Tinhead Donny!

♚►“Hmm… I see, I see.” Despite the subject of the conversation being the protective merits of a cooking pot, the mage was listening closely, nodding at each point the man made. While his practices might have been unconventional, Erza knew full well the usefulness that such tactics could possess. “I suppose if the pot itself is durable, none of these things could be an issue. You speak of it with such passion, I can only wonder if it has sentimental value to you?”

Eh-- she was this interested in the questionable gear? Donnel blinked, an unsure smile spreading over his lips. “You could say that, ya could! The name of Tinhead holds some meanin’, so ‘m sure I ain’t the first to try somethin’ like this to keep it held high! Although… I’ve b’in told it’s not really… the best thought out idea… But I gotta say, it’s b’in workin’ fer me just fine!” 

“If only. Nothing about this is trendy, or anywhere near”.

Donnel finally tore his eyes away from the offending paint splatters, turning to look at the lady with a curious gaze, only a few out of place curls obstructing his stare. “Seems like you ain’t surprised none-- I reckon that means this’s b’in happenin’...” So, then-- there were tensions, but from what she’d said, he could gather that it was not the entirety of the non-human population in Hive City that felt as the painted letters made it appear. If it wasn’t everyone else that was against the human portion, then…

She didn’t see any problem with calling him responsible, even if he did hold back her snacks and flick her in the forehead when he got annoyed with her. He never actually hurt her by flicking her in the head, though she was prone to overreacting and tearing up simply to get attention from him. But he was as responsible as anyone could get in Efi’s eyes. He worked a job and kept her fed and when they were fighting lies he was always there to help fight them. “Yeah! His name is really pathetic but he’s super strong and he’s raised me since I hatched!” If he could hear her now, she was sure he’d be annoyed at her calling him papa and saying he raised her. He didn’t seem to like being called her dad.

Pathethic, huh?! Donnel was tossed yet another questionable quality that he wasn’t sure what to think of. But, hey, what’s in a name, his mama always said! “If’n he’s raised a child all by his lonesome, could it be that he’s try’na rid himself of that? After all, that’s about the least pathetic job I can think of...” What a man! Though, speaking of which, he should probably collect on hers while they were on the topic of it. “Well, I’m bettin’ that you must have the coolest, fiercest name of them all! What is it? Eh-- mine’s a plain ole reliable-- Donnel! Or Donny. Whatever you feel is easier works jus’ fine fer me!”

✴: » Glad to see he could laugh about it. Even though he could, Arnath was far less amused at the idea of eating something that touched someone’s head so.. thoroughly. Still, he seemed to have his head screwed on tight in regards to the cleanliness of cooking. It was relieving but at the same time she still wasn’t comfortable knowing that the cooking device was on his head. 

Hey, so he might have a shot at this whole cooking thing after all! One vote of confidence is all it takes for him to have enough reason to carry on, whether or not it will amount to anything in the end. And, at the very least, Donnel knows how to make jerky! “I won’t be a master cook or anythin’ of that nature, but if it’s ‘nough to live off of, then I can’t say I’ve got any complaints!” The innovation of it all still moves a shine in his eye. Using his pot gear to cook-- resourceful! Wonderful! As for its durability-- he doesn’t waste a minute in whipping it off his head again, bringing it to his ears, and tapping out a jolly beat into it with sharp and quick knuckles. “Honestly, I ain’t ever seen no sturdier cookin’ pot than this ever made! It’s not like that’s what I was thinkin’ ‘bouts when I went and secured it o’er my hair, but it’s servin’ its purpose and more. It’s at least a little bit thicker down at the bottom than the res’! Gots ta be, when yer holdin’ down hair that’s this messy!” Which reminds him-- he slams it down back on his head so fast that the CLANK makes him a little dizzy. “Ehehe-- ain’t nothin’ to see there!”

"Ehehe, pardon me! I thought I'd fished it all up when the application slipped into that tricky ol' pond down the way there, but I missed the most important piece! Ahem." Unrolls crumpled up, water-damaged paper. "Experience! See, I used ta be part of a volunteer force known as the Shepherds led by his Royal Majestyfulness, Chrom! We fought every which bandit 'n Plegian 'n Risen that threatened the land's peace, we did! I reckon Jackdaw 'er Crow would work jus' fine, as you see fit, Sirfulness!"

veilled:

@donnelboy

【⚡】 — Robin couldn’t help but laugh at the rather delayed response. That was right, he hadn’t introduced himself to Donnel in this realm, had he? “Yes, I have been for quite some time! I’m rather offended that you didn’t notice sooner!” he joked, hoping that the playful glimmer in his eye told him he wasn’t serious. …Or, at least that he was planning something. It was the same look he got when he had a strange plan, after all.

“My heart is achin’ from all of this relief! If yer here, there ain’t as much of a need ta sleep with both eyes peeled like Lon’qu’s ‘taters!” Donnel pressed a hand against his chest, heaving said relief with a single exhale, before starting up violently and hastily waving his arms. “I-- I mean, I woulda wanted ta have noticed right away, Robin, but-- ...but yer yankin’ my chain, ain’t ’cha? And I fell right into it-- yer trappin’ is a whole new playin’ field…” With a pulled face and brows furrowed for glaring, Donny retained his disgruntled appearance for all of five seconds before bursting into laughter.

It’s odd, really. In her world there was no questioning of the small dragon running around the town. Even when everyone in a town had been told not to go out at night, no one questioned her walking outside as night fell. Later no one questioned her walking around a hotel at night with no supervision. And most recently no one had questioned letting her go on alone to save her dad from lies. Yet here, everyone seemed worried about her running around, stopping her to ask if she was okay and if she had anyone around to take care of her. It didn’t make much sense to her.

Always flicking her and taking her snacks-- but she claims that he’s plenty responsible? Is that some kind of punishment?! Donny scratches at his nose, stumped by the differing definitions in responsibility the two seem to have developed. Well, it’s not his business to say what this alleged responsible man is or isn’t, so he’ll nod his head at her sheepishly and raise a hand in apology. “‘M frightful sorry! I’m sure he’s a nice man to have raised such a sweet lil’ girl as yerself! That bein’ said-- you are lookin’ fer him, then?” It might be a bit of a problem, how quickly she’s said yes to him-- but, then again, Donny likes to think he gives off approachable airs, and for now he’s just relieved he’s gotten to her first. “I’m lookin’ fer somethin’ related to my Pa, too.” Reaching over to ruffle her hair, he bends into a crouch, and offers her a smile. “Maybe we can find ‘em both in one go! First, let’s try ta find outs where we’re walkin’, and we can go from there. Ready?”

✴: » That wasn’t sanitary. As she stared at the pot before her, how he implied he would just cook it like that as is she’d feel her skin crawl a bit. Not that she assumed he was a bad cook (although he seemed to think so) but the fact that thing had been on his head. So hair or dead skin would no doubt be in whatever he’d make, making it unpleasant no matter what. 

Didn’t she sound-- scandalized? Her tone was enough to make Donnel fall into a fit of snorting, but he did try to choke back the laughter to stop himself from appearing rude-- of course, this led to a small bout of coughing, but the entirety of his amusement was wrapped up with a few hearty laughs that just couldn’t be withheld. “Haha! ‘Course I’ll clean it out, ma’am! I reckon there ain’t nothin’ that sounds less appetizin’ than a Tinhead broth! I’d be stumped ta hafta try it out myself! I’ve b’in barred from kitchen duties before, but I do think that would grant me a lifetime order away from cookin’ anything at all! Ah, I never did see myself makin’ it out there as a chef anyhow…!”