doreimi | IC Inbox | prismatica

[She stares at her communicator for a minute, halfway through typing Haha, you're being so nice tonight, is it my birthday or something?? before deciding that drawing attention to it might make him immediately stop doing it, and deleting it all to send something else.]

That'd be really nice...I'm always hungry after working hard on my shift! What were you thinking of eating? I mean, anything is fine! I'm just wondering.

I'm not sure yet. I'll probably pick up something on the way there. I know there's a place with pretty good kebabs on the way.

[ Eat while they walk! ]

That sounds really great! I'll be ready to go when you get here.

Um, listen...sometimes the people who come in late at night are sort of...weird, especially with the moons and everything. But it's fine, okay? Word got around pretty well after my friend threw a couple of guys into the wall, so everybody kind of leaves me alone now.

I appreciate your friend, but it's still not okay. Like if they get too creepy, I'll put a stop to that.

[ code for heaven's door them ]

I don't think it'll be too bad tonight. It's usually worst during the red moon; that one just makes everybody act really aggressive, so the people are a lot bolder about being creeps.

Well, then. I'll put a stop to it then.

[ And specifically reserve Chroma for that. ]

Isn't that kind of a hasty thing to do? Especially with the triple moon so close...don't you need to conserve your strength for that?

I'll be fine, Reimi.

If you're sure...

I'm just worried, is all! But if you think it'll be fine then I trust you.

I'm always sure. It's not like I'll use all of my Chroma.

[ He will. ]

Then I'll be waiting when you get here!

[The Spaghetti Shack is not what you'd call a fine dining establishment. It's barely what you'd call a dining establishment to begin with. But Reimi still holds a certain sort of pride in her job here, regardless of how objectively bad of a gig it is. It's still honest work, however terrible the surroundings might actually be in practice, and it's still a job that she got on her own, through her own merits, without any favors or handouts along the way.

That's half the reason why she puts up with as much as she does. Another part of it, too, is that even putting up with terrible people still ranks slightly higher than being alone. Even a frustrating person who can see her is still better than being ignored.

And at the very least, she does seem to have a knack for it; when Rohan arrives, she's just wrapping up the tail end of her shift, bringing checks for diners that are working toward the end of their (questionable) meals, and refilling water glasses for those who are still in the middle of theirs.

She looks tired, but the satisfied variety of tired. The kind that suggests a hard night's work, and the eager anticipation of being through with it very soon.]

[ He heads out early. He wants to make sure that he's there in plenty of time for her. He wants it to be that when she's done,. He's already waiting for her to be done with her shift. He doesn't want to leave her a moment to walk on her own. He stopped, on the way there, at a kebab place that he saw. He ordered a couple varieties with meat and vegetables. he's holding a small bag with a couple of containers inside with the food.

He stepped inside of the restaurant, not wanting to linger outside, at risk of being accused of being called creepy.

He stayed there, watching her for the last few moments of her shift. She was good at this. But even so, he didn't like the clientele. He didn't like people creeping on her like that. Rude. ]

[Conspicuously, there's a dent in one of the walls near the windows that looks like it was made by someone being thrown into it, which is precisely how it got there.

She spots Rohan a few seconds after he walks in, just because it's instinctive for her to look to the doors every time she hears the bell chime ring; smiling, she finishes pouring a glass of ice water for a table before skipping over to him.]

Hi! I'll be off shift in just a few minutes, so let me put you in a table in the meantime, okay? I'll put you in my section so nobody will come try to seat you or bother you at all. Do you want a water or anything?

[She motions, gesturing to an empty booth sized for two over by the windows.]

[ He watches her work. He hates the place, but he's also glad she seems okay. It's a weird feeling. He moves towards the booth. There's these hints around that he ]

No need to get me anything.

[ Adding any work for someone seems like a jerk move, even to him. He's going to just people watch from his window seat. People-watching was a great source of inspiration from before he got his stand. So, he'll take it up for now since he has the opportunity to not. ]

I'll just wait.

Okay, great. It'll just be a couple minutes, I promise.

[And spurred on by the prospect of getting to escape soon, she heads around to her tables to wrap things up with one final pass across the floor. And it all goes smoothly, save for one table waiting to pay their check, who say something to her in a low voice as she gets close. Whatever they remark to her, it's quiet enough that it can't be overheard, but her reply is just loud enough: ]

Oh, come on, guys, like I've never heard that one before.

