driftfleet | And everyone who knows us knows

Who: Mantis et (everyone

Broadcast: Yee

Action: Iskaulit, Planetside

When: Earlier in the afternoon

A. Planetside

Tedious as it is, a man needs clothes that aren't mass produced and cheap, and that means a lot of shopping. He has a fair number of bags hanging off his shoulders or his elbows, but he hardly seems to notice the weight of them at all. In fact, a couple may seem to bob a bit even as he stands still.

He takes a breather to look up at the many multi-colored windows that are scattered throughout the shopping area. It's such a simple and effective means of adding some personality and life to an otherwise ordinary building. Sweeping footsteps carry him in slow circles through the different colors shining onto the ground, and he can even be heard humming quietly to himself.

Passerby who happen to catch his attention will hear a surprised noise followed swiftly by a calm wave. He's in a better mood than usual.

B. Iskaulit

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's not completely graceful, but Mantis is gaining just the slightest bit of confidence on the ice. His arms hang more at his sides as he moves along the edges of the ice skating rink, but not so much that he can't quickly swing them about if his feet give out from under him. He's muttering to himself as he goes along, too, mostly about when to take the curves on either end.

His feet slide out experimentally as he turns to complete a lap, letting him glide more than he steps. Nothing one can win a gold medal on, but he laughs a little with each successful bit of gliding and lifts his head a little higher. Now if only he could figure out how not to completely wipe out when trying to go backwards...

Anyone passing by the rink will get a quick wave as he comes by. Practice will not be stalled much, no matter how much he likes the person on the other side of the panels separating actual floor and ice.

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Yuri hurries over, a certain fliuffy poodle at his heels.

"Mantis! Surprised to see you out here. Are you shopping?" he can see he's in a better mood and... well Yuri can feel the calm and he appreciates it. He doesn't attribute it to Mantis, he just thinks he's in a better mood and of course why wouldn't he be? He's on a peaceful planet with Makkachin and now with his friend Mantis. Just goes to show how comfortable he is with Mantis so there.

"I was out here looking for a new collar for Makkachin. She deserves something fancy."

The planet has a way of calming the spirit. Maybe it's all the marshmallow fluff that they call snow. Maybe it's the fact no one is actively trying to kill him. Sourpuss though he may be, Mantis can greatly appreciate the welcome change.

"Yuri! Good to know Makkachin is as spoiled as ever." He walks a little closer, offering a hand for the canine to sniff. "I needed new clothes. Most of what I had had either been destroyed or otherwise ruined. It meant a bit of tailoring, but I have a wardrobe again."

It's a soothing balm. He needs to calm down now after the death planet and part of that is retail therapy and part of that is revisiting one of his heroes at the time. Mantis is a different person from the planet. Proof he's a gentle person in truth.

"She's a good girl, she deserves it." he grins. The poodle sniffs Mantis' hand and after a moment she gingerly licks his fingers.

"Oh, you need help? What are you looking for in particular? I've seen some clothing stores back the way we came. I got something for Victor in there."

He has his moments (and lifetime) of violence, but Mantis seeks out comfort from peace all the same. There's a time and a place for everything. Homicide especially.

Such a delicate lick! Mantis is charmed by how sweet Makkachin is. "You take after Yuri, don't you? No rushing about except for going on walks and treats."

"Are there?" His head perks up. "I'm looking for a few vests at the moment. My work uniform is not going to go well in polite company."

Homicide doesn't have a place in his life and he is lucky he no longer has nightmares about what he did see. And that was the stuff that he managed to actually see. He spent the better part of that journey hiding his face and trying to drown out the sounds.

Makkachin is the best. She is understanding and intelligent. She's also so very soft. She sat and wagged her tail. Yuri blushed. "Oh no, she's Victor's dog. She's been his for years. It's... I'm just taking her out now."

"Oh, sure. I can show you if you want. I might find something more... what I'm looking for in those places anyway. The pet supply stores I have been to don't have the right thing." he's a very focused shopper, when he wants something he isn't satisfied until he finds exactly what he wants.

It was a sound solution that Mantis tried to encourage. Yuri was never meant to be on a planet like that. People like him fight for life's pleasures, not life itself.

What a good dog! Mantis sets down some of his bags to ruffle up the fur around her jaw and ears. How can one animal be so fluffy and soft? "Really? I would have pegged him more for a short haired breed. Less work to brush out."

He gets up slowly, letting the bags float a little and redistribute along his arms. "Looking for her? We might as well hunt together. Shopping isn't my favorite thing in the world, but it's a necessity."

He doesn't fight much other than himself. Anxiety, fear, physical limitations... he has a charmed life. He need not worry for his personal safety and he is free to pursue pleasures at a competitive level.

Makka wagged her tail hard enough to smack into the soft snow. She panted as Mantis scratched her. She was very happy for any and all pets, thanks.

"Oh, I don't know what attracted him. Their beauty perhaps. Victor loves all things beautiful and surprising. Makkachin isn't the breed you would expect so I guess that's part of it too."

"Aww it isn't? Victor and I can shop all day, we have before actually. Come on, we can get you sorted out back this way. I think I need to look for human jewelry to use for Makkachin. I just hope I find something that won't pull her fur."

Lucky man. Mantis had to fight for nearly everything that made him happy at one point or another.

He smiles genuinely behind the mask. If Yuri were to look a little closer, he'd even see the way Mantis' eyes perk up around the edges.

"I suppose a...poodle?" He's not terrific at such knowledge. "Would be far from the norm while also being pleasing to the eye."

Mantis laughs a little. "It's usually other people that put me off shopping. I tend to stand out in a crowd, but on these planets, I can almost feel normal. Lead the way; I'm sure Makkachin would like the company as well."

He has no real idea just how good he has it since he's never experienced the depth and complexity of life in war, like Mantis. He doesn't realize how bad it can get, just that he doesn't live that life.

He does notice that! He grins wider. It's so rewarding seeing people like Mantis and Yurio who are normally reserved and tight-lipped let loose a bit. It's like finally forcing open an oyster and finding a pearl.

"I can understand that. I get nervous when I travel sometimes for that reason. Well, we're all alien to them so in that sense we're equal. Come on, it's just down this street." and indeed there are four or five shops to choose from for Mantis' wardrobe.

A charmed life, as it were. Mantis never held much disdain for the apparent obliviousness of civilian types. They cannot comprehend that which they have never seen.

He has been known on occasion to feel actual happiness. Planets with marshmallow snow and friends with cute dogs tend to do that to his withered soul. At least now he has someone to do this shopping thing with. One can get drained easily, even on a planet like this.

Mantis walks close to Yuri, pausing at the store windows to see what kinds of clothes they might carry. "It's....nice not being the odd one out. All these stores start to blur for me after a while."

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