‘ RECUSANT.

“Yeah, or Nachocheese? Nach-eese? Whatever it’s called. But you know, the one that’s a spiral.” He twirled his finger, crossing his arms and nodding in affirmation to himself. Man, he really was a public servant, wasn’t he? Helping this kid and all that. Pretty damn good!

But whatever this kid was talking about was kind of upsetting to answer. Not that he had all the answers himself, but he hadn’t heard about that place, and he was pretty sure there weren’t any trains that left this place, and he was damn sure that he hadn’t been brought here by a train…

“Uh, no, sorry.” His expression turns from smug to sympathetic quickly, frowning as he chewed on his inner cheek in thought. “Haven’t heard of any Radiant Garden, and you probably haven’t heard of Promepolis…Because, I mean,”

“There wasn’t a train here, so there’s probably no train back, right? And if there was some kind of way back and forth, the chief or Aina probably would’ve come to drag me back to work already. Adults have responsibilities, you know.” It kind of sucked, having to be the one to tell this kid this himself. Man…

“But hey, my name’s Galo, and since we’re probably stuck here together, we can work together, right? It’ll be fine!”

  oh, brother....

 if not for the location name to momentarily ponder isa very well would be rubbing his temples already. regardless, that theory of his was sounding more and more accurate with what answer he was given and the addition that was brought with it. the man was right, never had he heard of any ‘Promepolis’ -- nor whatever place they were in. 

    “... right.” as ridiculous as this guy sounded, he held a point. whatever job he held, if he was taken here unknowingly as isa had been surely someone would have come looking. yet, he’s as lost as isa was. there was no train that lead them here, in fact... there was nothing. nothing aside from the device left in his pocket that had a handful of information. 

  with that easy ride out hope squashed and gone isa heaved a sigh, a hand coming to scratch at the back of his neck while giving the man a glance. eyes were darting away to scout out the city not long after. “galo,” he repeated. something to call him instead of whatever crude names sat at the forefront of his mind. sure. 

a sigh passed his lips as jakurai smiled in relief. “i’m somewhat relieved that you aren’t simply running for the hills after my lengthy explanation. i suppose i hadn’t given much thought to how odd the entire thing was until given the opportunity to share the details of it. this island has a funny habit of making me feel almost foolish at times.” 

“but, you said it sounded familiar? or were you sparing me the embarrassment of sounding entirely fictitious, hm?” isa might be simply that kind after all. he wondered how the other division leaders might have told the tale differently, how each might have brought up those differing motivators and challenges, where they came from and how they had ended up wielding a microphone each. 

it was difficult not to think of shinjuku, especially when jakurai had so willingly mentioned it, but as silence fell between the two parties he found himself thinking more on it. there were things he could not voice, not yet. perhaps another time beneath the stars, when isa’s company was a comfort and his guilt was not to heavy upon his soul, he might speak of yotsutsuji then. of his dear friend, lying in that hospital bed. 

isa’s reply brought him back to reality and once he returned, he reached for the glass of complimentary water. in doing so, his fingers brushed against the back of isa’s palm, such a slight and almost unnoticeable touch and yet he did notice it instantly. just the smallest fragment of skin against skin, and when he moved away it was not a sharp recoil, but a slower and smoother pull back until he could tip the glass to his lips. 

perhaps he was getting a little too comfortable. it was certainly unusual for him to feel so relaxed after all. 

    isa was offer a smile of his own before long, releasing a small breath in a short show of amusement. if he only knew where to start with tales of his own, beyond what he’s already explained, he feared that the one running would be the doctor sat across from him. every world had its own odd story; the troubles it faced and how the people within would try and solve it. one never quite the same as the other. “odd as it may sound aloud, it’s normal to you. i almost fear trying to explain any of the oddities of my own home.”

  but speaking of such. ah, that’s right.

    “i -- no, i meant it.” the familiarity that is. though, the memory that comes with it isn’t exactly a favorite, but it had become less of a headache to recall than it used to. there was less fury to squint through, a bit more... appreciation, let’s say, for the normalcy that was clung to. “a college of mine... he used an instrument as his choice of weapon. the melodies he produced allowed water to dance at his command.”

  a pause. “... even that sounds ridiculous out loud.” rather fitting for the person in question, if you were to ask him, though. but it should serve to prove his point; about it being something he knew, to fight with a means of music, and simultaneously how odd each of their experiences may sound.

  another time and another place he may feel obliged to share a little more. test the waters and truly see how jakurai may react to hearing of his own worlds’ situation; his own tale in all of it. but that is neither here nor there, too much still weighing heavily against him and stilling his tongue; too much that may sully what atmosphere they provided each other.

  yet, these thoughts would not last long enough for isa to dwell upon. a touch, brief and fleeting, sent a subtle twitch through his hand; a short curl and tensing of fingers. something to mask with a casual shift of placement, to let his hand sit against the rim of his glass as if to contemplate taking it back up. there was something else that almost stirred... but he dare not let his mind wander to it.

