But see how deep the bullet lies [Open]

[boundbynaught]

Characters: boundbynaught/Caden, wayward_faith, and kingofsweets; also testosteroned and argent_crinis
Time: Monday May 23rd (forward-dated ever so slightly)
Style: Action, to keep the pace up
Status: Open

Sub-Threads
[ Morning: Camp Out At The Coral] for Ventus, Tsuzuki, etc. - starting just seconds before Rep returns
[ Afternoon: Gym Workout?] (Kanji?)
[ Evening: Street Wandering] for Zexion, etc.

Comments

[Afternoon]

[boundbynaught]

Hope I did this right ;;

[testosteroned]

[ He's getting more and more used to the thickness of the punching bags in the gym. As Kanji worked up a sweat, he tried to remember everything that frustrated him that week; it helped with the power punches. ]

...!

[ He stopped his workout for a moment and sat back down on a stool, sweat dripping down his forehead. He glanced around the gym - which was, at the time, quite empty - and focused his gaze by the door for no apparent reason other than he was a bit tired. ]

Same here! ;;;

[pursueyourself]

[ For Mondays, he only worked the morning shift, so he decided a little while back that now was a good time to visit that gym he heard Kanji mention in a conversation before. He expected Kanji would be there by now.

What he didn't expect was Kanji staring right at the door as he came in. So he just stood there in the entrance, his head slightly tilted to the side. Obviously he's waiting for a response first. ]

...?

Oh you're both fine <3

[boundbynaught]

[Coming up behind Souji is a young man who clearly is not watching where he's going, or paying the rest of the world much attention at all. He's dressed in an extremely odd black bodysuit with a skirt for lack of a better word and big thick boots. He silently trudges past Souji without much interest, and into the gym many paces before he takes note of Kanji.

He slowly raises his head, then it snaps up in shock.] ...You!

8Dd

[testosteroned]

[ A smile erupted on his face when he saw Souji come. He jumped off the ring and took wide steps to reach him. Ever since Minato brought up the idea of Souji leaving the city, Kanji's been on the defensive and well. The guy just wants to spend more time with him. ]

'Yo, Senpai! Haven't seen you in a while. You here for some training?

[ Before Souji could reply, however, somebody called him out. At the corner of Kanji's eye, he saw a familiar boy though his dress was rather out of place - something out of a movie. His grin turned into a frown and his attention turned to Caden.

Then, he remembered what he witnessed at the amusement park. ]

...Uhh, gimme a minute. You go on ahead and do whatever here, I'll be with you in a bit.

[ Distractedly, Kanji pats Souji on the shoulder and walks towards Caden, a mix of anxiety, worry and anger in his expression.

They were going to have some words. ]

:3

[pursueyourself]

[ Blink, blink. Didn't see that coming either. (Both the reaction, arrival, and that guy's outfit. A new fashion statement perhaps?)

After a moment of deliberation, he decided it would be most prudent to leave them be for now. No need to pry into Kanji's private affairs. And so he walked over to another section of the gym, far enough that he hopefully shouldn't be a bother.

Time to look busy. ]

>w<

[boundbynaught]

[Rep just turns away quickly like maybe that will deter Kanji. He has no idea that Kanji saw anything that night, but all the same he knows that Kanji had been on his mind at the time. A few people had been. So, he tries to shuffle over to a bench with weights near it, then sits down, because he is still very exhausted. Curaga doesn't heal mental fatigue.]

a-almost forgot to track this post! D:

[testosteroned]

[ He follows his movements and as soon as he sits himself don by the weights, Kanji pins him on the spot by leaning on one of the bars, over Caden's form. And with his height...it makes for quite an intimidating figure. He frowns worriedly first. ]

H-Hey. I saw - I mean, I didn't mean to, but. Shit. This city is sick.

[ He shakes his head and follows his Senpai's movements, trying to hush his voice down so that Souji wouldn't have to worry about any trouble. But what he saw that night wasn't something easy to word out. He looked back at Caden. ]

You feelin' okay? Guess that's the first thing I should ask.

Glad you didn't! \o/

[boundbynaught]

[ Between Kanji's choice of positioning and tone of voice, Rep gets worked up all over again. He doesn't keep his voice down, either. ]

You were spying on me too?! Why can't any of you just let me do what I want to do, without stepping in to play Hero?!

[ He hisses out an angry 'tch,' and turns away. He's especially worried that if Kanji was there, he might've seen Rep's thought bubbles same as Riku, and that's why Kanji's acting this way now. ]

Whoops, was it my turn? XD;

[pursueyourself]

[ Souji will be over here not listening and riffling through his bag for something. Or trying to, at least. He knows he's too curious for his own good, but when that guy's being so loud, he can't help but hear. ]

's okay XDDD;

[testosteroned]

[ He glances back at his Senpai, worried that they were making a ruckus, but Kanji can't help but be taken aback at Caden's sudden irritableness. He walked a measly two steps before he caught up with him. He stops him from moving anymore by placing a study hand on his shoulder. ]

Calm down, will you? I didn't mean to see what I saw! I was just walkin' around the carnival 'cuz I was bored! [ Kanji tried to turn Caden towards him again. ] Answer the question, you doin' okay?

[ He wasn't mad or anything, he just wanted a straight answer from him right now. ]

yep, no worries, jump in whenever you feel like

[boundbynaught]

[ He tries to wrench his shoulder away, facing Kanji again. ]

No I'm not okay! It didn't work! Again!

[ Ven and Tsuzuki had partially managed to convince him of their friendship, but had barely skimmed the surface of the deeper problems plaguing Rep. Kanji's little info-drop had brought all that back in a rush. ]

I'm sick of this- of trying to be something I'm not, and never will be.

yes please do senpai. KANJI MIGHT DO THINGS TO THIS KID TO CALM HIM DOWN >.>

[testosteroned]

[ Kanji's patience wasn't that withstanding. He starts to scowl back and he crosses his arms in irritation. How old was this kid, nine? ]

What didn't work? That whole fight thing? When you goddamn died? What the hell were you tryin' to do anyway? Huh? [ Kanji approaches him. ]

it might take that yes ._. 1/2

[boundbynaught]

That's just it! [He's shouting now, desperation showing in his voice.]

I didn't want to come back!

I'm sorry he's such a brat >: 2/2

[boundbynaught]

[A sad gasp escapes him as his head and shoulders curl in.]

No matter what I do, no matter what you people say... Over and over again... I'll never be "Caden."

POOR REP ;~~~; KANJI IS JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED.

[testosteroned]

[ The outburst only mildly, made Kanji flinch. It was more of his proclamation that made him gape in shock. ]

...You - you had that whole darkness magical whatever shit fight, because you wanted to die?

[ He's saying that slowly, reiterating it as if he's trying to convince himself about it. But underneath, the storm was brewing. What the hell? ]

And you wanted to die...because you were tryin' to prove yourself?

[ His head was starting to hurt. Kanji turned to his Senpai in silence. Surely he heard all of that shouting now. ]