deercountry | (no subject)

Oh right, Christmas is soon. That's one americans celebrate a lot, right? [a thoughtful nod before he lifts a finger thoughtfully.] If Tory likes it that's a good enough reason.

[he does not know her but robby is obviously friends with her and those shoes were great. that and he feels a level of empathy with anyone who also had wanky powers causing trouble without meaning to.

so, add this soldier to the fight.] I'd like to help. Maybe I can get something for Miss Makima too.

[and robby, and sensei. hm. probably not with robby around for the first one, he's pretty sure it's supposed to be a surprise.]

Only if she can. I bet her power is pretty tiring to use. [how much mental energy does it take to make a gameboy, the age old question.]

[ Good Mob, you learned the golden rule: go along with the thing the girl in your life is into. ]

I was surprised people would celebrate it here, but I guess it's a good excuse for presents. [ Ah. ] There was a Japanese one a pair had here with everyone the start of the month. The Rinne festival? You heard of that one?

[ Have you heard about a Naruto festival, Mob?? At least this directs their steps towards Cellar Door -- the best district for shopping. Hopefully, enough places would be open. ]

[a very valuable lesson indeed. even better if it's fun stuff like holidays as far as he's concerned.]

I guess when things are so dramatic all the time it's nice to have fun things. I like the idea of giving people presents too, everyone's very nice here. [they deserve some gifts. also asking mob his weeb status, truly. then again can you be a weeb if you are also an anime character.] Rinne? No, I haven't. This time of year we don't celebrate much besides the new year. Some people get chicken and cake for christmas though.

[at least the snow isn't too high right now, and walking into the more shop-centric area of cellar door has mob looking around curiously. and immediately point out a window with some very trench typical creepy dolls in them.] Those are haunted.

[said with the small smile of a kid having a good time window shopping. this was fun.]

[ Huh, no Rinne?? Well, he can explain a little: ] It's meant to be a day for remembering people you've lost, apparently. They had these games and a ton of food -- it's too bad you missed it.

[ He doesn't want to say, You should go next year, since do either of them want to think about that possibility? Even if from what Robby knows, there's no going back anywhere except for the sea.

But he's not going to say everyone should think about this like him, and instead--

and instead there's haunted dolls for Robby to make a ??? face at, and wonder in a quick four seconds

(haunted?
by what
do i want to know?
i don't want to know) ]

Okay, [ okay, ] unless I remember someone who likes spooky stuff, I'll skip them. You don't have a sixth sense for good deals, do you?

[ Joking, but also?? Tell a pal if u do, Mob. ]

Oh, kind of like Bon. [maybe it had a different name? ninjas just know how to party whenever.] That's in the summer though. I didn't realize the city would have festivals.

[and he takes a moment to space out thinking about festivals, how they'd look here, if they'd be fun. there's a stinging feeling of how he wouldn't get to go to bon with ritsu again, maybe ever. no reigen giving him a meager bonus and telling him to have fun, no thinking about asking tsubomi one year.

bummer. he pushes the thoughts down. (5%) maybe he could go with robby and jun to one instead. (2%)

one of the dolls absolutely has that 'my eyes follow you specifically robby everywhere' vibe going on so. probably better to ignore it.]

No. [sorry robby, he is a sucker. a little better than he used to be but still pretty high in the 'will overpay for everything' category.] That would be way more useful than making things float. [the solemn truth.]

[ Robby is going to remember about those dolls every time he sees them and quickly Look Away each time. We do not have time for cursed dolls, thanks!! ]

Suuure, but I bet you could have fun with floating stuff. Good for shows. [ That'd be fun, and he almost considers mentioning he could make some (craft) fish float for Jun, but that wouldn't last for long. But actually: ] Hey, you said about sea creatures before. Does he like them? You two could watch some movies; but we can still get him something.

[ There is a craft store still open with windows showing this and that, and Robby nods for Mob to follow him inside. Let's take a look at their hopefully not haunted stitchings!! ]

[he can now forever know dead people live in those dolls. the perks of having a psychic friend (is it a perk though.)]

I used to make dogs float. [informative. the good old days.] Yes, he says he wants to study them. He's going to let me borrow a book on it- oh.

[a craft store, that seemed so normal in comparison to a lot of their afternoon. he follows, and makes no comment about haunted knitting needles so? maybe it's fine? instead he's looking over everything, resisting the very real urge to touch some of the softer looking things.

there's at least one clunky scarf with squids on it, which like is that rude or supportive to sleepers, who knows.]

[ On one hand, poor dogs. On the other...totally probably would've floated dogs if he could too?? Robby cannot judge that decision in the slightest for the moment he considers that information. Very informative.

But so is about fish...can they find anything fish like in here? Robby doubts them getting very specific, but at least this craft shop is packed. Does the owner know that Sleepers are likely to be looking for gifts? There's some scarfs, and Robby's making his way along shelves with pottery work: jars, shaped 'normally' and some like animals. Candleholders, and the candle themselves nearby, smelling up their spot on the shelf. Look at these hanging friends.

