starlogs | Already choking on my pride [OPEN]

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Already choking on my pride [OPEN]

WHO: Reaper

hellshot and OPEN
WHERE: Within the Fleet, some automated cafeteria
WHEN: Various times within the month, whenever he needs to eat.
WHAT: Reaper needs nutrients, touchscreens aren't his friend.
WARNINGS: Possible mention of how horridly deformed he is under his mask. It's bad.

[Dark fingernails tap against the metal counter he's currently standing in front of. If he wasn't wearing a mask, it would be easy to see the look of frustration on Reaper's face with his current predicament, so for now, the only way of knowing that the ghost of a man is pissed off is the wisps of black fog escaping from under aforementioned mask.

He hadn't gone on the previous mission with Sombra, and he had no interest in rescue missions, either. Which meant he hadn't seen the field of battle in little over a month--which meant he hadn't been taking in new nutrients from his surroundings to keep his body from decaying to a point of discomfort. Which meant he had to partake in his least favourite of activities: Eating.

Eating was difficult enough when your face was barely suited for it--but when the cafeteria closest to his living quarters was a fully automated one? It was like a really bad joke. Touchscreens worked when pressure was applied with an electrical charge--human skin was a great conductor for said electrical charge. Dead flesh didn't hold any sort of charge. So this was his predicament. He couldn't eat if he couldn't get the damn screen to work.

Frustrated, Reaper finally turns his head to glare at the individual waiting for their turn after him. He hated asking for help, so instead:]

Work this damn thing for me and I'll pay for your food, too.

[He's too tired for this bullshit today.]

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Huh?

[Goku's been waiting impatiently in line behind Reaper this whole time, bouncing on his heels and pouting- he's hungry! Hurry up! He's going to starve to death! He starting to get annoyed when Reaper finally turns to him.]

Really? [Instantly brightens up and elbows his way in front of Reaper to get at the screen.] All right! Don't worry, I know how to do it! It's easy! I'll get us both a ton of food!

[Reaper may not realise this yet but he has made A Mistake.]

[He has made a mistake. And here he is, ignorant to it. It's that little monkey-kid who had irritated him during his last network-wide broadcast, and while he hadn't come out of that conversation hating the brat, he's not too sure how he feels when the boy announces that he'll get them a ton of food.]

--Watch your elbows. [He growls out when he's nudged out of the way, taking a moment to put his gloves back on. A huff of a growl escaping as he hovers over Goku's shoulder--

What are you doing--]

What are you ordering? [It's too late, isn't it. It's far too late.]

Food! This place is great, they let you order as much as you want! [Goku's new to touchscreen technology, but still he taps away at the tablet like a pro. That's what happens when you're young and also always hungry.]

I'm orderin' cheeseburgers- [Quantity: too many for two people.] an' fries- [Quantity: too many for two people.] cheesefries, they're real weird but they're yummy- an' chicken nuggets- [Quantity: too many for two people.] and some hotdogs- [Quantity: too many for- oh, you get the idea.] and, uh-

[Goku pauses in his ordering, turns and looks up at Reaper, beaming with good intentions, a pure heart and an empty stomach.] Oh, right, I never asked what you wanted! Tell me and I'll add it!

[Cheeseburgers, fries--no, cheesefries, chicken nuggets--HOT DOGs--

All of this was food that he used to yell at McCree for eating--empty calorie junkfood that was more damage to the body than--why are you ordering that much, do you want to kill him, monkey?

Wait.

'What you wanted.']

...You're not seriously saying that you're ordering this much food for yourself. Do you WANT to die, kid? Because you're going to die. I'm not helping you in some fucked up ritual suicide by terrible food here.

[Though if you do die, it'll solve his nutrient problem...]

[Reaper can add a salad, if he wants. Goku isn't picky, he'll eat all his greens. Or Reaper could fatten him up on all the best tasting foods before having a monkey soul steak, his probably tastes delicious.]

I'm not gonna die, chill out. [Don't be so dramatic.] It's because I'm a growing boy, right? I gotta eat a lot!

[Look at him, he's wasting away, give this child a sandwich!!]

A 'growing boy' needs things that aren't empty calories like cheeseburgers and fries. Vegetables and hard proteins are what--

[Yeah, he's looking at Goku, and probably how little the brat is listening to him. That's a lot of food, but he can't even reach over to change the order when his fingers don't make the screen react.]

Add a steak and eggs for me, and half the number of orders of fries before I cuff you a good one. [It's like dealing with McCree again, what did he do to deserve this.

This is the last time he offers to buy the monkey food. He's got money, but good god it would take a fortune to feed this appetite.] And if you don't eat it all, I'm going to hang you by your toes.

[He's listening! They're talking about food, after all. He's definitely pouting though.]

You're pretty picky for a barn owl. [But ugh fine, yes, dad. Goku adds steak and eggs (two servings- that sounds good, okay?) and lowers the number of fries by... a third. But as a little testament to how mature and healthy he is, he also adds a salad to the order.] I'm definitely gonna eat it! I never waste food!

