open

[heavyhead]

who: Noctis and open
what: various open prompts including baby animals at the petting zoo
when: throughout May??
where: the zoo, other miscellaneous places
warnings: nothing

A. zoo/this is technically 2 prompts

[For someone who's only ever held down one job (and not for long), Noctis is doing pretty well at this petting zoo attendant thing. He gets to sit around and pet cute animals for most of his shifts? What's not to love? It almost makes up for having to clean up after them at the end of the day.

He has zero complaints about the uniform, complete with nametag, either. Actually this is probably the best part of this job.

What's not so great is how many people he has to talk to and supposedly educate, because damn, he is not great at that. The little kids are easily entertained enough, aside from the precocious ones who keep trying to correct his Animal Facts(tm), but it's a lot harder to remember everything he has to say about the various animals in the petting zoo area when there are actual adults around... He has petting zoo stage fright.

But he tries. Mostly, to varying degrees.

If you come by the petting zoo in the morning, when he's giving it his best shot, you'll probably catch him holding, at the same time, a bunny and a rough-looking, folded-and-unfolded-too-much piece of paper. The bunny is quite literally tucked into the crook of his arm, while he frowns at the paper and flounders.]

Okay, so this type of bunny— rabbit, this type of rabbit usually lives in, uh... [please save him, ask a question or something.]

[ORRRR if you come by later in the day, when he's just tired and wants to clock out and go, he'll hold up what looks mostly like a baby alligator, but for some reason, orange, and sigh.] You want to hold a lizard?

[professional.]

B. not the zoo

[When he's not at work, Noctis can be found loitering in public spaces like shopping centers and food courts, minding his own business and playing on his phone... or buying too many fishing lures at a time, or actually standing around looking like he might want to talk to someone.

The thing is: he had shit to do at home and it was pretty dang important, and now he's here and as much as he'd like to stay in his room and sleep all the time, there are people there and so he needs something else to keep busy. Which is dreadful in and of itself, but finding something to do besides mobile games? Even worse. He's compromised and gone back to the only thing he knows how to do: favors for other people. So while he loiters, there's a little sign set next to him that just says 'ODD JOBS' on it in marker. Hire him to pick vegetables or something.

He's still wearing the lion hat.]

C. etc?!

[plotting available @melodrama!]

Comments

a ... u know i gotta

[followhim]

[poe is true to his word and visiting the petting zoo just like he told noctis he would at memoria. animals are great, okay. and poe grew up on a ranch. it's sort of like home. only a lot more weird. and then he finds noctis with the orange lizard!!! omg son.]

I would love to hold a lizard.

hey bud

[heavyhead]

[Ah, it's Poe. If Noctis were still trying to be good at his Educating, he'd fumble even more around someone he knows, but this late in the day all he has is a wry smile.]

It's a real thrill. Grab it here, and here- [He's demonstrating while holding out said lizard. Here, here.] It's, uh... I don't remember what it's called.

[cookingmama]

Lives in...

[Here Ignis is, casually stepping into frame while Noctis is trying to focus on his paper. He was trying exceedingly hard to keep himself from grinning at his little uniform, but up close like this... It's hard, okay? He's biting his lip.]

Perhaps one of the first graders can tell you.

a morning

[finethanks]

[Eichi came here more to see Noct than he did to see the animals, but this is a sight that's beyond his expectations. Noct in a cute lion hat and shirt, holding a cute rabbit and dealing with children and adults alike. How endearing.

But it seems like he's struggling a bit, and so rather than stand by and watch him suffer, Eichi steps over and reaches out both hands in an offering to hold the rabbit.]

In... what are your guesses? It's a pop quiz, you know, so raise your hands and wait to be called on. [Interactive education is so much easier, right? Kids, especially those smarty pants ones, are eagerly raising and waving their hands around.] Those who answer correctly get a chance to pet the rabbit first. ♪

[Mm... maybe it doesn't have to be a competition, though... But oh well.]

