|
Post by hoodwink on Nov 5, 2020 13:27:38 GMT -5
Bustling with activity and life, SanFransokyo was caught in its midday rush. Cars lined the highways that trailed above the main roads of the city—creating a symphony of horns and engines. Large billboards flashed with advertisements of all kinds, while large blimps floated through the sky under similar pretenses. Crammed between two impossibly tall buildings in the downtown metropolis, a loud Riiiiip! would be masked by the city noises—the portal tearing into the world going unnoticed by those too busy to be glancing distractedly down every alleyway they passed. Emerging from the light portal was Kujo—a tall and brooding man of muscle and gloom. Holding on to Alice’s hand, Kujo led the girl into the alleyway—having chosen this spot to appear due to its convenient and natural ‘shroud’. The tall translucent specter that had opened the portal for them vanished, disappearing with the rift it had torn open.
”Tch—just as loud as ever.” Scowling a bit as he glared down the alleyway to see the sidewalks and roads ahead, the man glanced down at Alice, who appeared almost like a normal schoolgirl, given her attire and the setting. ”Whatever. It’s always too crowded.” Shrugging begrudgingly, Kujo led the way towards the edge of the alley, revealing the countless shops, restaurants, offices and other buildings that sprawled across the downtown area. Hovering at the end of the alleyway, to avoid getting caught up in the sidewalk traffic, Kujo glanced to Alice with a raised brow.
”So? I need supplies, but it won’t take long.” They’d have plenty of time to make whatever stops Alice would be interested in, given the time of day in this world. ”What do you want to do?” He realized it was a loaded question—with how much SanFransokyo had to offer, it might be overwhelming to the otherwise relatively sheltered girl. Despite having been off world for some time now, Kujo had kept his cards and mobile device from home. His accounts hadn’t changed with his absence—it would be an easy thing for them to navigate this world and utilize the currency he still had.
”Shops are that way.” Kujo gestured with a pointed finger, his tall visage able to point above the crowd ahead of them with ease. ”You've already seen the cafe...but if you're hungry it's the best spot.” Trailing off, Kujo waited to hear Alice’s reply—not used to playing tour guide, but not wholly unfamiliar with it, either. If anything, it was a bit nostalgic of when they had all met. The thought caused the otherwise mostly stoic man to smirk a bit, though it was so faint it might not have been noticed. It seemed he was rather easygoing, on his own turf. Knowing the city better than the back of his hand, Kujo found it comfortable. It had been some time since he’d been somewhere not completely foreign to him.
Tch—whatever. The hell was he getting all sentimental about? This world was a hassle. He was glad to have left, truly. So why had the familiarity been somewhat relaxing?
|
|
|
Post by therunawaygirl on Nov 5, 2020 14:49:43 GMT -5
Alice had closed her eyes as she fully crossed the light, holding onto Kujo with an iron grip. Even if she was excited, there was still the sense of fear she had never been able to free herself from —the unknown.
She had already been in Kujo’s world, but she had only seen a little bit of it —not everything it had to offer. The curiosity of the girl was still too much to satisfy —hence, the reason she had agreed to joining along. She would’ve tried bringing her brother along, had he been up to it, but Jack was too far gone into his thoughts to even consider it —Alice hadn’t even been able to extend the invitation, nor had Kujo (although she didn’t know M’Lyn had suggested doing so.)
”What do you want to do?” Alice looked up at Kujo as he asked, still not letting go of his hand —unwilling to, really. Once more, he mentioned getting supplies, but the girl had an idea on what he wanted to do. After all, hadn’t she heard one of his wishes? It didn’t take much to connect the dots together —Kujo wanted to meet his mom. Even if he didn’t say it aloud, Alice knew that’s what he wanted, using the suplies as a half-excuse.
She still didn’t know why it was such a hassle for him to just… Say it. Was it that embarrassing?
“…” Alice puffed her cheeks, “You’re not here just for that… You wouldn’t have invited me over otherwise, right?”
She looked at where Kujo was pointing —the many shops around them, with people busy walking around without a care in the world. A pang of envy jumped in her heart, and Alice frowned. She knew it was going to happen, but didn’t expect it to happen soon. She shook her head at him mentioning the café in case she was hungry, not wanting to be a bother —although little did she know that hanging by Kujo like a limpet was a nuisance to him.
Who would she hang onto, if not on him? Jack wasn’t around, after all —the only reassurance she had was Kujo, whether he liked it or not. “…I wanna stick with you…” she mumbled, looking down, still puffing her cheeks childishly.
Not letting go, she followed, trying to stay as close as she could, behind him. It would take a while before she once more opened up again —come out of her shell. Despite her unease, there was a desire in her heart, pushing her forward.
Alice anted to enjoy a moment of normalcy —return to her old life if only for a day.
It wasn’t much to ask, was it?
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Nov 5, 2020 15:39:08 GMT -5
Alice’s nervousness was obvious, though expected. Sighing faintly in good humor, Kujo merely rolled his eyes in response to the girl’s clinging, not giving any other sign of objection. Crowds aren’t her thing. He’d known this—not having expected it to be midday upon their arrival. Kujo was never big on crowds, either. Giving a shrug, the man let Alice cling to his sleeve as he gestured towards the direction of the shops. ”Alright. This way.” Leading her out of the alleyway and into the bright sidewalk, the sounds of the city seemed to immediately increase the moment they moved from the shelter of the walls.
Honk! Honk! Cars in traffic roared at one another as countless laughs, conversations and other din consumed the air from countless passing civilians. In a way, it was like Agrabah—though far more crowded and with far more ‘tech’ presently aiding those living within. Rather large and imposing, navigating through the crowd was trivial for Kujo, creating a path wherever there wasn’t one by simply moving others out of the way. Alice would find the walk undisturbed and rather easy despite all of the people. Lining the sidewalk were countless office buildings and assorted cafe’s, leading to a rather crowded and busy intersection lined with tall shops that seemed to have no end, reaching indefinitely into the sky.
After a short walk towards one of the countless shop buildings, Kujo led Alice to a large glass-windowed shop displaying countless expensive name brand shoes. The sign above the entrance was rather flashy, a neon sign with elegant cursive lettering that somehow remained bright despite the sunlight shining on it’s metallic and glass structure. ”This is the place.” Still allowing the girl to cling to him, Kujo walked into the store, the automatic glass doors opening as they neared. Inside was vast and impressive, countless shoes arrayed on walls with mannequins to showcase the newest and latest fashion trends in footwear.
