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[ john doesn't really know why he's doing this. ]

[ he'd been so adamant on steinbeck being separate from himself; he'd refused to allow any of the memories bother him for that reason, enthusiastically dismissing them as just retrospec's habit of fucking with people. acknowledging that they affected him felt like he was letting them win, somehow, even if there wasn't anything to win.

it reminds him that he probably shouldn't have asked a friend he actually sort of, kind of... cares about the opinion of. it's strange to consider in itself. so much for john becket's apathy in all of this. why now? what did he want? some sort of confirmation that he's still him? that he's not a freak?

nah— he definitely already knows the answer to that last one. ]

[ but anyway, john's arrived unfashionably early to their rendevous point. ]

Yo. [ despite that confused inner-monologue, he offers a stilted grin. he waves to shuji. ] Sorry for callin' you out like this! It's just that thing, where Retrospec gives you some new ability, and it's kinda...

[ he trails off. yeah. ]

It's okay. I don't mind helping you out when Retrospec pulls its bullshit.

[He isn't even thinking about how he didn't get a chance to style his hair this morning, or anything like that - he's just worried that something freaked John out this badly.]

Ready whenever you are.

[ john gives a little half-smile at that— it looks more genuine than that excuse for a grin had been, anyway. his friends here, tsk. continually warming his little black heart. ]

[ but john nods— that's the cue. a few things then proceed to happen. he fishes out a tiny seed from one pocket, a freshly-sharpened knife from the other. and then he pulls his collar down, just a bit, where perhaps evidence of his other practice sessions can be glimpsed: jagged marks in various stages of healing. he's quick to add another cut to the collection, pushing the seed into the open wound. this is how steinbeck went about it, he remembers.

the seed sprouts, a tiny green tendril pushing forward. it's only young for a second or so, however, before it matures and blooms forth. roots begin to take visible hold beneath his skin. grape buds blossom and then mature into fruit, with lengths of vines undulating and surging upward several feet. extending on either side of him, a few curl lazily about his arms while others brace themselves in the dirt. ]

How do I look?

[ GORGEOUS, RIGHT. ]

[A few things proceed to happen in succession, and Shuji can't help but startle a little when he sees the patchwork of marks on John's skin. And there isn't any way he wouldn't be worried by John hurting himself, even if he knows he's doing this to show him whatever-

-that's what whatever is, okay. Shuji takes a good look.]

Like you have a bunch of vines coming out of you. I don't think it's going to be the hit new fashion trend, sorry.

[If he jokes about it, it won't seem so awkward.]

Damn, really... Well, you'd know best.

[ he heaves a wistful sigh. and he might do a showy twirl for shuji here, but like. it's a lot of greenery to move around. ]

[ one of the vines, nearer to the ground, twist to pick up some stray stick. it doesn't look like the most dexterous of maneuvers on john's part, but it does end up coiling around it like a snake might. ]

I'm tryin' to work with it, though! I'd guess the only way people go 'bout perfectin' these... abilities, is to practice, yeah?

Normally, but I'm not sure how I feel about you hurting yourself to do that...

[Well, no, he knows he doesn't like John getting hurt for any reason. That's not the issue here.]

But it's the ability you've got, so you might as well get used to it and learn to use it. No redoes.

...Can I touch them?

[don't make this sound weird shuji]

It's just routine, no worries.

[ well, it'll... be routine eventually, he's sure. stabbing himself in the neck is still pretty uncomfortable to consider.

the inquiry does somewhat surprise him— but it's also amusing, as is perhaps evident in the little quirk of his mouth. (also, toO LATE, it's already weird.) there's a nod, and one of the vines, grapes and all, lift to hover near to shuji. ]

[Shuji hesitates for a moment before reaching out to touch one of the vines.

It feels like a vine. He's not sure what he expected, but that's reassuringly normal. Shuji's not sure what he's supposed to do with that so he just ends up... petting it?]

It's no weirder than any of the other stuff that Retrospec puts us through. Still John Becket, just also with a vine thing you can do now.

[ he can't believe one of his vines are being... pet. he almost bursts out laughing. at least it's a nice vinetacle, apparently! it curls lightly around shuji's hand, giving it a friendly little shake. good to meet you too, bruh. ]

[ at shuji's words, john pauses. he wonders if he'd had one of those stupid thoughts hover over his head recently, giving him away (not like it wasn't obvious), and he feels a little embarrassed about it all. ]

[ but as minor of a statement as it is, it's nice to hear. ]

... Yeah. That's right, it's just— an addition, that's all.

