It's not easy having yourself a good time~

[a_violent_end]

Who: Shizuo and VATHEON
Where: The park
When: Mid-day.
Style: Either
Status: Open!

One of Vatheon's perks was that it wasn't necessary to work; almost everything was free. As far as Shizuo was concerned, however, that was also one of the drawbacks. He missed working. Of course, his track history for holding down jobs was poor, up until he finally relented and became a body guard, a position where his strength came in handy. But that was exactly what left him feeling off. Too much strength and energy, with no where to vent it. It made him feel restless - even more so after Izaya had denied him a good chase. Shizuo wouldn't have wished an attack on Vatheon under any circumstances, but he could not deny that having a reason to channel that jittery energy would probably help him relax.

Without that prospect, Shizuo tried to focus on other things, like keeping track of the happenings around Vatheon and keeping an eye out just in case anything strange happened. Which is exactly what he was doing, walking in the park - trying to take his mind off of everything. After a while, he paused his walk in favor of leaning against a tree and having a smoke.

Comments

[ex_diplomacy861]

[Shelly, on the other hand, is on a casual stroll of sort when she inhales something stuffy and nearly cough-inducing. Oh, that's pleasant, but she can suck it up. However, out of a general need to do something for the day, she pins her attention on the culprit, and asks good-naturedly,]

Doesn't the smoke bother you?

[a_violent_end]

[As he's passed by, Shizuo expects maybe a nod if that at all - figuring she wouldn't bother to stop. He certainly doesn't expect a blunt question about his habit, completely out of the blue, and so he raises his eyebrows in slight surprise, staring at her through his glasses.]

No. I wouldn't smoke if it did.

[Maybe there was a time, when he first picked up the habit, that it did sting his lungs a bit, but that was a while back.]

I guess it bothers you?

[ex_diplomacy861]

[Ah, and it comes right back to her . . . Tipping her head slightly over her shoulder, she responds in a mirthful tone.]

Hardly. I was merely taken by surprise. Was it that obvious?

[a_violent_end]

[Shizuo lifts his shoulders in a slight shrug.]

I just thought it might, since you were asking.

[And since it doesn't, he takes a drag from his cigarette, flicking away some of the ash.]

[ex_diplomacy861]

No, but I appreciate the consideration.

[She sets her head straight, watching how he handles the cigarette. Then, curiously,] What is it like?

[a_violent_end]

It's...a little relaxing. For me. I don't know if it's the same for everyone.

[He watches her right back, noting the curiosity.]

Want one?

[Then it occurs to him that she might not know...]

They're pretty bad for you.

[ex_diplomacy861]

[On one hand, it's probably best not to deal with things that could be hazardous to her health. On the other hand . . . ]

One time isn't going to kill me, is it?

[A rhetorical question. Besides, he even said it has a calming effect on him.

Right. His question.]

If you don't mind.

[demonicbookworm]

Ruca was walking through the park, a book was right in front of him. Yes, he was walking while reading it and thus not paying any attention at all as to where he was going.

Don't mind him if he trips right in front of you.

[a_violent_end]

Shizuo didn't really understand people who read and walked at the same time. It seemed like that could only lead to trouble - such as tripping or falling flat on the ground. And trip the boy did.

"Careful," Shizuo mumbled, flicking his cigarette. "Or you're going to fall on your face."

[demonicbookworm]

The boy gave the other an apologetic look, then almost instantly dropped his gaze to the ground.

"I-I'm sorry." he said, almost as if he did something he should apologize for. "I-I'll try to be more careful..."

[a_violent_end]

"Don't apologize," Shizuo replied with a short shake of his head. "It's your face. You should probably just sit on a bench or something though." Shizuo didn't read much at all, but surely sitting and reading was more enjoyable than trying to read and navigate the park at the same time.

[demonicbookworm]

"Y-yes, I will." Ruca answered. "I'm so-... um..."

Ruca cut himself off, when he realized he was going to apologize again. Apologizing was almost like a habit, in his case.

[a_violent_end]

"Okay." He really wasn't trying to put Ruca on the spot. Shizuo decided to try to be friendly to make it clear that he meant well. "What are you reading?" Not that he was interested in books, but it seemed a friendly followup.

[xtsundereprince]

[ He'd spent his day listlessly wandering about here and there. As much as he was loathe to admit it, his roomies were growing on him. Ion was a nice kid, so was Sola, and Izaya... well, there was plenty to be said about Izaya but somehow, Laharl just couldn't imagine a Vatheon without the informant and his rude awakenings.

