[So before the darkness and all that jazz but after the previous day's party... wherever Kaoru happens to be, Shirasu finds an opportunity to catch him alone, offering him a little nod in greeting.]
I don't think we've had the chance to speak, yet. Is this a bad time?
[As I dig for a shitpost...well. Kaoru's actually exiting the library with a few things tucked under his arm and while he's never spoken to Shirasu he's at least given the scrolls a cursory glance. As such, there's a polite nod right back.]
Not really. This place doesn't exactly keep me very busy.
You could say that. [A tilt of his head.] I don't plan on staying for long, but I suppose getting to know this place is better than being caught off-guard later. Have you?
The more we know about it, the better off we'll be, even if it's a temporary stay. [A satisfied nod, there- he can agree with that.] I've largely been doing the same-- getting to know the area, getting to know those here.
[A brief pause, before he adds:]
But even surrounded by this many people, I imagine it's hard to adjust to lacking one's other half.
It hasn't been an easy task, especially given some people don't wish to be spoken with. [See: Kara, Saix, etc.] If we're supposed to make connections and the like you'd think people would be more open to attempts.
[He's about to just, like, continue on with that but then Shirasu says something very specific. It doesn't look like it's a terrible topic but if he's watching close enough he can see Kaoru's shoulders tense up, the arm holding his book moving in just a little closer to his body as he fixes him with a level, calculating stare.]
Do you suppose people among us are struggling? [Maybe. Shirasu. Doesn't mean him.]
[says local asshole who will do his best to never truly open up, ever
He's absolutely watching, though, observing Kaoru's reaction; it doesn't seem too sensitive a subject to push, so he continues on, his own expression neutral enough.]
And I imagine we're all struggling a bit, on some level... but yes, some more than others. It's difficult to have close connections broken, after all.
We'll see. [Somehow he doubts that, given his unlikelihood to do the same with everyone, but it's worth a thought. He's been keeping notes about people for a few days now but they're lacking a bit. Nevertheless apparently there's something there.]
You've heard that several people here arrived with people from their homes, haven't you? It's interesting to think about why that could possibly be when others didn't.
[It's been almost a week and he's still salty as shit he's by himself.]
Of course it's unfair. [The first sign that this truly bothers him. Since they're not moving, he'll lean against the side of the library with his books.] If they were going to bring people to this place and force us to have partners, they could have brought us with people we knew.
I'm sure most do, though I can't say I wouldn't have preferred working alone.
[A contemplative little pause, there.]
I was a little more curious about your situation, considering your scroll-- I knew people at home who often said the same thing of themselves. I couldn't picture them taking well to being split, when they considered themselves a matched pair.
My...oh. [Oh. As if he's just remembered what, exactly, was written on his scroll and he blinks owlishly for a moment. No one else has really commented on it, and that itself is very, very strange.
The one who isn't Hikaru is Kaoru, and the one who isn't Kaoru is Hikaru. Thinking of himself as an individual being has become easier lately, but even so Hikaru had made him a promise about their bond. So, to be here alone...he's trying not to think about it much in the way of it being such a negative thing.]
I do find it curious that if they insisted on only taking one of us, it would be me.
Do you think they'd be better suited to being here, or that they'd have an easier time on their own?
[If it weren't Shirasu in this position, if someone else were alive and here instead... would he be all right, being here alone? He can't help wondering.]
Or is there something else that makes you say that?
Absolutely not. He'd hate it here! [This is all very cheerfully said...] ...but he's stronger. He would have to learn to work well with others and try to understand what's happening, but he wouldn't give up in this situation.
[He wouldn't settle, he means. Also strength is a vague idea, but Kaoru's pretty sure it's true despite knowing he's the more mature, balanced twin.]
Perhaps not. [A thin smile because, well, that's because he doesn't exactly have a choice. Despite everything, he can recognize his own shortcomings even now. Especially now.] Or perhaps it's just enough.
[But with that, there's little hesitation in the answer.] My brother. [A pause.] Hikaru.
[He's not going to elaborate that they're twins. Shirasu's looked at the scrolls and specifically pointed it out. He assumes Shirasu will realize it on his own.]
Yes. [No sense denying it. But there's a curious cant of the head because the novelty of the Hitachiins is that there's two of them. Twins aren't exactly common where he's from.]
Where you're from, you mean. What were they like? [If it sounds familiar, he's curious. He also can't exactly say anything about going by the same names given the amount of times people confuse him and Hikaru and they roll with it.]
They were very close, from what I could tell. Both of them lived separately, but they always stayed in contact and met whenever they could... apparently they'd lost their parents when they were young, so I don't suppose it's surprising they relied on each other.
