yumemigaoka | 💎 A New Journey

[frankly, of all the things that Nikki needed to do, going to the job fair was not one of them. He's not even technically the target demographic for this event. If he did plan on going into the workforce, it probably wouldn't be in any of the fields normally found here.

No, he's here scouting the population. Sure, mom didn't need him to do anything of the sort, but how else was he meant to spend the extra month?

Thus, he's at the job fair, weaving between the crowds, peeking around people to see what the more popular jobs are. A weird kid wearing green tinted sunglasses indoors, looking incredibly natural and comfortable in spite of blatantly skirting people's personal space. If he started running around loudly proclaiming his Dreamer name for all to hear, his vibe would definitely match a certain well-known someone]

Edited 2024-04-08 06:07 (UTC)

[Nikki is doing a number of things this month: putting up posters around the city announcing the opening of a new studio art gallery in Kihada, popping up randomly in hard to reach locations and, very rarely, running like hell from traffic police.

...

Oh dear.

You might be able to catch him hiding from the police in random districts; hidden behind a trash can or a park bench, hiding up in a balcony somewhere (how did he get up there? Is that why the police are chasing him in the first place?!) or maybe he ran into you while dodging into a store or cafe-]

Whoops! [he might grab you to make sure you don't fall over before pulling you back into the store you're trying to exit] Might not wanna go out there just yet.

...Wait, which one of us are they after!?

[Ango's jacket is stuffed with the spoils of his latest convenience store heist: cigarettes, a sack full of chili-filled meat buns, and a magazine featuring Ai's exclusive spring styles (with bonus bridal fashion centerfold and summer swimsuit preview). He's pretty sure that the 7-11 cashier has long since caught on to his thieving, but to call the cops on him... that's low! At the familiar wail of sirens, Ango reflexively ducked into the nearest alley and took refuge behind a garbage can.

Maybe they're not actually chasing him, though. This kid looks like a total delinquent, and he's obviously got a guilty conscience or he wouldn't have taken cover the moment he heard sirens. Whatever he did, it's gotta be worse than swiping a few bikini magazines...

Well, whatever. Ango's glad to see that the spirit of rebellion is still alive and well in today's youth, but the kid's forgetting one of the basic rules of delinquency: when the heat is on you, don't lead the pigs back to your comrades!]

This is my trash can, damn it! Go get your own!

[Nikki's eyes go wide at that question, looking genuinely confused because he's 99% sure those are traffic police trying to get him for vaulting over at least 2 parked cars on his way here]

Huh?? What do you mean 'which one of us are they after'?!

[he looks over his shoulder then starts pushing Ango further into the alley, whispering loudly;]

Okay, look, just lie low. I'm pretty sure they didn't see me duck in here so we're not gonna get caught if you don't make it a bigger deal than it already is. Chill!

[he... may or may not have gotten a whiff of the chili-meat buns, but he'll sort that out once the imminent danger of warnings/reprimands/fines/whatever it is that the police does is out of the way]

Hey, you've only got your juvenile record to worry about, kid. I've got a government job.

[Well, technically, the DU is just a nonprofit organization that receives government funding, but that's close enough! The DU probably wouldn't fire Ango for shoplifting, but they probably wouldn't let him work the "Meet a Dreamer" kids' birthday parties, and he really needs those tips.

He unzips his jacket to pull out the meat buns and the magazine, making sure that its corners didn't get bent.]

Anyway, the real theft here is charging ¥2000 for a magazine that's 70% ads and that doesn't even come with a lottery ticket for one of Ai's handshake meetup events. The real criminal is capitalism.

... You've got a government job and you're still shoplifting? Someone's gonna complain that you're being a bad example to all the starry eyed children out there looking to go places in the world.

[he says this, but doesn't sound like he means it at all. He carefully checks the road before ducking back into the alley. Considering Nikki doesn't raise his voice, it seems that there's still some people looking for him. Probably them, if they spot Ango too]

Uh huh... Why are you even stealing one of those magazines if they're so void of value anyway? I mean... You shouldn't be committing crimes in the first place- [nice save?] -but if you are at least make it worthwhile. [nevermind]

Like the meat buns. What filling do they have??

[that he doesn't even bat an eye at the comment about an idol handshake meetup should be clear enough that there's something not quite right with this kid. That, or he has his priorities straight]

[if anyone is passing through the Abandoned Dojo at the beginning of April, there's a chance they'll be met with an interesting sight: a particular blue streak zipping up the dusty path and sending the Torments (and obstacles) spinning in it's wake. He's taken a shine to the lovely landscape here, something that reminds him of the mountains he's seen in ~~Spagonia~~ Europe or in ~~Chun-nan~~ China somehow at the same time while barely resembling them. He wishes he could scale them himself, but for now, the obstacle course that leads up to the Abandoned Dojo has his full attention. Maybe you run into him while he's in a runner's sprint, preparing to dash off on another run. Or maybe you catch the heartstopping moment when he simply jumps from the mountain top- whether he's skydiving down or running down the cliff face is, frankly, a coin toss. He will be doing both.

