[ Rest assured, he will be more than happy to rattle off all the reasons why having a tail is so miserable. ]
It's hard to sleep on your back. You can't control what it does or how it moves. [ HOW is he supposed to conceal don't feel his emotions like this? ] It's a pain to have to modify all your pants.
[ All said in the tone of an aggrieved mother complaining about her unruly child (or in this case, unruly tail). But he's well aware that he didn't com here to moan about his personal problems. They are here to ensure that Misa has a good day and nothing else. ]
Yeah, I did! I can show you when we get there. Well, when we sit down there, I mean. I want to eat what I pick there, while it's fresh....
[ Ramble ramble ramble. Mostly as an effort to divert him from asking too much about what she'd been picking up. Her surprise for him that she worked so hard on! She can't have it getting revealed before its time comes. Actually, hearing him complain so much about his tail problems makes her start to wonder if he'll find her gift just another nuisance to add on top of everything else, but... too late. At least they're making good progress through the streets of Achamoth, with Misa keeping her eyes peeled for the storefront he'd Communion'd to her. Is that it on the horizon...??? ]
You haven't been modifying them yourself, have you? The pants.
With the subject of his newfound tail now buried in the past, the worst of his annoyance melts away. His conversational tone drops back to something more even and modulated, the minor wrinkles between his brows smoothing out. ]
Sure. I'd like to see it.
[ Even if he's bad at taking an interest in people normally, surely if he just applies some effort it'll get easier with time, right? Just like every other skill in the world.
As for his pants... ]
Not yet. But I did ask someone [ Ernesto ] for suggestions on how to modify them. It doesn't seem too difficult.
[ Even if he's never picked up a sewing needle in his life. It's fine. He'll figure it out. In the meantime the storefront looms closer, a surprisingly elegant-looking bakery quickly growing in size. (Unfortunately not very bright and welcoming, because they're still in Achamoth. But maybe they'll have something other than depression cupcakes....) ]
You know, I'm pretty good at that kind of thing. Modifying clothes. All you have to do is ask... if you end up having trouble.
[ The offer is quite nonchalant and rhetorical - mostly because Misa doesn't think it's a big deal. She modifies her own clothes all the time, especially ever since she came to Achamoth, whenever she finds clothes that don't fit her exact aesthetic. Distressing them, changing the length... how hard can cutting a little hole in pants be???
Anyway, once they come up on the storefront, Misa's eyes light up a little more at seeing the fancy interior, pushing open the front door of the establishment with lightly increased enthusiasm. The gloominess of the décor doesn't bother her in the least - actually, she fits right in. ]
Wow, this place is nice. No wonder...
[ No wonder he was coming here for a gift for miss Gray!! The range of items is impressive, from intricate pastries to more simple, down-to-earth things like coffee cakes - Misa wastes no time inspecting everything behind the glass cases. ]
This is the part where you say 'nothing over twenty jools' or something, right?
[ The offer takes him by surprise, less so because he doesn't expect her to hand out her help so easily but simply because he never imagined she would have any particular skill in the area of handicrafts and clothes alteration. Misa truly is more complex than she looks. ]
I'll think about it.
[ Truthfully he'd feel kind of bad foisting something meant to be his responsibility onto her, but maybe if she has free time and doesn't mind...?? Though she seems like quite the popular type, perhaps her free time is spent hanging out with all the other Kenoma.
He follows her inside quietly, more interested in the patrons of the store than its offerings, though his gaze follows Misa's to the sweets on display soon enough. At her comment, he almost cracks a smile. ]
There's no limit. Pick whatever you want.
[ It's not like he spends his monthly allowance on anything anyway.....may as well splurge here. ]
Haha, okay... I won't burn that big a hole in your wallet, I swear.
[ She says this with a light note of mischief, before turning her attentions back to the case. In reality, she's not planning on doing anything purposefully malicious at all - she's just trying to puzzle out what kind of things Gray likes. She seems quite innocent (fitting), so maybe she likes sweet sweets...? ]
If it's for Gray, then we should definitely go with this.
[ It doesn't end up taking that long for Misa to make a decision— she's quick about these kinds of things. Plus, it's not like she needs to ask Eustace's input, he said he had no idea, right? There's a short exchange where Misa calls over the attendant, tapping her nail on the glass to point out the macarons, ordering a box with a variety of flavors inside for Gray. It's a nice bakery, so she should get the chance to taste something fancy, right? And this way, at least she'll like one of the flavors. While the attendant is placing them in the box, Misa turns over to her companion, nudging him slightly with an elbow in case he's looking off somewhere else. ]
With that settled... what do you want, Eustace? Or shall I pick for you, too?
[ It's the Regent's wallet anyway, technically, so she can burn as big of a hole as she wants.
He expects her to take her time in front of the display case, hemming and hawing, but she makes her selection surprisingly quickly, already tapping on the glass to point at....macarons? He thinks the little round cookies are macarons. Ilsa used to buy them a lot, if he remembers correctly.
