middaeg | the less effort, the better

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the less effort, the better | open

Who: Ritsu Sakuma & anyone
When: Throughout the month; dates are marked for each part.
Where: Around the city and out of it
What: A catch-all log for quests (and a wildcardish prompt)! Starters will be written for people I have plans with; the prompts in the log itself are free for anyone to tag though. If you'd like to do something specific, you can reach me at

galaxydestiny!
Warnings: None for the moment; will update as necessary.

(05/05 - 05/12; sordid shield)

[ Well.

Knights is a fanservice unit. Ritsu's at least pro enough to do his job, though once he's in the back with any other workers he's siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiighing loudly and waving his hand in front of his face as he sits down... on the floor. ]

Y'know, I'm fine with alcohol and all... And I know a guy who acts like he's totally lost it half the time... But dealing with those kinds of people is haaard... [ he's such a baby. ] I can't believe "taverns" even exist, anyway... I thought that was just some like, fake fantasy stuff...

(05/11 - 05/17; undermael)

[ There's a dead body resting on some books.

No, he only seems dead; when asleep, Ritsu's breathing becomes so soft it's almost as if he isn't, and he sure is sleeping on the job. He's doing a pretty good job of pretending to be a corpse though - and if people come to check up on him and/or come to dispose the body, he'll reach out to them with a grumble and a whine. ]

Leave me aloooooone, okay..? I'll get back to work in a little bit, I just want, like, five more minutes... I'm working really hard, so just give me a break, okay..?

(05/20 - 05/25; out of the city)

[ The full moon comes and goes, and Ritsu is no less discomforted by the state of things in this stupid, dumb, awful world; but the one thing that does give him comfort is playing the piano. The Witches on duty are nice enough to get him one - he doesn't know if it's magic or not, but at this point, he seriously doesn't care - and he settles his fingers on the keys with a sigh.

Yeah.

That feels right.

He runs through a lot of different songs, classical and jazz and a few that aren't any particular songs, just his fingers playing what they like, and when he tires of those he thinks of his mirror and aches, aches for the familiarity of home and plays a few from there, too.

There's an elegance to him when he plays that isn't present in his usual day-to-day life. If anyone ask for a request though, he's making a face and shaking his head. ]

Nah, sorry, I don't do those.

[ When he isn't playing the piano - because other people have entertainment to do, He Guesses - he's... uncharacteristically seeking other people who've either come to volunteer or just live in the area. He keeps away from those with obvious infection though, not willing to risk himself when he already has a track record of getting sick. Making small talk isn't really his strong point either, so he just sort of. Essentially. Just sits down or hangs nearby, watching people until they talk to him first or something.

...He feels a little like a kid again, not sure how to deal with the fact he wants to join in and not sure how to do that effectively, and that, too, is frustrating. ]

(whatever else)

[ while i'm not writing a specific prompt for it this time, he'll be attending the flower lessons offered in the "Gardening With Class" quest! catch him there too, if you'd like; he can also just sort of be found in the coven most of the day if he has nothing else to do, sleeping wherever people shouldn't be or sitting it on magic classes he's realizing he can't actually participate in because the spells won't come to him...

he's having a hard time. ]

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[ Despite his life philosophy that doing less is more, he's agreed to help look for a lost cat with Shigeo. Being fair: he at least knows how to deal with cats... sort of. Knights themselves are a bit like them, all independent, and Ousama's definitely like one? No matter what he might say-

so really, he's confident they can find this mysterious Mrs. Mittens with no trouble at all.

Except Mrs. Mittens really is good at hide and seek, and Ritsu's sitting on some smelly fish boxes instead of helping to look for her properly, anyway. ]

...This harbor's really big, [ ah here we go, the complaints, ] so reaaally, how the hell do they expect us to find her...?

[ ..............maybe it would go quicker if he actually helped but- ]

Edited 2019-05-03 16:51 (UTC)

[Shigeo is looking behind a stack of boxes carefully, taking the task very seriously.]

Well, we have to try.

[He tenses, obviously seeing something way in the back of the stack and reaching in.]

Ah, is this...

[After a little rustling he pulls out to reveal he's holding ... a fishing net filled with dried seaweed and other debris.]

