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WHO: Shinjiro and anyone else who wants to be?
WHERE: Heropa
WHEN: The first week or so of October
WHAT: Moping, mostly
WARNINGS: Ppppossibly some mild suicidal ideation?

A. October 4th.
[ It's October 4th.

For Shinjiro, it doesn't matter that it was March when he suddenly ended up here— for Shinjiro, it doesn't matter that it had been October 4th just before then by his reckoning, that his sense of time had been completely messed up by his coma, and being flung through time and space hadn't helped any of it. None of that was the point. The point is that it's October 4th, and time and space shennanigans aside, it's still an echo of the biggest mistake he'd ever made.

He can't stand to stay inside today. It's not like De Chima #004 felt like home. He hadn't managed to run into any of the other residents there, and right now, that was probably a good thing. He needed space. He needed... he needed to be alone, he thinks. Frankly, he needed to be on Tatsumi Port Island, but that's clearly not an option when he's stuck in alternate-universe America.

He manages to find his way to Heropa— as far away from his current "home" as possible, and a good deal warmer than De Chima is right now. Home.... It's not really that. It's just a place to live. He hasn't thought of any place as home in a good few years. Possibly not since the orphanage burned down.

There's an alleyway that's a little bit away from the main bustle of the downtown, and that's where Shinjiro's found himself. It's not the same, but it feels at least a little more familiar at least. It's a good place to sit for a while and let himself drown in his own melancholy thoughts. The sun is starting to set, but he's making no move to leave. He leans against a building, staring up at the sky. It's going to be a long night, he thinks as he slips his hands into his pockets. ]

B. Aftermath.
[ Shinjiro actually ends up spending a full week in Heropa, though not all of it is in that alleyway. He wanders around, checking out the local restaurants and trying the food. He's got enough money if he's careful with it, and he usually is.

For now, he's in a cofee shop, sitting by a window and watching people pass by. He doesn't know very many people in this new world, but for now, that doesn't seem so bad. He's slipping into bad habits— he knows it, he's aware that he'd wanted to start over. But that was when Minako was alive, and he still hasn't really had a chance to process her death. She was one of the few people who had made him smile, and it seemed somehow cosmically unjust that she saved the world and had to die for it, while he only ruined lives and was still alive. For now, at least, and possibly only as long as the nanites could keep him that way.

Shinjiro sighs softly, glancing down at his coffee and watching the creamer swirl around lazily. ]

...Dammit...

[ Perhaps being alone was a bad idea, after all. He couldn't keep his thoughts from the macabre. It all seemed so pointless. ]

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[ Yusuke, on the other hand, does live in Heropa. Often, when leaving to and from Otabek's apartment, he takes the alleys and side streets. His name and face have been in the news more and more, whether gossip tabloids or political blogs, and rarely did he have the energy to deal with fans (and detractors) before that. It's convenient when he wants to avoid people, so he isn't expecting to see anyone down here when he makes his trek home, bookbag slung over his shoulder.

He tenses, only to recognize the figure leaning against the wall as someone he vaguely knows, or at least spends an uncomfortable amount of time talking about. Sorry. ]

You are standing in an alleyway by yourself.

[ It's not a question. What is tact? (That's a question.) ]

[ Shinjiro's head snaps towards Yusuke, not quite able to keep the surprise from his face. Shinjiro hadn't expected anybody to come through the alleyway. Of course he hadn't— that was the point. His plan— such as it was— mostly involved spending the night alone and brooding. ]

Huh? I didn't realize you lived here.

[ And that's avoidance. ]

You realize there are only four options, for imPorts?

[ Yusuke never went out of his way to mention where he lives, yes, but it can hardly be called surprising. He doesn't know, or particularly care, if the other Persona user would rather be left alone, so he leans against the wall next to him, careful not to step in the puddle of...whatever, between them in the alley. ]

Is this where you spend your alone time? Somewhat dreary, isn't it?

I read the pamphlets; I know the options.

[ He just wasn't expecting to run into Yusuke here.

Shinjiro glances around the alley upon Yusuke's observation, then shrugs slightly. ]

I've seen worse.

[ As if that excuses his choice of places to spend his time. ]

Anyway, it seemed like a good place to spend some time.

[ "Alone" is implied, but he doesn't say it aloud yet. ]

Edited 2017-10-05 14:21 (UTC)

Where, in movies? If you're looking to relax, why not at home?

Sure. In the movies.

[ His tone comes out flatly.

It takes Shinjiro perhaps a few moments longer than it really should to connect "home" with anything other than an esoteric idea, and he grimaces when he does. He lifts a hand out of his pocket and idly rubs at the back of his head as he thinks of a response. ]

Anyway, I didn't really want to be there right now.

[ Yusuke is completely failing to understand why an alleyway miles from home would be a better place to brood than one's bedroom, but maybe other people aren't as concerned about lighting conditions as he is. What do moping people even do if not paint their feelings? Stare at the wall? ]

...are you alright?

[ Shinjiro is not opposed to staring at the wall while moping.

He doesn't quite have it in him to pretend he's okay, not today of all days. So he shrugs slightly. ]

About as good as I can be.

