Rider (坂本龍馬 | Sakamoto Ryouma) (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
amakakeru) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
isleofavalon2021-10-10 01:17 pm
amakakeru) wrote in isleofavalon2021-10-10 01:17 pm
Entry tags:
October Quests and Open Log [open]
🧙 WHO: Rider (Sakamoto Ryouma) and you!
⚔️️ WHAT: Quests, naps in questionable places, etc.
🕒 WHEN: October
🗺️ WHERE: various
⚠️ WARNINGS: none so far, check thread headers for specifics
[ 1. Don’t Lose Your Head ]
[ 2. Any Port in a Storm ]
[ 3. Wildcard ]
⚔️️ WHAT: Quests, naps in questionable places, etc.
🕒 WHEN: October
🗺️ WHERE: various
⚠️ WARNINGS: none so far, check thread headers for specifics
[ 1. Don’t Lose Your Head ]
[ A black horse with a rider in white on its back patrols the area where volunteers are dealing with cleanup. It’s a bit upsetting to see the aftermath, but someone needs to protect them as they do their work. The dead deserve a respectful end as much as anyone else.
The thundering of hooves snaps him to attention and he tugs on the reins. It can only be the Headless Horseman. Ryouma abhors violence, however there is a time and a place for it. Used in the defense of others, it’s a powerful tool. One hand on the reins, the other draws the sword at his side. ]
Get out of sight!
[ A call to any volunteers that were nearby and, if there’s anyone else helping to chase off the horseman, he looks to them with a little smile. ]
Ready? If you flank while I charge, we should be able to force a retreat.
[ 2. Any Port in a Storm ]
[ Ryouma is still getting used to a human body and human needs. The most difficult thing to get used to again is the need for sleep. He keeps odd hours at the best of times, so naps are generally how he copes.
The problem is the locations he chooses for these naps. Naps are best taken indoors in a bed or on a chair or a couch, not on a bench somewhere or under a tree or slumped over on a cafe table. You may find a surprisingly well-dressed man in a dark blue shirt and white slacks, sometimes with a hat over his face sometimes still on his head, asleep in any number of places in the city. He’s surprisingly hard to rouse from his sleep and seems more annoyed than embarrassed when he’s woken up. ]
Mm…What? Is there a problem here? [ He yawns and stretches, rubbing at his face. ] What time is it, anyway?
[ 3. Wildcard ]
[ Got an idea? Drop me a starter or PM me here or on discord glitzkrieg#0673 and we can work something out! ]
no subject
Been here longer. Don’t mean much.
[ unlike the time he stole ryouma’s breakfast, he's still not sorry about the cookie even knowing ryouma wanted it. izō frowns and picks up his cup again, sipping the drink slowly right up until ryouma finishes his explanation, in which case he’s lucky to avoid choking on it. ]
That's 'cause I know ya sleep like a fuckin' rock, so I was makin' it easier. Can't ya ever jus' say shit like a normal person?!
[ ah… there it is. now it’s back. izō's feelings get tangled up again, and he feels overwhelmed, so as usual, the easiest way to let them out is in anger. izō is yelling inside a cafe, though, earning a few looks, and only because the workers had been nice does he make an effort to do somewhat less of that. unclear how long it'll last. ]
The fuck were ya anyway?
no subject
Same old Izō, for better or worse.
The better decision is to just leave that be for now and answer his other question. ]
I was just out and around talking to some locals and refugees about the situation...Seeing what I can do to alleviate any tensions and try to find some supplies for people that need them. [ The smile fades a little bit. ] I bit off more than I could chew...
[ He pats his pocket suddenly and makes a face. ]
...And someone might come looking for me now.
no subject
really had him in the first half, not gonna lie. ]
What? Who? The fuck are ya talkin' about? [ and more importantly, it occurs to him... ] Yer tellin' me that ya knew that an' ya still did this?!
[ izō isn't sure what he wants to say about it because there's a lot he could say, but then that might get them kicked out of here if he gets going. his expression says plenty that he isn't, anyway. ryouma is lucky there's a whole table between them because izō probably would've grabbed and shaken him by now, the idiot. ]
Ya halfway told me now, so ya might as well tell me the rest without all the vague shit...
no subject
It's not that serious, I promise! It's just some cash. I was supposed to buy some building materials and bring them back...I didn't. Not that I meant to run off with their money or anything! I just ended up getting distracted to heal some drunk that fell and hurt himself and then he wanted to repay me...I just lost track of time and kept getting pulled into things I couldn't ignore.
