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[allforshu]

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[tepidity]

[ it's not hard to notice the way the other boy stalls, and it's definitely not difficult to notice the unique pathways mika's decided to take them down. nisaka finds his pace slowing, glancing at their surroundings in mild confusion.

after a moment, he looks to the back of mika's head, bluntly asking, ]

Are you trying to avoid someone?

[allforshu]

[Mika flinches slightly, more at the sudden question than the content, and shakes his lowered head.]

No, I just don't like crowds... So I take paths that keep me away from 'em as much as I can. I get sorta dizzy if I ain't careful...

[... So it wasn't just for Nisaka's benefit when he did this last time.]

[tepidity]

[ selfish..........

but hm hm. nisaka continues to look around, gradually picking up his leisurely pace. ]

It's not bad, [ he eventually says. he's okay with it. ] The quiet is nice.

[ he likes to avoid crowds when he can too. just to avoid standing out in them. ]

[allforshu]

[Whew. That's good.]

Ain't it~? Ya can find all kinds of neat things here too, things tossed away without a second thought~. Oshi-san collects abandoned dolls and fixes 'em up, gives 'em nice clothes and everything, so I usually pick 'em up when I see one too.

[Mika's gonna collect dolls at some point, just out of habit. Mark my words.]

It's easy to be forgotten when you're in a place like this. Even if someone sees ya, they don't wanna ask.

[tepidity]

[ i hope they aren't scary dolls............................ ]

It's not really the kind of place you want to be seen in.

[ it's. definitely questionable, but nisaka supposes he can appreciate that kind of thinking. ]

I guess of all places to go poking around old trash in, the planet that's obsessed with recycling and being clean is a good place for it.

[allforshu]

[is creepy-cute okay]

Right? When you pick up things like that, yer recyclin' too~. Givin' them a new home and purpose... They deserve love too. That's just how I feel though~.

[tepidity]

[ UNSURE... ]

I never really thought of it that way.

[ things were always just. things to him. ]

It's admirable. Good for you.

[ he's walked fast enough to catch up to mika now, but given the narrowness of the alleyways, he still keeps a step or two behind, just to allow them both the space. ]

[allforshu]

[THINK DENKO-CHAN AND GLOOMY BEAR. OR HALLOWEENTOWN ACTUALLY, FROM NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS. THAT'S HIS FAVORITE SORT OF TOY.

And bless you for the space. Mika hadn't even noticed Nisaka's lagging before? But he glances back now with a little grin.]

People keep things for a reason, that's all it is~. Even somethin' that seems silly can be somethin' precious to someone else, so it's important to take care of 'em. Do you have anythin' like that, Nisa-kun?

[tepidity]

[ nisaka holds the eye contact for maybe two seconds before he looks away. he seems to be considering mika's words at least, head tipping slightly. ]

Not really.

[ there is an idle shrug of one shoulder. ]

Nothing really lasts, in the end.

[allforshu]

Mm... [He turns his head forward again, scratching a cheek as he turns a corner into another alleyway.

Ah, this one's familiar to him.] But there's nothin' wrong with helpin' it last as long as it can, right? So y'should find somethin', anythin' that you wanna keep safe for a long time. Well, I say that, but it's not like I really have anythin' like that myself~.

[not from this event canon point anyway]

[tepidity]

[ maybe it's because it's too quiet here, in these little alleyways, that nisaka actually finds himself thinking real hard on the other boy's words.

or maybe he's still a little drunk after all. ]

...Does it have to be a thing?

[ what if it's a person or, or a feeling... ]

[allforshu]

Of course not! It's just gotta be precious to you.

[... In which case he does have something like that, but he doesn't want to backtrack..!]

[tepidity]

[ a thoughtful sound. ]

I think I can let it be. For a little while longer.

[ but soon that, too, he knows he'll have to give up.

though obviously it's easier said than done. ]

[allforshu]

So y'do have one..?

[Huh... That's a good thing. He's really curious as to what it could be, or who it could be, but maybe he shouldn't ask..? Or can he? Nnnnnn.]

