!!! ??? !!!

[idolpro]

Who: Nemesis, Hurricane, you!
Where: ?Somewhere?
When: Day 496

[ The sound of an engine roars through the city, unfamiliar to any of you. What is that—? That thing, flying in the sky—Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Or—

Is it a giant mech adorned with naginatas and a shield, flying through Tokyo-F at great speed? Is it Hurricane and Nemesis, coming to say their goodbyes? Or is it the sound of their departure. . . ? ]

Comments

[bondsofsuffering]

...Oh yeah? Looks like you really beat it to me this time. I haven't even started getting yours together.

[crossmyheartandhope]

Well -- guess you gotta hold onto it till I see you again.

[bondsofsuffering]

Shopping for a future you... that's going to be a tough one.

[crossmyheartandhope]

I got faith in you, dude.

[bondsofsuffering]

Well, we'll see.

So? What did you have for me?

[crossmyheartandhope]

[This one is tucked into a different part of the closet]

[He takes it out, careful, and offers it over - a small, plain brown box]

Sorry. It ain't wrapped.

[bondsofsuffering]

I wouldn't have expected it to be in the middle of the summer.

[Missed their second Christmas by more than a mile, really, and that's something to grieve, too.

He opens up the box.]

[crossmyheartandhope]

It ain't finished, neither.

[Inside the box is a plain wooden ring, mingled dark and light wood, worked together so smoothly that there's no visibly seam. It's been polished to a glossy shine]

I was going to carve some sort of a design into it, but... well.

[bondsofsuffering]

[...Oh. Carefully taking it out, checking which finger it seems fitted for.]

I mean- it looks pretty good as is.

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Middle finger, perhaps, though if he wanted to wear it on the ring finger, it would probably fit]

We talked about matching ones, so...

[bondsofsuffering]

I guess that's my job now, huh?

[He rolls it around between his fingers a few times before holding it out to Hurricane.]

Put it on for me?

[He'll splay out his hands for it, too.]

[crossmyheartandhope]

[He takes it, careful]

Where you want it, dude?

[bondsofsuffering]

Wouldn't you know which finger it's for best?

[Wiggling his fingies.]

[crossmyheartandhope]

[He hesitates, just a beat -- reaches out, careful, to take Izanagi's right hand and slip it onto his ringfinger]

...it ain't too tight?

[bondsofsuffering]

[His smile grows softer at that - even if it's bittersweet, there's a swell of fondness and affection.]

It's a perfect fit. How'd you know?

[crossmyheartandhope]

[The affection comes back in turn, low and sweet]

Compared our hands a couple times, when we were holding em. I used mine for size. since we ain't far off.

[bondsofsuffering]

You were looking that closely, huh?

[Threading their fingers together to hold his hand, if just for the moment.]

[crossmyheartandhope]

Had to try and get it right.

It ain't too tight?

[bondsofsuffering]

Nope. It's perfect.

[Bittersweet. And, after a moment:]

Jay?

[crossmyheartandhope]

[There's something bittersweet here as well, but very warm]

Yeah?

[bondsofsuffering]

...

[His grip tightens on Hurricane's hand.]

Even if you find our world, it might be hard to find us. There's people who might be upset to know I came back, so we talked about hiding our tracks so they'll all be none the wiser.

If you get there, and you really want to find us... you'll probably have to find Kiyotaka, first.

[crossmyheartandhope]

Any pointers on how to do that?

[bondsofsuffering]

...

Go to the Japanese police and tell them you need to get in touch with Kiyotaka Narumi. Tell them you have information on Hizumi Mizushiro.

Not many knew of my existence even when I lived. And knowing Kiyotaka, he should be able to let the police know to keep an ear out.

[crossmyheartandhope]

...alright. I can do that.

[bondsofsuffering]

...I'll be waiting.

[A beat. And then a faint glimmer of hope that's quickly extinguished in favor of wariness, trying not to set expectations too high.]

Think you'll be able to write?