[ After everything that's gone on there's this air of needing to sleep about him, like he's been awake for a week, or seen too much in too short a span of time, which is probably not the best look for someone just about to start a holiday to have.. but here we are. Perhaps this is the perfect place for a guy who looks like he does, to finally disconnect from everything and take in some fresh air, some fresh faces, some new scenery.

He steps off the bus with a bulging messenger bag slung over his shoulder, a bag that looks like it's weighing him down as he navigates himself through town and toward his new house with the air of a guy who's not entirely used to following maps without any outside assistance. He turns it around once or twice after he realises that he's following it upside-down, eventually setting it right and continuing on his journey. Perhaps you run into him here, maybe help him with that bag of his, though he'll offer a poor first impression if you do.

Probably best to wait till later, when he's had a nap that feels like it lasted a week (and for all he knows, it might have) and emerges from his abode with a whole new aura; he looks refreshed, energised, and even though there's a hint of trepidation loitering in his movements, he seems ready to take this new life with both hands. ]

[ Eventually he'll get used to it here. Once or twice he finds himself falling into a rhythm, his feet stepping in time with everyone elses, his day-to-day lining up pretty well with the sunlight and the habits of the other residents... but more often than not Aoba looks and feels the outsider he is.

This particular occasion has him staring up at the signs above the stores in central Pelican Town, his eyebrows knitted together just slightly in the middle, his mouth muttering as though he's talking to himself... though the large pink headphones over his ears create the impression that he might be murmuring along to a song he knows. Without warning he moves off from his spot having seemingly decided on a target, but of course goes wheeling into someone's side as they pass a little in front of him. ]

U-Uwah..! [ He can't really blame them - because really, who expects a blur of blue to come shooting out across the road? - but nevertheless he's rubbing his side where he collided with the stranger as his expression goes a little sour, as if on impulse. ] Ooi! Look- [ Then he seems to catch himself, like a child does when they're trying to act grown up, and his face goes from angry to apologetic in no time at all. ]

Ah... Sorry about that. [ He takes his headphones off next. ] I wasn't paying attention.]

[ That much is obvious. Hopefully whoever he bumped into is forgiving.... ]

[ After a week or two, though Aoba thinks of and misses home a fair amount, it becomes easier to think about it. He's even managed to be able to think about Granny for longer than a few minutes, and has made a determined effort to raise a tomato plant like she has on her windowsill.. to no success as of yet, but still he tries.

On his way to pick up some fertiliser in the hopes that it'll get the fruit to grow beyond the size of Aoba's thumbnail, he's distracted from entirely amateur gardening thoughts by a soft doof of feeling to his lower leg. Looking down he sees an energetic-looking border collie puppy with it's teeth in the plush fabric of his oversocks.

Rather than reacting in anger at the iminient destruction of his clothes by this little weilder of terror, Aoba delights in the sight of the dog and is instantly crouching down to pick the puppy up. ]

Hello, where did you come from? [ He asks, but the puppy merely yips happily at him, wriggling it's legs as if it's trying to swim through the air to get closer to him. There's no collar that Aoba can see, so instead he brings the dog closer as he stands, looking around for anyone who might look like they're looking for a dog.

He taps the nearest person turned away from him on the shoulder, right as the puppy starts gnawing on the cuff of his coat. ]

Ah, sorry. But, do you have any idea who's dog this is?

hello, out there..

[ His awkwardness is readable, isn't it? He would have made this a video, only Aoba really doesn't fancy seeing if his phone-trick works over video cameras too. If he still.. has his phone-trick. But that's an issue for another day. Right now, Aoba is sitting somewhere - maybe at home, maybe outside, maybe somewhere secluded or maybe he's in the middle of a crowd - trying to figure out how best to word this to the public at large, in a way that doesn't make him want to dig a hole for himself in the ground. ]

so, basically.
i'm really bad at this growing crops thing. i gave it my best shot, i tried to do what i've watched my granny do for years, but she makes it look easy. and i can tell you all right now, that for someone with very little experience in organic things, it definitely isn't easy.

sometimes i work with technology, back home, but it's mostly poking around in things i don't entirely understand. i've got enough knowledge to make it work, but nothing like some of the more

[ Pause. ]

extreme people out there.

[ Another pause. ]

what i'm trying to ask is, does anyone know where i could maybe get a job, or something like that? i work in a store where i'm from, i answer phones and do deliveries, i'm quick and handy and i guess i'm pretty strong? and..

... haha, jeez, it's been years since i had to sell myself like this for a job, and even then it was a five minute phone interview followed by me sending my work history over in an email.. this place sure is different from what i'm used to.

[ feel free to wildcard me something between these prompts, or something new entirely! aoba will be wandering around trying to find his feet for uh, a lot of the first month he's here, so he'll be around looking lost should you need him.

if you'd like to hit me up, i can be found at mirobug or by pming this journal o7 <3 ]