estoria | ( OPEN )

Let's like, hope that doesn't happen, though.

[None of them are equipped to deal with this, truly.]

[ If it wasn't obvious by the way he smiles after that, Mikazuki is obviously very pleased that Souji is playing along! Now just a little further to the room... ]

Fufu, I beg to differ but I won't embarrass you with such things. Regardless! I'd very much enjoy your company if you choose to stop by.

[ Something about Souji makes it easy for him to talk to? Mikazuki is usually a talkative sword as it is, but there's something calming about the other's presence. He doesn't quite know what it is, but he probably won't go off questioning it too much.

He's pleased to have him back and that's all that matters. ] There's a sense of "home" in my opinion. The place might not be that familiar but the people -- or swords -- are what make it feel homely I suppose?

If we do find that key... then I hope that we can also find a way to safely travel from our world to here and back. Some of us may want to stay, some of us may want to go home.

[ It's because Koumei brings up his odds that leads Kogi down this path. The one where he may have very well shattered somewhere in another time or possibly corrupted and lost to the very same agents they fought tirelessly against.

Or, even worse, watching as his comrades did the same thing. ]

However: you are right. The simple things are ones that I've never gotten to truly enjoy myself. I'm glad to do so with you and Kouha.

[ And he returns to a more serene, amiable expression. The little fox never could stick to the 'what-ifs'. Those ideas are deadly, where he's from. ]

Yeah! Hopefully the store will have something that's close to them~

[ Their color is nice, but Imano hopes a robot can replicate the song, really. ]

I thought the same, to be honest. The little creature seems mostly harmless...

[Ah, but that line of thinking had been naive. Koumei silently kicked himelf for discounting such an oddity that no one else could see, particularly if the Company's involvement had anything to do with this.]

But that isnt much of a detail to go by, considering that we can't interact with them in any way. Still....it's unsettling.

If there's no way to find a correlation, we may have to stay in our quarters for a while.

Little? What creature do you see?

[he wants to be sure of this before drawing conclusions]

[Kogi's comment earns a small and sincere smile from Koumei, a sort of smile that would be rare for him to give in his home, when he has the world's eyes on his every gesture and movement.]

We're glad to be able to share these simple pleasures with you and your bretheren as well. It's been a learning experience, and one that I hope I shall never forget.

[It would be nice, if the robot could replicate it's song.]

Well, there's know way we can know unless we try, [Koumei said, trying to find a way to stand up with the pile of arms and legs that were still clinging to him.]

You wanted to look now, didn't you Imano?

A bird. What do you see?

[for a moment he hunts around, verifying that the only bird he sees is the CYbuddy, and then shoots a side-eye at the figure now standing over by the kitchen door]

It appears to be a goat, now that I look at it straightly.

Sure. I'll try to put together some of the recipes I know. [ haru quite likes the idea. sebastian is so relentlessly competent that it's kind of intimidating, but how often does haru get to learn from someone who's literally good at everything? ] Is it strange being here without your master..?

[ he can only imagine how lost some of his swords would be here without him. though some of them would do very well, so maybe they could take care of one another.. if they didn't burn down the apartment building first. (maybe he should make them all learn how to use a kitchen better.)

the question earns a glance back up, a little puzzled. ah.. how best to explain it.. ] Mm, maybe like a.. a household god? [ kind of?? he has a hard time categorizing the various spirits and yokai he'd grown up with. ] They usually look like children, I think. Our house's was an older child. She'd been there a pretty long time, since it's an old house.

Hmm. The fact that they differ in that respect tells us nothing.

[There was a mild edge of irritation in his voice, as if he had been hoping for a clue that might lead them to the resolution of this particular mystery.]

You cannot see it, though. [and he, in turn, can't see the spectral bird, that goes without saying] What shape they take is less important than their nature - creatures which can only be seen by the individual. Though, I doubt how creature-like they are, the one I see appears like a white shadow.

[ Sebastian's frown only deepens, though as Souji points it out, he can't help but give another appraising look to Souji. He doesn't say as much, but it would seem he agrees based on how he bows his head lightly with a heavy sigh. ]

Really... It is still quite possible for such spirits to learn, though.

[ says the demon, but ]

Then pray tell, what has been the situation for food? Surely someone has been doing the cooking.

[ He's definitely slightly concerned over the answer here ]

[ The question gets Sebastian to briefly glance Haru's way, but it's smoothly followed with a gentle smile. He closes his eyes as he works, and indeed, the expression could definitely be mistaken for fondness, but that's not at all what it is. ]

Quite strange, yes. I am meant to be at my master's side at all times, since it is my duty to protect him. With what I had been told, I would worry that perhaps I had failed... It is quite strange to think about. I have never failed my master, you know.

[ But that's a personal topic, and as such, he shifts the topic away rather quickly, since it's better for him to not speak of himself. ]

Ah, it certainly sounds strange to my ears... Perhaps we have it backwards in the West, for the home is usually guarded against any and all spirits rather than welcome them.

