deercountry | (closed) march catchall

[ It's a big ask, or a not very defined one, Robby thinks. Guiding by feeling than by anything concrete, but isn't this exactly how Mister LaRusso taught him to use his ice? Imagination, and concentration. He hopes it works all the same, when generating ice out of thin air has to be as unreal as conjuring an imaginary world.

Sure, one seems more possible in the real world without magic than the other, but they're not in a normal world, are they? ]

It's alright, [ Robby offers her firmly. Reassurance is all he can give her at this point. His eyes close, as if it's what he should be doing, willing to wait. Reassuring Chizuru that it's okay to wait, that there's no rush--no rush from him, anyway.

But he does believe. Because if he could do it, shouldn't Chizuru be able to, too? Unless this is like Mister LaRusso and fire, but maybe (hopefully) the stone will bypass that, and give Chizuru some guidance to even feel the magic at work. Even if she can't do this without it, it's a start, feeling a spark that could possibly be used for whatever fits her more naturally. ]

[ As always, the thing that's stopping Chizuru - well, it's Chizuru herself.

Because everything else is perfect. There is a certain power pulsing from the stone, so apparent that even she can feel it. There's Robby's warm hands around her own, the reassurance of a loved one's presence always steadying for Chizuru.

But it's her own heart that makes it hard. The feeling of trying to do something she's not sure she can do, and struggling with it. It's that feeling that holds her back, that always threatens to pull her under - even now.

But she tries to fight it. Robby wouldn't bring this to her if he thought she couldn't do it, she reminds herself. Robby believes in her, so she-- she has to live up to that. She has to become someone who can do more for others.

And in this moment that means activating the power in this stone. Maybe it's not the most powerful of stones, but it's potent enough that Chizuru can feel its power, and slowly tip herself over into tapping into them, feeling something inside of her connect with it. She tries to imagine a place as hard as she can. A place that's calm, yet familiar enough for her to be able to recall it well. Most of the streets of Kyoto are too busy, as are the Shinsengumi headquarters, or any of the many battlefields she's been part of.

Chizuru, however, knows of one quiet place she knows intimately well.

It's how their surroundings finally start to shift, even if neither of them may notice right away with their eyes closed, until they're drawn fully into that dreamlike state. The space around them is simple. A Japanese-style room with little in it, just the bare necessities when it comes to furniture, other than what seems like a Japanese-style bookshelf covered in scrolls and other papers. Tatami mats on the floor, a paper sliding door.

There's a quiet over the house, as if even the sounds from outside don't reach in here.

Chizuru slowly opens her eyes, looking awed that even just this much worked already - even if it may be the bare minimum when using this stone, but it's not like Chizuru isn't a girl who gets baffled over every bare minimum. ]

It's-- It's home. [ She softly explains.

"Home" feels like a more and more complicated term to apply to this place, especially when she's found so much more love and care with the Shinsengumi or in Trench than she ever truly may have in this house, but-- there's nothing else to call it.

It's the house she grew up in, the one she hardly left for well over a decade. A place she remembers well, for as bare as it may be. ]

[ It's home that draws Robby to open his eyes--oblivious of the shift, though he was patiently waiting, on it and some cue. But he doesn't know the flow of magic without seeing it more visibly, like how, as he lifts back his head and opens his eyes, looks around them with hands still around Chizuru's own.

Mister LaRusso's dojo has a Japanese touch, but this--this is more, even as scarcely decorated as it may be. ]

This is home? [ --which, does surprise Robby. He's never thought about what home would look like for her, except maybe a crowded room of textbooks and a father hunched over work, and Chizuru there to aid him, read his books, and then be left with them once he disappeared.

This isn't that. Barer than what his own homes had ever been, where poverty can be hidden behind loud colours and cheaply bought furniture always second-hand. Still, Robby is more surprised than anything else, and he figures they should stand, try to look around? And he looks down at his knees, and then their joined hands, and-- ]

Uh-- [ Uh. Hm. ] I don't know if we have to keep holding the stone.

[ ...would it matter, like this? Would he disappear out of this imaginary place? He looks up at Chizuru, a sheepish yet complicated expression pulled across his brow. ]

[ .. it's a valid concern, isn't it.

