Before The End, One Last [Vice]

[Phoebe Minola]

Phoebe was supposed to be dusting shelves of books but her head wasn't in it. She kept wandering off mentally to the last full moon battle, to her discussion with Gin, to the way people seemed to perceive her and how CJ had decided he'd had enough of this Persona business. He cut off all communications with her and moved out of his hotel room, somewhere else downtown.

Many faces she'd known had disappeared back into the woodwork. And since the last full moon she'd felt quite a bit... isolated from everyone. She realized it last night when she was finishing her chores around the house. She'd been talking about her day and how she felt about the battles, how she was progressing and how she felt like everyone was acting towards her. She actually thought for a moment that she was talking to someone but then she snapped out of it and stopped.

She'd been talking to Eliot all that time and the cat was just lying curled up on the chair and staring at her while she washed the dishes.

Talking to her cat because there was nobody else to talk to. Really, how ridiculous was that? Normally, if she felt lonely she'd call her parents or some of her friends back in the US to have a chat and pass the time but since the perimeter... that ceased being an option. Her world had shrunk to herself, her cat and the few people she knew from work.

Her world was tiny. And it was starting to smother her.

[Vice Ysal]

Invitations here, and invitations there. There were a lot of things to do as of late but honestly, Vice just wasn't feeling up to it. Between having to fight shadows and having to fight everyday life, he was pretty much losing any time he had for himself…even if the former was pretty much just him trying to have fun. He didn't exactly remember just when the lines began to blur, and that hunting the outside was turning into something more of a chore than something he was willing to do, but with how deep he's gotten himself into, there really was no point anymore in trying to find out. He had a job to do, and that job was whole of a lot more important than whatever everyday life needed from him. He could probably give up some of the important things in order to focus more on the outside because unless that problem was dealt with, there wouldn't be much point preparing for a future that wouldn't exist. That said, tonight was going to be an exception and he at least wanted to get away from it all. So there he was, tracing a map in his head that he had long since gotten used to, as he rode on his motorcycle down the street.

It wasn't that late, but it was usually a time where people would prefer to have time to relax in a quiet and somber space. Vice didn't give two shits though and geared his engine as loud as he could all the while avoiding the traffic, beating the red light, and just being a nuisance to the general populace. They could spare some discomfort for the guy, he was doing a lot of shit for them without any rewards for him. A sharp turn and the biker increased the speed along with the rotation and bam, somehow some way he had been able to make the cut. Sure he ran a bit too close to that massive ten wheeler but the adrenaline shot from it was more than worth the risk.

He, unfortunately, had to slow down when his destination was finally within viewing distance. It wouldn't be the first time he'd been here, but it sure as hell would be the first time he'd bother stepping foot inside the place. The engine roared again, and even when it was on standby the infernal noise was pretty grating to the ears already. It was music to Vice though and he allowed the engine to run just a second longer before killing off the engine. Setting the brakes, anti-theft equipment- and the stand to make sure everything was dandy, the red eyed user would then twirl the keys along his finger before pocketing it.

Weirdly enough, the guy wasn't wearing his usual jacket. He'd given that to Kyle some time ago, and his silver necklace wasn't with him either. Both of them had been spoils from killing shadows but with how the others were faring, he was sure that they could use the help more than him. So dressed in his long black parka, the hood lied down, black denim pants and a black tank top to go under it, Vice at least made sure to tap his black boots outside to avoid bringing in any dirt inside the establishment. Opening up the doors so that he could enter, the red eyed male squinted his eyes over at the sudden brightness and gave himself a moment to adjust his sight before continuing.

The place was pretty empty, not really a lot of people and even the employees were…probably somewhere. Well, whatever. He was here to cash in on a drink from Kyle and was curious as to where the bastard was. Then again, it wasn't like he sent a message to announce his arrival ahead of time so this was still within his limits for patience. Pulling out a random chair from a random table, the biker resisted the urge to place his feet over the table and just opted to lean back on the backrest of his chair. Someone was bound to notice him, and if nothing happened so far then whatever. He can just do this on his own if need be.

[Phoebe Minola]

Finishing up the shelves, Phoebe rubbed her shoulder and went downstairs to the ground floor. She absently looked at the coffee bar to find Kyle gone - oh right, he'd gone to the basement to fix that wonky pipe with Dan. He should be done soon. Meanwhile...

Phoebe stopped at the foot of the stairs to the upper floor. She squinted a bit at the figure sitting at the tables, further back in the cafe area. Oh wow, it really was him. She hadn't seen Vice in a while but she'd recognize that profile anywhere. He'd probably come to see Kyle and that made her frown a little. A few days ago Kyle'd come in with a face like 'a dog's dinner' as they say in England. And she had a pretty good idea why. Kyle threw a little shitfit when she practically guessed that the rumors about a fight club were real. She'd accused him of getting into a fight, Kyle had denied it but when she made a guess that Vice was somehow involved, Kyle blanching told her everything.

