[Closed] "The burgers are really good"

[hoennmaihime]

Characters: Duo and Haruka

Location: Outside Casualty Communal -> an out of the way diner.

Rating: G

Time: 20th of February, middle of the day.

Description: Haruka and Duo meet, chat and eat.


[Haruka sat on a bench outside the Casualty Communal, crutches resting against the side, softly humming a tune while she waited for Duo to arrive. She had so many things she wanted to talk to and ask him about and that combined with the prospect of great food had filled her with a great deal of anticipation. But the weather was great, she thought as she soaked up the sunlight, and made patience come easily. Not only that, it was more than warm enough for her to wear her regular clothes from home - a major plus. She liked the clothes she'd gotten from the arrival basket well enough, but her few possessions grounded her. No matter where she went, if she had something familiar with her, it put her just a little bit more at ease.]

Comments

[hoennmaihime]

[She wasn't sure what to say to that. Maybe it wasn't the best time, but she needed to put together and think about what she knew about Duo - the last thing she wanted was to say something she should have avoided saying.

He had told her he came from a place where war had recently ended, but had clearly been on for most of his life. From the way he talked, he had definitely been involved in some way, although she didn't want to make guesses as to how deeply. All that really mattered was that he had been affected. And now plunged straight into the middle of another war.

But what could she really say to that? She knew only peace. Did she have anything worth saying?

Aware that she had been quiet for too long, Haruka bursts out frustratedly:]

I'm sorry! I don't mean that in pity, I mean... I don't know what I mean. But I really don't like the dark parts of your home, and I like even less that you had to live through them. I know that the world isn't fair, but... it's unfair that you're here now that your war’s over and I hate it. And I hate that I don't know what to say to you about it!

[braidedwonder]

[ He doesn't seem to mind her silence, smiling kindly as she tries to explain herself. It's hard for a lot of people to understand, when he says things like that, and he's come to understand that it's not a slight to either of them that they know about certain things in the world that the other doesn't and vice-versa. ]

Don't worry yourself so much about it.. [ He reaches out to pat her on the shoulder, still smiling in that classic, crooked Duo way. ] I'm used to it, so I'm not really all that worried or anything. Maybe I'm just meant to be here long enough to show people how to fight and then I'll go home.

You never know, right?

[hoennmaihime]

[The reasoning and physical contact combined successfully calm Haruka down again. She hadn't considered that possibility, and it wasn't a bad one. Things could turn out okay.]

...Yeah. Things could work out like that, couldn't they?

[The thought left her feeling a little better, at least.]

I know you said you're used to it, but it's still kind of amazing how... okay with things you are.

[She thought she'd gotten good at smothering any personal unhappiness, but clearly, she had several more levels of chill to shoot for.]

[braidedwonder]

I learned a long time ago that losing your mind over something, over thinking, all of that, was pretty self-defeating. If you want to actually get something done you kind of have to... accept it to a point, and then get yourself moving, you know? Fear or anger aren't really conducive to making good decisions or ones that would be, you know... even good in the short run.

[ That and well, when you always made your own decisions... But telling her about the orphanage and whatever else might not ever happen, if he had anything to do with it. Not everyone needed to know these little stories.

Thankfully the distraction of their meal arrives a short time later, and Duo smiles as he thanks their waiter. ]

Oh, great! I was starving!

[hoennmaihime]

[There's another pause, a short one this time, as Haruka takes his words in. Then, she nods in agreement.]

Mm. Crying just burdens others. No thoughtful person would let others see their tears.

[Not that any of that matters at the moment because food. Haruka's eyes take on a gleam and after a rushed "Thanks for the food!", she digs in with fervor.]

[braidedwonder]

[ it was strange how she somehow reminded him of Hilde, attacking her burger like that, and with the way she acted. It was almost homely, and he just shakes his head. ]

Nah, crying isn't a weakness. No human emotion is really a weakness, when push comes to shove, just some people are better at controlling it. [ Or at least, he saw no weaknesses in tears. In fact, sometimes he found that people who were comfortable enough to cry in front of others were the strongest, if they were so convinced of what they believed in so as to cry over it.

