-IC Contact- [deercountry]

[icanhearscreams]

"... Leave a message."

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[icanhearscreams]

... Do you get mad? About being here, I mean.

[Presumably he has a place to go back to, unlike Jun.]

[siriusly]

Mn-?

[the question comes out of the blue from Manabu's perspective. he blinks, then tilts his head and thinks about it.]

...Well, sure. This isn't home, and it's...definitely not an easy place to live in. But sometimes being angry is what motivates me to do my best.

[icanhearscreams]

... Same, but... I don't have anywhere to go.

Do you think... do you think if we ever get out of here we could go with other people? It'd be... nice.

[siriusly]

That's my goal.

[Manabu sets his half-empty (half-full?) glass on the counter and folds his arms.]

The Galaxy Railways exists to connect people to the worlds they dream to get to, and its touched other times and universes before. If I can connect us to that railway again...to get the people who want to get out of here on their way...


[then he'll have served something of his true purpose in life.]

[icanhearscreams]

Is that what you work for? This 'Galaxy Railways' thing?

[That they dream to get to... it's a lofty goal. Not one he's sure is achievable, but... who knows? Maybe other worlds - other universes - are happier than his.]

[siriusly]

That's right. I was a member of the railway's Space Defense Force. Sirius Platoon, back where I'm from. I helped protect the trains that traversed the galaxy on the railway.

[... weird...he didn't already mention it before? after knowing Jun for this long?

he really is...putting that stuff into the past, isn't he.]

[icanhearscreams]

That's... huh. So that's why you're like a soldier, but it's... different.

[He's definitely not like any soldier Jun knows.]

You'll... you have a place to go back to. People who care about you there.

[siriusly]

If they don't kick my ass for being absent first, yeah. [because Louis absolutely will. she'll cry about it later, but yes. Manabu's ass is grass.

he sighs, then looks back to Jun.]

But they'd be nicer to you, no question. And if you think my cooking is decent, just wait 'til you try my mom's.

[icanhearscreams]

Well, I can help you explain.

[That is, assuming that Manabu still wants him around.]

You're... hm. No wonder you're more well-adjusted than me.

[Jun... does not have a parent that does cooking.]

[siriusly]

Haa? [that gets a curious sound and then a bit of a laugh.] We must have similar ideas of what normal is then, because most folks think I'm a weirdo here!

[icanhearscreams]

No, you're just earnest.

[Nom.]

But I've seen... way worse, even among people my age. It's not... I guess my sample is skewed, but whatever.

[siriusly]

I guess it really is all relative, huh.

[a beat.]

Did you ever give her a call? Vira-Lorr.

[icanhearscreams]

[He scrunches up his face and makes an uncertain noise.]

No... I - I'm not great at this... getting help thing, I mean.

[siriusly]

[with a lopsided smile:] Yeah, welcome to the club. [population: about most of Trench's Sleepers.

after another beat:] Then...how about you come with me next time I head to her shop? Just to meet her. No heavy business, not unless you feel like it. It's better to just put a face to the name, right? Then you can decide later. There's no rush.

[icanhearscreams]

... That sounds good.

[He doesn't like the idea of tagging along like a little puppy, but the other option is going himself which... he doesn't really feel like doing.]

It's not like we have therapists here... though from what I've read corruption can be a mental health thing, too.

[siriusly]

Oh, for sure. It goes both ways a lot. But...even without the blood corruption, it's true, right?

Don't you always feel a bit better after eating, right? It's not...entirely the same, but the concept is.

[icanhearscreams]

Yeah... but I don't know that it's the same. ... Who knows, I guess.

[Speaking of. He's gonna finish that toast now.]

[siriusly]

[/scene.]