... oh.

[ .......Gross. Ritsu makes a face, leaning back on his hands with a sigh. ]

Well, maybe that'll be useful anyway... Clean it up and we can just throw it on the dumb thing. [ mrrrgh. ] I wish Ousama was here... He's good with cats... He'd know how to find one, 'cept he'd probably say somethin' like, "Just let it come to you, it'll go home when it's ready to!"

[ Which... Doesn't help this situation, so. ]

Mmmm... She's a cat, so maybe she likes fish... Do cats really like fish, or is that like with rabbits and carrots..? You're not supposed to actually feed 'em that or whatever.

[Mob starts to pick the trash out of the net, not seeming to mind too much if some of it is slimy.]

No, they really do like fish. I've seen them eat some before. That's why this place would probably be really nice for a cat ... well, except for all the water.

Unless they're a cat that likes the water... There're those, right? Mm... Tigers and stuff.

[ But this is a housecat, right? Well, that Turnskin was kind of big, so maybe their cat is big too............. huh. ]

...Hey, Shikkun. Isn't it kinda weird for Monsters to own pets? I mean... Animals are just smaller, less talky versions of them a lot of the time, aren't they...

[ SHIT HE'D NEVER ASK IN FRONT OF AN ACTUAL MONSTER, BECAUSE THAT'S BAD, PROBABLY? ]

I guess I've never thought of it. I mean pets are nice to have, so as long as they treat them well I think it's fine.

Oh, and you can call me Mob if you want, some friends from home call me that.

[ He'll actually like, consider it, then wave his hand. ]

Shikkun's fine enough, right? Mob's not that catchy either... It just makes you sound like a rando or something like that. [ Well ... maybe that suits him, but Shikkun's easier for Ritsu to remember. ] Ehhh... What kind of friends do you have anyway? Bullies?

No. I have really great friends.

[He finishes picking out the last of the debris, presenting it to Ritsu for examination.]

But Shikkun is okay, I guess. I'll have to get used to it.

[ He leans in and tugs the net a bit, just to test its strength, and wipes his hand on his pants when he's done doing so. ]

Can't be that great if they're callin' you something that weird... But looks good, Shikkun. Should be able to handle a cat... As long as it's not proportional to its owner, anyway. [ But that's be weird, right? ...This place sucks. ] 'kay, let's go back to looking for it...

[ ...Looking up, mmm. ]

Cats like high places, right? Go.

[ mrs. mittens, Round Two. koga's a slightly harder sell on helping out, but ritsu knows he got a super squishy soft heart; it just takes a little pleading about how fang's gotta be soooo worried about their precious, darling pet, and even if it's a cat, it's still really, reaaaaally important, right...? would koga really want someone to be distressed about their pet forever? what if leon was in the same position, huh..?

that sort of thing.

...ritsu sakuma doesn't play fair, and don't let anyone convince you otherwise.

this is his second time looking for the damn thing though, so he has some idea of where she likes to hang around, so at least he can take point on walking through the harbor district. even if it's still smelly and bad and he hates it, yeah. ]

...Mmmmmmm, when Shikkun and I found her, she was somewhere around here... [ probably. everything looks kind of similar. ] Your nose is good, right, Corgi? Just sniff around for a kitty cat.

[ that's not how tracking works, ritsu. ]

Edited 2019-05-03 16:59 (UTC)

[ You can sign up for this without a partner, but Ritsu's not really sure of himself outside - he's an idol, not a fighter? And he already knows from going out with Izuku that the Wilde is

not, exactly, the most pleasant of places.

So, well. He just finds people he sees looking at the more dangerous jobs posted around the city and sidles up to them to ask for some help (ack), and this try is Kurapika- ]

Hey, kid, you any good at fighting?

[ isn't that something you say when you wanna start a fight ]

Edited 2019-05-03 17:10 (UTC)

[I hate that Ritsu is old. Kurapika eyes him, since he was focused on his own thoughts over his job posting.]

Yes. Why do you ask?

[Honestly it does sound like Ritsu is trying to find a sparring partner, asking like that, but Kurapika would answer just as robotically all the same. He can handle anything!!]

