tea party

[suddenlybees]

WHO: Toki, Kano, Peter, Gon, Maya, Yuya, Ekkehardt, Imelda
WHERE: Lumière dorms
WHEN: early during the first week of school
WHAT: screaming and dying and tea parties
WARNINGS: screaming and dying and tea parties... broken arms, bears, Lumière deserves a warning in general
NOTES: a continuation of this thread

[Toki doesn't know what happened, but there's a weird guy in a red costume, and a talking bear. He doesn't recognize Gongenzaka's voice, because he doesn't pick on those things.]

Am I dead?

[Because that would make this make sense.]

Comments

[betheman]

Auhh.... I imagine, a great many things would not...it is fortunate, that you, and your aunt, were able to come out safely then!

...I suppose, daemons are typically only so...uncommon, as to be 'freak' occurrences, in themselves... [That's sure a sentence to parse- but the gist is...Probably that daemon attacks are rare enough that they're basically freak accidents anyway?

Probably rare enough.] ...Just...where is 'Queens', exactly?

[made_up_names]

[ New York is a hell of a place, okay. Just because supernatural shit ain't in the open doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Like, a goddamn secret invasion of Queens by daemons. ]

Yeah, well. Whoever covered that one up did really good work.

[ ANYWAY. ]

Queens is a borough in New York. Guess I shoulda said that first.

[betheman]

Oh! New York! [Being part of the supernatural himself, he can't say it's not a surprise that various supernatural things are Seeeeecret. Including big secret invasions. Yikes.

It's easier to just be thrilled by someone from a big american city.] The 'big' city, yes? [he exclaims- that's what it's called right? That's totally what it's called, all the time.] I am from, Sendai, in Japan. It is...not as big, I think...auhh...

Is a 'borough', similar to...a 'ward', within a city, then? [It's what Sendai's split into, he figures...]

[made_up_names]

Oh yeah. Biggest one in America I think.

[ If not, who cares? It's freakin New York. Anyway. ]

I think so? Sounds about right to me. All the boroughs have their own thing going on.

[betheman]

[New York doesn't have to be the biggest to prove itself, it's New York after all.] Hmnnn!! It is not surprising then, to hear it is also divided into such things...

Then, I must ask...what is 'Queens' thing'? [This is much better making friends talk, he's certain.]

[made_up_names]

[ Since the tea looks about ready, he takes a sip. ... Makes a face? But keeps sipping. ]

Man, I'm not even sure? It's a big borough. Lots of Jewish kids like me though.

[betheman]

Auh...to be fair, if you were to ask what the 'thing' for my own home...I would be unsure, how to respond...

[When you're a dojo of lycans, you keep to yourself mostly. Ah...] Mnh-

[He caught that face.] Is it perhaps, too strong?

[made_up_names]

Yeah, it's hard to just like come up with something.

[ He'll ask Miles and they can swap or something. Anyway, uh. He looks a bit embarrassed. ]

No, man, it's great. It just. Uh. Tastes like hot leaf juice.

[betheman]

...Hot leaf...

Mpgh... [He can't help it.] PhffhaHAHAHAAA!! [Which means Peter gets a laughing bear. But that's just...such...]

AAAAH..! That is what Yuuya would say..! [He laughs, apparently not insulted at all.] Ahh...I suppose, a green tea, would not be best for you, then...something fruitier then, if you try some another time! [Then it'll just be hot fruit juice. .... ...Yeah.]

[made_up_names]

[ He sure is having a tea party with a laughing bear. It's ... been a long night. ]

Hey man, I'll try anything. Where do you live?

[betheman]

Mnh? You mean now? [He's assuming as much, since they were talking cities earlier, ahh...] Here!

...On this very floor, actually! My dorm, it is just down the hall...

...Auh-! [His ears perk, and he hurriedly adds-] Though, I believe, Maya wished to be alone, for now...

[So evidently the bear shares with Maya.]

[made_up_names]

[ THAT. Is weird? Why is Maya rooming with a bear? This place is weird, but not like. Rooms-with-bears weird. Also he's 100% sure Maya would have mentioned the literal goddamn bear at some point during their conversations.

Which is to say Peter opens his mouth. Thinks about it. Closes his mouth again. And then. ]

Oh my god you're a werebear.

[betheman]

Auh....

[He should probably have forseen what was going to be said, when Peter paused like that. It's the kind of pause that comes with a number of puzzle pieces coming together, before that one tiny mood-shattering pin drops.

Gongenzaka somehow manages to shrink right in on himself as he instinctively draws back, ears twisted back the way a scolded dog's would rather than some great bear.] ...Y....yes...

That is...

...

[He doesn't like where their conversation has turned, all of a sudden.] ...Perhaps, I should go...

[made_up_names]

[ That response is honestly really sad? It's enough to make Peter hesitate before saying anything else, though the instinctive flash of wariness in his face surely tells the whole story already. He looks down at Gon's claws, his posture, his ... tea ...

