[The man's fixation on the hat was among the worst cases that Marshall had seen-- and, tired of this line of conversation, he took it off just to spare himself a few more sour looks. Underneah it was thick, dark hair that was clearly unruly when it wasn't under the stern control of the leather Stetson.
Marshall sighed.]
I could, but it wouldn't be the same as Anita here. Her namesake ran me through the ringer, and when I had paid everything off thanks to her and realized I had some bucks to spare, I got this for myself. It makes the desert more tolerable; ya don't have the sun glaring at you from both above and below.
Anita would hire me for jobs. Difficult and demanding jobs, but the pay was good and it kept food on the table for my mother and sisters. Helps that my sisters liked her, too.
[He let out a frustrated sigh and ran a hand through his messy hair.]
I never laid hands on her, unless she asked... or we were on a troublesome job together... or we needed to pull the wool over some gibfaced, pigeon-livered ratbag so she could get away.
[....Yes, she was an Ex, though their parting wasn't one of negativity but of necessity.]
[ Oh. Oh. Well, Kunikida certainly feels like an idiot for assuming something incorrect. He scratches the back of his neck and sighs. ]
My apologies. I thought that she was your ex-wife, based off of how you were describing her. That, and naming something so personal to you after her ... it seemed romantic.
But knowing that she was your boss changes everything.
[He... wasn't quite wrong, the cowboy is just an idiot in social situations. Too many hours in the trees with books when he was a kid started the trend, and too many days in the fields with the animals and minimal human contact at times as an adult did little to mitigate these difficulties.]
S'okay. Sometimes I feel like she's gonna to chase me across the ocean because she needs me for a job. Anita... can be a challenge.
[ He nods slowly at that, as the image of his wonderful partner pops right into his mind. He really never expected to run into him here, but he's convinced that the last people you'd want to see always show up wherever you go.
Either that, or he just has mediocre luck. ]
I'm beginning to believe that the ones you don't necessarily wish to see will all end up here in time. Or are already here, in my case.
[He said stiffly, a frown marring his face as he thought of his mother, his sisters, his friends. Were Marshall more religiously inclined, he would have prayed that those he cared for remained safe. Instead, he vowed to pour out a drink to that which he did not understand later.
There was no way to keep anyone safe forever.]
Now, [He said, shaking his head before he popped the hat back upon it.] If we're quite done making fools of ourselves, what say you about exploring this part of town? I've not seen much like this where I'm from.
[ Truth be told, the blond really expected the stranger to want nothing to do with him after this little exchange, so once he's offered to join in on a tour, he blinks.
Then, after a moment of thought, nods. ]
I suppose it wouldn't hurt, but I'm not too familiar with what's around here, either. I've only been in this city since May, after all.
[ Admittedly, Kunikida could use something to eat at this point, so he figures he'll lead both of them down the block where he knows a few decent restaurants are. One day, he'll have the entire city mapped out. It would have happened by now of course, if he weren't so occupied with work. ]
I'll lead the way, then. I know of a few decent restaurants down this block, so we can start there.
[Having a mental map of the city was a fine goal to achieve, and Marshall hoped to join those ranks one day... but, for the moment, he was having a hard enough time navigating the Network, nonetheless the city itself.]
So long as the food's hot and easy enough to eat, I'll be happy. Lead on, stranger.
[ Kunikida has considered mapping out what he's seen using precious pages in his notebook, but -- seeing as how he can't easily obtain another, he has to be conservative with how many he uses.
So, for now, he'll rely on memory to traverse the city.
One he's given the okay to, he'll walk toward the section of restaurants he's familiar with. He stops in front of a simple deli; he's been here once or twice during his rare days off. It's a decent place. ]
How do sandwiches sound? I find that I really enjoy simple lunches during my days off, and this place in particular is reliable.
[Indeed, the sound of it was evident in his voice and his smile. Gazing up at the deli, he found himself just grateful that there were things that were somewhat familiar in this city.]
So much of even the food here is different for me-- and I'm not just talking about the chopsticks, though I've seen and used 'em before. It's all the stuff that's wrapped in... what do they call it?
Plastic.
Just seems such a waste, of everything. The food ain't even that good when it's like that, either.
