deercountry | [closed] quest to find a dang hobby

Entry tags:

[closed] quest to find a dang hobby

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!! )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ 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? ]

[ 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! ]

Here, let me help.

[ It's like Daniel~~'s dad sense~~ can sense the pouty Robby that's coming on here. Because he's ready to help and reassure right away, not even seeming to think much of it. He just makes a slight gesture for Robby to scoot over before Daniel comes to sit right there with the boy, holding out his hands to get the needle and thread from him for a moment so he can demonstrate.

Did you think Daniel's skills were limited to cooking and painting fences? Oh, no, this goes so much deeper, Robby. Just look at how comfortable Daniel looks doing this, like it's natural to him. ]

See, if you're used to it, it's easy to just aim and push the thread through. But if you're having a hard time, or the needle is too small, it helps if you fold the thread together first. Like this. [ Here's him demonstrating it. Folding the end of the thread over, like there's a small loop, and then focusing to push it through the eye of the needle. ] See?

[ Robby shifts so Mister LaRusso can sit, hands still so he doesn't lose either thread or needle, nor poke himself with the latter. And then he'll let the man take them, brow already furrowed but more so to examine the secret of threading a needle. What is it??

Fairly easy, actually. Robby is struck between wondering why he didn't think about that, and surprised that it worked, a small 'oh' coming out at just how...Mister LaRusso got it in there without any hassle, or second attempts. ]

Do I need a different needle? [ Is it too small? Can a needle be too small?? Okay, maybe he should have asked Sansa if she wanted to get involved in this.... he is leading the other guys astray. ]

[ Daniel does glance at the needle for a moment when Robby asks that - but it's truly only for a moment. After all, he did get that thread through there just fine, so he figures that the needles ought to be alright. ]

Nah. It's only really a problem when you get those really tiny needles. [ And these are fine. Daniel figures that Robby's trouble with treading them has got more to do with just being unused to it.

Every start is hard, after all. ]

It's not that hard when you get the hang of it, I promise. [ There's - of course, since it's Daniel - an encouraging smile on his face as he says it, lifting his gaze to look at Robby. ] You sure did end up thinking of a whole lot of ideas for the kids.

[ Just look at all these options Robby is throwing their way - or rather, the various activities he's dragging the kids over to Daniel's house for. It's been hard to not notice all those when the kids are all over, after all. ]

[ Okay, so he didn't get somehow screwed over by needles. This is what happens when you don't know anything about sewing and jump into a 'new hobby'. At least there's picture instructions, and written. Fancily than what Robby would expect in America, but that's being in a weird mixture of old-time world with a slathering of gadgets.

If Daniel returns Robby his needle, he knows to tie the loose end. A fiddly job, but at least it's not putting a thread in a tight place. Humming initially. ] I just went to some different craft shops. Me and Mob went back in December, I remembered seeing some stuff there. He's always talked about not knowing what to do, [ he shares with a glance at Mister LaRusso, ] --and I get it. The school's kinda loose here, and you can't read up on random ideas online.

[ Like back home. Like he used to do.

He looks at Mister LaRusso again, his thread tied and ready, lifts his brows. ]

If we get at least one of them a hobby, that'll be a win. Kinda aiming for most of them to, though--or just to hang out together more.

[ Being closer friends: the goal. ]

[ He's smiling. It's that typical Daniel smile, the one that appears on his face pretty frequently whenever he looks at Robby - it's a smile of pride.

Pride that has nothing to do with the way the boy manages to tie a knot in that thread or anything. No, it's much more about what Robby is talking about here. The values he's expressing are pretty much the same as Daniel holds close to his heart. The importance of community, and the natural care for others, wanting them to be happy and fulfilled.

It seems that Robby is thankfully spared any embarrassing remarks about that though--

For now.

Instead Daniel just continues with a casual: ]

So how's that going so far?

[ Is this Special Activity Days event going as Robby planned? ]

I got to watch them fall off skateboards a bunch.

[ That's it, that's Robby's takeaway, a fun smile pinching up on his face with his assessment(?? if it can be called that). The fabric has been cut, so now he just needs to focus on getting the sides done up. Let him just make sure he's got the right sides facing where they should be... ]

You ask them, [ he answers a tad more serious, but casual all the same. ] It seems fine enough. If they wanna keep doing more, doing the same thing, I don't care. They don't always need me around, [ they can get together and plan their own hanging out sessions, ] but--I don't hate it.

