[ 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?? ]
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?
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.
[ 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...?
[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.
[ 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. ]
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]
[ 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. ]
[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.]
[ 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?
[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]
[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.]
[ 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. ]
[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]
[ 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. ]
[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!
[Even if Noah knew about Ryoji's monster form, he had never seen it in person- so that alone causes him to pause as the large creature form from the shadows in the room. Were he not dealing with the current situation, that alone would be enough to give him a jolt of fear. It was different than Yu summoning Izanagi, this thing was a lot stronger and bigger looking.
But right now, Noah has other matters to attend to, like attempting again in vain to try to stop this claw. With his human hand, he attempts to grab onto a counter top he can to keep him away from his friend. ]
W-we were just talking! [Wait no] Then Ryoji touched my hand and this thing appeared! I don't know what it-
[Unfortunately, his human strength really isn't any match for a weapon that could feel the mass of dark energy in the room, not when his mind isn't the slightest bit synchronized to this weapon. The claw yanks him hard enough to break his grip on the counter- and then tries to take a swipe of claws straight at him.
Luckily, at this level of strength? The claw isn't strong enough to do that much damage to Thanatos. If it hits, it'll at least hurt some just from the sheer force that it's swinging - along with taking out a few chairs.]
[ Minako tells him to defend, but what can he even do in this situation? The counter is destroyed, there is glass everywhere, Thanatos crosses its arms in front of its face to guard against the blow that forces it back to slam against the wall. Some of the decorations fall and clatter to the ground, but Thanatos is already up, able to withstand physical attacks and shrug them off like nothing. Thanatos can stand and take it for as long as he needs it to. But that's still not doing anything.
If Noah doesn't know, then how is Minako supposed to tell what the arm's weaknesses are unless they fight? But how is he supposed to draw his sword against Noah? He can't. He could so easily blast him apart with magic, he could use Ghastly Wail and knock him out right away, but how could he fight Noah? He can't do this on his own, without instruction, wary glances between Noah and the wall that shields Minako from all of this. ]
Noah, tell me about your arm before it turned into this! Can it bleed? Does it have tendons I can cut?
[The claw lurches forward again, trying once again to go for the attack even though it's clearly not effective against Thanatos. Noah once again tries to hold it back, but it seems like he's putting up an even more pitiful effort than before doing so, simply out of exhaustion. He stumbles and is breathing heavy with his face paling. The energy for this weapon has to come from somewhere after all, and Noah's nowhere near the level of a host that can maintain this form for a long time.
So, Minako and Ryoji have one of two choices: try something to stop the claw from attacking anymore and hope it doesn't damage Noah or the store too badly in the process, or try to withstand the attack until it exhausts it's energy source and hope it doesn't damage Noah or the store too badly in the process.]
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....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.
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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?? ]
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[Just neglected to mention it to...well basically most people]
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[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.
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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?
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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.
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Wouldn't it have been easier to wear a pink suit instead? Ah- does the Confectionary even have a male uniform...?
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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.
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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. ]
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[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?!?!?
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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. ]
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[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!
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You can't control it at all?! What's it trying to do?
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[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!
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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--!
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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. ]
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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!!
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—-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. ]
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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?!
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But right now, Noah has other matters to attend to, like attempting again in vain to try to stop this claw. With his human hand, he attempts to grab onto a counter top he can to keep him away from his friend. ]
W-we were just talking! [Wait no] Then Ryoji touched my hand and this thing appeared! I don't know what it-
[Unfortunately, his human strength really isn't any match for a weapon that could feel the mass of dark energy in the room, not when his mind isn't the slightest bit synchronized to this weapon. The claw yanks him hard enough to break his grip on the counter- and then tries to take a swipe of claws straight at him.
Luckily, at this level of strength? The claw isn't strong enough to do that much damage to Thanatos. If it hits, it'll at least hurt some just from the sheer force that it's swinging - along with taking out a few chairs.]
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If Noah doesn't know, then how is Minako supposed to tell what the arm's weaknesses are unless they fight? But how is he supposed to draw his sword against Noah? He can't. He could so easily blast him apart with magic, he could use Ghastly Wail and knock him out right away, but how could he fight Noah? He can't do this on his own, without instruction, wary glances between Noah and the wall that shields Minako from all of this. ]
Noah, tell me about your arm before it turned into this! Can it bleed? Does it have tendons I can cut?
sorry to break thread order!
[The claw lurches forward again, trying once again to go for the attack even though it's clearly not effective against Thanatos. Noah once again tries to hold it back, but it seems like he's putting up an even more pitiful effort than before doing so, simply out of exhaustion. He stumbles and is breathing heavy with his face paling. The energy for this weapon has to come from somewhere after all, and Noah's nowhere near the level of a host that can maintain this form for a long time.
So, Minako and Ryoji have one of two choices: try something to stop the claw from attacking anymore and hope it doesn't damage Noah or the store too badly in the process, or try to withstand the attack until it exhausts it's energy source and hope it doesn't damage Noah or the store too badly in the process.]
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