[ I also hate that Ritsu is old. ]

'Cause I need someone good at that to go with me. [ great start buddy ] Outside. Y'know how you need money to do stuff...? That's kinda where I'm at right now.

I see. I'm perfectly capable of fighting, but why should I help you?

[Blunt, but it's nothing said aggressively, even if the wording is rude. He looks to Ritsu like it's an honest question and he's waiting for what he's going to get out of this. Honestly, as long as it's nothing offensive said in return, he'd likely help out either way, but he needs to be aware of what sort of person he'd be going out into things with.]

Before you start asking others for help, you need to be prepared to offer your own uses forward. So? [Give him your selling point!!]

[ His selling point... Ritsu rubs the back of his neck, thinking, and shrugs. ]

I'm a strategist... I'm good at picking out weak points and stuff like that. You can just focus on one thing instead of splitting your attention if you have me around. [ He Guesses. Is that a selling point. ] Anyway, they said we could keep some of the stuff if we wanted to... It's that one that wants the Flaming Lips.

[ whatever the fuck Those Are. Are they supposed to know what they look like.... Are they obvious? Ahh, this is such a pain, but money... ]

There's no use in saying that you're a strategist if I haven't seen your ability to back it up.

[Well, Kurapika's harsh with this. He's a genius himself, when it comes to things like that, so it's not a conscious effort anyway. But... despite his stubbornness, he relents, gesturing with his hand at Ritsu.]

The Flaming Lips are herbs, from what I recall seeing. I don't mind taking you with me, but I have conditions. First, since I'm the one who will be fighting, I'll decide our actions. That means if I order a retreat, you need to listen to me. That also means that you should listen when I say to get back or stay behind me, or I can't guarantee that you won't be hurt. Second, if you're saying we're allowed to take some of the herbs for ourselves, then I'd like to claim at least one of them.

[He counted these off on his fingers. I hope this is a lesson why not to approach strangers on the street... then again, it seems like he'll have this under control?]

If those conditions are fine with you, then we can agree to this and start immediately.

Edited (I couldn't decide if it was a or an and so I changed it ) 2019-05-12 20:22 (UTC)

[ Ooh, harsh - but he's agreeing. It half reminds him of Sena, and Ritsu tilts his head, listening to his conditions.

...Sounds like he's got very little to do - which suits him, actually. The best effort is the least amount of effort, and Ritsu grins slightly crooked, holding out his hand. ]

Yep, sounds good to me. ♪ Mmm... Ritsu. Nice workin' with you.

[ It was difficult for Alex not follow the sound of the melody and join the crowd that had gathered around the young man. Whenever he finished a piece she would applaud, though she didn't approach him in between sets. She does feel bad from straying from her own work, since her intention was just a 'quick break', so she doesn't stay for his entire performance.

It's not until later that she sees and recognizes the pianist sitting on his own. She had wanted to say something earlier, but she debated on whether he might want to spend his time on his own. From the way he was a watching others though, maybe it wasn't the case. At least from her own experience, she appreciated compliments given to her after a performance.

She decides to take a chance and walks up to him, her voice soft and a little unsure. ]

Excuse me..I just wanted to say that I thought you played beautifully earlier.

[ He perks up slightly when she walks over, head lifting to look up from where he's sat down. Ah... Someone who heard him, huh. Well, he'd been playing for a while, and it's not like piano's a common enough instrument to hear just out in public... ]

...Mm, thanks. It's a hobby. [ A hobby he very much enjoys. ] Kinda glad to see pianos aren't, y'know... So different than what I'm used to. Too much here's way too old for me.

I..hadn't considered that the instruments could be different too. Everything is pretty..old.

[ Magical and old, that seemed to be the best way to describe some things here. ]

Have you been at it for a while? You seem to know how to play quite a few different genres.

[ Instruments, like many things, have evolved over the course of their lives - many of them have retained the same basic structure, or found a shape that suits them best, but little tweaks still happen... Different woods, different strings. It's what sets them apart from each other, what gives them different sound qualities.

