[closed] quest to find a dang hobby

[strongroots]

Who: Robby, Shigeo (centile), Ritsu (centi), Ritsuka (in_loveless_memory), Sunny (good_mourning), Frisk (stilljustyou), and some others
What: Trying ~new things~, for fun. As a treat
When: Early February, over a few days
Where: Daniel LaRusso's house/Miyagi-do dojo, elsewhere
Content Warnings: N/A.

There's a lot that comes with arriving - and living - in Trench. Adapting to its culture, bartering system, way of getting a job or education. And yeah, everyone knows about the beasts and blood, but there's figuring out being your own person as often to struggle with.

Sometimes, you need help finding things to do and that make you fulfilled.

Robby gets it. And as someone who gets it deeply, he's also kind of throwing this whole thing together haphazardly of inviting a bunch of younger teens in the effort of let's try new things. Maybe they can be useful day-to-day, maybe they're just something that can be a fun hobby; as long as they possibly interest you, that's about the goal. And hanging out--'cause it's easier to try new things when you're not doing them alone. Probably. Right?

Regardless, he's invited some younger pals for a few different days to come over to have a go, hang out, keep adjusting to their new life. With some planned activities, and they're free to recommend what they can do.

And so, on these different days...

THE ACTIVITIES

→ skateboarding: skateboarding, Robby's speciality. The road outside Mister LaRusso's is surprisingly clear of snow, and there's a maximum of three skateboards, designs simple and for use. There won't be any grinding or kicking up half-pipes, but Robby can help familiarise the gang with the basics of riding a skateboard, as well as include some very simple tricks once they get the hang of that.

→ sewing a stuffed animal: Not much of a doll person? Nor Robby, but it's about following the instructions and learning some sewing. Hopefully those instructions don't suck, but there's a couple of patterns to choose from: a cat, a mouse, and a fox.

Wow. At least learning to stitch might be useful, right?

→ weaving: Who thinks about cane weaving ever? ...probably resourceful people, but Robby's managed to snag two types for trying: a small holder and a fruit bowl. Which is just a larger holder.

Or there's macrames. Another kind of weaving, this time with cords, one project is a coaster, while another is for making a keychain...or probably a bookmark, or bracelet. Whichever strikes your fancy.

→ cooking: For cooking, Mister LaRusso is only happy to help teach some useful meal foods that everyone can do back home. Come early enough on one day, and he can show how to make pancakes and crêpes. Want to learn how to even fry an egg, or make an omelette? That's a good lunchtime meal. And as for dinner? You know he's got to teach you how to make a lasagna.

Of course, requests and suggestions can be made. Sunny's got a recipe for cookies, which require the special ingredient of love. ...and flour. Making pastry can also be touched on, if anyone wants to know the secret of making pies.

→ gardening: It's a visit to Ezra Bridger's for this task. One that isn't immediately rewarding, but will take time--months, even, to see the rewards of your time and patience. They're taken into his garden where the land has been left to fallow, but he has a greenhouse where young seedlings are left to sprout, kept warm and covered despite the chill outside its walls.

The process is simple, and the instructions easy. A mix of compost and rice husks is used for the mix--rice husks for allowing air into the mix, and compost to help give nutrients to the seeds--and the trays are basic, coming with lids, and small mats infused with coldstones turned towards a soft heat will assure the seeds stay warm and have help to germinate.

But what are the seeds? There's a choice to choose from. For flowers, there's cosmos, dahlia, busy lizzies, dahlias; as for vegetables, you have choices from sweet peppers, small lamb lettuces, onions, and, for an always safe beginner food? Rainbow radishes.

This will be an activity to come back to over time. But hey, at least the radishes might only take five weeks to grow.

