I can move mountains, I can work a miracle [OPEN]

[rassera]

WHO: The residents of Nonah 05 + YOU!
WHERE: Nonah, Residence #005
WHEN: All month long (January)
WHAT: Nonah 05 open log for January Shenanigans
WARNINGS: Obligatory Bull and Tetsuo warnings apply.


Starters will be appearing in the comments. If you want something specific from any one person (Kaneda rassera, Tetsuo iamtetsuo, Bull rideme and Ken amadaman), feel free to drop them a line and ask! Otherwise, feel free to add your own starters for the whole household or individual residents as you like.

Comments

[attainment]

There's no need to pay me back. [He understands the sentiment, though. Even when he was Ken's age, Barnaby had possessed a sense of reciprocity.]

He's doing well enough. Thank you for asking. [As he speaks, he starts leading them into the diner.] Was there some reason you wanted to know, or were you just curious?

[Because he knows Kotetsu about as well as he knows the back of his hand, and he knows he has a tendency to get into bad spots while conveniently forgetting to tell his loved ones about it.]

[amadaman]

Hm.

[Sometimes Ken answers precisely. Sometimes, he answers in vague noises. He uses the latter right now as he nods thoughtfully to Barnaby's answer, quiet until they're seated, given water,handed menus and left to themselves until the server comes back again. It's then that he finally answers, his thoughtful expression flattening into one of slight exasperation as he opens the menu up to a page on breakfast. Someone had soliloquied about the glory of breakfast foods for lunch, once, at school.]

... Because he's super uncool, I guess. Every time I see him he's doing something reckless, and even if I asked him, he'll say he's fine.

[attainment]

[Hearing Ken, typically so polite and reserved, just come out and call Kotetsu uncool almost makes Barnaby choke on his water. Instead, he hides his mouth behind a loosely-curled first and clears his throat.]

...He does have a tendency to rush into trouble and downplay his problems, doesn't he. [Trying to deny otherwise would just be insulting to Ken's intelligence. Sorry, Kotetsu, but he can't defend you on this one.] Did something happen recently?

[amadaman]

[He looks up when Barnaby clears his throat, but when nothing seems wrong he glances back down at the menu and frowns over the pancake choices again. Berries sound great.]

I was in the jungle Pan made when I last saw him. I mean-- I get it. But running in somewhere you don't understand without armor or proper weapons is reckless. Even recklessness has a limit!

[attainment]

...Ah.

[Technically, Barnaby had charged in there right along with him.]

Our armor was actually lost in Heropa once Pan's curse engulfed the area. We both have plenty of experience fighting without it, actually, but...he can certainly be reckless in other ways too.

[amadaman]

He wouldn't have survived there as long as he did without the experience, probably. [He thinks back to the state the guy was in. If Ken had been a second too late...]

And he still wouldn't think twice about doing reckless things like that, would he? Because he'll get all... emotional! About wanting to save people, and not thinking about the sort of dangers it could put him in.

[attainment]

That is certainly true. [Barnaby adjusts his glasses, concealing a smile behind his hand. Hearing Ken talk like this makes him wonder if he doesn't sound the same from time to time.] He's always been like that, for as long as I've known him.

[amadaman]

[The horrified look Ken gives Barnaby practically screams "I knew it!" Then he's leaning forward, menu laid forgotten on the table as he furrows his eyebrows at the man across from him.]

It's probably the sort of thing you have to be born with. He's like-- [the menu is finally let go of because Ken has to gesture with his hand] -- I've heard about the culture of heroes in your world. It's like a business, isn't it? But Kotetsu-san's got to be the sort of person who believes in the actual ideals of heroism!

[He suddenly looks down, quieter as he says, ] And that's... really cool, honestly. [Then raising his head again,] But then he's obviously beat up but gets all huffy and goes "I'm fine!"

[The last party is a very squeaky imitation of Kotetsu, but the indignation he says it with is pretty accurate.]

[attainment]

[This is probably the most worked up he's seen Ken become, but Barnaby cannot blame him at all. Up until he'd become Kotetsu's partner, most people had barely blipped on Barnaby's radar. But then that man just had to keep making a spectacle of himself to the point where Barnaby hadn't been able to stop thinking about him barely a day after meeting him.]

You're right. He worked in the hero industry for over a decade, despite the fact that he's always disliked the business aspect of it, because he feels that strongly about his ideals.

[There was certainly something to admire about that tenacity, and apparently Ken thought so too. Even so, Barnaby had often wondered with some trepidation what sort of fate awaited such a man.