There were multiple floors, as one could see the spiral staircase leading upward near a rather unnecessary fountain even from the entrance. Employees dressed in surprisingly casual clothing were littered around the area, either aiding customers with purchases, sizing or stocking, symbolized only by the bright lanyard and name tag around their necks and the scanner-guns holstered on their hips. ”Welcome in! Can I help you find anything?” A cheerful young woman with such accessories was quick to notice the pair enter the store, the classic smile of customer service plastered on their face. ”I know what I need.” Waving a hand dismissively, Kujo hardly paid the employee any mind, continuing past the entrance and towards one of the countless walls lined with shoes.
Between the spaces of registers and assorted shoes were countless aisles of shoe accessories. Cleaning supplies, new laces, extra soles, spray that resisted stains—everything. Nice shoes took upkeep, after all, and with the prices on all of the assortment in this shop, it was no wonder that those who purchased them wanted to take good care of them. Kujo’s own name-brand sneakers were in great condition, despite the adventuring he had been on, because of such products. ”Good.” Finding the supplies he was familiar with, Kujo grabbed a new can of stain remover, some new laces and soles as well as a few scrub buffers for those ‘hard-to-get-out’ moments.
Some of the worlds they went to really did a number on his sneakers, after all.
He’d be damned if he let some Heartless ruin a gift from his mother. ”Are you getting anything?” The store had shoes of all kinds and for all types. Glancing down at Alice’s own shoes, Kujo wondered if perhaps a new pair would make it easier on the Navigator for those moments when they explored the terrain with them. Those are just school shoes… Though certainly comfortable enough and fashionable in their own way, Alice’s shoes most likely didn’t offer much support for any more intensive physical activities. Despite how often the girl worked remotely, there had been many instances where she had gone with them, rather than stay behind in the ship.
”You should get something more versatile…” Despite the man’s rather serious approach and stoic demeanor, it seemed he was showing interest in Alice’s well-being—in his own way. Glancing around the shop, Kujo waited to hear Alice’s opinion. Depending on the girl’s answer, he’d simply usher her to where there were shoes in her size and make her pick something on the spot.
|
|
|
Post by therunawaygirl on Nov 5, 2020 16:10:41 GMT -5
Nodding at Kujo’s words, Alice was thankful to be allowed the closure between them. Walking in between the crowd unbothered thanks to the man’s imposing stance, Alice lifted her view to see what surrounded her. Sure enough, it was all too familiar —although the tech was a bit washed out, compared to Milennia.
The cars were too loud, compared to the ones back at her world —at least, the ones she remembered. Without a sound, the cars in her world would move through the streets unbothered, some even able to take flight and avoid the crowds altogether, although obviously, those would be cars from people who could afford them —and Alice’s parents weren’t one of those, but it didn’t matter. The buildings were similar —tall skyscrapers with various windows and glass that reflected the daylight back to the ground. The ads were too grandiose, though —overly so, with giant images obstructing some otherwise gorgeous views.
Was that what people referred to “visual contamination”, back in her world? She hadn’t come across the topic up until seeing the signs and advertisements. Still puffing her cheeks, she looked around, never letting go of Kujo’s sleeve.
Entering the store was no different —Alice just feasted on the sights. It was odd, after so long of not seeing any sort of footwear or clothing store, and it sparked a new interest in her, but being shy as she was, she refused to let go of Kujo. When an attendee approached, she just hid behind Kujo, unsure on how to react. Thankfully, he didn’t need someone’s help, instead heading immediately to where he wanted to go.
Up until then, she didn’t say a word, instead looking at people coming and going, buying products or footwear as they saw fit, still without any worry evident in their looks. There was a part of the store that caught her interest —things that were of her style. Her eyes shone with interest —almost greedily, to a point, but she flinched when Kujo asked if she was getting anything, quickly looking down, shaking her head vigorously, but the red in her face plus her previous action spoke otherwise.
”You should get something more versatile…” Alice puffed her cheeks, feeling berated, if only slightly, but just shook her head. She tried to look anywhere else but the part that had caught her interest, trying to pass it by.
“I’m okay with these…” she mumbled, somewhat bitter, “I don’t need anything.”
It wasn’t a lie, but she wasn’t being completely honest either. She wanted to have a closer look, but Alice didn’t want to be a bother —she didn’t want to beg someone for something, having grown to a point where she learnt how begging would accomplish nothing. She’d learnt to be frugal, in a sense —only focusing on what really mattered to survive, and yet she hadn’t forgotten her child-like tastes.
It was just that “clothing” was something of second priority for one who was forced to live with the actual bare necessities.
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Nov 5, 2020 16:26:19 GMT -5
”I’m okay with these…” Alice’s mumble caused Kujo’s brow to raise—having noticed the girls occasional glimpses of interest while they’d been in the store. ”I don’t need anything.” Rolling his eyes a bit, Kujo gave a small sigh before flashing the girl a vaguely exasperated look, though it wasn’t sincere. She’s obviously interested. Well, it wasn’t the first time the girl had said the opposite of what she felt. Though it was a trait Kujo wasn’t too ecstatic about, there were also worse traits one could have. ”Can’t I catch a break?” Shaking his head a bit, Kujo began to lead Alice through the countless aisles and display cases, taking advantage of the fact that she was gluing herself to him to steer her in whatever direction he pleased.
She had been looking this way… Rather observant even before awakening to his powers, ever since the appearance of his Akogare, small details like that had been easy for Kujo to remember and notice. Leading Alice towards the original direction she had been gazing at longingly, the two would soon come to a wall with countless assortments of shoes. They ranged from casual sneakers to rugged hiking shoes to dainty lounge footwear. Each and every pair was an expensive name-brand with high-quality materials (at least, advertised that way anyway) and colors that indicated a more youthful enjoyment of expression.
