[OPEN] What is this place?

[frequent_flyer]

Who: Hinata, Otonashi, Noda, and YOU
Where: Virgo - Grocery store
Summary: Noda and Hinata are trying to fend for themselves for once and buy food to cook, but do either of them know how? Meanwhile, Otonashi is on the other side of the store, blissfully unaware that his friends have caught up with him for the first time since the Taurus incident.
Warnings: Excessive levels of idiocy and moronic behavior
Note: Choose your own adventure! Don't see a prompt you like, or want more than one of them? Just say so! Responses will come from Hinata (frequent_flyer), Otonashi (trainwrecking), Noda (halberdaxe), or a combination of the three. Specify who you'd like in the subject line!


Hinata could be found mulling over his options in the pre-paid card aisle. Which MMO did he want to buy credits for? Decisions, decisions... In one hand was a shopping basket containing beef jerky, protein shake mix, a variety of energy drinks, and a copious amount of chips and on-sale cookies.

Was he binging on snacks? Or did he eat like this all the time? From the looks of things, one could easily assume that he probably couldn't cook, if all the pre-packaged crap he had was any indication.

Noda on the other hand, was in the deli section of the supermarket, perusing the various meat products therein. A small sign sat on top of the deli counter, written in polite cursive: Be back in 10 minutes!

Noda, however, wanted to be helped now. Whatever poor soul happened upon him would find the purple-haired boy smashing his head into the glass display case in the hopes of breaking it to get access to the meaty treasures.

Otonashi looks a little worse for the wear, but happens to be out today for a case of canned coffee for those late-night sessions of reading (no, not that kind). He's harmless for the most part, but he looks exhausted and may not see you... before he bumps into you.

Literally.

He won't be around the store for long, and can also be found outside on a bench not far from the store... sleeping. Caffeine only gets a person so far, you know. If you wanted to be a real jerk, you could make off with some nice coffee, spices, or a messenger bag...

Comments

[trainwrecking]

What would you do?

[Not that Otonashi would necessarily do what Hizumi would.]

[bondsofsuffering]

If I lost my memories?

[He pauses to take another sip, as though using the moment to think. But really, it's a no brainer.]

...Well, I'd probably be curious at first, but if the flashes I got weren't very nice, I would probably try to avoid remembering it at all.

[It's happened briefly before, in that tower. He was so much happier when he couldn't remember a thing, it was almost laughable.]

[trainwrecking]

So you would avoid it indefinitely if you could and... live only for now. Put the past behind you.

[He laughs weakly, dryly. It makes sense, really, but it's almost unfair. Too easy. Most people have to deal with their own lives.]

Ah, I... won't ask you about the details of your personal life. [Really, he has a very, very strong sense that Hizumi would fit right in with the "unjust life" crew, if an attempted suicide is any indication.]

[bondsofsuffering]

[That's good, because Hizumi wouldn't tell anyway.]

Well, it's all conjecture anyway. It depends on what kinds of memories I started to regain, too! If they were kind ones, I'd probably do everything I could to get them back.

But since you're hesitating, I doubt that's the case for you.

[trainwrecking]

There must be good ones, but it seems like bad memories stick more. I guess that's always how it works...

[On the topic of bad versus good memories, though...]

Uh, you don't have to answer this, but uh... You have favorites, right? For, uh, for anything.

[bondsofsuffering]

...What's got you so interested?

[trainwrecking]

Ah, well... You said so yourself, if you started discovering your fond memories, it would make you want to remember more.

My... my friends don't talk a lot about their good memories, so I don't hear about this often. Why, bad topic?

[bondsofsuffering]

Seriously? Your friends must be gloomy people if that's the case.

[trainwrecking]

Not... not always! It's just... sort of a... code of honor not to ask about their lives. If they want to tell, they will.

[He's fully aware that this seems to reaffirm Hizumi's notion of gloominess.]

N...nevermind, forget that I asked. Uh, you didn't get your drink from inside the store, did you? [Subject chaaaange.]

[bondsofsuffering]

[Perfect. Conversation successfully derailed.]

Nope, it came from a vending machine. Over there.

[He points helpfully.]

[trainwrecking]

[Indeed, but now he's left feeling awkward. He needs to work on his social skills, y/y? At least he's beginning to realize that he has offered up personal information to Hizumi freely without getting any in return...]

Oh, maybe it has something other than soda. I'd go into the store for water, but... that jerk...

[bondsofsuffering]

Well, by now he should be on cleanup duty, right?

[trainwrecking]

No, we all got banned. He starts repayment later...

[bondsofsuffering]

Haa, so that's how they decided to handle your punishment...

[Says the guy who got out scott-free.]

[trainwrecking]

If he hadn't put... t-tampons in my basket..! What I did wasn't... the best either, but when is he going to cut the "wuss" comments?!

[Yeah, lucky Hizumi. The most level-headed around Noda, apparently.]

[bondsofsuffering]

[Hizumi has simply mastered the art of taking everything in stride, nbd.]

He went that far? What are you, sworn enemies?

[trainwrecking]

To him..! I don't care about "finishing our fight" or "finding out who is the better man," but he does! It's like he wants a rivalry right out of a video game...

[But really Otonashi should learn to walk away and not hit back.]

[bondsofsuffering]

Is he another one of your gloomy-memory friends?

[trainwrecking]

Eh..? We're not really friends--

[He straightens up a little.]

Don't say it like that, they have reasons for being the way they are. They don't walk around like depressed drones, they have lives and... happiness. [...]

[bondsofsuffering]

That's what I mean.

[trainwrecking]

I... [Walked right into that one.]

I'm saying too much. It's not my place, especially... [He leaves the thought lingering, incomplete. The last thing he wants to do is paint the people he knows out to be disturbed teenagers. Even if it's not entirely incorrect sometimes.]

[bondsofsuffering]

Well, as long as you get it.

[Even the unhappiest people can smile and move energetically, after all.]

[trainwrecking]

Y-yeah, I get it... Sorry.

[As long as Hizumi doesn't think Otonashi is portraying his friends poorly, sans Noda.]

Ah, I must sound like a mess. [Subject changing, mood swinging, awkward relationships with friends and "friends..."]

[bondsofsuffering]

The exhaustion probably isn't helping. Just go and get some rest before your body gives out.

[...]

In an actual bed, too.

[trainwrecking]

It's not that bad. I have a lot on my mind.

[Jeez Hizumi, who knew you could be such a concerned devil?]

I'm going to get something from the vending machine then--n-not coffee--and go catch up at the house. I'll, uh... see you around?