[ Shino, once again, brain glosses past "and so on" like he has no idea what Ren's talking about, though he does, if he cares to think about it. It's not something he applies to himself, but yes, okay, he'd get it if it was going to be helpful. ]
Huh.
[ There he is, using his free hand to hold his chin as he considers, then looks at Ren, totally dead serious. ]
Can I get a half hug?
[ They're holding hands so there's no way they can do proper hugs, he's Very Knowledgeable about this, okay. (He's not, but he doesn't want to logistic how you do this while holding hands. ]
[A "half-hug" sounds a little odd to Ren, but that might just be because he does have enough experience with hugging to logistics his way around this issue. So he tilts his head a bit at the suggestion before turning to face Shino.]
If you want a hug, couldn't we just do it this way? [With the held hands on one side and the free ones on the other, Ren steps forward and moves to wrap that free hand around Shino, then tests how far he can get his other arm around him without bending Shino's in an unpleasant way. It's not perfect, but he figures he should at least be able to get his other arm a tiny bit around his back or at least past his hip without the positioning of Shino's arm attached to it becoming uncomfortable.]
[ He doesn't fight Ren's lead, though it's a bit like a strange dance step that ends in an odd... arm... twist? What does he even call this? If Ren could properly see his face, he'd see how unconvinced Shino was that this had anything to do with being better than a side hug that maybe could have worked looping joined arms over one head. Alas, now here's here, feeling the difference immediately.
Sighs, that's just so warm and comfortable even if his hand is oddly at his side and it looks like they're both incapable of figuring out a normal hug. Thanks, Amegahara foxes! ]
I'm not sure this is a better idea.
[ He states, but he's also subtly leaning in. For a few beats of his heart, at least, he can soak up a stranger's presence like it's a reassurance, before shifting back and saying, ]
I'll need our arms for a moment.
[ He's planning on summoning Murasame to see what kind of energy hit he takes for leaving him summoned instead of riding along in his body alone. ]
I'm sure it's fine~ [Ren sounds gently unconvinced by that particular protest, considering the way Shino leans in briefly, but he at least doesn't outright point it out. Yet. He might save that one for later.
Still, they can't exactly walk around while they're like this, so Ren steps back at the request, tilting his head slightly.]
Are you testing something out...?
[If it's specifically their arms he needs, he's going to assume it's not just him being weird about the hugs. Even if he's met way too many people here who get weird about hugs. He prefers not to make that assumption about people, because it really makes things here a lot harder than they need to be.]
[ Hey! ... Shut-up! A hug is still a hug, and that's probably nice in most circumstances!
Either way, Shino hums an acknowledgement to Ren's question, waiting until he has enough room to partly turn and hold their joined arms straight out away from them. He's testing the whole chroma hypothesis, which means when he calls out: ]
Murasame!
[ They both get hit with the not so metaphorical wind of Murasame's summoning out of Shino's body, the air around them both stirred up and tugging their hair every which way, pulling at the fabric of their clothes. The tattoo on his arm seems to burn from within its black lines, and the call of a crow accompanies the appearance of skeletal finger-like wings that thrust out (telling, because no wings have bone structures like this, but it's how Murasame's built) and a crow lifts himself from the restraints of flesh pulling him down into Shino's forearm.
Just as suddenly, and brilliantly, as this happens, the wind dies down, Murasame takes flight with another rallying cry, and Shino's arm looks undisturbed, and tattoo free. Murasame circles over both their heads, tilting his head to the side and coming in to land on Shino's free shoulder.
For his part, Shino figures Ren has either already been way too cool about all of this, or is only now going to be uncool, so he simply reaches up with his free hand while their joined hands fall back between them, scratching the feathers of Murasame's head. ]
How are you feeling?
[ The bird considers this, answering with: ]
Beef?
[ Which if the blink and look of minor disgust on Shino's face means anything, it's that his demon is more food brained than helpful right now. He presses his head down and scoffs, since it also means that Murasame is feeling more energetic if he's stomach motivated and not doing something unpleasant like demanding blood. Even if he starts to lean forward to stare at Ren, like he's contemplating if Ren qualifies as beef. ]
[Ren is still completely fine with the presence of this weird arm-spewed bird demon, so the only thing that really throws him about it is being in range to get swept up in the wind a little this time. In fact, he's unerringly attentive to the horrific details of the transformation in a way that might be a bit creepy. Still, he recovers from the windsweeping rather quickly (once he shakes his hair out of his face), and offers Murasame another cheerful wave when the bird lands.
Ren's manner does not get in any way less cheerful when the bird starts eying him as if it might be considering his edibility.] I don't think there's any food shops near this tree that sell beef, but it probably wouldn't take more than a few minutes to find one, either. Do both of you get hungry when you get summoned or just one of you...?
