cognitivism | ➵IC Contact

[ It takes her several tries before she successfully messages him.

Their last conversation didn't go over too well. ]

Hello, Goro-kun.
May I speak with you?

[ It takes him a moment to respond, staring at the text waiting for it to bite him. ]

Of course, Haru. Do you want to come over or meet some where?

I can come over, if that is fine with you.

That would be fine. I'll leave the door unlocked for you if you'd like.

[ The amount of times he typed "that would be nice" is insane. It's a good thing he has the foresight to hold himself back over text. ]

[ Like déjà vu. ]

Alright, I'll be over as soon as I can.
Thank you.

Of course. I'll see you soon. Do try and keep warm.

[ It's fairly nippy outside, with a bit of wet snow on the ground and a cool breeze that settles into the bones. Haru shivers as she makes her way up the steps to Goro's place, tugging her scarf closer so her neck isn't exposed to the chilly weather. She knocks excess snow off the heels of her booties, then proceeds to open the door slowly, sticking her head in first to check around for Goro.

For a moment, she expects Akira instead and her heart sinks remembering his ID went offline. ]

Hello, Goro-kun? Pardon the intrusion.

[ She calls out before stepping inside fully, sliding her boots off immediately so that she isn't carrying snow further inside the place. ]

[ He takes a deep breath as he stares at the french press on the island counter. The last time he made coffee for her, it went to waste. This time he hoped that they'd at least drink some of it. He sighs as he gathers a few mugs from the cabinet when he hears the door. ]

Ah, Haru-chan. You're fine. I'm in the kitchen.

[ He calls out, setting the mugs on the counter. Hopefully, this talk will go better than last time. ]

[ Haru unzips her coat, hanging it away in the closet. It's strange to her how she goes about this like she isn't essentially a stranger in this house now that Akira's gone. The last time she had stepped foot had gone awry. There's a pang of guilt she feels the closer she gets to the kitchen, moving about a bit more cautiously now.

As she emerges, her hands are pressed to her chest, her usual indication of apprehension. ]

There you are. [ A beat. ] Hello. Are you making coffee?

I am.

[ He offers her a weak smile. He's apprehensive -- not because he believes that this conversation was going to become a disaster, but this whole month has him on edge. He's trying, at least, to be cordial and polite without losing his mind.]

Would you like some?

[ The tension is thick enough she could probably cut through it with her own axe.

And feeling guilty about how things went the last time between them, she feels the need to make amends somehow. Although she had long decided Goro would never be forgiven for murdering her father and essentially almost ruining her life, she can't forget the efforts he's been making here.

She can't forget the reason she's here either.

This time, she can't allow herself to drown in the sea of those emotions again. ]

Yes, thank you. [ She steps forward with her very own tired smile. ] I can help if you need.

Oh no, no it's fine. I think I've got it this time.

[ He manages to pour the coffee into the mugs, surprised that it looks half-way decent. For once, he thinks he might have gotten the grind just right. He hands over the mug to her first, then pours himself the cup. ]

I appreciate you coming by though... I'm afraid I don't know why you're here this time.

[ His gut said otherwise. ]

I hope the coffee is good this time.

Thank you.

[ She takes the mug, then seats herself on a chair and tries to get as comfortable as she can.

After a savory first sip, Haru takes a moment to glance around the place, still half-expecting Akira to appear from somewhere. When he doesn't, she stares down into her mug. ]

... it's very quiet in here. [ Her gaze lifts, locked onto Goro then. ] Well, I... I came to see how you were doing since Akira-kun...

[ Small fingers tighten around the mug. Haru hesitates, her smile slipping. ]

None of my messages will go through to his communicator. His user ID went offline, so...

[ He wants to curl in on himself, wants to just be alone and wallow in misery. He was finally moving forward with him, pushing past his nervousness and living his life, and now? Now he was left with knowing he should have acted sooner. Every moment he spent telling Akira they should move slowly he was regretting in retrospect. ]

I'll be fine. [ So he says, but despite his attempt at a neutral expression, it's clear that he's upset. ] It's is very quiet. I'm...considering not renewing the lease agreement and moving back into the government housing.

[ He could afford the house and the rent, he's not certain he wants to be alone. ]

[ First Ryuji, then Yusuke, now Akira. Even Haru harbors regrets, telling herself she should have spent more time with each of them. While they would all be returned to their regular lives, and perhaps it might have been for the best, she can't help but feel saddened over their departure and the memories of this place together they might lose.

And as she looks over Goro, she wonders if his thought process is the same. She can't imagine the kind of turmoil one goes through when there's a possibility you need to do over every relationship from a rocky base. ]

Are you sure? Futaba-chan and I could maybe help if you need some money.

