Ouais, we did. You shoulda seen'em - Hunched over a snowbank, shovelin' handfuls of snow in they mouth like they were gonna shrivel up 'n die without it! Took'em out to get ice cream instead. Ended up showin'em a lotta different foods 'n stuff... If they ever make you that "peanut butter porridge" of theirs, 's kinda my fault for showin'em peanut butter. Sorry.
[All of this said with both pantomiming and that big grin still on his screen, of course. He feels that responds to a lot of what Kagami just said - both his question and his choice to believe Nen is perfect.
Because, well -]
... 'S important to remember they a person just like everyone else, though. Don't go thinkin' Nen is 100% perfect. That puts'em on a pedestal away from the rest of us - "other"s them in a bad way. Y'know? They wanna be included in stuff. In everything. Wouldn't you?
They did?! Were they alright? Their body temperature is already quite cool, I’d fear for their health if they were eating snow… Mn, but it’s so fun sharing peanut butter with them! I found them a huge tub of it once.
[Kagami smiles stupidly. It’s the smile of someone infatuated. He waves a hand and giggles.]
You needn’t worry about that. I’ve already screwed up with them once already. We only made it out alive because… Well, either way I have no delusions about their flaws. But I just find those quirks so endearing and that’s why they’re perfect! Don’t you?
Oh, pfft- 'course they were! I stopped'em 'fore they ate any dirty snow, gottem inside and warm. Then I bought'em treats. Like the peanut butter. They wanted somethin' close to their "nutrient paste" back at the tower... figured that was the closest thing, since it's full'a good proteins 'n shit. But that porridge... it's all fun 'n games 'til they ask you to eat they cookin'. It's just peanut butter and hot water.
[There's so much fondness in his voice - as to be expected, considering the topic - but it's definitely the kinda fondness that's offset a bit by his looks. Big guy, covered in all kinds of scars, prosthetic with a skull for a pauldron... you know.
He leans back, arms crossed, and seems to re-regard Kagami.]
... Y'know? This whole thing was gonna be about bein' real nice to you 'fore I broke all of your ribs, but I just can't stay mad at someone who's nice to Nenett. Even if you real obnoxious, 's clear you care about'em.
[Kagami hides his face, muffling his snickers and complete lack of fear of Chipp.]
You're so soft! And a poor judge of character. And I would eat anything Nenonen cooks, that sounds delicious. You're like a big, silly puppy, but luckily for you I do care about them! And I would do anything to make sure they're happy and safe.
Ain't that poor a judge. I can tell you a piece of shit who likes pissin' people off 'cause you think it's funny. Prolly got sticky fingers, too. Kids like you always do.
I just don't care. All that matters to me is that you make Nenett happy.
[It's at about this point that a server makes her way to their table, politely setting all the food in front of them both - It really is mostly for Kagami, but Chipp's gotten himself a coffee and a pair of powdered pastries regardless.]
[- It's only once she's gone again, though, that Chipp bothers to take off his helmet. So he'll even be able to eat in the first place. Even though that LED screen of his had a smile on it, his actual face does not. And his voice has nothing to it to match - When he speaks, it's coldly monotone.
(That's what the helmet's for, after all. To do everything he can't.)]
Funny you thinkin' of me like a puppy, though. Folks back in the land of the livin' used to call me the Watchdog.
There you go, assuming my age again. You shouldn't talk that way to someone who could be your elder.
[But that doesn't stop Kagami from smiling blithely when the waitress appears with all his food. A burger, a side of loaded fries, another side of mac and cheese, a sundae with sprinkles and soda--
Before he can dig in, Chipp has removed his helmet. Kagami "oohs" as obnoxiously as possible, leaning over the table for a better look.]
Even if you older than me, I'm still gonna call you a kid. If ya don't like it, stop actin' like a kid.
[Sorry, Kagami... this applies to everyone, though. Even people back home get this treatment. That helmet's getting placed in the seat beside him, though, so he can at least start with that coffee.]
To be honest, I dunno 'zactly what they meant by it. Watchdog of the people, I guess. I got rid of a lotta stains in society - law enforcement hated me for it.
Nenett's got a book on the whole thing if you care about it.
[Well, plate of pancakes on the way!! Chipp also seems unbothered by that request - even taking up the table's dripper full of maple syrup and putting it in front of Kagami.]
