[action!]

[deathisanopendoor]

[Wherever you may be—at home on your farm, out and about in town, exploring the wildlife, or perhaps even wandering through the more dangerous areas—someone has come to approach you, seemingly patrolling the area with a confident stride.]

Excuse me. I wanted to inform you that I have assumed the position of Sheriff. My name is Munakata, first name Kyousuke, and I can be contacted under that name at any time if you have issues that require police intervention. If you are capable of taking care of yourself I encourage you to apply for a position under me. We could use greater numbers to enforce order.

[Kyousuke himself is white-haired and imposing, with large snowy owl wings on his back and feathers covering the area where his right eye should be, like so. He is visibly carrying a sword, with another one tucked hidden in his coat in a compact state. He doesn't give off the impression that he's going to be a very easygoing Sheriff... but at least if you're in danger, that might be reassuring?]

Do you have any further questions or suggestions?

Comments

[alloutoflove]

It doesn't go in the kitchen, silly. It's just closer to the house! And it grows the stuff that you'll be using in your kitchen! Stuff that'll be just for our family.

[ Our family!! She has to pause for a moment at that, flustered and pleased both at her own comment. How daring?! She just said it like that to him, in public...! ]

[deathisanopendoor]

Better than a suit?

[He doesn't mean to sound so comically skeptical, but, you know. He wears a lot of suits. Can she really come up with something better?! He does have to admit that in Koriko, he got very used to the ease of light and backless Japanese-style clothing. Is that what she's thinking of?]

I suppose. Do you require funding for materials?

[deathisanopendoor]

Oh really? And how do you plan on doing that?

[It feels a little daring, jumping so quickly from a serious answer to a playful quip, but Juzo seems to understand that there was no ill will meant. The corner of his lip tugs upward, amused.]

[ringrust]

[Guess who's going to give Maera some grief the minute they have a moment together. GUESS.]

How's the K9 Unit doing?

[THIIIIIIIIIS GUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUY]

[deathisanopendoor]

Sorry. I wasn't intending to be overly formal.

[To be honest, people like you was a convenient way to sidestep the issue where normally he would say you and Chisa, but then there's another "you" involved in this equation who feels wrong to exclude, and how does he make that flow in a sentence?

He steps closer to where Mallory is seated, surveying the area to see if he's working on anything in particular.]

[deathisanopendoor]

I do feel much more comfortable in a role of some authority again. The job I had in Arden Grove was similar to those in Koriko in terms of power...

[But he's more interested in the first bit of what she said. He cocks his head, peering at her curiously.]

You weren't forced to come here, were you?

[deathisanopendoor]

[His eye widens in mild surprise, although he is fairly used to the gesture being paid to him. It's still been a while, and he realizes that as serious as he is about this position, he'd rather it not become that militaristic.]

You can remain at ease. I'm no more than a sheriff as it stands.

[standingonmyneck]

[A nod.]

That's right. I'm here until the bus decides to work.

[She didn't sound too upset by this. Really, she wasn't. To think she could say she'd been in a worse situation.]

That makes this place my third rodeo now.

[deathisanopendoor]

[He can actually believe Karamatsu's story very easily, but he's reluctant to admit his empathy when Karamatsu's talking like that about it. Kyousuke doesn't usually think dramatic language is very embarrassing, but here he is, embarrassed to relate.

Luckily for Kyousuke, this is where Weiss interrupts. Thank god she seems to be relatively normal.]

There is no law against his attire, so far as I am aware. [Unfortunately.] I'm simply familiarizing myself with the populace. I was just in the process of informing him that he will only be apprehended if he causes trouble here, in the present. No one need be concerned about their past sins unless they continue to act on that poor influence.

[alloutoflove]

Not the materials! But maaaaaybe the labor...

[ They're still in public and there are people around, so she can't be as explicit about the flirtation as she'd like. But she knows him, and he knows her, and she trusts he'll be able to read her tone, and the way she bites her lip on her pout before peering up at him through her lashes. From a distance it should just look like an ordinary, semi-private conversation. ]

You know. We can negotiate that. ♥

[deathisanopendoor]

[Huh... Belias reminds Kyousuke of some of the spirits he encountered in Koriko. He's a little surprised, but he's used to letting that surprise bubble underneath the surface without showing on his face.]

More or less. But if I find the laws lacking, I will be sure to fill in the gaps to prevent the reign of chaos.

[So basically "no" is what he means. "No, it's more what Kyousuke personally thinks is a good idea." Thanks. Very helpful and reassuring, Kyousuke.]

[deathisanopendoor]

[He's confused as he's handed the phone, but once he reads the message things make a little more sense, and he gets a better look over her as he hands the phone back.]

That's good to know. Speech shouldn't be a prerequisite for the position.

I'm curious about your experience, but it's only curiosity. You don't have to trouble yourself with writing everything out for my benefit. ...Perhaps we can establish a shorthand for matters of business while on the job.

[Shorthand, signals, whatever. It just seems like it's better to establish quick communication now, before they're in the middle of a crisis situation. (Are there likely to be crisis situations here in the peaceful farmland? Well, that's what the sheriff is here to be paranoid about, apparently.)]