Here there were countless pinks, blues, purples, greens—all vibrant hues that popped against the glass and metal walls and infrastructure of the shop. There were countless pairs on the tall looming display walls, aisles filled with the boxed and wearable version of each displayed shoe lining their path. ”Come on.” Gesturing towards the massive wall and dozen aisles littered with countless options, Kujo gave a faint smirk to the girl—finding some good natured humor in the sheer amount of options she’d have to chose from. ”You should try some on.” For a moment, something caught his eye, causing his somewhat teasing tone and humorous glint to fade in exchange for curiosity and open intrigue. "How about these?" Pointing out a pair of subtle yet well-crafted shoes, Kujo raised an eyebrow. They were made from a light material, yet the bottoms were made from a strong material to ensure long lasting use. Though they didn't cover the entire foot, sitting rather lower on the ankle, they were close-toed and tied with a nice ribbon-like lace. They top of the foot would only be covered by a thin strap intersecting with another one at the base-front of the ankle. It would allow for breathability and most likely allow the girl better footing than the chunkier school shoes she wore.
Kujo gestured at the pair, wondering what the girl thought. He personally thought they would compliment her style and outfit nicely...not that he'd ever say such a thing out loud, of course.
|
|
|
Post by therunawaygirl on Nov 5, 2020 16:54:08 GMT -5
Startled, Alice moved as Kujo did, not wanting to let go of him since she was still insecure. She didn’t even look at where they were going, trusting the man blindly. If one would look at it without any sort of context, they had more than one right to think something was off about their dynamic, but in truth it was nothing more than Alice being shy, and Kujo just trying his hardest through his stoic demeanor.
She raised her head as they came to a stop, perking up as she noticed that Kujo had taken here where she had been looking beforehand. Pinks, blues, oranges, reds, greens… How long had it been since she last saw so many colors, other than the camo greens and brown from her brother’s uniform, and the black and whites of her own? Alice was speechless, looking with awe once more, this time unwilling to hide it.
"How about these?" Alice looked at where Kujo pointed, curious as to what he was looking at. Her grip slowly loosened a bit, bringing one hand to her chest as she saw the craft of the shoes. They were far more elegant than the ones she currently wore —almost doll-like. They weren’t black, unlike her own, but rather a subtle girl pink, with a cute little ribbon lace as a detail. She didn’t see them as a pair that would last her long (thing that would most likely hold true, as her own pair was already a few years old), but rather something like a souvenir she could wear at all times —at least, if she was really allowed to take them. “Can I, really…?” she asked, looking at Kujo with almost expecting eyes. It was a first, after so long —being offered something she liked. Sure, Jack’s little “rewards” for a job well-done weren’t half-bad, but going shopping out of the blue and being allowed to take something was a different step altogether.
After a bit, she nodded vigorously, her eyes almost shining with excitement. Even though her expression didn’t show it, Alice was oozing an excited aura —one Kujo would most definitely see. Looking straight at him, it seemed Alice was eager to try them on and find her fated pair. Of shoes, obviously.
“So, Alice, which ones do you like?”
The small girl looked around in awe, as the petite shoes at her disposal were being displayed in a clean display table. It had been a while since she last went shopping for clothes or shoes, and so she’d been anxious. Having obtained good grades and “been a good girl”, according to her mother, Alice had been suggested a small reward.
Although partially it was because some of her shoes were already “hungry”, as Jack would put it.
“Can I pick any of these…?” Alice asked, looking at her mother in the eyes. “Of course!” her mother smiled, patting her head while praising her, “…Although we could just buy a regular pair and be done with it…” she said nonchalantly. “…” Alice shook her head vigoriously, bringing both hands to her chest, “No, please!” she said, somewhat worried. “…Haha —I’m joking, sweetheart. You deserve to get a nice pair, after those straight As you brought home.” “Thank you!”
Alice beamed a warm smile, before quickly turning to the display of ballerina shoes. After a bit of self-debate, the 8-year-old picked a pair of pinkish-red shoes, simple in design —close-toed with 2 straps in front of the ankle, held by silver pins that would open with a press of the thumb. Alice’s mother sighed with amusement, already knowing her daughter too well.
She was always one to pick subtle things —never liking anything flashy.
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Nov 5, 2020 17:09:56 GMT -5
”Can I, really…?” The look on Alice’s face caused Kujo to smirk—if he were the less serious type, he would have even laughed a little. She really is a kid, huh? M’Lyn was annoyingly accurate pretty much all of the time. Giving Alice a nod, Kujo turned and gestured at one of the countless aisles of neatly assorted boxes with the desired shoes. It hadn’t been hard for him to pick out the right label and box from this distance. ”What size are you?” Bringing the girl with him, Kujo would offer her the box with the new pristine shoes, identical to the ones on display, after finding the appropriate size. ”Here. Might as well get something, since we’re here…”
It seemed the man chose to mask his kinder gestures with indifference—a trait rather obvious and typical for him. Truthfully the look of excitement and her anticipation alone had been rather amusing and enjoying to experience—immediately making the drudgery of shopping more pleasant. He wouldn’t show this, of course, as his face was always fixed into a mix between a grimace and scowl. ”Wear them out, if you want.” Waving a hand dismissively, the man looked past the aisles with his height and glanced in the direction of the registers. ”They won’t care. We’re paying them anyway.” It seemed he was rather flippant when it came to most situations involving interacting with others.
Was there a chance he just wanted to see how they looked on her? No…that would be ridiculous. This was Kujo we’re talking about, right? Surely it was just for convenience’s sake, and nothing more. After Alice would affix the new footwear, the man would nod in silent agreement to the choice. I was right. They seemed to suit her well, being more on the light and airy side more than a sturdy shoe. It gave her more grace, as though she were walking on the air above the ground, rather than the ground itself. "Good?" Though she had been rather excited and expectant, it wouldn't do any good if she had ended up not enjoying them after putting them on. Waiting to gauge the girl's reaction, the man raised an eyebrow and hid the grin that threatened to appear.
|
|
|
Post by therunawaygirl on Nov 5, 2020 17:21:15 GMT -5
With a beaming smile, Alice silently cheered, looking at Kujo with newfound joy. Her grip finally loosened. She nodded once, ignoring the words Kujo mustered as she looked at the box holding the shoes she’d wanted. She knew how things went —it wasn’t like she was unfamiliar with it. It wasn’t her first-time buying shoes, after all —it had just been a long time since she last did so. Sitting down, Alice put the shoes on and began to walk around them, grabbing the feel of new wear since ages ago. Walking, turning… Alice tried to see if there was anything wrong with her new footwear, finding not a single issue to complain about. They fit her like a glove, and the spark of new shoes was something that just simply suited her already professional attire —it just furthered fueled the sensation. Still smiling, now finally out of her shell, she looked at Kujo and nodded as he asked how they were.
