you know what? 45 is that kind of girl. he can't be surprised, though he doesn't think he's seen that exact expression on her before.
but when someone scoops him up, he's so surprised that he can only yelp as he's flung around like the rag doll he's become. for one, despite the strength this body belongs to a girl. for two, she's touching him (and he is very flustered). for three, hers is a merry voice he recognizes once he takes a moment to think about it.
[ 9 blinks, more than a little surprised as she releases his cheeks, slides her hands down to his shoulders instead, and settles back to a more comfortable distance. that is to say, just arms length, as she peers at him to get a better look at him. ]
Huh? Reina? But... I don't think I've ever met you? How do you know that name? Did sis...?
[ 45, who is leaning back against the wall of the fitting room and idly studying her nails, offers: ]
Remember the issues you ran into in S15, that one time? Something kind of like that happened again.
[ ... which doesn't help with 9's expression considering it goes from confused to just only a few shades shy of outright alarm, but hey. she knows better than to make too much of a fuss, probably? ]
Wait, what do you mean, again? When that happened, you almost...
It's fine, it's fine. Less dangerous this time, mostly. [ ... ] Anyway, help me out here. He's sorely in need of a new outfit, and it just so happens that we're going to assist him with that. Zenitsu? Any particular preferences or things to avoid before we start?
[ oh, he thinks, is he not supposed to call her that? but if 45 has asked to be called aki, then surely this one would be using a name that doesn't sound too mechanical? (what/who is s15? what almost happened to 45?) he frets, the pounding of his heart growing from this and her hands on his shoulders, when 45 intervenes.
he starts, swiveling his head in 45's direction at the question. ]
Don't say things like that, we might just leave you in a designer suit and let you foot the bill.
[ 9's still looking at him owlishly, with at least some obvious concern in her expression now especially considering his reactions, but glances over at 45 when she speaks. ]
I thought you said we were trying not to break him?
That's why I warned him, didn't I? [ she claps her hands together. ] Come on, both of you. The night's still young, but we've got ground to cover. And you do have a better eye for this stuff than I do. With any luck he won't come out looking like he's wearing Dier's hand me downs.
[ with that she pushes off the wall and strides out, carrying the bulk of their odds and ends and bags. rather than immediately follow her, 9 lingers behind with zenitsu for a moment, before fixing him with a curious look. ]
[ Foot the bill for expensive clothes? His expressions dips into growing horror until 9 intervenes, saving his life. 45 just says things, always.
She takes the lead, and he moves to follow diligently suit. He manages a couple of steps when he realizes that 9 has yet to do the same. Turning around, he suddenly feels like he's been put on the spot. ]
Um, we met at someone else's home. There were others, too . . . ?
[ He trails off, wondering if anyone else has hopped on by yet. Surely Hunter has by now, maybe while 9 was away. They did strike him as a private couple. ]
[ Hunter has not, not that Zenitsu would immediately know, or anything. But maybe the pendant that's been around her neck might be a clue?
9 looks... a little dubious still, even if she does don a cheery grin soon enough. ]
Someone else's home, huh? Sounds like a party. It's hard enough imagining sis doing that sort of thing...
[ But she doesn't pry beyond that, at least not overtly. She'll just start following the path 45 took, taking Zenitsu by the hand as she passes and upping both of their paces. ]
Come on, she'll make the both of us regret it if I keep you too much longer, ehe. We can talk as we go!
[ He stops breathing when she grabs his hand, and he only remembers to release the breath that's caught in his throat after several paces.
Is 45 the type to make anyone regret something like that? His opinion of her seems to clash with that of other dolls' rather often. She wouldn't do that, would she? ]
Um, what should I call you?
[ It almost sounded like he wasn't supposed to be using the only name he knows for her. ]
Reina's fine, I just haven't heard it for a long time! [ her tone is breezy now, though it's tinged slightly sheepish, somehow. ] Especially not from someone I hadn't heard of before? But sis keeps a lot of secrets, so I guess I'm not too surprised, haha...
Though, I mean, you must be all right? If she's vouching for you, anyway.
[ 45 is rather reserved even with her own, isn't she? if this is considered vouching, he's grateful. despite what everyone says, she's a really sweet doll. ]
It's been a while, so I thought I'd come by to see how she was doing . . .
[ he's certainly not here to shake everything up. he has, though, hasn't he? ]
A whiiile, huh? [ she repeats, drawing and lilting out the sound. ] When did you say this house party was again? Must've been a while indeed for you to come by and check up on her in person rather than going through any of the usual communications channels!