Truthfully he's not really paying attention to the other desserts in the display case because all of his focus is laser pointed on a selection of cute little animal cookies, their derpy little faces staring back at him. It's with some effort that he looks away when Misa addresses him, face about as impassive as usual.
Nothing can hide the slow tick-tock wave of his tail again, stirred back to life by the sight of those cookies. ]
You can pick.
[ He's not huge on sweets anyway, surely it'll taste about the same. ]
[ The slow wag of his tail tells her plenty— and, for a moment, she feels a little immature fondness for him. Is Eustace really so soft and cute underneath all that tough guy exterior, that he likes something so childish and adorable? It's enough for his image to become that much less intimidating to her - not that she was ever that scared of him to begin with. All she does is breathe out a little laugh, before turning back to the attendant and pointing out the cookies. I want a set of these too, she says, directing the attendant to pick out a nice variety of the little dogs, as well as a few other animals that are on display. ]
Now we can share, [ Similarly, she also doesn't commonly partake in eating sweets, so a simple cookie that goes well with something warm to drink is good enough for her. Speaking of: ] And look! They can make pictures on the drinks... how cute...
[ Latte art technology this advanced never existed in her time?! She orders a somewhat overpriced latte, honestly just wanting to provoke more of this hidden cute side out of her companion. After all's said and done, she puts a finger to her chin, looking quite pleased with herself as the cashier rings everything up for them. ]
[ —Ah, so he's been caught. It's really not a big deal for his secret appreciation of cute animals to be revealed like this but he feels a smidge of embarassment all the same, cheeks darkening briefly as he looks away. ]
If that's what you want.
[ Look at this guy, trying to play it cool but failing. It's especially hard to play it cool when Misa goes on the all-out attack and gets a matching latte.
Instead of indulging his desires, he asks for a cup of water for himself, dooming himself to a fate of simply sitting and being consumed with lust over Misa's cute dog latte whenever it comes out like a certified freak. ]
I'll get a table.
[ Preferably next to a window, so they can soak up a little bit of sun while he people watches (again, like a freak). ]
[ Mission success, she guesses, once she sees that faint little blush and the way he tries to coolly look away and detach from the situation. Misa does nothing but give him a little acknowledging wave while he goes to get the table, as she's busy finishing up receiving the boxes from the attendant.
It doesn't take all that long for her to meander over to the table Eustace has picked out, though, setting down their collection of treats first. ]
There we are.
[ She chirps, moving into her own seat - but she doesn't make any initial motions to drink out of her cup or even take one of those cute cookies for herself. No, the first thing she does when she gets to the table is start rummaging around her purse on her lap, the clinks of chain tingling as she moves different items around in there. ]
Before anything else, as promised, I'll tell you about what I was in town for. I worked really hard on it, so close your eyes... err, I mean eye.
[ With a short laugh, she then pulls out two matching doll keychains... that were clearly made by her, given the level of detail in them. They're a little cute, a little creepy, just like Misa herself. There's one that looks like her, dressed up in her typical lacy, gothic attire - and there's one of Eustace, too, with little tufts of fur sewn in so he still has his ears. Even his clothes are remarkably close to his usual fare, his expression in the doll a trademark neutral. Whenever Eustace actually opens his eye again, he'll see Misa putting the Eustace doll closer to his side of the table, an obvious offer for him to take it. ]
[ He's happy to let Misa take her time, snagging them a small booth by one window and people-watching through the glass before she makes her way over and sits down. The playful request earns her a momentary look of curiosity, but it seems harmless enough so he acquieses, dutifully closing his eyes and not opening them until the majority of the rustling and clinking stops.
When he does.....he definitely doesn't expect to see a tiny version of himself staring up at him from on top the table. He blinks a few times, taken aback both by the sight and the strange tangle of emotions that rise up within him unprompted. Surprise, distress, a brief spark of gratitude that she would even bother to make something like this for someone like him.
An old memory, faded at the edges, flickers into his mind: a little girl - his younger sister - thrusting a few poorly connected bundles of straw into his hands and loudly proclaiming she'd made him a doll. He'd taken it at the time but reluctantly, protesting the whole time about how boys don't play with dolls and how she should have made one for her friends instead.
She's dead now, of course, and the doll burned to ashes and buried under too many years' worth of snow.
One hand lifts up, the point of his index finger reaching out to carefully smooth the little tufts of fur on his tiny ears. ]
You made this?
[ His voice definitely doesn't sound quite the same as usual, the words caught in his throat and tugged out one by one. His expression isn't quite the same either, overly serious as he stares at the little doll on the table. ]
[ She nods once, a quiet mm-hmm coming from her closed lips. Delicately, she lifts up her own doll, smoothing out some of the fabric of the tiny dress she'd sewn, only flicking her eyes up once to make sure Eustace isn't like, completely displeased with the gift. ]
I used to make them all the time for my friends. [ A pause, as she hesitates on what to say next. ] My mom would always say, Misa, make one of me too! ... But I never really got around to it.
