[ The jittering makes him get that big doofy grin again. ] Oh! So they can hear me through you! Hello, Dynamo!
[ Anyway, the hand is reaching out to pet the little nasods. This Add is not "his", and these Dynamo are not, either, but that isn't going to stop him from loving them any less??? They're still friends. He doesn't even pull away when the static connects, simply just taking that as part of the process. It's different, but he's a sea jelly, so it's not like he's too fussed about it. ]
It's nice to meet you. You're very cute! Lookin' "sharp", hehe...
Of course they can. Everything I hear, Dynamo hears. [That much is a constant even if they look completely different.
He's getting LOTS of little static shocks, yeah, this is how these dynamos show affection. They hold still for the first few seconds, but it's not long before they're huddling around Mizuki and vying for attention. Please ensure that all pets are evenly distributed across the collective, thank you!!
And Add says nothing, but... it is kind of nice, getting all this positive feedback by proxy... one of the dynamos will even circle back to Add to gently rest on his shoulder, like a firm but supportive hand. Hrmmm.]
[ If Mizuki were a Perro, his tail would be wagging like crazy right now. He's so delighted. And, of course, each Dynamo will get pet. He'll even let a few of his tentacles pat pat the ones his hands are not currently on. Little pats only, however, as he doesn't want to accidentally get jellyslime on them.
Mizuki cannot truly laugh, but there are little huffs of air that come out of him anyway, as if he's trying. He should probably get a brush after this. His hair sticking up just looks silly - he can't pull it off like Add can. ]
You all are doing a good job taking care of Add! Keep it up, okay? And if you ever need another pat, I'll be here!
[If the shocks start getting a little uncomfortably strong that just means they like him. Dynamo doesn't get much physical attention from anyone but Add, so they feel very appreciated right now. They chirp out another friendly string of beeps like yeah, they always try to do their best! They're very good at taking care of their human!!
Despite his best efforts not to make this weird, Add utters a soft sigh, looking far better than he has been for the past few hours.
If he closes his eyes it's basically the same as getting a hug, so that's his physical contact quota taken care of for the month he's good now please do not bring this up ever again.]
[ Unfortunately, the affection will have to end when the shocks get to be Too Much. He is not totally immune, after all, and pain isn't exactly up his alley. He is happy that Add seems more like himself than he had when he first came up to the truck. Does that mean the therapy is working?? Is he a good therapist~? ✨✨✨✨
Ehem.
Mizuki tilts his head from side to side enthusiastically. ] If you'd like some more food, I'd be happy to send you home with some. Did you like it, by the way? Would you like me to walk with you back home? I don't mind.
[Dynamo is only a little disappointed the pets have to end, because now they get to press up against Add's sides again and make sure he gets some reassuring electrical shocks.
Add looks at him, his expression a half-hearted frown. He seems to debate giving a bullshit answer, but]
I can walk myself home... the food was pretty good, though. Wouldn't mind some take out if it's not a big deal.
What's in it, anyway? It's got a unique taste, whatever it is. If it's exclusive to the city I'll be pissed.
[Add is going to get up and follow him anyway, so the distance isn't a problem. He's tossing out the trash from his fully-consumed kebab when he looks up, confused.]
What was that fifth item? [his... tentacles?????]
... Oh. You mean, like, the slime that comes off it, right? If you cook with your hands you'll get sweat and dead skin on the parts you touch, but it's not enough to be noticeable when it comes to humans...
[ An interesting theory, but Mizuki isn’t sure he understands the thought behind putting it in his ingredient list if it’s not a proper ingredient. He shakes his head, though, removing his break sign and putting a cutting board on the counter along with a chef’s knife. He’s done this many times before, and admittedly there are a lot of people weirded out by it. He doesn’t understand that mindset, though. It’s good food, people enjoyed it, so why get grossed out?
But, to demonstrate, he puts one of his goopy, black tendrils on the cutting board, with a color that’s more akin to car oil, and a faint shimmering that almost looked like stars. It’d be pretty if there wasn’t something inherently unsettling about it. It’s only a second later that he brings the knife down and severs it without even flinching. He holds it up afterwards. ]
Well… it is for me? But I’ve had people say it’s weird in the past so I guess it depends on the person? Unless you mean the cutting part, then yeah, that’s normal. It’s the easiest way to extract sea jelly venom, ‘cause it just grows back in a week or so.
