deercountry | A May Arrival from the East

Entry tags:

A May Arrival from the East

Who: Goku & YOU!
What: Goku has arrived! And is sitting on the beach, staring back out at the ocean. Still naked.
When: early May
Where: on the beach!
Content Warnings:nothing yet, will mark threads as needed!

[This has been a markedly more confusing day for Goku than usual. He doesn't really remember how it all started, but he does have some hazy memories of swimming in the ocean, of being spoken to by someone in robes. They're not super clear, more like some half-remembered dream from several days ago, except he's pretty sure whatever that was actually did happen mere hours ago. He's also pretty sure that he hadn't really been himself at the time. He must have gone berserk again, because his hair is all long again at the back, except nothing bad happened; which is weird.

What Goku knows for absolute certain is that he'd been asleep on this beach, stark naked, and there was no one around when he woke up, just a bag cradled in his arms like it was the most important thing in the world. His head still feels like it's in a weird kind of fog, as if someone had taken all the contents of his mind and tossed them around in his head like a salad. Which- gross. Salads are so boring. There's never really any good meat in most salads. Maybe they're okay when you're right about to eat, like they're just something to get you ready to really chow down on something good. But how can anyone eat just the salad like it's the entire meal? That's so--

--Wait, what was he thinking about again?

He hopes one of the guys comes around soon. He's pretty sure that's why he keeps looking out at the ocean like it's bound to give him answers. His friends are okay, and they'll probably show up real soon to properly tell him what's going on. Yeah.

Goku lets out a sigh, feeling his stomach growl out a complaint as he clutches his bag tighter against his chest.]

I'm hungryy....

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You just have to think of the place if you've been there before.

[ Which Goku obviously hasn't - but that can be helped, Daniel figures, as he holds out his hand towards the other. ]

Just hold onto me, alright? [ Sure, Goku looks like he might be at the age where he thinks holding hands with an adult is No Longer Cool, but on the other hand, the other seems cheery enough for Daniel to believe he might not mind after all. ] I'll touch it for the both of us. It's instant, so there's nothing to be scared of. You don't really feel anything.

Whoa... Really?

[His head tilts curiously for a second, just considering. He's never seen magic like this before. Then again, there's lots of things in the world he's never seen before, so that's not surprising. Just curious.

Daniel's right on the money about the hand-holding. His first immediate thought is definitely "Ew, holding hands" but that's immediately shaken off by the fact that he's being led somewhere and probably needs it. So he just smiles a little brighter, taking Daniel's offered hand while he uses the other to adjust the bag strap on his shoulder.]

M'not scared! We just don't have stuff like this where I'm from... I think.

[ Well, at least that's something his and Goku's worlds apparently have in common.. Daniel just takes it in with a nod, and then a small smile aimed at the boy, just for a last reassurement before Daniel reaches out to touch the lamp.

He was right with his description though. It only takes a moment, as if in a flash they're suddenly standing somewhere else. When Daniel pulls back his hand from the lamp and lets go of Goku's hand with his other hand, they're nowhere near the beach anymore. Instead they're standing in front of a house. It mostly looks to be in the same style as the other houses in Trench, but there's a few small touches that give it a bit more of a Japanese atmosphere, like the gate that seems to lead to a fenced off area in the back. Windchimes hanging in front of the windows make a very soft sound float through the air. ]

There we go.

[ Daniel is already moving to open up the front door, moving to the side so Goku can follow him inside.

Though if Goku does so, he'll immediately find himself being greeted by a small ball of fluff sprinting over at him. It seems to be a creature looking very much like a chow-chow puppy, happily bouncing at Goku's feet and begging for attention.

Daniel himself doesn't seem too surprised by it, instead just letting out an amused huff of air. ]

Really? Already? You can't make every single guest we get here pet you, you know.

[ Does this deter the puppy-like creature?

Absolutely not. He's still begging for those sweet, sweet pets. ]

[To say that the sudden change of scenery in the blink of an eye comes to Goku as a surprise would be an understatement. The suddenness of it all makes him jump in alarm, looking around him wildly as though looking for someone who'd just suddenly punched him in the face. It takes a second for him to even register that they've arrived at Daniel's house, and when he does he gapes up at it with wide eyes.]

This is your dojo-house??? So coooool...

[He bounds after Daniel excitedly, a big smile on his face that only grows when he sees the puppy running his way. He's more than happy to drop to his knees to welcome the bundle of furry joy, laughing as he gives him all the pets and behind-the-ear scritches in the world.]

You got a dog, too!! [Pointing out the obvious a little there, but Goku just can't help being excited.] I tried t'keep a dog before but all th' monks got mad an' made me give him away. You're so lucky!!