[ Back then, she'd been a self-absorbed high school student, always promising that she'd one day do it, but always getting caught up in other things like exams or parties with her friends. It wasn't until being reminded so vividly of her parents' passing that she's even begun to remember small things like this, small moments that she can never get back. Eustace is the only person she can think of that would understand that absence, that strange breed of regret.
But— it's not as if she did this to upset herself, or to intentionally upset him, either. There's a soft smile on her lips as she talks, as she threads her index finger through the clasp on the chain idly. ]
I can't give it to her anymore, but... I think if I had a big brother, I'd make him match with me with things like this. Right? Even if he found it embarrassing, I'd still do it. So don't even think of getting rid of it, or else.
[ She teases. Because in the end, he's missing something too, right? Misa never got to share her silly little crafts with her family, and Eustace never had a chance to receive such a thing from a family member. Misa thinks she remembers, vaguely, Eustace saying something about her and his little sister. It's sad, right? Never getting to express or receive love from people who are gone? Her hope is that this small gift can maybe, just maybe, mend a bit of that longing that will never leave them. ]
[ Strangely enough, the threat tacked on the end, playful and toothless, is enough to pull a quick smile out of him and pull him back out of his self-imposed grief. Truthfully, knick-knacks such as these aren't his usual style, Eustace preferring to stay far away from cutesy accessories that serve no greater purpose than to add a dash of color and pop to an ensemble.
But this one has meaning to it, and had been crafted and presented with their shared histories in mind. It's less of an accessory and more of a reminder that he isn't alone now, not completely.
Some of the tension evaporates from his shoulders and the rest of his fingers stretch out to close around the tiny little doll—with a surprising amount of care and grace despite his usual rough presentation. ]
Thanks. I won't get rid of it. [ Promise. ] It might take me awhile to find a place for it though.
[ They don't exactly have cell phones in ye olde Horos and he's pretty sure attaching it to any of his weapons would just result in disaster. But give him a few days and he'll find a suitable place for it, never fear.
In the meantime, he brings it a little closer to his face, mock frowning as he inspects it further. ]
Haven't you looked in a mirror recently? They're at least that big. Probably even bigger.
[ She teases right back, sticking her nose up proudly. The truth is, she wasn't really sure how he'd react to such a gift— it's certainly not something Misa even tended to do for others unless they were her very close friends. But... it's different, with Eustace. It'll be better for them both if they have each other so that they never dwell on what happened before, right? This is just her way of starting them off on that course. Besides, it's much more exhausting antagonizing him, so it'll be much more entertaining to be on friendly terms.
Reaching for one of the cookies in the laced bag she'd left in the center of the table, she leans back in her chair, tucking away the memory of his smile fondly. ]
I thought, should I have put them on folded down? Since you're always flicking them down when you're annoyed. [ She mock does the motion with her free hand, taking a bite into the cookie with the other. Her next words are said with her mouth half-full: ] Kinda like this. Maybe you don't ever see it.... it's pretty funny.
[ How can she be so callous as to mock the unconscious movements of his beautiful ears?
Though, actually, looking at her mimicking them now is a bit eye-opening to see. They do look kind of stupid all pressed up against his head, don't they? It's not like he spends much time staring at a mirror outside of his morning routine, and he's certainly never annoyed enough during that time to have his ears flat against his head. He says as much aloud as he reaches forward and takes a cookie. (It's a dog cookie, naturally.) ]
I'm not usually looking in the mirror when I'm annoyed.
[ Because he's usually looking at other people, see. Though right now he's looking at the dog cookie, with maybe a little more intensity than he ought to given that it's....well, a cookie he should be eating. Behind him, his tail shuffles slowly in his seat, the contented wag limited by the booth that surrounds him. ]
What else do you know how to make?
[ Not that he necessarily wants anything but, well, if she ends up giving him stuff, maybe he'll set up a little corner in his room or something. ]
[ Tail wags are still cute, confirmed. She'll have to remember this to get him a dog plushy or something similar when his birthday comes... ]
Mostly just the charms? And the clothes fixing, like I said, too. Sometimes I'll change an accessory to look cooler or cuter... [ She rambles, dusting off her hands when she finishes her cookie. ] Oh, I used to make ghost videos with my friends to scare people with sometimes. Does that count?
[ Her eyes go up in thought, like she'd honestly forgotten about that hobby until this very moment— it isn't as if she's had time to indulge in it for quite some time. Plus, there's no possible way to keep doing it here, which is a shame. She's sure it'd be a fun prank to pull on at least a handful of the people here. ]
...I bet you're not very scared of ghosts, though.
[ Once upon a time he had been scared of ghosts, putting on a brave outwards face even as his hands had trembled at his sides. But that had been before - before his life had been turned upside down, and before he'd stepped foot aboard the Grandcypher.
