[OPEN] did you miss me?

[sunshrouded]

Who: Tenka aka "Dad Extraordinaire" (sunshrouded) & ALL OF Y'ALL TBH
When: Sliiiiightly forward-dated to 2/15, so right after the Nexus Code event!
Where: assorted... Kumounji House & entertainment district mostly!
What: Guess who's back (back again), Tenka's back. Tell a friend. -- also he fulfill his dream of becoming a Sidequest Dispenser.
Rating/Warning: just your usual brand of tenka idiocy, maybe some tears, probably some punching

[a. closed to kumounji house residents ; farts back into existence]

[Tenka doesn't have a calendar in his room.

Why would he?

But what he does have, when he materializes in his futon, wearing the same robe that he went to bed with, is a vague feeling of dread. He went through a weird sequence of dreams, he thinks. Sitting through that powerpoint again and then -- after that there was a weird space where he could walk through entire buildings. Where he started to feel... intangible again. It was remniscent enough of the time that he lost his body that he felt chills.

Yet his preoccupation with himself was short. After all, Shirasu was there.

Shirasu was there and wasn't there all at once -- he was in that space, unresponsive even as Tenka yelled at him and tried to punch him. But there was no returning punch, no weary purple eyes, not even a motion of acknowledgment. He was well and truly there and.... not.

So Tenka is tired as he walks out into the living room then, settling himself at their low table and slumping over it, just as he would've three weeks ago.

His first word upon his return:]

Teeeeaaaaaaaa.

[ . . . . . well?]

[b. semi-open to adoptees & others ; emerges from the void for noogies]

[Most people just knock or ring a doorbell. Maybe knock three times in small bursts if they're feeling antsy. But here's Tenka, banging on the door instead, complete with yelling:]

Heeeeyyyyy!! Is anyone in there?! Hellooooo?

[At least it's a voice you probably haven't heard in a while.

Someone clued him in that he's been gone for 3 weeks. So he's got about 3 weeks of visits to make up for, he thinks.

(Punch him.)]

[c. OPEN ; tell me what you see ]

[If nothing else, you might've seen this guy's face around. Yet he appears to no longer be Missing and is instead sitting on a bench somewhere. He seems to be puzzling over something very, very deeply. Feel free to bug him if you know him when he's still in the middle of his work of art (which consists of nothing more than a few brush strokes).

Because otherwise he's going to sit up suddenly and thrust out the page to you. It's definitely the kanji for 'lake'. But here's time for messing with the language mechanism and/or an impromptu Rorschach test:]

What does this look like to you?

[What a quack.]

[d. OPEN ; quest master tenka, disaster in the making]

Hey, you!!

[Doesn't that sound like a promising start to a conversation....

Alas, escape is futile as Tenka completely messes up the rhythm of the closest person's day as he steps in front of them and offers them the sunniest grin. (Don't trust it.)]

You look like you've got some free time. Think you can help a guy out with something?

[Sidequest: start!]

[e. choose your own adventure, hit me with anything, i can take it! ]

Comments

[sunshrouded]

[ . . . . ? Tenka turns to the voice and tilts his head inquisitively. Why does Sayo sound so confused to see him?

But rather, he just yawns and extends one arm out to him, welcoming the other to come sit in his lap and wait for someone to get the both of them tea. That's just how the household works, he thinks. In the morning, there are other people far more awake than them that can handle the other stuff.]

Hey Sayo-kun. Wanna sit with Ten-nii?

[reprizesal]

[Of course he's confused, Tenka's been gone for weeks. He never thought he could have the same faith that he would ever return. None of the humans who left him behind ever returned to his life.

He rubbed his eyes, trying to wake himself up some more. Which probably shows he's still sleepy than anything. After lowering his hands, Sayo slowly walks over towards Tenka and climb onto his lap. Looking up at him, Sayo raise his hands and touches Tenka's chest. He feels... solid, real, alive.

So don't mind this tantou touching you, Tenka...?]

[sunshrouded]

[Oh you poor sleepy thing. Tenka doesn't seem to mind though -- he's a Kumou and more than that he's Tenka. It's not a normal day in Otsu unless there are children climbing all over him, using him like their personal, warm, laughing jungle gym.

So this? This is fine.

In turn, he rests his arms over Sayo's shoulders and slumps. He's still sleepy too.]

Think one of your brothers will get us tea....?

[reprizesal]

[It's generally not normal for Sayo to do this. He wouldn't touch another person so freely unless he's close to them, or he feels confused and uncertain. If Tenka is back, then... would that mean the missing swords can come back as well? If his brothers left (he hopes they wouldn't), can he hold they can return as well?]

