[She stands out in her strawberry red leather jacket over her blue kimono and yet blends in at the same time with the crowd. Hands in her pockets, staring straight ahead, each step in her laced up boots deliberate and yet directionless at the same time.
The bright lights of most of the districts are deterring, even for someone like Shiki who lived in the urban jungle that was Misaki. In fact, everything in Cerealia felt 100% more blinding, flashy, overall just unpleasant. It made trying to sift through her thoughts unbearable. But Shiki knew she couldn't just think about things the whole time in her room even if she preferred being alone. She had to know the city and be familiar with its mysteries and its dangers. She would have to take the trouble to be aware of the people around her.
Honestly, this is proving to be a monumental task because she still wants to be alone.
(There were very few people who caught her interest though, she could name them using her fingers... Oh yeah, there was that guy that could be classified as historical, but that battle never had an end...)
Anyway.
Exploration is being done however. She passes by the Church building and stands outside, head tilted upwards as if she's considering going inside.]
[ Souji doesn't like the lights of Cerealia either.
[ He doesn't have the luxury of being from a city of similar scope and size, so Souji has no experiences to draw from. It's just as well, he probably wouldn't like the colony even if he had. Like Shiki, he can't stand that unpleasant, cloying feeling he feels just by slipping through the crowds. ]
[ Crowds full of strangers, because Souji doesn't run into people he knows at night. (Besides Hawke sometimes when he's in the rare mood to socialize.) It's easier for him to avoid contact from familiar faces and over-familiar strangers at night. Just like how it's easier for him to brush them off and pretend that the empty spaces around him aren't jarringly silent, not when the city around him is so loud and invasive. ]
[ He feels it even more tonight, finally turning and breaking from the crowds, slipping into alleyways and down shadier streets, before arriving on the street outside the church. Souji's visited the Church a couple of times, but never long enough to talk to anyone there. In fact, visiting the Church isn't even on his mind until he spots Shiki. His gaze narrows, the sight of Shiki tugging at something more than apathy for once, but he doesn't actually figure out the reason until after a few seconds pass. ]
[ Then he knows. She's dressed differently, but Shiki had left an impression. One Souji wouldn't forget just by different clothes. Trying to kill her and almost getting killed in return can do that, even if they did get interrupted in the end. He slows down, making his steps audible as he heads towards her. ]
There's not much to see in there, just so you know.
[ His tone is light, as if the last time they met they hadn't been trying to kill each other for fun. ]
[Ah, that voice. Familiar enough to realize she's heard it before and for her to put a name on it. Shiki glances at Souji before fully turning around to face him properly.]
... So not a lot of visitors then?
[And she responds with her own question, also casual and direct. They're not here for the purpose of killing so that side of her during their clash is not apparent. If anything, she seems more serene, more... Well. Nothing.]
I have to say, you don't strike me as someone particularly spiritual.
Funny, I was just about to say the same thing about you.
[ He gives her an appraising sort of look, remembering how very little he knows about Shiki. Maybe she's the type to kill and then pray about it? There are always those types around. But then he smirks, as if he's already reached the she's-probably-a-murderer-just-like-me conclusion. ]
I've only ever seen this place at night, so I can't say whether or not it's popular. But if praying isn't your kind of thing, then you might appreciate the fact that the robots never come around here.
[ And that's nice for Souji, who doesn't like speaking to or interacting with any of the robots in the colony. ]
[What's there to even pray about when it comes to Shiki? She's lost a lot already after all in her abnormal case. Shoving her hands in her pockets, Shiki replies to Souji casually.]
Not surprised. About the robots I mean. Their sense of self wouldn't nearly be as conflicting as humans.
[Humans or other living beings would probably pray out of sense of despair and a sense of desperation and need. If the robots didn't come around here, it meant they lacked those things.]
You seem to fit in well here. Despite being old and all.
The name, "Okita Souji," somewhat implies you came from a different age. [does it really shiki...] Or at least from an age that doesn't have this much metal.
What I'm saying is, it must've been one hell of an adjustment.
[ His brow furrows because she's not wrong. And the fact rankles because he's very mature like that. ]
Not really. [ No, it was difficult at first. It's still difficult, especially since Souji still hasn't found a job or stopped his patrolling habits. He hasn't adjusted as seamlessly as he'd like others to believe. ] No matter the time or place, some things are always the same.
[ still loud, noisy, and the streets rife with scum. His eyes dip to her, appraising her again now that he has a little bit more context. ]
[ She may look unarmed, but Souji is the last person to assume that she is. He doesn't want to get surprise stabbed in front of the church. That would be a lame way to go. ]
Disaster or not, all you have to do is kill whoever gets in the way.
[Shiki falls silent for a moment and one hand is slowly raised up to her face. Her eyes are peek out between her fingers and there are some slow blinks.]
[ shiki please get more friends don’t let Souji of all people beat you ]
And what's that?
[ He doesn’t seem too disappointed at being denied. He’s still trying to get a feel for what kind of person she is, after all. He’d have to find her all over again if he tried to stab her now. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
action | 6/20 | late evening
The bright lights of most of the districts are deterring, even for someone like Shiki who lived in the urban jungle that was Misaki. In fact, everything in Cerealia felt 100% more blinding, flashy, overall just unpleasant. It made trying to sift through her thoughts unbearable. But Shiki knew she couldn't just think about things the whole time in her room even if she preferred being alone. She had to know the city and be familiar with its mysteries and its dangers. She would have to take the trouble to be aware of the people around her.
