savetheearth | 12

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Who: Hajime Aikawa and you.
Where: Aikawa's, the mall, and later on wherever Anthony's staying.
When: November 9, throughout the day.
What: Hajime is at work, gets dragged away from work, and then

[Option A]

Early afternoon starts like most Sundays. It's the normal Sunday lunch rush at Aikawa's, and Hajime is on hand as usual. His usual method of coping with network weirdness has so far been to overwork himself and it's starting to show. The poor guy still looks tired, but at least he seems focused on his work. Need a manager? You'll be dealing with this guy. He's still all over the place, helping out and doing little jobs here and there when he can.

Only a couple of hours into his shift, you might see one of the owners, an older man with a marked resemblance to Haijme talking to a young woman. He'll point at Hajime a few times, and before he's realized what's going on, she's dragging him out of the restaurant to take a break. Turns out Hajime's been worrying his family, and his sister's been drafted into getting him away from work for the day.

[Option B]

Hajime seems a bit more at ease than he usually does. Mitsuko, his sister, has dragged him out to the mall for a bit of a distraction. Maybe he's forcing himself to act relaxed so she'll let him go in peace, or maybe he really is relaxing for once since this whole network mess started. It's hard to say. Still, the sight's probably a bit unusual for anyone who's been hanging around him lately.

[Option C, locked to Anthony]

After Mitsuko left him to go about his own business, Hajime swung by the grocery store, picked up a few things, and called ahead to let Anthony know he was coming. Hajime's cooking expertise definitely isn't within the realm of pastry, but he thinks he can teach his zombie friend a few new things.

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"Hajimeeeee!"

There was an enthusiastic wave from a very familiar figure who easily dodged a few plodding mall shoppers to reach his friend. "Do my eyes deceive me or have you finally let yourself take a day off?" he grinned. "Saves me the trouble of kidnapping you~"

Hajime jumped a little at suddenly being called out to, but he raised his hand in a wave. "Hey. I don't know about letting myself take a day off..." He jerked a head towards his sister. "Mitsuko dragged me out. Mitsuko, this is my friend Bakura. Bakura, this is my sister, Mitsuko." So odd to have a network person meeting his sister like this.

Mitsuko just seemed rather amused at Bakura's earlier statement. "So you were going to drag him out too, huh?"

"Nice to meet you, Mitsuko-san," Bakura returned with a warm smile and a small nod of his head. "And of course I was. Someone has to, else he's going to start becoming one with the cash register. Not good for him, how much he works," he nodded, casually leaning an elbow on Hajime's shoulder.

Just because he could.

Hajime simply turned to glare at Bakura for the leaning. Come on, man, exploiting that height difference like that? He didn't appreciate it.

"Tell me about it. And he's been worse than usual the past few months, and I hadn't even thought that was possible..." she trailed off in a giggle when she saw Bakura leaning on Hajime like that and Hajime's clear irritation.

"I don't know why you're saying it's been worse," Hajime complained, "I've just been working as much as usual."

"Hajime, something's been going on with you. I don't know what, but we're worried, okay?" Oh, Mitsuko wanted to get to the bottom of that, alright.

Bakura only grinned more at that glare, not even looking over until his friend spoke. "Aaa, no, no, you've been working more! Even I know that much!" he returned, shaking his head. "And when even I can tell something like that, you know it's a problem," he sighed, being a touch over dramatic.

"Since summer... " he trailed off shaking his head. "I don't know what you saw, but... if it's been bothering you this much, never mind what the cops told you not to talk about, you really should talk to someone!" he insisted, putting on his best concerned face. "You have me worried, you know... And working so much all the time isn't going to help..."

He turned to Mitsuko. "So we should stick together, ne? And make sure he doesn't work himself to death."

Hajime rolled his eyes at the overdramatic reaction on Bakura's part, and then he froze at the mention of the "horrible crime" he'd supposedly witnessed. Shuji had been very helpful back when he'd been stuck in his bug form, and though Hajime had been very sure not to blow Shuji's cover as he'd been asked to, he'd still told a few people of his cover story so they wouldn't accidentally blow it. He hated having to lie like that, but it sure beat going out and saying he was turning into a violent giant bug.

