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[After stumbling upon this, Amal considers the benefits of possibly staying the fuck out of this... and throws them out.]
Nox? Hey. Let me know you're okay. [A pause.] I can grab dinner and come on over, no questions asked. We don't need to talk about it if you don't want to.
Nox? Hey. Let me know you're okay. [A pause.] I can grab dinner and come on over, no questions asked. We don't need to talk about it if you don't want to.
[It takes a lot longer for Nox to reply than usual, but he does reply.
He still sounds shaken, but a bit calmer now.]
Hey. [It almost sounds... defeated? Jun and August definitely proved that they're going to care about his wellbeing.]
I'm- [He goes to say he's fine, then just stops himself. Sighs.] I don't even know what I feel right now, Amal. August had that post, then it triggered a ton of emotions, and I got a goddamn memory on top of that.
Just... just come over when you want, the door's open.
He still sounds shaken, but a bit calmer now.]
Hey. [It almost sounds... defeated? Jun and August definitely proved that they're going to care about his wellbeing.]
I'm- [He goes to say he's fine, then just stops himself. Sighs.] I don't even know what I feel right now, Amal. August had that post, then it triggered a ton of emotions, and I got a goddamn memory on top of that.
Just... just come over when you want, the door's open.
[Hey, at least Nox isn't lying. Amal would be lying his pants off in Nox's shoes, and he knows he's bad about that.]
It's okay not to be okay, too. [There's the jingle of keys, and then a questioning warble from... something... (It's his chocobo. Amal does not explain.)] I'll be right over— don't go anywhere.
[He hangs up and gets going. It's about twenty minutes after that when Amal shows up at Nox's door and knocks. He has two big greasy bags of fast food and two milkshakes tucked into his arms. It's a little cold outside so he's wearing a long white jacket with faux fur trim, cropped shorts, tall lace stockings, and fuzzy uggs... which is to say Jesus Christ he's gone full native.
Ahem.
The door's unlocked, though, so he'll let himself in right after and drop the food on the counter.]
Hey, it's me. I went to that one place by the theater, and I asked who the Five Guys were and they wouldn't tell me.
It's okay not to be okay, too. [There's the jingle of keys, and then a questioning warble from... something... (It's his chocobo. Amal does not explain.)] I'll be right over— don't go anywhere.
[He hangs up and gets going. It's about twenty minutes after that when Amal shows up at Nox's door and knocks. He has two big greasy bags of fast food and two milkshakes tucked into his arms. It's a little cold outside so he's wearing a long white jacket with faux fur trim, cropped shorts, tall lace stockings, and fuzzy uggs... which is to say Jesus Christ he's gone full native.
Ahem.
The door's unlocked, though, so he'll let himself in right after and drop the food on the counter.]
Hey, it's me. I went to that one place by the theater, and I asked who the Five Guys were and they wouldn't tell me.
[Truthfully, Nox is actually grateful that Amal seems to be fitting in, even if the shorts makes him raise a brow.]
Aren't you cold?
[Well, whatever. He gets up from his chair and grabs one of the bags, rifting through and almost putting a fry in his mouth before he stops.]
...you know the name "Five Guys" is for the burger shop, right? There's not really any five particular guys. [A pause.] Unless there really is five guys who founded the thing...
Aren't you cold?
[Well, whatever. He gets up from his chair and grabs one of the bags, rifting through and almost putting a fry in his mouth before he stops.]
...you know the name "Five Guys" is for the burger shop, right? There's not really any five particular guys. [A pause.] Unless there really is five guys who founded the thing...
[He can survive having three bare inches of skin on each leg for the sake of looking good.]
Mind over matter, as they say.
[Amal shoves a fry into his own mouth.]
Then why name it Five Guys? There were four people working. [He gestures with his own milkshake.] I counted!
[Better to banter and distract so Nox can get his mind off things. They can dive into the issues later and talk about what happened after he's righted his blood sugar.]
Mind over matter, as they say.
[Amal shoves a fry into his own mouth.]
Then why name it Five Guys? There were four people working. [He gestures with his own milkshake.] I counted!
[Better to banter and distract so Nox can get his mind off things. They can dive into the issues later and talk about what happened after he's righted his blood sugar.]
[Fashion has never made any sense to Nox in all his years. It's a tragedy. He slurps on his milkshake for a second.]
