dreamcrystals | Entry 001

[The corner of his mouth twitched a bit, and not just at the firm grip that remained. Alright kid, alright-]

It does, Kazuma. [Hard as it might be to stick to, that was at least a very solid and firm agreement. Acknowledgement perhaps being a good word for it as well, saying and agreeing to it out loud as if that made it more real.

Didn't stop the little tug, making it easier for 76 to reach up his other hand to ruffe hair.]

Grants full permission to call my ass out for it.

H-Hey- [Caught in another hair ruffle! He's not even trying to fight against it though, chuckling instead, leaning into him.]

I would have done it without your permission, but good.

[That chuckle sounded warmer when it came, even leaving his hand right where it was for the moment.]

Might need it if I let myself get too buried in things going on. [Or stuck in the habit.] I know I'm a stubborn old goat.

...Hm, I know the feeling. [A hand reaches up, resting on top of his.]

But you can't keep protecting the things that matter to you, if you don't look after yourself. [Was that advice meant for 76, or to himself? Maybe they both need the little reminder.] You still have a mission back home, don't you?

[76 hummed, he didn't doubt it. Seemed knowing the feeling was what had just finally pulled him out a bit from behind his wall.]

I do. Been going for six years there, not counting time in that other world or here now. [After near thirty, and the last three watching it all fall apart.] There's someone here that's part of it, and he's a nosy bastard that likes to try and get under my skin.

[Easily a danger if he decided to be one, too.]

[Six years...still ongoing at this man's age too.]

...Can I ask who this man is? [Is it someone he should know for reasons?] Is he part of the problem?

He goes by Reaper. [Which may or may not be a little funny-] We went through the same program together, and worked together for... a very long time.

[A deep and personal history by that tone, the bit of a growl that just couldn't be helped at times.] I've been hunting him down on top of everything else, because he's playing on the side that played a part in it all now.

I'm telling you this because he's trying to figure out who you are, because I ran in to him after getting a hold of you. [Right after that.]

Reaper. [Really. Does he look like he's laughing? More amused than anything. Although something tells him this Reaper is not as misunderstand as the one he knows. Some sort of betrayal occurred between them perhaps...? That's what it sounds like to him.

Wait.

What was that last part?] You what? [After...getting in contact with him? He eyes 76 suspiciously.] After....our fight?

Reaper. Dramatic as hell about it, too. He can back up his dramatics and more, however. [He knew how dangerous and lethal Reyes could be, and that just cranked up with how he acted now. Death walking across a battlefield, and he was up to something.

But what, exactly?

76 took in a slow breath, and looked Kazuma in the eyes at the very least.]

After our fight. He noticed I was still healing, and decided to pick a fight himself while trying to dig out who I'd run in to. [An admittance? Maybe, yeah. Not the point, so 76 went right along-] He pinned down that whoever I had fought with I cared about enough to bristle at the fact he was trying to figure out a who.

Likely bein a young man is all he's got, but he isn't stupid.

[ . . . . . . .

Is it starting to feel a little warmer? He removes his hand, turning his attention to that box he brought. Where's that tea?] Did you see someone after that? [How 76 answers that will determine how harsh Kazuma's judgment will be.]

[There was a slight hand wobble after lifting it in to view.]

Does him forcefully tending to burns count? I think he was pissed off it wasn't him in the fist place. [HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT THE ASSHOLE YOU FOUGHT... turned around and treated him. There was a lot of complicated history there, more so in knowing this was becoming a habit whenever he and Reaper met.] Wore each other out to the point I just went off to rest a bit.

. . .He doesn't sound like a doctor, so no. [He pours him a cup of that medicinal tea and offers it to him. No, not offer, forced onto him.]

I thank you, truly, for standing up for me, but I'm going ask you again to go see a proper doctor. In fact, I'll recommend you Doctor Mikotoba. He was my caretaker, so I verify how skillful he is. [If Kazuma trust him, will 76?]

Definitely not a doctor, no. His knowledge is the same field experience as mine. [Basic training and whatever was picked up along the way out of necessity.

At least he was taking the cup of tea, claws tapping against it as he eyed it for a moment.]

Trust him that much? [Just checking, out of habit. Things here were different, no one knew who the hell Jack Morrison was, but habits died extremely hard still. Open enough to ask, tone considering, at the very least.

That sure as hell was a wince after taking a sip of that tea. Christ.]

[Good, let that tea hurt you.]

I haven't told him your name, but...he knows about what I've done in the Realm of Stories. [Something he doesn't openly talk about for obvious reasons. While he's talking, he's checking to see if there's any jar with moonshine.]

[The most painfully gross tea he's ever had- that he can remember.]

So a good deal with your own things. [That counted- there were extremely few people he'd trust with personal information, let alone admit to anything he could have done while not fully under control of himself.] Alright.

[There were a few jars of moonshine around- and at least despite the similar color and glittering aspect? Easy to tell apart from the honey.]

[A small smile. He's not being smug, he's just glad to hear him agree to at least get some proper help.] Do you need me to come with you, old man? [Now that, that's a jab. He locates a jar with moonshine, picking it up.]

There are others from home who have arrived recently besides the doctor and that man. They aren't a danger. [He had to add just for clarification. Thinking about it though has him pondering about something.] I wonder if there's a pattern when new people show up? [It's been relatively the same population for two months. Some people disappear, but their numbers aren't replenished, not until this month.]

[That? That got a ruffling of hair again before 76 let himself relax again and- well. Another drink from that cup of tea with another wince.

Nope, not getting better the more he drank. He might have to get it over with and chug it—] If you want me to make sure I see him in a timely fashion.

[Dry little drawl, a tease in turn.