But something had been bothering him lately. It took away from his usual energy and set Laharl on edge. After all, if it was something Izaya was worrying about, maybe it was something he should be worrying about too.

Whatever it was.

But he figured that if there was anyone who knew Izaya longer and better, it was probably Shizuo. So the demon made short work of coming over just when the blond was having his smoke. ]

Hey! Shizuo!

[a_violent_end]

[Shizuo can sometimes be oblivious about the people around him, even if he's talked to them once before, but he recognizes the demon right away. Their conversation about hating Izaya had been a good bonding point, as Shizuo wouldn't forget someone who seemed equally interested in doing away with the informant.]

Hey.

[He flicks away some ash from his cigarette.]

How's it going?

[xtsundereprince]

[ Doing away, really? Sure that's what he probably said from the get go but then Laharl did want to off a lot of people to begin with. But he's got a prime spot living in with said flea at the moment which lead to his rather close observing.

He comes over with the slightest frown, folding his arms across his chest as he leaned back against the same tree. ]

Gotta talk to ya.

[ And the prince glances off again. ]

S'bout Izaya.

[a_violent_end]

[Shizuo's expression darkens - how can it not? His last couple of encounters with the informant had been strained, more than usual. Emotional, even. Difficult. And even somewhat confusing. Still, he holds back from getting too angry. Self-control is his goal, and getting in an uproar over just hearing his name is stupid.]

What about him?

[xtsundereprince]

[ He glances of again, letting out a huff. There's a bit of a pregnant pause here as he taps his foot in slight irritation. ]

I dunno. He's been actin' weird lately. Doesn't sleep much, looks kinda low.

[ And at this, he glanced back at the blond. There's a visible furrow of frustration on his brow though, as if he's trying to figure something out. ]

Kinda figured since ya know him better, ya might have an idea.

[a_violent_end]

[An expression of surprise flits very quickly across Shizuo's face, because that's definitely not what he expected to hear, for a lot of reasons. Izaya being weird? Low? And why ask him? But then, he replaces it with a scowl.]

I don't know anything about the flea, and I don't care, either.

[But. He's curious. Not concerned - never ever that - but still.]

...How long has he been like that?

[And then it occurs to him.]

And how do you know?

[mothersunlight]

[There's a lot of things that Ammy tends to ignore, when it comes to wandering around through the area. But there's something she picks up on, from Shizuo - that nervous, pent-up energy practically radiating off of him. She approaches, tail already wagging a lot harder than usual, ears fully alert.]

...Arf!

[a_violent_end]

[The bark catches Shizuo off guard and he jumps a little, not having seen the approach of the...wolf, dog, he isn't really sure. Her tail is wagging, which means she's probably friendly, but Shizuo remains standing, flicking at his cigarette.]

I'm...not going to pet you.

[He doesn't know if that's what she wants or not, or hell, if she'll even understand, but it isn't out of dislike of the animal. Shizuo has actually always loved animals and for most of his childhood, wanted a pet of his own. But his parents had denied him, concerned that he'd use his inhuman strength to accidentally kill it. And, well, that fear had left an impression on him. He doesn't mess with animals.]

[mothersunlight]

[Nah! Petting, he gets from really pretty ladies. She wandered over because you're radiating pent-up energy and so is she and man!

She lowers herself into a fighting pose, barking at him. There's no growling! She's just issuing him a challenge.]

[a_violent_end]

[He does have pent up energy - plenty of it, thanks to Izaya - but he can't even think about using it to play with a dog - wolf. He's too strong for that. He's convinced this will only lead to her getting hurt, or worse.

Unless...unless he doesn't touch her. Maybe -

He mumbles out loud.]

I guess we could play chase...

[That could be kind of fun, actually. Shizuo had wanted a good chase from Izaya the other day, and he had been denied.]

[mothersunlight]

! Arf arf!!!

[She starts hopping around. HECK YEAH, SHE WAS THE BEST. They don't call her Full-Throttle Ammy for nothing!]

[a_violent_end]

Okay, okay.

[Shizuo tosses his cigarette to the ground and stamps it out with his foot. Since the dog - or wolf - seems to want to play, Shizuo figures he can manage if he's careful. He regards her for a moment, not sure if he should speak or just take off...

So he tests her by taking a few quick steps toward her, seeing if she'll take off. And if she does, he'll start chasing.]