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!! )

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[ 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.

[ --He did tell Mister LaRusso about that tattoo, didn't he. Don't mind Robby with his pause and thought of 'how did Mister LaRusso know, does he know--oh' that was very well-read on his face.

Sometimes, your Lawrence genes show.

But even so: ]

Mister LaRusso, you've got a tattoo?

[ Apparently, that dumb moment doesn't stop Robby from slinging out that hitter, joking tone and all. (U-unless?) ]

[ If only Robby knew just how much of an unless that was. Not that it's exactly a tattoo, but it's stuck on his skin all the same. If anything, seeing that bond mark on himself each time makes him sick to his stomach enough to swear off the thought of tattoos even further, if he wouldn't have done so already.

It's a feeling he wants to keep tightly under wraps though, so all Daniel does is let out a huff of laughter. ]

Are you asking me that to cover up the fact you thought I forgot? [ Or that Robby forgot he ever even told Daniel. Either way-- the joke still works, making Daniel's expression take on a teasing edge. ] I'm not old enough to forget the things you tell me!

[ Okay, maybe he'll own up to his own idle brain, giving a small goofy bob side-to-side as if thinking, humming, before protesting: ] January's a lifetime ago. A bunch of stuff's happened since then.

[ Less than stellar stuff, but Robby's not dipping the mood here by pointing that out. ...but maybe he is a little, when instead, ] Nothing can hurt me for a good time. I'd say there isn't a lot to think about.

[ When it comes to getting a tattoo like that. Has he told his dad(-dad)?? No, but he hasn't talked to him about a lot of things, so.

But there's a close call that's on his mind as he looks at Mister LaRusso, his expression softened, a time and place that the other knows about, too. A blade that had pierced his skin--but he won't have to deal with that a second time, or so is the hope.

As well as other factors in getting it (like a certain explosive boy factor), but--the zealots sure helped. ]

[ It's funny how sometimes thoughts can spread without a single word being wasted on them. It's not like Robby is bringing up the very specific incident that also appears in Daniel's own mind - and yet there it is all the same. It renders Daniel quiet for a moment, thinking, but not indulging in the sadness of the memory, the fear he had felt upon seeing Robby like that, the worry about maybe being unable to get the boy out of there.

Instead his own expression softens too, but in a positive way, where he tries to focus on the good of the current situation - enough to let him continue smiling a little. ]

Are you happy with it?

[ It does sound like it's providing Robby some good protection, and.. honestly, when that's the end result, how could Daniel be against the idea of such a tattoo? His protective dad senses override everything else. ]

[ Is he happy with it? Well-- he ducks his head. ]

I tried it out a lil, [ no details there about how he tried stabbing his hand or anything, don't think about it, Mister LaRusso, ] but not in a real fight. If it works, then--yeah. I'll be happy with it.

[ His smile is pulled thinly across his face when he looks back at Mister LaRusso, and he should really do that, shouldn't he? ...but that's not a point he's going to voice in front of his protective sensei. ]

If it's good enough, I'll book you in with Miss Saeri.

[ ...okay, that's a joke, but it lightens away from the seriousness--a topic that's delicate, especially right now. Not one for stitching and threading the world's most ugliest plush toy. ]

[ The only thing that saves Robby right now is that Daniel images 'trying it out a little' probably involved Robby getting stuck in a mildly dangerous situation that wasn't a fight and it working out for him under those circumstances..

Rather than, you know, intentionally causing himself harm.

You're on thin ice, Robby, but it's holding for now.

Especially since that last line gets Daniel to look away for a moment, letting out laughter. ]

I don't know if we want to imagine what a tattoo would look like on me. [ Don't worry. Daniel's got Robby's back. He can keep this light too, shoving enough stuff right under the carpet here. ] Maybe this Saeri can find a different method of protection for those among us who are a little too old or uncool for tattoos.

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[closed] quest to find a dang hobby

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