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[redarm]

Noah Campbell

"This is Noah. Leave a message."

COGNAC | X | X | X

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[redarm]

[Surprise Ryoji, Noah's working today too. He's at the register, doing the usual counting down the seconds until he can lock up the shop. He's still in uniform, but his opera gloves have been taken off because the store is empty and he got some frosting on the glove. Who cares anyway, not like anyone will--

-- walk into the store like a tool right before closing. Son of a bitch. When the bell rings Noah says automatically-]

We're closing in less than five minutes.

[He looks up at the customer, with the expression that any customer service person wears when that dreaded last customer pops up. His expression will soften some when he sees it's Ryoji]

-- Oh, hey Ryoji. What're you doing here?

aka feel free to skip mina in the tag order

[complementing]

[Minako pops her head out from inside the kitchen, raising her soap sudsy hands to wiggle her fingers at him.]

Hi Ryoji! Be out in fifteen!

[And back in she goes. Which gives the boys some time to talk!]

[appraiser]

[ Surprise is somebody knowing his name when Ryoji doesn't recognize them back, even after a subtle glance at the nametag hanging on Noah's— Robin's— collar.

Minako pops in and out before he can react, leaving him to direct his clumsy ] Hi! I— ...alright. [ at Minako's retreating back, before he recomposes himself and turns to Noah again, setting the pint of ice cream down on the counter, practiced smile just as bright as any customer service smile. ]

Hi Robin! I came to pick up Minako, but perhaps you'd like to join us for dessert too?

[redarm]

[...............]

....It's Noah, Ryoji.

[He waves his red arm to show that see? No one else has this arm]

But fuck yeah I want some ice cream.

[appraiser]

[ No... ah? No, just no. But Ryoji seems to accept this anyways, leaving the pint there and leaning down to check out and leftover cupcakes left in the display, maybe a plain chocolate or something that wouldn't be overpowered by ice cream. He can also see Noah's dress better through the glass. ]

Are you still working on your bingo sheet? Is that why you're working here?

[ There was a square for Halloween costumes that Ryoji helped someone else fill, and plenty of squares involving food, so?? ]

[redarm]

No? I've worked here part time for months.

[Just neglected to mention it to...well basically most people]

[appraiser]

You should have told me! I would come visit you every day!

[redarm]

Uh...Aren't you often here to visit Minako anyway?

[appraiser]

Not "every day" often! But if I have two of my favorite people here, I would want to come every day.

[redarm]

I'm one of your favourite people....?

[That's a lot of pressure Ryoji. The only time he's ever made that list is with his dad. ]

Well, fine, come by when you want. Just don't call me Noah in front of other customers? I'm trying to avoid getting my arse kicked at school.

[appraiser]

Yes. [ Granted, Ryoji has a lot of favorite people, but Noah is definitely up there as somebody he finds very easy to talk to and be comfortable around. ]

Robin, then? [ —he should order, before all the ice cream melts ] Do you like chocolate cupcakes? I'll take three. And what's wrong with people at school knowing you're Noah?

[redarm]

I see. [He's glad he put on foundation today, because man he may be blushing a little]

Yeah, it's my middle name so it's not a lie or anything. [he nods at the order and takes out three chocolate cupcakes.]

Uh, 'cause I'm a 16 year old guy who wears a pink frilly dress for a job? [He rolls his eyes] I don't give a shit about wearing a dress, but there's arseholes at my school who would. Just don't wanna deal with it.

[appraiser]

[ Ryoji slides his credit card over thoughtfully. Considering his own reaction to seeing Noah wearing the uniform- surprise, curiosity, confusion- it seems like a lot to deal with from multiple people. ]

Wouldn't it have been easier to wear a pink suit instead? Ah- does the Confectionary even have a male uniform...?

[redarm]

[He'll run the credit card through, pulling down a receipt for him to sign]

They technically do, but they would've had to special order it. Seemed like a lot to ask for a new guy.

'Sides, I think the colour pink would be enough for some of those guys. [He sighs] Fucking homophobes. [He'll start boxing the cupcakes] Whatever, don't worry about me. I can take 'em in a fight if I have to.

[appraiser]

[ If money's a problem, then Ryoji could make good on his promise to come by every day so the Confectionary could use that extra profit to buy Noah a uniform, but already Ryoji knows he wouldn't accept the help. ]

Pink's such a happy color though... Like the color of the sunrise, or the best starburst flavor. You shouldn't have to fight, either, because—

[ Fighting isn't good, but before that, Ryoji reaches out to stop Noah from putting the cupcakes away. They're here for dessert! Inside the plastic bag he's brought the ice cream in, there's a plastic knife and spoons to make their ice cream cupcakes. ]

[redarm]

I know, I'm fine with pink. But people think it's a girl's colour so--

[He's cut off though when Ryoji touches his left arm to stop putting the cupcakes away. Suddenly, he feels a strong jolt of energy shoot through his left arm. A jolt of energy that's enough to send him falling back a little. Not only that, but there's a burst of (formerly green) grayish-white light as his arm transforms]

- !!!!!!

