tampered | the betrayal of the sunset [ongoing]

the betrayal of the sunset [ongoing]

When; Sunday, September 13th
Rating; G'ish
Characters; Celty [

milkboned]
Summary; during a curse- pet shop visits.
Log;

There was something comforting about the sight of cityscape passing by in a blur, faster and faster on her motorbike- her horse, and simply losing herself in that simple freedom. She didn't know these streets as well as she knew Ikebukuro, but Celty was learning the City, learning how its pavement felt, which way was quickest, which roads were best at which times of day. Thankfully, her job wasn't one that was hard to carry out while handcuffed to Heiwajima Shizuo. At least, not so far.

She had a few steady employers now, and she was able to still do her deliveries with Shizuo behind her- documents for City Solutions, floral arrangements for Umi- it was comforting, too, to be able to do the same job. She wasn't in the same place, didn't have all the same people, but- she had some of what made up "home"... and she was grateful.

But the absence of the ticking... Shizuo's presence really did cancel it out. She didn't notice during deliveries or while out exploring the City, but. This was the first time she hadn't woken up to it, hadn't-

It was that thought that made her notice the pet shop they were driving past. A pet... wasn't that what someone had recommended? To help with the ticking?

It was that thought that had her slowing down, PDA coming out of her sleeve and relying on shadow to type, since her other hand was handcuffed to Shizuo before she finished the sentence and turned the message so he could see it over her shoulder.

mind if we make a quick stop?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

And there was something to be said for the entirety of the experience. Shizuo would be hard-pressed to admit it: while he wasn't grateful to the curse, or to the pain-in-the-ass experience of being hand-cuffed to another person for a whole day and night, it wasn't all bad. In fact, it was mostly pretty nice, aside from moments made awkward by nature or clumsy movement, the latter less and less frequent. They moved pretty well together, as if by instinct.

If admitting it, Shizuo would acknowledge a gladness for it being Celty, someone who had never pissed him off and probably never would. Further, his work in the City had yet to provide a fairly constant coworker or companion, like Tom-san in Ikebukuro, and what Shizuo would never admit was loneliness. Enough people tended to be around to keep the ticking at bay, at least.

After a short time, Shizuo had managed to cast off the feeling of being a burden (which angered him, an anger to direct at the curse and the gods, and thus an anger he had to divert, chew and swallow his irritation, somehow easier with the dullahan's calmer, ever quiet presence -- he hadn't really thought of it like this before, and didn't think of it now in so many words, or even the feeling of it, but perhaps she accepted him, and perhaps he understood that subconsciously, instinctivlely, and perhaps, perhaps, that helped him be at peace). After that faded, he could enjoy the comfortable silence, watching Celty at work, routine that wasn't so dull as to be strict routine.

Nice to ride the motorbike, too. The air whipped his hair and he zoned, thinking of nothing at all, until the PDA shot out and he processed her request.

"Go ahead," he called above the wind. Not a job, so for what? But, he didn't ask, figuring he'd know soon enough.

Celty didn't think about it much, but- maybe she did have a bit of a calming effect when she herself wasn't flustered. On Shizuo specifically... she didn't know. She'd never really considered it. If she did... except she didn't, and that was fine, too, nodding at his reply and turning the bike back around, come to a slow stop in front of the pet store.

She just stared at it a moment before she let the kickstand down and dismounted, dismissing the shadow helmet of Shizuo's. Another moment where she seemed to consider if she was doing the correct thing, before she went to her PDA.

Because she could admit- the ticking sound reminded her that she was a little lonely, alone in an apartment. Since coming to Japan... she had never lived alone. Shinra had always been there, and while she was content during the day, the nights reminded her she was nowhere near Ikebukuro.

... Never mind that. They were handcuffed together and if one went, the other would need follow. Though technically, Shizuo was stronger than she- not that she actually thought he would refuse her.

He knew soon enough. The bike turned and stopped, and even Shizuo was able to put one and two together. If she stopped in front of the pet store, then she must want to go to the pet store. Pretty basic.

... Of course, that she wanted to buy a pet, and that because of the ticking, only hit him upon reading the PDA. Clarity lit his eyes, and stupidly, he felt a little flattered at being asked. It was stupid; they had no choice, it was a courtesy that she asked. Still, she could have waited another day, and she would effectively be selecting her roommate. Seemed like a pretty big deal.

Briefly, he wondered, remembering that she had asked about roommates on the network. Had no one agreed? Assholes. His teeth ground, tempted to go find her one right now off the street live with her or else but-- right now, she seemed to want a pet.

"Yeah, all right." Shizuo conceded, moving toward the door.

Celty's "thank you"s were often wordless, but very there nonetheless. In how she held herself, and the little gestures she made. The little dip of her helmet as she went in ahead of him, since he'd opened the door. But she was well aware they were handcuffed together, and so she waited just inside so as not to tug on the chain tying them together.

