Tweak

InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "I can never be too insane."

Shiori Wakanata (shiori_wakanata) wrote in disappear_rpg,
@ 2009-07-16 01:56:00

Entry tags:

keiichi, shiori

Who: Shiori and Keiichi
What: Ramen II: Extra Noodles
Where: Some ~~noddle~~ noodle place
When: Some day
Why: ~~'causr~~ 'cause srs discussion is so srs it needs to be at a noodle place

Shiori fidgeted with her menu ~~fro~~ for what seemed like the nth time. They had agreed to meet at one of the fancier ramen joints where rather than there be one large menu hanging above the kitchen individual ones were given out. Even if it was just one side of a piece of paper, Shiori still enjoyed being able to sit and decide instead of having to stand and look. Not that she had really been looking - not because she knew what she was going to get (most likely miso) but because she was meeting up with ~~keic~~ Keiichi for the first time since their trip to Miyagi. It hadn't been that long ago, but ~~somewhow~~ somehow it felt like it had been years since they had last hung out. She wondered if he had changed much since their last meeting. Or if things had changed for him, rather, as she thought of the dungeon with a frown.

Slumping forward in her seat slightly as she leaned over the table, menu still in hand, Shiori sighed. She felt like she was about to meet up with a stranger for the first time.

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shiori_wakanata
2009-07-17 12:07 am UTC (link)

Startled when someone slid into the seat across from her, Shiori slid back in surprise before relaxing. It was just Keiichi - and from what he had said (not to mention his disheveled appearance) he had rushed to get here. But for what? Shiori wasn't even aware of the time. He could have been an hour late and she wouldn't have noticed.

"Don't worry about it," she said as she smiled reassuringly, putting the menu down and pushing it over to Keiichi. "I was looking at the menu. I didn't even realize you were running late. Were you guys cooking something complicated today? Or did clean-up take a long time?"

Though Keiichi had said they were just doing the basics, so unless things had changed it probably was the latter. Unless there was some announcement or...

She'd find out in a moment, in any case.

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keiito
2009-07-17 12:54 am UTC (link)

"Minor disaster. One of the first years almost burned something, and it took a long time to get everything squared away." He made a small face. "Sometimes it's hopeless. I might have to try and teach you in the dorm kitchens..."

Making his decision what to eat, he folded the menu up. "How've you been? I know the whole..." here he whispered "Toru thing's been tough on everyone."

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shiori_wakanata
2009-07-17 01:10 am UTC (link)

Straightening in her seat, Shiori's eyes widened. He had to stay late because of an almost-accident? And it took awhile to fix? Maybe learning how to cook properly wasn't that great of an idea; she could cook food that she liked without any problems - what if cooking for other people ruined all of that? And she had to keep repainting her walls because of burn marks and buying new pots and pans because of fires? She'd go poor so fast..!

But the dorms?

"Ooh, I've never seen those before," Shiori said. "That could be fun."

Could, because she could burn something. Like the entire dorm building. But Keiichi would be there to stop her from making any life-threatening mistakes, so maybe...

She frowned and looked down at the table. To be honest, it had affected her that much. Not in a negative way, anyway, but rather the opposite way. Ishinomori had ideas and Shiori really wanted to draw them out. She was planning on approaching him later.

"I've been fine. It wasn't as bad as Oubai-san's, so.." Shiori said, struggling to figure out a way to make herself not sound like a terrible person. "I think the group's teamwork has gotten better, don't you? Things seemed to go smoother this time.."

Aside from the love sim floor, anyway.

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keiito
2009-07-17 01:45 am UTC (link)

With the basic cooking arrangements worked out, Keiichi moved on to her other comment: Paradise.

"Smoother? If in comparison to 'complete disaster,' I'd agree with you." Keiichi still didn't think much of the group's teamwork...or its ability to get along. "Everyone still hates each other." His voice remained low, so as not to attracted unwanted attention.

It bothered him. Really bothered him. They were risking their goddamned lives, and everyone seemed to act like it WAS a video game, Shiori as much as anyone. Things go wrong, just reset.

Paradise, best he could tell, had no reset button.

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$Shiori Wakanata: :\$

shiori_wakanata
2009-07-17 02:09 am UTC (link)

Shiori frowned and moved her gaze to stare at Keiichi. She couldn't tell if he was being overly pessimistic or if she was being overly optimistic, because she honestly did think they had worked better this time around. But if Keiichi thought the opposite, then one of them had to be somewhat wrong.

Thinking out her words carefully, she slowly said, "The new members, then. I should have said that everyone adjusted to having new members, except for Sagaki-senpai. And some people's teamwork improved."

