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[Good morning, Nanami. Gojo could have easily let himself in, but instead will getting a knock on his hotel door a little early in the morning. Guess who was having trouble sleeping.]
[ Fortunately, Nanami is awake. Unfortunately, he hasn't dressed for the day. With swiftness usually reserved for combat, Nanami changes to his trousers and shirt. He pulls the suspender straps on and heads for the door, grabbing his tie.
He offered to be here for people. That means they come at inconvenient times. He opens the door to Gojo, only mildly surprised because Gojo knocked. ] Good morning.
[ He doesn't really want to create a norm of Gojo in his living quarters, but once he gets an apartment, perhaps he can limit Gojo to the living room. ] Come in.
He offered to be here for people. That means they come at inconvenient times. He opens the door to Gojo, only mildly surprised because Gojo knocked. ] Good morning.
[ He doesn't really want to create a norm of Gojo in his living quarters, but once he gets an apartment, perhaps he can limit Gojo to the living room. ] Come in.
[He doesn't say anything at first, just giving him a lazy wave in greeting before coming in. He'll flop down on the same chair as before.]
Hey. So.
[He looks tired, but it's definitely more emotional than physical. He rubs his eyes under his glasses.
Gojo also assumes Nanami knows why he's here, as Geto has told him the two had met.]
You said we could talk. So, let's talk.
Hey. So.
[He looks tired, but it's definitely more emotional than physical. He rubs his eyes under his glasses.
Gojo also assumes Nanami knows why he's here, as Geto has told him the two had met.]
You said we could talk. So, let's talk.
[ Nanami ties his tie, buttons down his collar, and feels more like himself for it. He pulls over the other chair, takes out his spoon, and summons a small plate of pastries. He knows Gojo prefers sweets. ]
Geto is here now, and he's from a year before you are.
[ The facts. ]
Geto is here now, and he's from a year before you are.
[ The facts. ]
[Leave it to Nanami to put it all together already. That idea gives Gojo a faint smile for a moment.
He nods, clearly still uncomfortable with the idea of talking. It was an exhausting day yesterday thanks to talking, and today was shaping up to be more of the same.]
Exactly. He knows that too, but he doesn't know what happened in all that time. I didn't tell him. I honestly don't know if I should or not.
[Having him here was hard enough. But he's already practically moved in to Gojo's apartment already.]
I am glad he's here. Seriously. Anything is better than where he was. But...
[He sighs, hesitating, looking anywhere but at Nanami.]
It's all I can think about any time I even may my eyes on him. Any time he opens his mouth. This is all so-- unreal.
He nods, clearly still uncomfortable with the idea of talking. It was an exhausting day yesterday thanks to talking, and today was shaping up to be more of the same.]
Exactly. He knows that too, but he doesn't know what happened in all that time. I didn't tell him. I honestly don't know if I should or not.
[Having him here was hard enough. But he's already practically moved in to Gojo's apartment already.]
I am glad he's here. Seriously. Anything is better than where he was. But...
[He sighs, hesitating, looking anywhere but at Nanami.]
It's all I can think about any time I even may my eyes on him. Any time he opens his mouth. This is all so-- unreal.
[ That makes both Nanami and Gojo not sharing that biggest news of Gojo and Geto's school years. It's only the beginning. Nanami knows more, but it's a massive secret for Gojo. Nanami understands that. ]
There's a decade worth of stuff I'm not telling you. I don't think it would be good for you to know about the future. Inumaki has told you a few things, I know, but it sounded like he wasn't giving you details either.
[ He hasn't had coffee yet. ]
Is that all right with you?
There's a decade worth of stuff I'm not telling you. I don't think it would be good for you to know about the future. Inumaki has told you a few things, I know, but it sounded like he wasn't giving you details either.
[ He hasn't had coffee yet. ]
Is that all right with you?
[He hadn't considered that, not fully.]
No, he hadn't. Maybe no news is good news. I just...
[He shifts a little, feeling weird talking about this with an adult, even if it is Nanami.]
He's stayed with me last night. Probably gonna room with me too. [Yes. "Room".] I don't know if I am ever going to not be able to think about it.
I tried to say something, but he said you explained and that I had nothing to be sorry about. Wouldn't let me finish. I don't know what all you told him. Whatever it was, maybe that was enough.
