RP Log: Saeki & Haruka Who: Koujirou Saeki and Haruka Marui Where: Outside Kurobane's shop When: A few days ago? What: Just some first impressions~ Warning: Very much G
The last errand for the day was finished, and Haruka Marui took a small breather, taking a seat on an upturned crate, stretching his legs out in front of him and dug a package of cigarettes up from his pocket, pulling one out and lighting it. He inhaled slowly, watching with a rather detached interest how the tendrils of smoke found their way up in the air only to evaporate into nothingness. It was sort of pretty, actually, in a rather odd way.
Rubbing his eyes, Saeki decided he'd had enough of the ledgers for now. Sure, he wasn't bad at math, and sure, he wanted to be useful. But a guy could only look at rows and columns upon rows and columns of numbers for so long before a guy needed a long break, and Saeki figured he could use that break now. Standing up, he closed the ledger (not before marking his place) and then headed outside.
Outside was occupied, though, and Saeki paused as he saw Bane's helper, Haruka, sitting on a crate outside with a cigarette, staring at the smoke. "Hey," he said, not wanting to intrude. Part of his mind wondered if the kid wasn't a little young to be smoking cigarettes.
The boy blinked, glancing up and nodding curtly to the newcomer - what was his name again...? - as he got to his feet. "Hey. You... Wanna sit here?"
"No, no, you're fine where you were," Saeki said, shaking his head. He eyed the cigarette, but made no comment for now. "I'm just taking a break. You too?"
"Done for the day," Haruka replied quietly, resuming his seat. He hated having a conversation with someone when he couldn't address the person properly, but it would seem like bad manners to ask for his name, wouldn't it? So he merely sat and stared out into thin air, taking another go at the cigarette.
Maybe he should try and say something.
"Much to do?"
"Self-inflicted," Saeki said, shrugging. "Numbers and I normally get along, but we need our space too, sometimes. Decided they weren't going anywhere for now, and came out for some fresh air. Oh, and by the way, you can just call me Saeki. Bane worked you hard today too, huh?"
Ah, a name. Well, that would probably make things a little easier, wouldn't it? "I guess. As long as I get paid though, I'm not complaining."
Saeki laughed. "True," he agreed.
Haruka wished that he was either Bunta or Shiroi, really. Both his older brother and his younger brother were far better at conversation than he was, he just couldn't find the right words, and he doubted he was interesting enough for anyone to want to talk with anyway, and that caused the awkward silence from him to stretch. "Be--Been in Midgar long...?"
Giving Haruka a look, Saeki raised an eyebrow. "Probably," he said with a chuckle. Hadn't anyone told this kid about how he'd come to work here? Or had the kid been too polite to ask? "Why don't you tell me? It would have about as much chance of being right as if I told you, after all."
That earned Saeki another shrug, as Haruka wasn't entirely sure how to reply to that. And why bother making a conversation if things were going to be complicated anyway? Or maybe he should try and say something; he didn't want the man to get angry with him after all.
"I don't think my knowledge of your life can be compared with your knowledge about it, you know."
Oh? Saeki eyed the boy for a moment. Perhaps it might be better not to advertise his inability to remember much, after all. "How old are you, anyway?" he asked, shrugging, hands in his pockets. He looked outwards, but part of him was paying attention to the boy. "Since we both work here, I think it's only fair, right?"
"I'm twelve," Haruka replied quietly, tucking his hair behind his ear and reaching for a small iron pipe that he weighed in his hands. Maybe if he brought this home, Bunta would be able to do something with it? That would be interesting. Maybe even a new toy for Shiroi... "And you? And oh... Haruka Marui by the way. I didn't introduce myself, did I?"
"It's okay, kid, I know your name," Saeki said. He eyed the pipe. Something about this kid told him a pat on the head wouldn't be a good idea when he had a pipe in his hands. Saeki would wait for when he didn't, then. "What do you do once you're done for the day?
"Me?" Haruka blinked. "Not much, I suppose." He shrugged, gnawing thoughtfully on his lower lip. "I go home and spend time with my sister and my little brother... And you, sir?"
So the kid had a sister and a brother. "Good question," Saeki said, chuckling. "Not much to do around here without coins in my pocket. Talk to Kurobane, I suppose. Work, or help him work. Anything else you recommend?"
The boy thought for a moment, then the ghost of a smile passed over his lips as he nodded vaguely in the direction where the Chocobo stables presumably were: "You could always try and catch a wild Chocobo...?"
Surprised, Saeki gave the kid an incredulous look for a long moment before he laughed, face splitting into a wide grin. Reaching out, he ruffled Haruka's hair. "You're not half bad, kid."
Trying his best not to flinch at the touch, Haruka offered Saeki a crooked grin and got to his feet. "Thanks. That's a first one." He stretched, still cradling the pipe in one hand and gave the older man a vague shrug. "I... I guess I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Sure," Saeki said. He noticed the slight change in the kid's demeanor--aversion to touch? or just didn't like people patting him on the head?--and let go soon enough without making it seem too obvious. "You take care, kid. It's dangerous out there."
"Yeah, I'll be careful... Hey. Maybe we can talk tomorrow too? You're kinda nice." Nice in the way that it didn't seem like the guy was looking down on him just because he was a lot younger and all, but that was good enough, wasn't it?
Nice? Saeki chuckled, smiling at Haruka. "Sure, kid. You know where to find me--right here as always, okay?" With that, Saeki waved. "Take care."