text | un: deku

[wannasmash]

Good morning, everyone. [ said a polite but hesitant young man's voice offscreen. ] I might have a problem. Does anyone know how to sew?

[ The Omni hovered over a freshly laundered dark green jumpsuit. There were rips in the side where something with long nails or claws had scratched through. ]

I know it's bad, but this means a lot to me. I would really appreciate it if someone could help me out in time for the festival. Thank you very much.

Comments

[wannasmash]

Then why did... you ask...

[ He mumbles, barely audible. But he's fine; he's been to the hospital enough times to know when he needs something more than an aspirin. He's 16, but he doesn't think it would matter enough to say. ]

Huh? Did you just get here? Are people still arriving? Are you OK?

[queenking]

[That's just how she be, Deku. Sorry in advance.]

Oh, no, it's been...a week? Maybe two? [She shrugs.] I've just kinda been hangin' out on the beach, waitin' for the boat back. Turns out there isn't one, so who looks like a dumbass? Me, that's who.

I'm fine, though. Worry boutcha self, well-boy.

[wannasmash]

A week?

I... There's fishermen, I'm sure they'd know about any ships... Also, we're in another world, so even a ship can't take us back.

I'm sorry.

[ He looks it, too. That news had hit him hard. ]

[queenking]

Yeah. It's not so bad, once you get used to damp.

[She presses her lips together, the upbeat attitude faltering a little at this.] So we...can't go home. Ever. We're stuck here. [She huffs out a breath -- this isn't the first time someone's mentioned this, which is the only reason she's not swearing and/or crying.]

Right. Guess the beach isn't a great...long-term solution, huh? [Attempting a joke now:] Any idea what the housin' market's like here?

[wannasmash]

I'm sorry. You were probably waiting for a rescue ship.

[ He didn't hold out for such a hope. It was made pretty clear to him early on that there was no going home. He wishes he could help her. ]

I was only looking for something in the city center, but there's probably all kinds of places. And, uh... a lot of them are abandoned. I guess Trench can't keep up with how many people... die.

[ He may as well be honest there. ]

Do you want me to help you find a home?

[queenking]

Yeah, kinda. [She huffs out a laugh, shaking her head, hard enough to dislodge more sand.] Probably sorta dumb, but I was, y'know. Plannin' on bein' home in time for dinner.

Oh. [A thoughtful pause.] Are they all haunted, then?

[wannasmash]

What? I-I don't know! I never asked... That's not exactly a conversation-starter...

[ He makes a mental note not to ask his friend Todoroki that. He'd probably look horrified, albeit in his reserved way, and say they just might be, even if there was no proof. ]

They say incense keeps monsters away. Maybe it works for ghosts too. If they exist.

[queenking]

Well, you could just go in and be like "hey, any ghosts hangin' out in here?" [She shrugs, matter-of-fact.] I'd wanna know if a place was haunted before I started wanderin' around all relaxed in my pajamas. What if the ghost's a weirdo?

If monsters exist, ghosts definitely do, bud.

[wannasmash]

[ His eyes wander towards the side, as if he's right now eyeing his own lodgings dubiously. Thanks for that! ]

I guess that's just what we'll have to do? It's not like I went around ghost-hunting back home... Although, if you're really worried about that, once you pick a place, you could call in someone professional to do an actual cleansing ritual or something.

[queenking]

Nah, me neither. And don't worry, I ain't worried. [She grins suddenly, and it's all teeth.] I'm scarier'n any ghosties. I'll teach 'em to haunt me.

[wannasmash]

I don't think physical attacks are going to work against ghosts...

[ She kind of reminds him of his classmate Kirishima, whose toothbrushes never last long. Friendly guy.

Well anyway, what does he know about ghosts? What he does know is the map of Trench he pulls out of his backpack. Written on it in pencil (in Japanese) are a few concise notes about each neighborhood. ]

So what kind of place are you looking for?

[queenking]

That's what they want you to think, buddy. [Emphatic nodding. She might even believe herself.