Honestly, this is proving to be a monumental task because she still wants to be alone.
(There were very few people who caught her interest though, she could name them using her fingers... Oh yeah, there was that guy that could be classified as historical, but that battle never had an end...)
Anyway.
Exploration is being done however. She passes by the Church building and stands outside, head tilted upwards as if she's considering going inside.]
finally slams into this im here
[ He doesn't have the luxury of being from a city of similar scope and size, so Souji has no experiences to draw from. It's just as well, he probably wouldn't like the colony even if he had. Like Shiki, he can't stand that unpleasant, cloying feeling he feels just by slipping through the crowds. ]
[ Crowds full of strangers, because Souji doesn't run into people he knows at night. (Besides Hawke sometimes when he's in the rare mood to socialize.) It's easier for him to avoid contact from familiar faces and over-familiar strangers at night. Just like how it's easier for him to brush them off and pretend that the empty spaces around him aren't jarringly silent, not when the city around him is so loud and invasive. ]
[ He feels it even more tonight, finally turning and breaking from the crowds, slipping into alleyways and down shadier streets, before arriving on the street outside the church. Souji's visited the Church a couple of times, but never long enough to talk to anyone there. In fact, visiting the Church isn't even on his mind until he spots Shiki. His gaze narrows, the sight of Shiki tugging at something more than apathy for once, but he doesn't actually figure out the reason until after a few seconds pass. ]
[ Then he knows. She's dressed differently, but Shiki had left an impression. One Souji wouldn't forget just by different clothes. Trying to kill her and almost getting killed in return can do that, even if they did get interrupted in the end. He slows down, making his steps audible as he heads towards her. ]
There's not much to see in there, just so you know.
[ His tone is light, as if the last time they met they hadn't been trying to kill each other for fun. ]
let's do this thing YEAH
... So not a lot of visitors then?
[And she responds with her own question, also casual and direct. They're not here for the purpose of killing so that side of her during their clash is not apparent. If anything, she seems more serene, more... Well. Nothing.]
I have to say, you don't strike me as someone particularly spiritual.
rubs hands im ready
[ He gives her an appraising sort of look, remembering how very little he knows about Shiki. Maybe she's the type to kill and then pray about it? There are always those types around. But then he smirks, as if he's already reached the she's-probably-a-murderer-just-like-me conclusion. ]
I've only ever seen this place at night, so I can't say whether or not it's popular. But if praying isn't your kind of thing, then you might appreciate the fact that the robots never come around here.
[ And that's nice for Souji, who doesn't like speaking to or interacting with any of the robots in the colony. ]
no subject
Not surprised. About the robots I mean. Their sense of self wouldn't nearly be as conflicting as humans.
[Humans or other living beings would probably pray out of sense of despair and a sense of desperation and need. If the robots didn't come around here, it meant they lacked those things.]
You seem to fit in well here. Despite being old and all.
[yeah, still on about that sorry souji]
no subject
And how exactly am I fitting in?
[ He's not sure what he's more irritated by, that comment or that dig about his age?? god he's not old shiki wow ]
no subject
What I'm saying is, it must've been one hell of an adjustment.
no subject
[ His brow furrows because she's not wrong. And the fact rankles because he's very mature like that. ]
Not really. [ No, it was difficult at first. It's still difficult, especially since Souji still hasn't found a job or stopped his patrolling habits. He hasn't adjusted as seamlessly as he'd like others to believe. ] No matter the time or place, some things are always the same.
[ still loud, noisy, and the streets rife with scum. His eyes dip to her, appraising her again now that he has a little bit more context. ]
The future's more or less the same, isn't it?
no subject
[She thinks for a second. Shakes her head.]
There are enough differences to distinguish itself. It's not like this place. Too many dangerous people clustered together for one thing.
no subject
[ The corner of his previously disgruntled lips quirk up as he cocks his head to the side ]
What's your definition of dangerous?
[ shiki seemed pretty fucking dangerous with that sword back then tbh ]
no subject
My definition? [She sighs as if it's annoying to think about.] Hm. No, I can't say I have anything specific in mind. Nothing interesting anyways.
[A beat.]
There's all types here though. It's a recipe for disaster in a lot of cases.
no subject
Disaster or not, all you have to do is kill whoever gets in the way.
[ Souji says, with a shrug. ]
So it's not something to really worry about.
no subject
Doesn't seem like anyone actually stays dead.
no subject
[ And it's the same in the colony, but Souji's not actually sure about that fact yet. ]
But it depends. People from this place apparently die the same as anyone else, but it's different with us. Don't ask me why.
[ because it's long and complicated and Souji will sound stupid saying the word code out loud ]
no subject
[Shiki falls silent for a moment and one hand is slowly raised up to her face. Her eyes are peek out between her fingers and there are some slow blinks.]
Looks the same...
no subject
I can stab you if you like. It might get you something more than just looking can.
[ this is what murderfriends do for each other ]
no subject
[He's a tricky and quick bastard though, so Shiki knows that an attempt from Souji would probably be notable.
Also friends what friends, even Souji has more friends than her]
Besides, I'm talking about something else entirely.
no subject
And what's that?
[ He doesn’t seem too disappointed at being denied. He’s still trying to get a feel for what kind of person she is, after all. He’d have to find her all over again if he tried to stab her now. ]