They say the same thing in bench-pressing, and half the people quit from twenty pound reps. "Mind over matter" is a load of bullshit half the time.
[Whoa, that's... you know what, Nox is gonna stop giving a shit right now. It's not quite his words, but it's definitely how he thinks. He drinks again from his milkshake.]
Amal–! [He almost snorts his milkshake out his nose, coughing before clearing his throat and smacking his chest.] Warn a guy next time before you try to kill him, alright? [Is he laughing? Yes, of course.] There's four people there because that's their job, they're not the five guys from the shop name!!
They say the same thing in bench-pressing, and half the people quit from twenty pound reps. "Mind over matter" is a load of bullshit half the time.
[Whoa, that's... you know what, Nox is gonna stop giving a shit right now. It's not quite his words, but it's definitely how he thinks. He drinks again from his milkshake.]
Amal–! [He almost snorts his milkshake out his nose, coughing before clearing his throat and smacking his chest.] Warn a guy next time before you try to kill him, alright? [Is he laughing? Yes, of course.] There's four people there because that's their job, they're not the five guys from the shop name!!
[Nox is laughing. Mission: success. Amal, however, is gonna keep up the dumb bitch act. Which may not be an act entirely.]
How was I supposed to know that? I don't go to Amajina & Sons expecting daughters!
[The laughter is contagious but he tries to keep a straight face, his gesturing growing more wild.]
If it's more than Five Guys, they should change the name! Just how many guys are there? Ten? Twenty? There can't be that many, right?
How was I supposed to know that? I don't go to Amajina & Sons expecting daughters!
[The laughter is contagious but he tries to keep a straight face, his gesturing growing more wild.]
If it's more than Five Guys, they should change the name! Just how many guys are there? Ten? Twenty? There can't be that many, right?
[And there he goes, nearly choking on a fry. Goddammit, Amal, you're a menace.] You're literally the worst, you know that?
[He's laughing even as he protests. Amal does get an arm punch, though.]
Do you really wanna know the answer? Because I guarantee you it's a lot more than you think it is. They're not a chain foodie joint for nothing.
[He's laughing even as he protests. Amal does get an arm punch, though.]
Do you really wanna know the answer? Because I guarantee you it's a lot more than you think it is. They're not a chain foodie joint for nothing.
Oh, I'm aware—it's so that people see how good you are in comparison~
[Amal exaggerates the arm punch and pretends to be grievously hurt until he almost drops his shake, which causes him to drop the act entirely.]
Eh, try me. I'm not afraid of math!
[This is patently untrue. PRIME NUMBERS HAUNT HIM AT NIGHT.]
[Amal exaggerates the arm punch and pretends to be grievously hurt until he almost drops his shake, which causes him to drop the act entirely.]
Eh, try me. I'm not afraid of math!
[This is patently untrue. PRIME NUMBERS HAUNT HIM AT NIGHT.]
[Nox listens, considering taking another drink- and he's glad he didn't, because Amal teases him and he snorts, giving the half-elf an eye-roll CAN SOMEONE SAY "TSUNDERE?"]
Okay, then. [A pause as he brings out his phone.] Hey, Siri- how many employees are working in the Five Guy's franchise?
Five Guys Burgers and Fries has a total of over 5,000 employees according to Forbes.com, as of February this year.
[Nox raises an eyebrow at Amal, amused as hell.
Aww, is someone afraid of a widdle robot who likes math? :3]
Okay, then. [A pause as he brings out his phone.] Hey, Siri- how many employees are working in the Five Guy's franchise?
Five Guys Burgers and Fries has a total of over 5,000 employees according to Forbes.com, as of February this year.
[Nox raises an eyebrow at Amal, amused as hell.
Edited 2022-04-30 21:01 (UTC)
[Amal's mouth drops.]
FIVE THOUSAND GUYS? That's more than most cities!
[No one tell him that Kaisou has even more.]
That's like a whole invasion of... burger makers... [he mumbles, before shoving more fries into his mouth.] That's so many people...
[Mind blown. Nox wins this one.]
FIVE THOUSAND GUYS? That's more than most cities!
[No one tell him that Kaisou has even more.]
That's like a whole invasion of... burger makers... [he mumbles, before shoving more fries into his mouth.] That's so many people...
[Mind blown. Nox wins this one.]
[Rip in fuck to Amal, oops.]
