Story Event - Seto Taisho

[bufubulous]

Who; Yusuke and anyone! Open to all!
What; A Network Story and a Log for the event!
Where; The Cafe and around the city if he gets asked to help out with a smol nuisance
When; Through August
Warnings; If anything happens I will add it!
Note; So I'm thinking this could provide some options. The network could be a fun chat story time, the log for after-story experience, or we could mix it up and people could reach out to Yusuke via the network if your being harassed by one and want him to provide advice or to help clean up the mess! Of course, you can also do your own stuff with Seto Taisho if you prefer. Also if you want something personal written up, I’m happy to do so! My plotting post is over here




Network - OTA

[ The feed opens with Yusuke peering at the camera, scenery of the city moving along behind him as he walked towards the cafe for the morning. ]

Perhaps it’s having spent more time around the cafe of late, but I find myself thinking about the creature Seto Taisho... has anyone ever heard it before? [ Smiling to himself, he continued thoughtfully. ] It’s suspected to be a subspecies of Tsukumo-gami, due to what they’re made of.

You see, they’re said to be small samurai made of old dinnerware or teaware; cups, plates, teapots and other assorted items like sake bottles at times, depending on what’s around when they take form. Anyone who happens to have the misfortune of one coming into existence in their home or business is rather stuck with a tenacious, ill-tempered samurai looking for a fight.

They don’t seem particularly dangerous, of course, they’re not that large given what they’re made of...! And their spear is said to be covered at the end with a rounded bottle, but I imagine they can be quite the nuisance if they won’t take no for an answer when they’re looking for a challenger!

Apparently the best way to discourage them is to move at the last moment when they charge so they run off a counter, a big fall would likely break it... though I have heard that they can put themselves back together easily enough... I suppose the only thing one could hope for would be for them to get bored.

[ Ending with a little tilt of his head, a free hand brushing a wayward strand of his bangs aside, he grinned. ]

Regardless, it’s a rather fun and whimsical mental image, is it not? Or perhaps a troubling one. It would be rather difficult to enjoy a meal or enjoy a drink if all your tableware turned into a little fellow, wouldn’t it?

... Might make an interesting subject for a piece of art, though. Perhaps I shall have to contem-plate that latte-r.

[ He ended that with a chuckle. He always feels so clever with the puns. So you get a double hit of dinnerware and cafe beverage puns. Sorry. ]



Log - OTA

Yusuke had gotten rather accomplished with latte art over time after the practice days with Haru. The ghoulish looking messes had slowly become something more pleasing to the eye, which meant more appetizing. If he were to be honest, which he often was, to have developed a new skill that allowed him some creative flare felt good. Especially one that actually proved to be useful to help around Haru’s cafe.

He’d never really had a proper job before, and admittedly it was something the teen had never really thought much about beyond focusing on his painting… A pity, he thinks, that he’d never thought to ask those who could teach him or tried his hand at it before while back in their own world. So Yusuke found himself more than a little grateful to Haru for including him.

Not that his focus was always particularly professional by some standards, he could get a little carried away when working on latte art and perhaps a little distracted when making something less… artful… But he still felt rather good about it, and perhaps he wouldn’t be himself if he didn’t approach something in his own, interesting way.

At least he mostly learned to clean up behind himself, unlike when he was painting. Small miracles were something to be valued.

Finishing an intricate tree design on a latte with a little flourish, he handed the cup over with a smile. “Please enjoy the delicate design balanced with your cup of caffeine and may it assist in the success of your day’s goals!” He bowed his head lightly with a proud (dramatic) tone, before his head tilted slightly as it sounded like china clinking together. “Hm? Did something fall in the cupboard?” He mused while adjusting the apron tie, his brow furrowing. It should all be fine. It wasn’t like there was a tremor or something to shake the cupboards….

Then the sound was heard again, and he looked at the nearest person. “Did you hear that, or are my ears mistaken?”

Comments

network; voice

[neurotoxicity]

[ She's contacting him a few days after his initial story with a deadpan voice that's clearly very exasperated. ]

You didn't mention they were real. [ So this was clearly his fault. ] I think there's one or two in my restaurant and I can't find them. They're not actually alive. [ So...she couldn't really track them which was adding tot he frustration here. How do you smell out something made of your dinnerware????? ]

network; voice

[bufubulous]

[ Oh no… ]

Well… You see, at the time I didn’t know they were real either?? [ He accepts the blame, he’s dealt with them ALL DAY. ] That said, it seems that this place has decided they sound interesting enough to manifest them… You have my utmost of apologies, and I shall do my best to assist if you need help!

