009 ✤ open

[akito]

Characters: Akito + OPEN
Date: Jan 30th - Feb 11th
Location: Evidet & Keeliai
Situation: Exploring and shopping
Warnings/Rating: n/a

--

Akito is excited to get off of the turtle once he's slept off the lingering exhaustion from the Shangpari race. There are things he needs to purchase and he is still hesitant to browse Keeliai's markets, knowing he won't get the most out of his limited money. The people of Khatronma are the opposite - they're very welcoming when he first arrives, and it's easy to barter and trade with them to get the best possible price that he can. He needs a lot of things and there's only so far he can stretch his funds, so every cent he can save is a cent that can go toward something else.

The clothes remind him of Russian fashion, all solid lines, thick fabrics, and soft furs. He picks up the warmest winter coat he can afford (thankful for his small stature, since he can buy children's sizes for less), a scarf, and a few long, plain tops or short dresses that he can layer up if he wants to. A soft, warm sweater. A nice pair of knee-high boots and some comfortable gloves. Finally he picks up a large comforter, though has trouble carrying it around even folded and squashed down as small as it will go.

There is no way he's going to get cold now, and even when he doesn't need the clothes he purchased he'll still be able to use them to cushion up his bed even more. It's a win/win. Cute, cozy clothes and a warm, cozy bed!


The next time Akito goes out shopping it's to see what sort of electronics and technology he can find and perhaps purchase. He misses the luxury of video games and mp3 players and tablets. If those aren't an option then he can easily settle for the supplies to build himself little wind-up robots or make decorations for his room...

Meaning he'll definitely want to try finding a nice little tool-kit. One with varying screwdriver sizes and shapes, wrenches, wire cutters, a soldering iron and solder. A drill would be cool, too... Akito never realized how much he took for granted at home until he was left without so many basic things.

Of course, he's still a kid who appreciates pretty things, so whenever he spots a particularly pretty crystalline object or shiny piece of jewelery he can't help but peer at it all with interest.


((ooc: so feel free to run into him clothes shopping, or too shopping, or perusing shiny shiny jewelry, or any other situation you'd like! go nuts!))

Comments

[pushtheboundaries]

For this, Callaghan doesn't mind the company. He's a vested interest in obtaining a number of things, now that he has the opportunity, and another set of eyes (or, well, eye) doesn't hurt. Which is why as Akito's distracted by the shiny, he's distracted by the glint of metal, occasionally asking a few sharp questions of the merchant.

He may not have currency, but with the lack of prejudice against him, he's going to take as much advantage of that as he can. And...try to keep Akito from making a poor investment, such as when he lightly puts a hand on the boy's shoulder to stop him from reaching for a display kit.

"Don't bother. Those ones'll rust the minute you get them wet."

[akito]

Akito immediately tenses at the touch, a reflexive, learned response from his particular upbringing. But he just as quickly relaxes again because he's entirely aware of whose hand it is on his shoulder, and the fact that if this guy tries to hurt him he is more than capable of defending himself without repercussion.

He reaches for the display kit anyway, tossing Callaghan a mildly irritated look as he tests the construction of each tool as well as how it fits in his hand. This isn't the first time he's gone shopping for tools, and tools are much easier to inspect than the complex parts he's accustomed to.

Yes, the material is cheap and even if he couldn't tell by a glance his skin is more than aware of the fact. That aside, it's well constructed; smooth movement and no catching pieces. Still too big for his hands, but given the average size of the locals he doesn't imagine he'll find any tools to match his stature.

Akito shoots rapidfire questions to the merchant: what material is this? do you have anything that won't rust so easily? do you have anything smaller? can you recommend a good shop for small mechanical parts?

He gets all of his answers, though sadly no, they do not have any tools smaller than what he's been messing around with.

[sonjaofyellowcomet]

This was pretty much the worst thing ever.