[ He is casually putting it on a skillet to cook as he “talks”. ]
[He's watching Mizuki work as he explains this. So... it's normal to him, and it grows back. So that part's fine. He's remembering now that Mizuki also doesn't have bones, either. There is an urge to put this sea jelly under a microscope.]
... but you don't cook the venom with it, right? [he would hope that if "people say it’s weird" that one of those people would tell him not to poison the food]
Mizuki gives another soundless laugh, but shakes his head. ]
Not usually!! But even the few times I had accidentally, it wasn’t a big deal. Cooking it in oils hot enough will break the proteins down and effectively make it harmless. And even then, if you ate it raw, it’s venom, not poison. It would have to get into your bloodstream to cause problems. So, like if you had a stomach ulcer or lost a tooth or something, maybe then, but…
Ahh, I just mean to say overall, it’s really safe. My venom isn’t lethal, anyway, and I have antidotes with me. Doctor Add made them for me, actually.
[Well, the science checks out. If Mizuki says it's normal, and it doesn't hurt him, and the venom is broken down in the cooking process anyway... he's just going to nod in agreement like there's nothing weird about this at all. Yeah.
...
Okay, no, it's definitely still the weirdest thing he's ever eaten. The eyeball lemons aren't real eyeballs, and demons eat some pretty weird stuff for human standards, but he hasn't met any that eat parts of their own bodies... maybe it's like how crabs will eat their own shells after molting? Or lizards that drop their tails to escape predators, they can also eat their own tails sometimes.]
[ Mizuki looks down at the noodle, then slices a piece off to casually shove in his own mouth, as if somehow that’ll have the answers. He chews thoughtfully and even though he doesn’t need his mouth to eat, he doesn’t reply until he’s done, anyway. ]
Probably?
[ Insightful, Mizuki. ]
It’s more that it helps to preserve the vitality of the rest of the food. Like even though this world doesn’t have fresh plants or stuff, it helps the lemongrass and lime juice taste as if your holding their very essence of life in your mouth.
[I mean according to the crab and lizard theory Mizuki eating his own tentacles is the most normal thing here, so he doesn't bat an eye at that. Continuing to analyze this in a scientific manner...]
I guess, if you want something fresh... it doesn't get much fresher than that?
[ Mizuki grabs a couple of skewers to start putting together the meal for him and putting it in a convenient little to-go box that he slides across the counter. ]
I've been told my methods makes the presentation a little weird, but unfortunately that is the price to pay to preserve the vitality of the meal.
[His expression softens a little, staring off at nothing as he considers the question seriously. Is he going to be alright?
The situation is still unchanged, but... it's not as insurmountable as it seemed before. There's a method to approaching this, and perhaps even repairing it in full. He just has to... communicate, and show some honesty. And he already did some of that tonight, didn't he?]
... Yeah. I'll be fine. [For tonight, he'll just try to relax. He'll even set up Dynamo to screen his calls, so he won't have to worry about being bothered...]
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[ Anyway, the hand is reaching out to pet the little nasods. This Add is not "his", and these Dynamo are not, either, but that isn't going to stop him from loving them any less??? They're still friends. He doesn't even pull away when the static connects, simply just taking that as part of the process. It's different, but he's a sea jelly, so it's not like he's too fussed about it. ]
It's nice to meet you. You're very cute! Lookin' "sharp", hehe...
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He's getting LOTS of little static shocks, yeah, this is how these dynamos show affection. They hold still for the first few seconds, but it's not long before they're huddling around Mizuki and vying for attention. Please ensure that all pets are evenly distributed across the collective, thank you!!
And Add says nothing, but... it is kind of nice, getting all this positive feedback by proxy... one of the dynamos will even circle back to Add to gently rest on his shoulder, like a firm but supportive hand. Hrmmm.]
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Mizuki cannot truly laugh, but there are little huffs of air that come out of him anyway, as if he's trying. He should probably get a brush after this. His hair sticking up just looks silly - he can't pull it off like Add can. ]
You all are doing a good job taking care of Add! Keep it up, okay? And if you ever need another pat, I'll be here!
