deercountry | locks and loads my nursing gun

Entry tags:

manabu yuuki: elle

locks and loads my nursing gun

Who: Manabu, Ryunosuke, Kazuma
What: Soup-based first aid
When: March
Where: Ryu & Kaz's apartment in Crenshaw

Content Warnings: None in the starter, will tag as needed in comments

Leave the inside door unlocked, i can see myself up

[that's the last text Manabu sends before setting to the task of prepping a simple soup and securing a lid, not bothering to heat it up as he and his omen make their way along the small, zig-zagged pathway from his residence to the one Ryunosuke and Kazuma share.

the both of them...too sick to move? it sounds serious no matter the handwaving Ryunosuke did in text. he supposes he'll see for himself...]

It's me! [bark bark.

he calls from the ground floor as he takes a moment to kick his boots off and start up the stairs, Magnet racing him and winning, pawing at the door until Manabu can finagle his hold on the giant stove pot so he can open up the door and pop in.

while the dog trots right on through and sniffs out the lads, Manabu lingers in the door to take in the state of things.]

Guys? What's going on, huh?

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You actually messaged him?

[A miserable groan from beneath a pile of moth-eaten blankets on a sad couch, which will now be deemed as 'Kazuma'.

Ryunosuke had mentioned Manabu, and soup, and a possible call. He didn't honestly think he'd go through with it. Was he really so miserable? All whining tones and a myriad of complaints would point to yes.]

'ello, Manabu. [Pathetic sounding. Though at least he manages to wiggle enough of his head out of the blankets to make it seem like an attempt at a proper hello.] We're dying.

We're not dying. [Ryunosuke chides a bit, sitting with his knees drawn to his chest in the plush chair he found not too long ago.] And I told you I would message him, didn't I?

[He sighs, setting his feet onto the ground as he moves to stand.]

I'm glad you came. [He says to Manabu with a smile, though wincing as he finally stands to greet him.] Did you really... carry that all the way here?

[wow.

well.

no one is bleeding, oozing, or turning into a squid, so at least the situation isn't so blatantly dire! Manabu came here expecting to triage care for more serious circumstances, but instead of dying men he might've walked into a schoolboy's sick day?

he blinks at the living blanket-lump over to Ryunosuke.]

Eh? [carry-? oh--] Well, yeah! I didn't know if you had any pots or things here, you know? Don't get up if it hurts, okay? I'm good! [Magnet's already on the case, padding over and shoving his face into Ryunosuke's legs.]

You guys look like crap... [he frowns back at Kazuma before moving to the kitchen.] You sure you don't wanna see any of those blood-doctor guys at the hospital?

I'll have to make sure you know what I have next time so you're not carrying that all through Trench.

[He smiles a little as he leans down to greet Magnet. He starts to pet him slowly, carefully, because moving is a great ordeal today. Not just today, but since the month started moving has been rather painful. Whatever was causing the pain, it wasn't lockjoint. That much he knew.

Fish leaps up onto the back of the chair, deciding to investigate the other Omen who has invaded his space.]

I'm sure it's not bad enough to warrant a trip to the hospital. [He says with a small laugh. Though he's pretty sure Kazuma will disagree.

I don't like the idea of the hospitals here. [Grumbles the blanket-Kazuma hybrid. That says nothing about whether or not he agrees with the assessment that a trip isn't necessary--just that he would rather not go.]

We'll survive. Maybe. [He moves, agonizingly slowly, to prop himself up on one end of the couch. Now he's only mildly pathetic looking.]

So it's just...soreness? Of your muscles? Your bones? [he can't recall what detail Ryunosuke gave him on the Omni, being a bit too preoccupied with being put on Mission Mode to sweat the small stuff until he was there.

well, he's here now! time to sweat the small stuff while snapping his fingers to trigger a spark and light the stove.]

Muscle aches. Sluggishness. It’s a combination of things that’s making it painful to move.

[He rolls his eyes at Kazuma, before he sighs.]