He stares at the cookie for another moment longer before finally giving in and taking a bite. RIP cute dog cookie, you will be missed.... (up until he comes back to this same cafe and sneakily buys another box). It's not surprising that it's good, the flavor not too overpowering and the texture melt-in-his-mouth, but he lets out a small hum of surprised anyway. It's been a long time since he's sat and indulged like this.
He chews, then swallows. His voice is casual when he speaks again, almost relaxed. ]
Hard to be scared of something after you've talked with it once or twice.
[ First Ferry aboard the Grandcypher, and then Rin in Achamoth. Not that he would ever underestimate either of the two women, but easier to conquear a fear of the known rather than the unknown. ]
[ At the question, she actually leans her elbow on the table, propping up her face while she seems to consider the matter with a generous helping of thought, as nothing comes to mind immediately. What he says is true - it's hard to be scared of something once you've encountered it, and that's true of all things, not just ghosts. Ever since her parents, and her brush with death soon after, it became harder to be scared of dying, which she supposes would've been her chief fear had not all of that happened. ]
Well, I was really afraid when I was arrested, once. You wouldn't believe how rough they treated me! Tying me up and blindfolding me for weeks, stuff like that... it was kinda perverted.
[ She admits that all with a similar air to just sharing regular old gossip, sounding comically scandalized by the entire ordeal. It seems she doesn't mind sharing a bit of her experience with that with Eustace - there's a frankness that's come attached to her peek into his memory, a comfort that she needn't worry about any judgment from him, least of all from being in police custody. Both of them have seen and been through worse things. ]
And it made me scared of not being able to do anything. [ She shrugs— that was the root of it, even back then. Being at someone's mercy. That, too, came from her parents dying in front of her. ] But that's why we're all trying to get stronger, isn't it?
[ He's biting into his cookie again a second time when Misa oh-so casually brings up her arrest, and there's a moment where a few crumbs go spraying across the table as he coughs in surprise. He pulls himself together quick enough, chewing and swallowing his mouthful of cookie before taking a drink to wash it all down, but his brows are furrowed deep when he looks back at Misa, clearly disturbed.
Technically disturbed for her and not because of her, though it might be hard to tell. ]
You were arrested? For what?
[ Never mind the part about being tied up and blindfolded (but also, what the fuck), better start from square one and get to the root of the matter. ]
—Sheesh, I didn't think it was that big of a deal!!
[ Catch this exasperated look as she watches the last of the crumbs settle on the table, Eustace, which only lingers as she moves a hand to sweep them off. Well, this certainly wasn't the reaction she was expecting. Honestly, she thought Eustace wouldn't care, or maybe had been in similar situations himself, what with how he'd implied he was going to kill those guys who offed his family. Surely he must have done things that were against the law by now...? ]
I got arrested under suspicion of being an accomplice to someone, okay? But they let me off and paid me to not say anything, so don't have a heart attack over it. Misa is an innocent girl...
[ And she keeps things there a bit vague, interpreting his reaction as disapproval, which will likely only get worse if she elaborates. Of course she doesn't expect everyone to have crossed paths with law enforcement... but Eustace is so rough and tumble? In her imagination, he probably has a least gotten into a bar fight or something like that, right? Surely this can't change his image of her that much?? ]
[ Guess what Misa, if you live in fantasy Japan where they're a lot more lenient about murder and also sort of part of the fantasy police force at the time (ACAB) then you'll never have to worry about being arrested!
But that's neither here or there, his interest in talking about his own shady escapades extremely low in comparison to his interest in learning more about Misa's brief (and unrightful, as far as he knows) stint at her local prison. He still looks part surprised and part disapproving, though his following words do a little to clear up the source of his consternation. ]
I can't imagine you would have done anything to warrant that type of treatment. [ Ah, if only he knew. ] They shouldn't have tied you up, especially not without confirming their suspicions first.
[ He's gonna go back and throttle those mystery police officers. Except wait, they're all already dead because their worlds are gone. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ That won't stop him from thinking about it though. ]
Yeah, that's what I said. It ended up fine, so whatever, I guess....
[ She purses her lips into a pout, seeming annoyed just recalling it. As she had with her parents, she treats the matter rather lightly, passively. ]
You're all used to fighting and stuff like that, right? Or maybe even being held captive. I still remember back when I met you. [ and he'd threatened to throw her off a cliff for annoying the guards with her antics. ] So that's not scary to you, is it? Are there things that scare you? Oh, maybe a big tough guy like you is scared of something really simple, like the dark...
[ are you afraid of the dark eustace?? are you??? ]
[ How times change....now he would throw people off a cliff for her instead of Misa herself.
She is right in that he's used to stuff like that. Fighting, getting captured, sustaining grievous injury....none of it really scares him anymore. He might not want to die, but he doesn't fear death. It's been a close companion of his for far too long now, slipping into his shadow all those years ago and following him every step of the way since then.
