log for September

[charming_jerk]

[Since the incident with Palitutu, Johnny hasn't been seen around much. Normally a fixture in the 3rd district playing music for the tourists, or seated on a barstool in one of several bars, he seems to have abandoned his usual haunts. Pretty unusual for a guy who is hardly ever home normally.

After the Heroes spared Palitutu, Johnny spit some disparaging words at them as a whole, and stormed off. Since then, he's been avoiding everyone. He's mad at the Heroes, at Palitutu, at Crystallis, everything. He has nowhere to go with all of his anger and disappointment. He wanted to like this place. And it was easy at first, too, considering where Johnny had come from before this. But Crystallis has shown itself to be just another miserable, dying pit, just like Exsilium.

Things aren't even good at home for him, since he's felt a bit awkward around Reno since returning from the trip to Atia. He felt like the third wheel in Reno's life, despite the fact that the other person was on another world.

Tonight, though, he can be found by anyone who might be passing by one of the city's western walls. Johnny would often climb up there for some star gazing, or just some alone time. Often, though, he's not alone for long. Since it's a lovely fall evening, he's up there now, watching the stars and clouds go by as he nurses one of several beers he brought along. Someone's bound to catch him up there sooner or later.]


[[ooc - Technically I'm on hiatus so I might be a little slow through this weekend. Sorry!]]

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[shinra_dog]

Reno was aware. He was still depressed and angry -- doubly angry at himself for making Johnny feel uncomfortable. It wasn't hard to see, and after their trip to Atia, it only made sense. So he was very, very aware of the situation.

There were few times sharing a bed was actually colder.

Reno was still determined to make this work, though. With or without Kyo, he would make this work with Johnny, because despite everything he'd somehow fallen for someone again. He just had to bite the bullet and talk about it. Expressing feelings honestly without any sarcasm or trying to actively hurt another... didn't come naturally. So he'd have to pick his words carefully. But pick them he would.

Johnny had been gone for awhile... Reno didn't have a guess where, and he'd left his guitar behind. But he'd have to come home eventually.

[charming_jerk]

It's late when Johnny wanders back home, somewhere after 2. Part of him hoped that Reno was already asleep. He slinked in surprisingly quietly for someone who was half in the bag. He had left the house with a six pack, but came back empty handed.

What he wasn't expecting was Reno waiting on the couch for him when he came in. That gave him a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach, but he did his best to play it cool.

"Hey. Yer still up?"

[shinra_dog]

He was almost about to give up, assuming Johnny had found somewhere else to stay. So he stood when the door opened, relieved he hadn't completely driven Johnny away.

"Yeah. We were outta' beer," he tried to tease. Because maybe he could smell Johnny across the room already. Reno would be the last one to judge drinking away the feelings, though. He was just as guilty.

He canted his head to the side and ventured carefully, "Can we talk?" It was probably the worst three words to hear, but he wasn't sure how else to say it. And Johnny didn't seem too drunk to have the conversation now. If Reno waited, he might lose the opportunity.

[charming_jerk]

No one likes hearing those words. They confirmed that sinking feeling. After a moment, he nodded, and joined Reno on the couch, sitting down carefully.

No sense in playing dumb. Johnny was sure he knew what this was going to be about.

"Um. Yeah. Sure."

He wasn't angry or annoyed. He looked worried, like very was anticipating the worst. Even if he wasn't sure what that might end up being.

[shinra_dog]

Reno took a deep breath... and in the end, he began by just leaning against Johnny.

"I don't think I've told you enough how relieved I am you came back okay," he said. "With the portals. An' even just gettin' back here from the Rift... When we were separated an' I went home, I couldn't stop thinking about where you could be. An' even when Kyo..."

His voice caught in his throat and he swallowed. "I couldn't take it if I'd lost you, too."

oh god i apologize for that above phone tag

[charming_jerk]

Hearing that hitch in Reno's voice hits Johnny harder than he expected. He leaned back against Reno, relaxing slightly. His own voice was unusually quiet.

"I was real worried too, but I guess ya knew that already. After Exsilium, I... I know I couldn't go through all of that again. Losin' everyone and startin' over again. Losin' you."