Then he was quiet, glancing over towards the fire. It crackling away, small for the moment since he hadn't planned on using it for much than chasing a little chill from the air around him.] There might be, we'll have to wait and see if one starts up. Once isn't a pattern, but it could be the start of one.

Good to see some familiar faces? [What happened aside.]

[His hair is going to stay a mess forever at this rate, even as he tries to fix it.] Just don't pick another fight before then.

[He may push him harder if he does. He'll onto the moonshine for a bit, staring at the fire, looking pensive.] I should be, but... [If those clawed toes were any obvious indication of the problem.]

It's been so long since I've seen anyone from home, been home. A lot has happened, here and back in my world. Things that they've experienced that I haven't yet. [He hangs his head.] It's hard for me to face my friends, knowing I've spilt blood with my own hands. I've probably slipped away from the Kazuma Asogi they know. [Sure, he wasn't in control, but Hyde is admittedly still a part of him. And he let that side of him run wild for too long.]

I'll try. Can't much promise things when it comes to Reaper, but I'll still make the attempt.

[At last Kazuma knew that someone might be trying to find him now, and not for good reasons. Not when it came to Reyes these days. 76 knew the man well, but the both of them had changed when things fell apart, and not for the better. Not to mention what other world the ass had been in, too.

He listened, eyes still on the fire for a moment, letting a bit of silent hang. Not uncomfortable, but to let the thoughts and words sink in a bit.]

It's harder to sit with yourself, knowing things you do and others don't- that you aren't sure you even want them to know. [Jack tilted his head them, all the better to look at Kazuma.] I've been avoiding everyone who ever knew me back home, letting them all think I'm dead, even if that coffin they buried is empty. Why I just go by 76, or Soldier. I'm not the man any of them remember, and never will be again.

If anyone ever showed up here? I'd keep hiding, because I don't want to see that look in their eyes when I'm not who they think I should be. [Rather be a stranger, a vigilante known only as Soldier: 76.] I think you're strong enough, even if you doubt it, to face them as who you are. Might not like it, but they care about you, don't they.

...Hah. [He didn't mean to let out a laugh, but when 76 mentioned he let others think he was dead, it reminded him of his conversation with a famous detective. About how he led his own friends to think he was dead after that incident on the ship. For his own protection, inevitably leading him to lose what he cannot get back anymore.

But he's right...to say that they do care about him. They clearly still support him after whatever happened back home. But that's not what he chooses to focus on at this moment.] . . .If that's the case, isn't that same for anyone you left behind as well?

[It would have killed him if he was a normal man, but something had made sure he survived it. Sometimes he wasn't sure it was purely whatever was still pumping through him from SEP or not, and then he just moved on.

Fingers flexed a little, glancing down over the blackened skin and claws.]

Majority want a man that is dead, because I can never be that again. A soldier turned in to a golden boy leader and used to promote hope for a better future, politics and egos fear mongering when they started to worry that the change being made would take away their power, and in my death they made me a martyr to feel better about themselves after they got the whole world demanding my head on a silver plate. [He was up there, and he'd given up everything to do what he thought was right. To protect the people he cared for, and push the boundaries so some real good could be done. Get science and the medical field going further to do some real good.]

I gave up a lot of myself to be that person they wanted me to be, and there's nothing left to keep it up. [Downed the rest of that tea, cup set down even after the wince at the taste-] Only person I can think of already knows I'm not dead, and we've been working together.

[He takes in some air, leaning back slightly.] So the world turned against you when they realized they couldn't face change themselves. I think you're stronger than what you make yourself believe.

[He couldn't help having a small grin on his face. This all just seems familiar and yet not. Quite amusing really.] There was a part of you I'm sure, that really wanted to bring hope, otherwise why would you have gone as far as you did? Me...I only became the honor student, the pride of my university out of a personal desire to avenge my father. It didn't matter to me how I achieved it, just as long as it got me there. Even accepted an assassination request that was forced onto me.

[His hand rests on the hilt of his katana.] I said to myself I'd never actually go through with it, but when I was finally confronted with what I had been after for so long...well, you've seen for yourself how that went. [It's hard for him to see himself as strong, when there's evidence of him faltering in the past. Lost control.] My friends have only known me as the lie I played out.

Had a way of getting people to see the change they could make, given the right tools and environment. People behind them. [Didn't think he had that anymore given the tone.] I... wanted people to see they could be their best, gave them that freedom the best I could.

Wanted to turn a group formed to fight a war in to something that funded and promoted medical field advancements, furthered scientific research. Actually helped people rather than governments. I made myself in to what I felt I needed to be to get that funding for them all- all over the world. Made allies, and I think certain leaders started to fear how good I was at that. [That he was more powerful, and maybe they were right for the wrong reasons.] I gave up all of myself, my wants, for everyone else.

It still wasn't enough for some, even in the very end. [Better off staying dead, and finish what he started once he got his feet under him. Jack leaned back, fingers moving back through his own hair, head tilted back.]

Seems like they still want to stick by you, all the same. Natural to be afraid of that realization, I think. Of disappointing, not meeting expectations.

[He glances at him as he opens himself about his past. He looks at his own hand for a moment, thinking. Eventually, the hand will come up and rest on the old soldier's shoulder.]

For what it's worth, you're helping me. [Compare to everything he's done in the past, it probably doesn't mean much. But he knows how nice it feels, to have just one person in your corner. That it wasn't all a complete waste.]

...But you're right. It'll just take some time, before I'm ready to tell them everything else.

[A breath escaped Jack at the contact, but it wasn't shrugged off- rather a hand rested over Kazuma's with a light squeeze. It was appreciated honestly, the words and knowledge.

All he could manage these days, felt like.] Going to keep having that help, long as I can manage it.

You take that at your own pace, and I'll be here to listen whenever you need it. Alright?

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