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[ have you ever met someone who's in the middle of a grocery store looking like they don't have a clue what they're doing? that's nico. that is nico di angelo currently standing in an aisle in front of a bunch of produce like he's trying to decide what he wants to do with his life. ]
Why are there so many types of apples…
[ this is sort of mumbled to himself, but he's also now at the point he may very well be in the way. sorry ponta. ]
Why are there so many types of apples…
[ this is sort of mumbled to himself, but he's also now at the point he may very well be in the way. sorry ponta. ]
[ Ponta is having a grocery shopping field day here. At home, he has to budget with his meager income and is never capable of buying as much stuff as he wants to try new recipes with. Here, with endless pocket change, paying may be a hassle but it is possible and the options are delightful.
Don't mind how full his basket is looking. It's fine.
He does not mind Nico being in the way. In fact, he'll just answer him as if they'd been in a conversation all along. ]
Do you want the fun or the less fun answer?
Don't mind how full his basket is looking. It's fine.
He does not mind Nico being in the way. In fact, he'll just answer him as if they'd been in a conversation all along. ]
Do you want the fun or the less fun answer?
[ hey man, you do you. he is fine and nonjudgmental about people grabbing a bunch of food. better than him who is standing with his hands in his pockets and a package of oreos tucked under his arm. ]
I didn't know there were two kinds. But why not both? [ normally he might be a little more standoffish, but he at least recognizes ponta as a fox and that makes him Okay. ]
I didn't know there were two kinds. But why not both? [ normally he might be a little more standoffish, but he at least recognizes ponta as a fox and that makes him Okay. ]
The fun one is that apples can have many different qualities that are desirable depending on what you want to make with it - most people like crisp and sweet apples when just eating them for a snack, but some foods are better suited for mealy or bitter ones. Having a variety brings out the best of the fruits' many possibilities.
[ Spoken like someone who likes cooking maybe a little too much... ]
The unfun one is capitalism. You can trademark breeds of apple so if someone else wants to sell an apple with similar qualities, they better make a whole new genetically distinct variant.
[ Spoken like someone who likes cooking maybe a little too much... ]
The unfun one is capitalism. You can trademark breeds of apple so if someone else wants to sell an apple with similar qualities, they better make a whole new genetically distinct variant.
[ this is so detailed and it's clear that he actually was not expecting this answer? it's also clear that he's not necessarily opposed to it, simply listening and slowly nodding along. ]
I think that's way more thought than I've ever put into fruit my entire life. [ there's a half-smile. ] But you really seem to know what you're talking about. Guess I'll take the fun answer, then.
[ he thinks for a moment. ]
It's Ponta, isn't it?
I think that's way more thought than I've ever put into fruit my entire life. [ there's a half-smile. ] But you really seem to know what you're talking about. Guess I'll take the fun answer, then.
[ he thinks for a moment. ]
It's Ponta, isn't it?
Yup. Ponta Hayari, fruit expert, at your service.
[ 'Fruit expert' is a very vast exaggeration. ]
Man, it's been over a week but we really haven't had much chance to chat outside of unpleasant public events.
[ The party sucked a lot, but the trial easily takes the cake... ]
But better late than never, right?
[ 'Fruit expert' is a very vast exaggeration. ]
Man, it's been over a week but we really haven't had much chance to chat outside of unpleasant public events.
[ The party sucked a lot, but the trial easily takes the cake... ]
But better late than never, right?
Better late than never. Between you and me I'm really hoping we're done with the unpleasant public events for a while.
[ like not just murder, he would be fine not doing a huge party again anytime soon. two kinds of people. ]
But pleased to meet you. Nico di Angelo, but...I guess you may already know that. [ it was just polite to introduce himself as well. ] Things seem a little less busy so far this week. It doesn't seem like a bad time to get to know some people better.
[ like not just murder, he would be fine not doing a huge party again anytime soon. two kinds of people. ]
But pleased to meet you. Nico di Angelo, but...I guess you may already know that. [ it was just polite to introduce himself as well. ] Things seem a little less busy so far this week. It doesn't seem like a bad time to get to know some people better.
[ Ponta nods at the first comment. From the bottom of his heart, he agrees. No more. The public eye can make do without them!! ]
Yeah, thankfully... And honestly, given all that's just went down, I think it's a good idea to stick to ourselves a little and figure out where we stand...
[ Both in relation to each other and to the city as a whole, he means. ]
It's nice to meetcha properly, too. I appreciated your advice about ditching parties, by the way.
