expiationnet | festival;

Entry tags:

festival;

back in japan this time of the year around july-august there's somethin called obon. if ur religious like me then this time of the year is meant to say hello to the spirits of your deceased cuz they come around and stuff and to commemorate and celebrate em. if ur not religious then its a party with hella food and games either way.

well. i wanna make it happen here this year so its ALDRIP 1ST OBON at the sano dojo and i gotta do some math to figure out when its gonna be so imma let yall know one day. also for these things you wanna wear a yukata if youre either real fucking short either gender or an absurd beanpole guy i can lend some or i can help you find fabric and ill help the tailors.

also i cant cook for shit YET (sorry aragaki shinjs its a process) so if you can please step forward

- manjiro "mikey" sano

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ah, yeah. That part. I was going to tell you to not knock it before you try it.

(hehehehe.)

I think that's the most common, though. For me... They are all different loves, they mean different things, they make me feel differently in their own way, but none is more or less important than the other, if that makes any sense.

[There's a side-eye happening behind his shades. It's somehow apparent, despite the glasses covering his face. It's just the strong, or Scott's has gotten really good at making that face towards his friends. There's a reason why he's so practiced with it.]

Yeah, I guess I understand. [Scott's trying, he really is.] But... don't you still love one person more than everyone else?

(he senses it in his soul, and it does pull another chuckle from him. does he seem much happier than the past few weeks? definitely. time is doing miracles, that is.)

Nope. I can't love like that, I guess. That would mean I love everyone else less - that couldn't be further from the truth.

[Maybe long time ago, he would've said that's bullshit, but he trusts Mikey's word in this. He can see the biker loving his uhh... boyfriends the same amount or just in different but equal ways. Yu is probably just as important to him as like Takemichi.

Although, he wonders how Yosuke fits in all this, or possibly even Minato?? Or Claude?? He doesn't need to know all the details.]

Guess it's just harder for me. [Scott admits with the smallest of smiles.] Like... I can't imagine loving anyone as much as I love Kotone.

I mean, that's normal. I'm just... Like this. Even if someone I love loves someone else, that's fine, too. Takemitchy has been trying to get married forever now. He's going to leave me lonely, but I'm happy about it.

(it is what it is. to love is to love, not to own, to him. he's always been like this, giving all of himself, taking all, but accepting when needed. he couldn't understand living any other way.)

[Honestly, Scott feels like it's more common for people to love multiple people, at least in Aldrip. Maybe it's just a lot of friends are like this, like Mikey and Yu. Possibly Minato now?? But...]

You're really going to be okay with that? Takemichi leaving you? [Even if he has Yu and others still.]

Yeah, he did sacrifice enough for me, didn't he? Least I can do is send him off well.

(hina-chan will take great care of him. she's always done so, so really, he can see takemichi being extremely well-taken care of. much better than if mikey were to do that himself.)

I didn't tell you, did I? His girl was the one who told me he time-travels.

(he shouldn't upset scott, but perhaps knowing everything is fine now might give him some comfort, so he'll just tell him.)

Before I came to Aldrip, Kisaki hit my sister in the head with a baseball bat. I was taking her to the hospital when I ended up here. She didn't make the trip, and me and Kenchin were fucked in the head over it. We were supposed to go to war that day, so that's why they targeted her, to take me out of commission. Hina-chan came to see us because Takemichi had followed up with the war, and she was scared, so she told us everything.

She's sincerely the toughest I've ever seen. We took her to the war with us and everything, she didn't fight, but man, she didn't even flinch. She has pastel pink hair and strawberry print dresses. She's great. He's in good hands.

[Bro you can't just come out and say that your sister died with such nonchalance.

Scott frowns hearing the news because isn't that fucked up still? He thought everything was all better in Mikey's timeline now... but guess some deaths have been unavoidable. Makes sense, he guesses, but it doesn't stop the mutant from looking just a bit upset. Even in a better time period, nothing's perfect. Maybe some things can't be changed like that.]

