006. Text/Action for Violet City

[ardent]

[TEXT]

[Today's post is a bit different, the usual video completely absent; he's not been much in the mood for talking to others lately.

However, there are reasons why he thinks he probably should. So text it is.]

As much as we don't always understand or like it very much, the experiences we've had in this place are things to be cherished, I think. It's a good opportunity that we've been given, to meet others we might never have known and share ideas that we might never have come across otherwise.

I feel very blessed to have met all of you. If I haven't spoken to you, then I want to eventually; I'm sure there are things we can learn from one another, if given the opportunity. I still haven't found what it is I'm supposed to do with myself here - but I don't think that stagnation is acceptable, either. For now, I think "working on making things right" is a satisfactory goal, and one that I need to keep in mind more often, maybe.

Either way, I hope that today is a good and productive day for you - and if not, that tomorrow will be better.

[...it's a little subdued and Not Exactly Okay - by Ishimaru's usual standards, anyway - but he sends it anyway; it's just something he's needed to get out there, really.

Somebody's dealing with his first sudden-disappearance-from-Johto experience over here; it's not going too well, but he's trying to get back on track the only way he really knows how.]


[ACTION]

[Ishimaru's been making himself scarce lately; he's used the few days he's had since turning twenty to throw himself into being a complete workaholic, and while that's been good for replenishing what he's spent (and he's been spending much more than usual over the last couple of weeks, something he's been feeling intensely guilty about), there have been other abovementioned reasons for his radio silence and general avoidance of everyone.

But he's off today and the streets of Violet City are welcome, even if he does seem a bit jittery. He's out of his normal uniform, for one thing, and it's still something he's completely unused to - the military-style boots are the same, of course, but he's got black pants on under them, the stiff ones he usually uses for travelling purposes despite the fact that he's doing nothing of the sort just now; as for the rest...he has no idea where Naegi even found the thing in Johto, but he is currently +1 trendy-as-hell hoodie, white with red and black accents and more zippers than he knows what to do with. He still feels more than a bit out-of-place wearing it, but it's something he could get used to. Maybe. The hood's dropped back over his shoulders; it seems to be...weirdly weighted down by something, and if he's seen at the right moment, there's what's undeniably some sort of cat in there, peeking out over his shoulder. Meowth, from the look of it. A very, very runty one, but a Meowth regardless.

Of course, he's got other reasons for the nerves, apparently; he comes to a stop outside the local bar, looking up at it in the way that one does when they know they have absolutely no reason for going in there and are probably going to get thrown out because...well, god only knows why. It's a ridiculous notion, especially given that no one here seems to care about the local drinking age, if one even exists; Oowada had taken him in there shortly after his birthday, and he's come back frequently since, immediately after he's off work. Which wouldn't be too weird - he can do as he pleases, after all - if he didn't get off work in the middle of the afternoon.

Clearly, it's five o'clock somewhere.

However, once he slips inside, he's actually not interested in drinking; what's got his attention is the billiards table in the back room. That's where he goes immediately, setting the Meowth down on one of the nearby stools before picking one of the cue sticks off the back wall. It's not high-quality (nor is the table, really) but he's not going to complain; it's just for the sake of amusing himself, anyway. He'd noticed the setup when he'd come in here the first time, with Oowada; he hadn't played then, but it's what he's been coming back for.

Pool is geometry, when it comes down to it - geometry and physics, all angles and force and arcs; even so, he's still not sure where he picked up how to play. It's just something he knows how to do; if he were to dwell on it for long enough, he'd likely think that it's something he doesn't remember due to the incident in the school. But for now, he doesn't want to think; he racks up easily, and when he shoots, the break is a clean one.]

Comments

[ardent]

[Well, whatever the intention may have been, it seems to have gone directly over Ishimaru's head; rather, Mondo's words seem to have genuinely pleased him.]

Of course, kyoudai - why wouldn't I? Even after I work things out for myself, I still won't want to be too far from you; you're too important to me for that!

[diamondo]

I'm glad to hear it!

[He certainly is, and if he wasn't holding your runty Meowth, he'd get up and brohug you.]

I wouldn't want to be too far from you either!

