It's not your fault. The next time I go to pick up groceries, I'll ask what they suggest.
[He'll pick up a dumpling carefully now that they're cooled off enough to easily touch and offer it to Tim, flat in his palm like he's feeding a horse.]
Well, no...it's probably a bit uncomfortable, but laying eggs is perfectly normal for chickens. They often lay multiple every day, so if you had even just a half dozen chickens, you'd have more eggs daily than you could eat.
[Spoons more dumplings into Allen's bowl as he explains.]
Well, yes and no. It's only like birth in the sense that the chicken is laying an egg, as opposed to having a bowel movement. But for chickens, the two may as well be one and the same. They do both from the same place, so while it's briefly more uncomfortable for them, it's about as natural of a process as going to the bathroom.
[I'm. So sorry Link is like this, you're trying to eat-]
[ Bold of you to assume this deters Allen from eating. Absolutely not, he's putting another dumpling in his mouth and with his mouth full goes: ] Wow.
[ He ponders the chickens for a moment before he looks over at Link, swallowing. ] Did you own chickens at one point, Link? I can't picture you as a farm boy...!
...Did you teach yourself to read, Link? [ Because, well, he does recall Link saying he was orphaned. He can't imagine there's very good schooling for kids who live on the streets. Allen didn't go to school, either, so it isn't like he has a lot of room to speak. ]
[ Allen eats another dumpling contemplatively. That makes more sense, actually. He was also taught... some... but because he was sent off on missions, he didn't really get to do a ton of learning. He wonders what it was like to actually grow up under them. Especially at Central, where things seemed a lot more strict, and far less cozy.
...
He reaches over and sets a hand on top of Link's head. ] ...I was going to go to the beach tomorrow to set up an Ark gateway there. You should come with me! We can explore that together! [ And maybe. Maybe Link can have a little bit of fun and relaxation. ]
Ah, apparently the beach is really the only other place that’s safely explorable? But it’s a few days out, so… I thought if I could make that travel time shorter for the residents here, that might be useful?
[ Allen laughs, bright and light like - that usual laugh of his that he forgot he even had. It's been a while, hasn't it? ]
Is that all it takes with you? Geez, had I known, I would've pestered you for it ages ago. Oi, so you'll call me by my first name from now on, too, right?
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Date: 2026-03-15 09:58 pm (UTC)[He'll pick up a dumpling carefully now that they're cooled off enough to easily touch and offer it to Tim, flat in his palm like he's feeding a horse.]
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Date: 2026-03-15 10:31 pm (UTC)Anyway, Tim spreads his fucking maw of a face and eats the dumpling, thank you- ]
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Date: 2026-03-15 11:10 pm (UTC)Also yeah Allen you got the ENTIRE HOUSE]
Well the chickens will need to have the eggs collected daily, so I do expect you and Kanda to help out with that.
[Sorry Kanda you're being voluntold for future chicken duty]
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Date: 2026-03-15 11:23 pm (UTC)Poor chickens...
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Date: 2026-03-15 11:27 pm (UTC)[Spoons more dumplings into Allen's bowl as he explains.]
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Date: 2026-03-15 11:32 pm (UTC)... [ He picks up a dumpling and stares ahead at the wall for a moment as he thinks Very Deep Thoughts about chickens. ]
I'm suddenly so stressed for chickens.
[ He eats the dumpling- ]
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Date: 2026-03-15 11:44 pm (UTC)[I'm. So sorry Link is like this, you're trying to eat-]
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Date: 2026-03-15 11:56 pm (UTC)[ He ponders the chickens for a moment before he looks over at Link, swallowing. ] Did you own chickens at one point, Link? I can't picture you as a farm boy...!
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Date: 2026-03-15 11:59 pm (UTC)[And these days it's not often you don't see Link with his nose buried in a book of some sort.]
And if I find there is something I don't know, then I like to see what I can learn about it.
[There's a reason he makes such a good teacher, tbh.]
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Date: 2026-03-16 12:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-03-16 12:08 am (UTC)[Said simply. Matter-of-factly.]
It was a matter of necessity, if we were going to be useful. I spent a lot of my childhood catching up, so I tried to learn everything I could.
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Date: 2026-03-16 12:16 am (UTC)...
He reaches over and sets a hand on top of Link's head. ] ...I was going to go to the beach tomorrow to set up an Ark gateway there. You should come with me! We can explore that together! [ And maybe. Maybe Link can have a little bit of fun and relaxation. ]
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Date: 2026-03-16 12:25 am (UTC)I can accompany you. [He replies, as if Allen didn't literally just invite him.] Is there a particular reason you're taking it to the beach?
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Date: 2026-03-16 12:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-03-16 12:35 am (UTC)[Maybe Allen just can't make gates to other places, but gates that lead around the Grove area are fine? Hm...]
Whenever you're ready then, I'll head out with you.
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Date: 2026-03-16 12:47 am (UTC)[ Munching his dumpling… ]
I have to talk to Kanda and let him know. He might want to come with.
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Date: 2026-03-16 12:49 am (UTC)[Smash cut to Link meal prepping for the next couple of days.]
Should we let the others in the Grove know we'll be leaving?
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Date: 2026-03-16 01:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-03-16 01:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-03-16 01:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-03-16 01:27 am (UTC)It's nice to be polite, isn't it?
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Date: 2026-03-16 01:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-03-16 01:48 am (UTC)[His autism...]
I will just call her Moder from now on, then.
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Date: 2026-03-16 02:13 am (UTC)Is that all it takes with you? Geez, had I known, I would've pestered you for it ages ago. Oi, so you'll call me by my first name from now on, too, right?
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Date: 2026-03-16 02:31 am (UTC)[Considering the. Gestures. Situation.]
Would you really prefer that...?
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