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choo choo open log train
Who: Shinjiro (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
unevoke & open
When: misc. days after event 9
Where: PLACES
What: THINGS
Rating/Warning: shouldn't be anything crazy!
a - mcceres
[By this point, work's become a monotony. It's a way to earn money, and he doesn't bedgrudge it for that purpose, but the forced socialization doesn't suit his tastes and the risk of running into someone he's conversed with - particularly after the events of the previous week - leave him tenser than he usually is.
At least he's an entertaining sight, dressed in his standard uniform of brightly colored apron and hat, sporting one of the flattest looks known to man as he asks:]
What can I get you today?
b - some random thrift store
[Shinji's stay thus far in Cerealia has been unkind to his limited wardrobe. His hat's looking particularly worse for the wear, his pants have small rips in them, and his coat is probably going to disintegrate the moment someone touches it.
Hence, his presence at the local thrift store.
There's not a whole lot on display, most of either not in his size or in atrocious colors and patterns he would never think to wear in public. Like the shirt he pulls out off the rack in sheer disbelief: a lemon yellow, with pink beach balls and blue umbrellas.
Who the hell even thought this was a good idea? And no he's not going to buy it, don't you dare ask.]
c - the cybuddy store
[Out of all the places in Cerealia though, the CYBuddy store is where Shinji's spent the most time of late. His guilt over attempting to sacrifice the things (and in some cases successfully) have led him to return time and again, to offer assistance in the store and give the remaining CYBuddies some proper attention.
It also gives him an excuse not to be social, and to put off thinking about the terrible things he tried to do.
Of course, there's no point in spending time in the CYBuddy store if he's not going to buy anything. There's Mitsuru's CYbuddy to spoil, and since he can't exactly buy gourmet CYBuddy food (does that even exist?) he settles for toys, picking out two and weighing them against each other.
He turns, eyes questioning.]
Hey, you got any idea which of these lasts longer?
[Quality over quantity, yo.]
d - game center
[Shinjiro isn't much for games. Having played only a rare few during his childhood, he'd never developed the fervor for them many of his peers had. That said, the pseudo-game of live action Pac-man he'd played his first day here had been kind of fun. He wanders into the game center one day when it's mostly empty - blame the early hour for that - and spends a good ten minutes just walking down the rows, checking out what there is on offer.
He stops in front of a fighting game and cracks a small smile. Akihiko would probably love this.]
e - choose your own adventure
[ooc: feel free to make your own scenario or pm me for an individualized prompt!]
unevoke & openWhen: misc. days after event 9
Where: PLACES
What: THINGS
Rating/Warning: shouldn't be anything crazy!
a - mcceres
[By this point, work's become a monotony. It's a way to earn money, and he doesn't bedgrudge it for that purpose, but the forced socialization doesn't suit his tastes and the risk of running into someone he's conversed with - particularly after the events of the previous week - leave him tenser than he usually is.
At least he's an entertaining sight, dressed in his standard uniform of brightly colored apron and hat, sporting one of the flattest looks known to man as he asks:]
What can I get you today?
b - some random thrift store
[Shinji's stay thus far in Cerealia has been unkind to his limited wardrobe. His hat's looking particularly worse for the wear, his pants have small rips in them, and his coat is probably going to disintegrate the moment someone touches it.
Hence, his presence at the local thrift store.
There's not a whole lot on display, most of either not in his size or in atrocious colors and patterns he would never think to wear in public. Like the shirt he pulls out off the rack in sheer disbelief: a lemon yellow, with pink beach balls and blue umbrellas.
Who the hell even thought this was a good idea? And no he's not going to buy it, don't you dare ask.]
c - the cybuddy store
[Out of all the places in Cerealia though, the CYBuddy store is where Shinji's spent the most time of late. His guilt over attempting to sacrifice the things (and in some cases successfully) have led him to return time and again, to offer assistance in the store and give the remaining CYBuddies some proper attention.
