calloperators (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
calloperators) wrote2019-01-14 05:25 pm
calloperators) wrote2019-01-14 05:25 pm
TEST DRIVE
> Hello, you have reached the 1-800-HOTLINE Test Drive. We are currently unable to take your call. Whilst we put you on hold, feel free to play around for a while...
Waking up
Go downstairs, to the lobby. Meet the others. Don't get attached, and don't mention this call.
The AC is busted and in this hot summer, you probably won't want to stay in your room forever.
Of course, there's much more around here than just the motel. Stepping out and hitting the town will give you plenty to do. There's stores aplenty, but that's nothing to say of the good residents of the stores; your friendly neighborhood bodega cats. They're content to laze around the aisles, though the more playful sorts may swat at your wayward accessories as you pass by.
Don't mind that they seem to disappear - and reappear - with a blink. That's just something cats can do.
Of course you are! There's plenty of places to eat here, but why go to some no-name joint when you can go to McDonalds? They've got burgers, they've got fries, they've got McPizza, and they even have a playplace! ...Though you're probably too old for the ball pit.
Regardless of what you order, if you even order, the cashier presses a small toy into the palm of your hand. Don't you feel a pair of tiny eyes on you?
For fuck's sake, someone only went and killed a guy in the McDonald's parking lot. Maybe his head is smashed in under that chicken mask, or maybe you'll want to check? You could do the right thing and work out who did this, or you could make off with his baseball bat. The choice is yours.
What good's a city that goes to sleep? When the sun goes down, the lights go up. The city becomes aglow with every colour of the neon rainbow, with bowling alleys, nightclubs, karaoke bars, arcades and soon-to-be-extinct roller discos competing for your attention until the sun comes up. You're here, there's no curfew, it's time to make the most of it.
Have something else in mind? Go wild, and party like it's 1989.
Night Life [cw: smoking?, alcohol]
[He can't help but feel the coarse callouses in Stantz's hand scraping against the skin of his own palm. This, and the plain beige jumpsuit both tell Tonegawa all he needs to know about this man: a common laborer. In fact, judging by the stench of motor oil emanating from him (so much so that Tonegawa can make it out through the tobacco odor that went hand-in-hand with entertainment districts such as these), Tonegawa could even hazard a guess that he was specifically an auto mechanic.]
[And that made his friendliness all the more bizarre. Tonegawa has never driven a day in his life, relying on public transport or one of his subordinates chauffeuring him where he needed. He's had no reason to enlist the services of, or even interact with, a car repair man. Unless this was a debtor to the company? But that would make even less sense. No one in their right mind would be so carefree around Tonegawa, period. Much less someone owing money to Teiai-]
[...he was so deep in thought attempting to identify this stranger, that he had stopped putting up any resistance, realizing it all too late as they were both already inside the establishment. Great. He eyes the bar, far more invested in the prospect of blacking out than in making a fool of himself, or suffering the foolishness of this stranger.]
no subject
Oh, sorry, I guess I got a little excited!
[It doesn't take long for Ray to bounce back from the shock, however, as he smiles at the man. Maybe he was just a little shocked too!]
Still don't you think it would be fun to check it out! Of course all the buildings here look great; I'm kind of curious to see if there's any new games at the arcade too! Or the roller disco...
[You better stop him because he's just going to start listing all the places he wants to check out in this district.]
no subject
[He was never good with faces, but he hoped the more he stared intently at Ray's, the more he might remember who he was and why it is he would try cajoling him into karaoke... though, speaking of that- if Tonegawa wants to ask questions pertaining to his business, a private karaoke room with just the two of them... just might be the safest bet he has available.]
Never mind. We're already here and I'm in no mood for further gallivanting around at this hour... I'll make it worth your while, at least, and pay for our own personal room. [Although Tonegawa is definitely going to hold this expense over Ray's head later on.]
...I apologize for my rudeness, as well, mister...? [He says, intentionally trailing off in the hopes Ray will complete the sentence for him.]
no subject
Aww, I wouldn't do that to you. It would be rude to let a stranger pay for a room for me, especially if they're not going to participate in the karaoke.
Dr. Ray Stantz! You can just call me Ray. [He offers his hand to shake, but he will let Tonegawa decide if he wants to accept it or not.]
[cw: smoking]
...doctor?
[Tonegawa panics at Ray's extended hand, and makes a startled grab at his wrist, leading him into the karaoke room. Quickly shooing out the vendor occupying it and getting on his hands and knees to check under the seats, he assures the two of them were completely alone in the soundproof room.]
[He stands tall, taking out a Peace brand pack of cigarettes from inside his suitjacket, pulling a cigarette out with his lips and flicking his lighter on in the same fluid motion, breathing it in deeply to calm his nerves. Tonegawa glances over at the display video of pop song lyrics scrolling over beach waves with a forboding sense of dread.]
