This was not what he anticipated when Kazuma finally walked into his door. He moves to greet him, to ask him if he made it through the city okay when he actually gets a good look at him. Ryunosuke immediately walks over, giving him a good look as concern crosses his features.
"Kazuma." He says quietly before he steps back to now crowd him. "What happened to you? Are you okay?"
There's a pause as he reaches out to carefully take his chin to get a better look at his split lip. "Who, or what, did this to you?"
"I'm fine," Pride, it seems, could only be shaken off until he got through the door. "Just got into a bit of a fight, that's all."
A bit of a fight, not much of one really when compared to other situations he had gotten himself into. It would have amounted to little more than something akin to a schoolyard scuffle, except for--"Really, Ryunosuke. I'll be all right." He reaches up to take hold of the hand at his chin, sleeve pushing up enough to reveal the slight burn at his wrist if Ryunosuke paid close enough attention.
And that was the problem. Ryunosuke was always so observant.
"Just someone, I don't know him." He barely knew anyone here, so that didn't really say much.
"You don't really know anyone." He remarks with a frown before his gaze is drawn to his wrist and he moves his attention from his split lip. "Did they do this?"
Who in Trench did Kazuma get into a fight with that could do this? What could have possibly transpired for the two of them to actually get into a fight? He takes Kazuma's hand and pushes up his sleeve just enough to reveal the burn mark.
"I don't know if I have anything to treat a burn..." He mutters to himself, lifting Kazuma's wrist to get a better look.
"Yes, well..." He can't argue the fact that he's very much alone in this place. Outside of mere acquaintances, Ryunosuke was the only person he knew. "I'm not sure how, but yes. He did this."
He's fairly certain that whatever it was, it had to be tied to the blood--as everything in Trench was. Such assumptions didn't provide any further clarity or help in the situation, however. "He also had an odd...static energy around him at times. If I'm to be frank he came off as rather hot-headed."
Not that he had any room to talk. He had started the confrontation and urged it on towards the actual fight in the first place. "We bumped into each other. The situation escalated from there."
He turns his hand over, checking for anything else that might be related to the fight as he listens to Kazuma's explanation. The burns looked bad, and he hopes that they'll heal properly, but he's got a feeling that he may need to reach out to Nehan and see what could be done. He doesn't know how to properly treat these wounds - the medical field wasn't his specialty.
Of course, he decided to pursue English Literature instead of something more stable like medicine. What was he thinking?
"You... bumped into each other and it escalated." He gives him A Look, before he sighs. "How?"
Because a fight doesn't just break out when you bump into someone!
Kazuma, for his part, stays still and lets Ryunosuke look his burn over regardless of what any practical good could be done for it now. He would have to seek someone with medical knowledge--or at least something that reached beyond the basics he knew. Cuts and bruises were one thing, burns were another.
"I demanded he apologize." Matter of fact, no shame. Though with the look Ryunosuke fixed him with, he's sure he'll get an earful enough to make that shame come in time. "One thing led to another. I may have called him short...both in stature and in temper."
"You can't just demand that someone apologize." He says at first before he groans a bit. "Why would you-- Kazuma."
He finally releases his hand and rubs at his face. Of all the things that could have happened! Ryunosuke can't believe he's going to have to actually scold Kazuma but here he was. He sighs, shaking his head as he gestures to his clothing.
"Did you apologize?" He has a feeling he knows the answer. "Why would you say something like that to a stranger you barely know?"
Kazuma was not one to pout, but Ryunosuke was getting the best approximation of one right about now. Talk about wounded ego, wounded pride.
"He was the one to bump into me." Or so he will insist. Who could really tell, when it came down to it? They likely ran into one another. "Would one not expect an apology in such a situation?"
Hardly the point, but he wasn't going to just give in so easily. "I...did not apologize. I told him if he felt there was a score to settle he could find me here." Because that's exactly how one handles such things. At least he has the decency to sigh and look a bit more remorseful on that last question. "I don't know why--something about him just made me...angry."