Trying to shop without any money that is. Being penniless (or juulanless? whatever) was literally the worst. She couldn't even buy any clothes, and her uniform was getting rather tacky. Anton had a few spare pieces but they were ugly and ill-fitting for a girl of her size besides. Anton had offered to mend some but... Sonja didn't mind staying in the hotel for free, especially with all the empty rooms, but asking him to make her clothes was stretching what she felt comfortable asking of him (and he'd also need to know measurements and things and that was entirely another thing).

At least the Khatronma people were nicer? Until they found out she had no money, anyway. She was about to give up and head back to the hotel when she spotted Akito and Callaghan.

"Oh, you're that girl who was in the Shangpar races, right?"

[pushtheboundaries]

Fine, Akito, shrug off his help. It's all the same to Robert. He'll just pay half-attention to the questions he's asking - and at least they're good ones, which leads Callaghan to think that maybe his intervention hadn't been required at all - until there's another voice from aside.

He glances off towards it, catching sight of- a uniformed young lady, it seems. He doesn't think she's one of the locals, or even the kedan, but then again there's always the matter of shapeshifting...

The man looks back towards Akito, tilting his head. She's addressing the boy, not him, after all.

[akito]

It takes a moment for Akito to realize he's being spoken to, but once he does he ends his conversation with the shopkeep politely and turns to offer the stranger an equally polite, yet deliberately careful, greeting.

"Un, yes! That's me."

He doesn't bother correcting her on the fact that he is a boy, despite appearances, because he doesn't feel strongly about his gender one way or another. And, admittedly, he enjoys people guessing incorrectly since it's very entertaining - to him, at least.

"Who are you?"

[sonjaofyellowcomet]

"My name is Sonja, I'm one of the newer foreigners to come to Tu Shanshu."

She bows once to Akito, and again to Callaghan. "I'm still kind of learning how things work and meeting everyone."

[pushtheboundaries]

No correction after all. All right, then. Aside from arching a brow, Callaghan doesn't question it, instead taking Sonja's introduction and bow as a cue for his own greeting; "Professor Robert Callaghan. I'm also a fairly new arrival, or at least wasn't here during that whole 'sleep' business."

Once, he might have suggested they learn about this place together; now, he just smiles politely, tilting his head towards her in gesture.

[akito]

"You're lucky," he hums absently from where he's examining another set of tools, this time paying attention to the material used. There's no reason for this merchant to rip him off, but that doesn't mean Akito hasn't learned to be careful after months of it on Keeliai.

"Waking up in a body that's a year older really sucks." Especially for the ones around his age. "And you missed the war, ne? That also really sucked."

What doesn't suck is the build of the tools he's inspecting at the moment; good weight, flow, and balance.

[sonjaofyellowcomet]

Sonja regarded Callaghan coolly. He was a bit like Anton: older, had a wise air about him. But he had none of the warmth.

"What are you a professor of, Mr. Callaghan?"

To Akito she said, "So everyone tells me. I feel like I'm here without a purpose though, having arrived after the war, however."

[pushtheboundaries]

"My specialty was robotics - for all the good that does us here - but I taught some applied technologies, as well." He's light about it, but quick to find something else to steer the conversation towards- this whole purpose nonsense.

"I suppose the question would be why we're here, then, or while you're still here as the case may be- may I see those when you're done, Akito?"

They may have found a decent one, there.

[akito]

Akito looks at Callaghan in surprise. "Robotics?" Suddenly he has a whole new appreciation for the weird old man. "What range of robotics did you teach?" Because 'robotics' itself is such a broad subject.

But - oh, that's right. He was looking at tools. The perfect set for himself if only for the size, but a quick conversation with the clerk and Akito can come back in a few days to pick up a custom set. Once that's dealt with he moves aside so Callaghan can check the kit out for himself.

[sonjaofyellowcomet]

"Do you make a habit, Professor Callaghan, of taking someone's question and rephrasing it to sound wise?" Perhaps it wasn't intended to be as biting as it came out, but it came out pretty biting. Sonja didn't appreciate being condescended to, and it really felt like she was being condescended to.

actually that was partially me not rereading the thread before tagging /whups

[pushtheboundaries]

"Applied technology," he informed Akito, though he didn't move for the tools. Instead, he was tilting his head at Sonja, a tiny, rueful smile spreading on to his face.

