ideallys-blog

[ideallys-blog]

Rather than comment on anything--ah, but Rui, he can see more in people than they’d imagine--he just goes ahead with his conversation, ever patient and polite despite Nakura’s tone.

“Sector-wide improvement, at first.” He tilts his head to the side, thoughtful, fingers on his chin. “It could be expanded to city-wide in time, but you could say I want to run a little experiment first.”

The smile he gives the other is teasing. “Oh ye, of little faith. I have an idea--several in fact--though hearing feedback is why I invited you out here. I don’t expect you to lend a hand beyond that, and that is the truth.”

He returns to scanning the cityscape, taking in a slow breath.

“I intend to better arm the general populace--though I’m debating the best way. Presenting physical artillery isn’t the best idea...in fact, keeping others clear of the danger zones would be a better deterrent in this case, which is why X and I have been spending the last several weeks setting up a surveillance network around the entirety of the Sector and District Alpha. I intend to open the access to those not in the phonebook.”

He shows Nakura his city-issued cell.

“The only numbers listed are those belonging to other test-subjects. This is step one...and you can see the benefits of this, can’t you? And the cons.”

measuring humanity.

Something flickers behind Izaya’s gaze. The lingering sharpness in his expression fades; in an instant, real boredom seems to take over, not just what he was pretending to be. It’s something more than that – disappointment, maybe, a different outcome than he expected – but whatever checked in for Rui’s little speech is gone. 

‘Through… what? Geez, you and Mr. President…’ They both like building suspense, even when it isn’t necessary. Izaya drums the guard rail with the bottom of his palm, fingers curling inward before they splay. ‘”Improve the situation” – that’s so vague, too. We could “improve it” by baking them a cake. Or by killing them all. Come on. What scale are we talking?’

But it’s kind of obvious. He looks to the sky again, running through various ideas Rui’s probably had. Violence is out of the question, and knowing her, she’s thinking city-wide. She doesn’t expect she can do it on her own. And if it’s not something she’ll say outright, then…

‘You were sure enough I’d agree with you that you invited me here… but you’re still not sure I’d go for it?’ He sighs, closes his eyes, stretches restlessly. ‘You think I’m that cruel. Thanks.’

He tilts his head to work out the cricks in his neck, sounding tired.

‘Or do you just not have any ideas?’

[ideallys-blog]

“You’ve got a leg up on me then,” Rui laughed. “I...well, I haven’t frequented the beach in a long time.” Japan’s one big island too, really. “It’s never too late to learn.”

He assumed swimming was like riding a bike--one didn’t just forget due to disuse. So it was with reasonable confidence that he responded to her question.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had to, but yes, I do. I’d be happy to show Kanon-kun sometime, if he’d like.”

He straightened a water-proof watch on his wrist absently as he wandered around near the door, chuckling to himself.

“I used to be a bit self-conscious about going to the beach, but I’ve reached the conclusion that there’s not a soul in this city who could be bothered to care. With what you said in mind, perhaps you’d like to go sightseeing?”

They must have had the same idea.

Shannon looked up from tying her shoe as if startled, eyes wide, and then smiled. It was a quick smile, when it came. It took her a moment. She looked down again, fingers building a neat bow, before she responded.

“I’ve been there once already, actually,” pause, as she pulled on the other shoe over her clean white sock, “I think it’s rather nice. I didn’t swim, though. I used to live on an island, but I don’t know how to swim. Isn’t that funny?”

It wasn’t. She tied a second bow, and looked up again.

“Do you know how to swim, LOAD-chan? I don’t think I want to learn right now… but maybe Kanon can try it sometime. It seems silly to go to the beach and not even go in the water, right?”

[ideallys-blog]

Interesting.

Rui notes the change in demeanor--there’s a certain sense of authenticity to it that Nakura had been lacking up until this point, though he’s only realized that at this very instant. Considering the stress that’d been put on him a few months prior about his own thoughts on the city, he’s afraid he’s going to do a little pushing of his own.

Though he doesn’t think it necessary.

He folds his arms on the railing once more and gazes out at the sky.

