maskormenacelogs | I'd take my puppy everywhere

Entry tags:

I'd take my puppy everywhere

WHO: Komasan and you!
WHERE: Just about everywhere
WHEN: July
WHAT: It's a catch-all log! Prompts under the cut.
WARNINGS: Shouldn't be any. I'll edit this if things change.

A. Traditional Coffee Shop Prompt
[If there's one thing Komasan likes, it's coffee. Straight up black coffee, nothing in it. It's why he's chosen to try out just about every cafe he can find. Originally he only liked to visit one close by -- of course he can still be found there, they know his order by now -- but it's fun to try new things.

So if you too are in the mood for hot bean water, you might spot a small flaming bean dog sipping his cup in the corner. Doesn't matter if it's the most basic cafe or some pretentious place crawling with hipsters, he'll probably be giving it a chance.

Someone buy him a cake pop.]

B. Bug Catching
[Carrying a large net and wearing a ridiculously sized sun hat, Komasan can be seen exploring the more wooded areas of De Chima. He doesn't mind if he looks ridiculous, this is just the bug catching uniform. Everyone has to wear this if they catch bugs, it's practically the law.

Stacked up against the tree are several little plastic bug houses, none that have been filled yet. ...Mostly because Komasan can't keep himself from playing with the insects he finds, giving them ample time to escape.

Right now he's playing with a weevil that crawls about on his paw.]

Mooonge~!! Look at his nose, zura~! I bet he can smell everything, zura...

[No one tell him it's not a nose...]

C. Soccer.
[Still in the process of trying to be the world's first dog all star, Komasan can be found at the Nonah school fields, practicing while the kid's are away. He knows damn well by now that he's not up to par compared to Ken and his team, but gosh darn it, he just wants to make them proud.

He's about as good as you'd expect him to be.

Much more hesitant than his usual demeanor, he'll approach the ball and timidly attempt to kick it with his little feet. The entire time he closes his eyes shut, as if preparing for some sort of backlash.]

Z-Zura... Zura...

[When his foot finally does make contact with the ball, it rolls only about an inch or so away. Regardless of his poor performance, he seems absolutely delighted and tries again. Rinse and repeat.

...Someone please help him.]

D. Wildcard
[Have your own prompts? Go right ahead! If you're unsure or want to plot things out, you can always contact me at

Gesomon ]

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[Malms watches Komasan and the ball for a while, trying to figure out what's going on, before giving up and walking over to ask.]

Komasan? Does kicking the ball hurt your feet, or is there some other reason you're so afraid of it?

[Komasan's ears twitch at the sound of another voice, and he immediately loses his balance mid-kick and falls over. He scrambles to get up as fast as he can, as if this will...somehow hide what he was doing.

...Even though Malms already saw him.]

I-I'm not afraid, zura!!

There's nothing wrong with being afraid, you know.

[Malms walks over and looks at the ball, giving it a gentle kick himself.]

Fear's just part of how your body tells you to take care of yourself. The important thing is to look and see why you're afraid, so you can deal with it.

[With a small sigh, Komasan rests himself on the soccer ball, folding his arms on top of it.]

B-But I'm really not scared this time, zura...

[His ears begin to droop.]

...I just don't wanna hurt it, zura.

[Well. That was definitely not a response Malms saw coming, but when he thinks about it there's a certain sense to it. There's also a good answer that occurs to him as well, which is always nice.]

So, you're worried about the ball getting hurt if you kick it too hard? Is that right?

That's right. My legs are really small, so I have to kick it really hard to make up for it, zura.

[The flames on his head even seem to droop a little as he merely thinks about it.]

It just don't seem very nice, zura.

Well, the ball's made to be kicked, and if my staff is anything to judge by, things made for a reason tend to like being used that way.

[Malms reaches over his shoulder to past the head of his staff affectionately.]

So as long as you're not kicking it with sharp nails that could pop it or something, you should be all right.

[...It's then that Komasan realizes he has no idea what a staff is actually used for.

It kind of looks like a big stick.]

You like to play fetch, zura?

[Apparently Malms's lesson went right over his head...]

[ Gaby had been sitting at a different table a few feet away with her own coffee while reading a magazine, but there seemed to be a bit of attention being paid to the next table over, which bids her to look over and see Komasan.