[ It's different, and different can be okay. Robby looks at Mister LaRusso. ]

You can take over from me, if you like.

[ Said like, oh, he insists! Don't be modest, Robby won't mind. ]

Oh, I wouldn't dare take the joy of teaching away from you. [ No, no, Robby, Daniel insists. He's basically meeting Robby with the same smile in this moment, even as he's watching the other fiddle with the fabric.

Now you know Daniel's suffering, Robby. Now you do. ]

Besides, don't you think there's a difference? [ He pauses for a brief moment, but even if Robby doesn't look at him, he does continue with: ] When you're helping them out, they probably see you as a cool big brother figure.

[ .. actually, there's no 'probably' about that, huh. Mob was pretty direct about it with Daniel.. ]

Whereas I'm just some old man.

[ At least his tone sounds light enough that it just sounds like he's poking fun, rather than actually meaning it in any self-depricating way. He has his own bond with the kids! ]

Edited 2023-02-19 17:50 (UTC)

[ Rude, Mister LaRusso. Rude. Except Robby just lets out a huff between his teeth, finally getting the needle stuck in and starting his stitch. Wish him luck, gamers. It does distract Robby looking at the man directly, but he does glance now and then at him from the corner of his eye.

And there's sure some downplaying being done here, huh. When Robby knows exactly how it would be, with Mister LaRusso in his position: ]

You're an old man who showed me karate and meditation. It's not that different to me.

[ Said sincerely, just to put the cherry on top, where he angles his face to better look at Mister LaRusso as he says it for the proper amount of damage. ]

You'd love the company over every day. [ --but he returns to something more joking, if not true in his remark. He wasn't serious about Mister LaRusso doing something like this, but with how much the man loves helping out ~~strays~~ people who need it?

Maybe Sensei LaRusso could mean more than just in karate. ]

[ N-No, Robby..

It's truly a crime when this boy slowly becomes more aware of the sheer power he holds in his hands. Daniel was just quietly watching Robby get started on his little stitching project here, only to suddenly get attacked. The words by themselves would have done enough to him already, but when the boy turns to look at him like that, Daniel almost squirms a little in his seat, ducking his head with faint embarrassment just to not have to look directly at Robby.

He's glad to have the other's gratitude, his forgiveness - but basking in it is still a little bit too much for a man who still hasn't come to terms with the idea of deserving it. ]

Well, the house is a lot more lively with all of them here.. [ He'll at least concede that much when he replies to the more joking part with the sincere core, rather than the entirely sincere part.

He inhales, and then manages to gather himself enough again to look at Robby, a smile playing around his lips. ]

Though it already has been for a bit now, hm?

[ The implication being, of course, that it's since Robby is here now, rather than an old man living all alone with his ~~party~~ shisa. ]

.. weirdly enough there's been those flowers over the front door too, ever since you moved in. [ Which could be related to that, but-- ] Or maybe it's just a thing this month.

[ You're lucky that you moving in coincided entirely with the start of the month, Robby. ]

[ Perish, old man.

Robby might look at him intentionally, but he won't keep facing Daniel all the time. He gets a reaction when Mister LaRusso can't look at him, and Robby can take that, a small smile turned away with him as he returns to the stitching between his hands.

Sure, Mister LaRusso, let's focus on the rest that he said. ]

Tory and mine's-- house had them too. [ Don't mind that small stutter, let's ignore that too. ] Some of the roofs in town have them. I don't know what they mean, but I haven't heard anything bad about them.

[ So!! That's good! ]

Everyone's been talking about this month's Patron and some ritual bonds they do. You heard about them?

[ Daniel is entirely willing to overlook that little stutter there.

.. especially when the next question that follows it is.. Well, it sure is something. It's not even awkward on only one level. No, that would apparently just be too easy. Instead Daniel is trapped between the thought he's had before, of asking Robby if he'd like a familial bond to help keep corruption at bay - because that's clearly the only reason, right, h-haha - and the burning feeling on his shoulder that he refuses to talk about.

It might be a small miracle that makes him seem relatively casual and normal when he answers. ]

I have. [ C-Casual! You know, like he's just.. heard of it.. Hasn't thought too hard about it.. Sure does not have any experience with it himself whatsoever.. H-Haha.. ] It sounds like there's quite some people using them to try and help deal with corruption.

Yeah, but you have to have them in your head for it. [ Well, to generalise all the different bonds, but it fits, doesn't it? He looks at Mister LaRusso, though briefly; just as he asks: ]

Could you do it?