[ardent]

I'm always going to want to be in touch with you, at least, even if we aren't physically close; this place makes it a bit easier to do that. But I'm never going to leave you forever, I promise.

[diamondo]

Yeah, of course! And I'm really glad to hear that, kyoudai! I won't leave you either! No matter what happens, we'll work through it!

[ardent]

...Of course.

[Something about that seems to strike him strangely, but he's content to move on from it for now; it's not anything to worry about.]

I'll do whatever I can for you, you know that.

[diamondo]

[Mondo doesn't seem to notice anything strange about it, he just nods and grins.]

Yeah! I'll always do whatever I can for you too!

[ardent]

I'm glad to hear it, kyoudai!

[Just. Let him put the stick up, okay.]

I should probably let Celes-kun know that we'll be leaving in a couple of days, then - ah, and Alice-san as well, since I'm guessing you'll want her to come with us?

[diamondo]

Yeah. I'd prefer to have her along.

[He's pretty sure he doesn't need to say why. His expression does a good job of saying it all anyway.]

[ardent]

[...wow it seems to have suddenly dropped twenty degrees in here]

...Are you all right?

[It's kind of a stupid question and he knows it; it's not what he meant, either - not really, anyway. But it's the closest approximation he has, if he can't articulate it straight-out.]

[diamondo]

Yeah. I'm fine.

[Thankfully Mondo has the cat to occupy him so he's not glaring daggers at Ishimaru - he's not exactly mad at Ishimaru, after all.]

You know I can handle this shit.

[ardent]

What? I never said you couldn't!

[There's...something he's not understanding, isn't there...]

[diamondo]

[Yeah, pretty much...]

C'mon, this isn't the place to talk about this sorta shit.

[He scoops the cat up and is perfectly content to carry her unless Ishimaru wants her back.]

[ardent]

[...well, given how easily she cuddles up there, Ishimaru isn't going to ask for her back just yet, that's for sure...]

...Of course, kyoudai.

[...well, if you're insisting on going elsewhere, you are more than welcome to lead on.]

[diamondo]

[Good! Mondo leads the way back to the hotel room, where he's quite content to flop on his side of the bed, letting the kitten go.]

You know I don't trust her.

[It's as good a place to start as any, he supposes.]

[ardent]

[...Mondo, is that really what you dragged him back in here for? Really?]

Yes, I understand that!

[diamondo]

[Hey, you were getting ready to leave anyway!]

Yeah, so you should know why I want to bring Alice along with us. I don't want to let my guard down around her, and if we're travelling together, I kinda have to at night.

[Unless if he just avoids sleeping, which he kind of did on the way over here, whoops.]

[ardent]

And I never said we shouldn't bring Alice-san with us, did I?!

[Holy shit, kyoudai, what the hell has gotten into you - ]

And even so, do you really think that Celes-kun is going to try to kill me in my sleep or something? Even if she did want to kill me, she's smarter than that!

[diamondo]

Yeah, you're right, she is smarter than that. Why the fuck do you think I'm on edge all the time around her!? I can't fucking tell what she's planning and there's no fucking way I'm just gonna assume she won't hurt you! Sure, she won't gain anything from killing you here, but like I said, I can't read her at all! Who the fuck knows what she's thinking!?

[...This has been building for awhile, is it obvious?]

[ardent]

[J-Just a bit...]

But if she has nothing to gain from it, then why would she bother?! It would only harm her in the end if she were to try anything now!

[diamondo]

So!? For all I know, she could've just gone fucking crazy! She could easily do that again regardless of whether it'll hurt her or not!! I'm not gonna let my guard down around her just 'cause she wouldn't gain anything from killing you here!!

[ardent]

[Damn it, kyoudai, he was trying to not mention this around you.]

...It was for personal gain. I know for a fact that it had to do with the motive that was given, which would have been for personal gain.

[diamondo]

What fucking kind of personal gain? Do you know that too?

[He's beginning to get the feeling that Ishimaru knows a lot more than he's been saying...]

[ardent]

W-Why does that matter?!

[It's not a defense and he knows it; his expression probably says everything, anyway.]

[diamondo]

You do know! Why the hell didn't you tell me!? What the fuck did she do you in for anyway!?

[ardent]

Because it's not important!! It would just make you worry, anyway, and you don't need that!!