"I doubt he bumped into you on purpose." He points out. "And that's hardly the point."
He's not surprised that it escalated the more that he talks to Kazuma. Something about being short-tempered might have also applied to him in this case. He shakes his head, crossing his arms.
"You goaded him into a fight because he bumped into you?!" Kazuma why. "Well, what did he look like?"
Maybe they could salvage whatever happened. There was no use making enemies in a place like Trench.
"Hardly the point? Ryuno--" But then Ryunosuke's shaking his head, arms crossed. Kazuma is starting to feel like a scolded child. He clamps his mouth shut, lips drawn in a frown.
His friend's plan was to make him apologize and make amends, he's certain of it. And it was far from what he wanted to do about the situation.
"He looked--" Like an ass, is what he wants to say. "Short." You said that already. "Brown hair, uniform...I think. Seemed like it would be one. He had scars, over his eye. The left one."
He stands there stunned, wondering how in the world the two of them could meet and this is the end result. Of all of the people - he had at least expected that maybe it was someone he could recognize, not someone he knew.
"You should change." He changes the subject quickly, motioning to his clothing. "Let's get you into something clean and I can see about washing the mud out."
There was a shift, something changed from the concern and mild admonishing. And then there was the subject change to consider. As much as Kazuma would appreciate the clean clothes, he knows if he lets this go now, that's where it will end.
"Ryunosuke." He reaches out, catches his hand as a means of catching and holding his attention. "What aren't you saying? What aren't you telling me?"
Of course, he wouldn't let it drop, but then again he didn't expect him to just let it slide. He takes a deep breath, facing him fully. Maybe it wasn't who he thought it was. Maybe it was some random person he hadn't met yet, or maybe it was one of the residents of Trench themselves!
"Was he missing his eye?" He motions to his face. "Like it's...completely white?"
Please say no. Scars were one thing, but if he was missing his eye then...
"Ah." Well, that question answered a few things on its own. "You know him then, to be asking that."
Barely a month in this place, and here he was potentially ruining the connections of a friend. Not that Kazuma is particularly happy with this choice in company given his own recent experience. But still, it certainly did make him feel a bit guilty--if not for the benefit of the stranger, then for Ryunosuke having to possibly deal with the fallout.
There's a small pause as Ryunosuke falls into silence. Of course, he knew him. Manabu happened to be the first person he met in Trench and one that he could count on as a friend. Not that he's certain how much of a friendship they still had after... why did he say those things? Guilt settled in his chest, slowly constricting his breath at the thought of what he's said.
"Sorry," He manages to come back to himself, glancing away from Kazuma. "I just...didn't think this is how you two would meet."
Another pause, not as lengthy as the first. "Manabu isn't normally like that."
He's only known him for a short time, and what did he know about him? He felt like everything he knew was on the tip of his tongue, but it refuses to make itself known. What could he even say? He sighs, moving to rub at his arm as he returns his gaze to his friend.
"We got into a fight." He admits. "Nothing- Nothing like this, mind you but I might have... said some things I regret."
Especially revolving around the fact that Manabu had died.
Kazuma hummed softly in understanding. Ryunosuke had his own troubles to deal with where Manabu was concerned, though for wholly different reasons and, it would seem, without the weight of a physical altercation. He had added that twist in himself, however unknowingly it was done.
"You'll be wanting me to apologize."
A statement, not a question. A fact, one rooted in having known Ryunosuke for a time. Whatever troubles he had with Manabu, he'd still be expecting him to make amends for his part.
"I'd like to hope that you'd both apologize." He says. "Though I can't expect you to apologize if I haven't done so myself."
Texting him wasn't enough. It was impersonal, made him feel aloof despite knowing that it was just words on a screen. He could easily just leave it at that but he's since stopped talking to Manabu completely.
