[Open Thread] Mall Shopping

One of Catherine's favorite hobbies was people watching. She would often find a nice cafe or restaurant with outdoor seating to have a meal and just observe. Her mother always gave her some money for lunch, though Catherine would always insist that she would make enough money to feed herself from a few matches of Turf War. So she had some extra change in her pockets, which she was contemplating using to buy that new book on human history she found in the bookstore a few blocks down.

But at the present, she brought herself back to her lunch and her surroundings. Today she had ordered from a restaurant that specialized in tempura and takoyaki. She usually was content to have a regular deli sandwich and some soup, but the scents wafting from this particular place had tempted her inside. She had never had takoyaki before, most due to the squeamish feeling she got when she remembered that Octolings were octopi and people like her. Of course, she knew the octopus and squid used in modern recipes were all unintelligent, unevolved species similar to the ones that inhabited earth long before inklings ever evolved, there was always some social discomfort about eating them. But she decided she would be brave today and try them.....though....now....she was having second thoughts. It smelled delicious, but the thought of eating octopus was making her nervous again. So to take her mind off the thought for a while, she resumed her people watching.

Unfortunately, the lunch rush was nearing its end and much of the crowd had dispersed. Only two young inklings stood in Catherine's immediate view, a purple inkling conversing with a paler inkling with a large bag slung over his back. She contented herself to watch these two from afar. As she watched, it certainly seemed as though these two were not close friends. Acquaintances, maybe, but nothing more, judging from the way the purple inkling seemed tense and was fidgeting with his hands. The paler inkling seemed a little...different. Catherine couldn't quite tell from this distance, but something did not seem quite right with that one. Perhaps it was the reddish marks he had on his skin. Was he sunburnt? He is quite pale, perhaps he's albino? Catherine was lost in her thoughts and observations, not realizing she was quite obviously staring at them and...not really blinking... 

Somewhere in a corner of the food court, a disgruntled-looking young lady of short, stout stature was grumbling as she carried a bag of food back to one of the tables.
While they were nice, her clothes looked grubby and a bit damaged, like she had been in a LOT of turf wars today.

"Dammit... They're ALWAYS out of scallop fries by the time I get here..."

Chihiro had pretty much been fighting in turf wars since the moment she finished breakfast that morning. Judd had finally made her leave, telling her not to come back until she ate something. Apparently her legs had been getting wobbly and he had noticed.

As she sat down (having to jump to get into her chair, given her small stature), placing the bag down and removing it's contents, she became aware of something going on not too far away.

"... Hn... looks like that guy forgot his sunscreen today." she mumbled to herself thought a mouthful of salmon burger, not realizing the real reason behind those red patches.

Taking a sip of her soda, she shrugged. "Eh. None of my business."

Her meal may have gone as planned; uninterrupted, with her finishing up and going right back to Turf War-

"GHHHHK!"

... If not for the fact that a fish bone in her burger got caught in her throat, causing her to choke loudly. It was actually somewhat comical to watch, as she furiously chugged her drink followed by frantically pounding her chest with a fat little fist in an effort to dislodge the offending bone.

Struggling to her knees in her chair, Chi began ramming herself into the edge of the table repeatedly, striking the spot where her chest met her stomach over and over.


"GYAK!"

The self-performed Heimlich seemed to work, since she coughed violently for a while, before slumping on the table, gasping for breath. She was fine, just kind of dizzy. Quite a few of the food vendors were now staring in her direction, especially the guy who had sold her the burger. He looked relieved, probably because they might be liable if she choked to death on their food.

"*Pant pant... * Shit, dude... " she gasped to no one in particular.

    He gave a gentle laugh back. 
    "Alright. I just wanted to make sure..." Cato said, with a relieved smile. Thank goodness Radie wasn't one of those people.


    As soon as he prepared to speak once again, he noticed a loud noise (perhaps a scream?) coming from behind him. He swerved around, cupping over his ears in the meantime to decrease the shock. If there was one thing Cato could not stand, it was things like that. 

    After it finished echoing, he began to speak up once again. "Mmhm, its--" But his voice trailed off, as Radie ran quickly to another table in the area. Oh dear.

    He flinched, and could not help but stare at them and the one who was...choking, apparently. Snapping himself out of it, he stopped himself, and ran over.
    "Are you alright.....?" He asked Radie and the other Inking, trying not to stare much more.