[open]

[wordcarvings]

WHO: Koutarou & YOU!
WHERE: Various Recolle locations (animal shelter, buddhist shrine, university, library, etc)
WHEN: March
WHAT: Secrets, birthdays, anniversaries, books
WARNINGS: n/a


library and thereabouts (5th)
[ Things calm down somewhat regarding the secret that was spilled just the other day, and he doesn’t have to avoid people as much. That means that he can go to an activity he had intended to go to, because he always does.

He drops by the library with some books he’s read and won’t read again anytime soon. He hopes to be able to find some poetry (or maybe art books) among the books that had been dropped off. Something he has not read before, or something he doesn’t have yet. He buys some baked goods, too.

He also intends to go read whatever he picked up, and ends up sitting on the steps leading to the library front door, and eventually some stone wall a fair bit up from the ground. How did he even get up there? Jump? It’s not the easiest wall to climb.

Meanwhile, he feels stares at his back but tries to ignore them, chalking it up to the previous incident. He’s wrong, because there is a paper with some secret or other taped on his back. (He thought he managed to avoid that.)

> I was disowned.
> I went to Vesuvius with someone important that wasn’t my girlfriend.
> I won’t go on blind-dates because a girl scared me.
> I have not spoken to my father in nine years.
> I am horrible at technology and still barely knows how to use a computer.

At least when he sits up on the wall they’re less visible, but while he browses the books and sits on the stairs, they’re easy to read. ]


the animal shelter (13th)
[ He got a rare call from his youngest older sister early in the morning. So early that it was still the middle of the night. Wishing him a happy birthday, telling him his other sisters were doing well, not really mentioning anything else. He’s been in Recolle for nearly ten years now...

He (unintentionally) takes the day off to wander, starting from the early hour he was woken up by Naoko’s call, away from the memories, the knowledge that he needs to go other places at the end of the week. He even forgot his sketchbook, which doesn’t usually happen. This time of the year was his least favorite, and he couldn’t go be with Ashlee because she left for a short vacation with some friends just the other day. How many days had it been since he last saw her in person now, anyway?

Eventually he ends up in the area of the animal shelter, and he decides to go to visit it, to hang out there and see if there might ba anything he can do during the day, play with the animals and stuff. ]


a university art classroom (16th)
[ His students and anyone else he’s met at the university today may have noticed that he’s seemed a bit absent today. But finally the lesson is over and honestly, despite being a bit distant he did his job well. It’s just an off day- (Off week, really.)

He’s staying longer though, putting away tools of the trade and cleaning everything up. He’s not about to go home in quite a while and the light is on in his classroom even as it becomes late in the evening. ]


your local buddhist shrine (19th)
[ Saturdays are zumba. He started going with intentions on continuing to go. But this saturday he didn’t go. His mind was too filled with other things. And the day after he goes to clear his head a little bit. Best as he can, at least, for the time being.

He doesn’t go very often to the shrine. To buy incense, sometimes. To offer a prayer, once in a while. He doesn’t really offer prayers at the small home shrine he has in his apartment, and the picture of his mother is turned toward the window, so he doesn't have to feel her accusatory stare (which really only is in his imagination). So he goes to the shrine on the anniversary of her death - nine years already - to offer a prayer mostly out of obligation. He missed his family, but he knew it wasn’t his fault she died even if his father had said so on her wake.

He offers some incense at the memorial altar, prays for some minutes, then buys some more incense to bring home because he enjoys the scent. He strays among the lit incense sticks for a while, then heads to leave the shrine and go for a walk before heading home to his apartment in Birch Hills. ]


your local wild card (?th)
[ you know how this one works. i’m open to anything. ]

Comments

The 13th

[standalonehuman]

Togusa can never quite accurately predict what Koutarou's mood will be on his birthday. Family is a sore subject to bring up, and Togusa doesn't want to be a social bother, a burden to make Koutarou have to hide what he's feeling.

But if Koutarou needs a distraction, and he is in the mood for company and a celebration, then leaving him alone on his birthday would be a worse idea. And, besides, he's been meaning to catch up to Koutarou and show him an odd book he found in his collection.

So, it starts off with a texted animated birthday greeting. He'll gauge Koutarou's reaction from there.

