Shepherd One

“Internet… ‘mems’?”

He’s... just... going to turn around and walk away. Who taught his father this? He will fire them.

wwww MEGANE POWAAAAA

“No need to sulk next to the door, Nobuchika. Invite yourself inside.” This day is aside from any other, given its circumstances. The younger man would hardly give him the time of day if this wasn’t his mother’s memorial day–yet, he noticed his son’s reactions were becoming unpredictable. He is as likely to turn on his heel and leave this residence. Whatever his son decides to do, Masaoka will continue with his practice. Given a day off and the right outdoor lighting, he’ll be seated before an easel. The room is still and silent; Masaoka never listened to music or left a television set on as he painted. Those things broke his concentration… be he could manage to carry a conversation. Or, as the case with his son and very few other people, simply to paint in comfortable silence. 

He’s uncomfortable just being here. This feels wrong in a way. Ginoza has made too much of a strict effort to keep himself away from his father and best friend after their demotions. He knows what becomes of those who get too close to vile, snapping hound jaws.Yet, he never could completely separate himself from them. He knows this better than anyone on the force.

So here he stands, sulking just beyond his father’s living quarters doors, arms crossed while his gaze tries not to watch the old man at work on his painting. Sometimes, you just need to curl up with a loved one, but his pride won’t allow him to do so so easily. Ginoza huffs under his breath at the hound’s words,striding over to the couch calmly to sit closer to his father.

He misses watching his father paint. As a child, it fascinated him to no end. The hours he spent watching his father whenever he could with his paintbrush in hand and that soft, soft expression on his face. Jade eyes instantly glue themselves to the canvas in front of him, analyzing each and every detail splayed on the easel.

Then, he breaks the silence. “How long have you been painting this one?”

          Hands set themselves before her shirt, and she takes the time to rock back and forth on her heels. “ Do you think that they allow dogs in there? “ Probably not, but it never hurts to ask. Dime is as amazing of a companion as Ginoza is, and Ib truly appreciates the canine’s company. They’re as quiet as their master is.

“If that’s what you want to do.” His smile is genuine towards the small girl, a hand back to occupying Dime’s soft fur.

But now he has a dilemma: does he even have a favorite museum? There’s plenty to choose from, sure, but any he would say is his absolute favorite? Looks like the inspector has some research to do tonight. He wants to make sure Ib has fun too on this little adventure. 

As for her question, his smile weakens just slightly. While he would love to bring his furry pal everywhere with him, public buildings are absolutely prohibited unless for the purpose of housing canines and/or animals in general, and with the advances of modern medicine and technology, service dogs are no longer needed. Even if Dime was a service dog, neither Ib nor himself would need Dime’s lovely assistance. “Unfortunately no, dogs are not allowed in majority of public places. He’ll have to stay at home just this once. But I know he will wait eagerly to see you the next time we meet.”

          These trips are probably the most fulfilling activity in her regular routine, to be quite honest. There’s something invigorating about these sorts of places– thinking about it, it’s most likely because this place is one of the less artificial places around in this world. For someone born right smack in the middle of an era like this, the technology around her really didn’t seem to have as much of an appeal as she would have liked for it to ( it feels sort of alienating, being like this ).

          “ Oh– “ The information that Gino gave was already more than enough, but she finds herself somewhat caught off guard when he questions her. It’s a run of the mill one, something that should have been expected, but she finds the time to think it over more anyway ( it’s an intriguing topic! running in guns blazing would be mindless! ). “ … Maybe one day. “ 

Perhaps keeping museums around isn’t such a bad idea. Artwork and science are still relevant in this day and age, no matter how censored. And truly, everyone loves the past in some shape or form. For Kogami, it’s blacklisted paper novels, for Ginoza himself it’s currency. Despite having no use for formal bills and coins for purchase and exchange, the inspector finds absolute joy in collecting the outdated concept.

His gaze softens at the child. He wouldn’t mind taking Ib to a museum one day. It’ll get him out of his apartment and (hopefully) keep his wandering mind in one place for a bit. A change of pace for Ib and his get-togethers would do them wonders. “I’ll take you to one someday. Is there a certain type of museum you would like to visit?”

          Unfortunately for the general populace, it’s easy for one to assimilate to a certain lifestyle if they’re born into it, and very hard for one to be able to imagine what life would have been like before their own little personal bubble of existence. That only serves as curiosity’s firestarter though, as the girl looks down while attempting to recall certain texts that she’s read before.

          “ … I don’t think we have museums anymore, “  Ib mumbles, more to herself than to her compansion. “ If we do,  Mother and Father haven’t gone with me before… “

          “ … Aaah. “ A pause, and the child blinks, red gaze rising until they’ve reached Gino’s face. “ What about you, Nobuchika-san? Have you gone to a museum? “ 

Dog parks will always be one of his favorite places to reside. Nice weather, playful barks, beautiful canines running around, and his old friend by his side is the perfect afternoon for the inspector. What makes this particular afternoon even better is the company of his newly found friend, Ib, a small girl he encountered not too long ago while on the clock. His attention from Dime is shifted to Ib when she speaks to him, trying to recall his childhood.

“A museum?” Had he ever been to a museum in his childhood? “I believe I have when I was younger. It wasn’t a museum like the old days, however.” Old days, meaning before he himself was born. The Sibyl System is more than happy to erase any and all history that it can get its hands on. “Would you like to visit one someday?”