[open]

[deontology]

Who: abe no "i'm so gloomy now" sousei & all of you people
When: IC: 1/21-23 || OOC: 6/17-20ish WHENEVER
Where: Various, catch him wherever suits!
What: What do you do when your partner's gone missing? Do dumb things and check on all of his adopted children, naturally.
Rating/Warning: None!

---

a. open - around the shopping district;

[At first, he didn't really think anything was wrong. Tenka going missing was naturally concerning, but he could've been at work, or the like. But as the day drags on and he doesn't show up, Sousei actually picks up his phone to call him.

User not Registered.

That's...that's very bad. Don't mind Sousei just standing in the middle of the sidewalk staring down at the CereVice in his hand.

At least, until he snaps back into action, turns abruptly, and starts going in the other direction. Too bad he didn't look where he was going first, hopefully his abrupt stop and equally abrupt direction change didn't cause any traffic jams.

Otherwise he can be found poking his head into shops and through alleyways and possibly even opening up and peering into trash cans. What does he think he's going to find there? Who knows. He has to give it a try, though. Even if he does look ridiculous with a trash can lid held over his head.]

b. open - gym;

[And as it drifts into the next day with still no Tenka, Sousei has to admit what he very much doesn't want to--namely that Tenka's gone, and they have no idea if he'll come back or anything. The city has only just started to run properly again after that entire ghost scare; still, it's hard to really appreciate that when it's becoming starkly obvious that everything is not quite right now.

Which is why he can be found in the gym even before his shift begins, practicing. It's good to practice. It's a good way to stay fit, and sharp, which is necessary after that entire fiasco.

Of course, he may be taking this a little too far, as the time drags on into hours and his breathing comes in short, sharp pants. He should probably take a break, but it doesn't seem like it's all too likely right now.]

c. semi-open: to tenka's close cr/people he adopted/etc;

[If Tenka knew you or was trying to take care of you or wanted to help you in some way or was even just amused by you, chances are he told Sousei. And now, as it edges into the third and four and fifth day and still no sign of Tenka coming back, he has to admit that that's probably the case. It had taken Soramaru two weeks to come back, so it isn't as though there isn't hope--but even so, he can't leave this for two weeks.

So he goes to perform his Not Fun Dad duties (which, for the record, he never signed up for). So if Tenka knew your address, he'll be awkwardly knocking on your door, or if he otherwise sees you around the city, he'll be approaching.

Awkwardly.

Sorry if you've never met him before, but he has a Duty to perform, and that duty is looking out for Tenka's gigantic swarm of adoptees and making sure they're all okay after that entire ViViD and technological fiasco.]

Excuse me.

[Don't mind him. He's just a little more Awkward than Tenka--and he's a little tired, though it's hard to tell from his face.]

Comments

[kirkwalled]

When you put it like that, none of this is my concern. Yet, here I am.

[ she shrugs and takes a drink of water from her recovered bottle, not showing any inclination to leave at all. ]

A few hours with the sword and how long in Cerealia?

[deontology]

You're incredibly troublesome as a person.

[Though he's sure she's already aware of that.

Another pause to catch his breath, and he continues:]

Nearly six months.

[kirkwalled]

[ just waves a hand dismissively and keeps on watching from over here. she lets out a low whistle though. ]

That's a bit of time. Have you been here with someone from your home the whole while?

[deontology]

...Yes. [A sigh. He knows where this is going, okay.....] My partner and I arrived together.

[kirkwalled]

Partner? Rather intimate a title. Do you mean romantically or...?

[ no judgment here! but she does want to clarify after his sigh. ]

I only ask as you don't seem like someone who would be as... [ waving a hand as she tries to think of a word ] well adjusted? To being here, if you were alone. You're rather open to conversation.

[deontology]

[This would be a more scandalized reaction if he wasn't already used to this. Instead, he just sighs.]

No, not romantically. We have known each other since we were children, and we have always been by each other's sides.

[Why is he being so cavalier about this? Perhaps it's because Tenka's gone, and so there's really little point in prevarication. Or maybe he's just tired--or both.

And, in the wryest tone:]

That said, I was able to survive without him for ten years. Do not be so quick to write me off as poorly adjusted.

[kirkwalled]

Ah, I see. That's quite a while to keep a bond so strong. Very impressive, actually.

[ the only person she can think of like this is maybe her sister? but that's through birth, it's different. she's only known her current friends for about a year now at that, so it's still not the same.

but at his reply, her lips quirk upwards. ]

You just said you've always been by each other's sides and yet now you say you went without him for ten years. Perhaps you're plenty sociable without the man, pardon my assumption, but now I can only wonder if I accidentally stumbled upon the reason you're here today.

[ she doesn't know your history, bruh! only that that sounded kind of flip floppy. ]

[deontology]

[He arches an eyebrow in response at that, slowly lowering his practice sword again (the action of lowering it slowly takes a great deal of focus as it is, tired as he is, but he's too disciplined to just let his arm drop).]