A single, rueful laugh came out of him, though. "Kinda dumb to think that way when we were comin' back to a planet that's in danger of turnin' into crystal, huh. But we didn't lose each other. We're still here."

There's a beat as he thought something over, that he hesitated to ask.

"Reno... if we save this place, 'n we got the chance to go to whatever world we wanted, where would ya wanna go?"

[Mid-September time wise]

[needsteaplz]

[It really was weird not seeing Johnny around, especially now that she took the helm at the Space Saloon. Though she couldn't blame him after what had happened regarding Palitutu. Unfortunately trying to get things adjusted after coming back to Crystallis took until now.

On the night she took off from the Saloon, Saori went to the western walls with...a pizza box in hand. Bless the Assassin job to make traversing the city easier. Eventually she came across Johnny on the roof top. She pulled off her hood, revealing her new short hair cut. ]

Hey, you know it's not good to drink on an empty stomach. I'll half it with you if you like.

Re: [Mid-September time wise]

[charming_jerk]

[Johnny really wasn't up for company, but he's more surprised by the pizza box to say anything.]

What? Where the hell'dya get that?

Re: [Mid-September time wise]

[needsteaplz]

[Saori laughs and sits down to open it. Hope he doesn't mind a meat lovers pizza, thin crust.]

Where else? I made it. It's hard to believe they don't have pizza here locally now.

[She gives him a small smile and lets him have a slice before talking.]

I was getting worried since I hadn't seen you around. Though really, I don't blame you for getting pissed at us as a whole.

[charming_jerk]

Sounds like a business opportunity, if ya ask me.

[Any kind of pizza is fine by him. He's definitely not going to be picky now.]

Yeah, I... I'm just sick of this place. Sick of every place. 'N the people in 'em. I dunno.

[He shrugs, looking away from her when he talks. Johnny always has too much emotion and not enough ways to get it all out.]

[needsteaplz]

You know, I think I just might. I'm running the Space Saloon since Jiminy went into stasis. I couldn't let that place just collect dust.

[She nods before taking a bite out of her slice.]

Can't say I blame you for believing in that either. In my 99 years of existence, this whole Calamity thing has been pushing at my bullshit limit constantly too. I'm sure you'll find some place to call home but we won't have any place to call home unless we do something about it.

[sometime after the chocobo trip]

[unyieldingspirit]

[sometimes, she just has a desire to be high up. And it's better with company, and a few snacks.]

The stars look good tonight, don't they? [she holds out a miqa'bob.] Want one?

[charming_jerk]

[Johnny doesn't look thrilled to have someone joining him, but he doesn't say anything. He is hungry, though, and was starting to regret not bringing something to eat along. After a moment, he nods and takes the kebab. He slides the 6-pack K'pandolu's way, though there's only 2 bottles left.]

Thanks. Yeah, they always look good out here. You pretty much couldn't see 'em in my home city unless you went far away from it. And it was always rainin' in Exsilium, so you never saw any stars there. It's the kinda thing you don't know you miss til it's gone.

[unyieldingspirit]

Oh- thank you.

[she takes one bottle, holding onto it for now, as she's not ready for a buzz just yet. She settles her container between them for easy access, and settles back to watch the sky.]

It is. There are a lot of things like that, I think… [smells, sights, sounds…] Maybe this is one of the easiest to dream of being close again, though. Were there any constellations you were familiar with? Sometimes, I think… that pattern, over there… [she indicates a set of about eleven stars] I think it's similar enough to the Scales.

[charming_jerk]

Oh, uh. Only like a couple. And the easy ones, like the Big Dipper.

[He looks in the area where she points, head tilted in thought.]

Scales... Oh wait, I think there's a zodiac one like that? Libra, I think? I'm not too sure. Never remembered many of those. My own sign is Capricorn, though. The ram. What a joke. [He taps on his own backwards-curving horns.]

[unyieldingspirit]

It's still a start! What does the Big Dipper represent?

