synflux | [CLOSED] Catch-all

[Raidou has caught up in many ways to living in these times that are so different from his own, since he's been here long enough, but there is a lot about the technology that escapes him. At least he was right in passing it off to Ratio, who seems to know what he's doing.

He watches Ratio work for a moment, wiping away some sweat and dirt from his forehead with his arm as he does. He'd cleared the majority of this area's larger pieces of debris himself, thanks to his nanobots. Of course, now, he's not sure what to say or do next, a ghost hovering a few feet away from Ratio. At this point, he's assuming another apology isn't going to fly. He wasn't even sure if it did last time. But he doesn't need to get along with everyone to be able work with them, right? It seems increasingly like that's going to be his lot here. Heaven knows he never got along with every Kuzunoha and summoner back home, either.

Talking is hard, trusting is harder, making people understand is the hardest of all. He'd already committed to the lonely life as the Capital's summoner. Now he was just Neo Tokyo's outsider among the Outsiders.

After a few moments, he looks behind him to a box of smaller bits of technology he was unsure about. Everything else he was sure about was sorted elsewhere.]

... There are some other things. Wasn't sure if they were good. Salvageable. Would you like those, or should I take them to LILITH?

[ He clicks his tongue the moment he opens the device—already, he can tell that the device's most delicate parts have been destroyed and are unsalvageable. But that doesn't mean other parts can't be salvaged. With a flourished spin of the screwdriver in his hand, he gets to work, carefully taking apart the inner machinery. ]

Give them to me. I will salvage what parts I can, and rework what has been destroyed, should LILITH desire that.

[ Not to mention that taking apart the machinery will allow him to see how this planet's technology works. He's already got the device in his hands figured out for the most part, so he's confident he could replicate the device himself if need be. ]

You vanished for two days.

[ Completely unprompted, and said like a statement, rather than an inquiry. He's still focused on the device though. ]

[Dutifully as ever, Raidou nods and goes to retrieve the box. As he's setting it down near where Ratio is working, he looks up, blinking. He wouldn't have expected Ratio to notice he was gone at all, let alone for how long. It catches him off guard.]

Ah. Y-Yes. I just... needed some air. To clear my head.

[Once he got his camp set up, mostly all he did was sleep.]

I had planned to come back that night, but LILITH got to me first.

[ Perhaps one day Raidou will understand that Ratio's repeated scoldings actually mean that he cares.

He hums in response, wondering how to probe Raidou's mental state without causing a repeat of the conversations they've had in the past. They're reached a point where Ratio's attempts to get him to value his own life aren't accomplishing anything, so a different strategy is necessary. ]

And how has your work in Okinawa been progressing?

[ Perhaps it's best not to focus on it, and talk about a subject Raidou cares for instead. ]

[Another question he's not expecting. There's a moment of quiet, typical of Raidou, before he speaks. He also busies himself with sorting through the box of things he'd brought over, separating it by what looks most to least salvageable.]

Um. On hiatus until things here are more settled. I will make sure what's there is maintained for now, when I have time. But otherwise, supplies need to be used here.

[He'd collected a lot from junkyards and second hand shops around the city, and has already donated whatever he had to the base. Scrap metal is pretty precious in this city.

Another brief pause as he debates adding something.]

... You're free to take a look there, if you like.

[Maybe it's an invitation. Maybe he just thinks that someone more knowledgeable than him should be looking over things. Hard to say.]

[ Raidou should really take pride in what he can already do. He's got a good head on those shoulders, for the most part. He just tends not to use it when it comes to self-preservation.

Ratio considers the invitation. It's not just an invitation to look. It's also one to help, if he so wanted. In reality, he'd wanted Raidou to learn how to handle a project all on his own, and to learn how to ask for help when he needs it. He invited Ratio to look, though, so look he will, but help he will not. ]

There's still much work to be done here, but I shall pay a visit once I have more free time.

[ Cleaning up the med bay, salvaging other parts of the Neo Tokyo base, building up the Kyoto base... the work is never ending. Not to mention he has to keep an eye on the orphanage and still help around in Neo Tokyo's hospitals. Whew. ]

Do tell me what you have managed to accomplish so far though.

[He's been doing a pretty good job of organizing things and getting the work done.
He's done his best to rope in the help of others when they can find the time, especially since things like getting the actual greenhouse building constructed is a little beyond him.]

I agree. Which is why I am pausing it until we're caught up here. [If they are ever caught up here...

Another pause as he thinks about what he'd been up to there lately.]

We've built several garden boxes. Planted some of the heartier plants to see how they'd take. The strawberries took like wildfire. [They grow pretty much anywhere, but it was still nice to see.] Should have some potatoes ready soon.

I'd like to transfer what we can from the base's greenhouse to Okinawa to keep them safe. So long as there won't be any contamination from the decay there.

[Ratio might be surprised at how well things had been progressing there. And while maybe Raidou won't outright ask for help, maybe a little advice or guidance from someone who has at least even half a clue of what they're doing would be greatly appreciated by him. Some confirmation that he's headed in the right direction.]

[ It sounds like a good start, from what Ratio knows of gardening. And the promise of fresh fruit and healthy vegetables is appetizing, almost enough so that he's tempted to lend a hand without being requested to do so.

