[ 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

oz so cute

[bakudanma]

_{[ Katsura gets the feeling he's being watched, and he almost looks over at Oz to break the stare that he is having, but he's just so angry.
When he's offered the handkerchief, he takes it, but doesn't use it to wipe his nose right away. ]}

I have come across plenty of filth on the Earth, but the deepest circle of hell are those who keep others from their daytime dramas.

_{[ woah. ]}

his inner moes shine through

[harepiece]

[KATSURA... THAT'S ALARMING. Oz is just sitting here internally sweating and wondering if it was a good idea to give his handkerchief to this guy, since clearly he is possibly a bit on the nutty side.

A wayward glance is given toward the empty track... No trains are approaching yet.]

...Are you going to miss them now?

[bakudanma]

_{[ A BIG FROWN. ]}
—They both fell in love through the same pain; the loss of a parent. And now, if they lose their child too— I don't know if I will be able to bare it.

_{[ despite his stoic look, tears were forming in the corners of his eyes... ]}

[harepiece]

[WHY IS THIS GUY CRYING. Oz has never experienced the joys of a soap opera before, but he does understand the distress of reading a good story and wailing loudly about its characters...

So, with a little more determination than is likely necessary:]

Oh—! No, I'm sure things will turn out just fine! An ending like that would be way too sad, wouldn't it?

[bakudanma]

_{[ there he goes.. lifting the handkerchief to his eyes and not his nose.. ]}

It is what series like this try to do. Ah, they reel you in with charming and cute characters and unveil a horrific past then make things complicated with romance.
_{[ he loves them. ]}

But sometimes, it is just.. too much!

[harepiece]

[NO......

Well, as long as he's using it...?!?! (What kind of terrible set standard is this...) There are more pressing matters to deal with though, like Katsura's clear emotional distress!!]

If it becomes too much, you can take a break, right? They'll still be there even if you take a break!

[KATSURA DON'T BE A HERO.]

[bakudanma]

Impossible! Taking a break would be disastrous! Worry isn't good for the soul; how will I be able to get a well-night's rest while stressing over whose child it is!? Everybody will be talking about it; I'll get behind and maybe even spoiled!

—No. Don't be foolish.

[harepiece]

Maybe if some people would learn not to talk about spoilers so openly, that wouldn't be a problem...

[Judging by the sudden irritation in his tone, it is probably good to assume that Oz has suffered this particular brand of shittery before. THANKS, ELLIOT.]

But I guess you have a point! What will you do, then?

[bakudanma]

I will make it certain that both you and I will be placed on the next train. As long as I catch the most of it, I will just have to read about spoilers elsewhere.

_{[ And so, he waits, anxiously looking at the monorail for the next one to arrive.
His fingers rest gently on his sword again. Oh boy. ]}

[harepiece]

[WARILY EYING KATSURA'S HAND.]

Ah— wait, why me? [??! Katsura you don't even know if that's the train he's getting on.] And if you don't want to wait, you could always take a taxi, right?

1.2

[bakudanma]

Taxi?
This is much more quicker and efficient. You're not stuck with a taxi driver and having to keep up that awkward conversation.

_{[ his voice jumps an octave: ]}
Ah, so what do you do for a living?
I am the leader of an Anti-Foreigner Faction.
I see, and you're going to Disneyworld?
Yes. I just adore M***ey M**se.

_{[ he's speaking from personal experience.
Though, before Oz can really reply to that, he starts again: ]}

2.2

[bakudanma]

There are the pieces of filth that need to be eradicated that flood into the public transport!
Just the other day I assaulted a man for manspreading, a heinous crime in the busy transport.

Who shall take part of this cleansing of the monorail if I am not there?

[harepiece]

[Once again, Oz appears to be at a loss... They're speaking the same language but it's like he can't understand 90% of what this guy says somehow?! Even people from the future are easier to understand, usually!! Maybe Katsura is just from the megafuture or something...

After a few seconds of trying to figure out exactly what part about that to address, he decides to eschew the weird thing about anti-foreigner factions and m***ey m**se entirely and focus on the important things. LIKE, FOR ONE:]

Are you a police officer too, then? [Which makes it sound like Oz is also one, but no, just his friend is...] And what's- what was it? Manspreading?

