a thousand cherry blossoms dissolve into the night

[mementosola]

[The year is 2038, and for some people turning twenty, there is celebration. A feeling of reaching adulthood, or at the very least, an unhealthy amount of booze.

For other people, there's running clear across Setagaw when time stopped and exploding a Harvester in a single, casual gesture. She's not worried there are too many; she's worried about what certain people may have done to thin out the numbers.]

Retsu!

Comments

[withoutmercy]

[His driving's a little faster and more reckless than usual, since there's about to be cops everywhere.]

Trust me. I'd have killed me in his position. Men care about their daughters.

[He laughs, but it's a bit dry in his throat.]

Even as strong as I am, I'm a little afraid of him finding out about us now, you know.

[mementosola]

I'd be more worried about the fact he really wants grandkids, personally.

[Just. gonna put that out there. While you're driving.]

[withoutmercy]

...Cool. I guess I really need to figure out something to put on my resume beyond "superhero" then.

[BALL'S IN YOUR COURT, SUNBRO.]

[mementosola]

'Athletic', 'personable' , 'physique similar to a greek god'...I can think of a few keywords to work with.

[You really want to play this game with her?]

[withoutmercy]

But he's not going to be happy that his daughter fell in love with a freeter, even if she's got nice things to say about me.

Especially not someone as smart and beautiful as you.

[He'll try, damnit!]

[mementosola]

Which means he's going to try to make a proper gentleman out of you. You may find he's a more brutal teacher than any harvester attack.

[She did flush, which means that attack hit....]

But I know you, and I know you won't let anyone down, whether it's me or my father or someone you just met, Retsu.

[And she counterattacked.]

[withoutmercy]

...Of course not. You promised you'd stay with me, so I'll withstand any attack for that, no matter what.

[Direct hit, given how red he is. Let's just hope he can get them somewhere before she closes in for the kill.]

Wait, where are we going?

[mementosola]

Well, if it's somewhere private, isn't your apartment closer?

[And doesn't have her terrifying father there, as a bonus.]

[withoutmercy]

Right, right.

[He was already kind of on autopilot there. His apartment's not in the worst part of town but it's about what you'd expect a guy who works part time jobs and saves the world to be able to afford: a mostly clean efficiency that he keeps his stuff in.

They're there in a matter of minutes, and he just parks on the street and takes the fire escape three stories up directly to his window.]

[mementosola]

...[Well. Then. She'll follow him up the fire escape, although she's a little confused why they're not using the door.]

[withoutmercy]

[The fire escape means he doesn't have to wind his way through a long hallway and either tiny stairs or an elevator that takes a geological age.

He'll pop in through his own window, then, lean out and offer her a hand in.]

Careful.

[mementosola]

[She reaches up to take his hand, and is kind of cursing the fashion gods that had her in a skirt and thigh-highs today.]

Kind of a strange method of getting inside, isn't it?

[withoutmercy]

[Well he's not complaining. But he is standing close enough and trying to make sure she's able to get in without falling.]

It's a lot faster than the normal way. Also it keeps my neighbors from realizing sometimes I have to leave to fight crime, or bring wealthy heiresses to my crummy apartment.

[mementosola]

It's quite convenient then, isn't it? I just worry for the potted wisteria three floors up, it's wilting.

[In through the window we go! Without any falling over.]

It doesn't seem that crummy...it's rather charming.

[withoutmercy]

[He's going to keep a hold on her hand while he closes and locks the window behind her.]

I'm amazed. Normally she over-waters it so much that I think it's raining outside, at least once a week.

[He sighs.] It's big enough for me to walk across in ten paces. I wish I had somewhere better to take you.

[mementosola]

Over-watering will wilt them too...Wisteria are delicate.

[She turns to smile at him, perfectly calm.]

You're here. That's all that matters to me.

[withoutmercy]

Well...

[He shrugs helplessly, but smiles at her, then lets go of her hand and spreads his arms.]

Here I am. Here is what little I own, besides the car. You're welcome to everything here, even if it isn't much.

[mementosola]

If that's the case...

[She's going to start yanking up your shirt while you're undefended. Don't think she forgot about those injuries. :|]

[withoutmercy]

[Well, yeah, They're still there -- his regenerative abilities keep them from doing so, but there's some deep bruising and a few wide gashes in his torso. Actually, it's a little creepy, they should be bleeding, but instead there's like a mesh of chains in the way.]

[For his own part he'll just shrug his shirt off to let her do this. There. Damage aside, this might be one of the clearest shots she's had since he's just standing there.]

[mementosola]

[And if she weren't focused on his wounds, she might be taking advantage of it. As it is, her hands are warm again, pressed right against the wounds to speed the healing as best she can.

Of course, given she's now running her hands all over his chest, he might notice her hands are very soft and very delicately fashioned.]

Ahh, these are worse than usual, how many were there...

[withoutmercy]

[His breathing gets a little ragged as she does this, both from the fact that closing wounds isn't pleasant in the slightest, and the fact that yeah, she's running her hands all over his chest.]

A lot. They're getting bold again. Maybe they realize we're the only ones left in town.

[mementosola]

[She doesn't notice for now, but her hands do come to rest so her right hand stops just over where his heart should be.]

...I wonder if that's what they wanted all along. Spread out like this, there's no way we can stop it at the source.

[withoutmercy]

[Then it comes to rest on top of a scar that should have faded by now, but if anything has gotten more pronounced as time's gone on. And with her that close, direct eye contact is happening.]

The other cities need heroes too. If they can't be here, then I'll just fight harder for them.

[mementosola]

...Until this vengeance swallows up your heart? There has to be a way to end it before it comes to that.

['All of our sources seem to grow stronger and stronger. I'm worried...'

When your friends are powered by vengeance, nothingness, and hatred, it's probably a valid worry.]

[withoutmercy]

[Placing a hand on her hers, since she's still feeling the scar on his chest.]

Vengeance can't swallow up my entire heart if you're still in it, right?

[...Retsu: only smooth on accident.]