December/spring catch-all

[feralheart]

WHO: M-21 and anyone!
WHAT: Open + catchall
WHEN: All spring
WHERE: All over the island
WARNINGS: none, TBA if needed. Plotting here!


i. what do you mean 'consequences'

[ On one specific, highly cursed day this month, M-21 can be found lurking forlornly outside the island's little clinic. An internal war seems to be going on; he takes a grudging step towards the doors, then stalks away again. As if unaware he's doing it, he reaches down to rub irritably at his lower back. Maybe someone's a little less suited for farm work than everyone else? ]

This is so stupid.

[ He shoots a mutinous look up at the sky like he'd like to direct a complaint right to the management but doesn't quite dare. Then he's back to his pacing, with an occasional sideways glance thrown in towards the vet. Or he can be found draped somewhat pathetically over the nearest fence-shaped thing he can find, apparently no longer willing to move.

Help. ]

ii. like herding cats

[ On days when the weather is sunny and cooperative, despite all complaints, M-21 is hard at work in his fields. Reluctant concessions to farmcore have been made to spare what's left of his suit, and a sturdy pair of farming gloves covering his hands well past the wrist spare what's left of his palms from the sub-par farming tools. Things are coming in pretty nicely, especially the new stand of trees. They're full-grown and leafy and already showing a crop of... one fluffy orange kitten with oversized paws perched on a branch, chirruping furiously. ]

You got yourself up there.

[ Rescue? Or wait another few seconds to catch M-21 sighing and stripping off his gloves as he goes to climb a tree for what appears to be the five hundredth time that day. ]

iii. wildcard

[ Catch me on my planning link or PM if you want a starter! I welcome any and all bingos or just chaos. Or just hit me with anything, he'll be Around. ]

Comments

[associative]

[ Gaku is surprisingly solid underneath his clothing, so M-21 doesn't have to worry too much about the support. Gaku himself doesn't seem to have much trouble, at least. ]

You've been stabbed?

[ Sorry for the resident normie....... ]

[feralheart]

[ If only M-21 were in less pain so he could properly appreciate Gaku's muscles... He blinks a little at Gaku's reaction and dimly processes that this might not be the most Normal thing he could have said. But it's not too late to save this one: ]

Right. I'm a security guard.

[associative]

Oh.

[ Honestly, that makes sense, and it's something that doesn't overly concern Gaku. ]

Where do you work? Must be intense if you're getting stabbed.

[feralheart]

A school now. Used to work at... [ How to describe 'nebulously evil organization' in not so many words. ] ...a research company. International. 'Intense' is about right.

[associative]

Confidential stuff, I'm sure.

[ So he won't ask about that further. ]

What kind of school do you work at? Middle school? High school?

[feralheart]

[ It makes things much simpler that Gaku understands so readily. M-21 gives a relieved little nod and a sigh as he leans on him. ]

High school. Lots of troublemakers. ...It's nice. Did you go to a school like that?

[associative]

Not one with a lot of troublemakers, no. My school was focused on academics and extracurriculars.

[ So... a boring, nerdy school. ]

[feralheart]

Huh. Sounds like a rich kid school.

[ There's no judgment in the observation, just curiosity. Maybe Gaku was already an idol when he was in high school. ]

[associative]

It was. I grew up with money.

[ No shame in admitting it, as it's simply just a fact about him.

It doesn't matter now anyway, since he's certainly not rich here. ]

[feralheart]

[ M-21 nods, because it really is just a fact. Talking is a nice distraction right now anyway. ]

Then why'd you want to become an idol? Seems like a lot of work.

[associative]

My dad knew my face would make a lot of money, so he goaded me into training by saying I couldn't do it.

[ And look at him now... it worked. ]

[feralheart]

All that, just to prove him wrong? [ But he snorts a little because he probably would too. ] ...Worth it?

[associative]

Yeah, I got lucky. I fell in love with my group and with performing the second I stepped on stage.

[ Had he not? Well, he would've dealt with it some way. ]

[feralheart]

Not such a bad deal. If you're doing it just because you want to.

[ He's still processing the part about his father. He might not even know anyone who has parents, but it sits wrong with him. ]

[associative]

[ And he's right to feel weird about it! Gaku would be the first person to admit that. ]

I am now. I don't know what I would've done if I didn't, though. My group is the most important thing to me, so it's hard to imagine what would take their place.

[ Now they're at Gaku's house and it looks... much, much nicer than before. It's quite a bit bigger too. ]

[feralheart]

[ M-21's breath hitches a little at that. A little too close to home... or he's just in pain. ]

You find something else. But it's good. You should value that while you have it.

[ Luckily their arrival gives him no time to dwell on that because... what the heck, Gaku. ]

...Goddess likes you.

[associative]

I do.

[ He knows how meaningful it is to find something like he has. It's why he's so determined to go home.

But at that, he laughs. ]

I think it's because I've filled out most of my bingo card.

[feralheart]

That fast? [ This guy and Ellis... ] Huh. ...I better get back to it. This is better.

[associative]

Figuring out ways to incorporate the squares when you're hanging out with someone is pretty easy.

[ Not the dirty ones, but. You know. ]

If you need help, I'd be happy to.

[ He'll open the door, showing off a space that's neatly decorated and spacious with lots of furniture.

And a portrait of He Xuan in the living room. Don't worry about it. ]

[feralheart]

A lot of mine are a pain. You might regret that.

[ ...No, he's definitely worried about it? He pauses on his limping path to the couch to stare at the portrait. ]

...Did you, uh. Paint this.

[ Not to be rude but. ]

[associative]

[ He looks over it and holds back a grimace. ]

No. He Xuan just put it up one day...

[ Imagine what would happen to Gaku if he said no... ]

[feralheart]

[ Oh, he's going to roast He Xuan so bad for this later. Pain is forgotten for a second as he lets out an evil chuckle. ]

Huh. Thought he had better taste than that.

[associative]

Don't let him hear you say that, or you'd be done for.

[ But he laughs too, going into the kitchen so he can heat up that pack he promised.

As M-21 sits on the couch, he'll sit right on something hard, small, and plastic. Should he pull it out of the couch, he'll realize he's holding onto a miniature plastic baby. ]

[feralheart]

He doesn't worry me.

[ Is this because M-21 is an idiot and doesn't worry about things that can tie him into a pretzel, or because he thinks he and He Xuan are playing? Yes.

What does worry him: the baby he just pulled out of the couch. ...He's just going to assume these are He Xuan's, too. ]

[associative]

[ He doesn't worry Gaku much either, but... he has an aura about him...

Gaku sighs when he comes back with the heating pad and sees the baby in his hand. ]

Ugh, you found another one? I thought I got all of them...