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 Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 10:20 pm
Jun leaned back in the chair, pushing his glasses aside to rub at his eyes for a moment. It felt like he'd been studying for far too long, but he knew that was more to do with running on only a few hours of sleep than the actual time spent reading. He'd worked the evening shift at the cafe the night before, and then stayed up late finishing up readings for the class he'd had that morning. Giving a half-harted glare at the book, he attempted to focus enough to read more - but after re-reading one sentence a few times over and yet not really comprehending it, had to admit it was probably a lost cause. Perhaps the boss wouldn't mind if he showed up a little early to work. Even if he wouldn't let him clock in so early, the change of scenery might allow him to focus on getting a bit more work done.
Closing the book, he flicked a glance over at the window. This wasn't his usual spot in the library, but he had to admit that the view was quite nice at sunset.
Wait. Sunset?
For a brief moment, Jun froze. Then he jumped to his feet, shoved his books into his bag and made his way swiftly to the exit. Then he turned around and rushed right back to his table, snatched up his bag, and left. Being on time was good and all, but forgetting his things wouldn't be a smart move.
He wasn't quite running, but it was certainly a fast pace that he set as he went down the sidewalk. Glancing at his watch, Jun muttered to himself as he went through the train schedule; he'd missed his usual train, but the next one...it might get him to work on time.He took a breath, attempting to calm himself even as he kept up his quick pace down the crowded sidewalk; he might not be late yet, but it was still going to be cutting it closer than he'd like. Something could delay him! The train might be late, or break down, or there might be some horrible accident in the street that he'd have to get around, or...well.
There was a reason why Jun was always early to everything.
Asides from that, he needed to make a good impression on this boss. He'd been showing up early (not too early, just early enough to make a calculatedly good impression) before each of his shifts for the couple of weeks he'd worked at the cafe. If he made a good enough impression, maybe he could pick up more shifts. Things were rough with his family lately, and while a part-time job wouldn't pay off all their bills, it would help.
Jun threw another quick glance at his watch and then turned off the sidewalk, cutting into the alleyway. It was situated between an a couple of storefronts and was wide enough for a vehicle to cut through; he normally stuck to the street, but then he normally wasn't almost-late. If the alleyway cut through to where he thought it did, he'd get to the train station that much quicker.
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Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 3:34 am
For one supposed to be an omnipresent mediator between the powers that be and the future of the world's global economy, the representative of Midas bank could almost be described as one sloppy excuse of an agent. The banking staff most people in the world were used to were dressed in their perfect business sense of style, would wear their pleasantly friendly faces along and greet people warmly to get them to sign up for any of their money-making nefarious deals. On the other hand representative Masakaki was anything but, his set-up almost an imitation that did little to hide the owner's bizarre tastes and preferences, taking pride in being as twisted a version of the norm as it was. After all he never relied in first impressions.
In each and every step he took on the hard, solid concrete one could almost hear the tingling noise of coins hitting each other like an afterword to his very existence. Then he came to an abrupt halt and all that remained lingering in the air was the noise of the city, as if he had never been there to begin with. Masakaki listened to it for a brief moment before turning his head to glance at the set of clocks resting on his right wrist, a constant reminder that time never waited for anyone -and time was money, thus lost time meant a loss of interest that he wasn't really ready to deal with. That was the precise reason why he was never late nor early; being right on time was one of the few great successes he held as his own, but perhaps being able to be anywhere at any time helped with that.
He turned in the designated alleyway a mere second earlier before his target- Matsura Jun, age twenty, university student and a part-time worker, oldest of two siblings with an average nuclear family. Of course that was all data, and it was sadly nothing impressive either... just your run-of-the-mill regular candidate that rarely lasted long in the Financial District. Of course there were always a few pleasant surprises but it was always a mater of potential, he had accepted that and stood aside to watch miracles happen on many occasions but promising darkhorses were an odd and rare breed. He took a deep breath preparing himself for what was to follow, almost melting away in the shadow the buildings cast behind him; if it had been possible he would have visited the boy at home, but alas he had to conduct their little meeting at a public place after all.
