06 - There will also be lemonade

[doofenstrudel]

[A - Action - Hospital, mid-morning]

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz had never been impressed by zombie movies. Having experienced one for himself, he was even less impressed. Taking zombie samples had been gross. Running them over had been gross. Becoming one had been really, really gross. Good thing it was all over.

Except for... well.

Doof had come to the hospital, and was making his way quickly through the halls. How nice for Mayfield to have reconstructed the whole thing while everyone was recovering. How nice for there to be halls, again. Now, if he was lucky, his labcoat would still be on site, where he left it for safekeeping. And if he was really lucky, he'd still have that little vial of awfulness that he had stolen from Doctor Weird-Hat's stash. It was all folded up and tucked away in the second-floor supply closet, behind the cleaning products and above the extra mop heads. Or it should be. He hoped.

He had the feeling, somehow, that he would not be so lucky as to completely avoid notice as he passed through the halls. That, he had resigned himself to.]

[B - Phone, locked to Red Mage, Nadeko Sengoku, Applejack, GLaDOS, etc, anyone I've forgotten]

Well. We've had some time to recover from... that. If you're still up to helping me with my renovations, I think it's time that we get to work on them! Who knows when this town may set something else on us?

I understand that you may have school, or work, or homecoming, or whatever it may be... so! We start this coming Saturday morning! Come to 457 Stone Street bright and early! There will be pancakes!

We are all going to need a good breakfast.

[He is cheerful, and gleeful, and probably full of other things, too. Also, he's confident that they all remember what he means when he talks about "renovations".]

Comments

[doofenstrudel]

Ah. I had heard that some had gone to the church. And it was safe? And it remained safe?

[Okay, okay, how to best deliver how he spent HIS zombie weekend....?]

I was... at the hospital. There were people there. I was... in the end, I was alright. That's what matters, yes? Ha ha!

I have not actually been here long enough to experience a holiday in Mayfield. I don't think that the spontaneous Oktoberfest party counted. That wasn't the town, that was us punishing ourselves.

[imoutos]

Yes! It was safe all the way through, thanks to everyone's efforts.. I-I was really glad there are such kind people here in town.

[ She pauses for a moment at his explanation, but.. well, she's taking it. Apparently. ]

I'm.. very glad you were okay too though.. I would probably have been a little sad if anything w-would have happened to you..

[doofenstrudel]

[Oh, that... that's pretty heartwarming.]

You should not have to worry too much. Death is not permanent, here.

I can't believe I just said that.

[He coughs.]

But we should be practical about these things!

[imoutos]

E-Even if it's not for forever, it's.. scary.. [ Her voice softens at that little bit. It hasn't happened to her yet, but the idea of it being able to happen sometime, or happening to anyone she knows.. It's enough to make her sad. ]

What do you mean though with practical..?

[doofenstrudel]

There are many things that are scary. It is up to us if we retreat with our tail between our legs, or if we face it with lasers.

[...he coughs again.]

...practical! You know, making the most of the poor situation that you are in. In this case... I try not to worry too much if the situation shifts so that I may wind up dying.

[imoutos]

[ It's a good thing Nadeko never finds weird things weird, really, it's why she just nods a little to herself at the first line. But when he stops talking, she sounds a bit more shocked. ]

N.. no! Y-you can't die.. I.. I would be very sad..!

[doofenstrudel]

But I can't die. So you don't need to be sad!

[He's being very cheerful, to counteract the girl's sudden fit of the vapors.]

The reason people are sad when someone dies is that they are gone, yes? But if I die, while it will hurt, I am not gone! I come back the next day! So it should be fine.

[imoutos]

Can't.. die..?

[ She seems to consider his words quietly for a few moments, but then she speaks up - hesitantly, since obviously she doesn't like going up against people. ]

B-but.. even if you would come back, dying would.. hurt a lot, right..?

[doofenstrudel]

Well... yes. It hurts.

[Oh it hurts and it's awful and he really wishes he didn't remember it so well...]

...but! But that is my problem to deal with, not yours. Yes?

[imoutos]

W--.. [ For a moment she chokes up, as if she doesn't know how to put it, but then speaks again. ]

Well, you've.. been so nice to me, a-and nice people don't deserve to get hurt..

[doofenstrudel]

[Oh dear. Poor Nadeko is just determined to be upset, isn't she? Why do all these teenaged girls have to be so... different?

He sighs, and reels in some of his enthusiasm.]

Alright. For your sake, I will be very careful to not get hurt or to die.

[...had he really been that nice? He isn't supposed to be nice. There's some silence on the line as he stares at the receiver, feeling conflicted.]

...do... try to take care of yourself, as well.

[imoutos]

[ aw, doof, so nice.. Nadeko just has too much pessimism at times, really. And she's too worried about everyone ever. ]

D-don't worry about me, please! Everyone is doing their best in looking after me, so I have to try my best too..!

[doofenstrudel]

I worry about you, you worry about me... we collaborate on the effort. And it evens out. Alright? Besides, in a town like this, a person needs as many people as possible being concerned for their welfare...

[He laughs. And then changes the subject.]

Do you prefer your bacon crisp, or chewy?

[imoutos]

[ That's a rather strange subject change, but.. hey, the series Nadeko is from is known for its weird subject changes. So she just goes along with it. ]

I've actually never had bacon before.. Why?

[doofenstrudel]

[A strange subject change is still a subject change!]

You've... never had bacon? Not even while you've been here?

That settles it! I shall make both! Crisp AND chewy! And you will try it!

[imoutos]

N.. no, Taiwan-san never really made anything with bacon in it..

[ It's good to hear him so enthusiastic though, she guesses, but it's not like she could refuse to do so either way. ]

Does bacon taste good..?

[doofenstrudel]

Bacon is wonderful! Really, it is scientifically proven to appeal to human's cravings for salty, savory, fatty, and... something about texture, I believe. You can wrap things in it! You can put it on sandwiches! I have heard of people dipping it in chocolate, but that's just getting carried away, if you ask me...

[He takes a breath.]

I shall make some! And then when you come for breakfast, you can decide for yourself!

[imoutos]

Wow.. It really seems this bacon is almost magical, if it can do so many things! I wonder if it's really okay for me to eat something like that, especially if I've never had it before..

M-maybe I'm not ready.

[doofenstrudel]

Bacon is wonderful, but I would not call it magical. That's just not scientific.

Of COURSE it's okay for you to eat! ...well, alright, it's bad for you if you eat lots and lots of it every day, but in moderation? Bacon is good!

[Perhaps he is building the excitement a little high. Oh well.]

[imoutos]

T.. then I'll make sure to eat lots of bacon in moderation! [ that's not how it works, Nadeko.. ] If it's really as great as you say, I'll work hard to catch up with my lack of bacon..!

[doofenstrudel]

[But lots of moderation is fun! And delicious!] You should see if you like it, first. But if you do, there will be plenty to be had!

[imoutos]

I try my best to not be a picky eater, so.. I-I'm sure I'll like it.

[doofenstrudel]

If it turns out that you do not? There will be other things. You must have had pancakes by now?

[imoutos]

A.. ah, of course! I think pancakes are really nice, I hadn't had them before but they are very tasty in this place..

And I should go and post a log sometime soon....

[doofenstrudel]

Excellent! I will see you there, then.