( OOC: tl;dr, not everything is done at the same time, you can pick and choose what your character does or swipe the ideas for later! if your character would have any ideas, put them up. B) i know photography was brought up, so going around and taking photos?? can be a thing!! )

Comments

[centile]

[finally, it is time for skateboarding, the long awaited prophecy fulfilled. anyone who is in karate with mob will already know he is, hm, not athletically inclined. he has the spirit, sure, and in time maybe! but right now yeah. yeah.

he falls a lot, but always gets back up. at one point he does one of the basic tricks, board kicking up, and even lands it! wow. only he sort of gets so caught up in having done it he runs right into a pile of snow off to the side with a little oof. just half buried in there, but when he sits up a snowy mess his placid expression maybe still looks the tiniest bit pleased.

he'll watch others, clapping when they manage things. if someone is going to take a really bad spill onto their face they'll find themselves gently floating back to their feet, blue-purple around them and mob holding a hand out. who needs a helmet when you have a psychic?]


[he also gives the stuffed animals a try, because the cat was cute and he might as well try a lot of things. trying to figure out what you're passionate about in life, very teenage. as it turns out sewing is probably not one of them.

he pokes his fingers a lot. the cat's head is already misshapen and lumpy without even having stuffing in it. he just stares at it, turning to whoever else is there,] I don't think I did it right. [one of the ears falls off to make his point.]


[cooking is absolutely something he thinks is important to learn, especially since he's pretty sure he and ritsu are hopeless at it. his brother is clever and a quick learner, he's sure ritsu will figure it out but mob needs to pull his weight too. what if ritsu wants a break? or sunny and makima? he had to step up and not give them food poisoning, which is a very real possibility.

so he might be found in poor, patient daniel's kitchen sometime, ready to Learn. maybe it's pancakes, which will have him staring hard at the single pancake cooking away. wait for the batter to bubble right? how much? a lot of bubbles? a single one? cooking is very intense.

when he flips it it's not burnt at least, but it's a little overcooked. his shiba inu omen sits at his feet, somewhere between bored and waiting for snacks. anyone who comes in will be asked if they're hungry and pointed to a misshapen pancake. anyone already on this cooking journey with him will get the shibe staring, hoping the mooching will be more effective on them than on mob.]


[and finally the activity mob actually might end up liking and sticking with, gardening. mob can definitely repeatedly be found here, doing the small tasks on whatever little part of the greenhouse they're in.

he might be found talking to the plants, because he heard you're supposed to do that somewhere.] Hello, you look healthy today? Are you thirsty? [things like that, small talk with some dahlia and pepper seeds.

he also might be seen looking at a plant looking a little wilted and droopy, a faint pause before he lifts a finger and points at it. one of two things can happen when his hand lights up blue-purple: either the flower in questions perks up a little, healthier and making him smile very faintly, or the flower suddenly bursts into violent bloom, growing way larger than it should be and overgrown, which makes him startle. oops.]

Gardening, of course!

[ezra_of_lothal]

[Erza is watching, with both his eyes and 'watching' in the Force, as much as he can without doing anything he thinks of as actual contact with Mob's presence.]

Hmmm. Question, and it's ok if you don't have an answer -

Does it feel any different, to you, while you're doing stuff, between - [He gestures between a sprout that's shot up and one that just looks perkier.]

[centile]

[a good question, and one he considers for a moment about the freedom not to answer. that was nice of him, mob thinks, and it helps making him feel a little less uncomfortable about it. especially with people connected to that big power like ezra, they seemed to understand better than even a lot of psychics in his own world.]

I guess... [he stalls, mostly because it's hard to put this sort of thing to words. he doesn't talk about his powers or emotions much besides the basics.] I was happy the first one looked healthier, I think. I was thinking how pretty it would look fully grown.

[then... well, it's certainly grown now.]

skateboarding

[strongroots]

[ Robby managed to get the skateboard, but safety gear? Sorry, no can do, there. But he's keeping an eye on things as much as he is trying to show the moves from the very basics to some actual tricks, and honestly, it's fun. Fun just to be goofing like this, and seeing people trying.

Even if said people topple into piles of snow, which, Robby only half chokes a laugh at. But he's somewhat hurrying over, waving a hand and calling: ]

Hey, Mob! You okay?

[ Gotta be nice, first. ]

[centile]

[the one use for mob's powers, skateboard safety. who needs helmets? shame, because seeing a bunch of kids in whatever dorky helmets they could find in the trench would be pretty magical.

but hey, mob did some sort of nollie and he has snow stuck in his hair as he sits up, rousing success so far even if he ate pavement. or snow in this case.]

