Thirteenth Curse - Forward dated to the 13th

[bondsofsuffering]

Who: Hizumi and you!
Where: Cancer, Virgo, and Capricorn Wards. Take your pick!
Summary: Hizumi’s decided to celebrate his birthday by… Being a friendless loser. Give him some company?
Warnings: Sad Devils who are sad and acting anything but.
He’d slipped out early in the morning, quietly exiting before any of his housemates woke up. Thankfully, after living with them for a while, he’d had ample time to more or less figure out their sleeping habits. Although they were by no means 100% predictable, he knew enough to make picking a time to leave simple enough.

And after that… he took to the streets. He's wrapped up quite snugly in his winter clothes for the weather, but he does get a few stares what with being a student who's out and about despite it being a school day. He’d already made sure to get the day off from work some time before, so he was free to do whatever he wanted. So with that in mind, he might as well enjoy his day off, right?

Cancer Ward

Earlier in the day he can be found in one of the arcades that actually has power, playing his way through a variety of games as if it were his God given duty to destroy the high score rankings on every single machine. He won’t hit up all of them, but he’s definitely not picky about which games to play, either. Shooters, fighting, rhythm, racing, simulators, even classic arcade – they’re all fair game!

“C’mooooon… Almost, almost-!”

It's a good thing the owner doesn't appear to care about delinquent students skipping class to play video games.

Virgo Ward

After a morning of gaming and a quick lunch, he’ll be in and out of the many stores of the Virgo Ward, gradually accumulating bags of clothing and games in particular. And yet… Even if he spots your character, he’s more likely to avert his gaze and continue on as if he hadn’t seen them at all. Rather odd behavior, considering how friendly he normally is. Maybe it would be good to go and see what’s up?

Capricorn Ward

In the early evening after school hours, he can be found relaxing on a bench in the park. A box of donuts are at his side along with all of the bags from earlier in the day, and he’s testing out a new handheld with an equally new game. He’s not totally oblivious to his surroundings, but he’s definitely acting like it – his eyes never leave the screen, even as he plucks a donut out with one hand while he balances the handheld on his lap. If you’re lucky, maybe he’ll deign to share some with you!

Comments

Capricorn

[tyrantball]

Why bother asking? Desco will just pluck one out of the box.

"Happy birthday, Ultra Gigolo!"

Here, have a brightly-wrapped present while Desco applies herself to getting on the outside of the doughnut.

[bondsofsuffering]

Hey, that was his! He frowns indignantly when she first takes the donut, although it switches to surprise when he sees the present.

"...What's this all about?"

Birthday? What birthday?

[tyrantball]

"Your birthday is a matter of public record, so Desco got you a present!"

Slight pause.

"At least, Desco assumes it was public. Saving things on a computer is the same as making them public, right?"

As always, Desco has a completely bizarre definition of 'privacy'.

[bondsofsuffering]

He probably should have expected as much, really.

"Actually, I'm pretty sure that's illegal."

He's just... not going to comment on that present. Really, he's hardly even acknowledging it exists.

[tyrantball]

Sadly, now that Desco has finished her doughnut, she has nothing better to do than float in midair and stare at Hizumi with wagging tail and sparkling eyes until he finally caves in and opens it.

He'll probably regret doing so, however.

[bondsofsuffering]

She'll be left waiting a while yet, alas. When it's clear she doesn't plan to say anything more, he'll just give a small shrug and reach for another donut, returning his attention to his game.

The gift may just as well not exist to him.

[tyrantball]

When it becomes obvious that Hizumi is not planning on opening his present, Desco will pout for a few seconds before activating her COMP and making a call.

"Seduction Queen! Desco is with the Ultra Gigolo at the Capricorn park, and he won't open his birthday present! Please come and make him open it!"

[bondsofsuffering]

She's trying to drag that Hiyono girl into this, huh? Hizumi glances up briefly from his game, although with the way his eyes constantly dart back to the screen, it's clear he's fairly occupied with it.

Or... appearing to be occupied with it, at any rate.

"Sorry, was there something else you wanted?"

Capricorn

[melodyoflogic]

While Hizumi had made effort to avoid his housemates, one in particular at least wasn't going to have too much trouble locating him. He'd also taken the day off work-- preemptively guessing a reaction like this would happen.

Who wanted to celebrate their birthday when they expected it was one year closer to dying or worse, after all?

It's a little after dinner time when Ayumu makes his way into the park, carrying a canvas bag in hand, and rather than say a word, he simply settles on the bench next to Hizumi, placing the bag on the bench between them. An astute nose might be able to detect the scent of food, savory and well seasoned.

[bondsofsuffering]

Oops, he'd been found. Well, it's not like he fully expected to get through the entire day without Ayumu tracking him down somehow.

That's just the way things went when it came to the two of them.

He doesn't say anything at first - he's in the middle of a stage, so even though he's acutely aware of Ayumu's presence, he acts completely otherwise. As if he were really so invested in the game that he could miss something so obvious. As if Ayumu would be fooled by this for even a second.