[ She's quiet then for a moment, then adds: ]

I... am sorry, Goro-kun.

Money isn't the issue. [ But he's grateful for the offer. ] It's...too quiet.

[ He supposes it'll be too quiet where ever he goes at this point. He could count on one hand the number of people he trusted, and he wasn't sure where to begin to pick himself up off the floor. Goro rubs his face, exhausted from the month already. ]

It's okay. I'm sure things will work out for the best. [ He glances down at his coffee. ] I must admit I came to terms with his absence the first time he left.

Are you all right?

[ The silence can be deafening, she knows from experience. Sometimes, she's glad to be here in this world, away from her prestigious house back in Tokyo where nobody talks to her outside the occasional hired help. She doesn't mind the housing here and is grateful she has someone living in the shared household, knowing she would be dreadfully lonely otherwise. ]

Well, if you do decide to move and need help with packing, Futaba-chan and I are here.

[ She watches Goro closely, frowning slightly. ]

Maybe, but... Akira-kun is important to you. [ It's not a question. As much as she struggled with it before, it's as clear as day on Goro's face. ] It's okay to not be okay.

[ Haru averts her gaze for a moment, pulling her mug closer. ]

It's different for me. It hurts, but I know I'll see him again someday. Yusuke-kun and Ryuji-kun, too. Mona-chan... nothing will have changed for us.

[ Which is why she came over to see Goro. It's completely different in his case and she can sympathize. That's why she needed to come and see how he was for herself. ]

Thank you, Haru-chan. [ Her kindness despite everything touched him. Forgiveness may never be in the cards, but he was grateful she would extend her assistance.

He stays silent for a moment, leaning up against the island deep in thought. After all that has happened-- what was next for him? Haru was right, after all. She would return home and everyone would be there with no recollection of their time here. He takes a shallow breath.

It's okay to not be okay. ]

Do you think... I survived?

[ A loaded question, he knows but if his mother couldn't claw her way out of her depression in the end, could he? ]

[ It takes Haru a moment to parse what Goro is asking, so when it does dawn on her her shoulders sink and she has to tear her gaze off him. While she doesn't want to lower his hopes any more than they are, it also seems cruel to tell him he's probably dead back home.

A part of her doesn't want to believe that anyway. Ryuji survived the explosion and that may have been sheer luck. ]

... I think you are too clever to have let Shido beat you. [ She says finally, sounding fairly resolute in her response. ] It took all of us to come up with a plan to deceive you, after all.

[ Some parts of Goro Akechi were a façade, but the other aspects of him held up. ]

I'm sure you found a way.

You're very optimistic. I enjoy that about you.

[ But it helps. It gives him some hope that he managed to escape but then what? That's the thing that scared him the most. He didn't know what awaited him when he finally went home. ]

Thank you. It's been a difficult month. Dooku's lightsaber was stolen from me, Akira is gone... my mother died this month. [ He admits quietly. ] Sorry I shouldn't put that on your shoulders.

Count Dooku got back his lightsaber?

[ Her face fills with dread a little at the thought. She may not have been here for the heist, but she's seen him around the network and the people he publicly converses with. They're all frightening in their own regards and from what she understands, Dooku isn't an adversary to take lightly.

But if he got back the lightsaber, which Goro had... ]

Wait. Did he... did he attack you, Goro-kun? Are you okay?

[ As the rest of the information sinks in, she can only offer him a sympathetic look. ]

You don't need to be sorry. I understand it's a heavy burden to carry.

Edited (HTML AHH) 2018-11-29 01:34 (UTC)

I don't think Dooku has it. He offered a reward for its return but I doubt that's where it's going immediately. I was attacked by someone else-- he was clearly hired for the job.

I'm attempting to track down where it's going but I've had no luck so far.

[ A heavy burden that he doesn't want to continue to share now. His mother's suicide was not something he enjoyed talking about. ]

[ That's puzzling to Haru, wondering who else could have the lightsaber. ]

Do you know who it was? Maybe this person wants Dooku to pay a larger sum of money for its safe return? Possibly blackmail.

[ Is Dooku offering money? She actually can't remember.

She notes the change in topic and while she won't press if Goro isn't comfortable speaking about it, Haru won't allow it to slide fairly easily, not when she knows the kind of trauma losing a parent presents can eat someone alive.

Shifting in her seat, she lifts her hand, slow and cautious, before placing it atop of Goro's gently. That's all she does, letting it sit there for a moment. ]

If you ever need to talk to anyone, we— I will be here. [ Quietly, she adds: ] ... and I am sorry about the last time. I shouldn't have done that.

➵IC Contact

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