Taking but a single step ahead, he emerged from the shadows like some otherworldly specter, some sort of creature that attempted to look human but still retained something very off-setting about its appearance; the pure golden eyes -the precise hue of polished gold coins- for example or his grin that gave you the impression he could disappear at any time leaving it floating there alone, like another Chesire Cat. Yet he had taken that step in the most relaxed and casual of manners and tilted his top hat ever slightly as he brought himself to stand in front of the boy to give his regular greeting in the well-practiced manner that one can gain only from years of experience.
"Good evening." the words were simple, spoken in a velvety-soft, soothing low-tone. "I'm a representative of the Midas bank, my name is Masakaki." he knew fairly well that if he would allow to his target to speak before the right time he would run the risk of having to do more work than he intended to. "Your name is Matsura Jun? I would like to discuss with you about our funding program." he shifted the weight of his cane in his hands, eyes not lifting off the human's form as he finally decided he could make this a little easier for the boy by allowing him some freedom to speak despite the usual array of questions with which he was usually bombarded at this point.
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Representative Masakaki Captain
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Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 1:09 am
Jun's first impulse was to smack Masakaki over the head with his bookbag and take off. A strange looking man approaching him in an alleyway? That couldn't possibly be good. His hand twitched around the strap of his bag, still resting on his shoulder, but he hesitated. Masakaki knew Jun's name, and he honestly didn't know if that made him more or less uneasy - but it did make him sound more legitimate, even if the setting and the man himself were rather strange.
There were a variety of questions that swirled into his head, reigning from why he was following him (how else could they be meeting in a random alleyway?) to questions about the bank. Despite several very good questions, the first thing that came out of his mouth was, "Only one name?" Only a single name, 'Masakaki' - it didn't sound like a name one could just look up. It somehow detracted from the legitimacy of the rest of his statements, but Jun paused for a moment; he hadn't actually intended to ask that. Even if it was strange. But then, a lot of his conversations seemed to go that way; he'd think of something very smooth or polite, and something awkward and potentially rude would tumble out as soon as he opened his mouth.
Jun's initial thought was that this was some kind of scam. They knew his name, obviously, but if he'd been following him since the library, someone might have said it there - this 'funding program' was probably some sort of deal where they asked for money to supposedly make you lots more, but then it would never turn up. So not really waiting for or expecting a response to his previous question, he went on to ask, "What sort of funding program?"
People who knew him might think he was oddly calm, but they'd realize otherwise if they noticed his hand kept twitching on the strap of his bag.
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Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 6:04 am
Masakaki realized that for once in a rather long while he thought of a prospect candidate as being... if not interesting then at the very least amusing. At first glance the boy had seemed to become quite unnerved, which was to be expected as he wasn't the kind of person people where used at meeting and a backwater alleyway was quite a shady place to begin with. Despite knowing that he kept his cheerful attitude up and smiled brightly at him, even when the first question came flying at him, quite unusual than what most people would ask too. He couldn't honestly remember when was the last time that someone questioned his name. Sure enough his name did sound like some 'impossible exclamation' and it wasn't quite usual to meet someone named that but... only one name? He found himself nodding thoughtfully at the question, shifting the weight of his cane around in his hands. "Mmm... yes, only one." he replied with all the honesty of the statement, tilting his hat further over his right eye and bowing lightly to him. He could have, of course, given him a fake last name, with the exception that he wasn't one to lie about his identity.
He cleared his throat lightly, preparing himself to give all the details as soon as the second question came, allowing a little more time to the boy to short out the thoughts in his head so he could concentrate on what he had to say. "Allow me to explain." he began, waving his hands around in open, mildly exaggerated gestures. "It is, indeed, very simple. We loan you money with your future as collateral. The only catch is that you keep using that money within the Financial District over time." he left things as they were before going into anything in more detail just so that he wouldn't bombard the poor student that appeared quite unnerved already. "That is also the way you may earn more money and more money still, and you may use what you earn in any way you see fit at any given time."
