estoria | [open]

Who:

yaayaa & you
When: After elemental emotions die down
Where: Shopping district, streets, elsewhere
What: Mostly-aimless wandering around town
Rating/Warning: None, probably

[So Cerealia's falling apart, weather's invaded the city, Mosley's a robot, Naki's friends went on a murder spree while he was holed up in his room, etc etc....he's tired. He's not entirely sure why he's tired, after a week of doing nothing but mope (emotional exhaustion is still a foreign thing), but. What he knows is that he should get up, go out, do something, stop lying around. Maybe find something to cheer up the others? What would Ichi-nii like....]

around town

[Naki's in his favorite fox coat, with a matching whiskered face mask, peeking in at various shops in the shopping district. Picking out a notepad at the stationary store! Perusing the snack aisle at...some place that sells snacks! Trying on a scary mask at a costume shop! Staring curiously at a toy store display of plastic jumping beans! Getting ushered out of a store with a NO PETS sign on the door!

Why.....]

But I'm not a pet...! [whines the fox around his neck, as he stares perplexedly at the door.]

other

[wild card? Shopping aside, he can also be found wandering around the gardens, feeding a carrot to the horse near the dojo, sitting by the street somewhere just watching people walk by...playing rhythm games on his cerevice, maybe.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Oh look, it's Shiho! And--]

?

[Is he supposed to follow her? But they kicked him out...but it's Shiho? He stands there for a moment, unsure what to do, before giving in and hurrying after her. What's she gonna do! Naki has no idea, but she has his full trust!]

[He's totally supposed to follow, which is why she pauses at the door to wait for him until he hurries after her. Once in, the shopkeeper gives them an entirely unimpressed look which Shiho...

...completely ignores. Instead, she gives him a brilliant smile:]

Do you have any fox-themed snacks?

[Ah, the shopkeeper doesn't look happy...Naki doesn't hide behind Shiho or anything, but he does look a little awkward - in contrast with Shiho's total confidence, apparently.

Mister Shopkeep gives a polite (but somehow not-too-friendly) no to the question: there are in fact no fox snacks here! Also, no foxes? Other customers might not approve of fur in their consumables.

...This isn't the first time they've heard that, actually.....but do spirit foxes even shed?]

Ehhhh....really?

[She looks around pointedly at the snacks. The pre-packaged, tightly wrapped snacks.]

And how would that happen? Or is there something you want to tell us, your valued customers?

[Uh-oh, caught in a lie...the shopkeep attempts to backpedal! It could cause a disruption in the store! Other customers may disapprove! Uhhh somethingsomething he can't think of any other excuses!?

as Naki and fox watch impassively from their corner. Staring into his soooouuulll or it might look that way, anyway.]

Hm~ But I'm a customer and I'm not going to disapprove.

[The opposite really as she beckons to Naki and small fox.]

What were you guys going to buy? Jerky? Chocolate?

[Oh--he blinks when she speaks to him again, opening his mouth soundlessly before--looking around and pointing at a display of dried squid snacks. Or maybe he's pointing at the Mocky on the shelf next to it? Why would these two things be displayed next to each other, a mystery we're not gonna question.]

.....That.

[There are two things on that display...so the obvious choice here is to get both.]

Is chocolate flavour okay? [For the Mocky, that is. She just grabs a couple of packages of the dried squid. Not her favourite thing in the world, since she preferred sweets. (But hey, it was meat and was once alive and she could get her enjoyment out of that using her psychometry.)

Meanwhile the shopkeeper is obviously squirming uncomfortably in his corner. Kick out Naki and lose Shiho as a customer and look like a total jerk? He decides against it in the end.]

[Chocolate isn't actually the first flavor he would've chosen, but...he nods.]

Chocolate is just fine, yes!

[as Naki chances a glance at the defeated shopkeeper....sorry not sorry?]

You really are very helpful, Shiho-dono...I don't know what we would have done without you!

What are friends for, right?

[.......probably not for helping you to bully a bullying shopkeeper.]

Well, you'd have no Mocky or dried squid?

[She speaks truth! A life without Mocky or squid...a life that doesn't bear thinking!

Okay maybe not quite that exaggerated, but Naki might've made a tiny noise almost resembling the beginning of a laugh. Sshh you heard nothing.]

That's very true! And we're grateful for your helping us prevent such a fate.

[She'll ignore that laugh if he ignores the fact that her mouth almost twitched into a smile on hearing it.]

And what a terrible fate that would be, huh? You're welcome, by the way.

[Smile? What smile? Naki saw nothing whatsoever.

Also: nodding.]

Perhaps we could eat these snacks together? There should be enough for us to share!

I'd like that.

[If this had been Kaoru or Aoi or Minamoto, she'd be linking her arm through his right about now. But instead, she puts them behind her back, not even bothering to hide her smile.]

We could add something to it, too? What's your favourite? I'll pay.

[! More snacks? She's so generous! Naki looks around, wavering over a third snack to choose. Chocolate? Fruit snacks? Those marshmallow candies over there with Hello Puppy on the package?

Um uh uummmm grabbing a box of strawberry koalas!!

And holding it up in front of his face like a very small shield/offering.]

[It's kind of like feeding a little kid or a small animal. (Yes, even if he was actually a lot older than she was, she'd still continue to treat him like she was the adult here.]

Good choice. Those are pretty good. Too bad they don't have the limited edition ones here, those are so much fun.

[But with that said, she leads the way to the cashier, the owner wringing his hands at them even as he goes to take their money.]

Limited! I wonder what those would taste like?

[Naki the thousand-year-old elementary schooler, asking his teenage mom for candy...he follows behind her, still occasionally staring at the visibly stressed-out owner as he goes to ring them up at the counter. That'll be x cerebucks! Thank you! Awkward strained smile!]

[Just because she's giving the guy a hard time doesn't mean she isn't going to pay, of course. Shiho swipes the card with a sharp smile that dares the owner to try this again.]

Depends on the season! If it's summer sometimes you get watermelon or tropical flavours like pineapple. Ah, but then during the colder months you'd get bitter chocolate or pumpkin.

[At least you're getting money out of it, owner guy! Small consolations.]

Bitter... [He pulls a face at that. Sort of. At least you can see his eyes?] That sounds fascinating...so they make different flavors according to the season! Have you tried them all before, Shiho-dono? Perhaps someday we'll find some seasonal flavors to share with you!

[She knows he's supposed to be older. But that frown makes him seem much younger and she can't help grinning.]

It's not my favourite either but some people think a taste for bitter chocolate makes them grown-up.

[And she disagreed.]

I haven't tried them all either but if you guys find some I'd love to share. Thanks.

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