exsiliumlogs | New roommates

Entry tags:

New roommates

Date & Time: Shortly after Mikado's arrival
Location: Unit 210
Characters: Takegami Teijirou (

onemoredeath) and Ryugamine Mikado (

digitalemperor)
Summary: Mikado gets assigned to his house! He wants to meet his roomie!
Warnings: Two crazy Japanese guys ~~walk into a bar~~?

---

The whole time-traveling situation would seem more like a dream if Mikado hadn't experienced it before. Being pulled from Ikebukuro to the Victorian era, and then from there to this strange, science fiction future... Mikado almost felt like it wasn't even shocking. It was definitely a huge adjustment, to get used to modern--no, future--technology, smells, noises... All over again. But it was a huge relief too. For one, the weapon he'd chosen--if you could call a pencil bag of school supplies a weapon--was it really sentient and evolving? It seemed pretty normal! But even more importantly, more normal and more wonderful was the netbook.

Oh how he had missed the internet. And online chat. It was a little sad that he wouldn't have the people from back home to chat with... And he already missed those friends he'd made in London. Actually, if anything, despite the slight giddiness at having the internet again, Mikado felt... Lonely. And lost. And alone. Kida had been in London when Mikado had arrived, just as Kida had been in Ikebukuro when Mikado moved to the big city... But now he was alone. He had to figure his way around without his best friend. And despite everything... That was... A little scary.

He hoped the people here were nice. That he could get along with them. That he and the other transports could also get along... Well. Adapting was what he hoped he could do again. He'd managed it in two extreme circumstances so far, a third ridiculous circumstance was nothing new, right?

He just hoped he got a nice roommate. He had the name (it seemed his roommate was Japanese, which was a relief in a way), and the address and key. So when he let himself into the unit, he announced himself by calling out.

"Um! Hello! I'm very sorry for intruding! I've been assigned here so, um, if you're home..." He slipped his shoes off at the entrance and stepped awkwardly into the house, clutching the strap of his bag nervously.

"Good evening..."

It felt so strange to intrude where someone else was living like this, even if he was supposed to live here too.

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It's a sort of gloomy house on the inside. Takegami's eyes were always a little sensitive to the light, so much so that even as a kid, he wasn't too fond of spending so much time int he sun. As he grew older, he wore glasses to counteract the overly brightness, but that was something he hadn't gotten around to getting here. So he just took out half of the lights in the house, making a much more pale glow with the few that were left.

As was usual when he wasn't out exploring the city or trying to regain the tone and strength that prison had taken from him, he was on the couch in loose sweats and a tee shirt, searching through the tablet and making notes on a thick pad of paper. There was so much to learn about this time and place. So much to figure out.

When the door clicked open he tensed but did not move from his sport. He had his weapon on him, the rings feeling just like a part of his fingers, and he knew that it was unlikely he would end up in this place alone. He had hoped, but ah well...

"The room on the far left has already been claimed," he said, and tapped the window he had been studying closed. He glanced up, blue eyes narrowing at the young man that was in the doorway.

"You're younger than I expected."

Gloom didn't bother Mikado too much, considering his habit of spending long nights in dark rooms on the internet. Not a net addict or anything, no... He started a little at the other's voice, clutching his bag tighter on reflex as his eyes adjusted and he looked at the man. If Mikado was pale, scrawny, and looked like a middle-schooler, not a seventeen year old, than Teijirou was a little surprising to him as well. Mikado wasn't sure what he'd been expecting, but it was a bit of a relief that the person looked pretty normal and not scary. He wasn't sure what he would have done if he'd been assigned with some strange, imposing person...

He lifted a hand to stratch the back of his neck and smiled awkwardly, stepping further into the room and opening up just a little, trying to be friendly but still inherently awkward.

"Ah, okay." So he could pick one of the other two rooms. He'd do that in a minute. It was only polite to introduce himself. He didn't know how to react to being called young looking--he got that a lot (along with comments on his name) so he just moved along with the general polite route.

"You're Takegami-san, right? I'm Ryugamine Mikado, it's very nice to meet you!" And he bowed, polite and formal and well-mannered. "I'm sorry to have to intrude. I hope we'll get along."

A little older than his original guess. Takegami set tablet and pen aside and stood up. He wasn't huge or bulky, but he was still taller than average for a Japanese man, and he was light on his feet even when wearing shoes. Barefooted, he barely made a sound as he crossed the room. He studied him for a moment or two, hands shoved in his pockets.

"So formal..."

Had he ever been that way? Formal? Maybe before second year, but not after. He had decided to be nice after that year of school.

A smile, a little showing of teeth that were a little whiter than normal, he stuck out his right hand in a very American fashion.

"Takegami Teijirou at your service, Mikado-kun."

Mikado was used to being shorter than everyone. He wasn't tiny but... Well, he still had one growth spurt to look forward to. He really hoped at least. He didn't want to be stuck this short all his life, even if he was used to it.

The whiteness of Teijirou's teeth struck him--like a movie star or some singer. A random detail noted with everything else, but not paid attention too so much. He smiled, awkward but also relieved that the man seemed really rather nice. He relaxed a bit, and let go of the strap of his bag, which he'd been clutching rather tightly, to take Teijirou's hand.

