citylogs | ( semi-open ) though it may hurt today

[Thanks king, he doesn't want to talk about murder for once. It's becoming a real overarching theme in this place, so on the one hand: he's been right all along, he knows it!! But on the other: god. Exhausting.

So, first:] You're the one who picked out the dots in the first place...

[Picky! Junpei squints very intently at these other ties; he can see the slighter, subtler patterns, make no mistake - but those don't make them "different ties" to him, because he's a schlub who can't dress. He shrugs, like, okay, sure? If Roland says they're different, they're probably different in a way that matters.

To other people, anyway.]

Well, I saw you were in here, so... [so he came for the friendship time, don't perceive him for this. Ahem. Pivoting,] I don't really do suits.

What? It's not like I've spent all my life as a doctor. I did other things too. Though technically I was a butler who happened to learn how to bartend on the fly.

[you aren't just born a doctor gosh!]

Anyway. I have a few specialties, and I'll fix up something for you. Hell knows we need it after this bullshit.

[ fashion was likely a part of the whole package yoshida labeled "normalcy." he supposed normal teens his age had at least a passing interest in the concept of dressing themselves. he supposes even creatures in the wild bare their colors, songs, and dances to attract mates and to simply increase their overall sociability within the constructs of their society. but, his thoughts on social constructs aside— as much as he is aware of that, he's always simply opted to what was safe and practical.

that said, he somehow manages to traverse to this specific establishment and he's met with a stranger who asks him for advice. there is a slight pause as he seems to mull over it.

there's almost a tension in the air as he puts his hand to his chin as if in deep thought. before he responds with a simple: ] Why these five? [ time to delve into the tie philosophy.... ]

[ he... takes the smoke, but he doesn't make the motion of lighting it up. just holding something else that isn't just the gloves is helping a bit.

that remark, though. it takes roland out that he raises a brow in spite of his disheveled appearance. ]

The hell does that mean... I don't really need jokes right now, Greg. No one in the city is fit for marriage.

[ and yet he went and did it anyway. he snivels. ]

I wasn't with her when it happened. [ "No matter what happens, don’t blame yourself for all of it. You know it won’t be your fault." ] I'll always regret that.

A butler...

[ the fuck. you can't get any more nest-y than that!! rich people really do be having the time of their lives picking up more hobbies compared to backstreeters who are fighting for their lives on the daily. ]

Yeah. We sure as hell do. Might need to get home and nap this off first, though. [ and also to clean himself up. he just had a mental breakdown, okay. though this isn't the first time where he can easily jump back from it... ] Really, though. Thanks. I owa ya big time.

[ GETS DRAGGED AWAY??? ]

H-Hey, hey! Don Quixote! I don't wanna dress up like some guy from the Nest! Where are we even going? Hello?

[ HELP... it really do be easy to get caught up to the beat of don's drum. regardless, he lets himself be whisked away to wings know where. ]

Good point. But what if I don't vibe with the one I end up choosing? Then I'd just go back to square one.

[ SIGHS, then puts his monochrome ties down in defeat. ]

I can never have too many black ties, though. It's part of my uniform. But in that case, you got any suggestions, big guy?

[ oh. roland doesn't always get to talk to teens - they all seem so rare back in the city he's from, on account of how children in general are being grinded to dust by the horrors of their world. maybe that's why he tried getting this one's attention: to figure out what the kids of today are into. ]

Oh, I just like 'em. I guess I have a thing for black and white?

[ says the guy who's never seen outside of his professional suit and tie. real salaryman vibes right here. ]

I mean, I guess I could go for a splash of color for a change. But I don't even know where to start with that. [ he shrugs. it's literally not that deep, because roland is not a deep kind of person. in fact, he's easily understood (lol). ]

[ wow, full name!!!! now she's really in trouble!!! she's absolutely ignoring him so they can dip into a less formal, but still higher end boutique, the outside mannequins placing it more chic than business. comfort and aesthetics over function. ]

Young Sinclair's eye is second to none when to comes to appropriateness of design, but I daresay I have acquired some knowledge as well! Remain here, and I shall return momentarily!

[ as she leaves him near to the front of the store, lined with sundae dress wearing mannequins for ladies and silky looking v-necks for men.

then, an additional call from between the various racks-- ]

If I return and find thee gone, I shall be far angrier than about the train!

No one's fit for it, but we still all fall in love and want it. Shut up.

[TELL HIM HE'S WRONG, BITCH. SHUT UP. DREAMS ARE ALLOWED!!!

But

man, yeah. He almost says something like 'what, so you could die together?', but....Well, yeah. He knows he'd want that, if it were him.]

You mind if I ask what killed her? [Because that's the interesting thing, in the City. How one dies, not that one died at all. And this is all so much better than having to share his own agony, though. Not like they're getting out until that happens. Suck shit, future Gregor!]

[ aww, bestie. roland grins. ]

You don't? Not even for a special occasion or even a job interview? I remember you mentioning that you used to work at a detective agency, and those guys usually have a suit and tie on for field work.

