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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]

[ 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.

[glub]

Then maybe it's because you should have been cheering me on?

[ about to put another coin into the machine.

but, he's not doing it until he gets the praise he's (really not) owed. ]

[ignoreher]

[ hmm. cheer him on. she's not much of a hip-hip-hurrah type of cheerer, though... malkuth will rock on her heels, then beams up at him. ]

I know you've got this, Rafayel! Your hands are steady and your eyes keen, so there's no one better to nab that duck than you!

[ how's that ]

[glub]

That's much better.

Besides, you know when it comes to these machines... it takes a certain level of speed, hand eye coordination, and bravery. [ this is all just talk, of course. while the crane does actually grab onto the duck this time, it barely moved 2 cms, before falling completely short of where the prize bin is.

if it's any consolation (it's not), he seems genuinely perplexed. ]

i forgot to say it was a 2 parter

[glub]

[ that said, he's not even asking for permission before trying to go at it again.... ]

[ignoreher]

[ ... ]

You know, I didn't get the feeling you were lying to me, so you really, really believe you're good at this, don't you.

[ almost pitying... she's bumping him with her hip. ]

Lemme try! I don't think I'll be any better, but I wanna!

[glub]

Psh, lying? No way. It's not my fault your little friend here is being stubborn. [ even when he's bumped, he's still keeping his hand over the controls. it's clear he's not planning on budging.

guess who else is stubborn.

give him like two huffy seconds before, he eventually does let go. ]

Well, if you lose, we can just go a few mor turns.

[ignoreher]

You're sweet sometimes.

[ okay!!! let her try it.

over... the duck. adjusting. painful adjustments. and... down!!!

... ... ...

it drops a little ways into being carried, at an even more awkward position, and she smacks her hand on the glass. ]

I'm getting you out of there.

[ he's not gonna get these controls back either. ]

[glub]

[ sweet... only then to become sour. ]

Oh, you almost had it. It looks like he's realllly out to embarrass us today.

[ but, putting another coin in for her.

now they're both too invested... what happened to the grocery funds. ]

[ignoreher]

[ sorry caleb. there's no groceries today either. ]

You should look for a plush you like too, Rafayel! I'll win it for you... after I get mine.

[ okay... okay...


yeah no she's losing it immediately. ]

[glub]

[ he shakes his head a little at that. ]

Aren't you getting a little greedy?

[ but, he does stand behind her now, this time gesturing lightly with his finger at the edge of the machine, drumming along as if telling her to go more left this time. he then starts it up again. ] Come on, you're so close.

1/2

[ignoreher]

You're a better cheerleader than me... I'll have to up my game next time you play.

[ and... it's kind of nice, having him this close, but she couldn't pin down why. maybe because he always smells like the sea. it's a nice smell.

this time... she does go a little more left with it, and the claw pulls the duck up!!! slowly... slowly... it drops it almost shy of the hole, but the way it lands fumbles it right in. ]

2/2

[ignoreher]

[ .....................

!!!

sorry she's turning around to hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm sorry to look so smugly up at him. ]

I did it!

[ she did it!!! ]