“I’ve helped them build memorials,” he says simply. “The measure of what makes someone or something human...do we really have a right to judge that? Even if they were ‘NPCs’, just some kind of extra in an enormous game we’re being made to play--how could anyone judge that?”

X is human to him, after all.

“Circumstances of this city might be outside of our control, I don’t deny that. There’s certain things here that just may be impossible to change without editing the variables, or outright remaking them, but I believe that we can improve the situation for these so-called nameless masses.”

measuring humanity.

Rui’s subject of choice draws a very real reaction out of Izaya – his budding smirk takes a turn for the moody, and his eyes narrow to dangerous slits. It’s like he’s not happy with the topic, or happy with the way the girl’s approaching it… but it’s here, and he’s listening.

He gives a laugh that’s sharper than it should be.

‘”Any thoughts?”’ he repeats. His tone’s as thin as the smile he slaps back on his face. 'On what? On how everyone just assumes they’re not real? Or how murder’s terrible if the other person comes back, but if they don’t, it’s suddenly okay? Or were you talking about how people think they know who’s who, but all they’re really doing is hedging their bets? See, you’ve made it so vague, I don’t even know where to START.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　‘– just kidding. ☆’

In an instant, he’s all smiles. He’s shrugging his shoulders, he’s turning around, he’s leaning back against the guard rail framing the roof with a bored sigh.

　　　　　Sheesh. Heavy topic.

‘I don’t know. What do you think?’ Izaya tilts his head back, observing the sky above. ‘Half my clients are supposed to be people like that, so I can’t exactly badmouth them… but if we’re being honest here –

‘It’s pretty unfair. Almost kind of disturbing. But so what?’

His voice is as bored as ever, but under his words, there’s pins and needles.

[ideallys-blog]

brunhildean

It seems as if the entire city has come down to the beach--and Rui is no exception. Though not typically in the grandest haste to perform a great deal of strenuous physical activity, the allure of the place is difficult to resist.

Besides, it may only be a temporary respite.

He’s been down to the shore and back again; his return from the sea is only for non-salt water, but there’s this serious-looking fellow on the way who appears to be either caught in his thoughts, or between the decision to actually get in on the beach-time action.

He’s been there for a while, Rui thinks, so he decides to act.

The stranger’s addressed with a teasing smile, but it’s entirely friendly.

“So are you intending to enjoy yourself at some point?”

“Or are you going to stare into the distance all day?”

[ideallys-blog]

Rui’s not offended--rather, he laughs,sounding pretty pleased about Nakura’s reaction. The smile that crosses his face is closer to a smirk.

He doesn’t have to be honest. But Hajime’s told him before that he looks better without all his make-up. There’s little he can fault Nakura on in terms of privacy when he remains closed off for similar reasons.

“No, that’s not all. I said just a moment ago I was going to get to the reason why I invited you here today, didn’t I? Depending on your opinion, this might not be any more interesting than my choice of fashion for the day.”

He looks back over the guard railing, gesturing out toward the streets below. The boulevards and roads and avenues are choked with pedestrians, but be that as it may...

“We both know there’s ‘test subjects’ in this city, and the regular individuals, the ones sometimes called ‘NPCs’.” A pause, and he closes a hand into a fist. “Don’t you find something about that term to be...dehumanizing?”

Rui’s eyes drift to Nakura and back down again.

“I don’t see anything fake about them, and from what I’ve observed, they don’t return with the respawn system. Do you have any thoughts on them?” He tends to gently lead up to his point.

measuring humanity.

He takes a couple seconds.

Brows arched, posture relaxed, he takes a couple seconds, waits to see if GALAX’s going to unwind another spiel. He stares; GALAX stares back, patient as the quiet moments tick on by. But all Izaya gets for his waiting is the feeling of expectation across his shoulders, a question that doesn’t need to be said: Well?

Well, what?

‘Huh.’

If GALAX is expecting more, he’s not about to give it.

‘Didn’t peg you as the “guilty-conscience” type,’ he mutters. It’s not the whole truth, but his bland delivery can’t commit either way. ‘Didn’t think we were that close, either. Obviously, I’m the one who needs to keep up in this relationship.’ And there it is. A hint of a smirk pulls at Izaya’s mouth while he moves, closing the distance with languid steps.

