001 □ a day in the life of a paper master

[acrobrat]

WHO: Anita King and YOU, and later, Anita and her housemates.
WHERE: All over Heropa, and then at Heropa Residence #002.
WHEN: This week.
WHAT: She overstocks on milk and looks at things.
WARNINGS: Uh, none.

[OPTION A: OTA

If you are at the grocery store, or walking down the streets of Heropa, you might just find a short pink-haired girl lugging a large grocery bag full of four milk cartons. Despite her enhanced physical abilities, it doesn't make carrying a lot of milk any easier, so she walks slowly and steadily, and sometimes has to put the bag down. When she does so, she usually does it in front of a nearby shop in order to take a look at what's inside.

Notably, she avoids bookstores and tries not to pass in front of one. But more often than not, if there is anything frog-related - stationery, toys, household items, even food made to look like frogs - Anita will take a very good look and possibly pull out her wallet to see if she has enough money to expand her collection.]

[OPTION B: CLOSED TO HEROPA #002

And where's all that milk going? Cue Anita rearranging the stuff inside the refrigerator to make room for a few more milk cartons. She'll make sure everything else still fits, okay.

There's even a half-full glass on the dining table. Don't touch.]

Comments

[waiting]

[ Getting them groceries is still Bradbury's job, mostly. With Thanksgiving looming on the horizon, he figures it's best to get his shopping out of the way before things start getting really hectic and he has to compete with wild-eyed bargain hunters. The store isn't too far from his own place, so he's taken the opportunity to take a leisurely stroll, trying to find more excuses to work the bulge off his middle.

He has to pause and blink, though, when he catches sight of a familiar pink-haired head peering into a shop window, bag of groceries at her feet. He raises a hand, intending to wave her down, when he realizes she isn't paying attention at all, and her gaze is fixed on something inside. Turning his head, Bradbury tracks her gaze to a ... frog-shaped alarm clock? He supposes there are weirder things a girl could could be into, but still, the determination with which she's rummaging in her wallet is a little alarming.

Bradbury also realizes she's not likely to notice him unless he actually tries to get her attention

"Hey, Anita." He clears his throat a little sheepishly, because he realizes he hasn't seen her in an age -- hasn't been out socializing much at all, frankly. Maybe he needs to get out more, he's forgetting how to talk to people. "Doing some shopping already?"

[acrobrat]

[The alarm clock (which croaks instead of ringing, even!) is sadly out of her budget. Anita has to save money for this Thanksgiving thing and for Christmas presents to give to people she considered friends...and of course, for maintaining their house. Being unsettled, she feels that she must never give her housemates any reason to kick her out. Not that they ever considered it.

As she closes her wallet with a sigh of resignation, she hears someone clearing their throat and turns to see who it is. At first she looks surprised, not expecting to run into someone she knew, then she smiles in greeting.]

Hey, Bradbury. [How could she forget the name of the man who gave her a great job opportunity that didn't involve stationery? She laughs sheepishly.] I wanted to, but I guess I'll have to wait for my next paycheck.

[waiting]

Yeah?

[ He raises a brow at her, then glances back at the shop window, not-so-discreetly checking on the price tag. Well, he can relate to the problem she's facing -- things weren't exactly what you'd call easy for him for a while, either, and he still finds himself constantly surprised that he's running a positive bank balance.

After a moment of consideration and pausing to remember how he's doing on finances for this month, Bradbury grins, tucking his thumbs into his pockets. ]

Tell you what -- if you really like it, how about I lend you enough to get it today and you can just pay me back when you've got the money? [ Not that he has any intention on following up on that IOU, but he doesn't want to make the mistake of insulting Anita's pride with perceived charity, either. ]

[acrobrat]

[Anita's eyes widen, and she stares at him like he told her that he was going to give her twenty dollars. Neither was she expecting that at all.]

What? Aren't you supposed to be buying stuff for Thanksgiving or whatever? [That alarm clock was to die for. But it didn't feel right for her, borrowing money from Bradbury when she was capable of earning it on her own, especially without her sisters to squander it on books.