[followhim]

[he follows noctis' demonstration, holding the lizard appropriately.] I love him! He's great. What's his name? They have names, right?

[heavyhead]

[Ignis!! Noctis glances at him, not relieved that one of his beloved asshole friends has come to make this moment worse, making a face like he should just go if he's going to be like that.

But actually-] Looks like we've got a volunteer. Why don't you show us the best place for the rabbit to, uh, make its home?

[God, he sounds like a bad documentary. But he's gesturing with his little paper behind him, at the Rabbit Habitat. Come, Ignis. Show the children.]

[heavyhead]

[Noctis is only a little bit mortified to spot Eichi in the tiny crowd of people waiting for him to say something smart about bunnies. Familiar faces don't make him more confident at all, it's quite the opposite when he's in the petting zoo spotlight like this...

But oh, he's- helping? Sort of? The kids seem only momentarily concerned that this new guy isn't wearing a lion hat, but otherwise the moment is briefly saved.]

Everyone gets a chance to pet the rabbit. The same chance.

[Please, Eichi, he needs to keep this job?? So he says this for the kids' benefit while giving Eichi a look, hesitating just a little before handing over the rabbit. It's wiggling, please enjoy.]

[heavyhead]

Uh- hold on. [He's got a folded up paper somewhere in his pocket for this, too. He takes that out to look, lizard names, lizard names... aha.]

It's—it's Lizzy. [He looks ashamed by proxy. He didn't pick this.]

B.

[threatenwithcuteness]

*Lola was here because food courts allowed you to mix and match things that you generally shouldn't, food wise. But her dad wasn't here so she did it anyway. She had some sushi, a salad, and some onion rings because Lola is indulging herself a bit right now. She was going to sit by herself, eat, and just go on with her day.*

*But like with most terrible Lola choices, she spotted a boy. Sure, the hat was ugly, but he had a sign. Sure, it said odd jobs, but to Lola it was an invitation. So she sat at his table.*

So did you not like the job they offered when you arrived, or are you just that bored you'll do odd jobs to fill the time?

[heavyhead]

[The thing about the odd jobs sign is it pretty much is an invitation, but, you know- for odd jobs. So Noctis is surprised when he looks up from his phone and is apparently now in the middle of a conversation, blinking at the girl for a moment before he remembers to participate.]

Yeah—pretty much. Bored, I mean. Guess you could say I left my other hobbies at home.

[cookingmama]

[Ignis opens his mouth, realizes he has no counter suitable for the ears of children, and closes it. He gives Noctis one long look of disdain before he walks by.]

The rabbit... makes... it's home in... grassy areas. [yes, he's excellent at this,] To avoid getting eaten by-- [a kid looks mortified,] --to eat lots and never be in danger, ever, from anything. They're always just fine. Pet them.

[Do your job, Noctis,]

[ a ]

[supersweet]

[ Jon likes the zoo. He doesn't get to go there very often, considering Metropolis is a fair distance away from Hamilton and whenever they head into the city, things are . . . well. Busy. But the school took the class on a field trip and gave them some time to look around the exhibits, so long as they meet back at the entrance at the appointed time.

His father once spoke of a zoo. A special zoo he had created for creatures whose planets had died. Jon hadn't seen it though. A human zoo was just as amazing, with all the animals. As he wanders into the petting zoo, he watches Noctis struggle and tries not to giggle. Quietly, like he's passing on a secret. ]

Fields. Even forests.

[followhim]

Lizzy? Wow, what a great name! [he starts talking to the lizard, who is a lizard and obviously could not give less of a shit. but he is undeterred.] What do you think, Lizzy? You like your name? I think he likes it. Or is it she?

A;

[leatherdaddy]

...I'm not interested in touching your lizard.

[ He meaning the mini-gator that looks like one of his boots, only emergency orange. Gladio thinks this is a great place to take Iris sometime, but first thing's first -- he needs to check in on Noct. They didn't part on the best note, and while this isn't unusual, the heavy nature of the festival may have compounded things. ]

Hey, Noct. You on break soon?