Dude, Kaisou's bigger, and I went to college in an even bigger city than that.
[A pause, and he thinks, a long slurp from his drink, before-]
So yeah, my school was in New York City, right? It's outside Kaisou. That place could fit all of us in the city almost twenty times over. Last I checked, it had eight million people living there? Give or take, it's been a while.
[ALL SAID MATTER-OF-FACT AS IF THIS ISN'T HARD TO FATHOM AT ALL.]
Dude, Kaisou's bigger, and I went to college in an even bigger city than that.
[A pause, and he thinks, a long slurp from his drink, before-]
So yeah, my school was in New York City, right? It's outside Kaisou. That place could fit all of us in the city almost twenty times over. Last I checked, it had eight million people living there? Give or take, it's been a while.
[ALL SAID MATTER-OF-FACT AS IF THIS ISN'T HARD TO FATHOM AT ALL.]
Good gods.
[He massages a temple and takes a sip of his shake.]
How do you keep from killing each other? I'm serious-- people will start wars over anything.
[He massages a temple and takes a sip of his shake.]
How do you keep from killing each other? I'm serious-- people will start wars over anything.
[That was not what he was expecting as a response, and it shows- Nox pauses for a long moment, frowning. Amal is asking a good question, though.]
Well, yeah- but a lot of people in places like that just want to make a living, you know? They're trying to enjoy themselves and actually do more than just... scrape by.
[He was lucky he got mostly a scholarship into school- the cheapest apartment outside the dorms was easily over $2000 for a studio, and people were flocking to it.
Still, he shrugs.] It doesn't always work, but people try regardless.
There's a lot of arguments too, sure. You'll get protests and police will show up and all that, but for the most part, it's civil. We coexist because we understand that life isn't easy in the city in a lot of ways. [A scoff, though it's more amused than anything else.] The housing sucks, landlords are rich assholes who like causing problems for their tenants, the public transportation system is overcrowded and usually late and we always groan about it but still take it anyway. It's... a sort of camaraderie, if that makes sense. We all struggle, but we're still all residents of the same place, and we understand the hardships we all face there.
Well, yeah- but a lot of people in places like that just want to make a living, you know? They're trying to enjoy themselves and actually do more than just... scrape by.
[He was lucky he got mostly a scholarship into school- the cheapest apartment outside the dorms was easily over $2000 for a studio, and people were flocking to it.
Still, he shrugs.] It doesn't always work, but people try regardless.
There's a lot of arguments too, sure. You'll get protests and police will show up and all that, but for the most part, it's civil. We coexist because we understand that life isn't easy in the city in a lot of ways. [A scoff, though it's more amused than anything else.] The housing sucks, landlords are rich assholes who like causing problems for their tenants, the public transportation system is overcrowded and usually late and we always groan about it but still take it anyway. It's... a sort of camaraderie, if that makes sense. We all struggle, but we're still all residents of the same place, and we understand the hardships we all face there.
Hey Nox, are you busy? I have an idea I want to run by you.
Great!
I've been thinking about what to do with some of the kids on the app over the summer. There are some kids I'm a little worried about leaving unsupervised for three months.
So I was thinking what we made some kind of special summer group with them? And with you in charge!
I've been thinking about what to do with some of the kids on the app over the summer. There are some kids I'm a little worried about leaving unsupervised for three months.
So I was thinking what we made some kind of special summer group with them? And with you in charge!
Yeah, I get the whole thing of wanting to watch those kids- but you sure I’d be a good candidate for that? I’m usually either a teacher kids like or can’t stand, no in-between.
Not saying I won’t, I’m just worried I’ll have literal gremlins on my hands.
[He says this as if half his students don’t like him, when it’s really just they like him, they just don’t like PE. Nox PLEASE.]
Not saying I won’t, I’m just worried I’ll have literal gremlins on my hands.
[He says this as if half his students don’t like him, when it’s really just they like him, they just don’t like PE. Nox PLEASE.]
Edited 2022-05-31 15:04 (UTC)
Haha, please Nox. The kids like you just fine! It's just PE class that's a nightmare.
[Elliot not even trying to hide how much he hated PE in school. It was the worst.]
Besides, with some of the kids I got in mind, they're inevitably gonna want to go into the Spirit Realm. And I think you're way more qualified to protect them there than I am.