Just when you think you'd seen it all, there's a dog sitting at a fancy french-ish café, sipping on black coffee. Also, the dog is... on... fire...?

Clearly, she's got to get to know the pup, and so she abandons her table in favor of walking up to the empty chair at Komasan's with her cup of coffee and magazine in hand. ]

Excuse me, is this seat taken?

[It's not every day adult women approach Komasan, so much so that he practically double-takes when he finally realizes Gaby's speaking to him of all people. Oh, oh gosh, time to play it cool. He's been struggling so much lately with trying to prove he is, in fact, an adult as well, so he'd rather not mess this up.]

O-Oh, um...

[Peering over, Komasan places his coffee down and actually takes a moment or two to examine the empty chair. Pretty much studying every detail, yup that's definitely a chair. Once he's finally satisfied with...whatever he was trying to do, he looks back up.]

Nope, it's still there, zura.

[...There's a reason why he's been struggling.]

Indeed it is.

[ Gaby has to resist the urge to laugh as she watches this dog... thing... fumble around before giving an actual answer. Once it's been given, she gracefully slips into the empty chair that is, in fact, a chair, and gives Komasan a polite smile. ]

I'm Gaby. I think I might have seen you around. Were you running for office?

[Immediately Komasan throws one of his paws into the air, all set to give his standard greeting.]

I'm Komasan, it's a pleasure to meet you, zura!

[He then takes another sip of his coffee, before nearly forgetting that she just asked him a question. He fumbles a bit as he puts his cup back down once he realizes, the last thing he'd want to do is make her think he's ignoring her or something. All this trying not to make any mistakes only seems to cause him to slip up more, maybe he's just overthinking things...]

Oh um, n-no, but I was running for ambassador, zura! I don't think I could ever be an office, there's no way someone could fit a desk inside me, zura...

[ She's just watching very curiously as Komasan continues to... basically be a spectacle, but she does laugh and wave a hand dismissively once she realizes there's been a bit of a miscommunication as to what "running for office" means. ]

No, no, Komasan. [ His name is a bit awkward for her and her thick German accent. ] Running for office means you were vying for a position in the government. In this case, yes, ambassador.

You almost won, didn't you? How intriguing wouldn't that have been.

[Oh. He knew that...

A bit embarrassed now, Komasan looks into his coffee as he muses over what could've been. It's true, he almost won, a lot of people voted for him. In the end, that's all he could've asked for.]

To tell you the truth, I'm kinda happy I didn't win, zura... I dunno if I would've been able to move and leave all my friends behind, zura.

[Still, he can't help but give a small smile.]

But it was really exciting to see that so many people wanted me to win, zura. ...I guess I can always try to help people in other ways, I don't have to be an ambassador to be helpful, zura.

[ What.... what happens if she wants to pet the dog. ]

Many would argue that you would probably be more helpful not as an ambassador, I think. A position with political power comes with a lot of strings and red tape. And bureaucracy.

[ And something tells her Komasan isn't the type for power plays and the like. I mean, he's a dog. ]

What is it that you want to help people with?

[~~Komasan will never say no to pets—~~ Still unable to look away from his cup, Komasan's brow furrows as he tries to figure out the best way to word his opinion. This is very important to him after all, and he really wants to come off as serious about the matter.

It's just hard when you're so cute and simple...]

The people... The people get mad at the imPorts, zura. I notice it a lot because they can tell I'm one right away, zura. S-So...when I heard an ambassador was someone who represented all the imPorts, I thought... I thought I could show them how nice we are, zura.

Then maybe they wouldn't be so angry anymore, zura.

[ ...Okay yeah she's definitely going to give him a pat on the head. He is so... cute and simple... and also a dog... ]

There's a lot you can do without being an ambassador, I think. In fact, the ambassador doesn't do all of that alone--they'd need us, too.

[Well that's certainly enough to get him to smile again.

...Although what she says also helps too, he supposes.]

I think you're right, zura. And it isn't like I wasn't doing stuff before I decided to run either, zura.

[Yup, it's definitely starting to feel like losing was the best option in the end.]

...Thank you, zura.

[ She offers a sympathetic smile, although there's a hint of amusement to it too. And, yes, she is still petting him. ]

I didn't do much, but you're quite welcome.

