redjacketthief | 1st Turn: [Accidental Voice/Action]

[That book--that damn book! Lupin drops onto his knees before it, swearing that he heard a very familar voice coming from it.]

I've gotta be a madman for even thinking this...

[Clearly being alone for a day without the benefits of civilization had gotten to him. He could do fine withouth electricity, without TV, but being without people was a different story. He liked to talk, and talking to himself wasn't nearly as fun or interesting as talking with someone else. Even a certain taciturn ronin, whose silences had long since become more comfortable instead of awkward.

He flips it over, tentatively, as if it were electrified and the slightest touch would send a jolt through his nerves.]

Is that you, Goemon?

Mn. [A calm murmur tinged with grimness.]

…So you are here too. [He remarks musingly after a moment, considering how he feels about this new development. On one hand, he is admittedly a little thrilled – or as thrilled as a phlegmatic-faced samurai will let on, at least – for with Lupin’s arrival came the answer to his burgeoning restlessness; or so it seemed. Barring the occasional bizarre and/or chaotic shifts the Malnosso introduced, life in Luceti was a little too slow and sedate for him, if such a thing were possible. Finding respite from the helter-skelter nature of his profession back home and the tedium of cutting worthless objects and chasing after meaningless rocks had been pleasant... But after months of being unable to travel beyond the barrier, after months of seeking to apply the skills he honed through his training in a challenging, worthwhile endeavour not unlike 'old times', peace began to wear on him. It was his intention to eventually settle down when he had had his fill of larceny and daring trials, but for now, he feels that there was still much left to explore and to do and to learn, and from Lupin himself. There is so much more life to be lived while the fiery blood of twelve generations of Ishikawa Goemons flows through his veins.

But, on the other hand, Lupin's appearance means that he was now in Malnosso captivity like the rest of them, and soon to be subjected to their cruel whims.]

Ah! Goemon! It IS you!!

[There was no mistaking that solemn tone, the ability to induce such meaning from so few words. Lupin III, grinning widely, pulled that damn book into a bear hug.

Even a silence with presence was better than silence characterized by emptiness.]

Oh my God, Goemon, you wouldn't believe how happy I am to hear you right now. I don't know how this thing works, or if I've really gone off the deep end, or if I really did drink too much tequila last night, but my GOD have I missed you!

[If the man were standing before him, he would have leapt on his friend in an overjoyed tackle. And hugged him, regardless of any complaint that would have come.

Instead, he held the book out before him in outstretched arms, and started pacing as he spoke. Lupin realized he probably looked like a madman. He didn't care.]

Goemon...Goemon. Where's the nearest road? And people? I'm pretty cold here, I lost my hand made Italian leather shoes--they had soft soles, for sneaking, so I'm pretty pissed about that-- and I don't have my jacket. I don't feel right with out it.

And Goemon. Do you know anything about any itty bitty annoying wings?

[Goemon’s eyebrows lift slightly at being so enthusiastically received; it rouses in his mind the image of a man marooned on an island, and how he might respond after being isolated from human contact for a long stretch of time.

It was difficult being thrust into a foreign environment, and in a situation that seemed all but logical.]

All who arrive here find themselves with wings. [He explains, patiently.] The pain will pass in a few days’ time. However, I suggest that you are careful with them for they are now a part of you, and are deeply connected with your overall well-being. A man can be killed if he sustains a grave enough injury to his wings.

[As for locating Lupin...] If you cannot see a path, I suspect you are in the woods. I will look for you.

[Lupin took a deep breath and forced his thoughts to slow as he listened to that calm, patient voice explaining the situation. The words were absurd, but Lupin knew that Goemon was always an honest man.]

Those words sound crazy, Goemon, but I trust you. A nasty hangover makes more sense, but even the worst one never made me feel like I was hit by a truck. At least, I feel better now than I did earlier...