Naw. No magic involved - just a good ol' biased biography written by a lucky journalist who got to see me 'fore the state put me down like a dog.
[a lot of people keep forgetting to tell Kagami they're dead, huh]
... Lotta my targets were the uppity-ups who had the funds to keep the law off their backs. Folks who could pay their way through the system and get away with some real nasty shit. Somethin' tells me you get what I mean 'bout it.
[He doesn't know how to deal with that??? That just makes him want to be more petty! He dips his fries in mac and cheese while plotting his revenge. Maybe another dessert.]
Oh dear. And since you targeted some useless humans that were deemed 'important' by some equally useless standards, that's what put a target on your back and the drive in the law to actually do something about it. Am I wrong?
[He doesn't look sad hearing that Chipp is dead, just...very weary.]
I might have a bit of an idea~ It's a good thing we aren't from the same world, I may have had to actually worry in that case! ...Does Nenonen know?
[Sir, he runs an auto-and-appliance repair service at top dollar in the district where people aren't allowed to just dump these things wherever they want, he can afford the revenge dessert!!!]
Not wrong in the least. But I doubt you woulda ended up in my sights, even if we were from the same world. I don't care about shit like thieves or whatever. I'm not lookin' to punish just anyone.
[Hi, yeah, he's gonna follow that up with stealing a fry.]
... Nenett does know, though. 'Course they know. I ain't gonna get into anything with anyone without bein' upfront about it. Whole house knows.
[A beat.]
'Scept Kenta. I think. He just too damn soft to get somethin' like that.
T_T right why can't they just magically appear when we want them
Hun, I can tell you right now that you ain't the kinda guy I'd go for. That soul o' yours ain't that ugly.
[And he means it - Even if he can't tell that Kagami's an animal spirit, the soul of any creature like that is always gonna be cleaner than the sort of people he targets.]
As for the rest... that is Kenta, yeah. Poor kid; I help him 'round the house a lot. And Nenett's handlin' it better than you'd expect. Understands what I did and the sorta implications - don't condone my actions, but they understand'em.
...
They know about anything you done? If you got such an impressive resume, I mean.
I can. Comes part'n'parcel with bein' one of the folks who collects'em. Didn't wanna point it out at first 'cause I thought it'd be awkward - But I don't mind tellin' ya now that I know you just as weird as me.
You got a weird bunch of colors all up in there.
[Everyone's souls have colors, after all!! Chipp's got a shitty range when it comes to sensing them, but he's honed in pretty good at reading them.]
... Bit hypocritical of ya, huh? Gettin' all fussy 'bout whether or not Nenett knows what I done, but you think they don't deserve to know what you did any. You plannin' to get close to'em? Ain't right to keep them in the dark.
[It's such a small change - so small that the only one who could really spot it is, ironically, Nenonen - but hearing that? Chipp's face actually softens. Though he hides the not-really-a-smile with the edge of his coffee mug, as if he's about to take a sip.]
[That earns him a little sigh, and Chipp puts his coffee to the side. ... Just so he can pull a flask off his belt and add whatever's in it to his coffee, of course.]
On one hand, yeah, 'course I do. On the other, no, I really don't.
There were some where it was kinda excitin'. Got to hunt down a dogfighter on his own land once, fed'im to his own starved pooches - that got my heart poundin', sure. But it ain't like I liked doin' it.
[And now he's gonna dunk one of his pastries in that coffee of his.]
Don't get me wrong! Real fun now, as a Grim Reaper. Knowin' they'll be back, and they'll be pissed, and I'll get the fight of my life - that's real fun.
Just don't feel right when you can see'em realize that's the end for'em, though.
[Kagami’s eyes light up seeing the flask and he cheers up, reaching for it.]
Good. The world is a somewhat less shitty place. Regardless of how much you beat yourself up over it, the end result is still the same. People lose their lives.
[- Chipp's hand stops Kagami's, not by grabbing it, but by cover the flask with all its metal claws.]
I did what I did because I hated livin' in a world where that was the result, but there weren't any other choice for a stupid kid like me. I ain't happy about it. I didn't wanna do it.
But sometimes you run into a wall, and that is the only way over.
[...
And now, he'll push that flask Kagami's way.]
Careful how much of this you drink. It ain't a drink for normal folks. Too much and you'll see shit.