[ But considering the more malevolent spirits (not naming names here), there's certainly a reason for that. Sebastian seems to find the idea rather charming based on how his smile shifts, and indeed, he ends up laughing gently. ]

My, but to think about it, I can only imagine what spirit may watch over the young master's manor, were that the case. [ a super messed up spirit, that's for sure ]

[ Sebastian shakes his head lightly, complete with a gentle wave of his hand, but it's at least not quite a shooing motion. ]

That is not the point... Even a very clean animal still sheds, and to have dander in the food is not quite acceptable.

[ Sebastian smiles kindly as he's given a more "proper" title, but as Mikazuki explains his dilemma, his expression does fall in slight concern. For one, it's a rather ominous sounding task, so it's clearly something Mikazuki takes seriously. In that, Sebastian is quite ready for the challenge.

On the other hand, that sort of tone is something that he's rather conditioned to know can mean something quite bad... He's heard this tone before when being told that the manor wall has collapsed after an unspecified explosion (from a certain "chef") or the garden is alight (after a certain "gardener" took to it). So, under his breath, he can't help but murmur as they go: ]

Dear me...

[ But on they go, and Sebastian steels himself for the worst as the room is revealed...! Though as such, the appearance itself is actually quite a pleasant surprise. ]

Ah, very elegant.

[ An idle comment, and it's one quickly forgotten as Mikazuki actually explains the task. It sounds simple enough, and Sebastian brings his hand to his chin thoughtfully. ]

I see... What is the item, in that case? I will look for it to the best of my ability.

That is— [ Excuse you, Kashuu???? ] That is not why...

[ Yet even so, there's a mild note of petulance in his voice. This is especially stupid considering Sebastian doesn't even want friends, but for someone obsessed with an image of perfection, this is a blow! He coughs into his gloved hand awkwardly, then shakes his head. ]

—But, to your question, any sort of work will do. I prefer work inside, for an orderly home is quite important, but I have worked yards and fields before. Tending to the estate gardens has been a task that has regularly fallen to me, though actual fields are not something my master has. We simply purchase our crops from local farmers around the manor.

I—?!

[ what the heck tsurumaru... Sebastian looks concerned as they work on putting out the fire, and yet, he doesn't actually pull Tsurumaru's hand away. Between his own tolerance for flame and Finny's tolerance for pain in general, he's not quite assuming that it's affecting Tsurumaru as it might a human. ]

My goodness, does that not hurt?

[ Sebastian laughs, but it's warm and pleasant. ]

Ah, yes, so I have heard... I confess, I am not very familiar with Eastern cuisine, so until I learn, I hope that my Western dishes will suffice?

[ Not that it'll take him that long to pick it up, but Sebastian is also a huge cheater. ]

Sauteeing is simply a very light frying meant to bring out the flavor of whatever is being fried. It is just enough to bring out flavor, but the frying itself is not so overpowering that you only taste grease. In fact, a perfect sautee should not have that heavy flavor in the slightest.

Are you sure?

[He looks on with The Sad Eyes of Pity™, but he hears that mild petulance! Clearly Sebastian is just sore about it because it's true, so he won't pick at the topic too much for the sake of his delicate ego.

Instead, he just focuses on that last part and SIGHS LOUDLY...]

I wish you could come visit our world sometimes! We aaalways have fieldwork to do and I hate it. Digging around in the dirt is super gross! Even if it's nice to be useful to Haruji, it's like, aren't there better ways of doing that?

[Like cutting down enemies in battle?? Please... Someone save him from becoming the master of turnip harvests.]

Dander?

[A mystery word...the fox understands though, looking a bit defeated as he wriggles out of Naki's hands and trots around his feet to sit on the veeeerryy edge of the outside of the kitchen. See, he's not inside anymore! Technically!]

While I don't entirely understand, I wouldn't want to cause issues with the food our master eats...my apologies for having interrupted!

[Naki's still standing there, looking back at fox, hands still in that fox-holding position? He's not sure what to do now.]

No, I cannot-- hence why I've not been making a big commotion about the bird, unlike some people in town.

[A certain young man spouting off very loudly about his new pet cat over the Network came to mind. He hadn't said a word then, and he wouldn't now.]

Mine also appears like a white shadow. I'm not one to believe in frivolous stories, but I'm certain my youngest sister would compare it to a ghost...were she here with one of her own.

Ghostly animals... [there's a healthy bit of scorn in his tone. Given other experiences here he can't exactly say that spirits and ghosts and gods are nothing because clearly, in this world, they are, but he still has his personal opinions.]

Perhaps I can no longer ignore their presence, if it can lead to strange effects. Having someone else's memories thrust upon me is rather unsettling.

[ At least up until Imano has it sing one two many tweets at max volume for an alarm clock and swordhaus loses it. ]

You'll go with me to the store? Yay!

[ totallywasnothisplantodragkoumeialong.txt ]

I have money saved, so don't worry about that. You can even get a friend for Hato-kun too, if you like.

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