I'm kinda curious to what it is, but I won't ask~. Nisa-kun wouldn't tell me anyway.

[MOST PEOPLE WOULDN'T, SO.]

[tepidity]

[ nisa-kun wouldn't tell anyone, tbh, so it's not like it's anything against mika himself...

though there is a childish part of nisaka that wants to say, just to be contrary. ]

Not for free, no.

[ he'll settle on that instead. ]

[allforshu]

Eh? Really?

[o shit]

Then I'll buy ya hot chocolate~. Do ya like marshmallows? Or whipped cream?

[tepidity]

[ nisaka just shakes his head. ]

You can only buy this kind of information with other information.

[allforshu]

[Oh........ Mika slows a bit, glancing over.]

Nn, what kinda information..?

[tepidity]

[ mika's slower pace actually puts nisaka a few paces ahead, but he eventually slows too, looking back. ]

It's just like any other transaction, right? It just has to be of equal value.

[allforshu]

[Equal... value..........]

I don't really know what's worth it, so ask a question and maybe I'll answer..~?

[tepidity]

Wouldn't it be better to just wait until you find your precious thing? That way we both know it's the same information.

[ he turns back to their path now, glancing about. they seemed to have stopped at a turn. they can either continue going, or turn left.

he looks back to mika, brows lifting expectantly. ]

I don't know where I'm going.

[allforshu]

Mm, that's fair... I guess.

[But he's so curious about Nisaka.......




Oh, a choice. Mika peers around the corner, then stares ahead.]

Um~. Gimme a second.

[He's skipping off to the left to scout it out, but he'll be back in a few moments to wave Nisaka over. There's another turn, but... It's an antique store they've come out beside, while across the street has windows filled with brightly colored and patterned fabrics. Plenty of older women inside.]

Don't be shocked by the prices, okay? It's expensive no matter where ya go, which is why I got a list for myself. [... Somewhere in his pockets.] It's unusual to see young guys bein' interested in stuff like this, so they might ask ya some questions, but don't worry~. I'm sure they'll be nice.

[He is Experienced in the ways of crafts stores.]</small.

[tepidity]

[ then hurry up and find your precious thing, mika!!


anyway nisaka looks IMMEDIATELY UNSURE about the prospect of questions, but he follows along regardless... even if his steps now are a little more reluctant. while he might not mind crowds as much as mika (in fact, sometimes he likes them, when he's able to blend in anyway), he doesn't do too well with directed attention. he allows himself to feel some vague comfort in the fact that mika will likely draw all the attention, just being who he is. catch nisaka trying to make himself seem smaller though, hunching his shoulders and such. ]

[allforshu]

[It's okay, Nisaka..! Mika is a thousand times more comfortable and at ease around girls, so he can handle talking with them even if he's still bad at eye contact. Mostly about the different sorts of yarns available for scarves and fabrics. Nisaka's pretty free to wander he pleases without much human contact.

... Like, maybe a sales associate asking if he needs anything and etc, but generally left alone.

Along with yarns and fabrics of all kinds, there's designs and things like small decorations and beads specifically for these projects. The gentle clacking of a sewing machine, utterly dated compared to a lot of the technology of Shehui and yet nothing can compare to its efficiency in the hands of a master. Things like that. It's a quiet, almost otherworldly place... especially considering the bustle outside.

The prices are quite something, but it's just the bolts of fabrics that run a pretty penny. Everything else seems more or less above average.]

[tepidity]

[ nisaka, on the other hand, is quite the opposite around girls, but at least the people here are much older, and therefore less likely to want to hassle him in the way he's grown to dread from girls his age, but he still definitely keeps to himself, sticking to close to the shelves as he wanders between aisles.

but as he'd told mika, he has no real frame of reference for this kind of thing, and so he doesn't have much of an opinion on the prices apart from i'd definitely need a job to sustain this kind of hobby.

in the end, he winds up shuffling back to where mika has ended up. there's a little shopping bag in his hands (given to him by one of the sales associates) but it is noticeably empty. ]

Which of these things [ he gestures to the store at large ] makes a scarf?