July Catch-All

[kirijo]

🧙 WHO: Mitsuru Kirijo and you!
⚔️️ WHAT: Monthly Catch-All; quests, TDM prompts ...
🕒 WHEN: Backdated to July 1st, but technically all month
🗺️ WHERE: Around Camelot, Ash Mountains … will add more as needed
⚠️ WARNINGS: None, but she’s from Persona 3, so that may change, and I will tag if it does

 

Some open threads to start, but I'll be adding more as I go. If you want to hash something out that's not in here already, just shoot me a PM, hit me up on discord at CJ#0446, or tag me on the CR meme!

Comments

Special Dicklivery

[kirijo]

[ Mitsuru had never gone camping before. She and her family had gone on many trips when she was younger, but between her father’s responsibilities within the Kirijo Group and a general lack of interest in leaving all modern convenience behind, they’d never taken a vacation of that kind.

[ As such, the journey to the Ash Mountains was something of a new experience to her. The quest seemed straightforward enough that she was comfortable undertaking it with some assistance, especially after conducting some research and purchasing the requisite supplies and equipment.
[ The first day had gone smoothly enough. It was a fairly straight path so no complicated navigation was needed, and while it was unpleasantly warm for a few hours before and after noon, the trees had offered her and her companion enough shade to avoid too many midday rest stops. By the end of the first day they’d reached the end of the Land of Rot.

[ The second was … it was similarly straightforward, but the desolate landscape of the Land of Rot gave them far less respite from the sun. Instead, the strange noises that emerged from either side of the path offered them a lingering sense of unease.

[ Fortunately, though, they never encountered whatever was making those noises, and by the time the sun was set, they were nearing the foot of the nearest mountain. Come the morning, all they would need to do was climb the mountain and make their delivery, and then they could begin their return trip.

[ For now, though, they’d need to make camp for the night -- a process made mercifully easy with their magic. Once they’d cleared a spot for their campsite and built their firepit, all Mitsuru needed to do was wave her hand to light a fire for them. ]

[patchricide]

[It's a little more familiar for Allura. Not that she ever had gone without the comforts of her castle-ship-home by choice, but there had been missions that required hiking through different terrains or staying somewhere far rougher than her own comfy bed. (It's hard to say, but the last time she slept in a camp might have been that time she had to sneak into a labor camp, pretending to be one of its prisoners...)]

[So if anything, what's new about this quest is how calm and refreshing it is. The fact that it's simple, straightforward and peaceful, yet feeds her sense of adventure and allows her to enjoy the scenery. She's in a good mood, and while she can't provide any magic to help, she can still provide some regular old muscle — assembling the tentpoles, gathering wood for the firepit, and all that.]

[Now that it's all set up? She's taken a seat on a nearby log, and is looking up at the night sky — and the dark silhouette of the mountain looming above them.]

We're making good time, aren't we? I was so worried that something was going to smell the care package and attempt an ambush to get ahold of it... [She turns, looking towards the package in question, just to confirm that it was still there.] But it seems we're past the worst of it already.

[kirijo]

So it seems.

[ Mitsuru nods, finding a seat of her own. She does sound a bit less relieved about it than Allura, though. ]

I was worried about the same thing, and I must admit that I still am. A bit pessimistic of me, maybe, but I've grown somewhat accustomed to things taking a sudden turn for the worse in the eleventh hour.

[ With that being said ... ]

We have made good time thusfar, though.

[ She allows herself a small smile. ]

[patchricide]

It's not just you. I've come to expect nothing but the worst on these sorts of missions... and with the route we were taking, it almost seemed inevitable. We must have managed to avoid treading much in the Land of Rot.

But we've been working hard to make it this far. Take some time to relax, and that feeling should pass.

[She starts looking for the trail rations they packed. What's going to be their dinner tonight, hm?]

Besides, we've still got an uphill climb ahead. We'll need to rest up for it.

[kirijo]

A very fair point.

[ Allura had made several, but the final one rang especially true. While Mitsuru was in excellent shape, she simply wasn't used to this sort of protracted travel. Her legs were exhausted and her feet were gently throbbing even after sitting for a little while.

[ Even without any sort of additional complications, the climb the next day would likely be quite the challenge ...

[ She watched Allura rummage about for a bit before she realized what her travelling companion was looking for, and unslung her bag from her shoulders. ]

Here.

[ She offers it to Allura. She'd carried a good share of their provisions after all. Dried fruit, nuts, some bread, some salted meats, a few sweets for the simple pleasure of it ... all practical, hardy things that wouldn't spoil easily. ]

[crimsongirl]

[Homura had plenty of experiencing camping and hiking, from her childhood to even now. Though it was more for training than fun, even as a little kid. The worst were during those days, being abandoned too and told to survive. Now though? She kinda expected and welcomed any challenge. The entire trip had seemed so...uneventful. Even the creatures that she felt stalk them from the shadows didn't do anything.

By the time the camp was started up, and with her putting up her own tent in a few minutes, she ended up yawning.]

