(no subject)

[needsmorezippers]

Who: Neku and OPEN!
What: Neku practices his new privacy-breaking powers in non-crowded areas
When: Wednesday, July 3
Where: Anywhere where there aren't a lot of people- he'll move once a place gets crowded

Neku had gotten this strange looking pin a few days ago, but he hadn't thought too much off it. Pins were 'in' now, right? Maybe one of his friends had gotten it for him and he just didn't remember. That theory had to be thrown out the window when he actually took the time to examine it, however. The appearance itself didn't lead him to think that it might be something a bit more suspicious; it was what happened when he pressed a little too hard on it and suddenly heard voices in his head. Voices that, he eventually realized, were other people's thoughts.

He left the pin very much alone for a few days after, not at all comfortable with this newfound ability. When he actually made himself think about it, however, it was pretty obvious this had something to do with the numbers. Maybe this was like the powers some people were getting... attaching them to a pin seemed pretty weird, but then again what about this wasn't. He'd tried pressing on it again, but it seemed like every time he did there was just this cacophony of sound that he couldn't make out. Neku didn't necessarily want to pry into people's thoughts but maybe this would be something that could help them out. He'd just have to practice.

So here he is, whether it be a park, a back alley, or coffee shop, just wherever there aren't that many people, sitting with his new (and very nice) headphones on his head to act like he's not paying attention, hands in his pockets and one messing with the pin every so often. While he's getting that down, there's not guarantee he can hide the reactions from hearing things he shouldn't...

Comments

[edhwierfan]

In the mostly empty coffee shop, Aeron's sitting a couple tables away, typing away at his laptop. There's a spreadsheet open on his screen and he seems to be updating the data on his company. If Neku listens in, he'll probably hear some very boring information about the Penning & Co. sales figures for that month at first.

When Aeron takes a break to frown down at his cup of coffee, however, his thoughts abruptly turn to much heavier things. The still-healing wound on his side, for one, which he thinks grumpily about when it twinges every time he shifts in his chair. After that, Neku might hear Aeron wondering if the Sage had been telling the truth before the mine entrance caved in.

[needsmorezippers]

Yea, business stats. That's boring. However, Neku sort of wants to see how long he can keep this up so he'll hang in there for a bit.

It's when the thoughts about the Sage come in that gets his attention, and he can't help but turn his head sharply towards Aeron when he hears that. He immediately curses quietly to himself, trying to slink back into any available shadow and hope no one had noticed. But man, numbers club people are everywhere, aren't they?

[edhwierfan]

Aeron's not so lost in his thoughts that he doesn't catch the movement out of the corner of his eye. He turns just in time to see Neku looking away, and he frowns. Had he been trying to get his attention?

"Can I help you?"

[needsmorezippers]

Shit. "No, uh, I'm good," Neku replies, messing with his hair and remembering when his hand touches his headphones that he was supposed to be pretending that he couldn't hear anything through them. Damn he sucked at this. He's not sure whether he should actually try and come up with an explanation or just let it go, so the net result is him sitting there awkwardly and trying not to look at the guy.

[edhwierfan]

Aeron barely represses the urge to scoff. The kid's obviously not an expert at people-watching, and suddenly Aeron's struck with a sense of deja vu. His meeting with Colette had started off the same way, with good intentioned stalking and spying. Hopefully he isn't another long-lost sibling. Aeron barely knows how to look after one as it is.

He sighs, closing his laptop. "Look, you obviously have something to say. You're sitting nearby with your headphones on to make you look less suspect to the people you're watching. If there's more than one."

neku is really bad at this.

[needsmorezippers]

...Yea, ok, this officially wasn't going well. At least this was potentially someone he could explain this to? Maybe? It still wasn't the best idea, but...

Neku glances back towards the counter, where the barista looks to be texting since there's no one else in there, and moves to sit across from him. Might as well get this over with, and do it so no one else hears (this way he should be able to keep his voice low enough while still being able to talk).

