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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

[ignoreher]

[ hello??? give her that roll if it's for her... she is too mature to jump for it unfortunately, but her hands do come up to take it. gimme. ]

Then they're clearly not dedicated enough. I've heard tales [ from gebura ] that they'd hide in trash cans just for a single shot of their target, you know?

[glub]

In the trash cans? [ ... ]

How would you know that? [ how does one... find out? do they just pop out of like a "gotcha!" moment? he seems to be mulling over this as he's now gently releasing the bread into her hands now.

he really does feel like he's feeding a small animal here. ]

[ignoreher]

[ yaaaaaaaaaay yesssssssss bread... he'll feel even more like he is as she chomps into it, humming softly. so good. ]

One of my coworkers was pretty famous in her heyday. [ picking off pieces now... she'll offer one that's not been near her mouth. ] She'd always complain about it.

[glub]

[ for some reason, he's already picturing her to be some type of former idol? it would explain away some of how malkuth seemed to comfortable as her role as a manager here, at least. but, he also doesn't press it further.

a librarian who was a former idol... seemed like they would be popular, actually. absently, he's taking a bite of the piece of bread she holds out, nipping down on the edge to pull it closer to him first. ]

Then should I be glad I didn't have it that bad? Or should I be scared that I have you instead?

[ not him treating her like a stalker. ]

[ignoreher]

You should be happy to have me instead. I'm an excellent bodyguard, remember?

[ stalker schmalker. she'll tear off another bit for herself, bumping him slightly with her shoulder. ]

Let's go, buddy. I'll kick any cans that start to shake.

[glub]

[ he shakes his head, letting out a sigh like he's troubles (he's not). ]

Okay, okay. I'm right here, you know. No need to rush me.

[ following in step with her. ]

Now that you had something in your stomach, you won't be distracted once we're in the store, right? [ wasn't that what she said? ]

[ignoreher]

[ that is what she said, pretty much. however: ]

That's general advice for you too.

[ here. have another piece of bread. ]

What kind of snacks do you like buying?

[glub]

I like seaweed snacks. They're pretty easy to make too. Oh, but I like anything with a lot of texture too.

[ he leans down. throw it in there. ]

What about you?

[ignoreher]

[ tossin it seal boy ]

Crunchy stuff. It's really satisfying to snap pretzels and stuff, don't you think?

[ like bones. anyway ]

[glub]

[ he catches it!! he uses his finger to push the rest of it in. he chews on it thoughtfully, before: ]

Just crunch? What about crisp? Or mush? Slimy? Spicy?

[ignoreher]

Oh, crisp is really good! Spicy, sweet... Sour stuff is pretty fun too.

[ puckering her lips. sour... ]

Actually, I like all kinds of different flavors. They're like... colors of the mouth! By combining different ones, you get just as different tastes and feelings. [ waving another torn off piece of bread. ] Salty and sweet harmonize well despite their contrast, the way that colors opposite on the wheel make each other pop. Bitter, sour things are too alike and only strengthen the reaction your mouth has to them, like two colors that the same hue but differing saturations... it's easy to confuse them until you have both to compare.

[ if... that makes sense. oh. she's prattling. chewing gently on her bread piece... ]

Fluffy, sticky, rich... I don't think I've had something slimy yet, but it doesn't sound pleasant.

[glub]

Sour stuff is best when it's a surprise, though.

[ like when he slips extra lemons in your water one day...

but, it's a thought for later. for now, just talking about food is rousing the hunger he thought they may have successfully abated with... looks at scribbled writing on hand one piece of bread. ] I like the way you put it. On top of that, what the mouth can't define in taste, we also have smell, which creates that many more combinations. And just like with art... everyone has different tastes, too.

[ as for slimy... ]

I'll find you just the right slimy thing for your mouth.

[ thankfully, they're almost to the store entrance. ]

[ignoreher]

[ half a whole roll between them, absolutely not a chance they're getting out of buying snacks here. malkuth beams at his continued metaphor, pleased... that he likes hers, that he goes with the odd comparison.

at least this isn't her first time in a grocery store. missed that chance. her eyes do still wander anyway, hand idly reaching to grab his sleeve so she doesn't wander. ]

Weird to say I'm looking forward to trying it, but I am. Are octopi slimy?

[ he seems pretty familiar with the sea, so. ]

[glub]

[ he's already half-expecting both of them to have wandered off, actually. so when he feels her grip on his sleeve, it draws his attention back to her.

you know, that paired with what she said. ]

... Are you saying you wanna eat me?

[ignoreher]

... Are you an octopus?

[ this isn't really answering the question actually. ]

[glub]

[ holds eye contact...

stares... ]

Anyway, they are a little slimy. Depends on how you want them.

[ignoreher]

[ him staring at her like this is so weird. but malkuth isn't gonna give in. ]

Fresh out of the ocean. Can we add it to your list?

[glub]

Sure, if we find any good ones.

[ he smells the air for a second before shaking his head. ]

Instead, don't you think we should catch our own? If you ask really nicely, maybe they'll just slide right into your net.

[ wait, is this where they get derailed by literal crane game... ]

1/2

[ignoreher]

[ is this........ a neat trick he got from living by the ocean, or because he is maybe-maybe not an octopus himself....... ]

I don't think any kind of prey will just sweetly go to their own death, Rafayel. I wouldn't.

[ but she also isn't. particularly prey like, despite her soul. then again. she did willingly go into a strange man's house without a moment's hesitation. she shouldn't be speaking poorly of octopi.

also yes. it's going to catch her eye since it's right at the front, pausing a beat before leaving his side (momentarily) to check it out. oh... the creatures are so cute? birds mostly, given peacock's influence, but there's others. ]

2/2

[ignoreher]

[ nevermind there is a fucking technicolor duck in there her eyes are plastered. it's so colorful and cute. it's all she can see. ]

Rafayel, look. Isn't it the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?

[ like a rainbow puked on it actually. ]

[glub]

[ rafayel gives a noncommittal shrug to the first half. naturally, he has his own reasons for his easy confidence, but it's not like he's going to admit it's basically... cheating. that said, he does begin mentally going through the checklist of items he told caleb he'd buy, before his eyes stray back on the crane game....

and suddenly, malkuth is already there. he gives a slight sigh, even if its entirely performative before he ends up standing behind her. ] ... I guess they're right when they beauty is subjective, and everything in the world is up for interpretation.

[ some of the colors hurt his eyes, but you know what...

he's dutifully getting coins for them to try it out. you're in luck because out of all the lads men, he's not going to ask for who goes first, because it's obviously him? ]

Sit back and watch the pro.

[ignoreher]

[ hello??? not like she knows how to play it, so she'll easily step aside to watch him try... until she learns and then wants to play herself. that's a problem for future malkuth. ]

I won't say that the more colorful something is, the better it is... but it's so unique, I can't help but be caught by it. I don't think there's another duck in the whole world that's so disgustingly busy.

[ except maybe the plaid one in the corner but details. fine. go for it pro. give it a shot. don't fuck this up. ]

[glub]

I don't know, I'd say his friends also have their schedules fully booked out. [ this is about to be really embarrassing...

still, rafayel goes into it with his confidence at its peak. he's already putting the coin into the machine and moving the crane's arm inch by inch, before— ]

[glub]

[ the crane's arm opens up and just barely grazes the duck's bill.

of course, rafayel does the only rational thing in this situation and it's to stare at malkuth like it's all her fault. ]

[ignoreher]

[ okay bitch she'd been expecting sooooo much from his big talk and now she's disappointed he didn't get it first try, which would have impressed her. ]

There's not a single thing about me that's distracting, Rafayel. Do better.