synflux | [ OPEN ] here comes the boooooooy

[ Yzak is glad that he doesn't have to change his appearance when he heads out to Neo Tokyo. And he can deal with the fake name of Andreas Vesalius just fine - it's a name he carries for the sake of others who've left him long ago. And while many who have died through the war have been forgotten or left in the shadows of a past that many hate to look back on because it's painful, Yzak chooses to remember. Especially since much of the crew on his old battleship, the Vesalius ... well. In hindsight, they deserved better in a lot of ways. War is hell and all that jazz, but as someone who is now in command of his own teams and his own battleships, Yzak can't imagine not being profoundly impacted if something were to befall them when all of those lives are in his hands as a leader.

Back to the point; his given job for his whole fake background, however...

He's been around the base enough by now that even if he's not properly met any new teammates, he's seen faces enough that he'll recognize them out in the wild (and they can likewise recognize him). So with that in mind, Yzak can be interacted with here in two instances!

A. He's peering into various shops. While he's more drawn to ones that have trinkets and good luck charms and the like, he's curious (nosy) enough to check out anything that catches his attention. That includes any establishments your character might be working at or checking out themself!

B. He's lurking around a small, but cozy-looking cat-cafe. He doesn't go inside or anything, but he has one finger curled up under his chin and has a contemplative look about him as he stares into the window. He's clearly considering something, here. ]

[...Alright, that's kind of weird. It's not like this is a store where you window-shop; plus this guy is just kinda standing there the entire time Ren has the cat cafe in sight. Noob Outsider behavior, tbh.

He stops next to Yzak and looks through the window, too, trying to figure out what's so fascinating. Like cats are great, but you might as well go inside.]

You're not allergic or something, are you?

[ He's not being a creep he swears. Only appearing exactly like one, right now,

He's not so engrossed that he doesn't notice someone approach him, so he glances to the side - and ah, he's seen this guy in passing back at the base.

So with another look in the other direction to make sure nobody else has ears that talking can fall upon... ]

No, I'm not. [ Allergies - at least within the reality of his own world - aren't something his people get often.

And then, despite the fact that he just checked and was in the clear, Yzak still drops his voice when he continues as a precaution. ]

The job ... assigned to and set up for me was one of these places. Which is ridiculous, if you ask me - I have so many talents I could be putting to use! And I have no intention of actually working out here at all if I don't have to.

But if I do require extra funds for one reason or another, it would be smartest to stick to my story so I don't cause any suspicion.

[The caution strikes him as a little funny, if only because he had a year to get used to doing shady shit with a group of friends who sometimes had very big mouths.

It gets funnier as Yzak keeps talking and Ren actually grasps his dilemma, though for better or worse Ren's expression doesn't really change. He doesn't see the problem with working at a cat cafe, but the fact this guy does?

This is perfect, actually.]

You should do it. Cats are great.

[He sounds totally sincere.]

Are you supposed to be on the clock right now?

No, because I'm still considering if I'd want to bother with doing anything out here at all.

[ As Yzak speaks, there is one cat at a window, pawing at it as if it can already tell Yzak Belongs There, as if it is fated to be. ]

It may just be wiser - and more useful, to remain at the base and ensure I'm close and always at the ready in case of an emergency.

You're going to get really bored if you do that.

[Though this does have Ren thinking about how often they even get emergency announcements... Usually only when people are actually asleep or mostly on base, conveniently enough.]

If you're that opposed to cats, you could resort to job hunting, but I think this one likes you.

[He points to the offending cat. Look how cute it is, how can you resist that :3 face?]

I can fill my time with plenty of other useful things. [ He sounds very sure of himself about that claim.

Yzak looks over to the window where Ren points, at the cute little guy trying to attract his attention. He can't deny that it is cute... ]

I'm not opposed to cats, either. I just ... never had one. I've never had any pets.

[The look Ren gives him is rife with the kind of unimpressed skepticism only a teenager can truly pull off.]

