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Post by zuyuri on Sept 29, 2022 13:55:58 GMT
Riku took Caspar’s hand in his, the black leather meshing with Caspar’s ungloved palm, and shook it firmly but not to the point where he’d have his hand broken. With the deal settled, he pulled away and looked down at the mushy penne. It at least smelled edible, even if the sauce looked like glue. Very carefully, he dug around before getting a decent mouthful and taking a bite. Well, at least it didn’t taste like glue. More like a failed attempt to make a pasta sauce from pantry ingredients. Not bad, and he had far worse when he lived in the orphanage.
“Gotta say, this isn’t as bad as I thought.”
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Post by skyeknight on Oct 4, 2022 19:09:06 GMT
"Better than I can cook," Caspar shrugged.
He would be taking full advantage of the school cafeteria. Last time he tried to cook, it was a smoke disaster in which the fire department was called for some overly cooked macaroni. Who knew you needed to add water to it? he thought it was just noodles and the cheese! Needless to say, he was a disaster in the kitchen too. Domestic things really weren't his forte at all. He couldn't cook, couldn't do laundry. He could at least keep things clean. If only out of necessity.
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Post by zuyuri on Oct 4, 2022 22:25:33 GMT
“Okay, don’t ask you to make dinner when we get tired of cafeteria dishes. Noted.”
The only thing Riku knew his to cook well was basically any kind of noodles. Growing up in the orphanage had him learn the importance of quick easy and inexpensive meals. He had learned some add ins like frozen veggies made the meal less bland and healthy. But hopefully Caspar could be good at washing dishes. He hoped.
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Post by skyeknight on Oct 9, 2022 13:42:57 GMT
"I'm willing to pay for take out!" Caspar insisted.
Was there a class that could teach basic life skills? Probably not at this school. He was too ashamed to ask anyone who might actually have those skills to teach him. But what miserable little bachelors they were that couldn't even assemble a single meal that would require more effort that boiling something and dumping it onto the place once it was done.
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Post by zuyuri on Oct 9, 2022 22:00:36 GMT
“So long as we do it sparingly. I’m not about to be kicked off the blitzball team because I gained a couple pounds of weight.”
Takeout was delicious, but over the years, Riku found he didn’t crave it as much as he used to as a kid. There was also a vivid memory of seeing a guy walk into a joint with a bag of frozen chicken nuggets which shattered his suspension of disbelief. Breaded in house his foot.
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Post by skyeknight on Oct 9, 2022 23:14:45 GMT
Caspar shrugged. "My metabolism is pretty fast. It doesn't really bother me."
He thought it had to do with how much strength he put into his work outs. Even his doctors back home were a bit confused by it. But it wasn't unheard of that a physical power like his ate up more energy than one that was more mind over matter. He was a bottomless pit when it came to food. Hence his mother's desire for him to get a well-paying job (aka super heroing) to pay for his appetite.
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Post by zuyuri on Oct 9, 2022 23:57:20 GMT
Riku’s eyes glinted even if he didn’t smoke. Hard to do in a mouthful of penne. “Dude. I’m still recovering from the pizza feat.”
It had been some time ago that it had happened. They were bored and wanted food but too lazy to go to the cafeteria. The only choice? Ordering a huge pizza. With slices that had almost been as long as their arms. Caspar had put down maybe the majority of slices. Riku had been able to stomach three. Both of them had finished the entire pie. Only regret was no leftovers
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Post by skyeknight on Oct 10, 2022 1:37:49 GMT
"At least I don't make you do the food challenges like... Eat the most ghost peppers or down an entire ten pound bowl of ramen or 20 pound burgers." Caspar pointed out.
Caspar had never ventured into the world of competitive eating. It was an idea, that floated in the back of his head. Would kill two birds with one stone. He wouldn't have to pay as much, but he would want to make sure he was really hungry. Hungry enough to take on the challenge and win. Which meant working out even more than he already did.
"I'm so hungry now because... well, I ran into those Cinderblock things in the news. It attacked the cafe I was at."
While it had been a few days, he was still recovering. Thankfully nothing was broken thanks to the healer he had run into named Maria.
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Post by zuyuri on Oct 10, 2022 3:09:19 GMT
Riku almost choked on his note, and it wasn’t because of food quality. It was because he recognized the name Caspar dropped. Cinderblock. He remembered how hard he, Utena and Bella had fought against it. Shadows and plants were flying while Utena was hanging on for deal life before being rescued. Had they not stepped in, the park would have been ravaged.
“I fought a Cinderblock, too! I helped two girls, and they helped me in return. Twins, I think. One of them could use plants and the other was pretty good with a blade. We saved a bunch of kids at the park.”
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Post by skyeknight on Oct 10, 2022 14:32:41 GMT
"But... how did they get into the city without anyone noticing?" Caspar asked.
He picked at the remnants of his food. It had been a question bothering him all week. Surely, not a once off event if multiple Cinderblocks were involved. The park and the café were both highly trafficked areas. Anxiously, he tapped his finger on the table as he thought. The very notion of something bigger at play made him want to run off, busting in heads and demanding answers. However, they had no directions. No answers. No leads on where to go next or who might have put the Cinderblocks up to it.
"No one noticed it until it attacked the café. Something that big can't be stealthy..."
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Post by zuyuri on Oct 11, 2022 22:51:29 GMT
Riku shrugged. He hadn’t thought about the stone creature’s origins. All he knew was that there were a bunch…what did one call a group of Cinderblocks? A wall? …had been set lose and apparently the students had to clean up the mess usually supers had to deal with. Riku had to admit, it was nice feeling like an actual hero. Not like the time he was with his mentor who made him do shady dealings; no pun intended.
“Whoever the mastermind is, they’ll be caught. The fact that there was more than one a bigger concern.”
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Post by skyeknight on Oct 12, 2022 14:13:24 GMT
"Also, why did it happen? Do you think there were targets?"
Caspar wasn't smart enough to piece those things together. Just be frustrated by the fact he had no answers. Sure, each location happened to have students there to stop the attacks, but was it bad luck on the bad guy's part or part of something bigger? He aggressively stabbed the plate and the plastic cracked. Then he grimaced, putting his fork down. It had splinted in his hands, thankfully a plastic fork instead of proper cutlery.
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Post by zuyuri on Oct 13, 2022 18:50:52 GMT
Just as Riku was about to say “Who cares?”, there was a loud crack that echoed through the cafeteria. Caspar had completely broken the fork clean in two. Luckily, no one got dunked with tenants of penne. Part of him wanted to joke if that was how Caspar’s encounter with the Cinderblock went, but he knew that his friend was insecure about his strength. At least it wasn’t the full on table. Otherwise they’d be eating Japanese style, “That’s why people are onto something with biodegradle forks.”
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Post by skyeknight on Oct 17, 2022 15:02:18 GMT
Caspar put the remnants down, pushing his plate back. He ran a hand over his face. This had been bothering him. His overdeveloped sense of justice told him it was his responsibility to do something about it. He had to protect people. He had been the only one able to stop that cinderblock and even then, he had taken such a beating that the only way he was on his feet was because of that healer Maria.
“This is why I don’t do metal cutlery…” he sighed.
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Post by zuyuri on Oct 18, 2022 0:32:39 GMT
“You think any of the other students fought against the Cinderblocks? If so, it better count as extra credit.”
Riku wasn’t serious, but a tiny part of him was. Academics we’re not his strongest suit. He preferred to learn on the spot, and if he made mistakes, he learned from them and corrected his behavior. This thing had to be making news. Plus, he wanted to humor his new friend after such a big accident. It was like the soccer ball all over again.
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