thefoundation | WEEK 4 - VENUS FLYTRAP

Right, they're weak and gross. [ Leeches are usually full of blood though, which doesn't do him any favors when he's successfully side tracked himself like this. He spaces out for just a moment, then tips his head to the side to look at Anon as best he can without pulling the braid. From this angle it's clear his fangs are out; it's a few more days until he gets to eat again so he's hungry. ]

You would have had fun. There were no rules or laws by that point, and anyone who tried to argue otherwise got the Shiki treatment of being pounded with a mallet. We even had a couple of villagers who tried to play both sides and they wound up being mobbed to death. [ It was a mess, but he sounds fond of it all. ]

The celestials sound like a real pain...if they were going to do whatever they wanted they should have just let everyone else do it too.

[There's a hum of acknowledgment, a mischievous side-glance because Anon knows that with all the talk of blood and everything and that peek of fangs, Natsuno's getting all distracted too. There's a cheeky half-grin as he ties off the braid with a satisfied little motion.]

That sounds even more fun than the Game here -- I mean, there probably weren't all that many strong opponents, but it's been a while since I've gotten to stretch my legs. I wouldn't even need a mallet or anything... No waiting, or arguing, or sides or anything. Just survival!

[He really does sound like he's cheering?? It's truly all a mess. Some days you just miss getting to really punch things. He's had so much self-control here, y'all.]

Well, that's Celestials for you. They've always been sneakier, and they like pretending they're so above it all, but really they play just as dirty as everybody else. It's why Father was really, really good at pretending to be one.

[ He huffs, amused. ]

A mallet would be overkill for you. None of them were really strong though...except this big jiisan who used to own the liquor store. He didn't need a mallet either, and he was well over 180 cm tall and like an old cranky bear. Heard he even killed his own son and everything.

[ For as much as he hates Sotoba, he kinda sounds like he agrees with Anon here. Superficially at least, because if he really thought about it, the company here is much better. Way, way, better.

Mmn, feeling out the newly done braids and trying not to think too hard. ]

That's the kind of person your dad is? [ It's another topic they've skirted and talked about, but not directly. ]

Heheh, remind me to show you the Sacred Weapons when I can. 'Cause they're way more fun than a mallet. But come to think of it... I've totally wanted to meet a bear since I got to the island. I think Joey said that they eat fish and make sushi, but I don't know if they kill their sons.

[We don't know if this is slandering bears, sushi, the jiisan or Joey at this point, but somebody definitely had their reputation messed with somewhere in that katamari of deeply confused speculation. Anon definitively perked up a little at the idea of bear-jiisans, though.

He quiets down a little just to watch Natsuno and his braids. It's more than a little tempting to just keep going -- judging by the other times they've hung out, they could probably keep going until Natsuno really does have a headful of both braids and flowers.

But he likes the way things are now too, the simple braids and the ridiculous boa. He misses having something to do with his hands, but there are other distractions to think over.]

Mmm, I would say most of the Protectorate is pretty good at it. Knowing how to play the Celestial game, and use what people want against them, and get power by any means necessary, and all of that! Father's spent a lot of time with Celestials, though, so I'd say he's one of the best.

...make sushi? [ Laughing here, it's a great distraction from the braids even as they sway in his hair as a result. ]

Bears catch fish, but they definitely don't make sushi at all. I don't know if they kill their sons, either though. [ He's settled a little just thinking of this whole bearscapade, but he slides back into a more level tone to address the Celestials. ]

Sounds like a bunch of dealing with people and politics...it makes sense that he's one of the best at it even if he's an Infernal.

Ehhh, then Joey definitely didn't know as much about bears as she thought she did! If they don't kill their sons they should at least know how to use fish properly.

[Anon snickers back happily; he doesn't seem especially invested in the idea of sushi or filicide one way or the other -- by now he's got a whole spread of different foods that he wants to try and no fresh fish for the moment to whet his appetite -- but it tickles him just as much as everything else.