[ The little creature seems to gladly soak up all of the attention it's getting over here. The dog may even lick Goku's face a little bit in excitement, mirroring Goku's own energy. ]

Ah, well..

[ .. Daniel wonders if he should tell the kid about Omens.

Probably a little too overwhelming for now. It can wait until Goku is at least eating, or maybe even later, Daniel figures. It's not like the assumption that the creature is a dog is necessarily wrong, after all, it's just that it's also definitely part of Daniel..

So he shakes his head, letting it go for now. ]

You like dogs? [ There, that's easier for now. Not to mention that the talk about monks makes Goku's fascination with people having families a lot more clear. Maybe he just grew up in a temple. Makes sense to Daniel. ] You can take him along to the kitchen if you want, he loves being carried.

[ And the dog is certainly small enough that it's very easy to do. ]

[Daniel isn't... completely off in that assumption. Goku's upbringing is far, far from anything normal. Even by his world's standards.

He can't help but laugh, tickled by the way the dog laps at his face. It doesn't take a whole lot of convincing him to just scoop the little guy up into his arms, happy to hold onto him as he gets back up onto his feet. The beaming grin on Goku's face is about as childlike as it can get, eyes practically shining.]

I like lotsa animals! But me an' my friends are always travelin' everywhere, so I'm not allowed to keep a pet. Hopefully they'll let me when we're done, though!

[Goku raises his head slightly, sniffing at the air for a second. There's an unfamiliar, but delicious scent on the air. It makes him perk up even more.]

Whoa, somethin' smells good! The kitchen's this way?

[And he's off before Daniel can even say anything. Even from where they are, through doors and the cabinets and what else have you, Goku can smell it.]

[ .. there the boy goes, huh.

Thankfully Goku's nose is definitely right, and he's heading right towards the kitchen, Daniel following him and the Omen contently sitting in Goku's arms after having been picked up. The puppy-like being isn't even struggling or anything, just enjoying getting the attention.. or half the attention, anyway, now Goku is distracted by the food. ]

Yeah, here we are.

[ The house isn't too big, so it doesn't take long for them to enter the kitchen. Daniel gestures at the dinner table, as if he's telling Goku to go ahead and sit down. ]

I was thinking about making you something, but something tells me I'm better off reheating some leftovers. [ There's something faintly teasing in Daniel's smile as he says it. Like he's joking that Goku truly couldn't wait any longer for food than leftovers reheating time. If even that. He's being a little too excited for food. ] You could have some of last night's pasta, if you want.

[Even distracted as he is, Goku still has a hand on the dog's head, absently scritching behind his ears while he bounces excitedly around the kitchen. The whole room smells delicious, the cabinets likely more well-stocked than most other kitchens he's been allowed into. It's practically making Goku drool with anticipation.]

Mmmmm, it smells soooo good in here!!

[Which is why he isn't sitting down just yet. He keeps his eyes trained on Daniel, beaming at him. The older man may be teasing him, but it's nothing Goku hasn't heard before. Plus... it's true.]

I'm sooo super ultra hungry- So I can have pasta! What is it?? Is it good?? Will it take long to heat up??

It'll take longer if you don't sit down.

[ Okay, at least that's an obvious joke, judging by the way the ends of Daniel's lips curl up as he's saying it. He even lightly shakes his head in the sort of way a parent does who's seen a lot..

His own kids were pretty wild too when they were younger, so he gets it. But he's at least moving to grab the bowl of pasta leftovers, even bothering to move it so he can show it to Goku. ]

But this is pasta. It's basically just a specific style of noodles. [ At least he's learned more people are familiar with those, so it feels like the easiest comparison to make.. ] Trust me, it's really good. I'm basically an expert when it comes to Italian food.

Ah--

[Even as gentle and playful as that teasing is, Goku picks up on it quickly. He hurries to sit down, still cuddling the puppy in his arms. He only shifts very slightly to see the contents of the container when Daniel shows it to him, craning his neck and sniffing curiously at the air to smell it.

Yep. That's definitely something delicious that he could smell from down the hall.]

Oh, I know lotsa noodles! I've never seen this kind before. Is that sauce on it?? It looks sooooo good!

[ It's almost like the little puppy is trying to mimic Goku, also leaning over to try and smell the food.

.. or, you know, maybe it's just hungry. Who knows. ]

Yeah, the sauce is what makes it really great.

[ At least Daniel isn't wasting any time and leaving Goku hungry. After the other's gotten a good look - and sniff - at the food, he's already turning to move to heat up the pasta. ]

It shouldn't take too long to get warm again. A few minutes at most. [ When he's done getting it all onto the fire, he turns back to the other, still with a friendly expression. ] So if you have any questions in the meantime, I can answer them. You seemed pretty curious about a lot of stuff.

