1st Joke [Action -->Voice]

[cuteobsessed]

[Welp, this is not what he expected. His back hurts, he's been left out in the cold, strange world with nothing but an ugly pair of white pants, and...he has things growing out of his back. And a book with his name on it. Oh, and a ugly scar on his chest. So unfair.

Afterlife? You are officially on Notice. You suck. Hardcore. Like a sucky thing.

But at least you have cute wings. Even if they're painful.

Not sure where to go, he wanders around in the forest, tapping the book against his shoulder before carelessly flipping through it - and turning on the video and voice function. The video only shows flashes of the ground and grass or white-clad legs, but the voice picks him up loud and clear.]

---sucks. Where's a guy gotta go to see what's goin' on down below, huh? Ain't someone supposed to come greet me?

Man, I hope I don't get stuck here alone forever. Talkin' to myself is borin'. Reeeeeally boring.

...Whoa, was that a squirrel?

Comments

[cuteobsessed.livejournal.com]

Several--

[How... Ugh, his head. Heisuke closes one eye and presses a hand lightly to his temple.]

Actually...you got anything for a headache? Shinpatsuan got me a good one when I got here.

[ayu_nee]

[Ayumu tilts her head slightly, expression mostly concerned but with just a hint of amusement in it.]

Did he? Mm. I see he was glad to see you, then.

[And isn't that interesting. She won't ask, though, not outright, not quite yet; she hefts the basket thoughtfully for a moment, then sets it out of the way with a nod and a gesture for him to follow her to the kitchen.]

But I'm sure I have something for your poor head. This way, I'll take a look at it.

[cuteobsessed.livejournal.com]

Haha, yeah, glad is one way to put it.

[He follows Ayumu into the kitchen, staring at her back and the wings on it and trying not to visibly flip out about how she's alive and here. In the kitchen. With--- Wait, wtf. Is this a kitchen? What the hell is this crazyland? Now he's visibly a bit freaked out, but mostly at the kitchen - or so he'd like her to think.]

.....Uh.....?

[ayu_nee]

[It's most definitely a kitchen, since there's food in it and it smells like her kitchen always did... well, mostly, since the stove doesn't work the same as the one back home did. Ayumu pretends not to notice how disturbed Heisuke is, though, and just goes to fetch some ice. Some of these strange future things are just strange, but the ability to have ice on hand, even in the warm months? Now that is amazing. But she'll just be over there putting a cold pack together.]

How hard did he hit you?

[cuteobsessed.livejournal.com]

[This is so weird. He stands just inside the doorway, staring at the room, trying to puzzle it out.]

.....?

[And trying to puzzle her out. Was this a place where almost everyone was dead first? Her, him? ...Well, not Shinpachi or Souji, but...]

Huh? Hit...? Oh! [Right! Time to lay it on thick.] Guh, Ayu-neeeeeeeee! He hit me so hard I ate dirt! Literally! It was so gross. Wasn't that cruel?

[ayu_nee]

[Ayumu shakes her head with apparent sadness, the expression just slightly marred by a faint smile. As she finishes wrapping the ice in a cloth and turns to offer it to him she very deliberately wipes the smile from her face, though.]

Oh, very. Here, this might help your head. And I could see if there are any riceballs left, if you need something to get the taste of dirt out of your mouth.

[cuteobsessed.livejournal.com]

[He knows she's somewhat mocking him, but it's alright. It's...nice to have this happen again. To hear a woman among them. To have it be her.]

Thanks, Ayu-nee. And...that'd be nice. Yeah, riceballs. That'd be great!

[ayu_nee]

[As though in response to the enthusiasm her smile brightens just a little more, and she turns away in search of something for him to eat. The fact that this New Feather cycle includes people she knows is enough to set her even more on edge than she was already, and her voice is perhaps just a fraction too casual when she continues.]

Might I ask what prompted such a friendly greeting?

[cuteobsessed.livejournal.com]

...

