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

[diamondo]

[There isn't any way Ishimaru can end that statement that won't upset Mondo, but the sudden silence bothers him much more than anything Ishimaru could have said. He doesn't move at first, just turning to look at Ishimaru. He takes in the shallow breathing, the strangled gestures, and the silence and Mondo's expression softens. He knows Ishimaru sometimes has issues getting the words out right and being stressed like this can't be helping any.

So after a moment of thought, Mondo gets up and approaches Ishimaru, reaching out to touch his shoulder gently.]

Hey. I'm sorry I snapped at you, alright? I'm just worried. I don't wanna see her hurt you.

[ardent]

[And for some reason, it's the soft touch on his shoulder that gets him to cry; he immediately drops his gaze to the floor, feeling himself start to shake a little, but at the very least he does nod acknowledgement after a moment.]

[diamondo]

[Well, shit. He should have seen that coming.

Mondo doesn't hesitate, he pulls Ishimaru forward into a hug, immediately moving to play with his hair.]

It's okay, kyoudai. Everything'll be alright.

[The words are softer than they usually are, if only because he doesn't know what to say. He's not sure what's making Ishimaru cry in the first place - it's possible Ishimaru genuinely didn't realize how that looked, but isn't it also possible that Ishimaru just hadn't considered that? That he'd been so wrapped up in keeping all their classmates safe that he hadn't even thought about the knowledge that Celes killed him? Hell if Mondo knows, but he'll do his damn best to comfort Ishimaru.]

[ardent]

[Ishimaru is quick to return the hug, at least, fingers twisting tightly into the fabric at the back of Mondo's coat; he begins to relax after a bit, the shaking starting to subside eventually, though his grip doesn't seem to be loosening any.]

...You don't need to keep reminding me about what she did. You keep saying that she killed me, over and over again. I know.

[diamondo]

[Mondo doesn't reply right away. Of course Ishimaru knows. That isn't something he could have forgotten, right? Saying it repeatedly isn't doing any good.]

I'm... look, I'm sorry, alright? I just don't get how you can spend time around her without going crazy. I won't keep saying it, alright? I'm sorry.

[ardent]

...it's fine, kyoudai. Don't let it trouble you.

[...]

And knowing what the motive was won't solve anything. It's just going to make you angry.

[diamondo]

Well, yeah, 'course it's gonna make me angry. But not knowing's just as bad.

[ardent]

[...

Mnngh.]

It was for money. Ten billion yen, if what I was told is correct.

[diamondo]

[...Money?

......Money?]

She killed you for ten billion yen.

[His grip tightens on Ishimaru and for some reason he can't quite work out, he's no longer angry, he's just horribly depressed.]

Fuck. Fuck. I'm sorry, kyoudai. Of all fucking things...

[ardent]

[The noise that gets out of him is both soft and surprised; whatever he'd been expecting, it clearly wasn't that, and it takes him a moment to recover.]

...I...I'm all right! It doesn't matter; like Naegi-kun's been saying, it's not in my future anymore, right?

[diamondo]

That's... Yeah. That's right. Nothing like that's gonna happen to you.

[Not while he's here to look out for you, at least!]

She tries anything, she'll have to answer to Alice, and I'm pretty fucking sure Alice can take her down without any problems.

[ardent]

[He squirms a bit before pulling back; he doesn't really mind the contact as a whole, but there's been a lot of it and that's just sort of awkward.

...Granted, it feels kind of weird to suddenly not have it anymore either, but that's neither here nor there.]

Of course she can! But I don't think that's going to be necessary, kyoudai, it'll be okay.

[diamondo]

[It feels weird not hugging on Ishimaru, so Mondo simply folds his arms and picks at his sleeves to give himself something to do. He glances up once that statement is out there and half-shrugs.]

I hope so. I don't want anything to happen to you.

[ardent]

[...okay, let's see if he can. express this. without it coming out strangely or implying about a million things he doesn't want to imply.]

...I know that you're worried and that you want to protect me, and I appreciate that! But I don't want you to worry about it like you have been - if I thought she posed a legitimate threat, I wouldn't be around her in the first place! We aren't close, and I intend to keep it that way - I think it's necessary to be around her now because she's arrived so recently, and I don't want her to act through desperation since we arrive with no money or status here, but once we've brought her back to Goldenrod I don't want to have any more contact than required!

[...was...was that acceptable]

[diamondo]

[Mondo tips his head a bit in thought after all that's out there. He certainly doesn't seem angry, so that's a good start!]

I don't really think it's necessary to be around her now either, but that's your choice to make, I guess. It's good to hear you don't want to have anything to do with her though. We'll drop her off in Goldenrod and that'll be it. We won't have to deal with her again.

[ardent]

Of course.

[This still doesn't feel quite right, though; at the same time, maybe it's not meant to be. There's not much that's going to be right about this situation, is there? Not after everything that's happened.]

...Ah, and the rose didn't mean anything, either; you mentioned that earlier, I think.

[diamondo]

...It was just 'cause she couldn't afford anything else, right?

[He was definitely reading too deeply into that, right?]

[ardent]

Well, it wasn't a sign of interest, if that's what you're thinking!

[orz...]

[diamondo]

I'm glad to hear it wasn't!

[...that might have been his first thought...]

[ardent]

...did you think it was?

[WHY.]

[diamondo]

W-Well I mean... it was a red fucking rose!! What else was I supposed to think!? You don't give red roses to just anyone!

[ardent]

But why would she be interested in me after everything that happened?!

[diamondo]

Fuck if I know! Like I said, she's a hard one to read!!

[ardent]

Well, yes, of course! But I'm pretty sure you don't do that to people you're interested in...

[diamondo]

'Course not! Maybe she wasn't interested until she got here or something though?