[ He’s already grabbing stuff to head out the door. He’s so sorry, Ivy. Though he does pause. ]

Curious that you haven’t seen them yet, they tend to be quite confrontational based on my day. Perhaps they’ve gotten themselves stuck somewhere?

[neurotoxicity]

Of course not. [ She sighs. That's how everything here always works isn't it? ] I suppose I can't hold you fully responsible. [ Only partially. Which he should probably be grateful for.

She pauses for a second. ]

I may have smashed one. The other [ others? she ...wasn't sure how many there were. She would be if she could smell them!! ] scattered. It seemed intelligent. [ Implying that she's actually wondering if they've gone off to plot. Is that paranoia? ]

[bufubulous]

Perhaps, but I am still a little responsible. I could very well have shared something other than that. [ He responded with an apologetic tone, though to be honest he could have shared a much more dangerous story… There were so many options when it came to urban legends and old stories about yokai and the like.

His attention shifted to the feed as he walked with a concerned expression. ] Smashed one…? Did you clean up the pieces, perhaps tie them in a bag?

[ Because, uh… ] I only ask because I’ve witnessed at least one put itself back together.

[ They are superior to Humpty Dumpty… ]

I suppose if there’s more than one they may have organized; they are quite hm… strategic little samurai.

[neurotoxicity]

I get the impression we didn't have control over that. [ As if she ever had control over anything... It made sense that here she also lacked a distinct amount of control. ]

Of course I did, I wouldn't just leave broken pieces ....[ oh. Well, that wasn't great. With that statement she's off to check for it and won't be coming back. If he wants to help he'll have to come to her pizza parlor because she's found them now. Or perhaps they found her... ]

[bufubulous]

Yes, looking back on the experience, I suppose that may be the case… [ He certainly hadn’t even been sure why he shared a story at all, let alone the one he did. But it still had been his story, so it would only be right to do something about it. ]

I see… Well, hopefully that means it’s at least contained- [ Oh, she’s gone. Hm…

Yusuke waited a few minutes for her to return, but as the silence continued, he got a rather bad feeling… So the teen picked up the pace and continued towards the pizza parlor. At the very least, being a place of business, he didn’t have to worry about just barging into someone’s space… So he ducked in through the door and look around. ]

Hello? Is anyone there?

[ He started, hoping Ivy was in earshot… Otherwise, he kept an ear open for the sound of clinking porcelain if one of the little ceramic samurai were around. ]

[neurotoxicity]

[ Luckily Ivy has a keen sense of hearing so she hears the teen as he comes in. Unluckily she's busy with the samurai that had escaped the bag she'd tossed it in. Her hand was currently bleeding as it jumped around trying to escape her attempts at grasping onto it (and succeeding depressingly well.)

Really, if anyone from home had seen how she was being bested by this little shit the size of a pixie she'd have been extremely embarrassed. Luckily none of them were here. ]

Over here, trying to deal with this thing. [ Dealing. Not being bested by it. ]

[bufubulous]

[ Yusuke followed the voice quickly, and was met by a sight that he had honestly had a feeling he’d behold when Ivy stopped responding on the tell-phone. ]

My apologies again. I had a feeling he might have sprung back to life. Allow me to assist!

[ Wincing lightly at the sight of her hand, he reached for the bag that it escaped and tried to assist with at least deterring its attack for now by presenting it with another obstacle. Him, waving the bag opening to try to catch it next time it charged. ]

Based on what I know about them, the only way to truly be rid of them is for them to get bored with us. Which I do realize isn’t the best news to offer. They are incredibly tenacious!

[neurotoxicity]

[ Her eyes had become almost completely pitch black at this point, both with the mounting annoyance that she felt and the fight that was going on (if you really wanted to call it a fight) ]

We just wait until they get bored? [ Her tone betrayed how utterly shit she thought that plan was. Just as she moved to say something else it darted forward, charging at Yusuke and his bag with the gusto of something that thought it was much larger than it actually was. ]

Look out

[doubled_speed]

Whatever is fucking around and knocking shit over is definitely going to be annoying isn't it? Here Tommy is, just trying to get his caffeine fix (Yusuke he didn't need a tree he was just trying to get the latte, please bro), and then there was the noise.