...doctor of what, exactly.
no subject
A small part of him wonders if he was dragged into a trap of some sort, but surely there's no point in worrying when it there could be a rational reasoning for this.]
Parapsychology? I have a masters in electrical engineering too.
[cw: smoking]
[The combination of newfound privacy and nicotine work wonders to clear Tonegawa's mind enough to get him deep in thought again. He balks at the mention of what he got his degree in, chastising himself for almost taking this "Dr. Stantz" seriously. Although, if his PhD is in something as useless as Parapsychology, then it would make sense for him to borrow from Teiai to make ends meet. Rising college debt commonly caused an increase in customers.]
[Tonegawa realizes he doesn't have all the time in the world, and that he must still put up the facade that they came to this venue to... sing, and as Stantz couldn't exactly answer his questions while following along to the lyrics...]
[Leaning forward to smush the lit end of his cigarette into an ashtray, he lifts his chin up to look Ray in the eye with a professional smile- the kind that didn't reach his eyes.]
Would you... mind if I take the first song, Dr. Stantz? Most clients that take to my business visit me in a tense, uneasy mindset... its best for me to ease the atmosphere between us before we further our discussion.
[He scrolls through the song list idly, already regretting this.]
no subject
[Ray is thoroughly baffled at this point. Had he said anything about being this man's client? He has no idea who this man is, first of all. Let alone why he of all people would be uneasy when he was the one who dragged him into the karaoke bar.
... You know after seeing the body earlier, a small part of him couldn't help but wonder if this was some weird attempt to kill him.]
Sure, go ahead!
no subject
[Speak of the devil, and you may accidentally select his song].
Fuck.
[Tonegawa fumbles to grab the microphone as the wave of cheery trumpets and claps kick in. He's singing now. Oh, he hates this.]
no subject
Well.
This is far from the weirdest attempt to murder him, at least?]
I think you're doing a great job!
no subject
...just tell me whether you've repaid your debts to Teiai or not. That's all I need to know.
no subject
What debts?
Tonegawa's Pissed
[Tonegawa's hands shake as he silently pushes himself up from the table, teeth grit and eyes burning with rage. He's hit a brick wall.]
...what. Do you MEAN, "what debts"?! [He is absolutely indignant at Ray's words. Tonegawa's heard all manner of pathetic excuses once he came knocking on his client's doors, but flat out denying their involvement was certainly a new one.] Look, I don't have the time to memorize the names and faces of half my employees, let alone the miserable lot of pond scum that we charitably call our clientele, I don't know who the fuck you are, RAY STANTZ, but the only halfway reasonable explanation I have as to why some giddy jumpsuit-wearing nobody would try to drag me off with him for karaoke night is that he might be the hired help maintaining the machines to make ends meet, who borrowed money from my company to pay the rent or his college debt- and he's only acting so friendly to me because he knows he's late on his payments, and to save face, he plans on buttering me up like a fresh lobster ready to be slapped on a grill for a corporate barbecue- but mark my words it's going to be YOU on that grill in an hour if you don't tell me what the FUCK you want from me.
Ray is not pissed but he's certainly Unhappy
It takes a few moments for him to register what he's talking about and Ray stands up, folding his arms in annoyance.]
Wait, is this all just because I asked you to go to a karaoke bar with me?
[What the fuck??]
I'm sorry but I had no ulterior motive, I just wanted to sing karaoke and it's no fun to do it alone! My partners never trust me to handle the money so there's no reason for me to take out a loan for anything.
Do... do you think any sort of act of kindness has an ulterior motive like that?
no subject
Tch. Obviously. Anyone with two braincells to rub together could tell you the only reason humans desire to develop and maintain lasting companionship is simply to stave off the void of loneliness created as a result of not having any other productive meaning to their lives. That desire to have worth in one's life can just as easily be fulfilled by money, knowledge, skill, power- you name it. People are simply another commodity the same as anything else.
no subject
That's not true! A lot of people are great and they're way more than just things you can use to your own advantage! And friendship means more to me than any amount of money anyone could give me!
[Granted the Ghostbusters do make a really decent wage right now.
Maybe not the best person to be preaching that but it's fine.]
[responds 1½ weeks late with McCafé]
Now you're just sounding like some second-rate morality play, Mr. Stantz. [Pointedly ignoring his doctorate.] What hard-hitting life lesson are you going to enlighten me on next, "lying is wrong"? "Don't hurt others"? "Smoking is bad for you"? Please. I wasn't born yesterday, I've heard all this drivel before and then some, and I can tell you for a fact that no matter how invaluable a man claims his relationships are... there's always an amount you can pay him that proves otherwise.
The fact of the matter is: nothing in this world has intrinsic worth except for cold hard cash. ...unless you want to tell me you're paying your taxes in units of friendship, hm? Do you give hugs instead of checks, too?
[He keeps chuckling under his breath, way too amused at himself. Also, it seems he's starting to idly cycle through the songs list again. Didn't he already have his turn? What a douchebag.]