OPEN POST ♞ THE BIRD IN THE BASKET

[optimistical]

WHO: Makoto Naegi and anyone else!
WHERE: Literally everywhere in Recolle
WHEN: 03/06
WHAT: There's a crane. There's a crane in the mailbox. There's a crane on university grounds. Help. This is the accompanying network post.
WARNINGS:

ONE

After getting that murder weapon from Retrospec, Naegi thought he wouldn't get anything as bad as that. He means, that's the worst of the worst, right? Nothing can really top that. But this? This... this is definitely bad. Not murder weapon bad but still pretty awful.

It's a giant red-crown crane. It's a giant red-crown crane and it's stuck in the mailbox. It's stuck in the mailbox and Naegi, being the good kid that he is, is left with the terrible duty of getting a wild animal out of it. He honestly doesn't even know where to start and when he tries to move closer to try and help, he just gets pecked twice on the forehead instead.

Pecked really hard.

He stumbles back and just holds his forehead in his hands while the bird still trashes in the mailbox.

He's... he's already done.

TWO

Well, after a minute of dealing with the searing pain of an angry bird pecking you despite you wanting to help, Naegi still tries to figure out a way to get this poor crane out of the mailbox. He takes a deep breath and gets right in there, willing to withstand the Pecks of the North Star to try and shimmy the bird out. However, it would be a lot easier if the bird didn't act like he was trying to take it out so he could eat it or something and trash around like a headless chicken.

"H-Hey, i-it's all right! I'm just trying to help you!"

He says as if the crane can understand and can suddenly realize that this human is, in fact, helping and not trying to kill it. It's going to be a long and difficult fight, resulting in someone losing an eye if this keeps up.

Please help.

THREE

Probably an hour after Naegi gets the bird free, he now doesn't really know what to do with it. There's no way he can take it home because he's pretty sure you can't keep cranes as pets (and he doesn't really want to) but the thing is...

It won't stop following him now.

For a bird that put up such a fight when it was in the mailbox, it now seems to have no problems with Naegi. The thought process is probably like this: "yes, this is a good human. This human saved its life. Gotta follow this human to be safe. Maybe it will be fed. Good human." Something like that. Anyway, Naegi is exasperated by this turn of events and he keeps looking back at it as he walks.

"I'm telling you... You really can't follow me home..."

He sounds so defeated though and that's probably because he knows that he's not going to win this fight. The crane is determined and that's that.

FOUR

Wanna know how determined this crane is to following him, though?

Well, Naegi is at Recolle University, trying to attend class, pick up some supplies from the mentoring office, actually be in the mentoring office to help his mentees, and do some studying at school and this goddamn crane is following him. Throughout the entire school... Naegi is just pretty much trying to ignore it and going through his day like it's completely normal.

Feel free to meet him anywhere on campus grounds because this crane isn't going to leave him alone...

WILDCARD

Anything is game! PM me or toss me a private plurk at northpaws if you want to do something outside the above options or to discuss anything! Will be replying with action tags rather than prose!

Comments

[reaquila]

That's me. Didn't know you were the McNuggetman.

Sorry dude. [Nanashi pats Naegi on the shoulder. He feels bad about tipping you over.]

Are you okay?

[optimistical]

Yeah, I'm all right. I'm just a little dazed.

[ the dizziness will fade away! as long as he stays seated here, he'll be fine ]

But it's okay, you didn't know. I don't really tell people that I'm the... McNugget Man... so there's no way you could have found out.

[reaquila]

I can't say I blame you. Who would go out and say "hey, I'm the McNugget Man in the store down the street?"

[This job is so embarrassing. Nanashi wouldn't speak a word about this to anyone..for Naegi's sake.]

Anyone would burst out laughing and never take you seriously again. Don't worry, I won't be like that.

[He's just dying. ]

[optimistical]

Thanks... I'd appreciate it if we just kind of keep this between us.

[ because the shame... oh, the shame... ]

Though one person thought it was really cool that I was the McNugget Man. He said it was like meeting a celebrity so I guess at least one person thought it wasn't that embarrassing.

[reaquila]

Maybe he just wanted you to give him more coupons. Flattery gets you everywhere sometimes.

[Nanashi stares down at his own coupon.]

Does this coupon even have value?

[optimistical]

[ way to dash on his hopes, nanashi... he was feeling good about that compliment ]

Uh, not really. I mean, you can trade it in for free nuggets with the purchase of a drink but I don't think it really holds any cash value if that's what you mean.

[reaquila]

Nuggets for a drink sounds like a deal to me. Thanks, McNugget Man.

[He will use it well.]

Wanna tell me how long you've been working here for?

[optimistical]

[ god, he hopes that name doesn't stick... he doesn't really want to be known as the mcnugget man everywhere... ]

For a few months now? My friend knew that I needed the extra money so he helped me get the position back in December. It was only supposed to be temporary but it kind of became a regular thing.

[reaquila]

[Too late. His name is now Makoto "Mcnuggetman" Naegi.]

That was nice of your friend. They better be paying you well for all this labor.

I don't even want to know what it's like to be stuck in that outfit all week.

[optimistical]

[ he hates everything. also he shrugs ]

It's enough to help me pay for some groceries so I can't really complain. Plus, a lot of people actually ignore me or don't really say anything when I'm in the costume so it's not that bad! It just gets really embarrassing once people find out I'm in the costume and tease me about it.

[reaquila]

You mean like what just happened now? When I found out you were the mysterious Nugget Man? I've been wondering about it for some time. "Who the heck's inside?"

You stated my curiosity. Thanks. [CRYING.]

[optimistical]

You're... welcome, I guess.

[ IS THIS A COMPLIMENT........... HE HATES THAT HE DOESN'T REALLY KNOW IF THIS IS A REAL "THANKS" OR NOT ]

But now that you know it's me, can you not tip me over again? It was really scary when I suddenly fell and couldn't get up!

[reaquila]

Alright, I'll leave you in peace next time. Don't die as the nugget man, Naegi.

[He crouches down on his knees in regret.]

I'd miss both you and your coupons.

[optimistical]

Aha... as long as no one else tries to tip me over in the future, I think I'll survive.

[ nope. he's going to die while working in the summer. get a heat stroke or something ]

Anyway, I guess I should head back to the store and punch out. I'll catch you around? Maybe next time while I'm not working.

[reaquila]

Sure, I'll come by later.

[Somehow, Nanashi doubts that Naegi will survive too. He's not saying that out loud because that's rude.]

How many hours do you have left on your shift?

[optimistical]

[ you're goddamn right, nanashi. naegi will not survive ]

I'm done right now for this job but I gotta get to my next one. I think I should be working a five-hour shift?

[reaquila]

Five hours of being the nugget man sounds rough....Hang in there, Naegi.

[He pats Naegi on the shoulder. ]

Guess I should leave you to your work, huh? I'll talk to you another time?

[optimistical]

[ he gives a small weak laugh... he then nods ]

Yeah, thanks for helping me back up. I'll see you later, Nanashi.

[ and off he goes! off to his other job... ]