maskormenacelogs | What are YOU doing here?

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What are YOU doing here?

WHO: Tetsuo and Kaneda, anyone else in Nonah #5 welcome
WHERE: Nonah house #5
WHEN: Little while after the block party
WHAT: Running into an old friend
WARNINGS: Teenage idiocy. Probably bad language and possible violence

[Technically, Tetsuo hadn't intended to show up where he'd been told to go. He'd meant to just go somewhere, which ended up translating to 'wander around in pained circles' for the better part of a day.

So it was largely by chance that he found himself standing at the door his file indicated. And, well, now that he was here, he couldn't resist being at least a little curious about the place.

He reached out to test the doorknob, only to find it locked.

That did it. What was this, some kind of sick joke? They really thought they could tell him to go here and forget to give him a key? Was he supposed to check in at some office and beg for it?

Tetsuo slammed his fists against the wood as hard as he could, yelling something generally incoherent, and gave the door a final kick for good measure. Forget this.]

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[Kaneda, unfortunately, was home at the time, either slacking off from his brand new job (traffic reporter? Seriously?) or just hanging out around his new abode (Honestly, he felt lucky that he met his new housemates before he knew they were housemates). His legs are kicked up on the table as he sits in a chair, magazine propped up by his fingers.

A nice, relaxing day. In a way, it felt like school, just the same amount of brainpower required for his attention.

Or rather...that's how he saw it. His teachers would think that's a different story.

But he hears the doorknob turn, and a brow raises. He normally wouldn't be surprised, his roommates often went in and out just as much as the next guy, but the real surprise was how they didn't unlock it. They'd been here longer than him, surely they could get back into their own house by now.

Maybe Ken had forgotten his keys. Or maybe Bull accidentally ate his. Who knows. Either way, he gets up from his position, setting the magazine to the side before walking over to the door--immediately taking a step back as the pounding started.]

Alright, alright! Don't run your ass into the ground, I'm coming.

[Probably not Ken, then. His hand grips the doorknob, turning it fiercely and opening it with a mind ready to shout at Bull--only to look down.

And see Tetsuo.

TETSUO.

Don't mind if he stares dumbfoundedly.]

T-Tetsuo?

[His voice is soft at first...almost...in awe.]

[Tetsuo was about to turn and storm away when he heard that voice. He wasn't sure what he was expecting - maybe some worn-down looking room with standardized housing, or something equally barren. If there was one thing Neo-Tokyo did have, it was empty houses here and there.

Only, this may or may not actually BE Neo-Tokyo. Tetsuo wasn't quite clear on the details - only enough of them to know that the very last person he ought to run into here was Kaneda. That couldn't be him; he wasn't involved in any of this.

And yet, when the door opened, there he was.

Tetsuo doesn't look in the best shape he's ever been in, but significantly better than Kaneda probably remembers. There's a nice new bandage around his head. One of his arms isn't mechanical. And instead of overreacting, all he does is stand there, looking equally lost.]

Kaneda?!

[Yes--it certainly was Tetsuo, and a lot less broken (and goopy) than he remembers. His clothing...the bandage. It's like he was reformed and brought back to before this all went to hell.

A part of him wants to reach out and pull him into a hug. A large part of him, actually. Tetsuo would always be his friend, no matter what had happened. A friend who'd lost his way and lost control, more so.

But he also had to deal with the repercussions of what had happened back there.]

What are you doing here? I thought you--I thought you died.

[It was just going to a hospital, Kaneda. That happens to people sometimes. ]

I'm fine.

[For varying definitions of fine.]

But- how'd you get here?

[Bro they didn't even tell them what hospital he assumed the worst ok.]

...

[There's a soft flick of his hair.]

Same as everyone else. Just showed up.

What about you? How'd you...--you remember what happened, right?

Huh? You mean the accident?

[God dammit Kaneda, what part of 'fine' don't you get]

The accident?

...

[There's a soft shove--probably not the best move to someone as..EMOTIONALLY SHITBABY as Tetsuo, but the angers building.]

I mean when you flattened Neo Tokyo to a pile of rubble!

I- wha?

[Oh yeah no. Tetsuo shoves back the second that sinks in - well HELLO TO YOU TOO ASSHOLE]

What the hell, Kaneda?! You on something? I didn't do anything to it!

[HOW ARE YOU DOING HERE'S ANOTHER SHOVE.

YOU SEEM RELATIVELY SANE HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING OUT.]

Didn't DO anything?! Is that what you call it!?

[If Kaneda sat down and gave it a second, he could probably piece together that Tetsuo was from a different time. But it just..never occured to him. Heck this whole situation didn't.]

Khg-

[Tetsuo takes a step back, balling his fists, and snarls. He doesn't have the patience to put up with this. It's been a very long day, his head's killing him, and now you just had to start picking on him too, huh?

Yeah about that sane thing, let's poke it with a stick repeatedly shall we.]

Yeah... That's what I call it... 'Cause all I DID was get dragged here, same as YOU!

[Yeah well you know what? It's been a long day for him too. He watched you destroy Neo Tokyo, kill half his friends, and watch you blow up like an overstuffed animal. AND THAT'S BEFORE HE GOT SENT TO AMERICA WITH WEIRD COW/HUMAN PEOPLE.]

[But Tetsuo seems to be telling the truth about that. They were kind of stuck in the same situation, past experience or no.]

Fine.

So...what're you doing here? How'd you know I lived here?

[Tetsuo's seething, breathing hard, extremely upset. You don't get away with just 'fine', Kaneda. No, no. He wants an apology.]

Fine? T-that's it?! That's all you have to say?!