And also his spider senses aren't blaring danger at him, which is frankly the most important factor here. But even so, he continues to make some faces. ]

I'm not - it's just - are you safe?

[ Is that an offensive thing to ask? Probably. ]

[betheman]

[Naturally it's the most common of offensive questions (if not one of them), so he has an answer. One that is not easy to give.]

The only time, during which that is not a guarantee, I will not be here, [He quietly- and very carefully- speaks.] I swear upon, my very soul- that you see me, before you now, means I am safe.

And, when I suspect, that even slightly, the evening will not be so- I go to the Mythril Cage, or to another place, where I will not harm another.

To do all to prevent that- that, is how I was raised- and how the Gongenzaka Dojo, has always taught those it takes in.

[made_up_names]

[ That all seems reasonable? Sounds like the professor in that wizard series he likes, so no actual arguments? But. Even so. There's a roiling uncertainty in his face - and some raw, painful wound just below the surface of it. ]

... A dojo for lycans, huh?

[betheman]

[It is the sort of uncertainty that is met with hesitation- and a fair amount of effort to keep his voice and even actions subdued.]

Y...yes, [he begins, swallowing anxiously.] My grandfather...he created the dojo, after he was bitten. He wished, with all his heart, to keep his family safe, from himself- so, he dedicated himself, to whatever he could, to prevent such harm...

In doing so...others, who wished the same, gathered with him, forming the dojo. Auh...it was not merely lycans, for that matter, [he adds, nodding somewhat.] Those who wish, to find a cure...and, those who utilize runes, to... reverse the curse, before it sets upon a recently bitten victim...they, as well came.

So, the dojo...it is, to do everything, that can be done- such is what I hope to learn, as well...to improve, what techniques there are...what precautions, there can be...

[He quiets, however, having gone on a fair bit.] I... ...I cannot...change, what I am. But...because, of what I am...I can take responsibility, in my actions. To prevent, what danger I am capable of.

[made_up_names]

[ Oh.

That's - he swallows, abruptly a little tearful. He was already thinking about Uncle Ben just now, given the topic, but that last bit strikes straight at his heart. Because of what I am, I can take responsibility. Nearly word for word what Ben had said right before Peter had failed him completely.

Somehow, he thinks his uncle would have liked Gon. Despite the obvious issue here. And that, more than anything, makes his shoulders untense. ]

Seems like your grandfather's a pretty good guy. So's the rest of your dojo.

[betheman]

I... [Are those tears in his eyes?? No don't do that, Gon,]

Y...Yes! My Grandfather...Was a wonderful man..! And, my family, and companions, from the dojo...I truly, hold great respect for them, in my heart..!

...Thank you, Peter! [he finishes, bowing his head.] I...Am glad,to hear these words for them..!

[made_up_names]

[ He swipes at his own eyes briefly, in a way that's totally subtle and definitely not keeping tears away. Dammit, Gon, you had to do the power and responsibility thing. ]

'Course, man. I'd be a dick if I judged all of you for stuff you can't control, right? And your grandfather reminds me of my uncle, so.

[betheman]

[Gongenzaka still doesn't want to make any sudden movements, so his eyes are just sort of covered in the sort of glaze of tear-water that comes when one almost cries, but isn't quite there.

There is, however, a loud sniff.] Perhaps so...but, it is a reasonable concern- a matter, for which I cannot blame another, for feeling...

[He pauses- and adds-] If that is so...then, your uncle, must also be an incredible man..!

[made_up_names]

[ He draws the line at telling a lycan about his uncle being dead. But. He'll take the compliment. And offer a few more details. ]

Yeah. He helped raise me and stuff. Seems like a similar setup.

[betheman]

Auh..! My grandfather, he was not around for much of my life, I admit, [he starts, nodding slowly.] But... ...The time, that we had, was enough, I feel.

I am glad, that you have someone like that, in your life then..! I... [He does bow his head again.] ...I am still sorry, however- if, the knowledge, frightened you. [Like he said just now after all- it's not exactly surprising that the idea of a werebear would send someone immediately into thoughts of OHNOBAD]

...At the least... ...I suppose, the tea is meant for nerves..? Ah...but you did not enjoy the tea...

[made_up_names]

[ That's even closer to his own experience with Uncle Ben than he thought. Which is - really sad? It's really damn sad, and he's still uncomfortable with the parallels being so close.

But it just makes it that much harder to hate this big soft bear who likes tea and stuffed animals. ]

Nah, man, it's not really your fault. Also not something tea was gonna help with.

[ He hesitates. Yeah, okay, still not comfortable telling a lycan how his uncle died, even if Gon is adorable. ]

[betheman]

A-Auh...naturally not, of course... [He sniffs again- but at least the threat of tears seems to be settling down.] ...I am... ...still glad, to have met you, though. And...

I look forward, to seeing you, in the daylight as well, [He manages to finish.]