Talk about boring so far. With this kinda trip, I was expecting a lot more action.

[kirijo]

As was I, but I don't see this being uneventful as a bad thing, necessarily.

[ She won't argue that it isn't somewhat dull, but considering they were alone on unfamiliar terrain - to her, at least, she isn't sure how much Homura has explored Avalon - it's probably a good thing that they've managed to avoid conflict so far. ]

[crimsongirl]

I know. Just after keeping to myself for a month, I was hoping for something more challenging I guess.

[Still, she needed money. A job was a job after all. Better than that time she worked in retail.]

[kirijo]

[ Mitsuru considers that for a moment before conceding the point with a slight incline of her head. ]

I suppose an opportunity to test my magic in a practical setting wouldn't be entirely unwelcome.

[foolaround]

[ kotone hadn't gone camping until coming to avalon, she thinks. there were... a great many experiences she'd never gotten the chance to have.

but that doesn't matter now. a few quests before she'd withdrawn into herself for those few weeks had taken her into the wilderness, and she and yukari had gone on simpler overnight trips once or twice because her friend wanted to introduce her to something she enjoyed.

when mitsuru expressed interest in the quest, kotone offered to go along with the group. it sounded interesting, and she... needed to start getting out of the house again. after those trips with yukari, she at least knows how to set up her tent and build fires without issue. once the fire's built, kotone takes a seat on a log next to mitsuru, offering her a bottle of water. ]

So far so good, right? [ she watches the fire, her hair bunched up in a messy bun. ] I'm... glad I came along. Thanks.

[kirijo]

Of course. [ Mitsuru accepts the water bottle with a small smile. ] I'm glad you chose to accompany me.

[ Mitsuru isn't the most socially adept when it comes to interpersonal relationships. She'd be the first to admit that. But she's been aware of a certain ... strain, on their relationship since she's arrived. The specter of Kotone's passing and all that had transpired for Mitsuru since then loomed large in quiet moments between them.

[ It's been ... easier lately, though. Since the summer solstice festival.

[ Maybe they had simply moved past it with time, maybe she truly had cast her fears into the fire during the ritual ... or perhaps finally giving voice to them had helped her accept them.

[ Whatever the case, this trip has felt like a return to something resembling normalcy between them. She'd ... she'd missed this. ]

[foolaround]

[ kotone reflects that smile with a grin—a genuine one, not the forced ones she so often flashes. ]

I couldn't let you have all the fun. [ she'd heard the song, of course. sang her own. for her own part, kotone wasn't sure who hers had been meant for... perhaps everyone in her life, in some way or another. but mitsuru's had been unmistakable. there were really only two people it could be for. ]

I, uh... I know I've been a little weird, lately. I'm really sorry if I worried you guys. [ it almost sounds like she's more troubled about having been a cause for concern, than the rest of it. ]

[kirijo]

[ That's exactly what it sounds like. Especially to someone who knows Kotone well enough to be aware her tendency towards precisely that behaviour. ]

You have nothing to apologize for.

[ Mitsuru's voice is at once firm enough to convey that she means that, and gentle enough for it to be clear that those words are a reassurance.

[ After that ... her gaze briefly dips down towards her feet before she looks up to Kotone again. ]

In truth, I was worried that my own behaviour caused you some distress.

[piercedyourheart]

[ contrary to literally everything about her, yukari's always liked the outdoors. taking long hikes and sleeping under the stars with her father are hazy memories at best, but they've left a lasting impression. as do most memories of her father, for better or worse.

so she doesn't hesitate to accept when mitsuru asks if she'll accompany her on the delivery quest. not only is this her friend, getting out of the house will be...good. which is putting it mildly. she isn't running from her problems--she never wants to do that again--but some space will be good.

and there's plenty of that out here at their newest campsite. for the first time in months, yukari feels at peace. ]

Fire magic's cheating, Mitsuru-senpai.

[ is she...teasing? my god. nature is healing. ]

[kirijo]

[ So it would seem, and that brings a smile to Mitsuru's face. ]

I'd consider it an appropriate use of the tools at hand. [ Mitsuru replies, her smile taking on a slightly impish edge as she sits down next to her friend. ] Though I could extinguish it if you'd prefer to re-light it in a more fitting manner.

[ Good-natured teasing aside ... She's genuinely glad to see Yukari in better spirits. She knows that things have been ... difficult, of late.

[ She understands why, too. All too well. ]

[piercedyourheart]

And ruin all your hard work? [ she answers with a roll of her eyes. ] No way.

[ emotions in the p3haus have a tendency to run high. yukari feels more than a little pathetic that she can't make the necessary steps toward healing despite arriving in camelot several months ago. mitsuru could do it. shinjiro could do it. kotone.... she was better at faking it, at least.

yukari turns her gaze into the fire, pulling a knee up to her chest and resting her chin on it. ]

But you have to let me show you how to do it next time.

[kirijo]

[ Mitsuru could only do it because Yukari had forced her to take the first step on the riverbank during their trip to Kyoto. Before that, she had been lost, and would have likely wallowed in her own misery and sense of failure for far longer. ]

I'd like that ...