"...Ok, so long story short, somehow I got this magical pin thing that apparently lets me listen in to people's thoughts, and when you thought about the Sage it kind of surprised me." There. Happy?

just a little

[edhwierfan]

“I can imagine,” Aeron replies, once he’s gotten over his shock. His finger taps at the table a few times as he glances around the café, as Neku had done. Then, with a slightly determined look, Aeron slides his laptop into his shoulder bag.

“Is there room for one more at your table?”

While he’s not usually one for doing this, Aeron can’t deny that he’s curious. Besides, hasn’t he been trying to get to know the rest of the network users better?

[needsmorezippers]

Ok, well at least the guy wasn't mad at him. That was a good sign, right? He hadn't expected the conversation to go further than that, though. In hindsight... he should have.

"Uh... sure, go ahead." Neku moves his art bag off the other chair to make room for Aeron.

[depolarized]

Riku's feeling better and, walking a large female doberman on a leash, twitching the lead warningly whenever Yin started to wander after food or passing bikes. Normally he'd set a quicker pace, but the cut on his side still aches a little, making him wonder if there's any way he can make that weird green light come back and do the job properly-- if it is magic, and not just some kind of high-stress delusion and too many video games.

[needsmorezippers]

It's worth noting for Neku that it doesn't seem to work on the dog's 'thoughts'- though because he wouldn't be able to understand them or because it's a dog he's not sure. Maybe he should try it out on one of the talking animals.

The thought's distracted a little when he tunes into the guy walking the dog and thinking about green lights and magic. The guy looked kind of familiar- maybe Neku'd seen him when he was out looking at graffiti- but he didn't remember seeing him on the numbers network. Though he could just possibly have had some high-stress delusion, there have to be some people who are just crazy. Excuse him while he watches you and tries to figure this out, Riku.

[depolarized]

[ooc: and is out and about*, walking a large female doberman, I must've mis-erased. @@ Alsoo switching to past tense because it's easier. xD]

Unaware of any invasion of privacy, Riku waited patiently as Yin sniffed around the base of one of the trees. It was so much easier to pretend she was the reason he was moving so slowly and not the stitched up slash in his side, the bandages wound round and tight and white around his torso. He supposed he should be glad he hadn't gotten both legs broken like Van told him might've happened at the mine.

For once, the stupid brat might be right.

Eyes casting about, he blinked at a very bright orange head. And he was wearing blue. He stuck out like a sore thumb on the park bench, but something about him was definitely familiar. Where had he seen those colors before? A smudge of blue and orange, like... graffiti?

[needsmorezippers]

[ooc: It's all good! :)]

Well, shit. The guy was looking at him. A brief glance in his thoughts has him relaxing a little- ok, this guy just recognizes him from graffiti-d areas too. So far it doesn't look like anyone can actually tell he's looking in their heads. Still, he hardly knows this guy well enough to say hi, so he stops with the mind-reading for the moment and tries to look neutral.

[depolarized]

Yeah he'd definitely seen this kid before hanging around some of the better alleys downtown. Huh. He seemed kind of... out of place on the park bench, though. The orange hair was like a neon sign against all the foliage. He clashed like a christmas sweater.

More importantly, though, Yin was done with her business and was tugging him closer towards the guy and sniffs his shoes a bit, friendly.

[needsmorezippers]

And then the dog was sniffing him. Well then.

Neku bends down a little, letting the dog sniff his hand so it hopefully wouldn't bite him (he was never very good with dogs), looking up at Riku as he approaches. "Uh. Hi."

[depolarized]

"Don't mind her, she's just... friendly," Riku shrugged, noticing the nervousness and assuming it was about Yin. "Hey. You were at that RAT site, near Spencer's, right?" He hazarded a guess, mildly curious.

Yin sniffed Neku's hand, snorting slightly, then promptly began to investigate around the bench interestedly, finding an old plastic ball someone had probably forgotten.

[needsmorezippers]

"Oh, it's... fine. Just not really used to dogs." He's going to avoid the whole 'reading your mind' thing if he can help it. At least it's mostly leaving him alone now.

