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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]

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!!! ]

[glub]

[ oh, oh...

without realizing he's excitedly shaking her arm just slightly. except, when he catches himself, and notices the way she looks at him. he releases a small huff. ] That's because I warmed it up for you. [ pushing her on the head. ]

Let's get another one. Next one is... [ he points at the duck dressed like a pilot.

wait, do pilots exist here. idk let's just say it's fashion. ]

[ignoreher]

[ auuugh... she's been pushed... like a kid? she doesn't know, actually, she never was. kind of reminds her of kali though.

malkuth bumps him with her shoulder as she turns back, staring at the suggested duck (she would not know what a pilot is anyway) and handing off her duck to



wait. be polite. ]

Wanna redeem yourself?

[ That Isn't Polite. ]

[glub]

[ when she bumps him back, he does push a bit more weight against her arm, like making it a point that he's not giving in. that said, he doesn't need to be told twice to step up for a challenge. this time he does put another coin in.

at times like this, it'd be really helpful if his evol... wouldn't just burn the plushie to ash. but, without cheating, he's already diligently moving the crane's arm. ] Don't you embarrass me now, friend. [ is he talking about the duck...

yeah, it better not shame him this time. especially, when he needs to prove a point now. ]

[ignoreher]

[ like a wall. so so sorry caleb there really is no groceries coming home today, malkuth's hovering beside rafayel as she holds her own duckie in anticipation... ]

More to the right! It'll slip if you try and nab it there...

[ like she's an expert now smh ]

[glub]

[ i'm in tears....

is it worse for her ego that he does move it a liiitle more right and it just happens to nab the plastic tag that encircles of the pilot duck's little webbed feet. it ends up hooking right onto it...


and also depositing him right into the toy bin. ] ...! I told you I was was pretty good at this. [ no, stop feeding into their newfound addiction... ]