[ Feeling self-conscious, he grows quiet on the other side of the line. It would be easier, but despite the urge inside him this month drawing him to every fruit in sight, he knows his limitations. If it was only for him, he'd pick the fruits himself, but it's not and he wants to do this right. Only... ]
I don't know which ones are ripe.
If I buy them, then I know they'll taste good.
[ So, what if he's feeling a little tired with how much of his blood he's spent so far, being price gouged at every turn, it's worth it for the people he wants to make it for. ]
I only bought the ones that were picked this morning.
[ That he was told they were freshly picked. Almost every vendor had them at least once he asked for them they'd suddenly have a batch 'picked this morning for our keen-eyed customers'. ]
They don't taste the same if you freeze them.
[ The texture isn't the same. Not that he knows enough to pinpoint that detail. All he knows is that it's not the same. ]
[ Isolated from the world, his father regulated his life, from who he could interact with to his meals. Every necessity was provided for, leaving him with only one task: to train and become the legacy Endeavor wanted. Simple things like shopping for his own food isn't something he ever did until arriving in Trench. It's no wonder he's easily snuffed out and targeted. Growing up well off, money was never a concept he had to worry about. Here, his rare Palebood and his work with the Hunters, give him enough funds to pay the egregious prices they charge him. Shouto doesn't think much of it. His tastes are simple after all, so he always has enough funds to pay for what he needs. ]
Yea but that doesn't actually mean that they were.
[ If he can't tell what's ripe...]
You're going off of a stranger's word who is trying to sell you something. [ Written sincerely. He doesn't like seeing people get taken advantage of. Reminding him of when Ahiru's kindness was being exploited in the bakery all those months back. ]
You can't know anything without learning about it. [ Placing his cup down gently but firmly, similar to his tone.]
People's actions are based off of learned behavior through trial and error. There's behaviors you can pick up on that are best explained in the moment as being deceptive or transparent.
So yeah trust is earned, but if you don't know what to look out for, how can you be a good judge on who to give it to in the first place? You can't give what you don't understand. [ Correcting his thought] Or rather you could but people will take advantage of that.
[ He has to walk his thoughts back, extract himself from the burning cold, and let go of the comment regarding his sister. It needles at him that anyone would think Fuyumi held any blame for his shortcomings. He takes a breath, shoulders rising and falling when he exhales. ]
Sorry. I was irritated.
[ He tries to focus on the conversation at hand but has trouble making sense of it, whether from feeling off-kilter still or his ability to grasp the deceptive/transparent behavior off the battlefield. ]
What if you can't pick up on those deceptive behaviors?
You don't need to apologize- it's alright. [ Noticing his behavior shift after commenting on his sister.Instinctually, it's something he doesn't want to touch right now. It may have to do with the nightmares he's been having about his own sister. Or his relationship with her he had as a whole. ]
That's why you have someone point them out and teach you. Or... you don't have someoneone and learn the hard way-when you don't have enough left to give. [ His gaze shifts before continuing.]
Think of it like training a muscle. It takes some time and practice for it to get better. And once you learn how, you never forget. Just like muscle memory.
[ Taking another sip of tea, eyes staring down into the small blue cup. Before thinking to add]
But you won't always be right. That's a part of learning how to trust. Making mistakes hurts, but it teaches you how to move forward next time.
[ Kinda like how Megumi is learning that the way he communicates with Shouto must be very literal and clear.
[ He leaves the apology there, listening to the explanation before responding. ]
But I already trust them. None of their food has ever made me sick.
[ Which is a lot more than he can say about the first meals he prepared for himself here before foregoing that route altogether and buying from the local markets and restaurants. ]
[ Not going to point out his questions about trust again. Too circular. Plus, more serious issues! ]
2 pints! That's 20% of your total blood volume. Did the tree come with it?.
[Horror written all over his face.] I'm being serious, you need protein. I have a lot of extra meat, [ he can't stress this enough] - Don't buy any, I have more than enough, you can have some.
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I don't know which ones are ripe.
If I buy them, then I know they'll taste good.
[ So, what if he's feeling a little tired with how much of his blood he's spent so far, being price gouged at every turn, it's worth it for the people he wants to make it for. ]
no subject
[ Admittingly, he hasn't been able to harvest much fruit here because he can't use his cold blood abilities well enough to preserve it.]
You can freeze them and they maintain their taste for when you need them.
Depending on the fruit, I can show you sometime which to pick.
[He's a picky eater and tends to go for tart over sweet when it comes to fruit.]
