doreimi | IC Inbox | prismatica

...I'll help!

[This is a thinly-veiled excuse to follow him, beyond a shadow of a doubt. She's not subtle in the slightest. But this is Cordis, and — well. Such is the way of things, during Cordis.

So she trots after him, like an eager duckling.]

So...it seemed like you were in a hurry for me to come over. Is everything okay?

[ He shuffles through the cabinets and his fridge. Among the things he gets out are some apple slices and carrots. Something a little better than what he had last time it was Cordis. Though there is still a lot of junk stuffed in the cabinets, so it's truly, barely an improvement. ]

Nothing is wrong. I just [ wanted attention? ] wanted to see you.

[ As if he doesn't see her frequently. He's just feeling - particularly needy. It's weird. And part of him hates it, but the rest of him just indulges because why not. There's an awful lot of hesitation when he speaks again: ]

I didn't mean to worry you.

[Oh. He just wanted to see her. He just — told her to come over because he wanted to see her. And it's Cordis, which means that he's probably the same way she is right now, more self-indulgent and more willing to act for the sake of gratification and what he wanted was to see her.

Oh.

Well, that's...that's awfully nice, then, isn't it.]

It's okay. I kind of can't help it, you know? I mean...you're important to me, so of course I'm going to worry.

[She's hovering, mostly, like she's watching for an opportunity to volunteer to help with something, but leaving enough space that she's not imposing if there's nothing to do.]

And, so...here I am! Happy to see you, too...

[ Food - well, snacks, are mostly scattered on the counter, since he's just pulled stuff out with no intent to organize. It's mostly going to get eaten, anyway, why bother organizing it? It's never been easy for him to express himself. Especially not when he actually cares about someone. Those people are few and far between.

So, there's obvious hesitation (even those who don't know him would see it), when he steps around towards her.

There was no one here as important as she was to him. He wanted to keep her safe. Something he never could have done when he was smaller. He pulls her into the slightest hug. He appreciates the attention, honestly. The fact that if he asks - she'll show up. ]

Me, too.

...Rohan...

[She's watching him with held breath, acutely aware of just how rare a mood this is for him. It's one thing to have a knack for interpreting Rohan's quirks and nuances into an unspoken language, but this is so much more overt than usual. He's outside of his comfort zone, and what's more, he's the one putting himself outside of it to begin with.

For her sake.

There's no resistance or reluctance as he pulls her close; she goes along with it easily, leaning on him of her own volition as soon as she's close enough.]

Ha...I can't believe how tall you are. I used to have to crouch down to hug you, and now I'm the tiny one.

[ Awkward, a little uncomfortable still. It's obvious. But he really likes her being there. He wishes, really wishes he could remember what it was like to be smaller and to be happily hugged by her. How different it would have been to look up at her and reach for her.

He doesn't remember being that child. As far as he remembers, he's always been like this. This has always been... difficult.

Sometimes, it's weird. When he's with her, even without knowing things - it still feels familiar. Did it ever feel like that at home? Was that why he took to her when he didn't take to most others he met? ]

I guess you are pretty tiny, huh.

[ He sighs deeply. ]

...I'm guessing you want food, huh?

...You know I would've come over even without you bribing me with the food, right.

[Before he can get away, she gives him a soft poke in the ribs, leveraging her proximity to him for maximum tactical effect.]

But let's have something together! It's Cordis, I know you're hungry, too, even if you don't show it much.

You did, but it's Cordis and I know how it is.

[ He shrugs. He's hungry, and it isn't as bad as usual, so that is the only reason he's been able to work. But, with that, it means that he also has wanted to be close to other people instead. He preferred the eating. But...he liked Reimi so as far as options go, this wasn't terrible.

He eyed the food out there. ]

So. Are you saying I should cook?

[ He...doesn't know if he minds. ]

I can.

I'm not sure if I believe you, you know. Though I guess you're an adult living on your own, you've got to have picked up something by now.

[And actually, the more she thinks about it, the more enticing she finds the idea of them actually having something together, instead of just snacking with abandon for the next however long.]

Can I watch? Watch you cook, I mean. I want to see!

...I guess.

[ He doesn't really mind if she does. He doesn't think it'd be that interesting, though. But, he liked having her around, so he wasn't about to tell her no... ]

Omurice is pretty filling, and I have everything for it.

[ He moseys into the fridge to get some leftover rice to fry and eggs. ]

I guess I don't really know what you like to eat.

[ It never much occurred to him, because she seemed fine with pretty much anything he had or brought her. Just another thing he doesn't know. ]

Do you have a favorite?

[As he heads for the fridge, she finds a place to lean, far enough out of the way that she won't be underfoot while he works, but still with a good vantage point to see everything.]

That's okay. I didn't eat for so long I think I kind of forgot what I like to eat, too!

[Which is...partially true. But partially it's just to try to make him feel better, downplaying the thought.]

...Gyoza, though. That was my favorite. Well, and hot pot, too, but I liked that more because it was fun than because of the food itself.