Right. Like what?

[Though at the comment about never having any pets, he motions to the door.]

Well, let's go inside and you can see what the fuss is about as a customer.

[Become the catlady (gender neutral) you were meant to be, Yzak.]

There's plenty to do at the base. Make sure all of my training is upkept so I don't get rusty. Ensuring that the weapon I use to fight is likewise up to date with maintenance and any adjustments it might need. I could even look into learning new skills that could be useful on the battlefield or to help our organization - which seems pretty sloppy at the moment.

[ He gives Ren A Look, but doesn't deem it worth arguing against his insisting to head inside. Yzak sighs, though, so make his discontent known before he steps into the first door into the vestibule, and then into the cafe proper. Once inside, that cat at the window leaps down to the ground and is joined by a few others to greet the two of them. It meows loudly up at Yzak before giving him a nice, hard headbutt against his shin. ]

How ... are we expected to walk through this?!

...How much maintenance does your weapon need?

[Like that's a good list and all, but considering they have enough downtime that LILITH assigns them various jobs and a lot of them work those jobs...

But he lets Yzak suffer as he crouches to greet the cats in return, rubbing the ears of a friendly tuxedo. This is blatant favoritism.]

Say hi and maybe they'll have mercy on you. [Like the cats can talk... Sure. Though in lieu of this reaction and the comment about no pets:] Have you ever actually interacted with a cat before?

I have! [ But he sounds Unsure, like he needs to really recall it. ] It's just ... also been a very long time, and I'm busy!

[ The reality: he IS busy, and even though he does get time for leisure, even that remains in a small circle (yzak has like 3 friends tops).

He looks down to the one cat and says, ]

... Hello.

[ It meows up at him again, demanding MORE ATTENTION THAN THAT. It hops up to the cat tree near the entrance where a second cat is leaning forward to check Yzak out. He sighs softly to himself, and then puts a hand out, immediately headbutted with affection. ]

See? Not so bad. And you haven't even offered any treats.

[As if lured by the mention of treats, a third cat joins the duo already on the cat tree. This prompts Ren to give Yzak a look, eyebrows raised.]

Long time or not, you're apparently a cat magnet.

[ As it so happens, Nyuu's come outside to sweep the walkway at the cafe since it's her place of work. She brightens up to see Yzak, but she doesn't recognize him as a face Lucy might have seen around the base. ]

Hello there! Were you wanting to come inside?

[ Yzak perks when addressed, and it's easy to clock that this girl works here. But when offered to come inside, he look hesitant - not necessarily because he fears being drawn in to the very easy to fall into indulgence of petting cats while sipping on some tea... ]

I was just looking.

Are there other establishments like this around here? Or is this the only one?

There should be plenty around the city. Tokyo's pretty big and all. [ Oh, right. She should be trying to sell their cafe more! That's what the manager said anyway. ]

B-But! Our kitty cats are the cutest in the whole city! For real!

[ Yzak, meanwhile, has been all around the base due to the fact that upon awakening, he had to ensure he obtained as much information as he possibly could about the situation. He can't stand being idle, much less feeling like he lacks knowledge of something going on. It's a complex for sure, after some very personal experiences. So when he stares at Lucy for a good long moment, he realizes he has seen her in passing at least. The face if not the name. ]

Cute cats aren't really what I care about.

[ He does step across the street, closer to her and the shop now after a glance around to ensure nobody else is wandering by, and looking less like some skeevy lurker now thank goodness. ]

I'm not sure if I even want to bother just yet, since this isn't the sort of job I ever take myself. But ... it would be wiser to stick to the story I've been given if I had to.

[ Nyuu is instantly lost at the idea of sticking to a story, but she does nod regardless. It seems he's stuck for what job to take, but since she herself is only vaguely aware of LILITH thanks to Lucy, she assumes he's pressured by something or someone else. ]

Then, half price!