No, he hadn't. Maybe no news is good news. I just...
[He shifts a little, feeling weird talking about this with an adult, even if it is Nanami.]
He's stayed with me last night. Probably gonna room with me too. [Yes. "Room".] I don't know if I am ever going to not be able to think about it.
I tried to say something, but he said you explained and that I had nothing to be sorry about. Wouldn't let me finish. I don't know what all you told him. Whatever it was, maybe that was enough.
[ That certainly moved fast. Nanami isn't surprised given they're now living somewhere where Geto and Gojo can choose to do that. Of course, Geto does. That also means everyone is in Satori Hills, in Epiphany. He should probably find a place there.
On a floor none of the teenagers live on. ]
I told him that you two were split up to run missions independently after the point in time he comes from, that it was rough, and that he didn't handle it well.
[ Nanami really wishes he had that coffee. ]
I also told him about Haibara's death, my departure, and that I came back.
[ Nanami sighs. ]
I didn't tell him about his departure or what he did when he left.
[ He nudges the plate of pastries toward Gojo. ] Whether that's enough for him is for Geto to decide.
Do you want to know more about your future? How do you know when enough is enough? How do you decide not to go too far?
On a floor none of the teenagers live on. ]
I told him that you two were split up to run missions independently after the point in time he comes from, that it was rough, and that he didn't handle it well.
[ Nanami really wishes he had that coffee. ]
I also told him about Haibara's death, my departure, and that I came back.
[ Nanami sighs. ]
I didn't tell him about his departure or what he did when he left.
[ He nudges the plate of pastries toward Gojo. ] Whether that's enough for him is for Geto to decide.
Do you want to know more about your future? How do you know when enough is enough? How do you decide not to go too far?
[Gojo takes this all in, expression flat, nodding slowly. That makes sense with some things Geto has said. But knowing what Geto had just gone through, he didn't want to press him too much.
He takes a danish off the plate and picks a couple pieces off of it to nibble on. He's hungry, but doesn't really feel like eating. What a strange feeling.]
That's what I can't figure out. At what point does knowing what happens will only make things worse.
[Inumaki's remark of Gojo being "out of commission" in the future still haunts him. He decided not to press further on it.
All of this happened so fast, which is a large part of the problem.
Gojo continues to avoid eye contact, his mouth pressed to a thin line as he considers whether or not to continue.]
...I accepted Thirteen's offer to come here to get away from him. Now he's here, he's in my apartment, and he has no fucking idea what I know.
He takes a danish off the plate and picks a couple pieces off of it to nibble on. He's hungry, but doesn't really feel like eating. What a strange feeling.]
That's what I can't figure out. At what point does knowing what happens will only make things worse.
[Inumaki's remark of Gojo being "out of commission" in the future still haunts him. He decided not to press further on it.
All of this happened so fast, which is a large part of the problem.
Gojo continues to avoid eye contact, his mouth pressed to a thin line as he considers whether or not to continue.]
...I accepted Thirteen's offer to come here to get away from him. Now he's here, he's in my apartment, and he has no fucking idea what I know.
[ None of them exactly have the answer to that. If Gojo were older, if he were starting to teach or even a little before that, Nanami might tell him about Geto's death and properly handling the body so Gojo didn't get sealed at Shibuya and a terrible night get a lot worse. Gojo's too young to handle the fact that Geto of all people will die in a decade. That Nanami will die too.
However, what affects Gojo will affect Geto. Whether he learns the specifics or not, it affects everything Gojo does. It's huge in a way Shibuya isn't. Because Nanami can keep his shit together. He needs to talk with Inumaki, Okkatsu, and Maki now that Geto's here. ]
I wondered if that was why you came. [ A sigh. It definitely needs to be dealt with. ]
You can still tell him you two had a fight, that you both had issues and didn't talk about them until it exploded. If he wants to know the details, [ Nanami rubs his forehead, his eyes and the yellow of his tie turning a flat gray ] I'd recommend you talk about them when you're not talking about what caused the fight or... I can talk with him. If that's easier for the two of you.
