PERSONAL BLOGS DON'T FOLLOW!!! NON-ISOLA RP BLOGS DON'T FOLLOW!!

"...Y'know, Rando. I know somebody a lot like you. Not in the looks department--he's small and fluffy and you're huge and spiny. But the two of you, you act a lot like each other. Real powerful, but you don't think much about yourself, right?"

He could see Ralsei acting the same way...

"So I know you're not gonna do anything for yourself. And I'm not really in a position to tell you what to do or give you any orders--that's not what we do. So if you really want, I'll really let you go off on your own. You're not one of My Lightners." ... "But, only one other person in this city asked to see Spamton besides you. One. Y'see, people avoid him. Think he's some kind of freak--and they're right about that part, but for the wrong reason. So I don't know you, and I don't know how you relate to... that, Brad he's so fond of. But I do know Spamton, probably better than anyone else on this whole island. And if you really are a friend of his, you're only gonna upset him if something happens to you."

It is nice to hear that Spamton likes him, but instead of enjoying it, Rando's distracted by... Whatever the reaction that was Tenna had earlier. There's a lot of history here. Rando feels almost invasive, like he's inserted himself into existing relationships just by virtue of wanting to hear about Brad. As nervous as it's made him...

Not wanting to be even more of a disruption, Rando lets out a long exhale, and chooses to relax. "...O-Okay. As long a-as you're okay having a s-stranger over, I'll f-follow you."

While they're on the way, in the more quiet moments, Rando feels obligated to try to bring up a few things. "..." the words don't come, however, and he remains silent their entire journey. It's not until Rando's assuming they must be nearing Tenna's place than he manages to speak a few words.

The silence which follows is awkward, to say the least. Spamton quietly finishes off his cigarette, meeting Rando's staring with a blank expression. Or is that a smile..? It's difficult to tell, sometimes.

"TASQUE [Cut out his tongue]???"

Maybe it's more of a grimace,

"I HAVE [[New And Improved Formula]]!!!!" And out comes the pack again, his second cigarette being the only real sign of any discomfort the question might bring the puppet. He lights it, then offers the pack to Rando,

"BUT. TO ANSWER!!? SERIOUSLY!!??? ... YES!!!" Whether he accepts it or not, Spamton sets it down rather than putting it away. He waggles his fingers in a way that makes the clack together, "HARD TO EXPLANE, SO I WON'T!!!"

"...N-N-New... New what..."

Rando feels himself grow cold. He's losing the stability he'd gained from the hopeful imagery on the train ride. His eyes trace Spamton's face again, watching the way the puppet's jaw opens in an imitation of talking. It's more distracting than the confirmation that this is a newer relationship, which is something he was curious about.

"I thought that was a mask... At f-f-first... But..." The young man's voice grows distant, clearly thinking about something else.

"Your... Fffface... Don't... Don't worry... A face doesn't matter at all... It's what's on the inside... A-And if... Brad wanted to marry you, then I'm sure... You're strong, a-and g-good inside..."

His tone gets more positive there, he's smiling bittersweetly under the mask for a moment. But Rando catches himself staring like he's going to bore holes in plastic, and seems frightened by the realization. He straightens himself, looking away, and gets even quieter than usual,

"...S-Sorry. Sorry, I don't know what I'm doing," once again, "I s-should..." Embarrassed, Rando reaches for his cape, halfway tempted to hook it back on like putting on a coat to leave.

* The Only Parties (Costumed Or Otherwise) I've Been To Here Were Not Thrown By People Known To Be "The Stars" * Though I Wouldn't Say It's Out Of The Question, It Just Hasn't Happened To Me Personally Yet

"...D-Dunk? No idea. I've never played basketball, actually ..." No access to a hoop as a kid before the world fell apart.

Acceptance or rejection then commenced, leave the subject either satisfied or spurned to look for a second chance elsewhere.

But this isn't post about that. Instead, it is social interaction in its most basic form, brought upon by a rather happy coincidence.

In the streets of Star Trail, a scoop of ice cream slides off its cone and splats onto the ground. Before its owner can attempt a recovery, a small four-eared creature pads right up and takes a sample lick from a side with its tongue.

Mint chocolate.

Looking up (and then up some more), Kyubey sits back to lick an ice-cream stained paw as well, making the most of his impromptu dessert.

§ Kyuu~ § he offers intelligently.

"--Careful! I'm sorry, don't, make it worse."

He shrinks about to Rando's height when Whimsy knocks and lets in the medical crew.

"Ah! Yup! Right here. Just, uh, be careful." ("For such a big guy, he sure is jumpy...")

......................

"...And make sure he doesn't operate any heavy machinery, and someone can watch over him for the next 72 hours to make sure nothing reopens." "Just like that, huh?" "Yes, sir. Sign this?" ... "Thank you."

After giving Rando a package to take home with bandages, samples of healing gel and an information packet, they took their leave. The entire process only takes about an hour, and the last fifteen minutes of that were for paperwork.

"...No wonder I haven't seen any Spirale Medical Emergency programs. That was pretty boring. "

That's not the lesson to take from this, Tenna!

"...Well. I do know where Spam lives, if you don't know your roommates here or anything. But his place, you gotta take the train or the ferry to get to. And I dunno if making the trip is a good thing for you to do right now." ... "We've got a spare bedroom. Go ahead and stay overnight at my place, and we'll get you to His tomorrow."

This was kind of his fault, after all. (And besides. Kris and Susie would probably this Rando is pretty cool.)

Once it's all over and done with, the anxiety has faded. Rando can understand Tenna's worry better. He does feel like garbage. He's not exactly a lightweight, but sometimes you're just... unlucky. The medical crew hasn't even left when Rando accidentally hurts himself for the first time, unable to suppress a hiss when he goes to straighten his sweater. His left arm aches terribly, and although he's pretty sure they were able to brush the little bits of sign stuck in his shoulders, it's all compounding as he's rising from the chair.

Despite all that, the invitation to rest doesn't sit right with him.

"......." It takes him several moments to work up the courage to speak once the medical team is gone, having avoided saying any actual words the entire time. He ends up staring at Tenna for a while. "I-I.... I d-don't know my roommates either, a-actually, b-but... Y-You don't have to do that, Mr. T-Tenna. ....If...You don't w-want to ....."