[bakudanma]

Police officer? Haha— I don't associate with such a cowardly bunch of morons. Don't be foolish.
_{[ look, he really doesn't like the police back home, and they're out for his arrest anyway. ]}

Ah, manspreading. It is such as this.
<sub>[ He demonstrates, slouching in his seat and spreading his legs apart to take up more room. Such an unflattering look for a guy wearing a kimono. That was probably enough leg being shown.

He resumes his postured position, putting his hands in the sleeves of his haori. ]</sub>

It's very inconsiderate for those who are wanting to take a seat but can't because a person is taking up too much space.

[harepiece]

The officers here aren't bad at all.

[But he doesn't say it in an offended way! He knows that some people just have Problems with authority... Considering he had briefly been on the execution list of the law enforcement in his own world, he understands...

AND THEN THERE'S THE DEMONSTRATION and Oz just looks baffled (and vaguely concerned because THAT REALLY IS A LOT OF LEG, THANKS FRIEND), because:]

Is that something that people really do? ...But why? [A good question indeed.]

[bakudanma]

I don't disagree with you in that regard.
_{[ Really. Nobody can be as bad as the Shinsengumi. ]}

However, it's a habit for me to take matters into my own hands. Ah, this city— it is different, but not broken. There are crimes committed regularly, but not considered a crime by those who are supposedly the lawful.
_{[ Then, a pause as he is thinking. ]}

Because they are d*cks.
_{[ plain and simple. ]}

[harepiece]

[Looking a little surprised! But agreement is a good thing, surely, even if the person agreeing is a nutty nutbar.]

Huh... I guess it's good that there's someone around to catch these things.

[He has no idea where ducks come into the equation though???]

But— what are the things you're catching, anyway? The police force here is made up of volunteers from refugees just like every other job, I think. Maybe they just don't know the rules well yet?

[bakudanma]

Ignorance! Something such as a police force shouldn't be made up of a group of people who don't understand what they are doing and just want the glory of authority.
<sub>[ that hits too close to home for him, really.

Oz just really caught him in a bad mood. ]</sub>

[harepiece]

[ON ONE HAND HE'S GOT A POINT.

On the other, his point is slightly lost in the harshness surrounding it, which has Oz tilting his head to the side a little. He also has a slight bias though, considering his dumb ass got saved from an equally dumb demise by someone on the force...]

You aren't wrong... Ah, but you didn't answer the question, mister.

[bakudanma]

It's not mister, It's Katsura.

Ah, question? You mean what am I catching? What do you mean by that?

[harepiece]

Oh, sorry— I mean, you're catching people who break laws and things like that, right? [Like some sort of renegade vigilante...] So what kind of law-breaking do you see?

[bakudanma]

I see. That is what I thought. I am catching the unlawful because of my lack of faith in the police.

I see things such as the manspreading, those refusing to remove their sandals when going into a new home, _{[ somehow he has witnessed this ]} nobody helping the elderly cross the street, cat-calling, littering and evidently those who make others late for their daytime soap.

_{[ TIGHTENS GRIP ON THE HANDLE OF HIS SWORD THERE. ]}

[harepiece]

[?! THIS GUY IS REALLY KEEPING AN EYE OUT ON EVERYTHING. He doesn't bother asking how Katsura knows people don't take their sandals off, though... He also doesn't bother asking how many people are even wearing sandals in this weather. On the ranking charts of Weird Things, both are pretty low, sadly.]

Oh— ...I'm sure you do a good job! [does he really

But, as if on cue, IN THE DISTANCE A SECOND TRAIN APPROACHES. Oz leans forward in his seat to look, even though he can't make out any details with it still as far away as it is.]

—Do you think you'll be able to take that one?

[bakudanma]

_{[ Zura perks up, leaning forward, long locks of black hair falling over his shoulder as he watches the monorail approaching with a vacant expression. ]}

—I will take what is rightfully mine and not allow such people step in my way.
_{[ FINALLY WIPES BLOOD FROM HIS NOSE. He stands to his feet, taking a breath. What was with this feeling in the air as if he just finished a climatic, fighting sequence? ]}

I've enjoyed our talk.
I don't suppose you are also needing to take the monorail somewhere too.

Where are you heading?

[harepiece]

[STARES ON with some weird semblance of vague concern, admiration, and confusion that has basically not left him since the very start of their conversation...

But oh, he's asking a question--]

Oh—! I'm just heading back to the gym so I can start my shift. [LIFEGUARDING.]

It was nice talking to you, too. I hope you can make it back in time!