ill-DOC

     Of course he would feel the need to question further. Seldom could Ramuda recall being granted any freedom from annoyances when he so  DEEPLY  desired it. In the past even his usual ploys that drove others away wouldn’t work on the doctor. Where one might gag the instant an overzealous mouth  BEGAN  to ramble about the women that fawned over him this certain man seemed to find something entertaining about it. It never made any sense to the designer. It sparked the need to adapt his carefully crafted mask to the new nature.

          “ Huh ? Why do  YOU  wanna know ? ” As small a thing it was, he didn’t quite want to indulge the elder with the information. Though at the same time there was something about the question that irked him. Was it the phrasing ? Truthfully, it could’ve been everything entirely for close to no reason at all. “ Hmm~ If you’re  THAT  curious then fine, I’ll tell you ! I’ve been doing a bit of work as a personal stylist ! ”

     It was a skewed answer but nothing the other would be able to call him on. Two brief stunts of providing advice and giving someone a makeover was  ENOUGH  to construct his claim. He wasn’t paid of course, but that wasn’t necessary to call it a job !

||  █ ▌— jakurai was never the sort to simply give up a line of questioning when something interested him, no matter how irritating others (read: ramuda) might find it. he knows it’s part of what led to their falling out, but so too does he know this means he has nothing to lose on the matter. what nostalgic goodwill he felt has long since dissipated in the face of the events two years ago, and anyway... he still feels that same fascination for ramuda, despite everything. he wishes he could merely will it away, but it isn’t that simple, and they both know it.

the way ramuda resists giving up any information is utterly predictable, but that doesn’t mean he’ll simply stop probing. ❝ i’m curious, ❞ he answers, as if it’s that simple. and in a way, of course, perhaps it is. 

@esinservio​

Waka observed the instrument in his hands, his brow oh so slightly furrowed as he turned it over. What had once been his beloved flute, and weapon had been downgraded to something far less flattering. The melody it produced was shrill and nothing short of aggravating, which made his heart sink. His flute and the melodies it produced were how he expressed himself and gave vent to many of his emotions, and now it was reduced to nothing more than a child’s toy.

It was quite insulting.

To make matters worse, he couldn’t change its form to his beloved sword, which did little to improve matters.

Letting out a small sigh, Waka gave one last look at the ‘instrument’ before tucking it away in his sleeve. He would have to see if anyone could fix it, or if there was a way to get a temporary flute until his own could be restored to its former glory.

“Mon dieu. What else awaits me in this place?” 

||  █ ▌— the other’s words drew jakurai’s attention as he passed and he looks over to him, a faint frown on his face. it’s not eavesdropping if he just happened to hear, is it? regardless, he wasn’t sure it particularly mattered. the other man seemed... new to the city, and jakurai had not been here long enough that he had forgotten what that was like. the uncertainty was unpleasant, and if he could perhaps alleviate it...

❝ this city is very strange, is it not? ❞ he asked, looking over at the flute before it was tucked away again. the instrument looked like, well, like a toy. that was common for those very new to the city. jakurai recalled his own toy weapon with a look of faint distaste, before ridding himself of that expression.

❝ was something taken from you, then? that seems to be the most common reason for distress here. ❞ he wasn’t certain if an assurance that whatever was taken would eventually be returned would do much for the man.

@esinservio​

      There is no more fire in his body, and the one that springs from his fingertips here is little more than heat. Lio stares at the flames in his palm, simple and mediocre, hovering just-shy of his gloves as if waiting to be told what to do. Instinct does nothing, and (for the moment, not that he’s aware) even attempting to will it is pointless. The curl of his fingers extinguishes it, and he sighs and pushes himself to his feet, wary that he hasn’t dropped any sparks onto the grass. Satisfied, he closes his eyes and runs the still-warm palm of his hand along the back of his neck.            His shoulders remain tense and he sighs as he turns to take a step away, back toward the place he’s meant to stay for the time being.   “I don’t know what I expected…” 

          Not for his forehead to meet another body as he turns, that’s for certain. To his credit, he doesn’t stumble, but he’s immediately wary that someone might have seen–            –but it doesn’t matter here, does it? These powers don’t make him Burnish, and for all he knows, this person is capable of something similar.  “Sorry,” he says, and it’s honest enough, because he doesn’t quite feel like himself. Not yet. “I was caught up in thinking.” 

||  █ ▌— jakurai holds out a hand as if to steady the one who had bumped into him, instinctive but uncertain as he watches him. he certainly seems lost in thought, and jakurai feels a little bad for interrupting, not that it was a deliberate act on his part. he shakes his head as he pulls his hand back.