So, what do you think of the coffee here?

zura... zura...

[Komasan probably had a lot to say. About how she really did help a whole lot, that it means so much to him, or even how good the coffee is and how happy it makes him.

But she's still petting him.

Eventually he gets lost in the feeling and places his head down on the table.]

That feels really good, zura...

[ Oh, no, what a cute weird dog. Gaby's smile actually brightens, which is a rare feat for her, and she goes to scratch Komasan just behind the ears. ]

You know, I've never met a talking dog before.

[This is almost too much, it's a miracle Komasan can even find his way back into the conversation at all. Scratches behind the ears? That's not fair. If this is how people are treated when they come to this cafe, then he needs to come more often.]

W-Well...normal dogs can't talk like a human, z-zura... [And don't even get him started on the wonderful world of dog language.] I'm a youkai, s-so it's different, zura... Monge~ That's so nice, zuraa~

[ She gives him one last pat before she pulls her hand away, since what he says piques her interest. ]

What is a youkai?

[ She says it carefully, so as not to butcher the pronunciation, although her German accent might just do that anyway. ]

[If there's one thing Komasan will never do, it's probably comment on someone's accent, especially since most people tend to find his annoying. She's trying her best, that's all that matters to him.]

Oh, um... [Did the petting stop? It's like he's only just realizing it. ...And yet he still continues to rest his head on the table.] ...it's...ah...it's kinda like another word for...for like a ghost...or, um, like a spirit, zura.

[ A spirit. That... probably explains the strange appearance, right... ? Uh oh. Was it in poor custom to pet a spirit dog...? ]

Where I'm from, spirits aren't visible. And they certainly don't talk. So you're the first that I've met face-to-face like this.

Ah, that's normal, people aren't supposed to see me back where I'm from either, zura... The US is the only place for some reason, zura.

[Komasan finally sits himself back up as he thinks about that. Why is it that he's only visible in America...?]

...Maybe it's because the porter machine made me human, I-I dunno if I count as a real youkai anymore, zura...

[ Gaby offers him a reassuring smile, and reaches over to pat him on the head again. ]

I think you still count, for what it's worth. It has not changed who you are or what you're like, has it?

[Living in De Chima, and coming from a world where forested areas are more popular, Van has taken a liking to the outskirts of the city, where there are more trees and less...modern things. Cars, tall buildings, flashing signs, and all that comes along with it.

There are fewer people, too...which is especially nice when he needs to train, either with his sword or with Escaflowne. Today, however, he finds he's rather distracted by a familiar voice occupying the same area of the woods he's chosen to wander about in.]

Komasan?

[So, this is what he looks like. They hadn't seen each other when first they spoke. But Van doesn't seem to mind. Even smiles a little when he takes note of the bug on Komasan's paw.]

What are you doing with that?

[Komasan doesn't seem to recognize Van by any means, but Van apparently knows him, so that's all Komasan really needs to start talking to him like he's known him his whole life. His eyes never really move away from the insect on his paw, but he does at least turn Van's way.

He's just excited other people are in the forest in the first place, city life is just too stressful for him, he was beginning to wonder if anyone felt the same way.]

I'm making friends, zura.

[The bug probably doesn't feel the same, but in Komasan's mind, they're practically family.]

[Making friends? With...with a bug...

Van laughs, coming nearer and resting one gloved hand on his hip as he peers down at the weevil. Tiny though it is, Komasan is being surprisingly careful with it. Sure, it probably thinks it's going to get eaten or squished, but Van can tell it's safe and he's actually impressed by the gentleness being demonstrated.]

Where are the others?

[Because friends is plural, right? So, Van wants to know, are there more weevils—or are the others different little insects Komasan's already 'befriended'...?]

Others, zura?

[Komasan stops playing with his bug for second, distracted just enough for it to finally get away. When Komasan does notice, he seems surprised, as if this hasn't been happening multiple times all day.

...He's a very simple dog.]

O-Oh, I guess they just keep going home, zura.

...I hope they're telling their family about me, zura.

[Van glances over at the empty bug habitats and then back to Komasan.]

So you really weren't trying to catch them, then?

[Then what were those plastic cages for, he wonders? Unless Komasan changed his mind about cooping up his new 'friends.']