Something he'll need to find a way to remedy. He can't let his friendship dissolve so easily. He'd be a terrible friend if he just simply walked away, and he wouldn't do it. Not when it felt like Manabu was starting to trust him a little more to open up.
"I'm not going to force you to apologize, but it would be the right thing to do."
"You won't force me, simply bully me into it." It's a joke, said with all the fondness of a close friend.
At the moment, the very thought of apologizing was something that he very much doubted should be considered at all. Though he had to admit that such feelings were likely the result of being fresh out of the fight in the first place.
Ryunosuke had been rather earnest in his assessment of being able to trust Manabu when he had first brought him up. Ryunosuke was pleasant, kind, easy to make friends with--but trust was another matter entirely. He had little doubt that he would find a way to solve his own disagreements, and that would mean--
"If I say I will at least consider apologizing, would that be good enough for now?"
He chuckles lightly. Yes, he certainly could bully Kazuma into apologizing, but where would that actually leave him? What lesson would be gained from it? Nothing as far as he's aware, but at least Kazuma seemed amenable to maybe apologizing.
It would have to do.
"Yes." Ryunosuke nods. "That would be enough. I'm sure you'll do the right thing."
Which would be to apologize, that much is implied. He'd rather them be friends, or something akin to it considering neither of them seems to trust easily.
The right thing. Kazuma hadn't known what the right thing was since he stepped on a boat heading for England what seems like ages ago. The right thing and the right choice were not always synonymous, let alone synchronous, in Kazuma's mind.
Still, he'll give a slight nod and a hum of agreement, acquiescence for the time being.
"Oh--" The otherwise neutral expression he had borne for the discussion of conflicts and apologies slid into an amused grin. "You might want to turn that phrase over again, partner."
Oh. Oh. His face flushes with embarrassment as he tries to stammer out a good explanation before settling on:
"You know what I meant!"
That's not what he meant at all, Kazuma, and you know it! He would like to retire to his room now and pretend that he didn't just ask his best friend to remove his clothing. The implications! Of all the things he could have said! He could die.
There's laughter then, whole and genuine. It's been some time since Kazuma had cause to laugh, even if this was at Ryunosuke's expense. Surely he should be allowed?
At least he was laughing, and it was a sound that he could stand to hear more often. He missed hearing his laughter, and he ached with the knowledge that he went so long without it, and how he would go without until Kazuma felt it was time for him to return home to Japan. Leaving him in London wasn't an easy choice, but it was the choice he needed to make to continue forward.
"The impropriety of it all." He finds himself laughing as well, as he rubs his face. "You just couldn't help yourself could you?"
It was funny in retrospect, but boy if he wasn't embarrassed by it in the moment.
"Come on, I'll get you some clean clothing to wear."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2022-01-01 09:07 pm (UTC)"Kazuma." He says quietly before he steps back to now crowd him. "What happened to you? Are you okay?"
There's a pause as he reaches out to carefully take his chin to get a better look at his split lip. "Who, or what, did this to you?"
no subject
Date: 2022-01-01 09:12 pm (UTC)A bit of a fight, not much of one really when compared to other situations he had gotten himself into. It would have amounted to little more than something akin to a schoolyard scuffle, except for--"Really, Ryunosuke. I'll be all right." He reaches up to take hold of the hand at his chin, sleeve pushing up enough to reveal the slight burn at his wrist if Ryunosuke paid close enough attention.
And that was the problem. Ryunosuke was always so observant.
"Just someone, I don't know him." He barely knew anyone here, so that didn't really say much.
no subject
Date: 2022-01-01 09:52 pm (UTC)Who in Trench did Kazuma get into a fight with that could do this? What could have possibly transpired for the two of them to actually get into a fight? He takes Kazuma's hand and pushes up his sleeve just enough to reveal the burn mark.
