lostnetwork | ITP: Claiming first in the name of horrible roommates

'You mean this is the third time I've been dragged to an alternate reality?! Geez, I really do look like some ridiculously bad cosplayer with those wings.'

[The hair's a little different, longer, and her figure is slightly more filled out, but that is definitely Kyonko in the picture and she can't help but stare at it, a look of complete shellshock on her face.]

I don't even remember this, Haruki.

I know. [Of course she wouldn't. No one ever does. He sighs and then tosses her photo back in the box. He looks through a few more of the others, before tossing them in too. Usagi and Alphonse on top. ...And then he goes to look back into the lost and found to see if there's more he missed]

'That's all he has to say? 'I know'? So is it common for people to forget this Luceti place? Is that why the Haruki I know has no idea about it? Or is this Haruki from some indeterminate point in the future? The me in those pictures definitely looked older so it has to be in the future, right? He isn't going to be alone in that weird place, is he?'

[Kyonko picks up the box, half expecting it to disappear the moment they stop looking. She follows him into the Lost and Found with it, glancing through the various items on the shelves. She keeps glancing at Haruki's back, a million questions--] 'How long was I there? Did you leave before me? How did you know I can't remember? What year was it when you left?' [--swirling through her mind that she just can't bring herself to ask. Instead, she says:]

Anything else you see?

...Oh man. [it's here? This thing is-? He goes to pick it up - it's a gauntlet made out of a glossy blue metal which despite being solid almost seems to be liquid in form. Emblemed on the back of the palm is the SOS-Brigade symbol. He cradles it in his hands gently. And then he gulps, nods, and motions for her to open the shoe box to he can put it in there]

What is.... [Her voice trails off as she sees the gauntlet, her eyes going wider. That thing is by no means something that could've been made on Earth. Not as far as she knows, which even she can admit is not a lot. She opens the shoebox, lets him put it in, and closes it almost solemnly.]

'That place really did have an impact on him, huh?'

... [He can't just say nothing, can he? But he always does, it's how he handled, for example, when Rena came back not having remembered things. It's how he handled every time a person comes back without memories. They've a new person. It's why you get so attached to someone. It's why you...]

Someone made me that. [The implication, a serious one, is that it holds significant sentimental value. And it does. He's missing her already. He looks through the pile and shelves some more, but nothing else stands out. He nods to himself before turning to head to the exit. Clearly expecting Kyon to follow still holding the shoebox -- not thinking about if she'll open it to examine its contents again]

[She's still reeling on some level from the fact she's done this not just the one time but twice. And the apparent "first time" involved her memory of the experience being erased. Haruki's, too. It's strange, and creepy, and she has no idea how to handle it beyond sticking close to Haruki even if he is a little different.]

'And that it means he'll get home at some point since the Haruki from home would've said something if he remembered any of this. Does this mean we won't remember going home from here, either? How many other times have I been pulled to other realities without even realizing or remembering it?'

What's it for? [she asks of the gauntlet and, just like before, she follows along behind him. She would look in the box, but she's been getting hit with brainbreak after brainbreak today. She doesn't need another one by looking through those pictures again.]

...I don't know. Fighting? I asked Winry to make it for me...

[And he bites his tongue. Winry. Mentioning her was a bad idea. She doesn't remember, there's no need to subject her to his memories. He grunts and walks faster...

...Which causes him to trip over a stuffed dinosaur (a green brachiosaurus) and land on his face.]

Who's Win--[And that would be when he lands on his face. Kyon makes a little sound of concern and puts the box on the floor before kneeling beside him.]

You okay? [Despite herself, she lets the worry seep into her voice. She can't help it after everything she's been through at home and now knowing what he's been through himself.]

[Ugh. He rubs his head and looks at what he tripped on. ...Brack. That's Brack. He gulps and reaches out for it]

Yeah, m'fine...

....is that from Luceti, too?

[she asks in a quiet voice and already wishes she hadn't said anything. This is hard enough for him given he's been dragged around twice and hasn't even gotten to be back home from his perspective. She stays kneeling beside him and only opens the box to put Brack inside if Haruki wants.]

Yeah, it is.

