sunfloras | OPEN POST II

Just woke up.

[It's a good excuse as any. Although it begs the question of how long had she been sleeping to suddenly wake up at night?]

Edited 2020-09-29 19:09 (UTC)

Just now?

[A glance at his digital alarm clock, glaring at him in bright red numbers. It’s well past midnight.]

So which is it, not enough sleep or too much?

Both.

Ice cream.

[She's as curt over text as she is in-person. But the fact she keeps in contact with Light so that he's become a part of her barely half-circle of people she's okay with is something to commend.]

Edited 2020-09-29 19:25 (UTC)

[He should just ignore this, deny her. It isn't the first time -- nor will it ever be the last -- and Light has faith in the ability of her legs to walk on their own accord, if her need for strawberry ice cream is so terribly important.

But tonight, something wavers in that stubborn resolve. Tonight, maybe the moon will cast a less lurid light over him than the fluorescent spill of a lamp.]

It's polite to ask nicely.

[She can't see it, but he's shifting to stand. Gathers his things, what very little he needs to make a trek to the convenience store and buy a container of ice cream -- just a wallet in his pocket, and a phone still in-hand.]

You can't just fling commands in someone's direction and expect them to obey.

Then just say 'no' directly next time if you're so unwilling. I'm not gonna go over to your place and rough you up for rejection.

[She has yet to leave her bed. Her plan was after Light drops off her ice cream, she'll go take a walk.]

No, that would require too much effort on your part.

[Don’t think he won’t sass her back!]

I’ll let you know when I’m close. Don’t make me wait if you’re already forcing me to get out in the dead of night.

You could use the exercise.

[One can hear the dryness in her replies. There's an additional text that may be a little odd.]

Also, if you see an alleyway next to the store, if you notice anything, try to ignore it. There's been some rumors.

Rumors? Of what?

[Now there’s an ominous text if he’s ever read one — which naturally only piques a perpetual curiosity.]

People disappearing. Or if they don't disappear, they try to get to the other side and just end up back where they started as if going in a circle.

Touko had me look into it, but I didn't see anything at least during the day. Nighttime might be a different story.

And you’re sending me to that vicinity at night.

I can take a look.

[She wrinkles her nose at the reply before typing back.]

You're gonna become a missing person case because of ice cream?

Good luck, I guess.

If there is anything in there, try not to get noticed.

No. The ice cream has nothing to do with it.

[The allure of unspooling something unknown, which is in turn an instance of anything other than the doldrums of this night — this week, this month. That alone is worth a subtle, careful look.]

I’m only going to see if there’s anything present. I’ll be careful. It’s not like I can fend off a threat with a carton of ice cream in-hand.

You're the type of person who gets fascinated by keys being dangled in front of you aren't you?

[Shiki grunts as she swings her legs over the side of the bed and straightens out her kimono before reaching for her shoes.]

I’m not reckless if that’s what you’re trying to say.

[Out the door he goes.]

I’m surprised you’re not taking the opportunity to look into it yourself.

I did in the morning. Kokuto's been looking into people who disappeared around the area so I was just gonna wait for him to catch up.

[She splashes water on her face before she throws on her strawberry red jacket.]

Do you have anything to defend yourself with? You're a policeman's kid, you oughta have something.

I’ll be fine. I told you, I don’t intend to instigate anything beyond what I think I can handle.

[Sure, Light.

Though to his credit, he won’t go running in, metaphorical guns a-blazing.]

Worry about your strawberry ice cream for now.

If it melts, maybe you won't have to pick up any for me next time.

[She won't say so, but she is going to make her way over to the convenience store where Light and the mysterious alleyway is so there's a lull in any texts from her for a few minutes.]

You shouldn't have told me that. Maybe I'll leave it out somewhere warm before I deliver it to you now.

[Does he possess the level of pettiness, somewhere deep down, to follow up on this new, novel idea? Probably. Does he intend to? No. Their exchange might be dry (or sharp around the edges, depending on the day/night), but Light regards Shiki in a somewhat favorable light. The pun isn't intended.

Nothing else from either texter for a good handful of minutes. Until-]

What's your second favorite flavor?

[They're an odd pair, the two of them although people will always find her and Mikiya the odder one if only because one half of them was too entirely sincere. The differences between her and Light were also quite stark in their own way, but there was a streak of similarity in the way they talked to each other.

She makes another face when she reads his message, pausing as she steps out of her apartment building.

Her answer?]

I don't eat any other flavors.

I heard rum raisin's good though.

[Helpful as always.]

You don’t or you choose not to?

Strawberry’s out, I’ll see what else there is to choose from.

I'll eat whatever you choose then. But it better not be some weird flavor.

If you checked out the alley already, did anything seem off to you?

[Wouldn’t it be something if he chose a flavor that was purposefully weird for the sake of spiting her? It would certainly lessen the chances of her calling upon him for more midnight outings, fetching superfluous items in the dairy section to suit her fancy. But Light can be disdainful, not necessarily antagonistic; besides, he would have long detached himself from this very odd, very tenuous friendship if these passing whims truly bothered him.]

Don’t worry. No cruel surprises tonight.

[He does, in fact, choose Rum Raisin after a bit of searching.]

I haven’t. I thought it would be more prudent to wait for you. How long until you arrive?

[It’s a simultaneous call-out as it is proof of knowing her personality. Her likelihood of bullying someone into performing a mundane task is about equal to her likelihood of showing up to a scene, a situation, the promise of information-gathering skewed to her interests.]

[Ah.

Well, of course, he would figure it out quickly enough. Light Yagami had a way of reducing and predicting a persons' movements. In that way, Shiki wasn't very complicated especially when it came to her basic habits. ]

10 minutes.

There's no one else around?

There isn’t.

[The night is quiet, marked by silence along a usually busy street, a usually busy sidewalk. Even the inside of the convenience store had felt next to barren, minus the stalwart night owl employee who had tended to his transaction.]

I’ll wait for you outside.

[And so he will. Light stands near the corner of the building’s exterior, keeping a keen eye out for a certain red jacket. A small plastic bag is hung at the crook of an elbow, his arms crossed as he waits as patiently as he can manage.]

[During their first encounter a year or two ago, Shiki Ryougi wore her red jacket paired with a yellow kimono and had a good-natured rapport with Light.

The Shiki of the present day is walking up to the convenience store now, red jacket, blue kimono, and her laced up boots. It's exceptionally rare to see her wear anything else. And she doesn't greet him with a smile (she is not a warm person) or a wave. Just a nod of acknowledgment and eyeing the bag hanging on his elbow.]

So you haven't disappeared yet. Fortune favors the bold as they say.

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