She had never set foot inside of a pet shop... pets had never even been something she'd ever thought of owning. Of course she'd been around animals before- but mostly just stray cats or dogs around Ikebukuro, not anything like this. Birds, and mice, and puppies, and- things she didn't even know were pets.

Why a turtle, she'd wondered. Would something like that really keep her from hearing that ticking? ... But maybe-

At least, that's what she assumed. Dogs and cats took a lot of care, didn't they? And she was always out of the house, at all hours, depending on her job. So something simple... that would be best. Even if she had no idea what she was doing just yet.

Words weren't much Shizuo's thing (never mind expertise), but body language he understood. Someone else, probably Shinra, would have to make the necessary connections, something about instinct and beasts. It wasn't gratitude he needed, but he acknowledged it all the same, nodding as he let the door close behind them.

Never having been allowed (and thus never having) a pet hadn't kept Shizuo and Kasuka from browsing shops now and again. The smell was familiar; pungent foods and nesting materials, animal crap of various types. Looking around, noting mostly shelves with a few displays -- some large cloth covered structure for rodents to squirrel around in -- Shizuo inhaled, not minding this stench, and read the PDA.

"Turtle?" he mused.

Had Shizuo paid better attention to the guide (too many fucking words, who expected him to read all that?!) he might have objected, might have known that the ticking was best helped with bigger pets, or at the very least, those with more personality. Because Shizuo had barely read the guide, instead he imagined a turtle sticking its head in its shell.

He grinned, but agreed, "Maybe. Quiet, too."

No yowling or barking, the latter of which had always made dogs pretty damn unappealing in any sense of the long-run. Shizuo figured the reptile section should be easy enough to find, and started down an aisle, looking up over tinted lenses at the signs.

Celty nodded, in her way, in agreement with his comment. Quiet... and while she had read the guide in detail, (more than once, or twice)... if someone who'd been here longer recommended it, perhaps something small would at least help enough. More than that... Celty didn't exactly trust herself with taking care of much more, a dog, or a cat... and what if she left this City, like she heard people did? That was responsibility she didn't think was fair to take up.

She followed Shizuo, helmet turning side to side as she looked at each and every cage. Most only briefly, but something caught her eye, (so to speak), and Celty paused suddenly, captivated momentarily by the cute activities of several ferrets they were passing by on their way to the reptiles.

Even a dullahan's attention could be captured by something as simple as animals at play- though she forgot to tap Shizuo on the shoulder or tug on the chain between then, fingers lightly tapping at the glass to see if the animals would notice her presence.

Though not in the market for a pet, Shizuo browsed as well. In part looking for the turtles, in part out of genuine curiosity. Like any kid, he'd wanted a pet now and again. Within time, he had quashed that desire, having more success at forgetting it than he did with acting as though he didn't want to be close to other people.

Looking himself, he failed to notice that she had stopped until the three feet of chain tugged, and he paused, looking over his shoulder. After a moment, he walked back to the display before which she stood.

Ferrets were pretty weird looking, Shizuo thought. Not so much that it bothered him, or even that it preoccupied him -- after all, he pretty much never thought about Celty not having a head. His head tilted, and he nudged his sunglasses lower on his nose, to look without the color filter.

Shizuo remained silent. He figured if she wanted one, or to look into it, she'd make the motion without him asking.

Oops- she realized her mistake at the tug of the chain, and quickly turned, holding up a hand in apology, an slightly embarrassed curl of her fingers before she pointed to the case, cocking her helmet to the side as she watched them for another minute.

Lingered a moment longer before she nodded firmly, her sign that she was done there.

Shaking his head to dismiss the need to apologize, Shizuo looked on. One ferret seemed pretty intent on biting the other, and he could smell them from there. Pretty strong, too.

"Yeah," he agreed, and squinted at a touch of memory. "I think I heard that, too. Ferrets really stink."

Maybe the flea was a ferret. Not that he wanted to think of that insect, but it made the rodents look, suddenly, much worse -- the opposite of cute. It made him all too glad to turn away and resume the walk. Any living thing, he figured with a surprising amount of logic, would probably get to stinking over time. But, some creatures, some things, just stunk a hell of a lot worse.

Celty's attention was a bit divided as they walked, checking out the various animals and cages on either side of them... birds... mice... things that looked like bigger, fluffier mice... rabbits...

Ah. Turtles.

Leaning in to look closer, her helmet cocked again as she watched the few turtles within, one slowly walking... somewhere, one eating, and one facing away from them.

They certainly looked easy to care for- she could handle something like this, right?

Though most of the birds were in a separate back room, Shizuo paused about a foot from the turtle tanks, distracted by a parrot's squawk of Hello! Parrots did that, sure. Less common, the follow-up of, Manners! Aaawk! Manners! Hello! Say it!

One the one hand, it was a bird, and Shizuo could not even focus fully on getting pissed, because it was a bird. On the other, the meaning of its message brought to mind Tom-san. After a minute of beady eyes staring, unrelenting, into his shaded ones, Shizuo muttered, "Hello."