It’s painful to touch too. But! It’s not bad enough to warrant a hospital visits. It’ll likely pass. Kazuma’s just being dramatic about it. [He gestures to his friend with a small smile]

Have you felt anything different this month, Manabu?

My attitude is perfectly warranted. [Grouch from the couch. He frowns in Ryunosuke's direction before taking hold of one of the few pillows strewn about the couch to throw it in his friend's general direction. Though it makes it just far enough to slide across the floor and land near Magnet.]

He's downplaying it for your benefit. Granted it likely doesn't require the hospital, but the ache goes right down to the bone, I swear. As if this place hasn't given us troubles enough from the start. [Because the problem is Trench in its entirety. And if it wasn't, Kazuma was about to make it Trench's problem.]

[sounds almost like the flu to him - some variant Medical Officer Yuki might know about...or heck, be able to inoculate them from! but if it's not making them cough their lungs out or ooze, then maybe it's not as bad as Kazuma's insisting...

meanwhile, Magnet growl-whines, dodging the pillow and pacing around Ryunosuke's feet. he snatches up a corner of pillow and drags it back over, leaving it on the floor by Kazuma before snorting derisively and padding off...only to double-take when he gets a whiff of cat and gawks up at Fish, tail up and body stone still. CAT!!!

meanwhile AGAIN:] I mean...I, I think I'm actually...better? Than last month. Since that was bad. [he grimaces, not keen to get into the details; Kazuma knows enough that it's already a risk. he keeps his eyes on the food, shrugging his shoulders up.]

Could be, 'cause I'm a coldblood...it's different?

[Kazuma is lucky that Magnet decides to take the pillow and drag it back over to him because Ryunosuke was about to throw it back. Fish, in the mean time slowly jumps down to the arm of the chair, staring at Magnet. Dog!!

Ryunosuke leans back in the chair again, drawing his legs up and tucking them underneath himself. Even that action was enough for him to groan a bit.]

That’s good. [He watches as Fish crouches down on the arm of the chair, tail flicking back and forth.] Do you think it may have something to do with us being warmblood?

Edited 2022-03-23 23:44 (UTC)

If it has to do with us being warmblood, I want a refund. [He's tempted to throw the pillow back again, but there is something brooding between cat and dog and it's best to not. So he just kind of...holds it, awkwardly.]

Honestly, I'd almost rather catch whatever got into Manabu last month...honestly wasn't that bad. [Sorry sir, not going to let that one go any time soon. ANYWAY:] If it's got to do with blood we... Wait till it just goes away on its own, I suppose.

[Manabu's hair fluffs just a scosh at mention of wasn't that bad because that is a bald-faced lie, Kazuma.

in animal town, Magnet's still paralyzed by choices: does he follow dog-instinct and bark and chase? or does he follow omen instinct and...omen...commune? both, perhaps? likely both, given how he slowly stretches his neck to get his nose inching ever closer to the cat for a sniff. hello cat be my friend RIGHT NOW.]

With most stuff, it...it usually is good to see if it lasts longer than a month to find out if it's something that might be more long-term? [...] I mean, unless it's. Like you're...being attacked or, or kidnapped or losing an eye...stuff like that.

[he grimaces, then rolls up on his toes to reach up and hunt out some bowls while the room starts to smell a bit more like food.]

Either way, lie low until you're feeling better. If you need stuff picked up or whatever, I can do it.

I don’t think Trench offers refunds. [He laughs lightly, before getting serious.] Will Trench allow us to lie low? [He frowns wondering what this city will throw at them next. What would it be this time? He’s slowly getting used to the nature of Trench but he wonders if there is a way to predict what would happen. Has anything they’ve gone through happened before?

It made him wonder if the Dream has similar happenings.

Fish watches, patiently waiting for dog to get close before bringing his paw up and batting at Magnet’s nose. There’s no hissing, it’s more playful than defensive.

Ryunosuke picks Fish up and sets him in his lap.] Come on, don’t antagonize Magnet.

[He pays Fish on the head, before his attention turns back to Manabu and Kazuma] You really don’t have to do that much but I cannot thank you enough for it.

