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[Ryunosuke is not pleased about how drenched he is at the moment, but the mention of a fire seems to cheer him considerably. That IS just about his favorite thing in the world, relaxing by an open flame.]

Sounds good to me.

[He stretches first, with both hands on his hips, leaning over backwards slowly and wincing as a sharp popping noise emanates from somewhere in his lower spine. He shakes himself out after that, moving to grab one of the towels first.]

You, know I really thought I'd be in my thirties at least, before my bones started making noises like that.

It helps not to slouch and work out. [There might have been a hint of laughter in his tone when he said that. Totally not throwing shade at Ryunosuke or anything. He picks up a towel in one hand, focuses on his other.

He could probably still make fire eventhough he's soaked right...? A few sparks appear in his hand and then eventually, a very weak flame forms. As quickly and carefully as he can, he moves the flame towards the wood in the pit.]

Where has your rabbit gone off to?

[Ryunosuke makes a dismissive groaning noise at the notion of ‘working out’. A bit of sport is one thing, but exercising just for the sake of it? Please. Think about who you’re talking to, sir.

At the question, he looks around for the rabbit, frowning uncertainly.]

…Good question. I lost track of him while we were working… [Raising his voice a bit, he calls out:] Jugemu…? Oh!

[Before he even finishes saying the name, the rabbit comes running up to the fire, sniffing curiously from a safe distance back.]

…There he is.

[Then don't complain about aches and cracking bones at a ripe age of 24.

There he is indeed, with a few snakes lurking behind him.] You're really committed to calling him that, huh...?

[The wood still hasn't caught fire, probably because the flame in his hand had gone out. A click of his tongue as he returns to focusing on making a flame.]

Huh? Of course I am. Why shouldn't I call him that?

[He's watching Kazuma try to light the fire, wondering if he should offer to help with his lightning, or if his friend would just take that as an insult to his pride...

Jugemu, meanwhile, is turning to eye the snakes warily, ears alert and nose twitching.]

You really have to ask that...? There. [Finally, he gets the fire on the wood.

Only to see it fizzle out.]

What the...damn it, the wood got soaked too. Do you know where we put the firewood?

[The snakes just be flicking their tongues innocently at dear ol' Jugemu. They're not doing anything at all. Just watching.]

[Ryunosuke sighs, managing to keep from sounding too put upon somehow.]

I'll go get some. Just a moment.

[Hmph. Jugemu is fully ready to fight those snakes if they want to start shit, but... Better to move closer to his human, he decides, just in case he needs backup.
...Except his human is walking off?!

The rabbit hops up next to Kazuma instead, hunching there and looking grumpy Ryunosuke is back in a moment with some properly dry firewood, anyway.small>

[Kazuma will spend the time waiting to dry himself a little more with the towel. He spots poor Jugemu getting closer to him, as he looks up to see what the problem was. He leans down, carefully picking up the rabbit and place him on the bench.]

They won't do anything unless I tell them to. [That's reasurring??? He turns his attention to Ryunosuke when he returns.]

Thanks for the wood. [Hands less soak, he can finally get a fire going for them to warm up around.]

[Jugemu DOES seem soothed by this reassurance, settling on the bench in a little loaf shape, all his paws tucked neatly beneath him.]

Ah! You're welcome.

[Ryunosuke says it with a good natured grin, drawing his towel closer and going to take a seat on the bench next to his rabbit. He gives the little animal a wry smile, and then a scritch behind the ears.]

Well, look at you, taking up a seat all to yourself.

[Cute loaf bunny....He glances down at the fire now properly burning wood and warming them all up.]

If it were winter, some yaki imo would go well with this fire. [Reminiscing those days Ryunosuke would just huddle up for his "warm breeze".]

[Ryunosuke lets out a piteous and hungry whine at the mention of yaki imo, which is probably also fairly nostalgic and familiar to those old days.]

Don't say that. I've already worked up enough of an appetite from all the work we just did.

[He nudges Jugemu over a little bit, and scooches more over to one side of the bench himself, leaving Kazuma a space if he wants to join them.]

Heh. [He will happily join them. Have a headpat as well Jugemu.] Anything you miss eating from home? I'm sure 76 or Susato can make it.

True, but I hate to bother them... [He tips his head back, staring distractedly upwards a moment.] Hm. At least it's a lot easier to get the right ingredients here than it was back in London.

[...Where it had been just straight up impossible to get some things. He still remembers the day Susato informed him she'd brought satsumaimo back to 221B, after her brief trip home. He'd literally shed a few tears of joy.]

They're the cooks, Ryunosuke. [It's their job to cook for others.] There were things we couldn't really get in Great Britain. I missed matcha tea, and just the lack of shoyu in my dishes was enough to make me crave it. British cusine I found was..well enough, just heavy.