The things he does fear though... Eustace closes his eyes. Sighs a little. Almost sounds little exasperated as he says: ]
I'm only human.
[ Of course there are things that scare him, for better or for worse (mostly worse). He goes back to munching away at his cookie, this time not spilling crumbs everywhere. He chews, then swallows. ]
But you'll have to buy me more cookies if you want that answer.
[ Sorry, he's not giving away that one so freely, even to her. ]
Aww, what? No fair, I told you... maybe I really will buy them.
[ She huffs with an overplayed sort of disappointment, looking at him with a scrutinizing gaze as if she'll be able to discern what his fear is just by sight. Of course, to no avail. A part of her thinks his fears are probably quite serious, given the unfinished nature of his quest to get revenge, unfitting for a fun outing such as this. Maybe it's for the best she doesn't know. ]
Wait a minute, you really call yourself a human? [ are... are dogboys humans? she's never thought about this. ] I guess I thought you'd be called something else.
[ aaand just on time, her ridiculous latte gets brought over by one of the café's waitstaff, with Misa barely acknowledging them because her brow is furrowed deep in thought over the matter of whether Eustace is technically a werewolf or not. ]
[ Misa?? Hello???? You can't just ask if dogboys count as human?
Even if he's used to getting stared at and mislabeled all the time in Horos, by both regular townsfolk and his fellow Aions alike, there's still a momentary flicker of annoyance that crosses his face before it fades again. ]
If you want to get technical, I'm an Erune. [ Because you gotta have all your fantasy races named different things. ] But in terms of biological function, I'm as human as anyone else.
[ He still has to eat and sleep and use the restroom like anyone else. Still dies if he gets stabbed through the lungs or heart.
Also still finds little foam dog lattes as cute as anyone else, his attention captured by Misa's drink as the server sets it down before skedaddling off again. It's so round, so jiggly, so... ]
...Cute.
[ He may have said it out loud, under his breath. ]
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no subject
It's hard to sleep on your back. You can't control what it does or how it moves. [ HOW is he supposed to conceal
don't feelhis emotions like this? ] It's a pain to have to modify all your pants.[ All said in the tone of an aggrieved mother complaining about her unruly child (or in this case, unruly tail). But he's well aware that he didn't com here to moan about his personal problems. They are here to ensure that Misa has a good day and nothing else. ]
Did you already pick up what you needed?
no subject
[ Ramble ramble ramble. Mostly as an effort to divert him from asking too much about what she'd been picking up. Her surprise for him that she worked so hard on! She can't have it getting revealed before its time comes. Actually, hearing him complain so much about his tail problems makes her start to wonder if he'll find her gift just another nuisance to add on top of everything else, but... too late. At least they're making good progress through the streets of Achamoth, with Misa keeping her eyes peeled for the storefront he'd Communion'd to her. Is that it on the horizon...??? ]
You haven't been modifying them yourself, have you? The pants.
no subject
With the subject of his newfound tail now buried in the past, the worst of his annoyance melts away. His conversational tone drops back to something more even and modulated, the minor wrinkles between his brows smoothing out. ]
Sure. I'd like to see it.
[ Even if he's bad at taking an interest in people normally, surely if he just applies some effort it'll get easier with time, right? Just like every other skill in the world.
As for his pants... ]
Not yet. But I did ask someone [ Ernesto ] for suggestions on how to modify them. It doesn't seem too difficult.
[ Even if he's never picked up a sewing needle in his life. It's fine. He'll figure it out. In the meantime the storefront looms closer, a surprisingly elegant-looking bakery quickly growing in size. (Unfortunately not very bright and welcoming, because they're still in Achamoth. But maybe they'll have something other than depression cupcakes....) ]
no subject
You know, I'm pretty good at that kind of thing. Modifying clothes. All you have to do is ask... if you end up having trouble.
[ The offer is quite nonchalant and rhetorical - mostly because Misa doesn't think it's a big deal. She modifies her own clothes all the time, especially ever since she came to Achamoth, whenever she finds clothes that don't fit her exact aesthetic. Distressing them, changing the length... how hard can cutting a little hole in pants be???
Anyway, once they come up on the storefront, Misa's eyes light up a little more at seeing the fancy interior, pushing open the front door of the establishment with lightly increased enthusiasm. The gloominess of the décor doesn't bother her in the least - actually, she fits right in. ]
Wow, this place is nice. No wonder...
[ No wonder he was coming here for a gift for miss Gray!! The range of items is impressive, from intricate pastries to more simple, down-to-earth things like coffee cakes - Misa wastes no time inspecting everything behind the glass cases. ]
This is the part where you say 'nothing over twenty jools' or something, right?
no subject
I'll think about it.
[ Truthfully he'd feel kind of bad foisting something meant to be his responsibility onto her, but maybe if she has free time and doesn't mind...?? Though she seems like quite the popular type, perhaps her free time is spent hanging out with all the other Kenoma.