[Which is a very odd way to phrase the question of whether Shino wants to spend some of this however long they're going to be linked together getting lunch for themselves and a demon bird, but hey, everything else about this conversation has been weird. It's not like Ren's general oddball nature is going to top the whole bony arm summoning business.]
[ Ren is strikingly normal when compared to Shino, who staunchly defends himself as Normal. Very Normal. Thanks.
Weird as it was at first, the continued calm with Murasame's entrance is... okay, still weird, but not the bad weird. More the, what the heck has this guy gotten used to in his life kind of weird, especially with that repeated wave. Murasame eyes Ren, seems to squint and stare at him for a moment, then clacks his beak. ]
Little darkness.
[ He announces, which has no context for Shino, who looks at Ren and raises an eyebrow. Does he know what the crow's talking about?
Oh, but that question! He blinks and finds himself starting to smile. Ugh, food sounds so good. ]
I'm usually the only one feeling real hunger, he just likes eating.
[ Unsaid, and likely to remain that way: when Murasame is hungry, it's Bad News. The fact Murasame likes to try eating things is more a personality facet than a necessity, because when he needs to eat, people die or end up getting their blood bitten out of their bodies. #joyousdemondays ]
This means we're making some kind of money, right? [ He squeezes Ren's hand, eyes brightening. Why? Because he can afford to eat more than conservatively, if he's right! ] Let's find a beef place! Or anyplace, as long as liver's not involved!
[ Ren's lucky Shino has no idea where to go, or he would have started leading the way with enthusiasm. As it is, he gets Shino and Murasame looking up at him in tandem, though only Shino looks eager. Murasame at least doesn't look like he's thinking about eating Ren anymore. ]
[Murasame could honestly be referencing one of at least two things in saying "little darkness", and neither of them is anything Ren particularly wants to explain to someone he just met, so he shrugs with a look of confusion when Shino raises a brow at him. He's perfectly aware that if the demon can read energies, Ren probably reads as dark even disregarding that tiny whisper of a fragment of nothing deep in his heart, but it's not something he generally broaches freely.
Thankfully, the topic of food gives him an easy out to change the subject, as does the question about Chroma. It's weird to understand even for someone economy-minded like him, so Ren gives a light hum of assent at the question.]
Holding hands doesn't usually generate that much, but since we've been doing it for such a long time, it's going to keep doing it...so we should be able to get something good.
[He turns briefly on the spot before starting to lead them off in some direction.]
I think there might be a teppanyaki place near here... [Might. Maybe. If Ren's sense of direction isn't on the fritz again.]
[ The bright side is Shino is less sensitive to these things when Murasame's outside of him as it is, or you know, someone isn't dying (death is a smell that he always picks up on), and whatever energy Ren does have isn't the same as what he feels back home... so he sure doesn't linger on it past making a mental note that Murasame noticed something was up.
Food is a more immediate and important topic than anyone pegged as little darkness, particularly when the guy in question is holding hands with what might as well be freaking giant darkness through no particular fault of his own. ]
A little adds up, it adds up! Plus, did the hug count for anything?
[ As someone who has not eaten much, and not eaten well, since he woke up on the moon, he's much more food oriented as a way of dealing with the rest of everything going on, including his increasing frustration over finding no sign of anyone from home here, and hearing how long the Moonblessed are going on being in this place without a sure-fire way home. Hearing people randomly disappear, and people think they return home, doesn't help!
So while he's bound to someone willing to go find a meal with him, he's taking advantage of it. Maybe they can skip along the way some smaller, caustic part of him thinks, but he lets the thought go.
He goes along easily enough, more at ease than maybe he should be, but trusting in this guy's sense of direction.
As the one who would just send Murasame to find Sousuke whenever he was lost in a new place, Shino's not exactly the type to overly worry about knowing exactly where he is. (Though really, without Sousuke here, maybe he should be.)
However... what is Ren talking about? ]
Teppanyaki? What kind of food is that?
[ Forgive someone from being pre WWII, but while he can break the word down into its parts, he doesn't know specifically what it means. Thus Ren gets a curious look that isn't asking after why he's a little bit of darkness, but instead, what in the world grilled plates is referring to, and if it's just as literal as it sounds. ]
It does...only a bit more than hand holding, but that's still something. [And, as Shino said, it adds up. Ren isn't concerned for Chroma himself, but when it comes to the newcomers, he tends to take more of a "teach a man to fish" attitude, in the sense of illustrating exactly how important it is that they get used to physical contact being a necessity here by not just buying things for them.
At the very least, the direction Ren's going in is taking them back in the direction of shops, so there's probably something over there even if it turns out he's gone the wrong way for the specific thing he's thinking of. Ren tilts his head a bit at the question, though, glancing back to look at Shino.]
Oh, are you one of those people who's from an older time...? [His tone says this isn't an uncommon conversation to be having here, but at least Shino doesn't seem quite as ancient as some of the people he's run into. As they walk, Ren gestures with his hand to indicate the shape of some kind of large, flat surface.]