Especially when Chizuru knows just as little about how to technically use this stone as Robby does. She can still feel its power, and.. just that fact makes her want to hold on to it just in case. As if she's worried she might not be able to maintain this.. dream, or whatever it is, without its power.

And while it means that Robby doesn't necessarily have to hold onto it then, she's a little worried about him just vanishing and leaving her here by herself, even though he could just snap her body out of it.

After thinking about this for a few moments - seeming so focused, her eyebrows drawn into a frown - Chizuru holds out her empty hand to Robby. ]

I'll hold onto it, and you can just hold onto me.

[ The suggestion is offered with a tiny smile. ]

And then we can look around together.

[ Even if there isn't much to see here, every room just containing the bare necessities.. It almost seems as if Chizuru's power might not be enough - even with the usage of this stone - to fully manifest everything, but no, this is just true to her memory of this place.. ]

[ Is the stone even real in this dream-like space? There's so many more questions Robby should've asked before purchasing it. But it's too late, and while there's a flicker of uncertainty, it's not doubt in Chizuru--because Robby takes her offered hands, lightly huffing when his fingers wrap around her palm. ]

Okay. Don't let me disappear--dunno where I'll end up. [ He's kidding, really, but nothing seems to happen when he does let go of her other hand and focuses on the one. He does want to see the rest of her home, and how it'll show.

There was that time they were stuck in her memory, and when Robby was stuck in others too, but--will it be the same as that? As clear in every space. ]

Um, the merchant said you just need to let yourself feel the memory, [ he'll offer. ] Don't overthink it--it'll come naturally.

[ A part of Robby is a tad worry that saying that will start to make Chizuru overthink, but he hopes not. ]

[ It's a valid concern.

Especially since - if Robby looks over at her to see it - there is an instant expression on Chizuru's face at hearing those last words. Something a little bit like surprise, but also like worry, both at the same time. There's a squeak from the girl, followed by: ]

B-But then how do I know whether I'm overthinking it or thinking just enough..?

[ That's the secret.

She's always overthinking it.

It even becomes apparent in the dream-like state they're in right now. It's not like it fades completely, but the world starts to grow a little bit more hazy around them as Chizuru is focusing less on the memory now and more on her own worry. It sneaks into their surroundings, almost like static. ]

[ Okay, that was a bad idea to say, wasn't it. Because Robby does see what's happening, though he's actually distracted by the question--because even Robby needs a second to go 'Uh....' and think about that, his Lawrence braincell activated.

How do you know what's enough or too much? Why does everyone give this shitty nonsensical advice anyway?

It's in trying to figure out that vague advice the Robby looks around as a stall, and then--shit. ]

Whoa whoa, hey, hey. [ He lifts their joined hand and turns to her, stepping in front of her. ] You're in your house, you know your own house. You don't need to overthink what your house is, right? You can put anything in your house!

[ Is Robby's voice rushing because he's a tad scared about everything around them disappearing? N-no, and you can't prove otherwise!!! ]

W-Well--!

[ Look at Chizuru sputtering. Maybe it's the urgent tone he says that with, or maybe it's her own panic at suddenly seeing the world starting to grow hazy around them like that, but Chizuru does seem to get more and more panicked..

.. even though it's thankfully the sort of panic that drives her into action. Squeezing the hand that's holding the stone around it a little tighter, like this stone is just her emotional support stone now.. (Which also means that's probably accidentally squeezing her other hand right along. At least Chizuru doesn't have the hand strength to hurt Robby while still holding his hand in that one..)

Her focus makes the house around them shift back into the view it had a moment ago, much sharper and clearer again.

Except with the addition of another Robby. He looks exactly the same as the real Robby whose hand she's holding, except for the fact that he's just.. standing there. In the middle of the room. Kind of lifeless, like it's some sort of Robby mannequin.

Apparently that wasn't fully intentional on Chizuru's part - her brain ran away with the "anything" part of what Robby said, and combined it with the full view of her friend she had, putting that there - because the girl lets out a yelp of surprise the moment she spots the Robby-duplicate-mannequin standing there when the house turns normal around them again. ]

[ It's okay, Robby can handle a hand-squeeze. He's only focusing on Chizuru initially, since he doesn't particularly want the world to fuzz around them--kind of weird and creepy, to be honest. But he does catch from the corners of his eyes when everything seems to settle, and he dares to look either side of Chizuru's head to confirm that, yes, phew, she got the world back right again.

