( open ) march catch all

[cranekin]

WHO: Tsurumaru and you
WHAT: Museum lore, civilian shenanigans, and collecting sword friends
WHERE: Misc.
WHEN: March
WARNINGS: N/A for now

i'm also open to reusing any tdm prompts if you want to carry any prompts over to this log.
tdm top level and cr meme comment for reference.
if you would like an original starter or have your own idea, hit me up yosakoi | discord: diejoubus

Comments

[icyspicy]

The flowers? A good question. They seem to be rather sparse around here, don’t they?

[ He lifts a hand, as if he means to let his fingertips coast along one of the petals, but ultimately decides he better not touch the very expensive merchandise and lowers it again.

Ice colored eyes flick back over to Tsurumaru. ]

What do most people do with the real ones?

[cranekin]

(Tilting his head to one side, almost birdlike as he turns over the question,)

In this place? (In this world?) Hmm...

(He hums and looks down at the bouquet now,)

There one was a time when people made art. Each season, a new arrangement would be made and displayed in places for people to see and appreciate... but only for a season. The beauty of nature is nothing is forever.

[icyspicy]

That there's any nature at all in this city seems to be a miracle.

[ He misses the stars most of all, but trees and parks and things are something he didn't realize he could miss until he came here.

Winter turns away from the flowers for now, choosing instead to approach his fellow Outsider. ]

I've seen you around before, haven't I? I'm Winter.

[cranekin]

...

(It does seem like a miracle, doesn't it? he remembers a time when there was a lot more to be found. Back then, there were more spirits, too. But now, even if the city is noisy it feels quiet to him. When he's at the base surrounded with his new comrades, it feels more familiar with that mix of alive and "alive.")

Winter? My, I thought spring was coming.

(He's funny.)

I suppose I should go by another name now... but you can call me Tsurumaru.

(Do their names translate... how far do these translations go? Do they come with asterisks and hover options to help people understand thing sin greater detail like how "Tsurumaru" means "crane." )

[icyspicy]

[ He chuckles, a low and rolling sound bubbling up from his chest. ]

Tell that to our hosts.

[ While he's fine giving his real name to anyone he recognizes as an Outsider, he's less confident about speaking LILITH's name out in the open. Better to avoid it until he has a better grasp on how this place works.

In any case, Winter's implant doesn't ping with any helpful translation data, but then, he's rather new to using it, so it's possible he missed it, too. ]

Pleasure to meet you, Tsurumaru. Everlight, right?

[cranekin]

(Yes, their hosts... he smiles and laughs lightly in response,)

Mhm. (He nods. If he can narrow him down to his team then it must be because he's seen him in their wing or at least heading towards their wing,) Ah, are we working together?

(He raises a hand to his cheek and feigns surprise even if he isn't really surprised.)

How rude of me. I should have greeted you sooner.

[icyspicy]

[ Winter gives a nod. They are indeed working together, though just how Winter ended up on a team that sounds bright and shiny when he himself is Extremely Goth, he’ll never understand.

LILITH must work in mysterious ways. ]

No time like the present, hm? I don’t mind a belated introduction. Have you been here long?

[cranekin]

(Tsurumaru Kuninaga is definitely a bright and cheerful guy and there isn't anything wrong with him at all, yeah. )

Well, as long as we're here... (In the present, that is. He raises a hand to his chest and tips forward, giving a light bow in greeting,) Tsurumaru Kuninaga.

I arrived here before the new year.

(So he's from the first batch of Outsiders who arrived.)

[icyspicy]

[ Just like there’s nothing wrong with any of the Outsiders. LILITH most assuredly only collects the most well-adjusted of people.

“Before the new year” has him doing a bit of mental math, and he frowns slightly. ]

That’s quite a while, isn’t it? I’m not thrilled about the prospect of being here for months.

[cranekin]

Is it? (When you've lived as long as he has, a few months is as short as a few days to most.) I suppose time has flown...

(And he hadn't noticed,)

Is there something you're in a hurry to return home to, Winter?

[icyspicy]

[ Ah. Winter’s world is no stranger to the long-lived – Winter’s boss and adoptive mother figure being one such person – and with that little statement he’s picking up a similar vibe here. He files that away for later. ]

Why, yes. I’m quite eager to get home to my home.

[cranekin]

...

(It's a simple and obvious answer that makes Tsurumaru go quiet for just a second. Of course. It's natural for most people to have attachments to their homes. Most people expect to stay or return eventually.)

Of course.

(Just, "of course.")

I've been told that even if we're here, it's like we never left back home.

[icyspicy]

I’m not so sure how much I trust that, truth be told.

[ Though he has little choice in the matter. Thinking about it too hard will only make him worry. ]

Not that we have much choice but to take them at their word, hm?

[cranekin]

(He listens and smiles. It's like the more he hears, the more he realizes maybe he's been handling this all a certain way. Maybe

just maybe

there's something a little

wrong with him?

Hm.)

Is this your first time being taken?

(Taken. Not kidnapped. And like this is something that happens normally?)

[icyspicy]

[ That word choice is sure telling him some things. Everyone reacts to situations differently, of course, and not everyone is fond of the place they came from. But to think that this might be a welcome alternative is…

It’s sure something. ]

Against my will? Certainly. I did visit a hotel that was somewhat similar, a place where many people from many different worlds converge, but that was by choice.

You?

[cranekin]

You could say I'm quite desirable.

(Twice stolen and passed along too many times to count, this is just another instance for him. )

This is the first time being taken to a new world, though... or rather, a different version of the one I know.

(Beause this one is still Japan but not the same Japan he knows.)

It's just another place.

[icyspicy]

[ The way Winter just assumes that means this man is a frequent victim of kidnapping?? Because what else is that supposed to mean??? ]

You are… remarkably calm about all this, I must say.

[cranekin]

It's good to keep a cool head.

(Definitely. That explains his attitude to all of this but maybe in time, Winter will learn it takes a lot to ruffle Tsurumaru's feathers. No matter the situation, he can always be counted on to be cool and collected.)

[icyspicy]

I like to think I’m pretty unflappable, but you definitely take it to a whole new level.

[ There’s definitely some Issues there, he thinks, if only because no one is that chill all the time. Still, a level head is a level head and it’s nice to have one on the team. ]

[cranekin]

Thank you.

(Just thanks. He knows.)

I like to be surprised, though. I wonder when the next exciting thing will happen.

[icyspicy]

From what I’ve heard? It could be any moment. I guess we’d best say on our toes, hm?

[cranekin]

Mhm, despite being longer here than some, I haven't been here for very long at all.

(It's like a blink to him.)

But I don't think we would be summoned en masse for a one off thing. Whether something comes to us or they find some other way to put us to work remains to be seen.

[icyspicy]

This world seems like it needs all the help it can get. I'm not usually one for charity work, though like most things here, I have little say in the matter.

But no, I don't imagine our being here would solve all their problems after just one battle and a bit of clean-up.