Yeah, thankfully... And honestly, given all that's just went down, I think it's a good idea to stick to ourselves a little and figure out where we stand...
[ Both in relation to each other and to the city as a whole, he means. ]
It's nice to meetcha properly, too. I appreciated your advice about ditching parties, by the way.
At least until the city calms down again and we don't have to worry about being public enemy number one. [ it was...unfortunate how quick people were to frame mika as a villain when they'd been told they had to do hero's work. he's still frustrated about it.
but he'll set those feelings aside to focus elsewhere. ]
Sure, anytime. I'm practically an expert at disappearing when I don't want to be somewhere but usually I have a little extra help. [ sometimes you have powers that help. ] If you ever need that kind of advice again, you know where to find me.
but he'll set those feelings aside to focus elsewhere. ]
Sure, anytime. I'm practically an expert at disappearing when I don't want to be somewhere but usually I have a little extra help. [ sometimes you have powers that help. ] If you ever need that kind of advice again, you know where to find me.
Hehe, I might. The only disappearing trick I've ever pulled was kind of a one and done thing, maybe I could stand to learn to do it less... definitively.
[ It feels really weird to just say this out loud, because it doesn't matter to the people here to know that he totally changed his whole identity once. Why would it? His old name means nothing in Oceanside!
It'd be really nice if the city wasn't otherwise a shitshow. ]
[ It feels really weird to just say this out loud, because it doesn't matter to the people here to know that he totally changed his whole identity once. Why would it? His old name means nothing in Oceanside!
It'd be really nice if the city wasn't otherwise a shitshow. ]
[ ...he tilts his head a little because he truly can read the implications. sort of. i'm not going to lie his first thought is that maybe ponta died but then he realizes that maybe that is not a normal response to that so he brushes it off. instead, he's back to browsing apples. ]
Must've been a pretty powerful trick if it worked that well though. [ it's said in a way to indicate that he's curious but he won't push ponta to tell him if he doesn't want to.
but also he is. extremely curious. ]
Must've been a pretty powerful trick if it worked that well though. [ it's said in a way to indicate that he's curious but he won't push ponta to tell him if he doesn't want to.
but also he is. extremely curious. ]
[ Ponta was kind of testing how it feels to just... talk about this, by making a vague allusion like that. If it felt awful to say, he could still leave Nico hanging with just the vague statement - it'd be a little rude, but ultimately no harm done.
But after another beat, Ponta decides to share. ]
Eh, I just abandoned my old identity and started living under a new name and all. Guess I was kinda good at it, since my old employer hired me again in a different job and never found out.
But after another beat, Ponta decides to share. ]
Eh, I just abandoned my old identity and started living under a new name and all. Guess I was kinda good at it, since my old employer hired me again in a different job and never found out.
[ the thing about it is that he doesn't exactly think there's anything wrong with that. like. you do you, dude, it makes the most sense. he assumes something happened with ponta's old life that made him want to cut away. ]
That is pretty impressive. The thing about taking on an identity and never letting people know who you really are is that you can get away with it so long as you act confident about it. [ and because some people are weird about these things: ] I don't blame anyone who wants to shed an old life and try to find a new one. It's a choice to be made.
That is pretty impressive. The thing about taking on an identity and never letting people know who you really are is that you can get away with it so long as you act confident about it. [ and because some people are weird about these things: ] I don't blame anyone who wants to shed an old life and try to find a new one. It's a choice to be made.
It was the best decision I ever made.
[ His smile is softer now than the dopey bright one he usually wears. Things at home aren't in order and there's a lot that Ponta regrets one way or another, but... No, stepping away really was the best thing he could have done. ]
"Ponta Hayari" has a much happier life than Citrus could have even imagined.
[ His smile is softer now than the dopey bright one he usually wears. Things at home aren't in order and there's a lot that Ponta regrets one way or another, but... No, stepping away really was the best thing he could have done. ]
"Ponta Hayari" has a much happier life than Citrus could have even imagined.
[ he seems happy with the decision, at least. and considering nico is a person who comes from a world where actual rebirth is real, and something he's familiar with, he can only akin it to something like that. ]
Sometimes that's all you can do. [ but...hm. ] Sounds like Citrus didn't have things easy. Do you ever miss that part?
[ this is also his way of asking who citrus is, expecting ponta to answer only with what he wants. ]
Sometimes that's all you can do. [ but...hm. ] Sounds like Citrus didn't have things easy. Do you ever miss that part?
[ this is also his way of asking who citrus is, expecting ponta to answer only with what he wants. ]
[ It only takes Ponta a very short moment to think about that one. ]
Not really.