Like Keiichi and Kondo's, she thought bitterly. Or Reizo and the snarky middle schooler - even if he had only worked with her because she was the smallest and easiest to handle. Even her and Satou had worked well in the few fights they were in together - not to mention just outside of battles as well. And Aoi, who had been quieter than last time too, still tried to keep everyone together. Really, it was the people who didn't like each other that didn't work well together. But that was to be expected - they weren't professionals, and none of them really knew how to act like it anyway.

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keiito
2009-07-17 02:18 am UTC (link)

"Look at it this way: if it was a sport, or a class activity, I'd say our teamwork was pretty good." Why the Hell did no one else GET this? Sometimes, Keiichi felt like he was on hallucinogenic substances. "But...God, Shiori, we could die in there!" It was a harsh whisper, indicating pretty clearly that the thought was on his mind quite often. "And no one seems to care. Everyone's too busy carrying on their petty grudges, or doing whatever."

The waiter came by, and Keiichi immediately quieted, giving the man his order. What he was eating tonight really didn't matter. Not when his mind was so very full.

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shiori_wakanata
2009-07-17 03:08 am UTC (link)

Placing her order as well when the waiter came, Shiori moved her gaze back to the table ~~and couldn't help but admire the wood. For a ramen place, it sure was kept in good condition~~. Once again, the harsh reminder that they could die was slapped in her face and the guilt that came with it began to once again eat at her. Despite Satou's warning, she had drawn in the dungeon again. And now Keiichi was reminding her of it. Maybe she should just stop going with the group if it was so hard for her to stop drawing. That'd probably be for the best, wouldn't it?

"If you're so concerned about that, then why do you go?" she asked, the question coming out colder than she meant for it to. "If everyone is frustrating you why bother?"

She didn't look up at him to see his reaction. She just kept ~~admiring the polish of the wood~~ staring at the table, head bowed.

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keiito
2009-07-17 03:17 am UTC (link)

"Because," he replied, looking her dead in the eyes, "we all have this power, for whatever reason. We *don't* know what we're doing, which means we need every last one of us. No matter how much I might not like some of the group."

He paused for a moment, taking a sip of water, trying like Hell to clear his head.

"Shirai-san punched me in the face a few weeks ago. Straight in the face. I don't like him. At all. But in there, I'm going to get along with him because that gives us the best chance to live."

That, he realized, still wasn't the answer to the question.

"I go," he finally said, "because for me not to when I have this power would be wrong. I go because I'm curious as to what's going on. I go to protect everyone to the best of my ability. In short -- I go because it's the right thing to do."

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shiori_wakanata
2009-07-17 03:37 am UTC (link)

Finally, Shiori looked up when Keiichi admitted he had been punched by Reizo. Why hadn't she noticed that? They were in the same class, so why didn't she... was it because she had been drawing so much? But even then, she still looked up every once and awhile, didn't she? She should have seen it...

More guilt ate away at her as she wrapped a hand around her stomach as though that would help her feel better. Of course it didn't.

"Isn't it hypocritical of you then to complain that no one's taking it seriously when you just said that you're curious? And that you only go because it's the right thing to do? Wouldn't it be better and less insulting if you actually cared for the person you were risking your life for?" she asked, voice rising slightly as she went on. Realizing it, she asked her next question quietly.

"Shirai-kun punched you?" she continued. "What happened?"

She had hung out with Shirai before and though he had threatened her, he hadn't actually done anything to her. He didn't seem that bad - not as bad as his reputation, anyway, and definitely not as bad as he was in the other world.

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keiito
2009-07-17 04:25 am UTC (link)

"It's not hypocritical at all," he replied, coolly, "because when I'm in there, I take it deadly fucking seriously." There was that four letter word again. It was the second time he'd thrown it around in a few days. Suffice it to say he wasn't especially happily. "Police officers don't know who they're saving. Does that make what they do any less important?"

Unspoken was the "Unlike you, who spends most of her time in there DRAWING." that he was thinking.

Shaking his head, he sighed. He didn't want to be drawn into this conversation, no matter how much it would have probably made him feel better.

"He was beating up some kid, and I stepped in. Told him we needed him, that it would be bad if he got arrested, and..." Yeah.

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shiori_wakanata
2009-07-17 04:48 am UTC (link)

She flinched. He had a point with the cop thing. Still, he didn't need to swear, though the fact that he did showed how obviously frustrated about the situation he was. Once again she felt a pain of guilt. Why hadn't she noticed anything..? She could ignore her classmates as she wanted, but Keiichi was her friend. Weren't friends supposed to look out for one another? She really was the worst.

"I'm sorry," she apologized quietly. "I haven't been taking it as seriously as you, so it isn't affecting me as much. I'm being insensitive."

For good measure, she mumbled another apology.

Surprised that Shirai would have punched Keiichi just for that, Shiori didn't comment on it. Obviously she wasn't as good at reading people as she had originally though. Thinking that Shirai wouldn't have punched Keiichi for something like that was obviously inaccurate, and she felt anything she would have said probably would irritate Keiichi.