As far as Masakaki was aware of it always sounded like a very good deal to most people. The freedom of being given money without asking for almost anything in return had always been a good point of motivation for many aspiring entrepreneurs. Of course, the risk involved was quite high, but even so, even then 'the future' held quite vague a definition.
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Representative Masakaki Captain
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Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 10:48 am
Huh. This wasn't quite the scam he was expecting - no 'start up fees' or initial deposit? Why would a bank pick him to make this offer to? It may not be a complete scam, but it did still sound shady. Jun let his mind whir away at trying to figure out where the catch was, as he relaxed his hand slightly. Masakaki didn't seem dangerous, at least, so no need to whack him with his bag.
"Keep using the money...buying things, you mean?" That would be a very strange sort of loan, although he supposed it might benefit the economy, with people spending money they wouldn't have otherwise. It couldn't possibly last long, though - but then, how were you expected to make money? It sounded like you could just get the loan and squander it away (although that would hardly be intelligent), but Maskaki had said you could earn money. How were you supposed to do that, open up a shop?
Then his brain caught on something: "Wait - future. As in, if you lose all you're money you're what, an indentured servant to the bank?" rather like a loan from a gangster might be, he would imagine; which led to him a final thought, "Or - death?!" The last word came out as a something of a squawk. He didn't know what a bank would get out of killing people, but if they were like gangsters, than it could be some sort of warning to others. The more he thought about it, the more it seemed like this bank - one that he'd never even heard of - was connected some sort of crime syndicate venture. Although Masakaki didn't really look like a gangster.
No one could ever say Jun didn't think of consequences, albeit rather fantastical ones.
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Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 12:10 pm
Masakaki waited, for a single moment very still for his usual medium of moving around all the time in his almost restless manner. It would appear that for once his candidate both could and did, as a matter of fact, think. And quite thankfully for both of them he did very good, very accurate questions which he could easily explain since they had achieved a basic level of understanding. Then he brought his cane up to tap it lightly to his open palm before switching it to the other hand, then back again as he nodded in agreement to Jun's words. "How you use the money is up to you to decide." he spoke simply with a small smile. "You are, however, obliged to trade once a week in the Financial District." he explained placing another piece of the whole image down.
It was a complicated whole but most Entrés never got to see it entirely. Part of it was beyond the spectrum of anything people regarded as real and would probably forever remain in the sphere of the incomprehensible for them anyway. "You see, as a matter of fact, this whole deal occurs because you were randomly selected to replace a recent vacancy in the Financial District as an Entrepreneur." he went on. "Trades with other Entrepreneurs -Entrés, for short- are how you make more money. But you may also lose money, and as a result, if you go bankrupt we will withhold your future." he took a breath and tapped his hat with his cane before shrugging a little at Jun's reaction at the possibilities the 'future' might contain. "The future is the future. It's different, for each person. Your 'future', your 'potential', money-making or otherwise... of course going bankrupt will affect everything won't it? You've seen it in the news. Suicides, madness, beggars in the streets... it's all relative." he sighed and moved around Jun to lightly tap on his shoulder. "Of course you won't have to worry as long as you keep money in your account and not lose too much."
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Representative Masakaki Captain
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Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 12:38 pm
You don't have to worry so long as you didn't fail. That held true for quite a bit in the world, but how many people actually succeeded? Trying didn't always mean you would do well. At least it wasn't a guaranteed death sentence if you went bankrupt, but the consequences still didn't sound pleasant. Withholding someone's future - suicide, madness...failing wouldn't just mean failing at this, it sounded like it would mean failing at everything. At life.
