[ catchall for april/may ]

[supersweet]

who: Jonathan Kent, Communal Housing; Floor 6 + You
what: Fireflies, meeting the neighbours, other catchall events
when: Late April/Early May
where: Prompt-dependent
warnings: None. Prose is fine but I'll be responding in action brackets. Other prompts may be added later!


[ CLOSED to denizens of Floor Six ]

[ The Kents didn't have much in the way of neighbours. Hamilton was a quiet town and they preferred it that way. And while Jon enjoys Hamilton County, he often daydreams of having friends close by or even playing team sports together. Kathy was great (and it helped that she knew his secret and kept it for him), but it never felt like it was enough.

So having neighbours around was both terrifying and exhilarating. After settling himself, Jon decided to visit each of his floor mates with a large bag of sour candies. After all, it's not like he can buy beer (adults drink beer right??) for them. When he runs into someone, his grin is casual. ]

Hi! I'm Jon. I'm your neighbour. Person.

[ Around the city ]

[ Like his father, Jon's hearing was sensitive. Thankfully, the intensity of the sounds tends to waver from loud to the normal range of a human being. Clapping his hands on his ears as Jon heads back home, he wishes it would remain in the normal range a little longer. He was not used to living in the city and he had only made a few trips to Metropolis when he was younger, none of them long enough to be memorable or familiar to him.

And right now, the city was deafening.

He runs right into anyone standing in his way, bowling them over completely. His expression is unfocused and glazed before clarity sinks in. ]

S-Sorry.

[ Jon claps his hands back over his ears with a wince. ] I'm sorry!

[ Fireflies ]

[ Jon had wanted to see the fireflies, watching the colours weave in and out. He hadn't thought it merited telling anyone he had gone out. After all, it was only fireflies. But then they drifted closer and Jon started to feel nervous.

One yellow firefly stung him on his neck and a flood of repressed feelings come rushing to the surface. Of other realities and forgotten memories. Of fading away. Jon hurriedly wipes away the tears that were starting to spill from his face. He needed to — Where was his dad? Why hadn't he come? He promised Jon. He promised he wouldn't let go. With a hiccup, Jon sits down, trying to wipe away his fears and regain his composure. All the while, hearing the laughter of Mr. Mxyzptlk in the back of his mind. ]

[ Mission, CLOSED to Steve Rogers (MCU) ]

[ Normally, Jon isn't all that keen when it comes to hanging out with grownups. They're boring and they hang over him, trying to keep an eye on him and be responsible. It's no fun and it gets tiring very quickly. But Steve had been nice and had reminded him of his own dad back home. The idea of doing a mission, a real mission meant he could be a real hero.

Plus Steve offered ice-cream, a sure-fire way into Jon's heart. After checking with Miss Jones and his parents, Jon takes part of his allowance and heads over to the ice-cream shop where they were supposed to meet. He climbs onto the stool with a jump in his gait. ]

Hey Mr. Rogers!

Comments

City!

[finethanks]

[At home and when his health isn't so great, Eichi rarely gets the chance to truly walk around. It's no wonder that he tries to do it so much here, where plenty of people have warned him but no one has actually tried to stop him from pushing himself. There are no restrictions, no rules, and he's feeling just fine today—

Until he's knocked into. It's enough to bump him right over, and Eichi falls back onto his butt with a quiet, surprised noise before he blinks up to find who it was. A child? A child covering his ears and looking a little in distress.

He can't be annoyed at that, so he pushes at the ground to sit up a little further, reaching with a free hand for the stranger's shoulder.]

Now, don't make such a heartbreaking expression. I'm not so fragile that I'd break from just a fall, you know? It's fine.

[supersweet]

[ Jon wavers, biting on his lip. Technically, Jon could break someone that way. He assumes. The finer applications of his powers are still lost on him. ]

Do you need any help, sir? I'm really sorry. I should have looked where I was going.

[ He winces at the last part, the noise still filtering through his mind. ]

[finethanks]

You don't have to apologize at all. I don't enjoy seeing children with such sad faces, after all.

[He manages to stand up, brushing himself off with one hand as the other stays on Jon's shoulder. He's still bent over to be at his height, and his voice is very soft spoken, gentle but still confident. He'd be drowned out by the city noises if they weren't so close.]

Besides that, it seems like you might be the one who's in need of help. Are you running from something? Should I whisk you away and save you from some sort of danger? Fufu, but I'm not that type at all, so I don't think I could pull it off. I do believe I can walk with you, however.

[supersweet]

[ A lot of this goes over Jon's head as he blinks owlishly. But having someone nearby meant Jon could tune out the ambient noises around. The heartbeat is the best way to render all other volume inconsequential. He exhales quietly before fixing a sheepish smile. ]

I'm okay. I'm just not used to living in the city, that's all.

[finethanks]

Oh? Are you from a small town, then?

