first notes § a classy diner

[jurisdick]

who: goro & you
where: diner
when: first week of may
rating: pg-13 (probably? will update if necessary)
the story: a detective walks into a diner for some pancakes and....

option 1 - for the employees

[ while this isn't leblanc, per say, it still has a rather comforting feel to it. he isn't sure if it's the decor or the general energy in the diner, but it seems to call to him the same way that the tiny curry and coffeeshop did back in tokyo. it's not insanely crowded but it has enough interesting faces to keep him intrigued. still, that's not to say he's actively seeking conversation. rather, he's brought a book from the library down to the diner to thumb through as he takes a break from investigating the hot mess he's found himself in.

there's a pencil stuck between his teeth, brown fringe covering his eyes as he skims the pages of the book. occasionally, he plucks the pencil out to scribble something down in the margin, and then just like that, the pencil returns dutifully to his mouth.

he hasn't ordered yet, a bit lost in thought over the pages of paradise lost. ]

option 2 - for others

[ now that he has his coffee (it's really a necessity in life), he's taken a break from the pages of the riveting story to glance around the diner. simply surveying the area for any "familiar faces." one leg is crossed against another, dangling off the edge of the stool, toe of his shoe tapping light sounds against the counter in front of him.

as usual, each and every lock of hair is perfectly in place and he's wearing his tan jacket complete with a drab, striped tie. although he enjoys the tranquility, he can't help but catch the gaze of anyone who walks into this diner. namely, you.

there's a bright, undeniably charismatic smile that appears and he lifts a hand politely up in way of greeting. ]

May I ask you a question?

Comments

1!

[cuteshit]

[It's not unusual for Kanji to wait on customers while Souji or Minato are busy in the kitchen, and the fact that Goro's face is an entirely unfamiliar one catches his attention while he's midway through wiping down the front counter. Curious, he glances in the newcomer's direction every few moments as he finishes up, hanging the towel and drying his hands on the front of his apron once he's done.

Something about this kid reminds him of someone, but he can't exactly put his finger on who or why.

He clears his throat as he heads over, not wanting to startle the guy while he's reading.]

Yo-- new face, huh? Want somethin' to drink?

[jurisdick]

[ goro looks up from the book, eyebrows disappearing under his fringe. he blinks for a few moments, mind still processing the last few words he had read - a dungeon horrible, on all sides round. thin fingers reach up to remove the pencil from his mouth and neatly set it back down in the binding of the book. a smile crosses his lips after, polite and attentive. ]

That would be greatly appreciated, thank you. A cup of coffee will be fine. [ fingers remain pressed down on the page of his book. ] And yes, I just arrived here the other day.

[cuteshit]

Comin' right up-- just put some on a couple minutes ago.

[He might not be as talented a chef as Souji, but he can make a damn good pot of coffee. He rolls his sleeves up as he heads back behind the counter to fill the order, glancing back over his shoulder to where Goro has made himself comfortable.]

How's Wonderland treatin' you so far?

[jurisdick]

I haven't had any complaints.

[ yet. except for the obvious why is this happening, but details! he closes the book fully and sets it aside on the empty stool beside him. ]

How long have you been here, if you don't mind me asking?

[cuteshit]

That's good. First few weeks can be real rough, but sounds like you got here while things were pretty quiet.

[That's lucky. He shakes his head as he carefully fills the mug he'd grabbed a moment before-- he definitely doesn't mind Goro's asking.]

'Bout a year now? Little more than that. I don't remember what day it was when I showed up, but it was definitely spring.

[jurisdick]

[ things were 'quiet.' that doesn't bode well for the rest of his stay. neither does the 'year' thing. ]

I see. [ what else does one say to that? his gaze wanders back to the book, lingering on it for an unnecessarily long time. ]

And has anyone found a way to return?

[cuteshit]

Not on purpose.

[Kanji frowns a little as he heads back over, carefully setting the cup down and sliding it to rest directly in front of Goro, though he's cautious of the book, just in case.]

Sometimes people vanish and go home, but it ain't them that gets to pick when they go. Wonderland does what it feels like. It sucks-- but not everything here has to.

