— C o n t r a r y to popular belief, Twilight Town wasn’t a very safe place to be out and about after the sun went down. There was more crime on the streets than people would have liked to admit and as a result, things started to die down in the evenings. Businesses started closing their doors early, all gas stations became “sketchy”, and anyone walking down the street by themselves was automatically suspicious.
Vanitas, whatever the time of day, always acquired a suspicious atmosphere.
If his bad reputation didn’t put others on edge, his mere behavior did: slinking around the streets at night, hanging out on street corners, and watching others pass him by with eyes of molten gold. His presence was unsettling, and he liked it that way. Intimidation was a key aspect of his personality.
A late night stroll under the moonlight was his favorite. His usual route was a twenty minute walk each way and he usually got through two or three cigarettes along the way. Tobacco was bad for his lungs, he knew it, but he didn’t give a shit. These routine walks were his primary source of stress relief and he’d learned to rely on them.
Clad in a leather jacket and accompanied by the sound of a wallet chain jingling against his leg, Vanitas made his way towards the local Twilight Town cafe. It looked like a cozy little joint but he’d never eaten there; he wasn’t a fan of restaurants in general if they didn’t have the option to take-out. Just as he neared the entrance, someone stepped out and locked up the doors.
He had a class or two with the silver-haired male but didn’t know too much about him. He was the same age, taller, and very good-looking. Studied food or something. Clues hinted towards his employment at the cafe, which was a good enough reason to sweep in on him and find out more. He was bored, and it was fun to meddle with his classmates whenever he could. Especially the mysterious ones.
❝ Kurosawa, ain’t it? ❞ Tiny orange embers fell as he spoke between the half-smoked cigarette in his mouth. ❝ Riku Kurosawa. ❞
It wasn't uncommon for some people to walk past the cafe just as he was closing and getting ready to go home on most nights, it was actually a lot more common than one would think, given the late hour and people's need to get home and indoors as soon as possible. What was uncommon though was for one of them to actually acknowledge him, let alone strike up a conversation.
He stopped a few feet away from the shorter teen, recognizing him from some of the few classes they shared and having seen him lounge around in the dorm's common room. He hadn't talked the the other male before, the need to do so never having come up. But then again he didn't tend to talk to very many people, opting to stay away from others need to stir up whatever drama they could, given the chance.
"Yeah, that's right," he responded, confirming his name, "you're Vanitas, right?" He asked in turn.
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