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Post by snip on Dec 20, 2015 0:22:50 GMT -8
Esther’s mouth tightened at a corner, forming a half-grimace. She’d been fond of strange people in her time as a living person -- and maybe “strange” was putting it a bit mildly. “Offputting” might have been a better choice of words. Sen here, though. He just skeeved her out. How old was he, exactly?
Too old to be flirting with people who look my age.
Not that her age had always stopped people, before. Back when she was living, she’d been subject to the usual array of unpleasantries. And then some. But that was then, and this was now, and didn’t Death have any quality checks or content filters when it came to choosing Apprentices? If this was anything, it was further proof that she did not. Did Death really expect them to all work together -- to work with people like this?
… No. He wasn’t as bad as some of them. But it didn’t mean that he was a delight, either.
Instead of snarling at him to back off (he didn’t seem like the type to just take a hint), Esther stood stiffly, hands in her jacket pockets, and kept her face expressionless. Best not to give the small man anything to go on. She’d stepped out from where she’d instinctively hid behind Heng (well, not hid. Just kind of stood behind). Show no fear.
“What’s your name?” she asked. A polite enough question. Hopefully it wouldn’t be followed up with more pathetically uncharismatic phrases. If you’re going to hit on someone, she thought, please hit on Heng. I haven’t seen him make an interesting face yet.
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Post by chrysDAMNthemum on Dec 20, 2015 17:47:56 GMT -8
Heng didn't dignify Sen with a response. He just squinted more.
He glanced at Esther when she took her position behind Heng, then turned back to glower at Sen.
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Post by 2sexy4u on Dec 20, 2015 20:06:21 GMT -8
Sen chuckled at Heng's abrasive, but silent reaction. Just like an old man. Honestly. He looked back to Esther and grinned. "It's Sen." At least that was the name he gave. He never handed out his real one. You never knew who might own a deathnote. HAR HAR.
His gaze flicked back to the aftermath of the accident and then to the duo. "So, how about you guys come shopping with me? Reap orders can be a drag and nothing lifts the spirits more than purchasing new clothes and then wearing them." Neither of them were giving off the impression that they wanted him there which made him wanna stay out of spite. Because he was a devious little creature who thrived in this type of situation.
He clapped his hands together as if it was settled. "So some thing cute but appropriate for the doll and maybe we'll find some thing more relaxed for our dear McFossil here. Hey speaking of which there's a bran with your name on it. How could I have let that slip past me."
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Post by snip on Dec 21, 2015 19:43:48 GMT -8
Sen, huh? It didn't sound like a full name, but it was something.
As for his offer, Esther stood and considered it for a short moment, conflicted. On one hand, she didn't want to go on an outing with this man. She could leave and go back to HQ, and these two could do whatever they pleased. On the other... she'd been meaning to go shopping. She hadn't really gone out to look at clothing since Lorelei left. And if she went back to HQ, then she was looking at lots of paperwork that needed to be done. Paperwork that she didn't particular care about, but that aside -- she was already here. Might as well take care of any business she had in this conveniently located shopping district. There were floral patterned things to be found, as well as a replacement for the ruined jacket from the gardens incident -- she could browse stores for these things now and kill two birds with one stone.
"... All right," she said, turning to Heng. With luck, the guardian would go with them. "It can't be that bad, right? I've been meaning to sift through human shops at some point anyways."
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Post by chrysDAMNthemum on Dec 21, 2015 20:34:26 GMT -8
Heng looked conflicted. It showed on the curve of his lips and the small crease between his brows.
The last time he went shopping with Sen was... a blur. Meaning he really didn't remember much from it because it wasn't all that memorable. He remembers being insulted a lot. The crease deepened.
Heng wanted to decline. He almost did until he remembered that he had promised himself that he'd replace the coat of Sen's that got drenched in blood. What was it.. Amaany? Ameni? There was an 'r' in there somewhere, probably. There was a second article of clothing as well but the name of that was long gone, sorry Sen.