“Yeah!” she said, beaming with joy, “They’re perfect!”
She cupped both hands over her chest, blushing faintly as she smiled once more. It was like being on cloud nine, but for a much different motive. It wasn't just the fact that she was getting new footwear, but rather, it was being able to act normal for a change. Return to that point of normalcy she'd wanted, if only for a moment.
For whatever reason, she didn’t want to part with them —she didn’t want to take them off just yet, wanting to enjoy the image a bit further. Who would’ve thought that the otherwise silent and introvert girl would come out just with a simple pair of shoes? And all things considered, who could blame her for it? She was ecstatic, clearly.
“Can I keep them on? They’re really comfy” she asked, giggling a bit, childish.
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Nov 6, 2020 12:04:37 GMT -5
Despite his efforts, Kujo couldn’t help but give a faint smirk as he crossed his arms and watched Alice put on her new shoes and try them out. ”They’re perfect!” She seemed rather pleased, or moreso delighted…something that only caused the man to raise a brow and shrug to himself. ”Can I keep them on? They’re really comfy.” Rolling his eyes in good humor, Kujo nodded before gesturing for the girl to follow him. ”Yeah. Come on, let’s go.” Leading her to the registers that lined the center area of the shop, Kujo was quick to pay for their items with his card—hardly entertaining the cashier’s forced conversation as he collected the bag of items.
”Have a great day!” Kujo merely scowled and waved a dismissive hand at the employee as the two made their way back to the shop entrance, also acting as its exit. Leaving the tall store with their items, Alice’s shoes still intact on her feet rather than in the bag, the two would be greeted with jovial sounds in the small intersection plaza ahead of the shop they had entered. ”Come, come! New customers receive 50% off!” A somewhat plump middle-aged man stood on the corner, toting a small cart-freezer lined with an assortment of sweet treats. Though there were many kids crowding around the cart, there were also many teens, adults and couples partaking in the desert station as well.
Tch—they’re quick. It certainly hadn’t been set up when they had gotten here, that’s for sure. Seeing the wheels on the cart though, it was clear that the man went around town to sell their items. There were more basic popsicle like treats, as well as more elaborate ice cream cakes and other treats shaped like many popular figures in cartoons or cute animals. ”You there! The pretty girl with the gruesome looking man!” The vendor seemed to have noticed the two of them—though frankly with Kujo there anyone would have been able to pick them out of a crowd. Towering over most locals and a face looming with a grimace, the local hardly seemed ‘in place’, even on his own home world.
”Come, try some! You can even sample before you buy!” Waving Alice and Kujo to come closer to the cart, the middle-aged vendor seemed in high spirits, laughing and joking with those purchasing his wares, all while charming and alluring more cliental. It was truly a testament to their trade. ”What a pain.” Mumbling to himself and giving a short sigh, Kujo recalled he wasn’t the only one here, though. Glancing down at Alice with a raised brow, Kujo otherwise ignored the vendor, seemingly wanting the girls opinion rather than being charmed or delighted by the middle-aged man’s charisma. ”Well? Do you want some, or not?”
It seemed despite his demeanor, Kujo was willing to humor the girl if she wanted to partake. He wasn’t heartless, after all.
|
|
|
Post by therunawaygirl on Nov 6, 2020 16:30:58 GMT -5
Alice giggled a little more, happy to hear she could actually keep the shoes and wear them for the rest of the trip. They were really comfortable —and not just because they were brand new. They really made walking easier, and Alice could just feel as if she was walking on air. How long had it been, since she last felt that?
Seeing Kujo nudge her to move, the girl was quick to take her spot in the man’s closure —somethings wouldn’t change, in the end. Even if she was pleased with having something out of the bargain, she was still the same Alice as before —although now she simply didn’t want to get lost in such a large crowd, rather than simply being uneasy. Evidence to that was her standing straight and looking up front, not hiding behind Kujo anymore, but rather standing besides him.
Alice bowed faintly with a smile, thanking the cashier before Kujo pulled her out of the shop and back to the busy streets. The noises were all the same as before, but they seemed if only a bit more cheerful. The girl looked around, trying to find the source of the cheerfulness, although it took her a while to actually land on where the mirth came from.
Why were people so upbeat all of the sudden?
“You there! The pretty girl with the gruesome looking man!” The comment started the girl, who perked up without letting go of Kujo’s sleeve. She had a mild blush, having been caught off-guard and was now flustered, looking between the vendor of frozen treats and Kujo with a curious glance.
“…Gruesome… man?” Alice asked to herself, tilting her head.
What was so “gruesome” about Kujo? Aside his usual expression —one Alice was more than used to at this point—, there wasn’t anything really bothersome about him. Her confusion only grew further as she kept thinking about it, tilting her head a bit more with a frown.
“Well? Do you want some, or not?” Kujo’s attempt to humor Alice caught her off-guard, blinking a bit dumbstruck at the suggestion. She looked down, puffing her cheeks as she brought one hand to her chest, thoughtful. By all means, she wanted to try some —having been way too long since she last ate ice-cream in a “normal” setting. But, then again, she was still unwilling to be a bother.
Managing to find a middle-point, Alice nodded to herself faintly before looking back up to Kujo.
“If it’s not a bother, then… Yeah —I’d like some” Alice said, with an uneasy smile, “Can I… Go see which ones they have?”
Once more, the girl looked with expectations held high. Still a child for most people, Alice wasn’t shy any longer —wanting to attain what she could to form a proper experience.
Of course, that didn’t mean she wanted to be spoiled rotten by Kujo —she knew she had to pull a stop eventually to all of this treatment. She’d make sure to let him know that, but only after they had some ice-cream.
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Nov 6, 2020 17:17:56 GMT -5
”If it’s not a bother, then…” The girl’s meek response was typical, though it still caused the man to shake his head. ”Yeah—I’d like some.” The confirmation brought the barest grin to his face as he crossed his arms and nodded towards the vendor. ”Alright. Try some out.” Leading her to where the pleasant and charismatic vendor stood with his cart, there was only a small crowd gathered around at this point, many having already secured their treats. ”Aha! Couldn’t resist, could ya!?” Chuckling at his own joke, the man slapped his somewhat rotund gut with a palm, shaking his head before opening his cart and pulling out a small spoon.
