ǂ 001 -- going down the only road (phone/action)

[teh_sword]

[Some people wake up in the same place every day. This gives them a good sense of what that place looks like, almost to the point of knowing the feel of whatever they're sleeping on against the skin of their cheeks. Ren hadn't had that luxury in a while--or indeed, the luxury of sheets, pillows and blankets in a while. So waking up in a new place

Comments

A

[expiatrice]

[It being Sunday, the self-appointed supervisor of the Church is definitely in, so if Ren is literally going to burst into the building, he'll very much recognize a familiar silhouette ahead.

The nun stops short in what she was doing, blinks, and looks up in surprise.]

--Kimura-kun?

[teh_sword]

[Oh thank the big man in the sky--the drones really just don't cut it when it comes to talking to someone at church. The relief on Ren's face is instant, but the momentum carrying him blasting into the church remains perhaps unnecessarily intense.

But nuns like being bowled over by tight confused hugs, right?]

1/2

[expiatrice]

[o-oh...

Oof.]

2/2

[expiatrice]

Well technically she's a trained battle nun so handling fierce bullet hugs is small time, but she will briefly pick him up from the ground and spin a quarter circle aside to let loose that extra momentum.

Okay let's go back to ground level now, and she'll be chuckling softly while one hand stays on his back to stabilize him, while the other lightly rests on his head.]

Goodness, you surprised me. Are you okay, now? [A bit of a rhetorical question, but it's saying something. It's obvious by this point that he got undroned and 'came back', and while whether this is good or bad is debatable, it doesn't change the fact that she can still greet him and try to calm him down first.]

[teh_sword]

[The contact has an almost instantaneous effect. True, the phone calls helped a bit with his jangled nerves, but this? This gets him back almost instantly to someone who's breathing and mostly smiling and not so much clinging to the woman for dear life as holding onto her for reassurance.

Ren stays exactly where she's got him, taking another deep steadying breath before opening his eyes to peek up at her face.] B-better. Probably a l-lot better than... nn.

[expiatrice]

[Which is fine by her, one way or another. Just because she's used to working alone doesn't change the fact that she knew full well how comforting it is, to have a familiar presence by one's side.

She'll be slowly rubbing down his back in a soothing motion, while pulling away a bit so that she could meet his eyes with a warm and motherly smile.]

Haha, there's no rush, so you can take your time to catch your breath. ...You ran quite hard, didn't you?

[teh_sword]

[His breathing is coming back down to a normal pace, but Ren nods his initial response anyway. It takes a moment or two, which is not in the slightest bit objectionable--being soothed in the sanctified stillness of a church is one of the higher comforts life can offer.]

...I don't... know how long it's been since my last confession.

[expiatrice]

[She can only keep smiling softly back in response.]

You've been forcibly dragged back into this town again, and that's your most pressing concern? ...You really are too good, Kimura-kun.

[teh_sword]

[That knocks the smile down a few pegs.] I'm trying my hardest, Sister.

Besides, the last... nn, couple months, I guess, were all... [What were the words he wanted? Run together? Goopy? Wibbly wobbly timey wimey?] ...just like a dream.

[expiatrice]

[She doesn't lose her smile, but it does turn a shade more solemn.] It's all that anyone can do. Your closed ones can all bear witness to your efforts, but if you push yourself too hard, you'll end up worrying them, which could cause harm in turn. ...Ah, this isn't supposed to be a lecture, but I would like to ask you to moderate yourself a little, whenever you can. [Cause God knows there are enough impulsive kids in this town already. It's not like she keeps a list or anything...]

Mm, you were droned. ...Were you returned to your world during that time, Kimura-kun?

[teh_sword]

[It's a fairly constant lecture--be good but don't try to be Superman so good you make yourself crazy--so Ren's mind picks up where Ciel leaves off, chastening quietly from the empty space where the Diabolo used to live.

Answering her question takes a bit of his concentration away from that.] ...maybe. It seemed... sort of like that. Waking up here again, I figured it was just some sort of dream. 's the same thing day in and day out at home anyway.

[expiatrice]

[It's okay there's always Batman people left willing to help you pick up the pieces and try to fix things...]

So it's still unclear... Though it is rather like Mayfield, to make things more complicated. [A small sigh, and she'll let that matter go as she reverts back to her usual soft smile.] Have you calmed down? If you'd like a glass of water, don't hesitate to ask, now.

[teh_sword]

[That would be impossible every little kid wants to be Batman :|

Yes'm. [Ren is still a little boggled by the entire thing, of course, but being here before God and with a comfortingly familiar face is helping get rid of the hysteria.] I don't mean t' be taking up all your time, just...

[expiatrice]

[There are already Batman in this town LEAVE IT TO THE EXPERIENCED... 8(

She'll let him go now, if he's quietened down.]

Nonsense, it's no trouble at all. It's for that sort of reason that I'm here, after all. Will you come with me to the back?

[teh_sword]

[Then why is this not everyone's favourite place in the universe.
Oh right the mindless violent slaughter etc. Whoops.]

If it's really not a bother. [Calm or no, he still booked it from the other side of town to get here only a few minutes ago.]

[expiatrice]

[>Implying that a good place would have a need for Batman]

I won't repeat myself again, now. This can also be a good time for catching up. I'm not sure how much of what I can tell you would be interesting to you, but it has been a few months, so if you have any questions about the things that have happened, I'll do my best to answer. Does that sound good?