aionlogs | (open) i'm steppin' out

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(open) i'm steppin' out

WHO: Ciel, Pleromas who have to deal with more Kenomas on their turf for a few days, various
WHAT: Foodventures ft. a girl who needs her fix, also general July catch-all
WHERE: Godsblood, Achamoth
WHEN: First half of/early Soviseri
WARNINGS: N/A

I. GODSBLOOD; MAY I OFFER YOU A~~N EGG~~ BITE IN THESE TRYING TIMES?
[It’s a nice day in Godsblood, and there is loud arguing coming from the central marketplace. Between two joints selling street food, to be exact.]

All your dingy little booth does is slather everything in sauce with no respect to the ingredients, just close shop and save yourself the embarrassment!”

[On one side, a brown-haired middle-aged woman in a worn and greasy apron, manning a stall that seems to specialize in grilled seafood behind her.]

Hah! You're one to talk, old hag! Your prices are highway robbery, and your seasoning is as bland as plain rice! The only way you make a profit is con customers who don’t know any better!

[On the other, a young man of average build on the thin side is starting to go a little red in the face, his stall seemingly specializing in skewers instead.]

Watch your mouth, you little whippersnapper! My husband and I have run this business for generations, inherited from my great-great-great grandmother! Our recipe isn’t just tradition, it’s history, we didn’t establish this by bootlicking our way through the culinary guild and begging for handouts to set up our own shop!

[Oh, this is getting heated… They’re staring to attract a crowd, not a sizable one but people are stopping by. The general sentiment seems to be of… entertainment, for better or worse; some locals are even snacking as they watch on?! They seem used to this, for better or worse…]

That is NOT what happened, I worked my butt off at the guild fair and square! You’re just jealous I was a better student – AND a better cook than your daughter, who doesn’t even WANT to take over your tasteless grilling anyway! You ever think about why she never comes around here when you’re “open”? You should’ve retired a decade ago!

[THAT earns a few gasps among the audience; dragging the daughter in? Oh my.]

Sir! Ma’am! Please, a moment!

[Interrupting them both to the surprise of everyone present, is a young woman with short dark blue hair certain Pleroma Aions may recognize. Especially those from the initial group of awakened, she did do a bad thing™ back inside the Suffer Caves and had a bad thing™ done to her in turn. There’s not the faintest hint of that now, she’s actively stepping in between them with a pacifying smile.]

I didn’t mean to start an argument, I apologize. But both your stalls just smelled so good, I’d honestly love to try out anything you would recommend! I wouldn’t mind everything too, to be completely honest, so would that be okay? Just let me know the price, I’ll be happy to pay and wait while you prepare!

[Oh… Business. Business means jools. That DOES seem to get the vendors’ attention, so they both move on to eyeing the girl with a different flavor of skepticism instead of glaring at each other like before.]

With all due respect, miss, you don’t look like much. I don’t mind making a bigger sale, but I can’t condone wasting food.

Our grilled squid is a Godsblood staple, ask anyone here! [The woman haughtily glances at the gathered spectators, who don’t seem bothered at all by the callout.] I can get you one of everything and prove to you QUALITY is why we’ve lasted so long, girlie, long as you tell this upstart exactly how my food tastes better.

—Huh?! You can’t do that, that’s NOT how it works! Miss, you have to judge by yourself, there’s no way I’d lose to sensible tastebuds! [The man looks to be a mixture of indignant and flustered, gesturing at his client who is somehow still managing to keep her smile through it all.]

Ahaha. I’m no gourmet, but I can tell you if I think it’s tasty or not. If you’d like feedback, I’ll do my best! How much will one of everything be?

[The talk of payment once again appears to effectively deescalate the situation further, and it’s at that moment that the girl turns her gaze towards you, a Pleroma Aion. Were you passing by? Or have you been watching for a while? It makes no difference: she’s addressing YOU in particular, holding out a hand invitingly towards your specific direction as she makes her offer loud and clear.]