❝ there’s no need to be sorry. i wasn’t watching where i was going either. ❞

it isn’t as though either of them were injured by the action, after all, and jakurai himself had been lost in thought, considering his place here, as he understands it ( or, more realistically, does not understand it ). he shakes off his own thoughts and offers what he hopes is a reassuring smile and shakes his head. ❝ you look as though something is troubling you. ❞

he’s... not really trying to pry, and if the young man really doesn’t wish to discuss it, he will leave him be, but he can’t help inquiring just a little. sometimes it can help to simply let things out, after all...

Jakurai’s line of questioning gives Netzach pause. Admittedly, there is a lot to consider when one considers the merits and meaning of Sephirah. They are not a natural creation, rather the dreams of someone, and the bastardization of the bodies of human beings. Netzach, semi-unwilling in this moment to explain the delicate nature of these things, pauses for a long while as they work on worming themselves out of the tree. 

Landing with heavy footsteps, Netzach wobbles a bit before standing up completely straight, suddenly much taller than they had been moments ago. It’s a regular occurrence it seems, their ability to slouch a good six inches off of their height. 

“I suppose all we can do is move forward. Keep an eye out.” They adjust their hold on the stick, using it more like a staff rather than a blunt weapon. It won’t work as the EGO does, but Netzach figures they ought to stick to what they’re most comfortable with. Should a crossbow not be available, this will do. “I know they talked a bit about what was out there, but, you never know.” 

They turn to the subject of the name. 

“It’s a given name, I guess. I didn’t really have a choice in the matter, was informed that I was Netzach, and that’s that. People don’t call me my first name anymore.” It’s technically a birth name, though they’re unsure if they prefer one over the other. “It’s easier to just use this one. What’s it to you anyways?” 

||  █ ▌— jakurai is a little surprised by the other’s full height, as it’s rare someone is taller than his near two meter height. still, apart from a slightly-raised eyebrow he doesn’t comment, and instead merely nods at netzach’s words. they do have a job of sorts to do, after all, and he allows himself to slip into old habits for a moment in order to focus better.

❝ indeed. regardless of what we actually encounter, we should keep aware of our surroundings. it’s best not to be caught off-guard. ❞

an understatement to say the least, but he feels it wouldn’t hurt to state it regardless. besides, reassuring words can be used to fill an uncertain silence. you never know, indeed. he’s fairly certain they won’t encounter anything too strange, but he also knows this world is very unlike his own, and so wishes to avoid making blanket assumptions.

he nods as netzach discusses their name. very interesting, the evasive way he explains it. there’s clearly a lot left out of this story, but jakurai doesn’t know how to begin pushing for a little more info without seeming too nosy. he’s interested, certainly, but... to say he’s learned his lesson on prying is blatantly false, but he certainly hesitates before doing it quite as blatantly as he used to. ❝ i was simply curious, ❞ he says, which is true. he has just met netzach but finds him... enigmatic, in a way. there has to be another way of phrasing it, though...

☆ ☆ @esinservio​  & the (very, very late) starter call.

⁝ ▹ NOCTIS’ eyes are on the water, his expression one of pure concentration. He’s in the zone here, this is where he feels most at home – though he misses all of his friends, he’s glad to have made another one.

“Doctor Jinguji?” Noctis asks, effectively breaking the silence. “How often do you get to go fishing?”

||  █ ▌— jakurai looks out over the water, content with the peace and quiet... though he really doesn’t mind conversation. he’s used to fishing with others (hifumi at least, if not doppo as well) and would feel lonely amid complete silence.

@esinservio​

“Hey there! How’s it hangin’? Don’t suppose you know where I could talk to a guy about a gun? Could use a good gunsmith about now if only…so I can apply some kind of lethal force to this confetti cannon. Sounds like a blast right? No pun intended.”

“Unless….” He trailed off. He’d let the imagination do the rest.

||  █ ▌— jakurai looked at the other, utterly puzzled. the... helmet? was this a helmet? whatever it was, certainly it was nothing jakurai had ever seen before. that in itself was interesting, and it took him a minute to catch up to the actual words being spoken.

starter call. –✘ @esinservio

Not far from the apartment he’d been assigned was the Shrine of the Expanse. Jiang Cheng had found some comfort in the gardens there, the quiet paths through the foreign flowers bringing him some peace to be able to sort through his thoughts on his own. 

