[Mohammed is waiting by the trees, standing in the shade so as not to attract attention from other park visitors. He holds a bouquet of Echo Flowers - about five plants - and eyes the paths for Ritsu.]
[ It was strange being here again-- not that Ritsu had plans to go through it once more without preparation, but the mysteries still tempted him. But that's fine, mysteries could wait, he had something else to tend to. ]
[ Well that's. Okay? Surprisingly simple-- compared to "spending some time together". ]
Oh. [ Never let a straight-A student think too much about how much of a failure at socialization he is. ] I don't suppose you know how you'd like to do it?
[ He's still staring at the bouquet. Hard to tell if the joke got through!! ]
This is not making me want to crush them any less. [ Then the faintest of shifts in tone follows. ] But... it'd be somewhat uncomfortable with their holding the voice of an acquaintance.
Absolutely not, that's littering. Even if they will become one with the earth one way or other...
[ He looks at Mohammed with awe. ]
Do you mean you're mostly finished? Ridiculous tasks and all? [ Or well, he could mean he's throwing in the towel! But it's nice to think positively for once huh kid. ]
We're adding compost and helping the trees grow. [Though whether it means the trees will learn to speak does not cross his mind.]
Mostly done. I have a few more boxes left to check, but I'm debated whether to get to them or not.
[He pulls out his phone and searches for his card. Of the remaining blank spaces, "play jump rope" and "spar with someone" remain, just as the one telling him to hand a bouquet of insult flowers is marked in real time.]
...To be frank, I have never fought someone hand-to-hand.
... Well, if you put it that way. [ Then here the casual scrunching and crushing of the "neeeeeerd" voices distort until they fall silent. If they begin calling out local botanists and zoologists then that's all on Mohammed. ]
I see, that's reasonable. Some of these seem a legitimate challenge of character building, but more often than not they're just. Bad.
[ So of course, he has to make a face at that last one. ] That just means you're a good citizen. I actually have that one too.
Which one, the fighting one? ["Bad" was one way to put it. "Puts my job in jeopardy" is another level.] The flowers were kind of fun once I actually got to know people better. There are some tiles that work better with an acquaintance than a stranger.
[Mohammed has plenty of friends. He's not a loser. He totally could have done the sillier tasks earlier if he wanted to.]
But it helps knowing that everyone on Retrospec is on the same boat.
... I don't know if I'd really count these as fun... it's dependent on viewpoint I suppose.
[ He;d been regarding them as chores all this time because Ritsu being Ritsu. ]
I hate that I have no counterargument for that. They don't seem like a legitimate organization at all, in the root "organize", unless associated with the word "chaos".
"Legitimate". [Hah.] I'm have a good feeling the government is connected with them. They're organized, that's certain, but their objective is to cause chaos.
...Let's find someplace else to talk. I don't want any more flowers repeating our thoughts.
There's an Indian place I want to visit. You're fine with spicy food, right?
[It's too far from work to bring his coworkers to lunch, and eating out is less awkward when you're not alone. Yes, Ritsu is a kid, but he's being a Good Adult and looking after him.]
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Yes?
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Just something for the bingo card, first. I thought we should spend some time together since we have the same mind regarding Retrospec.
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[ Well that's. Okay? Surprisingly simple-- compared to "spending some time together". ]
Oh. [ Never let a straight-A student think too much about how much of a failure at socialization he is. ] I don't suppose you know how you'd like to do it?
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"neeeeeeerd".
Mohammed stifles a laugh.]
Nothing personal. [He's a nerd, too.]
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[ He's still staring at the bouquet. Hard to tell if the joke got through!! ]
This is not making me want to crush them any less. [ Then the faintest of shifts in tone follows. ] But... it'd be somewhat uncomfortable with their holding the voice of an acquaintance.
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[Gestures at the trees.]
I'm just about done with this card.
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[ He looks at Mohammed with awe. ]
Do you mean you're mostly finished? Ridiculous tasks and all? [ Or well, he could mean he's throwing in the towel! But it's nice to think positively for once huh kid. ]
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Mostly done. I have a few more boxes left to check, but I'm debated whether to get to them or not.
[He pulls out his phone and searches for his card. Of the remaining blank spaces, "play jump rope" and "spar with someone" remain, just as the one telling him to hand a bouquet of insult flowers is marked in real time.]
...To be frank, I have never fought someone hand-to-hand.
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I see, that's reasonable. Some of these seem a legitimate challenge of character building, but more often than not they're just. Bad.
[ So of course, he has to make a face at that last one. ] That just means you're a good citizen. I actually have that one too.
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[Mohammed has plenty of friends. He's not a loser. He totally could have done the sillier tasks earlier if he wanted to.]
But it helps knowing that everyone on Retrospec is on the same boat.
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Does it really...? I've heard of misery loving company, but it feels like they'll keep upping in scale the weird things they'll have us experience.
[ But Ritsu has to frown now, at the remains of the flowers. ] Actually, I guess this is oddly low-key of them. It's hard to not be on guard.
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[This feels more like a party game rather than an effort to survive another day.]
...Which means whatever they have planned next is going to hit hard.
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[ He;d been regarding them as chores all this time because Ritsu being Ritsu. ]
I hate that I have no counterargument for that. They don't seem like a legitimate organization at all, in the root "organize", unless associated with the word "chaos".
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...Let's find someplace else to talk. I don't want any more flowers repeating our thoughts.
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Hey, why don't we leave a message for our spies? "Stop following us and get a hobby", thereabouts.
[ Now there's a proper petty 13 year old thought for once. ]
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["Stop folloing us and get a hobby, neeeerd." is a great message to send. Mohammed is feeling really petty today.]
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"Stop following us and get a hobby."
[ Follow-up with repeat of neeeeeerd? ]
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Neeerds.
[Making fun of people is fun when they're assholes. He steps back and turns away from the cursed forest.]
How about we get something to eat? Being outside isn't all that interesting on its own anymore.
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[ But he's made a few friends, even if he won't use the word yet; a productive summer. ]
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[It's too far from work to bring his coworkers to lunch, and eating out is less awkward when you're not alone. Yes, Ritsu is a kid, but he's being a Good Adult and looking after him.]
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[ Fighting face! Except it's just a genuine smile, grateful to have a friend. ]