Can I get that person over there to help me taste-test and eat everything too? I promise we won’t let any food go to waste, it’s fairer to have more than one person judge anyway. How about it? I already said I’d pay, so you don’t have to worry about how much it costs. Will you please help us out?

[That prompts some murmurs of interest and agreement among the audience, it’s indeed a fair and open proposition. Tier 1 Pleromas, don’t think too hard about how you were singled out specifically when it could have been anyone else. As for tier 2, figures that someone on the same level from the Kenoma side would have been able to spot you out, as the reverse is equally true. The woman whose dark energies also reflect the Martyr’s Legacy is still smiling warmly and waiting patiently. Well? It’s free food, and everyone’s attention is already on them both. Come on?]

II. GODSBLOOD; SNACKS DON’T SUBSTITUTE FOR PROPER MEALS
[The food stall vendors didn’t get to find out the hard way, but local restaurants sure will! Over the next few days, a head of blue will be dropping by various restaurants in town during lunch or dinner doing the following:

A. Inquiring about their dish with the biggest kick,
B. Clapping her hands together reverently in front of enough food for two~three people, yet is by herself at the table,
C. Looking various degrees of satisfied depending on how good the food was, with an empty stack of several plates in front of her.

Fattydingdong… Approach? She’s quite open to recommendations, there may or may not be mild rumors brewing of some random girl not from around suddenly showing up and eating her way across Godsblood. It seems funny and harmless, plus it does fuel local businesses, so the citizens are largely fine with writing her off as some eccentric too willing to spend jool on food than most others. This Kenoma definitely isn’t here on official business or trying particularly hard to lay low. After all, she’s here for her own reason:]

III. GODSBLOOD; Y’ALL GOT ANY MORE OF THAT… SPICE?
[And no, NOT the one as defined by Urban Dictionary. To anyone observant who is familiar with a certain spice stand in Godsblood, they may be able to note that a blue-haired woman is often found in the general vicinity of that specific Pleroma funding point. She makes sure to never be in sight of the seller, so it may not be obvious right away, but she doesn’t stray far, occasionally glancing towards the spice stall’s general direction in a not-so-subtle way. These are still all public areas, though. Let her be weird on her own, or confront?

Don’t mind her sometimes making light and quiet conversation difficult to eavesdrop with local children, too. She may also be caught slipping a young boy or girl of elementary age a piece of paper and a small pouch, closer to an alleyway a bit more isolated from the main streets where the bulk of the foot traffic is. Nothing suspicious; move along?]

IV. ACHAMOTH; PRIORITIES
[One day during Soviseri, an unusual smell is wafting from the kitchen. Any Kenomie in its general vicinity may be able to catch the scent of something pungent and savory, those familiar with the dish may also recognize it right away for what it plainly is: curry. Even if they don’t, it’s not something the citadel’s kitchen staff normally makes, and if they do choose to look into it, they will effectively find Ciel by herself in front of a large iron pot at the stove.

Holding in one hand a ladle with a yellow/brown-ish sauce coating over chunks of meat, vegetables, and potatoes, she looks like she’s blissfully floating on cloud nine and completely phased out of touch with reality.

This is understandably at least a little weird, so feel free to 180 right back out into the hallway. Unless…?]

V. WILDCARD
[Godsblood, Achamoth, maybe elsewhere, Pleromies or Kenomies, if you’d like something different or a closed starter, hit me up via PM or in the game Discord! o/]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Well maybe things can change, let's ignore what's going to happen in a few weeks' time and just focus on the present? c:]

Oh good, you haven't forgotten. [There isn't a trace of whatever that happened the last time they ran into each other in person, this is probably (and rightfully) reminiscent of the time he got that call through communion simply because she could.]

I haven't come at a bad time, I hope? [Ignoring the fact that what constitutes a "good" time is highly debatable, especially when the enemy is literally knocking on your door. Is he gonna open up...?]

[ He... he should open up, shouldn't he?

His hand stills on his doorknob as he hesitates. It's a bad time, but it could have been worse. And honestly, when is it not a bad time for Kim Dokja?

