into each life some rain must fall.

[luft]

caught in the rain
it started out quietly, and then, quite suddenly, you're caught in a storm. time to find cover. nothing much to do but to wait it out.

scenarios listed below for those who want 'em.

i. WHERE;
001 PLAYGROUND - well, you can try to hide under the slide or maybe in the jungle gym... at least you're some place fun?
002 PARK - always happens, caught outside trying to take advantage of the weather... and it ends up pulling a fast one on you.
003 STORE FRONT - better hope they have an awning you can take advantage of.
004 THE BEACH - not exactly the best place to be during a rainstorm, however it is possible to get caught in a sudden storm.
005 WILD CARD - anyway you want it.

ii. HOW;
001 TREE - not the best cover, but it'll have to do, stay close to the roots and you won't get too wet.
002 UMBRELLA - most conventional... kinda boring. But it works.
003 NEWSPAPER - not permanent, but it'll have to do. good luck.
004 BAG - well... y'gotta do what you gotta do.
005 NONE - you know what. you're a rebel. you don't need cover. screw convention.
006 WILD CARD - that's the way you need it.

iii. WHY;
001 REJECTED - welp. rejection sucks. and no one will see you crying in the rain.
002 WAITING - for the bus? for someone else? for some revelation? what are you waiting for.
003 MELANCHOLY - sometimes the best place to feel a bit down is out in the rain.
004 HAPPINESS - is everything going your way? are you singing a refrain while walking down the lane? just singin. singin' in the rain.
005 ANGER - WELL YOU KNOW WHAT. SCREW YOU TOO RAIN.
006 WILD CARD - anyway you want it.

>> POST with your character
>> TAG others, use rng if you need to, or just make up your own scenario if you want!
>> HAVE FUN.

Comments

[dorka]

Six? Seven? It doesn't really matter, though they have to be in bed at nine.

[mackerels]

I'll come.

[ they're crossing the bridge now. he looks out at the river with a combination of wistfulness and annoyance. there's water, but he can't swim. too cold and too dangerous. ]

I'll bring something for Ran and Ren.

[dorka]

They'll like that. ((He smiles, watching Haru a moment, and glancing over the bridge in turn.))

Ah, it's too bad the rain hasn't stopped yet. This bridge always looks nice after it's rained.

[mackerels]

Yeah. [ he stares out over the water for a moment longer, and then keeps walking, a little faster this time. he wants to take a bath. the humidity isn't the same as being in water. ]

Let's go.

[dorka]

Eh? ((He has to think a moment before speeding up, a bit unsure. Haru probably wants out of the rain, and Makoto couldn't blame him for it.

Either way, Makoto continues to talk, a little slower, sort of thinking out loud. Mostly school things, expressing concern about an upcoming exam. His worst subject too, but that went without saying. His house was closer, and near to the door, he holds the umbrella's handle to Haru.))

Why don't you take this and just bring it back later? I know it's not that far, but it's not like I won't see you later. ((He smiles, blinking slowly.))

[mackerels]

[ for the rest of the walk, haru keeps up with the conversation, single-word replies and quiet hums.

he hesitates, but he takes the umbrella handle. ]

Okay. [ he wraps his fingers around it, but he doesn't pull it from makoto's hand as he stares up into his friend's face. more of his habit of being awkwardly direct, really, but there's something a little different in his gaze. ] I'll see you soon.

[dorka]

((A surprised and confused expression creeps onto Makoto's face and his shoulders seize. It isn't the awkward, direct look he's given. That isn't unfamiliar to him at all, but that slight difference is what makes him momentarily uncertain. Or anxious? ..No, it's something different, but akin to it. A feeling that maybe what he's seeing is just a figment of his imagination.

In a moment, his smile returns, heat swelling at his cheek bones as his head tips.)) Yeah, see you.

((His fingers slide away from the umbrella and for a moment he's bombarded by the storm overhead as he slides into his house. However, just as he steps in, he looks back to Haru. If he's looking as well, Makoto waves; and if not, for a moment he just watches Haru, sliding inside with an unsure, but not unwelcome feeling. He supposes he was looking forward to Haru's arrival.))

[mackerels]

[ in contrast, haru's expression stays perfectly flat as makoto lets go of the umbrella. he only nods, and then turns away.

he doesn't look back. with slow steps he slowly moves out of view, and disappears into the foggy, rainy distance.

by the time six o'clock rolls around, the rain has died down to a heavy drizzle. haru shows up about 6:30, carrying a plastic bag in one hand and makoto's umbrella in the other as he knocks on the door. ]

[dorka]

((Ran is the one to open the door, enthusiastic as ever to see Haru. The house is noisy as she welcomes him in.))

Is that Haru? ((Makoto's shouting from another part of the house.)) Tell him I'm in the kitchen!