...even if she did sort of miss that.]

[waiting]

[ Bradbury blinks, slowly, rubbing at the back of his head like he's suddenly been caught in a bind he didn't expect. A little gruffly: ]

It's not like I don't have enough for that. Besides, it's just food, and I'm not throwing a party or anything.

[ Most of the attendees would be animals, anyway. Maybe Mitch could come along too, if he felt inclined, but Bradbury wasn't holding his breath, that much was for sure. ]

[acrobrat]

[She runs a hand through her hair as she tries to decide. On one hand, she could get that clock right now, because who knows? By the time she got her next paycheck, it might be sold out. On the other hand...she could wait.

...actually, no, she couldn't.]

I'm...six dollars short. [When Anita says this, she sounds almost ashamed.]

[waiting]

[ Bradbury manages not to laugh, and he hopes the smile he wears looks encouraging, rather than mocking. ]

I can definitely afford six bucks. [ It'd probably look a bit odd to rifle through his wallet in front of a kid on the street, though, so he nods toward the store, gesturing for them to move inside. ]

Come on, let's go get that clock.

[acrobrat]

[Anita nods and gives him a grateful smile right back. Bradbury was good company and it wasn't like she egged him to do it, so she'll accept his offer.]

Thanks, Bradbury. [She strides inside with a noticeable spring in her step.] As soon as I get my next paycheck, I'm paying you back.

[waiting]

Like I said, don't sweat it. [ He grins, waving for the shopkeeper's attention so they can get the alarm from the window and get the payment all squared away, but once it's all wrapped up and in Anita's hands, a different sort of problem rears its head. ]

This looks pretty hard to carry around on your own. [ He peeks inside the grocery bag, brow wrinkling slightly in confusion. ] You like milk a lot, huh?

[acrobrat]

[Anita is all smiles as the clock goes from the window to her hands, excitement written all over her face. She wonders if she can ask for an advance on her paycheck just so she can stop owing Bradbury.

Unfortunately, yes, this presents a new problem. Carrying the milk was already a bit of a struggle; now, she also had her new alarm clock. She mentally berates herself for not thinking his through and grins sheepishly, quite embarrassed.]

Yeah...I do. [She badly wants to grow taller but she is not going to outwardly admit that.]

[waiting]

[ Taking pity on Anita for her obvious dilemma, Bradbury huffs a soft laugh, bending down to pick up the grocery bag and haul it into his arms. While it's a difficult maneuver for her, it barely takes any effort for him to hoist it up and grip it securely. ]

Well, you can't carry all of this by yourself. You mind letting me walk you home?

[acrobrat]

[She tilts her head to one side. It's good to have some help, but again...she might be dragging Bradbury away from his day and making him take a detour to her place.]

You sure you don't have to be anywhere? Really, really sure?

[waiting]

Wouldn't be offering if I wasn't sure. [ Bradbury reassures her, rearranging the bags in his arms so he has a more secure grip. ]

You'll just have to give me directions.

[acrobrat]

[Anita nods, grinning gratefully.]

I owe you more than six bucks. Heropa Residence #002, it's not far.

[waiting]

[ That makes Bradbury grunt softly in surprise, brows raised. ]

I didn't realize you lived so close by. I'm in #006.

[acrobrat]

I live with Mitchell, remember? [She knows she has to walk but she can't stop glancing at the clock every now and then.

And obviously she's not chiding Bradbury for not knowing. It's more of a casual reminder.]

[waiting]

... Right. Guess I forgot. [ To be fair, Mitch has never invited him over, and Anita never comes up in their conversations, and Bradbury's never visited him, so... it's easy to forget. It wouldn't surprise him if people forget Mitch actually existed, honestly. ]

You really like that clock, huh?

[acrobrat]

[He does have a point. Anita herself talked to Dio and Dorian more than Mitchell.]

Yeah, it's really cute. I've never seen one like it back home.

[waiting]

[ Mitch probably only talks to the coffee maker. ]

Is that why you like it so much? Because you collect unique things?

[acrobrat]

[Accurate. At least it's not just the milk cartons Anita talks to.]

