deercountry | (closed) march catchall

[ now, makima does not look japanese, probably . . . but when the language rolls off her tongue to accompany his pronunciation, it is native and fluent down to the t(ea). ]

さんぴん茶. [ she knows that one. delicious. ] I have friends down in Okinawa. The leaves have an unmatched quality to them, don’t they?

Oh?

[ There's a hint of surprise in Daniel's eyes. Nothing too much, since it's nothing to be baffled by - of course anyone could have friends in Okinawa as long as that place exists in their world. It's just not something you often come across. And while Daniel doesn't imagine they could be people he knows, since the Okinawa in his world and the Okinawa in her world could be different places with different people entirely, it still feels like having something quite rare in common with her.

It's nice. ]

That's right. That entire place is just-- it's really beautiful. It's truly something else. [ Despite the fact that the man still seems a little weak while he's recovering, it's like there's some energy coming over him just by talking about this. A real fondness. ]

It's where my teacher came from. He took me on a trip there when I was young [ or more like Daniel insisted that he was allowed to come along and used up his entire college fund for it.. ] so it's always felt like a really special place to me.

[ oh, how cute . . . makima keeps her smile in place, and just before she brings her own junction of words together, that very smile grows. ]

Oh, that long ago? [ is there a bit of jest in her voice—? age jokes between two adults are nothing out of the ordinary. ] I was stationed in Tokyo before Trench— Without a doubt, the countryside's charm and calm are unmatched, [ there's nothing better than getting away from the ruckus for a while, ] and also a favorite of mine.

[ Stationed, huh.

It's an interesting word to use for that, Daniel thinks. Not a weird one, for sure, but it does feel like it might have something to do with her job, if she's wording it like that. ]

Tokyo? Your life must've been pretty hectic then. [ Of course Daniel has been there too.

He's not a weaboo for nothing. ]

Everything seemed so rushed there, even compared to the Valley. [ No, Daniel, that's just because you live in your quiet rich people suburb.. ]

Yes. I’m glad I know the countryside to be able to discern. I might even be more of a country mouse myself.

[ she makes a move to lift herself from the chair and get going on heating up some water for their tea. it shouldn’t take long! ]

Is the Valley your home?

Yeah. For decades now. It's the San Fernando Valley. [ At least he thinks to specify, since to non-locals - especially to people all the way from another country - Daniel knows that it could just be.. any valley out there.. ] On the westcoast of the United States.

[ He pauses though when he sees her getting up, giving her an expression that's only very faintly sheepish. ]

.. usually I'd offer to get up and help you, but..

[ His voice trails off with a 'you know' kind of feeling.

Daniel can't even stand by himself, let alone get up enough to go make them some tea. ]

Oh, California.

[ "california" is said with light emphasis. she's had good education where geography and history are concerned! which really just means— she's taking this conversation and making tea right along. the water is boiled in no time, and soon there are two cups being prepared with the grace of japan itself. ]

It's why I came in the first place. Please rest, if not just this once.

[ she sees he's so eager to serve and please and help—

it probably crushes him when he can't, doesn't it? ]

Edited 2023-05-02 12:24 (UTC)

[ Hey, how about you don't nail him so perfectly and then call him out where he can't see it-- ]

You're still a guest.

[ It's not an insistent kind of protest, even though it's still said. Daniel won't throw a fit over this sort of thing, after all - even if there's a touch of shame or guilt (or both, mixed together) within him at the thought of having someone he's only now meeting for the first time taking care of him like this. Way to make a good first impression on the students' parents, Daniel.

He tries to bat away the thought by continuing, making his second statement a little bit lighter. ]

And.. it's also not quite how I expected my first parent-teacher conference, I guess.

[ makima's eyes only 👀

"parent-teacher conference". it makes the corners of makima's lips genuinely curl up. ]

Neither did I, but that's the charm to it, isn't it?

[ what she says following this may not be as humanly genuine, but she does mean it in her own way. in the same way any of them would love a pet to pieces, maybe. ]

I care a great deal for those boys. I'm glad we see eye-to-eye.