If he succeeded, however, the possibilities were astounding. He could quit his job, stop studying so much that he didn't care about - take care of his family, devote more time to the violin. For a very brief moment, he could see a future of something more than just finding a mindless job and earning money to support his family. Jun stopped himself before he went any further down that track. This entire setup had extremely high stakes; no matter whether he succeeded or failed, his life would be completely altered.
If he decided to go for it. His pulse picked up, and he almost felt light headed at the prospect of what this meant.
Information. He needed information - he couldn't make that kind of decision without more of it. Jun had the feeling that he was going to completely flip out later, when he'd had a chance to really stop and think about all the implications, but he was holding it together for the moment. "What do you mean by trades?" It sounded sort of like trading stocks, although he doubted that's what it was.
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 2:06 am
Masakaki twirled around Jun once again to stand in front of him, albeit a little to the side, not to come off as too imposing and sighed softly. "As a matter of fact, if you do go bankrupt things will most likely become a little... dire... out here, so it is not advised." he went on in a reassuring tone as if he was saying one of the simplest things in the whole world. But to be honest he wasn't lying about anything. And the offer was almost too good, considering that one was given the opportunity to earn money by putting in the less possible effort and money did in fact make the world go round. "Wouldn't it be nice?" he trailed off softly. "You could do anything you possibly ever wanted."
But he went silent again. The boy seemed smart enough and logical enough that that sort of persuasion method could only go so far with him. Then he was asked for their 'trades' and was more than just eager to comply, explain in more depth about them. He smiled at Jun and started speaking again, making small gestures with his hands all the while. "Oh, it's fairly simple." that phrase was almost becoming a habit. "Your future is tied to you asset, and your Asset is what helps you conduct these trades with other Entrés. In that place we call them 'deals'." he took a small breath before continuing. "Depending on your wealth and your potential you place funds up front and try to take over your opponent. If you succeed you have gain, if not loss." the way he put it sounded pretty much like the outside's stock market even if it was anything but. It was hard to explain a Deal in full detail if one weren't to experience it first-hand. "Of course, if you're capable, that might draw attention and people will want to invest in you. That raises both your returns as well as theirs." he paused, tapping his chin thoughtfully with one finger. "But of course it would be a lot better to experience it first hand..." he trailed of in a thoughtful manner. Was there really anything else he could add?
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Representative Masakaki Captain
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 9:27 am
Jun was normally the sort of person who played it safe and didn't take big risks. If he was completely honest, he'd even avoided some risks in the past that he probably should have taken. And then, the way his life was lately - overworked, overstressed, tired...he couldn't keep things the way they were. Something had to change. That little voice in the back of his head was telling him what a bad idea this was, but for once, he did something unusual: he ignored it. He was fiddling with the strap of his bag again, but it wasn't the compulsive I'm-about-to-hit-you twitch of before; this was more like he just had to do something with his hands.
"Ok," he let out a breath slowly, certain his eyes were a bit wild, "I'm in."
He didn't have all the information he would want - in a normal situation, he would have wanted every single little piece, regardless of how unimportant, before making a decision. But he had the feeling that he wasn't going to get that; this had the feel of a one-time offer sort of deal. Not to mention, if he let himself have more time, he'd talk himself out of it. Already, he could feel panic beginning to creep up, but there was something else too: excitement. Things were going to change - whether that change was good or bad, it would be something new.
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Posted: Tue May 22, 2012 9:43 am
Masakaki waited patiently, watching Jun fight with his own uncertainty for the few seconds it took for him to decide. Humans were interesting indeed, after all. Especially this ability of them to judge situations by standards that were obscure at best. Of course he had no reason to complain as long as he didn't have to chase them down or make offer after offer to reel them in the Financial District, so it was alright in Jun's case too. "I congratulate you on your choice." Masakaki mused playfully, offering Jun his card that he pulled out of practically nowhere. "It might be a little rough at first, but I promise, you won't regret it." he went on.