[ she glances back to blink her eyes at him owlishly. ]
But you thought she'd be around if you stopped by in person? No one besides us ever really sees much of sis...
[ around them, the streets slowly transition away from how they were. less seedy, less back alley atmosphere. still a little dilapidated, but the lights now shine down on streets that look like one can make a living on. there's a couple stray dolls and other passersby around that 9, still leading zenitsu by the hand, breezes right on past to catch up with 45, waiting for them in front of a modest boutique. ]
My, what took you? I thought you both were supposed to be faster than I am.
[ it's not much better, but it's still an improvement. his logic sounds increasingly poor with every question 9 asks, so it's fortunate that they catch up to 45 at that moment. ]
Faster than many. I see you haven't lost that habit, though.
[ she tsks lightly, then leads them on in. clothes! glorious clothes in a variety of neat and practical styles... and a couple less so.
she just leans back somewhere and crosses her arms, setting the bags of stuff down as she pulls out some sort of device and starts fiddling with it. ]
Well, Reina, you're up. He's all yours.
Eh? You're not going to help?
I'll offer my opinions if you really want me to.
Okie! Zenitsu, was it? Let's go! Anyway, I know you said you were okay with anything earlier, but this'll go a lot quicker if you gimme your preferences, you know! Do you want something looser and more comfortable, easier to move in, or something sleeker and more close cut?
[ did you think you were free from alone time with 9. ]
between the mansion and the camp, he's been exposed to various fashion by now. even so, all these clothes on display are still a little strange to him. he blinks when 45 passes him off to 9.
again, and so soon? is this going to be the routine here? not that he minds. awkward questions aside, 9's seriously cute. it won't do to keep her waiting, so he takes a second to quickly decide. ]
[ haha, and isn't that something, the differences in the way she operates here, versus back at the camp and mansion? what an interesting notion. maybe she's just busy, who knows?
9 just hms at him, sizing him up for a moment. ]
Comfortable, huh... Ja, I think we can swing that!
Just don't forget about the collar incident, hmm~? ♪ [ lilts 45 over from where she's seated still, not looking up. 9 lets out a noise somewhere between an 'eek' and an 'erk' as she falters midstep for a moment, then calls back: ]
Th-that was just the one time! And besides, you're the one who said I was better at this than you are! C'mon Zenitsu, let's get you into something nicer already!
[ considering her mission, 45 must be busy. zenitsu is more puzzled than upset as he turns back to 9. it's both enlightening and heartening to see this kind of interaction between them, anyway.
9 definitely wouldn't say that 45 has less than 5% kindness in her personality. would she? ]
Do you have something in mind? . . . What did she mean by collar incident?
I got her a Christmas present, and she paraded me around on a leash in response...
What she isn't saying is that the present was a dog collar that she intended me to wear.
It still looked nice, though!
Which is why I am certain your logic processors were malfunctioning then. Anyway, don't you have something to do?
Right-! Here, what do you think of-
[ what 9 ends up picking out for him is a mix of relatively close fitting, but light and elastic tops paired with a looser, more flowing overcoat that disguises the silhouette and offers plenty of pockets to hide things in. and also a hood, because why not. a couple of sets of practical looking but comfortable pants are offered for him to make the final decision between. ]
[ okay, buying 45 a dog collar is kind of weird. no harm done if it looked cute, though, right? the thought's what counts, weird as it is.
but the tops are nice, and the coat is vaguely reminiscent of his haori in how it would drape over him. he appraises the pants before settling on one set. ]
I thought it looked nice... her hair looks a lot lighter than mine, but there's reddish highlights in it, you know? So I thought it'd match that! But, well, her taste is probably...
Oh? If you really wanted to go for another walk with me so badly, all you had to do was ask~ ♪
Nope! You didn't hear me say anything at all, sis! Anyway, if that's what you want, let's go get you all checked out! You'll look great in those, I'm sure!
[ zenitsu probably did not come here to listen to a comedy show of the ump sisters bantering with each other, but regardless of whether or not he notices it 45's been keeping an eye on him and his reactions as they talk.
