Open RP, Greenhouses (Eleventy, Kurama, River)

[eleventyrags.livejournal.com]

The Doctor hadn't always loved Halloween, but on those worlds that celebrated it (or something like it) he definitely tried to join in the fun, if there was nothing overtly intent on re-enacting a favorite horror film but with real knives instead of rubber props. He supposed at Hogwarts there was no danger of this (and even if there was, the danger was minimized) and thus strolled confidently over the grounds, rambling until he came to a pile of rather gorgeous pumpkins. He stared at them a minute, then at the door they framed. A sign read:

Pumpkins, free to a good carver.

Candy within, Trick-or-Treaters welcome.

Any tricks resulting in broken glass will be met with a boot up someone's back end.

The last bit, he noted, was scrawled rather hastily in something that his mind wanted to read as Japanese, but his eyes were registering as English. The rest was in big, spiky, dramatic handwriting, with bats, cats, and pumpkins scribbled all over the place. It very nearly covered a plaque that read 'Professor Minaminaminamino." What a name. He grinned and ducked in.



She, with brown hair all shocked out by too much curling iron, an ironic pointy black hat on her head, a very witchy dress, too much makeup, and boots that looked like they could stomp a Dalek. The other (she? No, the shoulders were too broad, but the hair just screamed girl) sat with their back to the doctor and looked like the costume of the year must be a mummified werewolf. The tail was even moving, too. Nice touch.

"Trick or treat!" He called, waving a hand. The girl looked up at him and beamed and the - yes, that face was as close to male as it was going to get - man turned around to look at him.

"What's your costume?" The girl asked, putting her head to one side. The man flapped a hand at her, and she stuck out her tongue at him.

"A time traveler," The Doctor said grinning at their interaction. They might have been bickering siblings, for all they didn't look a thing alike.

The man gestured to a cauldron on the floor next to the table. "Take your treat then, oh wanderer. You might have to forgive River her impetuousness."

The Doctor blinked at the name, but before he could say anything, the girl cut in.

"Not that River," she said, her eyes intent on the Doctor for a split second before turning back to her companion. He had the unsettling certainty that she'd just casually read his mind. People weren't supposed to be able to do that.

"And that isn't even a real word," she was saying. "Bad foxes should read more dictionaries."

The Doctor grabbed a bag from the cauldron - fun-sized jelly babies - and extended a hand to the suffering redhead. He noticed that what he first thought were bandages on his head were furry ears to match the tail. "Nice costume. Professor Minaminaminamino, I presume?"

The Professor made a face and took the offered hand. "Kurama, if you please." He shot a withering look to River, who contrived to look innocent. "I thought it had been covered."

"I'm The Doctor," he introduced himself. "I'm surprised you're indulging the tricking and treating, though. That's more of an American holiday these days, isn't it?"

Kurama shrugged, breaking the handshake with a smile to go back to what he was working on. They looked like flowers that had decided to be lanterns, all in orange and black. River was stringing them together on a long line.

"There are plenty of American students here, and it's an amusing enough tradition." Between his hands another flower seemed to appear from nowhere, and went to the pile for River to tend. It even glowed faintly.

The Doctor watched them work for a moment, munching on his jelly babies, until River completed a strand and jumped down from the table. "I'll take care of these," she said, and then stopped to look at the Doctor with a lot more knowing solemnity than a teenaged human girl should have. "Not that River. If she's the Amazon, I'm a waterfall."

And then she was gone, even grabbing a broom on her way out. The Doctor looked quizzically at Kurama, who shrugged.

"I don't even know. I stopped trying to guess months ago." He stretched, winced, and then flexed his hands. "How much of that time traveler business is the truth? In some way all of us are, at least in this place, but that bow tie is giving me some pretty specific questions."

"All of it," the Doctor replied, adjusting his bowtie with a grin. "I just happen to know that the bowtie has never not been cool."

Kurama's smile was wry. "Those Croats, pulling us all kicking and screaming out of the fashion dark ages."

"You know your history."

"I've lived my history."

They stared at each other for a beat, the Doctor half-poised to grab his screwdriver and see just what Kurama was, Kurama smirking at him and practically daring him to ask.

"Mind if I take a look around?" The Doctor asked instead; there would be other times to pry, and there was a flower one room over that was so blue it was making him TARDIS-sick. Kurama waved a hand at him in a 'by all means' gesture.

Such interesting folk there were here. He was beginning to enjoy himself.

_{((OOC: I suck at making things short. Specify if you want River, Eleventy, or Kurama to play with, or be surprised <3 ))}

Comments

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

"So, what are you going to do about it? Because if you just try to ignore it, it's going to fester worse than any of those," I wave my hand at him, "and make everything worse in the end." I look at his face, trying to look him in the eye. "I also think Kusu expect you to be able to make a good decision on your own and find your own feet, mentally, even if he doesn't actually say so aloud." I pause and then add, "He trusts you. That's something to start with. The rest is up to you."

