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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[ 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.. ]

[Everything is fine here, Daniel. There's nothing to worry about! He's even beaming at Daniel while he waits, though there is also some excited fidgeting going on. He just likes food. Does this look like the face of someone with food-related trauma? Or at least, with any trauma that he can remember?

And besides... He's usually the one that eats most of the food on the table.]

Oh, sorry! S'just real good, that's all! I've never had anythin' like it before! I mean there's chow-mein, an' I guess that's a little like it, but it tastes super different, y'know?

[Goku also takes a second to peer at the amount Daniel's putting on his plate, and it doesn't take him long to decide that... Well. It's not going to be enough.]

Is there enough for more'n that?? I'm still suuuuper hungry!

[RIP Daniel's leftovers...]

.. more?

[ Okay, now it's definitely showing up on Daniel's face. Not even offense or anger or anything along those lines-- no, the look he's giving Goku is definitely just confused.

A kid eating two plates full.. It's already a little much, but he can still accept that idea. The idea of even more though?

That's just too wild.

Even though he's still walking over to put the once more full plate on the table for Goku all the same. ]

You know, I really don't think it's healthy to eat even more than this. [ Is Goku just overestimating his hunger? Or how much he could eat?

That's got to be it, right. Daniel can't think of anything else. ]

Edited 2023-06-24 18:13 (UTC)

[Oh Daniel. This is hardly even an appetizer by Goku's standards. When is the meat coming? And there's dessert after this, right?

He barely waits for Daniel to withdraw his hand before he's pulling the plate closer to him again, cheerfully digging in once again. To his credit he does eat a little slower this time, but... That's probably only because he knows he should answer Daniel's question. It would be bad not to, right? Hakkai taught him better than that.]

Uwehhh?? But this is only my second plate!

[He gives Daniel a curious look, eyes big.] Oh... Do ya not eat more'n two plates in Italian??

[ Thank you for your display of manners, Goku, it's very much appreciated.

Even if it doesn't really take away just how baffled Daniel is feeling right now about.. well, this entire thing. He's still standing there and staring at Goku for a moment, but then he decides to just sit down before his old man knees give way in surprise. ]

Hmm, well..

[ God. What does he even say here.

How does he explain this to a kid who clearly doesn't see anything wrong here? ]

Don't you get way too full when you eat that much? You know, getting a bloated feeling and all that? [ He's Trying. ]

[Goku watches him sit down, a curious but confused look on his face as well. "Way too full"? "Bloated"?? His brow furrows a little while he thinks back on previous meals, tries to figure out if he's ever felt these things before. While getting through another mouthful of pasta at the same time.

At least he'll try not to talk too much while his mouth is full!]

Mmmm... Well, when I get full I just get sleepy, so I go to sleep.

[And then he just kind of... blinks in Daniel's direction.] Whaddaya mean by "bloated feeling"??

[ Is--

Is Goku even human?

It's not something Daniel really considered before now, considering how relatively normal the other had seemed.. but the fact that the kid doesn't even understand the concept of feeling too full is.. well, it's a lot.

It makes Daniel pinch the bridge of his nose for a moment, trying to stay calm. Think about what mister Miyagi would do. Surely he wouldn't ask a kid if he's even human. It'd be rude! If anything, knowing mister Miyagi, he'd just.. go along with it.

Maybe that's what Daniel has to do too. ]

Ah.. no, don't worry about it. [ He slowly exhales, and then shakes his head at Goku. ] Just a little surprised by your appetite, that's all. My students can eat quite a bit too, but I've never seen them eat this much.

[Daniel... You don't want to hear the answer to that question. At least not yet.]

[Until he speaks again Goku just keeps looking at him, making an extremely conscious effort to eat at the speed of a normal human being. Or at least, a normal human being who is really, really hungry. So it's still pretty quick. Just a little. Nothing to worry about here, okay?

He does look down at his plate eventually, swirling some bits of pasta through the sauce to pick up as much of it as he can, making a thoughtful sort of noise.]

Well... My friends all say I'm prob'ly makin' up for lost time or somethin' like that. I dunno why for sure, though. I just know I get real hungry real easy! An' there's sooo much tasty food out there, so I also just like eatin'!

[He punctuates that by popping what he's picked up into his mouth, shrugging over at Daniel with a small, uncertain kind of smile.] But that's okay, right? I promise I won't make too much trouble for ya! Really!

[ .. oh..

Daniel's smiles softens a little into something more genuine, but perhaps with a touch of worry sprinkled in alongside it. ]

Of course it's okay. [ Sure, it's not like he can just give Goku all his food, but.. there's no way he could refuse a kid who's saying stuff like that. The last thing Daniel would want Goku to worry about is worrying that he's a bother somehow, just by eating.

No kid should have to feel like they're a bother. ]

I'm sure anyone here would gladly help you out with food, so don't worry about that. [ Besides, Daniel is just enough of a Dad that he feels like all kids should hear this, even if it's just from a guy they met literally half an hour ago for the first time-- ] You're fine just the way you are.

[Goku's smile brightens at that, something soft and warm and fuzzy spreading in his chest and bringing a little color to his cheeks. It's not often that he gets to hear things like that directed at him, especially not from Sanzo or the other monks back at Chang'An and they're some of the closest things he has to parents.

There's Hakkai of course, ever the mother of their troublesome little group, but that's different, too. Hearing something so nice from a man he's only just met, with that gentle paternal tone in his voice... Goku likes it. He'd like to keep this friend, if he can.]

Thanks, Daniel! [He's laughing a little, like the warmth in his chest had spread to the point of bursting out of him with that happy noise.] You're a super nice guy, y'know? I'm real glad ya found me on th' beach when ya did!

I'm just saying what anyone ought to say.

[ Still, even with Daniel trying to downplay the compliment a little, he is smiling as he's saying it all the same. After all, those words mean that Goku is feeling a little better about having showed up here, and that's all Daniel wanted to accomplish him.

(Well, both that and feeding him, but he's not sure if he can accomplish the latter fully at this point, considering Goku's apparent bottomless stomach..) ]

If there's anything else you end up needing while you're stuck in this place, feel free to ask me whenever. There's a device in that bag you got that allows you to contact me or anyone else here at any time.

A May Arrival from the East

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