He follows her inside quietly, more interested in the patrons of the store than its offerings, though his gaze follows Misa's to the sweets on display soon enough. At her comment, he almost cracks a smile. ]
There's no limit. Pick whatever you want.
[ It's not like he spends his monthly allowance on anything anyway.....may as well splurge here. ]
no subject
[ She says this with a light note of mischief, before turning her attentions back to the case. In reality, she's not planning on doing anything purposefully malicious at all - she's just trying to puzzle out what kind of things Gray likes. She seems quite innocent (fitting), so maybe she likes sweet sweets...? ]
If it's for Gray, then we should definitely go with this.
[ It doesn't end up taking that long for Misa to make a decision— she's quick about these kinds of things. Plus, it's not like she needs to ask Eustace's input, he said he had no idea, right? There's a short exchange where Misa calls over the attendant, tapping her nail on the glass to point out the macarons, ordering a box with a variety of flavors inside for Gray. It's a nice bakery, so she should get the chance to taste something fancy, right? And this way, at least she'll like one of the flavors. While the attendant is placing them in the box, Misa turns over to her companion, nudging him slightly with an elbow in case he's looking off somewhere else. ]
With that settled... what do you want, Eustace? Or shall I pick for you, too?
no subject
He expects her to take her time in front of the display case, hemming and hawing, but she makes her selection surprisingly quickly, already tapping on the glass to point at....macarons? He thinks the little round cookies are macarons. Ilsa used to buy them a lot, if he remembers correctly.
Truthfully he's not really paying attention to the other desserts in the display case because all of his focus is laser pointed on a selection of cute little animal cookies, their derpy little faces staring back at him. It's with some effort that he looks away when Misa addresses him, face about as impassive as usual.
Nothing can hide the slow tick-tock wave of his tail again, stirred back to life by the sight of those cookies. ]
You can pick.
[ He's not huge on sweets anyway, surely it'll taste about the same. ]
no subject
Now we can share, [ Similarly, she also doesn't commonly partake in eating sweets, so a simple cookie that goes well with something warm to drink is good enough for her. Speaking of: ] And look! They can make pictures on the drinks... how cute...
[ Latte art technology this advanced never existed in her time?! She orders a somewhat overpriced latte, honestly just wanting to provoke more of this hidden cute side out of her companion. After all's said and done, she puts a finger to her chin, looking quite pleased with herself as the cashier rings everything up for them. ]
no subject
If that's what you want.
[ Look at this guy, trying to play it cool but failing. It's especially hard to play it cool when Misa goes on the all-out attack and gets a matching latte.
Instead of indulging his desires, he asks for a cup of water for himself, dooming himself to a fate of simply sitting and being consumed with lust over Misa's cute dog latte whenever it comes out like a certified freak. ]
I'll get a table.
[ Preferably next to a window, so they can soak up a little bit of sun while he people watches (again, like a freak). ]
no subject
It doesn't take all that long for her to meander over to the table Eustace has picked out, though, setting down their collection of treats first. ]
There we are.
[ She chirps, moving into her own seat - but she doesn't make any initial motions to drink out of her cup or even take one of those cute cookies for herself. No, the first thing she does when she gets to the table is start rummaging around her purse on her lap, the clinks of chain tingling as she moves different items around in there. ]
Before anything else, as promised, I'll tell you about what I was in town for. I worked really hard on it, so close your eyes... err, I mean eye.
[ With a short laugh, she then pulls out two matching doll keychains... that were clearly made by her, given the level of detail in them. They're a little cute, a little creepy, just like Misa herself. There's one that looks like her, dressed up in her typical lacy, gothic attire - and there's one of Eustace, too, with little tufts of fur sewn in so he still has his ears. Even his clothes are remarkably close to his usual fare, his expression in the doll a trademark neutral. Whenever Eustace actually opens his eye again, he'll see Misa putting the Eustace doll closer to his side of the table, an obvious offer for him to take it. ]
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When he does.....he definitely doesn't expect to see a tiny version of himself staring up at him from on top the table. He blinks a few times, taken aback both by the sight and the strange tangle of emotions that rise up within him unprompted. Surprise, distress, a brief spark of gratitude that she would even bother to make something like this for someone like him.
An old memory, faded at the edges, flickers into his mind: a little girl - his younger sister - thrusting a few poorly connected bundles of straw into his hands and loudly proclaiming she'd made him a doll. He'd taken it at the time but reluctantly, protesting the whole time about how boys don't play with dolls and how she should have made one for her friends instead.
She's dead now, of course, and the doll burned to ashes and buried under too many years' worth of snow.
One hand lifts up, the point of his index finger reaching out to carefully smooth the little tufts of fur on his tiny ears. ]
You made this?
[ His voice definitely doesn't sound quite the same as usual, the words caught in his throat and tugged out one by one. His expression isn't quite the same either, overly serious as he stares at the little doll on the table. ]
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I used to make them all the time for my friends. [ A pause, as she hesitates on what to say next. ] My mom would always say, Misa, make one of me too! ... But I never really got around to it.