[ but: behold! makima makes great tea. ]

[ No need to even tell him to take some of the tea when she brings it over. Daniel is already grabbing one of the cups, holding it between both of his hands with a slight, but grateful smile. He can't feel the heat radiating from the cup ever since he found himself a coldblood in this place, but old habits of holding cups die hard. ]

Well, I imagine you do. [ Those words sound genuine too.

Why would Daniel have any reason to believe otherwise? Especially-- ]

Since you took them in. [ Not even just one kid. Multiple. ] It's hard to see all these kids out here without them having their parents around, huh? Makes you want to take care of them.

[ A sentiment Daniel understands very, very well - which is why he's offering it up here so easily. ]

I used to do something similar on the work front.

[ take the odd balls in, put them to work. but alas, she’d take in the more vulnerable when it came to devil hunting to at least serve some kind of purpose before kicking the bucket. most of them were just destined for it, not cut out for the job.

but she’ll take them anyway. they were all part of something bigger.

what daniel says is what he feels, though. it gives makima a weapon to use, and a wooly costume to wear among sheep. how else could a wolf blend in? ]

I never had the chance to interact with children, though. It’s been a first, and I’m enjoying it.

[ Huh.

Between what she said before that stood out a little to him, and now this.. It sure makes it hard to picture what exactly Makima had been doing back home. Something that does involve taking care of people, but not kids? He'd assume she might have worked at a retirement home, but that doesn't fit what she said before.. ]

What kind of work do you do back home, if I may ask? [ Hey, Daniel can be polite. Makima seems a lot younger than him, but she's still an adult, right? ] I mean, I know I just seem like a karate teacher here and all, but I actually ran a car dealership for a living.

[ Not that it's super relevant - he just figures it's nice to offer that up if he's asking the same from her. ]

[ she feigns an interested hum. a car dealership and a sensei! ]

Here I thought you were a full-time sensei.

[ as for her: ]

It's a government job. Public Safety. [ she gently omits it's safety against devils. it's not so wise to just drop that on people! ] I supervised the divisions and their squads, from greenhorn to veteran.

[ if they made it that far alive. ]

[ See, now that makes a lot more sense to him with the things she's already said. Not necessarily the sort of job that immediately qualifies someone to look after kids, sure, but.. if Makima was kind enough to take them in, and when the kids seem to like her, then everything should be fine. ]

I imagine that sort of experience must come in handy in a place like this. [ Maybe not directly, no, but Daniel figures it's the sort of job where you got to be resistant against stress and the like. ] Even if it's on a different scale. You know, you're usually not dealing with all these supernatural things on the daily.

[ Even if that is Daniel just making an assumption over here. An entirely wrong assumption, but it's not like he knows.

A student's psychic abilities suddenly going crazy isn't exactly a common occurence in Daniel's own world, after all. ]

That’s correct.

[ besides— hunting devils (her own kind in all honesty) was so natural it’s very, very easy to omit being supernatural.

let him cook. and sniff around a little while longer. ]

It’s not so different. We’d deal with human monstrosities around the clock— I’m sure you have as well, working with a dealership.

[ Daniel's lips press a little tighter together for a moment, but then he exhales and speaks up.

Definitely didn't just push something down there. Nuh-uh. Taking all feelings right out to the feelings shed to be locked up there forever! ]

Ironically enough, I tend to deal with worse people when it comes to the karate side of things than when it comes to my dealership. [ Ironically enough.. Or maybe that's saying something about just how bad the karate side is, when a car dealership comes out looking as the better side. ] There's quite a few men back where I come from who think they know what's best for kids, but who are actually ruining these kids' lives.

[ (she did see daniel just swallow the biggest frog, yes she did)

so he's talking about the poorly trained alpha-dogs. makima's eyes turn what may seem like understanding as her lips purse with concern. it's a shame, really. but not unknown to happen among humans— in a world she could dominate, these things wouldn't happen. ]

That's unfortunate. [ she knows what happens to both parties. but for conversation's sake: ] And what happens to them?

