realmofstories | A Thousand Sugar Stars, Oh Put Them in a Jar (October Catch-All)

Characters: Kotori Iida [Sweet Porridge Girl], Della Duck [Icarus], Master Crane [Crane (Tsuru no Ongaeshi)], Disciple [Jekyll and Hyde], and YOU!
Campaign: Break
Format: Starting with brackets, but will match
One Open, Two Closed
Summary: Kotori comes back from a brief trip home, makes lots of tasty food with people, and wakes up at an ungodly early hour to train. (Oh, also, Hyde happens.)

A. I Looked at the World Through Apple Eyes (Closed to Della Duck and Master Crane)

[Wild and unpredictable as restoring The Little Mermaid had been, Kotori is very, VERY glad the ending turned out happy, with not a speck of mermaid-derived seafoam in sight. Coming back to the Index and seeing the city dressed in autumn colors, though… is it already close to a year since the Storyteller first brought them here? Close to a year since she last saw home… She should fix that.

So after telling a few of her closer friends and asking them to watch her place and let any other Aspects who ask know so no one panics ~~ROXAS~~, she asks the Storyteller to send her home, just for a little while. By Index time, she’s only gone a few days; in Japan, it’d only been a few weeks. It was… weird being back in a completely normal world after spending a year here. Going through school, cooking more with Inuzuka-sensei and Tsumugi-chan, her mom working hard again. Shinobu had even been visiting her during lunch break lately, even if it felt a bit awkward not telling her about cooking with the Inuzukas… or this place, for that matter. The remembered it vividly for a few days, but… then started writing it off as a dream. Huh. The whole business is weird, really, like the time differences, and her feelings for…

But she can think about all that later. The Storyteller brought her back in late at night it seems, and she’s already really tired. One good thing about all her schooling being left at home is that she can sleep in as late as she wants tomorrow. …… Which, if her memories of the Index had been a little fresher, she’d remember as having scheduled a certain meeting with a certain duck. This should be interesting.]

B. And Cut Myself a Slice of Sunshine Pie (Open)

[Between this new routine of cooking sessions with the Inuzukas, her pot’s new shapeshifting ability, the pub’s brand new kitchen, and actually having a recipe collection to work with, and creating the massive feast during the ball, Kotori’s not only started getting used to cooking with other people, she’s actually starting to crave it even more than she had been. So whether she asks you herself, or you ask to come over to practice a recipe (especially for a date coming up~), from late morning to a little bit into the evening, Kotori’s available to make just about anything.

Or maybe you smelled good food inside and decided to invite yourself into this strangely cauldron-shaped pub. (Especially if it involves daikon ~~GOBO~~.) Those in this category might be confused to see that the space is clean and well-kept, if rustic, there doesn't seem to be much of a crowd. In fact, the only person here is a teenage girl, in the middle of cleaning the kitchen in the back, sweeping and polishing the floors and counters up front, or sitting down at the bar for a meal for one, depending on what time of day you catch her.

Still, yes, Kotori’s door is open, so come on in, cook, and eat!]

C. I Danced with the Peanut Butterflies (Closed to Disciple)

[Of course, even with how fun these cooking lessons are, a little quite time in between is always nice. (Not to mention kitchens don’t clean themselves…) So after doing some sweeping and mopping for the day, Kotori’s sitting at the bar counter with a nice, simple dinner with a steaming bowl of nyuumen and a cup of hot green tea. Perfect for a cool, peaceful autumn day like this… ……. Okay but maybe a miniature apple charlotte after this would be nice. After seconds, of course.]

D. Till Time Went and Told Me to Say Hello but Wave Goodbye (Wildcard)

[[Got something in find other than the prompts listed here? Feel free to hit me up on Plurk or Discord so we can plot!]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I mean... the epic journey part, yes.

[But... She sighs a bit...]

Rokurou-san, do you... think I'm helpless?

[A slight raise of the brow as he puts down the quill he had been idly doodling with (don't worry, it's just a bunch of swords).]

Helpless? In what way?

In... [Sigh....] In an "I have no business being on this 'epic journey' because I'm not like the rest of you" way, I guess...?

[She looks away and starts fiddling with her hair.]

It's a long story, but... Della-san said something lately and... it's really bothered me.

[There's just an arch of the brow. He vaguely remembers meeting Della once during the festival. ...She seemed more like him so he can't really imagine her saying something like that without meaning something. Hm.]

I can't say what Della might have been thinking, and it's true you lack any fighting ability. But that doesn't make you useless—you have your own strengths and abilities that help support us.

[Wait no, she doesn't want Rokurou to think badly of Della.]

I-I mean, she kind of apologized, but...

[But... yeah, that whole day was a mess... Subject change?]

You think I do? Besides using the pot?

Yeah.

[He grins.]

Your pot is definitely one of your big skills, but even just cooking us meals normally is big to help replenish our energy. You've been part of a few major roles to help restore several stories now, and remember back in the Mermaid story? When we worked together to get that pearl? You were able to grab it and make off with it while I kept the swans busy.

Even if I did it myself, it would have taken longer since I would have had to fight the swans and get the pearl.

[All little things, or at least that's how Kotori saw them, but... he means that? A faint smile forms on her lips, even as she looks away again and her eyes start to water a little.]

Thanks, Rokurou-san. That... that means a lot.

[He reaches out to lightly ruffle her hair a little before poking her in the forehead.]

You may not be a fighter, and maybe you can't help with the big things. That doesn't mean you're useless—it just means you have different strengths that we don't. You're still part of the team and we still rely on you.

That said, if you want to improve or train or something...I know you've asked Della, but if there's anything I can do, I can try and help.

[Hmmm.] Although blades are out... Archery, maybe?

Ah, well... it was less me asking her than...

[Than an offer she couldn't refuse. She shakes her head.]

But maybe... Depending on the arrows... Actually, I think that Della was going to try training me with a club. Maybe something blunt like that would work...?

For close combat that could work, but you'd also need to train your muscles and body to be able to wield it effectively. I feel like staying back in a ranged position would be better for you to start with... But you do need something to handle anything that comes close range, too...

[He'll hum a bit as he considers the options, considering both Kotori's personality and physique.]

Maybe a staff instead...?

Too bad your Essence didn't grant you any spellcasting powers.

[She listens close as he thinks out loud. A staff might be nice... But then she chuckles a bit at the magic bit.]

Yeah, it is... Although I almost wonder what sort of spells THAT would cast.

Instead of an ice spell, you blind everyone with powdered sugar.

Or pepper. That would actually pretty effective, haha.

[Oh nooo, that actually gets a choked laugh out of her.]

It does! That actually sounds super cute too!

[...... Darnit, it does, now the mun's rethinking her ideas for regains.]

See?

[He grins.]

There are plenty of ways for you to fight if you're really that interested. Who knows what potential you have yet to unlock.

You know, I think you're right... Thank you, Rokurou-san.

[Yeah, that actually helped quite a bit.]

Don't mention it. If you ever have something bothering you, I can't guarantee I'll have the right advice, but I can at least give you an ear.

A Thousand Sugar Stars, Oh Put Them in a Jar (October Catch-All)

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