thenearshore | [ closed ] jae-ha just wanted to buy shoes

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[ closed ] jae-ha just wanted to buy shoes

Who: Jae-Ha & Ukoku, Jae-Ha & Hazel
What: They literally get stuck in an elevator
When: 5/6
Where: Some random department store in the near shore
Warnings: I don't think so,,,

[In this very moment, it would be very nice if Jae-Ha understood modern day technology. Elevators were something new and fascinating. The first time he got in one he probably rode to each floor like a child before calmly walking off on a floor and getting lost. Now, he was a little more used to them. It was easy to understand. The number reflected the floor, and you press it to go up or down to it. It goes in order... all of that is very easy.

But he has no idea that there's a "close doors" button to speed things up, or he'd be jamming it right now. Hmm, surely that can't be Ukoku in the middle of this department store? Is he hallucinating? He must be hallucinating. Ah, no, he's getting closer, that's definitely him.

Jae-Ha doesn't know what to do, since he's too close to slip out unnoticed, and so he just glances to the side of the elevator and pretends he's not paying attention to anything at all. Yes, this is smooth, maybe he'll take an abrupt turn and not end up inside. He certainly isn't going to hold these closing doors open for him.]

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[ It sure is Ukoku. He notices Jae-Ha as the doors are closing, but he was heading for the elevator anyway. He raises a hand in greeting (and the implied hey could you hold the doors), but Jae-Ha's staring at the wall, so: ]

Jae-H—

[ And then the doors shut. He almost made it, but Jae-Ha is safe.

Until Ukoku teleports in a second later, looking up and down. ]

Oh, wow, I didn't die! I thought I might end up halfway through the floor.

[ He smiles at Jae-Ha. Hi friend! Don't worry about letting the doors close in his face, he's not mad. ]

[For a brief moment, there is relief.

And then his heart drops to his stomach as he turns in surprise at Ukoku's figure appearing anyway. Ah. He forgot gods can do that... Maybe because Hazel forgets so often, as well.]

You! [Hello. His arms lower just as quickly as they raised in their surprise, and Jae-Ha glances back at the panel of buttons. They have quite a few floors to go, unless Ukoku happens to need a closer one...]

I didn't see you there, Ni. [Yeah...] With teleportation like that, an elevator becomes almost unnecessary...

[ Ukoku checks the panel, too, and presses the button for the top floor. It should be a short ride, it's fine… ]

You think so? Doing it without being able to see where you're going just seems like tempting fate. I'm not that brave. [ Let's all forget that he just did it two seconds ago!! ] And look who I caught! I almost never see people I know down here. This is nice. How've you been? [ It's been a whole ten days. ]

[Hmm... The top floor. Of course. Jae-Ha focuses on that button as Ukoku speaks, keeping one arm folded over his chest as the other touches to his chin. Yes, well, he could stall the conversation long enough. Surely a few minutes wouldn't be enough for Ukoku to menace him. The elevator is already moving after a little jump in how it starts.]

I've been quite well. [Definitely, totally, very well, not like a thousand worrying things have happened. He drops his hand from his chin so both arms can stay crossed now, looking over to Ukoku.] How about you? I hadn't taken you as the type to leave your temple much at all.

[ He shoots Jae-Ha a wounded look. ] Really? I must make such a bad impression. [ Ha ha,

but no listen he's super hip and in no way working on weird projects by himself in his lightless temple. ]

Did you get stuck dealing with—

[ The elevator grinds to a noisy halt, suddenly, and the lights flicker. They're between floors. Ukoku stares up at the ceiling. ]

That didn't sound good! [ He's pretty chipper about it, though, because of course. ]

[The good news is he doesn't have to bother reassuring him that he doesn't make a bad impression, or hear whatever his question was just yet. The bad news is... he has no idea what happened. His arms uncross at the jolt of a stop and he glances up at the ceiling as well. They're no longer moving...?]

Eh? [Is this... normal, he's only been on an elevator a couple of times. Ukoku's words make him think it's not normal... so he waits another few seconds before glancing over at the lit up panel.] Did it forget that it had passengers?

[WHAT'S GOING ON... You know, he's just going to hit another button and watch it light up. Nothing happens... So he hits another one. Still nothing. A few button presses later, and he's just jamming the number of the floor he wants.]

How strange, that it would just stop... [GO...!!!]

It is strange! We must have really bad luck. Try pressing only the even numbers.

[ Meanwhile he's going to lean against the wall and do nothing but watch Jae-Ha attempt to deal with the elevator. ]

I hope you weren't in a hurry. It might take a while, if they need to get someone to fix it.

[Even numbers?? What is an even number. He presses 8 since that seems nice and...balanced... and then gives up and pulls out his phone while he's still hovering over here.]