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[Kagami doesn’t react to the tower, although his stare becomes more calculating and he doesn’t sound…quite as upbeat.]
Well, they are perfect. It’s not really about what I think. But judging by your calves…mn, I think their assessment is accurate.
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Hunched over a snowbank, shovelin' handfuls of snow in they mouth like they were gonna shrivel up 'n die without it!
Took'em out to get ice cream instead. Ended up showin'em a lotta different foods 'n stuff...
If they ever make you that "peanut butter porridge" of theirs, 's kinda my fault for showin'em peanut butter. Sorry.
[All of this said with both pantomiming and that big grin still on his screen, of course.
He feels that responds to a lot of what Kagami just said - both his question and his choice to believe Nen is perfect.
Because, well -]
... 'S important to remember they a person just like everyone else, though. Don't go thinkin' Nen is 100% perfect.
That puts'em on a pedestal away from the rest of us - "other"s them in a bad way. Y'know?
They wanna be included in stuff. In everything.
Wouldn't you?
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[Kagami smiles stupidly. It’s the smile of someone infatuated. He waves a hand and giggles.]
You needn’t worry about that. I’ve already screwed up with them once already. We only made it out alive because… Well, either way I have no delusions about their flaws. But I just find those quirks so endearing and that’s why they’re perfect! Don’t you?
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Then I bought'em treats. Like the peanut butter. They wanted somethin' close to their "nutrient paste" back at the tower... figured that was the closest thing, since it's full'a good proteins 'n shit.
But that porridge... it's all fun 'n games 'til they ask you to eat they cookin'.
It's just peanut butter and hot water.
[There's so much fondness in his voice - as to be expected, considering the topic - but it's definitely the kinda fondness that's offset a bit by his looks.
Big guy, covered in all kinds of scars, prosthetic with a skull for a pauldron... you know.
He leans back, arms crossed, and seems to re-regard Kagami.]
... Y'know?
This whole thing was gonna be about bein' real nice to you 'fore I broke all of your ribs, but I just can't stay mad at someone who's nice to Nenett.
Even if you real obnoxious, 's clear you care about'em.
no subject
[Kagami hides his face, muffling his snickers and complete lack of fear of Chipp.]
You're so soft! And a poor judge of character. And I would eat anything Nenonen cooks, that sounds delicious. You're like a big, silly puppy, but luckily for you I do care about them! And I would do anything to make sure they're happy and safe.
Anything. Literally anything.
1/2; yet againnn
Prolly got sticky fingers, too. Kids like you always do.
I just don't care. All that matters to me is that you make Nenett happy.
[It's at about this point that a server makes her way to their table, politely setting all the food in front of them both -
It really is mostly for Kagami, but Chipp's gotten himself a coffee and a pair of powdered pastries regardless.]
2/2;
Even though that LED screen of his had a smile on it, his actual face does not. And his voice has nothing to it to match -
When he speaks, it's coldly monotone.
(That's what the helmet's for, after all. To do everything he can't.)]
Funny you thinkin' of me like a puppy, though. Folks back in the land of the livin' used to call me the Watchdog.
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[But that doesn't stop Kagami from smiling blithely when the waitress appears with all his food. A burger, a side of loaded fries, another side of mac and cheese, a sundae with sprinkles and soda--
Before he can dig in, Chipp has removed his helmet. Kagami "oohs" as obnoxiously as possible, leaning over the table for a better look.]
That wasn't your face?! Watchdog of what, hm?
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If ya don't like it, stop actin' like a kid.
[Sorry, Kagami... this applies to everyone, though. Even people back home get this treatment.
That helmet's getting placed in the seat beside him, though, so he can at least start with that coffee.]
To be honest, I dunno 'zactly what they meant by it. Watchdog of the people, I guess.
I got rid of a lotta stains in society - law enforcement hated me for it.
Nenett's got a book on the whole thing if you care about it.
no subject
[Kagami tries to get the waitress's attention to ask for a plate of pancakes.]
No real loss there! Law enforcement are pretty useless. Is it some kind of weird magic books that captured your memories or something to that effect?
... i need more helmetless icons
Naw. No magic involved - just a good ol' biased biography written by a lucky journalist who got to see me 'fore the state put me down like a dog.
[a lot of people keep forgetting to tell Kagami they're dead, huh]
... Lotta my targets were the uppity-ups who had the funds to keep the law off their backs. Folks who could pay their way through the system and get away with some real nasty shit.
