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video; un: d.larusso

[ Though the video feed may be started with Daniel’s username, it seems like the man isn’t the only person visible when the message starts. Robby is right there next to him, the man with a friendly smile on his face and the boy smiling, though not as brightly. ]

Hello, everyone! As I’m sure many of you have experienced yourself, suddenly arriving in this place on the train can be more than a little disorienting. And though many people here are incredibly kind and willing to help, Robby and I thought that it would also be nice to have a place where new people can be directed to in order to get some information, a warm welcome, and some equally warm food. So we’re planning on clearing out a space somewhere near the main train station to turn it into a welcome diner of sorts.

We know people are arranging clubs and have regular meet-ups, [ speaks up Robby this time, ] so we thought they'd be a good place to advertise them. Let them know who's running clinics, who to ask about the kiosk or the city. Share what's happened here, too.

[ There's the faintest shift in Robby's tone at the mention of that, but he quickly adds: ] Oh, yeah, and we know there's been talk about how supplies are doing. The food's gonna be packaged and good to take out if people want it–if you wanna help with recipes, or help out with the idea in general, let us know.

[ Daniel is definitely smiling like a proud ~~dad~~ sensei the entire time he’s listening to the boy speak. Please don’t mind a man being very embarrassing, even ruffling his hair once Robby is done speaking. The highest form of humiliation a teenager can suffer. ]

Really, Robby deserves all the credit. He really does always have the best ideas. Everyone, make sure to befriend him, alright?

[ There's a very teenage huff from behind Robby, and the video feed is moving as: ] Okay, I think we're done.

[ Yes, that's Robby reaching for the phone to end the post. Freedom!!!! ]

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Then you're gonna need a plan. Find a way to trap it, see how strong it is first. [ He's not really speaking as a means of thinking about it seriously; it's just a, 'well, guess that's what people would do' type tone.

Since, after a pause, Robby nods at her. ]

You should go back home for now. You're soaking wet--I'll come with you.

[ You can all but see it in her face, just how badly she wants to say "thanks but I'm fine" because poor Robby's been through enough? He'd run here after her because he'd been worried, and she doesn't think she's going to run into problems just heading to the apartment, dripping wet or not.

But they'd just had that argument for a reason and her shoulders slump after a minute with a rueful smile. ]

Okay.

[ But, also because it's Tsuruno-- ]

I guess it's not that weird to walk a cute girl home.

[ Tsuruno, please. ]

[ At least when he huffs, it sounds amused. Maybe there's a twitch of a smile. ]

You're soaking wet. If I don't walk home with you after a monster attack, I'm a jackass. [ A beat, and with a step toowards the closest way out. ]

Speaking of, can we get out of here now?

[ Like. Right now. That monster? Way too close. ]

I don't think that's how it works, but if anyone asks, I'll tell them you were a perfect gentleman or something.

[ But he has a point, so she nods, heading for the exit. ]

But yeah, let's get going. I hit my monster quota for the day.

[ Different monster attack etiquette??? Different culture. Robby will be following her back, a glance taken at the pool, but let's not tempt fate. ]

Good. [ He'll still feel better, once they've passed through the doors out of the swimming hall. ]

I can't believe we have actual monsters now. You sure it was alive? It's not like the stuff at the mall turned out to be alive.

[ They're outside! Sweet, fresh air!

... Tsuruno is kind of grimacing a little as a light breeze washes over them, because that's not too comfy when one is generating a puddle. But she's putting up with it without comment, merely turning to begin the walk back to the apartments. ]

I didn't get a good look at it, but it felt alive. And the mall stuff was a one-time thing, from what I can tell. This thing's been in there consistently.

I think it's kind of unfair though, that if we get something alive, it's not like a cat or a bird or something, but a pool monster...

Why would it be a cat or bird. [ It's rhetorical, amused in a dry way. Nice and normal? Never. ] But everything in this city so far's been...subtle. It's been screwing with us, but nothing's tried to really kill us. Just-- ... act like it.

[ You know. Again, the mall. (And uncomfortably said.) ]

Yeah, that's...

[ A wince. ]

It feels kinda weird, but whoever's doing this definitely wants us alive...

[ A sigh follows that, and then she adds a little hop to her next step. ]

Well!! Either way! We're in this together, like you said!

[ Robby isn't going to start hopping, but he does watch Tsuruno's back with the small lead she gets in front of him. A 'hmm' in acknowledgement, and he doesn't want anything for a while...

... ]

Hey. [ Until he does, her name said as well if that's what he needs to get her to look back, but she'll feel a bump to her arm. Robby's taken off his flannel shirt, leaving him with his t-shirt on underneath. ]

I'm getting cold looking at you.

[ Tsuruno glances back over her shoulder, a little inquisitively, only to find that Robby has stripped.

Somewhat.

She blinks, glancing between him and the shirt, and she's aware this is probably not going to be something he'll budge on, but it's the principle of the matter, so-- ]

If it helps, I run pretty warm?