"I don't know if I have anything to treat a burn..." He mutters to himself, lifting Kazuma's wrist to get a better look.
no subject
Date: 2022-01-01 10:00 pm (UTC)He's fairly certain that whatever it was, it had to be tied to the blood--as everything in Trench was. Such assumptions didn't provide any further clarity or help in the situation, however. "He also had an odd...static energy around him at times. If I'm to be frank he came off as rather hot-headed."
Not that he had any room to talk. He had started the confrontation and urged it on towards the actual fight in the first place. "We bumped into each other. The situation escalated from there."
no subject
Date: 2022-01-01 10:11 pm (UTC)Of course, he decided to pursue English Literature instead of something more stable like medicine. What was he thinking?
"You... bumped into each other and it escalated." He gives him A Look, before he sighs. "How?"
Because a fight doesn't just break out when you bump into someone!
no subject
Date: 2022-01-01 10:21 pm (UTC)"I demanded he apologize." Matter of fact, no shame. Though with the look Ryunosuke fixed him with, he's sure he'll get an earful enough to make that shame come in time. "One thing led to another. I may have called him short...both in stature and in temper."
no subject
Date: 2022-01-01 10:27 pm (UTC)He finally releases his hand and rubs at his face. Of all the things that could have happened! Ryunosuke can't believe he's going to have to actually scold Kazuma but here he was. He sighs, shaking his head as he gestures to his clothing.
"Did you apologize?" He has a feeling he knows the answer. "Why would you say something like that to a stranger you barely know?"
no subject
Date: 2022-01-01 10:39 pm (UTC)"He was the one to bump into me." Or so he will insist. Who could really tell, when it came down to it? They likely ran into one another. "Would one not expect an apology in such a situation?"
Hardly the point, but he wasn't going to just give in so easily. "I...did not apologize. I told him if he felt there was a score to settle he could find me here." Because that's exactly how one handles such things. At least he has the decency to sigh and look a bit more remorseful on that last question. "I don't know why--something about him just made me...angry."
no subject
Date: 2022-01-01 10:46 pm (UTC)He's not surprised that it escalated the more that he talks to Kazuma. Something about being short-tempered might have also applied to him in this case. He shakes his head, crossing his arms.
"You goaded him into a fight because he bumped into you?!" Kazuma why. "Well, what did he look like?"
Maybe they could salvage whatever happened. There was no use making enemies in a place like Trench.
no subject
Date: 2022-01-01 11:01 pm (UTC)His friend's plan was to make him apologize and make amends, he's certain of it. And it was far from what he wanted to do about the situation.
"He looked--" Like an ass, is what he wants to say. "Short." You said that already. "Brown hair, uniform...I think. Seemed like it would be one. He had scars, over his eye. The left one."
no subject
Date: 2022-01-01 11:26 pm (UTC)No.
"You didn't..."
He stands there stunned, wondering how in the world the two of them could meet and this is the end result. Of all of the people - he had at least expected that maybe it was someone he could recognize, not someone he knew.
"You should change." He changes the subject quickly, motioning to his clothing. "Let's get you into something clean and I can see about washing the mud out."
no subject
Date: 2022-01-01 11:34 pm (UTC)There was a shift, something changed from the concern and mild admonishing. And then there was the subject change to consider. As much as Kazuma would appreciate the clean clothes, he knows if he lets this go now, that's where it will end.
"Ryunosuke." He reaches out, catches his hand as a means of catching and holding his attention. "What aren't you saying? What aren't you telling me?"
no subject
Date: 2022-01-01 11:41 pm (UTC)"Was he missing his eye?" He motions to his face. "Like it's...completely white?"
Please say no. Scars were one thing, but if he was missing his eye then...
no subject
Date: 2022-01-01 11:44 pm (UTC)Barely a month in this place, and here he was potentially ruining the connections of a friend. Not that Kazuma is particularly happy with this choice in company given his own recent experience. But still, it certainly did make him feel a bit guilty--if not for the benefit of the stranger, then for Ryunosuke having to possibly deal with the fallout.
no subject
Date: 2022-01-01 11:51 pm (UTC)"Sorry," He manages to come back to himself, glancing away from Kazuma. "I just...didn't think this is how you two would meet."
