All of them? Wow, you don't think picking and choosing just the right ones means more? Besides, where are you going to sleep? [ he reaches over to almost poke her on the forehead, but he falls a bit short of doing it. he almost does it like it was once supposed to be a habit, and there's a gradual realization that comes to him as he drops his arms back to his side. he doesn't clear his throat, but in that awkward second— ]
Psh, he would think anything is a lucky charm. It's all mental, you know.
[ all tall people are the same... it's weird he catches himself like that, but malkuth won't ask why. she doesn't know how anyway. maybe something he did with a friend, or maybe he knows better than to poke her when he's within kicking distance. ]
They'll make a nice, pillowy surface for me to sleep on... or I'll just give them to my friends. If it really is all mental, then Rinne'll love a little friend to carry around.
[ but they probably should leave some for the kids... malkuth stares into the claw machine, already missing the feeling of a win, before she taps the pilot duck. ]
[ haven't you heard, never judge a man by his height... ]
More like a really bumpy surface, like the surface of the moon. Or maybe like sleeping on a camel's back. [ he's not clever with it. anyway, he does end up putting another coin into the machine, so who is he really fooling. he makes a finger gesture to malkuth, as if to indicate it's just 1 more time.
before, his finger falls back to the pilot duck's bill. he taps it idly, before he shakes his head. ] Nah, I already have someone for that. [ it's artsy birb, but he doesn't clarify. ] Now, hurry up before your turn runs out.
A surprise, huh? I'm not going to turn around and see a whole bunch of air, right?
[ jokes aside, he does end up turning his back.
though, not without making it obvious he's peeking out of his peripherals. listen, if he cheats in kitty cards, do you really expect he wouldn't look just a liiiiittle here? ]
[ he's peeking... a very slight kick as she leans over the controls, carefully maneuvering the claw over a particularly ugly set of legs...
...
smacking the button super hard!!!!!!!!
... ... ...
and watching it get hooked on the prize chute with those very same freakishly curved limbs. she's pressing her head against the glass in quiet contemplation of if she could get away with using an EGO to retrieve the disgusting oddball or if she should just give in. ]
[ he says as if it's some great mystery as opposed to something entirely within his own control. still, he does turn back around at the slight kick, though not without a mutter of complaint, though, when he hears the way she hits the buttom—
well, who wouldn't look then.
then...
...
he laughs. or he tries to hide it, but it's so obvious... yeah ]
[ rafayel lightly presses a hand to the top of her head as if to tell her to reeeelax. ] Puh-lease, we look nothing alike.
Maybe you're the one feeling some kinship here.
[ but, he does hold one more coin out.
what's the plan, or so he seems to say as he tilts his head slightly. it's honestly a pretty bad angle, but in real crane game fashion, he can maybe up 1-2 more turns for her. ]
[ why are all the guys (here) she knows so touchy. not that... she particularly minds it, blowing out like he's pressing the irritation out of her, and
oh.
her cheeks warm for some reason and she takes the coin, twisting it around in her hand as she turns back to stare at the ducktopus. it is in a hard spot. she should probably give in and someone else can win two for one. but malkuth is not someone who gives up easy, and after a moment she puts it in. ]
... Tell me a fun fish fact.
[ why. don't worry about it, she's delicately positioning the claw as close as she can to the prize hole without going over it. ]
[ considering how focused she seemed on getting this plushie, he's almost taken aback by sudden shift in topic. he raises a brow just slightly, before he softly exhales. ]
You really are so demanding, Miss Librarian. [ he thinks about it for a second before. ]
Squid ink is actually delicious. [ having tentacles himself...
[ let her-- smack down that button, the claw tipping the ducktopus up towards the outside of the prize hole and then flopping back down again. not into it, unfortunately, but the technique is there. ]
Ugh. [ if only she was... wait.
she's turning up to him. ] Do you see what I'm trying to do, Rafayel? Can you get it? I think your height'll make it easier.
he does get the idea in principle. the angling from above... ]
Okay, okay. So you're saying it's my turn now, right? [ he leans against the machine for a second, as if deliberating over the right angle. this time, when he puts the coin in, he also maneuvers the claw around, he around allows the claw to get some sort of spin to it. it moves erratically before coming down on the edge of the duck's plushie limbs and...
for once, it actually falls right into the prize hole. ]
Is this what you meant? [ he picks up the duck with one hand and hands it to her... like you know the scene. ] Guess this one's a little indecisive, and changed his mind to come home with you at least minute.
but yes!!! yes!!! he got it!!! malkuth's beaming as she takes it, holding her two prizes in her arms like they're her children now. they might just be. well, the ducktopus is supposed to be for him... but that would've been more ideal if she hadn't needed a hand in getting it in the first place.
he'd definitely complain if she said it was her thank you gift to him and he's the one who had to win it. ]
Sea creatures usually go with the current, right? I'm just glad he decided to go against it...