[ Fuck his old life! Bye!! ]
Citrus was happy once upon a time, but he's lived a pretty isolated life as a corporate figurehead for a long time now.
Not really.
[ Fuck his old life! Bye!! ]
Citrus was happy once upon a time, but he's lived a pretty isolated life as a corporate figurehead for a long time now.
[ HELP. me too, ponta. anyway he can appreciate the assured sort of response. ]
Sounds pretty lonely. And seems like Ponta has a lot more freedom to do whatever he wants now. [ he wants to ask about the corporate figurehead thing but maybe it doesn't matter if citrus is no longer relevant. ]
Sounds pretty lonely. And seems like Ponta has a lot more freedom to do whatever he wants now. [ he wants to ask about the corporate figurehead thing but maybe it doesn't matter if citrus is no longer relevant. ]
[ art store...
this is extremely overwhelming, thanks. he's just kind of standing at the entrance with wide eyes, not quite sure where he's supposed to be going from here? he kind of wants to turn around and leave, but he's on a mission.
it also means he's probably in ponta's way, so he turns and suddenly jumps in surprise upon seeing him. ]
Oh, Ponta. Hey. [ ...good start, nico. ] Kind of a huge selection to go through, right?
this is extremely overwhelming, thanks. he's just kind of standing at the entrance with wide eyes, not quite sure where he's supposed to be going from here? he kind of wants to turn around and leave, but he's on a mission.
it also means he's probably in ponta's way, so he turns and suddenly jumps in surprise upon seeing him. ]
Oh, Ponta. Hey. [ ...good start, nico. ] Kind of a huge selection to go through, right?
[ Honestly, Nico? He feels it. Why is there so much stuff here and how is anybody supposed to know the difference between five different types of yellow paint in a tube? (Dimly he's aware that other people would say the same about his collection of baking ingredients but shhh.) ]
You can say that again. I don't even know where to start looking...
You can say that again. I don't even know where to start looking...
I... kind of naively thought 'oh yeah, let's buy drawing supplies for a task, how hard can it be?'
[ VERY HARD APPARENTLY. ]
Something easy to use, I guess? You?
[ VERY HARD APPARENTLY. ]
Something easy to use, I guess? You?
Oh, you guys got that one, too? I have no idea how I'm gonna accomplish that one. I have zero artistic talent. [ this may or may not be true. ]
To be honest? I was looking for some things for a present for your leader and I severely underestimated how much stuff exists in an art supplies store. Like. Why are there six different kinds of pencils...? [ but he shakes his head. ]
We may as well look together. It can't be any worse than figuring it out ourselves.
To be honest? I was looking for some things for a present for your leader and I severely underestimated how much stuff exists in an art supplies store. Like. Why are there six different kinds of pencils...? [ but he shakes his head. ]
We may as well look together. It can't be any worse than figuring it out ourselves.
Yeah, let's partner up and brave the labyrinth. Strength in numbers.
[ Maybe they'll die in here, between paintbrushes and glitter powder. It's fine. The first step is bravely charging in! ]
A present for Fox, though? Not Phoenix?
[ Maybe they'll die in here, between paintbrushes and glitter powder. It's fine. The first step is bravely charging in! ]
A present for Fox, though? Not Phoenix?
Onward and forward, or whatever. [ but he does seem like marginally happier to have a companion? the thing about it is that nico does like the foxes! he thinks as a group, they're pretty decent people, and it's just that he is a dumbass who is still learning to balance having normal relationships with his peers. it's fine. they will enter the art zone and think fondly of it probably after it gets wrecked on tuesday. ]
Mm...as much as I do think Phoenix probably deserves something as well, this is different. I told Fox I'd thank them properly for providing us with maps on Saturday, and I don't want to go back on that. They like art, but I know tools can be pretty expensive so...it made sense to do something practical for them.
Mm...as much as I do think Phoenix probably deserves something as well, this is different. I told Fox I'd thank them properly for providing us with maps on Saturday, and I don't want to go back on that. They like art, but I know tools can be pretty expensive so...it made sense to do something practical for them.
Yeah, their drawings are really neat! They spend a lot of time sketching when we're just hanging out at the dorms.
[ He instantly brightens at the chance to praise Fox! Nico is right that Team Fox is very neat, Ponta's opinion on the matter is totally not biased or anything. ]
[ He instantly brightens at the chance to praise Fox! Nico is right that Team Fox is very neat, Ponta's opinion on the matter is totally not biased or anything. ]
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