[ Somehow, it only helps a little, but that's okay. He doesn't need to know how true it is. It's nice to have her close, interested. He just enjoys her company. It's nice to have her around. He starts by chopping up some vegetables and frying up the rice in a pan before he turns to her so he can start chopping. ]

Gyoza is amazing. Especially when you find a great place.

[ He nods. ]

There's this place in Tokyo that has great, hot pot with tons to it. I didn't go there often, though.

[ Because who would he go with? He didn't have friends there. ]

Maybe there's a place here.

[ He's less suggesting that they go together, and more that Reimi go with the friends she's made. ]

Oooh, listen to you, Mr. Bigshot. Hotpot in Tokyo, huh, you must be a pretty big deal or something.

[She laughs, though, drawing her shoulders up as the appetizing smell of cooking starts to fill the kitchen. It's...nice, really. Normal. Fun. There's always something special that comes along with spending time with Rohan — a familiarity that she can't experience anywhere else.]

Do you ever go up to level one? There's a ton of stuff up there. I bet if there is a restaurant like that, that's where we'd find it.

Everything in Tokyo is a bit flashy. Hot Pot is better with a few people, though.

[ And she knows him well enough to know what that means. A total lack of friends and not actually liking spending time with most people meant he didn't do things like that often. ]

Not very often. Only if I need more supplies. [ For his manga, of course, because he wants the best. ] They probably do. I hadn't really looked.

[ He cracks open a couple of eggs to let them start cooking. ]

Yeah...it's fun with a lot of people. Maybe one time we could take some people with us. You know, us, and some people we both know...

[She's careful about the way she frames the remark. "One time", which means it won't be the only time. Which means that even if once there are other people let in on the outing, there will be some just for the two of them, too.

It's how they work. He bends for her, she bends for him. They work.]

Oh, I go up there all the time. That's where the academy is, so I'm up there for classes, and then sometimes I just take Arnold and go walk around. Only in the daylight, of course. But it's fun to look at everything.

You mean one time you can bring your friends when we go.

[ He knows that she knows how he is. It's no secret that he doesn't have or make friends. Rohan doesn't have many friends that he trusts. At least not enough to not use her to motivate him to fight and grow. Especially not after some of the things he's heard Hisoka say. He doesn't trust him enough to let him know who she is.

When he speaks, though, it doesn't sound angry or bitter - not even slightly. Just, easy. Just as light as anything else he says. There's no insult or upset. It's just how he is. And he knows it. ]

It sounds like you were reassuring me it was safe

[ He turns off the burner with the rice, the eggs cooked enough to add it. ]

I shouldn't be your only friend, you know. I know they're not all easy to get along with, but some of the other Stand users are pretty nice.

[She rocks back and forth on her feet, idling with an additional thought on the tip of her tongue. And under normal circumstances, maybe it would've stayed there, but this is Cordis, and she's feeling it.]

Not that I want to share you or anything. But it'd be good for you to know some people.

[And for a second, she almost looks surprised that it slipped out, but she doesn't take it back, either.]

I was reassuring you that it's safe. You'd get worried if you thought I was walking around somewhere that wasn't, wouldn't you?

You're - not. [ Sort of. ] But I don't know anyone trustworthy, and I definitely do not trust other Stand users. Giorno's an okay person.

[ Oops. It doesn't help that he's had few positive interactions with any since he's gotten his Stand. Usually they end up either trying to kill each other or he just doesn't end up liking them. ]

So you won't have to worry about sharing me at all.

[ He does feel pretty reassured, though. ]

Absolutely. I'd have to give you some extra skills to defend yourself.

You're not going to learn whether they're trustworthy or not unless you give them a chance to prove it to you.

[...Well. Normal people wouldn't, anyway. But this is Rohan; everything is more complicated when Heaven's Door is in play.

And actually, speaking of...]

"Give me" some extra skills? You mean teach me?

Or I could skip to the part where I find out what I need to know and decide.

[ Preferred. Much preferred. Heaven's Door is Rohan's 'getting to know you' cheat code where he doesn't have to get to know anyone. He is certain Reimi will quit that idea really fast. ]

I mean give you, Reimi. Obviously. I'm flattered you think I cold teach.

[ He scoops up the omurice for her, and puts it on the place, nudging it in her direction as he cracks more eggs to let them cook. ]

If it were about you staying safe, it would be an immediate thing.

You know, if you never practice a skill the hard way, it'll always be hard, and you'll never know any other way to do it except the easy way. But you already know that.

[Fortunately, though, she gets caught on the next bit — that and the omurice both, which smells absolutely fucking delicious to her (and her Cordis) right now, and the polite thing to do would be to wait until he's got a plate too, but then her stomach growls insistently and thoughts of restraint immediately disappear.]

...You'd write in me. That's what you're getting at. And then I'd just know, right?

I know, Reimi. I was an established manga-ka before I had my Stand, but if you don't have to - why would you?

[ It wounds like a lot of Extra Work. Extra work that he doesn't want to do. And no one can make him. He spins to finish putting together his omurice. He hurries putting his together and gets himself a fork and plate. Because he doesn't want to leave her waiting. He props himself on his counter with an elbow. ]

Yes. That's exactly what I'd do. I know you'd be safe, then. That's what matters most to me.

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