the new kid in town

[veratrum]

[There's a new god in town, folks.

Or, rather, there's a babby outer god about town today, looking remarkably human and poking around at stuff and things. He can be found just about anywhere, and may indeed pop up literally out of nowhere, just to see what you're doin'.

On a completely unrelated note, by the end of the day much of the higher-ups at London Port authority are dead and Liam's sitting on the bridge and whistling.

Poke the abomination y/n?]

Comments

[hairpine]

[She is going to pretend she didn't hear that. Or more accurately, she probably legitimately didn't, considering she is literally only just now coming up. You're safe. For now.]

-- I'm sorry! I was lost. Ah, but I see that you've found him yourself regardless! Good afternoon, Kumagawa!

[veratrum]

[Since Michi's here, he'll wait to call you on your bullshit, since, well. Michi's better at it than he is.]

You can feel each other through the contract link, right? I figured, since I don't have anyone but you two, it'd be best if we didn't get lost.

[Of course he can always find either of you by the mark anyway but now he's just made it a triad of awful. c:]

[screwreality]

[And he will punch both of you in the face, if he wants to spend his forever with his Husband If She Comes Back, then gdit he's going to do it.

The sound of Michi gets a glance and a single salute of a wave.] 「HEY, MICHI-CHAN! ENJOYING IMMORTALITY?」

[And now the Bad Ideas Brigade is one happy family joined by tattoos and an Old One with really dumb hair. Besties~.] 「AH YEAH, IF I FOCUS ON IT. I DON'T THINK MICHI-CHAN'S THAT EASY TO LOSE. SHE'S TOO RICH.」

[How does that even make sense.]

[hairpine]

Hm... Yes, I suppose that I am? Though I can't say that I feel any differently.

[She'll have to wait for someone to kill her. Eh.]

-- I have no money of my own, but that is certainly true! Finding me is quite simple. Kumagawa's manner of dress is also very distinctive! His school's uniform, paired with the scarf that I've made him, has the positive effect of making him stand out amongst most others.

Are you both well?

[veratrum]

I'm just fine.

[Why would you ask that you already know I'm not blushing shut up kumagawa.]

Well, that wasn't quite what I meant, but that works too.

[screwreality]

「...HEH. I'M FINE.」

[He's not saying anything. But Liam only needs to glance to know that expression. Caught it, filing it, saving for mocking later.

Damn Minus.]

「I'M GLAD TO KNOW I'M EASILY SPOTTED, MICHI-CHAN! HOWEVER, I THINK LIAM-KUN MEANT SPOTTING ME THROUGH THE BRAND. TRY FOCUSING!」

[hairpine]

[Better still, she is pointedly avoiding looking at Liam, so.

Just saying.]

I'm aware! It's been done. However, I'm not unfond of this challenge -- finding you using only my eyes is very fun!

[veratrum]

Oh? If it's hide-and-seek I have kind of an unfair advantage, maybe I should just be the referee?

[Shut up kumagawa or he's telling her what you said. :);;;]

[screwreality]

「I'M NOT SURE HOW GOOD OF A GAME IT IS IF IT'S ONLY TWO PEOPLE. BESIDES, MICHI-CHAN'S AN EASY HUNT.」

[Nope.jpg Liam, he does what he wants, HE'S NOT SORRY, etc.]

[hairpine]

-- I am capable of making myself difficult to find!

[I!! I know how to play hide and seek I learned when I was a kid it's not like I've never had friends or anything!!!]

[veratrum]

That sounded like a challenge~ Maybe mix it more with tag to make it more interesting?

I can find you both without thinking about it, so it's no fun if I'm playing...someone has to keep score, though.

[And he's gonna get some fucking popcorn for this, holy shit.]

[screwreality]

「LIAM-KUN'S A CHEATER AND MICHI-CHAN'S TOO EASY. AH, THIS GAME IS DOOMED BEFORE IT EVEN STARTS.」

[That sound ringing through the universe was the sound of Michi being slapped with a dueling glove.]

[hairpine]

-- How rude!

[Being her, of course she takes the bait. Duh.]

I will definitely win, Kumagawa! Following your loss to me, I would like you to eat breakfast with me for the next seven days, and allow me to take you shopping!

[veratrum]

The terms are set, and so is the challenge...hum. Since Kumagawa is convinced he could find Michi easily, perhaps he should be the seeker first?

[Doot doot doot. Someone is...surprisingly good at reffing he had so many siblings you don't even know.]

[screwreality]

[Terms? Set challenge? He was just messing with her, but if Liam's reffing and there's bets on the line...

It's a fight.

God Liam help you Michi.]

「I REFUSE BREAKFAST! I WAKE UP EARLY FOR NO WOMAN! I'M FILING A FORMAL REQUEST TO CHANGE MICHI-CHAN'S CONDITION. I'LL BE AT HER HOUSE FOR LUNCH OR DINNER AT HER CHOICE IN EXCHANGE FOR A TWO WEEK DURATION.」

「AND IF MICHI-CHAN LOSES, SHE HAS TO ACCOMPLISH A SINGLE DEMAND.」

[A simple bet, but oh god no oh god no oh god no]

[hairpine]

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Similarly, it is imperative that you refrain from sleeping in too frequently. I refuse to change my condition! Certainly you're capable of handling something as simple as a week...?

[Compared to her usual blank smiles she is working one hell of a shit-eating grin. This is a competition and she has friends she can fight with and she never ever gets to do this and they haven't even started playing yet and she's already having fun.]

However, I accept your conditions! Assuming that I lose at all, of course.

[veratrum]

Then, the seeker changes whenever the person hiding is found. It's traditional to give a 30 second head start so they may hide again, that's up to you two.

It's over when somebody gives up. On your mark!

[screwreality]

[Bitch.

But he gives the faint grin of someone who's found a person to be faced on equal footing. Because this is a serious competition and somewhere in the multiverse a protagonist is yelling at him to stop doing stupid things.

And, like any good member of the Credit Union, he ignores it with no second thoughts.] 「FINE. YOU HEARD THE GOD. THIRTY SECONDS.」

[The fact that this ends with 'when somebody gives up' means this is going to go on forever.

But he is not a cheater. So he crosses his arms and closes his eyes and immediately starts counting the seconds. Game start.]

[hairpine]

[OK LET'S DO THIS

She has literally never played hide and seek before in her life, and resultingly she is incredibly bad at coming up with optimal hiding places. So she panics initially, making this hilarious neurotic little expression only Liam can actually see but Kumagawa could probably imagine -- when she realizes she's losing more time thinking and worrying over it, it worsens, and eventually she just runs off in some such direction trying to find a hiding place.

Right behind whatever building they're closest to. Sorta winning.]