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[EXHAUST...PIPES. Okuyasu gives her a look like he suddenly can't remember where he's been for the last several, uh, weeks? How did he not see this?? Iida still isn't as Huge as, say, his best friend's adult man nephew, so that has to be why...

But holy shit.]

Do a lot of you guys have... like, parts? Like that? I know a chick whose Stand is in her hair, but that's just one.

[Ochako reaches up to rub the back of her neck, trying to think of the best way to explain this. Living in a world where almost everyone has a quirk means that strange attributes are the norm? She doesn't even notice them half the time.]

It depends on your quirk! Some people have little things, like my fingers, but other people have big things. One of the boys in my class has elbows that are almost like tape dispensers. [Don't ask.] But what do you mean it's in her hair? Isn't a Stand super big, like yours?

[Elbows like?? What???? Okuyasu's friends are just kinda weird, not popping tape out of their elbows.]

Nah, not all the time. Mine is, and so's Josuke's and Mr. Jotaro's... my bro's was a whole bunch of little guys instead of one big guy, and this elementary school kid we met had one like that, too!

[Conclusion: Stands have so many rules and also no rules.]

[They can be something other than a giant metal humanoid? Or does "bunch of little guys" just mean "bunch of little metal humanoids?" This is rocking the foundations of her Stand knowledge, and it shows in her very puzzled expression.]

I don't get it. Why are some Stands alike, but others aren't? And you didn't explain the hair thing at all!

[Ochako is decently clever, but understanding strange abilities is not her thing. That's what Deku is for.]

[They are little army men actually. Little toy soldiers. Anyway, Okuyasu is the least informed about Stand stuff, so he just shrugs.]

Dunno, I guess they're like people? My bro had a guess about only some people being strong enough to get Stands in the first place- [because he shot them but that's not important--] -so... yeah. Your friend's got engines in his legs, c'mon!

[Jeez!! Anyway,] And I meant her hair's... She can move it and make it grow fast and stuff. It's creepy.

[Her eyes narrow the slightest bit, because look, Okuyasu, she's trying. It's just hard for her to picture complicated Stand concepts when her base knowledge is so shaky? But, like? Whose fault is that???

Thankfully, though, that quick explanation provides a way for her to begin to bridge the gap!]

Oh! [She proudly perks right back up, clapping her hands together. Eureka.] I've seen someone with a quirk like that before. He's from a different school, but he can make his hair do the same thing. It is kind of creepy.

[So Stands = weird quirks. Except not really? It's something she can puzzle over on a rainy day; for now, she'll just shoot him a warm smile and hope that explanation time is... over...]

Honestly, it's hard for me to understand everything you say about Stands, but it's probably hard for you to understand everything I say about quirks, right? So I guess we're even!

Edited 2018-04-02 23:39 (UTC)

[It's everyone else's fault for not explaining anything to Okuyasu, not that he'd retain too much, but still. Big brother Keicho's explanations always ended in a dismissal, but he's trying!!

At least there's someone else with a creepy hair quirk - not, like, because it's great (it's creepy) but because it makes his weak explanation easier. Thanks... stranger.]

Yeah, if you tell me any more today I bet my head'll explode. [engine legs....although hang on, because this is important,] There's a guy in town whose Stand helps him cook the best food anyone has ever made. I'd kill for a good restaurant around here, y'know?

[he is distraught]

[Of all the things to wish for in this greyscale hellhole, he picks a restaurant. Hmm.]

I don't think a restaurant would work in this place. How we would pay for everything? Fish bucks? [She says that teasingly, because yes, she remembers his stupid joke from the forum. It was so stupid that it made her laugh, okay.] Tastier food would be nice, though! Has he tried to cook anything here?

Hey, don't knock fish bucks yet. You could bring your own food to the restaurant, probably...

[He's so deep in this Food Fantasy it takes him a moment, oh-] And nah, I mean in town at home. If there's a guy around here who can turn this gray shit into real food, he'd be way more popular by now.

[Thanks for getting her hopes up! She looks visibly disappointed, because while free food is amazing, free food that tastes like dirt is simply unfortunate.]

I was so excited, too. [A SIGH.] I'd pay a lot of fish bucks to eat something that tastes good. I might even pay real money for something from that restaurant of yours!

[A pause as she considers this, and then:]

Actually, never mind. It would probably be too expensive.

[All restaurants are too expensive when you're #poor.]

[Now they're both sad about the lack of a restaurant... terrible.]

Tonio—that's the guy—Tonio's not bad, but he's gonna stop giving me freebies eventually, probably... so yeah.

[When you're a local thug who is actually a soft boy, you get free food all the time! From people trying to test how their mysterious food power Stand works, anyway.]

John told me to try eating the grass. [friends]

[Um, where is her friendly local restaurateur? That sounds totally amazing, and she's just about to tell him as much when he drops that last line. Great, Okuyasu. Now she is sad AND concerned.]

It probably tastes worse than everything else. But you've been eating plenty of real food, right? Like fish?

[Wow, he didn't actually eat grass!! It was very rude of Piano Boy John, actually. That one girl's horse can eat the grass. That said, he's been finding what he can... collecting some nasty-ass cans from the general store, and so on...]

Uh... I found a couple vegetables the first week.

[When you're friends with people who would seriously try to eat the grass, you usually just assume the worst. Pardon her fretting.]

And what have you been eating since then?

Found some cans of stuff in the store, but they're more of the same gray shit. Nothing's made me sick yet, so it should be alright.

[Yes?? He's hungry, but not starving hungry.]