Ah, you have a zodiac, too? [she glances at his horns and humphs a little, reaching out to tap his arm for a moment.] Quite rude of the world. Besides which, I've seen my share of ram horns and aldgoat horns and I think yours look much nicer than those.

Anytime, really!

[unalive_them]

HELLOOOOO, SUNSHINE!

[And with Johnny lost in his thoughts, there's Deadpool right in his face, bringing him back into the real world.]

I just thought I drop by, see what you're looking at, get into your personal space, steal your beer...

[And he does that last one.]

...something's also eating at you. Isn't it? [Defeated sigh] Alright, Dr. Phil time. And since Dr. Phil isn't here, you'll have to settle with Dr. Wilson.

[charming_jerk]

[There are only two beers left in the six pack. Johnny's probably been up here awhile. He frowns a little at Deadpool, but he doesn't stop him from helping himself.]

'S alright, I wouldn't wanna talk to Dr. Phil anyway. God, at least you even know who Dr. Phil is. There's been almost no one either on Exsilium or here who comes from a world close to mine.

[He sets his empty bottle aside and cracks open that last one.]

Yeah, somethin's eating me. This place. The Heroes. This whole goddamn situation. I swapped out one dyin' world for another by ending up here. It's... [He searches for the word for a moment.] ... exhausting.

[theendiswherewestartfrom]

Jack has been holed up in the lab quite a bit this month, the Rift Manipulator is very close to being finished. But he'd be lying if he said he didn't miss his drinking on rooftops buddy, so on a clear night, when he heads to his usual haunts, he is pleasantly surprised to see Johnny there.

Jack cranes his neck up and up to look at the stars. "You know. Dragoon? Still the best job out there. Makes it so easy to get up here and away from the city."

His eyes flicker to the beers at Johnny's side. "Shame to drink alone, despite the wisdom of Mr. Thorogood."

[charming_jerk]

"Yeah, I switch it on just to get up here."

He sighed a bit at someone showing up, but he doesn't attempt to shoo Jack away. He even slide the near-empty six pack Jack's way after a moment.

"Heh. I dunno, I usually like what Lonesome George's got to say. But I guess I shouldn't drink all'a these anyway."

First half of September

[mindofathief]

[Life has been chaotic recently, both in regards to saving Crystallis and Duster's personal life. Palitutu ended up staying alive, and he doesn't know if it was for the better or now. It's preferable to letting her die slowly and painfully, but that's all he's sure of. Then Heroes showed up all over the world. The world is changing, and what lies ahead is known only to the gods.

But not all changes are bad. He and Santa have grown closer during their cross-dimensional adventure, and they've even agreed on a date next week. Things can't all be that bad when there's a special person who can make all in the world seem right.

On a clear night as Duster takes one of his nightly strolls, he spots a figure on the walls. It's sitting, not poised to fight, and the silhouette does resemble a friend of his...

The boost from the Dragoon Job allows Duster to reach Johnny in a matter of seconds. His apex is just an inch above the rooftop, allowing him to land with minimal impact.]

Hey. [Duster stands up and leans away casually, hand on his hip.] Mind if I join you?

[charming_jerk]

[There aren't too many horned silhouettes in Crystallis, right? Johnny likes Duster, but he does hesitate for a moment before shaking his head.]

Nah, man. Go right ahead. If yer lookin' for a drink, better get one before I finish 'em off.

[There are only two beers left in his pack of six, so he's probably been up here for awhile.]

[mindofathief]

[Duster steps up to the beer pack and sits, kneeling onto the stone surface before moving his other leg down. He picks up a bottle by the cap.]

Thanks.

[He lifts the hem of his shirt and, wrapping his fingers in the cloth, twists off the cap.]

Can't sleep?

[charming_jerk]

[Johnny shook his head.]

Nah. But that's normal. Some nights yer brain just don't wanna shut off, I guess.

[The booze helps a little with that.]

'N sitting up here is as close as gettin' away without leaving the city, y'know?

[mindofathief]

I get you. Used to happen to me a lot. [He holds the bottle to his mouth.] Walks helped me a lot when I was younger.

[The beer's not too bad. Duster's not the biggest fan, but it does the job.]