[jurisdick]

So you're making the best of it.

[ it isn't a question. not exactly.

he picks up the coffee with a small thanks, smile returning just as bright as before. ]

-- Ah! That was rude of me. My name is Goro Akechi. It's nice to meet you.

[cuteshit]

As best I can, anyway. Not always easy, but right now, there ain't nothin' I can do about it. Not like Wonderland is gonna let me punch my way out.

[He's tried.

The return of Akechi's smile makes him offer one in return, folding his arms across his broad chest.]

Kanji Tatsumi. Same to you, pal.

[jurisdick]

[ he's like a kinder, buffer version of that annoying ryuji... ]

I'd certainly like to see you try. I imagine it would be quite the sight.

[ it's said in good-fun, a soft chuckle stamping the end of it. ]

[cuteshit]

[He laughs a little, rubbing at the back of his neck.]

I could show you the evidence if Wonderland didn't always fix itself right up. I had a pretty rough first day here.

[jurisdick]

[ do you want to compare notes? ]

I can relate to that.

[cuteshit]

[Shit yes. Kanji frowns a little, his brows knitting together briefly.]

Yeah? You wanna talk about it?

[jurisdick]

[ he feels like he's on one of those annoying segments that airs right before his on daytime television. ]

Ah. [ how does he phrase this? not that any of this is particularly important, so he doesn't mind sharing... ]

It's nothing terrible. Just a bit of a string of inconveniences. It seems this place enjoys messing with time.

[ so to speak ]

[cuteshit]

Sucks, man.

[Eloquent as always. He has a gift.]

Not that any first day in Wonderland is ever great. But I mean. I put a hole through a wall, if that helps any.

[jurisdick]

[ ... a hole in a wall. okay then. he blinks. ]

My - ah - teammates seemed to have forgotten who I am.

[ purposely vague!! ]

[cuteshit]

Shit.

[Not language he should be using in front of customers, but you know. Nobody's actually paying him.]

Seriously?

[He exhales, rubbing at the back of his neck again.]

Cold. Think if that happened to me, I'd be smilin' a hell of a lot less than you are. Do they know anything about you at all? Remember your name, at least?

[jurisdick]

[ although he's never actually cared about sympathy, getting sympathy points has always been a good strategy to play. using the least amount of information to appeal to someone's humanity. ]

They remember who I am. Just not that we've worked together.

[ ... a sip of coffee. ]

[cuteshit]

That's something, at least.

[He grimaces. Doesn't make the rest of it suck any less, though.]

Sometimes people go back home and then come back after a few days-- then they end up remembering stuff they hadn't experienced before.

[jurisdick]

How odd.

[ he frowns. that doesn't sound good at all. there's almost a strategic advantage to having the most "complete" memories. he isn't sure what benefit that could bring him yet, but... know thy enemy? ]

Has that happened to you?

[cuteshit]

[He shakes his head.]

Nope. Don't think it's happened to my senpai, either, but I've seen it happen to other people. Some of 'em remember a few weeks' worth of new stuff, or for others it's months. Doesn't happen all the time, but it does happen.

[jurisdick]

So it's seemingly random.

[ he shakes his head. ]

Then I hope it doesn't happen to you in the future. That sounds rather unpleasant.

[cuteshit]

I think it's be hard to deal with all that new information floodin' into your head at once, yeah. You forget Wonderland while you're gone, but when you get back, it's all jumbled together.

[Sounds like a shitshow to him.]

When I go back, I want it to be for good.

ok dw why did you freeze that -

[jurisdick]

Who's to say that you come back at all?

[ if that was the case, then wouldn't it all be in vain? still, he feels like this conversation is a circle that has a lot of unanswered questions - ]

Though I suppose this is all conjecture.

DW HAS ITS REASONS apparently.

[cuteshit]

I mean, not everyone does come back, but I've seen it happen plenty. There's no tellin' what's gonna happen for you. Maybe that's the worst part. Not knowin' how long you're here for, or if you'll get to go back, or if you do go back that you'll even get to stay.

[He frowns. Thinking about it is kind of giving him a headache, honestly.]

Yeah, it's all just conj-- can-- it's all just possibilities.