"Only to reiterate the point. But I'll take the hit, there- I hadn't meant to offend you."

*pat pats*

[akito]

Okay then, don't take the tools. Akito will just place them back down carefully with a nod to the shop merchant.

"What grade level?"

[sonjaofyellowcomet]

Sonja softened significantly at the admission of fault. "No worries," she said.

"What are the tools for?" she asked Akito.

[pushtheboundaries]

"Professional institute- I'll go over it with you sometime, if you're so interested." It was a bit hard to manage two conversations at once, but Sonja's assurance had him smiling a bit more honestly and nodding. As he'd said; he'd take the hit. "I think it's already pretty clear you've a knack for machinery," he continued, tone rising just shy of making it a question; though he was trying to make it so Akito could answer Sonja's question by affirming his words, it wasn't as though it'd necessarily be picked up upon.

[akito]

"Oh, um. To build things," he answers politely, though he turns his attention to the stall across the road from them shortly after. There isn't anything else this stall has that interests him and so it's time to move on. Akito gives Sonja a polite and casual bow before heading to the stall that caught his eye.

At least that was the plan. But he forgot to take into account how small he is to the average-sized person, let alone a race as tall and willowy as the ones in this city. Nearly getting trampled, Akito beats a hasty retreat back to Callaghan's side, puffing his cheeks absently in annoyance. He likes being tiny. Being four inches shy of five foot nothing has served him well overall, but it's times like this where he sometimes wishes he at least broke the barrier and hit five feet.

He grabs Callaghan's hand and tugs on it, indicating for him to listen to him; that he has something important to say. "Ne, Oyaji, if you let me sit on your shoulders I can look for the next shop we can check out."

[sonjaofyellowcomet]

Sonja laughs at Akito's request. They reminded her of herself and her father. "Are you two related?"

wow i am super slow on this orz

[pushtheboundaries]

And now where's he going off to?

Callaghan watches Akito leave for a moment before turning his attention back to Sonja with a helpless, apologetic shrug. If she came here for them, he won't keep her; just when he's about to say as much he's given a tug on his hand. Blinking at first from the pull, then at the words, he's then flustered by the mix of those and Sonja's reactions.

"...we're not, but- 'Oyaji'? Akito, I'm not that old-!"

It wouldn't be hard to hoist him up, but give him a minute to get over all this and realize Akito is serious before letting out a heavy breath, looking up to the sky with another helpless expression, and then lowering himself to let them climb on.

wOW DREAMWIDTH I WAS NOT DONE?? ASSHOLE

[akito]

Akito definitely pulls a face at Sonja's question, looking between himself and Callaghan, wondering if there's any resemblance and being pretty sure there isn't. Because he's cute. And Callaghan... is not.

"We're not related. He's just good at making sure I don't get squashed, ne?"

Then, to Callaghan himself: "You're probably as old as Yasu-san is, and he's basically my Ojii-chan since he pretty much adopted Papa. So I thought 'Oyaji' was generous!"

He's actually completely serious in that yes, Callaghan looks to be about as old as the man who really is, technically, his unofficially-adopted grandfather. So consider yourself lucky, old man, because it could have been worse! And by the impish look on Akito's face, it's obvious he is entirely aware of that.

...And by the surprise on his face afterwards, when Callaghan concedes to his request, Akito had not been expecting him to agree.

Because he isn't wearing his Air Trecks and is instead wearing a comfortable pair of flats, he has no worries about standing on top of the old man's shoulders rather than sitting on them. Any movement Callaghan makes - any minute shift - Akito instinctively adjusts his weight to keep everything level.

It only takes him a minute or two before he spots a promising location to their 1:00 and, not wanting to strain his step-stool, Akito performs a perfect front flip off of him. The landing is a little less than perfect, but he doesn't fall. Just stumbles an inch to the side and lets out a mildly irritated huff that it wasn't a 10/10 landing.

"There's a cool looking stall to our one o'clock, Oyaji."

[confirmationbias]

Sonja was perplexed and amused.

"Well, I should let you go then. Have fun."