Did I do it right? [you know... before the falling. he's a little stuck in the snow bank though, please assist...]

stuffed animals

[good_mourning]

[Perhaps obviously, Sunny is also making the cat. Maybe if he enjoyed himself enough, he might return for the others.

And, honestly, he's not doing an awful job. There's a clear lack of refinement in the stitching, but the cat is holding together and looks like a cat. Which is why it's kind of weird that he's poked himself so much. Enough that there are little bloodstains on the cat's fabric.

Strange, probably had nothing to do with bad luck.]

Mm, I think it's okay if it doesn't look perfect. That makes it something that only you could make. [A pause.] I can help you stitch the ear back on, though. Unless you want it to have one ear, which is fair. Cats with one ear deserve love, too.

[centile]

[definitely no bad luck there. either way that's very wise, and mob considers it.]

I saw a cat once with a big notch in her ear. That was really cute. [he picks up the ear, deciding to try and put it back on. maybe then notch it? is that too advanced (it is)]

Could you? [sunny looks pretty good at this, besides the blood shed. hm] Do you need a bandage?

cooking

[miyagimagic]

[ Of course Daniel is right there with Mob to guide him on this cooking journey.. Sure, pancakes might not be the healthiest of meals, but it sure is relatively easy to teach, and it's an alright breakfast. So he figures it's a good starting point - especially when Mob doesn't exactly seem like the most experienced cook ever.

(Sorry, Mob... He adores you anyway, okay...)

But the shibe's staring? Oh, it so isn't lost on Daniel. Maybe it's since he too usually has a little cooking companion staring up at him like that whenever he's cooking a meal.

He recognizes the look.

So while Mob is busy finishing up that pancake - or an attempt at it, anyway - Daniel can't help but speak up in the Omen's defense. ]

I think your little friend wants to try some, Shigeo.

[centile]

[thank you sensei, at the very least he doesn't burn anything down? big plus. it's pretty clear mob's immediate problem with cooking is he spaces out or drifts in his own thoughts sometimes and bam, burnt pancake, too much salt, etc.

perhaps one day. at the very least having daniel there seems to focus him. the dream of one day being able to cook daniel something in return for that first meal, preferably food that is bearable even.

but there's another mediocre pancake done, still a little too cooked but marked improvement from near burnt. he blinks when daniel speaks, glancing over to his omen which still looks a little sulky but his tail is going nuts with the possibility of Food. this is why he likes daniel, especially when mob pulls one of the pancakes in half and offers it.]

You like pancakes? [given the omen immediately devours it and licks mob's hand for the crumbs that's a yes. mob is a little proud despite himself, looking to daniel.] He liked it.

[he's a dog, mob, he'll eat anything. still mob sees this as a tiny victory for his cooking, that a dog doesn't turn his nose up to it.]

[strongroots]

1, skateboard

[ Skateboarding is Robby's forte, and he'll be the one to help them learn what the heck they're doing with minimal falls (likely). There isn't many good places to go far with so much snow, but at least the more commonly-used roads have been cleared from foot- and horse travel. The stretch of road outside Miyagi-do has also been mostly cleared for this... with some help with coldblood (and Robby's....training of using it. Ugh, a pain).

He'll show them the basics: from learning how to move on a skateboard, which foot to use for keeping your momentum, and how to come to a safe stop. Show, and then watch your character's example.

So, just how well is your character doing with this? Decent? Not getting it? Is bad luck following them and breaking the board? Let Robby witness your attempts--he'll have a nod to give before any of them, a small smile as he says: ] Alright, show me what you've got.

2, basket weaving

[ Robby isn't just sticking to what he knows. These activities seem like...well, what people with too much time (or money) do, but making baskets? Not that frivolous, in this place. It'd be kinda insulting if he didn't participate in these things either, so--hey, here he is. ]

The cups are supposed to be good for starting, [ he explains when bringing out both, since, lifting the kit up-- ] --So if we make these, the baskets should be a breeze.

[ So Robby says, but oh boy, is the weaving of the canes actually time-consuming once you get going. Or so it feels in Robby's hands. He's not impatient, but he might be internally sweating when he bends the pieces to make their loops around the support sticks.

