jigokulogs | [OPEN] Sentimental Stitches

Who ⬤ Nito Nazuna and you!
What ⬤ Making handmade dolls
When ⬤ Late September
Where ⬤ Outside Dandelion, Tamamo Territory
Content Warnings ⬤ None

[During his breaks and even for a little while after his work is finished, Nazuna takes up a spot on a bench near the flower shop's entrance with a small bag that looks to be filled with a variety of fabrics and other sewing supplies. Everything is diligently organized so it's easy for him to find what he needs while he works on what appears to be a small plush doll.

The design itself is rather simple and far more cutesy than realistic. Part of it was an aesthetic choice while other parts were to make it easier to complete for someone with only the most basic skills. He likes to think he's improved a little but his stitches are still a bit uneven at times and even slightly crooked at others. But taking his time, he's still been able to complete the body of this one. His current project appears to be a doll of someone with light blue hair just short of their shoulders and bright purple eyes.

It's not dead silent out here, but it's still peaceful. He found he liked working on them here.]

You're coming along nicely Hajime-chin~♪ It took me a while but I think I'm starting to get the hang of this. In any case, it's a lot better than the puppets I helped make last year.

[There's still plenty of room on the bench for anyone looking for a place to sit-- or even those who might be feeling a little curious about what he's doing out here.]

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[He's pretty focused on his work. Since he lacks experience, he can't get too careless. But even so, there's something about being watched by Mayoi that makes the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He can't really ignore it. Still, he waits and sure enough he speaks.

...still can't tell where the heck he is but. Well. At least he knows who it is so he can relax. He holds the doll up a bit higher with a proud nod.]

Mm-hmm~♪ I'm glad you could tell. I made something like this before for a puppet show, but it's been a while. Cute, right~?

Veeery cute ~𝅘𝅥𝅮

[He will come out of where he was hiding, at least, Because even he knows its unsettling to just talk to a voice. He comes out from behind the vending machine not far from the bench and folds his hands behind his back.]

Ah ...he was the one who tried to tend to me when I got ill during our shared job. I mistook him for an angel and panicked.

[...part of him wants to ask how he got back there and more importantly how long he's been there, but he decides it's probably better to just let that mystery go.]

Ahaha-- that sounds like Hajime-chin alright. He has a pretty big family, so he's good at looking out for others.

[He holds the doll out to Mayoi, if he wants to hold it for a bit so he can get a better look at it.]

Do you like these kinds of cute dolls too, Ayase-san?

[That's a wise choice. Mayoi works in mysterious ways.]

He seems very kind ...though, I-I'm afraid I must have left a bad impression...

[Well, he says that, but Ra*bits did come and support ALKALOID during their debut.]

[Mayoi's eyebrows raise as Nazuna offers him the doll. He hesitates for a moment like maybe he shouldn't be allowed to touch it? It is such a cute doll, after all, and he is a very gross person! But ...it's so cute that he caves and takes it from him, anyway. He will look it over with interest.]

I do... I have ...a bear I used to keep with me in the dorms. It was one of my small treasures.

Edited 2022-09-22 06:23 (UTC)

If anything, he probably wanted to apologize properly for startling you. He's a good kid, so I hope the two of you can become good friends.

[Although it's a little funny to think of someone as soft and delicate as Hajime scaring someone. Then again, Mayoi is... delicate in his own way. He trusts him to take good care of his tiny Hajime while he pulls out a few other pre-cut pattern pieces.]

Before you got here, the city celebrated Tanabata. It got me thinking about all the people I wish I could see... So I decided to make these. Just looking at them makes me feel better~ Like I can definitely do whatever I need to do.

He is the sort of person who shines so brightly, I would worry about turning to dust if I looked too closely.

[But, Mayoi says that in a fond way. It's certainly a compliment. He feels that way about the others too, like Tatsumi. He is a dark creature, after all. Good things would purify and exorcise him.]

[Even so, Mayoi is extremely gentle with the doll as he inspects the handy work. He can tell that Nazuna is learning still, but all the same it's very well crafted.]

I see. Making something like this ...it isn't so different from writing a wish on a slip. The act of putting what you desire into something you make with your own two hands is it's own way of manifesting a wish, I think...

[After all, with how fondly Nazuna talks of Ra*bits, surely getting back to them is something Nazuna desires, much like how Mayoi desperately wishes to see ALKALOID again.]

...anyone else would probably be confused by that sort of compliment, you know.

[Him, well-- he's used to cryptic, dramatic sounding praises like that so it doesn't faze him as much as he's well aware it probably should.]

But I think so too. I'm here right now working to make my own wish come true, after all just like everyone else. This kind of thing too... if I can, I'd rather do it myself.

[Even with Hajime finished, he still has four more he'd like to finish. But he's not in any rush. He'd rather take his time and do it right anyway. But watching Mayoi gently turn the doll over in his hands-- he can't help but smile softly.

He wasn't the only one missing his "family". As important as both Ra*bits and Valkyrie were to him-- that was probably just as true for Mayoi and ALKALOID. Considering the rough situation they were all in, even if they hadn't known each other all that long, they'd likely built bonds that were all the stronger because of it.]

...do you want me to teach you? I could help you make your friends too, if you want.

[Mayoi gives him something of a curious look at that. Anyone "else", huh? He does know he has a strange way of speaking sometimes, but, Nazuna seems to understand his meaning, regardless. Explaining himself is stressful...]

I am glad that Nito-san is able to understand my gloomy way of speaking. I-I'm sorry if it's off putting..

[He does perk up a bit, smiling a little as he agrees. He's not surprised at all to see how much of a hardworking person Nazuna is, so of course he would tackle something like this in such a way.]

[The offer does surprise him, though.]

Eh? W-would you really? [...to have... a small version of them...that he could look at every day...]

[Oh... He might cry at the thought...]

I could m-make Aira-san ...and Hiiro-san ...a-and Tatsumi-san...?

How should I put it... it reminds me a little of Itsuki. The things you say are a little over the top, so it's hard to read sometimes. But I don't dislike it. Not everyone's used to people like that though, so for them it might be difficult if they don't get to know you first.

[He promises it's not a bad thing-- not to him anyway. But he does want to make sure the other is aware of it. He wants Mayoi to be able to make a lot of new friends here. And he doesn't want to see him get hurt or treated poorly.

He's a good guy. It's heartwarming to see just how choked up he looks over the idea.]

Of course! We can work on them together~ You'll feel a lot better having them with you, right?

I-I see...

[It is ...a little embarrassing to be so seen like that. Mayoi isn't sure what to say. He feels like he should apologize ...but Nito-san had said he didn't dislike the way he spoke just that it was weird. And it was, Mayoi could agree. He's a strange and off-putting creature, after all.]

[Ah ...there it is. That feeling of wishing to vanish into the darkness never to be seen again-]

--Ah. I would! I would love them very much!

[At least he is easily distracted. The idea of having ALKALOID dolls successfully killing his spiraling thoughts in one fell swoop.]

[Mayoi will...shuffle over to the bench and ...look down like he is considering sitting but then he looks back up at Nazuna in a way that is clearly asking permission.]

[OPEN] Sentimental Stitches

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