smile through the rain!

        ‘busy running errands! check back later!’

        … is probably what’s tacked on a piece of paper and taped to Kou’s bedroom door.

        It’s a familiar process. First, run from building to building, taking one train and moving onto another. Then, stop only only when he reaches his destination. Kou’s done it plenty of times before—and today is no different. His first stop is a market; after that, he’s off to finish the next task.

        … So maybe Kou’s gotten so used to this routine that he’s gotten messy with it. It’s not like he’s realized that!

        Well, he hasn’t at least he doesn’t until someone tugs him back and halts him. Kou turns and sees a boy some few taller than him—and with his earring in his hand, too! His hand reaches up to his earring ( rather, where it should be, ) and freezes when it finds nothing.        Oh, jeez, that really is his earring!

        “AH—!! Thank you!” Kou’s hand stretches out and takes his earring by the pin. As he does, he spots the gaudy flashy earring on the other’s own ear, and flashes a small smile. He’ll get to where he lost his later, but…

        “Gosh, I’m glad someone noticed this before I lost it for good. Oh, and—you know, your earring looks pretty nice, too!”

  Yep, an internal note is definitely being made to work out soon. This city is wide, so there has to be a gym he could attend... right? He hoped so.

  Still, Joe straightens himself out once the earring is out of his possession and offers a bright grin to the blond in return. There’s a bit of surprise that tinges his smile when Kou compliments his earring in return, hand reaching up to brush along the lightning pattern. “ You think so? People’re usually telling me it looks bad ‘cause it doesn’t match my outfits normally, ” Joe answers.

  ... No point in complaining to a strange though! He points at Kou’s earring and hums, reading it over before nodding. “ Traffic safety? That’s a good message to send! ”

@pocketdogged​

    There were some people she wasn’t expecting to ever see again. It did hurt and the pain had ate at her, but it was because of everything she went through that she inevitably realized the truth. Even after the losses, she had to keep going forward. Her friends didn’t blame her. Yes, she knew those smiles. The hopeful words. She cherished them.

    Yet, she couldn’t help and show much surprise only moments after stepping into Little Tokyo. She didn’t think it was possible– The person within her distance. It was real, right? ‘I have to go look.. No matter what!’ She ran towards him, wiping away a few tears as soon as they were close enough. A part of her wasn’t sure if it was too good to be true, but she wouldn’t pass up the chance.

    “Joe..! That’s really you, right? Standing here.. But, after everything that happened..–”

  It’s an all-too familiar voice that pulls him from his idle thoughts as he wanders. There’s no hesitation in the turn of his heel and he stares at Sara for several moments in silence, opening his mouth slightly before shutting it. He opts to approach, offering a smile and throwing his arms around her.

  Any old ghost can respond verbally, but a ghost that’s gotten a breathing body back? Like hell will he not take advantage of this! Joe rests his cheek on the side of Sara’s head, and nuzzles a bit, content with the warmth.

To be honest, Noa pegged him as a delinquent at first glance. It’s kind of hard not to, with the jacket… and the hair… it can’t be helped that she’s ready to fight.  He actually reminds her of a Rockruff that ran with her gang back when she was younger.

Which is why the sudden compliment completely threw her off. Eyes wide, blinking suddenly as she looks down on the young boy.

Shit, she’s blushing. “Ugh… thanks, I guess…” Her tail sways happily. “But you really shouldn’t glare at others… Ya never know who’s ready to fight at a hair’s breadth.” 

She’s one of those.

  He can see her tail wagging and, in spite of the warning he’s being given, Joe can’t help but relax a bit more than before. The lady’s nice, maybe if not someone that’s easy to provoke. This isn’t the time to get weirdly deep into thought, though! 

  “ My bad, my bad...! ” he answers, a smile popping up on his face. “ I didn’t mean to look like I was glaring! Must’ve been focusing harder than I thought, huh? ”

  A hum, fingers in an ‘L’ shape at his chin.

  Y’know, maybe he should go on one of those morning jogs that Sara tried to do once. It would definitely save him from how poorly he’s doing at keeping up with the kid that managed to lose his earring while wandering around.

  ( Seriously, how does someone lose something this big without noticing?

  ... Scratch that, his own earrings have managed to fall off only to be pointed out by Ryoko or Sara and they’re pretty flashy too. )

  Finally, after what feels like hours of chasing after the boy, Joe manages to grab a hold of his arm and gently pulls back. He’s out of breath, certainly, but he raises his other hand to show off the earring hanging off his thumb.

Noa can tell she’s being watched.

She’s used to being looked at, after all. It’s the ears, and the tail. Mostly the tail. Which is currently swinging around in anxiety? Anger? Fight-or-flight? A mix of all of these things. 

She turns to look at the perpetrator just quick enough to see the young man turn away in a very conspicuous way.

Noa may be an idiot, but she’s not that stupid.

She walks up, looking down on him (even though he’s pretty tall, Noa happens to be taller.)