[ At the cost of privacy? He's been thinking about it himself, but... well, he doesn't want to get into anything deep. Not while he's stitching. So casual conversation it is. ]

With the right person, sure.

[ He doesn't seem to have to think for too long about that answer. Then again, Daniel has already had a while now to - against his will - contemplate the concept of someone being in his head.

So he already had the answer ready, watching Robby's hands at work. ]

It wouldn't exactly be ideal in all cases. [ Because.. boy, does Daniel ever want to keep all these poor kids away from the mess that exists in Daniel's own head at times. ] But being able to keep someone from corrupting too far.. It'd be a powerful thing. It could help keep people safe.

[ Hm.

It's hard to think about, when his exposure to corruption has been so limited. There's Mob's worries about it, there's...Midoriya's obvious case that the guy seemingly wants to ignore, and then there's what happened with Luna and Peter and his dad.

Maybe it's the latter reason--despite not knowing if Luna and Peter had a bond, despite it being relevant--that Robby's mouth tugs uncertainly. ]

Yeah, but we don't know how well it works, right? And how do you know to get rid of the corruption in their head?

[ Is that something you just have to...figure out? ]

[ It's not easy for Daniel to think about this either, considering that.. well, yes, he has experience with bonds, but not the kind they're talking about right now. He's pretty sure his current one isn't doing anything good for him, let alone him ever actively trying to reach out across the bond.

He'd rather just gnaw his own shoulder off, thanks.

So without that experience, he's quiet, seeming to contemplate it before looking back at the boy. ]

I imagine it's just like when you comfort someone normally. [ Imagine, that is. It could be completely different.

Daniel has never really asked someone what it's like. Having the good kind of bond, reaching out.. ]

But instead of reaching out with just your words or physical actions like you might usually do, it's a little.. deeper. [ Yes, it's vague, and he definitely realises as much with the look that's on his face for a moment before it relaxes again. ] I'm pretty sure you'd be able to feel the corruption if you were connected to them.

[ Daniel does know that. It's not like he hasn't felt stuff across his own bond against his will, after all. And while none of it has been corruption, he's pretty sure he'd feel that mixed in if it was there. There's too much being transmitted to him for that to not be included. ]

Which can be helpful by itself, since it seems that corruption often isn't really noticable unless it's gotten really bad.

[ See: Midoriya. Indeed the case in point here. ]

[ It's okay, Mister LaRusso, there's no judgment for word choices here. It does slow Robby's stitching, though he does try to keep it up; looking over at the man with the word deeper, but more a puzzled, then thoughtful dip of his brow. Like he's trying to think about, or imagine it.

But, at the mention of corruption... ]

Misses Uchiha does research on corruption--Sasuke-sensei's wife, [ he clarifies, since he probably knows Sasuke's first name better than his last name. ] She said it's linked to mental health, stress--but then you can make it better with blood or teas. Weird, right? One guy at the Sanctuary thinks the moon can eat corruption. It's another one of those pthumerians.

[ To also clarify. ]

The moon is one?

[ Daniel would sound sceptical if it wasn't for the fact that he's pretty sure Robby is serious about it - and on top of that, would it truly be the strangest thing about this place?

.. probably not, though it does come a little close. It sounds like something some conspiracy theorist would make up.

It might be why the man sighs and shakes his head. This world, man. Sometimes it's a little too much for a middle-aged man. ]

Well, it sure would be nice if it bothered to help us out with that a little more often then. I know that it thankfully seems like we haven't had much trouble with it yet so far, but I hate the thought of you having to deal with corruption. [ Just.. casually throwing it out there..

But look - the care for Robby comes so natural to Daniel that it's why he doesn't have to think about saying that in the first place. He's thought it to himself enough times already. ]

[ There's a nod at the disbelief, because yeah!! ...well, Robby thinks it's a pthumerian that lives on the moon but comes down to Trench?? But still. The moon.

But for actual more relevant thoughts: ]

I haven't got corrupted yet. [ ...it's said with such casual confidence, since as far as he knows, he hasn't? There was a weird time in the woods once, but we don't talk about that. ] I thought I was gonna go crazy that month I couldn't sleep 'cause of my blood, [ and Mister LaRusso was sleeping all the time.... ] but it didn't turn out bad.

[ He does look at Daniel though, smiling reassuringly. ]

I have to take care of myself, or I can't be the big bro of the dojo. [ Hah. ] Or tell you off when you don't do it.