I'm not conversing with you so you can nitpick at my words. [Just saying.......

As for the rest--]

Yes, Tenka disappeared recently. Yes, I am training to keep my focus elsewhere. Is that a problem to you as well?

[kirkwalled]

[ she waves a hand dismissively before pressing it against her chest. ]

My apologies, serah. Just something I noticed.

[ and then her hand drops and she gives a shake of her head. ]

It's not my problem, no. I'd be doing the same thing if, say, my sister were to arrive and leave. I wouldn't be very happy then, I'll admit. [ . . . ] Ah... is that what he did? Leave?

[deontology]

He did.

[Sousei's rapidly realizing that trying to brush Hawke off just makes Hawke even more determined somehow??? How is this his fate, how does he find these people.]

I am not certain of where he's gone.

[He grits his teeth.]

And even if he returns, he may not remember a thing.

[kirkwalled]

[ protagonists are just drawn to sousei is all. shit sucks, bro.

but ah, she feels sympathetic but does her best not to show it since it doesn't seem like he'd react well to that. she gives a thoughtful hum though. ]

Well, he'll remember you certainly?

[deontology]

[He crosses his arms at that, frowning slightly.]

...Yes, he will. However, before we met again in this city, we had been estranged for ten years.

[so....yeah.

he doesn't really want to do that again.]

That would suit him, however. He is always troublesome.

[kirkwalled]

And now it makes sense.

[ the discrepancy, she means. and also his angst. ]

Well, if you were able to reunite once, you'll be able to do so again. The way you speak of your friendship makes it seem quite a strong one so, you probably needn't worry.

[ at the troublesome thing, she really is wondering what type of guy tenka is. he has to be the complete opposite of sousei, she bets. it would be so fitting (and hilarious). ]

[deontology]

[At that, he just...sighs.]

I don't need your pity or your attempts to make me feel better. I'm aware of all of that.

[Just...tired.

Nervous. Worried.

Things he shoves under the rug, for the most part.]

[kirkwalled]

[ hawke's just going to snort and take a sip of water. ]

I'd appreciate if you respected me enough not to mistake my understanding of your situation for pity. I'm no mind reader, Sousei. I came here and found someone I quite like obviously upset. I think you're more than capable of handling it on your own, even if you still strike me as someone who doesn't enjoy talking very much.

[ a pause and she spreads her hands, finishing with -- ]

Does that appease you? I wouldn't want my actions to be misunderstood now.

[deontology]

[... he snorts, quietly, under his breath.]

Yes, I suppose so, if you insist upon it.

[Okay, no... he's sorry, he mistook her intentions, but he's both too tired and too obstinate to actually say that, so instead she gets...that.]

[kirkwalled]

[ a huff of amusement and she settles back against the bench again. she'll let a few moments pass in comfortable silence before speaking again. ]

So, are you going to continue hurting yourself because your friend left? That doesn't seem very mentally stable.

[deontology]

I'm not hurting myself.

[stop making it sound so emo, he's not mitsunari levels yet.]

And I am perfectly mentally stable. [shut up.

Somehow he manages to deliver that all flatly and calmly though.]

[kirkwalled]

[ yet. ]

So, you're calling what you're doing here healthy. A healthy reaction to your friend's disappearance. Alright.

[ the biggest tone of disbelief ever but if you want to call it that, sure. ]

[deontology]

[alkslndsnfal oh for fuck's sake.

He lowers the practice sword again, jaw clenched, before he slowly breathes out.]

Do you intend to sit there are offer up inane commentary for the rest of the time that I'm here?

[gently avoids the question]

[kirkwalled]

[ she sees that side step, ser, and it just makes a smile spread across her face. ]

That's an incredibly stupid question.

[ because the answer is of course. ]

At the very least, I'm staying until you do something different.

[deontology]

You need to leave.

[Oh.........looks like he's run out of patience with playing nice. He turns to face her again, practice sword held loosely, and scowls.]

I'm not interested in humoring you.

[kirkwalled]

[ oh, that's a nerve. on one hand, she could touch it, bait sousei until something happens but on the other, she could just leave and let him go on with his life.

she's going to touch it. ]

But you're already doing it so well. Why quit while you're ahead?

[deontology]

[+5 rivalry]

Leave.

[Seriously, Hawke!!! He's over it, and he's stretched thing by this entire situation; tense as he is, he just turns on his heel to try to ignore her again.]

[kirkwalled]

[ aw, jerk. she'll make it up later with a gift or something.

but she's not entirely in the mood to fight and is aware that she might be a bit too close to going over the line here so... yeah. after a moment of just watching him, she gets up and heads for the door. she pauses before she leaves to say one thing at least. ]

I do hope your friend returns soon. Not... because your mental health or whatever nonsense I said, but because I can understand the feeling.

[ then she nods and before he can say anything, she'll slip right out the door and leave him alone to his practice. see you, sousei. ]