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keiito
2009-07-18 06:34 pm UTC (link)

"It's..." He paused for a moment, trying to figure out how to express his thoughts properly, without coming across too harshly. She *was* his friend, that was part of why he was worried. "What happens if you're drawing and one of them sneaks up on you from behind," he asked, rhetorically. "It's things like that which worry me. I don't want anything to happen to you."

Sometimes, he wondered why he was the only one who thought about this as much as he did. Maybe it was a coping mechanism for them. After all, dying wasn't a pleasant thought. Maybe it helped them do what they had to do without worrying.

He could understand that, but drawing while hanging behind the group seemed a good way to die in Keiichi's mind.

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shiori_wakanata
2009-07-19 03:09 am UTC (link)

Thinking carefully, Shiori folded her hands in her lap and fussed with the hem of her shirt as she considered her words. She didn't want to misspeak again and upset him.

"I have faith in Satou-senpai and you and everyone else to help me out if something like that happens," Shiori said firmly. Smiling sheepishly, she continued, "Everyone is pretty observant, even if our teamwork isn't the greatest."

Though they taunted each other almost constantly, it was almost like playing baseball in the street - it was a competition to see who could spot a car coming down the street and yell out "car!" the loudest. Only instead of a car coming down the street, it was a shadow. And obviously they didn't yell car, either, though it would be amusing to see it.

Swallowing, she promised, "Next time though, I'll.. I'll leave my book behind. But let's hope it doesn't happen again, okay?"

Because if it did, going there would be the hardest thing she would ever have to do.

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keiito
2009-07-20 05:58 am UTC (link)

He appreciated the faith that she had in him, he really did...but at the same time it was another responsibility to throw on his back, and he'd been taking on plenty.

"Why DO you love drawing so much," he asked, the subject change rising to his mind. It seemed a better question to him than the other approaches. Instinctively, she had to know that Paradise was dangerous, yet the sketchbook came with her anyway.

Drawing meant she was stuck in detention every day. There had to be a reason. Something. Maybe it would help him understand.

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shiori_wakanata
2009-07-20 07:21 am UTC (link)

Caught off guard by the sudden change of topic, Shiori mused about an answer. She drew because... she had to. It was like breathing. Wasn't that obvious?

"That's kind of an unfair question, isn't it?" she asked, smiling lightly. "It's like me asking why you like cooking so much. I draw a lot so I can get better and go to a college far away from here, but I can't give you a reason why I like it so much. I guess... the closest explanation I could give is because I've been doing it for so long that it's weird not to."

Nearly ten years now, she fathomed. Since Nobu was born. After he, and then Ren, were born Shiori never really got out of the habit. If anything, it had gotten worse. It was a constant in her life, but if it was really being such a hindrance to others she could take a break from it for a little bit. Or not do it as much, anyway. It... it couldn't be too hard. Right..?

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keiito
2009-07-20 06:00 pm UTC (link)

It was pretty obvious by listening to her how much she loved drawing. Not that he could fault her, he was pretty crazy about cooking, too.

If he paused in the middle of Paradise to make a souffle, though, he hoped the others would lecture him, too.

"I know why I like cooking so much, though," Keiichi replied, a faint grin on his face. "It's something I can do that doesn't require me to be really strong, or really fast. I'm not good at singing or painting, either. You do need some dexterity to cook, but..."

It was the perfect hobby for someone who could follow directions carefully, really.

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shiori_wakanata
2009-07-21 02:25 am UTC (link)

"And being passionate about it doesn't hurt, does it?" Shiori said, feeling herself grow more confident now that the situation had lightened up slightly. "It's easier for me to walk and draw than it is for you to walk and cook... though that would be kind of cool to see."

She giggled at the mental image; maybe she would try drawing that later. Though it'd be better to see him actually doing it - it'd have more of an affect than just her drawing it. Still, she'd take what she could get.

"If there is a next time, I'll leave my book behind. And I'll really focus this time, I promise!" she swore. "I don't want to worry you anymore than I have already. I really am sorry for being so insensitive."

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keiito
2009-07-21 05:22 am UTC (link)

The conversation had, thankfully, finally lightened up a bit, much to Keiichi's happiness. Serious conversations were needed, but unfun, so just a little more.

"I know you don't...really want to think about what happens if something goes wrong. I don't either. But we have to, if only so we can prepare ourselves. Be the best we can."

He wasn't going to tell her more about how convinced he was that they'd be going back. That would just re-kill the mood.

"But I appreciate it, Shiori," Keiichi concluded. "It means a lot to me, and if it comes down to it again, I'm sure it'll mean a lot to all of us."

A pause, and then a non-sequitur. "Now, where's our food? I'm STARVING!"

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