"It can't be that bad, right?"
Heng stifled a laugh, covering it with his fist held against his mouth. It sounded like a passable cough.
"...I'll come along. Rest assured Miss Esther," he said, giving Sen a funny look. No funny business look.
This may take Miss Esther's mind off of the reap order as well. A rest is good.
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Post by 2sexy4u on Dec 22, 2015 19:43:50 GMT -8
Sen grinned at Esther's affirmative response but one eye brow quirked up in a slight hint of confusion at something she'd said. "Human shops? Just because we died doesn't make us unhuman you know." He pointed out, just in case she didn't know or had forgotten.
The look Heng gave him was freaking priceless. And the fact that he thought so little of him only seemed to amuse him further as he answered that look with a wide, mischievous grin. But they both were coming and thus he had ensnared two willing souls to drag around the nearby shopping center. He was so pleased. Now he could happily replace his ruined items. He hated having a hole in his wardrobe. Not that the hole was sizable or even noticeable to anyone else. But he knew it was missing and he hated that. And of course he just loved being around clothes. And he'd have fun picking them out things as well. Turning about face he began heading to the shopping center with his entourage in tow,
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Post by snip on Dec 22, 2015 21:05:20 GMT -8
Heng’s weird cough/laugh and Sen’s Cheshire grin were noted by Esther. So was Sen’s note of her use of the word “human”.
“Human shops? Just because we died doesn’t make us unhuman you know.”
… Was this really the time to nitpick over her choice of words? And were they really human anymore, anyways? Sure, they bled and felt the urge to eat and other things like that -- their human weaknesses seemed to have remained mostly intact, but they’d been… strengthened? Apprentices seemed more durable than regular old living folk.
“... Right,” she amended, even if halfheartedly. “Living world shops. Forgive my error.” Please, just… hush. Esther walked a small distance behind Sen; she had one more question for Heng.
“You do know him, though -- right?” Not really an uncertainty anymore, but hopefully he would elaborate. “Maybe not as a friend, but he doesn’t seem like someone you hate.” A pause. “And on a scale of one to ten, how hard is he to get along with?” Couldn’t hurt to try and get a sense of what they were in for.
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Post by chrysDAMNthemum on Dec 24, 2015 21:26:45 GMT -8
Heng was mentally preparing himself to spend another afternoon in the near vicinity of Sen.
He tilted his head at the barrage (it wasn't really a barrage it was three questions) of questions from Miss Esther.
He rubbed his neck as he followed them along, sometimes looking at his reflection passing through windows (apprentices have reflections right?).
"I do .... indeed uh, know him," Heng said. He didn't say "unfortunately" out loud, but that was probably for the better. "I first met him because he er, he approached me. He didn't like the um, the clothes I wore. Demanded that I change them," he made a face. "Then somehow we er, went shopping together," he looked slightly in pain.
"I mean I knew they were not the most ah, fashionable clothes. Still," he added.
"And uh... no, I don't hate him," Heng thought briefly to the unfortunate cellar incident. He buried it again.
"On a scale of uh... scale of one to ten," he furrowed his brows, looking ahead at Sen, then looked back at Esther. "For you I'm going to uh... say ten. For not being able to get along," he decided.
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Post by 2sexy4u on Dec 27, 2015 20:23:47 GMT -8
Sen grinned boyishly at Esther's obviously lack luster response. He didn't think himself any less human than those still living. It wasn't what was outside that made you what you were, it was the insides, the spirit and stuff. And he was still human and he didn't care what anyone had to say about it.
As he pulled away from them and walked he caught snippets of the conversation. He wasn't actively eavesdropping but sometimes you didn't have to try to overhear another conversation.
“You --- know him -- right?”
“Maybe -- a friend, but he doesn’t--- you hate.”
“And on a scale --- to ten, how --- to get along with?”
So nosey~ But he stayed silent as he listened in on Heng's answer, now actively paying the conversation some attention.
