007 | not the first time I hear

[mortal_son]

[ VIDEO ]

[ There's something with a rectangular edge mostly blocking the camera when it comes on. The rest of the view is plain ceiling. There's a clatter of keys, and then a voice called out - ]

Hey, Aki! Someone should damn well just fire me already.

... You're not even here, are you.

[ Shuffling sound - taking off a coat, maybe? And the sound of a fridge opening ]

Oh, I want it all in one bag - lady, I toldja if y'put raw shit in the bag with everythin else, it's gonna leak, and then you're gonna have blood all over your nice produce and what the hell did you expect, crazy lady, then you've gotta complain to my manager and -

[ Sound of a can of something opening ]

- and does nobody know how to use one of those damn self-checkout things, seriously, if it says it ain't gonna take cash, then cash won't work, yellin at me is gonna be like yellin at a brick wall, cause I don't give a shit -

[ Frustrated groan ]

- and now I'm talkin to myself like a crazy person.

[ Grumbles now under his breath, goes back to the phone. Picks up - looks like it was a pack of cigarettes blocking the camera. Shinjiro notices the light, indicating he's recording, and winces. ]

Damn it.

[ Switches off the video ]

Comments

video;

[stairsbro]

Someone save this man from retail.

video;

[mortal_son]

[ Annoyed ] I'm the one who signed up for this shit.

video;

[stairsbro]

Why the fuck would you do that?

video;

[mortal_son]

[ He pulls a long drag off his cigarette. Yes he's outside, Aki would murder him for smoking in the flat. Wry smile. ]

They pay me money?

video;

[stairsbro]

You're doing something miserable because money? I'll pay you money if you let me film you flicking that cigarette into a bucket of confetti.

[Video]

[initia_nova]

I'm guessing you found a new job.

[Video]

[mortal_son]

Yeah. Pretty much had to.

[Video]

[initia_nova]

Sorry that the clients are being so difficult. Retail is always a hard job.

Where do you work?

[Video]

[mortal_son]

Pan's Grocery.

I bag groceries.

[ See how excited he is by this, Scott? So excited. So excited he'll get another cigarette now. ]

Video

[clevermind]

Are you alright?

Video

[mortal_son]

I'm fine.

[ Hand to forehead ]

Just needed to vent, I guess.

Video

[clevermind]

Sounds like it. Why not take a break?

[She's used to people being unreasonable.]

Video

[mortal_son]

Yeah, no, I'd prefer to pick up as many hours they'll give me.

But, y'know. They might not give me many, so.

It's kinda like a break, then.

[Video]

[youfool]

Oh, I wouldn't damn anything. You're not mad. Talking to yourself--soliloquy--is very natural. Why, if a man can't talk to himself, he's hardly worth talking to.

[Ted talks to himself too, that is. Shinjiro's in questionably good company.]

The science of proper grocery management--putting what in which bags, and so on--sounds very interesting. Have you mastered that discipline already? I can see why they hired you, if so.

[He's easily impressed.]

Haha, I can see why no one would want to use a self-checkout during your shift. Depriving themselves of your person would be intolerable. I wouldn't be surprised if more than a few ladies start getting a little more conscious of when they visit.

[You Don Juan, you.]

[Video]

[mortal_son]

... You're messing with me, aren't you.

[ Eyes the camera suspiciously. Interesting, grocery bagging? Him, getting ladies in his line just to look at his face? What the hell. ]

Re: [Video]

[youfool]

Could I? Would I?

[Yes. Yes. It could also double as cheering that up, were that humanly possible in Shinji's case.]

[Video]

[mortal_son]

[ Scowls. He seems grumpy in a different way, now. So that kind of worked, Ted! ]

Ha. Ha. You're hilarious.

Video

[savage_nymphxii]

People are idiots. You just have to deal with it sometimes.

But why would you want to get fired? Just look for a different job and do it the right way. You're obviously still working.

Video

[mortal_son]

[ Rubs his face, sighing ]

Yeah, I don't actually wanna get fired. I was just venting.

Besides, chances are, I'll just end up workin for somewhere just as annoying.

Video

[savage_nymphxii]

You mean catering to morons?

Sorry, I meant "customer service." [She actually used air quotes.]

I'd be a little more careful if I were you with that video feed. Who knows who might be watching. And rat out on you for complaining about them.

Video

[mortal_son]

[ Smirks ] Yeah, that. Exactly.

[ Yet another sigh, then a long drag from his cigarette. ]

Hadn't meant to post it.

But, y'know. I think only people with pendants has these phone things? And the grocery store's run by "natives". So, small favors there, I guess.

video;

[eiga]

[Ew. Sounds like Shinjiro took a job at Pan's Grocery. Akira feels for him.]

Well, I can't fire you since I'm not your boss, but I can set you on fire. Or that lady.

[He actually has a Persona that knows Agidyne and Maragidyne, so hit him up for all your fire-related needs. No, he won't actually set anyone on fire. Unless they really deserve it.]

video;

[mortal_son]

[ Actually smirks a little. He can tell the guy is joking. ]

I might take you up on that sometime.

Gettin set on fire sounds more attractive than dealin with some of this.

video;

[eiga]

[Have a smirk in return for playing along.]

Is this your first customer service job?

video;

[mortal_son]

First job, period.

Besides ... y'know.

[ Shrugs. Does killing Shadows count as a job? It's not something he could exactly list on most applications. ]