though, hasn't he? So-- ] This is how it starts, correct? With cleaning, and planning, and... [ Then it hits her--she should probably takes some notes. ]

[A smile forms on his face, seeing her approval.] Inventory. [He adds.]

We do need to dress the place as well. Unlike the previous establishment, we're starting with nothing. And I admit...I'm not exactly one who knows how to decorate.

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