[ He sighs. ]
...Guess I should find them again and at least give them their money back.
no subject
Ya really are an idiot sometimes, ain'tcha? [ occasionally he gets to feel smart. ] Somebody ya don't know trusts ya enough to hand ya money an' ya can't even—...
[ he sighs and rubs his face. ]
Shouldn't ya make good on yer word? Or are ya tryna fuck up yer reputation?
no subject
I'm going to. I guess...I found my limit of how much I can do.
[ That said, he does check his phone because surely the person whose money he has is looking for either it or him.
...
Well. He is a heavy sleeper, judging by the amount of missed messages. Ryouma sighs, sends a few quick texts, and slips his phone back into his pocket. ]
Do you mind helping me out? It shouldn't take more than an hour to take care of everything.
no subject
as usual, it isn't like he has much going on, so it's not like the request is particularly inconvenient. ]
Fine. Whatever. I'm useful now, huh?
[ he shouldn't be frustrated, but he hasn't been in an ideal headspace for a while either; not out running around doing things, but dealing instead with old hurts brought to the surface again. maybe he's making too much out of nothing, or maybe he's the real idiot. it's difficult to tell. if he hadn't come here looking, would ryouma still have asked? why does he even care this much? ]
Anyway, jus' tell me what ya want me t'do. Ya know how it goes...
no subject
Ryouma can't help but look a little hurt by that response, though. It's misplaced anger, he knows, but it doesn't take the sting out of it. He's really finding ways to screw this up again, isn't he? ]
Don't be like that...I like having you with me. You don't have to do anything you don't want to. Don't just do this because I asked you to...
[ Don't dwell on that for now. He manages a smile as he finishes off the rest of his drink. He doesn't feel any more rested nor anymore awake; he'll manage. ]
I just need some help carrying some of the supplies, that's all.
I'll treat you to a nice meal afterward.
[ Ugh, it still feels like he's using him for the convenience of it. That's not the truth -- he really just wants Izō with him right now. This is just including him in what he's doing, right? Ryouma feels terrible for not letting him know where he'd been all night, bringing him along is a way of soothing that and hopefully soothing Izō's irritation at least a little bit. ]
no subject
But maybe ask me the first time an' not jus' 'cause I showed up an' ya remembered and think it's fuckin' convenient.
[ he gets up and snatches his sword from where he'd set it earlier, moving past to go and wait by the door. it's just that he probably does so a little too hurriedly not to look like he's running away.
while he may not have been very good at dealing with his feelings before either, at least time and distance had made it easier to be angry and bury the rest, so ideally, he wouldn't have to deal with it. izō had been worried about this. now it just feels too much like he did when he was younger, where everything's laid out there on the surface. then it's just plain painful, realising that the world and everyone else in it always seem to have worse troubles, so he will always be an afterthought.
one would think he might've lowered his standards at some point, but that would mean admitting that he cares about whether or not someone else does, so the ol' spiral of misery spins on, as it does. ]
no subject
I'm not trying to bribe you. It's a thanks for agreeing to help me, that's all.
[ He's too tired to just ignore it like he usually does. This needs to be addressed, even if he knows Izō will just deflect and yell at him instead. One day they'll discuss what's actually wrong and what Ryouma can do to prove to him that things are different or what he can do differently to avoid setting him off or even what Izō can do to question whether or not his reactions are rational or warranted -- today is not that today. That day is far off from now, somewhere in the future when they've gotten more comfortable and old wounds have had time to scab over.
He leads Izō to a quiet side street, one with fewer people on it. If he's going to talk about this, a less public venue is better. Fewer prying ears and eyes listening to what should be spoken in private.
He never could leave well enough alone. ]
I already told you that I like having you around. That's not a lie. I asked you for help because I want to be around you. I want to spend time with you, even if it's just doing a quick supply run. I wouldn't ask you to do this just because it's convenient...I'm just glad you're here.
[ He manages a tired smile. ]
I'll say it as many times as it takes for you to believe me...And do what's necessary to prove they aren't just empty words.
no subject
An' I already told ya why I was pissed off, but nobody listens t'me anyway...
[ it's no surprise that ryouma would take what izō had said as he did. they've probably been over this enough times before to assume it's just the same issue rehashed all over again, especially when izō's deliberately vague. even if what ryouma says is the truth, he just can't believe it. it's not what he feels, especially after the night he's has had. ]
Dunno what ya mean by "do what's necessary". Ain't gotta do shit. Nobody has t'change anything for somebody like me.