[She pulls a face, because living off canned food can't be good for him. Surely it's lacking in the nutrition department? The fruits and vegetables she finds may taste similar, but she's positive that they're healthier. ...Somehow. Tall friend, please take care of yourself.]

It's a good thing I didn't forget my net. You need it. So go ahead and show me your picture, and then you can go catch a fish to eat!

Oh, yeah! [Canned food dilemma forgotten, Okuyasu holds up a finger for her to wait before he pats, like, all of his pockets before he finds the one that has his picture in it so he can flip it around to show. It's just so cute, look at them, look at this tiny Okuyasu.]

Check it out! Nice hair, right?

[The anticipation is killing her, honestly, but once he flips that picture around all is forgiven. Ochako appreciates the cute things in life, and baby Okuyasu is... a solid 7 out of 10. Maybe an 8.]

Aww, Okuyasu! You were super cute, especially with that poofy hair! It's hard to think that you were really that small, though. [She leans in to get a better look, cooing delightedly. Who loves families? This girl.] Wow, your mom is so pretty. And that's your brother?

[What a look he's giving the camera. Wow.]

Edited 2018-04-03 01:52 (UTC)

[Don't judge Keicho, he's a troubled boy. Okuyasu nods, wiggling the picture as if to emphasize how cute at least half of his family was like 14 years ago.]

Uh huh, that's Keicho. He never learned how to do his hair better, if you wanna know. [Which she surely must, because just look at that mess...] I don't really remember my mom, but at least I look more like her than my old man.

[haha, right?? right.]

[Questionable hairstyles are a thing where she's from, so she doesn't see anything wrong with Keicho's? But like that even matters after he drops that comment about his mother. OOPS. It's a silly thing to feel guilty about, of course, and he doesn't seem very torn up about it, but she feels that familiar twinge all the same. Making him think about his mom is... mean...]

O-Oh. I'm sorry to hear that. [She glances back down at the woman, briefly wondering what happened to her, before giving him a slightly awkward smile. Asking would just be rude.] You really do look like her. And... I'm glad you showed me this. It must mean a lot to you, so thank you, Okuyasu!

[This is, like, a billion friendship points? He might not even think that this is a special moment, but she certainly does.]

[No, no, he loves his mom!! Objectively speaking, considering how young he was when she passed. It's fine - at least, he doesn't look devastated about it right this second, blinking at Ochako's seemingly abrupt shift in attitude from a moment ago. Truly, there are worse things about the Nijimura family...

Ah, but he's being called out on his soft center, so he scoffs a little and looks away, like he does literally every time he gets called on his soft center. She's right, but does she have to say it out loud? Gosh.]

Yeah, yeah... You asked to see it, so, y'know. [Very smooth. That picture's going back in his pocket, where it will rest and not incriminate him for anything else.] So, we going fishing or what?

["Abrupt shift[s] in attitude" are everyday Ochako™ things, so get used to them, Okuyasu. You're stuck with her now.

...Especially after that reaction. Her tremulous smile turns genuine as he tries to play this whole thing off, but she keeps her lips firmly pressed together to ensure that she doesn't laugh. Tough guy tries too hard to act tough—how silly! It's not like she would ever think to judge him.]

You've earned it! First, though— [She stretches one hand out to him, blue marker balanced in the palm of her hand.] You probably want this. And I brought my picture, too? If you want to see it, I mean! You don't have to, but I didn't think it would be fair if I got to see your family and you didn't get to see mine.

[Let her gush about her family.]

[Thanks for not laughing at him.... he appreciates it. He also appreciates the marker, perking up again as he reaches to take it and immediately pop the cap open, like he hasn't seen a Colorful Thing since the legendary beforetimes...]

Oh—sure, okay. I just keep mine in my pocket. [All the time. But he's tough. She can show him her family, he's down for it, and in the meantime after he looks around for something to write on and comes up empty, he'll draw a dot on his own hand.

Nice.]

Shit, no way, it really works... your friend's ability kicks ass.

[It's the simple things in life, right? She watches him mess around with the marker, pleased to see that he's so pleased with her friend's little creation. And to think that it cost a single fish buck... what a deal.]

Momo's amazing, so of course it works. I'll tell her that you like it!

[Oh, right—with the reward turned over to him, it's now her turn for show-and-tell. Hmm. Her eyes flick down to the picture grasped tightly in one hand, expression softening, before she brings it up between them and flips it around for him to see.]

It's only from last year, and I don't have any brothers or sisters, but, um... this is my family! [The obvious love in her voice? That sappy look on her face as she studies the photo? It's clear that this adorable girl cares very, very deeply for her parents, and she's not the slightest bit ashamed of it.] We were celebrating my birthday, even though I told them that they shouldn't make a big deal about it...

[Before the day is out, he'll have drawn a cool S on his laptop, just wait. For now he just caps the marker and spins it idly between his fingers while he leans over to look at her picture... and dutifully does not say something like "your mom is hot," as he is inclined to do... that would be Crude.

She's so earnest about it, though, Okuyasu would give her a friendly noogie(tm) if she weren't a girl he's known for like, a few weeks. One day.]

Yeah? Your family's cute, [he says in his Tough Guy way, but it's true-!! Some might say Okuyasu has just cause to begrudge other people their cute families who aren't dead or otherwise awful, but he doesn't—he just rubs at his neck, awkward in that typical teenage boy way, trying to say something is sweet without sounding like a wimp.] You guys look happy? That's lucky.

[yeah!!!! 10/10]

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he's too cute?? i can't

he's so cute you had to edit

rude. i'm typing on my phone so excuuuusez-moi

oh i'm flattered...braving the phone for me

don't let it go to your head

it's too late for that now

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