Around the Block [Kansuke/Elodie]

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Few moments afforded Kansuke such peace as when he took a break in his own neighbourhood. A note on the fridge and the money on the table told him to go shopping, so he made for the corner store and quickly acquired what he needed.

He perched on the kerb one carrier bag heavier, just outside the store. Little Tokyo kept busy at all hours - he'd seen every side of the district. People coming and going, commuting or touring, visiting or working...

He liked this kerb. Liked the perspective it gave him. It kept him close to the ground, close to the people he tried to reach, in his own broken way. So he sat, watched, and after a little while reached into the bag to collect his indulgence; a chocolate bar. He snapped a square off and chewed it, contemplative.

Posts : 5 Join date : 2018-07-25

Elodie blinked as she opened the door. She had assumed him long gone, not perched outside the shop, but the look of him was unmistakable; it was the customer she had not that long before, the one whom made it out without his bread. Shoving the shop keys into her coat pocket, the slight girl hopped back inside the shop and not a moment later did the bell above the door ring with her hurried exit.

She skipped down the single step, procured the keys to lock up the door, and placed them back in her pocket all while juggling a fresh loaf of bread; and attempting not to crush it as she made use of her one hand, and cradling an umbrella in the crook of her arm. It was a long walk home and the looming clouds throughout the day promised rain.

A wise decision as the first droplets fell from the sky as she paced toward the one at the curb.

Her steps slowed as she approached him. Her lips parted but nothing more than a silent sigh slipped from between them, and she quickly pressed them together. A tentative hand reached toward him and then doubled back to her chest, and she stopped in her tracks. She didn't wish to startle him. Her fingers curled into her palm before she pushed forward and brushed her fingertips lightly at his shoulder in attempt to garner his attention.

Guest

Kansuke snapped from his wandering mind, the lightest pressure on his shoulder drawing a quick flash of irritation, surprise - and then relief when he saw the shopkeep from before, cradling a loaf of bread and an umbrella. He noticed the droplets now, pushing his hair back to reveal an empty, resting scowl dragging down tired eyes. Kansuke checked his bag; sure enough, no loaf of bread. "Oh. Thanks."

He held out his hand to accept it, considering the stranger. Quiet, shuffling, small. Like a mouse - only mice made more noise than she appeared comfortable making, and had a tendency to nibble more. "You should get back inside before the rain gets worse."

Posts : 5 Join date : 2018-07-25

Elodie's hand all but recoiled from the young man when he faced her, as if some static charge nipped at her fingertips, or perhaps it was the scowl traced upon his features; but she otherwise didn't appear startled. Other than a slight dipping of her chin, her expression remained unwavering, and her head tilted to the side as she watched him search his bag for what she knew he wouldn't find.

Amber eyes flicked to his outstretched hand and she gently placed the loaf atop his palm. The corners of her lips lifted into the barest, briefest smile as her gaze shifted back to him, and she inclined her head. Red threads slipped over her shoulder and momentarily hid her from view with her gesture. It was as much a you're welcome as it was an apology. After all, she was the one that had neglected to put the loaf in his bag.

Elodie blinked upwards at the mention of the rain, that ghost of a smile dissipating, and she shook her head. Silver glinted from the top of her coat pocket as she flashed her set of keys; all locked up for the evening. She was lucky to have found him, or he was lucky to have stuck around.

The faint sprinkles grew fatter, and colder, and just as he had said, the rain got worse, and threatened to worsen still. Her nose scrunched ever so slightly as a droplet splattered on her cheek, then her nose, and she pulled her hood up. Wiggling the umbrella off the crook of her arm, she popped it open and held it over his head with her other hand gesturing toward his groceries.

They were going to get soaked.

Guest

Kansuke reacted to the rain far less than the shopkeeper did. With the certainty of a youth who'd done this a thousand times before, he simply tied the bag off, using the plastic to protect the contents, and looped it around his wrist. Barely a trickle got in. He stared up at the clouds, only the find the umbrella overhead. He huffed through his nose, and reached up with his free hand to wave the umbrella off, nudging it back over her head. "You take it. Need it more than I do - 'sides, I ain't going anywhere. I like the rain."

Posts : 5 Join date : 2018-07-25

The barest of frowns pulled at the corners of Elodie's lips as she took her umbrella back over her own head. Even as gentle as her expression was, he could see if he were looking that she didn't believe she needed the umbrella more than him; she could make do with her raincoat and hood. He was already beginning to look like a soaked rat with the mop on his head, and she could hear her aunt's voice calling in the back of her head. You'll catch a cold! But if he didn't want the umbrella then she wasn't about to force it on him. Still, the small girl gestured toward his hair as she knelt beside him.

Surely he knew, but she still thought to point it out that he was going to get soaked - even if he did like the rain.

Her brows rose ever so slightly, pinching together, and then the expression faded away. Amber swept over him as she tilted her head, and her gaze gave way to soft questioning. Even if it weren't raining, he'd have been an odd sight, perched as he was on the curb. What was he doing?

Guest

The rain slammed down, and all Kansuke did was push back his hair, the mop revealing a gaunt face and sullen eyes. She hadn't said a word - didn't indicate that she wanted to - and so he kept his silence for a time, looking from her to the street beyond. Eventually, those outside would hasten inside, wherever they had to go, and the street would empty. For one moment, Little Tokyo would die, drowned, and leave naught but the silence; until someone decided it was worth the soaking and step outside.

Kansuke looked across to the stranger, seeing her perched next to him for some reason. He frowned. "What? Did I forget something else?"

» Accidental Intervention [Elodie/Cecil]
» Elodie Shaw (Endymion Persona-User)
» Tag [Kansuke]
» Kansuke Ito's Compendium
» The Open Art Gallery (Kansuke / Tomomi)