It's more the way of cooking the food. It's done on a really big iron surface, and usually part of the fun is watching the chefs play around a bit with the food as they cook it. You can get a lot of things there, though - meat or vegetables or egg, basically anything you can cook on a big metal plate.
[Which is...most things, really. Big metal plates are a flexible cooking surface.]
[ A large, flat, metal plate sounds interesting, and different enough from the grills he's used to that he's instantly curious. The scents of foods waft from some of the shops they're heading toward, enough to goad his hunger and also his appreciation for learning about new styles of cooking that sound like...
Wait. ]
You're from a future time than mine. But still from the Empire of the Rising Sun?
[ Look, it's called the Imperial Capitol back in his time, going by longform older call-outs (or he supposes going with Nippon) is more because he's had it pointed out by now not everyone does. ]
This is making me hungrier... so the chefs cook it all right there for you, like at the street stalls in the Imperial Capitol?
[ ................. so anyway, he's from an older time. Just not that much older, but prior to the second world war. ]
[Well, if he's calling it that then Ren's definitely from a future time than him, and it's not just some weird coincidence that this guy doesn't know teppanyaki. Ren waves a hand rather casually at the question.]
We don't really use that name anymore other than when we feel like being fancy, but yes. It's not really an empire anymore, either.
[They do still have an emperor, but it's pretty much entirely a symbolic position, which turns it into more of a democratic monarchy type business. Ren's not really one to dig deep into politics when he doesn't have to.]
Right, they cook it in front of you. You can get things like that at food stalls as well - it's pretty common in Caihong too, actually - but it's more of a multi-course thing with teppanyaki.
[There's only so long you can hang around outside a street stall most of the time, unless they're specifically set up for people to sit down and stay a while. He finds that much less common with stalls than restaurants, though.]
[ He looks politely puzzled, but Shino as never all that invested in if Japan was an Empire or not; he's more curious what it is now because he has no guess, and it's such an odd thought for him out of the blue. ]
All your courses are cooked like that? This sounds amazing!
[ And the tantalising scent of food smells amazing, regardless of its origins. Shino's fairly enthused by this, tugging on their joined hands as he smiles at one of the Prismals waiting for a bus. He has no idea about these shelters or their function, but the older might-be-a-lady blinks her pretty, doe-like eyes up at them, her delicate ears flicking forward and her nose giving a rabbit-like twitch. She asks if she can help them, and Shino asks about the teppanyaki—not out of a lack of belief in Ren's navigation (he has no idea Ren is the worst navigator, about as bad as he is, only without it being because he grew up in the country and has never much had to navigate cities for himself) but more because he wants the best deal.
Which is how they're referred to a restaurant five streets away, through a zig-zag of names that Shino remembers, already flashing Ren a grin like, aren't you excited for this?! and restraining himself from anything like running and dragging him along.
Not that he's fully stopped himself from pulling Ren forward, but it's only so much that the woman laughs and makes a comment about young lovers and lunch dates that Shino doesn't hear (or care about, if he did), and waves them on their way. ]
No, we still have an emperor but they're not in charge anymore, I guess is the easiest way to say it... [Without having to explain actual politics things and the kinds of topics that Ren finds extremely dry.
Thankfully, the topic of food is an easy save, and Ren gives a little nod at his summation.] Right, it's like that. I'm sure you'll enjoy it~
[It certainly sounds like he's enthusiastic about the prospect of food in general, especially with how ready he is to ask for a pointer from the locals. Ren offers the woman a polite smile and wave as they depart, seemingly unfazed by the "young lovers" comment even if he looks more amused by it than anything else.
He'll be fine enough to let Shino tow them along if he wants to, though, since his own pace is relatively calm.] Well, that was easier than trying to remember the way myself.
[ He accepts that an Emperor isn't in charge anymore, since he doesn't care so much about those politics, too far divorced from his life. The Church has more presence, and who knows what to say or think about that? He doesn't even know much about them, either.
Though he probably should, all things considered. ]
What, you didn't actually remember?
[ He asks, definitely towing them along but having to stop at one of those Crosswalks he's learned about. It's still weird it's not legal to just... cross the street. Why this. When is it allowed? When is it not? What kind of law is this anyway?! ]
[Ren waves a hand like it's not important, naturally stopping at the crosswalk because when you live in a city as busy as Tokyo, that's just ingrained into you from the word go.]
Sometimes my sense of direction is a bit weird and I forget where things are, so it's good to get a second opinion. I might've remembered it, but I might not have.
[That's...unhelpfully vague, but since they know where they're going now, it's probably not important. As soon as the crosswalk light turns green, Ren gets them going again, because he's also used to having to get across roads pretty quickly to avoid five taxis unloading their horns at you for daring to exist on a road.]
