perfectmatch | week two

[Very pink. Very cute. He assesses the cafe with a nod.]

Yes, a perfect location for two grown men like us.

[He's kidding. Let grown men enjoy Hello Kitty!]

I'm a little peckish, anyway. What about you?

Oh, most certainly. I'm sure we look right at home here.

[ He is still in his usual goth getup and looks horrifically out of place. Ah, well. ]

I suppose I could eat. Do you like sweets, Mr. Verso?

[Wdym? A goth-looking guy and a skrunkly have never suited an establishment more.]

I do. I used to live above a bakery, and I'd take advantage of that fact often. Of course, it wasn't so pink then...

Above a bakery. I see.

[ Sorry, Rom's just gonna stare blankly for a moment as he pictures Verso with an armful of pastries. It's cute, he thinks? His usual smile quirks just a little as he looks to the menu and its listing of pastries available for purchase. (They are, of course, all Hello Kitty themed.) ]

Maybe you could recommend me some of your favorites, then? I don't really come to these sorts of stores often, pink or not.

[actually I meant near I don’t know why my brain wrote above help but it’s the same idea— or maybe verso’s just being a liar liar again]

What, hard to believe that I like a few delicious, baked goods now and again?

[He sees that look, sir.]

But sure. I’ll pick something out. Do you not like sweets, then?

Just a little bit. But that's what makes it all the more charming, no?

[ He'll teach Verso what 'gap moe' is a bit later. For now, he ponders the menu with an idle hum. ]

I don't mind sweets, I suppose ... I just don't go out of my way for them very often. Maybe just when they're on discount at the convenience store?

[He has so much to learn from Rom…]

You know… I never asked what it is you do back home?

[But he’s going to pick out two lemon tarts for them — they have little Hello Kitty cookies on them, too, adding to the cuteness.]

[ When the waitress (in adorable outfit, with Hello Kitty headband) comes to take their order, Rom also requests a cup of coffee, black. His main source of fuel back at the estate, honestly. ]

Ah, my job? Well ...

[ Even knowing it clashes horrifically with the setting, he can't help being a bit of a showman. He laces his hands over the tabletop, pausing dramatically before continuing: ]

... do you know much about ghosts, Mr. Verso?

[A Hello Kitty lemon tart and a black cup of coffee? Rom is such a mood, I support him.

And yes, Verso can see this showmanship in him, perhaps even more starkly because of the setting. How funny, that there are so many of them like that there...]

Beyond the occasional scary story? I can't say that I do.

[ Just wait until he lets the waitress put a Hello Kitty eared beanie on top of his top hat. For the views.

In the meantime, he's committed to the bit. ]

Scary stories! They're wonderful fun, aren't they. Tales of hauntings and ghastly incidents and the vengeful spirits left behind afterward ... It's my job to investigate these rumors and deal with the ones that end up being true. For example -- what was your profession again, Mr. Verso?

[He's valid for that, too. Verso clearly looks amused, letting his companion run with the bit.]

All very dreadful things, yes, but entertaining to listen to. [Especially if someone like Rom is telling it, he thinks.] It takes some bravery to actually investigate them, though.

And I'm an Expeditioner, Monsieur Rom. Think of it like a traveller who often fights terrible creatures in a dangerous land.

... an Expeditioner! [ Wao. His little blink and brief pause make it obvious that's not the sort of answer he was expecting, but hey. He can roll with it. ] I see. In which case -- I might be called in to clean up after a person like yourself. Such dangerous lands must harbor a very bloody history, after all. Who knows what kinds of grudges and resentments might be festering there?

[ He's just winging this hypothetical situation, of course. And moving on smoothly before Verso can question the veracity of his comparison: ]

How gallant, though, to be the one forging into such scary territory ... It sounds like quite the job! This must be a wonderful vacation in comparison.

[His smile flickers slightly, but he nods.]

Oh, yes, it is. I'm happy to get the chance to rest. But really, what I do sounds so mundane compared to yours.

[Mundane is all in the eye of the beholder. Monsters threatening the lives of Expeditioners have been his reality for many years now.]

You mean to say you really deal with the supernatural? How can you "clean up" ghosts if you can't see them?

[ People in his line of work can live or die by their observational skills. He notices that flicker. But keeping a straight face is also a vital skill; he says nothing about it, and shows no reaction.

Easy, especially when Verso gives him such a nice question to answer right afterwards: ]

I can see them, of course.

