zerotohiro | Some Legends Are Told, Some Turn To Dust Or To Gold [CEREALIA INBOX]

[He hears him, but he doesn't exactly get up. The apartment itself is fairly dark and quiet. There's a lump bundled up in blankets on the couch but said-lump turns his head when he hears Naoki enter the threshold of the apartment.]

Hey. [He watches him quietly, dredging up a tentative smile.] I should probably turn some lights on, huh?

Nah, don't worry about it. This works fine for me.

[He waves one of his hands-- his glowing tattoos are vivid in the dark, even when most of them are covered by his clothes. Naoki moves over to the couch, sinking down onto it next to the blanket lump formerly known as Hiro, drawing his feet up under him.]

[The glow from Naoki is probably enough for the other to see two important things. One, there's a fat calico-colored cat sleeping on the top of the couch near where Hiro's head is, and two, there's also a large white balloon-bot sitting not too far away. Baymax's white vinyl is more visible now and when he spots Naoki he waves.]

Hello.

[Hiro turns in his blankets to face Naoki instead, quietly looking him over just to get a reading on him. He likes Naoki enough, but he's still something a mystery to him compared to someone like Ruby or Yang.]

I keep forgetting that some of us are walking glowsticks. Doesn't that make it hard to sleep sometimes?

Hey, Baymax.

[Naoki aims a thin smile over at Hiro next. It's different from the ones he often wears, tired. He doesn't show his tiredness much aside from it, honestly, the utter battering his emotions have taken today.]

But nah... I'm used to the glowing, so it doesn't bother me. [He pulls his knees up further, leaning his arms on them.]

[Baymax is curiously watching Naoki, and it's not hard for the robot to pick up that he's feeling very much like his own patient.]

Your neurotransmitter levels are low. This indicates that you are: upset.

[Hiro sighs through his nose.] We went over this, remember, bud?

Shall I refer to my database on loss?

Not right now, Baymax. [And with that, he continues looking at the nursebot instead of Naoki for the moment.] I still think the glowing thing is weird, by the way. Cool, but weird. [There's a tentative pause.] ...we still have three days before we should really start panicking.

[But that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt like hell right now.]

[Naoki does glance over to Baymax, curious more than troubled that his upset has been noticed. At least like that. Huh. It's not like it's not obvious that Naoki's upset anyway, though perhaps had Hiro seen him earlier he would've really known the extent. But, Naoki wouldn't have wanted Hiro to see him like that.]

Hmm. [...] Were we supposed to wait three days?

[Vaguely asked, before his chin drops down onto the top of his knees.]

[Sorry for the impromptu diagnosis, Naoki. It's what Baymax does and with a person like Hiro he's constantly scanning for changes in moods. It's for the best that the two of them met later when they've had time to process things. Still, he nods, moving to mimic Naoki's posture.]

There've been a lot of cases where people disappear and come back three days later. I've met three people who've told me that now. [And his voice drops to a more quiet tone.] It's the only hope I have that they aren't completely gone.

[Naoki's quiet following that. But, inside, his heart is shooting up into his throat and he rubs his palm against his forehead a few times, vigorously, as though the friction will distract him from the thoughts and worries that are just bubbling away ready to burst free.

What if they don't come back? is the most pressing. What if they come back and don't remember? is the next.]

...Okay. Three days. That's something. [The waiting is going to kill him.]

...doesn't mean it sucks any less. [Annnd slumping. He's burrowing down into his blankets and more or less pouting.] Lemme ask you something. Have you ever been in Cerealia without Yang?

No. I've been, you know... separated from her when things have happened, but I've never lived in this place without her here somewhere. [And the thought, reminder of it, has his shoulders hunching up.

But, he glances over at Hiro, folding his arms back on top of his knees.]

Kinda thought so. [He frowns to himself.] Ruby was one of the first people I met on my very first day here. I guess I always thought we'd stick together...even when we were in the jungle and split up, we were sent to the mountains together.

The only thing I can think of is that they wouldn't just let CERES pull them out and leave them to be--["Sacrificed." Let's not talk about the creepy altar.] Stuck and out of commission. Does that sound like them to you?

[Naoki nods, as if to say me too. Yang was one of the first people he met. Though they didn't click at first, after that... she wouldn't leave him alone, and then he couldn't leave her alone.]