“…What do you want, kid?” Her tail swishes about faster.

  Too bad Joe is an idiot and is, in fact, that stupid. 

  He’s never been great at acting like nothing happened because the awful attempt to be casual falls flat as soon as she’s near him. Joe’s attention turns towards her tail, too entranced by it for several moments to actually answer the questino.

  “ ... Oh, shoot, uh! ”

  Now isn’t the time to be flustered! Telling the outright truth shouldn’t hurt, right?

has he seen this person before?

he’s definitely seen this person before.

memories haven’t been on his side lately. not so much in forgetting for once, but rather too many were coming in all at once that it was getting way too hard to think. oscar squints as he holds the box in his hands, thumbing his finger over the smooth cardboard surface as he studied the other. flamboyant hair, more accessories than he could count, a bright face that, for some reason, seemed troubled with worry this time…

“ is something wrong? “ he asks before thinking, the panic only sparking seconds after the inquiry. he hides the distress with a cough into his elbow, trying ( and failing ) to look as inconspicuous as possible.

“ you were… looking pretty closely at that, so i was wondering if everything was okay. “ another cough. “ it was looking… kind of weird. “

( @pocketdogged​, if you keep blocking this aisle i will yell. )

  This boy is 100% familiar and instant flare of shame that comes from not remembering his name could floor him.

  Joe doesn’t exactly like the idea of relying on someone younger than him once more even if the current situation is far less dire than the one before. He rubs at his neck and offers a nervous laugh. This isn’t something he should be worried about in the end, really; it doesn’t matter much when the first few people that come to mind aren’t here.

  ... He looks away when he feels his eyes start to burn. This isn’t anything to get sad enough about to cry over! Get it together, Tazuna! You’re fine!

  This lady looks so cool.

  Normal human features aside, the ears and the tail are another tier on the list of stuff he finds neat too. There’s been enough strange instances in his life and since arriving here that he’s simply grown unfazed by seeing animalistic parts on others.

  ... 

  He’s staring, isn’t he?

  Thoroughly embarrassed at the idea of being seen acting like a creep, Joe turns away and does his best to appear distracted. I’m sorry I kept staring, miss!!! I just thought you looked real cool-- no, wait, that’s still weird and-- ugh.

  “hey erika, shouldn’t u do more here” yes!

     Hm. Concern furrows Ozpin’s brow. Clearly the boy is preoccupied by more than just current events. Everything from how he carries himself, speaks, and keeps looking away indicates as much. Still, Oz isn’t sure he should pry; likely it has something to do with who he was mistaken for.

     “I accept your apology, though I have little doubt that it was intentional. I take no offense I assure you,” the wizard replies, trying to offer what’s supposed to be a reassuring smile.  His current exhaustion and worry about their circumstances muddles it. 

     Gripping his cane a little tighter so he can put more weight on it, Oz glances around them. Flickering remains of fire, but no more monsters… at least on his end. “How dire are your own circumstances? In, ah, your version of the city I mean.”

  Oh, thank God, Joe thinks and the tension that seems to be storing itself in its shoulders loosens its grip. He offers his own wavering smile in return, finally moving to set his hands in his pockets to at least look less anxious and fear-riddled about this entire situation. This strange guy is a beacon of hope in this situation; he seems strong enough to take out monsters at least.

  The question Ozpin directs at him makes him blink, brows furrowing in return as he considers how to answer. “ It’s... fine, I think? I’ve kinda just managed to avoid danger since I don’t have anything to fight with, ” Joe answers. It’s embarrassing to admit that he’s generally useless in this scenario, but what else can he do? Lie and tell Ozpin that he’s a guy that has cool powers and can beat down these static-like snakes that haunt his vision?

  No. No, he can’t.

        “I’m pretty sure it’d be in your room if I didn’t have it,” Neku shrugs, though as he watches Joe holds the pocket dog far gentler than he did, he holds back even his blasé remarks. It’s the same precision and care that he used to hold his headphones with—the old ones, anyways, wherever they went—and Neku can respect that.

        “I’d never ask you to do that,” Neku starts, and turns his head away. Joe’s far too kind, he really is: even if it’s in both of their best interests to keep up some part of their lives, suggesting it so immediately feels more like a surprise than a natural question. “I mean, I have a job—…in a sense—but this being a city-wide thing, I don’t think anyone’ll care. Just—”

        ( No. If Neku has already noticed exactly what he thinks he has—a sight almost like what might have trailed behind them months ago, sans the slithering and hissing and everything that should have made them alive except for blood—except for blood that didn’t belong at all to them—then it would only be hypocritical to ask, if not likely too late.

        It’s not as if dying was much of a secret, anyways. It only ended up that way because there was no point in broadcasting to the world every death. )

        “Don’t look into it too hard. You know, my memories.” He sighs, and runs a hand through his hair. Despite it being a horrible warning, it’s the best he can think of.

        “Whatever you see—it happened months, almost a year ago. It’s pretty useless to think about.”

