With your baby's breath, breathe symphonies

[resoundingpledge]

WHO: Residents of Nonah #005, adopted members of Nonah #005, stray birds, stray cats, stray dogs, visitors to Nonah #005, neighbours of Nonah #005, people passing Nonah #005 on the street . . .
WHERE: Nonah #005
WHEN: Feb. 3
WHAT: Setsubun! Bean throwing!! Family dinner!!!
WARNINGS: Teenagers

[Demons outside!
Good fortune inside!

. . . or maybe just an excuse for not-at-all homesick teenagers to throw sweet-crunchy roasted soybeans around the rooms of the house (presumably to invite good fortune in and not just to make a mess), or at anyone who wants to play the part of a demon and be chased out. There's a few bowls of soybeans and paper oni masks around for those who want to join in on the fun.

Unfortunately, due to the absolutely deplorable state of the local supermarket, there's a decided lack of thick, unsliced sushi rolls. They tried, they really did. But as it turns out, defeat might not be a bad thing: instead of sushi, a large electric skillet and two platters dominate the dinner table. One is stacked high with sliced nappa cabbage, mushrooms, onion and cubes of firm tofu; the other has thin strips of beef, ready for the pan.

The first sizzle of cooking meat might just be enough to call out anyone still lingering away from the fun, but if not, at least two helpful birds will poke heads around doors. After that, it's an every-person-for-themselves battle of can you get that piece of meat just as it's finished cooking? Or will that mushroom be stolen just as the sweet soy sauce broth marinates it to perfection?

That's the fun of sukiyaki though, it's the best of family and celebratory meals. And there's been a lot worth celebrating.

Demons out. Good fortune in.]

Comments

[rassera]

[Sorry Yayoi, but Kaneda becomes the stealthiest fucking asshole when he wants to be, and he's watching over your shoulder from behind like a big dumb puppy, a handful of beans in his fist, rolling them around inside his fingers.]

We miiight still have some of that boar left over from Inuyasha....


Think Ikki'll eat it?

[learntofly]

[It's hard to sneak up on someone with super hearing though. Especially rolling beans around in your hand like that.

She just tilts her head back to look at him, trying hard not to just laugh at the question.]

He'd fight you for the right to eat it.

[rassera]

[Her laugh is met with a smile of his own as he slinks back towards the fridge, opening the freezer door without so much as changing direction.]

Eh, house was getting pretty boring anyway.

[He fishes around for some of that boar, letting it sit out to thaw. It'd be awhile, but hey, who says the party's ending anytime soon.]

[learntofly]

[She turns in her chair, leaning against the back of it to watch him now.]

Really? I haven't been bored once since I got here.

[rassera]

Haha! Just an expression~

[He waves a hand, taking the slices of pork out and putting them in the bowl.]

Boring's the last thing I'd call this place.

[learntofly]

Yeah? It . . . kind of reminds me of home, honestly. It's got that kind of lively feeling.

[rassera]

Yeah.

[His own voice is a bit nostalgic, putting some water in a pot to let it boil, turning to face her.]

How many were in your group? I'm guessssin' at least four.


[He's kind of figured it out by now--Ikki, much like himself, had a group of people--a gang, more or less.]

[learntofly]

Mm, well there was the main team, and then Nobunaga and his friends, and . . . should I count Sano . . . ? Or Lind??

[She's ticking fingers on her hands off as she goes. It looks like she loses track around eleven or so, trying to decide exactly how strict to be about who counted for their group.]

[rassera]

[Kaneda just watches Yayoi tick off her fingers, tapping his own on the back counter idly.]

...

Ahhh Main team! Let's start with that.

[learntofly]

Kogarasumaru then. That was just eight if you count me. I mean, I really didn't do much back then but I . . . I was at every match, so . . .

[She trails off meekly. Even now it's still hard to think of her as really being a member of the team. She'd been just a supporter for so long.]

[rassera]

[Brows raise.]

You're still part of the team, you know. It's not about how much you do, it's...being a part of something together.



That's what a gang is.

[learntofly]

[She hums thoughtfully, prodding at her bowl of rice.]

That . . . sounds like something Ikki-kun would say. Except he'd sit on me or throw me out a window or something ridiculous like that first.

[rassera]

[After setting the meat out to thaw, Kaneda goes to pull up a chair and sit on the table, propping feet on said seat.]

That's no way to cheer on a cute girl!

[As he shakes his head, leaning back on his hands.]

No wonder he's such a mess!

[learntofly]

[That earns a flustered squeaking sound from her, cheeks flushing brightly.]

I'm—I'm not— I mean, that's just how he is with everyone!

[rassera]

[Sorry Yayoi, but he's not going to mince words on that with any girl. It does get a smile out of him. OBVIOUSLY someone's not used to hearing that.]

Is it now...


Wouldn't mind throwing it down with him sometime, seeing what he's really made of. Nothing but bare hands and muscle.

[learntofly]

[Oh now that . . . That sounds like a show worth watching. For a number of reasons.

All perfectly innocent of course!!!]

Well—I think he'd like that! He's always playing around with the other guys on the team that way.

[rassera]

[It'd certainly be worth watching, Yayoi. If anyone knows how to speak Kaneda's language, it's Ikki.]

Sounds like a plan! I'll go hunting for him later.

[Right now? He's digging into that Sukiyaki.]

You know, Tetsuo and I would've forgotten about today.

[learntofly]

I'll look forward to it.

[Excellent. Honestly, it's something of a relief for her to see how eager everyone is to dig in and enjoy the festivities.]

I almost forgot too . . . There's just been so much going on since I got here. Kururu-chan is the one who remembered it.

[rassera]

[It's a nice change of pace from Thanksgiving and Halloween. Ask Kaneda on those sometime--he'll definitely tell you his experiences.

Thanksgiving was only saved by McDonald's. That's how great it was.]

It's what we needed.

[learntofly]

I think we all did.

[rassera]

Funny, you guys pop up and it's like everything goes to hell at once.

[It's a tease, as he moves to snag more of that sukiyaki.]

Maybe trouble's following you guys!

[learntofly]

[For a moment she considers brushing the thought off, but considering everything they've been through before even winding up here . . .]

Eh . . . probably. It always did at home.

[rassera]

And now you gotttta go curse me.

[He smirks, leaning against the counter with his plate.]

You're ruthless!

[learntofly]

It's fiiiine. We're good at handling whatever gets thrown at us.

[rassera]

Yeah?

[There's a slow inch towards one of those bowls, grabbing an oni mask with one hand, and scooping up some beans with the other.]

Anything that gets thrown at you?