I feel like both of them would sooner blast CERES off to another planet than let that happen. [So, yeah. Agreed.]

Considering they're both really fond of guns or things that shoot things...[There's a huff of amusement.] They're gonna be okay. So...we should think of what to do when they get back instead. [And then, followed in a much softer tone:] That seems like a lot more fun to think about instead.

That's for sure. [Naoki drags his hand over his head, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. When they get back. It's hard to find that much optimism at times.]

...So, what do you want to do with Ruby when she gets back? [Cute dates? Disney dates?]

[A morally grey Disney is still a Disney and optimism...it's hard, but it's what Ruby would do. The question is an interesting one and for a short moment he stares at Naoki curiously. It's not necessarily a bad question, but it's one he's not entirely sure how to answer either.]

I dunno. Take the next step in our relationship I guess? [A shrug. Hiro please think about how you're phrasing things.] I think when she gets back I just want to make sure she knows she matters to me a lot more than I think I realized. Go somewhere maybe...we'd talked about a trip to the beach with two of our friends but I think I kinda want to spend time with just her more than that. ...is that weird?

[Take the next step-- Naoki has no idea what that even means. But at least he's clarifying. At least somewhat.]

No? That's not weird at all. [IT'S NORMAL, or he thinks it is.] Me'n Yang have taken a day or two here and there to get away, just the two of us.

Getting to hang out in a group is fun and all, but it's... how do I put it... you can really just be you. You don't have to think about things, you don't feel like you need to do or say anything in particular. That's how it is when I'm around Yang.

Edited 2016-04-04 22:19 (UTC)

That's how things are for me and Ruby too. We're a lot a like and it's just a lot easier to know we don't have to deal with everybody else when we're together. [Expectations. Leader responsibilities. All of the things that come from being teenage prodigy-protags.]

I think we're still figuring stuff out but I want to make sure she's happy. And she's one of those people who likes making friends so...[He sort of flails his hands. Alone-time might be something Ruby wants or doesn't want, he's unsure.] I think the good thing is that no matter what happens they're going to remember us when they come back. [Even if it's not right away, but he won't say that.]

[Naoki laughs a little.] I think Yang's the type who likes making and being around friends too, but she still likes alone time with me. You can always ask her about it, there's no shame in it.

[And he might be pleasantly surprised, even.

Though something flickers in Naoki's expression. A passing feeling. He's thinking about those who left and came back and remembered nothing--or people who came here knowing no-one, even though they should have recognised him.]

Uh, no, that's...[Embarrassing to flat-out ask her? Yes. He shakes his head and stares at Baymax instead who makes a quip about Hiro's nerves increasing before he glares at his best friend instead.] Maybe when she gets back.

...does that mean you and Yang are going to take off for a bit when they get back? [Should he be concerned?]

[AW HE'S EMBARRASSED Naoki just gives him a kinda knowing look like I feel where you're coming from, buddy. He used to be more embarrassed about this too. But Yang liberally got rid of that.]

Hm? Huh. I hadn't thought about it. [Too busy freaking out.] I don't think so, not right away.

[The nice (?) thing is that Ruby's just as shy about it still as he is most of the time but it's still hard. It's hard and nobody understands except Naoki apparently.]

Good. [That came a little too quickly.] I mean even if Ruby and Yang are both gone they're probably going to need each other to help get used to this place. Maybe the four of us can do something together when they get back though.

[He's got your back, Hiro.

Naoki exhales a breath that's almost like a laugh, smiling again.] We'll do something and I can make dinner for us all. I don't think I've made you eat my cooking yet.

[He makes that sound ominous even though he knows he makes good food...]

No, but I've smelled it before. [...that was a weird sentence.] I've been over at your place a couple of times and usually it's around the time you've made dinner. That sounds like a good plan though. [A pause.] It's actually good food, right?

It is actually good food. [Naoki chuckles.] Promise. I haven't heard any complaints from Yang or Ruby yet or anything.

I'll take your word for it. Tadashi can cook but...[A shrug. He lets that thought linger for a bit.] It's something to look forward to. Thanks, Naoki. ...y'know. For everything.

Some Legends Are Told, Some Turn To Dust Or To Gold [CEREALIA INBOX]

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