[heavyhead]

[A grown man talking to a lizard. Noctis can't judge, he totally talked to the baby goats for half his morning. But the lizard really and truly does not give a shit. Maybe it blinks.]

Dunno. I didn't ask how to, you know- how to tell. I think it's a girl?

[heavyhead]

[Ignis....... Noctis watches him flounder, visibly cringing when he nearly says the bunnies get eaten. But oh, great save.]

Yeah—pet 'em. Who wants to be first? One, uh, at a time- [Give him a moment to show a kid how to hold a rabbit correctly and dislodge himself from the throng of tiny children, then he can step back to supervise. By supervise we mean keep an eye on them while he talks to Ignis on the job.]

Real smooth, specs. 'Never be in danger, ever'- wish I thought of that one.

[heavyhead]

[After being corrected by a smart mouthed 6-year-old one too many times, Noctis is wary of audience participation, as it were. So at first he doesn't seem to respond to that helpful tip beyond a hasty glance, and another when he realizes he isn't being called out by kindergarteners this time. Aha-]

—Fields, right! And the forest, where they make, uh... burrows...

[He's guessing. This time the hasty glance is somewhat pleading, looking for confirmation. Is he doing better, rabbit expert kid??]

[heavyhead]

[She's a fine emergency lizard, and if no one wants to hold her she gets to go back in her little lizard habitat. Unlike when Ignis stopped by, Noctis makes no move to sidle out of his work to chat with Gladio—sooo he's probably still mad? He's still mad. He turns away to put the lizard back, shrugging.]

Nope. Got loads to do here.

[...enh, fine.] Shift ends in an hour, give or take.

[leatherdaddy]

[ He's known him too long not to read his expressions like an open book, not that Noct is particularly subtle. He's still pissed. Not that Gladio can blame him, but that also doesn't feel great. Gladio crosses his arms and nods in his direction, isn't going to be dismissed quite so easily. ]

Great, then we've got enough time for a tour.

[ You didn't expect him to just up and leave, right? ]

[heavyhead]

[Uhhh he was kind of hoping he'd go away for an hour, but apparently not. Nothing in life is ever this easy, though, and that goes both ways.]

It's not a big petting zoo. I'm not supposed to go anywhere else.

[That's it, that's the tour. He has baby goats to corral, next.]

[supersweet]

[ Jon nods helpfully with a grin. ]

Where they store their food like carrots, weeds and other plants.

[followhim]

Huh. What if I put her on my shoulder? Can I do that? [at least he asks for permission. just try to tell him no. he'll ... jk he wouldn't do it. but he would be sad.]

[heavyhead]

[Oh thank god, a food transition. He can handle that one, shuffling over with the rabbit in his arms to a feeder that cranks out pellets suitable for kids to drop all over the area in a few minutes.]

That's right— and we've got some... plant pellets right here for everyone to feed the rabbits. One at a time... [He has to stand here and crank out pellets for a dozen small children now, but Jon gets a grateful nod of his own. Come here and get rabbit food, little expert.]

[heavyhead]

[What manner of request-] Uh- sure? Go for it, just, y'know, don't drop her. Or make a run for it.

[He might hoverhand a little. He's responsible for this lizard!!]

[finethanks]

My, you heard the words of the king of the jungle. ♪ Line up, one by one, as he takes your answers.

[Eichi takes it in stride with a laugh, accepting the wiggling bunny and doing surprisingly well with holding it. He can be gentle with a bunny, and wiggling doesn't startle him. So, he'll crouch down enough to let everyone take turns petting it as some smart kids probably show off their knowledge of rabbit habitats.

It continues like this for another while longer, probably another question or two, before the kids are led on to the next exhibit by their chaperones and Eichi is left standing back up and petting this bunny.]

Do you struggle with public speaking, Noct-kun? [Blunt...]