It also gives him an excuse not to be social, and to put off thinking about the terrible things he tried to do.
Of course, there's no point in spending time in the CYBuddy store if he's not going to buy anything. There's Mitsuru's CYbuddy to spoil, and since he can't exactly buy gourmet CYBuddy food (does that even exist?) he settles for toys, picking out two and weighing them against each other.
He turns, eyes questioning.]
Hey, you got any idea which of these lasts longer?
[Quality over quantity, yo.]
d - game center
[Shinjiro isn't much for games. Having played only a rare few during his childhood, he'd never developed the fervor for them many of his peers had. That said, the pseudo-game of live action Pac-man he'd played his first day here had been kind of fun. He wanders into the game center one day when it's mostly empty - blame the early hour for that - and spends a good ten minutes just walking down the rows, checking out what there is on offer.
He stops in front of a fighting game and cracks a small smile. Akihiko would probably love this.]
e - choose your own adventure
[ooc: feel free to make your own scenario or pm me for an individualized prompt!]
no subject
Oz does not seem at all put off by that, either! What a lucky guy, that Shinji, trapped with someone who is a turbofriender to end all turbofrienders.]
Even if there's nothing to talk about, it's fine! I haven't seen you in a while, so it'd be kind of nice to catch up, right?
[Gosh, Shinji, it's not like he's going to pry any traumatic experiences from cold, reluctant and dead hands or anything. Though he will probably be trying to get a feel for where Shinji stands after the event...
Mostly it'll just be pointless pestering though, which is a special hell all its own.]
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Still, mutual terrorization by leafy things and a short discussion about cooking does not a friendship make! Not in Shinji's book, at least.
But. Hmm. Shinji stays quiet another few seconds before piping back up.]
You learn how to cook anything new yet?
[Give the right answer and he'll agree to hang out with you for half an hour.]
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Either way, it's more the fact that Shinji isn't turning him away immediately that has him excited, but BOY IS HE EXCITED. Cooking is pretty exciting too - or rather, cooking without having to involve the fire department in some measure - so there's also that.]
Yes! I roasted my first chicken the other night with only a little help! And I learned how to make icing! And graham cracker pie crust and s'mores and thunder cupcakes, but those didn't turn out so well—
[More like he traumatized a small child by putting tomatoes in her cupcake.]
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Maybe there's hope at the end of this (friendship) tunnel. Still, gotta play it cool, keep his distance.]
You planning on opening a bakery or something?
[But he does sound more amused than anything else, at least.]
no subject
To the question, Oz just shakes his head. That would be a little overambitious, probably... But maybe he could bully Gil into doing it instead?! He could help attract customers or something by standing outside in a mascot costume and herding people in through the doors.]
I just have a lot of friends who like sweets, and I wanted to bake things for them! [...] And for myself.
[The biggest cookie monster is Oz.]
no subject
First things first though: great as sweets may be, they are hardly appropriate foodthings for a growing adolescent male, especially not in such large quantities, even if the gesture of fresh baked goods is a kind one and something Shinji himself's relied on often in the past.
Can't let youngsters get too lenient about their diets, after all. Shinji quirks one eyebrow upwards, whatever faint admiration that might've been on his face vanishing completely.]
Don't eat too many sweet things or you'll ruin your health. What about vegetables? Side dishes?
[Yes he's going to be obnoxious about this. (And aren't there customers starting to line up now?)]
no subject
Wow though, Cerealia is really keen on making him feel like a giant fattydingdongs, isn't it?? Rude shits left and right judging the fact that he's a human garbage disposal when it comes to desserts... But who can help themselves in the face of so many tasty sweets?! No one from his world, that's for dang sure.]
I know how to cook some of those, too. [Suddenly he's getting a lot less specific, though... SURELY IT'S A COINCIDENCE.
And oh look at that, a convenient escape in the form of customers appearing and the line growing longer--] Anyway, I'll get a table! Come over when you're done!