”Here! Try some of this, first!” The man had many of the treats assorted on display ready for sampling. The cakes were cut into tiny bite-sized sections, whereas the small spoon would simply help him scoop the ice-cream flavors. As for the snacks and popsicles with unique shapes, the vendor used a similar method they used for the cakes. ”This is a local crowd favorite!” The ice cream was an off-white, creamy color that reflected brilliantly in the light. ”It’s a buttercream vanilla combination!” Seemingly proud of his own creation, he offered Alice the spoon lined with the treat.
”If you have any specific favorites in mind, just tell me! I’ve got everything you can think of in here!” For emphasis, he slapped! a hand against the cart he toted, beaming with joy and pride at his own work. Kujo merely shrugged, rolling his eyes a bit before glancing down at Alice, waiting to see her reaction. It would be nothing for him to secure whatever treats the girl wanted, vendors weren’t too expensive, after all. Not that Kujo was one hurting for money by any means… Though he wouldn’t go overboard. He knew the girl had her limitations. Raising an eyebrow, he watched her eat the sample with the vendor glancing at him in only mild discomfort at his stoicism.
"So? How is it?"
|
|
|
Post by therunawaygirl on Nov 6, 2020 17:40:28 GMT -5
Still with a beaming smile, Alice nodded, thankful. She still had a faint blush, with all the unease of being able to enjoy some normalcy after so long, but her curiosity was far too overpowering. She listened as the man spoke, taking a look at the treats assorted in the cart for display, humming in thought as she tried to find any familiar flavors.
”This is a local crowd favorite!” Raising her head at the comment, Alice blinked at the spoon offered to her, picking it up rather shyly. Without hesitation, the girl brought the sample to her mouth, looking down at the edge of the plastic spoon her hand still held, while the rest was wholy in her mouth.
"So? How is it?" At the question, Alice looked at Kujo’s way, the spoon still in her mouth as she glanced his way with a dumbstruck expression, before taking the spoon off of her mouth while nodding, a pleased and bright smile in her face as she gave her thoughts.
“It’s really sweet” she replied, “It’s nice! Although…” drawing an uneasy smile, Alice giggled, “It… Might be a lot, given how it’s been a while since I last had ice-cream…”
The thought wasn’t sour, surprisingly enough —it felt rather normal, even, to just mention something like that so casually. Still, the man had said that, if she wanted to, Alice could ask for any flavor she had in mind. Would the flavors be the same as back at her world, or completely different? She couldn’t tell…
In the end, even subtle differences like that could break a façade —even if it wasn’t a mission, Alice didn’t want to break the World Order.
“Umm… I liked that one, but…” the girl puffed her cheeks, “Hmm…” she frowned, her cheeks even puffier, “There is one flavor I wanna have again… What was the name, again…?”
Looking at the assortments, she tried finding that specific flavor she had all those years ago, but she couldn’t recall the name of it. She wasn’t about to give up, though —she wanted to taste that flavor again.
It wasn’t just her favorite flavor.
“…Ah” finally finding the flavor she was looking for, Alice smiled, “Can I have that buttercream vanilla with some sweet of milk and chocolate chips?”
Waiting for her answer, she glanced over at Kujo, tilting her head a bit as she wondered if he was getting some. It would only be natural, right? He wouldn’t be passing the opportunity, would he? Then again… She didn’t know if he was that fond of sweets to begin with —maybe he didn’t like it.
“Are… You going to get some?” she asked, calmly.
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Nov 6, 2020 20:29:55 GMT -5
”It’s really sweet. It’s nice! Although…” Her reaction caused the vendor to chuckle in high spirits as Kujo merely shrugged. If it had been a while since she’d had ice cream, the man wasn’t sure what flavor she’d enjoy. Not having much of a sweet tooth himself, Kujo was in less than familiar territory, to say the least. ”Umm…I liked that one, but…” Her thoughtful expression caused the vendor to lean in a bit, his brows raised in intrigue and a smile playing on his lips. ”Oho! Thought of something, have you?” He seemed eager to please, though waited for Alice to take her time thinking patiently. Kujo found himself glancing down at her as well, wondering what flavor she had thought of out of the blue.
”…Ah.” Having finally recalled the flavor she was thinking of, the vendor beamed at Alice’s request, giving a carefree nod as he chuckled and opened the carts freezer once more. ”Absolutely! It’s easy to mix and match some!” Encouraged by the girl’s request, the sweets merchant worked with deft hands that betrayed the time of his craft. Clearly practiced, his motions were swift and his demeanor energetic—he clearly enjoyed what he did. ”Are…you going to get some?” At Alice’s question, Kujo merely shrugged, waving a hand dismissively. ”I’m not into sweets…” Handing Alice a small cup with the ice-cream requested, a small red spoon sticking out from the heaping scoopfuls, the vendor gave Kujo a devious look.
”Not one for sweets, eh?” Chuckling a bit, the man reached back into the freezer, digging around in a side compartment with his other hand as he found what he was looking for. ”How about this?!” In one hand were what looked like coffee-beans, but smothered in chocolate—the other holding a small scoop of a tan and mocha colored ice cream. ”Chocolate Espresso beans on top of some coffee ice cream! The perfect blend for those with a more…bitter pallet.” Kujo’s brow raised at the quip, noting how the vendor seemed to be commenting on his rather unpleasant facial expression. Holding out a sample spoonful of the mix to the brooding man, the merchant gazed expectantly at Kujo.
”Tch—you’re a pain.” Begrudgingly, he reached out and grabbed the spoon from the vendor’s hand, trying the sample for himself. Can’t I catch a break? It was good. It tasted just like a cup of coffee with only a slightly sweet aftertaste—the espresso beans creating a pleasant crunch that exploded with bittersweet flavor. ”It’s alright.” Composed as ever, the man discarded the sample spoon in a bin on the vendor’s cart, glaring at the middle-aged man with mild contempt. ”Hehe~ You seem pleased, considering your general demeanor…” It seemed the cart-vendor was one to jab and tease, only causing Kujo’s scowl to deepen. ”Ha ha! I kid, I kid! Here, how about I give you both an extra discount, on top of being new customers! Now you don’t need to have such a sour face!”
