![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
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
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.
no subject
Oz's explanation doesn't go far in the way of clarification, but Shinji supposes that can't be helped - not much good in being in a covert operation if the first thing you do is go around spilling deets about said covert operation. Perhaps Mitsuru would be able to get more information about all this, but he's content to leave things alone for now. Asking means interest and interest means attachment, and he's not willing to go down that route any time soon.
But! Conversation must be made somehow, if only to further postpone suffering by burger.]
You sound like you don't agree with everything they do.
no subject
But this conversation is pretty sufficient for the time being, and it's clear Oz is giving it his full attention even if he's being a little on the vague side. Gotta keep some things on the dl, okay. THAT'S... sure a question, though. One that doesn't bring with it many pleasant memories, and his smile is a little hesitant for a second.]
—There are some things that I disagree with. I don't think that anyone is at fault for them, though.
no subject
The hesitation's telling and Shinji fixes a more critical gaze on Oz. Looks like the kid's not as air-headed as he seems to be, if there are still things that give him pause. Even so, he's not entirely sure he agrees with what's eventually said and he leans back in his seat, still staring at Oz.]
Someone's always gotta be at fault, even if that fault's spread around a bunch of people.
[He sounds a bit too serious about things, like he's talking from experience.]
no subject
But carrying on with being slightly less air-headed than usual, Oz blinks once, and then shakes his head.]
Ah— I worded that a little badly. Sorry! What I meant to say is that I don't blame anyone in Pandora for the biggest flaws it has, but there's definitely a person at fault for them.
[ONE SINGULAR PERSON WHO IS AT FAULT FOR BASICALLY EVERYTHING.......]
They were doing some things wrong from the start, but they had no way of knowing that. [They're still doing things wrong, actually, but Oz has no way of knowing how that whole mess will turn out.]
no subject
But! Hm. His curiosity's always been piqued more by serious topics than flighty ones and he settles into his seat, eyes slightly covered by strands of wayward hair but intent all the same.
He wonders what it might be like for that person, to go forward with something big without knowing for sure if it's right or wrong, or if it's something others would approve of.]
Is it too late for them to fix everything? Do they even wanna fix things?
[He really wants to know the answer to that question, for some reason.]
no subject
But oh, conversation is happening here!! Oz can tell when someone's just paying cursory attention to one or when they're really interested in what's being discussed, so even though he's always a little reluctant to talk about serious things, he'll valiantly press ever onward.
That's a pretty tough question to answer, though...]
Mm... I think that once they know what's happening, they would want to fix things. Getting there is just going to be a little difficult. [But based on Oz's Shonen Determination™, that probably isn't a huge deterrent...]
I don't think it's too late for things to be fixed, either.
no subject
But since he can't and won't ever be able to, he shakes that wistfulness off, adding another layer of fortification to his internal defenses. If he can't have the protective bubble of optimism he'll settle for walls of cynicism and soul-crushing guilt. That doesn't stop him from mentioning it though, all the same.]
You're really an optimist about these things, aren't you?
no subject
But Oz just smiles at that, since he's used to people saying that about him by now. YEAH HE IS, HECK YES HE'S AN OPTIMIST when he's not, like. Trying to murder people for justice or anything, at least.]
That's one way to look at it! I think it's just the most likely outcome in this situation, that's all.
[OPTIMISM.]
Or I guess it's the only outcome. [Because the other outcome is everyone dying, probably.]
no subject
Things that are also dark and gloomy: this entire place, especially when he hears the sound of his name being called over the hubbub of ordering customers.]
Hope things work out for that guy then. [Have some begrudging optimism from this end.] I gotta get back to work.
[With his.....not even half-consumed burger still sitting in front of him. Ah well. He'll finish it after his shift.]
no subject
But Oz blinks and glances over to the counter once he hears the name, apparently having forgotten that breaks only last a set amount of time.]
Oh— [GLANCING AT THE BURGER...] Sorry! I didn't mean to distract you from eating. I hope you won't be too hungry during the rest of your shift...
no subject
But getting up right now means he can survive yet another day in the Cerealia wilds, even if it means he has to scarf down his unappetizing burger later. Shinji wraps it back up, then dumps it unceremoniously back in the brown paper bag he'd brought it over in.]
'S fine. Don't always have time to eat during lunch anyway.
[Sometimes he doesn't even get a break and those are the days he wonders what's wrong with the population of Cerealia that so many of them are determined to get their crappy burger fix every day.]
no subject
But Oz starts to scoot out of the side of the booth at that, taking his bags with him. They're definitely cold by now but hey Ciel can just microwave them, no big! He turns to face Shinji again after standing upright though, offering a smile. The friendship express never stops...]
Thanks for coming to sit with me, anyway. I like talking to you! You have good things to say. [Oz the perpetual embarrassment strikes again.]
Can I come back and have lunch with you again one day?
no subject
You oughta find someplace better to eat.
[But that isn't an outright no and if he were entirely honest, Shinji would have to say that he doesn't fully mind Oz's company, even if the kid's a little bit too sunny for his taste sometimes. And as proof:]
There's a ramen restaurant a few blocks away that's cheap.
no subject
To illustrate just how inescapable this is, Oz hums once, thoughtful. Then:]
I'll bring some for both of us the next time, then! [Is that what Shinji had in mind when he suggested that Oz go to the ramen shop?? SURELY IT IS. But before Shinji has a chance to go "wait no you little shitweasel", Oz is turning on his heel, bags in hand, and raising one in a half-wave gesture.]
Good luck with the rest of your shift! I'll talk to you later!
[AND HE'S GONE like a little hellion whirlwind in the night...]