Between the announcements and the waking events he's had, he's very much gone about the rest of it rather aimlessly. Everybody else is certain levels of on edge, so it doesn't surprise him.
The hunger tugs at him again, and he'd rather not tilt himself into unwanted aggression, so it's off to the Cafeteria he stalks. At least until he's outside of it, and something familiar in the air has him halting beside the door. His sense of smell is a lot stronger now, and he's very used to the acrid stench of nicotine.
So, there's a loop around the building, and ends up finding a familiar face by those kitchen doors. ]
...Didn't take you for the type to hang out around here.
[ Lurking behind the buildings is normally his thing. ]
[ At least when he rounds the corner, he'll find Childermass restored to his mostly human self. Oh, the ears and tail remain, as do the claws and teeth, but he is no longer some fur-covered humanoid dog. That alone is cause enough to light up one of his few cigarettes in celebration... and then there's the deaths, which is stressful enough to also light one up.
And so here he is, having lit the cigarette on the stove before heading out to lurk behind the building, though it was inevitable that someone would sniff him and his ill-gotten goods out eventually. ]
The help never smokes out front, you know.
[ Or perhaps Shinji doesn't. Anyway, he does look at Shinji, having taken the cigarette away to speak. He'll give him a nod. ]
[ It's surprising to see the guy back to normal after he'd spent so long around him last night with his...overly bestial features. Good for him, though; he can imagine this is a lot more comfortable than putting up with that.
That earns a quirk of the brow, and Shinjiro's gaze slides from the cigarette in Childermass' hand before back to the man himself. ]
[ Stinking up the kitchen, huh? He gives a one-shouldered sort of shrug as he takes another drag. ]
Stove's a quick way to get a light.
[ As he lacks his usual matches. ]
In the infirmary, when we were taking a closer look around the examination room. There aren't any more than the ones I have, though, if that's what you're hoping for.
[ Shame supplies are really that limited around here. He's not desperate, but these days you really feel you want something to take the edge off after deaths and haunted houses. ]
[ He may no longer be mostly dog, but he tilts his head like a curious dog nonetheless, an ear flitting idly as he considers Shinji. Considering how Shinji really did save his — and Hansa's — skin the day before...
He'll pause in his own smoking and look down, hand diving into a pocket to search for something, and, lo and behold, he takes out yet another cigarette, this one not yet smoked in any way. ]
Come now, I owe you one, don't I? There were five. I can spare one.
[ That curious look is returned with a cautious, Shinji-brand prickly one in turn, the brief moment of silence and staring rankling him somewhat. The carnivore feelings came back once they'd left that infirmary, and he didn't want to admit how it plucked at his already frayed nerves from the morning happenings.
Luckily, those feelings ebb as the tension melts straight into disbelief. He clearly isn't expecting another cigarette, nor is he expecting the offer; both of them throw him off enough before his features smooth out. ]
What, for babysitting your ass? Guess you do.
[ It was a real pain to drag a snarling dog-man out of that cafeteria all the way to the infirmary, he won't deny that. Still- ]
Just so we're clear, you sure? No takin' it back.
[ At this point, he's not going to turn down a free hit of nicotine. ]
[ There's a huff of laughter, quiet but amused, and he does indeed hold the cigarette out for Shinji to take. ]
Yes, for babysitting my ass. I am glad that you and Mr. Waters intervened when you did.
[ and then he yoinks it back when shinji reaches for it ayyyy okay no He'll give a nod towards it, to encourage him to take it. If he'd meant to take it back, he'd not have offered it in the first place. ]
[ Well. If he's gonna offer, he's not in any state to be saying 'no'. With another look, Shinjiro shifts awkwardly on his feet before taking the cigarette in question. ]
It was a meeting. [ Deadpan. ] Plus, I'm not interested in watching a pair of old guys maim each other.
[ Especially after...well, everything.
With that, he shuffles in the kitchen door to mimic Childermass and light his cigarette on the stove, only returning once the embers are burning. It's a shame to step out into the cold after it's warmer in there, but he's not going to be personally stinking up the kitchen.
He lifts it up to his lips, but only after a pause. ]
[ He'll wait for Shinji to return, just idly smoking away on his own cigarette and staring off into empty space. If he's thinking of anything, in particular, it doesn't show, meaning there's an equal chance he's doing his best to think of nothing whatsoever. ]
Am I...?
[ Right, the bite. He stirs from staring off at nothing at the question, taking his own cigarette down from his lips. ]
The bite he gave me on my shoulder is the worst of it. It should be fine so long as I don't rip it open again.
[ Shinjiro will take a place leaning against the wall, choosing to stare ahead as he finally takes a long drag. It's been a while, especially since he hadn't smoked as much since rejoining the club, and it probably hits better than it should. ]
Good. [ A slow nod. ] You're supposed to be taking it easy, so don't overdo it, got it?
[ ...Then again, he probably doesn't need to scold grown men like he does the brats in the dorm. Not that any of the brats in the dorm ever tried to eat somebody... ]
We got enough on our plates as is without everybody getting hurt.