[Feeding Goku is a waste in and of itself. But he will eat it.]

[BARN OWL, HOW DARE YOU. His shoulders rise up, his arms crossing with irritation at the comment.] I'm not a barn owl. It's a skull. [This bit sounds almost practiced--how sad is it that he probably has had to say this before? pretty sad.

But at least the monkey PARTIALLY listens to what he says. He gives Goku a stare before reaching into his jacket pocket to pull out his card in order to pay for the entirely overdone meal they're about to order.

You're lucky he's not a poor man, Goku.
Tapping the card against the 'pay here' section of the screen, the order flickers away to be processed.]

If you're really going to eat that damn much, then I'm not carrying you back to your quarters, either.

Skulls are round though, and they've got teeth and stuff.

[Another Mistake, Reaper, one you should know having spent time with teenagers. Now Goku's never going to drop the owl thing.

But banana sales have been rough this month, so Goku appreciates Reaper's generosity. He immediately brightens up again as the order is processed and approved.] It's going! Thanks, Reaper! This is gonna be awesome!

[Little too excited by food? Maybe.] Okay, we're gonna need a big table!

It's stylized. I designed it to look this way for a reason. [A little stuffily as he straightens up, tucking away his card into his coat. Watching as the automated machine starts buzzing with life, putting together their meal without the aid of anything living. Sketchy, honestly. He never did like automated machines.]

...You're welcome. [This was the longest pause in the world before he actually answers, and he doesn't sound particularly 'welcoming'. Clearly he's not used to being thanked, or something like that.

...

Wait, table--]

I said I'd buy you dinner, I didn't say we were going to eat together.

[Save me.]

Is the reason coz you like owls? [The only reason that makes sense. Yeah, Goku is flat out teasing him now. He snickers a little before turning his attention back to the automated food production eagerly, trying to lean over the counter to get a closer look. It's weird and not nearly as nice as watching Hakkai or someone else cook, but there's food involved so he can't complain.]

Come on, why wouldn't we eat together? Were you gonna sit on your own and just stare at the wall while you- [Pause. Wait. Goku turns back to Reaper to stare intently at his mask.]

... You are gonna eat, right? [Where's the mouth...]

...........

[He's not going to dignify that jab with a response. Because yes, he can tell the monkey is flat-out teasing him, and even he knows better than to start a pointless argument.

Arms fold across his chest, and eyes that go unseen roll underneath his mask.]

No, I wasn't going to sit and stare at a wall... [...... Why is the monkey staring--oh. A hand moves up to touch the edge of the mask he wears.]

...yes, I'm going to eat. Why else would I have ordered food.

...

I have a face under this, you know. [Not much of one, but...]

[Goku visibly deflates.] Oh, it's just a mask. [Disappointing. What was he expecting? We may never know.]

Do you have a mouth? Is that why your voice sounds funny, because of your mask? Do you take it off to eat? Is that why you don't wanna eat with me? I won't laugh or nothin', I promise! Why are ya goin' around like that if you've gotta face anyway? Are you really ugly? Where'd you get it? Did you make it on your own?

[Put some food in his mouth so he'll shut up, Reaper, please.]

I do have a mouth, and I do take it off to eat, I--

[He was starting to answer Goku's questions, and then they just wouldn't stop coming. He cuts himself off to stare at this tiny, irritating child like he has absolutely no idea how to deal with him anymore.

First instincts are to:

A. Turn into a cloud and just ghost the fuck out of there.
B. Shoot him, absorb his life essence, and walk away
C. Grab his food and just try to walk away.

But given the briefing he'd gotten when he first got here, B was out of the question. C was likely going to be impossible--he'd just follow--and A would just mean he goes another day without giving his nanites something to rebuild his body with. Finally, he just holds his hand up, squeezing either side of Goku's face.

Shut up.]

...YOU go find us a table. Our order is almost ready.

Keep asking questions and I'm throwing your food out an airlock.

Have ya ever even seen a sk- urf! [Goku flails a bit when his face is squished mid-question, waving is arms around in protest as he comedically fails to break free. Then Reaper threatens the food and his flailing becomes more frantic.]

Noooo! 'eap'r, don't! I helped ya! [They're friends they're a team! He finally squirms free and pouts.] ... Fine, I'll get one, but ya better not forget any of the food!

[It's all important! Goku sticks his tongue out before running off to find a table.]

[And it's because Goku 'helped him' that the threat was, for the most part, empty. Not that the monkey-kid needed to know that, though. An empty threat was still an effective threat when the victim had no idea what the actual intentions were.

Either way, shutting the kid up from his onslaught of questions was enough for him for now, especially when he skitters off to find a table that's going to be covered with trays within a few minutes.

...

Right. The trays.

He looks down at the machine as it pushes a third tray--piled high with orders of fries and burgers... ]

How this brat is as small as he is... [It's way beyond him. Either way, he's going to manage to balance all three trays in his arms, and find his way to wherever the hell Goku is sitting.

(It's hellishly tempting to just grab his own food and run off, believe me.)