Maybe he should look into establishing his own plot...? He had been looking into aquaponics as a potential hobby anyway. Regular gardening would just be a lateral move of a similar interest. ]

Given how abundant the fruit farms in Okinawa are, I suspect conditions will be ideal for growing. However, it wouldn't be a terrible idea to sample the soil and see what needs to be improved.

[ As for building the greenhouse itself... Ratio is no architect, but he an engineer. He would be able to help—but only if Raidou asks. ]

[Asking for help is hard enough for Raidou, especially when it's from someone who he's fairly certainly actively dislikes him at this point. They're all a team, though, right? It's all in the interest of the greater good of the Outsiders.]

I brought soil from Neo Tokyo too, for the boxes. Differing soil qualities for different plants. Transplanting some things from the base greenhouse.

[He's had a lot of help, but mostly, the work has been done by himself, Yuji, and Bakugo. Which is better than just Raidou, because you know if he was doing this alone, he'd just continue to do so.

He's quiet for a few moment, sorting through pieces, cleaning them off and setting them aside.]

... The hydroponic garden you gave me had worked quite well. [It showed him Ratio does know something about plants, but even better, using technology to improve them.] Would you... [Why is this so hard?] If you have the time, in the future... be able to look over the plans we found to use?

[ Ratio's finished disassembling the device by now, so he quickly sorts the pieces between broken, repairable and useable and then sets it all aside to begin working on the next piece. He's still considering whether or not to take the broken and repairable pieces for himself without notifying LILITH, but it all depends on what LILITH intends to do with those pieces. A thought for later in the day.

Hoh. Raidou actually asked for help. He thought it'd take a while, given the summoner's impression of the scholar was less than favourable at the moment. ]

Of course. I am not an expert in gardening, but I may be able to provide some advice on the construction of the greenhouse.

[ He has looked up enough information to know how to garden, but it's not always the same as actually doing it. So his knowledge is all theoretical at this point. ]

I'm hardly any expert.

[Yet here he is, trying to run this little project. He's learned everything has he goes along, which is impressive, really.]

I-It's nothing to worry about at the moment. The base should be the focus. Whether we can save it, or we need to rebuild, it's going to be a long road ahead

[But he really loves being in Okinawa, and doing this sort of work. All the physical labor and seeing the results of his research and sweat in real time. It was satisfying, and if it goes well, will benefit all of the Outsiders. That makes it even better.]

I am sure you have plenty of your own projects going as well. So. No urgency with the greenhouse.

[And, y'know, if he changes his mind. That's also possible. Why prioritize Raidou's project?]

[ One would normally ask an expert for advice, hence why Ratio not being an expert matters. Raidou is the one running the project. Whether he's an expert or not is irrelevant.

Ratio frowns. Asking for help and then backtracking on it? That annoys him. ]

I will visit when I decide to. You needn't concern yourself with my schedule or workload.

[ Just boldly ask for what you want, Raidou. ]

[A very quiet noise of frustration slips out of Raidou at that response. What did he say wrong now?

Remember when he just didn't talk to anyone? Maybe he ought to go back to that...

He picks up the now empty box, with one word before he gets back to collecting parts.]

Understood.

[ He sighs, noting Raidou's frustration. Ratio isn't normally the type to communicate his expectations clearly, because he often expects people to figure things out for themselves, but this time around it really isn't helping him with Raidou.

Normally, at this point, he would have long given up on Raidou and relegated him to a typical fool that would eventually learn through consequences, but—maybe it's sunk cost fallacy, but he just doesn't want to give up on the summoner now. ]

...I do not like timidness. If you have evaluated the situation and truly believe you need advice, then you should not be ashamed to ask for it.

[For a few quiet moments, Ratio can hear Raidou still sifting through the wreckage before he speaks up again. Thinking for a few moments about his words before speaking them, flat and cold as ever.]

I'm not ashamed. I only wish to not bother you when I know you have a lot of things to do.

If that is the case, why bother asking at all? Your request, no matter how meek you make it, is an imposition regardless.

[ He doesn't mean that Raidou actually should not ask, so the next moment, he clarifies. ]

Do you believe me incapable of judging what tasks should have priority? Or do you believe that you have improperly represented the importance of your project?

N-No, I--

[He looks up at Ratio now, a little puzzled and definitely frustrated. He frowns deeply, a rarity for him, and turns back to his work.]

There's nothing wrong with making room for politeness, Ratio-san. I probably just-- worded it poorly.

[He knows talking isn't his strong suit, and taking with Ratio only confirms how bad he is at saying the right things.]

[ Politeness, he says? Ratio stops for a moment, and realizes that it could be a cultural expectation. It's one he ignores back home, but he hadn't thought about how that would apply to Outsiders. Raidou's home is similar to this country's, if he remembers correctly, and the people here communicate similarly, much to his frustration. Still... ]

There's a difference between courtesy and minimizing oneself. Regardless, I will see to the greenhouse soon.

[ Whatever he might feel about Raidou's personal development, it's important for the Outsiders, so now that it's been requested of him, he will help where he can. ]

[CLOSED] Catch-all

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject