003 | Video

[walksonrooftops]

[It's not very often that Asato makes a post to the network, preferring to read and hear what others have to say, offering bits of awkwardly-worded input when he thinks it could be useful. He's not one to draw attention to himself, and though it might seem difficult for a relatively big guy with cat ears and a tail, he tends to manage it too.

He's just a quiet guy minding his own cat business, part of which he's spent in the gardens, carefully tending to something each and every day. The result of nearly a year of watering, trimming, checking and double-checking, is what he moves the video feed to quickly after he sees the feed is on, offering only a quick glimpse of his face.]

I have--these.

["These" being a little pile of some kind of fruit. They're somewhere between a peach, an apple, and a currant, the size of a baseball at their largest, ranging from magenta to purple in color. He can't show it through the feed (much as he wishes he could!), but the scent that's coming from them is a strong mix of sweet, sour, and spicy.]

Kuims. Is what they're called. I planted them. I can't eat all of them, but I don't want them to go bad. [Which is why he's happy to offer some to whoever wants to stop by in the gardens and try them out.]

They're really good. In my world, lots of people like these the best. [A great advertiser he is not, but he's trying, and his enthusiasm is genuine.]

Please come have some. I don't need anything in return for them. Um... They're good in cakes, too. [That...should wrap things up, he figures, so the feed gives a shake, comes back to his face one more time, and clicks off.]

Comments

[yardbird]

[...For now.]

Yeah? [His brows lift slightly as he looks down at it in his hand.] Huh.

[Not sure why he's surprised. It's not like the kitchens are stocked with only human food. He does wonder if their diets differ, though. Murphy doesn't have much in the ways of food allergies that he's aware of; he'd hate for any to start now.]

...

[Testing this possibility now, Murphy bites down on the fruit. He winces when his stomach jerks, not because of the food but because it's been doing that from time to time since he got back.

[After a moment, he manages:] It's, uh. Good.

[walksonrooftops]

[For the most part, human food has been just fine for him, and he's not going to start being a picky eater after living in growing famine for as long as he can remember, but every now and then he does miss the little things from back home. Even if that meant a simple bowl of berries and nuts He didn't often get treats to begin with, so now that he's got a whole stock of them, he hardly knows what to do with them all.

So far nothing bad's happened to those who tried them, so here's hoping it'll stay that way. That wince has him worried, his ears turning back even while his expression remains unchanged, but once Murphy gives his verdict, Asato relaxes.]

I'm glad. Be careful. I heard it's not good if you eat fast, when you haven't eaten in a while.

[yardbird]

[Murphy is the opposite of a picker eater all the same. Not because of famine or anything like that, but when you spend several years behind bars and the freshest thing that has ever come in food form is determined by how long it's come out of a can... Well, even here Murphy has learned to appreciate some of the simpler pleasures, even if it's not such a big deal. Because hey, space food trumps prison food.

[His stomach seems to disagree for a few seconds, though. After a moment it pipes up. Murphy clenches his teeth, an eye squints.] Y-yeah, so I've heard... Seems there's some truth to that.

[Much as he'd have loved to gorge himself in his hunger, he just can't when his entire system is like "No, fuck you Pendleton!"]

[walksonrooftops]

[The moment Murphy's face twists the way it does, however slightly, Asato begins to look worried again. It's not easy to keep from being concerned about Murphy, even though he knows he's a grown man and damn capable of taking care of himself.

But despite that brief second of unease that makes him twitch his ears, while Murphy eats, Asato only looks on for a few moments, quiet but always attentive, and finally he turns to hurry back to where he keeps his harvest. When he comes back, he's got a few more fruits in his hands and holds them out in Murphy's direction.]

You don't have to eat them all now. Take some with you for later.

[yardbird]

[Murphy isn't unfamiliar with that look Asato's been giving him. He's gotten it before. Actually he's gotten a variety of reactions since he's gotten back, but at least it beats a fist in the face.]

Alright, uh, th... thanks again. [Not just for the food, though. For not flipping out on him, even if he understands that it's justified. Ugh.]

...

[After an awkward pause and accepting the fruits that's been handed to him, he adds:] So, it's... been awhile. How're you holdin' up here?

[Hi my name is Murphy Pendleton. How do I small talk?]

[walksonrooftops]

[A fist to the face wouldn't help anyone, and Asato would be much quicker to start fretting than to berate someone for making a mistake or doing something dangerous. He's got a hard time asserting himself to people like that, even if it were justified. Better to be glad that he's back and seems to be doing okay.

He's no better at small talk, but what he says is honest in content and intent, even though his voice lingers at his usual timid murmur.] I've been alright. It's been mostly calm. Except for you disappearing. I'm just worried it won't be calm for much longer. [It never is. At least that part is predictable.]