Not really. I like frogs.

[YES SHE DOES. Which means she's just into things with frogs on them.]

A !

[nekked]

[it's hard not to take notice of Anita's struggle, and after setting down her milk for the umpteenth time, she'll find it's actually lifted right out of her grasp.

Ryuuko hoists the bag up and over her shoulder, testing the weight of the bag first to ensure the straps won't break. after word she shifts her weight to one side to accommodate for the extra load, peering down at the other girl with a grin.]

Gotta admire your determination to get this far- but I think this load is about three times too heavy for yah.

[acrobrat]

[Her enhanced physical abilities did not include super strength; only agility and flexibility and just enough strength to be able to deal punches and kicks that hurt. When the bag is lifted away from her, she gasps, looking up (she's below 5 feet) to see who was taking away her precious milk stash.]

Hey -

[Oh, it was another girl...who just wanted to help. Anita wanted to object, but lugging around all that milk was becoming tedious, not to mention hard on her arms. Not to mention that she had been putting it down more often as she went.]

Uh...thanks? I guess?

[nekked]

[Ryuuko's not much taller, standing at only 5'3" but the small height the gap is still enough to have her dipping her head down a bit to look at the other girl.

maybe she should've said something before stepping in- but that's just not how Ryuuko works. act first think later! it's a system that's gotten her into a world of trouble in the past, but she always manages to come out alright in the end so. kanye shrug.]

Don't mention it. Watchin' you lug this stuff down another five blocks woulda been torture.

[probably more so for Anita, but Ryuuko doesn't like to see people struggle, especially kids.]

[acrobrat]

[She smirks, but doesn't take back the bag.]

You could just stop watching, y'know. [Said jokingly. Honestly Anita is quite grateful but Ryuuko is not going to hear that from her till later. For now, all she'll get is slightly snarky banter.]

[nekked]

[das cool, Ryuuko majors in snarky banter tbh.]

Guess that'd be a lot easier, huh?

[she shifts the bag over her shoulder, giving a light shrug.]

Lucky for you I've never been the type of girl to take the easy way out.

[and that's 100% the truth, given the choice Ryuuko will always choose the more challenging route. a mentality that developed growing up with limited choices, and having to push her way through the rough times to come out on top.]

[acrobrat]

The easy way out is sometimes the boring way out.

[She nods in agreement; she could tell that she and this other girl were going to get along just fine.]

I'm Anita.

B

[diociopath]

[To Dio's credit, he always makes sure to be fully clothed when Anita is around - she is just a kid after all, so no point in drawing unwanted attention from other people. "My roommate walks around half naked all the time" could turn real ugly, real fast.

Although he still strolls in barefoot...and at first he doesn't have any intention of really striking up conversation, but that is a lot of milk, and his gaze wanders over to the fridge, considering that's the obvious place for them to go...]

Are you sure there's enough room?

[Don't mind the five blood packs at the back of the fridge.]

[acrobrat]

'Course there's room. [Anita wrinkles her nose when she finds the blood at the back while pushing aside some leftovers. But no, she'll not mind the blood packs. Besides, she stocks up on milk like he stocks up on the red stuff.

Then she reaches for a milk carton with both hands, placing that inside as far as it will go with a look of determination that's almost...cute.]

You just gotta change things around.

[diociopath]

[Unfortunately, it'd take someone of a less...sociopathic nature to recognize that. Dio just watches with mild indifference.]

Does everyone really drink this much milk?

[acrobrat]

[She glances at Dio.]

Just me, but everyone should. [Anita is a growing girl, okay.

She steps back to scrutinize what's left of the free space. There are two more cartons that need to be placed somewhere.]

[diociopath]

[It's still weird ok ok.

He can see her deliberating over what to do, so looks past her from his position on the other side of the kitchen, trying to work it out himself.]

You should invest in some of those plastic liquid containers. They would save space.

[acrobrat]

[Anita blinks, then realization and agreement dawn on her face.]

Hey, that's a good idea! Thanks. I wonder if...the next time I buy milk, I could just bring those and ask the grocery people to fill 'em up.