Faux Fur Faux Pas | Fenna + Asuka + Taran | Beanbag Chair

Fenna Van Daalen

Okay, she can’t take it anymore. Fenna’s looked the whole place over (casually, not really helping look for anything so much), inside and outside, along the tracks, in the forest… The kids can figure out whatever newfangled puzzle is going on there. What she wants to know is…

What’s with the damn beanbag??? Why’s it so big? Why’s it outside when it’s clearly made of faux fur and completely unsuited for outdoor decor?

And yet, like everyone else so far, she just… hasn’t worked up the nerve to touch it. So she stands there, looking at it, one hand out cautiously. She’s interrupted in her mission by the surly pink teenager and the catboy.

“…Yous guys are seein’ this too, right?”

Asuka Fukuda

That beanbag looked really comfy. Sure, maybe it was suspicious or whatever (Asuka didn’t really care) considering the rest of the setting, but honestly? She’s tired of standing. She had to go and waste her time with some scruffy, unstylish asshole and now she has an ugly bruise! It’s going to ruin her style, so she’s owed some damn comfort.

Which is maybe why Fenna even daring to talk to her earns her a glare. Surly pink teenager - what an apt title.

“Oh! So lemme guess - you’re too stupid to process things? That’s a beanbag. Bean. Bag. You know what that is, right? Oh, and fyi? It’s totally mine, so you better not wanna use it or anything. I doubt you could afford my time to begin with, but now especially it’s gonna be triple rates. …For you I’ll make it quadruple. Well, catguy? What’s the verdict here?”

There’s a snicker at the end, an energy that wasn’t there before the insults began, and a cheeky little grin to accompany it. Asuka knows exactly what she’s doing, waiting to see what the response might be.

Taran

Asuka’s attitude connects a dot in Taran’s mind. Until now he thought she was about his age, but the way she addressed Fenna was military grade teen behavior. She said FYI out loud. But he notices Fenna actively working to keep calm despite the dripping contempt and tries to play nice as well.

Asuka Fukuda “Well, catguy? What’s the verdict here?”

Taran contemplates the beanbag. It’s super generous for a beanbag chair, and the fur sure is a choice, especially outside. It isn’t crusty or faded or anything. Has it been here long? Has the station been here that long? There are no apparent trails worn in the grass to indicate construction or maintenance. Well, they are inside the door still. On the train. Is it a holodeck situation? Taran noncommittally pulls an edge of the beanbag up with his foot. Seems real enough. ‘Real’ doesn’t seem to be a problem for the train.

As for Asuka’s verbal banner in the sand laying claim to Terra Nullius, graciously brought to the floor of Taran’s personal court to be ratified and proclaimed to the citizenry; by virtue of being the Third Guy In The Situation, he renders judgement:

“It looks like a perfectly good beanbag chair. If you need to get off your feet, go for it.”

…Okay, he can’t resist being a little smarmy. Sorry Fenna. He pauses for just a second to see if Asuka takes the bait, but completes the thought either way.

“Fenna’s right that it’s weird though. Do you think it’s been here long enough for there to be spiders up in it?”

Fenna Van Daalen

“That’s a latta words ta say ya just wanna use the damn beanbag…”

Okay, deep breath. Fenna went through a phase a little like this as a teen, and she remembers that what she wanted was to get a rise out of people. That wasn’t what she’d needed, though, and a little patience can go a long way.

“I’m not tryna keep ya off it, dear, it’s just… Doesn’t it seem weird?”

Asuka Fukuda

Fenna Van Daalen “That’s a latta words ta say ya just wanna use the damn beanbag…”

“I’m not tryna keep ya off it, dear, it’s just… Doesn’t it seem weird?”

“And that’s a lotta words to just say the obvious. I don’t care if it’s weird, it looks comfy!”

Again, the real concern seems to slip on by, undetected by Asuka as she fixates on a singular, mostly unimportant point. And with catboy’s approval over there…

“Hah! You at least seem to have sound judgment! You understand that I totally deserve luxury! So after I’m done using it, whenever that is, you can totally use it until I need it again. No need to thank me for my generosity, I know I’m amazing~”

With that, Asuka makes the daring, bold move to approach the beanbag with literally no suspicion whatsoever. She goes to jump onto it, eyes practically sparkling as she plans to land on comfortable furniture and finally get the chance to relax on this stupid train!