Or maybe you catch him in a moment of reflection. He sits, cross legged, atop the roof of the Dojo, whistling bits and pieces of a song he heard somewhere, enjoying the great view. Now the question is... How did he get up there in the first place?!]

[Misfire just wanted to get coffee.

Literally, that was it, he just needed that sweet mid-afternoon caffeine hit. He didn't ask for more than that. And what does the universe give him? One of the youth, barrelling into him as he's walking out the door.]

Hey-!

[And then he's yanked back in. He catches the sound of sirens, and puts two and two together...]

Alright, kid. Fess up. What did you do?

Wow, rude? I didn't actually do anything.

[said without missing a beat, even as Nikki looks over his shoulder as he insistently pushes Misfire further into the conbini]

I didn't even scratch the car I vaulted over! They're just being way too uptight about this sort of thing. Write me up when I've actually committed some sort of vandalism.

[which he technically sort of did. He's smart enough to not put up the advertisements for his mother's art studio opening in those instances, but he might have filched some random posters to paste in funny locations instead]

[Sousuke was equally in an event where it wasn't for him. He's still a kid, after all. But he finds himself wandering around it anyway. For what? Well... he's not telling anyone. Maybe he's curious, or looking for somebody, or even trying to be a good little boy to find prospects for his future. At least, that's what anyone might guess looking at his appearance.

He does seem to be looking for something though. And that's when he spots Nikki, rather nearby in fact, in those dorky green sunglasses.]

Wow, a giant bug. And what laboratory did you escape from?

[His tone is definitely mocking. Take that, Nikki.]

[ Does Dreamer Ai-Doll need to be here? Was Dreamer Ai-Doll supposed to be here? The answer to both of these is technically 'no', but she happened to overhear that a volunteer had needed to drop out on the second day so here she is to fill in, dressed all the way up to match her Dreamer self on the other side. It's definitely a little much compared to everyone else but given that this is Ai, it goes without saying that she's really making it work.

She's mostly just been attracting footfall and helping out with some of the behind the scenes stuff, but whenever she sees someone floating around looking a little lost, she's been stepping in to give them a little direction. Like right now, in fact. Think fast, Nikki! ]

Hi there! ★ [ h. how did she do that with her mouth. ] Anything in particular you're wanting to try?

[how?? dare??? The Karate Bugman franchise is over that way tyvm!]

[Nikki's eyebrow goes up before he nods sharply, causing the glasses to flip off his forehead and slide onto his face ~~what the-~~. Then he starts making weird clicking noises while jokingly going into some karate pose like he's out of some Chinese kung-fu flick. What now, huh?!

Of course, the huge grin on his face probably ruins the effect he's going for, but hey, he's clearly just having fun]

[he looks over, surprised because... How did see get the audible star in her voice? Can he do that? ... Should he? It would be really funny-]

Nah, it's all good! Just looking around, getting the lay of the land, you know how it is.

But... What is a famous idol doing at an event like this? [he tilts his head before gesturing to their surroundings] And shouldn't there be more advertising saying that you're here at all, ma'am?

[familiar enough with idols to know who Ai-Doll is, but apparently not actually interested in them]

Heehee, are you really surprised? I might be an idol, but I'm a Dreamer just like everybody else, too. [ Wink! Because of course she winks. ] Of course I want to come help out at times like this. Ah, but, if we were advertising me, don't you think people'd turn up for all the wrong reasons?

[ Lie. Her involvement with this thing was pretty last minute so there was no real time to do any advertising. But it makes for a good line, doesn't it?

She puts a finger to her lips in a playful, conspiratorial sort of way. ]

So it'll just be a nice surprise for all the people who turned up for the right reasons.

[Watching Nikki do karate poses with that huge grin was... definitely not what Sousuke was going for. Just what is this nerd doing?]

My mistake, it must've been the circus you escaped from. [Something something weird atrocities.] Do you need me to call your owners to pick you up or something? One click for yes, two for no.

[Since Nikki has only made clicking noises so far. But Sousuke is definitely looking pretty smug about this. What kind of weirdo goes into clicking mode after being insulted?]

[There's an indecisive young woman roaming the tables here; while she knows she wants to do something, Lisa has no idea what she actually wants to do with herself, and so she's here looking for ideas as much as anything. There's a suit manning a table for Tomoe-24 of all things, and despite herself, she stops to look. Not to engage the suit just yet, but part of her wonders if a job that'll put her in front of lots of people might be good for her?

...is what she's thinking when her instincts tell her someone's way inside her bubble, and her immediate response is to jump away. Except she's awake, so that response is muted somewhat, and it's more like a small hop away, almost like she thinks she's in their way. Once she's made space she turns to look at the newcomer, blinking for a moment. Those are... quite some sunglasses. Hell of a fashion statement! Not that she can talk. Her tote bag isn't slung over her shoulder today, so instead she's settled for a small handbag, her Sandglass hanging from one strap like a charm. She didn't want to look too unprofessional, so she's dressed up in a blouse and a sensible skirt today, which is in turn making her stand out against some of her peers. And definitely against this kid?]