"Now as far as your credit card is concerned..." he started off with a small nod of the head towards the card he was still holding. "You can make a withdrawal at any bank's ATM or access your Midas account, it is also your pass to the financial districts and the means by which you can contact your Asset. We will go into more detail about that in due time." he smiled thoughtfully and shrugged. "You can also use it in order to call Itaneda's taxi service to take you to the Financial District, anyday, anytime. The time spent in traveling to the Financial District is disconnected from the outside's own so it will not affect your daily life, not even one bit, that much I can guarantee." he bowed to Jun and sighed almost inaudibly. "Well then, shall we go?"
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Representative Masakaki Captain
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Posted: Tue May 22, 2012 10:53 am
Jun took the card, examining the symbol on it. He felt a moment of amusement, even as it was tempered by shock at the risk he was taking; wouldn't regret it? He had a feeling that he was going to be regretting this the moment he started thinking clearly. Or possibly was regretting this already, just too overwhelmed to realize.
Then again, time didn't pass? "Time spent traveling to - what about time spent in? Is it also disconnected?"
Alright, that right there was reason enough to do this, even if he did the bare minimum to keep afloat. A potentially unlimited amount of time? Even if he wasn't making massive amounts of money, he could actually have time to do things! Even if time wasn't disconnected within the district itself, the taxi service might be helpful. Hm, maybe he could convince this Itaneda to let him ride along while he was ferrying people to and form the district? He could get a lot of work done, even if he had to sit in a taxi to do it...Somehow, though, he doubted that was a option. Even if it would solve many of his time-management problems.
It would probably be amusing to others to hear that it was unlimited time rather than potentially unlimited money that he found the most appealing, but one thing in it's favor came down to that it wasn't a risk. If the time was disconnected, he didn't have to worry about doing well in that time - just had to use it; these deals,on the other hand...
Jun gave a nod to Masakaki, that he was ready to go. If he spoke, he was sure he was going to start babbling about the possibilities of unlimited time in which to work, and he'd rather not look completely crazy. Even if he was pretty sure that Masakaki himself might fall into the completely crazy category. If other crazies thought you were weird, than it had to be true, right? He'd rather avoid that. It didn't seem like there was much possibility that someone like Masakaki would think him weird, but he couldn't be sure.
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Posted: Tue May 22, 2012 12:07 pm
Masakaki blinked in mild surprise for but a single moment. He wasn't used to being asked that of all things, but it never hurt to give an answer as long as there was someone willing to listen to it. "Yes, as a matter of fact, the time spent in the Financial District also doesn't count against the outside's own. So theoretically you could stay an indefinite amount on time in there without a single minute going by here. You, however, will get fatigued even if your time is different." he paused a little trying to work out if what he just said made any actual sense to the boy. "To be honest, you will soon realize your body can't really handle more than a few hours a day there." he thought about it. What was it that forced humans to retreat back into their own world, their own reality, their own time after a while? And what would happen if they severed themselves from their reality for far too long? "For one reason or another, disconnecting one's self from this side for far too long has proved to be quite impossible." he shrugged lightly at his words, deciding it should have been quite satisfying a reply.
"If you will, please raise your card at eye level." he instructed, placing the hand with the cane behind his back as if to straighten himself. "You might feel a little nauseous at first, but I promise, this impression won't last long." there were almost there. Just barely...
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Representative Masakaki Captain
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Posted: Tue May 22, 2012 12:29 pm
A few hours a day. Well, that could still be helpful - who wouldn't want a few extra hours out of every day? It sounded like it was tiring to be there for so long, though, which suggested that it wouldn't be place to go if he just needed a few extra hours of sleep. It would work well, however, if he just needed to get a few extra hours of work in before going to sleep.
Jun had many more questions spinning around in his head, but he doubted this was an appropriate time to be digging into what was probably inconsequential information. Even if examining the minutiae was keeping him from dwelling on what he was doing. Besides, he'd have plenty of time to go digging later, and fulfill his need to know, later.