[ doesn't he always tell people that the only thing that matters is who he needs to kill to be useful? no one needs to die, so the tasks have changed. he'd lost sight of that. of what he is. ]
no subject
That's really not the sort of thing he needs to be thinking of right now. He sighs quietly and keeps his eyes forward. It's easier to talk about this when he isn't looking at Izō and seeing all the reminders of the ways he'd failed him when they were alive. ]
But I want to do something for you.
[ One day he'd make him understand that. He's not doing any of this out of obligation, rather out of actual desire.
There's more he could say, but he chooses to leave it at that. He has a feeling Izō will continue to find ways to shut him down and, frankly, he's too tired to deal with that right now. ]
no subject
[ there's more he could say, having no shortage of his usual barbs if he really wanted to use them, but he bites his tongue this time. they'll still be there later if he wants. ]
Ya wanna do somethin' so bad, then tell me that. An' make it the real fuckin' reason too, not some excuse. Ain't like I can't handle somebody havin' a shitty opinion 'bout me if that's what it is…
[ which is easily the most ridiculous thing he could say, being who and how he is, but setting ryouma up isn’t actually his intention in saying so. ]
no subject
[ He sounds absolutely exhausted by that fact. ]
That's the truth of it. If I'd known the full scope of what I was getting into, I would have asked you to come with me in the first place.
[ The path Ryouma's on takes them towards the Brocéliande. A merchant nearby has been expecting him probably since daybreak...It's fine, he'll deal with it like he always does. ]
no subject
Shoulda said so at the beginnin' then! Shit…
[ and now izō will deflect because he doesn't want to be perceived as caring too much. ]
Must really like people givin' ya a hard time if y'think this is fun.
no subject
I never said I thought this was fun. [ It's the opposite of fun. ] It's just...finding something to do to keep myself busy.
[ To run himself ragged so he can stop focusing on the emptiness inside of him from Oryou's absence, to keep him from focusing on his regrets every time he so much as looks at Izō. It's not the healthiest coping methods, but when did that ever stop him?
Soon enough, the merchant he was supposed to meet at least a few hours ago comes into view and Ryouma greets him. A few ... unpleasant words and several apologies later, money exchanges hands and they receive a cart of supplies, mainly building materials and some packages of non-perishable food. ]
Now...we just need to bring this back.
[ At least it's something else to focus on aside from the things he's bottling up. ]
no subject
[ like sitting and drinking and maybe, just maybe, fitting a meal in there somewhere.
he's not going to drag things out by asking ryouma how, in his mind, it manages to be different — how difficulties with other people are exhausting but ryouma chooses to deal with him to the point of arguing for it repeatedly — because he's not likely to accept the answer anyway.
izō stands aside while ryouma handles the business with the merchant, which is at the same time something that feels familiar and... not. he's been in a similar position before, in another time, but that was other people and other business. and it's not like ryouma needs protecting, but maybe he's unintentionally helpful in standing around looking pissed off?
of course, now there's a cart full of supplies to deal with, which is maybe a little more than he was expecting, but whatever. he already said he'd do it. ]
Gotta plan for how ya wanna do this? 'Cause—...
[ well, it speaks for itself, doesn't it? ]
no subject
It's only when he asks the obvious question that he pulls himself out of that spiral. ]
...Help me pull it?
[ Yes. His grand plan is to...pull it themselves. It's a wonder how on earth he managed to accomplish as much as he did in his life. It's not like he's expecting Izō to do all the work...
But maybe he should've rented a horse.
It's fine. ]
no subject
[ doing a little hard work is supposed to be good for you, right? only they're not servants anymore so this might be more tiring than it is helpful... ]
Those familiar things probably think it's rude if they gotta do shit like regular animals, huh...
[ so he hadn't expected either of them to pitch in. ]
no subject
[ Well, nothing to it but to do it. Ryouma does stop for a moment to cast a small strengthening spell on himself and then he gently grabs a hold of Izō's arm to do the same for him. ]
Something to make this a little easier.
[ It won't get them to the level of Servants, but it'll hopefully keep them from getting too exhausted. It is a decently far walk, they're both already sleep-deprived -- anything that can help them make it through is more than enough.
Back towards town and along the farthest edge that could be considered Camelot, their destination awaits. True to Ryouma's word, the whole trip did take about an hour. A few more apologies and assurances it was just a misunderstanding and an accident and they're freed from their literal and metaphorical burdens. ]
...Rain check on the meal until after we've both slept?