Eating alone (Afternoon - Iris)

Today was a special day and the atmosphere certainly reflected that. The masses were abuzz with excitement and anticipation as they raced from place to place searching desperately for some way to burn time before the big reveal. Morning had arguably been a bit slow, but now that the afternoon had arrived things had really been kicked up a notch. The Research and Development Building was so full of people that it seemed as though the entire population of Endymion had flocked to it and this was hardly unjustified. After all, this was the beginning of a new era -- the coming of something that would change the world forever! But whereas some were content with waiting for the main act, others were not so patient.





Boredom.

It had consumed the child's mind and left her dumbfounded at the scene that played out before her. This day was supposed to be huge, but it sure wasn't feeling like it. She had expected fun and thrills when she came here, but there wasn't a bit of it to be found anywhere! The girl had scoured the place for it, even sneaking off from her parents' side in search of it, but in the end she had found nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Yet it seemed to her as though she was the only who felt that way. Everyone else had this big, dumb, goofy grin plastered on their faces as they shoved their way past each other. It was all so confusing to her. What was so cool about this place? People were taking to it like moths to light, but why?

Miyuki's pocket shook furiously with the vibrations of her phone while she squirmed her way through the crowd. Her stomach groaned and grumbled wildly as her eyes searched longingly for somewhere, ANYWHERE, to grab a bite to eat. The food court had lots of options, but most of the restaurants had lines that stretched for miles. Disinterested and starving, she spent what seemed like eons searching for somewhere she wouldn't have to wait until finally she found it -- her oasis, a diamond in the rough, the figurative needle in the metaphorical haystack! After spending the last of the money she had on her she'd waltz around a bit longer with a bag full of food in her hand until finally she found an empty seat; a spot next to Frog. For a moment or two she'd pay him no mind, but it only took a few seconds for her eyes to catch a glimpse of him.

Miyuki was no master of reading people, but he didn't seem nearly as hyped as everyone else. Perhaps he was like her? She knew better than to talk to strangers, but an overwhelming sense of curiosity plagued her. Besides, there were plenty of people around them. If he turned out to be some kind of freak then all she had to do was shout and someone would come to her aid, right? So, aiming a poke at his shoulder, she'd stare at the teenager to her side with inquisitive eyes.

Miyuki's eyes studied Frog curiously. He hadn't exactly offered an answer to her question, but judging from his words he apparently was mad at someone. Whatever they had done, it had to have been something really mean to provoke a reaction like this... Well, either that or he was just a really big crybaby. That was always a possibility. She didn't know what exactly all this was about, so it wasn't like she could form some kind of judgment about him or the people he was talking about. So, when the boy turned his attention to her and asked her for some confirmation, a look of confusion would spread across her face. "Uh... I dunno. Maybe?" She'd reply while scratching her head. The child wasn't really sure what to say and would give him a blank, awkward stare while collecting her thoughts.

"What makes them a brute?" She'd ask just before her stomach emitted a loud growl. Looking down at it briefly, she'd reach into the bag of food she had with her and begin shoveling fries into her mouth. For a second or two she completely forgot about the man sitting next to her and, upon remembering his existence, would pull another fry out of the bag and extend it towards him. "Want a fry? They're really good!" French fries weren't exactly a good icebreaker, but there was no harm in offering one to him. Unless he was allergic to them. Could people be allergic to fries? People could probably be allergic to fries.

The child would nod in agreement with Frog and apply her index finger to her chin. Her eyes danced with a certain mischief as she clearly pondered over something -- although what exactly that something wasn't clear. She stayed like this for a few seconds until suddenly she began to snicker to herself. Whatever she was thinking of, the prospect of it was clearly amusing to her. "Hehehehehe. You know where these brutes are? I've got an idea." Miyuki would ask Frog with a sly, eager smile spread across her face.

The corners of her mouth stretched upwards spreading her already gigantic grin even further across her face. She looked to Frog and mimicked a pout, although in truth she hadn't taken much offense to the label. To her it was all a joke -- the devious glint within her pupils being proof enough of that. "Why, how rude! I'm just... expressing my creativity. Yeah, that's it." Miyuki would assure the boy with a giggle. This was gonna be great! But there was something bothering her. There were some problems with her plan. For starters, where exactly was she going to find three buckets of butter? And how was she going to get all the seagulls in one place? "Hmm... This is gonna require some improv." She muttered to herself with a disappointed look on her face. Oh well. Maybe she could try that one some other time. Besides, it was way too good to waste on a bunch of complete strangers.

Miyuki would grab the box of fries and practically pour them down her throat. She reached into the bag and savagely tore open the wrapper to her burger. In the course of just a few seconds there wasn't a single bit of her meal left. It would no doubt prove jarring to Frog how quick a tiny, little girl like her was able to scarf down that entire meal. Regardless of his thoughts on it though, he wouldn't have much time to remark on it as the girl would quickly turn to him with a ketchup-stained smile. "I'm gonna need your help to pull this off. That okay with you?" She'd ask while wiping the condiment off her face with a napkin. All she could do following this was enthusiastically await his answer.

Miyuki's hands would shoot into the bag almost immediately after Frog agreed and the girl would quickly pull out two items. At first it would probably be unclear as to why she was doing this, perhaps giving off the impression that she had some food left, but it'd all become clear once she pulled out the goods in question. Within her grasp would be two toy masks. The masks in question were designed after the popular show Phoenix Ranger Feathermen R and were modeled to resemble the helmets of a particular character.

"Dibs on Red Hawk!" She'd exclaim as she shoved a pink mask into Frog's hands. Throwing her hood back with a shake of her head, she'd pull back the string attached to her mask and place it behind her head carefully. The Red Hawk toy was a perfect fit for her and would conceal her face completely. With the task of equipping it completed, she'd pull the hood back over her head and strike a dramatic pose in an attempt at emulating the superhero.

"Alright, we need to move quickly. We're gonna need some sodas for this. There's a vending machine nearby. Do you have money on you?"

Miyuki wasn't exactly sure why Frogerio was so embarrassed about this, but it didn't matter to her. Looking up to him with the mask still covering her face, she'd shake her head silently from side to side. "No, no! You have to wear the mask! Without it the whole plan falls apart. Put it on, put it on!" She'd demand with an amused laugh. She was an equal opportunity prankster and now that Frogerio had displayed his discomfort at the idea of wearing the mask she'd try to get it on him by any means necessary. "Tell you what -- I'll sweeten the deal. If you wear the mask I'll let you keep it. Pretty sweet, right? No one could possibly hope to resist an offer like that. So put it on already! Chop, chop. I don't have all day." The child would offer. Should he refuse she'd have no choice but to take drastic measures...

Frogerio's acceptance of the offer struck struck the child with surprise. She had expected more resistance from him, but it seemed he had resigned himself to his fate. It was probably cause of that sweet deal she had proposed. That was it, wasn't it? Attracted to it like a moth to a flame... Boy, was she great at negotiating or what?

With that out of the way she could focus on the plan itself. What step were the on again? ...Oh, right! Getting the ingredients, of course. "Now that we have our disguises on it's time to attend to the most important step of the operation. I need you to go to a soda machine and buy a bunch of pop. Like, a bunch. Ideally we'll have at least four cans for this. You got enough money for that?"