Though the vendor’s jabs only made Kujo want to toss his cart over, the man had enough sense to know it was a bargain. ”Fine. Pushy old man…” Grumbling in response, Kujo reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a weighty black card, handing it to the vendor. ”She gets extra, though.” Glaring at the merchant as he grumbled out his extra demand, Kujo gestured towards Alice. The middle-aged man seemed unbothered by the intimidation, glancing over at the girl with a jovial wink and a chuckle. ”My, I’m grateful you’re here to keep this ruthless man contained! I’d be happy to give you an extra scoop!” After charging Kujo’s card with his small payment device, the vendor heaved another hefting scoop of ice-cream onto Alice’s cup, handing Kujo his own cup afterwards.
”Thanks! Come by anytime! I’m all over the city!” Waving as more customers came to crowd around and place their orders, the vendor seemed unbothered by the interaction, wishing the two well as he bid them goodbye. ”That guy was annoying.” Taking a bite of his own ice cream with a sour expression on his face, Kujo motioned for Alice to follow. There was a nearby bench on the sidewalk, placed in the small walkway of the sidewalk beside patches of planted grass and small trees along the intersection side. Leading the girl to it, Kujo motioned for her to sit down as he did so himself, leaning back with a sigh as he crossed a leg and glanced around at the city around them.
From where they were, they had a good view of the lined street of shops and cafes around them, the countless faces and crowds mostly happy or uninterested as they passed by. The vendor’s voice could still be heard over the din of it all every now and then, as well as the delighted sounds of children obtaining a short-lived high. ”Forgot how crowded this place was…” He mumbled a bit, thinking aloud as well as speaking to Alice—mindfully taking another mouthful of ice-cream as he contemplated the different worlds they had been to. Other than Agrabah, many of the worlds Kujo had seen had been so small in comparison to his home world. Vrrt! Vrrrt! A vibration in his pants pockets caused the man to halt his thoughts, his eyes glancing down in the direction of the hidden device.
Placing his ice-cream down on the spot of the bench Alice wasn’t sitting on, Kujo pulled out his cellphone and glanced at the screen with a grimace. ”Right. I forgot, she’ll be out of work soon…” Sighing in feigned annoyance, he quickly stuffed the device back into his pocket before picking back up his small treat. ”I’ll be seeing my mom.” Without really looking at Alice, Kujo seemed to watch the passerby’s as he took another bite of his ice-cream, contemplating his ‘invitation’ carefully, M’Lyn’s words still in his mind. ”You don’t have to go see her…” A faint smirk lingered on his lips now as he looked at Alice from the corner of his eyes. The last time she had run into Kokoroki, the woman had nearly broken a cherished device of Alice’s.
Kujo was sure the memory wasn’t a fond one. ”But I won’t stop you if you want to.” Waving a dismissive hand, the man seemed preoccupied with his ice-cream once more. Was it really that awkward for him to extend a simple invitation? Was it because of who he was visiting, or because of something else? Surely it didn’t seem like he was the type to acknowledge or address such things, meaning it would be fruitless to ask.
Regardless, in his own way, he seemed to extend Alice the invitation as they ate their treats together on the small bench.
|
|
|
Post by therunawaygirl on Nov 7, 2020 7:37:15 GMT -5
Alice nodded in thanks as the vendor hander over the ice-cream cup, immediately bringing a small spoonful to her mouth. Blissfully, she smiled, enjoying the flavors a bit too much. Kujo’s question didn’t phase her, since she had thought a similar reply. Sure enough, Kujo just wasn’t into sweets —and that was okay. She simply nodded nonchalantly at his expression, knowing him enough to be okay with the reaction.
The vendor wasn’t, though.
”How about this?!” Alice perked up as the vendor tried to swindle Kujo into buying something for himself. The girl tilted her head at the products that were being offered, although she wasn’t interested anymore, having obtained her share already. She looked at Kujo, curious after seeing his expression, with the spoon in her mouth as she held it with one hand. She couldn’t help but giggle silently at his reply, finding it somewhat amusing, and her amusement was only fueled further by the jabs the vendor tossed at the man’s way.
It was almost like seeing M’Lyn and Kujo jab at each other —although their jabs were far more… “snappy” towards the other.
Seeing Kujo half-heartedly agreeing to buying the treat for himself, Alice smiled as she took yet another spoonful of sweet ice-cream. ”She gets extra, though.” The girl flinched, suddenly caught flustered as her face reddened. Extra? Alice’s eyes were wide in shock, looking at Kujo as he nonchalantly spoke. Why did he blurt that out so suddenly?
”My, I’m grateful you’re here to keep this ruthless man contained!” Looking back at the vendor, Alice found herself speechless. She wanted to say that he didn’t have to give her extra —what she had was already more than enough. But before she could say anything, the vendor served her another scoop, and he didn’t look like the time to take it back.
The girl found herself with her cheeks puffed, and with a peeved expression. Still, she bowed faintly in thanks before following Kujo once more, this time unable to hold onto him as she had her own things to handle —that being the cup of ice-cream and the red spoon alongside it. Kujo’s comment about the vendor’s demeanor caused her to hum, although she didn’t say a thing, busy as she was eating her ice-cream slowly. She took a seat next to him, looking at the passerby crowd while she ate the treat.
While an unfamiliar scene, Alice found herself enjoying it. It didn’t matter how crowded it was, since that was what made it lively. What made it so interesting for her, and what lured her into wanting some normal living.
Milennia had been similar, after all —a busy and lively city, where people just lived carefree, making ends meet and enjoying the day as they could.
She perked up when Kujo took out his cellphone, tilting her head as she wondered why it had caught his attention, but never stopping to enjoy the frozen treat. ”I’ll be seeing my mom.” The mention didn’t come as a surprise —Alice had already considered that Kujo was there for an ulterior motive, and not just because he wanted to get cleaning supplies. While the offer of being able to not go along was appreciated, Alice was skeptical of being left alone in a world she knew nothing about.
She knew it would be too much for her to handle alone.
“…” she shook her head, her hands down in her lap as she looked down, “I already said it, didn’t I?” she mumbled, uneasy, “I wanna stick with you…”
Alice’s face reddened yet again, but she didn’t dare look up to see Kujo’s reaction. She didn’t even take another bite, her appetite suddenly cut short as she blurted out what she wanted. She wanted to just disappear, feeling embarrassed by having said what she did, even though it wasn’t that big of a deal.