The point is, like you said, you're thinking about it every time you see him, and that doesn't help deal with the issues. I don't want that for you. Geto wouldn't, if he knew. The specifics are what they are. The unresolved issues are the problem. What led to Geto leaving the way he did.
However, what affects Gojo will affect Geto. Whether he learns the specifics or not, it affects everything Gojo does. It's huge in a way Shibuya isn't. Because Nanami can keep his shit together. He needs to talk with Inumaki, Okkatsu, and Maki now that Geto's here. ]
I wondered if that was why you came. [ A sigh. It definitely needs to be dealt with. ]
You can still tell him you two had a fight, that you both had issues and didn't talk about them until it exploded. If he wants to know the details, [ Nanami rubs his forehead, his eyes and the yellow of his tie turning a flat gray ] I'd recommend you talk about them when you're not talking about what caused the fight or... I can talk with him. If that's easier for the two of you.
The point is, like you said, you're thinking about it every time you see him, and that doesn't help deal with the issues. I don't want that for you. Geto wouldn't, if he knew. The specifics are what they are. The unresolved issues are the problem. What led to Geto leaving the way he did.
[Nanami being here really just complicates things, just another thing he's going to have to talk about at some point. One thing at a time.
With the way that Gojo shifts uncomfortably in his seat is how Nanami knows he's saying the right things that Gojo doesn't want to hear. Those last two sentences hit especially hard.]
I don't like the idea of someone else doing my dirty work. I dunno. Maybe it'll have a different effect coming from someone else.
[He rubs at the tension in his forehead, partly an excuse to cover his eyes. His voice is practically a whisper when he speaks up again.]
I can't... If he leaves again...
With the way that Gojo shifts uncomfortably in his seat is how Nanami knows he's saying the right things that Gojo doesn't want to hear. Those last two sentences hit especially hard.]
I don't like the idea of someone else doing my dirty work. I dunno. Maybe it'll have a different effect coming from someone else.
[He rubs at the tension in his forehead, partly an excuse to cover his eyes. His voice is practically a whisper when he speaks up again.]
I can't... If he leaves again...
[ Nanami doesn't want to send Gojo scurrying off again, but the facts are the facts. He takes the fact Gojo came here and stays here this long as a good sign. Gojo wants things to go well with Geto. It's simply not going to be easy, in the long run, because they're people. They have issues, and avoidance only makes it worse. ]
Gojo, you should talk with Geto about it. Now is the best time. He thought you were dead when he came here, and look at you! [ Nanami motions to the very much alive Gojo. ] He knows you live back home. He knows you're here, and he cannot cope with losing you.
If you talk with him, Geto will stay. If you don't talk to him, you risk losing him again. [ Sugaru, do not let him down. ]
I'll talk groundwork with him about the future if you want. It's not just your dirty work. I have another decade on you, and it's a conversation I want to have with both of you. I can't talk with him for you though. That one's on you.
Gojo, you should talk with Geto about it. Now is the best time. He thought you were dead when he came here, and look at you! [ Nanami motions to the very much alive Gojo. ] He knows you live back home. He knows you're here, and he cannot cope with losing you.
If you talk with him, Geto will stay. If you don't talk to him, you risk losing him again. [ Sugaru, do not let him down. ]
I'll talk groundwork with him about the future if you want. It's not just your dirty work. I have another decade on you, and it's a conversation I want to have with both of you. I can't talk with him for you though. That one's on you.
[Gojo looks up at Nanami, wide-eyed through all that, especially after "he cannot cope with losing you". A real wake up call.
His lips quiver slightly, emotion starting to creep in around the edges despite his attempts to hold it all back. His voice is still quiet.]
Okay. I'll talk to him. Today.
His lips quiver slightly, emotion starting to creep in around the edges despite his attempts to hold it all back. His voice is still quiet.]
Okay. I'll talk to him. Today.
[ Gojo never saw Geto when he was on his missions. He didn't see what he was like when Gojo wasn't around. He also, thankfully, was not the first one to meet Geto and to see him as low as he was. Unresponsive until Nanami touched him.
He's just a kid. They're both just teenagers. Nanami does the same thing for Gojo as he did for Geto. He reaches out and squeezes Gojo's shoulder. As he's not a hugger, the act would be worse for the attention it draws for being out of character than the benefits a hug would provide. ]
Harder than fighting a cursed spirit, I know.
