Money Anxiety

[heroforfun]

Who: Saitama (heroforfun) & Anyone that goes shopping
What: There's this weird bald guy in the grocery store going over some food stamps and coins and staring at the values like they're completely foreign to him.
When: Late afternoon
Where: Vista City streets
Warnings: I'm lazy and don't like writing prose?

[Saitama's spent the time since arriving just trying to get situated as quickly as possible - which meant finding the homeless assistance center for aid and services. They weren't requesting any in-depth information yet since he didn't sign up for long-term aid, but the food stamps wouldn't last forever. Still, finding a job isn't impossible with the open resource center, and "Makoto Furukawa" found himself a job in construction. It's been a weird few days, he swears the giant beams and cinder blocks are the slightest bit heavier than they normally feel... Saitama just chalks that up to other planets and weird density issues, at first. Not that he makes the statement to anyone, just trudging through his settling in.

But now he's gotten his first pay after making a request to his employer (explaining his homeless situation) and he's found a decently popular grocery store. But he's quickly sweating anxiously, fidgeting and tugging on his shirt and work vest. And, of course, digging through his wallet and staring at the very, very small amount of food in his basket.

He should've read about how food worked here. He should've checked what the money worth was supposed to be. He never looked at what apartments cost. Is he overpaying? Is he buying crap? Is there a better deal? Needless to say, this is probably the most stressful thing he's had to deal with since getting here... whereas the other rescuers were probably much more worried about getting caught.]

Crap... I really don't want to owe anybody...

Comments

[heroforfun]

Eh. I just got a job, I'll be fine.

[He shrugs, and follows along. He'll dodge that question about being new, thanks.]

Name's Makoto.

[vivelarevolution]

[it's a nice dodge. But Sabo can see the feint. It seems to say something, but in reality there are a lot of questions left unanswered. Did he just move into a new home? Get kicked from his old home? Spend some time living in the streets? From another area altogether?

For Sabo it's one of two things. Either this guy is out of town or trying to hide it for some reason, or he's recently moved down in life and on a tighter paycheck than he's used to--since he doesn't know where to shop on a dime. And if that were the case maybe he's ashamed of it? Or would rather not talk about it in any case.

In light of all that, the presentation of the name is slightly suspicious too. Is he telling him so Sabo will be thrown off of thinking he's some other name if a fall from the high life is really why this guy is here?

Of course, Sabo tells himself, it could be that this guy... Makoto... Sincerity... but not honesty. Is just trying to be friendly and things that aren't Sabo's business aren't Sabo's business. And it's not really part of his nature to pry.

But watch, definitely.

He wonders what the guy will make of this, if anything.]

Sabo. From Cosmic Indulgence... [he scratches his cheek sheepishly] But you probably haven't heard of me since I just joined up.

[heroforfun]

That one of those bands? I don't listen to music, much.

[vivelarevolution]

[If Sabo were in slightly less control of himself he'd probably trip. Either way he's amused. This guy is either very clever or very simple. Maybe both. Maybe neither. He can't help but be amused at the mystery-- But at the same time it's as if the guy's words grab something inside him]

How could you not listen to music much? It's all around! It's the heartbeat of the soul! Without music I'm not sure it would be worth existing.

[it may be corny but he means every word of it]

[heroforfun]

Eh. I'm not that excited by it. I prefer a good brawl, but I haven't had a fun fight in a long time.

[vivelarevolution]

[so he's that kind of guy. Well, Sabo knows a few. But he's sure they like music as well. In any case, Sabo can't help but think a little less of him. Not listening to music much is one thing. But not excited by it? Not thrilled by the rhythm or the pulse of a beat? Is he seriously that one note?]

Can't help you there. But I'm sure if you throw a bar stool at someone you can drudge something up.

[he stops to get his bearings and then nods, hanging a left]

Almost there.

[heroforfun]

Eh, I won't fight with random people, that's lame.

[vivelarevolution]

[he blinks. In his experience that's kind of what a brawl entails]

Are you more of a wrestler type then? [he can see this guy in a ring]

[heroforfun]

Kinda. I fight for fun.

[vivelarevolution]

Oh.

[he doesn't get it really, but he also no longer cares much. Whatever floats this guy's boat. It's certainly not making him any money though Sabo supposes it could. He shrugs and leads Makoto down a set of narrow steps, stepping around a well fed rat without seeming to care much about its presence, then opens a door with a peeling label that says Z Mart.

The close skeezy feeling in here is kind of nostalgic in an odd way and he can't help but smile. Inside are dilapidated shelves with old cans and weak looking boxes of various foods-- and a few bins of wilted vegetables.]

This place is the cheapest you'll find anywhere. Most of the stuff is only a few months out of date and if you get really lucky you find mostly fresh produce. [he digs out an apple that is only a little bruised here and there, tosses a coin on the counter next to the dozing man and buffs the apple on his shirt]

You can stretch even the smallest budget here.

[heroforfun]

Huh. This isn't too bad.

[It's hard to tell how sincere "Makoto" is. He steps in and passes up the fruits, going to check out the canned and bagged goods. If he can buy some rice or something in bulk, maybe some canned veggies, he could last the week just fine.]

Don't know why some music guy knows about a place like this, but thanks.

[Most people would be even the slightest bit worried, about rats or shifty activity or dangerous somethings in a place like this. Saitama seems to slide right into shopping again, just checking the expiration dates to make sure things aren't a year out of their date or something.]

[vivelarevolution]

[hard to tell but Sabo isn't really looking for sincerity. Even a kind of slanted gratitude is good enough for him. He shrugs at the question and eats the apple in two bites, sucking the juice off his fingers]

I like to explore. Staying in one place for too long makes my skin itch.

[heroforfun]

If you're bored too long, you'll start to feel nothing at all.

[vivelarevolution]

[that just gives him cold chills and he can't help but look at the guy. Though it's not because he's afraid of that kind of boredom but-- it speaks to him of something else. Of moving past a breaking point. He's ...seen people with faces like that somehow. That they've gone so far they can't feel anything at all. ... But that's stupid where could he have? It was probably something]

In that case maybe you should find something more interesting to do.

[though he's not speaking to the guy directly because it's not as if he knows anything about him. He finishes the apple and sucks the juice from his fingers]

Ever considered ballet?

[though he's kind of joking a little]