“Okaaaayyy.”

Up goes his hand into the air in acknowledgement, but only just for a moment – he has the order to start on, after all. Even for all his nervousness about how serious this guy looks, it doesn’t take long for Mitsuba to relax a little bit; there’s something nice about working here and falling into the routines that come with making coffee.

That is to say, the boy that had been seemingly worried for his life only moments earlier is now happily humming as he prepares Scaryface’s coffee order.

Black… one sugar… not too hot–

“Ta-da!”

He looks – maybe a little too proud of himself as he finishes up and sets down the coffee, alongside a slice of the bean cake… and a slice of white chocolate cake, a pretty stark contrast to everything else going on. Still, the pride doesn’t waver a bit; he’s practically sparkling.

“I figure something on the sweeter end could probably do you some good.” And – and – oh, he’s leaning across the counter and sort of… lounging on it. Mitsuba? Mitsuba? Has Sandalphon not taught you manners? Mitsuba, get off the counter. It doesn’t matter that this is the only customer you’re talking to right now – Mitsuba – “Hey, there’s a guy who looks really sad all the time that works here. You two aren’t part of some duo or somethin’, are you? Sad ‘n’ Mad?”

  he’s quite as he waits. eyes watching the boy dip away to prepare what had been asked for and then shifting back to the menu, glancing over the names of everything again. it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take note of a few treats that stuck out... or perhaps even a different type of drink. bitter coffee was a bit too regular for him, but it was a blessing on the more tiresome of days.

  the proud exclamation pulls isa back, readjusting his gaze onto the boy and the drink and cakes served along. he has to hold himself from giving a tilt of the head at the white chocolate cake, but he had asked for something based off of the others impressions. prominent as it was compared to the rest it held his interest all the same. already he’s reaching to take hold of his phone, opening what he needs to in order to pay for what was delivered.

    “oh? i don’t often prefer sweets, but you’d piqued my intere-- ... eh?” isa feels his previously cool expression falter, lips pursing and brows rising over widening eyes. he has to lean back from the counter to keep what personal space he had left, arm awkwardly held out where he had once intended to pay.

“Eh? Shirtless wonder?” Galo considered the nickname for a minute, and, well, wonder wasn’t a negative word. It was actually a pretty positive word. He approached the kid who flagged him down, grinning broadly as he nodded eagerly. “Yeah, wonder is about right! You have a pretty good eye, kid, for recognizing someone as heroic as I am!”

As for a train station? He wasn’t entirely sure his own way around here either. Honestly, he didn’t think he looked like the locals, did he? Especially since this guy had recognized his greatness from so far away.

“I’m pretty sure you can find some kind of transportation between wards, but we’re pretty close to one of the next ones I think. Where are you headed anyhow?” His vague directions would definitely get them there. “Let’s see…Pretty sure we’re goin’ into Fibonacho or whatever its called. The spiral one.”

  Oh.

  Oh, no.

  It took no more than that first reply to the poor nickname Isa had given the man for the teen to mentally reel back. Already he was fighting the way his jaw wished to grow lax; to drop in a means of stupefied awe. No sooner had he been mentally missing the ridiculous of another was he greeted with the (mis)fortune of finding someone that could almost fill that space temporarily. In one line alone. He could almost call it impressive.

  But, he had to shake that all away and keep his head straight. He had asked a question and was yearning for an answer, he could get that and move on. Right? How hard could it be to leave a city...

    “... fibo... nacho.” ( oh, moon above. who was this guy? )

    “... I, uh. Sure.” Isa gives a light shake of his head, tossling some loose strands of hair before stilling with a sigh. “I was planning for a train out of here, not to another part of the island. You know, as in leave?”

  Just as he spoke that a thought crossed his mind, and Isa crossed his arms. Brows furrowing as he let his mind process the dawning of a new idea; a new theory -- and then he was quirking a brow, attention coming back to the man before him.

a smile returned to his face as isa’s compliment burns the skin of his ears a fraction; crimson blossoming in a quiet, gentle hue. of course, he’s never been a stranger to compliments and at times they had felt almost mandatory with his role, this pillar of knowledge somehow capable of things it seemed no normal man ought to be. but still, there was something in the manner with which isa spoke those words which saw them trigger such a reaction, yet not enough for jakurai’s gaze upon isa to waver however. he fixed him still with that interested look, unable to glance away for long.