What the fuck?!?!?

[appraiser]

[ Ryoji yells his bloody murder much more incoherently, jumping back away from the counter as the arm emerges, not enough space on the counter top so that the ice cream and cupcakes get swept sideways and come crashing onto the ground.

He clamps his mouth shut at first, lost for words— he wants to call out for someone- Minako? Noah? ] —Noah! What happened? Is it...? [ He steps forward again to see. ]

[redarm]

I don't know!! This is new, I--

[Except the arm is not just going to hang out there doing nothing. Instead, knowing that there's something here with dark energy and the host isn't moving to do anything about it, it's lifting itself up by it's clawed digits -- dragging Noah with it like a rag doll.]

Shit -- it's moving on it's own?!?!

Ryoji get back!

[appraiser]

[ How is he supposed to get back, he can't when he doesn't know what's going on or whether the arm is hurting Noah. He ducks behind the front of the counter, as if it would be enough to keep him and Noah separated but still close enough that Ryoji could help— somehow?? He has no clue how, but he has to be able to do something. ]

You can't control it at all?! What's it trying to do?

[redarm]

I don't-

[The claw will answer that question itself, as it takes a giant swipe in front of it. Without the host really doing anything to focus it, it's a blind swipe so- so it's possible for it to easily miss Ryoji.

That said, the display next to him and a part of the wall aren't so lucky as it swipes and smashes clean through them]

Ah!

[complementing]

[A last minute supply delivery had kept Minako busy in the very back of the store, so it's only now that she's coming back and hearing the commotion that she realizes something has happened. She bolts into the front room, ready to fight tooth and nail to break up a fight of any kind-- but she's not expecting this.]

What the-- Noah?! Ryoji!

[She immediately darts between the two boys to act as a wall, arms spread out to protect Ryoji, but all her concern for Noah.]

Noah, your arm--!

[appraiser]

[ As the display and wall crumbles like dust, Ryoji falls hard to the ground, hands behind his head like this is an earthquake drill and not a monster arm wreaking havoc in the store. He scrambles up quickly, staring wide-eyed at the gap that's suddenly opened up between him and Noah, the gap that's filled in by Minako who stands in front of him like she is invincible. Whenever she does that, he wants so badly to believe in her, but he doesn't know what that arm is and what strength it holds.

All he can do is put up a barrier around himself and Minako for the time being— three times is his limit, but anything that hits it will be rebounded, and before that limit is up, he has to figure out how to help Noah.

If there's anything that screams DARK ENERGY, though, it's this Shadow power of a barrier. ]

[redarm]

[He's as surprised as Ryoji when Minako darts between them, having forgotten she was there in all the commotion. And considering the damage that the claw- his claw did in one swap, her jumping in like a human shield does little to comfort him]

Minako?! Get out of here, it's dangerou--

[At that time, Ryoji puts up that barrier between him and Minako. Which sure enough the surge of dark energy is more than enough to alert the claw of their location. The next swipe isn't as blindly swung, but instead collides right into the barrier. The barrier blocks it, but it's a powerful hit, enough to shake the barrier and in the rebound, make Noah go falling back with the claw. But while Noah looks a bit hurt from the impact, that claw is simply pulling itself up again to prepare for another hit]

Ow- no, stop! These are my friends!!

[appraiser]

[ Yeah! Just. Just shout at that claw like it has ears, Noah. The barrier shatters into light under the force of the hit, and Ryoji immediately puts up the second one, reaching for Minako's hand so he can pull her aside and they could get out of the store to minimize the damages.

—-but that would mean putting the people outside in danger; that would mean people seeing Noah's monstrous arm, and pink dresses would be the least of his worries, then.

So it's Bad Decision Number Two: Ryoji lets the barrier drop, and in its place, he himself transforms into Thanatos, the shadows in the room seeming to merge with its body and give it form. Thanatos leaves its sword sheathed, gloved hands out protectively to keep that claw from swinging wildly around and laying waste to the Confectionary. Ryoji is scared as all hell, but he can't let that thing drag his friend around like that; he knows exactly what it feels like to attack your friends without being able to control your own body. ]

[complementing]

[Minako barely registers the ripple of power from Thanatos, only looking at his back in dismay. Things have gotten way out of hand way too quickly, and since she's essentially useless and in danger staying where she is, Minako scrambles back towards the kitchen area for cover, praying that Ryoji can hold off Noah's strange arm while she figures out something, anything, to help.

She blinks hard, and forces herself away from panicky thoughts, instead directing her focus into observing. The other Minako had a navigator feeding her information about Shadow resistances and weaknesses, but with nobody like that here, she has to rely on herself.

Please god, let her be enough.]

Ryoji, keep defending, save your last Moonless Gown for now!

Noah! What were you two doing when this started?!