[ You can just say 'about absolutely everything', Daniel.. ]

[A puppy after Goku's own heart. Always hungry. And curious. ...But mostly hungry.

He kind of wants to ask what's in the sauce, but the sudden realization that he might not recognize all the ingredients is what stops him. It's probably for the best, anyway, since Daniel turns to go heat it up and that's clearly way more important. Any remnants of curiosity on Goku's face have quickly vanished in favor of just being excited about getting fed.]

Do you do lotsa cookin' around here? Your kitchen smells so good, so you probably know how to make tons of different stuff, huh??

[He's kind of swinging his feet back and forth while Daniel does... whatever it is he needs to do to get the food ready for consumption. Goku just pets the dog in the meantime, so when Daniel does eventually turn back to him he just kind of... blinks at his question.]

Uweh?? Questions about what???

[Remind him, Daniel. All thought kind of went out the window once he smelled food.]

[ Goku.

Daniel can't help but laugh a little at the latter reaction. How is he not supposed to believe Goku is just a young teen when he's acting like this? He even comes across as younger than some of the teens Daniel himself teaches.. ]

Well, since you seem to have questions about the cooking [ unless.. Goku already forgot those too, moments after asking them...!! ] I can answer those.

[ Whatever, Daniel can go with the flow. He smiles easily. ]

Yes, I cook a lot here. [ Basically whenever Hakkai isn't coming over and doing it. ] I cooked a lot back home as well for my family. My mother taught me basically everything I know about it, so I learned how to cook a whole lot of different things from her.

[He can't help it, okay?! This is just what happens when you can't remember the formative years of your life... Probably.

Goku brightens up all over again, pulling the dog in tight against his chest as he launches himself into this topic. Because it's about food. One of the most important things in Goku's life.]

What other kinda stuff did your mom teach ya to make?? Is it all "Italian"?? You're a karate teacher so d'you cook a lot for your students??? What's your favorite?!

A lot of different stuff. Most of it is Italian though since my family's Italian.

[ Don't mind as Daniel does make sure to check up on the pasta as it's heating up while he's talking.. he doesn't want to get distracted and accidentally let it burn when Goku is so excited to eat, okay.

But at least he's enough of a multitasker to do that and answer the boy's questions at the same time. ]

I guess my favourite is her chicken cacciatore-- it's really good. [ Is he half expecting Goku to ask what that means?

Probably. But he's still working on this set of questions! Time to stir the pasta so it heats evenly.. ]

And sure, I feed my students plenty of times. A little less so back home, but.. well, circumstances are different here, right? [ At least back home Daniel can count on most parents to feed their kids responsibly.

There's not as many parents here.. ]

You can't do karate on an empty stomach.

Edited 2023-06-17 16:50 (UTC)

Whoooaaaa...

[Goku's learning a lot. "Italian" isn't just a kind of food, it's also a kind of people. That means "Italian" must be a place, right? It sounds like it must be somewhere in the Far West, perhaps even further than where Hazel and Gat came from. And that's kind of exciting for him. It's so rare for him to meet Westerners!]

Chicken cacciatore?? Issat somethin' you can make, too?? It sounds super tasty!! [Even though he doesn't know what "cacciatore" is. But it sounds fancy, and it's chicken, so it must be good.]

You're soooooo right!! Fightin' on an empty stomach sucks so much! I know sometimes we can't help it 'cause we run out between towns an' all, but it suuuuuuuuuuucks. You guys're lucky that ya got so much to eat here!

[ There's a small nod at the question about the chicken, but honestly, at the very same time Daniel's brain is definitely stuck on that statement about fighting for a moment.. It does make it sound like Goku has experience with it, but what kind?

He's trying to quietly figure it out to himself as he speaks. ]

Well, it isn't always easy here either. A lot of stuff has trouble growing around these parts. [ Sure, it's been better than it used to be, but it's still a far cry from what Daniel is used to back home.. ] So sometimes you have to improvise with what you can make.

[ He looks away from the pasta he was slowly stirring to smile back at Goku. ]

But we make sure that no one goes hungry here, so you don't have to worry.

[Still grinning as he listens, Goku takes the puppy's paws into each of his hands and starts carefully jabbing them back and forth, like he's making it fight some invisible enemy. The way a kid does with a doll. He even makes quiet sound effects under his breath, little "Pow pow!" and "Whack!"s with each move. It certainly doesn't occur to him that he might've said something unusual, or that it would've pinged something. Fighting is part of his everyday life. He's good at it. He likes it.

Almost as much as he likes food.]

So that means there's not a lotta veggies or fruits around here?? What kinda stuff can you get?? Is there rice??

[He hopes there's rice. Rice and noodles go with everything! It'd be a shame to not have any of that around.]

Not as much as you're used to, probably.