“ my profession was a little different before becoming a practitioner, but still in the field of medicine. “ he need not mention his other role, that of someone capable of taking a life and not preserving it in the way he did now. instead, his fingers wove together beneath his chin as he allowed isa the silence to eat, taking the floor as suggested with his reply in the meantime. “ i served as a medic during a time of war in my world. i suppose i haven’t talked much about that place have i? “ 

another sip of his drink was taken before he continued.

“ it is rather complex, but war threatened to an endless state in the world, until traditional means of weaponry was removed and replaced. since then, my role has changed in more than one way. “ in many ways, it had made his life in spirale so unusual; the disconnect from what his life had previously been like compared to what it was now. fortunately, he was no stranger to adapting himself. jakurai went on to explain to isa about the role of the divisions, his position within the group matenrou; the silver wolves of shinjuku. he began to explain the purpose of the hypnosis microphone before catching sight of isa’s expression as he started speaking.

“ i apologise, your question wasn’t about any of this. i imagine i’m spinning quite the tale for you, isa. “

  For the time being he’d tuck it away, the image of that light hue of red dusted over the others skin. A pleasant touch to the sea of violet and pale complexion, something he found himself entertaining more than he might care to admit -- but it was an observation he’d leave as merely that. A sight for the eyes, nothing more  Besides, a fluttering in his belly had Isa’s observant stare faltering once again.

  Each bite Isa took after was slow, almost methodical, as Jakurai took the floor to speak. The same type of back and forth they had played at before; one spoke, the other listened quietly and occupied themselves with what sat on the table in front of them. A perfect excuse to merely listen, to pay attention and reflect on what had been said -- or seen. His mind was still on that, for as brief as it had been. How silly. 

  Isa almost hadn’t realized he’d already taken that last bite, fork coming to tap aimlessly against the plate. Eyes met the barren dish before rising to meet his company’s face, again. The fork would be placed aside and drink would find its way into his grasp for another sip. 

  At least he still had that -- and the curious tug of the others explanation.

    “No,” he found himself starting. “--no, it’s fine. It’s rather fascinating, really.” The glass he held found the table again, set aside to allow Isa to lean back comfortably a second time around. With less resentment on recalling the past and more interest towards the explanation given. It was refreshing to hear the goings of another world without etching it onto paper and reporting it, plotting out the best course of visiting and taking advantage of what hearts were most vulnerable. “... as out there as it may sound, my previous occupation managed with visitation to, well. Other worlds. Almost like coming to this one, so unlike what we’re used to.”

  Pause is given to collect his words, idly tucking a few stray hairs behind his ear in the meantime. “... I used to be so fascinated by it all as a child.” Hm, perhaps a bit off topic. “Forgive me, I do not mean to make light of your worlds troubles with such childlike wonder, nor gloss over the details you’ve given... it is all a bit to digest.” Certainly not what he was expecting from a doctor, that’s for sure.

Sousuke’s made absolutely no real progress being here. He hasn’t felt comfortable enough to fall into any sort of routine, he hasn’t been able to really befriend anyone… it was just all the same as being home, wasn’t it? But without the things he’s used to. Without the home.

He heaves a sigh, adjusting his camera strap around his neck just to have something to do, but boredom and loneliness are both eating him alive. If there was only something that–

“… huh?”

He freezes in his steps. If the boy who’d stopped to get his attention hadn’t been asking such innocent questions, Sousuke might’ve been convinced he was about to get his ass handed to him (and he still kind of is convinced, honestly, that once the questions were done…). He looks really intimidating.

Was it okay that he didn’t have a good answer to his question?

“Um,” his voice comes out a lot smaller than he wants it to, even with how much he manages to be soft-spoken now.

“N… no. I’m sorry.”

He’s seen a few kids around his age or a little older, but he can’t say that he’s seen any with red hair. Sousuke thinks everyone is obnoxious, though, so maybe he had and they just hadn’t stood out more than anyone else to make a lasting impression. Oh, no.

“… would you like help looking for him? I–I’m not sure if he’s here, but it’s better to have two of us looking rather than just one, isn’t it?”

  It’s easy to hide it, that disappointment that weighs in his chest once hearing the ‘no’ given to him. Somehow, he knew that would be the result of asking, yet he did so anyway on the off chance that just maybe his gut feeling was wrong for once. After all, the boy in question wasn’t one you could just easily lose -- there was a good chance he wasn’t here at all. 

  The appetite for this ice cream, if there was one to begin with, was already starting to ebb away. Too bad he’d kick himself for wasting what money he spent on it if he were to just toss it -- another bite it is.

  A hum is muffled against the flavored ice, a low sound of thought as Isa found himself fixing his gaze onto the ground below the two. Once his bite had melted onto his tongue the boy spoke up again, “No, huh? That’s alright... thanks, though--”

    -- huh?