Oh no, I'm totally catching them, zura.

[He just wants to make that clear. Bug catching is a time honored tradition. ...Probably. Plus he brought a net, there's not much else you can do with those.]

But I let them go when I'm all done, zura. [He motions to his little boxes.] I brought little houses so we can look at them without hurting them, zura. A-Ah...but sometimes I forget, z-zura.

Oh, so that's what those are for.

[Van actually seems approving of that. It's considerate on Komasan's part, even if the bugs don't understand they'll be released after, and unharmed.]

Do you want help?

[It only takes a split second before Komasan is suddenly standing right next to Van, holding up a spare sunhat and net for him to use. Looks like someone said the magic words.]

I haven't checked under the log over there yet, if you wanna get a head start, zura~

[Van looks at the hat. Then at Komasan. Then back at the hat again before, with something between a laugh and a sigh, he concedes, plucking the hat from those paws and setting it atop his head.]

Alright, I'll see what I can find.

[He accepts the net, too, and ventures a little ways from the yokai to inspect the aforementioned log, carefully lifting it with one hand.]

There's a lot of snails over here...

[Which a net isn't needed for, not really, so Van sets it aside in favor of gently lifting one of the snails onto his palm where it slowly...very, very slowly...inches along.]

[Even from a distance, Komasan is a pretty easy person to pick out, especially watching him fail horribly at kicking a soccer ball.

A small part of him is tempted to let Komasan be and not embarrass him, but a much bigger part of him just thought the sight was too sad to leave him alone.]

< I'm guessing you don't have much experience with soccer, huh? >

[Wow Perry, rude. And just like that, Komasan gets rather defensive.]

That's not true, I know all sorts of things about soccer, z-zura!

[And just to show him, Komasan takes the ball and holds it above his head, dropping it and bopping it against his fuzzy skull as the ball repeatedly bounces in place.]

< That's impressive. >

[He seems genuine about it at least.]

< So what's the deal with kicking the ball then? >

Edited 2016-07-29 03:51 (UTC)

Well...it's big...so I gotta kick it really hard to make it move, zura.

[He stops bouncing the ball on his head and holds it in his paws, like some sort of horrible ball baby.]

I don't wanna hurt it, zura...

[He can appreciate someone who knows how to dress for their part- bug catching included. Despite the fact that there doesn't seem to be any bug caught yet.

He bends down to get a closer look at the one being held up- twirling a parasol in his hands while he does.]

You trying to trap those guys?

Trap, zura?

[Komasan can't help but look a little confused. How could anyone think putting someone in a small plastic box against their will is anything like trapping? Absolutely outrageous!]

I would never do something like that, zura!

[He says as he begins to get one of said boxes.]

[He's not here to say whether catching bugs is right or wrong, but maybe he didn't use the best word choice here. Then again, if it sure looks like trapping.]

Oh yeah? What're these for, then?

[He looks over towards the boxes, bends down, and gives one of them a little poke with his finger- trying to see if maybe there's...another use for them?]

Well those are the bug houses, zura.

[And you don't get trapped in your house, or so Komasan reasons.]

It's where you put the bugs so you can look at them without hurting them, zura.

Houses need extra furnishing though, don't you think? You know...for bugs...maybe some extra sticks and leaves and flowers and all that junk.

[He picks one up and gives it a gentle shake- examining the container to see if there's anything already inside.

(If he sounds like he's done this before, he hasn't. He just appreciates the comforts of home).]

"Furnishing," zura... Furnishing...

[Apparently taking that advise to heart, Komasan gets on his hands and knees and begins picking grass. He manages to gather up a pretty decently sized handful before he then begins...weaving the blades together, constantly muttering "furnishing" to himself the entire time.

When he finishes, he holds up perfectly woven tiny grass chair in his palm.]

Like this, zura?

Woah. You really took bug furnishings to a whole new level.

[He leans over to get a better look at the chair- squinting a little since it's so small. Can grass even stay together like that?

Then again, why question it.]

Very nice. I wish I had someone like you making my furniture. You'll have some very satisfied customers.

[Unless maybe he finds a bug that eats grass, but...then again, that'd probably still work out in the bug's favor.]

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I'd take my puppy everywhere

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