Saxsice cranes her neck, like this will somehow make the video have a better angle.] Nice, vintage, a paper map. Uhhhh, somewhere with...I dunno. A roof?

[wannasmash]

I found it folded inside my notebook when I arrived. Everything's pretty vintage around here.

[ A roof... He winces. Is she joking? He can see this house hunt is going to start from the very bottom. ]

Do you want to be around lots of neighbors, or not so much?

[queenking]

There are still cars n' stuff, right? [Saxsice asks it with a wince of her own, feeling like she already knows the answer. Figures she'd end up in an old-timey place. Just her luck.

The question has her pondering, thoughtfully.] Probably...not so much. I turn into a wolf on the full moon and that tends to freak people out. [...well. At least she's honest?]

[wannasmash]

I think I saw one, but they're not popular. Someone told me it's because they're loud and attract Beasts. Someone should stick a lunar orb in a car and make it electric. Those are so quiet.

[ That's all good, there's a student in his grade who turns into a beast (the non-corrupted kind). ]

Does the moon make you turn into a wolf, or is it a choice?

[queenking]

A lunar what now? [Technology already baffles her, don't add orbs into it, she'll never keep up.]

Ehhh, both? It's easier around the moon, but I'm old enough to control it.

[wannasmash]

The orbs are like... batteries? They charge with moonlight. The city runs on them.

[ A lot simpler and cleaner than batteries, actually. ]

There's the farming districts further out, but if you look like a wolf, they might not want you near the chickens. [ Awkward. ] But if you can control it, then it might be fine! Plenty of space.

[ He's skimming his map now. ]

If you like being near the beach, and don't care about how your house looks, the forest just to the west of you might have a few abandoned ones. There's an inn in the middle of it.

Lumenwood and Cassandra seem pretty quiet near the woods too. Those are where the hospital and the temple are. But Lumenwood has this weird red fog, and Cassandra burns incense all the time.

I'm still getting to know the area, but it seems like everywhere else is either too crowded or... not the best neighborhood.

[queenking]

[Saxsice listens to all this, arms crossed, nodding slowly.] Hmmm, don't love incense. Makes my nose itch.

I don't mind the woods. Or abandoned places.

[wannasmash]

[ He breaks into a nervous smile. ]

Oh, that's great! I mean, I didn't want to assume, about the woods...

[ Is that a werewolf stereotype? Not a question he ever thought he'd have to ask himself... He looks at his map again. ]

Let's see... The place I'm talking about is called Sanguine Station.

[ He stumbles over the pronunciation of Sanguine. Sangiin? Sangyuin?? He holds the map up to the Omni for Saxsice to see. ]

[queenking]

Cause'a the werewolf thing? [At least she's grinning when she says it, all teeth.

She squints at the map thoughtfully, then nods.] Ah, yeah, Sanguine. [...she pronounces it "san-gooey-nee", so she's no help whatsoever.]

[wannasmash]

[ Midoriya is still taking English in school. If he ends up pronouncing several words wrong because of Saxsice... Well, he'll have no clue. He pinches his lower lip thoughtfully. ]

I haven't been there, but I want to familiarize myself with all the major Lamp Locations in case of emergencies. Do you want to take a look with me?

[ Oh crap. He was lulled into a false sense of security by her casualness. ]

Th-that is, if you want to! I don't want to bother you when you might be busy or something!

[queenking]

[She's going to be a bad influence on the youth and she's only been here for a few days.

This makes her perk up, breaking into a grin.] Yeah? You wanna? That sounds fun, for sure. [Then she laughs.] What else am I gonna do, sit on the beach feelin' bad for myself?

[wannasmash]

[ Distracting her with a house hunt could be a way to cheer her up. It's what a hero would do! Or simply just... a helpful person... ]

OK. My stuff's almost dry and then I can take it in and leave. Want me to bring anything?

[queenking]

Got any beer? [Saxsice, NO.]

1/2

[wannasmash]

[ Whyyy??? ]

Sorry, I don't think they'll let me buy any! But I bet they'll have something for you at the inn.