Maybe... [Probably Souza, since Kousetsu have his morning prayers and meditation. He stops moving his hands, but they're still on Tenka's top.] ...You're back.

[His voice is shaking a little, which surprised him. Was he really that affected by Tenka's absense?]

[sunshrouded]

[The shaking uncertainty of Sayo's voice manages to earn Tenka's attention as he wakes up that much more. He glances down at the other and pets his hair thoughtfully.]

Did I go somewhere....?

[Please go look at a calendar, Tenka.]

[reprizesal]

[He's quiet for a moment, before he speaks.]

...You left three weeks ago.

[It's said softly, because Sayo wants to hope it's for real and not a cruel joke. If CERES can pull a cruel joke like this, using Tenka's image, they can repeat it again and again.]

I don't know if you would ever return. [Very few humans in his long life ever do return to him.]

[sunshrouded]

[For a second, Tenka doesn't understand. Then he thinks to actually spare a glance at his Cerevice, noticing the number on the screen and -- it slowly clicks into place, why Sayo's in such disbelief. There's a lot that he needs to deal with, admittedly. He's been gone for three weeks? Why? How? Where did he go?

But first, there is a sad little sword in his lap and Tenka is all the more focused on wrapping his arms around him in a tight, reassuring hug.]

Hey.... We're family, aren't we? I meant it when I said that. So that I'd always come back. Family doesn't leave family behind like that.

[reprizesal]

[His hands grip Tenka's top and he rest his forehead on his chest. This is a lot for him to deal with. Three weeks wasn't that long to a long living spirit like him, but it felt like it on quieter days.

"Family doesn't leave family behind". It's a nice thought, really. He knows his brothers wouldn't leave him. But...]

Family wouldn't leave family behind on purpose, but... people can leave.

[People can die, he can accept that. They can leave and never turn. They can give swords away and never come to visit.]

[sunshrouded]

[ . . . It's a thought that resounds with Tenka.

He's not dumb or oblivious, despite appearances. He once told Shirasu -- and isn't it ironic that Shirasu was the one he told? -- that people leaving.... and having to leave people behind, the thought makes it hard to breathe.

So he pauses for a second before resting his hand on Sayo's head and shushing him, speaking softly, just like he did when his little brothers were small enough to both fit in his lap.]

And it's hard, isn't it? When they go.... especially if they left little parts of themselves with you.

But I'm not gonna go anywhere, alright, Sayo-kun? So you don't need to worry about that.

[reprizesal]

[He wants to believe, but he also doesn't want to. It's easier to not believe and avoid being disappointed that way.

But Tenka's words and his reassuring hug, he could try and believe again. Sayo slowly nods against Tenka's chest.]

Okay... But if you leave again, then... [His thoughts turn towards revenge and CERES. He doesn't know how, but he'll find a way.]

[sunshrouded]

[ Tenka just laughs faintly at that and ruffles Sayo's hair affectionately. He has a feeling he knows what the young sword is going to say. He's too young to think so much about revenge. ]

If I disappear again, I'm leaving a very important job with you, okay? Look at me, Sayo-kun.

[ and he waits until he gets his attention, then he continues softly and confidently ]

I need you to take care of this family until I come back. Your brothers, my brothers, and Sousei. Instead of looking for revenge, I'm going to ask you to protect them just until I come back.

Because I'll always come back for you.

[reprizesal]

[It will be a long, long time before Sayo can truly stop thinking of revenge. He's learning, but that aspect of him is still somewhere deep in him, waiting to come out.

Sayo looked up at Tenka, and listened.

... It's essentially the same job he was given by Sousei. Only that Tenka specifically ask him to protect instead of seeking revenge. If Tenka leaves again, Sayo can at least work harder to protect the household and everyone he knows. (Because Souza suffered enough, because he knows how much it hurts Kousetsu to fight--)

He nods after a moment.]

I'll protect them, Tenka-san.

[Even if he leaves again. Or everyone else leaves instead.]

[sunshrouded]

[It's a solid, certain promise.

Tenka gives Sayo a proud, fond smile and leans down to kiss the top of his head. It's more of a paternal gesture than a brotherly one, Tenka falling into old habits of being the only guiding figure for his brothers for years. He's occasionally really more of a parent than a sibling.

And then he gives Sayo a sunny smile, full of warmth and pride.]

I know you will, Sayo-kun.

Your strength is in your kindness.

[reprizesal]

[And then, Sayo blinks and stares up at Tenka. The quiet, seriousness from earlier is now replaced by... still quiet but now surprise and confusion.]

My kindness is my strength?

[Out of all the things he have, he wouldn't have pick that one as his strength. Sayo never thought it's a choice for someone like him.]