"Nah, there was definitely something up. Might be one of Mono's Nomes. They've been popping all around the renovation job. It's kinda worrying. I'm scared the little things are gonna get hurt."

[bufubulous]

Yusuke would disagree. The fancy tree was part of the personalized fancy latte experience! That meant it was necessary! Maybe next time he’ll do a little sloth, instead… He glanced away from the direction of the sound at the mention of one of the other stories going around the network. “Nomes? Ah, yes. I’ve seen a few playing with the younger children around the House of Solace shortly after I heard the story on the network. They seem pleasant enough.” It was kind of nice to see things that weren’t dangerous cropping up around the city for a change. Although… “Though I can’t imagine they would be good to have around while you're working on the new location.”

With another ceramic rattling sound, Yusuke’s eyes flit to the cupboard where they stored the dishware for customers staying in with their orders. “Perhaps one has gotten into our cupboards? Probably not a good place for them to be, if so.” He moved to the cupboard curiously, if it was… Hopefully it wouldn’t be upset by the intrusion.

Of course, Tommy’s prior concern was going to prove to be correct. Something very annoying was trying to get out, and it wasn’t a nome.

[doubled_speed]

Except he didn't want a personalized fancy latte. He just wanted caffeine in the worst way, Yusuke. So he downs the cup and sighs. That's just... that's anchoring, you know?

"yeah, I'm worried they'll get hurt. I'm paying the kid extra to help encourage them to hide somewhere safer. They aren't even wearing helmets. I'd get hit with so many OSHA violations it's not even funny."

But there is no OSHA here. Which was a real shame. This place could probably use some inspectors or something. Not the cafe. Just... Aterat.

"Need me to check it out for you? Like, I'm getting better at coaxing the Nomes out."

[bufubulous]

This world could use a lot of things, inspectors included. “They do seem to favour enclosed spaces if they don’t feel like socializing.” He agreed, so it would probably be best to have someone who could encourage them into safer places to tuck themselves away safely when needed. Drawers, under beds, and closets seemed reasonable… But cupboards full of dishware probably weren’t a good or comfortable place.

The offer was unnecessary, but Yusuke supposed that it also made sense. If Tommy had experience with Nomes, then he might be better at getting it out of the cupboard safely without incident… “Seeing as I’ve only seen them interacting with the children, I would appreciate the assistance. I would hate to do something wrong and cause it to panic.” He added, stepping aside to let his friend by.

Unfortunately, newfound nome whispering skills were going to be of little use. As it was actually a rather angry little man made of teaware waiting in the cupboard, ready to spring himself on the first person he saw with all his little might.

[doubled_speed]

Speaking of things favoring enclosed spaces... Really is for the best that Tommy got to open this thing. Because one of them is faster than the other, and it's Tommy. Tommy is faster. He opens the thing and yeah, angry little thing.

He closes the door before it can finish charging.

"There's a little pottery person."

[bufubulous]

There was a slight clatter sounding like dishes falling over when the door slammed shut. Yeah, the little guy definitely ran into the cupboard door, considering it wasn’t expecting Tommy to be faster than it was.

Yusuke winced at the sound, rather hoping that wasn’t anything breaking. Though the concern shifted to slightly more concerned priorities at the mention of a little pottery person. “So it’s not one of those Nomes?” A pottery person… Oh, his odd desire to share a story earlier had quite slipped his mind in the last few hours. “Wait… When you say a ‘little pottery person,’ I presume you mean it’s a small angry fellow made of dishes and teaware?”

Oh no…

There is a knocking on the cupboard door, as though it’s being hit rather soundly. The pottery man will not be contained!

[doubled_speed]

“Yep. Has the same patterns on it as your drinkware here.”

Tommy sighs and opens the door again, snatching the thing up by a grip on its back. HOpefully that would keep him safe.

“Here it is.”

[bufubulous]

“I was afraid you might say that.” He mused thoughtfully, folding his arms and eyeing the cupboard before Tommy retrieved the little creature.

