Open rp, post Zi-O, please interrupt him at the quarry or three hours later or whatever

[kenzaki]

Kenzaki stands in the quarry, delighted, exhausted, and bewildered. Amane-chan is safe. Zi-O has their powers. That should keep both Jokers sealed, and, well, if it doesn’t, he can deal with it then.

For now? For now, he has a chance to actually build a life for himself again. He doesn’t have to hold himself back from contacting his friends. He scribbles his cellphone number on a scrap of paper and tucks it into Hajime’s hand (imagine, being able to touch Hajime again) and begins to stroll off.

He needs to find a place to stay. He hasn't exactly been here long; hasn't had time. Some human food. Oh, and a shower. A shower would be magnificent.

Right now, he wants to let Hajime and Amane-chan reunite without his interference. He’s not leaving town again. He just doesn’t want to be in the way, and maybe to take a couple hours to stare at a wall and let the shock of it all wash over him.

It could've been so much worse.

Comments

[chalicejoker]

Hajime frowns. "It's...I suppose she would have found out sooner or later." They were bound to notice he didn't age one of these days. Only now...now that wouldn't be a problem, would it? "But this is absolutely not how it should have happened. I should have told her...somehow." Instead of trying to just quietly move on out of her life. Neither of them had been happy with that.

And yet that last bit, well. That gets a short, bitter--was that a laugh?--noise of some sort out of him. "I suspect it's a bit stranger for me than it was for you. I...didn't know there could be a me without Joker." The name still carries a bit of lingering distaste as he says it.

[kenzaki]

There's an uncomfortable nod. He understands why Amane-chan didn't know up till now. And it's not as though he thinks that he could've told her, if he'd been here. He's always been bad at personal discussions.

He also wishes it could've been different. Anything to make all of this easier on her.

But he doesn't blame Hajime.

"This was a horrible way to find out anything," Kenzaki agrees, nodding with his eyebrows up at nearby chairs. He drops down into one, hoping Hajime will take his invitation, even though it's really not his place to be giving any kind of invitation. "But you didn't know it was coming."

He wrinkles his nose sympathetically, still marvelling at the fact that he's here to do anything with any kind of sympathy with Hajime. "I've only gone back to how I was. Older, maybe. Slower. But it's all new for you. Is everything working okay in there? You're not in much pain, are you?"

[chalicejoker]

"How could anyone have known any of this was coming?" It hadn't even pinged his Undead senses until it was too late.

And that...oh, hello, emotions. He shakes his head. "A little sore, maybe. But nothing I haven't felt before." It's going to be hanging around longer than he's anticipating, but hey. He'll take it. "I don't know if I'll ever get used to wounds being red when I clean up." There's no keeping a slight sense of wonder out of his voice. "And everything feels slower now, yes." He still can't believe they're sitting here like this. It's a good feeling, even if he doesn't know what to do with it. "...can I get you something? Coffee? Tea?" He can do those things, remembers how to do those things, that's...easier than confronting emotions?

[kenzaki]

"You have a point."

Kenzaki hasn't kept up with the news like he knows he should. He does occasional Google searches for "Kamen Rider" and, also, uh, for certain people's names, when he's feeling particularly maudlin. He's learned a little here and there. Maybe there's been more about this kid Zi-O in the news, but probably not. He knows what it was like when he and Hajime and the others were active. There was surprisingly little.

Besides, reading an article about how there was a disturbance and someone in a funny suit saved a couple people, that wouldn't've warned him about this.

There's a flicker of emotions on Hajime's face, and Kenzaki feels his heart twist. The other man hasn't changed so very much, then. He can still read him, at least a little.

"Good. You're tough, I know." And maybe that's an apology for not giving him a chance to be tough, when Kenzaki made his decision for both of them, years ago. Maybe it's not. He gives a sudden smile. "Tea. Please. But let me help."

[chalicejoker]

Tea. He can do that. Even if he's being offered help. He would normally reject help outright, but...it's Kenzaki. There's a hesitant sort of nod. "Alright, then." And he turns to head behind the counter; he figures Kenzaki will follow.

...it's kind of nice, knowing Kenzaki won't run off again. There's no reason for it.

[kenzaki]

Hajime's actually letting him help. Almost like they've spent the last years together. Almost like everything can actually be okay again.

He follows, grinning, and finds the kettle.

[chalicejoker]

Honestly, this is more than Hajime could have hoped for. He's...hell, that is an actual smile as he's getting the tea out. He is totally unaware of this expression; he's just focused on getting the tea.