[CLOSED] Sweeter than candy on a stick

[mombastic]

Who: Otome Yanagiya (mombastic), Shinya Kogami(abhors) and Leon Magnus (discards)
When: IC 5/5
Where: Scoops 'N Smiles
What: Otome and Kogami try a slightly safer place for a date. They're bad at this.
Rating/Warning: None so far!

---

[ A bar with easily-provoked patrons might have been a bad idea, but Otome had never heard of fights or chaos breaking out at an ice cream shop, and this time, she was determined to make this outing a peaceful one. Which is why she's brought Kogami here, once again not in the usual scrubs that her work shifts demanded, but a large sweater and leggings.

... Easy to move in, just in case. She's not taking any chances. Robot monkeys, people getting tackled into tables, she's ready.

She just hopes she won't have to be, and sure enough, it's much quieter inside the shop. ]

See? I think this should be a lot more--

[ And it's then that she spots the person behind the counter and manages to look delighted. ]

Leon!

Comments

[discard]

[A peaceful outing.

A peaceful outing to a cute little ice cream shop, and there's someone behind the counter and he's apparently wearing a pink apron with ill-grace (though it strangely fits his color scheme) and then he processes who it is.

Ah. Hm. Um.]

... Otome. [It's...said with a quiet mumble, this is kind of embarrassing even though it's his assigned job. He glances over Kogami and........ proceeds to say nothing to him. Nailed it.]

[abhors]

[ Did anyone expect him not to have a ciggy even while trying to buy ice cream? Sorry to disappoint.

Kogami just blows out a cloud of smoke in nobody's direction as he lets this sink in. Well, no one can say that this won't be interesting. ]

It's nice to see you, too.

[mombastic]

I didn't know you worked here... although I guess it's fitting. [ With his totally discreet love of sweets and whatnot. ]

Do you have any flavor recommendations, then?

[ PLEASE GET ALONG, BOYS. ]

[discard]

I have no interest in exchanging unnecessary pleasantries with you.

[That's to Kogami, naturally... ah yes, Leon is still a total punk.

As to Otome, well...]

No.

[Ah.]

It isn't as though I like sweet things like this, after all.

[Bullshit.]

[abhors]

You don't like much of anything, do you?

[ Even Hitler liked sweets, Leon. --Oh right, Leon isn't talking to him, so he'll direct this to Otome: ]

Maybe ask him what the most popular choice is?

[mombastic]

...

I think you're both very much capable of speaking to each other, aren't you?

[discard]

[But mooooooooom--

Leon huffs at that, vaguely, before he turns his attention back to Kogami. He doesn't...really want to be scolded by Otome, so he's going to go ahead and respond now. And pretend that that's not why he wants to respond.]

I don't like childish, frivolous things. [Or at least, that's what he was always told sweet things were...... even though he does, in fact, like them, it's not like he can admit it.]

... As for the most popular choices, they would be the obvious. Chocolate and vanilla. [A beat, and he adds begrudgingly:] Mikleo seems fond of attempting to make Sea Salt ice cream now, for whatever reason.

[Spoilers: it's because Roxas and Xion like it.]

what's with those keywords :')

[abhors]

[ Otome, Kogami isn't that kind of adult!! If Mini-Gino doesn't want to talk to him then he won't persist. Luckily, they do seem to have some dialogue for now. ]

There's nothing wrong with indulging in childish things, right doctor?

what's with that face :')

[mombastic]

It's good not to do them in excess, but I wouldn't call sweet things childish or frivolous. They can actually be very useful at times.

[ A pause, though, thoughtful. ] I can't say I've ever tried Sea Salt before...

i have no excuses :'(

[discard]

[It's a good try, but after 16 years of being told that sweets and nice things are childish and weak and unnecessary, it'll take more than that to change his mind. Leon just purses his lips, before he sighs and shakes his head.]

What do you want?

[He'll just...get them their ice cream and not focus on his own issues, it's easier and less uncomfortable for all of them.]

[abhors]

[ He slings his arm around Otome, pulling her a little closer against him, not to annoy Leon but it probably will anyway HAH. ]

I'd like to have a quiet day with Dr. Yanagiya here.

[ Oh. ]

And banana.

[mombastic]

[ Otome blinks quickly, obviously not having expected this-- but it might say something that she only slightly turns pink and clears her throat and doesn't just step safely away. ]

I'll take the chocolate, then.