Oh, look. If and when Mob comes over- or Robby can just hold up one of the fish himself with a 'hey, look at this' that's fun that really necessary of a closer look - he'll suggest: ]

You could grab him whatever and just watch documentaries or some movies on the omni. Cake still makes people feel better when they're down, right?

[ He's not too old himself to know the real magical remedy to all ills, is he? (robby you're seventeen) ]

[the problem with eight year olds having immense psychic power, floating dogs. mob walks slowly through, taking in everything - and it's a lot. one of the first thing he does is go over to the candles, picking one up to sniff then scrunching his nose when it's a bit much. love to know what candle scents the trench has.

he puts it back down and goes over to robby, stopping only to lightly poke at the hanging jellyfish (they clink together with a nice sound! maybe jun would like that?) before looking at the little fish robby found. his mouth makes a little o to see them, moving over to pick one up.]

They're like little plates. [bland of course, but pleased in his way. the glaze is smooth too, and mob begins the process of looking over each very carefully, breaking concentration only to nod and look at robby.] Hm, I think so. I wonder what kind of cake he likes. We always get chocolate.

[no robby's onto something here, how can cake not fix most things? he picks up the roundest and, probably, the funkiest looking of the fish, staring at it for a long few moments before lifting it to robby for his verdict.]

[ Robby wonders what they're good for (little trinkets? Maybe for putting bloodstones on, the usual currency), but they're kind of funny-looking. Maybe they're just for decoration, and Mob seems interested enough to give it a look over. Robby picks up a deer figure, which there's also plenty of.

But he looks back as Mob seems to specific a particular one (surely the funniest one is the one with the dotty body), and Robby smiles with an approving cock of his head. He then looks to the others, and picks up another round one, with the straighter lines. ]

You could say they're plates to put the cakes on. [ Now that's an idea. ] Hey, not bad. Then you both have a special plate whenever you visit.

[ A plate each. That's cute. Reminds him of the few times he went shopping with his mom and they got matching so-and-sos. ]

[there's definitely at least one dear skull with various jewelry hanging from it too. 'deer' in that way where the structure is just slightly off and the antlers look like complicated torture device.

oh a pair- mob looks between them, nodding, that small, placid quirk to his lips. it's nice to imagine being a guest enough that he had his own little plate. sort of plate.] I like that. I hope he will too.

[but oh right, robby's looking for stuff.] Does Tory like deer? [a nod to the figurine. he is going to help, he is Determined. they'll find something great just like these plates.]

[ Robby hands him the other plate then, here you go. Then turn the deer in his hand, an unsure look on his face. ]

I don't know what she likes, actually. Her omen's some kind of lizard...maybe dragon? [ He puts down the miniature deer. ] But I've got her a gift. I wanna get something for some other people. I was thinking a pair of birds for two who got together, and, uh...

[ Uhhh. He makes a faux wincing face at Mob before long. ]

Maybe a tub of fudge if I can't think of anything for everyone else?

[ He's so bad....at gift buying... ]

[he happily takes the plates, admiring them again before returning his attention to the matter at hand. gift giving. important stuff.]

Oh, you're bad at thinking up gifts. [he realizes, not intending to be rude just... saying it like he sees it. sorry about him. his expression goes vaguely thoughtful.] I'm not really good either. Ritsu told me the trick is buying something they wouldn't buy for themselves but wouldn't that just be things they don't like too?

[so deep. maybe fudge is a good idea. though... they're in a craft store...] Maybe you can make something?

[ Wow, the call-out. It doesn't offend Robby, but he does make a baffled-amused kind of face at it, like wow, guess he deserves that?? You go, Mob.

He thinks he gets the idea of what Ritsu meant, but looking along the store with Mob's own suggestion, towards where the actual materials are, Robby does try and think about it. ]

If they have instructions with them. [ Maybe?? Let's walk more towards where the ribbons, buttons, craft scissors and all are here.

(Oh, look at that squid.) ]

Okay, so I can't knit. [ That's off the table right away. ] And I can't art. [ --oh, ] But I know someone who might like this stuff.

[ A look at the buttons, the quarters of fabric... maybe?? With some off the fluffy stuff?? He knows a demon with a hot gun who loves making things...! ]

Maybe he could make something if I got him enough stuff?

[ok mob kind of loves the squid. he stares at it a moment, reaching over to lift one of the little tentacles.

right okay, focus. he nods to that, he cannot knit or art either. but-] Oh, that's a good idea. He could make whatever he wanted. [another pause.] I was wrong, you're really good at gift ideas.

[he might change his mind again later but ride that high, robby, master gift giver.

he moves over where there's a lot of just cool gothy buttons for clothing, picking up one with a star in it before dropping it.] What stuff to people who like crafts need? Maybe glitter too?