He plasters on a smile as he finally opens the door. Just a little bit. Not all the way. His room's not as much of a mess these days, but it would never be described as clean. ]

Would it matter if you did? [ It's not like she'd turn around and leave to come back at a better time. Oh, right, greetings. ] ... Hello.

[ He looks... tired. His hair hasn't seen a combing in some time and the dark circles under his eyes are still there like they always are, but he's at least up on his feet and making an effort to be... human. ]

[Ah yes, ty for opening the door 😊 She wouldn't have hesitated to ask him politely if he'd like his door displaced if he insists on being shy, so it's very good that he's saving them both the trouble of that conversation.]

I'd have to ask you for your definition of a good time if now is a bad one, that should at least be fair. [He's greeted with a sunny smile only A Girl Next Door can sport, good thing his depression cave is just as out of the way as one may expect and thus not likely to draw additional random passerby attention?]

Good day to you, too. ["You look bad." She doesn't say it out loud, but she thinks it.] Geez, they weren't kidding when they said you could use more sunlight. May I come in?

[~~Brutish potential~~ Details aside, she gives the paper bag she's carrying in her arms a nudge. Of course she came with things; it's only polite if you're visiting someone, right?]

[ Look, he's had all kinds of visitors swing by and she's surprisingly not the first Kenoma to drop by his place, so.

With a wary glance at the paper bag in her arms, then a quick look behind him at the state of his room, Dokja very reluctantly pushes the door open and steps aside. If she's here for the reason that he thinks she's here, then she'll know to expect very little. ]

It's a bit of a mess.

[ Slight understatement. He's at least stacked his books in neat piles, and now it's mostly just miscellaneous items and papers scattered around. If she takes a peek at any of them, she'll find pages and pages of notes written in Korean. ]

[Is she at least the first one to show up unprompted and uninvited... Though those would still be some real dubious honors to sport, wouldn't they.]

That's okay. Please excuse me.

[Does he go about his introvert hole with shoes or not? Ciel won't claim to know whether Japanese and Korean customs compare well to each other, but if Dokja himself goes around without his outdoor shoes, then she'll leave her own boots at the entrance. No need to make a messy place even messier, she can get herself a new pair of socks anyway if this turns out to be exceptionally bad for some reason or another.

The interior of the room may get a scanning glance, but her focus would be any kitchen area or table where she can put the bag down on. (Korean's not very surprising anyway, given the way his name sounds.)]

I picked some things up on my way over, it's mostly fruits and some dry snacks. Where should I put these?

[It's just food! (According to her.) Is there even any trace of him eating here, actually? One would expect instant noodle cups, but for better or worse, those aren't really a thing in a fantasy world that reincarnates souls to fight against each other in a war of preservation versus extinction. Some isekai this turned out to be, smh...]

[ She does have the honor of being the first Kenoma to show up unprompted and uninvited... Congratulations.

And please, he's depressed, not a savage. The shoes most definitely come off, which means the floor isn't... that bad. Besides, there are a bunch of papers to step on? But yes, there's a small kitchen and it's surprisingly clean (in a "this isn't used at all" sort of way). The whole place isn't exactly spacious, but it that has everything that's necessary. A kitchen to the side, a bed tucked away in the corner with its sheets bunched up, a small desk stacked with books and papers, and a chair. Ah, and a door leading to a tiny bathroom.

It's not much, but it's what he can afford. ]

Oh, thanks. [ He does not sound enthused. ] I can take it.

[ He holds out a hand for the paper bag, because he knows better than to refuse at this point. Look, he can learn things! Will he eat what's inside? Hmm, jury's still out on that one. ]

[Score 1 for stalking... That is,

Okay fine, depressed yet domesticated sad Korean salaryman (citation needed), does that work? Not much to say about the state of his little hole in the wall regardless, or rather, it's probably best to not say anything (not positive) period especially knowing what he's like. Motoring on...

