maskormenacelogs | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

WHO: Kidou, Genda
WHERE: Maurtia Falls government office
WHEN: Today
WHAT: What are you doing here??
WARNINGS: None

[It was a bad habit, but lately Kidou had been letting himself get distracted in practice. And worse, he already knew he was overexerting himself in general - low sleep, harsher and harsher individual training sessions - and inevitably it ended up getting him benched with a bruised shin. It was nothing he couldn't handle, but the fact he'd let that happen in the first place was more than a little humiliating. It wasn't a pure accident like the others assumed; to Kidou, it was directly his own fault, paid for by his own foolishness.

Apparently he hadn't been as carefully disguising all this as he thought, as he ended up having to answer a few questions the coach had. Maybe he'd made the mistake of being a little too honest when directly interrogated, as he was now on his way home. It was irritating - no. More than that. But there really wasn't going to be any arguing over it - and it had been a bad idea to raise any objection at all, no matter how mild.

'Go home, get some rest, and come back at 100%.' How many of them had any idea that he'd never been able to give that much since he started?

Kidou didn't really follow that advice; once he got through the Porter, he headed over to the government offices by the Porter first to check up on one of his projects. On his way to one of the desks, however, something catches his attention. It's a brief flash at most. It's gone in a second out of his peripheral view, but that hair was hard to mistake. Like a lion's mane. But it couldn't be-!

Kidou glances over to get that mane back in his field of vision, hoping that he must be mistaken, but even before he sees Genda he knows he couldn't be. He would never mistake anyone else for Genda. Never. Still, Kidou's mouth falls open in shock watching him. He'd never expected this.

What could Genda possibly be doing in Maurtia Falls? He should have no business here. Kidou's never told him where he lives. Of all cities this was the one Kidou had hoped Genda never intended to visit. Worse, if he was at the office here, he wasn't here to sightsee (not that Genda, of all people, ever would do something so frivolous). He had a plan. What was it??

He just doesn't understand. Why??? What could he be up to? Kidou had no idea at all! But there's one thing he does know. He needs Genda out of this city.

After a few moments of standing in absolute shock, Kidou finally rallies himself enough to walk over to him, cloak trailing out just enough behind him for that much-needed extra bit of dramatic flair. He pulls to a stop just a few feet away, letting his cloak fall into place around him again before speaking up.]

Genda?

[He sounds about as startled as he looks.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The process to relocate was actually not as tedious and time consuming as he had first believed it would be. Of course he had also been using knowledge of the various times he remembered moving and how much effort seemed involved in such. He was not used to this willingness to smooth things along that many he spoke to were giving just because of his imPort status. It had made him wary and looking for the payback expected of him for such help. That was caution seemed to be the cause for this entire plan to be known before it had fully been implemented as a particular set of footsteps is heard.

He knows that cadence even before the other actually starts moving towards him.

Kidou should have been in Nonah currently, not anywhere near Maurtia Falls at this time. Yet, that wasn't the case and at a point in the entire reason for him being in this particular building was still far too precarious to be found out just yet.

The barely noticeable wince at the sound of his name is the only sign of his guilt as fully turns towards the other. The paperwork he had brought to be processed crinkling only slightly in the move.]

Kidou.

[Stay calm. Nothing will be gained by acting upset. The more he tells himself this, the less it seems to help.

Kidou forces his mouth closed, does his best to smooth out his expression. It doesn't quite work out as well as he thinks it does, but he looks official enough. If he's too worked up by this, Genda would have reason to suspect things that Kidou can't afford him to. He'll have to be careful with this - but - he has no plan. He can't even afford the time to come up with an approach to it. Being caught completely off-guard is one thing Kidou doesn't handle well, and never really has. He only gets back to his game when he's been able to take that moment of frantic analysis to come to a plan of attack.

Think... he has to think, and fast! Genda reacted, though Kidou can't tell in what way, maybe it's nothing.

Try as he might he can't find a way to ask this well. Case in point, getting straight to the real question too quickly, although he's at least managed to wipe most of the emotion from his tone.]

What are you doing here?

Double checking a few things.