“Why did I just say that…?” she thought, flustered.
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Nov 7, 2020 11:55:43 GMT -5
Taking a bite of his coffee-flavored treat, Kujo watched Alice’s somewhat quiet and soft-spoken response. ”I already said it, didn’t I?” Raising an eyebrow at the girls sudden silence and shade of red, but not bringing it up, the man shrugged a bit as he rejected the faint smirk that had tried to form. ”Alright. We’ll head over once we’re done.” Passerbys continued to flow and move as though its own sea as the two sat isolated from it all on the small bench. Though all of the sounds and sights of the busy city reached them, no one was close enough to be a bother. The two would be able to relax and enjoy their treat in peace as the afternoon sun shone down.
”Hasn’t changed at all, since I left.” Kujo found himself mumbling the thought in between a bite of ice-cream as his emerald eyes scanned the downtown area. Sure enough, the same shops were still open, the same crowds coming and going—the same types of advertisements blaring over the intercom of passing blimps and large screen billboards. In some ways, it was refreshing—in others, it reminded the man why he had left in the first place. It’s like none of them bother… The Heartless issues had only been resolved relatively recently on this world. What had once begun to make news headlines was now just a mostly forgotten online rumor. Everything had just continued as it was, ignorant to the peril it had been in from the start.
Sighing a bit, Kujo leaned back, mulling the thought over as he took another bite. Glancing over at Alice, the man couldn't help but feel a pang of humor at the site of how much ice-cream the girl still had left to finish. He may have gotten a bit carried away with his jabs at the vendor, having merely been trying to milk the middle-aged man for what he had, considering Kujo had been convinced to buy a sweet. It was only fair. That being said, it would surely require some effort on the girl's part to complete the entire cup. Oh well. Not like she gets it much, anyway. Maybe it was better for her to have gotten the excess? Just for the experience of it all? Not one to regret his choices or second-guess himself, Kujo decided that indeed was the case as he smirked faintly at the girl from his place on the bench as he finished off his own treat.
|
|
|
Post by therunawaygirl on Nov 7, 2020 12:58:20 GMT -5
Focused as she was wanting to disappear, Alice barely Kujo’s response any mind. It took her a while to process, although thankfully he didn’t bring anything up, allowing her to focus on finishing the hefty amount of ice-cream. Slowly, she continued on her task…
”Hasn’t changed at all, since I left.” The girl perked up, glancing over at Kujo as he mumbled the thought aloud. What was he thinking on, to mumble something like that? Bringing a spoonful of ice-cream to her mouth, Alice looked his way while debating on what he could possibly be thinking about.
Before she could even turn away, trying to remain deep in thought, she noticed Kujo looking her way back. Noticing his smirk, she tilted her head, confused.
“What?”
Alice puffed her cheeks, stopping from eating a bit, while looking at Kujo with genuine curiosity. He’d finished his own treat, so… Nah, that wouldn’t be it. With a sigh, Alice looked away, back in her thoughts as she continued to eat, although the interaction had been a bit too much —as evidenced by the remaining blush in the girl’s cheeks.
Now, she was peeved, though —it was as if she suddenly couldn’t read the mood, and it bothered her to a degree. There was something she had wanted to ask before, though… Recalling the question in her head, she looked at Kujo while tilting her head a bit.
“…Did you miss this?” she asked, “Since it’s your home and all…”
That’s right —Alice had wondered if Kujo really missed his world, or if he was glad to have left. Even if there were things he cherished, Kujo hadn’t been really transparent on why he’d decided to leave for the worlds outside with the Brigade. She’d asked him the reason why, but the reply hadn’t really made sense to her.
Was he just that good at hiding how he truly felt? But, why?
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Nov 7, 2020 13:53:09 GMT -5
”…Did you miss this? Since it’s your home and all…” Alice’s question caused the man to raise a brow as he set his empty cup and spoon down on the bench beside him. Leaning back on the bench with a leg draped over the other, the tall brooding man crossed his arms in thought, apparently considering the girls words. ”Hm…I guess?” Giving a small shrug, Kujo seemed to glance away from Alice as he spoke, finding anything else to look at instead. ”I didn’t do these types of things often, when I lived here…” Before the arrival of the Heartless, Kujo’s life had certainly not been one filled with quiet afternoon, frozen treats and shopping. There had been countless battling he had to do to survive in the darker parts of the city…
Once he finally escaped that, the Heartless had arrived. Until the Brigade showed up out of nowhere, no one on Kujo’s home world seemed familiar with the odd monstrosities, leaving the man with bizarre powers to defend the city by himself. It had been exhausting work—not that he had considered it so. For Kujo, it had merely allowed him to hone the skills he had already been practicing and mastering over the course of his youthful years. ”Most of the time I just walked around at night—looking for Heartless to defeat.” Finally glancing back at Alice, the man’s face seemed indifferent, though perhaps somewhere in that rather calm and collected gaze there was a hint of something…? ”Not like we don't run into enough of those pests on other worlds, too...” Sighing at the thought, there was a faint trace of a smirk on Kujo's face as he eyed Alice, seemingly making light of the situation. "There really isn't much to miss, in that regard." Other than her specifically, not that Kujo would ever admit that aspect aloud, though. Besides his mother, there really wasn't much he missed about his home town. Sure, there were some acquaintances he knew and establishments he enjoyed—but at the end of the day, those things could be found anywhere, on any other world.
It wasn't like any of it was very unique at all. At least, not the way Kujo had lived his life while here.
|
|
|
Post by therunawaygirl on Nov 7, 2020 14:41:58 GMT -5
Once more, Alice’s curiosity was grazed. Her full attention now on Kujo, she listened on what he had to say —although it wasn’t much. Hearing how he didn’t often many outings in general before, when he lived there, was a surprising factor —one Alice couldn’t hide her surprise in.
How could he not? Even with the loud noise around and sometimes obnoxious people every now and then, the city had its charms. The mild weather, warm and inviting; the cheerful mirth over the obnoxious ones; hanging with people one wanted, just for the sake of a fun time…
Was he simply above it all, or was there something else behind? She couldn’t tell…
”Most of the time I just walked around at night—looking for Heartless to defeat.” That’s right —Kujo handled the Heartless menace by himself, until he met the Brigade. The girl perked up, having a faint chill creep down her spine as Kujo glanced her way. Was he hiding something underneath his expression?