Edited 2022-03-24 00:08 (UTC)

A place that takes its share of blood and penance alike wouldn't. Apparently, there's potential to lose one's eyes. [Fun! His lack of amusement bleeds through with the dry sarcastic delivery.]

Oh let them have their fun. [His own omen had yet to make itself known, so he'll live vicariously through the two present. And honestly, it had seemed more a chance to play than anything truly antagonistic.]

Mm...Ryunosuke's right, we can't thank you enough for the trouble on our account. [A pause. A sigh. Because Ryunosuke will make sure he won't hear the end of it if he doesn't:] My account, I suppose.

[the swat sends Magnet into zoomies mode, so between Ryunosuke and Kazuma's words, there is the noisy scratching of dog nails on the floor as he books it around the room and into the kitchen and back a few laps, sliding to a stop at Ryunosuke's feet, immediately propped up in play mode.

aside from the initial startle the hootenanny causes, Manabu just huffs out an exasperated sound; he'd yell at Magnet to knock it off if the others weren't still talking so unfazed, but if he sees that dog try to climb on anyone, the yelling will start.

he thinks about making note that he only lost his eye in the dream so he could be off-base, buuuut...but he also doesn't know if anyone actually has lost limbs or eyes yet or not. while he's thinking about that, he sets bowls down nearby while waiting for soup to be hot enough to be served, double-taking as he notices a few flowers hanging upside-down? wait, are those the...?

oh, yeah...

distractedly:] A, mn. It's, it's fine. Really. [he shifts his focus, looking over, ducking eye contact to squint at Magnet.]

I mean, if I don't owe you already, I probably will when something messes me up next...

[Ryunosuke chuckles as he watches Magnet zoom around the flat, shaking his head before Fish is hopping out of his lap and onto the ground. Curious sniffing ensues, before Fish is slowly batting at Magnet's face again.]

At least they're getting along. [He says to himself, rubbing the back of his neck. Not that he fully understands Omen's and how they work just yet, but he is grateful that Fish isn't hissing.]

You don't owe us anything, Manabu. [Ryunosuke rejoins the conversation after a moment, turning in the chair to face Manabu as best as he can without straining.] Besides, we should really stick together. Trench isn't a place I think I could navigate without you.

[He means it too.]

Mm, Ryunosuke has a point there. [Kazuma muses from his nest on the couch, continuing to watch the Omens flit about with an almost lazy sort of interest.] Seems half of what he's told and taught me came from you in the first place.

If anything, we're the ones with quite a bit of debt.

[now that animals are no longer going at mach 3, Manabu has a chance to prep some things - ensure soup is heating up, ensure there's utensils to spare, all that business. Magnet can't help but be a dog, even if he is a spirit-dog motivated by Manabu's psyche, so Fish is going to have his patience tested as cats' patience often is. much nosing, much personal-space invading, all that jazz.

meandering back into this living area, Manabu gives the humans in the room a more scrutinizing look-over. neither of them look like they'll be keen on moving very far at all, so he'll have to figure out the best way to get this food in them without a mess, huh? thinking on that has him nearly missing their remarks, but he catches them and double-blinks before smiling in a pained way - the practiced kind of politeness of someone taught to graciously refuse too much praise, lest it go to his head.]

Jeez, if you guys are gonna be like that, maybe we just call it all even right now? Back and forth owing things will get really annoying...

[but that aside, soup...]

...Hey. Kazuma, wanna lend me that blanket? We can put it over this coffee table. Make a kind of...makeshift kotatsu, right? [one of the many things Ryunosuke mentioned in the back and forth texts: both their worlds know the blessing of a kotatsu. in this case, however, Manabu thinks everyone sitting on the floor with soup is less strenuous than crawling into dining chairs.]

[Kazuma doesn't like to leave debts unsettled, but if Manabu is going to insist, he isn't going to argue. Though he's fairly certain that Ryunosuke will back him up on finding a way to return the favor he's showing them both today.