[ now she's got Two duck plushes... wow. ]
I wonder what I should name them. [ hmmm. oh well, she's turning her bright smile up at him now. ] I'll think on it. Thanks for helping me out though, I was soooooooo close to just shaking the machine and seeing if he'd fallen in like that.
[ listen, he doesn't offer turns, or get plushies for just anyone, okay.
though, it is kind of hard to think it wasn't worth the numis to see someone genuinely enjoy themselves like this. also, while he's entirely none the wiser in terms of her thoughrs— it's great she sees through him enough to know... exactly what his stance would have been.
so yeah, she right. ]
What, and get us kicked out of here? Maybe the plushies are the ones who saved us this time. I mean, we still have to grab groceries. You didn't have so much fun that you forgot why we came here, right? [ says rafayel, who also got just as into it.
but, now he's definitely feeling the weight... of the lack of numis in his pocket. ]
I'll help you look for some bargains to make up for it. I'd feel bad if you came back and got fussed at because of me.
[ or. whatever. it's her fault and she knows it, so. consider it equal exchange for giving her the chance to experience... something. whatever this is. ]
[ he doesn't seem to respond for a second, his eyes already distracted by the neat rows of food items. before, he turns back to her. instead of responding to her thanks, he just gives one of her ducks a small pat on the head. ]
Don't worry about it. Instead, shouldn't you be worried about beating me? We should see who can find the best deals. Just so you know, I thiiink I might have the advantage here.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Psh, he would think anything is a lucky charm. It's all mental, you know.
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They'll make a nice, pillowy surface for me to sleep on... or I'll just give them to my friends. If it really is all mental, then Rinne'll love a little friend to carry around.
[ but they probably should leave some for the kids... malkuth stares into the claw machine, already missing the feeling of a win, before she taps the pilot duck. ]
Is he gonna help you paint, Rafayel?
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More like a really bumpy surface, like the surface of the moon. Or maybe like sleeping on a camel's back. [ he's not clever with it. anyway, he does end up putting another coin into the machine, so who is he really fooling. he makes a finger gesture to malkuth, as if to indicate it's just 1 more time.
before, his finger falls back to the pilot duck's bill. he taps it idly, before he shakes his head. ] Nah, I already have someone for that. [ it's artsy birb, but he doesn't clarify. ] Now, hurry up before your turn runs out.
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You're a nice guy sometimes.
[ letting her get one last round in... she'll turn back and scan over the ducks, drumming her fingers on the machine before deciding. ]
Why don't you turn around? I want my last win to be a surprise.
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[ jokes aside, he does end up turning his back.
though, not without making it obvious he's peeking out of his peripherals. listen, if he cheats in kitty cards, do you really expect he wouldn't look just a liiiiittle here? ]
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[ he's peeking... a very slight kick as she leans over the controls, carefully maneuvering the claw over a particularly ugly set of legs...
...
smacking the button super hard!!!!!!!!
... ... ...
and watching it get hooked on the prize chute with those very same freakishly curved limbs. she's pressing her head against the glass in quiet contemplation of if she could get away with using an EGO to retrieve the disgusting oddball or if she should just give in. ]
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[ he says as if it's some great mystery as opposed to something entirely within his own control. still, he does turn back around at the slight kick, though not without a mutter of complaint, though, when he hears the way she hits the buttom—
well, who wouldn't look then.
then...
...
he laughs. or he tries to hide it, but it's so obvious... yeah ]
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[ they're practically soulmates!!!!!!!!!! ]
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Maybe you're the one feeling some kinship here.