The following smirk caused her to frown, unsure of what it all meant. The way he finished was seemingly nonchalant, too, causing her to puff her cheeks, annoyed. Once more, Alice had the feeling that Kujo wasn’t being transparent. Was it that tough to do?
“I know you’re hiding something…” she said with an unamused expression, her cheeks puffy, “You did miss something, right? So why not be honest with it?”
It was one thing that annoyed her: secrets. Not just from Kujo’s part, but in general —Alice didn’t like it when people around her had secrets. Sure, some weren’t exactly ones she expected people to say easily, but was it hard to just… Be honest on how one felt about something?
While she waited for an answer, Alice returned to her ice-cream, already half-way eaten, and starting to melt. If they were going to meet with someone, the least she could do is finish it beforehand —even if a temporary freeze was in the way. The girl didn’t want to be a bother for anyone, after all —and that included being an eyesore.
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Nov 7, 2020 15:53:34 GMT -5
”I know you’re hiding something…” Alice’s puffed cheeks and unamused expression only caused Kujo’s mild humor to continue. ”You did miss something, right?” The girl was far too curious for her own good, in his opinion. Waving a hand dismissively, Kujo shook his head and gave another halfhearted shrug. ”Whatever.” Reaching into his jacket pocket, the man pulled out his rather worn and nearly empty pack of smokes—remembering that he’d need to make sure to grab more before they left. Typically one to prepare, the man had already stashed a few cartons in his old room of his mom’s house—having only forgotten to bring them with him for his voyage out of the chaos of it all.
Lighting the vice and inhaling, the man remained leaned back and seemingly at ease as he blew the smoke in a direction away from Alice—to not be rude or sour the ice-cream she was still working for. ”Guess it wasn’t all bad.” Still wearing a faint smirk, Kujo glanced around at the business around them—feeling somehow distant and separate from it all. There were some things he’d enjoyed—even if they were fewer and far in between. Alice seemed to be one who pressed towards the optimistic side, whereas Kujo hardly thought of such things. It wasn’t the first time they’d contrasted each other in such a way. In a way—it was a dynamic the stoic man was growing rather used to, maybe even comfortable with?
Vrrt! Vrrt! His cellphone vibrated once more in his pocket, causing the man to scowl a bit as he reached for the device. ”Looks like she got out early.” Sighing a bit, Kujo shook his head as he pocketed the phone once more. Taking another deep drag, the man made no apparent motion to move right away. ”Don’t rush. You’ll get a headache.” Hardly glancing her way, it seemed he was thinking of Alice with his direction, moreso than making his mom wait a little. It was her own fault for getting out of work early, anyway. It wasn’t like Kujo had timed anything wrong, it was something simply out of his control.
”I’ll call us a cab when you’re ready.” Until then, Kujo would relax next to Alice smoking, seemingly at ease despite his rather rigid and dark demeanor.
|
|
|
Post by therunawaygirl on Nov 7, 2020 16:39:34 GMT -5
“Hrmmm…”
Alice’s cheeks reached their limit to just how puffy they could be, although there was a faint (and even rare) scowl in her look, as she brought a spoonful to her mouth. She would’ve thrown a tantrum, had she been able to, but it would be too much —especially in an open area, where people could see her acting like that. Despite being a child sometimes, Alice was still conscious enough to wanting to keep a collected demeanor, rather than a childish one.
She turned away, this time over with trying to figure out what it was Kujo was hiding so plainly in sight. The girl focused on eating her ice-cream, trying not to delay things further. ”Guess it wasn’t all bad.” The comment almost made her choke, glancing his way as he spoke suddenly once again. So, even he had things he cherished? Even if he refused to make them obvious?
Where had she seen that before?
Hearing how Kujo’s mother had ended work lately, a faint memory rose up as she recalled hearing those words before, long ago. Looking down on her ice-cream (which may we add was slowly turning into soup), Alice kept going at it silently, rummaging through the assortment of pleasant memories she had…
“Ah —she got out early!”
Jack’s voice brought Alice out of her notebook, as he rushed towards the door to greet their mother. Alice’s mom had her hair tied in a bun, wearing a smart outfit that showed immediately what she worked on —a secretary. The firm she worked for was large, but her rank wasn’t the highest. Still, the payment was modest, enough to support the household in a way. She flinched when she saw Jack opening the door for her, patting his head with an amused look as she undid her hair, her light-brown hair —similar to Alice’s hair color— fell down to a little past her shoulders.
“So, I heard you two made a scene lately?” their mother asked. “What?!” Jack flinched, “No way! We stood home, ‘cause Alice wanted to study!” he added, puffing his cheeks. “And why aren’t you studying?” “W-Well… T-That’s ‘cause I didn’t have anythin’ to study for.” “Re~ally…?”
Jack blushed, knowing his lie had been noticed, but his mother just kissed the 10-year-old as means to cheer him up. Alice remained seated, unsure on what to do. She wasn’t one to snitch on her brother, given just how close the two were, to the point that they always covered the other’s back, but at the same time, the girl didn’t like keeping secrets from her mother.
Would it be bad to snitch, in that situation? Jack seemed to notice, his face going red once more as he shook his head vigorously —something their mother caught onto immediately.
“What’s going on?” she asked, amused. “N-Nothing!” Jack said, shaking his hands, “Really —we just stood here, and Alice just kept studyin’!” “Why do I have the feeling you’re hiding something from me…?” “M-Mom…!” “…Jack’s telling the truth” Alice said, softly, “He kept me company.” “If you say so…" their mother sighed, shrugging, "So, who wants to help me cook dinner?” she asked, quick to change the topic at hand. “I do!” “Me!”
Both siblings shouted at the same time at their mother’s request, causing her to laugh while she got ready to start doing housechores. Leaving the book haphazardly in the table, Alice rushed her way towards the kitchen after Jack, forgetting everything else as she decided to enjoy whatever was going to be made for that day’s dinner…
The memory panned by almost on its own, while Alice didn’t stop eating her ice-cream, looking at the shoes Kujo had purchased for her. The comment of calling a cab to get to Kujo’s house didn’t bother her, instead nodding faintly as she lost herself in thought.
How long had she just wanted to sit down and relax for a bit…? She couldn’t tell anymore…
|
|