Even so he digs right in with her, taking the silence as both a moment to stuff his face and gather his thoughts. ]

[hoennmaihime]

[It's only after she's halfway through her burger and drink that Haruka stops, wipes her mouth with a paper napkin, and continues with her previous train of thought.]

I don't know... Crying shows that something's wrong. Flawed. When everybody needs you to be happy, that's the last thing they want to see.

[Her part said, she goes straight back to digging in.]

[braidedwonder]

Honestly... who the hell cares what everyone else needs or wants from you?

[ The takes a bite, chews and swallows before continuing. ] You'll drive yourself up a wall trying to please everybody. So do what you want and be happy in doing what it is you want to do.

[hoennmaihime]

[Her mouth becomes dry, making her current mouthful of burger impossible to swallow comfortably. A sip from her drink solves that. Haruka puts the cup down and places her elbows on the table, resting her chin on the back of her hands. She stares at the bar, her gaze vacant and her mind a million miles away.]

...I can't do anything that will damage the reputation of my family. I owe them for raising me.

[She stalls takes another long sip of her drink, then continues.]

It must sound silly, since I'm so far away from home. But... I'm here to help win a war. I might not like this place, but I still don't want to bring everyone else down.

Besides, [Her smiles returns at this.] I've managed for this long. I can keep on managing for quite a bit longer, I think. And isn't it important that more people than just myself are happy?

[braidedwonder]

[ In a way, he could understand. He as a child would have never done anything that might have permanently damaged the reputation of the Maxwell Church and Sister Helen, if he actually thought about the repercussions before hand. But on the other - he was all about self determination, and the understanding that while others may not be at their happiest while a singular person is, individual happiness is just as important as the whole, so long as the individual's happiness doesn't negatively affect every one else's. ]

Maybe it's just because I never really had a family, but - [ He waves his hand, making it clear (as far as he's concerned) that the no family thing wasn't a big deal. ] - Who cares? If you're happy, and that isn't negatively affecting everyone else in the family, I say go for it.

They can deal with it, if it chafes their ordeals a little, and eventually they'll get used to it. But individual happiness is really, really, important..

[hoennmaihime]

Wha...

[Duo, why is your luck so bad? Haruka frowns unhappily but otherwise refrains from expressing her dismay.]

Maybe...

[A point of view so vastly different to anything she's ever heard is hard to take in. A noncommittal response is the best she can give right now.]

I want... to make them proud, though. And I don't think that... I can truly be happy if my family and the people around me aren't happy. It would hurt.

[...She felt trapped and sick and increasingly like there was something wrong with her. She needed to set the conversation back on a better path. Haruka shakes her head, straightens up and starts to smile again before she says brightly:]

Well... well I think there's a happy medium! When I get home, if I just win the Johto Grand Festival, then everybody can be happy! I love what I do, and my parents... if I win, there's no way they can't be proud of me for that! It's a prestigious festival, and it's only my third and I'm still a young adult and I'll be a Top Coordinator and, and... i-it's truly an accomplishment worthy of a Gym Leader's daughter! Th-they might even say I can finally live at home again! I... I...

...I'm a mess, aren't I?

[braidedwonder]

[ He just lets her spill and talk her way through things, patiently nibbling on fries while she gets it all out, so to speak. Things like this sort of made him glad that while he did have a family they were so accepting and understanding of him. All the families he'd run in to.. well.. hadn't exactly worked out all that well when they were all together. But then again, that might not be a very fair assumption to place on every one.

Still, he has to give a little honest smile after that, shrugging lightly. ]

... Yeah, just a little. But that's alright, we all have our moments. [ He gives a little smile, though, shrugging for a moment. ]

But it seems like you want to be happy, even though doing what makes them happy doesn't really... fit you the best.

[hoennmaihime]

...I want to be happy, yeah. But...

[She felt so guilty.]

I'm sorry. I've never really told anyone any of this before, and I'm sorry for dumping it all on you. You shouldn't be any different, it isn't fair.

[Something in Haruka shifts. Her face takes on a determined look and she pumps her fist once for emphasis.]

I'll make it up to you! And don't say anything like I don't need to, because I want to! So, Duo Maxwell - what is it you want to do more than anything else in Death City?

