[ OPEN !!! ]

[bakudanma]

Who: Katsura + any of you wonderful people.
When: Throughout the IC month of November.
Where: Metro-rail Station, Pleasure District and McCERES.
What: Open log for people who just want some extra CR in their life. 8)
Rating/Warnings: Zura is in this log. And uh, maybe violence/blood.

《1》METRO-RAIL STATION
_{[ It was time to head home after a day full of adventuring in this place and work, and not to mention, he was already hooked on these two soap opera that had been airing on the television sets. Games of our Lives and All my CYBuddies. Surely he'll be able to get home in time.. right? ]}

Ah, excuse me—
_{[ The doors slide open and people flood inside; it was a little annoying— the way some of the people and been the robots here shoved each other to get into the public transport. He merely gave some of these people a look of disdain, and just when he came to the conclusion that this was an every man for himself situation, he begins to assert himself in front of a few other people who are gathering towards the metro, either by elbowing and using the heel of his palm. Just as the door is about to close, he is blocked by a particularly robust individual who won't have any of this and so—
POW. Right in the face. It's enough to get him to stumble back and hold his nose. In that moment, he rushes back to the train right as the doors shut to press his bloodied hands and face on the window. ]}

Crap! Damn! We're going to hear back from the pregnancy test tonight!
<sub>[ He takes a little jog alongside the train before standing there, banging on the window and making a ruckus.
Well. I guess he'll just have to wait for the next one.
In the mean time, he'll just be taking a seat next to you. The way he held his teeth clenched was the only indication of how immensely furious he was.

Oh.. he should probably clean up his face.
He'll be ready next train station. His hand was already on the hilt of his weapon that was by his hip. ]</sub>

《2》PLEASURE DISTRICT
<sub>[ It's a rainy day here in the Pleasure District. Of all the snack places he could have worked at, it was one located in the Pleasure District. He didn't really spend time here, and when he did, it was mainly for work or to just make a bunch of cute ViVid avatars and make them live a mundane and domestic life instead of catering to any of his needs. It was almost like he was trying to ensure their happiness instead of his despite the fact they were virtual people and not anything with feeling. What was he even doing with his life here anymore..?

Today, he's going home from his barista job, dressed in uniform. It was a swanky place, really, and he was learning quickly how to prepare all sorts of different drinks.

A red, cloth parasol is resting on his shoulder as he heads in the direction towards home. But what is this? Somebody in the rain without an umbrella? Not allowed.
And so, he's just gonna scurry up to you and provide some shelter from the rain for you there. Isn't that thoughtful for a terrorist? ]</sub>

You could catch a cold.

《3》MCCERES
<sub>[ Right. His other-other job. He liked to stay productive, so when CERES offered him several jobs, he went ahead and picked two out of the three, though he was contemplating picking up another soon. With as many games as played and as much as he worked, he was gradually getting pretty loaded on credits to use here.

Anyway, his position here? Mascot. There were a few problems with this job in regards of it. For example, it could have been a much fluffier and cuter kind of mascot and not a mime that wasn't supposed to speak. He broke that rule a lot.
He also took off the mask a lot when he wasn't supposed to and has already gotten several complaints from customers, but he still had his position here. When he worked, he worked pretty damn well.

You're going inside this place, and he pops out of nowhere, holding a sign. He seems insistent that you buy whatever it is he is advertising. Holy shit— this was a restaurant, not a haunted house!!

MCKNIGHT BURGER SPECIAL MEAL
3.99!!

No matter where you go, where you hide, he's following you with this sign— maybe doing the typical mascot jig while doing so with his own thuggish flare.
You could be in the bathroom and he's in the stall next to you with this sign, or leaving in your car, if you have one, and he's following you out there.

Hell, maybe you made it home and he's outside your window with this sign too.
Mother of God. ]</sub>

Comments

[bakudanma]

_{[ girl he ain't your sugar daddy.
cough, cough, gurgle. ]}

M-My daughter— you've grown up so much.
_{[ wait this was a total different death scene now. ]}

Will it make you happy? I just want to see you happy.

[psycholawgy]

[ I can't say no to free food when it's right in front of my face! ]

It really would, dad!

[bakudanma]

W.. What would your mother think? She always despised this place and only fed us onigiri.

_{[ cough, wheeze. ]}

[psycholawgy]

Mom...

[ She's dead, dammit. That makes her frown, and a single tear falls down her face as she remembers her real mother.

This sure turned into a soap opera. ]

[bakudanma]

_{[ yes. With a big stuffed mime in her arms; cherry blossoms beginning to fall, violin music intensifying, middle aged housewives blowing their noses and eating comfort ice cream, etc. ]}

D-Damn it. No, this is about us now.
I'm sorry. Here...

_{[ hands her his entire fucking CEREs card. ]}

[psycholawgy]

[ Well, now she feels guilty. ]

We should eat together instead!

[ But she does take the card... ]

[bakudanma]

<sub>[ ???
Somebody inviting him for a meal? It's a shame that Zura doesn't really eat the food here.

But he can't be rude to his daughter! No, siree.
He'll sit up wordlessly then stand. Enough attention had settled on them that now everybody seemed to be going about their business.

He goes in line like a customer would? ]</sub>

[psycholawgy]

[ She shoots the bystanders and other passersby some mean looks before she goes into follow Zura. The crowd dissipates and start minding their own business, although there's still some who... seem to still be dazed.