[No, she can't. He can't...He doesn't really want to talk about it. Or the fact that his head isn't the only thing that aches. His back hurts because of the wings and the dull ache of the wound that is suddenly a scar. He doesn't say anything for a moment, trying to find a comfortable way to lean against the counter and ends up fidgeting with something he found there.]

Nothing really. Guess he was just mad I took so long.

[ayu_nee]

Mm. Well, he has been here longer than any of us, from what I understand.

[She still has her back to him as she sets out some leftover riceballs on a plate, but she notes both the silence and the sounds of movement and can guess at what he's doing.]

The wings will stop hurting after a day or so. After that it's almost possible to forget they're there.

[cuteobsessed.livejournal.com]

Huh? [The fidgeting stops and he looks up. Never mind the wings, it's that 'longer than any of us' thing that worries him.]

How long?

[ayu_nee]

Oh... hm.

[She pauses to consider, tilting her head to one side in an absent gesture.]

I've been here since last fall, and Okita-san for... I believe he said a year or so before that? And Nagakura-san was here before Okita-san arrived, though he did return home for a time.

[cuteobsessed.livejournal.com]

[Last fall. A year and Shinpachi from before that? Then how is...What's... Why doesn't this place make any sense?

Instead of asking anything else for awhile, he just puts the ice pack on his head and flops his upper body down on top of the counter, face down.

He doesn't want to think about this. Ayumu is alive again. Souji's still...hopefully not taken to bed like he remembers. Shinpachi hates him still, but not really. And...well, he's got a nasty scar, but nothing much else. What other surprises are here? What else is going to happen to them?

As he's thinking, his stomach suddenly growls and his brain stops working.]

Uh.....

[ayu_nee]

[Ayumu's timing is impeccable, as she sets the plate down on the counter beside him right then, as though summoned by the rumble of his stomach. And she lingers beside him as well, her voice quiet and carrying perhaps a hint of sympathy.]

None of it really makes any sense, no. Sometimes the only thing you can do is accept that and continue on. At least you have friends here with you?

[cuteobsessed.livejournal.com]

[Heisuke sits up and the ice slides off, hitting the counter. A moment later and he's got it back in place, even if it means he has to stand a little awkwardly as he reaches for the rice balls.]

....Yeah, guess so.

[He starts stuffing his face because...it's been a year since he last had her food. Too long ago. Way too long ago. It's better than he remembers and it makes things feel like home again even if he isn't sure where he stands anymore. He won't cry because it'd give too much away, but he lowers his head, focused on eating instead of talking. Anything he'd say would just sound stupid right now anyway.]

[ayu_nee]

It's good to see you again, Toudou-san.

[And with that observation she'll just turn away, leaving him to eat in peace. It is the truth, after all: she'd never thought to see anyone again, and every familiar face is a welcome one to her. At the same time, though, she can understand how unsettling this must be for him and has no wish to make it worse.]

[cuteobsessed.livejournal.com]

[He raises his head when she turns away and then bites his lip. Of all the people he'd hoped to see alive again, she was one of them. It meant he'd have to work twice as hard this time to make sure his family didn't fall apart again. Her and Yamanami and Shinpachi and Souji and everyone. ...if only everyone would show up.]

Hey, Ayu-nee?

[ayu_nee]

[And there she'll pause, glancing over her shoulder with a curious air.]

Yes?

[cuteobsessed.livejournal.com]

...Thanks. [He raises up the rice ball with a smile.]

Just as good as ever.

[ayu_nee]

[Ayumu smiles, pleased at the compliment but also (despite herself) the fact that he's here to deliver it.]

You're very welcome. And thank you. Just don't spoil your appetite for dinner, hm?

[cuteobsessed.livejournal.com]

Never! I could eat thirty helpings of whatever you cook!

[ayu_nee]

Oh? Perhaps I should go pick up some more food, if you're going to be that hungry.

[cuteobsessed.livejournal.com]

I'll eat whatever you put in front of me, Ayu-nee.