So it's broken? [It would take him way longer to google about this than it would be to text Hazel, so, that's what he's doing oh-so-secretly. He pauses in the middle of this just long enough to toss Ukoku another look. He's just standing there...]

Could it be that this is something you enjoy, Ni? [That's a weird kink old man, make the elevator work!!] To be honest, I don't know much about this rising box at all.

Well, I didn't really have anything pressing to do. [ It's not like he has friends or anything.

He comes up behind Jae-Ha and reaches past him to press the help button. He's helping!! He's also standing very close. ]

How's Hazel?

[Ukoku is too tiny to seem like he's looming this much. Jae-Ha has never before been uncomfortable simply due to someone standing too close, since usually he has no concept of personal space, but there must be a first time for everything.

He holds the screen of his phone against his chest, as if that's casual.]

Hazel? Oh, he's doing very well. [He's staring at the help button, now.] He's incredibly happy.

Is he? I'm glad to hear that.

[ He moves to lean against the wall again, but he's still much closer to Jae-Ha than he was. He's at a great angle to see the phone screen, if and when Jae-Ha goes back to super obviously texting Hazel. ]

Did you two get caught up in that, um— [ he makes a vague gesture indicating all around them— ] whatever it was that was going on down here? I didn't have my shinki with me, so I didn't see much of it.

[ Jae-Ha is at least vaguely aware that Ukoku will be able to see his secret conversation if he moves his phone screen to look at it again. He's sent just one message to Hazel so far, questioning how to make the "box" move again when it stops... But his phone makes a muffled jingle when Hazel replies, and Jae-Ha pretends it has nothing to do with anything. ]

We helped out for some time, at least. [ he remembers that draining atmosphere and doesn't really want to comment on how screwed he had been for some time... instead, he tries to angle the screen just to himself so he can reply.

He's horrible at this, so it'll be in plain view. ] We left before whatever large event occurred at the end, so I'm not sure what happened, honestly. [ He's so slow at texting, but he sure is trying to type "Your weird uncle is stuck in here with me" when Hazel doesn't understand what his box question means. Is not typing his name any more subtle when he says "in here with me?" No, but let him live. ]

How do you make the box go again if it stops

[ Well, his question wasn't finished but he has to send it for Reasons, so there it is. ]

Get off the bus?

[That's the best guess he can come up with... but why would Jae-Ha forget the word bus... What does it mean??]

Your weird uncle is stuck in here with me.

[ That took a little longer than usual for him to send back since Ukoku is just THERE, and he is at least trying to be subtle... It's too bad his ringtone goes off every time. He doesn't even get to correct him on how he knows what bus are and he's not on one. ]

[His what?? Who could possibly be his weird— oh, that weird uncle. Kick him in the teeth, Jae-Ha!!]

On the bus? [HELP...]

[ He has to take time to remember what it's called, and then he tries to type it without looking at the screen... ]

Elevtaot [ a good effort ]

[what the hell

Well, that works... How does he spell things wrong when he types so slowly in the first place? Real mysteries Hazel wonders about.]

I don't know how to fix an elevator. Did you press the button to call somebody?

I think he did he

[ pls hold, a break in messages... ]

I think he can see what I'm writing to you

[ WHAT DOES HE DO ]

[HE DID HE?? Jae-Ha!]

Well, turn around. There's plenty of corners to stand in.

He moved closer the last time I tried this.

[ like he'll still try again but just saying!! ]

How hard is it to keep a man face to face? There's nowhere to sneak around in an elevator.

[STOP SNEAKING, UKOKU,]

Well, it was nice of you to stick your necks out. I'm sure the people you helped would appreciate it, if they knew or could remember.

[ Except no one will ever thank them and their efforts are worthless, etc. etc. He takes out his own phone and starts tapping out a text. It's nothing and it's not getting sent anywhere ever, but he's typing it very close to his chest so no creepy uncles can see what he's saying!! ]

Oh, how's the garden coming?

[ Okay, he gets the tone behind those first comments and it really bothers him, actually. Who helps people just to be acknowledged? Even as his phone goes off a couple times and one message is typed without looking, he eyes Ukoku. ]

Regardless of what they remember, they still have their lives, so that's all we could ask for. [ Now, finally, he turns so his back is to this corner! ...but only after he read his phone to get the idea to do so. ]

The garden is lovely. It seems that things grow so much more quickly in the heavens...

Well, now being in a corner with him is just awkward. He's texting someone, too... Who could he be messaging?

[ look he sneaks a lot and this is just hard!! But he's managed it so far. He's facing him. ]

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[ closed ] jae-ha just wanted to buy shoes

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The text convo in question... for Hazel

Sighs at this

Be nice to him...

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