  Oh, uh -- right. An offer to help out would be a normal response, wouldn’t it? Even when carrying an isolated presence most would want to ignore. Yeah, this was... a normal thing.

    “... you, uh. Don’t have to.” Slowly does a hand come to rest against the back of Isa’s neck, palm working against the skin as if to rub away the sheepishness creeping into his voice. “-- I mean...”

  He could already imagine the jab he’d get in his side and the shove forward just to pair himself up with another kid, even temporarily. If only he could grimace at the visualized expectation without giving the wrong impression.

  With every plate seen or portion of conversation heard nothing seemed to grab him; nothing seemed immediately important. Not about where he was, who was around -- but something did catch his eye. Off in its own little spot, as if he’d just walked down the streets of home to find it there. 

   ... and, out of habit, he humored its being there. Out came his phone ( with what funds were under his name, apparently ) and, before long, a popsicle stick sat in hand. It tasted just as expected, yet he was almost surprised that it did.

  Almost instinctively his attention turns, the corner of the ice cream trapped in his mouth before biting it off. “... the one time I buy it on my own, you’re no where to be found. Give me a break--”

  Another bite and a sigh follows; an extra addition of salt with how heavy it left him. There’s a head of hair that catches his eye briefly but, the hue was far brighter than intended. Maybe--

  There was only one place that came to mind with any sort of device similar -- but that wasn’t here. There was no looming presence to stare up at, no guards at a front gate, no overlooked entryway to sneak into to find out.

                                   ( ...no loudmouth to spur an idea, either. )

  Defeat is sounded with a quiet sigh and the device was tucked into a pocket. What a welcoming into -- what was this, Spirale they said? Whoever ‘they’ were. 

  Kicking off of the rail he’d seated himself on Isa leaned toward a different course. Lost as he may be, there was possibly a chance to find someone else he knew, right? Or some sense of direction -- the next train back to Radiant Garden, please.

    EVENT; PROXY -- info ;

  isa is being swapped back over to his childhood ( birth by sleep era ) days! he’s roughly around the age of sixteen and a bit more open compared to his current self. His sarcasm holds less of a bite and he’ll prove to be more playful in how he might approach certain situations.

immediately it become visually apparent of how this was a topic not designed for a light lunch. there was some guilt there for pressing the issue, but he was absorbed in isa’s words once again, taken by the intrigue. but the foot was placed down, so to speak, and isa’s arms folded before his chest, prompting jakurai’s eyes to fall closed as he emitted a soft sigh. “ i do understand, i apologise for prying so intensely. “ and he meant it, of course. he had no intention of dragging the truth from the man. not unless he wanted it to be so. “ it certainly sounds like a rather intense operation, knowing the bare details that i do. “ 

his eyes reopened and he offered a reassuring smile. “ difficult positions are not rare, nor is acting in what you believe is the best interest of others at the time. foolish mistakes do not define foolish men, as they would be the ones to blindly commit without critique of their own actions. despite not understanding the entire picture, it’s evident that you were not a blind participant in this group, so at the very least you are not foolish. “ but the morality of such a group, he could not know. they may have been good-intended. they may have even changed the world. he could not say with the small fragments he possessed. but the matter was tense, not yet designed for their conversations perhaps. one day, he might ask again.

“ i believe the intentions of bettering people’s lives is a good motive for most actions. “ perhaps obvious. “ but regardless, you seem incredibly capable. whatever that organisation was for they were likely fortunate to have you, isa. “

    “--it’s alright,” came the sigh, an ease forced over his shoulders with the expelled breath. Curiosity was not something to scorn, not at this level. Enough was given away, no doubt, to pique interest and further the want to know, but there was fortune to be found in the respect offered once boundaries were set. To not be pushed and locked into a corner, left to squirm -- no, no. Nothing of the sort, that sort of company was behind him; left in the dust of the organization.

  Briefly, once more, Isa let himself simply listen; drinking in that voice with a down-cast stare. His plate, still unfinished, sat in his sights yet remained unseen -- looking passed it. Topic aside, he found himself taking advantage of this: when Jakurai spoke. Sitting quietly and tuning in, perhaps a little more intently than he should. Always observational, surely, but this held a difference... he couldn’t put a finger on it.

  It didn’t matter. All of it cast away with another breath as he pulled himself towards his plate, again. Arms remained crossed, albeit lazily; eased on the tables edge, a hand rested at his inner elbow while the other rose with a utensil to resume eating. “...considering the strings that needed pulling in order to make some ends meet, I might actually believe that.” Ah, there it was -- a smile, and dash of short humor to try and lighten the mood again.