[wordcarvings]

Koutarou would never think of Togusa as a bother. If anything, Togusa is the one that knows the most about all the circumstances around his family relations. He's the one he needs to hide his feelings to the least. That's what he could tell him if he mentioned it, but as it is, Koutarou doesn't know to say that.

He stops and leans against a wall when he sees that the message from his friend is not a normal text. He gets some glances directed his way as the music plays, and he rewatches the video a few times before he sends a reply.

Thank you, Hitori.

He starts with that, and then types a second message.

Do you know if there is any way to make sure someone remembers the time difference between Japan and here?

[standalonehuman]

To be sure to remember? I keep a clock with the difference. Should be...12 hours ahead? 13? Did we just start on daylight saving's time? American time is strange.

But this is a good sign! Koutarou will take the time for a birthday call home, but then what? Togusa took the time to clear off his schedule, today was either going to be spent with his friend or his dog.

So after you call your sisters, what are you up to today? I'm not working, the weather's pretty nice, we should do something.

[wordcarvings]

I don't know, I think the time on my phone automatically changes.

And the battery on the wall clocks - both home and in the atelier - are long dead since he forgets to change them.

I already talked to Naoko-neesan, she called in the middle of the night.

Which was why he asked about the time thing in the first place. He doesn't think she cares very much if she calls while he's sleeping or working or is doing anything else and throws him off completely, she just wanted it done. Though they still talk sometimes, it's clear since a long time ago that all his sisters took his father's side in this supposed fight. Though Koutarou wishes there were no sides or arguments at all. So much trouble just because he chose to follow his dream instead of his parents'...

I was just thinking of taking a walk, but nothing beyond that.

[standalonehuman]

Ah, so both, then!

At least she did call.

Togusa is going to bite down on all the remarks he'd like to make about Koutarou's family for right now. They're foolish, and they're going to come to regret how they're treating Koutarou.

Then I'd be glad to come along, if you wouldn't mind the company? Double the company, if there's room for Daisuke.

Also, you know, I might have something for you.

[wordcarvings]

At least she did, yeah. I can't expect it.

Sometimes they forgot, sometimes one remembered, sometimes if he was lucky, at least two of them remembered. Never three. He supposed that they might remember and not call anyway, or they might not remember because they had their hands full with their own families.

I don't mind.

He doesn't need anything though, really. But saying that isn't going to work, he knows that from trying before.

[standalonehuman]

Nope, too bad, too late, Koutarou. You're getting something for your birthday. Togusa will track him down, wherever he wants to meet up, one hand occupied with Daisuke's leash, and a brightly-wrapped present tucked under his arm.

Daisuke is very calm about approaching Koutarou and immediately sitting down right in front of him. He looks up at Koutarou with big eyes expectantly. Okay, you can pet me now.

Togusa has a good-natured smile on his face. "Good to say Happy Birthday in person, then."

The 5th

[true_noir]

[Chloe was in the library too, trying to get some relaxation in and forget some of the nonsense of the last few days. She'd managed to get her own signs taken off of her back, so when she saw someone with one taped there, she slipped up behind them with a soft sigh and a shake of the head.

There was the sound of the paper rustling before she handed it over his shoulder to him and coughed once to get his attention.]

You have a little something on your back it seems. I do wish to know, however... How was Vesuvius? Was it as lovely as I imagine?

[wordcarvings]

Oh..

[ He reaches around to his back and manages to yank the note away. He had thought and hoped he would be able to avoid those notes... He looks at it, and knows where she got her question from. ]

I... Actually, it's an odd memory I'm not really sure is accurate.

[ Meaning: it's one of those weird memories that isn't his yet is... ]

[true_noir]

...

[She looked at him for a moment, before recognizing his face properly from icons earlier on the app. That brought a sigh, because she knew exactly what he meant when he said 'odd memories I'm not really sure about.' Oh yes, yes, she knew all about such things.]

Yes, I believe I understand. I could have a similar trip to the Alps on my back if I wished, or if I did not. It is strange that these notes appear to relate to our memories at times, the ones that could be fake that is.

I wonder if it is one of the employees of this company? If so, they are sneaky, very sneaky, about it.

[wordcarvings]

[ If he had not been spaced out, he would have known where he recognized her face from. He never forgets a face. Except the one from the mentioned Vesuvius visit. ]

And some are real, aren't they... [ He has read other people's notes. ] But why would they mix in these false ones?