[ Which is not a lie, but again, the awareness is there that she probably looks like a pitiful drenched cat. ]

[ Yeah, see this small shake of the head and the face of a guy not buying it? ]

Nope.

[ There, even vocalised if it's necessary. Nope, doesn't help. We must make this walk back to Tsuruno's look as scandalous as possible, apparently. ]

[ ROBBY, WHAT WILL YOUR DAD THINK ]

... Mmmngh.

[ Well. It's probably protest still, but it's mostly resignation because this is not an argument she can win and there's no real word to express that beyond sound effects, apparently.

So Tsuruno sighs a little and just holds her hand out for the shirt. ]

I'm gonna owe you so many favors, huh?

[ Really, Tsuruno, the audible pouting? Gets a small smile out of Robby.

That grows some more at her remark, and her taking his flannel shirt (here you go, ~~date~~ pal). After all: ]

I'm clearing my debt for when you save my life one day, remember?

[ That thing she said she would do. Which wasn't very funny at the time, but Robby's feeling a little better now, strangely. ]

[ At least someone's enjoying her suffering, even though it's clear that she's not actually all that sulky as she shrugs on the shirt. Which is warmer and more dry than literally anything else she's got on right now and it's only a little big on her since at the very least, they're both teenagers.

But Tsuruno huffs a little and then flashes him a smile. ]

I didn't forget. I'll sweep you off your feet [ heroically, in a life-saving manner ] one day, believe me!

[ She definitely looks better from the outside at least, when you can't see her shirt clinging to her. She still has to put up that herself, but know what she also has to put up with?

Robby, raising an eyebrow at her. ]

You know you can just take me out like a normal person without the life-threatening angle, don't you?

[ He's not serious, but also, please, Tsuruno. ]

[ Don't do this to Tsuruno, this is worse than yelling at her, because she can at least process one of those things.

As it is, she has to take a few seconds to ponder what that statement even means, and Robby will be able to tell the precise second she Gets It, because she goes from looking mildly perplexed to her face flushing pink and her voice escalating to incredulous and flustered squeak.

Someone also completely missed the fact that he's teasing. ]

I--! It's not about taking you out!! S-saving your life is completely different from spending time with you just because I really like doing that!!

[ A person's reaction can say a lot about them. If Robby's words had gone over their head, or they had seen the funny find of it...

....and then there's Tsuruno's reaction, which. Oh.

Oh. Yeah, sorry, Tsuruno, but Robby is now grinning. ]

It is? [ Hmm, Robby needs the pointing finger out for this. ] So you don't wanna sweep my feet off as a friend, but as something else? But it really sounds like you wanna sweep me off my feet in a special way...

[ Look, none of what he's saying actually has to make sense.

Just let Tsuruno hear these words and reach her own conclusions. ]

[ This is outright bullying and poor Tsuruno is turning even redder, because she is not equipped to handle any of this. This is not the kind of teasing she's used to and the look she shoots Robby now is both petulant and exasperated. ]

You--you knew exactly what I meant! And you know it's not like that, I'd just--

[ Hnnngh. ]

You're lucky I'm not trying to sweep you specially, you wouldn't be able to handle me!!

[ Honey. Honey, that's not how you win this. ]

[ He's grinning from ear to ear now, trying to contain this amusement he's being so easily supplied. But those last words? Robby's looking at her with something that first hits with surprise, and then curiosity when he looks away, to make sure he doesn't walk into anything.

Robby needs a second or two to think, see. Where this stops being a complete joke, but that doesn't mean this needs to be deathly serious, either.

But eventually, he does look back at her. ]

We can always find out, if you want. But I think you're the one who needs to figure out what she can handle.

[ Considering Tsuruno looks like she's about to experience a volcanic eruption... ]

[ He's not wrong. She's having a full day of Experiences. And she's a little overwhelmed, honestly, and definitely looks like it, on top of sheer surprise.

At least he's no longer grinning (which is fine on its own, but they both know it was entirely at her expense). Still, the considering look he gives her is almost worse because Tsuruno doesn't know how to process that either. Is that a challenge? Encouragement? Why would he be--

She forces herself to take a deep breath before she makes herself dizzy from her own thoughts, momentarily burying her face in her palms. Okay. Breathe. ]

You're the one who needs to stop picking on cute girls...

[ It's a quiet mutter, but oh. Look. Her apartment building. FREEDOM. ]

Anyway--!! I'll get this back to you once I clean it, thanks for the shirt and not letting me drown and yelling at me I guess, see you later!!

[ She's. Bolting. There's no other way to describe what she's doing right now except for "fleeing". ]

[ Wow.

That's one way to describe all this: wow. From how they got here, where they ended up, and even just the way Tsuruno leaves the situation: rushing off with even a rushed parting. Robby just stands where he's been left, hands in his pockets, trying to take it all in, process....

...

He'll consider being nicer to her, the next time he sees her. Maybe. She's probably going to need it, right?

(But maybe she can do with a harmless date too, if this is how she acts at the mere suggestion of one.) ]

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