After years of putting up with your ass, he definitely deserves someone like that. [At least it's nice hearing that Takemichi is gonna be okay too. Going to be with a girl and everything.] You know he's probably gonna want you at his wedding though. Or babysitting his kids. So, be prepared for that.

I love children, it's fine.

(it's probably because they're just as mature as he is, but okay, sure, whatever the reason. but the frown doesn't go unnoticed, because he did say a good list of upsetting things.)

It's fine, Summers. She's fine, I promise.

[Mikey would probably try to teach them how to drive a motorcycle. He can see it.]

Your sister? I thought...

[Scott's uncertain now. Did he misunderstand what Mikey was telling him? It'd be one of the only times where he'd totally be fine being wrong about something. He's not sure if he should be hopeful yet, but his frown slowly disappears, leaving him looking more confused than anything.]

In the timeline I was from when you first met me, she died. On the one I just came from, she's fine. Time-travelling is complicated, I know.

(imagine takemichi explaining this whole thing to him - there were many tears involved, a lot of despair. at least they talked for hours to set the record straight on what was going on, and the rest, manjiro learned without him.)

Would you? Time-travel.

[So everything is fine. Wow, okay. That's... great. More than that. It's almost a strange feeling to have at this point, but there's obvious relief, something brightening in Scott's expression as he laughs a little. The various timeline stuff is bizarre, but at least it's led to this version of Mikey. So, maybe it's all okay.]

Yeah? Well, good.

[The question gives him pause because huh. Guess so?? Might be cool, but might be a giant mess. He wouldn't really change his past all that much and maybe that's what really sets him apart from what they had to go through. His life's been pretty okay, other than the usual people pissing him off.]

Sure, I'd time travel and memorize some future lottery numbers. Maybe take a peak seeing some dinosaurs. [Is Scott serious? Not really, but.]

Pffft, yeah, I definitely missed out on that one. The lottery numbers.

(but it's not like he knew that he was going to time-travel, there were more pressing matters at hand. it sounds so simple, such a normal answer that he nearly wishes his time-travelling experience worked like that.

it feeds on despair to change something in the past. perhaps if two people really regret not seeing a dinosaur, it could work? his gears are turning as he looks at his hand, and without thinking, he takes scott's into his.

...

...

nothing.)

Huh. Maybe we don't want to see dinosaurs enough.

What the hell, Mikey?

[The sudden grabbing of his hand, his comment. It feels so sudden and oh wait. Seriously, man?? As Scott pieces everything together, he sends Mikey an almost disbelieving look.]

Wait, were you trying to time travel just now?

[Ppfft, the thought is so comical to Scott that the mutant can't stop himself from laughing, the sound coming out without restraint as he grips his friend's hand. Sure, he knows time travel exists and everything, but the thought of it actually working right now and letting them see dinosaurs feels too much still.]

I got curious!!

(he knows it feeds on regret and doom, but wouldn't it be so nice if it worked for something so innocent as wanting to see some dinos? besides, it wouldn't work here, he supposes, because if he were whoever the fuck brought them, why would they allow such? either way, he stretches his arm, lifting both their hands as if it would make the power work.)

Come on!! Dinos!!!! I wanna fight a velociraptor!!!

Oh my god you're so stupid.

[Scott jokes, laughing once more because Mikey is just so much. He's embarrassing, man!! But also, Scott isn't the one pulling his hand back either, deciding to just go along with his antics and keeping his arm raised with Mikey's. ...Maybe Scott is having just a little bit of fun too, being silly with him.]

You would fight a velociraptor. [Another chuckle, something in his chest warming and it's stupid how much his smile is stretching across his face.] And probably win through sheer determination.

Yeah, but I'm fun.

(because he can hear that laughter, and sincerely, it's everything. he's working so hard all around, rebuilding bridges he burned, trying so hard to be more open, more honest, to not commit the same mistakes.

it's nice to hear the laugh.

it makes mikey open his arms, and just drop to have his head land on scott's lap. he's so damn needy.)

With the super-strength bullshit or without it? Because it ain't a fair fight. Give me a gun, then you can place your bets, a'it? Or maybe give both of us a gun, kinda like those cowboy duels.