"I mean I knew they were not the most ah, fashionable clothes. Still,"
PSH! The fact that he still thought the outfit was decent was why the old man was such a lost cause. Huffing to himself he tuned back in to catch the last portion.
"For you I'm going to uh... say ten. For not being able to get along,"
Hmm he never had been one to play nice after all~ But he let that slide since they had arrived at their destination. Smiling as they entered the shopping center and he slowed to a stop in front of a store that looked more or less Esther's speed. At least what he assumed was more her style. Muted colors, cute but simple designs with a slight edge. As the two caught up he gestured to the store. "Whaddaya think doll? There's dude clothes in here too but I dunno, you seem more the feminine type to me." Not so much delicate but certainly no pant suits for this young lady.
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Post by snip on Dec 27, 2015 21:26:10 GMT -8
Peering into the store Sen had led them up to (had he been here before, or had he simply eyeballed the place through the glass upon arrival?), Esther saw… some admittedly nice clothing. Simple. Some articles looked more hardy that her previous belongings, but she’d need to go in and examine them to see. And as nice as simplicity was, she liked little dashes of bright colors. As of late she’d felt a dull sense of animus towards colorless winter getups. Hopefully she’d find something suitable for herself -- it didn’t look like she’d find anything for Alim. From the outside, there didn’t seem to be many floral patterned objects in there.
And absolutely nothing for cats.
… But it didn’t matter if she liked mute or bright, or simple or gaudy. So long as whatever she got was practical and warm and could be washed and didn’t rip and permanently stain like the last jacket did --
“Doll”. Oh, God, she disliked that word. It got under skin like -- well, like a lot of things. Heng might’ve been right about that 10/10 no-amiability level.
She could tolerate words. They didn’t affect her too much on their own. Strung together as a barbed accusation, maybe they were a bit less tolerable… but she’d always been able to deal with singular put-downs and belittling phrases.
“Doll”, though. It wasn’t just offensive, or sexist, or annoying, or even merely kinda creepy. It reminded her of pests. Scum underneath her shoes. People who’d done things only to be comfortable, never to further anything except a singular moment of power. No important goals, no worthy long-terms. Just the want to make her uncomfortable.
Does he have no issues whatsoever with any of what he’s doing?
… But Sen wasn’t outwardly malicious. He just seemed aggravating. Like a tick. Or a flea. And if he got to a level that she absolutely couldn’t stand, she’d have no problem at all in retaliating by trying to set him off like a firecracker or squash him underfoot.
Smile carved like an ice sculpture (cold, unmoving, frozen), she nodded. “Sure. I’d like to take a look around, if you please. And perhaps --” she directed her attention towards Heng, “-- we’ll find something that’s to your taste, as well.” He’d spoken earlier of less-than-fashionable clothes, after all. And a previous encounter-turned-shopping-session with Sen, which sounded like it had been some kind of experience. “Unless... you want to keep moving?”
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Post by chrysDAMNthemum on Dec 28, 2015 21:55:19 GMT -8
Heng entered the store last, the door closing nearly clipping at his heels. It jingled and he greeted the employee who waved at them, before trotting after Miss Esther and Sen.
The store was like every other that Sen has dragged Heng into. Not in aesthetic, of course but... in the overall atmosphere. A group of teenagers were huddling around the sale section, laughing amongst themselves. An older woman and a young boy were perusing the accessories section, the boy's attention kept on a handheld gaming device (Lee taught Heng what those were). Two young women held hands, giggling into each other as they looked at jackets. Others milled about, chatting easily. Also the sterile clothes smell that all clothing stores were prone to was persistent.
It wasn't not nice, Heng decided. He ran his hand over a rack absently before putting his attention back to Miss Esther and Sen and oh.
He looked between them. Something definitely has happened in the time that Heng wasn't focused on them. Something about the atmosphere. Heng could tell.
He coughed awkwardly.