[It's not a lie, and even as a partial and vague as such an answer is, it's close enough to the truth that there's no hesitance in giving such an answer. Though, it likely won't hold up if Kidou continues to press, especially as Genda has never actually held information from the other before.]

Was practice cancelled?

[Which is actually an important question, because Kidou would never skip a practice, or leave early without a reason.]

[He mostly hides the wince from the question, though his eyebrows tighten. As much as he doesn't want to answer that, he can't possibly lie about it. And there's no way to evade that question without giving away way too much.]

No.

[He leaves it at that, countering with a question of his own before Genda can follow up on that.]

I'm curious. What things?

[That time, he actually sounded completely neutral. Good.]

[Eyes narrow briefly over that answer. That certainly did not bode well regarding the reason Kidou was here and not there.]

The differences in regards to living conditions and treatment of imPorts.

[Because clearly that's important to learn about so as to have first hand knowledge in case others they know show up.]

Did something come up during practice?

[No, really, why are you even here? Genda was certain he still had an entire hour to get this turned in and get out before you should have even headed for the porters.]

[This time, Kidou skips over Genda's question entirely, like it was never asked. It's sure to draw suspicion, but better to draw suspicion than to answer this directly if he can help it.]

That research interests me, too. What have you found out so far?

[Because between knowing someone in every other city, he didn't actually have any need to - but he's not going to say that. If he can get away with not even implying that - that's for the best.]

[The gaze Genda has on Kidou suddenly gets heavier, because that blatant ignoring of that question tells far more then if Kidou had answered it even evasively. There are no obvious signs regarding the reason, but that just means the worry gets to slowly rise as that gets contemplated. He'll drop such for the moment until it can't be circled around again.]

Generalities at the moment. Housing wise, theoretically it seems the same on paper. Without properly seeing general maintenance and upkeep of various housing in each area that's flimsy guesswork at the moment. Even with how accommodating those who work within these offices are regarding my questions on such.

[That should hopefully be a nice smokescreen if Kidou catches him actually inside one of the houses before it's all finalized.]

Should I compile my findings to compare to what you have learned?

Yeah, that could be useful.

[Months here, knowing someone in every city has a very important advantage right about now. He could describe anywhere well enough. De Chima he knows the least about, and Genda's likely figured out that Kidou doesn't live in Heropa by now... but he could still keep this all vague enough if Genda asks for details.

He considers saying more, but decides against it. Saying too much is always worse than saying too little, when trying to conceal information. Still, Kidou can't really do what he came here to do now, not as long as Genda's here. He'll just hang around him for the moment then, leaving his purposes vague.

Kidou's always acted on his own reasons. If he can play this right, there won't be questions he can't evade.]

I haven't heard about anywhere in particular being poorly maintained. Nor do I suspect I will. If the government wants to keep people somewhere, it's in their interest to make those places attractive.

[Genda actually had a reply for such, but it's interrupted by one of the file clerks noticing them. Mostly because Genda can see the recognition in the man's eyes before he's walking over.

The man, Stefford, had been helpful and willing to take his questions seriously when he had first starting showing up in this office. Now though, Genda wishes the man was as stand offish as his fellow clerks regarding curious teenagers.

"Ah, are you turning in your relocation paperwork then? That's two offices down, and this is the best time to do such. Especially if you're trying to room with your friend there."

There isn't even a pause as the man then hurries away after a brief smile at both of them. The stack of files he's holding clearly needing to be someplace quickly.

Genda refuses to actually look at Kidou once the man retreats down a different hallway.]

[Relocation paperwork?? The words hit Kidou like a sledgehammer, eliciting a small choked noise from him. Relocation to Maurtia Falls...

Behind his goggles, Kidou's eyes widen, pupils constricting. He recoils like he's been hit, staring at his friend in undisguised horror. The rest of the time the man talks only gives time for Kidou to process what he's just heard. And yet his mind's frozen on just that one phrase. Relocation paperwork... it couldn't be. It just couldn't! Not here!

After the man's left, it takes Kidou a second to find his voice again.]

Genda, don't tell me you're-?!

