OPEN

[soul_mods]

Characters: Open
Location: Death City, Clinic
Rating: PG
Time: Jan 17 onward
Description: Missions 151 and 152, crossposted to LJ



The clinic is a buzz of activity from beginning to end, with the doctors and their staff preparing everything that could be needed by their agents in Europe, and clearing away the unnecessaries. Food is cooked large-scale because no one will have time to do it later, and hospital supplies are moved around to make more space for beds.

Shibusen's scouts and supportive agents are in charge of dragging the wounded back to Death City, and they come and go for random errands. The atmosphere is understandably tense, and things don't get better when the first of the injured are brought in.

[ ooc: Just pop up with your thread(s) in the post. Please follow this format in the subject header: [Characters][Date and Time][OPEN/CLOSE] ]

Comments

[pishirogane]

"Well, Teddie has been here before. Still, yes, some explanation would be required, but only if someone inquired."

She nodded and sighed, letting her eyes close as she rested against the pillow fully again. Naoto didn't notice the sketchbook, thinking. How was Minato holding up? And why did he become distracted on the mission?

"... Better. They won't be holding him here at least."

[topgun_textiles]

"I guess I could explain if I leave out the whole bear suit n' Shadow thing."

As she settled back on her pillow, he quieted. Kanji chose instead to nod then, opting for the quieter sound of acknowledgement in reply. The two were safe in the city, despite injuries. Naoto hadn't been awake long, but he wouldn't be offended if she drifted off again. He got up for just a moment to shut the door as gently as he could, blocking out the sounds of footsteps and the occasional chatter.

It was a little hard to sketch with a slightly-achy arm, but he'd make do. He had messy line work, but that was what erasers were for when he needed them. Kanji glanced her way for a moment, then back to the page to continue.

"Was a hell of a Mission to cut the teeth on," He muttered soberly.

[pishirogane]

Part of Naoto wants to drift into the haze of sleep again, but she has been in a state of unconsciousness for much too long, awakening only once hours ago and just for several minutes. Her eyes opened wearily as Kanji closed the door, but then they closed again, appreciative of the notion.

The scratching noise made her curious, but she didn't bother to ask. She could easily figure out what it was; pencil against paper wasn't an unfamiliar sound mingled with the sound of breathing in the room.

"It was ranked higher than the other missions on the board..."

[topgun_textiles]

"Huh?"

Kanji blinked. There were rankings!? That explained the stars. All he'd honestly read was 'Shibusen's Highest Priority' before he slapped his name down with full confidence that he'd put what he'd learned to the test and see where he stood. Everything about standing idly by while things go out of control didn't sit well with him. A terribly risky move.

"...Oh. W-well, I figured they needed all the able bodies they could get." And able bodies they all were... the Meister/Weapon pair heading for the emitter seemed to cleave through Kishin Eggs as if they were a mere nuisance. Tifa seemed to act a bit strangely when they appeared, too. He had to wonder why.

His hand stopped as he looked to the bag on the floor, then back to her.

"Anyway, I found s-somethin' the other day," he began, bending to reach into the bag again and gather up a few things.

[pishirogane]

"You should proceed with more caution next time. A three-star mission isn't the best choice for someone who just arrived." It would be better if he had a stable partner too, one that he had been working with for sometime. Though, she digresses. Her and Minato didn't do so well...

"... Found something?" What exactly did he mean by that? Did she drop something at the training ground? Or maybe before she departed in the mirror... ugh, she couldn't recall.

[topgun_textiles]

He didn't have to be told twice. Though the mission was a success overall, he was running on fumes and nearly seeing double by the time he stepped back through the mirror, though he'd never admit that... not even to the woman he was partnered with yesterday.

"After the emitter was wrecked and things were calmin' down a little, I... uh..." He sat up again, the sketchbook and pencil pinned between the back of the seat and his mid-section as he held something different in his hands. He looked away.

"I-I dunno if you got 'em all ready, but I was told these're pretty good mysteries, and th-they should help pass the time while you're stuck here."

He revealed the items to her: Three books titled The Shape of Water, The Terracotta Dog, and The Snack Thief. Kanji placed them on the bed within arm's reach of her to check out if she was so inclined.

[pishirogane]

Naoto watched Kanji place the books on the bed quietly, examining the titles. Well, she hasn't had the chance to look at any books besides history ones in the library. She had been falling behind on her novels.

"... It will be difficult to turn the pages, but thank you, Kanji-kun."

She gave him a small smile and nodded. Perhaps she should buy some new bookmarks too... Ah. Gifts...

"Tomorrow's your birthday, correct?"

[topgun_textiles]

He scratched behind an ear, thinking. You'd think someone would have invented some means to read a book one-handed while making those e-readers that were growing in popularity.

"Right, it would, wouldn't it? Sorry..." Hmmm, he wondered if he could figure out a way to-- he had an idea just then, but her question grabbed his attention, and he looked up at her, face burning a little.

"Yeah, but it feels kinda weird. I just had the thing two months ago, y'know?"

[pishirogane]

Well, the e-readers were nice, but it wasn't the same. Just... turning the page and reading from cover to cover.

"It's fine. I'll find a way." She really does want to at least read the next time she wakes up.

"It is. Still, I did get you a gift... unfortunately, it's back in the room right now."

[topgun_textiles]

There's making some parts of life electronic for convenience, and then there's taking an experience and sterilizing it.