Really, who did that dork think he could kid? Contrary to popular belief, she was not an idiot.

Well okay, if those two dorks wanted to beat each other into pulp, that was their problem. Boys.

She had no more immediate work to do, and looking around, didn't see any customers needing her attention. So she walked over to Vice and waved at him.

"Hi Vice. Fancy seeing you here," she said. "Looking for Kyle? He'll be up in a minute, he's fixing something in the basement. How's it going?"  

Suddenly, she had the somewhat bizarre hope that he didn't notice how tired she felt.

[Vice Ysal]

Well, there wasn't much of a service going on that much he could state. It was obvious but given that it was just a mental note then there was no one in there to judge him nor call him out on it. Except maybe Arondight but that guy never got the humour. Ever. Bloody wall to talk to if anything to go by. He was just about to put his feet down and start shuffling through the place himself when a familiar voice called out to him. Tilting his head to the side a bit, letting it slightly rest on his bicep, the young male's eyes raised an eyebrow when he recognised Phoebe coming along. Well, that some was something to kill time with.

"Yeah. Guy owes me a drink and I thought I'd cash on it tonight." He'd reply without too much of a fuss. At least until the lighting didn't stop being so bloody bright. Blinking quite a few more times, and rather annoyed that his eyes didn't want to freaking cooperate with him, the young man decided then to pull up the hood of his park. The dirty grey fur lining around the hood adding shadows over his face and with how his long hair already casted shadows over it, the only thing that was practically visible behind them were the sharp red colour of his eyes. "Hope you don't mind. Been having trouble seeing in bright places lately."

Shaking his head a bit before leaning back on his chair, Vice's neck then began to complain with how it had to move in order to allow his eyes to meet Phoebe's own. "You should take a seat. Everything alright with you?" Concern, whether faux or genuine, usually got things done. That and he didn't have to sound like an ass to the girl to have her do what he wanted should she oblige…or rather take his suggestion.

[Phoebe Minola]

Phoebe took the offered seat and sat heavily on the chair. Whoa, she hadn't realized how tired she felt just then. The moment she sat down, her legs let a silent groan and her muscles felt like tense strings that were finally slacking. Owie.

"Cash in a drink? I thought it was something like that," she said with a tired smile. "He'll be up in a bit. Hey... if you got issues with your eyes, go see a doctor. I mean it, you don't wanna end up like me, with four-inch glasses," she chuckled, tapping her glasses.

Then she sobered up pretty quickly. "Actually, Vice, you look a little... wonky. Is everything okay?"

Screw wonky, she got a tad concerned about him. Sure, Vice always had an... air about him but now it just felt worse than ever. Like a thick layer of... something, was hanging about his person. An almost ominous sense. She shook her head and frowned.

Probably just her over-active imagination and tiredness.

[Vice Ysal]

"My eyes are too good, is the thing. Or that's what the doctor's say anyway. I should've brought my glasses but I didn't think it'd get this bad tonight."

Vice informed as he pulled down the hood of his parka lower until the shade was finally suitable for him. He was a bit surprised at the question though, if he was alright. It wasn't really often that others asked that of him mostly because it was him. No one really questions the biker, or the guy who prefers soloing things out rather than dealing with the masses. So it was a bit of a stretch for the guy to actually take the question so seriously.

"Everything's fine. Just a bit stretched from trying to find if there are more New Bloods and trying to train the current batch. Our performance shot down the drain the last time there was a massive battle so I've been trying to do what I can to salvage it. As usual though, I can't seem to get a hold of anyone." There was, however, no harm in saying what was on his mind.

"Honestly. Preaching about helping each other out when they can't make time for the rest? I don't know what people are trying to accomplish with that kind of thinking. You though, you seem to be dead on your feet. What the hell's been happening?"

[Phoebe Minola]

Vice's explanations didn't quite allay her worries but she didn't press him about it. Vice was never one to share his secrets openly and Phoebe was never one to pry. But she was concerned as she watched him pull his hood down deeply over his head. He almost looked silly but there was something about that act that... gave her a bad feeling.

She groaned at the mention of last month's battle. "It feels like it'll get worse in the future," she said. "People just don't want to co-operate and... I swear, some people are a bit crazy. I'm worried about Jaelyn especially. She's a volatile girl and she might... do something drastic. And... and we've got the sentient Shadows."

She hung her head. Yeah. Salvaging the situation was just about all they could do. "I dodged one of the calls because I had other fish to fry that day. One of the new guys I stumbled into needed to talk. He... well, let's just say he's pulling out. He's got a Persona and all but he just can't handle the situation. He's too scared so I actually advised him to pull out. It's better than him showing up all jittery and getting killed."