[And he squishes him once more before putting him in the box. Yes, that's way more convenient.]

Is there anything else? Do you want to look around more?

'I'm starting to wonder if maybe I should have another look in the room I woke up in just to doublecheck nothing from home is there. Or maybe that lost and found place. If he's finding all this then there's got to be something from home for me, too, right?'

I didn't see anything else there. Did you-? Maybe you have something-?

[Something from their home. Now that would be something...]

No. Sorry. I would've taken it if I saw it.

'Is this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach the same thing he felt? The reason why he came here? I mean I was going nuts over a couple days. I can't even imagine what three years away from home might've been like for him. Did the twisting feeling he had in his gut, the sharp pangs to the heart, the desperate need to find something, anything at all, familiar ever go away?

[Her shoulders slump a bit but she tries to keep her face neutral.]

Yeah, sorry.

[He frowns. They should leave this building... but . Nah. He instead just sighs and keeps sitting here on the ground, motioning for her to as well]

It's fine [She says as she sits beside him. There's only a few inches between them, but it's fine. It's weird how much of a comfort Haruki is despite him not being here. Kyon finds she feels almost.... safe. That's the word. Safe with him.

Huh.

Either way she tucks her knees up to her chest and hugs them to get some kind of security.]

[Should he-? Actually, he doesn't even think about it, he just wrapped an arm around her, leaning on her just a little. It's ... okay it's a little about her, but it's also something like his whole world's been turned upside down in the last three days and now... women. He depends on women a lot]

[Now that he's leaning on her, he can probably tell she's shaking just a bit. Kyon leans right back against him, trying to make the support mutual. If she needed any kind of proof he's changed, this is it. If he hadn't he'd be making some kind of comment about it not being about comfort or something right about now.

No. Right now the two of them are exactly what they are: a boy and a girl who are alone in a strange world, far from friends, family, and little hope of getting home. It's only natural for them to want comfort.]

'Right?'

Thanks. For being here. Even if, you know, you got forced here, too.

[He loved her.

Past tense, loved. But not... anymore. This isn't even the same girl. He can't focus on that. He frowns, glancing over at her but not really sure what he ought to be saying. "You're welcome?" "Thanks too?" Both of those fall short of what he wants to do and also ... it just annoys him. Bah]

[she has no idea what she should be saying either. So the pair stay like that for a while, leaning against each other, until the guard comes in and says that this is as long as they're allowed. The pair of them have to go. The guard glances through Haruki's box to make sure he didn't take anything dangerous and declares it fine he takes his things before ushering them out.

Kyon feels like her stomach has turned to lead as she gets up and once they're outside, to her shock, she's the one who suggests:]

You want to walk around and explore a bit?

[Because all she really has to go back to is the couch of a person she barely knows after getting kicked out what is supposed to be the apartment meant for her. Between that and spending time with someone she's known for a while, she'll take what she can get.]

[On one hand, he probably should go back to Estelle. Or look through the contents of that box again... or lament his fate, what does he know. But it's her. He looks up at the "night" sky - haha, "night, underground" and then at one of the streetlights near them.

For all he knows, it could be dangerous here after dark.

He had encountered one of those Unversed a few days ago, after all. But... it's her]

Yeah, I'd like that. [Not boisterous enough. He looks at the street light again, exhales, and runs a hand on the back of his neck (this draws attention, unintentionally, again to the barcode there] I mean, it's a new world! We ought to make some headway in seeing all of this city at least!

[It hasn't even occurred to her how dangerous it could be. After being threatened with troll-boy's bident, she doesn't think anyone else could try anything and the general shellshock of today is only now starting to subside. She's stuck far from home and Haruki-after-Luceti is here. She'll have to deal with it.]

Maybe some of the festival's stalls are still open? I don't think it's past midnight yet.

And if we see a cheap watch, I'm getting that.

[~~And I know I said we'd continue this but you're sick anyway so~~ AND SO THEY WENT TO EXPLORE THE FESTIVAL UNTIL IT ACTUALLY STRUCK MIDNIGHT. IT WAS AN ADVENTURE]

ITP: Claiming first in the name of horrible roommates

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