Entry 004

[chippedsoul]

Characters: Kazuma Asougi [Jekyll/Hyde]
Campaign: Break
Format: [ brackets ]
Open
Summary: Catch-All for the Break


A - The Doctor is out [Network]

I will not be meeting with clients in person until further notice. If you must make an inquiry for some medicine, use the journal to contact me. I will let you know when it's ready to be picked up.

-Disciple

B- A nightly stroll in the forest

[Anyone who happens to be wandering around or living in the forest, might hear a disturbance during the nighttime. It doesn't occur every night, but when it does, it sounded like someone was cutting down the trees. There's also a low rumbling like thunder that occasionally accompanied the sound afterwards, like a rhythmic thumping. Looking into the source, they will find themselves at the edge of the Index. The ground appeared unstable, with trees uprooted and large boulders that have been split into smaller pieces scattering about the area.

This warzone was only found along the edge of the Index, and every few nights, a new area would turn into a disaster area. If someone manages to catch the person in the act, it turns out to be the Disciple, or was it the Disciple? The low rumbling noise was from him ramming trees into the barrier or throwing boulders at it. Whatever he could pick up and throw, which was almost anything, he was directing them at the barrier. A few times he was crazy enough to punch the barrier.] I need...to go... [If you manage to get in close enough, you can hear him mumbling about going somewhere. It doesn't seem like he's quite all there himself. Are those pajamas he's wearing?]

C-Wildcard
[This post is for the entirety of the break, so feel free to poke me on Discord or silentdrifterz if there's something else you want to play out instead or make your own starter!]

Comments

[chippedsoul]

[To be fair, his dry humor usually involves a bit of the truth that it's hard to know if he's being serious or not. As they get to work on making the dough, the Disciple proves to be a very diligent follower. He doesn't say a whole lot during the process, focused on making sure he's executing this dough making perfectly. It needs to be the right consistency for cutting! And cookies.

Eventually, it does become noticeable how Kotori didn't seem as excited as she was before.] Are you all right? [Asking while he's stirring the ingredients in the bowl.]

[ricebird]

[Whoops, caught again.]

A-ah, yeah, I'm fine. Make sure not to mix too much, or the cookies will be tough.

[See, cooking instructions, the perfect distraction from accidentally bruised insecurities.]

[chippedsoul]

[And here he just think she's nervous about cutting things. He slows his stirring and then eventually presents the bowl to her.]

Is this good?

[ricebird]

[Good, all according to keikaku*!

She looks the bowl over, before giving a nod.]

Yeah, I think that's good. Everything's mixed up, but not so much that gluten will form. So I guess all that's left is... rolling it out?

[And... cutting it...]

[[*(Translator's note: Keikaku means "plan"!)]]

[chippedsoul]

[He nods, taking out the dough.]

While I'm doing this, why don't you show me how you hold a kitchen knife. [He gestures to the wooden knife sitting nearby on the table.]

[ricebird]

A-ah... right... okay...

[DEEP breath. It's just holding a wooden knife, NOTHING to be nervous of...

Even with her hand shaking, she manages to get a fairly good grip on the handle. Perhaps her hand could be a LITTLE closer to the blade, but it's obvious that she's seen a professional chef hold a knife enough times to try and imitate the position. Now if only it wasn't a death grip, or shaking so much.]

[chippedsoul]

[The Disciple is rolling away, making segments in the dough for them to practice with multiple pieces. A few times he'll glance over at Kotori to see how she's managing. He could see her hand was not steady, visibly uncomfortable holding it. He stops messing with the dough, and then puts a hand over hers without saying a word.]

[ricebird]

[Oh, hi, hand! She doesn't flinch or startle so badly she flails and drops it, but she does look over in surprise.]

E-eh?

[chippedsoul]

Relax. [His hand was just gently resting on hers, not squeezing it or anything.]

[ricebird]

[Aaaand of course being told to relax makes her automatically tense up more.]

O-okay...