‘That’s not the only thing you called me out here for, right? ‘cause if so…’

He pauses. He settles a couple feet before Rui, and his eyes find hers.

‘Not gonna lie. That was kind of lame.’

[ideallys-blog]

A polite knock was issued to the side of a wall--an attempt to gain the attention of the individual in the sitting area.

“Shannon-chan, do you have a moment?”

“If you’re not too busy, I thought we might go investigate this beach that everyone’s been talking about.” Rui, or LOAD rather, smiled with just the hint of a teasing tone. “It could be fun after all of the excitement recently, especially considering how every air-conditioner in the city has conveniently decided to go out.”

And it made no sense. Rui examined the things again and again, there was no reason why they shouldn’t be working. Part of him wanted to go to the beach simply to investigate whatever it was the scientists were trying to draw their subjects to.

ikeatrice

[ideallys-blog]

He hasn’t changed his clothes.

Rui remains as he is, without makeup or black dresses for the time being, his eyes the only things precisely the same as he listens to Nakura climb the stairs. His voice transitions from LOAD’s loftier tone to his (somewhat) milder voice, halfway through the sentence, emphasizing that his acquaintance here is not mistaking him for somebody else.

He’s leaning against the railing around a vent shaft’s side, and he’s waiting.

“I’m sorry about that. I anticipated your appearance and I had the feeling you’d’get here on time. Not every building in this Sector changes position.”

He turns though, hands in his pockets, eyebrows lifting slightly over red frames.

“I’d like to thank you for coming, and also to apologize.” He folds a hand across his chest. “I can’t expect honesty from you when I’ve neglected showing you that same courtesy, so before I say what I’ve been intending, I wanted to meet you properly.”

Though LOAD is not a lie.

measuring humanity.

But keeping somebody waiting – you know what? That’s just not his style.

He never sends a reply. GALAX seems to have it all figured out already, what he’s after, how this is all going to go down. Her bland confidence carries through her texts like water, and it’s almost enough to make you laugh. Some people would find that comforting, probably, the assurance of knowing someone out there is ready to call the shots. But him…

… he doesn’t care too much either way.

Twenty minutes pass before Izaya gets to where he’s supposed to.

He steps out from the stairwell, and the sun is bright.

‘Texting a guy right before the streets change… were you trying to be rude?’ he calls out. He’s not sounding too offended; like always, he just sounds amused. ‘And right in the middle of a meeting, too. You know, sometimes, GALAX…’

A few steps forward, and already, his hands are in his pockets.

He doesn’t look around to see where she’s hiding.

‘… sometimes, I just don’t know what to do with you.’

[ideallys-blog]

measuring humanity.

It’s quite a ways down. The roof of the building in Sector One wherein Rui performs his assorted independent works houses a number of rooms--many empty, as is the capricious nature of this city--and though the first Sector is prone to changing most of its layout every hour, the rest of the city remains the same.

Rui takes out his cell-phone, conscious as always of X’s invisible gaze on him, and sends a message.

[txt] Good morning Nakura, this is LOAD Galax.

[txt] If you’d be interested in a meeting, you can find me at this address in Sector One - on the rooftop. It’s not required, but there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.

[txt] You’ve been expecting this I’m sure, considering you left X with a way for us to contact you.

That done, he closed the device and braced his arms against the railing, scanning the blue sky and white clouds dotting the horizon. 

And he waits.

[ideallys-blog]

Rui was taken aback by the obvious desperation being displayed--it looked like someone truly needed this water, moreso than just a passing gift that may or may not actually be used. He smiled, genuinely pleased if still a little bit amused, laughing.

“You don’t have to thank me; I’m just glad to be able to help!”

“Though maybe you should sit and rest a bit if it was really that serious--even with the water, it can take a while to get properly hydrated.”

He offers the young man a seat and taps something on his tablet’s screen absently, causing a display to come up.

“Is your apartment or the District you live in very far off?”