((Well, it's not like she really NEEDS to tell him that, Haru can hear for himself. Still, she tells him with a smile, and bounds off to bother her other brother. Makoto is cleaning when Haru comes in.))

[mackerels]

[ haru waits for ran to welcome him inside, then lowers his head and returns her greeting before entering the house and slipping off his shoes. he walks into the kitchen without hesitation, setting the bag on the table and holding the umbrella out to makoto. ]

Where should I put this?

[dorka]

((Makoto is cleaning he looks like such a mom, it's embarrassing, when Haru comes in. Upon seeing the umbrella, he gestures to the counter.)) Oh, you can just set it there for now, I'll take care of it in a minute.

Have you eaten? Ran and Ren just finished, but there's still some left.

[mackerels]

[ team mom makoto 4 life. haru puts the umbrella down and opens the bag, taking out four animal-themed cup parfaits from the nicer convenience store in town and a small box of pastries. he doesn't usually eat sweets, but he knows makoto's siblings like them. and hey, something sugary won't hurt if it's only every once in a while. ]

I already ate. Did you?

[dorka]

Uh, yeah. ((He eyes the desserts a moment, and with a laugh, asks:)) I guess those are for later? ((Geez, Haru, you sweetie.))

[mackerels]

I got one for you, too.

[ he holds it up a little, but it's probably hard to see from a distance that there's a little design drawn on top with darker frosting. an orca, of course. it was some sort of marine-themed run there's a starfish for ran, and an octopus for ren). ]

Do you need help cleaning?

[dorka]

((Well, Makoto is prone to gravitating towards Haru, so while drying a dish in his hands, he leans against the counter side adjacent to Haru. He smiles sincerely as he looks.))



--Oh! ((The look dissipates after a distracted moment, and he turns his head to the sink.)) Uhm, no, I'm more or less finished. I can put the rest away later.

[mackerels]

All right.

[ he puts the sweets away and into the refrigerator for now so nothing will melt. it's pretty rare that he's so cautious or careful about something, but he doesn't want the little icing shapes to get deformed. ]

Do Ran and Ren want to play?

[dorka]

I think they're trying to figure out what to play right now. It could take a few minute, they never seem to agree on which game. ((An uneasy laugh. He was sure he'd have to go in there and play peacemaker if it took too much longer.))

[mackerels]

They liked the game from last time.

[ haru had liked it, too, but... that's beside the point! ]

[dorka]

I wouldn't be surprised if that's what they settle on. ((Makoto miiiight have left them a little hint earlier that Haru did. He can't help himself, he has a habit of pulling strings.

Makoto puts the dish in his hand away just as his siblings call out to them.)) Coming!! ((He takes a pack of sodas from the fridge quickly and waits to follow Haru in.))

[mackerels]

[ haru perks up a little bit at the prospect, barely noticeably. he goes towards the TV room and plops down next to makoto's siblings before leaning towards the TV to power it on. ]

[dorka]

((Makoto bends to set the drinks on the ground, commenting:)) Make sure Haru gets a turn, alright?

((and he sits behind the three of them, out of the way as he felt it was better to let his siblings play with Haru. It wasn't as if Makoto wouldn't have time later, and well... the allure of the couch was an added bonus. There's a brief quarrel between his siblings, but they manage to settle things over rock paper scissors, and Ren brags about gaming rights.))

[mackerels]

[ haru sits on the floor with the kids, knees pulled up to his chest, and is pretty easily absorbed in the gameplay, limited as it is. there's so many little tasks to do, and of course, it has to do with water. he keeps up a little conversation with makoto's siblings, but for the most part he lets them bicker and focuses on the game.

after a while, he looks up at makoto sitting on the sofa. ] I'm going to get the stuff from the refrigerator.

[ basically, he's hungry. ]

[dorka]

Oh, sure, lemme come with.

((give him a moment to shuffle the blankets off himself, he's only 80% sure how he collected so many since the game started.))

[mackerels]

[ haru waits a half-second for makoto to shed his cocoon and emerge like a beautiful orca, and sets off to the kitchen.

he retrieves the parfaits from the refrigerator and hands makoto's over, before casting about for spoons. he knows where they are, so he grabs a couple while he's at it. but he doesn't have enough hand space to carry everything at once..! ]

[dorka]

((Makoto straightens up a moment, moving closer to Haru almost before Haru even realizes he needs help.)) Here, let me help you with that. ((He takes more than his half of the help though, instinctively, even if he's sure Haru didn't want to do that to him. He preferred it, at least, with how much he felt Haru had already done. Their fingers touch as he takes what he can.)) ...Thanks again for this, it's really sweet of you.

((He glances into the depths of Haru's eyes, before stooping down to kiss his friend's cheek. Okok, so yeah, he's kind of a big chicken, but he's a big chicken who likes Haru so at least he's trying.))