estoria | [Closed] Tea for two and two for tea

Entry tags:

[Closed] Tea for two and two for tea

Who: Tenka

unluckless
When: Backdated to just after this thread
Where: Tenka's place
What: Tenka made the mistake of inviting Komaeda to tea. He doesn't yet realize it's probably like feeding a stray cat. Now he'll never get rid of him.
Rating/Warning: None at the moment, updated if they pop up

Komaeda isn't exactly used to invitations. Of course Hinata tends to include him and invite him places, and a few people here in this place have been kind enough to do the same from time to time. But it's still a rarity compared to most of his life, so the novelty has definitely not worn off when it comes to the thought of someone actually wanting his presence as opposed to perhaps tolerating it. Even the latter is something he's usually appreciative of.

Of course, Tenka doesn't know him that well. Maybe he'll change his mind once he starts to find out just what sort a person Komaeda is, but until then, Komaeda has decided to make the most of it. To enjoy it. Maybe it's a selfish thing, not to give people a better warning, but it's his current course of action anyway. With any luck (ha), his, well, luck will behave itself and everything will be fine. That's never a guarantee though, and he's well aware of that.

He's a polite guy though, so he's definitely brought snacks as requested, a paper bag full of a number of assorted choices since he wasn't really sure what his host would like best. He may have overdone it a little during his quick stop by the store, if he's being honest with himself -- everything from cookies to pretzels and several other things he couldn't quite identify but that looked interesting enough. It's all in a fairly sizeable paper bag. This package is held in one arm, and for just a moment he hesitates in front of the door before his other hand lifts to find the doorbell, pushing once and then stepping back. Somehow though, he really is looking forward to it.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Definitely still good! But he's just grinning as he moves to take a seat at the table and motions for Komaeda to follow after, even as Tenka pours the tea.]

Probably!! The future has a bunch of interesting food to try, you know? My hometown didn't get a lot of sun in general so there wasn't this much variety at all....

So I'm sure it'll be great!

[Right yes. He'll take a seat, sitting just a bit stiffly. He's minding his manners.

He nods in agreement with the bit about food.] Mm! It's nice to have enough food that no one's on the verge of starving to death!

[...his life has sucked a few times before he wound up here.]

[ . . . . . . . . and there it is again. Tenka finds his smile slightly strained for a moment because what?]

Komaeda-kun.... You came from the same place as Hinata-kun, right? I think he called it... Haven? [It makes enough sense.] And the island before that...

[well gee tenka how much do you know]

That's right. Hinata-kun and I came from Haven before this place, and the island before that. Somehow we've managed to stick together.

[It's definitely luck, right? Good luck, but that does make him wonder about when the bad will hit.] Has Hinata-kun already told you about those places? [He's not sure how much Hinata talks about Haven given some of the things that happened there. Or their world for that matter.]

It's pretty impressive that you guys managed to stick together through all that....! I think it's really lucky.

[Yeah he's more or less echoing Komaeda's own thoughts at that -- but he can't help it! He's impressed. Still though, Tenka's shrugging a bit.]

He and Peko-chan both have to different degrees, I guess.... You were one of their classmates, right?

That's what I think too! It's definitely my luck... I just hope the bad luck to match it has already come and gone.

[The checks and balances of his luck are always in motion.]

Mmhmm. Hinata-kun and Pekoyama-san were my classmates. Though that's a long story too somehow.

[ . . . . ? Tenka blinks at that even as he moves to open up the bag of snacks to set them out on the table.]

Well... We've got time. You wanna tell aniki about your long story?

Did either HInata-kun or Pekoyama-san tell you about the island fieldtrip and what it turned into? Even if it was a virtual reality in the end.

[He glances down at his hands, folded in his lap before he glances back up with a smile.] Though it felt awfully real. Especially when I died. [He remembers it being pretty painful. Because he was really really thorough.]

Yeah.... Yeah they did. [He doesn't look happy about it at all.] And Hinata-kun told me that he's still trying to get back there so that he can make sure that everyone comes out of it safely.

.... is that what you mean then, from when you said that you think that you died? Like how Peko-chan.....

[He trails off because even though it's not him, it hurts to think about. That these kids could've gone through that much pain -- it's just not fair.]

