The Legend of Laurinda [Open/Closed]

[extremelycute]

Who: Ayu Maruyama (Miu Matsuoka) and open; Ayu and Natsume Maruyama (Nakigitsune)
Where: A local video game store; Ayu's house
Summary: It's time to treat herself, so Ayu heads to her favorite place to forget about the app; later, she and her brother tiptoe around discussing the same app while playing an old video game
Warnings: N/A

[Game On; Open]

[It’s been a rough...what, week and a half now? She’s just a kid, it’s not like she’s keeping track of the days or anything. That strange app she can’t show mom. She hasn’t even showed Natsu. Part of her feels like she’d be in big trouble if they found out she’s be talking to strangers with the cavalier attitude she’s been employing, like some sort of internet troll. Part of her is just...worried. And it’s not fair, Ayu thinks, it’s not fair to be worried about something so intense when she hasn’t done anything wrong.

As a result, Ayu decides that Wednesday is the perfect day to treat herself. She can forget all that stuff about Miu Matsuoka, people stealing vegetables, real and fake Baalberiths, and creepy chatrooms. She wanders into the local video game store (GameShop?) and starts looking for a cheap game to enjoy. Of course, she gets distracted several times along the way. Anyone looking to buy video games (or maybe comics or other nerd items, come on) might notice Ayu putting the display figurines in questionable poses.]

They’ve decided to embrace a life of sin and divorce.

[That’s what she’ll say if she gets caught. She’ll also flip through the latest comics and peruse the DVDs before finally settling on an old game from the portable game section and rushing home with some sodas.]

[The Legend of Laurinda; closed to Natsume/Nakigitsune]

[When he gets home, Ayu has already invaded his room. But that’s okay. He’s not like other teenage boys. There aren’t dirty socks on the floor or dirty magazines in his mattress (she pretended to check once just to get a reaction from him), so she feels pretty safe about invading his personal space. Instead, there’s a giant bowl of potato chips right on the floor like it’s not a great way to attract ants. She’s also busy hooking up an old system to her big brother’s TV, and he enters just in time to hear a familiar chime, a start-up movie movie playing right after.

The Legend of Laurinda: Chain’s Wakening.

She steps back, proud of her handiwork. She might not have the newest system, but the older ones come with all those cool gadgets so you can play handheld games on them.]

Wow, this game’s even older than I am. Hey, what’s that look for? You should be excited! You love Chain. Or you will. Probably.

Comments

[extremelycute]

[Ayu notices the man, too. She knows that expression anywhere. She gets it herself whenever she has to deal with school staff.]

Wow, that guy recognizes you. He looks kinda scared. What did you do to him?

[truthkills]

Haggled with him.

[Look, you don't get very far in Kiran's current profession without being good at driving a hard bargain.

The poor employee visibly pales when Kiran sets that box of stuff down on the counter. It's a big box.]

[extremelycute]

Did you haggle with him, or did you throw something at him?

[It's an honest question! But Ayu is curious so she walks over the counter, placing her elbows on the countertop and staring up at the cashier.]

What are you gonna do, huh? Are you gonna fly or fight?

[truthkills]

What, me, throw something at someone? Perish the thought.

[The cashier just groans and takes the box. "Lemme just fly to the back and take a look at this..." Because he really doesn't want to look the box over with Kiran breathing down his neck.]

Couldn't look that over in front of me? Weak.

[extremelycute]

Hey, did you take before and after pictures? What if he hides something from the box and keeps it for himself?

[The cashier can probably hear Ayu accusing him of theft, but because her uncle is here he's just going to have to accept it.]

So, uncle, what's the story? Are you in need of some emergency cash, or did you just feel like getting rid of junk? I thought your phone sales were gonna make you so rich you'd leave us behind and move somewhere fancy.

[truthkills]

Don't worry, don't worry, I know exactly what's in that box.

[He doesn't, but it's important the cashier thinks that he does.]

Eh, you know how it goes, the merch wasn't moving in my shop, so I figured I'd come over here and trade it for cash. It was taking up too much room.

[extremelycute]

They aren't going to give you much cash. They'd rather give you store credit so you're stuck in an endless loop of codependency with them.

[Where did she even learn that word?]

You could buy your very own Rukimi figurine.

[She points to the heavy-chested swimsuit babe figurine a few chests down. 'Someone' has replaced her head with the head of the insect overlord figurine next to her. It's hilarious. A high form of art.]

[truthkills]

A brand new system of some sort is still going to sell better than a box of used items.

[Also the new system won't be possibly stolen, this is key. But he's got to laugh at her inventiveness.]

Nah, I'll have to hold off. Art's not selling as well as technology these days.

[extremelycute]

How can you say that? Rukimi is more than art! She's inspiration! She's hope for the future! Look at her giant insectoid mandibles, uncle. It might be an unrealistic body goal, but I hope my mandibles are just as good at crushing scum as hers are when I'm older.

[She puts way too much passion into her speech. Like usual.]

[truthkills]

It's worth far more than my clientele's willing to spend!

And good, good, you crush that scum.

[extremelycute]

Crushin' scum's about all a girl my age is good for these days.

[She says this like she's proud of herself.]

As much as I love talking about Rukimi, she's not why I came in today. I don't want you to get upset, but...I came here to buy used goods instead of your place.

[truthkills]

Don't sell yourself short. You've got so many other marketable skills.

[He laughs.]

So what kind of used goods were you looking for?

I'm sorry for all my late tags, stuff has been tough irl

[extremelycute]

Perhaps my greatest skills are the ones I've hidden along the way.

[She smiles smugly. She doesn't really have any hidden skills...or does she?]

I'm trying to find a used game to play with Natsume. Something old. He's getting older, and I think it's time he and I had the talk.

No worries! I will backtag forever

[truthkills]

Hiding skills is a skill in and of itself, really.

[Whatever, he'll play along. Even if he's laughing now.]

Oh, yeah? What kind of talk?

[extremelycute]

Right, right. ...And it's a skill I don't have.

[Wink, wink. Please forget how secretly super skilled she claims to be.]

He's been spending too much time on his phone. [For. Probably evil reasons, but.] I'm gonna grill him about his new special someone.

[truthkills]

Ah, that's one of the ones that comes with age. You've got time.

Grilling him about his new special someone is the time-honored job of all younger siblings everywhere. Make me proud.