[FLIES OFF.]
no subject
But he can't yell out without looking (and sounding) like an asshole so instead he reverts to his usual scowl and grumbles under his breath, nearly scaring off the next customer in line after Oz.
It's actually about ten minutes until his shift is over and Shinji has no intention of joining Oz at his table (well, not a lot of intention, at least) but there are weird sounds coming from the employee break room, it looks like it's about to rain outside, and all the other tables are filled with people (thanks, lunch rush), so it's with a sigh that he carries his bag of McBurgers and fries (ugh) and plops himself down in the seat across from Oz.
He doesn't say hi though. Greetings are for squares.]
no subject
And then hi nerd, ten minutes later... Oz doesn't look surprised to see him sit down, either. Clearly he just had faith in the heart of the cards that Shinji would be stuck with his dumb self for a meal. ...Ish. Oz isn't eating; he's got the bag of food he ordered tucked inside his jacket to try keeping it warm. If it gets cold anyway, THAT'S OKAY, that's what microwaves are for!!
But bags of food and McBurgers aside, Oz will take the mantle of dual-greeting and meet Shinji with a cheerful:]
Welcome back! I'm glad you could make it!
[Does he regret coming over here yet... Curiously:]
You don't pack a lunch?
no subject
Besides, he probably deserves it.
Shinji pulls a burger out of his bag and wrinkles his nose at it. A sad piece of lettuce flops lazily back at him.]
Didn't have time to make lunch this morning.
[Also he's out of ingredients and needs to go shopping later. Ah, but wait, Oz isn't eating.]
Where's your lunch?
no subject
[In response to Shinji's sad burger being shown off... The single piece of lettuce really makes it.
But before Oz can walk down memory lane further and reminisce about the free burger voucher days of yore, there's a question to answer! He makes a little "oh" sound, holding one hand up in a vague waving gesture.]
I'll eat later! I was planning on visiting someone later today for lunch.
[By which he means he's gonna go harass Gilbert until he gets some food.]
no subject
But did burgers seriously look better back then...? But this is the food industry, he really shouldn't be so surprised. Start off great, lure customers in with free samples and discounts and food that actually tastes decent before going downhill in quality once a loyal fanbase has been acquired.
Curse the food industry.
His stomach grumbles in protest at food being so close at hand (and in hand) but goes ignored as Shinji stares down Oz.]
As long as you eat. It ain't good to skip meals, though it might be better than eating here, if the food's really gotten that bad.
[Why, McCeres. Why.]
no subject
TRULY, THOUGH. Or maybe Oz had weird blinders on at the time, considering he had just come from a place where stale popcorn and instant oatmeal had been the meal standards. Anything looks good after you've had to deal with plate after plate of lukewarm carnival food or things that came from various cans...]
I won't skip a meal, I promise! [FOR SOME REASON being stared down by Shinji makes him feel like agreeing is the best thing to do...]
—Anyway, I wouldn't worry about it too much! The food, I mean. [A nod toward his Sad Burger! He doesn't want Shinji to hold off because he made some vaguely unpleasant commentary okay.] It still smells completely the same, even if it looks a little different.
no subject
This relationship though - Shinji's and Oz's, not Shinji's and the burger's - seems to still be treading water though! Now the real question is, will Oz's social link go up after today or switch to reverse?
Stay tuned for the thrilling conclusion...!
Right after Shinji stares down Oz some more, though this time more out of curiosity than suspicion.]
You can still remember how it smelled from way back then?
[Do you have a freak nose or something.]
no subject
LOOKING RIGHT BACK, THOUGH...]
Mmhm! [He's just a freak in general, his nose is not an exception.] It was the first time I had ever smelled anything like it before, so I remember what it was. Kind of like corndogs!
no subject
But in any case those words earn Oz a good long look before Shinji finally takes a bite out of his burger, the protests of his stomach too loud to be ignored. It tastes pretty much as he expects it to, bland and overly greasy, and there's a definite look of dissatisfaction on his face as he chews and finishes his first bite.