[ Sensible for his time, less so for when Shino was walking the alternate Earth he's from. He capitulates to crosswalks, reluctantly and because in busier intersections he sees the merit, but regardless, it's a capitulation.
He has no room to judge, but he still levels Ren with a look of disbelief. ]
Doesn't that just mean you have a terrible sense of direction?
[ Shino: apathetic to directions. Ren: bad at them. Bless that he's not forgotten what they've been told, and while he's moving as soon as the light indicates they can, he's still shaking his head like the fact someone still tries navigating without asking his demon-crow to go find help is the weird one here.
(They're both weird.) ]
I got lost all the time in the Imperial Capitol, but I'd only been there for what, a few weeks? My biggest danger on the mountain was losing track of time.
[ Murasame's been sitting pretty on his shoulder, and he echoes what Shino says: ]
Losing track.
[ Which is more a reminder of the fact he... does in fact lose track of where he is and of time depending on his mood or level of distraction. Shino opts to ignore Murasame, taking them down another block toward their destination, closer to swinging their joined hands by now. His head's back in the good mood, going to eat soon place, and the rest of the tedious details are one's he's going along with for now. ]
this just reminds me of the dumb SMILES VS FOOD argument that was in another ccg anime
[Ren pouts a bit dramatically at the straightforwardness of that question, because as always, it's only fine to be straightforward when it's him pointing out everyone else's problems.]
You don't have to put it like that...I just forget where things are sometimes. [Like a door that was about three feet to his left that one time. Usually it's when he's focused on something else, but as aware as he might be of the people around him and what they're doing, that sometimes comes at the cost of maybe walking into a post or two.
Murasame's remark doesn't go ignored by Ren, though, and he points accusingly with his free hand towards Shino.] See, even your spooky crow says you lose track of things too.
[At least they're keeping moving, which lessens the chance that anyone's going to forget where they're going before they get there.]
... dare i even ask what this argument was/what that means
[ He says in return, lifting an eyebrow archly like this helps him make a point that losing track of time is not the same as losing track of his way.
Even though he does both, in unfamiliar places. ]
I said the only reason I got lost in the Imperial Capitol was because I was new.
[ Frankly, that means he should get lost here too, but unless someone else points it out, he's ignoring that particular logic. He doesn't contest his crow being creepy, since... creepy is definitely a valid assessment, and isn't something like "abnormal." He'll take creepy for the moment. ]
You at least stop to ask for directions when you're lost, right?
it was basically about which is more important to people who are downtrodden, it was very silly
How is that so different...? [Ren sounds rather doubtful about the fact that losing track of time is even remotely any better than losing track of direction, though he also does both. Often intentionally, with losing track of time, but also unintentionally when he's doing things like napping with his cat.]
I mean, if I get lost enough usually people can tell anyway, but of course I ask for directions. Or ask my phone for directions.
[The joys of map software for people who have absolutely no sense of personal orientation. A city like this which doesn't have a lot around it that can normally be accessed isn't exactly a difficult one to find those kinds of maps for, though he figures that kind of option wouldn't occur to someone who's from as long ago as this guy seems to be. Well before smartphones were a thing, at least.]
[ Obviously this is what the difference is! Or something like that, as he reads a street sign on the side of a building and frowns, unsure what the number in the corner means, but tugging Ren along with because it matches the directions he'd been given. ]
Do these phones really have maps on them too?
[ Sure enough, he's rewarded with the sign for the restaurant they'd been looking for, and his eyes light up, his stomach being a pest and growling even as Murasame calls out, ]
Meat! Meat! Meat!
Edited 2019-09-16 18:46 (UTC)
thx yugioh arc-v for handling card games and interdimensional warfare at the same time
[Or, more accurately, it sounds like something someone would say if they mostly just wanted to sound like something was different instead of actually thinking it was different. But Ren's still in dense face mode, so he's not going to point that out too hard in this particular instance.
While the sight of the shop they've been looking for is certainly a distraction, Ren nonetheless nods at the question.]
Mmm, the map app shouldn't be too hard to find on there. Maybe I can walk you through it so you don't get lost~ [Get it.] Anyway, it sounds like your friend is pretty eager, so let's go in...
[Not that it seems like anyone's really hesitating on that front, realistically speaking.]
[ It's absolutely just wanting to make it different because a difference in intent may, in theory, save his rear at some unknown future point. Which as it remains unknown, solves nothing right now, but he's not going to worry about this. ]
I wouldn't mind.
[ He says, flicking his eyes at Ren for the don't get lost even though with technology, Shino's absolutely been getting lost. ]
Murasame just likes food.
[ But fine, fine, in they go! Shino goes for the door, and instead of opening in or out, it slides back into the walls, startling him into jerking back enough not to be visible to others... but blindingly obvious to Ren. Murasame is worse, flapping his wings and falling off backward after smacking them both in the back of their heads (lightly) and taking to the air, only to land on the overhang above. ]
Murasame, stay out here! I'll bring you something to eat.