Still, it's not until he's finished and saved that he finally looks up, smiling faintly. He can smell the food of course, and he's certainly aware of why Ayumu brought it with him.

"Heeeh... This is a surprise! What brings you all the way out here?"

[melodyoflogic]

Ayumu waits while Hizumi plays, gazing out over the park darkening with the rapidly falling evening. The street lamps still hadn't lit, so there wasn't much to see, but it was peaceful.

"You missed dinner. I thought you might be hungry, so I brought you some."

But really, the food was more of an excuse to seek him out, and he knew Hizumi would be aware of it. The second lunchbox in the bag would likely make it clear enough Ayumu had forgone dinner himself, anyway, leaving covered dishes in the fridge for the rest of the household.

[bondsofsuffering]

"Is it that late already?"

He totally didn't notice!

"Ahh, sorry, sorry! I guess I got really caught up in this game!"

There isn't much point in lying to Ayumu of all people, and yet... Here he is, spouting nothing but. For now he'll leave the bag be, busying himself with putting away his game first. "You didn't have to drag yourself all the way here, you know. I could've gotten something on the way back."

[melodyoflogic]

"Seems like it." A lie. Ayumu was fairly sure he was just trying to use the game as an escape from thinking at this point, and he doubted if he'd be coming home at any time before they usually went to sleep.

"But a home cooked meal is better than fast food. Besides, It's better to eat it when it's freshly cooked." He reaches into the bag, pulling out the lunchboxes, napkins and chopsticks he'd brought. He makes no comment about the second lunchbox he keeps for himself, offering the other to Hizumi with a small smile that lacks much humor.

[bondsofsuffering]

Right on the mark there, Ayumu. He does give a pout when Ayumu mentions fast food, however.

"It wouldn't be fast food. Actually, I was planning to go for yakiniku!"

Though he'll still go ahead and accept that lunchbox, also keeping silent on the part where there's enough for the both of them.

[melodyoflogic]

"You still have money left for Yakiniku?" Ayumu nods to the pile of bags, pretty sure that Hizumi had blown a very large amount of money.... probably most of his paycheck on it all.

He picks up his own lunchbox and some chopsticks, removing the lid from the plastic container and setting it aside. Inside is a meal mainly consisting of a beef dish and fried rice, as well as a small amount of veggies, because even on his birthday Hizumi couldn't escape at least some of those. The meal choice, however, is definitely a lot more on the meaty, savory side than Ayumu would normally prepare, though he again makes no comment on it.

[bondsofsuffering]

"I found a cheap place. It would've been fine!" He waves a hand nonchalantly as he finally takes a look at the contents of the lunchbox, his hands pausing only for a fraction of second when he sees what it is. But it's only for that moment, because he'll quickly begin digging in. No point in letting the food go to waste, after all. Besides, it provides a convenient excuse for his silence.

Some might call it subtle, but as far as Hizumi's concerned, it's about as blatant as a giant billboard lit with spotlights. He almost wonders if he should expect a cake waiting for him when he gets back.

Capricorn Ward

[helenchanted]

"What are you playing?"

Unlike some people, Miki has been diligently going to school. It gives her a distraction from the fact that Minako is gone. At least she still has her two brothers but...yeah! Distractions! Distractions are great, let's ask this guy what he's playing.

[bondsofsuffering]

Distractions are wonderful and no one will convince him otherwise.

"Extreme Hitman Interceptor - the name's kind of weird, but it's surprisingly fun!"

From what she'd be able to see, it appears to be some kind of action/adventure stealth game. ...Why is the protagonist dressed in a mascot outfit?

[hachitaro]

It's late when Taro sets out to find Hizumi. He realizes what day it is - or at least he has a guess. He wasn't sure whether he should get a present for him or not, so he has no real plan when he finally finds Hizumi in the Capricorn Ward, playing... something.

He doesn't say anything, just sits down next to him, waiting for a good opportunity to say hello.

[bondsofsuffering]

Hizumi's aware of him even before he sits down, of course, but for all the attention he pays Taro, it's as if he hadn't even noticed. It's not until he's finished the stage and saved that he finally looks up.

"Hm? Taro? What's up?"

Y'know, as if he didn't vanish for the entire day or anything.

[hachitaro]

He reaches down to fluff Hizumi's hair. "What do you want to do for the rest of the day?"

He understands that Hizumi doesn't want to really acknowledge the day, but he still feels like he should do something.

[bondsofsuffering]

He shuts an eye and tilts his head slightly at the hair fluffing.

"I was planning to spend it playing video games, honestly. Why do you ask?"

[hachitaro]

"... I noticed the date. So it's up to you how you want to spend it, but I thought I'd come and find you in case you wanted company or something." He can leave if Hizumi wants, but... well. He can't help but feel a little protective over him.

[bondsofsuffering]

"There's nothing special about today."

His reply comes perhaps a fraction of a second too quickly. Still, it's true enough. To him, its only purpose is to serve as a reminder of how much - or rather, how little time he has left.

"I just felt like doing something different, that's all."

[hachitaro]

"That's fine."

He goes quiet again, just sitting with his friend. He doesn't quite know what to do right now.