Maybe it is, though that's a bit of a disconcerting thought.

[ He doesn't like the thought that somebody might be able to sneak up on him like that. Particularly not if they were from Retrospec. ]

[true_noir]

This assumes that they are false. And, as much as part of me still believes they are false, I am no longer as certain as I once was. [She shook her head.] But they are too impossible to be entirely real.

Given the mail I received from them and the cloak I found in my closet, though, I am not so terrified to think they might waste the time to slap a note on me. It's almost menial.

[wordcarvings]

It would be easier if we know if they are... Mine are, at least this far, not impossible perhaps, but certainly weird... [ He shakes his head in a "i don't know anymore" kind of way. ]

Did they break into your home?

The 16th

[liberal_arts]

-There's a knock on the door, but it's opening regardless, and he mostly just wanted to be sure he wasn't catching him off guard as Kasen entered the room, a bright smile on his face and a wave of his hand.-

Hey. Sorry I couldn't catch up with you before. I got pretty busy with some applicant business... I saw you closed the shop a few days ago... Everything alright?

[wordcarvings]

[ Koutarou looks over his shoulder, then turns with the mop he's wiping the floor as clean as it can be. The floor isn't all that wet, he started by the door so as long as Kasen is careful he won't slip. ]

Ah, good evening. I just, ah, um, needed some time to do something else.

[ Not that he doesn't love painting, he loves painting, it's just that it was a bit of a bad time for him. ]

[liberal_arts]

-Kasen's smile softened somewhat. That was a pretty-non answer, Koutarou. Even so, maybe it was best to not linger on the subject and remember why he stopped by in the first place, reaching into his satchel and pulling out a long, wrapped box.-

Well, I can't promise this will put you in better spirits, but I figured a gift was in order, either way.

[wordcarvings]

[ He only avoids direct answers when it comes to certain things. Sorry.

He blinks slowly in surprise, eyes moving between Kasen and the box. ]

Eh?

[liberal_arts]

Don't look so surprised! Go on, take it. It's not much, but I wanted to get something for you anyways. -Kasen once more gestured with the box.-

[wordcarvings]

I... thank you.

[ He takes the box, and hesitates. Should he open it here or later? Japan and America are different that way. (Not that they really did gifts in his family growing up. Otoshidama, if they had gotten good competition results and grades the previous year. But that was it.) And it's different depending on person to person too. ]

i'm late but i'm here hello. ;; 16th.

[caelestialis]

[ having dropped by to visit a friend of hers who worked at the university, time seems to have flown by for ainsley during their spirited conversation. it was only after she had parted ways with her friends and checked her watch did she realise the late hour - and yet she wasn't tired. not really.

so seeing the lights of one classroom still on? well, she can't help but be curious to see who else was here. and she's glad she opted to as well upon seeing who it is. look who it is!

her face lighting up in pleasant surprise, she politely knocks on the door and will wave to her fellow teacher in greeting when she gets his attention. ]

[wordcarvings]

Small>[ When he notices her, he smiles at her. He's still a little bit away in his thoughts, but tries to shake them off best he can. Thinking about home isn't going to change anything, particularly not when he still would have left to pursue his dream. ]

Good evening, Menodora-san.

[caelestialis]

[ getting a friendly response has her gather enough courage to politely knock on his door again before sticking her head in.

remembering what the hour is right now, she keeps her tone from getting too high pitched like it usually does when she's excited. or does her best to at least. ] Evening! I'm not bothering you, am I?

[wordcarvings]

[ He’s still holding some containers of paint he had cleaned off a little earlier, after some paint had gathered around the caps and started to become a little harder to open.

He shakes his head. ]

No, not at all.

[caelestialis]

Great! [ feeling more emboldened, she gingerly steps into the classroom.

now inside, she notices the containers he's holding and ainsley cocks her head in thoughtfulness. ] Do you need help in those? I know the pains of cleaning up after a class all too well so I would love to give you a hand.

[wordcarvings]

[ He shakes his head. ] No, it's fine. Thank you for the offer though.

[ It's not like he needs to do it now, it's a week until his next class here so he has time to do it later. He's only doing it to keep his hands moving and his mind occupied. ]