It's nice to see him so very well-behaved and understanding of his situation though, so she gladly passes the bag onto him. It contains exactly as she's described: oranges, apples, assorted nuts & dried fruits, and dried squid jerky. Things that won't go bad too quickly and are easy to eat, and of course there would be some seafood involved, Godsblood is a coastal town. Once the paper bag has exchanged hands, she'll wait for him to take care of her "offering" however he sees fit, then move the conversation along after a few beats.]

How have you been?

[It's nowhere near as simple as she makes it sound, they both know this. He's always downplayed his situation and himself to her before, and while it may be foolish to try the same thing again expecting the outcome to be different, why not give him some breather room to start? She'll just press harder if he tells her everything's been ""fine"", so what's the harm?]

[ The paper bag is set aside on the kitchen counter where it will be forgotten about because imagine Dokja having good eating habits. Or good habits at all. Yikes.

He's glad his back is to her so she doesn't see the grimace that crosses over his face at her question, though the sudden tense line of his shoulders is answer enough. There's a lot he could answer with... Lies are what he's most accustomed to, and so one springs to mind immediately.

... It lodges itself in his throat, though, and he finds that he can't voice it out loud. ]

Not great, [ he finally admits as he turns back around. Rather than meet her gaze, he keeps his eyes trained to the floor. ] A bit better than before, at least.

[ He's trying to pull himself together which is taking a lot out of him, and progress has been slow and halting at times, but there's an effort being made so that's good? Too bad from previous experiences that it's so easy for him to backslide. ]

[Don't make others forcefeed you... Or is that another kink thing? See, this is why your reputation just keeps worsening.

She watches him keep his eyes low, and while it may be commendable that he's telling the truth, she's well aware that there must be a reason for it too. Is he really being forthcoming for a change, or had he slipped further down the slope instead? With Dokja, the more likely possibility would be... Hm.]

I appreciate your honesty. Would that have anything to do with why you have to hide your face, when this city should be okay for most of us to go about our personal affairs as we please?

[Her tone remains light and conversational, putting no pressure on him or the room. Sounds like she may have recognized him out around Godsblood, even if she may not have been able to get a clear view of his face. Well?]

[ STOP ASSIGNING HIM KINKS

He's expecting to hear quite a few things, but she says next surprises him enough that he raises his head to stare at her with a dumbfounded expression. How could she know that he's been covering his face when he's out, unless...? ]

Have you been following me?

[ Why... why is he both completely surprised by this but at the same time not surprised at all? ]

[You can't ask that when you're always thirsty (for more) tho,

She tilts her head a little and blinks back at him innocuously, with far more innocence than her track record should permit. As if he's the one being weird in a perfectly normal conversation, what's with that expression?]

I saw you pass by out in the streets.

[It is not confirmation, nor is it denial. Is there a problem?]

[ M-maybe it's better to leave it at that. He's not sure if he wants to know, now that he takes a moment to think about it.

Hm, alright. With how much information about him that gets spread around, he's suspicious about an angle potentially being at play here. Or could it be that she's really in the dark? But this is Ciel, and should she not hear it from him, she'll find a way to hear it from someone else. ]

I don't know how much you actually know and if this is just a ploy to hear it from me, but...

[ He trails off, hesitation brief before he carries on while weariness sits heavy on his shoulders. ]

I was outed as an Aion. Specifically, a Kenoma Aion.

Isn't it better to hear it from you? That would minimize misunderstandings, messages also get twisted if the game of telephone goes on for too long.

[She states calmly while continuing to sport a smile that doesn't reach her eyes. Whether she already knows or not is truly trivial, for it does not change what happened and has no bearing over how Dokja himself may choose to handle his own situation.

...]

You got into trouble with Minegishi again.

[It's not an accusation, but a plain (and objective) statement. The obvious said out loud, she crosses her arms over her chest and adopts a more serious expression.]

What kind of outcome are you hoping for, Dokja?

[ Minegishi? That must be the rest of Gen's name.

