argumentiste | — diadem

A quick question when you have a moment: is it all pickles or only certain kinds you dislike?

[ Her first instinct is to deny his (correct) observation about her dislike of the pickled vegetable. Unfortunately the reaction is built off the years of Fourchenault insisting that she eat everything on her plate because she needed the energy and her staunchly refusing or finding excuses that very rarely held up at the dinner table.

But then she recalls how happily G'raha had eaten hers after she had subtly (in her mind) placed it on his plate the other evening and well, that makes her embarrassment and defensiveness ebb away some. ]

I've only ever had them served one way so I suppose it wouldn't be fair to claim that I dislike them all.

Why do you ask?

[ He doesn't mind at all. If anything, he finds it a little amusing that she would a.) try to sneak the pickles away and b.) flattered he became the target once again. Besides, he loves pickle! He can't be mad. ]

I'm at the store picking up a few groceries and supplies. Pickled vegetables tend to keep, but I wouldn't want to get something you wouldn't enjoy.

[ Admittedly it had been a little bit of a prank at first. And maybe also a way of testing the waters to see if he would eat the pickles she didn't want. Turns out her hunch had been right. ]

I see.

[ Ugh. Pickles. But also his efforts aren't going unnoticed and she isn't so ungrateful or bratty enough to turn her nose up to that. ]

Are there other ways to have them?

Numerous, as it seems.

[ If only these phones could take photos. Not that he realizes that's an option, but it would be nice! ]

Apparently what we had the other day were "bread and butter" pickles. But they also come sweet, whole, miniature, extra sour... There are some pickled peppers, onions, and even carrots here as well.

[ It's alright. Raha's descriptions are more than enough - and clearly it's enough to pique her interest. ]

I can't say that I like the idea of pickled onion...

Though miniature? How are they meant to get any smaller?

What we had before were cut from a larger whole. The ones I'm looking at are whole pickles, but substantially smaller. No larger than your pinky finger, I would say.

[ He didn't realize they came in so many different sizes, honestly. ]

That is miniature.

I suppose if they're that small then the taste should stand to be more palatable. Were there any other flavours? Similar to how there are different flavours of chips?

They are mostly labeled as "sweet","sour", or "spicy". Nothing quite as exciting "Cool Ranch", if I remember correctly?

[ He's still not sure what that's supposed to be. ]

You remember correctly.

[ And she can't help but smile a little that he does recall her impromptu yammering about her newfound love of potato chips. ]

And though they may not be quite as exciting they're interesting enough to pique my interest. Does one sound more appetizing to you than the other?

[ G'raha is, of course, curious about the local cuisine. But what matters more is the new area of expertise that Alisaie is finding for herself. He will gladly take her recommendations. ]

I am curious about the spicy variety, if that sounds palatable?

More than palatable. That sounds like a challenge!

I'm not certain how credible the claims on the bottle were, but I found a bottle of hot sauce the other day at the supermarket claiming to be, "butt hole burning" levels of spice.

Edited 2025-09-04 05:23 (UTC)

[ He does laugh at that. Unfortunately, G'raha hasn't yet learned that "LOL" or "ROTFLMAO" mean just yet. ]

Did it, now? Were you tempted?

[ It's okay. Neither has she. That tends to happen when one has no other friends around her age and who are vastly more up to date with modern day slang than she is. ]

Perhaps. I thought it might have made a funny prank to play on Alphinaud but the boy has never really had a tolerance for spice. It might border on cruel.

But if I brought a bottle back, would you be willing to partake in it with me?

[ Time to find Alisaie some NPC penpals for the bit. ]

Certainly! I see no need not to try the exotic options we have available.

[ There are some that work at coffee shop with her. At least that's what we'll say so she can maybe have a friend or two her age. ]

Excellent! I'll bring a bottle back. And perhaps something else so that we aren't subjected to just the hot sauce.

Any requests? Twinkies since you seemed to enjoy them the last time?

[ Alisaie, no. Twinkies and hot sauce do not go together. ]

[ G'raha needs to stop by while she's on shift... ]

Twinkies were quite satisfying, so I wouldn't say "no". I've recently been informed they are part of a larger collection of sweets. Something about "Ho Hos" and "Snowballs"?

[ They absolutely can go together. #YOLO ]

[ It's a crime if he hasn't, really. What kind of big brother is he? ]

I'm not certain I enjoy the cream to pastry ratio. The bakery does a much better job of that...

Oh yes! We just received a shipment of "Ho hos". They seem more promising than the Twinkies if I'm being honest.

[ The worst kind. He'll make this up to her by taking a coffee date there. ]

They are quite moist. But you are the expert and I will always take your recommendations first.

Oh? If there are any to spare, I would be keen to try.

[ A coffee date at the convenience store? That might not be so bad actually considering she ended up working at a higher-end convenience store. If there is such a thing. ]

I'm not certain that working there for several weeks now would make me an expert.

But I suppose I have built up my knowledge in that time.

I'll purchase some on my break. I should be home at my usual time assuming nothing goes wrong with close this evening!

[ Look, he's got a low bar for impressing people with food. Please save him. ]

For your sake, I hope that it doesn't. But I look forward to our experimentations!

[All the ad said was help wanted, together with this number attached to it. Maelle might not even know what this job is or if it's still available, but at this point, she's willing to take anything.]

heard i should contact this number for a job. is that still the case?

[ Despite this quite literally being a part time job, the last thing Alisaie had expected was for the manager to leave her in charge of hiring at the coffee shop.

Or rather, the temporary assistant manager had quickly become the absent assistant manager and had neglected to let her know that it was her number they had left on the help wanted ads around Panorama. Go figure.

Regardless, she's going to rise to the challenge. ]

Hello, yes! We're still looking for one or two more individuals to help fill in for shifts. May I ask who this is and do you have any barista experience?

[Sorry... A what?]

my name's maelle... hold on, a barista? what's that supposed to be?

[ There's a bit of a pause before she responds as if she's trying to determine what exactly was put in the ad. ]

Someone that serves drinks? Typically coffee, teas and the like.

Did the ad not state what this was for?

[Huh, didn't know that's what it was called. She's learning more and more things about this world every day.]

there wasn't much information on the ad, actually. just that they needed help, together with your number.

[ Great. No wonder the assistant manager left her in charge. She lets out a noisy sigh as she scribbles down in her notebook that Maelle has no previous barista experience. That's not really a problem though; Alisaie hadn't really either when she started. ]

I suspected as much.

Well, if you're still interested I'm more than happy to provide more details. Though I wouldn't blame you if this isn't the sort of work you were hoping to find.

[Serving drinks didn't seem like it'll be that hard. But, while she worked at the thrift store as well, she was hoping for something a bit more... exciting. But she holds her tongue for now.]

hey, any information is better than what i started with. i'll figure out if i want to push through with it after.

[ Wow? It's not like Alisaie chose this life. There's only so many "exciting things" that people here will allow a sixteen year old to do. Why else would she subject herself to 101 part time jobs?

Regardless she sends Maelle the finer points: they're a mixture of opening and closing shifts, involves handling the coffee equipment, taking customer orders, and keeping a clean environment. Pretty straight forward, really. And a little more involved than a thrift store. ]

We can provide training for the coffee equipment and how to make the drinks. Pay is minimum wage, however we tend to split the tips amongst whoever is on shift that day.

[The only part-time experience about this place is the thrift shop. She can only go up from here! Which is what she gathers from the bullet points being presented to her.]

it already sounds a lot better than my current job. is there anything else i have to do? like an interview or something.

[A pause before a follow-up message.]

and is there a uniform involved?

Yes and yes, unfortunately. The aprons are thankfully just black and not the frilly sort.

Our manager has been away for some time and our temporary assistant manager has also been...gone.

[ It's a lot to get into but she's welcome to inquire further during the interview. ]

If it works for your schedule, perhaps tomorrow? Here's the address.

i'll take black over yellow with a sun on it.

[People keep mistaking that she'll be nice because of her uniform at the thrift shop. Most find that they were sorely mistaken pretty quickly.]

sounds like you do need the help. good thing i saw the ad. [A little too confident, considering she didn't even know what a barista was until moments ago.] tomorrow works. i'm guess i'll just look for you when i get there?

It's certainly fortuitous. Hopefully it works out for the both of us.

[ Which is to say she doesn't mind the confidence. She'd be the same if the positions were reversed. Adapting to this world had been a challenge - but she's confident that if she can do it then anyone can. ]

Ask for Alisaie if I'm not already at the counter. I"m looking forward to meeting you, Maelle!

[ His interlude to the bakery's retail area had been rather intentional. Sunday will admit as much to anyone who asks considering the rather thin guise of placing the pastries out onto the trays. While it's true they also needed to sell those while they could thanks to the holiday it seems they're for - he could've also waited a few more minutes rather than extending his time in the front to account for the recently iced pastries requiring a bit more care to make sure to not smudge his work. They're entirely too neat for that to not stand out if it happens.

And sure enough, once the tray is empty? To the back he goes looking completely unbothered over any looks sent his way like he'd intruded - since he had, though he wouldn't call it that. Their coworkers gathered around the window look at him expectantly, clearly expecting to hear Something from him, but he merely raises his eyebrows coolly. An answer and a dismissal both as some of the bakers roll their eyes and turn back to the window.

Whatever Alisaie hears when she finally returns to the backrooms of the bakery after the other teenager leaves, it won't be from him. That doesn't mean he doesn't have several thoughts as the wheels continue to turn in the back of his mind.

In the meantime, Sunday returns to that task he'd been enjoying by refilling the piping bag with some of the prepared icing as he looks at the next tray of heart pastries. The glaze they were first in seems to have dried nicely so back to piping it is, one carefully placed line or dot at a time as he forms yet another intricate pattern while he thinks, the majority of his focus there rather than in the kitchen around him. ]

Edited (typos) 2026-02-14 17:25 (UTC)

[ After Josuke has departed and they've agreed to make plans after the completion of her shift that day, Alisaie would have very nearly gone back to see Sunday with a huff in her step. But as soon as Josuke leaves, customers enter and she's forced to put on her Customer Service Voice. It isn't just one customer in fact, there's several that stream through the doors looking for their heart-related pastries which leaves her plenty of time for her suspicion towards his intentions to quietly fester and stew about Sunday's proximity and why it had bothered her so much.

At least she doesn't have to handle the stream of customers alone. Their coworkers join her, quietly nudging and asking her questions that only result in her rolling her eyes and providing very little by way of clarity. Once the rush has died down she heads back through the door mostly intending to complete her task of moving the flour bags. But then she sees Sunday on his own quietly minding his own business - a stark contrast to what he had been doing earlier.

Impulsively she changes her mind and makes a beeline for him instead. Their coworkers mill around, absorbed in their other tasks so as not to make a scene she slides up to him with her own piping bag. ]

Do you have something to say? You were hovering earlier.

[ It's the first words that she's said to him since their time on the train. ]

[ A surprising amount of time passes before Alisaie appears once more in the back of the bakery away from the storefront. Their coworkers mostly disperse back to their tasks and chatter goes on around him, though Sunday keeps his focus on the work before him.

When she does return he notes her presence in the way a familiar resonance comes into focus, but he doesn't look up. Not even when she's suddenly there instead of heading back to the storeroom like he would've thought, though he pauses for just a second after finishing one piped line when she speaks before continuing onto the next one. ]

I was merely refilling the display before the usual rush.

[ Placidly, with the air of a man entirely unbothered since the majority of his focus is on the last part of this design. Or would be if his hand hadn't chosen that exact moment to cramp from requiring that even pressure to prevent uneven lines, icing abruptly flooding out of the bag, or other miscellaneous unfortunate incidents - not that he knows from experience or anything.

As he pauses to shake out his hand for a couple of seconds, it's then that he glances up to appraise her. ]

I cannot help that it happened to be when you had a visitor.

[ "visitor" ]

[ On the off chance he had not said anything, she would have happily stood there preparing icing bags with him in icy silence out of spite. Though Sunday tended to have that gravitas of a babysitter who used silence and an impassive expression to make their wards buckle under the pressure, Alisae's mettle had already been tested and come out of the fire made with stronger stuff.

Her eyes narrow a touch at the mild emphasis that he seems to put on the word "visitor" which, unsurprisingly, only furthers stir her ire. Thankfully instead of urging herself to do something impulsive she watches - with an air of smug satisfaction - his hand cramp.

Not wanting to cause a scene however, she gets to work, falling into a familiar rhythm. Even if the familiar rhythm involves her using a little more force than necessary to throw icing into the bag. And if some hot pink or red icing splatters on him? It would simply be an accident. ]

That wasn't on your list of responsibilities today. What happened to Kline? Were they not able to refill the displays?

[ The cramp takes a couple more seconds to fade, courtesy of this repetitive motion over and over. A sign he should probably take a break if it wasn't for there still being several trays to go, though it'll go faster with Alisaie helping. Assuming that she is, since Sunday watches her readying her own piping bag without any comment. Aside from arching one eyebrow momentarily at her question, since - ]

Right. Kline would've been a better interruption.

[ Or more likely to stay out there and continue talking while working on the displays, as Sunday's witnessed many times himself while working out front. Kline's a coworker he's fond of with or without the distractions involved... though they must be dealing with their own distraction somewhere in the bakery. As is Sunday since when some of the icing flings onto his apron, he brushes it off before getting back to work himself. ]

Besides, you already had company.

[ Out there with whoever it was that'd stopped by for one sense of it being unwelcome, but more than that: in general since they've returned and on overlapping shifts, so he's stayed quiet. ]

[ Despite being petty there is a fine line between exercising that feeling while also being a good employee. And it isn't as if Sunday owns this bakery. If that were the case she'd probably just be standing here. That decision however could change depending on how this entire conversation goes. ]

He would have because Kline at least would be well intentioned about it.

[ Kline is harmless in Alisie's eyes. Eager to help even if a little bit clumsy; but put him in front of a tray of cakes and his decoration skills are likely the best out of most of the staff here. But the biggest difference is that she has no quarrel with Kline unlike the man standing beside her trying to work a cramp out of his hand. ]

Josuke is a friend that I happened to reconnect with after that debacle on the train. [ The icing is slapped into the piping bag with a little more force than needed, little flecks escaping onto her apron and Sunday's. ] And why would someone stopping by prevent you from saying something?

[ So that's how it's going to be, is it? Sunday cannot say he's surprised - and her reactions to this or whatever else is lurking beneath it from what else they've not spoken of (as he strongly suspects) are justified. Still, the immediate assumption he'd had no good intentions stings a little even if he also logically understands why.

From her explanation he gets Josuke's name to go with a face he'd not seen before around the bakery and opts to store that information away for later. Better to focus on his task now that he's started another pattern on another pastry after eying the icing level in his own piping bag. Enough for a couple more pastries yet while Alisaie does whatever it is she's going to do after getting icing on them both.

Sunday means to ignore that, but his attempt fails in a matter of seconds when any sort of untidiness is something he's never managed to overlook. But before he can go about cleaning up part of his apron - again - Alisaie asks a question which feels... out of place.

So much so that Sunday looks up, not quite incredulously though a hint of it might be seen in his expression anyway when vague amusement helps it through. ]

At least one of you seemed to prefer to not be interrupted.

[ And if it wasn't Alisaie, well. Surely that narrows it down. ]

[ Unaware that this information could be potentially used later, Alisaie reacts in the way she normally would when faced with something that she doesn't understand. Confusion cuts through some of her ire, causing her face to scrunch up and her violent prep of the icing bag to pause. For a moment she can't help but bristle up, a little prickle of protectiveness stirring as if prepared to defend whatever Sunday or her colleagues might accuse Josuke of.

It would be ridiculous to accuse him of anything though. At least in the context of the interaction they'd just had. He'd been delivering a candygram and there isn't anything to be concerned of there. ]

What are you trying to imply? It wouldn't have been a problem if someone had interrupted.

[ Is she petty enough to say that she wouldn't have wanted to be interrupted by Sunday specifically? Certainly. But even if he had, it wouldn't have been an issue, that much is the truth. They had been speaking about candygrams and making plans to see one another - neither of those things were particularly private. ]

[ He'd meant for that to be a small pause in between drawing perfect icing lines, but now Sunday stops entirely to peer at Alisaie more intently.

It's not asked as sharply as her earlier questions - and as Sunday would've recognized as well deserved even without the guilt that's clouded over him ever since he walked out of the train car and left her behind. It could be a mere extension of the level of guilt he always tends to feel for so many things, but this is specific. Something deserved for actions for which he has no one to blame but himself, for here and before it.

Back in the present, however, her confusion seems quite genuine. And if that's the case, no wonder what was said wasn't really heard. ]

I'd call it an observation over implying anything.

[ But she's right that there is an implication in there and one she's apparently not seeing, even if he'd meant it as something far less severe than Alisaie seems to be taking this conversation. ]

Your friend is quite fond of you.

[ His actual point in a deliberate choice of words - and one he's careful to say quite neutrally. ]

[ If it makes him feel any better, he hadn't been the only one to walk away and leave her in a train car alone that trip. And to make matters worse both times had been after emotionally charged situations that have long since stayed with her after the fact. She had spoken about some her frustrations and experiences with Alphinaud of course, but to say that she had laid bygones to rest would be a gross understatement.

That was the downside to being to being passionate about things. It was just as difficult to forgive.

But clearly they weren't speaking about the same thing anymore. Or if they had she had seemed to have lost the thread somewhere along the way. Because why did it sound like they were suddenly speaking about Josuke's intentions? He had obviously been here to deliver a candygram sent by Jack who she considered a dear friend. There was nothing more to it than that. Confusion overtakes her expression, the bristle of her defensiveness lowering for just a moment as she almost laughs - ]

Fond? Whatever gave you that impression? [ Why did this suddenly feel akin to a time when she had teased Alphinaud about his endless swarm of fan club members? ] That was our third meeting. Second if you only count pleasant interactions.

I'm not so sure the number of interactions counts as much for everything else.

[ Neither does any pleasantries, really, when while that might define an initial meeting those that fall outside of whatever scale is being used for pleasant can add just as much to shaping a relationship overall. Experience has taught him that much.

Sunday's not going to say as much to Alisaie now when her confusion is indicator enough that they are, in fact, speaking on two entirely different wavelengths. It's tempting to put down the piping bag while they talk, but maybe that would suggest this is far more serious than it actually is. Besides that, there's no guarantee she won't simply turn and walk away any second now.

So, he raises an eyebrow. ]

I was not saying the fondness is a negative, either. That would only be the case if it was something you considered unwelcome. [ A short pause while Sunday considers this and everything else again and finds that, just maybe, he should've asked another question. ] What is it that doesn't give you that impression?

Why wouldn't it count?

[ The irony here of course is that what Sunday is saying is in some ways, echoes of conversations she's had with Alphinaud. Sometimes it is a matter of her pointing out that such and such likes him, or wondering why he's suddenly so enamoured with someone he's only had one class with.

It hadn't, and still doesn't, occur to her that this is something that could happen to her. Nor is she connecting the dots and why Sunday's raised eyebrow only seems to incite a prickle of annoyance and heat to her cheeks. There's nothing to stop the rise of an incredulous tone beginning to rise in her voice. ]

Friends are fond of one another. Josuke and I are friends.

[ Finally she lets out a loud huff, putting the piping back on the counter in front of them. ]

I find myself confused because I cannot tell if you are trying to provoke me on purpose.

Edited 2026-03-01 06:09 (UTC)

[ None of that feels exactly like an answer to what he's asking even as Alisaie responds with one thought first, then another, and then puts her piping bag down with the suggestion of frustration. Something he'd noticed was increasing without needing to 'listen' any other way; they've worked together long enough that Sunday knows the glimpses of her moods. A few huge baking tasks were certainly enough to create a bond from going through them. ]

Well, as long as it's mutual fondness, then.

[ Though this Sunday says with considerable amusement even as it answers nothing, but maybe that's all there is to it. It doesn't matter in the bigger picture, anyway, considering there's a good chance she might have to go through this conversation with any of the other bakery staff who'd stayed at the window before and after he'd made his own observations.

He's about to warn her about that being likely, but then it's Sunday's turn to be entirely confused by what she says when it catches him completely off-guard. ]

And why is it that you think I would be provoking you?

[ It's true he'd meant to tease her, but the way she's put it suggests something else. Though - there's an answer for why and one he has a feeling will be said with a mild sense of dread to it, and really: if it is what Alisaie will say next, then that's no one's fault but his own. ]

[ Considering where they are and that they are still on the clock, Alisaie doesn't have the luxury of time to untangle why it bothers her so much when Sunday says what he does about mutual fondness. But perhaps she doesn't have to untangle or make sense of it all since she understands that it irritates her. ]

Stop saying it like that!

[ He hadn't, in fact put emphasis on anything he'd said, but it hardly matters. That's what it feels like with the amused lilt that she can pick out in his voice. Which then, in her mind, justifies the snappiness she retorts with. Of course, it is by no means right. But with her patience seemingly having worn thin, she doesn't seem to care whether she is truly right or wrong in this instance as she tosses the piping bag down. ]

Because you're being coy and evasive and it is irritating!

[ The pitch of her voice would have carried to other parts of the bakery had it not been for the fact that the machines were running. It is a small blessing then that her outburst is disguised behind noise and no one else is subject to what is essentially the equivalent of a teenager's outburst. ]

You're ridiculous. Don't speak to me for the rest of the shift.

Edited 2026-03-02 02:32 (UTC)

[ Coy and evasive - those aren't the adjectives he would've chosen for what he's said. Or, well, they wouldn't be after he'd opted to get to the actual point. That much Sunday can recognize would be less than ideal. The same for being irritating, while he's being honest with himself.

It doesn't, however, explain that it feels like something is still missing here.

In the end, Alisaie doesn't say what pulled at the edges of his mind as that possibility. But - the response is still forceful enough to make the same point when nothing further follows but the instruction ("instruction") to stop speaking. Sunday looks at her for a long moment impassively and then, telling himself it's only his own stubborn streak surfacing and not anything else, looks back at the tray before them. The pattern he'd started and half-finished is dry now so it'll take some added effort to make that less obvious on the finished product.

A task he'll begin on with nothing else to do. And true to that request, he says nothing. Only the kitchen's constant background noise will fill in the silence as he gets back to work. ]

[ Hello Alisaie! Unfortunately, Josuke was too shy to stick around for this. Feeling confident from a parked van outside her motel room, he places a small package and note outside her motel room before making himself scarce. The package is wrapped in newspaper comics, with such classics as the Near Side, the Almonds, and surprisingly, the Adventures of Tintin. The note is a standard small letter with a few things drawn on the front – things you might imagine a hippy would doodle – and Alisaie's name written in English, with a peace sign and heart over each "i" in order. Depending on how quick Alisaie (or her brother) is to answer the door, the nervous teen is nowhere to be seen, but a tear of a motorcycle engine does echo through the lot.

Anyway, as far as the note goes, whatever it is about Panorama makes it legible, despite the Japanese. That detail only matters to understand that his rough and dynamic handwriting is also unabashedly decorated in hearts and stars. So the note reads: ]

Hey Alisaie,

Even though we come from different places, I was thinking about how it's kind of kewl they're somehow pretty similar, too. Like how we have Christmas and you have Starlight, right? Maybe it's something to do with this place and maybe everywhere shares different stuff in the same way.

Well, there's this special holiday in Japan (that's the country I'm from) called White Day that's not really all that popular around Earth and doesn't seem like much of a thing here in Panorama, either. It's a bit like Valentine's, but usually the guys are giving out chocolates specifically. Seems bizarre to have a holiday that's basically the same thing twice in a row, but hey, wasn't my crazy idea.

Anyway, figured it'd be fun to share a bit of my home with you, since you seemed curious before. Maybe they'll have some fun stuff that's like Tanabata some time in the summer? If not, I'll come up with something to show you.

Hope you like the sweets!

Josuke Higashikata <3

[ When she decides to open the package, it's something from the Candy Grannies – a special order of white heart chocolates, dark cube chocolates, marshmallows, and pretzels. Enjoy! ]

— diadem | inbox

late august

omg her first text

i'm sorry it's about pickles

i wouldn't have it any other way

red scions unite

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

— at the bakery in february

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

🎀🥺 wrap?

🎀

—March 14