[ Far too much for anyone to handle alone, and even with this many, without any idea of what to do, it's all still confusion and fear. He falls silent for a time, smoking away, wondering, and ignoring the inevitable twinge of pain in his shoulder, though eventually he does agree about taking it easy. ]
I'll see if I can manage taking it easy.
[ Or at least... try. He'll agree to try, there we go. ]
But I become restless when I have nothing useful to do, so the best I can offer is an attempt.
[ Bet you thought Childermass was going to ask what TV is, but... ]
What? You mean those television sets? [ He's been reading about electronics! Ha! ] Doesn't the library have something like that? Or at least, something that plays those... tapes?
And here I thought you mighta been too old to study.
[ He doesn't often rib his elders, but when he does,
Though whatever small smirk that crawls across his lips dies relatively quickly after that. ]
Well, it does...not that I hang out there. [ His gaze shifts. ] But sittin' there by myself watching stuff just looks off.
[ Embarrassing. He means embarrassing. Because the dorm lounge is one thing, but if he gets caught watching cooking shows by himself again he's throwing in the towel. ]
[ Ugh. The next few moments are spent struggling for an answer, although his faces twitches only a little. He will opt to take another drag of that cigarette before deigning to open his mouth again. ]
I guess to a guy like you it wouldn't. [ HEADSHAKE. ] Just forget about it.
[ Why are young people so... like this. Even with entire eras between their times, Childermass thinks it has not changed terribly much. So, he lets out an amused huff along with the smoke from the next drag he takes off his cigarette. ]
Well, if you find something you want to watch, feel free to drag me along. It will all be new to me.
[ Some secret third thing, I pick some secret third thing! ]
As you will, Mr. Aragaki.
[ If he does, he does. If he doesn't, he doesn't. Childermass will (probably) be around if he ever needs to look slightly less weird watching something on his lonesome... Or it'll look even weirder, since it's 1800s man, who has no experience with TV shows, but, hey.
The offer will stand.
And they can probably go on smoking in peaceful silence after that. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
WEEK 1, FRIDAY
Date: 2025-11-15 07:34 am (UTC)Between the announcements and the waking events he's had, he's very much gone about the rest of it rather aimlessly. Everybody else is certain levels of on edge, so it doesn't surprise him.
The hunger tugs at him again, and he'd rather not tilt himself into unwanted aggression, so it's off to the Cafeteria he stalks. At least until he's outside of it, and something familiar in the air has him halting beside the door. His sense of smell is a lot stronger now, and he's very used to the acrid stench of nicotine.
So, there's a loop around the building, and ends up finding a familiar face by those kitchen doors. ]
...Didn't take you for the type to hang out around here.
[ Lurking behind the buildings is normally his thing. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2025-11-15 08:46 am (UTC)And so here he is, having lit the cigarette on the stove before heading out to lurk behind the building, though it was inevitable that someone would sniff him and his ill-gotten goods out eventually. ]
The help never smokes out front, you know.
[ Or perhaps Shinji doesn't. Anyway, he does look at Shinji, having taken the cigarette away to speak. He'll give him a nod. ]
Mr. Aragaki. What brings you around back here?
(no subject)
Date: 2025-11-16 05:45 am (UTC)That earns a quirk of the brow, and Shinjiro's gaze slides from the cigarette in Childermass' hand before back to the man himself. ]
Came to see who was stinking up the kitchen.
[ Is this a faint rib? It might be. ]
Where'd you even get those?
(no subject)
Date: 2025-11-16 06:00 am (UTC)Stove's a quick way to get a light.
[ As he lacks his usual matches. ]
In the infirmary, when we were taking a closer look around the examination room. There aren't any more than the ones I have, though, if that's what you're hoping for.
(no subject)
Date: 2025-11-16 06:17 am (UTC)...Well, you make do with what you got.
[ Not like they've got a lot of lighters or matches to begin with.
Shinjiro stops himself from looking disappointed, but his tail does seem to droop a bit at the admittance, clicking his tongue. ]
Seriously? Figures... [ Nothing's ever easy, he supposes. ] Guess that's that, then.
[ Shame supplies are really that limited around here. He's not desperate, but these days you really feel you want something to take the edge off after deaths and haunted houses. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2025-11-16 06:22 am (UTC)He'll pause in his own smoking and look down, hand diving into a pocket to search for something, and, lo and behold, he takes out yet another cigarette, this one not yet smoked in any way. ]
Come now, I owe you one, don't I? There were five. I can spare one.
(no subject)
Date: 2025-11-16 08:24 am (UTC)Luckily, those feelings ebb as the tension melts straight into disbelief. He clearly isn't expecting another cigarette, nor is he expecting the offer; both of them throw him off enough before his features smooth out. ]
What, for babysitting your ass? Guess you do.