His handshake was firm, that's how you were supposed to do it right?, but also rather awkward, a little too brief and fumbling, because he wasn't used to that sort of greeting.

"Eh... S-sorry, Takegami-san." It really was a relief to have someone so normal and nice seeming. Well, not that Mikado minded unusual, either, but... He was glad his roommate seemed like such a nice guy.

He should ask about house rules first, right? So that way he wouldn't make any mistakes.

"Are there any house rules I should know? I'll do my best not to be an imposition." Still too formal, but given time he'd learn to relax.

"It's fine. I'm just used to living among Americans," he replied, waving away the apology.

In prison, no one would have allowed him to come close enough to shake hands with him, let alone let him walk around free. Even during the pre-trial, they had kept him chained like he was some sort of dangerous criminal. Well, he was, but all they had to do was request him to behave politely instead of use chains. It was half the reason why he kept on trying to bite people.

The other half was because it had been amusing to watch them jump.

"House rules..."

He glanced around the place, the rather unremarkable furniture and the standard set up of all the other cottages in this place and then looked back at the teen. He didn't want to be an imposition? What a polite child indeed. He knew there was more to him besides how he was acting now, but it wasn't important yet.

"I prefer it a little darker than normal, as you can tell. So keep it dim in the main area, okay? I also don't eat red meat or heavily processed foods. If you want to keep your own mini-fridge of snacks, go right ahead. I also like alcohol so if you want any, just ask me before taking some."

There was something else, right? He chewed on the flesh of his index finger for a moment, then snapped his fingers.

"I don't sleep much so don't be too jumpy when you hear someone moving around out here in the middle of the night. I might just be me trying to find something to do."

"Ah... You lived in America?" Maybe that was why the white teeth? But Mikado was interested. He'd never really traveled much, even within Japan. Maybe he could bother his new roommate for stories some time... It sounded cool!

Oblivious to Teijirou's inner musings, he nodded, attentively noting each point. Low light, special food rules, and probably up at all hours. As things went, that was a little eccentric but not too bad at all. It could really be much worse and he smiled brightly in response.

"Okay! Um, I'll keep all that in mind. I w-won't get into your alcohol either!" Very sincere. Mikado's vices were internet addiction and power-tripping; aside from being a gang leader he was a rather remarkably straight-laced teenager.

"I can sometimes be up late too... So I won't mind. Um! Do you have any problems with visitors...?"

"I decided to become a ronin instead of going to college and settling down as another office worker."

Well that was a very simple explanation as to why he went traveling instead of staying in Japan. He always wondered how people could live such normal lives. Didn't they find it so boring? Or was that just another part of the switch they had that he never could find in himself?

He laughed at Mikado's insistence of not touching the alcohol. This kid was proving to be interesting with the mix of such bright eagerness and the underlying strength he can sense.

"Just tell me that they are coming before hand."

To Mikado that sounded exciting, brave and interesting. To decide on that kind of life instead of the expected, normal progression of get a job or go to college... It was really cool!

"What was America like?" Because traveling was something Mikado was so inexperienced at, the idea was just plain interesting. It was strange and alarming enough moving from the countryside to the city, but moving to a whole new country... It was obvious Mikado already held some admiration for Teijirou's life choices.

"Ah, of course. I'll let you know if I plan to bring someone over. Um... What about meals and chores? I don't mind cooking but you have special diet requirements, so... If there's a menu I need to follow..."

Edited 2012-02-19 02:59 (UTC)

"Huge. There is so much to see there, so many different people from state to state, that I felt like I could never see everything."

He had to go back to Japan. It wasn't that he didn't like America, it was just there was simply too many people and not enough time. That a few FBI agents were starting to notice the higher kill rate in certain areas. Some people...

"You don't have to cook me anything. How about I cook the meals and you handle the clean up. Would that be okay? We can rotate the other chores."

"Ah... Okay!" That kind of break down of chores, meals and clean up is fine with Mikado. He shifts on his feet, to get a better angle of looking up at Teijirou. Really, being short sucks...

"That sounds really amazing. I've never really traveled much so... Was it, um, hard? To get used to living in a foreign country?" He has about a million questions he wants to ask but he doesn't want to pester his new roommate. That would be so rude! But he's also really curious. He's inquisitive by nature, and getting to know the person he's going to live with definitely has his interest.

"Um... Not to pry! I guess, I just would like to know more about you, Takegami-san. You sound like you've lived a really interesting life."

Maybe he will grow up a little more. Takegami had been a gawky kid until his frame filled out. Of course, he had worked on it, picking up a few things here and there. It just took a little bit of time to figure out things, that's all.

"Not really. You just have to remember that no matter where you go, people will always be people," he replied,. This kid... He ran a hand through his hair,smiling a little at the questions. There was nothing wrong with curiosity, but from the way Mikado was acting, he never really gone beyond the borders of Japan save through the internet.

"It's okay, just don't get too carried away. You got to save up some questions for tomorrow, right?"