He watches the braids, still, just as much as he's watching Natsuno's expression. Everything is pretty distracting.]

Definitely. That's probably why he got that mission and all. There's all kinds of political things between Infernal clans too, I think, but nothing gets to the level it's gotten to with the Celestials. I don't think they have anything better to do.

[Peacetime breeds political posturing, the usual.]

Remind me to show you a bear after you show me a Celestial Weapon. [ It's not really a trade perse because Natsuno is curious about the weapons regardless, but it's the least he can offer in return. It should be a good time, if the lingering upturn of his lips is any indication.

Pausing here to stretch, all the flowers in his boa and in his hair bristle like feathers from the exaggerated motions. He settles quickly after, turning his head to look at Anon directly. ]

...adult's in every world really are boring. No wonder you didn't really want anything to do with it.

I bet you I could totally fight a bear with a Celestial Weapon.

[Why. Poor Joey tried so hard to prevent him from fighting a bear on a whim and yet here he is. The bears don't deserve this. Anon leans forward with a brighter edge to his grin, all happy anticipation and jittery long limbs. Between them they have enough flowers to start a greenhouse, and that's probably what the dining room smells like by now, green and fragrant and messy.

All the flowers catch his eye in their riot of color but he meets Natsuno's gaze easily. It's still that particular color that has the most draw here, at the end of the day.]

Everyone, in every world. The adults more than most, but... [a little huff, even though it doesn't seem to sour his mood any at the moment; it's just a part of the regular dragging session when you get down to it] Yeah. There's so many things that are way better and bigger to see.

I didn't ever really care about those games of power, but it'd be fun to see their faces once I grow way, way beyond all of that.

[ Humming mischievously. ]

I bet you I could get a bear to catch us all the fish we need for sushi. And then I'll get a chef to actually make it for us. [ What did he even just promise here. ]

Don't grow too tall. [ Smirking and leaning forward to match, full of ridiculous bravado, and completely oblivious to the braids, flowers, and everything else. Or maybe he has noticed and he just doesn't care, because they'll do what they want no matter how ridiculous, illogical, iconoclastic, or sheer chaotic it is ] It would be a pain to keep up with you if you did, but I'll do my best anyway.

[He looks both intrigued and delighted by this development??]

What are you going to do, scare the bear into it?!

[Anon has no idea what Natsuno just promised either, unless he's planning to take on both the bear and the chef with his vampire powers™ or something, but he's certainly looking forward to finding out. Because he really still hasn't had sushi here, even if they've probably had seafood for every other meal.

Either way, mischievous Natsuno and bold Natsuno are both really fun and there's no way he's going to back down or slow down with either, so this is just an accelerating train here. Both of them are probably going to enjoy the wreck at this rate.

For now, he laughs and stretches himself out partly because he's been sitting for a while and partly just to be silly.]

Ah, if I grow much taller I'm going to start hitting doorways, huh? It might be dangerous if you keep up!

[He is not being serious about any of this at all but for some reason there's still a teasing sort of challenge to that. What are they doing.]

It's a secret. [ Is it, or does he actually have no idea how he's going to pull this off.

He may have also brought a finger to his mouth in the universal "shh" motion, but it also may have been an optical illusion. ]

I'm tenacious, I'll be fine. Besides growing taller was one of my truths, hmn?

[ Intense mystery continues, but he's probably being silly at this point too. Probably. ]

[That definitely gets a laugh, silly and conspiratorial, even if he has no clue what they're conspiring about other than possibly using their common animal-alarming natures at some point to do terrible things (yet again, as always). Anon has no idea, but he mimics the motion with careless ease and a little wink.

Whatever it is, he's looking forward to it. And he's used to having things and people to look forward to, because that's how life works; but there's something a little different here, in a good way. There are a lot of things different here, even if he only knows how to name some of them so far.]

I remember! [he sounds like he's holding back laughter here, or like he's about to say something both dumb and outrageous, and well--] If you grow taller than me just because you're tenacious, you might even be able to grow to bear size?