9's the personable one; 45 is distinctly not. too hesitant, too quiet, too depressing at first-- and then afterwards, apparently too mysterious, too intimidating, absurd joke that it is all things considered. but it does usually put others more at ease when they see her sniping back at the doll that looks so much like her, like this isn't all simply a function of logic.
honestly, with both of the ducklings present, she thinks briefly of the mansion and camp and only half wonders when she stopped managing to convince people she didn't care one way or the other. probably something to do with the fact that she hadn't quite been business as usual there, at first, mixed with the recurring inability to not see her as a person and some sort of insistence on seeing her as a 'good' one. ]
A squad shrouded in mystery. ▓▓▓▓▒ has met them once, and others can only guess at the members' identities from rumors. Members of the squad all have advanced AI and high capacity for independent operation. Rumor has it that Squad 404 usually deals with ░▓▒▓▓▓▒▓▓▒▒▒░░
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no subject
Date: 2020-08-26 02:35 am (UTC)you know what? 45 is that kind of girl. he can't be surprised, though he doesn't think he's seen that exact expression on her before.
but when someone scoops him up, he's so surprised that he can only yelp as he's flung around like the rag doll he's become. for one, despite the strength this body belongs to a girl. for two, she's touching him (and he is very flustered). for three, hers is a merry voice he recognizes once he takes a moment to think about it.
intuitively, he knows her name from a memory. ]
Reina!
[ "meanie-pants"? ]
no subject
Date: 2020-08-31 08:43 am (UTC)Huh? Reina? But... I don't think I've ever met you? How do you know that name? Did sis...?
[ 45, who is leaning back against the wall of the fitting room and idly studying her nails, offers: ]Remember the issues you ran into in S15, that one time? Something kind of like that happened again.
[ ... which doesn't help with 9's expression considering it goes from confused to just only a few shades shy of outright alarm, but hey. she knows better than to make too much of a fuss, probably? ]
Wait, what do you mean, again? When that happened, you almost...
It's fine, it's fine. Less dangerous this time, mostly. [ ... ] Anyway, help me out here. He's sorely in need of a new outfit, and it just so happens that we're going to assist him with that. Zenitsu? Any particular preferences or things to avoid before we start?no subject
Date: 2020-08-31 03:54 pm (UTC)he starts, swiveling his head in 45's direction at the question. ]
Huh? Anything's fine.
no subject
Date: 2020-08-31 09:35 pm (UTC)[ 9's still looking at him owlishly, with at least some obvious concern in her expression now especially considering his reactions, but glances over at 45 when she speaks. ]
I thought you said we were trying not to break him?
That's why I warned him, didn't I? [ she claps her hands together. ] Come on, both of you. The night's still young, but we've got ground to cover. And you do have a better eye for this stuff than I do. With any luck he won't come out looking like he's wearing Dier's hand me downs.
[ with that she pushes off the wall and strides out, carrying the bulk of their odds and ends and bags. rather than immediately follow her, 9 lingers behind with zenitsu for a moment, before fixing him with a curious look. ]
How do you know her?
no subject
Date: 2020-09-02 03:58 am (UTC)She takes the lead, and he moves to follow diligently suit. He manages a couple of steps when he realizes that 9 has yet to do the same. Turning around, he suddenly feels like he's been put on the spot. ]
Um, we met at someone else's home. There were others, too . . . ?
[ He trails off, wondering if anyone else has hopped on by yet. Surely Hunter has by now, maybe while 9 was away. They did strike him as a private couple. ]
do you realize how weird it is to be npcing 9 with no icons for her
Date: 2020-09-03 08:39 am (UTC)9 looks... a little dubious still, even if she does don a cheery grin soon enough. ]
Someone else's home, huh? Sounds like a party. It's hard enough imagining sis doing that sort of thing...
[ But she doesn't pry beyond that, at least not overtly. She'll just start following the path 45 took, taking Zenitsu by the hand as she passes and upping both of their paces. ]
Come on, she'll make the both of us regret it if I keep you too much longer, ehe. We can talk as we go!
i can hear her catty smile and i love it
Date: 2020-09-07 04:37 am (UTC)Is 45 the type to make anyone regret something like that? His opinion of her seems to clash with that of other dolls' rather often. She wouldn't do that, would she? ]
Um, what should I call you?
[ It almost sounded like he wasn't supposed to be using the only name he knows for her. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-09-07 06:07 am (UTC)Though, I mean, you must be all right? If she's vouching for you, anyway.
no subject
Date: 2020-09-13 12:57 am (UTC)It's been a while, so I thought I'd come by to see how she was doing . . .
[ he's certainly not here to shake everything up. he has, though, hasn't he? ]
no subject
Date: 2020-09-15 09:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-09-16 03:58 pm (UTC)I wasn't sure if she'd be able to answer. That's all. And seeing someone in person is better, right?
no subject
Date: 2020-09-16 04:23 pm (UTC)But you thought she'd be around if you stopped by in person? No one besides us ever really sees much of sis...