[So much for that careful layer of reestablished calm.]

[There's no answer for several long moments. There's no way to work around such, even if he attempted to say he asked for such for research reasons would fall flat. Especially as with such now in Kidou's head, Genda knew he wouldn't be able to enter this building again without being questioned.

Instead there's only sound of paper being rustled slightly before a copy of said paperwork is held out. The neatly filled in parts making it clear just how far along this has progressed.]

[Silently, Kidou takes the paperwork, looking it over carefully. He reads a good deal of it, flipping pages as he looks for the some impossible way this isn't real. It's denial, pure and simple - he knew before he started that what he's looking for won't be here. All the while, he can only imagine what could come of Genda living here.

The goalkeeper was tough. One of the toughest. Kidou would never say otherwise. But he was gentler than Kidou was, and kind. And the ImPort housing was so close to downtown, where the worst people hung around when it started to get later. The careful maintenance of the streets, the beautiful old brickwork ... all that was deception to hide the true ugliness of this city. Kidou could only imagine what those kinds of people would do to Genda. Kidou himself had had more than one encounter with the... kinds of people who genuinely liked living there. The walk to the Porter alone wasn't guaranteed to be safe.

He couldn't let Genda deal with that.

Eventually he can't take reading it anymore, and his hand clenches around the papers, crinkling them.]

Why? Why would you move here?!

You're here.

[It's simply stated with hardly any infliction or change of tone. Most people would likely call it monotone for the lack of overt emotions heard in those two words.

There's also no elaboration or further explanation. The very fact he knew that much tells Kidou everything regarding how much Genda has found out regarding his living conditions. Genda had heard the rumors, seen the looks many in this town gave to those that were not natives, realizing that Kidou spent six months here with no one watching his back. The only thing he wasn't certain on was how many times Kidou had encounters that were more then just a gruff word or disgusted look.]

[Genda knew. After all his work at never saying a word, carefully evading the topic at school and completely evading ever having to say where he lived, Genda knew. Who told him? Or did he look it up somehow? Being celebrity status meant that no one could ever be hidden, but...

He'd held out on hope that Genda didn't know. Hope that now twists into something else, sinking into his stomach like a swallowed rock. The thing was, that sounded like Genda to do. And he'd gotten this far without Kidou ever knowing, which is a whole other source of worry running a chill down his spine. He could have pulled this off if Kidou hadn't gotten himself hurt. That Kidou knows about this at all relied on pure bad luck and poor choices.

He'd almost missed this disaster until it was already concluded.]

I was assigned here. You weren't.

[He's doing his best to rally himself and shove down fear, but his efforts end up placing a harsh emphasis onto his words. Instinctively that's what he knows he has to do - seize command of the situation and shut it down, now. Genda hasn't transferred yet. Kidou can stop this!]

I can't allow this!

[Normally that tone would have had him backing down and doing as he was told without question. Even now he reacts to it instinctively. Spine straightening, feet shoulder width apart and hands placed in the small of his back.

The only aspect that isn't typical is the stubborn tilt to chin and the tension formed as he clenches his jaw for a moment. The only indication he's actually not unthinkingly following as told.]

They have no qualms in regards to this decision.

[Genda's defiance catches Kidou by surprise. Outside of Shin Teikoku, Genda had never defied or refused Kidou. He might question him at times, but Kidou's word was law; he would always submit. Kidou never abused this, but he did know his role just as well as Genda knew his. Now that Genda had placed himself voluntarily under Kidou's command again, that should still apply.

When did that Genda...? Clearly there was a limit to this that Kidou hadn't been aware of.

He could come up with a well-reasoned argument, but he doesn't even bother. He simply falls completely into his command tone and reinforces what he'd said before. No explanation is needed - he said no, therefore, the answer is simply no.]

You're not doing this.

[The clenched jaw returns, more noticeable and lasting longer as well. To even contemplate going against an order is like sandpaper on nerves, but for once he has a reason to question and go against an order. Even if doing so feels horribly wrong to do so.

The long moment could be mistaken for him silently submitting as normal, if one isn't paying attention to the slow and deliberate thoughts that lead to a slow shake of his head.]

I am.

[Kidou's eyebrows draw down as far as they can go as the silence draws on. That much is normal, but there's an intensity that shouldn't linger in Genda's eyes. It didn't bode well that Kidou recognized that look - it was similar to the one Genda always had when he was on the field, focused and ready to stop anything his way. Kidou's own jaw clenches in return, glaring back at him.

He didn't like this at all. He didn't want to end up in a contest of wills with Genda. Especially not soon after they'd already had some rough patches. It ate away at him that he had to reinforce this, and that Genda was apparently willing to challenge him this far on this.

No matter how much Kidou wants him to, Genda doesn't appear inclined to look away or show any sign of backing down. That's confirmed when Genda finally gives his answer.

But Kidou can't let him get away with this. If he did, should something happen, he'd never forgive himself! He'd sworn to himself that he wouldn't let anything happen to his friend again, no matter what he had to do. He was not about to risk going back on that oath.]

Genda.

[Back. Down. And listen.]

[Some people would attempt to explain or argue there reason by this point. But for the moment it was taking most of Genda's stubborn will to remain standing against that tone. Especially when the last time they had a conflict had been such a short time ago.

Yet, this was important. Even if it seemed to go against his promise to not cause such issues again after Shin, he had to win this one.

Kidou shouldn't have had to deal with this city alone. He wasn't meant to divide his attention between watching his own back and looking towards whatever goal he was aiming for. His moving to this city was how he could make certain those facts would stop being as relevant. Genda was supposed to watch Kidou's back, and he was going to do so regardless of why Kidou seemed adamant about him not doing so.]

No.

Stay in Heropa!

[You're too good for this place.

This clearly isn't working, but Kidou's at a loss for what else he can do. He can't state his reasoning without risk. Any argument that he can use against Genda is an argument that's been used against Kidou in the past - and while he'd understood his friends worried about his assigned housing, Kidou couldn't justify moving. Someone else would have to take his place, and he wouldn't feel right inflicting that city on someone new.

He remembers all too well how it was moving there in the first place...

So, he tries a different tactic-]

I need you to be there.

I need to be here.

[Genda knows that making Kidou move is likely pointless, especially if Gran and Amada had not been capable of such in the six months Kidou has been here.

It was why he didn't even ask such and instead found this compromise.

Because it was a compromise in Genda's mind. He couldn't tell Kidou to do anything, especially regarding this, but he could move himself to try and make up for such.]

Genda...

[Too much worry and not enough emphasis there. He shouldn't let that bleed through too much right now. It would undermine his point.

At this point, Kidou has to admit that telling Genda to go away isn't going to work at all. He can either keep trying that angle and hit the brick wall that is Genda Koujirou's stubbornness, or he can do what he'd been avoiding all this time, and acknowledge a bit of the real issue he's certain must be underlying this decision.

Maurtia Fall's reputation was widespread. Everyone who'd been around had a good idea about what the place was like, despite all the attempted glamor and perfectly trimmed trees that filled it. He could see Genda wanting to be in the same city, but... all he'd need to do was ask about the city to know about it. Even getting to the offices had a chance of meeting the less than friendly people here.

It was such a stark change from Nonah - and a still significant one from the other cities as well. And always a telling one; where there's resentment and anger, there's likely dangerous situations. Amada and Gran were worried enough, but... they didn't have the history with Genda that Kidou did. If their roles were reversed, Kidou can't say he wouldn't be doing this same thing. For the exact same reasons that he's trying to chase Genda away now.

... it hurt every time he had to say as much, though. If this was an ideal world, it'd be nice for them to share a location. But ideal worlds don't exist outside pointless fantasies. Kidou stiffens his spine, raising his head just a little more, bracing himself to relent at least enough to spell things out.

Partly.]

I understand how it must look. But I know this city. I'm honestly fine with how things are!

[Happy with it, not so much. But he's accepted it months ago.]

We're teammates.

[He's not certain how else to say this. It should be clear as glass on why he's here, why he's not backing down. Yet Kidou was either ignoring such or not seeing what Genda was seeing as logic.]

I can't watch your back in Heropa.

[He knows exactly what reputation this city has. He studied it before he had even set foot here.]

[It both was and wasn't obvious. Kidou's decisions were his own, and while he had to make them he wasn't going to drag anyone in with him. While by now he ought to expect such things, it got Kidou every time he found others right there at his side, standing together with him. For someone so team driven, he always seemed to expect he'd have to face things alone.

It was one thing to know, in theory, they'd do a lot for each other. But it's quite another to get irrevocable proof that Genda was willing to put his life at risk for him. Not for victory, not for the sake of the whole team, not for whatever the meteorite did. But him, as a person. That was more than he could ever ask for. It was definitely far more than he deserved.

He wouldn't be able to bring himself to continue trying to refuse, after that - it'd be too close to refusing Genda as a teammate. That would be unthinkable. But... the alternative...

Just like that, Kidou's voice loses all the vehemence, and whatever volume it had gained during this. This isn't even close to an order now. More like a quiet plea.]

Is there nothing I can do to stop you?

[That sudden change catches him off guard. He had been expecting this to continue on in the same vein it had been. Even the very fact Kidou had asked such a question was not something he had planned for when he realized this confrontation was going to happen.

He feels guilty for causing that tone, but he couldn't back down now either. He can only shake his head in answer at that question. He knew his decision had been made the moment he was aware of where Kidou was living. He was even prepared for Kidou to distance himself away from him because of this.]

[Kidou's hand clenches harder on his copy of Genda's papers, though it doesn't appear he even notices at first that he's been crumpling part of it.

He can't accept that there's nothing. Surrender on this issue is not an option. There has to be some way to change things. But what? This is the issue he keeps circling around, over and over, and all his attempts to find a loophole in this somewhere lead him around in circles.

All of his secrecy was to the goal of keeping Genda out of danger, not letting his friend throw himself headlong into it. But as long as he's here, Genda will do just that.

The paper crinkles a little more in his hand. This time, he looks back down, letting his hand loosen when he sees what exactly he'd been doing to it. The written city name stands out all the more, framed on one side by accidental damage. ...Something about that nags at the back of his mind.

As long as he's here...

It really feels like there's something obvious he's overlooking.]

...

[And he can't find anything to say, but he'll stay right where he is.]

[Despite the silence, Genda's expecting another volley at any moment. That he would have won this argument that easily was naive thinking, especially with how adamant the other had been in changing his mind earlier.

Instead this moment is likely the only opening he has in actually getting his paperwork where it needs to go before another tactic is found to delay this process into a drawn out stalemate.]

Kidou...

[There's an aborted movement to ask for the papers back. Genda has copies of them if need be, but they were back in Heropa and it would likely be noticed much more quickly if he attempted this there then here where so few seemed curious or cared about a teenager relocating.]

If my presence is possibly a hindrance to a project, I'll make certain the housing assignment is such that it would be easy to not connect us.

[That likely is one of the reasons Kidou is against this he figures. An easy one to solve from all his time blending into the backgrounds and being overlooked.]

[Kidou stiffens in renewed surprise. He'd never thought that Genda could take it this way- as Genda said, they were teammates. Did Genda really think he was --?

A chill runs down his spine as echoes from the not so distant past roll through his mind, asking that very question. Am I in your way? He'd been so shocked at Haruna's question he couldn't answer it at the time, but now- well. Now he still has a hard time getting over staring at Genda in hurt surprise, but he manages to get something out after a very painful pause.

His voice is still quiet, but there's resolve there again.]

You could never be a hindrance. That's not why I'm opposed to this.

[He doesn't add more crinkles to Genda's papers, but he still refuses to make any motion to return them.]

[There's a downturn in his eyebrows as he tries to make sense of that, even though he knows it likely isn't the main reason there was still that instilled belief that being useful was far more important then anything else. It had been why he had thrown himself into the projects he was given his first day here.

The confusion was hard to shake when you weren't exactly certain why this was such a contested idea.]

Then why is this being opposed?

[Kidou breathes in, lifting his head back up to look Genda in the eyes. Complete honesty it is, then. He didn't really want to spell this out, but...]

I won't put you in danger needlessly.

[Not again.]

You're doing no such a thing.

[Not once has he been given an order or even a suggestion that could be constituted as such.]

[The reply is immediate this time, and definite.]

I am if I let you do this.

You gave no order regarding this decision. The consequences are mines alone.

[He's just as quick and certain in his answer.]

I can't agree with that. The decision was yours, but...

[The reason is still him.]

I'm still responsible should something happen.

Then it will be a lesson in regards to maintaining vigilance on my part.

[If you want to keep ascertain you'd be at fault then he'd have to make certain there was no fault to be had.]

Thus the responsibility remains theoretical.

[He shakes his head, falling motionless again afterwards.]

Genda...

[There's so much he could say, but no way to say it. Genda was strong. Kidou would never question his reflexes or his skills, but it feels clear to him that he needs to proceed with caution. Any poor phrasing could give the wrong idea.

But the truth was, it wasn't easy to shake the memory of his friend on a stretcher. Kidou had seen it twice now, and even the thought of seeing that again was more than he could take. That responsibility was a possibility already, and he refused to stack any more odds onto that. He just couldn't.]

I can't let you go through with this. I just can't.

Yet, you are willing to allow such to happen to you and for me to ignore such?

[That responsibility works both ways. What sort of teammate would he be if he meekly left and something happened he could have prevented?]

I can't allow that.

[From the look on Kidou's face, it's clear he'd not really considered that angle. The risk was fine if he was the one taking it, and that's all that he'd really thought about it. It wasn't that he thought Genda didn't care, not at all, but that he'd discarded himself from the equation before he'd even started this discussion. Slowly, Genda had been forcing him to realize that fact.

Kidou didn't like the idea of being hurt, but he never let it stop him. Ever. This had simply been no different.

Until Genda twisted it into a stalemate.

Kidou has to fight the urge to fold his arms, reminded of the papers he doesn't dare let go of. This is an impasse. He can't justify allowing what Genda's doing, and Genda can't justify not doing it. It doesn't seem like there's a solution that won't end up compromising one of them. And yet, he muses to himself, if he'd been put in any other city they wouldn't even have this problem. But since it's Maurtia Falls that he's been living in -

That nagging feeling he'd had earlier returns with a vengeance, and this time he realizes he's been staring right at the answer.

Kidou's shoulders lose some of their tension. He lifts the papers back up again, studying them with a more thoughtful expression than before. Maurtia Falls is written in; it's not part of the blank document. And that's the piece to this that had been eluding him earlier. Why hadn't he thought of this at the start of this debate? There's a way to keep Genda out of this hellish city, after all.

Without a word to explain what he's thinking, he walks around Genda, heading to stand at the desk himself.]

[It likely says a great deal that despite being caught off guard by this sudden action it barely stops him from turning around and following as he normally would. Two steps back and a half step to the left (Sakuma or Jimon had always been on the right.) which placed him far enough back that he was already raising an eyebrow when Kidou walks up to the desk where such paperwork is obtained and filed.

Something had changed, but it wasn't one of them giving in over this. Kidou would never concede a point that quickly regardless of what argument Genda used. Especially not without concessions and compromises.

He should likely say something or ask what was going on all of a sudden. Instead he only observes to see just what exactly Kidou has figured out regarding this impasse.]

[He of course knows the moment Genda falls in after him, but doesn't even twitch his head in Genda's direction. It's like old times, really- somehow, it still feels natural to lead the formation. The only weird part is missing someone on his right. It's unbalanced that way, and carries a sort of empty spot Kidou resolutely ignores on his march to the desk. He draws to a halt, standing stiffly in front of a bored looking government worker, who returns his intense stare with a vapid expression. She waits for him to say what he wants.]

Please give me transfer forms for changing cities.

[He stands quietly as the bored worker filters through the desk, finally tossing the forms on the desk and droning in a near monotone about what to fill out. Kidou just listens to the directions, filing them away in his mind. She ends up waving a hand saying 'You get the idea. Do what it says' and returns to staring at a computer screen to block the world out.

Taking the forms, Kidou thanks her, then carefully nestles them (and Genda's papers) in his bag for safekeeping. Then he turns for the exit.]

[This was an unexpected turn of events. Especially as Genda could only really see two valid reasons for Kidou to have acquired a new set of documents when he was still holding Genda's hostage.

There's now a lot more confusion in the stare directed at Kidou's back as Genda silently follows him out of the building. That amount of paperwork would hardly have needed any time to fill out, and thus turn in without having to make a return trip.]

[As Kidou walks, he's already weighing his next action. While he's clearly fine, walking back to the porter, around Heropa's housing, and then back to his own house might not be the best idea right now. He probably should at least attempt to minimize walking a little.

For now, he'll pause on the street. Left is the Porter. Forward leads to the housing. And, still without turning around or even tilting his head, he directs a question behind him.]

How crowded is Heropa?

Barely. Most houses seem unoccupied or have only one or two residence in attendance.

[It had taken quite a few round trips through housing during various times of the day to figure out who actually lived in said housing and who were just frequent visitors. He probably knew more imPorts by face in Heropa then by name because of this, as well as any natives that casually stalked such areas to glimpse specific imPorts.]

The ratio of houses to residents speaks of expectations that were higher then the results at this point in time.

Good.

[Just like that, Kidou had a plan. He pauses for a minute, letting his decision settle in his mind like the heavy fact it was. He was going to miss some things about this place. Death the Kid, for instance. It wasn't going to be easy to leave him behind, especially considering the two man circus of mayhem that had just recently swarmed into the empty place that Kirijo had left behind. Kid had been one of the very few consistent friends Kidou had since the first day here, and here Kidou was leaving the person incapable of dealing with disorder or asymmetry behind with people who perfectly defined both categories.

When he thinks about it, it's with a small ache that he realizes how few other people there are for him to miss now, compared to how many there used to be. There'd been plenty more friends he had along the street, but ... one by one, they'd been snatched back by the Porter.

A cold wind cuts across the street, pulling his cloak out around him. While he didn't go there that often, Kidou was very well aware that it wasn't cold in Florida. North Carolina could get pretty bitterly cold too, but... going somewhere wasn't the same as living there. Early mornings wouldn't come with ice anymore.

But the cold wasn't offset by a warm populace like it was in Nonah. There was nothing but malevolence lurking down dark alleys, and sirens in the night were not an infrequent sound. Kidou tried not to wonder about it, but sometimes he'd lie awake anyway, listening to the stillness that was left behind long after an emergency vehicle had left. There's plenty of things he's not going to miss at all.

In the end, it didn't really matter how weirdly conflicted he felt about it right now. This had to be done. And if Genda was determined to watch his back, that settled everything else. Kidou didn't want to move in somewhere with people he didn't know. That anonymous person on the network sounded way too horrifyingly familiar, like an echo out of the shadows of his greatest fear all over again. And there were all the people Jacob was tracking. And that person who gleefully proclaimed himself a villain to Kidou's anonymous question. There was simply no telling who was safe and who was not.]

We'll take an unoccupied one. Find one you like.

[And, that proclamation made, he turned for the government housing block. He wasn't sure he could really put together any good argument to justify that sentence, and he was not about to hang around for any potential questioning. He knew even as he said it that he had no right to do what he had just done. Simply deciding where someone else would live like that was questionably ethical at best, and he already felt a little guilty about it. But it felt like the only decision he could make. Kidou didn't trust many people enough to voluntarily move in with them, and he refused to live completely alone.

Was he going to decide a pretty critical aspect of Genda's life for him and walk away? Was he going to potentially drag Genda down with him into whatever problems came from that hasty decision? Apparently... yes. Turns out, when circumstances are dire enough, he's capable of doing that.

He'll think about what that says about him later.]

[There's no questions or even hesitation as Genda turns left and heads back the porter. Even the fact his paperwork was still with Kidou was hardly a cause for a pause. If it had been that great of a deal, he had copies of such back in Heropa, but that was obsolete now as had an order to follow.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only