The request for his blanket has him clutching it close--until there's the following promise of--] Kotatsu? [Is that a sparkle of hope? A rare sight.] We don't have irori or oki-gotatsu for heat...

[Not that it keeps him from acquiescing, slowly dragging both himself and the blanket from the couch to drape the fabric over the coffee table. It's haphazard at best, but the attempt has been made.]

Are you sure? [Though he could see Manabu's point. Things would just get tiresome if they continually owed each other something. He tucks his feet back up on the chair and continues to watch Fish and Magnet. Fish's patience is definitely tested, but despite that, he's surprisingly friendly and just allows Magnet to nose and sniff at him.]

He did say "makeshift". I'm sure it'll still be quite cozy. [He laughs lightly, watching as Kazuma haphazardly covers the coffee table.] Kazuma...

[He sighs, almost rolling his eyes because he was still being dramatic in his attempt to cover the table. Ryunosuke finally slides up off the chair and moves to sit on the floor slowly, carefully. He then shifts the blanket slightly, just enough to make it appear to be more even around the sides of the table. Not that it would be perfect, mind you, and not that he really minded Kazuma's attempt, it was more out of habit than anything.]

[wow Kazuma good effort amazing work...definitely not pathetic. Manabu chuckles a little to himself as Ryunosuke sets to smoothing out the rough - sorry, amazing -work done and retreats to go get some of that soup poured out.]

You forget I'm a coldblood already? [did the burns heal entirely?

while setting down a bowl in front of each of them:] I'm getting better at managing heat levels; bet I can make some semblance of a replacement if I focus...

[focus and not blow up the table. it's fine.

he sets spoons out before kneeling down at a vacant spot, scooting his knees up in and pulling some of the blanket over them. replacement, huh... well, if he can just think of it the way Diluc put it, like mimicking the low light of that training candle...

the boys can test their soup and Manabu can emanate a bit of ambient heat in the meanwhile.]

[A wrinkled brow and discerning look. Are you laughing at him sir? He clamours under his share of the table and blanket, leaning on it and looking ~~like a pouting child~~ a bit put out.]

I-No... [He just hadn't thought of the more practical applications here. Burns leave scars, he just doesn't much associate them negatively with Manabu, or his powers.]

Wouldn't that be a drain...? [Once again, he's out of his depth in understanding how these things work in Trench. But he doesn't bother too much puzzling it out, instead reaching for the soup and wrapping his hands around its welcome warmth. He takes a moment to just sit with it, sighing rather contentedly at the welcomed heat.]

So you intend to be our own personal heater? [He teases lightly as he leans his elbows on the coffee table, chin in his hands as Manabu sets the soup down in front of him.] That's quite the offer, Manabu.

[His expression does change from mirth to concern when Kazuma asks if it would be a drain on him. Would it be? Would he exhaust himself simply trying to keep them warm? If that was the case he'd rather not have Manabu do something that could potentially cause him exhaustion.]

If it's too much, you don't have to. The soup is warm enough. [He grabs the spoon and slowly stirs the broth.]

[Manabu's smile twitches at the corner. wh-why did Ryunosuke have to put it like that, huh?! whether he intended to or not, Manabu's now radiating a little heat almost in spite of a shiver.

he clears his throat, sitting up straighter with his hands in his lap - a real professional boy.]

I'm not going to wear myself out! If I overdid it, it'd just be a burden on two guys who can barely move, you know? [hmph!!] So just! Eat up already, jeez!

Excuse us for the concern. [Dry delivery, a smirk that barely keeps a laugh contained.] Honestly, you've gone out of your way for us both...And neither of us knows the limits of such things.

[Friends do a worry. Let them live.]

Exactly, so if it does start being too much just tell us, all right?

[He lifts up the spoon and taking the first sip of soup. It was good! Very good. He's really glad he's not the only cook around here - between the three of them he's pretty sure Manabu might be the better of them.]

Mn, this is really good. [He says before there's another spoonful in his mouth.] Where did you learn to cook?

[those asks to speak to weakness is going to be barely acknowledged - barely a grunt! he lifts his chin with a bit of indignance...a façade that crumbles quite easily in the face of praise.

he really is too easy to read.]