[ Shino, meanwhile, sees an opportunity to leave half his soul outside, so to speak, and darts inside the doors with Ren, half turning to eagerly watch as they close...
... behind the bird who flew in after them, and landed on the back of an open chair. ]
Almost worked...
my first main rp muse was from it and it was delightful to try and explain
[Ren looks like he totally has no idea why he's getting side-eyed for that remark, but at least there's food to distract from that subject. And also the brief moment of disguising his amusement at Shino's reaction to an automatic door.
And Murasame's taking advantage of it.] It's kind of hard to keep people out with those kinds of doors, since they close at their own speed...and that's assuming he didn't make them open when he got too close anyway...
[He's not sure a bird would set off the sensor, but then, it's not exactly a common situation he's had to field previously. In any case, he's going to just go and find a seat near the grill while Shino addresses his bird situation.]
I don't know how shops here are about having animals inside, though. Even if they're supernatural ones.
[It's kind of a health hazard in food shops, after all, but at the same time, it's not so much his problem since it's not his bird.]
alskdfj that's........ kudos that you managed it laskdjf
[ Shino blinks: this is not a problem in his time. For some reason. Because, well, it was before health codes, but that's not the point. He gazes at the room with the people inside showing all kinds of features, lifts an eyebrow, and then lifts their joined arms. ]
Murasame!
[ He calls out, and with a brief look, the crow turns into a creature of light that shoots back from where he'd been roosting to flow as light into Shino's skin, reforming the tattoo from earlier. The host about to ask if they were looking to be seated looks starstruck at this, their hands held up to their beak-mouth, and Shino seems to realise how odd this is a half moment later, angling a step back and... partly behind Ren. The host doesn't look any less excited or starry eyed when they seat them, and Shino more or less uses Ren as a physical shield between himself and said host, particularly since the staring doesn't let up.
Yeesh! Look, bird-host, it's just a thing that he can do! It happened! Let him live! ]
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Huh.
[ There he is, using his free hand to hold his chin as he considers, then looks at Ren, totally dead serious. ]
Can I get a half hug?
[ They're holding hands so there's no way they can do proper hugs, he's Very Knowledgeable about this, okay. (He's not, but he doesn't want to logistic how you do this while holding hands. ]
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If you want a hug, couldn't we just do it this way? [With the held hands on one side and the free ones on the other, Ren steps forward and moves to wrap that free hand around Shino, then tests how far he can get his other arm around him without bending Shino's in an unpleasant way. It's not perfect, but he figures he should at least be able to get his other arm a tiny bit around his back or at least past his hip without the positioning of Shino's arm attached to it becoming uncomfortable.]
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Sighs, that's just so warm and comfortable even if his hand is oddly at his side and it looks like they're both incapable of figuring out a normal hug. Thanks, Amegahara foxes! ]
I'm not sure this is a better idea.
[ He states, but he's also subtly leaning in. For a few beats of his heart, at least, he can soak up a stranger's presence like it's a reassurance, before shifting back and saying, ]
I'll need our arms for a moment.
[ He's planning on summoning Murasame to see what kind of energy hit he takes for leaving him summoned instead of riding along in his body alone. ]
no subject
Still, they can't exactly walk around while they're like this, so Ren steps back at the request, tilting his head slightly.]
Are you testing something out...?
[If it's specifically their arms he needs, he's going to assume it's not just him being weird about the hugs. Even if he's met way too many people here who get weird about hugs. He prefers not to make that assumption about people, because it really makes things here a lot harder than they need to be.]
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Either way, Shino hums an acknowledgement to Ren's question, waiting until he has enough room to partly turn and hold their joined arms straight out away from them. He's testing the whole chroma hypothesis, which means when he calls out: ]
Murasame!
[ They both get hit with the not so metaphorical wind of Murasame's summoning out of Shino's body, the air around them both stirred up and tugging their hair every which way, pulling at the fabric of their clothes. The tattoo on his arm seems to burn from within its black lines, and the call of a crow accompanies the appearance of skeletal finger-like wings that thrust out (telling, because no wings have bone structures like this, but it's how Murasame's built) and a crow lifts himself from the restraints of flesh pulling him down into Shino's forearm.
Just as suddenly, and brilliantly, as this happens, the wind dies down, Murasame takes flight with another rallying cry, and Shino's arm looks undisturbed, and tattoo free. Murasame circles over both their heads, tilting his head to the side and coming in to land on Shino's free shoulder.
For his part, Shino figures Ren has either already been way too cool about all of this, or is only now going to be uncool, so he simply reaches up with his free hand while their joined hands fall back between them, scratching the feathers of Murasame's head. ]
How are you feeling?
[ The bird considers this, answering with: ]
Beef?