[Playfully exasperated, with just the right tone and cadence to be chiding without making a scene. She's done this before. She's done it a lot.]

Let me just take that for you, okay?

[She reaches for the leather billfold, intent on taking it up to the register, and one of the guys at the table chooses that moment to grab her arm by the wrist instead.

Again, something is said, too low to overhear.]

...Hey, c'mon, guys, not tonight, huh?

[She says, with a little more force, and tries to shake off the hand on her wrist without much success.]

[ He watches the interaction. He decides, for a few moments that Reimi is perfectly capable and able to take care of herself. He knows that she is. But, the more, and more he watches - the more he can't stop himself. He stands, leaving his bag at the booth - and only taking his pen (of course, he goes nowhere without it).

He shifts to the booth, his hand gripping the man's wrist that's holding into Reimi's. His eyes lock onto him.

His grip tightens. ]

It's pretty uncool to harass waitresses, isn't it?

[ The moment he feels him let go of Reimi, he'll let go. But, he gets the impression - from Reimi's words, that this happens frequently. Better to stop it now, huh? He best put a stop to it. ]

[Whoa, man, who said anything about harassing anybody? We're just talking, says the guy whose wrist has just been grabbed, looking rapidly between Reimi and Rohan without quite releasing her yet — not realizing what the linchpin of this standoff really is. Is it a crime to talk to a nice girl now?]

Rohan...

[She almost says it's okay, but the words die in her mouth because...no, it really isn't, is it? It's not just "okay". And while she doesn't really want the standoff to escalate, it doesn't feel right to suggest that Rohan back down to defuse it, either.]

Listen, how about if I just take the check and we all walk away, huh...?

[Now, hang on, I think I deserve an apology from this punkass who can't mind his own business, the guy protests, glaring at Rohan.

In his moment of distraction, Reimi twists and tugs her wrist quickly free, expertly snatching the billfold and backing up just out of reach while she clutches it like a prize.]

[ He almost doesn't hear her say his name. He's so focused on what he's doing that it is all he sees for a moment. He's not particularly strong, but he's fast, and he has his stand. And, well, he has no problems with using it when he needs to. It's worth it.

No, it's not like she's going to get to see him so readily jump to someone's defense like this really often. He uses his stand for his own convenience most times. But, he doesn't like the way this guy is behaving.

And he likes even less that he seems to think it's okay.

His grip gets tighter, and for a moment it's like he realizes how much he could do - that slight flicker of danger. But for now, he decides he'll do this city a favor. ]

Like I'm going to apologize.

[ He keeps his hand on the man, tight around his wrist long enough for him to summon Heaven's Door - and when the man is frozen, pages there, he removes his grip and readies his pen. He looks to Reimi, for only a moment since he should finish his work sooner versus later: ]

You should check them out so they can leave soon.

[Normal people, she reminds herself in her moment of astonishment, can't see Heaven's Door. That means this guy and his friend, they have no idea what's just happened to him, or why he's suddenly frozen with part of him opened up like a book.

She's seen Rohan use Heaven's Door before. It was like this with Koichi, too — drawing a shape in the air to make his pages open up, and then writing in it. That's what's about to happen now, to this guy whose wrist Rohan is holding while his other hand gets his pen at the ready.

Rohan can do whatever he wants with Heaven's Door, she knows, and it becomes true. Absolutely true.

That's why she has to ask.]

What are you going to do, Rohan...

[Her voice is a whisper, her focus entirely on him.]

[ Rohan shifts his attention towards her, finally releasing the man's wrist. He's frozen anyway, so it's not as if he can do anything to him while in this state. He spins his pen between his fingers on his right hand, positioning. ]

I'm going to encourage proper behavior. I'm not going to hurt him really.

[ Yeah. Encourage. He knows Reimi understands what he'll be doing. He doesn't really need to make it sounds nicer than it is. But, there's company at the table who are baffled about this. So, he'll keep it nice and easy, for them.