[ Back then, she'd been a self-absorbed high school student, always promising that she'd one day do it, but always getting caught up in other things like exams or parties with her friends. It wasn't until being reminded so vividly of her parents' passing that she's even begun to remember small things like this, small moments that she can never get back. Eustace is the only person she can think of that would understand that absence, that strange breed of regret.
But— it's not as if she did this to upset herself, or to intentionally upset him, either. There's a soft smile on her lips as she talks, as she threads her index finger through the clasp on the chain idly. ]
I can't give it to her anymore, but... I think if I had a big brother, I'd make him match with me with things like this. Right? Even if he found it embarrassing, I'd still do it. So don't even think of getting rid of it, or else.
[ She teases. Because in the end, he's missing something too, right? Misa never got to share her silly little crafts with her family, and Eustace never had a chance to receive such a thing from a family member. Misa thinks she remembers, vaguely, Eustace saying something about her and his little sister. It's sad, right? Never getting to express or receive love from people who are gone? Her hope is that this small gift can maybe, just maybe, mend a bit of that longing that will never leave them. ]
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But this one has meaning to it, and had been crafted and presented with their shared histories in mind. It's less of an accessory and more of a reminder that he isn't alone now, not completely.
Some of the tension evaporates from his shoulders and the rest of his fingers stretch out to close around the tiny little doll—with a surprising amount of care and grace despite his usual rough presentation. ]
Thanks. I won't get rid of it. [ Promise. ] It might take me awhile to find a place for it though.
[ They don't exactly have cell phones in ye olde Horos and he's pretty sure attaching it to any of his weapons would just result in disaster. But give him a few days and he'll find a suitable place for it, never fear.
In the meantime, he brings it a little closer to his face, mock frowning as he inspects it further. ]
I didn't realize my ears were so big though.
[ He's joking. ]
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[ She teases right back, sticking her nose up proudly. The truth is, she wasn't really sure how he'd react to such a gift— it's certainly not something Misa even tended to do for others unless they were her very close friends. But... it's different, with Eustace. It'll be better for them both if they have each other so that they never dwell on what happened before, right? This is just her way of starting them off on that course. Besides, it's much more exhausting antagonizing him, so it'll be much more entertaining to be on friendly terms.
Reaching for one of the cookies in the laced bag she'd left in the center of the table, she leans back in her chair, tucking away the memory of his smile fondly. ]
I thought, should I have put them on folded down? Since you're always flicking them down when you're annoyed. [ She mock does the motion with her free hand, taking a bite into the cookie with the other. Her next words are said with her mouth half-full: ] Kinda like this. Maybe you don't ever see it.... it's pretty funny.
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Though, actually, looking at her mimicking them now is a bit eye-opening to see. They do look kind of stupid all pressed up against his head, don't they? It's not like he spends much time staring at a mirror outside of his morning routine, and he's certainly never annoyed enough during that time to have his ears flat against his head. He says as much aloud as he reaches forward and takes a cookie. (It's a dog cookie, naturally.) ]
I'm not usually looking in the mirror when I'm annoyed.
[ Because he's usually looking at other people, see. Though right now he's looking at the dog cookie, with maybe a little more intensity than he ought to given that it's....well, a cookie he should be eating. Behind him, his tail shuffles slowly in his seat, the contented wag limited by the booth that surrounds him. ]
What else do you know how to make?
[ Not that he necessarily wants anything but, well, if she ends up giving him stuff, maybe he'll set up a little corner in his room or something. ]
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Mostly just the charms? And the clothes fixing, like I said, too. Sometimes I'll change an accessory to look cooler or cuter... [ She rambles, dusting off her hands when she finishes her cookie. ] Oh, I used to make ghost videos with my friends to scare people with sometimes. Does that count?
[ Her eyes go up in thought, like she'd honestly forgotten about that hobby until this very moment— it isn't as if she's had time to indulge in it for quite some time. Plus, there's no possible way to keep doing it here, which is a shame. She's sure it'd be a fun prank to pull on at least a handful of the people here. ]
...I bet you're not very scared of ghosts, though.
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He stares at the cookie for another moment longer before finally giving in and taking a bite. RIP cute dog cookie, you will be missed.... (up until he comes back to this same cafe and sneakily buys another box). It's not surprising that it's good, the flavor not too overpowering and the texture melt-in-his-mouth, but he lets out a small hum of surprised anyway. It's been a long time since he's sat and indulged like this.
He chews, then swallows. His voice is casual when he speaks again, almost relaxed. ]
Hard to be scared of something after you've talked with it once or twice.
[ First Ferry aboard the Grandcypher, and then Rin in Achamoth. Not that he would ever underestimate either of the two women, but easier to conquear a fear of the known rather than the unknown. ]
Are you scared of anything?