[ She pats her hand against her upper chest, puffing a bit as if she's struck a great deal. ]

We can talk about what job you would like, with a nice drink at my discount. And you can meet my favorite kitty, Sumomo!

Edited (Random capitalization wtf ) 2024-05-16 19:07 (UTC)

[ When she says "half price" that at least gets Yzak to reconsider. And now that he's here and she's being not only insistent but kind about it...

Well, he is very weak to kindness when it's shown to him so easily. ]

... Fine. [ Said with an overdramatic exasperation, but there's nothing actually heavy and put-upon in it. So he steps over to approach Nyuu and take her up on the offer. ]

[ Nyuu's eyes light up and she clasps her hands together in an excited clap. ]

That's great! C'mon in!

[ She pushes the door open behind her, where a second door can be seen. A precaution against any cats slipping out due to foot traffic. Already a couple of cats are nosing at the second door as she draws near and the sight gets a laugh out of her. ]

Could you close that door behind you? So none of the little rascals sneak out.

Sure.

[ He does as asked, though once he's through the second door he's getting headbutted affectionately in the shin by one cat. Another sits directly at his other foot, meowing up at him loudly. A third which is on the cat tree just next to the entrance is leaning forward to sniff at the side of his head. He feels the last one, turns and pulls his head back, to which the cat just follows, stretches its neck out more and sniffs at his nose. It's as though they're greeting one of their own brethren, and Yzak does nothing to dispute the idea as he himself tenses up some, not unlike the bristling of a cat. ]

Are they all this nosy!?

[ If he's looking for someone to acknowledge his predicament, Nyuu is definitely the wrong person to ask. She's all smiles watching the cats investigate him. ]

Aww, they like you! [ And there she goes, giggling at his suffering. ] It's common for them to get shy and run away at a new face.

Ugh...

[ He puts his hand out to the tree-cat, who proceeds to sniff it a couple of times and then softly bump its head against the back of it.

....... soft...... ]

Right. What sort of drinks do you have? And which one was ... Sumomo?

[ Nyuu's trying so hard. It's so, so, so very hard not to collapse into a fit of giggles seeing him with the cats. Convincing him to come in was a good call! ]

Oh, just a second.

[ She retreats to pick up two things. The first is a small cat with tortoiseshell fur who fits nice and snugly into her arm without any complaint. The other is the menu, laminated so as to better endure the cafe's goings-on. Nyuu walks back over with both and holds the menu out first while the cat ragdolls in her arm, apparently content with viewing the cafe from upside-down. ]

This is Sumomo! She's barely a year old, so she still acts like a baby.

Thank you.

[ He takes the menu, giving it a look over. He wants to have some tea himself, being A Tea Guy, but an idea of what the menu has to offer will help him consider what he'll be having to deal with if he ends up looking for something to make some money on the side.

He can't deny though, softness of the cat aside, the scent of tea brewing and whatever pastries being made enveloping this place is very inviting. ]

[ He peers at the floppy kitty in Nyuu's arms, refusing to admit that that's really fucking cute ... these cats are really having the time of their lives being here, huh...? ]

Like a baby? Aren't cats considered adults by the time they're around one? I know enough about them to know that they mature quickly.

[ Again she giggles, as if she's been waiting for someone to ask that exact question. She's learned a lot about cats since working here, and Yzak gets to be the recipient of all this knowledge she's had nowhere else to place. ]

That's the funny part! So, I learned from Boss here that, it's so funny... [ She holds up Sumomo closer to her face, and the lazy cat just flops onto her shoulder as if to say "oh, higher? That's fine" like a human baby being held against her shoulder. ] So, it turns out that cats only meow to their babies, and the kittens only meow back to their moms, right? But cats also meow at us and depend on us to feed them, so pet cats are basically kittens for their whole life!

Edited 2024-06-09 20:28 (UTC)

[ OPEN ] here comes the boooooooy

[ OPEN ] out and about

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