And Robby gets to enjoy that relief for a millisecond before she yelps and he jumps. ] Wh-what? What?

[ That second what? is a note higher, and he looks the way Chizuru is to see-- ] Oh shit!

[ Sorry for the potty mouth, bestie, but Robby couldn't stop from letting that out with how instant it was, Robby startling to turn back the way he was facing before to keep the fake Robby in his view.

And Robby, a teen with too many movies watched and not with all his braincells currently functioning: ] He's not gonna attack us, is he?

[ He would if this were a movie......... this is why he still doesn't regret trying to attack Mister LaRusso with a stapler. ]

[ It's a good thing that Chizuru is thinking really hard about not wanting to be attacked right now, or Robby might just have manifested that clone attack into being all by himself..

Not that it makes the situation any less unsettling though. Even if the Robby may not be moving, let alone doing anything to attack them, seeing another Robby standing there and doing absolutely nothing is.. definitely kind of creepy, Chizuru thinks. ]

I-- I don't know! [ She squeaks, the other's startled reaction only serving to put Chizuru herself more on edge too, staring between the Robbys like she isn't quite sure which one to keep an eye on right now. ] I don't know what happened either, he was just-- he was suddenly there..!

[ ...

Wait. ]

You're.. um, you're the real one though, right?

[ Please tell her this is not some clone Robby trying to deceive her.. ]

[ Wow, Chizuru? Chizuru. Robby is going to swing his head to look at her with the most incredulous expression. Raising their held hands as he says, ] Yeah?

[ Waggle waggling their hands as if to further indicate, yes, he's been here the entire time?? He does glance the other Robby's way, but it's true that an unmoving clone?? Weird and creepy and not what Robby wants to focus on here, so-- ]

Okay, all you have to do is--make him disappear. [ Clearly. ] You know I'm the real one, so wish him away.

[ There, see? This is how that works! And just to add to the obvious reasons why he should be gone, with a joking tone as he gestures over to Fake Robby: ] He's not even as charming as the real thing!

[ Clearly, who wants a second-rate Robby just for his looks??? ]

[ When Robby is telling her to wish him away, Chizuru is already trying. She's closing her eyes - unsure whether or not it helps, b-but maybe she can concentrate better that way? - and about to start thinking about making the Robby, the fake Robby disappear--

But then the boy next to her just had to open his mouth and make a joke.

And that pulls Chizuru's thoughts all the way from making him disappear over towards the word charming. Because she's thinking about Robby calling himself charming, and whether that's true, and she does suppose Robby has certain qualities to him..

.. her thoughts are so caught up in it that the other Robby definitely does not disappear. No, instead he finally starts to move, turning towards them and smiling.

Charmingly. ]

D-Did it work..?

[ Chizuru's eyes are still closed. She's not looking!! Completely unaware of what's happening right in front of them.. ]

[ Wow, who said Robby was joking??

Nevermind the details. Robby isn't keeping his eyes on his own other self either, turning back to Chizuru and her hard at working wishing-away self. Not until she asks if the job is down, and Robby looks, and manages to keep the shit! he nearly lets out locked in his throat.

But also, despite that initial reaction, and having a second to stare dumbfounded at what's happened...Robby really can't help but to take in the sight. Opens his mouth to ask something, closes it, and then, opening again: ]

Hey, what do you think I'd look like in a guy's kimono?

[ Why not, right. Why not. Let's see what we can do with this! ]

Huh?

[ Chizuru should probably open her eyes and look for herself. But she's so caught off guard by Robby's sudden question - that's just about the last answer she expected to hear here, especially when it isn't even a direct answer to her question at all - that she doesn't think about doing the logical thing.

It's why she doesn't take a look for herself. Instead she still looks like she's focusing, the surprise strong enough that it makes Chizuru be obedient and honest enough to just plainly answer the question.

Even if it's a weird, surprising one. ]

I-I mean, you'd probably look nice..? You always do.. [ Also, yes, Robby. Yes, your little plan sure is working.

Because the fake Robby standing there is suddenly wearing clothes more appropriate to Chizuru's culture and time period. ]

Why are you asking..?

[ Robby's such a clever guy.

