open | homesickness

[undermoonlight]

Who: undermoonlight + Open
What: Atsushi explores and misses Yokohama
When: Sept 1st - 6th
Where: Boardwalk, Odd End, & Earworm

Content Warnings: N/A for this log.



A | The Boardwalk

[Out of reach, purposefully ignored, is a thought: "This is pointless. They're not coming here."

But Atsushi comes back to the Boardwalk anyway. He's figured out by now that new squids won't be appearing on the shores and no new faces will be arriving, but he still wants them to. He's spent a few hours walking up and down the beach in search of familiar items, but nothing from Yokohama has washed up on shore.

When he goes back to the boardwalk, hoping to clear his head, he only finds himself more distracted. Male presenting characters with brown hair might hear a startled Atsushi walk up behind them and call out hopefully, only to be quite disappointed when they turn around. Otherwise, characters may notice him calling out to a native;]

Dazai-san? Is that you-- oh. [He goes from reaching out his hand to lowering it. Disappointed. Sometimes he'll do this to a non-sleeper and watch them walk away afterward. In these cases, Atsushi gives them a few seconds to get away. Then he clenches his fist and lowers his head; Guilty, ashamed, and frustrated all at once.]

Stop it. They aren't coming.

B | Cassandra District - Odd End

[Missing Yokohama makes Atsushi want to be a proper apprentice. He's been poking into shops for a while now in search of a blank notebook to write notes in, and Odd End feels hopeful. The things here don't cater to the uncomfortable blood magic that seems to be everywhere else.

Some of the odds and ends even seem charming at first glance. He doesn't recognize the occult value for the candles or plants, but he does think they look interesting. Usagi might like that candle and Makoto likes plants, doesn't she? But as soon as he crosses paths with someone else, Atsushi withdraws his hands and awkwardly tries to move away.]

Sorry! Am I in your way? I don't really need that, so if you want it then go for it?

C | Cellar Door Distract - Passing Earworm

[After some wandering, Atsushi ends up in the Cellar Door district. It feels nicer than the rest of the Trench (which isn't saying much,) and the atmosphere change does help him relax. Enough so that he's able to notice the Earworm and look at the sign curiously.]

They had places like these in Yokohama... Clubs? [He stands awkwardly there for a moment longer. Atsushi never had time for this sort of thing in Yokohama. His only experiences with them are judgmental ones, where he thinks they're indecent and vulgar. But compared to the hellhole that is the Trench, the Earworm looks like a nice place to visit. It looks like a normal place for someone his age to go.

After getting a look from the bouncer, Atsushi steps away in a hurry. Shaking his head and scolding himself aloud;]

It's too noisy. I won't get any work done in a place like that. [But he does look over his shoulder as he tries to walk away. And nearly collides into someone as a result;] Ack- Sorry!!

Comments

[undermoonlight]

Kyouka-chan and I only went once. It got pretty high up. You could see practically everything, huh..?

[His smile is weak, but he's trying to cheer up.]

Last city..? Were you in Deerington? I never saw you myself.

[deathrespect]

All I could focus on was this navy man and a cop talking about dinner in front of me. ... But minus the bickering, view's not bad.

( He shakes his head. )

Nah. Hakagemachi. I don't think there's anyone here from there. There weren't many of us mask-bearers anyway.

( He taps the mask at his belt, helpfully. )

[undermoonlight]

Hakagemachi..? Sorry. Haven't heard of it.

[Though he does recognize the style of mask. Atsushi guesses that it wasn't just another city along a trainline like Yokohama, otherwise he might have wondered if someone from there made it to the Trenches. Instead, he sounds quite definitive. What kind of place would get that reaction?

He doesn't want to be rude and nosy either. But so long as he's relaxing, Atsushi glances back at the Earworm.]

Seeing that place made me nostalgic for home, I guess. It looks like the hangouts you'd see in Yokohama, doesn't it? [He's not crazy, right? Because after how long he's been away, Atsushi wonders which memories are real and which he's made up to comfort himself.]

[deathrespect]

Not surprised. It's all good.

( He looks towards Earworm too, nodding. )

More Yokohama-like than the towers an' weird architecture around here for sure. Such a weird city, this one.

( But he should be used to weird by now. )

[undermoonlight]

Mm. It looks like something out of a storybook, doesn't it?

[Atsushi has been reminded of fairytales and gothic tales when he looks at the buildings.]

Have you been in that one? The 'Earworm?'

[deathrespect]

Earworm? Not yet. Noise like that can be fun but it ain't my gig since I got here.

( Mister Hardcore? No, Mister Fun At Parties. )

Doesn't look like it's going anywhere. I was more interested in that Red joint if I ever got back into performing.