Oh, sorry! Um, was I in the way?

[Tomoe's table isn't that popular, Lisa, take it easy. She seems a little tired, but not overly so. And her expression is... a little guarded, but not suspicious. Just wondering if she did something wrong.]

Edited (icon) 2024-04-14 02:27 (UTC)

[in English;] Aw, what??

[in Japanese;] Why'd you go and downgrade me from a cool escaped science experiment to some sideshow? C'mon, what's the point of escaping a science facility or circus if I get someone to immediately tell the bossman where I am?

[he pushes his sunglasses back up on his head, smirk still on his face and looking unfazed by the insults being hurled at him]

Oh, true! [he gently hammers a fist into his left hand as he says that in English, because that makes perfect sense. Then he follows up in Japanese again;] It probably wouldn't be very good for the library to have a bunch of your doting fans clogging the entrance, huh? I get it, I get it.

[he nods sagely to emphasize. His English and Japanese are both pretty accent free, the sort of thing that would be quite jarring for someone to listen to. He seems to be doing it on purpose though...]

Haha! Talk about lucky! I'm just here to take a look around and whaddya know? I get to meet famous idol, Dreamer Ai-Doll, while here! [he takes a step back and holds out his hands like he's framing her for a photo] What are the chances?

Edited 2024-04-14 03:42 (UTC)

[he... kinda wasn't expecting her to hop away the way she did, and winds up also leaning away slightly to respect her personal space. But Nikki blinks a little owlishly at the girl. Dressed in loose sports pants, a matching jacket and a yellow shirt, those bright green sunglasses he's got on aren't the only reason he stands out in a crowd. His own Sandglass - gold rings and bright blue sand inside - carelessly strapped to one of the zippers of the sling bag he's wearing.

There's a moment where they just sort of... Stare each other down before Nikki smiles, cheerful and bright eyed]

Nope! I was just looking around at what's on offer 'round here. It's been a few years since I've been here, so it never hurts to check these sorts of events out.

You vaulted over a car? [He lets out a low whistle.] That’s pretty flashy. Rule number one of breaking the law? Don’t do flashy.

[Finally, something he feels adequate to mentor someone in. Forget about being a Dreamer.]

At least, not if you’re gonna get caught.

[Okay, Nikki is taking this in stride. But Sousuke's not ready to give up yet. He's determined to find the chink in the armour.

Sousuke covers his mouth and gives a mock gasp.]

So you can talk! Is that why you came to look for a job? Your circus is failing and you need to keep it afloat? Or maybe you're performing street shows for pennies, because no one will hire a weird circus bug that knows kung fu.

[ Oh, so this is one of those kids from the States... or on second thoughts, maybe not? His Japanese and his English are both pretty smooth so Ai can't quite tell one way or the other. It's a shame he's not here actually scoping out a job; there's probably a few places around here chomping at the bit to hire someone with a good enough grasp of both. ... But she gets the feeling that gainful employment isn't on this kid's radar. ]

Well, chances are pretty good, so long as it's a DU event. They're always calling me a busybody but I just think it's nice to be involved, you know?

[ She is absolutely, definitely a busybody though. Case in point: ]

Your chances would go up a whoooole lot more if you decided to sign up, too.

To be fair, I only vaulted that car because they were chasing me.

[don't encourage this behaviour-]

And I haven't been caught yet! We're still standing around here, right? Speaking of- [and he quickly but casually ducks behind one of the shelves so he's not immediately visible from the entrance. He even pulls down his sunglasses so they don't give him away when he inevitably has to poke his head around the corner to check if the coast was clear]

[unlike a bunch of other Dreamers, Nikki makes almost no attempt to hide the fact that he is, in fact, a Dreamer. His Sandglass is usually clipped to his sling bag or, very rarely, directly onto his belt. It's usually tied on in a such a way that he can ditch it if it gets caught on anything while he's running; it's a nice accessory in that it simply reappears whenever he accidentally drops it.

Though... His laissez-faire attitude towards something as important as his Dreamer Sandglass is probably better left unknown for the time being]

Nice! Guess they're not really in a place to complain, if you're volunteering your time like that. How many actual Dreamers do you get to sign up with that pitch?

[he shrugs, then drops into a more relaxed posture] I'm not really into signing up for stuff though. Usually wind up moving around too much to just settle, y'know?

Well, if I was going to do a fun little street performance, you and I both know that a library isn't the place for it. That would be disturbing the peace and that's no good. [and yes, that last part was in English]

[hands on his hips, he leans forward to encroach slightly into Sousuke's personal space]

But enough about me. [that's a lie, Nikki loves being the center of attention, but there's something about this kid's needling and he's feeling nosy] What's got you feeling this aggro, bud?

💎 A New Journey

Yumemigaoka Job Fair - any day

Around Yumemigaoka - throughout April

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Dream Sphere - Abandoned Dojo

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