Year Two

*Thiera has some guess about what's going on, & looks around for a potted plant or something.*
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"Okay."

*She turns to Azuma & stares blankly at him, having no idea who he is.*

The plants in the cafeteria are all artificial.

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Taiyo: "Oh, um this is Azuma and Mimiru."

She gestures to each of them.

Azuma: "We were heading to some nifty little place near the pet store. Welcome to join us if you don't want to stand in line here."

"Thank you. I really do need to find somewhere else to eat."
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*Failing that, Thiera spots Aroma & runs over to her, whispering in her ear.*

T"(I need you to use your silk.)"

A"(A-are you sure that's a good idea?!)"

T"(I'm pretty sure they have those drugs. I need to get them to analyze them.)"

A"(Okay...but how?)"

T"(Just spin a small thread that no one can see. I'll attach it to one of my seeds & plant it. Then we'll reel it in & escape into the women's bathroom.)"

*Cameron lets himself back into his house and heads up to his room*

The dealer had gotten the hell out of there while the student goes into the cafeteria to get some food.

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And so they set off, Taiyo walking along beside Ven.

Taiyo: "Afterwards we can stop at the pet store to play with the kittens."

*They obviously just follow whichever one they know has the deck. Thiera apologizes, saying that she'll buy Aroma another lunch, as she's left her tray barely eaten.*
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"I might not have time for that. I have to get back to my job."

*Cameron puts his new purchase on his bed before heading back downstairs to start on his work*

The dealer who may no longer have anything is gone while the person who had been given a deck goes to a table where a few others sit.

Student: "Hello, ladies."

Student Two: "What up?"

Student: "That's for me to know, and you two to find out after."

A third student, female brings her chair closer to his.

Student Three: "Don't keep up in the dark, man. Tell us."

Student: "After. But let me just say, we're gonna get fucked up."

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Taiyo: "Oh. Well, maybe another time."

At the diner, after presumably taking their seat, Taiyo sitting beside Ven, a waitress comes to take their orders.

*Ven orders a cheap burger, & water.*
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*They move behind him. As they walk, Aroma reluctantly pulls off one of her gloves. A near-invisible thread emerges from what looks like a needle prick on her wrist, which she takes & attaches to Thiera's seed. The whole affair is blocked by peoples' backs.*

"Well, maybe someone could fix it," Jin said, attempting a subtle grin, but really just beaming. Her telepathy kicked in. Someone like us!

Grimm murmured a short prayer, then moved to the back room to order some lunch, as he realized the time. He called a nearby Asian takeaway store.

The three continue talking not noticing the two creeping behind them.

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The others order whatever, Taiyo ordering orange juice as opposed to the other two with their soft drinks.

Azuma: "So, I don't believe we ever introduced one another. I'm Azuma."

Mimiru: "Mimiru."

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The man crosses himself and leaves.

"...Venezuela."
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*Thiera drops the seed into the pocket that she saw him slip the card deck into. It has barbs to stick into whatever's in there, & little fluffs, to stabilize it as it falls through the air.*

Maybe.

*Eve quickly looks around*

<So, what are your plans this week?>

The one whose pocket is being pilfered sits upright for a second before resuming the conversation.

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I take it someone needed a Spanish sounding name.

Taiyo: "We usually just call her Ven."

The waitress brings them their drinks.

Azuma: "You said you'd have to get back to work. Not looking to pry, but shouldn't you be in school? Unless you graduated early."

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The delivery person arrives and business goes about as usual.

"...I dropped out. I needed the money from a full time job."
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*She winds the thread back up to pull out whatever is in the guy's pocket, still hidden from view behind people.*

A box falls from his pocket. It's an ordinary playing card box, nothing that says fantastic new drug inside.

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Azuma: "Oh...sorry to hear that."

*Thiera nonetheless pockets it & the duo walks briskly to the women's restroom.*
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"Yep."

*Ven eats. Or drinks, if the food isn't here yet.*

Assuming they open the box, its contents are white dominos with black spots as opposed to the red ones they had earlier.

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The waitress brings them their food. Which they presumably eat in awkward silence.

*They are, in fact, huddled in a locked stall, looking over their find.*

T"(I was right!)"

A"(How do you know they aren't regular dominoes?)"

*Thiera looks at Aroma with an expression of "bitch, don't be so naive."*

T"(...We should have tracked down the dealer while we were at it.)"

A"(Don't be so hard on yourself, it was your first time. Besides, there are bound to be others.)"
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"...Speaking of kittens, I brought a few back to the shelter today."

Grimm ordered some fried rice and spring rolls with hot mustard dipping sauce.

"No plans at all," Jin shrugged, finishing her sandwich and moving on to a mini-salad with a tiny fork. "And you?"

From outside, they can hear someone loudly yelling "Where's my shit?!"

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Taiyo: "Really? From where?"

"They were behind some boxes at the docks. With their mother."
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T"(We'll worry about that later. Let's head back to the dorm to secure this, then go downtown for lunch.)"

*She pockets it, & then they go to do just that.*

They see the student looking not at all happy the others he was with trying to calm him.

Student Two: "Calm down, man. What are you even looking for?"

Student: "A playing card box."

The two look at him in confusion.

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Taiyo: "Ooh, that's horrible. Who'd abandon a cat on the docks?"

I think I prefered the awkward silence.

Azuma takes a bite of his sandwich.

*They head up the stairs, but Thiera stops them part-way, with the objective of listening to see if he gives up any information on where he got the box, without it being clear that they're eavesdropping.*
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"Maybe it was feral to begin with?"

All she gets is it was some white guy in a red blazer and work gloves. At the mention of work gloves his friends scold him saying it was probably police evidence or something he shouldn't have.

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Azuma: "Anyone have a cheerier topic they'd like to discuss? This is a real downer."