((I don't usually do this, but, venturing out with a non-homestuck not-prompt.

Looking for an RPer into YOWAPEDA.

Since this is hardly the ideal venue, this is me trying to widen my net with the fandom as much as possible. The characters I enjoy writing are Kinjou, Fukutomi, Makishima, and Imaizumi. I'm open to virtually any ship one could pitch me regarding them, as well as to platonic interactions, providing the scenario surrounding them is interesting. The only ship I'm really not interested in is imanaru. While these are the characters I have RPed and have an established comfort with, I am open to branching out. The caveat is simply that there are characters I prefer to RP with rather than RP as -- Toudou and Arakita are two such ones -- because they just plain old take me more energy to write.

That said, I'm pretty interested in just getting to talk ships and thoughts for bike anime. I love AUs and canon divergences and just talking about the possibilities of the series, talk about yowapeda with me! And then RP!! I'm looking for something decently low-key, just a couple of paragraphs per post, and NSFW is on the table, providing you're 18+ of course. Let's see how this prompt fares!!

Also this is literally not a prompt. It is not a crossover, because it's not homestuck + [other fandom] it's purely [other fandom] and me sending out a hail mary. This is the most appropriate category.))

"Here's your change," Makishima says, as he deposits a palmful of coins into the customer's hand. "We'll call your name with your order. Uh, have a nice day."

His mouth twitches, just enough so that the corner turns up in what might pass as at least the beginnings of a smile, though without showing any of his teeth. He doesn't want to look like he's baring them at a customer. His supervisor keeps telling him, be more personable, Yuusuke. Smile at the customers, say cheerful things, make them feel welcome. He doesn't think that it's working.

The person he's served scoots down along the counter to wait for their drink, and Makishima skates his fingers along the edge of the cash drawer, skittishly, keeping his hands busy. He hates working the register. He hates interacting with the customers, hates having to try and be charming when he obviously has no skill for it. He'd much rather work the drink station – he knows all the processes by rote, can blend whatever frappuccino disaster someone asks for in record time, and gets to keep his hands busy, keep himself in motion. But no, today he's working the register.

He sighs, though it comes out as more of a soft bark and a cough, and looks up with that same twitchy, uncomfortable faux-smile on his face in order to greet whoever wants to place an order next.

When Toudou goes to a new coffee shop, he has a few standard reasons. The first is convenience, a change in the places he usually goes necessitates a change in where he usually gets his fix. The second is that the coffee at his previous haunt deteriorated in quality. The third is that he got bored.

The cause for today's hunting: reason number three. He should have picked a better day for it. Today is overcast with a cold wind blowing down the streets so he can't - or rather, would prefer not to - pursue an extended trawl for the cutest coffee shop with the most adorable baristas. A huge disappointment. But he does need his coffee and can manage the risk of unappealing baristas for one day.

Where he winds up isn't bad on first impression, around the corner from the library and on his way back to his apartment so it's convenient, at least. He puts on a wide grin as he moves up the queue, because the person on the register just attempted a smile. Toudou thinks that was a smile, it may have been a spasm or him trying to retrieve something from his teeth, but under some definition - and perpetual hope - it could be a smile. Toudou chooses to believe that it was.

And he aims that smile at Toudou as well. Not to be outdone, Toudou turns up the charm of his own smile. Though, his green hair might give the other guy an edge. "Hmm," he says, because, now that he's at the front of the line, he can't remember what he actually wanted and the board with lists of drinks has too many options for a snap decision, he needs time to contemplate. Or a second opinion. "Do you have any recommendations?" he asks the cashier, drumming his fingers on the counter, absently.

Makishima's smile drops from his face as soon as it had come, dissolving into puzzlement that the gesture was actually returned, and with such enthusiasm. Customers never smile back at him. Customers usually give him weird looks and skeptical scrutiny, because they can feel that he's playing a role just as much as Makishima does, and playing it about as gracefully as a pig in a dress.

He bites his tongue, barely, on responding only with "coffee." Goodness knows his manager wouldn't approve of that sass. But that leaves him having to come up with a genuine suggestion, scowling as he tries to call to mind the drinks other customers order most often.

"What do you usually order?" he ends up asking. "I can't give you a recommendation if I don't know what you like."

There are a few other people idling in line, and Makishima feels immediately guilty for holding them up. It isn't his fault if a customer chooses to be indecisive and linger over making a decision, but he is the one the next customer will snap at for the hold up of their day. It's all such a horrific hassle. He wishes again, and for what he's sure won't be the last time that day, that he wasn't on register.

The smile vanishes like it was never there, such a pity. But its absence does prove that it was a smile. Probably. Toudou keeps his own smile in place, only polite when his friendly cashier is taking the time to ask what he likes. "Usual orders are so commonplace. Don't you think it's better to switch things up?" He continues without waiting for an answer, because he might change his order every five seconds but everyone has their preferences, "Nothing too strong, no hazelnut or caramel. And, I don't know about you, but it's much too cold for iced drinks."

Though, from the intense shade of his hair, the cashier probably grinds the beans, swallows them whole and eats ice cubes to prove that the weather isn't too cold for anything. He has that kind of air.

