OPEN SEASON.

[crawly]

1. pick a character.

☛ optional.
☛ character list here.
☛ full list.
☛ specify in the subject line if you want one character in particular.

2. provide a prompt.

☛ image, words, music, whatever you want.
☛ i like to think at least one of my three tumblrs has something interesting. (be warned that all three blogs contain nsfw material, including porn.)

3. gotta go fast.

☛ not actually. this is a permanently open post! tag at your own speed.

Comments

[unconned]

[He has an answer for her question, something he could respond to. It's been forever since he spoke to someone he trusted, believed wouldn't put a knife in his back or in his throat.

So excuse him if his voice croaks or breaks now and then. Crackling under the sudden growing up he now had to do since there was someone else with him here.]

We're somewhere in the North. North as we can be. I suppose it explains the snow. [The very cold weather. One that makes him pull his coat up higher, trying to protect his neck. The stinging hurt the most there.

The gesture helps hide his wince at the reminder that she'll be leaving. Sooner. Later. It doesn't matter. Besides the fact that she'll be leaving period.]

Do you need to leave so soon? Shame. I was going to give you a tour to this wonderful generic town and everything. Population: Typical with you and me as specials.

[undeaths]

[ she notices his voice breaking, and doesn't comment on it. like a boy whose voice is changing, perhaps. he's certainly young enough.

shijima looks up as he tugs at his collar, stepping surely automatically through the shallow snow. ] I'll stay for a while, at least.

[ she doesn't mention why she has to go back. he already knows anyway. ] Oddities are everywhere, yes. But, I don't think that this place is as curious as the one under the sea.

dork kid late with starbucks excuse me

[unconned]

I guess you'll be my guest in that case? [He tries to make it sound like a question instead of a request. A plea. He's getting older and older, he can't act any younger.

His acting skills have been rusty for the past few years. Given how he hasn't had much time to practice it in front of people. Her comment about the place has him nod, agreeing with her. With a look of clear relief on his features. If it could stay that way, it would be good for him.

They get to the store, typical convenience store that ran '24/4!' as the neon lights blared out in declaration. Products, unhealthy junk food and vague health snacks, could be seen inside. A bored teenager at the counter as they watched a television mounted on the corner of the ceiling.] Do you want to come in with me or just want to stay out here? I don't think there'll be enough people here to judge you waiting on the store.

ur excused

[undeaths]

[ it would be very easy to mock him for that, but in what's a moment of something like mercy, she only says: ] You'll have to be hospitable to your elders.

[ she peers through the windows of the convenience store intently, eyes narrowing at the wide variety of colors. how strange. ]

I've never been in a place like this before. Aa, perhaps like this, but less dirty. I suppose it's a good thing I'm wearing shoes.

[ that's a yes to going in, though she doesn't say it that way. slouching and picking at a knot in her hair, she heads for the door, ignoring the curious glance of the cashier. ]

thank u ; 0 ;

[unconned]

[Less dirty? He wonders how that is possible -- this is the typical convenience store of the U.S of good old A. -- as he waltzes in, following her lead. The blare of the T.V., now revealed to be a new segment of a child kidnapping of some sort, has Matthew freeze for a second. His features paling a bit before he hurries pass the cashier, grateful Shijima decided to come in with him. Seeing how she's getting all of the cashier's stares.

The anchorman continues to drone on about the latest news, speaking of an 'unidentified man' snatching a child in Chicago a few weeks back. While the man talks about the details of the case, Matthew grabs a basket and makes a beeline for the nearest section that had the most things on its shelves. He tries to catch Shijima's eye, looking a bit nervous.]

Excuse me while I keep my head down and try not to make eye contact with the clerk... [Which is easier said than done given his height and his shock of red hair.] If you see anything you fancy, just grab it and stuff it here. Money's not too much of an issue for me these days.