Oh, ah-- [he rubs the back of his head.] My mom owns a restaurant. We...grew up above it. Lived upstairs, worked downstairs. Well, my, my brother did. He had to deliver things to the miners in the tunnels. I mostly stayed behind and chopped vegetables.

[gesturing to the spartan spread:] This isn't even...even a quarter as good as her stuff, though! So...so don't give me too much credit. I can't master it, I'm not a chef.

A family affair then? [An interesting insight to Manabu's life, and not at all what he expected.]

I told you before not to sell the skills short the last time you cooked. [Ah. Yes, he didn't mention that particular "outing" to Ryunosuke. At least it meant they got along?] The only thing standing between amateurs and masters is practice.

Kazuma is right. You shouldn't sell yourself short! You have skills in cooking. [He smiles at that, before he turns to Kazuma with a curious expression.] By the way, what do you mean the "last time you cooked"? He's cooked for you before?

Where was I?

[Thankfully, Ryunosuke is mostly teasing the two of them, judging by the smile on his lips and the teasing tone.]

Gih-- [Manabu's eyelid and a corner of his mouth twitch in tandem before he double-blinks and shoots an owlish, accusing glare Kazuma's way. subtlety? never met her; he's too honest for subterfuge, even for his own sake.]

Just the one time! [he closes his eyes and sits a little straighter - the visual equivalent of a petulant hmph.] And, and I don't know where you were, otherwise you'd have had some, too, so...!

[Kazuma, for his part, at least tries to hide the laugh that results from Manabu's less than subtle reaction.]

I could have sworn I mentioned it. [The face of Innocence.] You were out on some errand or another, I think.

You didn't. [He's on to you, Kazuma.] Maybe I'm a little jealous. I rather enjoy your cooking, Manabu.

[Again, teasing tone and smiles as he glances from Kazuma to Manabu.]

Though with how both of you are reacting, I'd say you two were up to something.

[But up to what would be the question now wouldn't it?]

[never put Manabu on a stand for trial; he'd never survive real scrutiny if the teasing kind already has him flustered like this.

his chin goes up a bit in tandem with his shoulders drawing up.]

Up to eating food, yeah! And that's it! [his shoulders drop and he shoots a glare back at Kazuma - a very practiced Do Not look of the sort kid brothers give their siblings when being grilled by a parent.]

[Kazuma doesn't recognize that look--either because he was an only child for most of his life, or because he was often the one to give that look to Susato. Either way, he meets it with a grin.]

Manabu was showing me what else we could manage to make instead of mushrooms. [A cheap shot. Sorry, Ryunosuke.]

There is nothing wrong with mushrooms!

[Though there were a lot of them. He's trying, Kazuma, cut him a little slack. He's still trying to find enough food to change up the menu but mushrooms are in abundance so it's an easy fall back.]

I will try and use them less. [He concedes, and goes back to eating his soup.]

[the glare abates as the focus of teasing is shifted; Manabu observes the back and forth with a little fondness. this kind of atmosphere is familiar and cozy - like sitting in the mess on break with the other platoons...just not as rowdy.

he sighs, chilling out a little - but not physically, as the kotatsu is still warm. for a few minutes, he doesn't add into any conversation, fine with space being filled with soup-slurping - that's why he came here, after all. hopefully it helps...he'd like to believe it is, if only because Kazuma's stopped groaning about impending doom.

by then, Magnet's got himself a cozy spot partly underneath a blanket, pressed against one of Ryunosuke's legs; sorry Fish, you are not as compelling as warm.]

A-- [a thought strikes him suddenly, shaking him out of his little daze.] I should make some tea, huh? Do you have any?

Tea...? [Honestly, the thought of continued warmth and the idea of tea was tempting. He leans back, trying to think if there was anything in their cabinets that could be brewed into some semblance of a passible tea.]

Do we? I can't remember if we do, it's been a few days since I've thought to make any. Ryuu?

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locks and loads my nursing gun

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