[Veeery slowly lessening her grip on the handle... it's... SLIGHLTY better than where she started, but still too tight.]

[chippedsoul]

Take all the time you need. I'm here with you. [If she doesn't want his hand there, he can move it away if asked.]

1/2

[ricebird]

Mm...

[A nod, a few shaky breaths, and she begins to position the blade over the dough. She won't move Disciple's hand away, at least.

But then she remembers she... needs to put her other hand down to stabilize what she's cutting...]

2/3 (Coin flip said fail. Also, one more part.)

[ricebird]

[And then her eye catches sight of the bandage on her ring finger, and she freezes.

A few cabbage leaves rolled together for a chiffonade; if she manages to cut them thin enough, they'll be nice and springy. The perfect side for shougayaki, her dad's favorite. He said she was really good at cutting udon noodles when they made it together a while ago, that she'll be doing this on her own in no time. Mom will be proud too, and... maybe they'll be happy enough to stop arguing, remember that they're a family...]

3/3 (CW: Panic attack and memories of blood)

[ricebird]

[Sharp pain through her finger, screaming and crying, her hands covered in blood, Mom running over, the hospital visit and stitches, MORE yelling--

Kotori had been frozen stiff for a second, but suddenly she DROPS to the kitchen floor in a crouch, hands clutching her head, the wooden knife clattering in the counter.]

I can't...!

[chippedsoul]

[He waits patiently, for as long as she needs. It becomes clear though that something's not right.] Miss Kotori...? [She seem frozen in place, visibly looking terrified by something. Suddenly she was on the floor and Disciple follows after her.

Her fears went deeper than he initially thought to get this kind of reaction from her. He carefully puts a hand on her shoulder, at a loss at what to say. Though maybe it's better he didn't and wait, staying there to remind her that he's by her side.]

[ricebird]

[Thankfully, even fear spikes like this are mild enough that she's not completely lost to the world. She cringes a bit at the touch, but she doesn't flinch away or try to remove his hand. When she looks to him, though, when it hits her that someone's WATCHING her break down like this... "You can't be a proper cook if you can't cut..."

Her face starts to crumble in shame, and tears begin to well and fall as she looks away, curling in on herself more.]

I-I'm sorry... I know...

[She knows she's being stupid, being a coward and a failure... And she hates it so, SO much.]

[chippedsoul]

[His expression softens. He checks his pockets and offers her a handkerchief.]

It's all right.

[ricebird]

[Her head shakes vigorously between her hands.]

N-no it's not... You came all this way and... I'm wasting your time and... I can't...

[chippedsoul]

You're not wasting time. You actually held the wooden knife. [He spent months just trying to sneak onto ships to get to Great Britain, this is nothing.]

I'm willing to take as much time as you need. If you want to stop, we can do that.

[ricebird]

[A few deep breaths to calm down, think... and then she nods...]

Maybe... maybe another day...

[Still, even though the fear's still there, Disciple's words are at least helping the shame and self-loathing ebb away.]

[chippedsoul]

[He nods.] That's fine. [He tries to offer her his handkerchief again.]

In that case...would you be willing to instruct me on how to make niku-jaga? [She did prepare all those ingredients. He can at least try to make something for her.]

[ricebird]

[A few more breaths, and she nods as she reaches for the cloth.]

Yeah... Yeah, I can do that... Thank you...

[chippedsoul]

[He sits there with her, and waits quietly. A moment of silence can be a luxury to someone, and he's in no rush to push her to do anything until she was okay.]

[ricebird]

[A few more deep breaths, and after wiping her eyes dry with the handkerchief, she slowly hoists herself back up and hands him the handkerchief back.]

Thank you. Um... we can put this in the ice box for now. And get the beef back out.

[chippedsoul]

Sure. [Pocketing the handkerchief, he will go ahead and put away the dough and take the beef back out.]

You said this dish is from Japan? [He tries to make conversation with her, now that she's back on her feet.]