What else do you WANT me to say, Tetsuo? You put me through hell! You put EVERYONE through hell!!

[Even Kaneda's rock-solid resolve cracks at some point...]

[That. That hurts, visibly. He didn't - he never thought Kaneda would actually say something like that. All he did was wipe out, get dragged to a hospital, have weird, painful tests run, break free, steal your bike...]

Shut UP!

[Remember that front window you had? All those fond memories of having it not shatter into a billion pieces without any warning? Those were the days. Aren't you glad he's back?]

Why? Why is nothing I do good enough for you, huh? KANEDA?!

[Oh Tetsuo, if only you knew what had happened. If you knew how EVERYTHING WENT WRONG. If you two would just sit and talk for like FIVE MINUTES.]

[Kaneda jumps back as the window breaks, dodging the glass shards and scrambling to put himself flush against the door.

Give...give him a minute to process that.]

What?

[And now, he's honestly surprised.]

Not good enough--?

[The pain in his head is almost unbearable now - oddly enough, loud noises are the opposite of helpful. That's the only reason he's trembling now. Honest. It has nothing to do with the fact that he refuses to look Kaneda in the eye.]

You always get everything. You even got here first! Dammit, I'm supposed to live here or something, not you! But here you are and all you do is blame me for I don't KNOW what!

Hey! I got assigned to this place too, you know. I didn't know you'd be here!

[What kind of cruel joke was this, universe?]

You NEVER had to prove anything to me Tetsuo.

[Well congratulations, you managed to get him to stop yelling for the moment. He's got one hand on his head, and still breathing oddly, but at least he's not yelling.]

...

[A hand reaches out, although...it hovers, afraid to even go further than that. It wasn't REALLY fear--but more out of trying to avoid the disaster that happened back home.]

We're friends. You, me, the gang. We stuck together.

There's no me vs. you. There doesn't have to be.

[Tetsuo's stare slowly moves from Kaneda's hand to Kaneda himself. This isn't what the Kaneda in his head would say. This isn't how the conversation should have played out, even though he's already tensed to do... something. So instead of lashing out, or even reacting, he simply stands there as his sudden anger slowly bleeds away into confusion. The hell is even going on anymore?]

Kaneda, what?

[Kaneda's a mixed cocktail of confusion, anger, and sheer exhaustion. Having to deal with Tetsuo once was bad enough. Now he had a chance to avoid this.]

Look. The last thing I want to do is fight you, Tetsuo.

Do YOU want that?

[Tetsuo breaks the stare, suddenly finding anywhere to look at but Kaneda - he's still miffed about that greeting, but actually fighting Kaneda's not something he really wants to consider.

But seriously Kaneda WHAT WAS ALL THAT EARLIER THEN]

First you start something... Now you don't want it. Which is it?

[IT'S CALLED ANGER ISSUES LOOK IT UP UNDER THE DEFINITION: TETSUO]

[But his arms fold, burrowing his head into the neck of his coat.]

You really have no idea what happened, do you.

...

What are you talking about?

...

[Silence falls over him, and his voice becomes softer.]

Tetsuo, what's the last thing you remember?

The... hospital? I ran away with Kaori...

[He takes a step to the side, halfway staggers, ends up against the wall. Good enough.]

You were there, don't tell me you don't remember!

...I remember.

I remember that and a whole lot more.

[His eyes look down, shoving his hands in his pockets and scuffing the ground with his foot.]

[What response is there to that? 'Well I also saw a bunch of random things I only sort of remember existing and blacked out, now I'm here?']

What. Are. You talking. About.

[How does he say this with finesse?]

I saw you destroy Neo Tokyo, stupid!

[That's...probably not it.]

Oh, you're STILL saying that...

[Tetsuo pushes himself back off the wall, focusing intently on Kaneda's face.]

How long are you gonna keep lying?!

You think I'd lie about something like that?! About--

[He's about to bring up Yamagata. But even some things should be kept from Tetsuo.

Kaneda's not stupid. He remembers his talk with Kei.]

...I'll keep saying it until you see it's the truth. I was right there when it happened.

[Excellent argument. Especially since there's no way he could possibly do anything like that, so shut your face]

STOP it!

It's MY life, I KNOW what I've done in it! YOU don't get to say what that is!

You GOT THAT?!

[WOW THANKS ASSHOLE. His hands are shaking, one in particular as it stretches out. Wanting to just smack the shit out of Tetsuo right then and there. And if this was only his house, he'd do just that.

He wouldn't do that to the guys who took him in.

That hand balls up into a fist, biding whatever action he wants to do there.]

Then live it, Tetsuo.

[Ah, there we go, Kaneda. When you stop and think, you can make the right decisions.]

Just stay out of mine.

[Why? The question rolls around and around in his head, more painful with every iteration. Kaneda, what?

He knew he screwed up sometimes, but had Kaneda really always hated him for it?

His eyes are burning, head searing, teeth clenched so hard his jaw twitches - and still all he could do was stand there. 'There's no me vs you' - yeah, right. Maybe that's all it'd ever been. There's no other explanation he can think of...]

... Fine.

[Tetsuo shoulders past Kaneda and into the house he's 'supposed' to live in. Does he want to be there? No. But now it's a statement- you can't tell me where not to be.]

[Hate? A strange word--he could never hate Tetsuo. And maybe that's what's so frustrating.]

Tetsuo.

[It comes out short--almost a little too quick as he walks past.]

...

['There's no me vs. you.' ...unless you treat it like that. Well if you're going to stay in this house, so is he. But that doesn't mean he won't head over to the other room.]

Food's in the fridge.

[I'm Sorry.]

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