[OPEN] what can I say?

[sealeted]

Who: Hakuno and you
When: From the day after they leave the forest up until November 19
Where: All over the map
What: In the wake of the infection, Hakuno returns to her true calling: fetchquests.
Rating: G until one of you heathens spoils it


i. partners in crime

[The pair of bandits who at one point operated under the pseudonyms of Augustine and Chacon, according to the locals, are reportedly masters of disguise. Hakuno isn't entirely certain how well they can disguise their matagot, but she's determined to do her best, all the same. Chróma algae isn't exactly something they can afford to just overlook at this point.

As a King, it stings bitterly that she can't help the other Heroes in need.

So what she can do, she will.]

Where to start...


ii. the good egg

[Gisela is beautiful.

Hakuno keenly feels that, every time she comes here. Vietnam's inn is definitely where she'll make a pit stop after fulfilling her task, but right now she has stopped and settled at the edge of a copse of trees, a homemade lunch spread out over her lap. Before she has to deal with literally petrifying bird crap, she's going to enjoy the scenery.

And her food. She might even share, if you feel like asking.]


iii. heart of stone

...

[Hakuno isn't exactly thrilled to be back in the thick of a forest, all things considered. But, all things considered, she's not one to put her own comfort above the necessities of others. Really, she's dealt with worse, so there isn't even a hitch in her stride as she wanders around.

After a while, she has to stop, if only because blindly looking is obviously not the best method.]

...I'm not really in a laughing mood, honestly. I don't suppose you know any jokes?


iv. the number one fan

“There once was a beautiful mermaid princess who had just reached her fifteenth year. She rescued a prince from the stormy sea and fell in love with him at first sight. But he was a person of the land."

[If you thought Hakuno Kishinami would pass up a chance to talk about the tales of Hans Christen Andersen, you're a fool and a charlatan. She recites the story slowly, easily, as if the words are before her as clear as day. There's a melancholy air about her, which may or may not have to do with the story itself.]

"The princess hurriedly made a deal with a sea witch, and received legs in exchange for her beautiful voice. Even still, her beloved prince went on to marry another girl. How pitifully the little mermaid princess cried. Her fate, to transform into sea foam and disappear if her love went unrealized —”

[She had picked this story out first, when she first heard Andersen's name. She wonders now if some part of her knew the same ending would be waiting for her, in the end.

She sighs faintly, inspecting the fruit she earned.]

..."the immortal masterpiece," I called it once, I think. It's a story of unrewarded love. Would you believe its author nearly called it a comedy when I talked to him about it?


wildcard

[If there's another scenario you want, just let me know! I'm always up for basically anything.]

Comments

[sealeted]

The difference...

[This is still better than them joking about how she could hypothetically kill him.]

...the best I can come up with is something about being 'fit to be tied'.

[guerrilla]

One of them takes a drop to live, and the other one takes a drop to die.

[At least he thinks he's funny???]

[sealeted]

That's terrible.

[...but her shoulders are twitching.]

[guerrilla]

[It's too bad their collective almost-laughs don't count toward real ones.]

And here I thought it was pretty good, myself.

[sealeted]

Maybe we should just try tickling.

[Neither of them is really the laugh-out-loud sort under normal circumstances, after all.]

[guerrilla]

[Robin reaches behind his head, pulling Marian out from the hood of his cloak. It's her second favorite place to sleep, and she voices her displeasure at being awoken with a rude squawk.]

I sure hope "genuine laughter" is flexible enough to include this sort of thing.

[While the laughter will be genuine, it'll have come about as a result of being forced...]

...I never did answer your question, huh? About the birds.

[This is going to kill him to talk about, but he might as well give it a shot before siccing Marian on somebody.]

You were right, it was a Bishop and animals thing. I, uh...accidentally attracted an entire flock of birds. Robins, actually.

[Whether or not he continues this story depends entirely on how amused Hakuno is.]

[sealeted]

...that sounds adorable.

[She is apparently restraining herself from doing anything particularly ego-damaging, like cooing. You're lucky she's a font of restraint most of the time, Robin. Or... maybe not, in this situation?]

I can see why Marian might get upset.

[guerrilla]

Yeah, she was furious. I ended up having to hide from them in a pile of garbage.

[People saw.

Nobunaga saw.

The legendary king of his own damn country saw.]

There were around 30 of them, I think, and I'm pretty sure Marian fought most of them at least once.

[If the thought of him hiding in garbage from perfectly harmless birds doesn't get her to laugh, he's out of material.]

[sealeted]

[That does it.

Hakuno lets out a short, soft, bright leap of laughter, shaking her head a few times. The image is... really compelling l.]

M-Marian... Marian is way too cool...!

