EXPEDITION: DEPARTURE

[ino]

[ To Terre Haute we go! Hope you've packed your things, travelers, because it's going to be a long trek there. Feel free to mingle about in the lobby with everyone else waiting to get going, or grab a bite to eat! After all, it might be awhile before you see fresh food again … ]

[ooc: LOBBY | KITCHEN | OUTSIDE ! Feel free to add your own sections!]

Comments

[not_mafia]

[The smile eases him some. Although...

Treat them like they mean something? What does that even mean...?]

Um, alright.

[panicswitched]

[ she means don't treat them like they're an object. ]

What's got you so worried about this?

[not_mafia]

Eh? I've just.. never really gotten along well with animals. Riding one seems kind of.. scary.

[panicswitched]

They're really not that bad. It's like dealing with people. Except they can't talk.

[not_mafia]

[SO UNCERTAIN:] Ah... maybe. [In his experience they usually chase him around no matter what he did...

... oh hey maybe that was the same of people too, MAYBE SHE WASN'T SO FAR OFF THE MARK AFTER ALL]

[panicswitched]

[ geeze is this kid scared of his own shadow or something? ]

Look, if I'm not around, someone else will be. You'll be fine.

[ she's wavering between pity and mild irritation. ]

Name's Ashley, by the way.

[not_mafia]

[yes]

A-ah, right, sorry. [HE DOESN'T MEAN TO BE IRRITATING...]

My name's Tsuna! It's nice to meet you.

[panicswitched]

[ man someone needs to get this kid some confidence. ]

Yeah. Same.

[ she just eyes him, wondering if it's okay to ask whether he's related to giotto. all she's got to go on are the looks. no one's mentioned a name so far. ]

[not_mafia]

[...why is he being examined so intently]

...ah, yes, Ashley-san? Is something the matter?

[panicswitched]

[ ...it's just what she does when she's interested in something. or someone. how do tact. ]

Do you know a guy named Giotto?

[ because really. also she's wanted to meet this grandson of his for a while now. ]

[not_mafia]

[He immediately brightens at the name.]

Yeah, I do! He's my.. [.. ancestor might sound weird.] grandfather. You know him?

[panicswitched]

Yeah, he's a friend. Knows my -- [ how does she even explain what james is? ] ...father... figure... guy. James is old friends with my mom and Giotto's a friend of his, so we kinda bonded over mutual... friends.

[not_mafia]

Eh?! J-james-kun is your father figure? B-but, he's... [Young! And not... very... father-like.]

[panicswitched]

[ wow... that's not the reaction she's ever gotten from mentioning him before. normally people really liked him. what gives? ]

Yeah... James... y'know, James Watson. Tall guy, dresses like he's stuck in the dark ages, beard around his mouth...?

[not_mafia]

O-oh... that must be another James. The one I know wears glasses, and he's a teenger. And he can be a bit of a troublemaker..

[panicswitched]

...Definitely not the right one. I've known James Watson all my life.

[ which suggests that she's not a teenager... ]

[not_mafia]

Ah, I see. Sorry for the confusion, then.

[panicswitched]

It's chill. No worries. Hey, the James I know is going with us if you wanna meet him.

[not_mafia]

Ah... [Well, he's a friend of Giotto's, so...] Sure, I wouldn't mind!

[panicswitched]

If you run into him -- [ or if he wanders over at some point ] -- you can tell him I sent you.

[ poor tsuna has no idea what he's just walked into. ashley is the worst best friend. ]

[not_mafia]

Okay, I will!

[n o p e. bless his soul.]