[ as a monster, it's difficult not to be keenly aware of the phases of the moons, even if he would thankfully dodge many of the consequences. viren sits at a small, round table off to the side -- not quite apart of any throng of customers, but still near enough that he can feed off the social energy. ]
[ when he hears his name, he looks up from where he'd been reading through some papers. ]
Yes, over here.
[ he neatens the stack, setting it aside for the moment. ]
[It's his first full moon, so he doesn't have to worry about a full on shift, but it's not exactly pleasant either. His teeth feel sharper, longer, then they used to be. But it's just something else he has to adjust to.
When he notices Viren, he first notes that he's not really part of the crowd. It's the same way he assumes Sakyo would sit. Not part of things, but still at the edges.]
Yeah... Thanks. For before.
[He hands over the exact amount of change for the dessert Viren bought him.]
[ viren had held out his hand to receive, and doesn't much bother with counting out to verify if it is exact change -- he's still somewhat surprised at the effort, after all. ]
You... didn't really have to, but all right.
[ he won't insist on refusing it, exactly, either. he pockets the coins. ]
[Even if Viren was heckling him for a good portion of their interaction. His parents raised him with manners and he was at least going to do this much.
He shoves his hands in his pockets and stands there awkwardly for a moment. He's certain Viren's the same person from Soren's memory flash, but he also doesn't really know what their situation is. So it would be rude to say anything about it, right?]
I met your son.
[That's neutral, right? That's not a weird thing to say.]
[ ... it is a bit of a weird thing to say, or so viren judges. the abruptness of that remark is enough to give him pause, arch an eyebrow. even if he may be somewhat curious, he can't say soren has been his favorite topic as of late. ]
Oh?
[ with a sigh, he turns back to the papers he'd been scanning through. and with a glance to the other man, capable of multitasking as he is, ]
[Busy guy. Now that Viren's looking at something else, Juza relaxes just a little bit.]
I only knew 'cause of those battery things. [Flashes of memory and flashes of feeling. It was all so much easier when he could rehearse and know exactly what he wanted to share with people.]
[ "battery things"... ah, viren supposes it must have been those items at inkchanted. here he had initially assumed soren had done some talking (and would answer a question he hadn't yet posed, if he were to eventually bother with asking). ]
The answer to that depends on your relationship with them.
[ he flips one of the papers over to its back, glancing through its contents. ]
[ ah, here viren had anticipated a simple yes in response to his inquiry. the return of a question has his eyebrows lifting, almost has his mouth quirking into a smile. ]
[ so he doubles back with a negating shake of his head. ]
Your view on it would depend on how you feel about that family member, yes? Or, better yet, your situation in your world. [ his claws tap against the table. ] But, no... It's unpleasant, having family here. This place is far from an ideal setting to have to remain trapped.
[ for the time-being, anyway. ]
When someone returns, I've been told that they won't remember anything of this place.
[So there's something up with them. That's good to know, maybe? But as a stranger it definitely doesn't feel like his place to pry too much. It'd be a different story if it were one of his troupemates.
A slight incline of his head, the smallest nod of agreement. Sorry that the whole family situation is not going well for you, man.
Memories just disappear. All the time here doesn't count when they go back. If they go back. That added onto the idea that the people who are here, seeing versions of themselves in the mirror going through things at home but not experiencing it themselves.
Which is real?]
... Don't like that.
Heard that people see themselves in the mirror going through... their lives too. But they don't experience it themselves.
[ that... is not something viren had been aware of, actually; it's enough for him to pause, lift his gaze from the papers and fix juza with a curious, if marginally incredulous, look.
it's a reminder that, despite how long he's been here, that there's still so much he doesn't know. ]
[Juza's gaze stays steady. It's what he heard, but maybe it's not entirely true? Then again, she also said that not a lot of people experienced it. She probably didn't have a reason to lie.]
A little after I arrived. Asahi Yuki said somethin' about it when I asked what happens at home while we're here.
[ asahi yuki... a name that he's also unfamiliar with — it seems like he had some digging to do. though, he's of a similar thought: it doesn't seem there be much a purpose in lying. ]
Did they say how they had experienced that? Or how they knew of it?
