[CLOSED]

[lovelledup]

Who: Gladion and Chikusa
When: Backdated to 7/10
Where: The flower shop where Chikusa is working
What: Following up from here.

Not for the first time since he asked to talk, Gladion wonders what he's even doing. In all honesty, he's not sure what he wants out of this conversation, or why he wants to ask in the first place. It only feels that much odder when he walks into the flower shop that isn't the one his dad owns, knowing the person whose family does own it is the one who'd been most vocal about arguing with Chikusa on the network.

But he was the one who asked to talk, so he's here, and looking around slightly awkwardly at the flowers since he hasn't immediately spotted Chikusa.

Comments

[kokuyoyo]

"If we don't get anything from them, that means having to try and investigate on our own.... But we'd be half blind from the get-go." Exactly what they all want, he's sure. "We can't even summon those creatures on our own yet... So that's the first step if nothing else."

[lovelledup]

He nods slowly. "It's somewhere to start." Not that he knows how. It seems like they only get access to those powers where there's some big crisis happening that means more of them awaken. But being able to control it seems like it might be very useful, if they can. But that's a whole other path of speculation, and at some point he should probably stop keeping someone who's supposed to be working stuck in a supply closet.

He looks back toward Chikusa. "Thanks. For answering my question. I'm not sure I really agree, but... I can't say you're wrong, either."

[kokuyoyo]

Despite the fact that it's a perfectly normal thing to do, Chikusa seems to grow almost awkward as he's thanked. His fingers fiddle slowly with each other, twisting and curling. "It's fine," he says, a little stiff.

Getting up slowly, he takes the time to compose some of his other thoughts. "That's.... mostly all I can ask for. It became kind of obvious after a while that the things we did wouldn't be looked on favorably by most people..." You don't end up staying out of prison by being oblivious to common laws, after all. A sigh slips out of him. "But it does get tiring arguing with people..."

Thus why he gave up on one argument and asked to be paid for a longer explanation with another.

Upright now, he seems to hesitate a moment. "...Were you going to do anything else today?"

[lovelledup]

The reaction is noticeable, but not entirely unexpected. Gladion would probably react similarly if the roles were reversed. Still, he likes to give credit where it's due. Chikusa hadn't been obligated to tell him anything.

He stands up as well, giving Chikusa a slightly curious look at the question, then shaking his head. "No. Why?"

[kokuyoyo]

Another beat of silence, and Chikusa seems to gaze elsewhere. Honestly, he has no idea how to approach this: either the question he wants to ask or the strange mix of feelings and memories that connect and separate two different identities.

"....I have lunch break in a little over an hour..."

[lovelledup]

Ah, so that's what the question was. He's not quite sure what to feel about it, either, but he doesn't mind it either. In fact, there's a slight hint of a smile.

"Heh. You better not spend that time gushing over that actor you used to like." It's really weird for the words coming out of his mouth to sound simultaneously completely natural and very awkward to him, but that's probably the territory of having had two separate lives.

[kokuyoyo]

Aw, look. Now he's started to actually emote, because that's the closest thing to a sulk that will ever show up on his face.

"I'm not the type to do that.... and the movies were good anyway..."

[lovelledup]

"They weren't bad." He'll give him that much. For all that Ciro was overly enthusiastic, he never really minded watching them. Even if that's a bit odd to think about now that he knows neither of them were themselves when all that happened.

"If you're still working for a while, I guess I'll come back and meet you when you get off." He's already distracted Chikusa from work for a while, and if he's left to his own devices, he'd rather not spend his time hanging around a flower shop.

[kokuyoyo]

As he steps back out into the main shop area again, Chikusa gives a quiet huff. "They were a little more than that..." At least, even with his proper memories in place, there's still those fond memories that come from such movies.

He settles at the counter, easing up a bit and nodding. "Then... I'll see you later?" A part of him feels just a little... anxious, perhaps, at the idea. Is he excited? Unsure? Well, it's too late now. He supposes he's committed.