Because yes, he does look at his other self, a furrowed brow as he has to take in both the outfit, and decide if he likes observing this Robby doll (even if he is the one prolonging its stay....). Does he like the outfit itself? That's hard to say, never having really considered the thing, but--

but maybe he should consider his confused sounding friend, and get her up to speed. He gives their joined hands a wiggle. ]

Look.

[ It's that simple, Chizuru. Behold, your dream Robby who hasn't gone anywhere, but is now dressed like one of your Japanese boyfriends, and smiling charmingly. ]

[ The first thing Chizuru does upon opening her eyes is let out a squeak.

The next thing is squeezing Robby's hand - not too hard, but that has so much more to do with Chizuru's lack of incredibly arm strength than with anything else, since it definitely seems like she is clinging on for dear life to Robby in this instant. ]

R-Robby! [ Her gaze shifts between the two Robbys, her eyes so wide. ] W-What did you do?!

[ Please, Chizuru.

This was all you. ]

Why does he look so...

[ ...

She can't bring herself to say charming. She just can't!! Her gaze is growing more and more covered by a paleblood blush with each passing moment.. Help, Chizuru might just pass out..

It's a small miracle that the world around them remains just the way it is, despite Chizuru looking like she's about to pass out from the clone Robby looking like he fits right into her Shinsengumi ~~harem~~ friend group. A-And with him smiling at her like that! ]

[ Yeah, that immediate reaction was worth it. ]

--So what? [ But unfortunately, Robby doesn't get the true meaning behind Chizuru's fluster, though his question is framed as a faux offend. Does he look goofy to her? He thinks that might be the case, considering he thinks this dressed-up showing-off smiling Robby is very goofy looking to him, that he's become more of a joke to the real Robby than something creepy.

Well, 1% creepy, 99% cringe.

But it's alright, Chizuru doesn't need to answer him as he laughs lightly, pulling their joined hands to rest against the side of his stomach. No reason, other than as a playful tug. ]

C'mon, you can make him disappear. I mean, just imagine...a wardrobe's there instead! [ Now he's using their hands to gesture to the fake-Robby-who-should-be-turned-into-a-wardrobe. ] That'll cover him up.

[ She wants to make him disappear. She really does. Because there's something very confusing about seeing Robby like this that the girl can't quite place, and she's not too sure if she likes it - especially in front of the actual Robby.

So the girl shuts her eyes tightly, wishing - no, almost praying - for the fake Robby to disappear. To be gone.

But the wish is just desperate enough that her brain refuses to latch onto the easy alternative Robby provides. It's right there, she could just think of a wardrobe, and yet.. her brain keeps frantically thinking of something else from the house to replace the Robby.

And it does work! The fake Robby disappears, sure.

.. except there's another man standing in his place now, just as unmoving as the other Robby had been at first. And when Chizuru opens her eyes to look and see, she lets out a slight noise of surprise. ]

Oh, that's.. father..

[ A wardrobe made a lot more sense to make appear than some old guy. An old guy with quite the bald head, which is what Robby first notices about them (other than they aren't furniture), a small noise made when he appears. Robby doesn't recognise them, obviously, and he can't make any immediate guess; there's the man that Chizuru said saw her like a daughter, and maybe there's some other older men in her life.

--And there is, sort of. A man about as much in Chizuru's life as his own dad had been in his. The information stuns Robby, a small 'oh' escaping him as he figures how to feel. Or--how does Chizuru feel? Robby's definitely glancing her way, though sneaking looks back at the figure. ]

...What do you wanna do?

[ He could suggest making him disappear, or trying to move around the house--maybe they could go outside, even. Robby isn't sure what the right move might be, so he's waiting on more from Chizuru.

He's not exactly dad of any year, but--dads are dads. Unfortunately. ]

[ It's such a good question that even Chizuru herself doesn't seem to have an answer to it for a moment. She glances at the man, then at Robby, and then at the man again.. which is where her gaze lingers for a few moments. ]

.. Let's go look around the house. [ She settles on, finally tearing her gaze away from the dream image of her father that her mind conjured up. It's not really him, anyway. He won't talk to her. He won't have any of the answers for her that Chizuru wants to hear. Why he did the things he did. How he could have such cruel thoughts if he was her father.