For some reason, she hasn't thought about what she got herself into, too. Oh well. Free food!

She stands next to him in line. ]

Geez, you'd think they'd know when to stop staring.

[bakudanma]

_{[ bless this child who thinks their staring is weird. ]}

The strong bond between daughter and father is a rare spectacle nowadays.

_{[ not the fact they were disrupting the public just now. nope. no siree. ]}

[psycholawgy]

[ (Oh, he's still putting up with the act? I guess I better not break the ice, or whatever.) ]

So, uh, dad...?

[ If they're being dramatic, may as well add more drama to it. ]

Run into any trouble with the cops lately?

[bakudanma]

It's not dad, it's Katsura.
_{[ ?????? but he just said— nevermind.
the topic of conversation makes him cringe from the inside of his mascot mask. Why did she think this was a good idea to talk about? ]}

Chihiro-chan, _{[ god it was too early in this meeting to make Miyazaki references, but here he went: ]} you know I don't like talking about the police.
_{[ Oh? You didn't? You do now. You're talking to a wanted fugitive. ]}

[psycholawgy]

[ It's not Chihiro, it's Athena. . . ]

Well. [ Calm your pits, Athena. You're a lawyer! You should know how to BS your way into things. ] One of 'em visited me at work today, so I had to ask.

[ That didn't really happen, but BLUFF! BS! Living the life. ]

[bakudanma]

Did you remind him what an unlawful piece of sh*t he was?
<sub>[ said ever so casually—
Katsura, not everybody knows the Shinsengumi that you know. He easily forgets that when given an opportunity to insult them.

Yes, that word did just get censored. ]</sub>

[psycholawgy]

[ ... did she just hear a bleep? What was happening?

But that makes her laugh, embarrassed. ]

I... actually grabbed him-- [ A pause, then she laughs again. ] and threw him.

[bakudanma]

_{[ that's his "daughter."
For the record, he's taking all of this seriously. ]}

Did you aim for the window? Specifically, the dumpster?

[psycholawgy]

Well, he hit my co-worker...

[ She may or may not be taking this story from a personal experience. Nope. ]

[bakudanma]

_{[ He's wordless for a moment, mulling over that thought before he puts his attention on the cashier. She can't see the look of disappointment on his face since he is masked. ]}

One bowl of soba.

_{[ he asked this every time, and every time he was told the same response.
Without beating a lash, he changes his order to the same thing he gets when they say this: ]}

Medium fries. That is all.
_{[ steps aside for Athena. ]}

[psycholawgy]

[ Well, that was odd. She just felt Katsura's mood drop a bit. Was it something she said? She didn't mean to say anything offensive; she didn't find anything bad in what she just said... it really was odd, but it wasn't something that she thought needed some deep thought. ]

Umm... I'll have the McKnight Burger special?

[ She looks at Katsura to be sure. ]

[bakudanma]

_{[ THAT'TA GIRL.
And so, they step aside, and wait quietly for their order to be taken out.
Behind the muffled mask, Zura speaks again: ]}

Sometimes the law is put in the hands of the irresponsible. It's our duty as citizens to realize this and change it by educating the illiterate on how to make the world a better place.

_{[ what a change in mood vs. a few minutes ago. ]}

—And sometimes that means shoving them into a dumpster.
_{[ oh, he's handed their tray and with a tip of his head he bows to the cashier before taking their food to a table to eat. ]}

[psycholawgy]

[ That was surprising. She's not sure where it came from, but she can at least feel that he speaks from the heart. And she can even sympathise. She's met people who are supposed to be protecting and upholding the law, but they do the opposite.

Although, she's really confused as to why Katsura suddenly said all that, and starts to think that he may not regard policemen very well. At least, that's the only thing she could think of. That was what she was talking about when Katsura's mood dropped. She wants to press on this and ask about it, but she was slightly hesitant. She wasn't sure if he was being serious about all this, or if it was an act. They. . . were acting, weren't they?

She doesn't respond yet, and just follows Katsura to the table. Once she sits down, she just looks at Katsura curiously. What kind of person was behind that mask? ]

[bakudanma]

<sub>[ Yeah. Sure. ACTING.
Katsura's thought process were definitely an enigma. His imagination was very broad and could be triggered by nearly anything at any given time. He preferred it this way; it came in handy with his craftiness and when he was in need to improvise.

The mask is finally removed and he shakes his long hair out a bit.
His eyes were as dark as his hair, and they focused in on his french fries as he went in for a singular fry. ]</sub>

—Thank you for your hospitality, Chihiro-chan.
_{[ lmfao still no idea who you are. ]}

[psycholawgy]

He sure has nice hair. Athena can't deny him that. ]

Actually, my name's Athena.

[ Grabbing her burger... and whatever food came along with it. ]

[bakudanma]

_{[ there we go that's the name he is looking for.
He's grateful for her playing along with him, but it's such a quick and passing thought he doesn't even bring it up. ]}

Athena-dono. Good afternoon; you may call me Katsura.
Your interactions with the police as you mentioned; are they always like that?

[psycholawgy]

[ She's obviously caught off-guard by the sudden serious talk, and her face shows it. ]

(What just happened?!)

Uhhhh... no. It's actually only happened once.

[bakudanma]

Did you sue his pants off at least?
_{[ nonchalantly he says this, but the look on his face shows disappointment.
Another fry slowly makes his way to his mouth, his gaze finally looking at her. ]}