...Chuuya Nakahara was a participant at the temple, that's why. I thought I saw someone that looked like him during the bus ride - was the right height and everything, but didn't look quite the same.
You said you're sure he's the one you remember, though, right?
Definitely. He's a fucking punk who killed when he didn't have to, I'm not going to forget that. [ casually doxes a fifteen year old ] He's a constant, I guess, considering his older self was on the fuck boat, too.
These places like to take a lot of people from similar contexts, looks like. I've never seen anybody from my world other than me, but we had people that Akira recognized in the House. I know that at least.
Yeah. There were two people from home I knew at the temple, and there's another one that came over this time in the bus. I know a lot of people that claim they're from some place called Japan, though the when and where is all over the place.
Malkuth, huh. [ she tilts her head back. ] So you're from another world entirely. I've got Faerun, Exandria, Earth and now - Auldrant. Makes me wonder how many more there are.
Sounds about right. I wouldn't call him a complicated person. More like one that just has a lot of baggage to work through. [understatement, but! moving on.]
Who knows, maybe it's just easier for him to deal with people when they don't want to be anywhere near him. If it's all you're used to, it's hard to break the habit, right?
[He'll chuckle, backing away just a bit to give her some room as he props his chin up with one hand against his leg.] Sort of. It's a mix of that and just people watching. Seeing how people are handling the sudden change gives a lot of insight, you know?
You were nice enough on the bus. I wanted to see if you'd be willing to talk again, now that throwing shoes is out of the picture. [It's dry, but good-natured.]
[Wow! It's fine, it's pretty true. He'll cock his head to the side with a pleased smirk.]
You didn't instantly jump on me for laughs when I told you about the girls, and you've got a pretty good sense of humor. That's a nice enough start. Besides, I like to think people are worth a little more than what they might show on the surface.
[Anyway.] Annoyed sounds like a little bit of an understatement, but it still works. After what we all went through, I'm sure everyone out here is scared in their own way. It's hard not to think about it all repeating itself.
Still better than what I'm used to, honestly. Even when I say what's going on, girls back home will still do it on purpose.
Pitiful of me, right? [His voice doesn't change, but there's a subtle shift in his smile, a bitterness that's hard to shake.
A beat.]
Still... thanks for having some self-control, regardless of what you wanted to do.
[And just like that, the moment's gone, and he's fine.] Guess I should be glad we weren't figuring this stuff out while you were wasted, or this might have been a totally different conversation, huh?
[A glance at her, VERY hard to read, before he shrugs it off with a laugh.]
If you say so. Thanks.
[Moving on.]
Maybe now that we're not crammed on that bus, a drink or two would be a little more appealing. Not that I think we'll see much of it from what's in that mess hall, but who knows.
Anyway... I know this might be a little out of nowhere, but would you mind explaining what you were up to when I first came out here? That looked more like meditation than any kind of warm-up I've seen.
[ she lets it go for now, but she's going to keep it for later. once she decides she wants to know something, she will know it.
she sniffs. ] Oh - yeah, it's kind of a meditation. Yoga. It's the kind of shit the Cobalt Soul teaches you to do when you've got a shitton of anxious energy and nowhere to put it.
I can show you how to do it if you want? It's not that hard and it doesn't require me getting close to you.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ she looks amused. ] He is short and huffy, definitely. Why?
no subject
You said you're sure he's the one you remember, though, right?
no subject
no subject
I'll have to take a look at his card over in the mess hall, because there's no way that can be a coincidence.
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
You definitely don't remind me of anyone from Kimlasca or Malkuth, either.
no subject
no subject
Malkuth is where I'm from.
no subject
Wait, Auldrant? That sounds familiar.
no subject
[Casually said, as though this isn't the first time he's mentioned the redhead in conversation.]
Who knows how many worlds we're looking at overall, though. Likely more than we expect.
I doubt anyone's in the mood to do a poll, but it's an interesting thought.
no subject
[ a pause. she hears that other information but. also. ] You guys are from the same world. You know each other?
no subject
I think that's all he meant. I wouldn't take offense over it or anything. I just asked him who he recognized, that's all.
Anyway. Yeah, we do know each other. We're not good friends or anything, but I'm familiar with him.
no subject
He doesn't like having good friends, so I'm not surprised. He does as much as fucking possible to get people to hate him first. Not that I do.
no subject
Who knows, maybe it's just easier for him to deal with people when they don't want to be anywhere near him. If it's all you're used to, it's hard to break the habit, right?
no subject
Were you just out here exploring, or what?
no subject
[He'll chuckle, backing away just a bit to give her some room as he props his chin up with one hand against his leg.] Sort of. It's a mix of that and just people watching. Seeing how people are handling the sudden change gives a lot of insight, you know?
You were nice enough on the bus. I wanted to see if you'd be willing to talk again, now that throwing shoes is out of the picture. [It's dry, but good-natured.]
no subject
I've been poking around to try and get everybody's mindset here and there. Most people are annoyed, more than anything.
no subject
You didn't instantly jump on me for laughs when I told you about the girls, and you've got a pretty good sense of humor. That's a nice enough start. Besides, I like to think people are worth a little more than what they might show on the surface.
[Anyway.] Annoyed sounds like a little bit of an understatement, but it still works. After what we all went through, I'm sure everyone out here is scared in their own way. It's hard not to think about it all repeating itself.
no subject
[ beau sometimes you don't have to be honest. ] But - yeah, I mean, that's why I spent most of my time drunk on the bus.
no subject
Pitiful of me, right? [His voice doesn't change, but there's a subtle shift in his smile, a bitterness that's hard to shake.
A beat.]
Still... thanks for having some self-control, regardless of what you wanted to do.
[And just like that, the moment's gone, and he's fine.] Guess I should be glad we weren't figuring this stuff out while you were wasted, or this might have been a totally different conversation, huh?
no subject
[ she watches him for a moment, taking it in. storing away what she sees. and then, firmly: ] You're not pitiful.
no subject
If you say so. Thanks.
[Moving on.]
Maybe now that we're not crammed on that bus, a drink or two would be a little more appealing. Not that I think we'll see much of it from what's in that mess hall, but who knows.
Anyway... I know this might be a little out of nowhere, but would you mind explaining what you were up to when I first came out here? That looked more like meditation than any kind of warm-up I've seen.
no subject
she sniffs. ] Oh - yeah, it's kind of a meditation. Yoga. It's the kind of shit the Cobalt Soul teaches you to do when you've got a shitton of anxious energy and nowhere to put it.
I can show you how to do it if you want? It's not that hard and it doesn't require me getting close to you.
(no subject)