[His tone stays neutral enough, but there's still a touch of nostalgia there; people he hasn't seen in a while, maybe, or something similar.]
Though one was always a little more reliant on the other. I'm an only child, myself, but perhaps that's just how younger brothers are?
Something of that nature, yes. [There's a very fond smile though, like the kind that also says "he's a dumbass but I love him."] Hikaru is still learning how to properly express himself and understand his own feelings. Sometimes it's easier for him not to understand at all.
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week 0, (flings dart) earlier thursday
I don't think we've had the chance to speak, yet. Is this a bad time?
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Not really. This place doesn't exactly keep me very busy.
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[A nod to whatever he's got under his arm, there.]
Settling in well enough?
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[A brief pause, before he adds:]
But even surrounded by this many people, I imagine it's hard to adjust to lacking one's other half.
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[He's about to just, like, continue on with that but then Shirasu says something very specific. It doesn't look like it's a terrible topic but if he's watching close enough he can see Kaoru's shoulders tense up, the arm holding his book moving in just a little closer to his body as he fixes him with a level, calculating stare.]
Do you suppose people among us are struggling? [Maybe. Shirasu. Doesn't mean him.]
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[says local asshole who will do his best to never truly open up, ever
He's absolutely watching, though, observing Kaoru's reaction; it doesn't seem too sensitive a subject to push, so he continues on, his own expression neutral enough.]
And I imagine we're all struggling a bit, on some level... but yes, some more than others. It's difficult to have close connections broken, after all.
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You've heard that several people here arrived with people from their homes, haven't you? It's interesting to think about why that could possibly be when others didn't.
[It's been almost a week and he's still salty as shit he's by himself.]
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[Not that he'd want any of the living people he knows to be here, but-- it's definitely something interesting.]
Perhaps they're meant to be better at helping if they're not alone... but maybe it's a little unfair to others.
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[He'll lean as well-- if Kaoru wants to move at some point, that's chill, but he seems to see no pressing need for it.]
Do you have one in mind?
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Don't we all? [It's not even Kaoru being cagey, it's Kaoru wondering what Shirasu's game is.]
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[A contemplative little pause, there.]
I was a little more curious about your situation, considering your scroll-- I knew people at home who often said the same thing of themselves. I couldn't picture them taking well to being split, when they considered themselves a matched pair.
[so he's just checking in, basically.]
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The one who isn't Hikaru is Kaoru, and the one who isn't Kaoru is Hikaru. Thinking of himself as an individual being has become easier lately, but even so Hikaru had made him a promise about their bond. So, to be here alone...he's trying not to think about it much in the way of it being such a negative thing.]
I do find it curious that if they insisted on only taking one of us, it would be me.
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[If it weren't Shirasu in this position, if someone else were alive and here instead... would he be all right, being here alone? He can't help wondering.]
Or is there something else that makes you say that?
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Absolutely not. He'd hate it here! [This is all very cheerfully said...] ...but he's stronger. He would have to learn to work well with others and try to understand what's happening, but he wouldn't give up in this situation.
[He wouldn't settle, he means. Also strength is a vague idea, but Kaoru's pretty sure it's true despite knowing he's the more mature, balanced twin.]
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[There's a very tiny hint of a smile there, just one corner of his mouth curving up a bit, but his tone's a little more amused.]
May I ask who he is? A partner, a family member...?
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[But with that, there's little hesitation in the answer.] My brother. [A pause.] Hikaru.
[He's not going to elaborate that they're twins. Shirasu's looked at the scrolls and specifically pointed it out. He assumes Shirasu will realize it on his own.]
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[A pause there, with a little huff of a laugh.]
No wonder it sounded so familiar. The ones I knew were, as well-- they even went by the same name at times.
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Where you're from, you mean. What were they like? [If it sounds familiar, he's curious. He also can't exactly say anything about going by the same names given the amount of times people confuse him and Hikaru and they roll with it.]
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[His tone stays neutral enough, but there's still a touch of nostalgia there; people he hasn't seen in a while, maybe, or something similar.]
Though one was always a little more reliant on the other. I'm an only child, myself, but perhaps that's just how younger brothers are?
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Our parents are always busy, so Hikaru and I learned to rely on ourselves. [A beat.] He's the older one of us, but sometimes I think people forget.
[Not that Kaoru can. He's still a little too selfish and reliant on Hikaru regardless of how much they've grown up.] Was that such a bad thing?
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[Annoying at others, but then that's also how brothers are, isn't it.]
Is he a little less serious, then, if you're mistaken for the oldest?
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