[ Nanami sighs. ]
I'm really glad you get another chance with him here. I'm glad one of us gets it. [ He means Haibara, for himself. ]
He's just a kid. They're both just teenagers. Nanami does the same thing for Gojo as he did for Geto. He reaches out and squeezes Gojo's shoulder. As he's not a hugger, the act would be worse for the attention it draws for being out of character than the benefits a hug would provide. ]
Harder than fighting a cursed spirit, I know.
[ Nanami sighs. ]
I'm really glad you get another chance with him here. I'm glad one of us gets it. [ He means Haibara, for himself. ]
[This is all too much. He listens to Nanami, still looking rattled, but the hand on his shoulder is what finally breaks him. His breath hitches when it reaches him, and Nanami's last line is like getting stabbed in the gut.
He can't bring himself to say anything. He can't dare to. With eyes locked on Nanami, just for a moment, Gojo puts a hand over the one on his shoulder. Then, without another word, he vanishes.]
He can't bring himself to say anything. He can't dare to. With eyes locked on Nanami, just for a moment, Gojo puts a hand over the one on his shoulder. Then, without another word, he vanishes.]
[ Nanami accepts the comfort in return. Haibara keeps coming up with them. He'd approve. Haibara would be glad he could help Geto and Gojo in any way. That doesn't make it easier. ]
At least we talked this time. That was good.
[ Now it's really time for breakfast. ]
At least we talked this time. That was good.
[ Now it's really time for breakfast. ]
Are you busy?
In person? Where are you?
Edited 2023-12-30 06:43 (UTC)
Satoru's apartment building. Stairwell. I left her in Satoru's apartment alone because I couldn't think.
Broke a teacup too.
Broke a teacup too.
[ Fuck it, he's moving to Epiphany. ] I'll be there soon. I was in the area. [ Who is in Gojo's apartment? ]
[ He jogs. It's faster than a walk but not as alarming as a full blown run. He'd been at the cafe Inumaki took him to his first day in Folkmore, so it isn't that far.
Nanami reaches the apartment building, goes to the stairs, and finds Geto fairly quickly. The kid isn't that far up the stairwell. He crouches before the teenager, leaving some space between them. ] I'm here.
[ He jogs. It's faster than a walk but not as alarming as a full blown run. He'd been at the cafe Inumaki took him to his first day in Folkmore, so it isn't that far.
Nanami reaches the apartment building, goes to the stairs, and finds Geto fairly quickly. The kid isn't that far up the stairwell. He crouches before the teenager, leaving some space between them. ] I'm here.
Can you check on the kid in 208? She might have left. [He can't go back in there yet, but he knows it probably upset her.]
[ Again, who? Nanami is concerned for Geto, who clearly isn't okay. Geto, however, asks him to check on someone else. ] Okay. I'll be back... shortly.
[ The kid, someone he's never seen before, is still in the apartment. Not okay, though she puts up a good face. One hug later, Nanami is back out of the apartment and finds Geto again. ] She's still there. She's not physically harmed. ... What the fuck happened?
You're not okay either. [ She wanted him to take care of Geto. Everyone cares and looks like shit. ]
[ The kid, someone he's never seen before, is still in the apartment. Not okay, though she puts up a good face. One hug later, Nanami is back out of the apartment and finds Geto again. ] She's still there. She's not physically harmed. ... What the fuck happened?
You're not okay either. [ She wanted him to take care of Geto. Everyone cares and looks like shit. ]
[At least he didn't freak her out too much. Suguru takes a slow shaky breath, his unwrapped hand clenching and unclenching. ] She was making rice balls, I figured it'd keep her busy till he got back and then she was asking questions about Satoru and the school.
I was explaining why Satoru and I were friends and- [ Nails dig into his palm.] I broke the cup when she started asking about my feelings about Shoko and telling me I was in love with Satoru. I told her it was none of her business and she just kept talking.
And I couldn't be in there. I can't...
I was explaining why Satoru and I were friends and- [ Nails dig into his palm.] I broke the cup when she started asking about my feelings about Shoko and telling me I was in love with Satoru. I told her it was none of her business and she just kept talking.
And I couldn't be in there. I can't...
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