[He snorts in that same bright laugh as Mikey plops his head on his lap. This asshole... but something feels right as he looks down at his friend with some fond exasperation. He's really missed Mikey being like this, his bold declarations about doing the dumbest crap, which is why Scott doesn't even try to pull away from his friend, only entertaining this silly topic more.]

If you're going to have a gun, you need to wear a cowboy hat and everything. We'll even prep the velociraptor in one, so you two can draw like Clint Eastwood at sunset.

[Everyone's seen at least one of his movies, right??] Maybe I'll even bet on you if you don't suck.

(it'd be a lie to say he also hadn't missed this. the laughter, the comfort, not that looming awkwardness that followed them ever since... everything. it feels light, genuine, and he closes his eyes to bask in the familiarity.

he'll even put scott's hand on his black hair, because he wants pets, thank you.)

Yeeehaw, right? You gotta also find a tumbleweed to roll between us.

[Guess there's nothing else he can do but start combing his hand through those deceptively soft strands. Honestly, it's a little soothing for Scott as well. He doesn't know why, but that's fine. Who wants to have big thoughts about stuff like that when he feels content right now?

Definitely no homo--]

I'll get the tumbleweed, somehow. And the music, you need that or it doesn't count. All silent at first... with you and the velociraptor squaring off, a sudden bang, and then the music dramatically plays.

[...With Mikey winning. He'll say he's the hero this time, just this once though!!]

(this is so nice. with his eyes closed, he enjoys the way the fingers play with his hair, a soft smile on the corner of his lips as he hums the duel music from any cowboy movie.

his fingers also make the motions around his waist, as if he was preparing to--)

Bang!

(and death to the dinosaur, hopefully, in this scenario.)

Okay, but I actually was never great with guns. I can shoot, but those crazy shots? Nope. Nope, can't do at all.

[Mikey looks pretty peaceful like this, huh? That's nice, guess the asshole deserves it after everything. His timeline's all good, they're mending their own shit, and talking about dinosaurs and cowboys. It's a sort of normalcy that Scott welcomes, especially since things seem more crazy than ever.

Maybe it's a little nice that he can provide this sort of calming effect for someone else.

Although, Scott doesn't stop a snort from leaving him when Mikey says 'bang.' Good one, cowboy.]

Kind of surprising since you were a gang leader. [But Mikey has his punching and stuff. That's worked out for him.] Never used one myself.

[Guess he's sort of a gun anyway--]

Eh. I think there's honor and ethics in what we do, so I am strictly against it cuz that's not a clean fight, right? Not that it never happened, I can't control what other gangs bring into the warfield. When I was yakuza or a most wanted fugitive, yeah, I had a piece, but still, it's not hard to shoot, it's hard to be super good at it.

(the manji was always held high, morally, for as far as manjiro's head could maintain it so. some timelines, it went off the rails, because manjiro himself did - it wasn't his people's fault.

he's unbothered by the subject, though, moving so he can lie on his side, arms wrapping around scott's waist and hip for comfort.)

'S why I'm mad at that council for the super-strength thing, I ain't ever gonna be able to fistfight fair here, considering the fact I can hold my motorcycle on a pinky.

Eh, they're kind of overrated anyway.

[Heh, of course Mikey's all about honor and doing fair fights. It's a point that he's always respected about him (even though Scott may not fully agree with it). Although... he didn't know he felt that way towards his super strength. Scott has to fight back the instinct to be defensive about that, but his friend suddenly gaining that power through the council is way different than being a mutant.

He knows Mikey means no offense.]

Hey there's plenty of strong people here. [He pokes Mikey in the side with a small roll of his eyes, voice adopting some exasperation.] I'm sure you can find someone to spar against.

Yeah, I got this dude, Luffy. Pretty interesting. Made of rubber, and I can't understand shit of what he says, but he's fine in my book.

(very different, scott!!! he's not mad about time-travelling, for instance. fighting with his feet and fists have always been his bread and butter, but here, it feels less special than it were when he was at home.)

festival;

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)

(no subject)