Another pause, not as lengthy as the first. "Manabu isn't normally like that."
As far as he's aware.
no subject
Date: 2022-01-01 11:58 pm (UTC)There was something else going on, something that took Ryunosuke's attention for a moment and made him look--panicked? worried?
Guilty.
Whatever it was, it was tangled up with Manabu and, what Ryunosuke was claiming to be, his strange behavior. "How well do you know him, exactly?"
no subject
Date: 2022-01-02 12:02 am (UTC)He's only known him for a short time, and what did he know about him? He felt like everything he knew was on the tip of his tongue, but it refuses to make itself known. What could he even say? He sighs, moving to rub at his arm as he returns his gaze to his friend.
"We got into a fight." He admits. "Nothing- Nothing like this, mind you but I might have... said some things I regret."
Especially revolving around the fact that Manabu had died.
no subject
Date: 2022-01-02 12:07 am (UTC)"You'll be wanting me to apologize."
A statement, not a question. A fact, one rooted in having known Ryunosuke for a time. Whatever troubles he had with Manabu, he'd still be expecting him to make amends for his part.
no subject
Date: 2022-01-02 12:14 am (UTC)Texting him wasn't enough. It was impersonal, made him feel aloof despite knowing that it was just words on a screen. He could easily just leave it at that but he's since stopped talking to Manabu completely.
Something he'll need to find a way to remedy. He can't let his friendship dissolve so easily. He'd be a terrible friend if he just simply walked away, and he wouldn't do it. Not when it felt like Manabu was starting to trust him a little more to open up.
"I'm not going to force you to apologize, but it would be the right thing to do."
no subject
Date: 2022-01-02 12:22 am (UTC)At the moment, the very thought of apologizing was something that he very much doubted should be considered at all. Though he had to admit that such feelings were likely the result of being fresh out of the fight in the first place.
Ryunosuke had been rather earnest in his assessment of being able to trust Manabu when he had first brought him up. Ryunosuke was pleasant, kind, easy to make friends with--but trust was another matter entirely. He had little doubt that he would find a way to solve his own disagreements, and that would mean--
"If I say I will at least consider apologizing, would that be good enough for now?"
no subject
Date: 2022-01-02 12:34 am (UTC)It would have to do.
"Yes." Ryunosuke nods. "That would be enough. I'm sure you'll do the right thing."
Which would be to apologize, that much is implied. He'd rather them be friends, or something akin to it considering neither of them seems to trust easily.
"Now let's get you out of those clothes."
no subject
Date: 2022-01-02 12:42 am (UTC)Still, he'll give a slight nod and a hum of agreement, acquiescence for the time being.
"Oh--" The otherwise neutral expression he had borne for the discussion of conflicts and apologies slid into an amused grin. "You might want to turn that phrase over again, partner."
no subject
Date: 2022-01-02 12:46 am (UTC)Oh. Oh. His face flushes with embarrassment as he tries to stammer out a good explanation before settling on:
"You know what I meant!"
That's not what he meant at all, Kazuma, and you know it! He would like to retire to his room now and pretend that he didn't just ask his best friend to remove his clothing. The implications! Of all the things he could have said! He could die.
Let him die, please.
no subject
Date: 2022-01-02 12:51 am (UTC)There's laughter then, whole and genuine. It's been some time since Kazuma had cause to laugh, even if this was at Ryunosuke's expense. Surely he should be allowed?
"I'm kidding, Ryunosuke. I know what you meant."
Please don't make him suffer for it.
no subject
Date: 2022-01-02 12:56 am (UTC)"The impropriety of it all." He finds himself laughing as well, as he rubs his face. "You just couldn't help yourself could you?"
It was funny in retrospect, but boy if he wasn't embarrassed by it in the moment.
"Come on, I'll get you some clean clothing to wear."
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From: