aterat | Story Event - Seto Taisho

Entry tags:

Story Event - Seto Taisho

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?”

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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.

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."

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.

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."

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!

“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.”

“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.

Huh, that's not the first time that's happened. Probably won't be the last either.

"How do we get rid of them?" Tommy answered as he kept holding the thing. IT seemed feisty.

It was very feisty, and growing ever angrier at the guy holding him. The expression on its little teacup face definitely said, ‘Just wait till I get free!’

“Now that is a very good question, unfortunately none of the stories I ever heard indicated a proper way to get rid of them.” Of course, Yusuke would tell a story about a creature that had no clear way of defeating it. His tone is at least apologetic. He really wishes he’d told some other story… It wasn’t like it was the only one he knew in the first place! “It’s said the only way to be rid of them is to hope they get bored with losing after a while.”

Yeah, he wasn't going to do that at all. NO way this thing was going to be let go without assurances that it won't hurt Yusuke.

"So basically I'm going to have to hold this guy until he gets bored?" Tommy asks. That's going to be SO BORING."

“Well, he does seem rather unable to get out of your grasp at the moment.” Which means it is an option. Surely the little guy is going to get bored with putting up a fight sometime, right?? … But it was going to be dreadfully boring, and Tommy was a customer, not an employee. “Perhaps we could find something that will contain him for now. Though not the cupboard it was in, I would be rather concerned he might break some of the dishes and that would trouble Haru after just getting this place open.” He mused, leaning in to get a better look at Seto Taisho.

Then leaning back immediately as it tried to take a swing at him with his stick. “He really seems quite confrontational.” And Rude, rude little dinnerware guy. “Let me see if any of the boxes in the back room are solid enough to do the trick!”

Yeah, there was that, wasn't there? Like, Tommy knows exactly what he's doing.

"I can't drink my latte like this," he sighs, quite forlorn. Though... He has an idea.

"Any chance you have an empty cookie jar or something? Lower him in, leave the lid open, ignore him. Let him see he's being ignored."

Though now he's backing away from Yusuke to keep any aggresion down.

“No, you certainly can’t.” Which was why they needed to remedy the situation. He paused on his way to the backroom, tilting his head thoughtfully. “I believe we may have one of those, a spare in case the ones on display at the counter break. It may work?” Honestly, it was better than nothing.

The only problem was… “Do you think you could take its weapon from it? I fear he would potentially break the jar if we let him keep it.” Which would make Haru sad, if it was a cookie jar she was particularly fond of. Yusuke himself was still figuring out which items were or were not among her favorites, and breaking something that the cafe needed was probably a bad thing, regardless.

"Of course," he says with a shrug. "Look who you're talking to, Yusuke. Thing surprised me and I caught it. Twice. It's fine."

He, actually, just does so now. Plucks the little weapon free and smiles. See, all done.

Yusuke had to admit, the guy had a point! “Forgive me for doubting.” He added with a polite little nod, before moving to collect the cookie jar once the little samurai had been disarmed.

Seto Taisho did not seem amused by that at all, though, swinging his arms and kicking out with the most annoyed little sound. How dare you take his weapon!! Have you no honor!? This is not a fair fight, sir!

No, it isn't a fair fight. Neither is ambushing someone. But it was a lot smarter not to pick on giants, okay?

"Cassie did this to me once. When I was being fussy. Just went all giant, picked me up by the back of my shirt, and put me down on top of an isolated building."

Tommy smiles as he puts the little guy into the cookie jar.

"Of course she forgot I could literally just run down the side of the building."

“Fussy?” Yusuke tilted his head at that with a curious raise of his brow. He held out the jar as Tommy deposited the little troublemaker in it, letting out a relieved sigh that it was too tall for the creature to jump out of on its own. “Is that so? I suppose we have her to thank for the idea.” he offered a light smile. “Lucky for us, this little fellow doesn’t seem capable of escape on his own.”

Not that they could leave it there forever… But maybe it would calm down with time? With a little glance, he decided it might be a while. It was banging its little porcelain hands against the jars inside angrily, quite offended by this treatment indeed.

There, thing dealt with. That's a wrap.

"Small favors and all of that," Tommy agrees with a nod. And they didn't even have to lid the thing. Do ceramic men breathe? Better not to check.

"Should I check for more?"

Yusuke eyed the creature cautiously for a moment but nodded, as it definitely seemed stuck. Admittedly, Yusuke wasn’t sure if it needed to breathe or not. It probably didn’t have lungs; being made the way it was… right? Probably? Creatures and spirits were all rather different, though, and he wasn’t about to take a chance. Even if it was trying to attack them.

“Hm… If you still have the time, I wouldn’t mind the assistance with double checking the space.” He responded with a small nod. “And I owe you for the assistance. The latte is on the house, as they say.” He then tilted his head at the cabinet. “And any of the pastries you might like to take as thanks.” He’s pretty sure Haru would agree if she were here. They couldn’t have something like that running around the café attacking customers!

Yeah, well the latte was cold. But he'd still probably drink it. Tommy offers a nod and there's the sound of wind and cabinets thunking open and closed all at once.

"You're good," he says, back at the counter and sipping his latte. "Can I pack up a small box of them for my delivery kids?"

One of these days Yusuke was going to get used to Tommy doing that. He knew the guy was fast, but it always somehow slipped his mind that he could make short work of tasks like this. He offered a relieved, grateful smile as he moved over to the grab a large takeaway box for Tommy to fill for his kids. “Of course, it’s the least I can offer in return for the help you’ve given me today! Take whatever you think they’d like best and make sure you’ve gotten something for yourself as well.” He opened the case for Tommy to have a look and take what looked best for the group.

He could set to getting a few more things in order after to replenish the case, and he’s sure Haru would agree that it was a fitting reward for the help given how disruptive this could have been for the café’s business.

"You're the best man," he says with a grin. "They love the brownies and I can cut one into, like, six pieces with no problem."

It would make the kids feel pretty special too. As for himself, well, he wasn't going to think of that. Except maybe he would. There were some good looking danishes.

"Do you have a box I could put these in?"

Yusuke smiled a little at that. He was glad he could offer something in return for Tommy’s help. “I’ll be sure to let Haru know that the children enjoy her brownies.” That would make his friend happy, he thinks, and he had to admit they were quite good himself. All the better that the little message carriers running around the city could enjoy something sweet when they weren’t busy.

“Ah, yes, I have one right here, actually.” He responded, just finishing with folding the sides of the box up so Tommy could put what he liked inside. “Here you are!” He added, setting it down for the other to take.

“Okay, I’ll take that and four brownies. That should let me get everyone fed and happy.”

Small treats without abusing the trust offered in the gift.

“Excellent, I shall have that ready for you in a moment.” He responded as he set the box next to the case and set to pulling out the requested treats, carefully setting them in the box and adding some napkins in case they were needed before he finally closed the lid.

Smiling lightly, he offered the box over. “And there you have it, treats and my thanks for your assistance today. I hope you and your little employees enjoy them!”

Edited 2023-09-13 20:01 (UTC)

Story Event - Seto Taisho

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akjnrgksrjngksjrng I am so sorry excuse me whilst I check my braincell

It's okay, everything else was fine I think.

Thank goodness ;;

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