[ Which if the blink and look of minor disgust on Shino's face means anything, it's that his demon is more food brained than helpful right now. He presses his head down and scoffs, since it also means that Murasame is feeling more energetic if he's stomach motivated and not doing something unpleasant like demanding blood. Even if he starts to lean forward to stare at Ren, like he's contemplating if Ren qualifies as beef. ]
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Ren's manner does not get in any way less cheerful when the bird starts eying him as if it might be considering his edibility.] I don't think there's any food shops near this tree that sell beef, but it probably wouldn't take more than a few minutes to find one, either. Do both of you get hungry when you get summoned or just one of you...?
[Which is a very odd way to phrase the question of whether Shino wants to spend some of this however long they're going to be linked together getting lunch for themselves and a demon bird, but hey, everything else about this conversation has been weird. It's not like Ren's general oddball nature is going to top the whole bony arm summoning business.]
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Weird as it was at first, the continued calm with Murasame's entrance is... okay, still weird, but not the bad weird. More the, what the heck has this guy gotten used to in his life kind of weird, especially with that repeated wave. Murasame eyes Ren, seems to squint and stare at him for a moment, then clacks his beak. ]
Little darkness.
[ He announces, which has no context for Shino, who looks at Ren and raises an eyebrow. Does he know what the crow's talking about?
Oh, but that question! He blinks and finds himself starting to smile. Ugh, food sounds so good. ]
I'm usually the only one feeling real hunger, he just likes eating.
[ Unsaid, and likely to remain that way: when Murasame is hungry, it's Bad News. The fact Murasame likes to try eating things is more a personality facet than a necessity, because when he needs to eat, people die or end up getting their blood bitten out of their bodies. #joyousdemondays ]
This means we're making some kind of money, right? [ He squeezes Ren's hand, eyes brightening. Why? Because he can afford to eat more than conservatively, if he's right! ] Let's find a beef place! Or anyplace, as long as liver's not involved!
[ Ren's lucky Shino has no idea where to go, or he would have started leading the way with enthusiasm. As it is, he gets Shino and Murasame looking up at him in tandem, though only Shino looks eager. Murasame at least doesn't look like he's thinking about eating Ren anymore. ]
no subject
Thankfully, the topic of food gives him an easy out to change the subject, as does the question about Chroma. It's weird to understand even for someone economy-minded like him, so Ren gives a light hum of assent at the question.]
Holding hands doesn't usually generate that much, but since we've been doing it for such a long time, it's going to keep doing it...so we should be able to get something good.
[He turns briefly on the spot before starting to lead them off in some direction.]
I think there might be a teppanyaki place near here... [Might. Maybe. If Ren's sense of direction isn't on the fritz again.]
no subject
Food is a more immediate and important topic than anyone pegged as little darkness, particularly when the guy in question is holding hands with what might as well be freaking giant darkness through no particular fault of his own. ]
A little adds up, it adds up! Plus, did the hug count for anything?
[ As someone who has not eaten much, and not eaten well, since he woke up on the moon, he's much more food oriented as a way of dealing with the rest of everything going on, including his increasing frustration over finding no sign of anyone from home here, and hearing how long the Moonblessed are going on being in this place without a sure-fire way home. Hearing people randomly disappear, and people think they return home, doesn't help!
So while he's bound to someone willing to go find a meal with him, he's taking advantage of it. Maybe they can skip along the way some smaller, caustic part of him thinks, but he lets the thought go.
He goes along easily enough, more at ease than maybe he should be, but trusting in this guy's sense of direction.
As the one who would just send Murasame to find Sousuke whenever he was lost in a new place, Shino's not exactly the type to overly worry about knowing exactly where he is. (Though really, without Sousuke here, maybe he should be.)
However... what is Ren talking about? ]
Teppanyaki? What kind of food is that?
[ Forgive someone from being pre WWII, but while he can break the word down into its parts, he doesn't know specifically what it means. Thus Ren gets a curious look that isn't asking after why he's a little bit of darkness, but instead, what in the world grilled plates is referring to, and if it's just as literal as it sounds. ]
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At the very least, the direction Ren's going in is taking them back in the direction of shops, so there's probably something over there even if it turns out he's gone the wrong way for the specific thing he's thinking of. Ren tilts his head a bit at the question, though, glancing back to look at Shino.]
Oh, are you one of those people who's from an older time...? [His tone says this isn't an uncommon conversation to be having here, but at least Shino doesn't seem quite as ancient as some of the people he's run into. As they walk, Ren gestures with his hand to indicate the shape of some kind of large, flat surface.]
It's more the way of cooking the food. It's done on a really big iron surface, and usually part of the fun is watching the chefs play around a bit with the food as they cook it. You can get a lot of things there, though - meat or vegetables or egg, basically anything you can cook on a big metal plate.
[Which is...most things, really. Big metal plates are a flexible cooking surface.]
