With a good criminal heart, hinting at things best left unknown.

[underachiever]

Who: Shikamaru and Seras
When: night of Saturday, January 28
Where: Fangtasia
Summary: Shikamaru takes an old friend out for dinner. (And you thought he was lying about feeding vampires...)
Warnings: Blood, I guess. Unpleasant conversation, maybe?


[He told her he'd meet her here. It isn't as if he's got a car, after all, and he'd only slow her down by foot. But he arrives at the club early, arranging a more private booth for the two of them that'll put some distance between them and the loud dancefloor. It's not difficult. He's practically an employee, if under-the-table.

He orders his usual (vodka tonic) and waits for her to arrive, keeping an eye on the front entrance.]

Comments

[underachiever]

'course I have. I was even donating to vampires before this place opened. Everyone was so suspicious about it though, like I was trying to trick them. But I'm good about it, don't worry. I take lots of vitamins.

[He pulls something from his coat - a vial of some kind. When the glass is full, he dabs the vial onto his wrist, then wraps a bandage around his arm. The whole process is very quick. He manages not to spill a drop of blood.]

[bloodthirsts]

[She nods, chuckling about the suspicion, watching as he takes the vial out. Curiously she wonders what it is for a moment, then assumes it's some kind of antiseptic to keep the wound clean.]

Thank you. [She reaches for the glass and takes a small sip, the taste is warm and familiar, bringing back memories of all the months Shikamaru helped her in Neo Genesis.] How long have you been here, exactly?

[underachiever]

Well, I showed up in late May of 2010. But I've died a few times since then. Some people say they go home when they die here. That didn't happen to me. Far as I can tell, I didn't go anywhere. But I was missing for a whole month when I died last summer and it made people think I was gone for good, 'til I turned up outta nowhere with all my memories still intact.

[He fusses with the bandage a little, then rolls his sleeve down over it.]

[bloodthirsts]

You've... died? [She puts the glass down for a moment, fang pressing into her lower lip for a moment.] That must have been horrible. Was it those darkness monsters?

[underachiever]

Nah, it wasn't them. And it wasn't so bad. Actually, as far as bad experiences go in this place, dying is one of the least painful. By the time it comes, I'm usually wishing for it.

[bloodthirsts]

[She's just looking at you, Shika, how casually you talk about it.] ... did you get yourself into trouble?

[underachiever]

Why's that how everyone always puts it, as if trouble's something I go looking for?

[bloodthirsts]

[Seras shakes her head.] I didn't mean it like that, Shika. I just... you know if you are I'll help you, now that I'm here. I can't help worrying about you.

[underachiever]

[He nods.]

Yeah, thanks. I know I can count on you. Though I think... most of my problems are taken care of now. You don't really have to worry.

[bloodthirsts]

I'll try my best not to. [She relaxes again, taking another sip of blood.] If you ever need me I can be there in a flash. [She touches his arm, just lightly and quickly, respectful of his boundaries.]

[underachiever]

[He looks up with a smile.]

I know you can. You're good at that.

[bloodthirsts]

[She grins at that, looking a little sheepish.] I -- yes. It was so odd when I arrived, that sudden rush of memories of my home. You must have had the same.

[underachiever]

Yeah. It was pretty overwhelming.

Was it nice, the stuff you remembered?

[bloodthirsts]

Not all of it. Things were in pretty bad shape back there... there were some good things to remember though.

[underachiever]

Did you forget a lot about NeoGenesis, too? All of us had trouble remembering specific people when we got here.

[bloodthirsts]

[At that she nods, glad she's not the only one.] Names and faces, it's like they became blurred. When I tried to remember details it's, um, fuzzy.

[underachiever]

[He nods.]

Don't worry too much about it. Whenever someone from that place turns up, it seems to jog our memories. I don't think we have to worry about something nasty sneaking up on us.

[bloodthirsts]

That's a relief at least. [Since she's sure there's at least a couple she'd want to know to rip to pieces if they appeared.] How many of us from Neo Genesis are there, here?

[underachiever]

For a while it's been just me and Nill. Yosuke's here, but he died last summer and forgot everything about us when he came back. Naruto just got back and he seems to remember everything. Itachi-sensei didn't know me when I first arrived, then he disappeared for a while and remembered when he returned, but he's gone again now. And my brother's been here a few times, but... well, it's complicated.

[bloodthirsts]

Yosuke... [She recognises Naruto and Nill's, feels like she should know the others. Seras nods.] I remember he was a little difficult to get along with sometimes.

Do you live with them?

[underachiever]

I did... Don't anymore. It's too dangerous, with the way the companies keep coming after me.

[bloodthirsts]

Where are you staying now? Why do the companies want you?

[underachiever]

Got a place of my own out in eastern Sector 4. Looks more like a factory than an apartment, but it's nice inside.

[He pauses for a sip of his drink.]

...AGI's been coming at me for a while. I was arrested for attempted murder a little over a year ago. They pulled me outta prison and blackmailed me, forced me into service. Had me working as a slaver 'cause of my powers. Then last summer these guys Edgeworth and Armando brought up an anti-slavery case against the company. I testified against AGI in court, AGI lost, then I was killed a couple days later when they botched an attempt to capture me.

When I came back, I started working for Edgeworth so AGI didn't risk another attempt. More trouble than I'm worth, maybe, but I haven't written off the risk completely. I was good at my job. They'd probably jump at a chance to force me back into work.

SERO's kinda a new problem. I hadn't thought much about them, with all the AGI trouble. I actually kinda unintentionally did them a favor, testifying against AGI. But I got on the wrong side of one of SERO's scientists. So that's why I was kidnapped last month. This guy just wanted an excuse to torture me.

He's in jail now, but that's never for long around here. I dunno if it's even worth the effort of testifying against him. Either way, he'll come after me again. I'd rather avoid the media circus and have the privacy to deal with him myself.

[bloodthirsts]

That's good. You know if ever want to I'm sure Mister Van Hellsing wouldn't mind if you came by the manor.

[A variety of emotions cross her face as he recites the problems he's been having. Even though she knows it wasn't her fault she still feels a little guilty that it took her so long to get here.]

... bleedin' hell. You really have been through some times, Shika.

[underachiever]

[He shrugs.]

Story of my life, right?