He scans his eyes over the drink list again to see if there are any that jump out at him. He's vaguely aware that someone behind him would rather he get a move on but he waited his turn like everyone else and intends to use it.

Makishima gives the customer a blank look because no, no he doesn't. He doesn't even like coffee, he prefers to drink tea and he takes that black, but if he did he knows he would have a standard order. The way he likes his tea is a standard order in and of itself. The problem is that he can't say that, because he's on the clock and needs to be polite and isn't allowed to insult the customer's taste.

At least he isn't even given the chance to answer – that makes it easier not to misstep.

"So you want something sweet," Makishima concludes, going off of "nothing too strong" and his general impressions of demanding people of the sort this guy is turning out to be. "But not the usual sweet drinks most people order off the menu." He's thinking hard, trying to hurry things along because he just wants to be done with this puzzle of a transaction so he can go back to the more mindless taking of orders. "Do you like peppermint?"

It is that time of year, after all, and he knows there has recently been a peppermint mocha latte added to their menu. Maybe that will suffice for interesting.

He might be a little offended at the assumption he likes sweet things if the cashier wasn't right on the money. Chocolates are the best of course, but anything goes.

Toudou considers. Honestly, he has no opinion on peppermint outside of its use as toothpaste, which he does like - fresh breath aids charming smiles after all. He's unsurprised that this guy likes it though, green with red streaks is about as peppermint as it gets without actually being a candycane. Today feels right for peppermint though. "Absolutely! Are you the festive type?"

He's guessing 'no' but people are surprising. He enjoys Christmas at least. Picking a charming girl in want of companionship to exchange gifts with and then drop after the holidays is always a perk. He didn't find anyone suitable for this year though.

Makishima starts to key in the order as soon as Toudou agrees, aware of the stinkeye from the customer behind him even though, in the end, his troubleshooting of Toudou's order hadn't taken that long. He purses his mouth, making a bit of a sour face because he really isn't a festive person at all, but that's another thing his manager has expressly forbidden him from communicating outright.

"What do you think?" he asks instead, with that same near-grimace of a half-smile. "By the way, your total is three-sixty. What name should we call for your drink?"

He realizes only after he's said it that maybe Toudou wanted to order something else, too, and begins internally kicking himself. This is why he doesn't like working the registers. He's always in a hurry to get through each transaction, to minimize how much he has to speak to any particular customer so he can minimize how much they think he's unpleasant or rude. And then he does things like this, which only make him look worse, when it's not what the customer wanted.

Ah! The smile's back. It would be nice if it stuck around but - there it goes again. So hurtful that asking his name could make it go away. But he might try and get it back another day, as long as the drink isn't bad.

"I think it wouldn't be in the spirit of sharing and happiness if I gave you my name without getting yours first," he says with a flash of teeth that usually generates good results and digs in his pocket for the money.

He had been considering drawing out the exchange by interrogating him about the baked goods in the cabinet as well but there's time for that later if the cashier doesn't toss him out for asking for his name.

That question gets a full on frown out of Makishima, because /really./ He's doing everything he can – maybe a bit too much – to move things along so the next customer in line can have their say, and this guy has to go and pull this shit. He wants to say that he's under no obligation to give that information out, but for the upteenth time that day, his brain reminds him that his manager will not like that.

"It's Makishima," he says, not going out of his way in any capacity to sound thrilled about making this stranger's acquaintance. It doesn't exactly occur to him that this could be flirting – it just feels like a more difficult customer being all the more annoying, and he therefore does what feels necessary to minimize the impact of that obnoxious behavior.

"So what's yours?" he asks again. "We need to make your drink."

"Makishima, Makishima..." he says to fix the name with the face. It wouldn't do to forget it. Really, he's pretty surprised he actually gave it to him. Though perhaps he's the type to go for the path of least resistance and give customers what they want as soon as they can. Even if what they want is a name Toudou doesn't technically need. But he's glad to have got it, whatever Makishima's reasons.

He's tempted to draw it out even longer, refuse to give his name and instead make Makishima put his own on the cup to hand over to Toudou personally. But the line is getting restless and he would prefer to be welcome back. "I'm Toudou. Isn't my name is almost as cute as I am?" A bit much, perhaps, but he can get things moving a little while having a bit of fun.

Makishima stares at Toudou blankly, at a complete loss for what to say. This is just another reason why he prefers not to interact with customers directly. Without even replying to Toudou's question, Makishima looks over his shoulder, trying to catch his coworker's eye.

"Can you take the register for a bit?" he asks, even going so far as to add a, "please? I'll make his drink, it's just a latte and it won't hold me up long."

He can see the deliberation going on before he's given a grumpy, "Fine," before the guy steps up to take his place by the register. Makishima ducks away, moving toward the drink station and immediately beginning to prepare Toudou's latte. From behind him, he can hear his coworker pointing out, "Your drink will be ready in a minute, sir, if you'd care to wait off to the side until we call your name?"