But he doubts she's all that interested in the technicalities, and he's not super interested in giving a lengthy explanation; if Leo was here, he'd leave that up to him. ]

Ever since I was a kid. I had a lot of free time... [ And he... wanted to play with his brother, who did piano - and violin - but, well, Family Shit. Not gonna talk about Rei. ] I can do pretty much anything... Jazz and classical are what I'm used to mostly, but I know some more mainstream stuff too 'cause of a friend of mine, and songs by other idols, too. Hard not to, when you just kinda hear people practicing or performing every other day.

Mm... [ Ritsu blinks at her slowly, tilting his head slightly. ] You play anything?

[ Even if it's the less detailed version, Alex still listened attentively. The word 'idol' stood out to her. She understood having music idols, like the classics and all, but the way he said it made it sound like he performed with them. For someone so young to be able to perform with song legends sounded quite amazing to her. ]

Oh, I don't know how to play any. I did sing for a little bit, but that's all. [ It was something she'd only done recently and with the big four families battling it out with each other and her getting sent here, that was put on hold. ]

So you work with other artists then? Which ones?

[ Maybe she recognized some of them, if he wasn't from a completely different place. ]

[ Oh, she sings... That's nice - maybe he can teach her a few songs and she can be his Christine. The thought, joking as it is, makes him smile. ]

Knights is my group, but... There's fine [ pronounced the Italian way, fee-nay ] and Trickstar... Fufu, my best friend's part of that one. They're not bad - kind of like, pop? You know, bouncy, catchy songs... Mainstream stuff.

[ Compared to Knights, which is half ballad, half kpop- ]

When I get back to my piano [ if he does, though he seems pretty jazzed up again now that he's talked about his ~*~best friend~*~ a little ] I'll show you a couple of their songs, too. ♪ How about it?

[ It was a little interesting that he wouldn’t be in the same group as his best friend. Maybe because he was into a different genre? Would they be considered a boy band? ]

You know how to play their songs too? [ He does seem to have perked up. It’s sweet that he’s a fan of his friend’s music. ]]

I’d like that, then. Hearing your other songs would be nice too. Do you compose them yourself?

'Course I know how. I'm Maakun's biggest fan, there's noooo way I wouldn't know how to play what he sings...♪ [ heheh. He shakes his head though, to her second question. ] But mm, nah, I don't compose... Knights' leader does. We play piano together sometimes too... I mean, we did. He's not here.

[ And somewhat thank goodness for it; he's hard to find at school, he'd be hell to find here. ]

Do you write your own lyrics, or do you just sing?

[ Huh, 'Maakun' was a different name. ]

Oh--Oh no, I just sing them. I can't do something like that.

[ She laughs, waving her hand at the notion. ]

It's impressive that you're already part of something like that so young.

[ He looked young anyway. But Asians tend to look younger than they really are..was he maybe older? ]

Is it? [ ...Well

he guesses it might be. Being an idol's a lot of work, and they're still protected by the school - once they step out of that nest, they're going to have to fight tooth and nail. That doesn't really matter here though, at least. ] Ah, you're probably right... It just seems normal to me. Not that most high school students decide to be an idol unless they're in an anime or something though.

[ ~~awful how these children just legitimately go out and say shit like this when their lives are just~~ ]

Have you ever wanted to write one though? It seems kinda fun to me, even if I'm sure our king would fuss at me for taking that kind of thing so lightly... He's really serious about music.

I..I've never thought about it. I'm not sure I'm creative enough for it though.

[ It's not like she was the most literate person, or even know how to play on words the way composers did. ]

Um..what's an anime? Is that an agency of some kind?

Nah. It's a kind of show, like on television, but it's animated... Mmm, they're drawings that move. Nerds like it.

[ stop letting ritsu introduce anime to people. ]

Oh, so like a cartoon?

[ But wasn't that more for children then..nerds, as he put it? ]

But what does that have to do with your music?

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the less effort, the better | open

mrs. mittens, with shigeo

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mrs. mittens, with koga

herbology help, with kurapika

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CRAWLS BACK HERE FINALLY.... SORRY ASH

Out of the City

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IM SORRY idk how this got buried ;A;!!!

YOU'RE GOOD!!! thumbs up gently

;u;

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