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Wait. ]
You're from a future time than mine. But still from the Empire of the Rising Sun?
[ Look, it's called the Imperial Capitol back in his time, going by longform older call-outs (or he supposes going with Nippon) is more because he's had it pointed out by now not everyone does. ]
This is making me hungrier... so the chefs cook it all right there for you, like at the street stalls in the Imperial Capitol?
[ ................. so anyway, he's from an older time. Just not that much older, but prior to the second world war. ]
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We don't really use that name anymore other than when we feel like being fancy, but yes. It's not really an empire anymore, either.
[They do still have an emperor, but it's pretty much entirely a symbolic position, which turns it into more of a democratic monarchy type business. Ren's not really one to dig deep into politics when he doesn't have to.]
Right, they cook it in front of you. You can get things like that at food stalls as well - it's pretty common in Caihong too, actually - but it's more of a multi-course thing with teppanyaki.
[There's only so long you can hang around outside a street stall most of the time, unless they're specifically set up for people to sit down and stay a while. He finds that much less common with stalls than restaurants, though.]
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[ He looks politely puzzled, but Shino as never all that invested in if Japan was an Empire or not; he's more curious what it is now because he has no guess, and it's such an odd thought for him out of the blue. ]
All your courses are cooked like that? This sounds amazing!
[ And the tantalising scent of food smells amazing, regardless of its origins. Shino's fairly enthused by this, tugging on their joined hands as he smiles at one of the Prismals waiting for a bus. He has no idea about these shelters or their function, but the older might-be-a-lady blinks her pretty, doe-like eyes up at them, her delicate ears flicking forward and her nose giving a rabbit-like twitch. She asks if she can help them, and Shino asks about the teppanyaki—not out of a lack of belief in Ren's navigation (he has no idea Ren is the worst navigator, about as bad as he is, only without it being because he grew up in the country and has never much had to navigate cities for himself) but more because he wants the best deal.
Which is how they're referred to a restaurant five streets away, through a zig-zag of names that Shino remembers, already flashing Ren a grin like, aren't you excited for this?! and restraining himself from anything like running and dragging him along.
Not that he's fully stopped himself from pulling Ren forward, but it's only so much that the woman laughs and makes a comment about young lovers and lunch dates that Shino doesn't hear (or care about, if he did), and waves them on their way. ]
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Thankfully, the topic of food is an easy save, and Ren gives a little nod at his summation.] Right, it's like that. I'm sure you'll enjoy it~
[It certainly sounds like he's enthusiastic about the prospect of food in general, especially with how ready he is to ask for a pointer from the locals. Ren offers the woman a polite smile and wave as they depart, seemingly unfazed by the "young lovers" comment even if he looks more amused by it than anything else.
He'll be fine enough to let Shino tow them along if he wants to, though, since his own pace is relatively calm.] Well, that was easier than trying to remember the way myself.
n_n at each other in icons and i laughed
Though he probably should, all things considered. ]
What, you didn't actually remember?
[ He asks, definitely towing them along but having to stop at one of those Crosswalks he's learned about. It's still weird it's not legal to just... cross the street. Why this. When is it allowed? When is it not? What kind of law is this anyway?! ]
smile for the camera, or maybe just the food
Sometimes my sense of direction is a bit weird and I forget where things are, so it's good to get a second opinion. I might've remembered it, but I might not have.
[That's...unhelpfully vague, but since they know where they're going now, it's probably not important. As soon as the crosswalk light turns green, Ren gets them going again, because he's also used to having to get across roads pretty quickly to avoid five taxis unloading their horns at you for daring to exist on a road.]
why not both, both is good
He has no room to judge, but he still levels Ren with a look of disbelief. ]
Doesn't that just mean you have a terrible sense of direction?
[ Shino: apathetic to directions. Ren: bad at them. Bless that he's not forgotten what they've been told, and while he's moving as soon as the light indicates they can, he's still shaking his head like the fact someone still tries navigating without asking his demon-crow to go find help is the weird one here.
(They're both weird.) ]
I got lost all the time in the Imperial Capitol, but I'd only been there for what, a few weeks? My biggest danger on the mountain was losing track of time.
[ Murasame's been sitting pretty on his shoulder, and he echoes what Shino says: ]
Losing track.
[ Which is more a reminder of the fact he... does in fact lose track of where he is and of time depending on his mood or level of distraction. Shino opts to ignore Murasame, taking them down another block toward their destination, closer to swinging their joined hands by now. His head's back in the good mood, going to eat soon place, and the rest of the tedious details are one's he's going along with for now. ]
this just reminds me of the dumb SMILES VS FOOD argument that was in another ccg anime
You don't have to put it like that...I just forget where things are sometimes. [Like a door that was about three feet to his left that one time. Usually it's when he's focused on something else, but as aware as he might be of the people around him and what they're doing, that sometimes comes at the cost of maybe walking into a post or two.
