(Untitled)
CHARACTERS: Beat [ice_in_shibuya ] and open
WHEN: Mid afternoon
WHERE: The courtyard
RATING: Probably no worse then pg-13
WARNINGS: General TWEWY spoilers, maybe a little cursing from Beat
WHAT: Beat tries to get some "fresh air" to skate and think, not necessary in that order.
LOG: ( Brooding was not his style, normally. )
WHEN: Mid afternoon
WHERE: The courtyard
RATING: Probably no worse then pg-13
WARNINGS: General TWEWY spoilers, maybe a little cursing from Beat
WHAT: Beat tries to get some "fresh air" to skate and think, not necessary in that order.
LOG: ( Brooding was not his style, normally. )
From the second he sees Beat, Neku knows that something's up. And, no, it doesn't take a partner to tell -- for once, Beat's sitting still and quiet, which is a sight so rare it's almost troubling. Something's obviously on the skateboarder's mind, and Neku figures that he doesn't even need three guesses to figure out what.
... but. He's Neku, and situations like this aren't exactly his forte. He spends a few seconds halfway across the courtyard, trying to figure out what to say -- but, screw it. This is Beat, right? So, Neku makes his way over to the other boy, shoes squeaking slightly on the damp grass. "... Hey."
And, with that, he plops down across from Beat. "Didn't peg you for the bonding-with-nature type. You out here to sight-see?"
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"Nah man... flower is flowers. Tryin' ta skate a little, ya know? Ain' going so hot."
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Neku shifts slightly on the grass, choosing to focus his gaze on the hat in Beat's hands instead of meeting the other boy's eyes. They've been through... worse than this, but still. It's awkward for him; he's not sure how to start, not sure what to say. ... but he wants to try. That counts for something, right? "... Something on your mind?"
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That said, he crosses his arms over his chest, sulking. "What if one'a us gets sick, yo? I ain' smart, I know that. But I gotta do something or I'm gonna go nuts..."
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Neku understands the frustration -- of knowing that he's stuck here, of knowing that there isn't much he can do to find a cure, of watching people that he cares about come to a place where they're in danger. Every second that slides by is another one wasted; how long will it be before someone he knows gets sick? ... It's tough to think about, and the fact that it all boils down to some giant waiting game makes it even worse. He isn't a scientist or a doctor -- what the hell is he supposed to do?
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"... Hey." Neku leans forward just enough to prop his elbows on his knees, toying idly with a blade of grass brushing up against one of his legs. "Remember that week we were partners? ... those walls that we kept coming across that you'd just barge straight through? When you set your mind on doing something, it was like you were unstoppable."
He pauses for a second, struggling to phrase the words the way he wants them. "... that's what you've gotta do here. Find a direction, then... charge."
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Another pause; for the first time, he looks up until his gaze is level with Beat's. "... You're not going at it alone. We're still partners, right? You, me, Shiki, and Rhyme. ... even Josh and Mr. H. We're all going to figure it out." He squeezes the fingers of his right hand into a fist, trying to make his own words sink in. "Trust your partner, right? Even here."
"We've been through way worse than this." After all, they've died and fought their way back to life; that has to count for something, right? "... so, there's no way in hell we're getting mowed down by some crappy little bug. Besides, a few people are already starting to put their heads together -- everyone here wants this thing gone."
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But after that few moments his worried expression blooms into a huge grns, and he stands up, making his skateboard rolls away.
"Ha! Yeah! You're right Phones! Ain't gonna sit around all day not doing nothing like a toll, yo!" he pumps a fist a few times, almost seeming to flail with his excitement. There's no Walls to take his energy on, so for now it's just the air.
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"I ain't gonna play emo anymore. That's your job." At this point it was almost hard to tell if he's joking or not.
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... but he's glad to see Beat back to his normal self, no matter how loud and annoying the skateboarder might get. The Game taught him about partnerships -- about the ways that different people come together and work together with their different strengths and weaknesses to accomplish a goal. And yeah, that means they need Beat to be... Beat, right? ... so, Neku's glad. For a second, there's almost a smile hovering over his expression, and then --
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He's huffing pointedly in Beat's direction, but -- hey, there's no real anger behind it. "See if I get ever come out here and get grass stains just to cheer you up again."
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"Ya know you'd come back~"
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He shrugs in a palms-up motion, irked. "... And your optimism. I totally wouldn't mind leaving you out here on your ass."
Okay, okay. He's lying. ... Probably.
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