"Y-you really didn't have to, Naoto-kun..." He hadn't really thought about the 19th until now... not that he really could when she was here all banged up like this.

[pishirogane]

Yes, that's pretty much it.

"I thought it was appropriate..." Again, she doesn't seem to care much for her current state.

[topgun_textiles]

"I know. I-I just don't want you feelin' obligated." He picked up the sketchbook and pencil again, turning his eyes to that instead. Man, he had to stop getting himself in such a tizzy. She knew the date? Sure, probably from his record at the police department, but...

He started to erase the messier marks, working to define a few lines here and there, the image he had in mind starting to come together.

"Either way, no rush. It ain't like I got plans on that day, anyway." Well, there was the fact that he had spending money now, so he could stop pressing his face against the craft store window longingly (when nobody was looking!) and finally step in to shop.

[pishirogane]

"It's not an obligation... a friend gives a gift when it's their friend's birthday..."

Or is she doing this wrong? It's confusing sometimes.

"... I'll have to contact the agency and tell them I'll be unable to perform field work for a while."

[topgun_textiles]

He nodded, though he was more accustomed to going out and giving than receiving. Kanji was one of those 'oh hey I'm another year older, moving on' types, especially after what happened...

"They're not gonna give you crap for it, will they?" He furrowed a brow, glancing her way.

[pishirogane]

Naoto isn't really used to either side of that transaction.

"I shouldn't. Edgeworth-san understands. Besides, I should be able to do menial work still such as sorting files or writing up any reports." Though, she's curious as to what her other boss might say.

[topgun_textiles]

"What about at home? Gonna put Arisato-san to work?"

He had to admit, it was a rather amusing mental picture. Kanji didn't know about their living arrangement, but he had to wonder who pulled the weight chore-wise. He reached into that bag again, fishing out a box of colored pencils. Keeping the previous pencil balanced against an ear, he blew on the page, brushed a hand against the surface, and selected a few colors.

[pishirogane]

"Perhaps... It depends on what needs to be done."

She has to get back and see what is out of order. Though, considering the state of their apartment when they left, it should still be fine. Naoto stared at Kanji, curious now as to what he was doing exactly.

[topgun_textiles]

He held the white pencil between his teeth and remained focused as he first used black to define the final lines, then got started on filling in as much of the white space of the page as possible.

It takes him a minute or two of this before the hairs on the back of his neck rise and he realizes he's being watched. His stomach did a little loop, but he continued his work. He just needed a little more time...

"How's it usually split up between you guys?"

[pishirogane]

"Depends. One of the rules is to clean up after yourself if you make a mess. As for other chores, we trade off every week."

She continued to stare, but looked away soon enough. Her eyes were back on the books he had brought as she wondered when he got them.

[topgun_textiles]

"Keepin' house rules doesn't sound half bad. If my partner turns out to be a slob, I'm kickin' their ass."

Though, he couldn't quite picture his current two candidates as messy in the slightest. Maybe if that dog of hers shed, but... man, he couldn't even bring himself to be mad that big lug.

He looked up as he let the pencil dangle from the corner of his mouth.

"...Guy I got those from told me that series is pretty huge in Italy. Got a TV show based on 'em n' everything." He may have peeked in one of them and tried to give them a little read... seemed all right from what he could understand.

[pishirogane]

"You can resolve such matters without threatening bodily harm on your partner. Besides, that's a double-edge."

Though, she probably doesn't take him seriously to follow through.

"I see. It makes sense why I've never heard of them before."

[topgun_textiles]

Bingo. At most it'd be a verbal ass-kicking while he picked up the mess himself. His room at Creeping Crypt was unusually tidy for that of a teenage boy, but only time would tell if what he planned to pick up tomorrow at the Mall would change that.

He was relieved, then. He didn't give her something she'd read a hundred times! "If you like 'em, there's more where that came from. That's the first three. There's... about ten of 'em in total, or somethin' around that number?"

Cool, he liked how that came out. Kanji was worried he'd gotten rusty in pencil-coloring. He finally took the white pencil he'd been holding, and rubbed the side of the tip over his coloring work.

[pishirogane]

Naoto didn't know what his plans were, but that's definitely an impending chaos storm coming.

"Ten? Hm... I'll be occupied for a while with them then." Not that she's slacking from her work due to reading. She knows her priorities.

Again, nothing is said. She listened to the pencil scratching against the paper as Kanji colored. "... What did you draw?"

[topgun_textiles]

Oh, the chaos. Heaven forbid what the future may bring with all the shiny new equipment.

...Oops. Yeah, perhaps he was a little too quiet about the whole thing, but after the last bit of scratching at the paper, he looked up.

"I, uh... wanted to finish it before I showed it." He hesitated for a minute, then turned the sketchbook page in her direction. It appeared to be an action shot, Naoto clutching a smoking revolver as Yamato-Takeru rises into being behind her, complete with that telltale blue energy. Whatever technique he'd done with those pencils, the finished product looked like it had been done in watercolor.

[pishirogane]

Just don't break any windows.

Naoto raised her head first, but then shifted so she could get a closer look, her wound stinging in protest. Simply ignoring the feeling, she examined the picture closely, amazed at the details and... uhm, why her? Did she distract him in battle? "... You're quite skilled, Kanji-kun. It doesn't even appear to be done with colored pencil."