It was not happy to have been grabbed like that, it was almost sad as it flailed about and waved the long stick with a little bottle on the end trying to land some kind of hit to Tommy to make him drop him.

That was definitely what he had figured he’d see after Tommy described it, and he winced lightly as he realized why it was probably here. “I believe that would be called Seto Taisho, a kind of yokai found in stories from my world? I fear that an odd desire to talk about them this morning must have had more significance than I suspected at the time.”

The question was, what did they do with it now? All the stories said the only way to get rid of them was for it to get bored with failing to best you in a fight.

Log

[haruine]

Honestly, one of the things Haru found she enjoyed the most when it came to working at the café (other than seeing a customer leave happy) was watching Yusuke work. He'd mastered the art of latte design. He really had grown quite good at it, at least in her opinion. She was actually very proud of how well he'd taken to it and even more than that she was quite grateful. She really wasn't certain what she'd have done without him. Neither one of them had ever actually had a real job and yet together they'd made this place!

Not only had they made the place, but they actually seemed to be thriving with it! People seemed to actually enjoy coming here and that made her so very happy. In her mind it was partially (if not completely) due to their interest in Yusuke's talent. Which might have been a bit unfair but Haru had a terrible habit of putting other's successes far before hers. It was so much easier to raise other people up rather than acknowledge that she was doing very well herself. After all she was the one that came up with most of the menu, got most of the products, and spent almost all her time there. She should give herself proper credit, but she wasn't going to on her own.

She was in the middle of laughing at his dramatics as she cleaned a few dishes up when she heard a sound. A very strange shaking that sounded like something might be sifting through the cupboards.

"No, I heard it too, there's something in there!" she hesitated for a moment to just stare at the cupboard before she quickly threw it open only to be accosted by the little samurai menace. She let out a tiny scream as she flung it off of her only for it to bounce back up preparing itself for battle.

Yay :D

[bufubulous]

Yusuke blinked curiously as there was another sound from the cupboards… What on earth was that about? “I’m glad to know it’s not my ears deceiving me, but what would be rattling about in the cupboards? It should be steady enough. We repaired that one ourselves.” He mused with a little frown, and while one could probably say their handy-person skills were still a bit novice, Yusuke felt quite proud of their job! He trusted the integrity of the cupboards. They were in Haru’s lovely chosen colour and placed in such an aesthetically pleasing place!

He set a dishtowel aside and moved to follow. If they needed to empty it out to re-stack something, then it would be easier with two during the lull between orders.

Only… The next thing he knew, Haru was being ambushed and letting out a rather startling scream in surprise. Yusuke very nearly called up his mask out of instinct, but managed to remember they were in the middle of the cafe. That would be a bad move. Goemon would be rather destructive in a small space… And upon closer look, it was quite obvious their intruder was rather smallish by comparison. “Good heavens!” He blurted out, taking in the sight of a small warrior clad (or made of, really) their dishes, cups and a rather round teapot for the body.

Oh… Oh no.

“Haru, I believe our tableware has come to life, and it may be my fault.” He commented, reaching out to offer a steadying arm and reaching for a broom. He could… perhaps nudge it away before it managed to land a blow, though at least the little vase wrapped around the end of a stick couldn’t do much damage… hopefully?

[haruine]

The exact idea, to call upon Lucy, had occured to Haru. However, she too had come to the conclusion that she would be far too large for her small café. Instincts were exceptionally hard to ignore, particularly when she was rather used to relying on her. It did feel momentarily silly to have thought of calling something so large against something that was clearly so small.

It being so small seemed to give it quite the advantage as it jumped into the air before Yusuke could even consider using his broom and then slashed at the top of the broom with shocking speed. Haru moved her hands around in a shooing motion trying to swipe at it, but the little pot managed to dodge and dart and stab at her hands. She yelped as one blow actually managed to hit her.

"It's so fast!" That....that was going to be the real problem here. It's speed combined with it's small size and exceptionally feisty demeanor seemed to be setting itself up for a humiliating victory against them.

"Surely this thing can't be your fault! And surely it can't best us..."