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

Kurama sighed and put his chin on his knees. "Things were easier when I could pretend I didn't need anybody." But no one could keep that on and stay sane. "I want to be worth the trust he puts in me. I'll have to... I don't know, pray maybe. I've never been good at meditation because it brings me too close to Inari." He blinked. "Which... admittedly might be part of the problem."

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

"I can't tell you exactly how to do it," I say, "since your way is likely to be different form mine. All I can tell you for sure is that you're going to resent your lover and have Karasu looming over you until you do. You've gotta figure it out. But, if you need someone to talk to, you know how to find me."

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"I'll try to find my own way," he promised, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Though I can't promise I'll succeed right away. I'll take you out for dinner once I have my brain unscrambled, deal?"

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

I give him a half smile. "It's not easy, and it'll probably be harder for you since you're such an old man, but you'll get there. And, I expect you to take me somewhere good." I stand. "I mean it, though, if you need me, let me know."

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"I thank you for not making a joke about old dogs and new tricks," he said blandly. "But, I promise. If I can't get my head around the issue, I'll go to you. I... don't think going to Kusu would be right, in the circumstances." No matter how deep and desperate that love was, he had to get past his own hangups without his lover's help. He'd burdened Kusuriyuri with so much already, this could be the metaphorical straw that broke the camel's back.

"So, are you going to take some candy, or what? I got the nice chocolates, since I knew you'd be around eventually."

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

I raise an eyebrow. "I've avoided getting hit so far. I'd like to try and keep it up." I'm not entirely sure exactly what other issues he has with Kusu, but I'm pretty sure that getting his head on straight will help. "And, how could I turn down good chocolate?" I ask.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

Kurama actually managed a genuine laugh at that, and gestured to the candy cauldron. "Go ahead, take what you like. It'll fill itself later, or so I'm told." His smile stayed; he felt better, knowing that he had a goal, and someone to bounce ideas off of in case it fell through.

"So, enough about my stupid hangups. What have you been doing with yourself lately? I saw you practicing with Ryuuzaki a while ago, but nothing since."

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

It's good to hear him laugh and not just that fake one he uses to bullshit people. I shrug. "Teaching that samurai every trick I've learned here and learning more so I can still beat him at something." Though, some of what he wants me to teach him is creepy, given what I use the spells for and that damn bat.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"And, how often can you beat him?" Kurama doesn't ask the obvious question of 'and how much does he like it,' but it hangs in the air because he's obligated to tease Mello. Mostly because it's easy, but also because he loves to see that look on his friend's face when the blond has to think too much about what others do in their free time.

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

I give him my best haughty look. "Magic, I can still beat him almost every time. As to how much he enjoys it, you'll have to ask the damn bat. That is not my department." Dear god, may it never be.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"That doesn't surprise me, seeing as you're one of the only people who takes the magic-learning here seriously." He snickered, sparing Mello by not offering to report on Kuronue and Yukimura later. There were somethings he really didn't want to know. "Hell, I can't even do a float spell accurately."

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

"That's because you're overly used to doing things your way, old man," I say, because he asked for it this time. "An old man, set in his ways, grinding out his rut." I'm going to get it this time, I'm sure.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

He has to. Kurama leans over and raps his fist hard atop Mello's head, though no t without some obvious fondness.

"You just have to keep pushing the envelope, you little prick," he snorted. "Even if you are right. Kind of. A little. Eat your fucking chocolate."

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

I make a face at him. "You like it or you wouldn't keep coming back for more," I say. I grab the chocolate though, and back away a little. "I could train you, once you've found yourself and survived your midlife crisis," I offer, ready to dodge if he swings at me again.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"Mid-millenium crisis, even," Kurama muttered, not willing to take another swing. He'd tired himself out a bit too much, and as much as he hated to admit it, he couldn't beat down Mello for being an insufferable little brat at the moment. But, soon. he would bide his time, like a classic comic villain. And he'd make sure to have his vengeance be as absurd as possible.

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

How much do I want to dig myself in? My mouth answers before I decide, though. "I thought that would be Kusu's excuse. Isn't he cradle robbing with you, even though you're already ancient?"

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"If geriatric sex is really your kink I can point you to Kuronue," Kurama replied hotly, snatching a piece of chocolate out of Mello's hand. "He seems far too obsessed with it as well."

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

I make a face at him. "That bat isn't my thing." Seriously, I'm not into cheap fucks. I'd like to at least mean something to someone and I really don't particularly want anyone other than Near...most of the time, anyway.

"Now, old man, I should let you rest before you get too tired out."

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"He's a bloody nuisance," Kurama grinned. "Just like you. Go bother someone else then, I'll just sit here, old and lonely and forgotten. Maybe I'll get some saltines and a cup-o-soup and while away the hours thinking of the good old days when children listened to their elders."

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

I roll my eyes at him. "You know how to find me if you want me," I say, waving at him and heading out the door. Now's as good a time as any to do more research to keep defeating that damn samurai.