He falls silent at her statement and the quiet stretches on even after she's asked her question. Isn't it obvious? His gaze seems to ask. There's really only one direction this unfolding story is heading into.

And they both know it.

So he allows the silence, the tired look in his eyes, to answer for him. ]

[The silence settles, and they are left to simply stare at each other. Brown into blue, neither flinching or giving any ground.

...]

[And then, stepping into his personal space and bending her torso forward slightly with a hand resting at her hip, she raises her other arm to flick her index finger smack onto the middle of his forehead.

It doesn't hurt at all, there's about as much force as there may be from getting pelted by a lightly tossed pingpong ball. But it sure is a thing that's happened, whether or not he sees it coming.

She doesn't say anything. There's just the forehead flick, and a very disapproving frown. What's there even to say, after the look he just gave her? He can't fault her for this treatment as a result, now can he?]

[ Hello??

He's not sure what to expect when she steps forward and raises her arm, but he doesn't think to block her until it's too late and he gets a flick to his forehead. It feels like the barest of touches, but even so, he immediately lifts a hand to rub at the spot. ]

Why did you do that?

[ He knows why, but still. ]

Why do you think?

[She's got both hands hooked at her hips, now. She already had to deal with Abel's obnoxious ass on her Godsblood excursion, she's well warmed up to stupid games and their stupid prizes by now. Does Dokja really want to do a round of rhetorical questions? Then two can play at that!]

[ A stupid prize is still a prize.

There's a delay in his reaction, still too baffled by the assault to his forehead to respond in a timely manner. Like he hadn't just quietly admitted to wanting to Die. ]

I didn't do anything.

[ He says like a petulant child. ]

Is that what you told yourself too, after getting declared a Kenoma Aion by Minegishi?

[She leans closer again with a deepening scowl, the very picture of a ~~mother~~ figure of authority chastising a lil shit who knows they done hecked up. DOKJA...]

[ A-ah...

He quickly looks away, unable to meet her gaze. No, that's not what he had told himself. He had definitely fucked up then, and had expected to rightfully hear an earful about how absolutely stupid he'd been, but...

What the hell? All he'd gotten was concern. Completely devastating and undeserved concern. ]

No. That... that was my fault.

[That admission does get a lightly raised eyebrow out of her. So he admits it, for what it's worth.

And yet, she can see it all too clearly in her mind's eye. It's the same compulsion that had him put himself in front of her back in that cave, isn't it? Or something very similar, she thinks. He just can't help himself, but he's also pushed forth by his own shameless agenda. Is there really only one way this can end...?

Pulling back to stand straight, she heaves a sigh. Not much point grilling him further, he's already even more miserable than he normally is.]

What are you going to do now?

[ Great question. Dokja's been mulling over the same for quite some time now. ]

I'll leave Godsblood. It isn't safe for the others if they're seen around me.

[ Does he have a destination in mind? Not really, but he's been given some helpful suggestions. ]

[it's tempting, pressing him harder with "what next". Or ask him where, but Ciel isn't so deaf to their circumstances to indulge in such ridiculous questions out loud. They're still enemies, that she's taken some vested interest in a Pleroma doesn't change where they fundamentally stand across the sect divide. She's not that indiscreet anyway, she knows how to be a decent human being unlike some people.]

You do need to get out more, someone like you clearly doesn't get enough sun. I was planning to take you outside, but since you can't be seen around Godsblood...

[Crossing her arms, she tilts her head slighting with a pensive look.]

What about wearing a disguise? Leaving the city entirely may be a little extreme, you already have a place here too. [A beat.] Are you renting?

[ It does sound extreme, doesn't it? But Dokja doesn't do well when crowds of eyes are drawn to him. His plain features occasionally help, as do the mask and hood, but the uncomfortable feeling of being watched remains ever-present as his own mind betrays and plays tricks on him.

He can't do this again. Not when he's without a wall to protect him. ]

I am. From someone who's away for now, but once they get back, they'll probably want me to leave.

[ Which honestly works for him. ]

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