"No, no, I'm alright, really..." He'd had that conversation before with his mother. Have you been talking to his mom, Bakura? If there was any hesitation there, he hated for Mitsuko to worry about him, but "witnessing a horrific crime" provided such a good excuse for any oddities in behavior she might notice.

"Hajime, you were saying you were alright after the time you burned your hand in the kitchen so badly we had to take you to the hospital," Mitsuko pointed out. "You're only human, you know."

Well. That was unintentionally awkward.

Bakura nodded. "Un, un, see?" he agreed. "Even if you don't want to worry your family, with things like that, you can at least talk to me, right? That's what friends are for, after all."

Hajime just looked embarrassed by that. He didn't want to talk to anyone about worrying that he was going to lose his mind as a horrible bug monster. That he might accidentally hurt someone--or worse--as a horrible bug monster. "I'm fine, really." He sighed. "Besides, it's not like you guys want to let me sit and stew over it, anyway."

"Aa, but this is so you don't!" Bakura pointed out with a grin. "You talk about what's bugging you so you can get it out in the air and not bugging you any more!"

A pause. "Or at least that's the theory. It's either that or I start kidnapping you every Sunday and dragging you out to someplace fun until you stop being a brooding workaholic."

Hajime gave a sigh and raised his hands in defeat. "Alright, alright, I'll talk to someone. Sometime. About things."

Mitsuko gave him a mock punch to the shoulder. "Only you would treat being dragged out somewhere fun as such a chore."

Bakura nodded, grinning like an imp. "Only person I know who acts like he's allergic to fun," he agreed. "Being threatened by having to take a day off...." He shook his head with a tsk. "No wonder you worry your family so much!"

"I never said I was threatened by having to take a day off," Hajime protested. His pride. It was wounded. So wounded. "And it's not like I want anyone to worry..." That had been the worst part of the two weeks he'd been stuck as a bug by far. The worry he'd never be able to let his family know what was really going on...and the knowledge that they'd be worried even if they did. Especially if they did.

Bakura moved his elbow finally, putting his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Then you should listen to them... Take some time off. Don't work yourself to death. Spend some time as Hajime and not the guy behind the counter at Aikawa's. Else you'll be spending time as 'that guy Bakura keeps kidnapping from the restaurant and forcing to have fun.'"

"Alright, alright." He held up his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Between the two of you, I know when I'm beat."

Bakura grinned, patting Hajime's shoulder cheerfully. "Good! So! Where are we going this weekend?"

He had to pick? Of COURSE he had to pick. Why? Why him? "Uh..."

"You want to try that art museum again?" Mitsuko suggested.

"No!" The answer came out way, way too quickly. Too guiltily. "I...erm, I mean I'd rather do something more active..." Yeah, that sounded good.

Bakura chuckled. "Laser tag, then?"

Hajime could not really say he wasn't too fond of guns after remembering that guy in the red armor wanting to shoot at him so badly or after some of what he'd seen while getting involved with this network mess, but it wasn't like he could say that in front of Mitsuko. "Sure, we could do that."

"I'm coming too," Mitsuko piped up, "Just to make sure he doesn't try to fake you out and head back to the restaurant instead."

The white haired teen's grin only got wider. "Sure! Just don't expect I'll go easy on you just because you're a girl~"

Hajime shook his head. "You say that now, but she'll destroy us both." Then again, maybe he had an advantage now. His reflexes were better than a human's and heavily primed for combat...he just hoped he wouldn't have some weird outburst of an episode out on the laser tag field.

"Means it won't be a dull game!" Bakura returned cheerfully. "Not like it's paintball or anything, right?"

Hajime grimaced. "We won't be walking around covered in welts afterwards. That's an improvement." He wondered just how long it would take him to heal up from that sort of thing now.

Mitsuko wrinkled her nose. "And you guys could count me out then--it's too messy."

