locumstudentesquire | GEN. OPEN POST

[It's true, Ryunosuke's whole demeanor tenses slightly, his breath hitching the very moment the time frame is mentioned. Nine months... He clearly doesn't need to point out the significance of that, given the way the other man's eyes avoid his own when he says it.

...Actually, he definitely shouldn't point it out. Is it just him, or does his mysterious friend over there seem to be getting a bit... jittery?]

You say that as if... As if Britain was your destination all along... [Stated as more of an observation than a question, really.] ...What city was it that you woke up in?

[He does relax minutely when Ryunosuke doesn't press. Good choice, buddy!]

I don't actually know for sure. I signed up with an English-speaking vessel and left as soon as I could. The local language was Chinese, I think.

[That shouldn't be too much of a risk to tell him, surely.]

My memories of those days are... somewhat fuzzy.

Ch... Chinese!?

[Alright, he can't help having a bit of an outburst about that. And maybe he's getting ahead of himself! There are a LOT of coastal towns full of locals who primarily speak Chinese, after all. But.]

Is there any chance... That it might have been Hong Kong? Does that sound at all familiar?

I... don't know. It might have been. I...

[Abruptly, his head throbs, the way it always does when he tries to remember something he simply can't. He's tried and tried, but there's something in the way, something he can't force past. He might as well try to breach a dam with his hands. He holds a hand to his temple and grimaces, out of both pain and frustration.]

What does it matter? I don't care about where I came from!

[As fixated as Ryunosuke was a second ago, like a hound on the scent, he's startled out of it by the forcefulness of that reaction.]

...S-sorry! It, it's alright if you can't remember.

[Concern writ large on his face, he has a hand half raised but held back hesitantly... He wants to reach out, but. He still doesn't dare...]

Are you alright???

I'm--fine. It's just a headache.

[It'll pass soon, as long as he keeps his mind away from futile topics. It always does. Even now the pain is fading to more of a dull pulse. He holds up a hand, a mirror of Ryunosuke, but instead he's warding the man off.

He does still have to force himself to take a deep breath before continuing.]

I don't have much else to tell you. Unless we were at port, all my time was spent on the ship.

[Ryunosuke still looks worried, but it's clear the man isn't keen on being fussed over, so... There's not much Ryu can do beyond take him at his word.]

Right... That. That does make sense, I suppose.

[...Did he mean what he said before? Does he really not care about his own past, or where he came from? Or...

...Is he perhaps avoiding looking for it? Because the only thing behind him is pain?

Ryunosuke isn't sure he can speculate at this point. He's also concerned that, with this headache development, the other man might be reaching the limits of his patience... but he's not willing to let him slip away just yet. He tries to smooth over the bump in the conversation, adding another thought:]

I must admit... Wherever you may have started started out from, it's rather interesting that you would head West instead of heading back to Japan. What prompted you to end your journey in London?

[He stills, using the pain of his headache as cover as his mind whirls.

Ryunosuke Naruhodo, he thinks, is entirely too good at asking the right questions--or at least at finding the ones that require answers Kazuma keeps too close to his chest. Even he doesn't know the reason for his own obsession with London, but right next to his conviction that this is where he needs to be is the insistence that nobody can know about it.

He doesn't know why it's a secret he's keeping, but he knows it's one he holds at his core. He already has so little to call his own, not even a name. This isn't something he's willing to give up yet.

But there's another answer he can give that's true enough.]

It was the only place I knew to go. Where I woke up, nobody... nobody spoke the language of the thoughts in my head. I didn't even know I understood English until I overheard it being used at the port. It was my only lead.

[In this case, it had been less a targeted question and more just honest curiosity. But the masked man's reaction is telling, nonetheless, even if Ryunosuke can't be entirely sure if he's just struggling with his headache or struggling with... Something else.

Either way, it's worrying, and he finds himself stilling to match, feeling strangely tense as he waits for a reply.]

Right... I see. It does make a certain amount of sense, when you put it like that...

[Ryunosuke sighs. He wants to know more. He wants to keep pressing. He would keep pressing, if this were an investigation for a client, but... It's not. He can't just keep digging for the sake of his own personal peace and curiosity, not at the expense of this supposed stranger.

He inclines his head in gratitude.]

...Thank you. For answering my questions.

[He's not eager to end things here, but in a way he is giving his assent for his masked friend to take off into the night once more, if he finds it necessary. Ryunosuke is conscious of the fact that they've been chatting in this alley for some time now, and the longer they linger, the more likely it is someone will discover them... And then it might get back to Lord Stronghart that the masked man had broken the terms of their agreement. It'd be sensible and safer for them to part ways for now...

...But Ryunosuke's heart aches at the idea.

It's not just that he wants to keep pressing for more answers, he realizes. He also doesn't want to see this man slink back to whatever miserable circumstances Lord Stronghart seems to be keeping him under. And that prompts him to chime in with one last question, just as soon as he's finished voicing his thanks. Emotion and impulse get the better of him:]

Will... Will you be alright? Going back to your duties? I mean, I'm sure you can manage those just fine, it's just... Being completely forbidden to speak to anyone, it seems...

[It sounds horribly lonely.]