Ah... [A smile at the mention of Hinata's goals, and Komaeda nods.] He's pretty determined about that. If anyone can manage it, it's Hajime-kun.

[Who he sometimes slips and calls by his first name in public. Oh well. Another nod.]

That's right. Pekoyama-san and I are both dead in that virtual reality. [And in comas in the real world. And even if Hinata and the others can find a way to wake them up, well, it's not likely to matter for very long for him -- a fact he has been trying not to think about.]

[ . . . . cute. Tenka grins faintly at that and can't help but be a little fond. It's nice to see how much Komaeda supports Hinata....]

Yeah, I know he can do that. He's my amazing little brother, after all.

[But.... well, it makes him shift a little uncomfortably to hear that Komaeda seems to just accept that they're just dead. So he sips his tea and then says with a determined nod, perhaps too determined for someone who has no stake in this:] He'll save you both.

You're rewlly the adopting type aren't you? [It's cute. This Tenka guy is clearly a dork. A nice one though so Komaeda approves entirely. Also he can't argue. He wants to believe Hinata can do it too. Part of him really does believe it even. The rest of him wants to believe it too much to let himself believe it, if that makes sense.

He notices that determination and he smiles, head tilting curiously.] Mm. I hope so. For Pekoyama-san's sake, she deserves a chance. Our other classmates too.

[He's a huge dork and more than that, he's a huge family dork and it's about to make it really, really clear.]

Let me tell you something, Komaeda-kun.

I'm the 14th Head of the Kumou Family and we manage the Cloudy Shrine in our village called Otsu, but we're also the protectors of the entire Shiga Prefecture. It's all a bunch of boring stuff a lot of the time and sometimes there's politics which is worse than boring stuff--

But more than anything, we keep our house open. My old man did it a lot, he'd bring in kids that didn't have anywhere else to go, and we'd have people from the village coming over all the time. I plan to follow in his footsteps.

So Hinata-kun's part of my family. Peko-chan too, even though she's slower to admit it. Kuzuryuu-kun too, if I can get him to agree. And you?

You too.

Because you deserve 'a chance' as much as anyone else. And if you want it, there's room in my family for you too.

[Oh wow so he underestimated. Grand high king of the family dorks. But it's sweet, that sort of sentiment. It's an impressive person who can open up a family to so many people, who can offer even to someone like him.

So then that definitely makes Tenka's talent big-brothering. It's kind of amazing.

Komaeda ducks his head, still smiling but it's an empty expression.]

Ah... even if it's a really wonderful thing to extend to someone like me. I really don't think it's a good idea in this case. I haven't had a family since my parents died because of me and because of my luck. And because of my luck I wouldn't be a safe person to count as part of a family, even if it sounds... [Really ridiculously nice.] ...like something I'd really want.

[ . . . . . admittedly at the mention of 'luck', Tenka can't help but snort faintly, fondly and -- tiredly.]

Your parents died because of your luck...?

[He closes his eyes once, before shaking his head firmly.]

Well, I've already seen something similar happen to mine before -- but I don't plan on letting it fall apart because of it.

Komaeda-kun, if you really want a family, then as far as I'm concerned, that's all there is to it. We'll make everything else work out after. If you don't think it'll be safe, then I'll fight off every dangerous thing to keep everyone happy. It should be easy! I'm the strongest there is, after all!

Mm. There's no other explanation for it, unfortunately.

[Don't laugh at his luck, Tenka. It will get you. It will totally get you!! FACT NOT OPINION.

Though he pauses.] Something similar?

[Should he really ask that? Is it really his place? He's distracted from questioning propriety when Tenka keeps speaking though.] You really want to take that sort of responsibility? Even for trash like me?

[How confusing.] How strong are you?

[Tenka just pauses before shaking his head once. He might be willing to tell you another sort of time, Komaeda, but you said one thing that managed to catch his attention. So he puts his hands on the table to make it clear that he's making a point as he meets Komaeda's eyes.]

I'll be your family and I'll keep you safe. I know I will, because I'm the strongest in all of Shiga!

[That's Shiga Prefecture.]

But I only have one condition:

You can't call yourself trash.

