[closed] a very late catch all for november-december

[nastyboy]

Who: Some adults and the feral messes around them (Grant, Sylvain, Claude, Chip, Dimitri, Karako)
Where: Violet City
When: In the vague realm of November and December
Summary: Grant adopts a stray juggalo. Dimitri finds a couple of old friends. What is wrong with this group, and what are they doing?
Rating: T..... probably

So a werewolf dad, a demon child, a juggaglo, two medieval knights, and a wyvern ride walking into a city...

Comments

Karako and Grant: Prices and Selections

[hurricane_clown]

The Pokemart is not, objectively, the height of even small-town shopping. To Karako, though, it's a visual cornucopia, aisles lined with racks and fridges of packaging and promises, all of which are being offered to him personally.

The sign on the door threatened to refuse him service if he was barefoot or shirtless for some reason, but now that he knows he doesn't have to rummage through garbage cans at night, he also knows that rules like that only apply to other people. Grant is a lot slower than he is, anyway, so he's through the door and racing down the aisle to the (people) snacks, the rapid patter of his bare feet surprisingly quiet on the cold tile.

[woofdad]

Grant didn't quite get the chance to spoil Karako's fun and inform him that the shoes rule does, in fact, apply to him, before the kid took off through the store. So, instead, he trails behind Karako with the cart, keeping a nervous eye out for employees that might be inclined to remove them from the store. He's gonna need to see if he can talk him into putting on some sandals next time they go somewhere.

At least he only has the one kid to worry about for the moment, with Chip busy continuing their swordplay lessons with Dimitri. Hopefully, that will also keep them from being too bothered by him taking Karako on an errand without them... man, he's going to have to arrange a day out with Chip sometime soon.

Anyway. Clown child. Grant follows Karako to the snacks, glancing over the shelves as he goes and making mental notes on what potentially double back for. "Anything catching your eye?"

[hurricane_clown]

Here's the thing. Karako can read. Obviously. But the ability to read doesn't necessarily translate (har) to recognition, not culturally or biologically or even just culinarily, as in the case of the foods and flavours he's finding on the shelf.

'Tomato' flavour means nothing to him, except that the package is red. It's about as helpful as 'bubble monster', as far as telling him what kind of snack experience he's meant to expect.

The upside is that every snack is a surprise! Will it be sweet? Savoury? Salty? He has no idea!

The downside is that... every snack is a surprise! Will it be sweet? Savoury? Salty? He has no idea!

Clearly, this is a dilemma best expressed by jumping up and down, his hands clenched into tight little fists.

"Honk!"

[woofdad]

Grant snorts quietly, leaning over to look for stuff Chip would like. "Well, take your time if you're not sure. You could pick up a couple different things to try - you have your money with you?"

If Chip's profits are any example, Karako is probably making a fair bit from battling, but, also. Grant has seen how much soda he's been buying from the hotel vending machines.

[hurricane_clown]

"..........."

He was so excited to see and experience all these snacks that he forgot... about the money...

Karako wilts in despair. If he were any more despondent, he'd be collapsing bonelessly to the floor. Or falling facefirst onto the ground, or something equally dramatic but comical.

"Honk....."

No snacks today....

[woofdad]

Wow. That is ALMOST the saddest child he has ever seen. Grant rubs at his face, mostly to cover a smile that's only happening because he has a pretty simple solution to Karako's problem.

"Well, if you don't have money with you, I can buy you some things. ...Long as it doesn't get too pricey."

He's still got his part of hotel fees to pay, after all.

[hurricane_clown]

Karako bounces back from the brink of despair so fast his feet actually leave the ground for a second, fists clenched at chest height in excitement.

"Honk!!"

Grant would have a lot more to fear from his own words if the cruel totalitarian rule of the vending machine's prices hadn't taught Karako at least one point of reference for the value of money. He still might fear a little bit: Karako's consumption of soda occurs at a pace that would nauseate a normal human. Even a small child. Maybe especially a small child?

He immediately snatches up four bags almost definitely at random, which is how many bags he can fit in his arms without beginning a juggling act. But it looks like he's already planning to try for more.

[woofdad]

Oh, he is definitely a little bit worried. But he can't just leave the poor kid snackless, can he? Especially not with how excited he is about the variety available.

After those first four bags, though, Grant opts to (gently) cut this off before it gets much worse. He grabs a few more bags off the shelf for Chip and himself, and directs Karako to the cart. "Let's start with just those four - that way, you can start getting an idea of what you might want to try another time, right?"

[hurricane_clown]

Karako almost lets himself be led away without protest--almost, that is, except that as he stands on his toes to deposit his goodies in the four-wheel mealcoffer, his eyes fall upon one more thing down an aisle in the opposite direction.

Scarcely has he let go of his nibblepackets than he's sprinting down that direction, snatching up the brightly-coloured cone of polyethelyne in two eager hands.

"Honk!! Honk!!"

The honking... really carries in a closed space like this, huh.

[woofdad]

Ah, of course. There's ALWAYS One More Thing. That's just the reality of grocery shopping with children, isn't it?

Fortunately, knowing that is part of why Grant first moved to cut Karako off when he did, so he points him toward the cart with a snort of laughter. "Alright, go ahead - but that's the last one for real. We still have real food to buy."

Or, real-ish? He's not much of a cook, so it's more like they have frozen meals and boxed pasta to buy.

[hurricane_clown]

Karako sprints back to the ironically-named buggy and looks as though he's ready to slam-fucking-dunk his prize into the basket--instead, he hits the brakes at the last second, lowering it delicately down inside.

Then he realises there's an even better place for it, and puts it in the fold-out seat (that he definitely doesn't recognise as a seat.) It is not unlike the act of placing the popcorn on a pedestal, but the pedestal is (unbeknownst to him) actually a shelf for infant butts.

It's fine.

[woofdad]

Grant is about ready to caution Karako not to crush all his popcorn when he does, in fact, put it carefully in place instead. He nods approvingly and starts pushing the cart, trying to keep up enough of a pace that Karako's child energy won't bring him too far ahead.

He's not gonna mention the seat situation. As far as he's concerned, that's a time-honored location for particularly Important groceries.

"Let's see... we're gonna need some basics for while we're here, and... hm, maybe pick up some travel food in advance? Just to make sure we don't forget later."