She slumped in her chair a bit and sighed. "Between that, my job at the school picking up since the regular English teacher's accident and going to train, I think I might be exhausting myself. I've been trying to help Kyle with his training but I'm also trying to see what the frick is up with Tristan. And... and I've got Gin to deal with, too. I can't remember last time I had a sit-down and did absolutely nothing. The only positive side is that I've actually lost weight."

She sighed. "Actually, looking after some New Bloods might be good. I should probably tag along Kyle, make sure he doesn't kill someone with that axe..."

[Vice Ysal]

"With what I've been trying to do as of late may disqualify me from giving you this piece of advice but you're going to have face a rather harsh fact here."

Really, there was something about people trying to do everything for anything and then applying that to pretty much everything they come across to in their lives and him. Vice did what he could, doing what he wanted to do, and making sure that his efforts weren't in vain. He, however, didn't throw himself at every opportunity because he knew what he could do and he knew when it was finally possible to break through those limits. The case here on the other hand was just that, going through everything and making it as if you were actually required for that particular situation. That was a rather toxic way with dealing things and the only thing that was going to come out of that was a shitton of headaches, a broken heart, and stupid things being put on your shoulders because people were too stupid to realise what was actually happening.

He of all people should know after all.

"Not all of them needs you. Nor do you need all of them. It's fine if helping people out is your deal, but remember that there's a thing called saturation and 'Yourself.' You're a smart woman, I'm sure, so I'm confident that you'll understand where I'm coming from, eventually." Shaking his head after that, as if trying to take away the cobwebs that were slowly forming at the back of his head, Vice took another glance around the library to check out if anyone else was present. Unsure whether it was a good thing or not, the lack of people continued to persist through their current conversation.

"That said, you're already looking out for too many things. I'd have recommended a new blood I met, but seeing as how tired you've been, I'll be withdrawing that candidacy. Focus on yourself and the immediate problems first. Even if it's still a few weeks away, we still need everyone in top condition for the next battle."

[Kyle Shibata]

Kyle yawned as he climbed the stairs up from the basement, having done his duty to the shop and helped Dan with the worst of the broken piping in the basement. Dan could wrap up the job himself so now he could return to his post at the coffee bar.

The moment he got to the ground floor and took two steps towards the cafe area, he immediately noted a figure he recognized well enough sitting at a table with Phoebe. He smirked a bit and walked on over, especially when he heard their topic.

"Finally someone tells it to her as it is," Kyle sighed. "Maybe she'll listen to you because she sure as hell won't take it from me. S'up, Vice?" he carried on. "Finally dragged yourself over? We formally welcome you to Shakespeare & Co. purveyors of fine books and even finer coffee thanks to me. Hey Phoebe, you should pick a book out for him. I wanna know what you think is perfect for him."

He grinned at Kyle. "She picked a book about the history of coffee for me," he chuckled. "Can I get you anything?"

[Vice Ysal]

"Finally had the time. Shit gets rough between club activities, new bloods, and getting stuff working together for once. And thanks for the welcome, I guess." Vice answered back, the same sardonic smile on his face present for most to see. If they bothered anyway. Leaning back on his chair, balancing on the hind legs of the woodwork since he was too lazy to actually raise his neck to even bother looking up to the giant next to him, Vice slightly raised an eyebrow at the whole book selection thing but decided to look into that later. He was here for coffee after all, and he wanted it right now.

"Give me the best thing you can make. You still owe me for that time back in the Bank way back when." A light grin this time spread on over his face, more like the Vice that these two knew. Oh he could be the tough bastard if he wanted to, and he could also be the guy who'd have their back. Always just a mask to wear, and always just another card to play to get what he wanted.

"Books huh? Been a while since I last had the chance to read anything not related to my studies."

[Phoebe Minola]

Phoebe cringed at Kyle's purposefully cheesy 'welcome'. He was just screwing with Vice but she could tell that he kind of meant it too. She was kind of impressed. It seemed that Kyle and Vice had gone and bonded somehow - she didn't want to know the details. Knowing Kyle, it had probably been violent and stupid.

Boys... she thought.

But Kyle's suggestion of a book was a nice idea. Vice had helped them both out, after all, and Phoebe sort of felt that a little gift was in order. She nodded with a small smirk and stood up. Compared to Kyle's tall and lanky frame, she really was a butterball (not short by local standards but then again, compared to Kyle, almost everyone was short).

"Good idea Kyle. You go make him one of your specials and I'll get him something I think he'll like," she said cheekily and headed deep into the shelves. "I'll be right back!" she called before she vanished between them.