His pulse picked up again, as he was instructed to raise his card. Saying yes hadn't been the point of no return - this was. His nerves, which he had been able to shove aside in favor of examining possibilities, came roaring back. Before Jun raised up the card, he had to take a moment to remind himself that breathing was a necessity of life, and panicking didn't mean you were allowed to stop.
Then he raised the card up to eye level.
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Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 9:55 am
Masakaki stood aside, waiting patiently for the few awkward moments to pass. There was a tension that was almost tangible lingering about; and the idea of a scent of defeat with it. But was it a defeat or just a new fate unfolding... that, Masakaki for all his knowledge and years of inviting Entrés year in and year out, he couldn't know. He tipped the hat on his head just slightly, golden eyes burning brilliantly even in the shadow cast by the rim over his face and took a step back, listening to the light hum of Itaneda's taxi engine as it flew out from nowhere in between the two separate spaces. What made the odd car travel in the way it did was much of a mystery, but most people -if not all- dismissed it as it being simply the way things worked.
So he smiled, slightly more softly than usual as he pulled Jun just a little and into the back seat -because that was the way things worked- and got in himself, reclining elegantly against the seats. "To the Financial District." he stated in the most casual manner as the cab took off at his command. It was more than just usual routine by now but it still needed to be carried out perfectly. As for him... it was a lot more easy to simply tear through the fabric of reality and simply appear in the financial district, but in that occasion then the newly found Entrés would have no way of knowing how the basics would be carried out. "Do enjoy the ride." he wished Jun, watching him intently just out of the corner of his eye, small mischievous smile still playing on his face.
The short-lived trip out of the regular space lasted no longer than usual and the city gave way to reveal the other side and its gaudy display of a neatly paved highway with the crimson sky rolling above their heads in its perpetual flow. "This is it." he nodded, turning around to look at Jun before motioning out of the window. "The Financial District."
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Representative Masakaki Captain
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Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 10:32 am
The arrival (and appearance) of the taxi startled him, but Jun didn't resist as Masakaki pulled him into the cab and he took his seat. Wide-eyed, he attempted to take it all in, and looked out the window as a whir of questions sprung up in his mind again. Why a cab - why not a bus, since surely many people had to enter the district at once? Why did the cab look like this, did it have something to do with when the cab had begun running? How old was the financial district, for that matter? How was the person who drove the cab - and why would they drive it in the first place?
None of those questions actually crossed him lips though, as his thoughts were derailed by a thought that managed, in addition to the ride itself, to distract him entirely: what was the cab traveling through?! Jun had a brief moment when he wondered what would happen if the cab broke down in this odd space of nothingness. Being trapped in a realm of nothing...
He didn't really like the idea of spending much time in the taxi, after that.
And then they were there. Jun barely heard Masakaki's introduction, as he pushed open the door and stepped out, staring at the sky. The red sky. The entire place was fantastical. "This...it's real. Not a dream?"
Not entirely a coherent question that he half-muttered to himself, half to Masakaki - except that when he glanced over, the taxi was gone - as was Masakaki. He was alone.
"Why couldn't a dream be real?"
Or not.
Jun flicked his gaze over the the newcomer, staring in astonishment at the boy who had appeared out of nowhere. He honestly wasn't sure what was stranger - the fact that the boy appeared to have a swan at his back, was floating and partially wrapped in grey, or the fact that he seemed to be naked. And had his wrists bound. Seriously, what? Did the people around here have a strangeness quota to fill?
"Ah, who are you...?
Despite the oddity of the situation, he didn't seem threatening at all. He was just hovering there, watching Jun with idly curiousity. And perhaps a faint bit of disappointment that Jun hadn't answered his question. "Your asset, of course." The response seemed somewhat quizzical, as if the asset was confused by why Jun had asked him that.
As for Jun, he just stared in bewilderment at the boy, feeling like he really should have asked Masakaki a few more of those questions buzzing around in his head. What had he gotten into?
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