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[ That he was told they were freshly picked. Almost every vendor had them at least once he asked for them they'd suddenly have a batch 'picked this morning for our keen-eyed customers'. ]
They don't taste the same if you freeze them.
[ The texture isn't the same. Not that he knows enough to pinpoint that detail. All he knows is that it's not the same. ]
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How do you know they were picked this morning?
[ Originally from a big city, he is well aware of the scams and ploys of "fresh anything." ]
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They told me so.
[ It's as simple as that to him. ]
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[ If he can't tell what's ripe...]
You're going off of a stranger's word who is trying to sell you something.
[ Written sincerely. He doesn't like seeing people get taken advantage of. Reminding him of when Ahiru's kindness was being exploited in the bakery all those months back. ]
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Yes.
[ Sometimes... he can be naive. ]
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That was a statement not a question.
He-he can't be serious?! ]
Yes???
You can't always trust people who's job it is to sell you something to tell the truth.
Haven't you heard of scams?
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Then who can I trust?
I've heard of online scams.
Switches to Voice
...
[ Choosing to address the last part first because- how does one explain trust in a text??! And who even asks that! You know what, switches to voice. ]
You're not serious are you? [ Completely deadpan tone. ] You make it sound like this is your first time shopping?
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I've been shopping on my own since I arrived here.
[ He's done quite well on his own, thank you very much. He's not once gone hungry on his own. ]
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Since you arrived? ]
So what about before here?
[It comes out like a thought said aloud.]
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I didn't need to shop before.
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Then how did you eat? Or get stuff like clothes?
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[ Endeavor never cared about the details only that he was properly fed and clothed. ]
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She should've brought you with her. I used to go with my sister. It's how I learned how to tell who I could trust.
[ There's a pause as he slowly and precisely begins to fill his yunomi.
Getting back to his initial reason for calling.]
It's hard to explain trust. It's easier to teach someone.
[ Taking a sip as his mind drifts to past memories. ]
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She couldn't.
[ Bluntly stated without any invitation to pursue this line of questioning. ]
You don't teach trust, you earn it.
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You just asked me who you could trust.
You can't know anything without learning about it. [ Placing his cup down gently but firmly, similar to his tone.]
People's actions are based off of learned behavior through trial and error. There's behaviors you can pick up on that are best explained in the moment as being deceptive or transparent.
So yeah trust is earned, but if you don't know what to look out for, how can you be a good judge on who to give it to in the first place? You can't give what you don't understand. [ Correcting his thought] Or rather you could but people will take advantage of that.
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Sorry. I was irritated.
[ He tries to focus on the conversation at hand but has trouble making sense of it, whether from feeling off-kilter still or his ability to grasp the deceptive/transparent behavior off the battlefield. ]
What if you can't pick up on those deceptive behaviors?
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That's why you have someone point them out and teach you. Or... you don't have someoneone and learn the hard way-when you don't have enough left to give. [ His gaze shifts before continuing.]
Think of it like training a muscle. It takes some time and practice for it to get better. And once you learn how, you never forget. Just like muscle memory.
[ Taking another sip of tea, eyes staring down into the small blue cup. Before thinking to add]
But you won't always be right. That's a part of learning how to trust. Making mistakes hurts, but it teaches you how to move forward next time.
[ Kinda like how Megumi is learning that the way he communicates with Shouto must be very literal and clear.
no subject
But I already trust them. None of their food has ever made me sick.
[ Which is a lot more than he can say about the first meals he prepared for himself here before foregoing that route altogether and buying from the local markets and restaurants. ]
You didn't like what I collected.
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Why didn't you say that earlier?!
That's a good sign. How much did they charge you?
[ Pepper the bloodhound prances infront of Kage excited by the commotion blocking Megumi momentarily.
You didn't like what I collected
I never said that! I said fresh tastes best and asked you how you knew they were picked this morning.
Also, how in the world would I know what you collected, it's not like I saw them!? [ His volume isn't loud , but his tone is baffled and confused. ]
Ahahah timeline issues. Okay BEFORE the bake off, got it.
[ I mean, why would anyone? ]
Two pints of blood.
[ Which is well and above what the fruits are worth, although he did buy a lot so he thinks it makes sense. ]
OH I just realized, I was confused and thought it was before the jam π
2 pints! That's 20% of your total blood volume.
Did the tree come with it?.[Horror written all over his face.] I'm being serious, you need protein. I have a lot of extra meat, [ he can't stress this enough] - Don't buy any, I have more than enough, you can have some.
It is before! The jam delivery was made the day before the bake off at the end of the month!
12/22