Edited 2023-05-25 13:35 (UTC)

[ What happens to the people that do it?

Daniel doesn't want to think about it. The less he thinks about Terry Silver or the ending of that last tournament, the better. It'll only threaten to make him feel worse at a moment like this.

.. not that thinking about what happens to the kids is any more pleasant, but at least he can bend that into something a little better in his mind.

Still - he inhales before speaking up, looking at Makima. ]

I try to help those kids instead. Or find someone else who can. [ Amanda was the one trying to help out Tory, after all.

But on his end, it always inevitably ends at one specific person. ]

.. have you met Robby?

[ leave pest control to the hunters, is what she'd always say. well, if it were her anyway . . . she'd get rid of those unnecessary blotches in society. daniel's answer answers more than he lets on, and with that, she smiles after more tea is put to her lips for a sip. ]

The name doesn't sound unfamiliar.

[ has she met him at this point in time? maybe! but what are timelines? in the end, she answers vaguely and open-ended to the point that the true answer depends on interpretation. which, is nothing short of her infamous omission. oh well! ]

A friend, or foe?

My kid.

[ Makima's answer indeed leaves much room for interpretation - and interpreting Daniel does, taking her answer as her probably not having met Robby personally. He hasn't seen her too much around the dojo before, so it doesn't surprise him. Maybe Robby just mostly saw Mob here, and hasn't gone over to his place too much.

Still, Daniel easily answers, apparently not minding having to explain. ]

Not-- biologically, I mean. [ He smiles, just a touch sheepish, like he doesn't want Makima to get the wrong idea. ] But he's like a son to me. He's been through a lot, with many people letting him down.

[ Like the people he just spoke of, being the implication. ]

He's the main kid I'm trying to help. Back home already, but here in this place too, since he's also here.

[ oh so he’s got big dad energy too . . . makima’s smile grows smooth and warm. one might say it’s melting sweetly. within, a pang of selfish jealousy lingers just under her skin.

she wants that, too. it’s a good thing that she has managed to. ]

You have a beautiful heart, Daniel.

[ makima would never understand the feeling she has when coming to that conclusion, but it could only be so close to envy. she wants that.

and she’ll have it, just like anything else. ]

He’s lucky to have you, I’m sure.

[ Daniel releases an involuntary puff of breath the moment Makima says that first part. A second later he's ducking his head slightly - though if the look on his face is anything to go by, seemingly flustered despite the edges of exhaustion that still linger on his face - like he didn't quite expect that praise to come out of nowhere, and doesn't quite know how to handle it either. ]

I don't know if I'd go that far.

[ Mostly in regards to him having a beautiful heart. Sheesh. That's a lot.

Not to mention there are the times where he's been the person to let Robby down, but-- it's not really the right thing to bring up with someone he's meeting for the first time, especially since he doesn't want to fully air Robby's baggage everywhere. ]

I'm just doing what I can. The same goes for you, right? Since you're looking after those kids. I don't think we're so different.

[ Of course Daniel has absolutely zero understanding of the irony in that statement. Right now, anyway. ]

[ it's nice, ironic, and saddening all at once. they are very, very different. daniel is just a dog at his prime years of adulthood, and makima is watching him wag his tail and look after pups as the days go by. they aren't similar. makima has been led to believe for many moons that she was better, and it is not so different with daniel.

it makes her always see that she is so very far away from everyone when she would like to be close. but it can't happen. the divide is too great. ]

I'm doing my best. [ . . . ] Do you drink, Daniel?

Hm?

[ It's a curious little sound. Maybe a touch surprised, judging by the faint raise of his eyebrows, but nothing too strong. He just didn't really see the question coming, honestly. ]

Sure. [ Nothing too excessive, he likes to think, but Daniel enjoys a good drink. ] Why are you asking?

[ At least there's nothing in the latter question other than just plain curiosity. ]

(closed) march catchall

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