The words he scribbles down 'I will be respectful towards waitstaff and not put my hands on them'. Of course, he kept it straightforward. Easy. And while he'd be fine with just protecting Reimi, while he's in there, might as well ensure he continues his good behavior when not here. He considers, one more 'And I cannot harm Reimi Sugimoto or Rohan Kishibe'. You know, just in case he caught them out on the street, when Reimi wasn't acting as a server. But, that's all he can do now, so it only takes a few moments before the stand is released. ]

See. You can trust me.

[So this is Heaven's Door. It's much easier to see like this, when they're not all in a fit of panic; there's time to really watch how Rohan's Stand turns part of the man's skin into paper, leaving the words of his life's story inside.

Part of her feels like she should stop him, somehow, but the rest of her is too spellbound. This is all it will take, she thinks, her gaze shifting from the page to Rohan's pen and then back again. This is all it will take to stop Kira forever, if he ever were to come here. The flip of a page, and the twist of a pen, and that's the end of it.

Rohan...is really someone special, isn't he. And not for the first time, and not for the last, she thinks to herself, this is why it was worth it.]

I trust you more than anyone else in the world.

[She watches him put the pen away, and the pages close, and as she does she quietly shuffles the billfold in her hands, like she's only just remembered she's even still holding it.]

...I'm gonna go ring them up.

[ He leaves the baffled men at the table to their business once the command is given. The man looks confused, and his friend is even worse. But, for what it's worth - they are keeping their hands to themselves. His command is absolute, though. He didn't doubt that they'd leave them both alone after it. Especially if he was messing with the more handsy of them. He seemed like the leader to Rohan.

But when Reimi says that, he feels so much relief. Weird. He didn't realize that that level of trust being given to him would make him feel this way. He'd do anything, he realizes, to keep that trust. He couldn't imagine betraying it. No one has ever said that to him before. That much is clear. He doesn't mention it right now, but there's the slightest falter when he turns to look at her. ]

Alright, Reimi. Then, these men will be on their way.

[ Which means they'll be on their way. ]

[She nods quickly, hurrying off to the register to finish ringing the table up, and tries her best not to keep stealing glances back at it while she's gone. It's not that she thinks Rohan is going to do anything while she's not looking, or anything like that. But this is the last hurdle between them and actually getting out of the Spaghetti Shack, and she's definitely in a hurry for that.

So she finishes up, and makes her way back to the table, returning their change and swiftly pocketing the tip into her apron in a movement so smooth and practiced that it's obvious she's done it a lot.

And then, before she can think better of it, she takes Rohan's hand by the wrist and gives his arm a gentle tug.]

C'mon. I'll go clock out and tell everybody I'm leaving.

[ He takes two steps away, still standing close to the table since he knows Reimi will be back and they can be away. The men seem to be behaving themselves, and they don't even really acknowledge his presence. Seems like they're taking either the command, or seeing what he did, seriously. It didn't matter to him.

All he cared was that Reimi was safe.

When she returned and grabbed his wrist, he moves with her immediately, allowing himself to be tugged along without hesitation. He's getting Chroma from the touch, after all. Since he doesn't mind being pulled along by her at all. ]

Alright. We'll get out of here.

[ He was as relieved as she was to be out of here, and he didn't even work here. He can't imagine how it was for her. He'll follow her through clockout and until she's out. Keeping with her so that she doesn't let go. If she were anyone else, he would have pulled away already. Maybe this was how he felt when he was small? Just glad to be close to someone he liked the company of. ]

Edited 2019-10-03 03:36 (UTC)

[Maybe she shouldn't be surprised that he lets her get away with taking his hand. It's such a small thing, and it's not as though they haven't done it before, and besides, Rohan almost always lets her get away with things that she probably shouldn't get away with.

But she knows full well that he's not someone who likes to be touched, when it's someone else initiating. He likes to be left alone, likes to withdraw. But more often than not, she's the exception.

It's something she thinks about as she wraps up and clocks out, pulling on her jacket and balling up her apron into one of its pockets before guiding them both into the cool, shadowed night. He keeps up with her, and she doesn't let go. She thinks about that a lot, and she knows she'll think about it even more once she's back in her flat alone.]

...I saw what you wrote. You know, in that guy. About me, specifically?

[She shifts a little closer to him, holding his hand a little more securely in hers.]

You're always taking care of me.

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