[OPEN]

[deathline]

WHO: Shiki Ryougi (deathline) and OPEN.
WHERE: Around Heropa Shopping Centre and then on the streets.
WHEN: Backdated Wednesday (July 16th); evening and then late at night.
WHAT: Window shopping for clothes, music, and knives. And then walking late at night because that's the safest thing. Maybe grab a cup of coffee.
WARNINGS: None, except for wishful murder that won't happen. Shiki is a big jerk 90% of the time. Prose or brackets are fine with me!



[A: Heropa Shopping Centre; Evening]

[Shiki Ryougi's existence in this new situation has quickly settled into a lull. Simply put, she's bored and it quietly agitates her. She has talked with other imPorts and very few interested her. (Well, more like just texting; she's gotten the hang of that function very quickly.) For an environment where one is surrounded by people of presumably all sorts of abilities, to her it's amazing that there's a lot of restraint. But all in all, maybe that's not surprising given the fact that hell broke loose a while ago when she wasn't here. It's bound to happen again and she can only wait and see.

Still, there's no Touko or Kokutou to help anchor her. Right now, Shiki has more freedom than she knows what to do with and so right now she finds herself wandering about the Heropa Shopping Centre. It's aimless window shopping. None of the American clothes interest her except for some leather jackets which she has no need of.

What actually stops Shiki is the familiar tune of Singing in The Rain. The famous musical number is playing on one of the high definition TVs with a happy Gene Kelly dancing across the widescreens. The young woman dressed in her kimono and red jacket stands there silently staring at the scene a stark contrast with some other shoppers who stop to sing along.

It's supposed to be a happy song. And in a way, it was a comfort, but it also reminded Shiki that yet another hollow is formed within.]

[B: Heropa Streets; Late Night]

[Is there anyone whose life I can take?

A constant question. A dark wish that whispers in her heart. It's the same thing every time she decides to go and take her late night walks. It hasn't changed much since she found herself as a registered hero in North America of all places. Except maybe this time, there was a bigger pool to choose from. There were people with powers, people who could give her the fight of her life.

Not like they'd show up out of nowhere and try to take her life right then and there. Now that was just wishful thinking.

Shiki's red jacket is even easier to notice in the dim light of the street lamps. Her hands are in her pockets so that her tattoo was hidden from view. She already stuck out enough as it was, what with her kimono paired with laced boots and all. Tonight though, there was some purpose to her wandering. She had checked every so often with her Mystic Eyes to see if there was some sort of unique flaw that she could exploit, one that would reveal the falseness of this world. Hell if she knows what she'll do if there actually is something.

She stands on an empty street corner, staring at the ground. Very few people were passing by. And thus, her eyes begin to glow a ghostly blue and she paces around the block once or twice. There were definitely lines. Lots of lines. They all looked the same to her though and it wouldn't be a help to anyone if she cut them. The sight of the woman in red with glowing eyes and walking around as if haunting the corner makes for an eerie scene.]

Comments

A

[godly]

[When Light exits a nearby clothing store, carrying a bag in one hand (summer clothes, a necessity in this weather), he expects to hear the hustle and bustle of the shopping centre drown out his own thoughts. It's busy tonight, but it's always busy here. It appears that no matter the universe, some things never change: people do love to shop.

Well, it was getting late. Best he start heading home, and Light turns to head back, fully intent on doing so.

He stops briefly, though, hearing music.

...I'm laughing at clouds
So dark up above
The sun's in my heart
And I'm ready for love...

Turning his head, Light spots the source of the song, and sees the young woman staring at the TV screen. He notes some are singing along, but the girl isn't. He should just walk away, it's really none of his concern -- but there's something... disconcerting about the way she's just staring, somberly. A little sad.

He walks forward, standing a few feet behind her. He lets the song play until the end.]

[deathline]

["Sad" is one way to describe the look of Shiki's eyes. They were dark colored, emphasizing the emptiness and faraway look. If eyes were a window to the soul, hers would be unreadable, indifferent, and void.

...Let the stormy clouds chase
Everyone from the place!

A memory resurfaces as she watches Gene Kelly's performance. It was her's, but not her's at the same time. (両儀式) Shiki had been standing next to Kokutou, waiting for her ride. He stood there next to her even when he could have gone home. What was their conversation about? It probably didn't matter because trying to recall the past was simply like reading a page from a book; experience without feeling.

C'mon with the rain
I've a smile on my face...

Her brow furrows and she turns away from watching the rest of the scene. There's no use for those feelings right now; not the time and not the place. Regardless of how she felt about them, she already had made a decision long ago to keep those memories and treasure them including the ones she could make in the future.

...I walk down the lane
With a happy refrain
Just singin',
Singin' in the rain...

She walks past Light as if not really noticing him and she stretches her arms, and speaking mostly to herself:]

Ah, geez. What the hell can I do next?

[Familiar voice isn't it? A woman's voice, but with barely an ounce of grace and as a result belies her otherwise serene appearance.]

[godly]

[When the young woman turns away, Light decides to brush the whole situation aside -- that he was even standing there in the first place was brought on by curiosity and nothing else, to begin with.

He turns to leave as well, but then he hears that voice. It's familiar. He'd have a difficult time forgetting it, since he's associated it with... irritation and arguments, as of late.]

...Ry-

[A frown, remembering her request.]

Shiki?

[deathline]

[She pauses when she hears her name being called. It's been kind of a while, but she does recognize the voice and she turns around to see who it belongs to. It's clear that she's sizing him up.

Her first thought? Groomed, not a punk, and someone who would looked like he would be popular in a high school. Truthfully, by how self-righteous he sounded over the communicator, she thought he'd look a bit more of a dweeb, but even she had to admit he had much more presence than that.]

Ah. The guy with the weird name.

[Well, it could have been worse, Light.]

[godly]

[Light does have a presence about him, which he's obviously careful to craft given how immaculate his appearance is. One might mistake it as vanity (and that may be a small part of it), but it's mostly because he is acutely aware of the impact of first impressions. The fact that he was often considered handsome by others gave him an advantage in that department as well.

Though it may be too late for good first impressions in this particular circumstance.

He frowns.]

Light. Surely it's not that difficult to remember?

[And they're already off to a good start.]

[deathline]

Yeah, it's definitely you, isn't it Yagami? I wouldn't forget a name like yours.

[She says something that could have had a whimsical tone, but her whole character is colored with a sort of indifference.]

I've had my moments, but my memory isn't the worst.

[godly]

Well. As you said -- and many others before you -- it is an unusual name. I don't know of many others whose parents thought to name their child so symbolically.

[But he doesn't speak as if it's an inconvenience. He rather likes his name.]

Are you a fan of Singing in the Rain?

[deathline]

[WELL, guess what both of her names mean and why she was given a gender neutral first name! Anyways, she raises a brow at his remark and a the given question.]

Not really. Someone back home had a passing fondness for the song though. I haven't actually watched the film.

[godly]

[Yeah, but come on. Light. Really, Yagamis?]

Ah, so that's why you stopped to watch.

[Well. He'd probably stop too, if he saw something reminding him of home.]

Doing some shopping? [Light obviously has been, given he's carrying a large bag full of clothes.]

[deathline]

If you can call it that. Don't have much cash on me so I'm taking a look around. No place for kimonos so far.

[She keeps a level gaze on him, or rather studying him if you will.]

Stocking up though, are you?

[godly]

[He sees that gaze for what it is: scrutinizing. Thankfully, Light is well-used to such glances by now, thanks to his situation at home.]

You mean this? [He holds up the bag briefly, then drops it to his side again.] I needed new clothes. The weather here during the summer isn't just hot, but also offensively humid. Long sleeve shirts don't cut it anymore.

[He also likes to stay fashionable, but he doesn't say that much.]