[discard]

[He can feel himself bristling, and he doesn't even know why. True, the display of physical affection is distasteful, but it's not like he otherwise cares. Right? He has no reason to care. He's not particularly fond of Kogami, but Otome is an adult and can make whatever life choices she wants.

... ... ...

Yeah, right.

Leon's grumpy as hell about this, because Leon has co-dependency issues, and Otome was one of few people in Cerealia he genuinely liked and was beginning to trust. She's important to him, and seeing Kogami pull something like that--well, to a stunted child like Leon, it feels a lot like she's drifting away in ways he doesn't understand.

He turns without a word to get the ice cream, expression tight, because honestly, he doesn't really know what to say.

Give him a moment. An awkward, awkward moment.]

[abhors]

[ While Leon is working, Kogami quietly directs his question to Otome. He's a man of detail and the awkwardness doesn't get past him, but he's also not sure what he can do that won't upset Leon further. If anyone can get through to Leon, it's Otome, after all. ]

Do you think we should buy him something, too?

[mombastic]

He'd likely be offended. [ just as quietly, as she ponders this. The only time she can think of where the two of them had apparently worked together was for her sake, but it's not like that's going to happen again, and not here. But... ]

Leon... [ She'll raise her voice now. ] When does your shift end? Did you just start?

[discard]

[Leon's just going to set both cups of ice cream on the counter with slightly more force than is necessary (nobody asked for cones here, nobody gets cones), one banana and one chocolate, and then turns his attention back to Otome.

(Thankfully, he missed the whispered discussion.)]

Why does that matter-- [A beat.

... It's not really worth it, is it? Otome will just keep asking. It's not that he doesn't want to be sharp with her, that'd be stupid.]

... No, I am nearly through for today.

[abhors]

That's great.

[ Kogami looks at Otome again, you're doing good!! Now ask him, tsundere whisperer!!! ]

[mombastic]

[ It's not her fault you two can't talk to each other normally! And so Otome just keeps smiling, as much as she actually wants to sigh at the both of them. ]

I was wondering if you'd like to join us? I'd love to have your company.

[discard]

[tsun whisperer, wow....

And admittedly, Leon's kneejerk, tsun reaction is to decline. He doesn't want... company!! No, he's fine without! He doesn't need--

He looks at Kogami's arm around Otome and his expression tightens, and he gives a completely different answer than he usually would. If only to third wheel and make sure Otome doesn't end up with more bruises--]

Fine. [...oh. Whoa. That's what came out of his mouth? He wasn't ready for that himself, and now he has to scramble for an excuse.] If-- if only for a short period of time, since there is no reason to not--!

[No, he's failing at this.]

[abhors]

You saved Otome back when she was being irresponsible and collapsed. If you hadn't done anything, then I wouldn't have known about it either.

[ He slides some money across the counter to pay for the ice cream. ]

I'd like to sit down with you, Leon, even if for just a short while.

[mombastic]

... Irresponsible... [ Well, she can't deny that. ]

It can be as short as you'd like. I promise.

[ IF KOGAMI PISSES HIM OFF, HE CAN LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. ]

[discard]

[What is...that supposed to mean..... "to sit down with you", is this going to be some sort of serious talk... he'll fight you, Kogami!!! He's not afraid of you!!!

(He is kind of nervous about all of this.)

He accepts the money, and slides back the change across the counter again, as distant and clinically as possible, before clearing his throat.]

... I've already accepted, so there is no need to continue to discuss it.

[Sure, Leon. Whatever you say. He puts the money away, and after a moment...]

... Ten more minutes. Eat your ice cream.

[Stop looking at him.]

[abhors]

[ Ugh! What a difficult kid!! Kogami's small-talk game isn't the best, but it's not like he can have a meaningful conversation about philosophy with Leon either.

...
...........

Fuck it, he'll start up a conversation anyway, directed at nobody in particular. ]

If you could choose just one thing to change about the world, what would it be?

[mombastic]

[ It's going to have to be directed at Leon, because Otome is already gently extricating herself to locate a table big enough for the three of them. With ice cream in hand, of course. ]

[discard]

[... So Otome isn't answering, which means Leon has to field the question, huh....

Leon's quiet for a moment, focused on putting the money away and then obtaining a washcloth to wipe down the counter. At least it gives him something to do while the time ticks down.]

... I wouldn't choose to change anything.

[Hasn't he thought about this too many times before? If he could've gone back to change-- no, there's no going back, and there's no such thing as whimsically changing one's circumstances.]

The world is changed through the efforts of people attempting to make change, not by some whimsical choice. It isn't even worth contemplating.

[What a difficult child indeed.]