He also started sweating a little when Miss Esther turned to look at him, eyes sharp. Her tone of voice was very stiff. But not awkward stiff. Knife stiff. That totally made sense.
"Uh.... I came to accompany you Miss Esther. Um... I'll be er, fine doing whatever it is that uh, that you're doing," Heng said slowly, eyes flitting between Sen and Miss Esther.
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Post by 2sexy4u on Dec 29, 2015 19:06:42 GMT -8
Sen watched curiously as Esther repeated the same word twice. The word he'd used to address her. And that frigid smile followed soon after and he realized he'd struck a nerve. And whether it was intentional or not he'd struck a nerve and he knew that women no matter what the age would hold a grudge against it.
He waited patiently for Heng to respond to her questions before speaking up. "Esther wasn't it? Look if I upset you with the nickname I'm sorry. You won't hear it directed at you again. I've got a habit of using nicknames with generally everyone so if that's something you don't want me doing I'll refrain from it." he was genuine and sincere in the deliver and even lacked his usual aloof, playful vibe as he addressed her. Obviously this same kindness was not extended to Heng and it wouldn't. Guys didn't get the option to get rid of their nicknames.
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Post by snip on Jan 1, 2016 22:17:22 GMT -8
‘Whatever it is that you’re doing’. Do something. Please.
“Habit?” She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, wishing she’d brought hairpins instead of gloves. Her expression didn’t falter. “Right. Well… thank you.” Apparently the lech had noticed her smile was fake (which said that he was a bit more attentive than the common womanizer), and had subsequently adjusted his tone.
Was he manipulative, or merely obnoxious but somewhat well-intentioned? Maybe his supposed new set of manners was a facade -- it’d have to be determined as the day went on. Hmph.
Tucking the dratted gloves into her pocket (the one with the handkerchief rather than the scissors), she gave the other two a once-over. Some ragtag band they were.
“At any rate,” she began, starting to gaze over the clothes, “it doesn’t bother me extensively.” A pause. “I’d prefer none, though -- and wow, would you look at all of those coats. If you guys want to pick a direction, I’ll just follow and ask annoying questions.” The smile became a cheeky grin. “Promise.
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Post by chrysDAMNthemum on Jan 4, 2016 8:48:32 GMT -8
So Miss Esther really had no idea where to look or what exactly to shop for either. Which meant the only one who may have a goal in mind was Sen.
Of course.
"I don't uh, don't need to buy anything so," Heng started, making vague gestures, "Uh... probably."
So earlier Heng thought that it'd be right of him to buy replacement clothes for Sen for the ones he ruined when he bled all over them, but he really had no idea what brand they were or where to purchase them. So he'll just... not bring it up for now and deal with it later. After some research. If he texted Sen would Sen reply? Heng looked over at the shorter man.
It was almost a definite no. Heng sighed.
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Post by 2sexy4u on Jan 8, 2016 22:23:15 GMT -8
Sen knew his words and actions had not been enough to prove he wasn't as awful as he sounded yet. But there was time. He didn't imagine he'd win her over but he liked to think he could at least get her to tolerate him. That was always a challenge, no matter what the age. As she responded to his offer he nodded and winked playfully. "Esther it is."
His two merry misfits had begrudgingly agreed to shop which pleased him. Heng's response was the usual. That odd mumble muttering thing he did. Like an honest to life old man. Feeling those squinty eyes on his he glanced over and raised an eyebrow with an odd look on his face as if he was asking what he was staring at. But then something occurred to him and he pointed his way.
"You, don't even look at these clothes. They'd look even worse on you than your own skin." Heng's unspoken question went unanswered but had he asked he might be surprised at the response. But for now he was happy to be amongst the clothes with people he could force outfits upon if the urge came over him. Esther's comment about them walking so she could trail and ask annoying questions was met with a grin. "I may have equally annoying answers." May was more like he would. he had a habit of being annoying in general after all.
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