[Elliot not even trying to hide how much he hated PE in school. It was the worst.]
Besides, with some of the kids I got in mind, they're inevitably gonna want to go into the Spirit Realm. And I think you're way more qualified to protect them there than I am.
Edited 2022-05-31 15:08 (UTC)
Considering how many kids skip it during the year, yeah, I get it.
[Does he agree? Of course not. But he also knows it's not everyone's thing.]
So what, you're thinking I'll be the chaperone if they wanna go? Field trip to the Spirit Realm or something like that?
[Does he agree? Of course not. But he also knows it's not everyone's thing.]
So what, you're thinking I'll be the chaperone if they wanna go? Field trip to the Spirit Realm or something like that?
Yeah, well, one of our chronic skippers is on the list of kids. So maybe this will be a chance to convince him not to do that.
[Tsuna your days are numbered]
If you want. You can also do activities not in the Spirit Realm too. In fact I encourage that! Spirit Realm is no place for kids.
But .... we have to be realistic. Just telling them not to go to the Spirit Realm won't do anything. They have abilities and good intentions, but they're not at the age where they really think things through. It's why so many kids signed up for that soccer game.
Maybe if we teach them how to handle and think through dangerous situations responsibly ... we can avoid a repeat of that.
[Tsuna your days are numbered]
If you want. You can also do activities not in the Spirit Realm too. In fact I encourage that! Spirit Realm is no place for kids.
But .... we have to be realistic. Just telling them not to go to the Spirit Realm won't do anything. They have abilities and good intentions, but they're not at the age where they really think things through. It's why so many kids signed up for that soccer game.
Maybe if we teach them how to handle and think through dangerous situations responsibly ... we can avoid a repeat of that.
Are they now?
[Nox clicks his tongue, his tone suddenly interested far more than he was before. Tsuna, your days really are numbered.]
I mean, I'm down for anything- and I'm not gonna tell them they can't go. I remember how much of an asshole I was at that age. Telling me not to do something only made me want to do it more.
So yeah, I'll keep them busy. If they wanna do outside activities, we'll do that. And as far as protection... [His voice drifts just a little, thinking.] Elliot, what're your thoughts on maybe teaching basic defense? I mean, I can't teach them the major shit I know, because that stuff is fucking insane. But I know this guy loved kids, and I think he knew what to teach them when he watched over them.
[Nox clicks his tongue, his tone suddenly interested far more than he was before. Tsuna, your days really are numbered.]
I mean, I'm down for anything- and I'm not gonna tell them they can't go. I remember how much of an asshole I was at that age. Telling me not to do something only made me want to do it more.
So yeah, I'll keep them busy. If they wanna do outside activities, we'll do that. And as far as protection... [His voice drifts just a little, thinking.] Elliot, what're your thoughts on maybe teaching basic defense? I mean, I can't teach them the major shit I know, because that stuff is fucking insane. But I know this guy loved kids, and I think he knew what to teach them when he watched over them.
Yep. Tsuna's already slated for summer school, but with him being on the app I felt he could use the extra attention.
[Tsuna is truly doomed]
That's true enough. Thanks Nox, I knew I could count on you!
[Tsuna is truly doomed]
That's true enough. Thanks Nox, I knew I could count on you!
Basic defense?
[He considers it]
Sure, that'd actually be a great idea! I wasn't very good at it, but I started learning self-defense in military school at their age so it's not unusual. And you'd be way better at teaching that stuff than my old instructors.
I think one of them, Ken, already has fighting experience, but I'm sure the others could use it.
[He considers it]
Sure, that'd actually be a great idea! I wasn't very good at it, but I started learning self-defense in military school at their age so it's not unusual. And you'd be way better at teaching that stuff than my old instructors.
I think one of them, Ken, already has fighting experience, but I'm sure the others could use it.
Oh yeah, I remember Sawada.
[Someone is gonna be regretting his everything when the group comes together, rip in fuck.]
Even if the kids really aren't for it, I don't think it hurts to at least teach them how to get out of holds. I'll check and ask Ken what he knows, see if we can go from there, and then find a setup for the group.
[Someone is gonna be regretting his everything when the group comes together, rip in fuck.]
Even if the kids really aren't for it, I don't think it hurts to at least teach them how to get out of holds. I'll check and ask Ken what he knows, see if we can go from there, and then find a setup for the group.
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