finally it's jam to-DAY

[fujimaru]

[ So what kind of jamjar setup is this? Who knows for sure, but the basics are still the same: you can't leave freely, there's a library and places to eat, there's a mix of people who've gone native and people who're doing everything in their power to get out, and there's a lot of random mingling.

And Ritsuka, for one, has chosen to throw herself into those mingles, because otherwise she's going to go nuts with worry about how things are going on back home.

Which means today, she has chosen to trail, like a duckling, after a particularly dour looking guy who's been lugging supplies around all day. She hasn't said anything yet, but the weight of Potential Conversation is there. Looming. Waiting.

Your move. ]

Comments

[mortalcoil]

[Coil is somewhere between wanting to do anything he can to escape (because there are some very Important Things back home that need his attention) and settling for going native (because this is not his first world-hopping rodeo and his Important Person is stuck here with him anyway) but he is absolutely doing what he can to avoid all that mingling. trying to dodge as much pointless human interaction as possible is the one thing that he is sure of in this stupid place.

so, he keeps his head down, attention fixed on the task at hand... and pretends very hard that he doesn't notice that someone has been following him around as he works.

he can't decide whether he is more annoyed at the fact that they are following him around to begin with, or the fact that they haven't offered to help him carry things in the meantime. either way, he doesn't dare to stop and attempt to communicate... because that might just encourage them to do something crazy like try and have a conversation with him.]

[fujimaru]

[ Unfortunately for Coil, Ritsuka is very used to extremely grouchy standoffish people. He hasn't actually tried to actively threaten her today, which puts him a step off some of the people she knows.

It only takes about five minutes before she cracks. She usually does. ]

...So, what're you building?

[ She's not going to offer to help yet, but look. She's curious. ]

[mortalcoil]

[yeah, he might really need to step up his game. he's starting to catch onto this fact when she doesn't leave and starts asking questions instead.

he pauses long enough to sigh (just a weary huff of breath through his nose) before turning to her with a very flat look. his arms are full, but he kind of gestures with a few fingers of each hand without dropping everything. it probably would have been a shrug if his arms had been free.]

[fujimaru]

A human-sized hand?

[ She knows better than that. He doesn't really strike her as the sort of person who'd build something like that, whether out of whimsy or desire to create Art.

On the other hand, maybe she's wrong, and he is. Who knows yet? Not her. So she says that with at least a smidgen of sincerity, keeping a straight face as she does. ]

[mortalcoil]

[he, of course, takes this to be some sort of joke. and joking is one of those things that he is very much Not Into, so he only rolls his eye in response and continues on his way.

if she really wants to know, she'll follow him all the way to the shop he's been setting up and find out for herself. if she gets impatient and wanders off before that point, he'll be thrilled. so, putting her interest and persistence to the test, he goes back to ignoring her for now.

it's not like he could answer her right now anyway, even if he'd wanted to.]

[fujimaru]

[ Of course she's not put off. She's dealt with just as bad, if not worse, and there's something almost comforting about this. Is this what you'd call nostalgia? Maybe.

So she follows, trotting after him. For now, she doesn't bother to ask him more questions -- but she's still there. She's still doing the baby duckling impression, though not so close that if he swung around, he'd hit her with the boards, whether on purpose or by accident. ]

[mortalcoil]

[not that he'd been considering smacking her those boards, of course... but there is a distant disappointment at seeing that she's following out of range for any "accidents" that might happen.

at least she's a little easier to ignore, this way. he can head all the way back to the site of the soon-to-be-shop in peace... not realizing that he's also leading her right to where she'll be able to find him any time she wants to in the future. he's definitely underestimating her persistence there.

the shop is occupying a corner spot, tucked snugly at the end of a pleasant line of storefronts. some furniture and boxes are visible through the front window, and it already looks rather warm and welcoming. the colorful carved sign has already been made, though it's leaning against the front door and not hung up above it yet. this place will soon be a cozy little magic shop, full of all sorts of remedies and curiosities calling to adventurous passersby.

...however, Coil doesn't head in through the front door. he carries the supplies around the side of the building, to a much more humble entrance in the back. there, he unloads his armful of timber and pauses before unlocking the door, eyeing the girl to see if she's still intent on following or if she's ready to leave him alone now.]

[fujimaru]

[ Of course she's still following-- still at a "safe" distance, but unmistakably trailing after him. When she sees him glancing back, though, her expression goes from a neutral curiosity to a more affected play-shock. ]

Are you actually building a full secret lab or something?! You're more resourceful than I thought!

[ That is also exaggerated, as if it really is some sort of shock to her. It would probably be more convincing if she didn't look more amused by the thought than not. ]

[mortalcoil]

[Coil... frowns. everything about this is disappointing. his shoulders slump while he considers his options here, key still hovering in front of the lock. he considers nodding that yes he is building a secret horrible lab, in the hopes that maybe it would scare her away, but he's getting the idea that it wouldn't help.

...it's also maybe a little closer to the truth than he'd like to admit.

so, he eventually just sighs and proceeds to unlock the door. once open, he'll pick up the lumber again and try to get in and let the door shut behind him before she can follow.]

[fujimaru]

[ Let's be honest, he probably could have managed, a couple of years ago. But Ritsuka has had practice in slipping into places where she hasn't necessarily been invited; any concept of personal safety has been long since abandoned.

It'll get her into trouble someday. It already has, honestly. But regardless of whether it will or not today, here she is, sliding in after him. hello there, friend, what's here on the other side of the door? ]