Mikado smiled, sheepish and embarrassed, stammering a little in apology. "Ah... S-sorry. I didn't mean to ask so many questions..." Well he did have plenty, but he was being a nuisance, right? Teijirou's teasing was completely successful, and Mikado rubbed the back of his neck, looking away awkwardly.

"I just think it's really interesting. I guess in comparison to being brought to the future that seems weird..." He glanced down, hesited, than looked back up at Teijirou tilting his head with open curiosity.

"I guess it's really... A lot... So you don't have to answer!" He raised his hands to illustrate that he didn't expect Teijirou to say more than he was comfortable with, a sort of flustered gesture. "But... What do you make of... Um, all this?"

"How else are you going to learn?" He shrugged. It wasn't bothering him, not like other questions. Questions about why he decided to eat people, why he decided to kill people, who was he really. Those kind of questions were just plain rude. No, what Mikado was asking was normal. Nothing to get upset about at all.

Takegami tilted his head to the side, watching the teen as he talked. Cataloging, assessing, filing. It was a strange quirk, true, but his mind often worked that way. It was how he decided to like a person or not.

"I'll answer what I can," he said, nodding to himself. It might prove to be interesting, and keep things from getting boring.

"As for this... Well, it is a new adventure. For the rest, I will just have to wait and see, right?"

Mikado was not above asking the rude question, but as far as he knew there was no reason to ask those, after all. He wanted to get along with his new roommate, he wanted to treat this new adventure... differently than the last one. He wanted things not to end up so violent. It'd be nice to have normal relationships with people. Here was a good place to start.

"Ah, well I guess I'm really interested in your travel stories..." But the real issue right now was time travel, right? They were in a really weird situation. Much as Mikado wanted normal, he couldn't suppress the part of himself that thrilled at the abnormal. This whole situation was out of some kind of science fiction novel.

"I guess you're right about that though. They don't seem so bad here, at least."

Takegami couldn't say that he wanted to be liked by whoever he was rooming with. As far as he could tell, it would be less annoying to just be nice to the other people instead of cultivate a grudge with them - unless it was someone of a pesky nature like the FBI or the police. Those people he would gladly snap at just for their rather narrow focus.

Maybe that was just him being a brat thinking that way.

"I've been all over the world, so if you want stories... I don't think I would run out of them."

He could feel the rings on his fingers, the absolute certainty that they wouldn't have just plucked him from his time without first knowing exactly what he was capable of. The way they had just ignored the bindings he had on at the time stuck in his mind the most, as did the grin on their face when he picked out the ring set from all those weapons.

"No, they don't seem bad at all."

Roommate being a creeper? Mikado, as always, was oblivious. Besides, Teijirou was being really patient and even offering to share stories of his travels. Mikado relaxed more, at ease. Instead of freaking out over the strange situation, he seemed more curious about all of it. Probably not the most normal reaction for a regular kid, but not an extremely odd one. His degree of nervousness and politeness wasn't feigned either.

"I'd love to hear your stories as we get to know each other, Takegami-san." Also sincere. He was genuinely interested, after all.

He rubbed the back of his neck, not aware at all of Teijirou's musing on his memories.

"Though... Probably taking us out of time could be considered... Sinister. That they're already set up and equipped for all this has to mean it's been planned out for a while, right? So... Without even asking permission, I'm not sure I can agree with their methods, either..." Random thoughts about it, now that the just-arrived daze was wearing off a bit.

"They're creating an army. Do you think that they would not be prepared for one?"

But the idea of being able to pluck an army from various times and places, that was strange. It certainly wasn't exactly normal but he had heard of something called 'press ganged' during his wanderings. A kind of old term for forcing a person into service.

He took a seat on the arm of the couch, shrugging a little and somehow making it look like he was posing for a moment, but that could have been the lighting. It really was rather dim in the room, just perfect for studying computer screens all night long.

"It's some what common in times of trouble. Besides, if they are the losing side of this conflict and they can pull us from our times and worlds, what does that make the winning side like?"

"If they're so prepared, I have to wonder about the people they're recruiting." Not to rag on himself, but scrawny, pale, geeky high schoolers are not usually what come to mind when you think elite forces. Unless the future was a very strange place indeed.

And unless his new roommate was secretly a ninja... Well, he wouldn't insult Teijirou! But the guy didn't look like he took on rebel causes--unless it was rebel fashion shows. Because, wow, way to pose artfully Teijirou.

"When you put it like that I really don't want to think about it." He walked over to join Teijirou on the couch, sitting properly on the other side from the man, though he slumped a bit to let his elbows rest on his knees, chin in hands. "It's all really strange to begin with. If this is the losing side, the winning side isn't paying attention, or doesn't find us a threat, or this side is stronger than they seem..." He frowned, than ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. It was speculation. Nothing more. Nothing could be gained by it without real information in the first place.

"There would have to be a reason..."

Let's face it - Teijirou was a serial killer with a taste for human flesh. Mikado was a geek. What exactly would their captors need people with such a bizarre set of skills for an army? But if he thought about it a little more.

"I can read people, you can probably do more than look up information using a search engine. There are people who are doctors, people who can cast spells, people who are not even human, and more. There must be a pattern in all of us. Something they need in order to make their little rebellion stick."

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