[bufubulous]

While it should be their advantage to be in Haru’s cafe, it being hers and all, it actually seemed the little samurai was the one who benefited from the setting! It was far too closed in for them to do much in the way of using their persona to help, and he was the perfect size to dart about and target them! Yusuke winced lightly as the broom nearly got knocked from his grip. It was strong too! If the little fellow had an actual sword, he thinks that might have cut the broom clean in half.

“Terribly so. It might be best to keep out of range and gather something to defend against it with.” He winced at the sight of it hitting her hand. That was going to be a nasty bruise later, he’d wager. Keeping a hold of the broom one handed, he reached for a solid tea tray and offered it to his friend. “This may assist as a shield!”

Oh… But that was the thing, Haru. He was quite sure it was. “Perhaps not entirely, as this world seems prone to throwing surprises at us! But I must at least shoulder some of the blame. I believe this may be related to an odd desire to share a story about Seto Taisho on the network earlier today.” It seemed like terribly suspicious timing for it to have appeared now. “But you’re right, we have faced larger and more fierce foes than this! We just need some sort of strategy, I think.”

[haruine]

"Oh, but that's one of the good tea trays..." Her voice sounded utterly dejected as Yusuke picked up the tea tray, which was in fact not the good tea tray. Only one of the tea tray's she had was truly "good" and it was in a cabinet to only be brought out for special serving moments. It was made of silver with several very intricate etchings on it and she had been terribly excited when she'd gotten it. The other tea trays, including the one Yusuke had picked up, were not nearly as good. They were serviceable for what they were intended to do while also being pretty in their own way.

The Seto Taisho danced for a moment between the two of them and then, noting Yusuke's new 'shield' he chose to charge at Haru. She sidestepped and, instead of hitting her, it hit the faucet of the sink. Slicing it clear off and causing water to start spraying everywhere.

"Oh no!" In the chaos it turned it's attention back to Yusuke, charging valiantly at him in an attempt to bash into his shield. "It's coming at you!" She attempted to stop it by throwing a dish at it.

[bufubulous]

Even Yusuke would say that at the moment, they had to work with what they had. Which sadly meant the (less than) good tea trays. “A tragedy, I admit, but we must be careful to avoid the nasty bruise. It doesn’t appear to have a proper blade, but I expect they could give one some nasty bruises.” Though she hadn’t taken the tray offered, and unfortunately proved his point as it rushed her instead of him when it make a tactical decision on who was the easier mark.

…And broke the sink.

At least she’d avoided taking another hit, but it certainly increased the difficulty level to their fight as water was spraying out at an alarming rate and undoubtedly made the floor a bit slippery. He slipped to the side at the warning, just barely managing to block the little warrior swinging his weapon about. Blinking at the force, he tried to spot where Haru ended up. “I believe we may need to come up with some sort of strategy, as he’s quite intent on doing battle.”

[haruine]

There was no point in trying to cover herself from the water as it came out of the pipe from the sink. They were doomed to be wet at this point and that was simply that. The fluffy mess of hair on her head started to droop down and she desperately tried to regain her footing as the little problem creature began to spring back up again. At least one could say that this little creature was quite ...persistent.

She grabbed a near by cupcake and tossed it at the little porcelain problem, causing it to flail around as it's eyes were obscured by frosting. It gave them a moment at least for her to stand up and search around for something she could utilize as a better weapon. There was a rolling pin that was rather sturdy that she could potentially use and so that became her new weapon.

"Perhaps we could throw more food at it, obscuring it's vision, and then smash it?" Was smash it even an actual plan?

[bufubulous]

If Yusuke was thinking a little more clearly, rather than trying to pick himself up off the slippery floor, he would recall that breaking seto taisho did little to stop them for more than a moment or two. Instead, he found himself offering his agreement to the plan once he’d been steady again. His eyes lit up at the sight of the struggling little warrior and nodded quickly. “Perhaps!! It seems to have slowed him down, at least.” He winced internally at the sight of his friend’s fluffy hair starting to look as sad as they both probably felt about the state of the cafe currently. Why was he always present for such horrid downpours? Indoors, this time, no less! Perhaps he truly did invite it…

Seeing the rolling pin in Haru’s hands, he moved and scooped up a couple cup cakes himself to offer a distraction in order to give her a better opening. “I’ll keep him busy with these. Perhaps you can sneak up on him with your weapon handy?” Haru was no slouch in a battle, after all, and Yusuke trusted her strength entirely.