In order to keep the trays from jostling as he weaves his way around the other patrons in the cafeteria, he doesn't... quite walk. His legs are gone up until the point he arrives at the table the other chose, a cloud of black, swirling smoke where they should be. They re-form once he stops, and he drops the trays a little roughly down onto it.]

...You could have found one a bit closer.

[Eh, Goku's used to death threats. Reaper hasn't even shot at him yet, this is nothing. He'd go help Reaper carry the trays, but he's immediately distracted when he sees how Reaper is moving towards him.]

Woah... [Just gonna. Stand by the table, sparkly-eyed and in awe, all earlier irritation forgotten.] That's so cool! You really are a ghost! Awesome!

[He's even briefly distracted from the food! Amazing!]

...

Never saw a ghost before? [This is something he... sadly commonly asked people, when he knew pretty damn well that there existed nothing like him on Earth. It's said with a nearly smug scoff as he sits down, an elbow hitting the table as he hunches forward.]

All the more reason why you shouldn't be so friendly, Goku.

Not too sure how your other friends would feel about you spending time with Death.

[Goku's seen some weird shit but, weirdly, actual ghosts aren't really a thing in Saiyuki. Just zombies and reincarnated father figures.]

Huh? [Blink blink.] Why would they care about that? I can be friends with who I want.

[And for all his jerkiness, Reaper bought him food. So he's someone Goku wants to be friends with now. Goku sits down and eagerly picks up a burger. Yessssss excuse him while he takes a big bite and then talks around the chunks of food in his mouth.] People die all the time- [Chew swallow] it's not that weird.

[... Reaper is pretty weird.]

[Another oddly clear thing for the seemingly idiotic monkey to say. People die all the time. It's true, but they don't exactly always come back to haunt the living for additional years after they died.

He gives a scoff in response. 'Friends', what a hilarious notion. They weren't friends. He won't even dignify that sentence with an answer, instead moving to grip the bottom of his mask, pushing it up.

From this angle, Goku won't be able to see the entirety of Reaper's face, but he'll see enough to at least get a hint that it's not quite normal under there. What with the black smoke that now freely rises in whisps--not unlike cigarette smoke--and the pallid, corpselike skin that pulls tight around his chin. There's also far too many teeth visible when he opens his mouth to take the first bite from his steak, having cut off a piece almost too big to chew properly. And he doesn't chew, merely biting down on it before speaking again.]

Obviously. I'm no stranger to that.

I often kill them myself, if what I'm doing calls for it.

[Goku is watching intently, trying to get a peek at Reaper's face when he moves his mask. That's... Wow, he was expecting scars, not whatever that is.] Freaky... [A little grossed out, but not enough to stop eating his hamburger for longer than a few seconds. If he hadn't been prepared, he might have freaked out a little more, but he's seen aliens and weird shit this past month already enough that he can just screw up his face and get over it.

Besides, Reaper's next comment distracts him.]

... Well, same, obviously. [Sometimes staying alive means killing someone else. Sometimes it means killing a lot of people. Goku doesn't like it, but that's life.] Some assholes gotta die, right?

[It might be hard to picture Goku (young, short, hungry and friendly Goku) killing anyone, even hearing him say that.]

...

[He pauses in his 'eating' to take a good look at the kid. His mask nudged up enough for at least one of those ash-black, red-pitted eyes to focus in on him with a look that can only be translated here as confusion. A carefree attitude, a wild laugh and all he's seen so far...

And then a comment like 'Some assholes gotta die'? To put it as neatly as possible, he's a bit taken aback. He doesn't look like a killer. And maybe that's why he's so confused. He's immediately reminded of Jesse--same youthful face, same carefree attitude--and yet with a gun in his hands...

He shakes his head. pushing another bit of steak with egg folded over it between cracked, dry lips.]

...It's them or you, in the heat of things. [A truer statement, and maybe his opinion of Goku, in this moment, changes a little. Just a little.]

You don't strike me as a killer, kid.

[Goku freezes in his seat when the red eyes focus on him, shivering slightly. He's not really scared but that is pretty freaky. He shrugs it off and focuses on his burger, finishing it off and moving onto the next one.]

It's not like I like killing or anythin'. [At least, not most of the time. Maybe Reaper would be less surprised if he'd met the Seiten Taisei first.] But fighting's fun and dyin' would be embarrassing.

[So that's the choice he's left with.]

'sides, some assholes really do gotta die. It's not like I'm gonna let them kill me instead.

[At least he doesn't take offense to the comments of 'Creepy' or anything related. Or even the stares. It's something he's, unfortunately, almost gotten used to back in Talon, and maybe it's assuring to know that even out in space people can be unnerved by his face.

He stirs a bit of yolk around with his fork, mixing it over a piece of cut steak as he stares at the other, taking in what he has to say. 'Fighting is fun'.]

Dying is embarrassing. [His tone is almost flat.] But at least it's quiet, if you can get it to last.

[He's not bitter at all.]

...

It's a good attitude to have. Somehow, I expected the opposite of you, despite our conversation on the network. [Where Goku had told him it was okay to not play hero.]

Already choking on my pride [OPEN]

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