[ around them, the streets slowly transition away from how they were. less seedy, less back alley atmosphere. still a little dilapidated, but the lights now shine down on streets that look like one can make a living on. there's a couple stray dolls and other passersby around that 9, still leading zenitsu by the hand, breezes right on past to catch up with 45, waiting for them in front of a modest boutique. ]
My, what took you? I thought you both were supposed to be faster than I am.
no subject
Date: 2020-09-17 07:12 pm (UTC)Nothing! And I'm not that fast on my own . . .
[ apparently 9 is. good to know. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-09-18 02:37 am (UTC)[ she tsks lightly, then leads them on in. clothes! glorious clothes in a variety of neat and practical styles... and a couple less so.
she just leans back somewhere and crosses her arms, setting the bags of stuff down as she pulls out some sort of device and starts fiddling with it. ]
Well, Reina, you're up. He's all yours.
Eh? You're not going to help?
I'll offer my opinions if you really want me to.Okie! Zenitsu, was it? Let's go! Anyway, I know you said you were okay with anything earlier, but this'll go a lot quicker if you gimme your preferences, you know! Do you want something looser and more comfortable, easier to move in, or something sleeker and more close cut?
[ did you think you were free from alone time with 9. ]no subject
Date: 2020-09-18 03:48 am (UTC)between the mansion and the camp, he's been exposed to various fashion by now. even so, all these clothes on display are still a little strange to him. he blinks when 45 passes him off to 9.
again, and so soon? is this going to be the routine here? not that he minds. awkward questions aside, 9's seriously cute. it won't do to keep her waiting, so he takes a second to quickly decide. ]
Oh—how about something comfortable?
[ that should be easy to move in, right? ]
no subject
Date: 2020-09-22 04:23 pm (UTC)9 just hms at him, sizing him up for a moment. ]
Comfortable, huh... Ja, I think we can swing that!
Just don't forget about the collar incident, hmm~? ♪ [ lilts 45 over from where she's seated still, not looking up. 9 lets out a noise somewhere between an 'eek' and an 'erk' as she falters midstep for a moment, then calls back: ]Th-that was just the one time! And besides, you're the one who said I was better at this than you are! C'mon Zenitsu, let's get you into something nicer already!
no subject
Date: 2020-09-24 01:07 am (UTC)9 definitely wouldn't say that 45 has less than 5% kindness in her personality. would she? ]
Do you have something in mind? . . . What did she mean by collar incident?
no subject
Date: 2020-09-24 02:47 am (UTC)I got her a Christmas present, and she paraded me around on a leash in response...
What she isn't saying is that the present was a dog collar that she intended me to wear.It still looked nice, though!
Which is why I am certain your logic processors were malfunctioning then. Anyway, don't you have something to do?Right-! Here, what do you think of-
[ what 9 ends up picking out for him is a mix of relatively close fitting, but light and elastic tops paired with a looser, more flowing overcoat that disguises the silhouette and offers plenty of pockets to hide things in. and also a hood, because why not. a couple of sets of practical looking but comfortable pants are offered for him to make the final decision between. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-09-25 08:19 pm (UTC)but the tops are nice, and the coat is vaguely reminiscent of his haori in how it would drape over him. he appraises the pants before settling on one set. ]
This one looks fine.
[ and because he can't help himself— ]
What about the collar? How did it look?
zenitsu is still not at mcdonalds and this was the entire premise of the thread. oops
Date: 2021-02-01 02:03 am (UTC)I thought it looked nice... her hair looks a lot lighter than mine, but there's reddish highlights in it, you know? So I thought it'd match that! But, well, her taste is probably...
Oh? If you really wanted to go for another walk with me so badly, all you had to do was ask~ ♪Nope! You didn't hear me say anything at all, sis! Anyway, if that's what you want, let's go get you all checked out! You'll look great in those, I'm sure!
[ zenitsu probably did not come here to listen to a comedy show of the ump sisters bantering with each other, but regardless of whether or not he notices it 45's been keeping an eye on him and his reactions as they talk.9's the personable one; 45 is distinctly not. too hesitant, too quiet, too depressing at first-- and then afterwards, apparently too mysterious, too intimidating, absurd joke that it is all things considered. but it does usually put others more at ease when they see her sniping back at the doll that looks so much like her, like this isn't all simply a function of logic.
honestly, with both of the ducklings present, she thinks briefly of the mansion and camp and only half wonders when she stopped managing to convince people she didn't care one way or the other. probably something to do with the fact that she hadn't quite been business as usual there, at first, mixed with the recurring inability to not see her as a person and some sort of insistence on seeing her as a 'good' one. ]