Thankfully, Ken's imitation definitely manages to capture Kotetsu's essence, promptly pushing that dark thought aside. He makes a small noise, but it's difficult to tell if it's out of amusement, frustration, or both.]

To be honest, Kotetsu gets pretty uncomfortable when other people worry about him. Asking after his health or well-being will only get you non-answers and untruths. He'll even make up stories painting himself in an unfavorable light if that's what it takes. You have to be less direct about it.

[amadaman]

[And just like that, Ken's fiery irritation blows out of him like air from a balloon -- he sighs, shoulders slumping, and nods defeatedly. He knew that, too.]

I'm not very good at being direct. I thought once or twice the only way to know would be to watch and come to conclusions myself.

Although, I was rude to him when we met at the forest, too. There was something I needed to do alone, but I think I owe him an apology for the way I did it.

[attainment]

That's a fair approach. [Barnaby himself has done similar before.]

I doubt he holds it against you, but he'd probably appreciate it if you reached out to him about what happened.

[amadaman]

Well, it's not something I can explain, is the thing. It was something between me and my teammates; I can't tell him what happened.

But [he shakes his head] I'll try to talk to him. He worries about me a lot, probably because I'm a kid.

[attainment]

It's alright, he most likely won't pressure you to explain if you flat-out tell him you can't talk about what you were doing.

[Either way, it's good to hear Ken intends to speak to him.] That may be true. He worries plenty about some adults too, though, I assure you.

[amadaman]

Well, you didn't have to tell me that. I know -- isn't that how he got under your skin?

[Because, sir, you remind him a lot of a lot of the people he knows, and they sure as heck had hard-shelled armors around their hearts. It takes someone as persistent as Kotetsu to get under those.]

[attainment]

[Barnaby takes a sip of water, buying himself some time before he answers. Finally, he settles on:]

He has a tendency to make himself right at home in matters he has no place in. Eventually, I had no choice but to accept it.

[There's no ire in his words, though.]

[amadaman]

...

... ...

[Sorry, Barnaby, but at that Ken's hiding his laugh ineffectively behind his hand.]

So you became friends?

[attainment]

[The corners of Barnaby's mouth twitch into a small smile.]

Partners.

[amadaman]

[Ken doesn't have an explanation for this, but somehow, he feels that that is more special to Barnaby than just 'friends']

... I'm glad you got to be with him here, then. At least you have each other.

[attainment]

[And Ken would be correct.]

Yes. It's not something I take for granted. Besides, someone has to make sure he stays out of trouble. [He pinches the bridge of his nose] ...Although it sounds like I need to be doing a better job of it.

[amadaman]

I'm sure that even if you bent over backwards and turned yourself inside out, you couldn't keep up with him.

[he shakes his head]

But he'll probably be happy knowing he's always got you beside him. Even if he doesn't realize he feels that way.

[attainment]

That's...one way of putting it, yes, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't try. I'm his partner, after all.

[Barnaby gives a small smile at that last comment, though. For all of Kotetsu's complaining whenever Barnaby lectures him, he knows the man still likes it at the end of the day.] I have no doubt he enjoys working as a duo as much as I do.

[amadaman]

That's the nice thing, [he says. They're not very specific words, and it's almost vague, like it could be applied to anyone, but it's sincere. There's a brief pause as a server comes by to take their orders, but Ken returns his attention to Barnaby after that, too.]

He still needs to work on being cooler, but he's a good person.

[attainment]

[Barnaby thanks the waiter before they resume their conversation. He cracks a small smile at that comment.]

You're right. Unfortunately, I'm afraid he's a bit of a lost cause in the cool department. For some people, though, that may be part of his charm.

[amadaman]

You mean, like you?

[Ken says it more teasingly than he's said anything to Barnaby before, but it's a sincere smile he's got on his face. A sincere one, genuinely happy for how pleased the man seems to be when talking about his 'partner.']

... 's nice. Maybe he'll be 'the one' for you. You know, just -- just someone you'll always have. No matter what.

[attainment]

[Barnaby's smile twists into something a bit more embarrassed, but it only lasts for a moment before he's got it under control again.] I can see why some people might think that. [Which is his playful, roundabout way of agreeing.

The idea of "the one" is a nice concept. It's wholly irrational in some ways, but Barnaby likes to believe he and Kotetsu's fates are destined to intertwine forever. Even if they go their separate ways, the forces of the universe will inevitably bring them back together again. Barnaby would bet his life on it.]

Yes. That man will always be part of my life in some way or another, I'm sure. He's influenced me too much, and in too many ways, for things to turn out otherwise. I'm very fortunate to have met him.