Suigetsu was heading back home for the day. He couldn’t take the heat of the outdoors and needed a major rest from the day’s intense heat. As he went to take a sip from one of his water bottle he noticed that both of them were very much empty. He must have forgotten to refill them earlier when he had the chance. 

“I’m totally going to die out here if I don’t make it back home soon!” 

Just when he thought all hope was lost, he noticed a girl passing out free water next to a water cooler. She had intense green eyes, blonde hair, and glasses. He ran over as fast as he could. He was thankful for this person. They were a god-sent. He grabbed a bottle and poured it into his bottle. 

“Thank you, miss. You don’t know just how much you’ve just saved my life!” 

He immediately took a sip to cool off. 

“It was a good thing you were out here doing this. I don’t think I would’ve made it back to my room without you. Thank you again, miss.” 

[ideallys-blog]

aeruginare experiences an interruption!

“Ah--Miss! Please, hold on a moment!” Rui intercepts a woman walking the moonlit avenues of the Second Sector, casting a wary glance down the deserted street.

The strangely deserted street. In a city like the Hive, what were the odds?

“I’ve been collecting reports lately of an unknown creature often spotted in the area--confirmed to not simply be another captive test subject. I wouldn’t suggest venturing this way unless you’re prepared for the situation.”

He doesn’t really look prepared, now does he? Scrawny guy that he is. Rui’s eyes, however, are very bright.

“If you need help getting somewhere while avoiding this street, I’ll gladly assist you.”

[ideallys-blog]

kinghozuki

Maybe it’s a strange sight, to see a “girl” sitting next to a water cooler simply passing strangers free bottles of water, but that’s exactly what’s going on. A black tablet’s held closely to his chest, and Rui’s presenting the next person with both a smile and offered refreshment, apparently in a good mood.

“The weather has been dangerously hot lately,” he says as way of explanation. “You’ve been staying hydrated, haven’t you?”

It’s free water. Who’d say no to that?

“You wouldn’t believe the amount of all-powerful sorts who collapse in the streets due to poor healthcare.” He sounds extraordinarily concerned and mused.

[ideallys-blog]

((This would be an RP ad which I’m capping at 3 for any individual who wants a random starter of random length! Toss a like if you’d like!))

[ideallys-blog]

memorial.

He’s a little bit submerged in his work at the moment, sitting out in a corner of Sector Six’s determinedly green parks. His tablet’s propped up against a tree nearby--X’s display shining brilliantly across its surface--and there’s about thirty or so other people sprawled around the space, each one fashioning something out of paper and origami folds. Rui’s no different.

X notices her before he does, of course. The A.I. chirps in a bid to get his attention. “Rui, we have a visitor.”

“Another volunteer? There’s paper and crafting supplies that way,” he says without looking up.

“Rui,” X says again, this time with a bit of amusement in its tone.

“Yes, what is--oh!” He jolts up so quickly that his glasses nearly become askew. “H-Hajime? When did you get here?!”

[ideallys-blog]

Rui grimaces briefly--ah, right, that. There’s another way to go about this, he thinks, than the obvious.

“I suppose it...would, but don’t you think that sounds a little cliche? Not exactly anything inspired.”

“More evil than poisoning the water supply. Hmmm, Desco needs more time to think about it. Maybe she should kidnap someone important and torture or kill them later when a hero comes to tries to save them… That sounds Final Boss-like, right?”

[ideallys-blog]

“It really is strangely docile here most of the time, but...what exactly do you have in mind when you say ‘even more evil’?”

“There is not as much chaos as Desco thought there would be, maybe she should do something even more evil next time?”

[ideallys-blog]

“They store songs so you can listen to them or replay them as many times as you’d want. These earphones here even make it so you can listen to them privately, too, if you’d like to give it a try?”

“Well… some! I don’t have a lot of time to listen to it usually… Though I do right now… Do they have something to do with music?”

[ideallys-blog]

"Oh no, no, you’re not in my way; don’t worry about that. So you don’t know what an MP3 player is...well, do you like music?”

ideallys

“Oh, I’m sorry! Am I in your way? I was just looking… I don’t really know what these ‘mp3 players’ are, anyways!”