JGK INBOX

[axeiled]

TEXT - VOICE - VIDEO - IN-PERSON - ETC.

Comments

[empression]

Hello, Eddie-san. I think I found a place, if you're fine with sandwiches and smoothies?

[axeiled]

yeah that sounds great
just shoot me the directions and i’ll meet you there
without even getting lost probably

[Slowly getting the hang of navigating both smartphone and Hell.]

[empression]

[ She does send it eventually. It takes her some time because she's still not great with phone things, modern girl or not. But it's attached! It has a little smiley face on the map so he can't miss it! ]

Best of luck! I'll be outside.

[axeiled]

see you soon

[And so Eddie makes his way to the little smiley face on the map, only occasionally taking a wrong turn, and always quickly re-orienting himself. She doesn't have to wait long before he shows up, just down the street, appearing out of the mouth of a nearby alleyway.

He waves as he comes over.]

Hey!

[empression]

[ Haru waves back, politely; she's just been standing there, chin tipped up to regard nothing in particular, but she brightens to see him. ]

I hope it wasn't too difficult, finding your way here. I forgot to include landmarks.

[axeiled]

Who needs landmarks when I've got this thing?

[He holds his phone out at her, screen forward, wiggling it a little in his hand. The map's pulled up.]

Make a wrong turn somewhere, it calls me stupid and yells at me to get back on the little blue line.

[It doesn't actually call him stupid.]

[empression]

Eh?? I had no idea they had that kind of feature!

[ Eddie did you forget in the brief few times you've talked to her, she takes things seriously-- ]

[axeiled]

[Oh, right. That’s a thing. Except this time he doesn’t see a real need to correct himself. He smiles wide.]

Yeah, it goes, “hey nimrod, where the hell do you think you’re going? Take a left, not a right.”

[empression]

Eddie-san, that's... terrible! What if someone with low self-esteem is forced to use it?? They really should have thought to make the app more considerate...

[ rude!! Even the MetaNav was polite. ]

[axeiled]

Maybe it’s not something it does for everyone. Just a kick in the pants for those who already have thick skin.

[Pfft. Anyway, shoves his phone back into his back pocket.]

It worked, didn’t it? I’m here. Ready to eat and discuss… [Uh.] Living arrangements, I guess? Whatever else you need to know about me before we dive in headfirst into a roommate situation.

[empression]

[ the door, for some reason, looks as though it's brand new, and Haru holds it open to usher him inside. It looks like half-bakery, half-cafe, with little tables scattered around. Most people seem interested in ordering up front and leaving, though. ]

That same offer is extended to you. In case anything I say puts you off. You said you've lived with someone before?

[axeiled]

[It’s a cozy little place, to be sure. Done-up in warm, pastel colors — he feels like he sticks out like a sore thumb, but what else is new? Eddie follows, casting a glance around, taking in the aroma of freshly baked goods.]

I mean, I haven’t lived with a roommate before. Back home, it was just me and my uncle. I’m old enough to have moved out, but… I kind of already mentioned it, but we didn’t have a lot of money. It made more sense to live with him until I graduated, at least, and…

[He’s over-explaining.]

Yeah, you’d be my first actual roommate ever.

[empression]

[ similarly like Eddie, the guy at the front in the cute striped apron is like eight feet tall with a perpetual glare, but he's also speaking genially to customers so. Hey.

Haru steps into the line, giving Eddie a little smile. ]

You'd only be my second. And I'm sure your uncle was happy to have you around.

The Incident

[empression]

Eddie-san? I'm sorry, I'll be home a little late.
I think there are still leftovers in the fridge.

[axeiled]

a little late?
i don't think you should be hanging out when the city's going to shit

[Between the explosion that rocked the whole damn place, and the smoke billowing he saw on the way back to the apartment, he's pretty sure right now's not the time for Haru to linger on the streets for no reason.

But she.... wouldn't, would she? Something twists in his stomach.]

what the fuck's going on
saw smoke in the direction you're coming from
you're not hurt or anything are you

[empression]

[ She winces a little. Well, she would have had to explain the situation sooner or later. ]

I'm at the clinic. The flower shop I work at came under attack.

[axeiled]

[Sorry, but-]

you WHAT

[empression]

I sustained some injuries.
They burned the store down after they failed to kill us.

[axeiled]

what
WHY

how bad is it?
your injuries, not the store

[empression]

I got burned-- we all did.
The worst was on my leg, so walking has been... not-advised, for the moment.
And they said I'm suffering from smoke inhalation.
The rest is just bruising and cuts.

[axeiled]

jesus christ haru
don’t act like that’s not a big deal
you can’t even walk

i’m coming over to see you

[empression]

Nothing was broken. I'm luckier than Aerith was.
Just be careful? I don't know how dangerous the streets are right now.

[axeiled]

[Aerith? He doesn't know who that is, but it doesn't matter. It sounds like the people at the flowershop ended up in a bad way.]

don't worry about me
i'll be there soon

[And he will be, every step taking him there and finally, into the clinic, a harried one.]

[empression]

[ He'll be directed to the second floor if he mentions who he's looking for-- and there's Haru in one of the beds, bandaged vigorously, curls a little singed, some bruising on what bits of her skin are visible.

She looks exhausted, but she brightens to see him. ]

Eddie-san...!

[axeiled]

[Second floor it is, and he looks a little winded when he arrives, like he's been hurrying the whole way. Eddie crosses over quickly to her side-]

Haru. Haru, hey- Jesus.

[All of her bandages, the bruising. Is her hair looking like it took a too-close call with a conflagration?]

You look like hell.

[Thanks, Eddie. But he means that in the most concerned way imaginable, standing at her bedside looking a little aghast. He'd just seen her this morning, after all, perfectly fine.]