[ And it is right after he's dropped that dramatic line that their delightful waitress stops by to drop off their order: two adorable lemon tarts, a black coffee, and any drink Verso might have ordered for himself.

As a bonus, a pair of Hello Kitty headbands are included. 'To better suit the mood,' their waitress emphatically chirps before scurrying off in a hurry. ]

[Pay no mind to it! It's probably fine.

Verso ordered something sweet and fizzy, as is his wont. However, with such a dramatic line produced from Rom, he can't help but blink. He asks-]

You see gho-

[And then their server arrives, bearing their order and Hello Kitty headbands. This is a double surprise, and his mind has to adjust to the rubber-banding of these two different notions presented to him back-to-back.]

Sorry, hold that thought.

[Picks up a headband. Inspects it. ...Hands it to Rom?]

...Here you are.

Oh. Thank you.

[ Rom, meanwhile, has zero problems with this mood whiplash. Ghosts and Hello Kitty are a perfectly palatable combination in his book, so he accepts his drink, the tart, and then the headband without missing a beat.

After a brief, thoughtful hum, he puts it on the crown of his top hat. It looks ridiculous.

Then he looks expectantly towards Verso. He's going to do it too, right ... ? ]

[Who do you think he is?

Of course he's going to do it.

He takes his and puts it atop his head. They both look silly. Verso is clearly trying not to bark out in a laugh, the corners of his lips twitching.

Verso instead tries to affect a stare.]

How do I look?

[ Oh, but it looks genuinely a little charming on Verso, actually. (The fact that it's properly on his head and not perilously perched on a hat probably helps.) ]

You look wonderful. Ah, though ...

[ After a pause, he glances over Verso's shoulder to meet the eyes of the chief cameraman and give him a Look. A silent 'you better capture this,' before he looks back to Verso. ]

Would you try doing this?

[ And then he is going to do kitty paws with his hands. ]

[Is this trap? It feels like a trap.

One that Verso will willingly walk into. He won’t even ask why.

He lifts his hands and forms… the kitty paws.]

…Like this?

Yes, exactly!

[ Behind Verso, the chief cameraman is giving an extremely enthusiastic thumbs up. Which he's about to take as a 'Mission Complete!' before -- the cameraman gives him the gesture for 'keep going.' ]

Ah ... [ The emphatic, almost furious gesturing continues. ] ... one more thing. Would you try saying 'nyaaa' while doing that? [ And, well. It's not like he has much dignity anyway, so. He'll serve as the example. ] Like ... nya~

[ …

This is definitely being used for entertainment fodder. Maybe it’s equal parts embarrassing as well as humorous, and maybe that also equates to endearing to anyone who watches? Because, yes, Verso can see those little exchanges between Rom and the camera crew; he’s not blind.

But also he notoriously just rolls with things, especially when they’re silly. So.]

Like… nya~?

[ Finally, the chief cameraman gives a double thumbs up, and Rom sighs as he lowers his hands. ]

Yes, perfect. Thank you for indulging me.

[ Because, geez, he could have pulled off that first bit subtly, maybe? The second was really pushing it. Might as well come clean. Slipping the ears off his hat and putting them aside, Rom finally gets to fetch his coffee to take a sip. ]

It just seemed like too good of an opportunity to pass up -- it'll do big numbers, you know? Someone so handsome doing something cute like that. All your loving fans out there should thank me for the service.

[Verso is easy-going and incredibly hard to offend when it comes to silly things like these. He doesn't seem to mind having indulged whatever it was that Rom wanted to do, for the sake of... big numbers?

He shrugs, hoping the cameramen are happy, and then goes straight for his tart.]

Numbers... what do you mean by that? [ ... ] The people watching? You really do care about putting on a show, don't you.

[He could tell with the way he told his story just moments ago, as well.]

It's also part of my job.

[ #always hustling #get that bread

That said, he actually does lower the intensity of his usual greasy conman shtick just a notch; even he doesn't have infinite stamina after all, and surely he's allowed a breather after netting the production the valuable gem of nekomimi nyan nyan moe-ojisan Verso. ]

The wider an audience I can reach, the better the chances of finding someone who'll need my help. And for people who don't believe I'm the real deal, the showmanship will at least keep their attention and maybe get them to spread the word -- even if it's in mockery, reach is reach. [ The coffee's good. Better than he expected from this establishment. A sip before he lowers the cup. ] It's tough making a living, isn't it. Regardless of what one's job might be.

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