[ but, he does hold one more coin out.
what's the plan, or so he seems to say as he tilts his head slightly. it's honestly a pretty bad angle, but in real crane game fashion, he can maybe up 1-2 more turns for her. ]
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oh.
her cheeks warm for some reason and she takes the coin, twisting it around in her hand as she turns back to stare at the ducktopus. it is in a hard spot. she should probably give in and someone else can win two for one. but malkuth is not someone who gives up easy, and after a moment she puts it in. ]
... Tell me a fun fish fact.
[ why. don't worry about it, she's delicately positioning the claw as close as she can to the prize hole without going over it. ]
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You really are so demanding, Miss Librarian. [ he thinks about it for a second before. ]
Squid ink is actually delicious. [ having tentacles himself...
is this appropriate. tell me. ]
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And who's playing along?
[ him!!! don't think on it though. ]
If I overthink it too much, I'll lose it. So being somewhat distracted helps.
[ her timer's ticking down though... ]
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rafayel momentarily leans against the machine as he watches the numbers slowly counting down. ]
Did you know fish actually have pretty good memory? "Fishbrain" is a myth.
[ is he helping? ]
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[ let her-- smack down that button, the claw tipping the ducktopus up towards the outside of the prize hole and then flopping back down again. not into it, unfortunately, but the technique is there. ]
Ugh. [ if only she was... wait.
she's turning up to him. ] Do you see what I'm trying to do, Rafayel? Can you get it? I think your height'll make it easier.
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he does get the idea in principle. the angling from above... ]
Okay, okay. So you're saying it's my turn now, right? [ he leans against the machine for a second, as if deliberating over the right angle. this time, when he puts the coin in, he also maneuvers the claw around, he around allows the claw to get some sort of spin to it. it moves erratically before coming down on the edge of the duck's plushie limbs and...
for once, it actually falls right into the prize hole. ]
Is this what you meant? [ he picks up the duck with one hand and hands it to her... like you know the scene. ] Guess this one's a little indecisive, and changed his mind to come home with you at least minute.
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but yes!!! yes!!! he got it!!! malkuth's beaming as she takes it, holding her two prizes in her arms like they're her children now. they might just be. well, the ducktopus is supposed to be for him... but that would've been more ideal if she hadn't needed a hand in getting it in the first place.
he'd definitely complain if she said it was her thank you gift to him and he's the one who had to win it. ]
Sea creatures usually go with the current, right? I'm just glad he decided to go against it...
[ now she's got Two duck plushes... wow. ]
I wonder what I should name them. [ hmmm. oh well, she's turning her bright smile up at him now. ] I'll think on it. Thanks for helping me out though, I was soooooooo close to just shaking the machine and seeing if he'd fallen in like that.
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though, it is kind of hard to think it wasn't worth the numis to see someone genuinely enjoy themselves like this. also, while he's entirely none the wiser in terms of her thoughrs— it's great she sees through him enough to know... exactly what his stance would have been.
so yeah, she right. ]
What, and get us kicked out of here? Maybe the plushies are the ones who saved us this time. I mean, we still have to grab groceries. You didn't have so much fun that you forgot why we came here, right? [ says rafayel, who also got just as into it.
but, now he's definitely feeling the weight... of the lack of numis in his pocket. ]
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[ body doubling to make sure he actually bought them!!!
...
and spending time with him, she guesses. something fun about shopping together. ]
Let's make it quick before we're trapped into another round. [ before she is. though...
he's looking a little confused? ] What is it?
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there's a small pause as he awkwardly rubs the back of his neck. ]
Instead of ten items, how about we settle on ... si... seven?
[ anyway,
he's already walking ahead now.
how many times in a day does she see rafayel's back. ]
tapping letters one at a time to get this thread to an end
hello?
too many times but it doesn't feel... bad, necessarily. hm. she'll put that thought away and catch up. ]
... Your roommate isn't gonna be mad you spent so much on [ a girl ] plushes, is he?
this thread is caleb's problem now
Weeeell, he does have his moods.
[ but said with a shrug. ]
If I buy a little less, he might not even notice. [ ( tiktok voice ) no one's gonna notice ]
sorry caleb
I'll help you look for some bargains to make up for it. I'd feel bad if you came back and got fussed at because of me.
[ or. whatever. it's her fault and she knows it, so. consider it equal exchange for giving her the chance to experience... something. whatever this is. ]
It was really fun though, so... thanks.
π
Don't worry about it. Instead, shouldn't you be worried about beating me? We should see who can find the best deals. Just so you know, I thiiink I might have the advantage here.