capeandcowllogs | (no subject)

But to this degree?

_{[ He scoffs, and shakes his head ]}

There has to be a better way.

[She shrugs, her hands relaxing a little. Of all the things she should be worried about, the timeliness of public transit was not near the top of the list.]

Sorry.

_{[ He sighs ]}

It isn't your fault. I am simply -- stressed, I suppose. If I do not arrive on time to my shift, I don't know what will happen.

[Ruka's mouth scrunches a little against her cheek, something close to a frown but not quite. It is a little late to be going to work, isn't it? Most people are going home around this time.]

I'm sure if you called them and told them what happened, they would understand.

_{[ He winces. It isn't as if the thought hadn't occurred to him, but. ]}

--I am pulling double-shifts by taking on someone else's, today. Technically, it's "against the rules" for me to call in and have them officially acknowledge it.

Oh. I'm sure everything will work out alright, sir.

[ Perhaps she should send a message home? She only remembered the different bus schedule a little while ago, so she's probably going to not get home until after her promised time. But she didn't know for sure that this guy was someone from the network — and how many Citizens knew what their communicators looked like? Perhaps she shouldn't risk it. ]

[ He shakes his head, as if debating what to do next. The minutes kept tickng by while they waited. ]

...Perhaps I should call it in.

At least then they'd know, even if they can't do anything officially.

[ Ruka isn't the type to fidget nervously, but she does have the habit of clasping her hands together in small fists when she's worried or anxious; almost as if she is silent pleading that everything return to normal. Her hands leave her pockets for a moment as she clasps them together, peering for the bus. She might be trying to put on a brave front, but her emotions are obvious — she's worried, and tired, and obviously just wants to be home two hours ago. Her hands head back to her pockets. ]

[ Crane, moreso than others practicing his craft, he believes, can look at people and almost intrinsically know what's bothering them. It was what made him such a sought after psychologist back in Gotham: the knowing of facial and physical ticks, and what they mean on the whole. The girl was obviously nervous, and he wasn't helping matters. ]

Hopefully we won't have to wait long.

[For the first time that evening, Ruka's mouth tugged up into a small smile. She was nervous, yes, and frightened, but neither of these would change the situation. He had done nothing wrong, after all; it was only polite.]

Hopefully.

[Like always, she fiercely wished her brother were there — then he could do all the talking with strangers, and she could hide behind his confidence and she herself could go unnoticed.]

[ He offered her the most demure smile he could muster, shaking his head from side to side. Perhaps -- perhaps he could do more than bitch and whine about his job, no? But where to start; where. To. Start. ]

...So.

[ awkward. ]

How long have you lived here?

[Ruka flipped her communicator over in her hand a few times, hidden in her pocket, as she looked down the street for the ever not-there bus. Perhaps she really should call ahead.]

Only a few months.

[ He nodded, smiling a fraction ]

Transfer student, or...well, I'd hate to say that your parents forced you to come to this place, but it seems apt if it happened, no?

Something like that.

[Ruka closed her eyes for a moment, trying to piece together a believable story that didn't instantly peg her for an imPort.]

My parents are always away on business, so... I'm staying with my uncle until things calm down.

[It was mostly true. No need to mention that her parents were years into the future and on a different continent.]

I was much the same when I was a child -- my mother and father were entirely devoted to the family business, so I stayed with my grandmother more often than not. It was quite an experience.

[ he hummed lightly ]

Forgive me for, perhaps, being too personal, but: do you miss them?

Really? What was it like?

[ she purses her lips for a moment, before nodding. ]

Yeah... sometimes.

It was...an experience, I suppose.

[ He looks down the street, distant ]

She was an old-world type of woman. She believed more in punishing the crime than learning from it and continuing on with life, so I was forced to learn how to do my best at every step of the way, lest I anger her.

[ He shakes his head. ]

But is neither here nor there -- do you keep in contact with your parents regularly? If not, you should. It helps.

Edited 2009-06-03 01:07 (UTC)

She sounds like a strong woman.

[ Ruka can understand that sort of mentality; after all, hadn't she come to this place with the ideal that anyone who caused conflict should be punished, no matter their reasons? But everything now seems so muddled, it's hard to tell sometimes who the good guys are. ]

[ At his question, Ruka hesitated a moment before giving a nod. ]

Yeah... I write letters, but it takes a while before they can respond.

[ He nods, taking her answer at face-value despite the slight pause. ]

And you have no other family, here?

[ It's a long pause: two cars drive by without incident, but eventually Ruka nods at this and then immediately shakes her head. ]

No relatives, no... but friends as close as family.

Good.

[ Another nod, this time followed by a gentle smile. ]

More than good, actually. [ a tiny laugh ] This City tends break bonds as easily as we can make them, sometimes.

[ Well, now you've done it, Crane. You just had to talk about the bonds of friendship, didn't you? Ruka's left hand leaves her pocket, moving to clutch her right arm — as if assuring herself that something is there. ]

My friends... they cherish the bonds between people more than anything else. So, even if the friends I make here go back to their home worlds some day, or if I leave, too... I know that they would keep those feelings alive no matter where they go.

[ Her right hand moves, and curls into a fist against her chest — but, still, her left hand does not leave her right arm. How curious. ]

So... it doesn't matter, if the marks of friendship fade, or we're separated and unable to see each other again. I'll always keep the bonds that are important to my friends, and treasure those people in my heart.

[ He notices three things all at once once her little display is over, and they sound off in the back of his mind in this order:

One -- The little girl before him is hiding something.
Two -- She is also in possession of what seems to be a great many pseudo-filial bonds.
Three -- She would be the perfect candidate for his latest experiment.

He smiles, faking a gentle laugh. ]

I envy that conviction. Truly, I do.

Edited 2009-06-08 00:33 (UTC)

[ Ruka smiles as well, but doesn't laugh in return. She drops her arms once more and folds them behind her back. ]

You have friends that are very important to you, too, right?

[ He pretends to have to think on the question ]

Some. [ a pause ] None of them are here, however.