deercountry | (no subject)

[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.]

Don't know. [ Honestly!! ] Seems random, if you ask me. We've got dogs, Mister LaRusso's looks like a dog, 'cept when it's big; Tory's got a dragon-lizard, and my other friends have birds.

[ They are meant to be linked to their soul, so Robby's mouth quirks. ]

Think we're dog-like?

[ Got any opinion of their level of dog, Mob. (Also, unless there's anything else that catches their eye, they can start making their way to the shop owner....!) ]

His omen looks different sometimes? [this is news to him. it's hard to imagine the little thing as anything but a fluffball.

yes, moving towards the front now. the shopowner watches them with amusement, given it's two young people stocking up on what looks craft gear. pretty cute. mob seriously considers the question of their dog qualities.]

Hm... I think you're kind of like the dogs they take to hospitals to make people feel better. [he makes mob feel better pretty often, so? sounds legit in his book.]

Yeah? [ He knows what Mob means (is there a word for it? Comfort dogs? Lucky people?), and there's amusement in the word, bright. This is the second time he's been compared to a kind of comfort friend. ]

Well, [ to give this some very serious consideration, not at all amused as he places his products on the counter so he can bring his bag around to open, ] you're one of those small dogs. Terriers? The kind that sit around unimposing that you don't know what's going on in their heads, but they're fun. They're just on the quiet side.

[ What a conversation for the shopowner to overhear. Double cute. Robby's bringing out foods for bartering, showing jars of preserved jam and bags of dried meat. It's a good trade for this time of year, and the owner seems pleased. Robby looks at Mob, nods at him to the shopowner. ]

He's got his stuff, too. You wanna offer something, or pay me back later?

[mob's got that very small smile again for that. the shopkeeper is definitely charmed by the pair, maybe they'll get better deals for being so Like This.] That's a good kind of dog.

[but right, shopkeeper. when robby's done mob puts his own items forward, a polite bow of his head as he pulls out some bloodgem pieces makima let him have.] Are these enough?

[the shopkeeper is nice enough not to try and swindle him, as easy as it would have been. probably also knows better than in front of robby, that's also a thing. regardless he thanks the owner with another little bow before taking their spoils. craft time.]

I didn't know you could trade with food. [ah, what a far cry from his very nervous mood at the start of this day. robby you're a miracle worker.]

[ Yeah you better not, Robby knows how much those bloodgems are worth, will even say, 'Whoa, a little too much', but otherwise, the exchange goes pleasantly. He follows Mob's bow with a tiny nod of his head, amused, but leaves with him out into the cold.

But it's been a good trip. Different from what he was expecting, but fun. Looks like he'll be making more cards than he thought, brushing his hair out that falls from behind his ear. ]

Yeah, most'll take food if it's good. Everywhere takes stones, but those are better for buying cake.

[ Which they still need to do. But Robby hasn't forgotten how this all started for them, and he looks at Mob. ] Feeling better?

I still need to find a job. I don't want to use my blood for buying things I don't think. [mob is reminded of that. he's still not sure if he's supposed to make a resume or something? given his job was an on the spot hire when he was in elementary school and not exactly above board anyway.

admittedly the trench seemed more like that than resumes and work history kind of place. something to work on though.

and ah, mob looks back with a little nod.] A lot better. [hard to tell with the perpetual nothing face but there is very much an ease that wasn't there before.] Are you okay? I've only really um, given people actual power like that once before. With master Reigen.

[ Fair, fair. What would be a good job for a fourteen-year-old from modern Japan, Robby wonders? Actually a hard question, when even Robby doesn't know what he wants to do.

Just as no one exploits him, that's all Robby cares about. There's just something worrisome about Mob and that possibly.

But Mob's answer to his own question is a good one, and he tilts his head when he thinks (wow--having his hair touch his cheek is weird. Feels like forever. ]

I feel good. I felt great at the time, [ if he really thinks about it. ] I mean, if I could react like that all the time in a fight? I don't think I'd be afraid of anything.

[ And Robby doesn't even know the half of the powers Mob gave him. Amazing. Magical folk get all the fun. ]

[you are so deeply right about the exploiting thing, robby, sorry about that inevitability. robby's answer though, it makes mob's shoulders ease just a touch.

whew, he didn't hurt him. it didn't work that way the last time he exploded like that so he assumed, but it was good to hear.]

It just made you stronger, but um, it was all the things you worked hard for that made it as good as it was. [he informs with a little nod.] Power built on practice like that is always better, I think. It's why I knew giving it to you the first time was a good idea.

[ Surely, that explosion just messed with his hair, right?? Robby doesn't even think about that than he does the fight at the tree, especially as Mob mentions it -- and the implied confidence. ]

Well, thanks. No one's trusted me with their powers before. [ Kind of a joke, but also the truth? He gives Mob a friendly fist bump on the shoulder. ] If we get in a situation like that again, I'll trust you not to screw with me.

[ Ah. He touches his hair. ] --don't know if I need to get any longer with this, though.

[ Definitely a joke, and definitely the truth. ]

Ah, yeah... [faintly embarrassed still, about hair growing. whoops.] That doesn't usually happen.

[usually. time to invest in a nice pair of scissors just in case.]

I do though. [trust him with his power.] You can call me if you ever need it again. I want to get better at that, I think. Making people stronger.

I won't say no to being a guinea pig, [ he admits with humour. Maybe he should? Whatever! ] We can turn it into a lesson sometime.

[ Maybe?? It's something to think about, later. ]

But for now, let's get that cake. I'm thinking I want some too.

[ It's been a long day -- they all deserve cake. ]

[the start of the rob and mob super team here. finally robby can have some anime ass fights like the shonen protag in his heart.]

I saw something down there. [he points out, towards where a bakery with big glass windows is showing off some very nice cakes indeed.

a very successful day for all, minus a few tiny hiccups. the end.]