Only about twenty more to go. Eugh.]
What kinda place were you in before, if you didn't have corn dogs?
no subject
You don't look like you're having a good time. [FIRST AND FOREMOST, STATING THE OBVIOUS. Really, he's giving Shinji an empathetic look since he sure looks like he's having a Struggle against that burger. Only one bite and it's already like this...
But the question is enough to distract him from further inane commentary, at least.]
Oh— I'm from Reveil! It's in [insert weird fantasyland country here?!], but I don't think many people here come from my world. We don't really have the same way of time-keeping that most people here seem to use either, but I've learned it's probably the equivalent of the 19th century?
[He had to go through a lot to learn these things okay A LOT.]
no subject
But anyway. Reveil. 19th century. More names of places he's never heard of before (go figure), and it's a little bit alarming just how far of a reach through both time and space (and worlds??) the people here have. If it's similar to the 19th century though...
Shinjiro tilts his head, curious.]
Everything here must've been pretty new to you, huh?
no subject
But he nods at the question, at least, even though there's a momentary pause afterward and the addendum:]
Well, mostly! [Because he sure was stuck in another jamjar before this one. The multiple jamjar life is hard...] But I've never seen anything this advanced before. The holograms and things are entirely new... I wish we had them back in my world!
[Except the people there really don't need more weapons than they already have SO MAYBE NOT.]
no subject
But hm, that's fair! Shinji nods, takes another bite of his (gross) burger. Everything's definitely pretty advanced here, filled with a lot of things no doubt a lot of people back in Iwatodai (and the rest of Japan) would like to have.
Even so....
His chewing slows, turns somewhat thoughtful.]
What about all the weird stuff that keeps happening here? Your...world have any of that going on?
[Ah look, maybe he'll start opening up about things.]
no subject
He's trying not to watch poor Shinji struggle through his burger, at least. It seems counterproductive and could possibly make eating it even more of a task for the poor guy.]
Hm? [A mildly questioning sound! Oz understands what's being asked here, though. HIS WORLD SURE DOES HAVE WEIRD STUFF GOING ON... But--]
Not quite like what happens in this place. Still, my world has things in it that disrupt the peace... Even people who live there would consider some of those things weird. [OR DISTURBING, OR TRAUMATIC, or any other number of negative descriptors because really, how else do you react to Chains...]
What about you?
no subject
At the question, he shrugs, looking up from his burger to look at Oz.]
Yeah. All places have weird stuff, don't they?
[Straightforward and without coyness. It just seems normal, to a point. Normal though Personas are to him though - though not acceptable, still - he isn't willing to divulge their existence just yet.]
How do you guys deal with all the weird stuff?
no subject
That's a pretty depressing thought, though - and it's not like he doesn't consider it a reprieve sometimes, himself. SO, ON TO THE QUESTION, since Shinji's comment just gets a nod of agreement and a little, thoughtful hum.]
There's an organization that takes care of it! [KIND OF.] They monitor incidents and things like that, and step in when they get out of control. But not many people know or understand what Pandora really deals with, so we can't take care of situations openly...
no subject
Also it makes his burger more tolerable.
But 'we' huh? The guy sitting across from him doesn't look sneaky enough to be part of some covert operation, but weirder things have happened.]
Is it dangerous stuff that'd get other people hurt if they got involved? Or are you guys the only ones qualified for whatever you do?
no subject
Oz is definitely not sneaky enough to be part of a covert operation, though. If he was, he wouldn't be telling Shinji about said covert operation... But as he sees it, secrets like that hardly matter here! Pandora is going to shit anyway it's all fair game.]
Mm... It's mostly the first. There are certain qualifications that agents have, but it's not really exclusive. It's just... [A pause; he hums as he picks his wording.] It's not something that most people should need to be qualified for, even if they could be.
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