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Despite his best efforts not to make this weird, Add utters a soft sigh, looking far better than he has been for the past few hours.
If he closes his eyes it's basically the same as getting a hug, so that's his physical contact quota taken care of for the month he's good now please do not bring this up ever again.]
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Ehem.
Mizuki tilts his head from side to side enthusiastically. ] If you'd like some more food, I'd be happy to send you home with some. Did you like it, by the way? Would you like me to walk with you back home? I don't mind.
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Add looks at him, his expression a half-hearted frown. He seems to debate giving a bullshit answer, but]
I can walk myself home... the food was pretty good, though. Wouldn't mind some take out if it's not a big deal.
What's in it, anyway? It's got a unique taste, whatever it is. If it's exclusive to the city I'll be pissed.
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[ He’ll hop up here, then, and head over to the truck. It’s close enough to the bench he can still see Add, so he’ll still hear Mizuki in his head. ]
It has soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, salmon, my tentacles, lime juice and lemongrass!
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What was that fifth item? [his... tentacles?????]
... Oh. You mean, like, the slime that comes off it, right? If you cook with your hands you'll get sweat and dead skin on the parts you touch, but it's not enough to be noticeable when it comes to humans...
[it's like that... right???]
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But, to demonstrate, he puts one of his goopy, black tendrils on the cutting board, with a color that’s more akin to car oil, and a faint shimmering that almost looked like stars. It’d be pretty if there wasn’t something inherently unsettling about it. It’s only a second later that he brings the knife down and severs it without even flinching. He holds it up afterwards. ]
No, like this.
1/2
2/2
[he just kind of. blurts it out, after a distressingly long pause. what the fuck.
like yeah it tastes good actually but who DOES that? with their own body??? isn't that painful???? why???????]
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[ He is casually putting it on a skillet to cook as he “talks”. ]
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... but you don't cook the venom with it, right? [he would hope that if "people say it’s weird" that one of those people would tell him not to poison the food]
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Mizuki gives another soundless laugh, but shakes his head. ]
Not usually!! But even the few times I had accidentally, it wasn’t a big deal. Cooking it in oils hot enough will break the proteins down and effectively make it harmless. And even then, if you ate it raw, it’s venom, not poison. It would have to get into your bloodstream to cause problems. So, like if you had a stomach ulcer or lost a tooth or something, maybe then, but…
Ahh, I just mean to say overall, it’s really safe. My venom isn’t lethal, anyway, and I have antidotes with me. Doctor Add made them for me, actually.
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...
Okay, no, it's definitely still the weirdest thing he's ever eaten. The eyeball lemons aren't real eyeballs, and demons eat some pretty weird stuff for human standards, but he hasn't met any that eat parts of their own bodies... maybe it's like how crabs will eat their own shells after molting? Or lizards that drop their tails to escape predators, they can also eat their own tails sometimes.]
Are there important nutrients in them?
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Probably?
[ Insightful, Mizuki. ]
It’s more that it helps to preserve the vitality of the rest of the food. Like even though this world doesn’t have fresh plants or stuff, it helps the lemongrass and lime juice taste as if your holding their very essence of life in your mouth.
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I guess, if you want something fresh... it doesn't get much fresher than that?
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[ Mizuki grabs a couple of skewers to start putting together the meal for him and putting it in a convenient little to-go box that he slides across the counter. ]
I've been told my methods makes the presentation a little weird, but unfortunately that is the price to pay to preserve the vitality of the meal.
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[He's gonna take that to-go box and yeah, he is gonna eat it later, it's NOT weird the science wouldn't lie to him.]
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Regarding everything else, though… are you going to be alright?
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The situation is still unchanged, but... it's not as insurmountable as it seemed before. There's a method to approaching this, and perhaps even repairing it in full. He just has to... communicate, and show some honesty. And he already did some of that tonight, didn't he?]
... Yeah. I'll be fine. [For tonight, he'll just try to relax. He'll even set up Dynamo to screen his calls, so he won't have to worry about being bothered...]
See you around, squirt.
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