[ Given the circumstances... ]

[ This is awkward. He's pretty certain he doesn't know Shinji enough to be of any help to him, with whatever it is that ails him. His best 'welcome to this new world' advice has already been given, and whatever else there is, if there even is anything else, is beyond Yusuke's knowledge. Still, he feels some sort of responsibility - maybe guilt - towards Shinjiro that keeps him there. Partly the confirmation that they are from the same world, or that he knows something about the man that he doesn't know himself. Something tells him that this might not be the best time to break that kind of news. ]

Do you...need help with anything, Aragaki-san?

It's...

[ Shinjiro's not sure how to respond to that. The concern is touching, especially since he doesn't really know the source. For him, it's just a guy who happens to be from the same world he is, reaching out in some kind of gesture of altruism. But there's nothing Yusuke can do, nothing anyone can do. ]

...just some stuff that's on my mind.

[ Constantly. ]

Thanks for the offer, though.

Like what?

[ He really doesn't expect him to answer, but Yusuke can't help but at least offer an ear. He should have made a card for Magnus' calming abilities... ]

Nothing worth talking about.

[ Translation: Nothing he wants to talk about, especially not to a guy he just recently met. No offence, Yusuke. ]

Fair enough.

[ Really. No offense taken! ]

What are your plans for Friday?

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[ It's hard not to notice the same guy in and out of the neighborhood. Iris can tell, just from journalistic instinct, that he isn't a native. For one thing, he carries himself differently. With more melancholy. She doesn't really know why she follows him into the coffee shop, when she's got the ability to summon caffeine at-will, but she slides into the seat opposite him. ]

Hey. [ She beams, resting both elbows on the table and pulling out her trusty travels thermos. Tapping her finger lightly, she fills it to the brim with her usual Americano. ] You're new here, right? Not like, to Heropa, but to this universe in general?

[ Shinjiro looks up from his coffee, barely managed to keep the surprise off his face. This new companion was unexpected; he hadn't even heard her coming. That's what you get for being wrapped up in your own thoughts, he supposes. He dips his head in a slight nod at her question. ]

Yeah, I showed up about a month ago.

[ He takes a sip of his coffee, considering her smiling expression. ]

How could you tell?

Call it journalistic instinct. [ She beams, taking a sip of her drink. If he asks her to leave, she'll go ahead and peace out - but he seems sweet. At least, sweet enough to let her stay for a little bit. ] Or, well, you've been hanging around the same restaurants as my boyfriend.

[ Once or twice, Iris might've passed it off as coincidence. By the seventh, it was enough to make a wager. ]

Sorry, uh - I didn't mean to be so upfront, but it looked like you could use company.

Your boyfriend has good taste in restaurants.

[ Whoever he is. Shinjiro takes a bite of the sandwich in front of him— This coffee shop has some great panini sandwiches, he'd discovered. ]

Anyway, I don't mind the company.

[ He hadn't been seeking it out, but he didn't intend to rebuff the reprieve from his own macabre thoughts. ]

You're a journalist, huh?

I'll let him know. [ Iris nods, taking a sip of her drink. ] But yeah, I'm a journalist. Mostly freelance around here. I cover politics and imPorts, which surprise surprise, are usually the same thing.

[ It also kind of explains why she's got a keen eye, if she's writing up reports designed to paint her fellow imPorts in a positive light. ]

What about you? Sticking to the government-assigned job or doing something else altogether?

Yeah, I've heard that about thee politics.

[ Shinjiro isn't impressed. He doesn't want to be involved in politics. ]

I'm sticking with the government job for now, but it ain't really something I'm interested in keeping up with. It's just a stopgap until I find something else.

Yeah, that's how most people view theirs. I'm convinced the government cares more about puns than whether or not the job fits.

[ At least, that had been the common trend she'd noticed. ]

What would you be more interested in? If it's okay to ask?

I don't know, honestly.

[ Shinjiro shrugs slightly. ]

Maybe something where I can stand around and look intimidating. Play to my strengths.

Hmm... [ She tilts her head thoughtfully, trying to figure out what this kid could be suited to. Nothing with the paper or the flower shop, probably. ] I think someone was looking for event security, if you're good in a fight.

Otherwise, this could be your chance to really explore everything and figure out what you like and what you don't.

[ Shinjiro nods once, slowly. ]

Yeah, I'm applying for the even security position. Other than that....

[ He knows he likes cooking, but he's nowhere near good enough to make a decent career out of it. That requires schooling, not just shit you learn from cooking shows and magazines. ]

...I don't know. I guess I'll have to figure something out.

[ Iris takes another sip of her drink. On one hand, she barely knows the kid. Just seen him around most of Barry's haunts, when she picked up take-out. On the other... why not pay some kindness forward? ]

Well, I often hear of job openings through my work. I'll see if I can't pull some strings that way. [ . . . ] I'd offer you a position at my shop, but somehow, I don't get the feeling you'd like flower arrangements.

[ The hint of a smile quirks up at the corners of his mouth, and he ducks his head. ]

Yeah, I'm not much of a flower guy.

[ He takes a sip of his coffee. ]

Thanks for the thought, though.