[undeaths]

[ matthew's such a nice young one, all things considered, or maybe just too young to have his inner reservoirs worn out. ]

See to it that you do your best. [ patronizing, again, she pats his arm as she walks by. ]

I'm sure I'll find something. [ she passes a rack of magazines without much interest, and stops short at a shelf of packaged snacks. sno balls, especially, catch her attention. ]

Are these really edible?

[unconned]

I'll try.

[He gives her a look but a grin replaces it before he starts to dig around for something they can. Something that would fill their stomach but wasn't too loaded with preservatives. Matthew makes it a point to keep his back facing the cashier the whole time.

When Shijima calls for his attention, he looks up. Pausing in his action of pulling a packet of something out of its shelf.]

Those? Yes yes. You can eat them without worries of indigestion. [A pause, as if he's trying to decided he should correct himself or not. He thinks he should.] Most of the time. Never tried those before but they seem... decent?

[undeaths]

They look strange. [ she prods one with a small finger, frowning. she's never seen packaged food that looks like this before, but if matthew says it's edible, it probably is. maybe some other time. ]

Ah, I think I'll try something else. I want meat.

[unconned]

Meat? Ah. I think this place should have a hotdog... [Risking a look, he turns his attention to the stand and sees that there is a hot dog machine, different flavors of hot dogs proclaimed on a propped up sign. The clerk was also too absorbed in watching the news, which was still talking about the kidnapping.

(Holy crap, he can't help think. When will they drop it?] Over there there's some meat. From 'original' to 'spicy' too, I see.

You can buy many as you want. I think the clerk will be thrilled with the amount we're getting here. [He's getting, really, but details.]

[undeaths]

Three, and I don't want the bread.

[ she speaks decisively, putting down the sno balls and going to seek out something to drink. ]

Who's the child? [ she glances back at the television screen, perhaps a little curious and perhaps just bored. ] It's worrying, I suppose.

[unconned]

Oddly specific. I'll still see what I can do. [Maybe the cashier here is used to weird things occurring in the store at this hour.

While digging out enough money and change to buy the hotdogs-without-the-buns, he hears her question and can't help but purse his lips into a thin line for a second.] Some missing girl. Got snatched from Canada? Somewhere near here. It has been all over the news for a while now.

[He says the last words with a tone of exasperation. Like why were they all over this? Just one missing kid. Nothing special.]

[undeaths]

[ hotdog buns are for weird people. maybe she'll try ketchup, but the flavors might be too strong...

(she's so picky.)

shijima looks over at the screen again, blinking slowly at the old photos that are shown. ]

Someone's child, I expect. Otherwise they wouldn't care.

[unconned]

It happens all the time however. Kids disappearing, slipping out of sight. Leaving and going if the occasion calls for it.

... I think we both know that. [He notices the clerk looking at him oddly and adds smoothly,] That we'll take three hotdogs and some condiment packets. Preferably the hotdogs on a stick, not on buns, please.

[undeaths]

Children may be taken. [ she allows that, pressing a thumb to the corner of her mouth. ]

You've changed.

[ cryptic as always, she takes a few steps away to investigate a flicker of movement in the back of the store. ]

[unconned]

You seem surprised by that? It has been a while since--

[He pauses. Mostly to exchange bills and change for the purchase.

Mostly.]

--everything. The world now is a different one from what I remember. One has to adapt or else.

[undeaths]

I suppose.

[ though she could argue, there's no point.

she takes one of the hot dogs and takes a small bite. ]

Salty. [ she proclaims, like it's a surprise. ]

[unconned]

Suspected something else? Like, I dunno, it was alive or something?

[That was a terrible joke but, in his defense, his mind is on other things. The news at last switches to something else. Some serial arsonist but that's something he can tune out at long last.]

I think we have what we need from here. [Despite the fact there were other things he wanted. He can live without shaving cream for a while. Just the faster they're out of there, the better.]

[undeaths]

[ she just ignores the joke and moves on, because she's shijima and quite rude. ]

All right.

[ she shoves more hotdog into her mouth and chews, licking ketchup off of her fingers as she drifts towards the door. ]

Nothing else?