[rockyxiii]

You want me to give away all my secrets, huh? I'm gonna surprise you instead. Aah, that's probably just encouraging you to be a workaholic if I'm gonna reward you for it, though.

[Damn, his flawless plan. At least it lightened the mood again. That tiny smile is enough to get his tail going again.]

Working under you like this, I can keep an eye on you along with this whole town.

[sheepdad]

[ Hm. That answer doesn't quite please the beast - but Belias can question more, if he is to aid in this manner. ]

I have known those who spread Order - those who kill for their own unknown morals. If I am to aid, I shall only follow those laws befitting this lands' new status.

How do you feel about those who committed crimes before arriving?

[rockyxiii]

Don't act like you're not part of it just because I'm the only one with the ears.

[Come on, Mallory, they're both Kyousuke's dogs and they know it.

He smacks Mallory on the back. It's kind of awkward, not being the sort of stupid bro thing he does often, but the truth is he just wants an excuse to touch him and this is the one his brain came up with. He regrets it basically immediately.]

. . . Quiet place. I'm not really complaining yet. Ask me again in a month, maybe I'll go crazy.

[rockyxiii]

It sounds like a garden that goes in your kitchen!

[But yeah, he notices too. Today, Maera is the world's least intimidating cop, at least until Judy Hopps arrives in Farm Town or something. No officer of the law should be smiling like that at his practically-wife while on the beat. But hey, he never did take these jobs because he was actually good at them.]

So, just for you and your three husbands. Got it.

[alloutoflove]

Hhhhh, hu husbands--!!

[ The tail end of the word gets sort of lost in a high-pitched squeak. Chisa's face is bright red now as she flaps both hands before pressing them to her cheeks. That's not fair! Maera! Using the momentum from her embarrassing herself to make her even more embarrassed is cheating!

In fact it takes a few more seconds, her lips moving soundlessly as she recovers. ]

Y, yeah, so what! What of it!

[rockyxiii]

[How the hell is he supposed to cope with this? It's not very often that he manages to fluster her! It's a special treat, and he didn't even mean to do it! Some of the embarrassment is contagious, but she reacts so powerfully that he comes out of it mostly just charmed and amused. His own cheeks are just barely touched with pink.]

Is it two or three husbands of two of them are me?

[stabbersinyerfambles]

[Cehd'ra blinks a couple of times and then nods hesitantly. It isn't what he's used to, but if that's how Kyousuke wants to run things...maybe this will be better.]

Ah...it's a habit. But I'll remember.

[alloutoflove]

Now you're just making fun of me. Mean! That's mean!

[ She pouts, her cheeks puffing out as widely as she can manage. It is a little bit of a genuine sulk, but it's much more for show as she rocks on her heels. Look at this poor innocent girl, getting bullied!

Then she pokes him in the chest with an index finger. Take that! And that!

(Not that she expects him to more than just feel it as a little bit of pressure. He has the physical advantage over her in every way.) ]

...anyway, you're not the same-same. You even look a little different now!

[deathisanopendoor]

Why is that a matter of course?

[Kyousuke observes Horatio's demeanor, not sure how he feels about it. If he's too skittish, that might cause more problems than it avoids...]

[deathisanopendoor]

[The skull is... a statement, to say the least, but between his eccentric former coworkers and the supernatural spirits of Koriko, Kyousuke can't be as thrown off by it as he feels he maybe should be. He does note her lack of intimidation, though, and mentally files that information away.]

The local government's, and my own. I don't anticipate that the two will deviate much, but I won't pretend to you that I will ignore injustice in the moment, if it happens to not be covered by the law of the land.

[Sometimes Kyousuke has a habit of being overly honest, when he could just keep his mouth shut about hypothetical situations that will probably never happen. But no, he prioritizes full disclosure over putting people at ease, for better or worse.]

[deathisanopendoor]

[He blinks one-eyed at the list of questions, but he's experienced in sorting through these things and organizing a response with relative grace.]

I intend to be more lenient on misdemeanors, but strict on crimes of a greater magnitude. I care more about the underlying interpretation than the exact letter of the law, particularly if someone is seeking to exonerate themselves of serious misdeeds through such loopholes. If someone attempts to take advantage of lenience on petty crimes as an excuse to harass the town with minor maliciousness, I won't overlook their delinquency.

However, I will not hold people responsible for their crimes outside of my jurisdiction. As long as they are respectful of the town while they are here, it is not my business what they do elsewhere.

[deathisanopendoor]

[Hmmm. Koriko had technically been his "choice" to enter, but the circumstances were such that his hand felt forced. This place, however, he'd come to with full knowledge and preparation. He's not sure how he feels if it's keeping people against their will.

If it's just the bus, though... It's probably just a fluke.]

I see. I didn't realize there were those who had arrived here on accident. But it doesn't sound as if it's too much of an inconvenience for you.

[deathisanopendoor]

[He sighs, sounding fondly tolerant. The flirtation is amusing, but not something he's going to pursue in public.]

Ah, of course. We can review that particular budget later tonight.