[...Dramatic, yes. But that was how Haruka rolled.]

[braidedwonder]

Dude it's really okay. I don't mind. I've heard heavier things, I promise you're not ruining my day by telling me you want to be happy but you want every one else to be happy too.

[ He seems a little bemused by the dramatic declaration, though at the same time, he doesn't really know how to respond. The one thing in Death City that he wants...

He takes a moment to pause before laughing, shaking his head at himself, as if it's silly. ]

Unless you can kick me back to where I'm from, don't worry about it. I'm content with what I've got. A roof over my head and food in my belly and I'm content enough.

[hoennmaihime]

[Whoa hey don't laugh, she's in Full Serious Mode! Or at least she was. Now she's just flustered, her cheeks quickly heating up.]

H-hey! I'm not wrong for wanting to thank you! You shouldn't make fun of a girl's feelings, you know!

[braidedwonder]

If I was making fun of you, you would know. [ But he does stop his chuckles for a moment, taking another bite of his nearly finished burger. He wasn't the type to really need a lot, so while he concern was nice, he'd rather she focus on other things, if that was entirely possible for her. ]

Either way, thanks for the sentiment, but I'm alright. Scout's honor.

[hoennmaihime]

[Haruka makes sort of a begrudging 'mmph' sound of concession before digging into the remaining half of her burger. It was rare for conversation to distract her from a meal and Haruka ate quickly, trying to catch up.

Being stubborn and a little strange however, she isn't letting go of the idea of doing something nice for Duo. She just won't mention it again.

When her lunch is finally demolished, she wipes her hands on a napkin and gets out her wallet from her pack, ready to pay.]

[braidedwonder]

[ Duo's quite capable of woofing down food in no time flat, used to demolishing his daily calories before going on long missions, but at times like these he likes to take his time. That doesn't stop him, however, from making a little sound of distress around his mouthful of burger, quickly swallowing his mouthful. ]

What're you doin'? This one's on me put that away.. [ Such a gentlemen, at times. ]

[hoennmaihime]

[She can't help but grin cheekily at his reaction.]

Paying!

[You know what, just for that, she's going to try to pay for his meal as well. She speeds up, quickly adding up the amount of bills she needs before slamming them triumphantly on the table. And the tip, of course.]

I never end up spending all of the allowance they give us anyway.

[braidedwonder]

[ Duo manages to give a little sour expression, nose scrunching up in a pout. He likes to at least pay for these sorts of things, but if it's already on the table... ]

Fine. But I'm paying next time.

[hoennmaihime]

[Her grin softens, both at his expression and the promise of a next time.]

Deal.

[Now, time to get down from her seat. Okay, if she turns around, takes a hold of her crutches, positions herself and gently swings down...

...Or not. What if she slips and hurts herself? She wants to be brave and self-sufficient, but she doesn't have any confidence in what she's about to do. And there's a much safer option at hand, even if asking is embarrassing.]

Um... Duo? Do you still feel like being a gentleman?

[braidedwonder]

Uh? [ He looks over, for a moment confused about what she would be asking him that for, but when he realizes, he just smiles. With a nod he gets off his stool, holding out a hand in order to help her, or to offer whatever help she needed. ]

Yeah. Come on, tell me how I can help.

[hoennmaihime]

[She sets her crutches to the side again before gingerly taking Duo's hand, placing her good leg forward.]

Just... please don't let me fall.

[Her grip tightening, she moves off the seat and lands safely on the ground.]

Thank you.

[braidedwonder]

I won't, promise. [ He holds on to her hand with a light pressure, enough to ensure that she had a nice support, other hand at the side just in case. But he smiles as she thanks him, giving a little shrug but waiting to release her until she has her crutches in hand. ]

No problem. Got a good footing?

[hoennmaihime]

Mm-hm!

[Haruka nods once in confirmation, letting go of his hand once her crutches are positioned securely under her arms.

She's having fun though, and she doesn't want to split up just yet.]

Hey, do you want to go to the park? The paths that run through it are smooth, so they're easy for me to walk on. And besides - today's a beautiful day.