And when Robby is done or even close to done? ...Yeah, his piece is looking wonky, and he sees anyone looking, he'll cough a laugh, give a sheepish--but not upset--face. ]

Not bad for a first go?

[ It's looking...wonky. ]

3, plush toy making

[ But, okay. Plush dolls. Who's got an omen they like to spoil? ...not Robby, but he knows someone who does, and he figures whatever he makes could be good for Mister LaRusso's omen (who is likely flopped somewhere nearby, being adorable). Does anyone have experience threading a needle? Because they can suffer doing that with Robby for a second, squinting as he tries to get the thread in. ] How the hell do you get these things in so small...?

[ But once he gets there, either through trial and error or help, cutting the patterns aren't too big of an issue. He got some patterns when buying everything else, some fat quarters bought for the fabric. Just, he has to pick a fabric. ] We wanna go for a normal mouse, or make it blue?

[ He'll take suggestions! ]

4, pastry

[ And then there's food. Food! And speaking of food... ]

...This is where I miss frozen lasagna.

[ Mister LaRusso had to pick lasagna, didn't he. Which, doesn't really seem complicated, save the part where they have to make the sauces and the sheets. And those sheets? Requires making a well...of flour? Okay.

Even at this early on into the process, he'll look to who's beside him, fork in had (for mixing the eggs currently sitting in their flour well): ] Ready?

[ Robby doesn't sound it...but here they are. ]

skateboarding

[good_mourning]

[Moving on the board, at least, was something Sunny was finding himself able to do. He wasn't very steady, and wobbled as he did it, but he sure was moving. Though he falls. Several times.

Even when it seems like he was doing alright, he'd hit a missed patch of ice or a particularly large rock and go careening down onto the ground. The board was still intact, but he was starting to get some scrapes and bruises from falling so much.

He keeps getting back up, though! He's trying. Maybe someday he could even do a trick.]

[strongroots]

[ Robby's omen is always coming over, jumpy as it watches Sunny on the board. Masked as always in its shadowy figure than anything too distinct in species (but shape obvious, with paws and its legs somewhat defined), but it's after a fall that Robby comes over on his own board, making it halt with his foot. ]

Alright, how about I teach you something sorta fun to make up for all the falling? You're doing good, [ he adds -- gotta make sure to put that in! ] Road isn't as great as I'd thought it be.

[ Unless it's just poor luck... ruining their day. :( ]

But just flipping your board? You don't need to move to learn that.

( for johnny and sunny: making a cat post )

[strongroots]

[ Know what's really manly? Building. Especially building a cat post.

Whether Johnny could help get some of the materials, or had the equipment necessary himself, Robby will bring whatever on his side: wood, screws, and tacks. He's got bone glue that'll need heated up but good for sticking wood together. Robby's also brought their co-builder, the one this project is for: the sixteen-year-old Sunny.

Robby's omen is present too as they head to the warehouse in Prufock. Has it changed its sign and now advertise for Eagle Fang across the top? There's likely a car outside it too--a rare sight, Sunny. Enjoy the more battle-oriented side of town for as much as they'll see it, but Robby doesn't bother lingering around. He got a time to show up so they wouldn't be bugging his dad during lessons, and he doesn't knock on the door (kind of useless, anyway; the warehouse is big), letting himself in first so Sunny can follow him, and Robby can make his presence known with a call: ] Dad?

[ Doing decent?? How about the rest of the warehouse-slash-dojo. ]

[good_mourning]

[This part of town wasn't like what Sunny had seen before. He takes in a few of the sights as they pass through it, but he is hardly upset that Robby doesn't linger about. He does pause very briefly to look at the car, feeling as though it had been ages since the last time he saw one, even though it had only been over a month.

Regardless, he follows after Robby and takes a look around the warehouse. It... sure was a warehouse.]

This- [A beat.] Is very different from Miyagi-do.

3

[miyagimagic]

[ Sure, Daniel has mostly been helping out with the cooking, and otherwise leaving the kids to do.. whatever kind of activities Robby has planned for them all across the house without bothering them.

But you can't blame a dad for hovering coming to check out what's going on every now and then. He may have handed out cookies before already, just to make sure everyone who is under his roof, even if it's just for an afternoon or so, is definitely well-fed.