[deathline]

Almost like a Japanese summer here isn't it?

[She's still wearing her red jacket. Sure, she takes it off when it gets too hot and her yukata-like kimono is sufficient enough clothing in weather that's hot or cold. ]

Guess whatever power you got, it doesn't help much with the weather at all.

[godly]

Yes. You'd think I'd be used to it by now, but... well, hot is hot, no matter how you cut it.

[Because growing up in Japan didn't mean that one was immediately immune from the gross stickiness of humidity.]

No. My power definitely wouldn't help with the weather. It's not even tangible as it is.

[heartboxer]

[ Giant glowing red eyes! Must be homunculus!

Or, that would Alex Louis Armstrong's first thought if he were still living in the naive reality that Homunculi were the only things with eyes that could glow red, but then he was transported to America and learned that cars can fly, glitter bombs are a thing, some homunculi are still living and toasters are sworn enemies to his enemy. Well, sometimes life just doesn't wanna go to the way you want it to.

Armstrong hesitantly puts his hands to his side. His figure is imposing but, at the same time, he doesn't want to actually blindly fight someone. That isn't the intelligent course of action to take and he'd have to see exactly what she does to evaluate if she's a danger and/or menace to civil society. For now, he'll approach. Loud. Sparkly. Grandiose. ]

Hello! Excuse me, miss, but I am wondering if you are okay? You seem to be looking [ errr... ] possessed, for lack of a better word.

[deathline]

[Shiki's attention is snapped back by the sound of the booming voice. Her eyes revert back to its dark color. She was planning to ignore whoever was calling to her and walk off, but she makes a face and the first thought that comes up in her mind when she sees Armstrong is...]

...Damn. You're a large guy.

[And in regards to what he was calling to her about:]

I'm not possessed. Even if that were the case, I don't think a possessed person would have the liberty of giving you a straight answer.

[heartboxer]

[ He doesn't remind the comment about his size. He is big boned and proud, baby!!!!! ]

Well, I was able to ascertain that by asking you! [ He triumphantly poses like the question he asked was beneficial of any sort. This guy. ] If you are not possessed or in the process of being possessed may I ask why were your eyes glowing blue?

[deathline]

[She pauses and sighs, figuring that there's no point to trying to be sneaky about it.]

I was using my power.

No, I won't tell you what it is.

[That's about as straight forward as she's gonna get. People might find out the full extent of her abilities later, but for now she's not dumb enough to boast about what it can do.]

[heartboxer]

I see. That makes sense! [ Armstrong stands in front of her in a Really Awkward Silence™ before he speaks up. ]

Is it the ability to see microscopically? [ And this is going to be the closest he's going to get to guessing tbh. ]

[deathline]

Something like that.

[She gives a noncommittal shrug and puts her hands in her pocket.]

You an imPort too?

[heartboxer]

Indeed! I am Alex Louis Armstrong! [ His shirt rips off, showing his washboard abs and ridiculously muscular body. Even more ridiculous is the somehow visibly sparkling that accompanies it. ] The Strong Arm Alchemist!

[deathline]

...Right.

[She takes about a half step back and looks at the remains of his shirt.]

Weren't you going to need all of that...?

[heartboxer]

No! I can regenerate my shirt just thinking about a shirt. [ Indeed, a new Hawaiian shirt will be produced featuring colorful, sparkly, birds-of-paradise. ]

As such, my shirt can rip an infinite amount of times! I just have to be careful not to litter.

[deathline]

I can't tell if that's supposed to be useful or not.

[Yeah, she's TOTALLY put off.]

Look, is there anything else you want besides showing off your muscles?? If not, I'm leaving.

[heartboxer]

I was just trying to protect the civilians here and thought you were a person of danger. My apologies. [ He bows. ]

May I ask for your name?

[deathline]

[Whether she appreciates the apology or not... Probably not, but it could be up in the air!]

Shiki.

[And with that she turns around prepared to take her leave although she does ask:]

What name do you prefer?