13th Candid Photo

[pygmalion_perv]

[Hachibe's been saving all his money for weeks on end ever since he first arrived in Mayfield.  He's met so many girls with beautiful parts, but he has nothing to show for it except the picture of Empress' hands he got during her birthday party.  Clearly, this needs to be remedied.  So today after school, he's out shopping for a high-end camera with color film.  Unfortunately, that sort of thing was pretty expensive in the 1950s - much more expensive than a teenage bike messenger could afford on even several months' pay.  But there he is at the store all the same, desperately counting out a pocket full of change and small bills.]

"Oh man... I don't even have half as much as I need!  Why is this thing so expensive, anyway?"

[He grumbles in frustration, counting and recounting his money and always coming up incredibly short each time.  Eventually he shoves it all back in his pocket and just sighs, face pressed up against the glass display case of the expensive Polaroid camera he's currently lusting after.]

Comments

[bogusmagicker.livejournal.com]

. . .

[Here comes a girl you've spoken to once. As she walks down the street with her nose buried in a book, she slows to turn and stare.]

[pygmalion-perv.livejournal.com]

[He's still paying attention to the camera, and hasn't noticed Yuki hovering there yet.]

"It'll take me..."

[Counts on his fingers.]

"...years to afford this thing!"

[bogusmagicker.livejournal.com]

. . . . . What?

[pygmalion-perv.livejournal.com]

[Turns around.]

"...Huh? Oh... hey. The girl from the pool."

[bogusmagicker.livejournal.com]

. . . . .

'Hey'.

[pygmalion-perv.livejournal.com]

Uh... what's up?

[bogusmagicker.livejournal.com]

[Yuki's head slowly swivels up towards the sky, pauses for several moments, and slowly swivels back down.]

. . . . . . . . . . ?

[pygmalion-perv.livejournal.com]

[oh god Yuki why do you make Hachibe so uncomfortable]

"...So, uh, you like cameras too?"

[points at the display case]

[bogusmagicker.livejournal.com]

[don't worry this is universal for nearly everyone. yuki headtilts]

No.

[pygmalion-perv.livejournal.com]

So, uh... why'd you stop here, then?

[bogusmagicker.livejournal.com]

What do you desire to purchase . . . ?

[pygmalion-perv.livejournal.com]

[Points.]

"That camera in the case there, and some color film. It's way too expensive for me. I barely even make a dollar a week at my job!"

[bogusmagicker.livejournal.com]

Why?

[pygmalion-perv.livejournal.com]

I don't know. Ask my boss, he's the one who pays me.

[bogusmagicker.livejournal.com]

Why do you want this?

[pygmalion-perv.livejournal.com]

...To take pictures?

[bogusmagicker.livejournal.com]

Ah. What of . . . ?

[pygmalion-perv.livejournal.com]

Um... friends of mine.

[bogusmagicker.livejournal.com]

Ah.

[Yuki stares at him for a little while longer before reaching in her pocket and coming out with a fifty-dollar bill.]

. . .

[From her gesture, it is clear she is offering it to him.]

[pygmalion-perv.livejournal.com]

"Whoa...! How did you get that much money?"

[Stares for a moment, blinking.]

"...You're giving it to me?"

[bogusmagicker.livejournal.com]

[Yuki may or may not have created it in the ten seconds it took her to reach into her pocket.]

It is of no value . . .

[pygmalion-perv.livejournal.com]

Well, if you're sure...

[bogusmagicker.livejournal.com]

. . . . . . . . . . .

[pygmalion-perv.livejournal.com]

"...Thanks!"

[He smiles, taking the bill.]

"I'll have to do something nice for you in return sometime!"

[bogusmagicker.livejournal.com]

No . . .

[You do not have to, Hachibe. Yuki would very likely fail to appreciate it either way.]

[pygmalion-perv.livejournal.com]

Are you sure? I mean... I can't just take this from you without doing something to make up for it...

[bogusmagicker.livejournal.com]

. . .
. . .
. . .

Achieve the impossible.

[pygmalion-perv.livejournal.com]

...Huh? You want me to do that for you in return?

[bogusmagicker.livejournal.com]

[pygmalion-perv.livejournal.com]

[Nods and grins, clutching the fifty in his hand.]

"All right, then! A deal's a deal! I'll definitely show you the impossible!"

[bogusmagicker.livejournal.com]

[Yuki nods. Then turns away.]

[artwithknives.livejournal.com]

Umm....you need something?

[Well, Shiki is listening in.]

[pygmalion-perv.livejournal.com]

[Turns around, looking all depressed and desperate, like the whole world is conspiring specifically against him.]

"It's this camera! It costs a fortune!"

[artwithknives.livejournal.com]

You just need money for that?

[pygmalion-perv.livejournal.com]

Well... yeah. It's pretty expensive, and I can't afford it.

[artwithknives.livejournal.com]

I've got some extra money if you want to borrow some.

[pygmalion-perv.livejournal.com]

Really? You'd do that for me?

[artwithknives.livejournal.com]

Why wouldn't I?

[pygmalion-perv.livejournal.com]

Well, I kinda thought you didn't like me that much.

[artwithknives.livejournal.com]

So? I'm not some cruel person.

[pygmalion-perv.livejournal.com]

[Hachibe just stares for a moment, like he's having a hard time understanding this. He probably doesn't get it entirely, but he smiles all the same anyway.]

"...I guess if you don't mind, then. I'll owe you one, okay?"

[artwithknives.livejournal.com]

...right. I probably won't call you on that.

[forking some money out of his wallet. working for over a year and barely spending a thing, he's got a bit in it and he hands over half of it]

[pygmalion-perv.livejournal.com]

"You're a real stand-up guy, Shiki! I definitely misjudged you!"

[Bright smiles all over as he pats Shiki on the shoulder before taking the wad of cash.]

[artwithknives.livejournal.com]

Y-yeah. I'm sure that's exactly it.

[pygmalion-perv.livejournal.com]

[Waves over the sales drone lady and pays for the camera and as many rolls of color film as he can afford.]

"Oh man, this is so great!"