  “ Guess you’re right, ” Joe responds with a slight laugh, patting the top of the keychain’s head with his pinky. The Netpups that wander their home in the Netwalk are fantastic, wonderful, extremely therapeutic to play with on a daily basis, but... it’s hard to beat out the little accessory he’s loved from the start.

  ( It’s a present from his best bud, after all. Nothing can beat that! )

  He listens intently despite not making any attempt at eye contact - or even looking to Neku at all - and nods. It’s definitely not like they’re alone in this situation, so employers (if they themselves weren’t swapped), but it might be fun to try his hand at whatever Neku’s been up to. Though, Joe supposes getting a job himself may give a similar feeling...

  “ Ah... ”

  Joe’s thoughts come to a halt, a slow march that hits a final note and ceases. The hands on his knees grip tight, digging nails into the skin and shoulders tense. It had definitely been too much to ask to avoid the topic; they’ve both seen each other’s memories, that much is certain.

  ( Death is ugly. Death is a horrible thing, but the idea of having a gun aimed at him thrice? Joe doesn’t understand the nonchalance behind Neku’s tone. He’s unsure if he ever will. )

  Ankles cross and he deliberately turns his head away from Neku, as if looking at himself from the outside is going to give him far too much of an idea of what Sara everyone had to witness.

Clearly the young man’s disappointed, but at least he’s registered that it is mistaken identity. Perhaps he was hoping, like Oz sometimes does, that he could meet the ghost of an old friend wandering these streets, this island. Hell, the wizard’s a ghost himself now. Still, these are the most ideal circumstances by a long shot.

Speaking of a long shot, the beowulf finally charges after pawing the ground and sounding off distorted howl. It’s not a grimm; it’s some creation of the city, an unholy mixture of both worlds. That doesn’t mean they’re dissimilar enough to shake off the chills he gets hearing and seeing it move. At least it means he knows the weak points. Ozpin readies a blow, falling into a stance to put as much force behind the upcoming jab as possible.

It happens in an instant, the creature steps into range and the wizard flash steps forward, jamming the end of his cane throw its face mask and head in one motion. It slumps forward and begins to dissolve around the weapon before he withdraws it, flicking off any residue before twirling it back into place at his side.

Turning back, he gives Joe a small tired nod. “Of course. It’s my job after all.” Or was. His brown eye gives the boy a good glance over. “Are you alright? Not hurt are you?”

  The silence between them once the situation is cleared up only serves to make Joe twice as uncomfortable as he was before. His hands ball into fists within his pockets, head dropping as he finds himself unwilling to stare at the man for the moment. What kind of awful luck is it to see a man that reminds him of the past, only to have it taken away?

  ( He wasn’t all that close to Mishima or anything, no, but having the last sight of the guy being his death, it’s... )

  Joe’s dragged from his thoughts by the disappearance of the other’s feet in his vision, snapping his head up. Everything is over too fast despite never seeing the enemy in the first place, looking around and chalking it up to, yeah, this place is weird and people have powers. It’s fine.

        Neku… Neku doesn’t like this. He’s not sure what to say about it: sure, there could be worse, or there is worse, but there’s also far better than waking up and holding the life of an entire stranger in his hands.

        Maybe it’s not the most accurate to call Joe Tazuna a stranger. He’s a friend, and by that, Neku means a friendly acquaintance… and by that, Neku just means someone who’s the same as him—an unlucky kid who got pulled into one unlucky situation after another.

        ( As they sit on this bench now, Neku considers their similarities.

        It’s entirely on accident. There shouldn’t be any similarities. He forgets anything he just saw reenacted within the stone tiles in front of them. )

        “…Your pocket dog?” Is what he ends up saying instead, with a glance away from the odd mix of clothes he’s found to the other—to, himself, sort of. Still, he puts a hand in his pockets, rustling around until he feels something other than slightly-grainy fabric and dust.

        “Uh…maybe.” Lo and behold, there it is. With a name to the object, Neku can recall it vaguely from past meetings, but he’s still not too sure why it’s there. Chalk it up to muscle memory, he supposes. “You’re talking about this, right? You can take it, if you want.”

  Oh thank God.

  If there’s anything consistent and good in this world, it’s the fact pocket dog remains. Joe is careful when he takes it from Neku’s (his) hands, delicately placing it in the pocket of his pants. While the spot isn’t ideal and can’t be shown off with ease, at least it’s safe with him for the time being.

  They’ll have to exchange when they inevitably go back to normal, but it’s fine. Joe kind of wants to talk to him more after this mess.

  ( Not about those visions, the bang! bang! bang! that vibrated through his skull when he found himself unable to focus, or the numbness that spread across his limbs in a familiar and nauseating fashion--

  No, he won’t speak about it. If anything, the silence is telling enough. )

  “ Thanks a lot. It’s real important to me, so I dunno what I’d do if we couldn’t find it, ” Joe answers, sinking down on the bench out of sheer relief. His eyes shut briefly before he opens them again, glancing up towards Neku.