Closed

[not_mafia]

Who: Once-ler, Tsuna, and an unconscious Ino
What: Two of Ino's friends are worried over her and end up running into each other
When: Today
Where: Clinic
Rating: PG

Tsuna had awoken in his room in the castle feeling disoriented and groggy. When he'd realized where he was, he quickly checked the journal to see if Zelos had returned as well, and sure enough, there he was, ranting away. And after getting into a conversation with him, he quickly remembered Ino's condition, and went straight down to the clinic to check on her.

He goes to her room and opens the door.

"Ino?"

But he finds someone else there, too. Someone he wasn't expecting.

"O-once-ler?"

Comments

[not_mafia]

"I do. Ino, Allen-kun and Gale-san are all really nice," Tsuna says, before slouching a little. "Although there is that other guy..."

[whichwayyoulean]

"Another guy?" Once-ler arches a brow. "What, does he live in the basement and collect rat skulls or something?"

[not_mafia]

Tsuna starts at the suggestion. "N-no! ... w..well.. at least, I don't think he does... I don't really know much about him, other than the fact he's a demon."

[whichwayyoulean]

Well, that was just plain silly, good lord, Tsuna. The Once-ler rolls his eyes a little.

"Does he have a little nail file to sharpen his horns and pitchfork?"

[not_mafia]

Tsuna gives him a baffled look.

"... why would he have a pitchfork?"

[whichwayyoulean]

"Because that's what demons have, right?" the Once-ler makes vague stabbing motions with his hand. "Pitchforks."

[not_mafia]

Tsuna gives a slight frown. "I thought they carried spears or knives." Sure made a hell of a lot more sense to him than a pitchfork. Weren't those generally used for farm work???

[whichwayyoulean]

"Really? Knives?" the Once-ler frowns a little. "I thought they were from Hell not the Mean Streets."

[not_mafia]

"The Mean Streets?" Well, this conversation has derailed pretty quickly.

[whichwayyoulean]

They clearly win. The Once-ler nods.

"You know, with street gangs and finger snapping and everything."

[not_mafia]

"Oh, sort of like the yakuza, then."

Because of course Once-ler would know what the yakuza are.

[whichwayyoulean]

"The...." he pauses. "I'm not even going to embarrass myself by trying to pronounce that. What are those...things?"

[not_mafia]

"They're sort of what you described. Gangs, or... mobsters, I guess? Except they're specific to Japan."

[whichwayyoulean]

"Ohhhhh," the Once-ler nodded. "Okay definitely the finger snapping people."

[not_mafia]

Tsuna gives Once-ler a look. "Isn't that just an exaggeration? ... or do they actually do that sort of thing?"

[whichwayyoulean]

"I...don't know," the Once-ler shrugs. "I'm a farmboy. I don't know what they do in cities."

[not_mafia]

"A farmboy? Really?"

What kind of farmboy wears clothes like that???

[whichwayyoulean]

The Once-ler glances down to his suit, his very flash, very expensive suit.

"I'm a farmboy who made it."

[not_mafia]

Some sort of food company...??

Oh wait! He vaguely remembers Once-ler trying to market something during the family reunion.

"Making that, um... what was it called? Threads...?"

[whichwayyoulean]

The Once-ler stills for a moment, damnit Tsuna why do you have such a good memory. His brow furrows, focusing on Ino instead, his hand going to the Thneed always around his neck, his mark of guilt.

"Yeah. The Thneeds."

[not_mafia]

He notices the change in demeanor and starts a bit.

"Um... did I say something wrong?"

[whichwayyoulean]

The Once-ler remains in his own thoughts for a moment more, before realising that Tsuna's addressing him. He clears his throat, sitting up.

"No...it's fine. Really. Long story."

[not_mafia]

How strange. You'd think a person would be proud of his success story.

"Well, alright."

He falls into silence for a few moments. What were they talking about.

"Oh, right, Crowley-san. Yeah, he said he's a demon, but he just looks like a normal guy, really. Well... except for the fact he can turn into a snake and make stuff disappear."

[whichwayyoulean]

He looks glad for the subject change, to move away from the story of HIM onto something else entirely.

"A while ago that would have freaked me out," he admits. "But now? Well, that's just another average resident in Paradisa, right?"

[not_mafia]

"Eh... I guess that's true." Tsuna rubs the back of his neck awkwardly. "Some of the stuff he said was pretty wild, though."