OK! OK! answered the parrot in triumph, and Shizuo stepped back, all too ready to look at something that wouldn't talk. Not even talk back, but initiate the damn conversation! Turtles, he saw, were cute in an awkward, toddling, sort of wrinkled way. Though living in a cramped case had to be pretty bad, Shizuo watched the walking turtle, settling into contemplation. Must be a pretty peaceful, to be a turtle. Taking everything slowly, at their own pace, no matter the situation.

"Want me to get an employee?" he finally asked, stirring from his admiration.

In a way, Celty was a bit jealous that Shizuo was able to do something as simple as say "hello" to a parrot. She had grown more comfortable with herself, with her existence, without her head... but that didn't mean she didn't miss certain things, or know her life might be easier with one. If she had a mouth to speak with, a voice to be heard with, she could do these things herself, simple things like calling an employee.

But she didn't have those things... and lingering on that wouldn't change it.

So she nodded, instead, her version of "yes, please", before she turned her gaze back to the turtles. "Box Turtles"... they were cute, she thought. Slow, and peaceful looking... of course she'd have to look at a book or something, to see how to take care of it... that one woman had said it might be easy enough.

For now, though, she just watched them for a little while longer.

With Celty's assent, Shizuo walked to the end of the chain. A few feet; it could have been worse. That thought was surprisingly generous for him, but his good (at least, calm) mood had not dwindled, even with the smell. A better kind of stench than the sort Ikebukuro'd get, especially when that flea was around. The really noisy birds were in a different room, and another room also muted the yelps of dogs. So far, the pet shop hadn't been too annoying.

Edging around a shelf, he noted a young guy in a logo'd apron, finishing with arranging sacks of bedding. Shizuo lifted his cuff-free hand in a short wave.

"Hey," he said, now jerking a thumb over his shoulder. "The lady needs some help."

The employee's look was dismissive (Shizuo didn't cut an impressive figure when not seized by rage), but he straightened, swiping palms on his knees before walking toward and around Shizuo, barely blinking at the chain. "Sure thing," the guy said, and on reaching the woman who, oddly enough, wore a helmet indoors (but this was the City: he'd seen stranger): "Let me guess-- you're looking for a turtle?"

Not rocket science: she was looking (he thought...?) right at them. Shizuo hung back, eyes catching those of a snake. It didn't look too bad. In the long run, it probably wasn't fair to any animal to compare Izaya to it. Even flea was too generous. But he wasn't going to think about that fucking louse. One way to avoid it; his attention shifted back to the employee and Celty.

"They'll help? With the damn clock."

Unaware that someday he might regret it, the employee chose to favor the sale over complete honesty: "Oh, yeah. Y'know, you might need to give it some bonding time--they help more once you've bonded." Or, favor the sale over anything that wasn't total bullshit.

He might regret it later, but at this point Celty trusted the employee to know what he was talking about. She wasn't sure if she would get the turtle today... it would probably be best to get it when she didn't have to drag Shizuo with her everywhere, and she should definitely read up a bit before purchasing an animal...

She'd never had something living rely on her before. Of course, there was her horse, but- it wasn't alive, just like she was both alive, and... not quite. The idea was a little daunting, but...

Flashed her PDA to the young man, cocking her helmet in question as she did so. If she read the guidebook, and it seemed easy... then surely she could do it. It would be just like cooking something by following a recipe-!

... Actually that was a bad comparison, considering how her last cooking attempt had gone.

Just a book? The employee pinched the bridge of his nose, looking more as if he tended to an itch than suppressed frustration.

"Sure, give me a minute, I'll grab you one. ... But turtles, they really aren't much work. Feed it, clean its tank every now and then..." a paragon of professionalism, the guy shrugged and pivoted, off to the rack of books that focused on reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Belatedly, he wondered what the deal was with the PDA.

Meanwhile, Shizuo struggled to stomp down the sudden and indubitably unhelpful urge to break the guy's nose. Better to focus on the turtles. Cute in that wrinkly way, still, not that it would have changed in the last minute.

"Think you'll do it?" he asked, though it was another instance where waiting it out would have given him the answer. "I've never heard of that... man's best friend, the turtle."

But, it was something he could get behind. At their own pace, almost complete silence. Could be they had more personality than it seemed.

A hand rose to her helmet, curled a bit before where her mouth might be if she had one, shoulder shook in a little laugh. Turtle as man's best friend... yeah, she'd never heard of that before. It would be funnier, that way.

Probably not today, but in a few, after she'd read through the guide and felt more prepared, had gathered any materials she might need, a place for it to live... even for so small a thing, there were lots of preparations, weren't they.

But thinking about pets made her think of something else. Of course, Shizuo was a friend, but what they talked about wasn't usually anything serious like her past, his childhood- when they did talk for a length of time... well. Even using the word "length" was a bit off. Cocked her helmet to the side, and typed again.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

the betrayal of the sunset [ongoing]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject