~♥EIGHTEEN♥~

[generalflirt]

[Action]

[The second day of the dreaming - Masaomi isn't quite what to sure what to make of it. Yesterday he had dismissed it - it wasn't important in comparison to the festival just being over with him having new gifts and favors and things to do with his bros - his orphaned compatriots. But the dream tonight shook him. Last night was a happy date with a girl - he thought it was just something his imagination has cooked up, but the one he awoke from this morning was- He has no idea where that room is, but he resolves he needs to find it.

It looks a little like a clinic room, right? So with a dour and thoughtful expression on his face, Masaomi decides to ditch school today in favor of scouring every single room in the clinic for the first half of the day, trying to find some room - looking from more than one angle - which looks like the one he saw.

By the afternoon, he's no longer even sure why finding that room is important, and he finds that he just... wants to know who that was. She didn't even recognize her, but in both dreams his sentiment was strong - as strong as his bond with Mikado, maybe? But different, more like what he had with Kata-- no. No, he can't dwell on that. So in the afternoon, still ditching school, but going into the early evening, you might find this boy taking up space in the Baratie (the AU version of Seventh Heaven) and not really ordering anything.

Until he gets kicked out that is, and then he'll make his way home after buying a carton of milk to try to appease his caretaker - a useless little habit he picked up whenever he stays out past curfew.

FEEL FREE TO RUN INTO HIM AT ANY POINT DURING THIS DAY??]

Comments

[markofthebrave]

...there's a lot that can happen in these types of rooms. They see a lot of happiness... and a lot of sadness too.

[There. You're off the hook - she's not pushing anymore. But she is listening still, if you want to go on. This is her way of trying to be reassuring without shifting the focus to a shared experience - since she knows once they start talking about her it'll be murder to get Masaomi talking about himself again. So, she can see why he'd want to hunt down a room like this, and she's listening, but there's a way out there too if he wants to take it.]

[generalflirt]

[...Hah. The choice is his, huh? He doesn't want to get into it, in all due honesty but... wasn't keeping things in what ruined them? Or was it something else? Maybe it was a myriad of things. The battle of what to say or not say plays out on his face a moment before he shrugs and smirks, deciding not to commit just yet]

Aah~ well, you would know, Katara. I'm not well suited to a room like this, but I imagine if it was here... a sad time seems more likely, doesn't it?

[markofthebrave]

[She sets the clipboard down and takes a half-step closer.] Not - always.

[Because she's stubborn, because she believes in him, because he could have just been there for a friend...]

But if it's bothering you, then... probably.

[You know you can tell me.]

1/2

[generalflirt]

[...] Yeah, I guess that is the case.

[generalflirt]

[...] There was someone in the clinic.

[He feels weird saying it. He's hunting down a dream like this?]

[markofthebrave]

...someone important.

[He doesn't need to say it - why else would he feel like he needs to find out where this person is? But if they were in the clinic, then they were hurt or...

Hmm.]

[generalflirt]

Ah, yeah. I don't know who they are though.

[...] I mean, I knew in the dreams, but waking up, I don't really recall it.

[Just her face. It stands out to him in his memories and feels extremely familiar]

[markofthebrave]

...I think it works that way, in dreams, sometimes.

[A boy, laughing as they flew down a hill side-by-side. There are arrows tattooed on his head and arms and somewhere deep inside her, she knows - this boy is the most important person in the whole world.]

Do you think this person - was someone who'd been here before?

[generalflirt]

No.

[She was... amazingly cute. He'd remember her if she saw her - it would be an image which would haunt him, which could never leave him. He's positive of that much.

But he knew her.]

[markofthebrave]

[There's a pause as Katara turns that over in her mind.

So why are you looking for the room here? - because it's important, because he felt like he had to, obviously.

So... what does she say to that? 'I'll let you get back to it?' - but that was insane... or was it? If she thought she had a chance to find that boy with the arrow tattoos...

...can she even tell Masaomi that she was dreaming about a boy?]

...they feel real, don't they - like the people we're dreaming of are people we should know.

[generalflirt]

...Ah? So you too, Katara?

[Finally, that shifts to her. The opening was too great - he couldn't ignore that]

[markofthebrave]

[A nod.] A lot of people have been having them, if you go by the journal network.

[And those are just the people who are talking about them.]

I think it might be some kind of weird Shift.

[generalflirt]

Ah, I knew that much. [The first part. Shift? Yeah, it might be a shift. He looks around the room one more time, concludes this isn't it, and then just shrugs into a more relaxed position. He tries to, at least. His face is still contorted]

[markofthebrave]

[As for Katara, well... she's not ready yet to give these dreams any kind of credence. They're just some Shift. They'll go away in time. She has to believe that.

...because how could she forget something as important as that boy seemed to be?

So she focuses on Masaomi, because he's important too - important for reasons she can actually name. She takes a few steps closer, attuned to his expression.]

Are you going to be all right?

[Is there anything I can do?]

1/2

[generalflirt]

[ ...Hah. Someone important is asking him a leading question about his hunt for- what? Something which feels almost as important as she is despite obviously not being, well, real. Something from outside of reality? When did he start believing in nonsense like that? He frowns a bit]

[ ... ]

Neh, apart from you guys letting me check more rooms - I'll keep out of any with patients, promise - [Clearly this part is not up for debate] I think I'll be fine.

[generalflirt]

But I guess that sounds a liiiiittle crazy, right? [With a smirk and mirth once again on his face. It's an easy self-depreciation, something to make the air feel like... tense]

[markofthebrave]

[Katara shrugs, smiles a little.] A little, but... I think it's sweet. You're looking for someone important to you.

[Why does that feel - hollow. Who is it?

And why does she feel like - maybe she should do the same. But... there are no six-legged flying beasts in Luceti Valley.]

Even if it is a dream... you never know what you could find. Right?

[generalflirt]

Ah, yeah. [...He says this with a hint of guilt. He can't necessarily read Katara's mind or anything, but he can certainly sense that there was an odd note in the mood. It being call sweet - honestly, he feels as if he were just punched in the gut. He still understands the why of it - hell, it's mostly his fault in his mind - but the feelings themselves-

They're a lot more problematic.

His shifts his position, willing the faked cheer to continue. It's been a long while - probably since the break up itself - he's been so bad at this.]

People often are told to chase dreams, right? I know I'd like some of mine to come true.

[With a little eyebrow arch

He wishes he knew which ones he meant]

[markofthebrave]

[...he's really upset, isn't he.

Katara wants to step forward and touch his arm, try to comfort him... but she doesn't have that right anymore. She's probably pushing it by even coming within arms-length, as she has.

All she can do for him is respond to that little eyebrow arch and shake her head, as if she doesn't want to know about those dreams, you boy, you.]

So maybe it's not that crazy after all.

[And she steps to the side, clearing the path to the door if he wants to make his escape.] I'll make sure Dad doesn't give you a reason to stay if he catches you here.

[It's a joke. Mostly.]

[generalflirt]

Ah, ah~! I'll have you know, Katara, I have spent the better part of my life evading the wrath of your dad and Shizuo-san besides! [Yes, theatrics. He takes a step back from her and swings his arm in a wide arch before pushing it into his chest. He bounces the hand off there and holds up one finger] If there's one big talent I can boast you have three guesses and if all three of them aren't "survive the angry men" then you lose, sorry!

[And after this he laughs. He might have just... slightly insulted her father depending on how you look at it and certainly mocked his caretaker, but all the same this is still something necessary]

[markofthebrave]

[She can't help but laugh a little at it - disrespectful as it may be, she doesn't sense any harm from it. And then she adds lightly-]

It's better not to make them angry in the first place, you know.

[generalflirt]

A man's got to do what a man's got to do?

[Complete with tugging at the edges of his hoodie. He spins in place, laughing a little more, before taking one step back again. Towards the door, actually. He'd love to talk with her more but... right now. Maybe right now isn't the time. He feels like the room is getting smaller as they speak, and the longer he stays the more dangerous it feels to him, despite his attempts to lighten the mood]

[markofthebrave]

[Please, please ignore that entirely inappropriate blush which surfaces at the memory of some of the things which would have turned her Dad's 'stalk' impulse to 'maim.'

She is certainly not going to stand in your way as you head to the door - out with you, before this somewhat normal conversation turns into something embarrassing and awkward.

Where did she put her clipboard, anyway?]

That's what they say.

[She will call out to him again, though, if he makes it over to open the door.]

1/2

[generalflirt]

[He would, if he wasn't having his own fond memories of some things which prompt him to make his laugh drop more into a nostalgic chuckle. She shakes his head just a bit, and then takes the next few steps.

Feelings are so silly, so complicated. He misses when there was an easy classification for all this, but right now - for her sake? for "their" sakes? he's lost track - they're "friends." He wonders then, why he didn't want to clarify the one in his dream was a girl]

[generalflirt]

[Buuut as for the door- he does. He's not a sneak though - he's sly, yes, but he's not good enough to sneak out of a room unnoticed. As is he... leans up on a space on the wall right next to the door with one of his hands half-way to the knob.

And he looks at her now, almost apologetic]