fandomtownies | Turtle & Canary; Wednesday [06/16].

Gathered around the counter, Shunsui and the cheese panda were having a conversation.

Well...calling it a conversation was...a bit generous, actually. The cheese panda was complaining, and Shunsui was subject to listen to it, which was a bit unusual, because mostly, when there were complaints, everyone just went to Summer-chan because they knew that was the only way to get anything done about it, but this complaint was entirely un-store-related, therefor leaving the panda to just rant to the closest pair of ears.

"So kaaaa~," drawled Shunsui, trying to be patient, trying to stay away, trying not to let his eyes glaze over from interpreting the story based entirely on grunts and growls and gestures since the panda didn't exactly speak in words. He clicked his tongue to sound sympathetic as he poured more sake between the two of them. Not that even he had enough sake for it to have any sort of effect on a bear. "And then you said he claimed to have brought samples for everyone, but all it was was a single slice of that plasticky garbage masquerading as cheese?"

The cheese panda confirmed this guess with a renewed bout of anger, having taken this situation as a personal offense, and vowing that if any eagles happened to waltz into the store on his watch, there would be trouble!

"Ara ara~~," Shunsui cooed somewhat soothingly while promptly throwing back his cup to empty it and fill it up quickly again. "That does sound terrible ♥."

Honestly, Shunsui wanted to point out that he felt the cheese panda was being a little overdramatic, but the bear was clearly worked up, and stating as much would only lead to that ire being turned on Shunsui. Shunsui could, of course, take the bear easily in a fight, but that didn't mean he wanted to be bothered to have to do so.

"How do you even know about this happening?" he then asked, because he wasn't sure the panda ever even left the store, so knowing the specific details of one class that happened yesterday seemed...

He shook his head, waved a dismissive hand. "Never mind. Here. Just have some more sake ♥."

At this point, he was mostly just hoping it started to make the panda sleepy or something so he'd just go away and Shunsui could have some peace.

Today's Squishy Flavors
Fudge*
Vinegar
Red

*Beef-less

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It was a very small habit, reading the list of Squishy flavors when she came in. But this was apparently one of those weeks where Octavia actually had to pause as she did so.

And then squint a little at that asterisk.

Well, don't look at Shunsui for answers! He had a panda ready to go to war with a felt eagle over a slice of cheese. Whether or not the slushed ice drink flavored like fudge had beef in it or not was really the least of his concerns.

Not that he would have been that concerned even if he didn't have a panda ready to go to war with a felt eagle over a slice of cheese...

And while he was always pleased to see her walk through the doors to the shop, he couldn't help feeling particularly so right now because it gave him an excuse to stop talking to the panda ready to go to war with a felt eagle over a slice of cheese for a little while.

"Octavia-chan ♥!" Shunsui called out in greeting, perhaps a bit louder and brighter than he normally would so that the panda could take the hint that there was a customer and therefor this conversation would have to be put on pause (maybe even indefinitely!). "How absolutely wonderful it is to see you, my dear ♥."

Please. Save hiiiiim.

Octavia took a second more to lament how she was definitely not getting a fudge Squishy with an unknown beef quotient, then finally continued to the counter.

"Hey, Shunsui," she said. Then nodded at the panda. "Panda."

The panda let out a disgruntled huff at being interrupted. He was really on a roll there! And now he might have to slink off to find Apu and complain to him now instead, but he wasn't quite ready to give up this current situation that had been working very well for him so far.

"Is there anything we can help you with today, Octavia-chan ♥?" Shunsui asked. "Perhaps something in another aisle or something that requires a very particular and very rare cheese that would need an expert on the matter to go and look for it in the back ♥?"

The panda narrowed his eyes, getting the distinct feeling that Shunsui was trying to hint at something.

There was a beat.

And then Octavia just said, "Sure."

Which option? Either.

"Well," said Shunsui, lazily dragging his gaze over the the panda, "you heard the lady ♥ go and see if we have that cheese."

You know, the nameless one that they weren't actually looking for.

Because of course Shunsui would choose the option that required less activity from himself, beyond holding that level look on the bear until he finally chuffed out in frustration and stalked off with a growl.

And made sure to make a point of knocking over a display of potato chips on an end cap on his way back to the cheese case.

"Pity I couldn't sign him up for that anger management workshop," Shunsui drawled as his attention shifted back to Octavia with a soft smile, and he managed to find a jug in his hand.

"May I interest you in a beverage, Octavia-chan ♥?"

Octavia looked towards where the panda had gone for a beat longer, then looked back at Shunsui, with the slightest tilt of her head.

"Always."

Well, more or less.

"Apart from the panda having issues, have I missed anything?"

Always was a very generous interpretation of things, but Shunsui was not one to quibble.

Especially not when there was water to be poured carefully but skillfully into two small sake cups, with both held out, cradled in his hand, for her to choose.

"The panda is always having issues," Shunsui almost snorted with the comment, shaking his head slightly. "But no, not particularly. We do seem to be going through an inordinate amount of streamers around here lately, though..."

Octavia picked up one of the cups, carefully - and there, the word 'always' held just a little bit more weight, right?

"Streamers?" she asked, like the largely party-averse person that she was.

A little more, yes.

Certainly enough so that Shunsui's soft smile was not at all about streamers.

"Apu-San's newest favorite decorating staple ♥," he explained. "Between birthdays and seaweed, I'm surprised we even have some still in stock ♥!"

"... Seaweed?"

Look, Octavia would stop repeating words he said in a quizzical manner when she damn well felt like it.

"I'm not asking what that is," she clarified. "Just what it has to do with anything."

Shunsui couldn't help chuckling warmly at the clarification before providing his own. "For one of his ridiculous thematic holiday ventures ♥," he explained. "Tied balloons like bubbles to the ceiling, trying to make it look like the store was underwater. A bit ingenious, really. I didn't get to see it myself, it was on Astrid-chan's day, but she did paint it for one of her postcards... ♥"

He reached over to pull the postcard box closer so he could dance his long fingers between them until he located the artwork in question, slipped it out, and held it out for her.

"There we have it ♥."

Octavia leaned in a little, then carefully took the postcard with her free hand to give it a closer look.

"I'm sorry I missed it," she said, a little quieter. It sounded genuine, but maybe that was no surprise. She was a fan of the water, after all.

"Maybe I can see if he'll be willing to recreate the scene next week ♥," Shunsui offered, his smile as soft as her words. "Maybe add some coat hanger fish and mop-head jellyfish ♥."

Octavia snorted, quietly, and the moment was gone.

"I don't know," she said, holding the post card back to him, "it's probably better as a painting, anyway."

"Maybe we'll get to see first hand, hmm ♥," Shunsui hummed thoughtfully as he took the postcard back between his fingers, flipped it in a way to look at it again himself, and then flipped it back out toward her.

"Would you like to keep it, Octavia-chan? I'll make sure Astrid-chan gets her commission, and she'd be delighted to see that one of them moved ♥."

Octavia's surprise was obvious - or, at least the tiniest bit more so than it might have been a couple of months ago.

The little hesitation, too.

"I -- Yeah." She nodded, looking from him to the postcard and back again. Then reached to take it back. "Thank you."

"Tondemonai, Octavia-chan." Shunsui ducked his head, tipped his hat, before offering a smirk and a wink. "Always good to support local artists, neh ♥?"

Turtle & Canary; Wednesday [06/16].

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