Murasame's remark doesn't go ignored by Ren, though, and he points accusingly with his free hand towards Shino.] See, even your spooky crow says you lose track of things too.
[At least they're keeping moving, which lessens the chance that anyone's going to forget where they're going before they get there.]
... dare i even ask what this argument was/what that means
[ He says in return, lifting an eyebrow archly like this helps him make a point that losing track of time is not the same as losing track of his way.
Even though he does both, in unfamiliar places. ]
I said the only reason I got lost in the Imperial Capitol was because I was new.
[ Frankly, that means he should get lost here too, but unless someone else points it out, he's ignoring that particular logic. He doesn't contest his crow being creepy, since... creepy is definitely a valid assessment, and isn't something like "abnormal." He'll take creepy for the moment. ]
You at least stop to ask for directions when you're lost, right?
it was basically about which is more important to people who are downtrodden, it was very silly
I mean, if I get lost enough usually people can tell anyway, but of course I ask for directions. Or ask my phone for directions.
[The joys of map software for people who have absolutely no sense of personal orientation. A city like this which doesn't have a lot around it that can normally be accessed isn't exactly a difficult one to find those kinds of maps for, though he figures that kind of option wouldn't occur to someone who's from as long ago as this guy seems to be. Well before smartphones were a thing, at least.]
klajsdflkjasdf oh goodness, it sounds like it
[ Obviously this is what the difference is! Or something like that, as he reads a street sign on the side of a building and frowns, unsure what the number in the corner means, but tugging Ren along with because it matches the directions he'd been given. ]
Do these phones really have maps on them too?
[ Sure enough, he's rewarded with the sign for the restaurant they'd been looking for, and his eyes light up, his stomach being a pest and growling even as Murasame calls out, ]
Meat! Meat! Meat!
thx yugioh arc-v for handling card games and interdimensional warfare at the same time
[Or, more accurately, it sounds like something someone would say if they mostly just wanted to sound like something was different instead of actually thinking it was different. But Ren's still in dense face mode, so he's not going to point that out too hard in this particular instance.
While the sight of the shop they've been looking for is certainly a distraction, Ren nonetheless nods at the question.]
Mmm, the map app shouldn't be too hard to find on there. Maybe I can walk you through it so you don't get lost~ [Get it.] Anyway, it sounds like your friend is pretty eager, so let's go in...
[Not that it seems like anyone's really hesitating on that front, realistically speaking.]
... wow
I wouldn't mind.
[ He says, flicking his eyes at Ren for the don't get lost even though with technology, Shino's absolutely been getting lost. ]
Murasame just likes food.
[ But fine, fine, in they go! Shino goes for the door, and instead of opening in or out, it slides back into the walls, startling him into jerking back enough not to be visible to others... but blindingly obvious to Ren. Murasame is worse, flapping his wings and falling off backward after smacking them both in the back of their heads (lightly) and taking to the air, only to land on the overhang above. ]
Murasame, stay out here! I'll bring you something to eat.
[ Shino, meanwhile, sees an opportunity to leave half his soul outside, so to speak, and darts inside the doors with Ren, half turning to eagerly watch as they close...
... behind the bird who flew in after them, and landed on the back of an open chair. ]
Almost worked...
my first main rp muse was from it and it was delightful to try and explain
And Murasame's taking advantage of it.] It's kind of hard to keep people out with those kinds of doors, since they close at their own speed...and that's assuming he didn't make them open when he got too close anyway...
[He's not sure a bird would set off the sensor, but then, it's not exactly a common situation he's had to field previously. In any case, he's going to just go and find a seat near the grill while Shino addresses his bird situation.]
I don't know how shops here are about having animals inside, though. Even if they're supernatural ones.
[It's kind of a health hazard in food shops, after all, but at the same time, it's not so much his problem since it's not his bird.]
alskdfj that's........ kudos that you managed it laskdjf
Murasame!
[ He calls out, and with a brief look, the crow turns into a creature of light that shoots back from where he'd been roosting to flow as light into Shino's skin, reforming the tattoo from earlier. The host about to ask if they were looking to be seated looks starstruck at this, their hands held up to their beak-mouth, and Shino seems to realise how odd this is a half moment later, angling a step back and... partly behind Ren. The host doesn't look any less excited or starry eyed when they seat them, and Shino more or less uses Ren as a physical shield between himself and said host, particularly since the staring doesn't let up.
Yeesh! Look, bird-host, it's just a thing that he can do! It happened! Let him live! ]
he was my longest run in a game so i had plenty of time at least
down to a science by the time his run was over
it did help that there were actual serious war scenes b/c hard light holograms used as weapons
this sounds appropriately horrifying tbh
it involved building-sized robots levelling a city so yes
city destruction by robot is a valid horror
indeed it is
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