Right now he's not handing out cookies though. No, he just came to check out what's got Robby so troubled, only to see the kid struggling with needle and thread.

Adorable. ]

Never done it before?

[ Please don't mistake this smile for anything smug. He's not making fun of you as he approaches with said smile on his face, Robby, he's just amused! Endeared. You need some sensei help there, Robby? ]

[strongroots]

[ Does Robby look like the kind of guy who has ever picked up a needle before? Maybe he should've asked at the crafts store what to do when he got everything. All that, and just to be stumped by thread...that keeps bumping against the needle hole?

What the hell?

He's not even mad when Mister LaRusso comes over and being not-smug. ]

How do I get it in? I keep fraying it.

[ Or he can see the strands starting to come apart. Ugh, how is he meant to deal with this?! He's reaching his limit into pouty Robby territory! ]

Pastry

[in_loveless_memory]

[Ritsuka is actually quite good at cooking since he takes lessons from Makoto, the only person in Trench he gives the title "sensei" to with all the respect it deserves. He finishes tying his apron behind him and washing his hands. His ears are turned towards Robby even if his body is not. He's listening.

He dries his hands and looks at Robby and reviews the recipe for a third time, making notes of things they're supposed to do tandemly.]

Why did you want to learn lasagna? [Especially when there were definitely easier recipes to start with?]

[good_mourning]

1. photography

[This lad has no actual technique or experience with professional photography. But dangit if he doesn't at least know how to take a picture.

He goes around to all the stations, taking candid shots of people trying new things; enjoying themselves. If questioned about it-]

My friend always liked taking pictures of people just living their lives. They're like if you could snapshot a memory.


2. cookies

[Despite the fact that Sunny thought he wasn't very good at cooking, he was coming to recognize he wasn't abysmal in the kitchen. No kitchen fires, no cutting his fingers over and over, none of that. He could actually Make A Food and have it be edible.

Today he is instructing on how to make cookies. They're pretty simple ones. Standard chocolate chip. He has the ingredients in front of them as he starts working on it. When asked for directions he'll say-]

You have to put love into it. That's what makes them taste good.


3. gardening

[Out of Sunny's little friend group at home, he had never been the gardener. That had been Basil. The boy loved plants and flowers of every type. He'd assigned each of them a flower of their own- ones that represented them.

There were no seeds available for any of their flowers.

That was alright, though. He still carefully goes about planting each of them into a tray. There's a visible sadness to him as he pats down the potting mixture upon each one. Perhaps the memories of his friends would no longer ache so badly by the time these flowers bloomed.]

2

[miyagimagic]

[ Sunny.....

It looks like he's actually doing relatively well, so Daniel definitely won't say anything bad about the love part. No, that part is actually kind of endearing, especially since Sunny has come across as such a.. well, let's say kind of quiet kid. Not exactly the most extroverted or loud kid Daniel has ever seen, and it's kind of endearing to know that he has an idea about having to put love into cookies despite that.

So the man is just smiling, working on his own batch of cookies - just in case someone else's batch fails. There have to be reward cookies at the end of the process, one way or another!

But even as he's working with the rolling pin to roll out his dough, he's shooting a smile towards Sunny as he overhears the boy telling someone else that. ]

Love, huh? Is that what you've been taught?

1. Sunny literally just calling out Ritsuka's whole philosophy on life here

[in_loveless_memory]

[He hears the click and freezes as he looks over to Sunny from his sewing project. His ears bend back and then perk up as he hears Sunny mention the friend's theory on life. He clears his throat and looks away.]

Well, your friend is right. [He offered softly.] But you're not in it, so how will you remember if you were there?

3.

[ezra_of_lothal]

Ezra's been an empath all his life, even if he had no idea why he sometimes felt the things he's felt. Training and becoming a paleblood are both double edged swords. He has more control over himself - over his own emotions and differentiating others emotions, from his.

But sometimes he just can't help feeling what other people feel, anyway.

"Sometimes I talk to them," he says, quietly. "The plants," he adds nodding towards the soil. "And people I miss."

He pauses, aware that was a heck of a transition. "...both. Either. While I'm gardening."