When Riku says 'RAT site,' that clicked a lot better in Neku's head. He was a pretty big fan of that artist, so it would make sense that if someone saw him, it would be around there. "Yea, I... hang out there a lot. And pretty much wherever their art is."

[depolarized]

"Cat person, huh. So you're a fan?" That would explain the familiarity. But what was he doing sitting alone out here? Riku shifted his weight back a little as Yin started to roam further, slithering under the park bench and barking once at something on the ground.

"Yin," Riku called warningly, tugging at her leash.

[reckless_fire]

Outside one of the local skate/surf shops in town, Kenji is drooling over the new line of short boards displayed in the window. As one might imagine, most of his thoughts are centered on the cool moves he could make with a board like that, mixed in with wondering how long it would take him to save up for one. Maybe he should get a part-time job? That's such a waste of a good summer, though...

As he turns away to continue on down the street, his thoughts jump to a different subject. It's been awhile since he practiced with his Alter...maybe he should work on that some more? But ever since that whole shit-fest in the mine, he's been a little reluctant to let that particular genie out of its bottle again...

[needsmorezippers]

The kid staring at the boards honestly reminds Neku of a few of his friends who are into that whole scene (Neku's never been very good at boarding, to be honest, but he appreciates some of the designs). And... well, the guy seems to have some of the same thought processes as his friends, who scoffed at the idea of working during their summer break.

It ends up being a good thing this guy kept his interest, and Neku's face turns to a frown. What the hell is 'Alter'? And then the mine comes up, and Neku very nearly throws his hand into his face. Of course he's a numbers person. Of course.

[reckless_fire]

Oblivious to the fact that his thoughts are no longer private, Kenji's next stop is a sporting goods shop. He could use a new pair of goggles and some weights for next year, but instead of going inside, he hovers around outside, suddenly undecided. Maybe he should just drop the swim team? With all the weird crap that's been going on, he really hasn't been able to muster much enthusiasm for it lately. Still, it's about the only thing that makes him feel somewhat normal anymore... Well, he has until school starts up again to make a decision, so for the time being, he decides not to decide.

Heading back the way he came, he passes another kid about his own age...that seems to be frowning at him. What the hell's up with that? As far as he knows, he hasn't done anything scowl-worthy. Yet. Out of reflex, he returns the scowl, but after a moment shrugs it off. Whatever. He's probably just being paranoid.

[needsmorezippers]

When the other boy scowls at him, Neku's immediate reaction is to look surprised. Why is he-- oh, right, he was probably making some kind of face. Damnit. Well, at least his suspicion had been confirmed... though he's not sure what to do with that now. He'll just revert to looking super awkward, messing with his hair as he averts eye contact with the other boy. Smooth, Neku.

[reckless_fire]

What the hell was that about? Did the kid know him--or think he knew him? Kenji couldn't recall ever seeing the other boy before, but Locke High was a fair-sized school...and the other kid was about the right age. Hell, it was even possible he was in one of Kenji's classes--he didn't always pay attention to the other inmates, after all. Especially after all the numbers crap had started. Now, he was a bit curious as to where the stranger knew him from--or thought he knew him from, and as shyness had never been a particular failing of his...

"Yo, you go to Locke High, or something?"

[needsmorezippers]

Neku really, really needs to get better at being sneaky. He looks back at Kenji when he's spoken to, trying really hard not to look super awkward.

"Oh, uh... yea, I do, actually," he says, messing with his hair a little by habit but forcing in back down into his pockets. He guesses this guy might too, he just... doesn't actually recognize him.

[reckless_fire]

Well...maybe he'd been mistaken. The way the kid was acting, he couldn't really tell, so after a moment, he shrugged. "Just wondering--'cause you looked like you were about to say something?"

Not exactly true, of course, but 'What the fuck were you frowning at me for?' just sounded a little...weird.

[needsmorezippers]

"Oh, uh, not really." Which was probably not a good answer, so he should probably come up with something. Um. "Just thought you looked kind of familiar." Wow, because that wasn't the most obvious cop out or anything. Especially since it's a flat out lie.