[He... doesn't know how to react to the question. He doesn't remember anyone asking him something like that before. Will he be alright? It seems like an inane thing to ask. He's not even sure what "alright" is supposed to mean.

In truth, this is the first time he's even wanted to speak to someone he isn't allowed to--he's been content to move through London like a ghost, waiting for something to happen to tell him why he's supposed to be here. (He tries not to think that it may have been meeting Naruhodo.) It's never really felt like a punishment before now. It's not exactly like he has friends he would talk to if he could.

But now--

No. He isn't going to think about how he already wants to see the man again.]

I've managed so far. I'll be fine. You should return to your lodgings before night truly falls.

[Ryunosuke doesn't look very convinced of that, the way his dark eyes are still studying the masked man with concern. Though at his suggestion he should get to safety for the night he can't quite help the sardonic grin that spreads across his lips.]

Hah. Twice this week I've been threatened already... What are the odds of my getting jumped a third time?

[...OK, Bad joke. The odds are actually probably pretty good, knowing his famously bad luck.]

Erm. Well... If you do find yourself in need of someone to talk to... I'd be glad to hear from you again.

[He wants to ask why, but he knows why.

Naruhodo believes he's his dead friend. He very likely is Naruhodo's dead friend. But is this a situation he wants to encourage? Where would it end? Would he try to dissuade Kazuma from his mission if he knew about it? Would he distract him into blowing his cover and losing everything? Maybe it would be better for Naruhodo's friend to stay buried. Kinder. He doesn't even know if he can be that person anymore.

Or maybe, a stray thought begins, he could help you try to figure out what your mission is in the first place. And below that, what he still doesn't want to voice: he doesn't want to lose this fragile connection, either.]

I... I go out at night sometimes. [Even as the words are coming out of his mouth, he can hardly believe he's saying them.] If you had somewhere to meet...

[Truth be told, he was kind of half expecting to be shot down at the suggestion... It's both a surprise and a delight that he isn't.]

I... Hm. Actually, I might have an idea of just the place. Have you heard of McGilded park...?

[It would be ridiculous for Ryunosuke to try and claim that his suspicions around the man's identity didn't factor into his suggesting they keep in touch... Though he does feel rather conflicted and somewhat ashamed about those motivations. It'll eat at him later on tonight, when he reflects on the situation. Even if he's right, and it turns out to be his friend's face behind that mask... Without his memories, is it really Kazuma? Or is it a complete stranger inhabiting a familiar body?

That said... The potential connection to Kazuma may be the initiating reason for reaching out, but it's far from the only reason. Ryunosuke feels a strong sympathy for the man and his situation now, too. He's not sure exactly what van Zieks and Stronghart are playing at, but... What he's heard tonight doesn't sit well with him at all. It's infuriating to think that, even if he wasn't honor-bound by his word to keep this a secret, he STILL wouldn't be in any position to confront either of them about this. It seems the least he can do is try to provide some sort of outside support to the man.

...Lastly, it must be acknowledged that, with Ms. Susato back in Japan, he's been sorely missing having the company of someone whom he can converse with in his first language. It'll be good to get back to that, he thinks.]

Everyone's heard of McGilded Park.

[His flat tone says: I'm amnesiac, not stupid. But he does see why Ryunosuke made the suggestion. He pauses, mulling over options. There's... really no reason not to meet this very night; it's not like he has plans. It's just that, without a purpose to them meeting, he doesn't know why he should be so eager about this.

He'll figure that feeling out when he gets there, he decides.]

Midnight tonight, then, if you can make that. Will you be all right out that late? Do you know how to use that? [He nods at the sword strapped to Ryunosuke's waist. He hadn't used that the other night, but that didn't have to mean anything.]

['Everyone's' heard of it? Alright, well excuse him for not wanting to make any assumptions about how much an amnesiac illegal immigrant on a short leash might know about London's parks and recreation scene :/

Ryunosuke follows his nod down to the katana, his eyebrows flying up at the suggestion of using it.]

Karuma? Heavens, no, it's not... [It's not FOR that, at least not in his eyes, or his hands.] ...I keep it close to me for sentimental reasons. Not for self-defense. Truth be told, I'm... Not exactly comfortable with blades...

[His heart gives a painful little pang; rather ironic that his masked friend here wouldn't recognize his very own soul, that is assuming he and Kazuma are one in the same.]

Edited 2022-10-20 19:03 (UTC)

[Of course, he has no idea the reason for Ryunosuke's hesitation.] Maybe you should learn. You were lucky I was there last time.

[The sword really shouldn't mean anything to him, but he finds his gaze lingering on it regardless before he shakes himself and peers back at Ryunosuke.]

Just be careful.

[Maybe he should learn... The idea feels wrong to him somehow, though. He may be the sword's caretaker now, but the legacy of the entire Asogi clan is housed within that blade. It feels presumptuous of him to even think about trying to master it....

Ryunosuke shakes his head lightly, resting his hand on the sword's hilt and flashing a wry little grin.]

Ha... Not to worry. After the week I've had? I'll definitely be on my toes. [A brief pause; he hesitates a moment before adding:] So. I'll... See you at midnight, then.

[He has much to think about, between now and then. Plus, a certain great detective to find and wring some answers out of...]

[Continued over here!]

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