[That's totally the secret. (no)]

[ That wink gets the stupidest grin out of Natsuno yet, his head tilting to the side, braids and flowers shifting in a kaleidoscope of colors. ]

Hmn, I think I'm taller than some bears already. [ He looks Anon over, a smile still playing at his lips. ] We might be good just as we are.

[ The answer to what they're doing is flirting. Or being dumb. Or both, actually. ]

[It's an image he's going to remember for a while: the grin and the flowers that resonate with something in him like a ringing bell struck just right. He can tell that even through the deliberate and unthinking way they're barreling forward with no destination, or every destination.

Anon lets it all settle, lets his own smile and momentum carry them forward. Truly the dumbest flirting is when no one involved knows what the hell is going on.]

I think I'd want to meet those bears sometime. [there's something sly there, whether it's actually teasing or whether he just wants to meet bears is up for debate] But I think I'd be fine with staying like this, too.

[It's true in a way that threads all through where they are now, even if he isn't trying for it. He isn't trying to hide it, either, because why would he?

They might be mostly out of flowery things to do, but there are other things that never run out.]

[ Nodding along, bears have been added to their agenda. It's getting pretty packed at this point. ]

That counts for how we are now, and the meeting later too. [ Stating for clarity because- ] I wonder if Nirrti will be upset with us ruining the whole mood of her pity party with bright flowers. As long as the goats don't try to eat the flowers out of my hair, I think it'll be fun.

[An itinerary is only packed when there's a finite end to it -- but he's always sort of vaguely considered the multiverse their oyster, for a few weeks now. It'll take just a little longer for the whole thing to percolate and coalesce into something he can put into words and start putting into action, because Anon is nothing if not a creature of action once he's actually figured out what he's about.

Maybe he should have spent a little more time thinking about just why the whole thing got so complicated and tangled up in everything outside of himself, but he's not going to, because that's how he rolls.

For now, Anon is going to happily slot bears into the whole shebang and snicker at the idea of trying to deal with Nirrti and the goats, running a mock-protective hand over his own braid.]

Mmhmm, it totally counts. I don't think Nirrti will notice, anyway, she's pretty good at not noticing things when she doesn't want to.

If the goats get too hungry, I'm pretty sure we can just feed them the tablecloths.

['Cause they'll probably end up in the ballroom again and that's clearly the way to goatherd.]

Yeah, that's true. I kinda wish it wasn't though, it'd be fun to make her scream. [ This is definitely his jinrou side shining through, but there's a distinct note of pride present. He's always been about doing whatever he wants, and not so silly braids aren't an exception. Neither is their growing list of things to do and see. If he stopped and thought he might catch himself, but they're flying along too fast for that. For now, it's likely a good thing. The payoff later will make that clear. ]

That'll work. We can just use these flower scraps too and throw them at them. [ Like a literal flower bomb. ]

Hmm, I guess it's pretty easy to make her scream about stuff, if you really want to.

[Truth to tell, most of the time Anon prefers her when she's happily murderous because that's how he rolls in this neck of the Witchy woods, and it's usually much, much more fun to see how much she can set the place on fire. Still, she's entertaining either way and if their fellow Pieces can get her riled enough to really stretch her vowels then it can't be too hard. He's just never bothered to make the effort on his end, and the funny shade in the book is still a bit of a confusing quantity.

That's not the most important thing here, though.

He gives a little hum as he looks around at the remaining petals that they haven't gotten to on the floor and the rest of the floral supplies.]

And if you've got nothing else to do with them! I think I can totally make them into proper bombs.

[Is this really going to be a thing. Just him actually fucking up flower crowns on purpose.]

[ Natsuno just finds her annoying. Between the two witches he probably prefers Watanuki more even if the difference is mainly negligible, but his real issue with Nirrti is her whole "feel sorry for me" schtick. That and how she veers int overly edgy even for him. But, that really isn't important when they're dealing with explosions, and he's fine enough with nodding and moving along.