[It's a very nice vinetacle. Polite and everything.]

Exactly. Nothing's gone that you had before.

[So obviously he's the same as he was before he discovered he had this ability.]

If anybody gets on your case about it, I'll punch them.

[ ???

gives shuji a look ]

You would? Really?

[ appreciative of this but also skeptical? ]

I would! ...I mean, it wouldn't do that much because I'm not very good at punching people, but I would do it for you!

[THEY ARE FRIENDS AND SHUJI CARES and also anyone who said that would be a dickbag.]

[ annnd the first thought of john's to appear: Aww, that's kinda cute. ]

[ ... which he means in a totally platonic and! actually not a condescending way, seriously. oblivious to these going-ons, john laughs pretty openly. the vine about shuji's hand will retract. ]

Heh. Thanks for sentiment, but you don't gotta risk it. Reckon I could handle it nicely, myself.

[ "nicely": definitions may vary ]

[Shuji's gaze flicks above John's head. He should probably point that out, he'd rather know if his thoughts were being shown even if it was embarrassing...]

Is the thought bubble thing part of your plant thing, or is that separate?

Huh?

[ ah, crud.

that. john hates retrospec, more news at eleven. one of his vines move to hastily clear the air of that thought, whether that turns out to be literally or not. and answering, once that's done: ]

No...o. That's—more Retrospec crap, I guess? But nothin' they've given me especially...

[Wow, I've never thought that a grapevine was adorable before.

Of course Shuji gets his own thought bubble above his head, that's only fair. He doesn't notice.]

That means it'll go away pretty soon. It's annoying, but not the worst thing that could happen.

[ and john never thought someone would think one of his grapevines is adorable either, fancy that. john's smile becomes crooked, as he, um, reflects on this.

(to himself this time, thankfully.) ]

... Dependin' on the thought, maybe.

If you were thinking something like 'mwahaha, I will stab Shuji when his back is turned' then that might be a problem. For one thing, who actually thinks 'mwa-ha-ha'?

[Seriously. John definitely is not so dweeby.]

Walkin' down some crowded street, I'm sure you'd see a few thinkin' mwahaha and then somethin' mean.

[ he can't believe he just said "mwahaha" aloud... thanks......... remember that vine that had curled itself around that stick?? well, it's going to snap it in two. the halves fall to the dirt. ]

I'm talkin', like, what if you're at work? And then your employer sees whatever. [ "whatever'": he'll leave that up to the imagination. ]

That's a good point, if your employer saw you thinking about how you probably won't get caught for some non-work thing you're doing. Is this the type of thing where not-Retrospec-aware employers can't see it at all, or where they think that thought bubbles are completely normal?

[Of course, if you work for a Retrospec-aware boss, then you're hosed either way.]

Considerin' their track record, I'm bettin' that it's all just another average day for 'em.

[ it's a little strange to reflect that, only up until a few months ago, he'd also been non-retrospec aware... what a time that must've been, thinking it all to be completely normal. (better days?)

but. he's amused that shuji would fill in his blank with "non-work thing you're doing." his grin widens. ]

Ha, do you get up to some screwin' around on the job?

No, because I live in perpetual fear of being fired for something and my parents calling me a shame to the family.

[He loves them, but Asian-American parents.]

Oh.

[ well that got super real and depressing QUICK... his smile falters. ]

Well, I mean, they don't gotta know, yeah? [ see, that's john's solution to most things in life. ]

[He didn't mean to make it depressing, oops...]

I think they'd find out pretty quickly even if I tried to hide it - but it's fine! I haven't been fired yet!

How's work for you?

[MAYBE LESS DEPRESSING.]

... There's hopefully some laws in place that you can't be fired over a wayward thought or two. But no "yets"— I can't imagine you doin' anythin' worth gettin' nixed over.

[ it's okay, sometimes things just become unexpectedly real. ]

[ don't think he doesn't notice that topic change!! ]

'S mostly the same. [ a light shrug. he probably shouldn't be overconfident in his ventures, but like. he is. ] Not too bad, anyway. I'm gunnin' for a nicer position, maybe.

2/2 tldr

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