[ He'll head inside at that response, then, since he figures there's no point in wasting time. Before he even so much as glances at the menu board, though, he has to comment on wasteful packaging. ]
I really can't stand wasteful packaging. I also can't stand wasting food. But I do realize that sometimes, you have to choose options that aren't the most environmentally friendly.
[ Compromising standards to meet his budget has happened a lot so far, since he's not loaded with Chroma.
He finally looks at the menu. There are a lot of simple, reliable choices, but he's probably going to go with his usual. ]
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I'm fond of it, and I don't want to lose it. The people here don't seem like they appreciate how hard it is to find a good hat.
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After shrugging, he states: ]
Well, I won't try to change your mind. But I do question what you'd do if you lost that hat at some point. Would you be able to find another?
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Marshall sighed.]
I could, but it wouldn't be the same as Anita here. Her namesake ran me through the ringer, and when I had paid everything off thanks to her and realized I had some bucks to spare, I got this for myself. It makes the desert more tolerable; ya don't have the sun glaring at you from both above and below.
no subject
[ Does he mean divorce? Goodness knows the detective is, by default, going to assume that. ]
So, correct me if I'm wrong, but you're holding onto your hat because it reminds you of your ex. That makes some sense.
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[Cue one very confused cowboy.]
Anita would hire me for jobs. Difficult and demanding jobs, but the pay was good and it kept food on the table for my mother and sisters. Helps that my sisters liked her, too.
[He let out a frustrated sigh and ran a hand through his messy hair.]
I never laid hands on her, unless she asked... or we were on a troublesome job together... or we needed to pull the wool over some gibfaced, pigeon-livered ratbag so she could get away.
[....Yes, she was an Ex, though their parting wasn't one of negativity but of necessity.]
no subject
My apologies. I thought that she was your ex-wife, based off of how you were describing her. That, and naming something so personal to you after her ... it seemed romantic.
But knowing that she was your boss changes everything.
no subject
S'okay. Sometimes I feel like she's gonna to chase me across the ocean because she needs me for a job. Anita... can be a challenge.
no subject
Either that, or he just has mediocre luck. ]
I'm beginning to believe that the ones you don't necessarily wish to see will all end up here in time. Or are already here, in my case.
no subject
[He said stiffly, a frown marring his face as he thought of his mother, his sisters, his friends. Were Marshall more religiously inclined, he would have prayed that those he cared for remained safe. Instead, he vowed to pour out a drink to that which he did not understand later.
There was no way to keep anyone safe forever.]
Now, [He said, shaking his head before he popped the hat back upon it.] If we're quite done making fools of ourselves, what say you about exploring this part of town? I've not seen much like this where I'm from.
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Then, after a moment of thought, nods. ]
I suppose it wouldn't hurt, but I'm not too familiar with what's around here, either. I've only been in this city since May, after all.
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At times, he had suspected that Anita wished they had been more than merely work associates.]
That's longer than I. It's only been... maybe two or so weeks since I ended up here. Any help is better than no help at all.
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I'll lead the way, then. I know of a few decent restaurants down this block, so we can start there.
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So long as the food's hot and easy enough to eat, I'll be happy. Lead on, stranger.
no subject
So, for now, he'll rely on memory to traverse the city.
One he's given the okay to, he'll walk toward the section of restaurants he's familiar with. He stops in front of a simple deli; he's been here once or twice during his rare days off. It's a decent place. ]
How do sandwiches sound? I find that I really enjoy simple lunches during my days off, and this place in particular is reliable.
no subject
[Indeed, the sound of it was evident in his voice and his smile. Gazing up at the deli, he found himself just grateful that there were things that were somewhat familiar in this city.]
So much of even the food here is different for me-- and I'm not just talking about the chopsticks, though I've seen and used 'em before. It's all the stuff that's wrapped in... what do they call it?
Plastic.
Just seems such a waste, of everything. The food ain't even that good when it's like that, either.
no subject
I really can't stand wasteful packaging. I also can't stand wasting food. But I do realize that sometimes, you have to choose options that aren't the most environmentally friendly.
[ Compromising standards to meet his budget has happened a lot so far, since he's not loaded with Chroma.
He finally looks at the menu. There are a lot of simple, reliable choices, but he's probably going to go with his usual. ]