[ Though it's not impossible to get either - it really just depends on where you look, though Daniel is pretty sure he can save the nuances of all of that until later.

Especially since the pasta does look like it warmed up quite a bit, making Daniel grab a plate so he can scoop it out of the pot and over on said plate. ]

You can find a lot of things here though, if you know where to look. And know how to trade well.

[ Having piled up quite a bit on the plate for Goku - look, the 'kid' said he was hungry! - Daniel walks over to the table where Goku is playing with the puppy, putting down the plate before grabbing some cutlery and putting that down as well. ]

Here you go, eat to your heart's content.

[Goku's head tilts slightly while he considers what Daniel's said. "Trade well." He's at least not new to the bartering system. He'd even spent quite a few weeks in a village where everything was a little like that. Those who work, eat.]

So if I help people out here an' there, I can ask 'em for food in exchange?

[Though speaking of food and eating, as soon as Daniel puts that plate down in front of them Goku completely lights up. He finally releases the puppy from his grasp, happily exchanging that for the cutlery when Daniel hands that to him, and he immediately launches himself into the meal, only pausing to cheerfully cry out-]

Thanks for the eats!! It looks sooooooo good!!

[And then it's all getting shoveled into his mouth at the speed of sound. Daniel probably doesn't see people eat this fast very often. Goku eats like someone who hasn't had food in 500 years, like he thinks if he stops for too long it will spontaneously vanish from in front of him. It might be kind of hard to tell if he's even chewing properly. It's a miracle he isn't choking, really.]

[ ...

Sorry, what was that question?

It's totally forgotten in the face of what Daniel is witnessing here. Honestly, he isn't even entirely sure what he's looking at. Even as his Omen hops off Goku's lap and instead starts trailing around Daniel's feet as if it's looking for pets there, Daniel is just.. frozen. Just staring at the boy, and at the absolute speed with which Goku is inhaling this pasta.

That can't be healthy. ]

H-Hey, make sure to chew properly..!

[ Look at this last-ditch dad effort to make sure Goku doesn't choke on it after all.. Daniel is even putting up his hands, just in case he has to do something to help?? Pat Goku on the back if he does choke or something??

Just how long has this kid not eaten?! ]

[What was what question? Goku doesn't remember either. Food has been shoved into his mouth since then.

This is normal for him, Daniel. Actually this might be just the slightest bit faster than normal, since he truly hasn't eaten since he woke up on the beach, but... Only a little. That pasta is getting absolutely devoured, and Goku is humming appreciatively around every mouthful. It probably seems like he shouldn't even be able to taste any of it with how fast it's all going down, but he does, and he's loving it.

And without anyone to compete over the share of food with, well... That plate is pretty clean within a matter of minutes. At which point Goku looks over at Daniel with a huge, messy grin, eyes shining.]

Is there more?! Can I have more?!

.. sure.

[ There's a hint of uncertainty in it, but Daniel grabs the plate all the same to scoop some more pasta that he heated up onto there.

The uncertainty isn't really about sharing his food this much, instead it's so much more about what he just witnessed. Maybe Daniel's brain is still trying to process it, wondering if he's just getting so old that he can't properly perceive these things anymore.. That's got to be it, right. ]

Do you always eat like this?

[ Might as well ask, right. Especially if he just tries to make it sound like a little question! Just a slight curiosity, rather than Daniel's dad alarms starting to turn on with worry. ]

Edited 2023-06-22 13:39 (UTC)

[Goku just hums happily to himself while he waits for the next plate, swinging his legs a little and gently drumming his utensils on the table. If all Italian food is like that, and if all Italian people are as nice as Daniel, then surely everything Italian is great and he looks forward to knowing more about it. No issues there, right? It's so simple! ...At least in Goku's head.

He's entirely oblivious to Daniel's concern, just watching him scoop out more food for him and eager for his seconds.]

Well, yeah! I guess usually the other guys're here an' we're kinda fightin' over who gets what... But yeah!

[See? Nothing to worry about here at all.]

Ah-- Is there a different way I'm s'pos'd ta eat Italian food??

[ Goku, is this something Daniel should be concerned about? It sure is what the man is wondering to himself as he's scooping more food onto the plate, wondering if maybe other people just didn't let Goku have enough to eat before..

It would explain why a kid would develop a habit of just inhaling food like a vacuum cleaner, right? ]

Not really. [ He instead says, keeping that Dad Thought to himself and answering the question with a faint smile. ] It's just.. I don't think I've ever seen anyone eat as quickly as you.

[ Hold on, Goku, he's almost done preparing your seconds!! Or maybe it's just that Daniel realises there's no way he'll get a chance to hear anything else from Goku for a few moments once the other is eating again.. ]

A May Arrival from the East

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