Effort is only for important things, like flower bombs. ]

Mhmm, I think I'm done making them for everyone else. [ Which is to say he would make Anon another one if he wanted. ]

Show me. They're probably the next best thing compared to making a real bomb here.

[ ...he sounds really excited over this? Maybe he just likes blowing things up even if it's just in flowers, okay. ]

Edited 2019-06-10 01:35 (UTC)

[There's an amused curl to Anon's smile at the way Natsuno is just all in instantly the moment the talk of explosions comes up -- it's a known quantity by now but it never fails, there's something inappropriately soft to the expression, too, but luckily they're both distracted enough by the flower bombs that there's no need to dwell on it.

He's already started moving to gather more flowers, sizing them up for weaving and contemplating the state of the bomb design. Well, first of all, he brings his loot over closer by scooting in a little and then passes some flowers over to Natsuno again. They're apparently just going to hog the dining room and the rest of the flowers, the way they've been doing all along.]

Okay. Then we can experiment a little. You're still better than me at this, but...

[He starts putting together something that looks like the start of a flower crown, but there's a couple more layers to it. Flower crowns in 3D, is what they're doing here. There's something of a laughing quality to his voice, because this really is fun, pyromaniacal instincts aside.]

The more flowers there are, the more likely it is to explode, right? So if you can make it a flower ball instead of a crown...

[God help everybody else tonight.]

A flower ball...so are we going to throw it at people? [ The eagerness in his voice carries here, like a cat that's just spotted an unattended hair tie or the sound of a tuna can opening. His mother would weave baskets sometimes, so adapting that into a general ball shaped shouldn't be too hard even if he wasn't excited for this already.

He scoots his chair a bit closer just to get a clearer view of what Anon's doing. There's no other underlying reasons, surely. ]

What else would you do with a bomb?

[Well, there are bombs you can set, not that anyone has used a bomb here yet or will in the near future -- but with this particular element projectiles seem to be the way to go. That, and the memory of Natsuno cracking up when the boa landed on him is still fresh and spurring Anon on at the moment. Inspiration comes from anywhere, after all.

It's time to put their heads together for this, not-quite-literally but certainly close enough. Anon pokes a little at what he's got so far (it's pretty rickety, given that he's sort of improvising a layered flower crown) and then glances over at Natsuno with an inquiring grin, something necessarily conspiratorial in it.]

Do you think it's round enough like this?

[It probably is not round enough yet, especially since he has no idea how basket-weaving works.]

[ He laughs in agreement; that was true. Setting it was less fun, he would know. ]

No not yet, we want it to seriously explode so we have to stuff it to the limit. [ His pace slows when he catches Anon eye so the movements are easier to track—loop, loop, knot, loop, loop, knot. It's all rather silly and serious at the same time. ]

Edited 2019-06-11 01:27 (UTC)

Hmmm, so that's how this weaving works... like this, and this...

[Anon leans down a little just to eyeball the movements, his own slowing as he focuses -- there's concentration there and a little bit being mesmerized, because somehow seeing the weaving is a little bit different after getting a literal feel for it with his own hair. He's picking it up, though, loop by loop; knots are easy enough, but it's the patterns.]

Definitely, it needs enough flowers to really go off. I think this shape is going to be good. Are you sure you've never made flower bombs before?

[This is a ridiculous use of learning handicrafts but honestly: whatever works. Sometimes you just need to bomb the norms and traditions out of existence and weave something new.]

Me too. The flowers will go everywhere, just like the glitter did. [ Consider: glittered flowers. That might be a step too far, but he might just voice it anyway. ]

Never. I wouldn't be caught dead holding flowers in Sotoba, the obaasan club would have never shut up about me being a secret admirer for some lucky lady. [ His inflection changes at the end, high, musical and mocking. ]

WEEK 4 - VENUS FLYTRAP

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