It helps that she's still gripping onto Robby's hand. It was meant to be the thing tying Robby to this dream reality, but honestly, it's doing so much more to ground Chizuru. It allows her to tug on his hand to drag him along and show him the other rooms. ]

I mean, not that there's much to see.. [ Which she's right about. There's a small kitchen, a small bedroom - a shared one, judging by the set of futons there, rather than just one of them.. and that's about it. ] But.. um, maybe it'll give you an idea of what houses where like in my world..

[ Since it's really nothing like most houses in Trench. ]

[ It would be awkward, Robby thinks, if he saw his own father--if he wasn't in the city. His own mom too, but he thinks about his dad, their own history, if they weren't trying to patch things up.

...but it's not a deep thought. He squeezes Chizuru's hand, though it's doubtful if she'll feel it with her already gripping tight to it. ]

Sure--I wanna see where you came from.

[ It's sincere, a touch soft, and even if there isn't much, it's her home. Better any other room than this one, with Robby hoping the old man's figure will disappear if Chizuru has other things to think about. ] Maybe one day I can show you where my mom and me were staying. But we moved place a lot--we didn't have our own home.

[ He says it, more to just continue their thoughts elsewhere than on the man, to help move them along before--or as--they walk. ]

[ Chizuru will lead him along. Over towards the kitchen, this time. It's small, and there isn't much - certainly none of the modern kitchen appliances that Robby may be used to. It's backwards even compared to Trench itself, which also isn't always the most modern of places.

But there's something in Chizuru's eyes anyway as she looks around at it. Exactly like how she remembers it. The long, long days she spent here, alone..

She drags herself out of the memory enough to turn and look at Robby. ]

Why didn't you have your own home..?

[ She asks it delicately, at least, not wanting to push if the answer is too painful. But it's a little harder to naturally understand for someone who comes from Chizuru's kind of culture, where people who don't have homes just.. made one themselves, or took up an abandoned one like people do in Trench.. ]

[ It may be sparse, but Robby still takes it in. His life was never wealthy, but you could buy things for cheap, make it look like you had more than you did, or the apartments came with appliances to make up for what you didn't own.

This was still Chizuru's house, though, marks her own frugal life. Robby takes in the layout, the details, few as they may be. Looks over to Chizuru and the question which furrows his brow, but not in a bad way. ]

Do you know about rent? Wait, [ wait wait; he points a forefinger at her. ] Land rent? Lords rent out land to farmers, right? People do that with houses where I'm from. You pay to have somewhere to live.

[ Truly, the actual painful part about this: possibly having to explain renting in the modern day. What's having your own home in this economy?? ]

[ Unfortunately Chizuru knows very little about rent. Even the rent in her time that did exists for farmers, yes - she's just been too sheltered from society to know much about this sort of thing in general.

Thankfully Robby's explanation does a lot to catch her up, even if it's.. well, baffling. The girl was moving towards the window as if to open it, just to see if she can do that as well in a dream-like state, but now she turns towards Robby with her eyebrows knitting together into a frown. ]

You have to pay.. to have somewhere to live?

[ There's something in her tone that almost sounds offended.

Offended by Chizuru's standards, which is to say.. not too much, but still. ]

But then what about the people who can't pay? Then you just.. don't have a roof over your head at all? That's so cruel.. [ Welcome to all the miserable crap about the world you missed by being sheltered, Chizuru.. And by not being a modern girl, for this one too.. ]

[ sorry to introduce you to capitalism, Chizuru... ]

That's America for you. [ ...well. ] Everywhere, in my time. You don't have money? Good luck living.

[ Maybe that's too sad and depressing to be saying in such a way to someone like Chizuru, but there's nothing pretty to that side of life. It's been a constant trouble in his life, even if sometimes it was his mom and her spiralling ways that lost them homes.

Or places to live. Could you call anywhere a home if you moved so often?

(So he liked to tell himself, so he never became disappointed. Told himself he was never attached.)

It's why he looks at her so nonchalant, having been trying to eye past her to see if there was any scenery beyond. Was there limitations to the stone, or to Chizuru's imagination? It could be one or the other. ]

Living here's easier--I never lived anywhere like I did with Tory back home. They were four or five rooms. Two bedrooms, a bathroom, and then a kitchen and living room. Sometimes you had a wall between those two, but not always.

[ He didn't have preference there, really. ]

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