[ It was a real pain to drag a snarling dog-man out of that cafeteria all the way to the infirmary, he won't deny that. Still- ]
Just so we're clear, you sure? No takin' it back.
[ At this point, he's not going to turn down a free hit of nicotine. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2025-11-16 08:53 am (UTC)Yes, for babysitting my ass. I am glad that you and Mr. Waters intervened when you did.
[
and then he yoinks it back when shinji reaches for it ayyyy okay noHe'll give a nod towards it, to encourage him to take it. If he'd meant to take it back, he'd not have offered it in the first place. ](no subject)
Date: 2025-11-17 07:44 am (UTC)It was a meeting. [ Deadpan. ] Plus, I'm not interested in watching a pair of old guys maim each other.
[ Especially after...well, everything.
With that, he shuffles in the kitchen door to mimic Childermass and light his cigarette on the stove, only returning once the embers are burning. It's a shame to step out into the cold after it's warmer in there, but he's not going to be personally stinking up the kitchen.
He lifts it up to his lips, but only after a pause. ]
...You healing up alright?
(no subject)
Date: 2025-11-17 08:30 pm (UTC)Am I...?
[ Right, the bite. He stirs from staring off at nothing at the question, taking his own cigarette down from his lips. ]
The bite he gave me on my shoulder is the worst of it. It should be fine so long as I don't rip it open again.
(no subject)
Date: 2025-11-19 05:47 am (UTC)Good. [ A slow nod. ] You're supposed to be taking it easy, so don't overdo it, got it?
[ ...Then again, he probably doesn't need to scold grown men like he does the brats in the dorm. Not that any of the brats in the dorm ever tried to eat somebody... ]
We got enough on our plates as is without everybody getting hurt.
(no subject)
Date: 2025-11-19 06:32 am (UTC)[ Far too much for anyone to handle alone, and even with this many, without any idea of what to do, it's all still confusion and fear. He falls silent for a time, smoking away, wondering, and ignoring the inevitable twinge of pain in his shoulder, though eventually he does agree about taking it easy. ]
I'll see if I can manage taking it easy.
[ Or at least... try. He'll agree to try, there we go. ]
But I become restless when I have nothing useful to do, so the best I can offer is an attempt.
(no subject)
Date: 2025-11-20 02:02 am (UTC)It doesn't stop him from side-eyeing the older man at his answer, scoffing. ]
You sound just like that idiot.
[ If you blink, you can catch an ounce of fondness in there before it disappears. ]
The do something that doesn't need the arm that much. [ A shrug. ] Read a damn book. Play some cards.
[ That's what old western dudes like to do, right... ]
(no subject)
Date: 2025-11-20 08:11 pm (UTC)Heh, read a damn book. [ Yeah, that's pretty funny to Childermass. ] I think I can do that. It is what I have been doing for the most part, anyhow.
(no subject)
Date: 2025-11-21 07:12 am (UTC)As long as you're givin' it a shot. [ Smoke curls in the air as he exhales. ] Not like you're gonna run out anytime soon.
[ ...Still, though. He can get the stir-crazy sentiment. ]
I get it, though. Being here for so long, I'm starting to miss the TV.
(no subject)
Date: 2025-11-21 10:27 pm (UTC)What? You mean those television sets? [ He's been reading about electronics! Ha! ] Doesn't the library have something like that? Or at least, something that plays those... tapes?
(no subject)
Date: 2025-11-21 11:26 pm (UTC)[ He doesn't often rib his elders, but when he does,
Though whatever small smirk that crawls across his lips dies relatively quickly after that. ]
Well, it does...not that I hang out there. [ His gaze shifts. ] But sittin' there by myself watching stuff just looks off.
[ Embarrassing. He means embarrassing. Because the dorm lounge is one thing, but if he gets caught watching cooking shows by himself again he's throwing in the towel. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2025-11-24 06:01 am (UTC)[ He does not get it, sorry. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2025-11-24 03:59 pm (UTC)[ Ugh. The next few moments are spent struggling for an answer, although his faces twitches only a little. He will opt to take another drag of that cigarette before deigning to open his mouth again. ]
I guess to a guy like you it wouldn't. [ HEADSHAKE. ] Just forget about it.
(no subject)
Date: 2025-11-25 02:41 am (UTC)Well, if you find something you want to watch, feel free to drag me along. It will all be new to me.
(no subject)
Date: 2025-11-25 07:59 am (UTC)You wanna watch something with me? [ That earns a squint, bewilderment in the pinch of his brows. ] ...You're a real weirdo.
[ Positive? Derogatory? A secret third thing? ]
Maybe. If I think of something.
(no subject)
Date: 2025-11-26 11:33 pm (UTC)As you will, Mr. Aragaki.
[ If he does, he does. If he doesn't, he doesn't. Childermass will (probably) be around if he ever needs to look slightly less weird watching something on his lonesome... Or it'll look even weirder, since it's 1800s man, who has no experience with TV shows, but, hey.
The offer will stand.
And they can probably go on smoking in peaceful silence after that. ]