[Oh wow yeah that's point-making posture all right. Komaeda sits up a bit straighter. Totally paying attention. But he wonders at himself for being reassured by that. If Tenka thinks he's that strong, maybe it really will be okay?

He looks guilty when he's called out on that though.] I suppose that habit is turning out to be harder to shake than I expected. Even if it's hard though, I'll try.

[And then even guiltier.] Don't tell Hajime-kun, okay? He'll deduct points, and I've been doing really well lately.

[Hah.... Tenka just manages a grin at that, relaxing easily.]

Yeah, I had a feeling he wouldn't let that sort of thing slide. So! I won't tell him, so long as you don't say that about yourself again. But if you slip, I have to tell him -- it's a rule of being brothers.

[No, it's not, but Tenka's decided it is.]

... Do we have a deal, Komaeda-kun?

[Komaeda considers. It seems like a fair deal to him really, especially if he'll get away with this slip up this time. Hmm. He looks back to Tenka and nods, offering a smile in return. Komaeda ducks his head in a nod.

Rule of being brothers, huh? Not like Komaeda would know any of those rules, so he's just going to take Tenka's word for it.]

That sounds more than fair, I think. So... mm! It's a deal. [So he's kind of excited. A little. Is that dumb? He thinks that's dumb.]

[Not dumb! Rather, Tenka's about to show you what dumb is as he throws his head back in a very loud, happy laugh. Very boisterous, filling up the room with its sound -- there's a lot that can be said about Tenka's laugh but it's also so undoubtedly warm.]

Bahahahaha!!

Good, good! [He grins then, nodding once firmly.] Then you should call me Aniki! Or Ten-nii! Or the greatest, strongest, most handsome guy around!

[oh for the love of-- someone stop him]

[Oh. There's the dumb in full force. He was only the harbinger of the full extent of the dumb. Komaeda blinks and stares at Tenka for a moment.] One of those seems a lot less familiar than the other two.

[Mr. Greatest Strongest Handomest. But Komaeda is amused despite himself. This guy is a huge dork. He has now confirmed that. He's kind of great though; at least Komaeda thinks so.]

[And Tenka nods happily and hums once.]

Still good, though. Very acceptable title. Also very accurate.

[boast boast boast brag brag..........

at least it seems to entertain komaeda]

Sort of long though. It's definitely a mouthful. Do many people use that particular title?

[Because he's thinking not.] Maybe if you shortened it a little bit, it might even catch on.

[A thoughtful hum, but it's clear he's teasing.] Maybe get rid of all the longer words in it and... mm! "the guy around!" That's short enough to be catchy.

Edited 2015-06-11 04:34 (UTC)

Whaaaaaaat?!

[WHAT A LOUD, GROSS WHINING NOISE. Tenka, stop.]

You took out all the good stuff! That's not worth anything anymore...! Don't you know the purpose of an identifier, Komaeda-kun?

[Ha. That is a pretty impressive whine, and Komaeda does his best to hide a smile. It's not very effective. He can't help it okay? He's decided he's in a good mood, despite the topics of conversation earlier -- Haven and the island and comas.]

Did I? I suppose I'm not very good at this.

[This is what Tenka has brought on himself.] Explain it to me one more time. I'll definitely listen closely this time.

You're gonna get better!!

[It's both uplifting and so demanding at the same time.... Tenka, stop.]

But okay, okay, if you say "the guy around!" to describe someone, how the hell am I supposed to know who the hell you're talking about? You should always add on accurate adjectives--

So for me it'd be handsome! And strong!!

[Oh he'll try. Maybe try. It's going to be a challenge though.]

That's true, isn't it? It is awfully generic like that.

[Think think.] Are you sure people will know that's referring to you? [Handsome? And strong? Sure sure Tenka is handsome enough. But Komaeda is trolling.]

Maybe one more adjective would help, just to be sure. What could it be... [Hmm.]

[Keep on trolling, he's going to have the perfect answer:]

Amazing.

[tenka stop]

[...all right, Tenka. You win. Komaeda can't help but laugh.]

All right. That's definitely more descriptive then. I can't deny that...

[Tenka you're a mess.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Closed] Tea for two and two for tea

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject