Scrappy Read: tl.gd/n_1srn2tu

"Fuck."

"Feh. I can say what I please, thankya very much."

"Children aint allowed to set foot in my shop, so as long as I'm in here, I can throw out all the 'fuck's I want." Munching a sandwich. Mild annoyance. "It's good that you care so much 'bout yer image, tho."

"Hey, dork. Y'wanna speak up?" Toothy grin.

Grumble grumble. "Silly, if y'ask me. The way peeps perceive you doesn't mean shit. It's how you actually are that means everything." She wants to beat his face in at the loss of her leafy greens but she's not in the mood. "Didn't care for all the lettuce anyway..."

"Don't need it." She cracks him a self-assured grin, swallowing a bit of sandwich. "If people won't accept ya for who y'are past the shitty platitudes and fake smiles, I'd rather be a nobody."

She turns to him. Head tilt. "...Prrrretty sure ya did."

Her sandwich tastes funny now. Not seeing totally straight. "Ehh..? Guess that checks out for someone as radiant as you... Can't imagine being in your position..." "C-cuz I'm not a complete tool!" she spitefully chokes out briefly. Huh. "...But how I wish I were that useful..."

"Hey, you tell me. Was just hopin' it was my compliment for the day. Y'forgot to say I'm pretty." Squinting her eyes in mild amusement, laughing lightly.

What the fuck. "Well, I'd be stupid to turn down an offer like that from someone such as yerself... It'd be such an honor." What the fuck!!!!!! Biting her lip in some sort of subconscious frustration. Hard enough to bleed. Bending the knee SUCKS. But the promotion...

"...Yer right. Zumi's the one I gotta worry about, the lech." Awkward grin. "...But y'were thinkin' it, yea?"

"Or I just reminded ya of what was already there..." Then Zumi talks. Grabbing motions. She's trying to strangle him. Even though he probably can't choke. She just wants to get him in his grip. "Shaddup and quit stalkin' us, weirdo." Violent attempted neck-squeezing.

"I've shaken yer hand before, dumbass! I know yer neck is very much wringable!" Still extending her reach to try and get a hold on it. Choking motions. "And yer both weirdoes! But right now I'm focused on the one eavesdropping on a convo that ain't none o' his business!"

Blushing like a mess now, frowning. Grabby grab. "Don't give a shit! Fuck off and let me finish messing with this nerd!" Turns to dorkface for a split second. "I'm not done with ya yet, neither. Once I make an EMP to disrupt your buddy, I'm gonna need a compliment out of you."

"Aw hell, the pleasure's all mine," she remarks, waving her hand amicably. Double-blink. Hearing such an absurd price being uttered made her blood boil enough that mental clarity was achieved, if only for a moment. "Whuh- Fuck no. Are y'kidding?"

Annoyed, now. "Try funny shit and I disperse yer atoms." An evil-looking smile. She then lightly punches at Mikio's shoulder, sheepishly turning away. "Yer buddy won't let me hit him, so you get it instead. Next time we talk, keep him on a leash. L-later, dork." She's off.

"Well... that's true enough..." Huh? Holy shit, she's starting to get a headache. Like, her head actually hurts a little for some reason. "...But I got principles. And a limited pool o' funds. I'll be good, thanks."