She said she hasn't done it personally, but she knew some people who had.
[A small shrug of his shoulders.]
Didn't ask for names. [He's too new to make use of any of anybody's names, and it seems like not everybody just uses their names as their usernames in the watches. Makes it a little harder to track people down.]
[ viren blows some smoke from his nose at that, in something of a frustrated sigh, ]
Of course.
[ he neatens the stack of a paper, moving onto a different one. then he looks up, meaningfully glancing at the counter located somewhere behind him. ]
I will follow-up with her at a later time, then. [ he gestures a clawed hand over his shoulder. so, because he's doing his due diligence as a employee, apparently: ] You may as well try something, since you're here.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ when he hears his name, he looks up from where he'd been reading through some papers. ]
Yes, over here.
[ he neatens the stack, setting it aside for the moment. ]
It's 'Juza,' yes...?
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When he notices Viren, he first notes that he's not really part of the crowd. It's the same way he assumes Sakyo would sit. Not part of things, but still at the edges.]
Yeah... Thanks. For before.
[He hands over the exact amount of change for the dessert Viren bought him.]
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You... didn't really have to, but all right.
[ he won't insist on refusing it, exactly, either. he pockets the coins. ]
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[Even if Viren was heckling him for a good portion of their interaction. His parents raised him with manners and he was at least going to do this much.
He shoves his hands in his pockets and stands there awkwardly for a moment. He's certain Viren's the same person from Soren's memory flash, but he also doesn't really know what their situation is. So it would be rude to say anything about it, right?]
I met your son.
[That's neutral, right? That's not a weird thing to say.]
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Oh?
[ with a sigh, he turns back to the papers he'd been scanning through. and with a glance to the other man, capable of multitasking as he is, ]
And.. what of that encounter...?
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I only knew 'cause of those battery things. [Flashes of memory and flashes of feeling. It was all so much easier when he could rehearse and know exactly what he wanted to share with people.]
's it weird to have family around?
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The answer to that depends on your relationship with them.
[ he flips one of the papers over to its back, glancing through its contents. ]
Do you mean for a typical one—?
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There's a soft hum. It would be weird for him to see his cousin or his little brother here, but he's been on better terms with his cousin these days.]
... Are you not typical?
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[ so he doubles back with a negating shake of his head. ]
Your view on it would depend on how you feel about that family member, yes? Or, better yet, your situation in your world. [ his claws tap against the table. ] But, no... It's unpleasant, having family here. This place is far from an ideal setting to have to remain trapped.
[ for the time-being, anyway. ]
When someone returns, I've been told that they won't remember anything of this place.
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A slight incline of his head, the smallest nod of agreement. Sorry that the whole family situation is not going well for you, man.
Memories just disappear. All the time here doesn't count when they go back. If they go back. That added onto the idea that the people who are here, seeing versions of themselves in the mirror going through things at home but not experiencing it themselves.
Which is real?]
... Don't like that.
Heard that people see themselves in the mirror going through... their lives too. But they don't experience it themselves.
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it's a reminder that, despite how long he's been here, that there's still so much he doesn't know. ]
.. Where did you hear something like that?
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A little after I arrived. Asahi Yuki said somethin' about it when I asked what happens at home while we're here.
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Did they say how they had experienced that? Or how they knew of it?
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[A small shrug of his shoulders.]
Didn't ask for names. [He's too new to make use of any of anybody's names, and it seems like not everybody just uses their names as their usernames in the watches. Makes it a little harder to track people down.]
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Of course.
[ he neatens the stack of a paper, moving onto a different one. then he looks up, meaningfully glancing at the counter located somewhere behind him. ]
I will follow-up with her at a later time, then. [ he gestures a clawed hand over his shoulder. so, because he's doing his due diligence as a employee, apparently: ] You may as well try something, since you're here.
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What d'you recommend? [He perks up slightly at the idea of a treat, but might as well hear what an employee likes.]
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[ dragons, anyway. that wouldn't be what he's drinking now, but it does have its perks. ]
But for you? [ why, one of the sweeter teas: ] Adelheid's Heart.
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He gives Viren a small nod before heading over to the counter.]
Got it. Thanks.