"Only if you're no good at dodging~" Bakura returned before laughing. "Though I'm much more a fan of laser tag. Last thing I need to splashes of dyes on this mess," he nodded, flipping a chunk of his now back to normal white hair over his shoulder.

A trace of vanity? Maybe just a little.

Hajime bit back his immediate reply, that he'd now probably be impossible to hit with something as large and relatively slow as a paintball up against his enhanced senses. Laser tag, where he couldn't detect that movement, would probably be more fair. Mitsuko's presence stopped that particular retort cold. "And the Kool-Aid thing wasn't a splash of dye?"

"Aaaa--" Bakura rubbed the back of his neck. "That was something different!" he protested with a laugh. "Julian made sure that was done pretty even, so it wouldn't just be splashes!"

Nick's been somewhat of a regular at the restaurant for a few years now, sometimes with other cop buddies for lunch or dinner, sometimes at odd, not typical meal time hours - whenever he can get a break for food. Lately, though, the son of the owner's been acting different around him.

It's probably not any of his business - and probably not the best time, considering how tired the guy looks - but at the same time, Nick wants to know what's up.

So Nick heads over when there's a brief opening, planning to pull him aside. "Hey, do you have a minute?"

There was nothing like knowing the majority of the city's police force was very interested in apprehending the people of the network, especially when you were one of the ones who had hit the point that obviously wasn't human. All Hajime needed was to spill a little of that green blood or get separated from the playing card he used to remain human, and it would be game over. It was with that in mind that he'd been trying to play it very cool around the policemen who came into the restaurant every now and again.

Hajime is not expecting to be pulled aside by one of those very policemen this morning, and he all but jumped out of his skin. Would he have to transform and fight his way to safety? Couldn't do it here, not around so many people...but if they'd found him here at work they could find him anywhere... "Yeah, sure." There. It sounds calmer than his now-panicked thought processes feel, at any rate. "You need something?"

He's not surprised at the question, considering the circumstances, but he shakes his head. "No. Well, actually, yeah, I guess kind of. I wanted to know if there was something wrong, if I'd done s-"

And then he cuts off mid sentence, because he'd gotten a good look at the other man - and the flash of something very much not human. Nick's gotten better at controlling his reaction when this happened, but his eyes still widen in surprise. This is one of the clearer ones he's seen so far.

"Shit, okay, I wasn't expecting that. I guess that explains some things."

At that last comment, Hajime noticeably jumped and looked down at his waist. The whole time, he'd been on edge and trying to resist the urge to call out his transformation belt, and so he was afraid Nick was responding to a suddenly-appearing magic belt. Didn't look that way; the belt remained hidden.

But oh, he was definitely on edge. So very much on edge. "What are you talking about, anyway? Expecting what?" There was no keeping the agitation out of his voice. Did the cop suspect something? Hajime's mind was racing through possible options. He'd have to lure Nick out back, turn into his bug form, and then what? Subdue him? THEN what? What was he supposed to do with a cop who was on to him?

"The bug thing."

That probably shouldn't have been Nick's first response, but he'd said it without really thinking. Then he grimaces, because it's obvious that he's just been making the guy even more on edge, and that likely isn't going to help. "Sorry. I'm not here to arrest you or anything, I'm on the network, too."

"Bug thing?" Hajime's transformation belt actually popped into view for a split second before the rest of what Nick was saying registered with him. "Oh...oh!" The relief was obvious. "Oh, that...well, I knew there were some cops on there, didn't know you were one of them."

"Yeah, I don't really give out my occupation a lot." He still sounds slightly apologetic - he really should have lead with the network bit. "For obvious reasons. But I guess that answers part of my question, about if I did anything to upset you."

"Ah...yeah...it's kind of hard to relax around cops these days." Hajime just looked embarrassed at this point. "No offense or anything."

He gives a slightly wry smile at that. "None taken. I would've protested it before, but it's pretty hard to deny that they're dangerous to be around. But I don't really go looking to arrest people for no reason."

"You might not, but a lot of the others seem to think being involved with the network is good enough," Hajime said darkly. "And I can't have anything happen here, of all places."

Anthony believes he hears someone at the door.

He knows who it is - all the same he's frozen up a few moments; opening the door - or being the one to open a door nowadays - makes him a bit anxious, cannot be sure who might be passing within sight.

He does know what to do however - he'd known better than to sit and wait with the inefficiency of getting himself back on his feet, pushes the book in his hand aside along the nearest flat surface, shuffles to go get it, and ends leaning a hand on the doorknob.

Musters up his voice. "Uh -- ..." Low, internalized throat-clearing - a bit more projection to carry through the door. " -- Hello, Hajime - ..."

Both greeting and confirmation. He's confident it is Hajime, and that's hence that what he asks isn't a "Who's this?" He'll unlock it as soon as he hears and recognizes the voice of the response...

"It's all right," came Hajime's voice. He was all too familiar with the fear of being spotted by a normal person just because you'd opened a door and looked like something unusual. "The coast is clear--it's just me."

"Ah - oh -- good." It was a relief to hear, came through in a faint bob in his voice - but still, for maximum security. He unlocked the door, followed with a faintly apologetic "The -- ...the door's unlocked; please -- co - ...come in." Drew a couple of steps back.

Hajime opened the door, let himself inside, and then quickly shut it in order to minimize the chance of someone from nowhere walking by at just the right moment to see a zombie. "Hey." He held up a plastic bag. "I brought stuff to make gyoza--you're okay with garlic, right? We can substitute ginger if that's a problem."

"Hello - ..." He slouched a little further over with his nod and smile on that - to further the sentiment with it to compensate for his smile not looking quite properly smile-like currently, made it all into a bow in effect. "That's - garlic is - all right - ! Correct - uhmm." Partly by assumption. Sheepish glance off to a side and back. " -- ...Thank you for coming over - Hajime - I'll -- " Smothered cough. " -- try not - to let your time - go to waste..."

Some of that cough was to clear the way for a little bashful humor to come through apparently enough.

"Hey, you wanted to learn how to cook, I'm the best-qualified on the network for something that's not a pastry." Hajime gave Anthony a reassuring smile. He knew how it went, getting cooped up in an apartment or a house or the back of a U-Haul just because an Echo had gone wrong and suddenly your body had turned into the stuff of nightmares. Keeping up with people was important. "Just remember--it's only a failure if we accidentally start a grease fire somehow."

Hajime did a quick glance through the bag to make sure he had everything. "Which way's the kitchen?"

It's awkward to begin with, of course, going out to meet someone she doesn't even know. But, well, it's the preferred option to meeting just before the full moon. She wants to know who she's putting herself in the care of, what the meaning of this word Randolph used was.

She wants to be herself and not some thing that happens on the full moon.

Aikawa's, she's been told. She's walked by it a few times, maybe even ate there a few times for all she remembers.

She also realizes, belatedly, that maybe she should have called ahead, asked Lyall or Alex for his number. She isn't good with names, nevermind faces, so all she's done really is add another layer of stress for herself.

The two young people bickering inside about heading out almost drowns out the question of the man asking her if she'd like to sit at a table or at the bar. When she asks for Hajime instead, she's given an odd look and a pointed finger to the two she had just passed.

"Excuse me."

It comes from behind the two of them as they head out, and Reilanin keeps a too-steady eye on Hajime, assessing him as best she can with a first look. "I would like to speak with Hajime."

As far as that first look goes, Hajime likely doesn't come off as particularly impressive. He's on the short side, he's in the process of horribly losing an argument with his sister, and he's blinking in confusion and quizzically pointing at himself when she asks for him. It takes a second for him to realize that she's probably looking for him because of network things--though Lyall's told him about the other werewolf, he has no idea what she looks like. Still, he's guessing this is network-related somehow. "That's me." He glanced back at his sister. "Look, just wait outside, I'll only be a minute. You know I've been doing some of that freelance photography work again."

"On top of those extra shifts here? Hajime, when I get you out of here..." There was an unspoken threat of vacation in her voice as she reluctantly backed off.