[ Can it really be a high when Mob changes his mind so quickly....

Mob, you're a special guy, that's for sure. ]

Glitter could be fun. [ He'll even lean in, speak lowly: ] He's not human. I don't know if where he's from has glitter.

[ Where he's from, a place called Hell. To some people, Hell invented glitter, but who knows the truth? ]

You know what glitter goes good with, too? Cards. You could make them handmade if you wanted to give gifts.

[ He's still at that age where handmade cards? Adorable. ]

[it's a rotating high. fun and exciting, like a very dumb surprise.

ok hell definitely invented glitter, but mob nods, a little surprised. he keeps his voice low too, just because robby is.] Is he an alien?

[but that's an idea though. since-] Oh, aren't christmas cards a big thing too? [see, another point to robby being a good gift guy. maybe that opinion won't change.]

Yep. You can always call it an end of the year card too, if you don't want to get too specific about Christmas. [ Since Mob doesn't technically celebrate it. ]

I'm gonna give some people cards, too. I'm not close to everyone, but it's nice, right? Oh. [ He gives a few clicks of his fingers. ]

Let's see if they have stickers or rubber stamps. Pictures we can put on 'em.

[ And not only glitter. ]

[yup, confirmed, robby had a handle on this gift stuff. mob nods, encouraged, moving to where there's more artsy things- paper, glue, the aforementioned glitter. frankly he's surprised glitter and glue exist in the trench but it's proven a really weird place like that.

he still wanted to get people like robby and sensei actual gifts, but even those coming with cards made more sense.] Are you going to make them? Maybe we can make them together.

[arts and crafts day... admittedly all these supplies make his head spin. how did one choose? there's a stamp that is a star with 'you're a star' written in the middle, which he picks up to examine. is this... holiday-y?]

[ Glitter and glue BUT STILL NO TELEVISIONS, MOB!!! NO TELEVISION.

But also, god...making cards. Should he? He grins, and thinking of how not America this place was, gives a fuck it kind of shrug of his shoulders. ]

Sure. [ Stamps are definitely available before stickers. Behold -- and behold! ]

But let's get these if we're serious. [ Lifting up the alphabet!! ...whatever Trench alphabet looks like. ] We'll need ink too. How many colours? Many as we want?

[ Are we going all out, Mob? Being big kids? (look, there's sea animal stamps too!!) ]

[the trench specifically out to baffle and annoy, news at 11 except there's no damn tvs.

mob brightens in his small way, which mostly means he stands a little straighter than before.] I think it will be fun. [they used to do this sort of thing in elementary school, why not in body horror world? same difference.

they are so serious, mob nods very seriously at the letters, maybe a little less serious as he picks up the sea animals stamps to show him.] Jun would like these, and we are squids. [sea creature solidarity? he guesses?] There's a few color inks in this pack, Miss Makima gave me some stuff to use for buying things so I-

[but no, everyone stop. mob has just seen these stamps near the back and nearly gasps. actual emotions, because he has to hurry to pick them up and show robby because what a find.

he really likes cats, okay.]

[ We are squids. We sure are, Mob, buddy. Robby's listening with a tiny smile to Mob's mild ways, the coloured inks getting a look over from him (so, he should make a few cards? Hope people appreciate cards in this place), that he misses the instant that Mob gasps.

His brows start to show concern, then puzzlement at what it is that Mob is looking at. Except then he's showing him, and he sees both the stamps and Mob's face.

Oh. Oh. Robby's smile blooms into a grin. ]

You like cats? You look like you just found your signature stamps.

[ Fact: Mob is not leaving without those stamps. ]

[definitely, definitely make cards. you can borrow his cat stamps even.]

There's even one with a letter in its mouth. [important to point out, these are clearly mail cats, perfect for cards. he glances up, a hasty nod to affirm yes cats? big fan.]

My signature stamps... [an important thought. he likes that idea, looking over the stamps once more before tucking them under his arm and going to pick up the inks he mentioned. just basic colors, perfect for cat stamps.] Do you like cats, Robby?

I don't mind them, [ he answers in a very nonchalant manner. Picking out his own set of inks, and huh, he's getting a handful now. ] Never think about them, but they're cool. Like dogs? Never had a problem with any animal.

[ Though, he did get chased by a dog once... but he was trespassing, so. Dogs = still cool. ]

You ever had one? Cat, [ he means. A brief look before tidying up the collection in his hands. Okay, ink, stamps, some random materials for plush making... ]

No, we never had any pets. A cat would have been nice though. [do omens count as pets? he picks up some paper too to help, just something colorful to actually make the cards with.

a little absentmindedly too, because thinking about omens has him wondering:] Why do you think our omens are dogs?

[he's heard it's something about their souls, something something. probably symbolic. of what he doesn't know.]