[guerrilla]

Yes. That's definitely what I was getting at. That she's cool, and not a huge pain in the ass.

[It's good she's laughing, though. If this draws out the carbuncle, then they're one step closer to curing everyone who's infected.

On a less influential, but equally important note, Robin is relieved she can laugh after the last fight. She really is tough.

Thankfully for him, he doesn't have to think about feelings for very long, because a carbuncle emerges from a nearby bush, inquisitively looking at Hakuno.]

...Do we kill it, or what.

[The very picture of tact, as always.]

[sealeted]

No, no, nothing like that.

[It's a logical question, but she breathlessly shakes her head even as she kneels down, extending an unhurried, open palm to the little animal.]

The gem grows back.

[guerrilla]

[Good thing one of them was paying attention.

Robin watches from the side, remaining as still as possible. He doesn't want to scare it off when the gem in its head is so important. Also, there's no way he's letting the embarrassment he suffered by telling that story go to waste by letting it run away.]

That's convenient. I wonder if anyone's ever tried to trap these things for their gems.

[The carbuncle continues its approach, slowly sidling up to Hakuno's hand until it's within her reach.]

[sealeted]

I'd imagine it's a restricted practice, all things considered.

[Slowly, slowly it inches forward. It allows her to ghost her fingers under its chin, the side of its cheek—not the gem, not yet—and then drag over its silky ears a few times. Carefully, cautiously, she herds it into her arms and stands up again, cradling it close.]

[guerrilla]

You wouldn't even need that much space for cages. They're so small.

[He's not gonna do it, though. Immediate work towards a cure for the virus is more important than anything else right now.]

[sealeted]

Maybe they don't last in captivity.

[She can't think well of people who would farm these poor things.]

Could you pry it out while I hold it steady?

[guerrilla]

Yeah, sure.

[He leans forward a little, giving the carbuncle a tentative scratch between the ears.]

Okay, just hold still for a little while...

[Robin isn't entirely sure if he can charm the carbuncle, and he isn't even sure he needs to, considering how little trouble Hakuno's had with it, but it certainly can't hurt to try.

He gently puts his hand over the jewel, wiggling it a little to see how loose it is. Apparently satisfied with the result, he gives it a firm tug, dislodging it from the carbuncle's head.]

There we go. Thanks, little guy.

[He speaks gently, giving it a few tentative pats on the head. In spite of his inner pragmatism, he really is fond of animals - they're just as much a part of the forests he loves as the trees are, after all.]

[sealeted]

Yes, thank you.

[Hakuno takes it a step further, and moves to press a gentle kiss between its ears, stroking it and soothing it a bit longer before stooping to set it on the ground. The carbuncle chitters once, noses at her fingers, and then vanishes into the brush as quickly as it came.

She stares after it for a brief, quiet moment, then straightens up.]

Well, that was easier than expected.

[guerrilla]

Maybe for you. I thought it was pretty difficult.

[Because neither of them are the type of people who laugh easily, and because he had to resort to telling her something humiliating to get her to laugh at all.]

[sealeted]

You could have just let me tickle you.

[It might have been easier, all things considered.]

[guerrilla]

No, that would've been worse. It wouldn't have done us any good, anyway, because you'd have to paralyze me to get me to go along with it, and then I wouldn't be able to laugh at all.

[Besides, carbuncles probably like cute laughs better. Alright, that's probably not true, but if nothing else, Robin does, so getting Hakuno to laugh was definitely the better option here.]

[sealeted]

It wouldn't have been that big of a deal, would it? I've laid hands on you plenty of other times.

[Almost entirely for healing, upon reflection.]

[guerrilla]

It's not the touching I have problems with, it's the principle of the matter.

[It would be more embarrassing to be tickled than to tell her that stupid story, if only because he's already had time to process the latter.

But he's not saying it out loud, because he's like 85% sure if he does she'll try to tickle him. As it is, he's almost certain she's going to try anyway, which is why he's slowly edging toward the nearest tree.]

[sealeted]

Which principle? Having an involuntary response? Laughing?

[She follows after him, an absentminded pursuit rather than a proper hunt. She tugs at a lock of her hair, humming faintly.]

It's not like I'd mock you for it.

[guerrilla]

It's - why do you even care which principle it is?

[Actually, she might be right about the involuntary response thing, now that he's thinking about it. It's definitely not laughter, though - even though the conversation had taken a turn for the worse, he laughed at her when she fell into the pit.

Mostly it's just that he'd be embarrassed, though.]

[sealeted]

Because I care about you.

[She says it so casually, so plainly, as if there isn't a single thing strange about it. Her cheeks go a bit pink, though, even if her expression of calm interest doesn't shift in the least.]

And to figure out if this is another no-go boundary I need to drop too, I guess.