[ Mitsuru's eyes follow Yukari's gaze towards the fire. ]

Perhaps the next time could be a proper camping trip. With no objective beyond simply ... immersing ourselves in nature. I'd like to experience that at least once.

Cool Down Carnival

[kirijo]

[ Another day, another new experience, it seemed …

[ In truth, the carnival wasn’t all that dissimilar to the festivals that she had attended in her own world. The tantalizing aromas, cheery atmosphere, and brightly-colored stalls all combined to create something distinctly familiar and deeply nostalgic.

[ The differences lay in the little things. Instead of the normal fare of takoyaki and dango and mochi ice cream, there was a vast array of different frozen treats. Some, like gelato or shaved ice, were quite well-known to her. Others, such as the dozens of novelty ice cream bars, were much less familiar.

[ Still … she was eager to give them a try. She’d come to relish that part of living in Avalon … the opportunity to experience new things, and the freedom from the responsibilities and expectations that would normally give her pause.

[ There were still a few things that her sense of propriety steered her away from, of course. The Margaritaville Pair Challenge provided her some brief amusement as a spectator, but she wouldn’t be inclined to participate even without the absurd amount of alcohol involved …

[ No, for now, Mitsuru was simply making her way across the festival ground, deciding what she’d like to partake in as she enjoyed her first indulgence of the day - a melon milk tea with brown sugar boba. ]

[fullgauntlet]

[The festival is a good time to relax and enjoy some downtime. Izuku has been checking it out as well with a few friends here and there. The food is great and the games are too even if he's a little wary of anything fae-related lately with all the tricks and trials that have been popping up. So he might be avoiding some of the more questionable treats for sale for now...

But he does get thirsty for something to drink. The summer days are getting hotter even in a place like this. At least it isn't as humid as Japan gets, he supposes.

He's about to order himself a boba as well but his shoulder accidentally bumps the girl with hers already. It's getting so crowded that he doesn't mean to do it when someone pushes into him.]

Ah- Sorry! It's a bit crowded...!

[kirijo]

[ The bump does jostle Mitsuru, causing in a bit of her melon tea to slosh over the edge of her cup as she stumbles ... but it wasn't a particularly forceful impact, so she doesn't need more than a step to steady herself. ]

It's quite alright.

[ She waves off the younger boy's concern and offers him a polite smile, quickly glancing downwards to see if any of the spilt tea had gotten onto her clothes ... and clicking her tongue in disappointment when she sees a small splotch of green on her jeans. ]

[fullgauntlet]

[Oh no... He made her spill her drink. He panics slightly, hands waving in front of him.]

Ah- S-sorry! You got some of your drink on your pants- I- I'll get some tissues! Tissues!!

[He'll turn to the stall and ask the vendor for a whole massive handful of paper towels!! Probably way too much of it.]

Here-!!

[kirijo]

[ A gesture that Mitsuru absolutely appreciates, though the young man's alarm leaves her feeling a touch self-conscious. He's already run off to a nearby stall before she can reassure him that it isn't serious enough to warrant such concern.

[ When he returns, she accepts the wad of paper towels - quite a few more of them than would probably be necessary for such a tiny stain - with a small, slightly embarassed smile. ]

Thank you.

[ She starts scrubbing at the stain. ]

And, truly, it's alright. A run through the wash will more than likely get rid of any lingering stains.

FINALLY... and swear I didn't do this on purpose

[apshot]

[ Bakugou isn't particularly keen on festivals. It's not the traditions or shops or treats that annoy him. Hell, there's even a place for the cultural side of things. What bothers the blonde most about these things is the fact that there are people. There are people in abundance and if it's one thing that Katsuki doesn't really care for? It's people.

So he's been kind of actively avoiding what he can. He's not really a fan of sweets either, but somehow he's more or less okay with frozen treats. It's not uncommon for him to enjoy things like an ice cream bar or ice cream in general. Honestly it's kind of the only thing that Katsuki actually doesn't actively put down as being "too sweet."

Which is what's going on right now. He's got a popsicle in his mouth as he's moving around the crowds. He doesn't look too pissed...

Until some kids run by. Katsuki very nearly stumbles over them, but catches himself. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for his popsicle. It kind of... Falls out of his mouth. And hits the ground with a wet splat.

Cue a fit in 3... 2... ]

[kirijo]

[ The same group of children had dashed past Mitsuru mere moments before, jostling her and nearly causing her to spill her tea. Her head turned to follow them as they ran off, a flicker of annoyance in her red-brown eyes, only to see them run into a young man mere moments later and knock his popsicle out of his mouth.

[ She didn't recognize him, but she recognized the look on his face easily enough.

[ He looked completely incensed. ]

[apshot]

OI YOU BRATS! LOOK WHERE YOU'RE GOING OR IMMA -

[ Oh wait. They're already gone. Katsuki's hands begin to spark with light magic. A small firework display around his palms as his temper flares. ]

COME BACK HERE!

[ He might well run after them if not stopped! ]