[ not even for prom, junpei? come on, now. in any case, roland puts down the swatches and ruffles through the selection for another one, still in black and white. it's so dire, dude. ]

Well, on the bright side, that would cut down your list by one. That's progress.

[ Midnight nods. ]

The white stripes are rather nice, in my opinion. It's a bit of variety. Have you ever thought about going without, though?

Don't mention it. I would say if anything, consider us even.

[After all, Daan might not have had a visual breakdown in front of Roland but god damn he was close! Real damned close!]

For now, it seems like we have to worry about getting the hell out of here. What a pain.

Not this kind of detective agency... [He shrugs; they accepted his cool leather jacket as detective wear, he supposes. Anyway, Junpei was definitely paid under the table in cash at a shady office that didn't care that he showed up one day and asked for a job with zero experience, soooo.

So no, he's never worn a suit. Or been to prom, probably... But he knows Roland's fashion sense is boring the hell out of him, speaking as a guy who is also always dressed in monochrome, so after a beat of watching him go back to the black and white ties, Junpei turns to the nearest tie rack with some color on it and selects a cool red one.]

Here. What about this one?

[ is there any world that is truly fit for the youths to live in....

but, to be fair, yoshida gravitated to the same type of colors, but probably not for the same reasons. still, he simply seems to nod. if this man was here for the tastes of just an average high schooler, it isn't like he'd know, but he was more than willing to state his opinion. ]

A thing or habit? [ not that it makes a difference in the grander scheme of things. ] What do you think of red? [ but, almost opposite to that, he does choose the middle tie, hovering it a few inches away from the man's chest as if urging him to try it on. ]

[ is it truly even? it looked like daan is more put-together than roland here. it's probably the mettle he has as a doctor, but it would've been nice to see the guy break a little. just so roland wouldn't be alone.

roland blinks at the vault doors, sniffling. ]

Yeah, that's going to be a problem. Let me see if I can...

[ he slips on the gloves, flicks his wrist - but nothing happened. ]

Huh? But-- where are they...?

Without a tie?

[ he looks conflicted, like the very thought has never crossed his mind until now. ]

I mean, I guess I could do that? But I'unno, it just ain't the same without the tie. It hardly looks professional, in my opinion.

[don't worry man, one day for sure]

Where is what?

[There's a confused moment, then it occurs to Daan that maybe the gloves are more than just a piece of clothing. Are they empowered in some way?]

Items with an otherworldly effect don't appear to work in this place. I encountered this problem when I arrived with some unique medication that no longer held any healing properties. So, if that was supposed to make a new door for us or something, I'm afraid we're out of luck there.

See, I wouldn't call these gloves otherworldly... I'd say they're more technologically advanced than your average pair. I could pull out something that'll help us bust out of here, but--

[ throws up hands!! ]

Okay, let's figure this out, then. Uhh, you got that note in your box too?

[ whaddahell, this shop looks even nest-ier than the previous one! at least that one was just formalwear, but this one is definitely haute-couture or whatever the fuck nestdwellers would describe these outfits. ]

I'm staying, I'm staying! Jeez, you don't got to worry about that.

[ can he like. take a seat though. there's a chair nearby, he'll just park his ass over there-- ]

'Course Sinclair would have a good eye when it comes to fashion. Heard that he's a Nest kid himself.

That he is! We had the fortune of visiting his home as well -- I could imagine it a lovely place to live, if it were not for innocents staked on nails throughout the town!!!!

[ but that's neither here nor there... ]

I would not ask him about it, though; it is something of a sore point.

[ ... because of the innocents staked on nails, probably... anyway. she's peeking around a rack to make sure he's still there, then moving to another with flashes of color in her arms. a lot of colors. ]

His way of speaking gives it away more than anything, does it not?

I don't have a whole lot of knowledge on that sort of thing. But it's also not surprising when you can't even find a car with a fucking engine in this place.

[wompwomp anyway]

Right. The riddle about sharing. I feel like we did quite a bit of that. Is there more to it? [Fortunately, he did pocket the note, so he's gonna just unfold it and hold it out to Roland so they can review it.]

The moon.

(He leans over the rail, practically hanging over it but still keeping his balance.)

It looks like the one back home. The same cold light, the back we can't see...

(He sounds a little wistful.)

And the same sea.

(Yeah. The moon has a sea.)

[ ... ]

Yeah, uh. I still don't get it. Care to elaborate?

[ SORRY TSURU HE HATES BEATING AROUND THE BUSH... ]

Edited 2023-07-25 14:33 (UTC)

There's a sea on the moon.

(He says like its totally obvious. There's no doubt at all that there is a sea there.)

Someone told me about it a long time ago. It's called the Sea of Tranquility. It's completely silent and when you walk along the shore... your footsteps never disappear.

(And then he laughs,)

Sorry, sorry. I suppose I'm feeling a little nostalgic!

( semi-open ) though it may hurt today

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damn u got me there....

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🫡

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