But at least she finally left so Hajime could figure out what Reilanin needed. "Can I help you with something?" There was a touch of wariness in his voice; people usually didn't come seeking him out unless he'd met them somewhere else first.

She isn't an especially tall woman. It's all in the posture, the way she holds herself and looks at him, her head tilting slightly as he asks his question. She waits to see the woman step aside, eyes flickering away from him to her before back again.

"I apologize for not contacting you beforehand. I won't keep you long, but I thought it best to meet you now rather than later. I don't quite know what impression I'll give on the full moon."

She holds her hand out.

"Reilanin Bainbridge. A... a friend of Randolph's."

The slight hesitation seems to set the tone slightly awry, making her look somewhat nervous before the earlier stillness of her expression takes over.

That explained it. Hajime gave her a nod as he took the offered hand for a handshake. "Hajime Aikawa." The formality seemed right, even though she already knew his name. "He told me about you, yeah. Same hairy little problem?"

He rubbed at the back of his neck. "My transformation's pretty strong, and I've been able to control it. Shouldn't be any problems if the worst happens." Sure, there had been that incident in the Dead District, and he'd lost it at the Halloween party, but the last time he'd watched over Lyall, he'd been fine. The bug's instincts had been there, but he'd controlled them. Lyall's house was a familiar environment, and he knew Lyall. Not a threat, not a problem for the bug. "All I'll do is just make sure no one tries to get into the house and that no one tries to get out."

There's something in her expression that does not appreciate the way he's put it, but it also passes. He's right, after all, and it's just another glance aside as she nods slightly. "Something like that."

She's actually curious to know whether or not it will be the same. Maybe it's because of a lack of "pack", being on her own- though she has no idea how long she'd been on her own.

"Are you also...? I'm sorry, he told me very little about you. I'm not sure how it's going to work."

She's not sure if it's going to work, and she doesn't need to say that out loud to make it known.

"... what is it like, with Randolph? When it happens."

Maybe he shouldn't have put it that way. Should he apologize? No, better not to bring it up again, just refer to it as an adjectiveless problem if it came up again...

"I'm not a werewolf...I just turn into a giant bug at will." Hajime looked over his shoulders to make sure no one was within earshot or watching too closely. "It's nasty enough and strong enough that even if anything were to happen, I think I'd be able to make sure no one got out." It would work. It had always worked in the past when it had been just him and Lyall, even if he'd felt sick the last time.

"When he does it, we've got a room set up. He goes inside, I lock the door, and he changes." He grimaced. "I've never seen it. Only heard it. It sounds...pretty nasty. Sometimes I'll try playing music to calm him down, but I don't think it does much good."

A... a giant bug. "...like an ant? Or a beetle?" She isn't as stealthy about it as he is, but her voice hasn't change in tone, either, so while it sounds a little weirded out, it's still calm and the pitch is steady, hardly a thing to pique another's interest.

He thinks he'll be able. She finds herself biting the inside of her cheek briefly before she nods slightly. "I see." Fighting a ... a huge bug... if she were to make a list of things she expected from this, that had not been one of them.

She looks away again, clearly disturbed by the idea. "I see," she repeats, reaching up to tug at a loose strand of hair by her face, letting it spring back up a moment after. "It'll be similar with me, by the sounds of it... but we also seemed to be different, as well... I'm not sure how, though. I just know in comparison to someone else." She hesitates. "...I think I remember myself. But I'm not sure. I'm just not sure."

"Looks like I'm a beetle, more than anything." He paused to grimace a bit. "A beetle covered in spikes. He was frankly used to people sounding weirded out when he described it. It wasn't anything but weird. He just failed to mention that he only thought he'd be able to do the job was because he wasn't sure he could do it without hurting anyone thanks to the spikes or that the bug liked to fight just a little too much...

He looked sympathetic when she said it was similar. "Remembering the transformation can kind of help when it does come. That's kind of how I was. I think it stopped me from panicking as much as I could have whenever it finally happened."

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12 | Open

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