He almost feels bad for ditching Toudou so obviously. Almost. But he's still aware of the irritated customers backed up behind Toudou, glaring daggers into the back of his head for the holdup. More than Makishima doesn't want to field any more of Toudou's ridiculous questions, he doesn't want to field orders from customers who are already in a bad mood before he's even opened his mouth.

Makishima turns away rather than answering his very reasonable question, which indicates a whole host of personality issues. Really, what kind of guy doesn't appreciate someone like Toudou?

When Makishima actually goes so far as to get someone to replace him on the register though. That stings. The guy replacing him isn't nearly as interesting either which is salt in the wound. Toudou smiles at him anyway, nods and shuffles off to the designated drink collection area.

The way the shop is arranged, he can't really see Makishima any more, the equipment and new guy on the register hides him from view, which is more than a little disappointing, but he can cope. And he can hope that his looks of utter despair manage to pass through Makishima's co-worker and get to him unhindered. Though, that might be entirely wishful thinking. Such are the trials he faces.

The upside of brushing Toudou off at the register is, Makishima doesn't have to come up with some kind of mostly-civil answer to his asinine question. The downside is, when he's through making Toudou's drink, now he's the one who will have to give it to him. The actual process keeps Makishima's hands busy, measuring and pouring and making sure the beverage is prepared just right, but it's over too soon, and then Makishima is sliding down to the other end of the counter.

He doesn't bother to announce Toudou's name, because he's staring right into Toudou's face and it isn't as if there's any chance of mistake over who the drink is for.

"Here," Makishima says, trying to at least not be overtly rude. After this he can retreat into preparing drinks, and his day will be so much less complicated – at least until his coworker forces him to trade back, if they force him to trade back. He just needs to wrap this up. "This is for you."

As miffed as he is that Makishima would pass him off like that, he's reluctant to take the drink and go back to doing things that matter which was the entire point of finding a new coffee shop in the first place. "You know, Makishima-kun," he's going to have to come up with something else to call him soon - that's far too much effort and can only aid Makishima's inclination towards distance, "some people might take offence if you don't answer their questions."

He supposes he'll have to come back another day to use whatever nickname he decides on.

He continues after a measured look to Makishima - one he hopes is cool and calculating but is probably closer to smug - "Of course, I'm not that uptight." He takes the drink and sips it. It's not terrible.

Makishima drops his arm after Toudou finally takes the cup, and considers just turning around and going back to the blenders without another word. But this time really would be petty – Toudou hasn't done anything so outrageous as to deserve being snubbed, not beyond taking up too much of Makishima's time when he really is meant to be working.

"I'm glad," he says, because it's not entirely untrue. He is glad that Toudou isn't going to take offense, because he can't deal with another customer complaining to his boss. It's also the easiest way to avoid actually addressing what Toudou is trying to call him out on. "I have to go back to work now, though."

He tilts his head to the side, a brief jerk of it that takes in all the drink paraphernalia behind the counter, even if he lingers because he wants to see this through just enough to prove that he isn't rude.

Toudou nearly loses hold on keeping his jaw up and in a smile when Makishima says he's glad. He manages though, because he has to set a good example. "Don't forget to smile, Makishima-kun," he says and waves as he exits. Tempting though it is to stay and pester him more, returning to the work that gets him paid is a reasonable excuse to get rid of Toudou. And he has his drink to occupy him for a while at least.

He exits the shop and contemplates how long he should wait before returning.

In the end, he decides that two Toudou-less days are enough for Makishima to wonder whether he'll come back, so three days after their first encounter Toudou peers through the glass front window to check that Makishima is inside then pulls open the door with a grin when he spots him.

If Toudou didn't enjoy his coffee at all, he probably would return anyway - to complain and demand something that tastes nicer. His peppermint drink was satisfactory, definitely not an every day taste but nice, so that topic of conversation is out but he has the line to think of a winning opening statement. Though it's earlier in the day than the last time he was here and the crowd is thinner.

Makishima serves a lot of people on any given day at work, to the point where the faces begin to blur together into an indistinguishable smudge of humanity. It's true that Toudou did quite a bit to stand out – it's hard to forget someone as annoying as that – but Makishima doesn't let himself think about obnoxious customers once he's off the clock. If he donated free time to contemplating all the customers who irked him, he'd never have a minute of his day free from the shop.

He's stuck working the register again three days later, but it's morning yet and for the time being the shop isn't packed. When there's less of a hurry, Makishima works better, not feeling so under pressure to churn through orders like a drink-taking machine. He recognizes Toudou when he gets to the front of the queue, though that familiarity doesn't make itself known on his face beyond the momentary twitching of one eyebrow.

"Good morning," he says, in that same stock way he's always required to. The cheer he forces into the words isn't perfectly genuine, but it will do. "What can I get for you?"

A disappointing reaction. He'd hoped to leave more of an impression- stun Makishima with his looks and charm. Oh well, he can try again today.

"Do you have any recommendations?" Perhaps Makishima will have thought up a better answer this time around. Though, that might be giving him too much credit. His forced smile is on display, which is a plus. Toudou smiles back at him, considerably more naturally.