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]

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.

2/2 network --> action; prose bc fuck da police, but do what format you like, a pirate is free

[wannasmash]

Midoriya packs some things in his backpack to barter with in case they stop at the Boardwalk or Sanguine Station. San-gooey-nee Station. He also packs the torn jumpsuit.

It's easy to pick out Saxsice on the beach. A short (a full 5 inches shorter than Saxsice) plain young man with curly hair and red sneakers makes a beeline for her across the sand. He has the sleeves of his hoodie jacket rolled up a little, as the weather hasn't yet turned frigid, and he doesn't want his bandages to get sweaty. He holds the straps of his backpack, not because it's heavy, but out of habit.

[queenking]

Saxsice is aimlessly flinging stones into the water, brow furrowed, looking very serious and solemn as she does so. It'd be easy to think she's thinking deep thoughts, but once he gets close enough he can likely hear her muttering: "Take that, stupid fish..."

She hears his approach, turning and offering a brilliant, crooked smile. She's still barefoot, wearing the arrival robe, though her bag of things from home is hanging off one shoulder. "Hey, comicon guy!"

[wannasmash]

It hits him, thinking back to when he was in junior high, that day when Bakugou threw his notebook out the window and he had to retrieve it from the fish pond. He called the fish stupid then too, muttering under his breath, but odds are he was calling Bakugou stupid. Or himself.

It's a bad memory, but so much happened since then, he was removed from it, like watching some other pathetic kid and wanting to tell him it'll be OK, that he'll get into the high school of his dreams, and even turn his bully into his friend (kind of). So, he knows that, in time, Saxsice will feel better too. He'll make sure of it.

He winces, hoping that's not going to be his new nickname.

"I'm Mi--uh, Izuku Midoriya." He took English in school back home, so he's aware they say their first and last names backwards. "It's nice to meet you. I hope you weren't waiting too long."