[CLOSED] Catch-all

[the_fourteenth]

WHO: Raidou Kuzunoha & others
WHAT: a long overdue catch-all log for various adventures
WHERE: Whenever you need him
WHEN: September and onward
WARNINGS: Threads will be marked if/when it's needed




Closed starters for Raidou Kuzunoha, from now until I say so

Comments

[fessus]

Sounded like it.

[ That's all Raidou had really been willing to share before. "Busy". Haven't all of them been, after the attack? Somehow when he says it, however, it feels like there's more to it. There must be, or else he wouldn't be here. ]

I could give you a tour if you want, but it's probably more fun to look around yourself. [ He rests his weight on one leg, turning to gesture to the rows of machines in the back. ]

There's a couple lotto ones... not saying you look like you're into that. There's a bar for drinks and food. Ah, what else... a simulation room too. You wanna' check anything out?

[the_fourteenth]

Maybe we can take an informal tour.

[A walk and talk, perhaps.]

Next time I come by, I'll bring some people.

[You can call them your friends, Raidou. Most likely it'll be Yuji, Bakugo, and/or Denji. He'll follow after Noctis, wherever he decides to lead first.]

Thanks for inviting me. Any excuse to get out of that bunker is a good one.

[fessus]

Tell me about it. [ The past few weeks have been hard. Sure, there's the emotional toll and the physical work that's been involved, but pure adjustment to a slew of changes so soon after his own arrival presented a new challenge. He wonders how much worse it was for a young man who's called this place home much longer. ]

And that sounds ominous when you say it like that, you know. They better be people that are low-key and cool; I'm protecting the vibe. [ He turns with a jerk of his head, inviting Raidou to follow as he stashes those cleaning materials on the nearest machine for later. ]

Here's the lotto ones, coming up.

[ ... ]

You doing okay?

[the_fourteenth]

Ah, well... does that mean I need to leave Bakugo-kun out?

[There's a little bit of a smile again as he says that. Somehow, the two of them are very close, when they couldn't be more unalike on the outside.

Raidou goes quiet when asked that, a thoughtful silence. Of course he's not okay. He's so obviously not, this kind person, whom he barely knows could tell right away. For as much as Raidou thinks he's cold and unreadable - and really, he is - his emotions have a way of leaking out around the edges. The more he holds them back, the more potent they become.]

I... I don't know how to answer that.

[HE really doesn't. Decorum and his station as a summoner means no complaining about yourself or your feelings. They're irrelevant in his line of work, and many of the Outsiders are indeed not okay either. How could they be.]

[fessus]

Ugh.

[ The single sound is all he really feels he needs to offer in response to Bakugo's name. Would he try to keep him out? No, of course not, but the likelihood of it becoming a shouting match is high, and he doesn't want to put Raidou through that. Not now, when he looks so pensive. ]

... come on, over here. [ He skirts past those machines to cut through his own tour, instead directing Raidou towards the back. There's a line of barstools set up against a counter in the corner, one behind which is tucked a door clearly leading to a kitchen. He takes his place behind the bar, gesturing at a stool for him to sit. ]

Do you– Are you into beer? Soda? What's your thing?

[the_fourteenth]

[A smaller, quieter place like this feels a bit better in this situation. No noise from the games to drown out his voice, or anyone who might overhear. Not that they'd care, but. Still.]

Oh. Um, a soda is good. Thanks.

[He's got a sweet tooth. No beer for him.

"Pensive" seems to be a default with this kid. He quietly taps a finger on the counter in thought.]

I, um. I know you said, that I could talk, if I want. I just... have a hard time with that sort of thing. For a lot of reasons, I guess.

[And he knows how obvious it is, too.]

It's hard to know what to say. Where to start.

[fessus]

[ Well... if there's anything anyone here has said that he can immediately and easily relate to, it's that. Opening up so regularly feels impossible; he's not surprised that Raidou feels the same.

And so, he takes advantage of the need to pour that soda in order to give himself time to arrange his thoughts. ]

It's not like you have to go in order. Or get it all out at once... so maybe start small.

[ The drink is set down on the counter before him, with Noctis's arms folding over the surface for a lean. ]

Do you feel better or worse right now than you did when you walked in?

[the_fourteenth]

[The fact that he's here at all, and that he's trying, is a big step for Raidou. So at least there's that.

He pulls the soda glass close, his finger tapping on it quietly as he thinks.]

You're quite kind, you know. To offer something like this to someone you barely know.

[Maybe it's a sign of just how not well Raidou has been doing, that someone he doesn't really know could pinpoint it immediately. He wouldn't think of it that way, though. Still, he manages a small smile, though it's gone before he voices his next thought.]

Right before I arrived here, I... Something really bad happened. Next thing I know, I'm here. Dealing with-- [A small shrug. Noctis knows what they're dealing with.] I-It just seems like... Like it just happened. And so much is left unknown for me back home because of it.

[While the details are vague, Raidou's just trying to keep it simple. But what it boils down to is clear: no time and no way to process something pretty traumatic, before being thrust into a life in Neo Tokyo of more trauma. Anyone would be struggling, but often he feels alone in it.]