imeeji_frontstage | (no subject)

[It is indeed a day, and a day as good as any to get a private memory.

...Oh. Oh! That's fine. That's not worrying at all.

Doctor slips out of his dorm without a word to anyone in Heart Soldier. He's at his clinic for his regular work hours, although he's so lost in thought that he won't notice anyone enter until they speak directly to him.

For the rest of the day, he wanders between the various parks of Tokyo-F, similarly preoccupied enough to walk directly into someone. Once again, this is probably fine.

The last park on his route is the Dead Zone, where he'll stay well past dark.]

[ Tea's out in the park in workout gear, her hair tied back into a cute bun and she's — she's beating up a tree …? ]

[ Except she never actually hits it. Every punch and kick is pulled just before impact, until it's nothing more than the gentlest of taps. ]

[ Newly scar-free and in the middle of yanking her rope dart dagger out of a tree trunk -- oh, look. Aliza calls out to Doctor, but is... ignored? That doesn't seem right, so she's less offended than concerned. So she coils up her rope dart and scoops up her violin case and takes off after him. Doesn't matter how far ahead he got, she's incredibly fast. ]

[ When she catches up a second later -- suddenly a vampire at his side, surprise! -- she doesn't touch him just in case. This place loves its little cruelties and they can be jarring such that a sudden unexpected hand on the shoulder can be more of a shock than a comfort. ]

You seem a little lost. [ Not physically, of course. ]

[Probably a good call, there. Even without the physical contact, he still nearly jumps when she speaks.]

Ah! ...How long have you been there?

[Did not notice her at all, sorry.]

[ For once, she won't take it personally. He seems off for sure, and she knows what that's like. ]

Long enough to say that. Sorry if I startled you.

No, there's no need to apologize. I'm simply too much in my head today.

Mm. [ It's a thoughtful sound, because who hasn't been there? ]

Would you prefer to be alone? [ As not great as she is with rejection, this doesn't feel like that. She doesn't cope well on her own, that doesn't mean no one could. ]

...I suppose there's no point in pretending I'm fine, is there.

Not especially, but I can pretend along with you if it would help. [ She doesn't care to know if he doesn't want to discuss it. ]

Or I could listen and bring you tea [ she's fast, she'll sprint for it ]. You did as much for me.

[ But she sucks at guessing, so direction is better. ]

[ Also here beating up trees! But with her rope dart instead of bare limbs. Aliza was going to aim for the one Tea's at, but not since it's occupied. Instead she watches for a second. ]

Nice control. [ Not everyone can stop that much force so suddenly, and knowing how strong Tea is makes it all the more impressive. ] I guess if you let loose on it we'd be out of trees pretty fast.

Just listening would be enough, I think.

[Inhale, exhale. At least he knows Alizarin won't be too harsh on him.]

I had a memory, I was treating a burn on Russell - a boy I've seen in other memories - on Russell's hand. I asked him how he was injured and he told me that he burned down a church. Intentionally. And I... said nothing.

When he asked if I was going to call the police, I said no and invited him to come visit me again.

[ birb lands in tree. he's above punch range so it's just hanging out. hello ]

Punching bags weren't doing it for ya?

[ Harshness is not on the menu, no. It's not that she doesn't have that in her, she definitely does, but he'd need to have done something worse than what she's done to merit it, and is there anything that would fit that description? Not much. ]

Ah. [ She's quiet for just a moment, restraining her natural inclination to just start defending him. ] It sounds like maybe you believe he had a good enough reason, or you trust him enough to overlook that he might not have.

[ Gently, she rests a hand on his shoulder. It sucks when these things get thrown at you, making you question everything about yourself. ]

[ ROUNDHOUSE - gentle tap ]

[ she pauses, though, when she's addressed ]

Oh, ta. [ Lowers her leg. ] It's not so much of a problem here, but I like to keep on top of myself.

[Is that it? Does he trust this child to have a good reason worth burning down a church? One that he strongly suspects wasn't empty at the time?]

...No. I don't think that's it. I have no proof, of course, but... From the way I spoke to that boy, I don't think I knew him very well at the time.

[ You might want to watch your head today if you're walking around outside. Otherwise, you might get beaned by this low-flying drone that passes by, apparently doing loops around the hotel and other popular locations. Taped onto the drone is a sign that reads: SEEKING COSTUME DESIGNER/TAILOR/INDIVIDUAL WITH SEWING EXPERIENCE. PLEASE FOLLOW ME IF YOU ARE INTERESTED. ]

[ If you decide to follow said drone, it will lead you to F sitting on a bench in a park, tablet in lap as he monitors the drone's progression with a few rabbits grazing around him. Or perhaps you find the bunnyman and the rabbits without the help of the drone. In which case you might arrive just in time to hear him muttering to himself. ]

Perhaps glitter would be more eye-catching next time...

[ Talking about fighting is always fun. (And also, she's in a good mood for reasons that are peripherally relevant to the last time they spoke, that poll Tea did -- different dragon, but sort of funny all the same.) ]

I figured you had to be pretty toned down in the strength department, too. How different is it? [ Her own is pretty substantially nerfed. ]

Needed some air.

[ HIGH ROUNDHOUSE KICK. tiny gentle tap ]

[Text incoming a while later:]

hurricane: hey

[Ah. Just the person he'd been most afraid of disappointing.]

Dr. Doctor: Hello.

[ Well that is... certainly something. She can't pretend not to be surprised, and she's not sure what it would serve by pretending anyway. ]

I see. [ The words might seem hesitant or even judgmental, but her tone is neither. It's just that there isn't anything more to really say, if that's what he believes happened. ]

[ So she puts her violin and weapons down and hugs him. It's what he did for her, and what she would want in his place. It makes a bit of sense now, why he reacted to her memory has he had. ]

[Doctor hugs her back tightly, burying his face in his shoulder. He's trembling, very slightly.]

...I'm sorry.

[For what, he can't say. But guilt hangs over him like a shroud.]

Uhhhhhh ...

[ how do you put this into words, words are hard ]

Very? Very. Pretty sure I'm only as strong here as a human can be, and that's like ... tissue paper to a dragon.

[ popcorn.gif ]

This is the most reserved working-out-aggression I've ever seen~

Reasonable. It's been a time.