[centi]

— GENERAL DOJO LURKING

Shigeo had mentioned the dojo, and how he was enjoying karate, and that Ritsu should try too. So he's shown up and is looking around the area, just a polite young man at first appearance, trailed by his little creature omen, which looks something like the Pokemon Wooper but a little more axolotl-shaped.

"Ah, excuse me, do you know where I might sign up for classes?"


— SKATEBOARDING

This isn't something Ritsu has ever done before, but he also has that physical gift that means most sports just come naturally to him, even if he isn't ever going to be the very best. Whether it's catching something thrown to him or enduring a marathon, his body just does what he wants.

So after a little bit of careful watching, and then a little more practicing his feet positions and balance, Ritsu gets on a board and finds himself skating along on it no problem. He's independent, doesn't ask for help or instruction, just does his best to try it.

Probably this wouldn't be super interesting if he wasn't wearing Mob's borrowed clothes. Ritsu looks incredibly like his brother, not even a whole year younger, and while he tends to spike up his bowl cut when his hair is sweaty and dishevelled it's hard to tell he isn't just Shigeo. Especially when he overbalances his first attempt at a trick and uses his esper abilities to catch himself, a faint glow of aura lifting and stabilizing him before he can faceplant in the concrete.


— SEWING

Ritsu knows sewing is an important skill for someone in the family to have, since he's seen his mother mending things with careful stitches, and he thinks he'll probably be better at it than any disasterous previous cooking attempts. So he's been sitting and concentrating for the last hour or so, practicing his stitching, curled in over the practice piece in his lap. Just like his neat handwriting, each stitch is well placed and even.

He looks up when someone approaches, ready to proudly show off his careful work, and —

Oh no, Ritsu. The lifting of the fabric pulls up his tshirt too, and he suddenly starts to sweat as he realizes he's accidentally sewn his project to his clothes.


(( feel free to swap to brackets! ))

dojo lurking

[miyagimagic]

.. so that's Mob's little brother, huh.

Sure, the resemblance is already there in the first place, but it does help that Daniel actually got to have a little - involuntary, but still - peek into Mob's memories, which makes Ritsu only more recognizable when the other walks up to him and speaks up.

Considering how sweet of a boy Mob is, Daniel doesn't doubt that his brother has got to be similar to him. It makes him smile already as he spreads his arms, adding: "Well, you're exactly at the right place."

Which, duh, of course Ritsu knows too. This is the dojo, after all.

But more specifically than that-- "I'm the sensei here, Daniel LaRusso."

He holds his hand out for a handshake.

"And you've got to be Shigeo's brother, right?"

dojo lurking

[possessum]

Even on days when he's not there for training, Peter tends to gravitate towards the dojo, which has quickly become one of his "safe spots." Those are rare in this place; mostly he's just reclusing at home, the safest spot of all. But sometimes he needs to get out, breathe some fresh air, stop his mind from going to weird places. (Remind himself that he's Peter on days when the name feels strange.)

So he likes to go to the dojo and just kind of hang outside, sit near the pond and stuff, though he'll always shoot Daniel a message to let him know he's coming over, not wanting to just show up unannounced.

Peter's drawing up to the dojo now when he spots a familiar face and moves over to greet who he absolutely thinks is Mob just at a first glance. When the boy asks that question, the older freezes, looking a bit taken aback — but quickly enough he's remembering that weird stuff happens to people all the time around here. Sometimes you turn into a different version of yourself, or lose your memories, or grow extra limbs or something. It happens.

So he's still thinking this is Mob with a different hairstyle and lacking memories, and Peter's a worrier about what that could mean, but he manages to conjure up a little smile.

"Oh yeah, we can probably find the teacher around here somewhere. You interested in karate?"

Sewing CW: intense first aid?

[in_loveless_memory]

Ritsuka has never sewn anything before except the occasional stitch in his own body in an emergency. If he can take a needle to his own skin and make a decent stitch, how hard can it be to do fabric?

He heads over to where some other kid is sewing and pauses when the other boy begins to shift. His ears press back.

When Ritsu's shirt begins to rise, he can't help the small smile.

"Looks like you need a seam ripper."