His solitude, this time, was cut short. Not unpleasantly–he turned the corner and encountered another among the statuary and blooms. With long, lavender hair, the color intrigued Jiang Cheng. He’d started to expect unusual things here, but this was new.

Already seen, he touched his fingertips together and offered the stranger a bow. 

||  █ ▌— the gardens by the shrine are absolutely lovely, and jakurai visited on occasion if only for the peace and quiet. not that he minded encountering others, especially as this was a place that attracted those who were either naturally quiet, or seeking a place for contemplation themselves.

he glanced toward the other and offered a polite bow of his own, taking a moment to observe him, though not with any ill intent. jakurai is a naturally curious person, that’s all.

                     It was a normal day for the gambler — well, as normal as a normal day was for himself, as he walked the streets out of pure boredom, before he made eye contact with another. Huh weird… He knew this dude. Unlike some people he recognized back in Shibuya, he hardly had to wrack his brain to recognize the other. Docter Jinguji… They were kinda strangers despite how much he knew Ramuda LOATHED him — but eh, since the DRB wasn’t going on, he didn’t really see the reason to talk shit or anything, so he greeted the other with a grin,·

                     ·“ What’s up doc ! Didn’t expect to see you here ! ”

||  █ ▌— it was surprising to see fling posse’s gambler here, but jakurai felt no ill will toward the young man. he smiled politely, glad that the other seemed to harbour no particular negative feelings toward him either. it was easier that way, after all, as he certainly had no desire for any sort of conflict to arise, especially as he has no idea how the city itself and its locals might respond.

“A name from a Japanse like universe i take it? How lovely! I must admit, half the fun for me has been seeing new things and meeting people from other worlds. Who would have thought that such a place like this is possible?” She laughed, soft and disarming. Hoping to sooth one of her own trapped in a confines of a place he never wished to be in. Lost and alone, needing something to do and perhaps a focus.

From her bag she pulled out a package of Rice cakes and offered one to him with a gentle hum. It would take time, but she would eventually lure him in. How could she not? Adi just needed time and to fish.

“I must say, it’s been at least nice to meet so many people from universes that are so alike to my own. It’s only the little details that twist and turn and peel apart the setting of worlds. It’s a bit like a puzzle created by butterfly wings.”

||  █ ▌— he nods. he’s slowly coming to terms with the fact that everyone here comes from a different universe entirely, and he’s glad to know hers sounds... at least similar to his, at least if she’s familiar with his home country. he nods, a small smile on his face, and for a moment some of the tiredness slips from his expression. only a little, but a little is more than nothing. he accepts one of the offered snacks without a thought and takes a small bite. ❝ yes, something like that. ah... in fact, i come from the nation of japan. do we perhaps come from the same universe? ❞

or similar ones, at least. everyone he knows for certain from his own place of origin have been people he recognises, but he’s working with a limited sample size.

@esinservio​

… There were only so many times he could go through this. Seeing familiar faces in an unfamiliar setting. However, there was one man – one that he had his hopes on seeing, and yet, knew he would always be out of reach. He wasn’t even sure the other would entertain him, especially in this setting ( and his association with Ramuda makes things more difficult ). He had heard rumors on his kindness, but even that had it’s limits ( everyone has to have a limit, it’s human ). He wrings his wrist in thought, would it even be fair for him to stop him to ask questions? Would it be fair to… ask him what he knows about certain conditions? If, in a hypothetical – could help?

… It’s a selfish thought, in the end. Even in a new world, Gentaro searches for ways to help his friend. He’s not even sure he can do anything from here – and so, for once, instead of chasing… he shuffles into a crowd of people, hoping to not be seen.

||  █ ▌— jakurai notices the young man and considers, just for a moment, pretending that he hadn’t, before ultimately deciding against it. there’s no reason not to acknowledge him, after all, as a person is not the sum of their associations, even if those associations include the one person jakurai perhaps likes least in this world. he sees gentaro yumeno duck into the crowd and is about to simply let him go... but familiarity, removed though it may be, is a rare thing here, and so jakurai approaches, doing all he can to keep his pace slow, non-threatening.