[Open] Plain talking takes us so far. Plain talking served us so well.

[dominateartimus]

Who: Xander Jarle & you?
Where: A grocery store, for the most part.
When: November 8th, evening.
What: Xander is finishing up work for the day and encountering other members of the network.


It wasn't unusual for Xander to slip between the cart barricade that blocked the entry way to the ovens. Once again, he needed to pick up a few things before he left the store, but was promptly halted by another customer who was inquiring about some baked goods. With a smile (despite the buzzing in his head making it difficult to focus), he did his best to reassure the person that they were closed for the evening and would be restocked first thing in the morning. After bidding them farewell, he shifts his bag on his shoulder and starts to move out of the bakery section towards another aisle.

Comments

[dominateartimus]

"Yeah. Well, at least we're fortunate to bump in to each other at a later date." Then again, not everyone stuck around to talk after defeating the monster.

He shakes the other man's hand with a gentle touch and a nod. "It's nice to meet you as well, Richard."

Once introductions were made, he pulls back his hand and glances to the shelves of ramen. What he needed wasn't here, but was further down the aisle. He wasn't about to rudely take off on the other man and at the same time, couldn't make any recommendations on what brand to eat. Unable to help himself, he taps the strap of his bag. It was a restless habit when talking to people.

"Anyway, I won't hold you up from your shopping."

[flamberge]

"Lucky, if entirely unexpected." Not to say it's bad; quite the contrary as Richard doesn't mind chatting when he has the time. He had been one of those who hadn't stay to chat. Monster hunting was important, hence why he'd come; chatting around after wasn't.

A comment of it being a pleasure on his end comes from Richard, as well. Xander's comment causes him to briefly glance over the ramen. "Purchasing cup ramen hardly constitutes as shopping." It really doesn't. Shopping means buying actual things; coming to buy ramen because cooking takes too much effort is just laziness (or being far too busy) at its finest.

[dominateartimus]

"True." He replies with a curt nod. To be honest, he didn't hold it against Richard for taking off since he figured the man had a job to return back to.

Richard's response gets a chuckle from him. "...It's still getting something, even if it is instant noodles and flavoring. Too bad there isn't a deal going on right now. I take it you're not a fan of canned soup?"

[flamberge]

His gaze shifts from the ramen and back onto Xander. "Not particularly. The taste of it hasn't ever appealed to me and it takes slightly more effort to prepare than this." Burning canned soup is possible; burning ramen isn't and it's still edible while soggy. Both taste bad, but one is idiot-proof to make.

Plus, maybe him being a bit spoiled plays into the preference. Every time he had soup when he was younger, it was nothing short of delicious and homemade. Attempting to eat these canned bastardizations feels wrong. Eating ramen, a meal never served at his old home, didn't feel nearly as bad.

[dominateartimus]

"I can see your reasoning behind that." Xander comments with a nod before adding, "Probably a lot easier to make at work too."

Here he was assuming that it would be a lot easier to open a packet opposed to a can with a pocket knife or an actual can opener. His fingers start to tap out a silent tune against the strap of his bag.

[flamberge]

That logic is a sound one, but it doesn't apply to Richard. Perks of being a school teacher is that there's a cafeteria. Downside of being a school teacher is the quality of the cafeteria food. "Undoubtedly so, however I tend to eat something unhealthier than this at work."

[dominateartimus]

At the mention of eating something unhealthier at work causes his eyebrows to raise a bit.

"Perhaps you should bring that up with whoever is running the place." He says before he can even stop himself.

[flamberge]

An amused hmm comes from Richard's end. Logical as that is, changing the food would take a lot more than the voice of chem teacher who's not really a chem teacher. "A single chemistry teacher is unlikely to be able to sway a principal on the matter."

[dominateartimus]

He blinks a few times at hearing that the man beside him was a chemistry teacher. Then again, it wasn't his place to judge someone based off of their combat skills. "Do the other teachers feel the same way that you do on the cafeteria food?"

[flamberge]

The small look of surprise at the mention of being a teacher doesn't escape Richard's notice. Heh, it must be odd to think a school teacher would willingly help take down a monster and do so with some level of skill to boot.

"I hadn't thought to take a survey, though a number have complained to my knowledge." Of the times he'd bothered to go to the teacher's lounge, maybe up to 6 or so complaints about the food reached his ears.

[dominateartimus]

Xander honestly expected the other man to be in security or something involving some form of combat instead of chemistry teacher. He wasn't about to inquire about his students, that was none of his business to begin with.

"Maybe you should suggest the idea to them. Someone is bound to take you up on it." He suggests with a small shrug before moving his hands away from the strap of his bag.

[flamberge]

The lack of questioning about the fighting chemistry teacher is nice, if unexpected. Then again, maybe Xander is simply, if wisely, refraining because of the location.

"I'll consider doing so one day." He pauses momentarily before adding. "Though possibly after winter break. Should there be a strike due to terrible food, best to have one when school's in session." This would be his poor attempt at a joke.

[dominateartimus]

He was raised to be polite and he wasn't one to pry even if the matter was better suited for a private setting opposed to a public one.

Richard's comment gets a chuckle out of him. It wasn't out of poor taste in humor, it was because of a personality trait he echoed back. He couldn't help himself sometimes.

"I wish you luck with that."

[flamberge]

Someone actually laughing at his jokes is a nice change. Maybe a small smirk comes in response to the luck wishing. "Thank you."

Fun as this chat is, however, chatting up Xander any further while he's on the clock may not be the best idea. Not to mention, he has ramen to make. "I won't distract you any further from your work."

[dominateartimus]

"You're welcome." He says in response, almost automatically.

At the mention of Richard keeping him from work causes his eyebrows to raise. He wasn't in uniform and was off the clock for the day, but then again, earlier in their conversation he said the same thing about keeping from shopping. So, he gives a small chuckle and a nod.

"The same can be said about you. It was nice meeting you and I hope you're able to decide between the selection here." With that, he raises a hand to give a small farewell as he moves further down the aisle to get what he needed.