09 | Audio

[chalicejoker]

[When the audio feed opens up, Hajime sounds rather angry about something. Not distressed, but certainly angry.]

I'm not even sure what the hell these pulses think they're doing anymore, but now I need someone to bring me a shirt. No questions, just a shirt.

[He is so irritated right now. So very irritated. Doesn't help that an earlier Echo shortened his fuse a little bit...]

Comments

[ursoreckless]

Betcha I could get laid in anything.

[he so talks for a moment with a cute girl and then he's in the men's room]

Knock, knock, one shirt delivery for the guy that walked off with my Hawaiian shirt.

[chalicejoker]

Okay, so maybe if you found someone who was colorblind or something...

[Once there's that knock, the stall door pops open, allowing Shou a glimpse of Hajime wearing a pretty hideous shirt before Hajime snatches whatever it was Shou's brought him and ducks back inside to put it on. Here's hoping it's not as bad as what he was originally wearing.]

Thanks.

[ursoreckless]

I once wore a leopard print velvet jumpsuit with bright red lipstick and had a threesome with twins.

[the shirt Shou brought him wasn't that bad really. sure it was black with a red and gold dragon coiling around in a manner that suggested tattoo. the label itself called it a limited print.]

Anytime.

[chalicejoker]

[There's a bit of a sputtering cough at that first part, because Hajime kind of was not expecting that at all and is awkward around such topics of conversation anyway.

But hey! At least he doesn't mind the shirt.]

When do you need it back by?

[ursoreckless]

In a reasonable time. [he shrugs. seriously he has a huge closet full of shirts like that.] I've got more.

So... I take it you really haven't had a date in a while. Wanna go clubbing Halloween?

[chalicejoker]

[Hajime seems surprised by the invite, but...he wasn't getting fixed up with anyone, just going out. Going out would get some of the others off his case, make it look like he wasn't overworking himself in an attempt to cope with everything...

He nods.]

I guess...it's been a while since I've been out like that.

[The last time was his twenty-first birthday when some college friends and a couple of his cousins dragged him out, and he ended up declaring himself the designated driver and going home early anyway. He is not good at clubbing.]

[ursoreckless]

Really? What do you do for fun?

[because that is just so weird. Shou had been clubbing from an early age; much to the horror of his parents' more conservative relatives.]

[chalicejoker]

Photography, when I've got the time. And I have my bike. There's nothing like riding on a motorcycle you've spent the past couple of hours tweaking and fixing up yourself.

[Funny, Hajime thinks clubbing so much is weird, because how can anyone enjoy this?]

[ursoreckless]

I've sort of been banned from riding motorcycles after I tried to take my arm off.

[chalicejoker]

How'd you manage that?

[ursoreckless]

I was driving and hit a patch of something slick - mebbe gas or something, and I skidded hard. I think the bike dragged me for half a mile before it finally hit something and stopped.

My parents weren't exactly amused as much as I was.

[Shou had laughed and laughed even as his father yelled about reckless driving without gear and how he could have broken his back. it wasn't his worse accident, but it was one where he got the worse lecture from his parents.]

I had scraped off chunks burning tar with a knife while waiting for the paramedics that time.

[chalicejoker]

[There's a wince and a grimace.]

Damn. I've had a couple of falls, but nothing that nasty.

[ursoreckless]

I wouldn't be me if I didn't smash a car once a year.

[chalicejoker]

[He's giving Shou a "you're nuts" look.]

I don't even want to think about how bad your insurance rates must be.

[ursoreckless]

My insurance rates?

[he looks up at the sky for a moment and then shrugs.]

I actually don't know what I pay for that.

[chalicejoker]

[There's another grimace.]

Must be nice.

[Because even though the restaurant does modestly well, Hajime still works hard and budgets everything. Saving for emergencies is important, after all.]

[ursoreckless]

I have accountants that handle the bills and other stuff. Father thinks I would spend it all if I was allowed to.

[chalicejoker]

[Hajime can't even begin to comprehend having THAT MUCH money.]

You don't even at least try to keep an eye on it?

[ursoreckless]

I do to a certain point but when it gets into the stocks and bonds and the estate interest, I just don't bother.

[chalicejoker]

[This is more money than Hajime's ever likely to see in the history of ever, so excuse that stare, Shou.]

...I don't think I could not keep an eye on all that myself.

[ursoreckless]

I would be glued to the accounting books if I did that.

[chalicejoker]

Still...man. That's a whole different world from what I'm used to.

[ursoreckless]

Yeah... I know. There's a lot of people on the Network that come from normal families. I just got stuck with the business tycoon and world-class pianist parents.

[chalicejoker]

Kind of funny how much of a range of people we've got here...

[ursoreckless]

It is... But at least I can help out with the weirder requests.