Somethin' tells me you get what I mean 'bout it.
needing more icons is a mood
Oh dear. And since you targeted some useless humans that were deemed 'important' by some equally useless standards, that's what put a target on your back and the drive in the law to actually do something about it. Am I wrong?
[He doesn't look sad hearing that Chipp is dead, just...very weary.]
I might have a bit of an idea~ It's a good thing we aren't from the same world, I may have had to actually worry in that case! ...Does Nenonen know?
why must icons be so hard 🥺
Not wrong in the least. But I doubt you woulda ended up in my sights, even if we were from the same world.
I don't care about shit like thieves or whatever. I'm not lookin' to punish just anyone.
[Hi, yeah, he's gonna follow that up with stealing a fry.]
... Nenett does know, though. 'Course they know.
I ain't gonna get into anything with anyone without bein' upfront about it.
Whole house knows.
[A beat.]
'Scept Kenta. I think. He just too damn soft to get somethin' like that.
T_T right why can't they just magically appear when we want them
I'm not just a thief, or whatever. I happen to have an impressive resume and background!
Kenta is the short cute one who looks frail enough that a swift breeze would knock him over? [...] How are they handling it?
if only i had such a power!!!!
That soul o' yours ain't that ugly.
[And he means it -
Even if he can't tell that Kagami's an animal spirit, the soul of any creature like that is always gonna be cleaner than the sort of people he targets.]
As for the rest... that is Kenta, yeah. Poor kid; I help him 'round the house a lot.
And Nenett's handlin' it better than you'd expect. Understands what I did and the sorta implications - don't condone my actions, but they understand'em.
...
They know about anything you done? If you got such an impressive resume, I mean.
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[He starts shoveling more food in his mouth. Not bothered. Not him.]
And you being ah...not alive? Have they accepted that?
Oops. I guess I forgot to mention that! [He laughs, but it's artificial, and he sobers up.] What good would it do to burden them with that?
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But I don't mind tellin' ya now that I know you just as weird as me.
You got a weird bunch of colors all up in there.
[Everyone's souls have colors, after all!! Chipp's got a shitty range when it comes to sensing them, but he's honed in pretty good at reading them.]
... Bit hypocritical of ya, huh? Gettin' all fussy 'bout whether or not Nenett knows what I done, but you think they don't deserve to know what you did any.
You plannin' to get close to'em? Ain't right to keep them in the dark.
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Are you certain that helmet of yours hasn’t simply distorted your vision?
Oh, we’re already super close! [He just. Stops talking. His eyes widen as he fully realizes what he just said.] …Crap. We’re already close.
I care about Nenonen. …What do I do?!
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Though he hides the not-really-a-smile with the edge of his coffee mug, as if he's about to take a sip.]
Just tell'em.
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If only it were that easy.
[Kagami laments, burying his face in his hands.]
I might have. Kinda. Almost tried to end reality.
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[To that, Chipp just shrugs.]
So? Ain't like it was their reality -
And dependin' on your reasons, they may even think you in the right.
'Less you were just doin' it for fun...?
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[He goes monotone.
And then he’s back to his normal saccharine act.]
Well, some of it was fun though! It was fun to kill some of those assholes. You understand, don’t you?
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On one hand, yeah, 'course I do.
On the other, no, I really don't.
There were some where it was kinda excitin'. Got to hunt down a dogfighter on his own land once, fed'im to his own starved pooches - that got my heart poundin', sure.
But it ain't like I liked doin' it.
[And now he's gonna dunk one of his pastries in that coffee of his.]
Don't get me wrong! Real fun now, as a Grim Reaper.
Knowin' they'll be back, and they'll be pissed, and I'll get the fight of my life - that's real fun.
Just don't feel right when you can see'em realize that's the end for'em, though.
no subject
Good. The world is a somewhat less shitty place. Regardless of how much you beat yourself up over it, the end result is still the same. People lose their lives.
…You might as well enjoy it.
no subject
I did what I did because I hated livin' in a world where that was the result, but there weren't any other choice for a stupid kid like me.
I ain't happy about it. I didn't wanna do it.
But sometimes you run into a wall, and that is the only way over.
[...
And now, he'll push that flask Kagami's way.]
Careful how much of this you drink. It ain't a drink for normal folks.
Too much and you'll see shit.
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