[ You let yourself get a rash once. ]

[ Gosh, Robby. You'll get him about that one forever, huh? Though Daniel can't really say anything about it when Robby is just factually right..

So he smiles despite it, reaching out to gently - he doesn't want to ruin Robby's stitching here! - squeeze the boy's shoulder before dropping the hand again. ]

That's what I like to hear.

[ That he'll take care of himself, that is.. not necessarily that he'll tell Daniel off..

But an old man can take it. ]

In that case, make sure to let me know right away if you ever notice something about yourself that could be corruption, alright? That isn't something to hide. [ There's a pause, and then a lopsided smile as he adds: ] I'll make sure to say that to the mirror too.

[ See. Daniel can make fun of himself too. He gets it. ]

Even if we don't have a bond, we'll figure out how to get rid of it together before it can get worse.

[ Little does Mister LaRusso know, Robby's also thinking about the shedding ceremony and finding his old man skin.... avoidable if he had taken his special AU-deflection cream!!

(And Robby will still never tell him the horror of that.)

He does wonder what corruption would look like for him, briefly, though it's not a thought that lingers for long. Robby flashes Mister LaRusso a quick smile for his joke instead, but as he continues, Robby does look back again. ]

Would you want a bond with me? [ There's a wrinkle on his nose, but he's still smiling, the question both lighthearted and curious. Mister LaRusso just talked about it being a good thing, but--would he actually take it that far? ...or did his mention of not having a bond there mean anything?

He's not taking the time to read too deeply into it, but he doesn't pull his gaze away this time. ]

[ That question might have been expected after what Daniel just said.

And yet it wasn't. Or rather - not fully. It was one of those things where the guy figured that if Robby wanted a bond, he would have said so already, and it's not like Daniel is going to (even accidentally) pressure the boy into having one. Not when Daniel knows how shitty it is to be stuck with a bond you don't want.

But maybe he was just a little too premature in his assumption that Robby would've asked already. Maybe this is his moment of asking, though it seems a little too light to be fully serious.

It makes Daniel not answer right away. Not because he needs to think about the answer - he knows already, of course he does - but because he's trying to see the other's intentions in his eyes before looking away, letting out a huff of breath. ]

If you would want to, at any point. [ It's a yes, clearly, but it's the kind of yes where Daniel is absolutely laying the ball in Robby's court. It doesn't even have anything to do with him not being sure whether the other is fully serious here in the first place.

He just always wants this sort of thing to be Robby's decision. It feels important, after everything.

And Daniel could just leave his answer at that, since it's clear enough. But it's exactly because it's Daniel that he continues on with a little bit more. ]

I don't mind sharing parts of myself if it means that I can help keep you safe.

[ Sap. ]

[ I don't mind sharing parts of myself if it means that I can help keep you safe.

It's the first of those words that stir in Robby something that they shouldn't. Where his feelings want to take them differently, and he looks back at his stitching, sticks his needle through to wait for it to pass. It's easy to get caught like this, after his head gets--muddled, about their relationship. Especially soon after those feelings get stirred up, and he hasn't quite gotten out of him that one night where he almost made the stupidest mistake in his life.

(His life in Trench, anyway.)

Because he knows what Mister LaRusso means, and doesn't mean, despite what the heart would like. So, simply: ]

I'll read up on it more. Or ask people what it's like. We don't want feelings or voices in our heads every day because it's good for one thing.

[ It's easy to say yes or be agreeable now, but it feels like they know too little--that Trench's rituals are too unpredictable. But it's also easy to put aside right now, not take too serious, with the mood of their conversation.

...and it's easy to give a 'let's see', when you don't think too heavily on your own feelings, and see a large reason why you can never say yes. ]

Of course.

[ There's no part of Daniel that seems to experience any negative emotions at Robby's answer. It might have been easier to get all up in his own head about it if the circumstances were different, or if this sort of thing might have come months ago, but right now he knows that he's got nothing to do with anything between them, and more with the concept of bonds as a whole.

(Or so Daniel thinks, anyway. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.)

So there's no need to think about it too deeply. Instead he just nods, smiling faintly as he's still watching Robby work. ]

It's not a decision to be taken lightly if it's something you're stuck with afterwards. [ H.. Hah...

At least that is something Daniel is very well aware of, even though it was never his own decision there in the first place. ]

It's like getting a tattoo, you know? [ Something Robby brought up before, but Daniel didn't make a big fuss about since he assumed Robby had thought about it well. And it did seem to have a practical application as well. ] You have to be responsible about it.

[closed] quest to find a dang hobby

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