[Eichi's heartbeat may not be strong or very stable, but at least it's there. Conversation seems to be helping one way or another, so he smiles, standing up tall again and letting his hand drop away from his shoulder.]

To be honest, I'm not so used to traveling along the city streets alone, either, even having grown up in one. It can be so overwhelming.

[supersweet]

Yeah. We have a farm in this tiny county.

[ Slowly, Jon relaxes, feeling more like himself. ]

How do you manage then?

[finethanks]

Normally, the staff of my household will go out into the city whenever something is needed and I'll be forbidden to leave, especially if my health is poor. But there were some days where I could sneak out and walk around, so I suppose I treat these outings just the same as that.

[That doesn't answer the question as much as it should, but he still gestures for Jon to move with him. They can walk together, maybe inside, or somewhere a little more quiet.]

[supersweet]

[ His eyes go wide. ]

Are you a prince??

[ His voice lowers to a whisper. ]

Did they lock you up in a castle?

[finethanks]

[That is... the cutest thing. Of course he wants to play along. Chuckling softly, he brings a finger to cover his lips.]

Most people call me Emperor, actually. It was a large mansion with guards at every door.

[supersweet]

No way.

[ He breathes out, awed as his enthusiasm catches up to him. ]

Did you have treasure? Were there assassins?

[finethanks]

[This is so adorable, and yet he never had a childhood himself where he was able to look up to things like heroes or stories like this. So what does he say?]

I suppose my family is something like a treasure to most. [A financial conglomerate... No, he can't go into that with a kid.] And death has always been at our door. But I've made it this far, haven't I?

Fufu, you're going to make me feel like a main character in a story. It's nothing so grand, really.

[supersweet]

It sounds grand.

[ His expression lapses into something sheepish. ]

Though it's probably not how I imagine it at all. I've never met anyone who lived in a palace before.

[finethanks]

[There's a nice smelling little bakery just ahead and Eichi decides to hold open the door, gesturing if Jon would like to go inside.]

You probably don't recognize what an "idol" is either, do you?

[supersweet]

[ Jon scrunches up his face, thinking hard. ]

Like . . . a statue?

[finethanks]

[Another laugh, though it's short and definitely not at Jon so much as at the idea.]

Not quite. I mean like the sort of figures you see on stage, who perform and dance and Lala~ ♪, like that, you know?

[supersweet]

[ Oh. His expression clears up instantly. ]

Like singers and actors! We don't watch a lot of movies, but they're always fun.

[finethanks]

Mm, like that, but a bit bigger. They have quite the industry in Japan, so that's where I stand. I may be called Emperor but in the end, I'm just another human being.

[But come into this bakery so he can glance behind the glass.] Would you like a snack?

[supersweet]

Sooo you're not a real Emperor.

[ But like a. Celebrity Emperor? Jon doesn't quite get it. He's too young to be into that. He glances at the bakery, some of his enthusiasm dimming as he ponders the question. ]

Uhm, if it's okay with you, sir. I'm the one who knocked you over.

[finethanks]

I suppose that depends on what you consider a "real Emperor" to be.

[He sure is treated like one, but anyway! He laughs, ducking a little in front of the glass to peer at some of them.] You really don't have to worry about that incident, so please forget it happened. Here, there are chocolates, fudge, and pastries galore. Let's each pick one so we can relax at a seat.

Oh, rather than "sir," you can call me by my name. My full name is Eichi Tenshouin. It's nice to meet you. ♪

[supersweet]

Uhm, with a crown and a robe? Maybe a country too?

[ That would fit the criteria. But he relaxes a little and dutifully sticks his hand out. ]

I'm Jonathan. Jonathan Kent. Though most people just call me Jon.

[ He surveys the cakes with intensity. ]

Can I have cheesecake?

[finethanks]

Jon-kun, then.

[He'll drop this so he doesn't have to go into metaphors for this poor child.] I may not be a real "Emperor," but I hope that I can be someone who gives you just a small break from the crowds of the city. A cheesecake, then. Why don't you find us a seat, and I'll bring it over?

[supersweet]

Okay!

[ Jon scuttles off to find a place to sit, his legs dangling above the floor. His earlier anxiety and despair at knocking someone over seems to have completely faded away at the prospect of cheesecake. ]

If you're an Emperor, does that mean you have a job here in Riverview?

[finethanks]

Four, you could say.

[As he slides the cheesecake down at his table in front of him, and with a cute looking crepe in his own hand for himself, he sits down, too.] I perform at four different clubs during nights, you see. They offered them to me immediately when I came here, so it was a little surprising.

[supersweet]

Wow, four jobs? Don't you get tired?

[ That seems like a lot. Jon can't even picture working like that. ]

[finethanks]

Extremely so. But that sort of energy that comes from a "job well done" is unbelievable, you know?