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Well, I was really afraid when I was arrested, once. You wouldn't believe how rough they treated me! Tying me up and blindfolding me for weeks, stuff like that... it was kinda perverted.
[ She admits that all with a similar air to just sharing regular old gossip, sounding comically scandalized by the entire ordeal. It seems she doesn't mind sharing a bit of her experience with that with Eustace - there's a frankness that's come attached to her peek into his memory, a comfort that she needn't worry about any judgment from him, least of all from being in police custody. Both of them have seen and been through worse things. ]
And it made me scared of not being able to do anything. [ She shrugs— that was the root of it, even back then. Being at someone's mercy. That, too, came from her parents dying in front of her. ] But that's why we're all trying to get stronger, isn't it?
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Technically disturbed for her and not because of her, though it might be hard to tell. ]
You were arrested? For what?
[ Never mind the part about being tied up and blindfolded (but also, what the fuck), better start from square one and get to the root of the matter. ]
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[ Catch this exasperated look as she watches the last of the crumbs settle on the table, Eustace, which only lingers as she moves a hand to sweep them off. Well, this certainly wasn't the reaction she was expecting. Honestly, she thought Eustace wouldn't care, or maybe had been in similar situations himself, what with how he'd implied he was going to kill those guys who offed his family. Surely he must have done things that were against the law by now...? ]
I got arrested under suspicion of being an accomplice to someone, okay? But they let me off and paid me to not say anything, so don't have a heart attack over it. Misa is an innocent girl...
[ And she keeps things there a bit vague, interpreting his reaction as disapproval, which will likely only get worse if she elaborates. Of course she doesn't expect everyone to have crossed paths with law enforcement... but Eustace is so rough and tumble? In her imagination, he probably has a least gotten into a bar fight or something like that, right? Surely this can't change his image of her that much?? ]
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But that's neither here or there, his interest in talking about his own shady escapades extremely low in comparison to his interest in learning more about Misa's brief (and unrightful, as far as he knows) stint at her local prison. He still looks part surprised and part disapproving, though his following words do a little to clear up the source of his consternation. ]
I can't imagine you would have done anything to warrant that type of treatment. [ Ah, if only he knew. ] They shouldn't have tied you up, especially not without confirming their suspicions first.
[ He's gonna go back and throttle those mystery police officers. Except wait, they're all already dead because their worlds are gone. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ That won't stop him from thinking about it though. ]
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[ She purses her lips into a pout, seeming annoyed just recalling it. As she had with her parents, she treats the matter rather lightly, passively. ]
You're all used to fighting and stuff like that, right? Or maybe even being held captive. I still remember back when I met you. [ and he'd threatened to throw her off a cliff for annoying the guards with her antics. ] So that's not scary to you, is it? Are there things that scare you? Oh, maybe a big tough guy like you is scared of something really simple, like the dark...
[ are you afraid of the dark eustace?? are you??? ]
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She is right in that he's used to stuff like that. Fighting, getting captured, sustaining grievous injury....none of it really scares him anymore. He might not want to die, but he doesn't fear death. It's been a close companion of his for far too long now, slipping into his shadow all those years ago and following him every step of the way since then.
The things he does fear though... Eustace closes his eyes. Sighs a little. Almost sounds little exasperated as he says: ]
I'm only human.
[ Of course there are things that scare him, for better or for worse (mostly worse). He goes back to munching away at his cookie, this time not spilling crumbs everywhere. He chews, then swallows. ]
But you'll have to buy me more cookies if you want that answer.
[ Sorry, he's not giving away that one so freely, even to her. ]
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[ She huffs with an overplayed sort of disappointment, looking at him with a scrutinizing gaze as if she'll be able to discern what his fear is just by sight. Of course, to no avail. A part of her thinks his fears are probably quite serious, given the unfinished nature of his quest to get revenge, unfitting for a fun outing such as this. Maybe it's for the best she doesn't know. ]
Wait a minute, you really call yourself a human? [ are... are dogboys humans? she's never thought about this. ] I guess I thought you'd be called something else.
[ aaand just on time, her ridiculous latte gets brought over by one of the café's waitstaff, with Misa barely acknowledging them because her brow is furrowed deep in thought over the matter of whether Eustace is technically a werewolf or not. ]
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Even if he's used to getting stared at and mislabeled all the time in Horos, by both regular townsfolk and his fellow Aions alike, there's still a momentary flicker of annoyance that crosses his face before it fades again. ]
If you want to get technical, I'm an Erune. [ Because you gotta have all your fantasy races named different things. ] But in terms of biological function, I'm as human as anyone else.
[ He still has to eat and sleep and use the restroom like anyone else. Still dies if he gets stabbed through the lungs or heart.
Also still finds little foam dog lattes as cute as anyone else, his attention captured by Misa's drink as the server sets it down before skedaddling off again. It's so round, so jiggly, so... ]
...Cute.
[ He may have said it out loud, under his breath. ]