[He flusters.] I know that, but...

[He's not a customer?? He's just a coworker. It feels weird to bother them for that sort of thing, and have them do extra work for his benefit. Not that he's ever had an issue with Susato cooking for him in the past, but... Somehow, it being her job makes it weirder.]

...Heavy is a good word for it. [It's weird to hear Kazuma say he missed having matcha, when HE couldn't get away from it if he wanted to.] I suppose you never got to try Iris's cooking, did you... She's incredible. I really hope you can try it some day.

[Coworkers need to be fed too!] Susato has told me her cooking is something I must experience. Perhaps I will, whenever I return to Great Britain...or home at all. [There's a bit of yearning his voice as he stares down at the fire. It's been so long since he's seen Britain, Japan even longer. He ponders if he'll ever be able to give up everything that's happened here and return home?]

[Ryunosuke glances over at him sideways, frowning sympathetically.]

...I'm sorry you've been stuck away from there for so long. Though... I've been wondering... Technically, aren't our waking selves still going about their lives? [He scratches his head.] I'm still not sure I fully understood everything those little Baku fellows told me when I first showed up here, but I thought that was the case.

That's what we're told. I can only assume based on others who have come and gone, having never been home since I came to this world. [A shrug.] But, I'm still not experiencing whatever it is my waking self is doing. Maybe it's time...I figure out how to reconnect.

[Ryunosuke blinks at him, looking like he can't quite figure out how he should be reacting to that.]

Well... That's true. And it might not be a bad idea at all, considering how long its been for you. [He hedges, but still looks uncertain.] But... Would that mean you'd disappear from here?

...Yea. [And that's the stickler right there. There's a chance he won't be able to find a way back to this world. There be so much he be leaving behind. The restaurant, the people...the friends he's made here. His lost time spent with Susato.

He's gone quiet, lost in his thoughts about all this.]

...Oh.

[They'll both wind up sitting there in silence for a few long moments, it turns out.

It's hard to imagine life here without Kazuma... Not that Ryunosuke and Susato haven't ever had to carry on without him before. Obviously. But that's part of why this prospect is more than a little alarming. The part of Ryunosuke that's still full of unaddressed trauma, born from thinking his friend was dead for 9 months straight, REALLY balks at the idea. He needs a few moments to get his thoughts under control, to stop himself from spiraling at the mere suggestion.

This would be different, of course. They'd know Kazuma wasn't really dead. They'll have some warning this time. But on the other hand, Ryunosuke has also never known life in Reverein, without his friend being present... And he can't say he's particularly enthused about the idea of learning.

But Kazuma... Poor Kazuma... He hasn't been home in years... Wouldn't it also be selfish, to demand that he stay just for Ryu's own benefit?

Eventually he breaks the silence, his tone gentle:]

...Have you discussed this with Susato at all?

Edited 2023-05-24 01:30 (UTC)

...Not yet. [He lifts his head, taking a breath.] I simply haven't found a good opportunity to bring it up. She had already watched others from home disappear and never return to this place. Did she ever mention to you that the detective and Professor Mikotoba used to be here...?

[Ryunosuke can probably see why he's having a difficult time with this decision.]

She might have mentioned it. Even if she didn't, I've seen the names on those stones in the garden.

[Unbidden, he has a vision of himself and Susato having to put one up with Kazuma's name engraved into it, and Ryunosuke doesn't like that imagery at all.

He suppresses a shudder, shaking his head lightly. Another point crosses his mind too, though he hesitates at bringing it up, at first.]

...Have you considered that she might want to go with you? Given the choice? [...] We both could.

[Both of them. All of them? No, he doesn't want to speak for Gina or Van Zieks. Actually, he has to admit... Being here, and free of the stifling pressures of the judiciary and the British aristocracy? In all honesty, it seems to be good for Barok. Seeing the results almost makes Ryunosuke wish he'd asked the man to accompany them back to Japan, back in the waking world. If only to escape for a bit from the lingering shadow of his reputation, and the fresh grief, and the fallout from his trial. Ryunosuke's sure he would have never agreed to that, though.]

...At least, we could try. I'm not sure how well it would actually work in practice...

All of us? [He blinks. It's clear he hadn't consider that angle. But then...well, he knows they would understand, but they be leaving behind 76, Percy, Gina...Reaper, he suppose. They would understand, but the thought of leaving them all, especially 76 made his heart ache a little.]

...I suppose that is an idea. But wouldn't we all return at different times? [He's still in their past last he checked.]

[He withers a little.]

Oh... Right...

[How could he have forgotten that?]

Trying to figure out how the whole thing works is enough to give me a headache, I swear...

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