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[glub]

Rafayel

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they say when you give a man a fish he eats for one day when you teach a man to fish they try to empty out the claw machine

[ thank you for my life, peace. ]

Comments

[glub]

[ WHY WHAT HAPPENED WITH TAKASUGI ]

im feeling like youre trying to distract me but
i can't look away

[ but, aren't those... like aliens? ]

they literally look like they are about to take me to their leader

[ignoreher]

[ the memory sustains her ]

Right? They're soooo cute! It's always fun to watch him paint, too. You'd get along.

[glub]

[ where's his front row seats ]

you think so

[ he sends malkuth a photo of a sketch. this may actually more similar to her architectural designs. it's of buildings, but that look clearly foreign. there are domed tops, statues, and long columns made for a clearly more historical appearance. there's no signs of weathering to the structure, almost as if it were just built that day, or as if they were no different than the concept designs they sketched together at the hotel. but, on the bottom corner...

is a shopping list of items: apple, banana, chicken, cooking wine... ]

[ignoreher]

[ only ones we got is a future showing at the party

it's such a lovely sketch... she studies it for a few minutes, hand moving to flip to a new page to draw a loose draft of it herself, before replying. she'll do more while she waits between replies... ]

Is this your "mo"?

[glub]

it might be closer to a place that i imagined

what do you think not so different than your sketches right

[ignoreher]

[ a place he imagined... it's a really pretty place. he has a beautiful mind. shame he's got such a bad personality. ]

Not so different at all! It's really beautiful, Rafayel, I could almost imagine myself walking down there.

It looks ancient, almost... the architecture is more focused on aesthetic over efficiency, which denotes a wealth of its people and culture, the leisure to enjoy the sights they've made for themselves over the grind of survival. A celebration of their lives, where their troubles aren't life or death, a sort of peacefulness that's like...

Like a slow exhale?

That kind of feeling. I really like it, Rafayel, your really bring to life whatever you think!

[ ...

so much for critique. but there's really nothing she can -- not for a lack of a mean bone in her body, just... it's nice, what he's imagined. ]

But you know, I'd like to hear the artist's thoughts, too.

[glub]

[ he likes that her take is comprised entirely of opinions. it wasn't rooted in some pre-established theory of art, or built up on contrived principles. she doesn't focus on the rush of pencil strokes, or the delicate smudges of lead at the corner of the buildings.

maybe he also likes it, because it isn't entirely wrong. to some, lemuria and whalefall city may have been considered an ideal society. one without strife, or conflict, or struggles. as long as the fire below the sea kept burning, and yet— ]

the artists thoughts huh
hm lets see

[ maybe this once he could be a little honest. ]

aside from thinking i really should have picked up those groceries
i think your interpretation has been one of my faves you know aside from a biology student that called my work messy [ but, he wasn't wrong. he liked how unpretentious he was. ]

but youre right it probably was meant to be that kind of place
even if it wasnt i think id like for it to be just like you said

[ignoreher]

[ ...

rafayel can be so annoying sometimes, aggravating and mean... but she really likes when they talk like this. about art, something they share. one of his favorite interpretations. she'll keep sketching his sketch, adding in bits of color where she thinks the sun might hit the structures. ]

It'd be nice to visit.

[ she'd like to... but for now, rafayel's getting a returned sketch. how he'd added onto hers before, she's given her own touches -- plantlife adorns the spiraling pillars and comes off the domed roofs, circling the statues colorfully. there's a hint of warmth in the hues that denote sunset, maybe.

and then, like she hadn't just done that: ]

Do you still need to go grocery shopping?

[glub]

can you even swim

[ a joke. but, he hopes it doesn't reveal too much. then again, it could just sound like it was close to the sea. not unlike what he's he's described before.

though, he also likes the improvements she makes upon it. he almost feels like it's a drawing relay where they both share in cultivating something completely new. a different version of the world, or sights he's long forgotten; confined just to his memories and his nightmares. maybe in seeing them differently, he could recall a different place altogether. it's why he smiles a little when he gets it back, before— ]

yeah i doooo
i should [ before caleb gets on his case. ]

[ignoreher]

I'll go with you! Shopping's more fun with a friend.
(Also no, I don't know how to swim, so teach me sometime.)

[ sooooo demanding... but she does want to hang out, as much as she gripes about him to others. there's an ugly baby with his name on it after all. ]

[glub]

if miss manager says so then i cant really say no right

but who knew she would try and cash it in for free swimming lessons
did you forget what i am [ what he is here, at least. ]

[ignoreher]

The perfect person to teach me.

[ monstrosity of the sea ]

[glub]

id argue i might be the worst
its like asking someone to teach them how to breathe

[ignoreher]

It'll be fine! If I drown, I drown.

[glub]

those dun sound like good prospects
beside no one wants anyone dying in their own backyard yknow

but if you promise to be extttraaa good
i might think about it

[ignoreher]

[ what is she, five ]

I promise with cherries on top.

[ is that how that goes... ]

[glub]

[ five is generous, he'd say like two ]

kk ill really consider it then
in the meantime tho
we can put you on probation for the duration of this shopping trip lol

[ignoreher]

[ PROBATION ? WHAT HAS SHE DONE!!!!!!!! ]

I'm not allowed to buy anything?!

[glub]

you can be allowed

12 items no more [ just the amount for express checkout lanes ]

[ignoreher]

[ yay. she's gonna make him pay... ]

Deal! Where should we meet?

[ she's so excited. why... ]

[glub]

[ wow ]

hm wanna meet halfway soooo
by that one bakery on the corner

[ignoreher]

[ bread 🤤

she'll give him an OK emote before... cheating... using her super deer speed... to get to their meeting spot, making sure that she's entirely de-shifted before coming up there to wait. no cute ears to give her away this time.

...

gosh, it smells so good in there... and the pastries look so delicious from the window, too... ]

[glub]

[ hello? this isn't shikamusume...

opposite to that, rafayel takes a more leisurely approach to getting there. when he does, he can already see her peeking through the window of the bakery, and he gives a small huff. ] You do know we're going to shop for food, right?

Are you the kind of person who likes to fill up so you don't get lured into overbuying?

[ignoreher]

[ despite the fact she was expecting him to turn up, the sudden appearance makes her spin around in surprise. but that cute expression doesn't last long before her face settles to the familiar frown, poking his stomach sharply. ]

I know that! And of course! That's the only smart way to shop, Rafayel, so you can save money where it matters.

[ ... but she's still turning back to the bakery, pressing her hand against the glass. ]

And not spending it on stuff you don't need, like freshly baked rolls and fruit tarts. [ gosh, she wishes she was spending money on freshly baked rolls and fruit tarts. ] ... They smell really good though, don't they...?

[ please. she's in mourning. ]

[glub]

[ a missed opportunity to have scared her...

or so he considers briefly. ]

I didn't know you were so worried. Guess you aren't Miss Manager for nothing. [ honestly, rafayel is still becoming accustomed to the currency here. considering his wealth back in linkon city, it was relatively easy to let it slip by him here. after all, it isn't like rafayel put a lot of value into money to begin with.

still, at her words... he doesn't say anything. he just enters the bakery.

whether she follows along with him or not, he does pick up a fresh roll for her. ]