Hey. I've been walking north for a while. [Lupin paused, trying to orient himself. He figured he should provide a little help to Goemon, even if it wouldn't be all that useful.] At least, I think I've been walking north. It's hard to say with all these trees...

[Promptly rising to his feet with his journal open in his hands, he answers:] You may be nearing the village. Stay where you are; I will call for you. [He discreetly takes a deep breath before pressing on, firmly and composedly; only those more familiar with Goemon's manner would likely perceive the faint undercurrent of concern and urgency in his voice.] But if you do not see me soon, I would advise you to continue onward and attempt to contact others using your journal.

[He wouldn’t exactly like a shoeless, jacket-less Lupin to be in the cold longer than he should be.] I will be leaving now. [With a nod of finality, he snaps the book shut and heads out.

Hey, wait-don't go away!!

[There was a note of panic in his voice. After being alone for long enough to get over a nasty hangover, Lupin didn't want the first shred of something that made sense all day to vanish. He started to pace again in his unease, never leaving the general vicinity.]

Goemon. Hey, Goemon! Don't just up and leave right now, this is a really, really bad time to do that. I thought you had a pretty spiffy phone anyway, can't you just use that instead of this laptop-book-thing?

[He impatiently ran a hand through his mussed hair, at least trying to get it into something that resembled normal. It didn't help.]

Hey, GOEMOOOONNN!!

[Alas, none of his companion’s distressed chattering reaches his ears. Goemon moves briskly and purposefully through the dense forest, his body angled low against the wind and the air raw and knifing into his lungs with every breath. There is a lot of ground to cover in a short span of time… but hopefully, fortune will be on his side.]

Lupin! [He shouts mid-stride - his breath pluming silver – and continues to feel for a human presence within his radius of awareness.]

Edited 2011-11-12 21:35 (UTC)

[Lupin, for his part, isn't as focused or dedicated as his comrade-in-arms. Instead of straining those ears for a hint of a familiar voice on the cold wind, he's still entirely focused on the bizaare book.]

Goddammit, Goemon! This really, really isn't cool. I don't want to be yanked around here--i just want a place where I can get food, maybe catch a nap, and maybe, maybe find some decent clothes. Or a gun. I can't shoot little birdies for food without a gun!

[He groans.] This is POINTLESS! [He snaps the book shut, prepared to punt it--and pauses. Goemon did say something about using that book to find more people if the two happen to not meet.

Instead he sighs, and smacks his forehead with a cold hand.]

Goddammit!

[Meanwhile, the latter-day samurai continues to search with seemingly tireless persistence, moving fast, his pulse pounding faster still. His bare skin is studded with goosebumps, but the raw chill does not penetrate the skin, does not register while in a state of deep, focused determination. It is not so deep, fortunately, that Lupin’s angry outcry cannot reach him.

He snaps to attention almost startledly, promptly changing direction and honing in on that human aura like a heat-seeking missile. His surroundings rush past him in a blur... and then, at last, leaping down from some snow-blanketed, rocky overhang not far above the ground, Goemon appears behind the man.]

Sorry for the wait. [He offers, panting lightly with the exertion.]

[The quiet words spoken from behind sent Lupin's heart leaping in his chest. His posture straightened, alert, and recognition of that voice, that tone left him torn between smacking the ronin over the head with that damnable book and hugging him.

He opted for a compromise instead. He tossed the book into the dirt again--and clapped the samurai on his shoulders.]

Goemon... [Lupin's voice trailed off. He dropped his head, his shoulders shaking in suppressed mirth.] Come here, you!

[He wrapped his arms around his friend, clinging to the first thing he had found in the day that actually made sense. The man was solid, real. Lupin felt assured that he wasn't as mad as he was starting to believe.

[All these years in one another’s company, and Lupin still had his moments of unpredictability.

It kept things interesting.

In general, Goemon was not very comfortable with his bubble of personal space being breached, but there were certain people and certain situations he could make exceptions for. With his arms stiff at his sides, he permit Lupin this display of gratitude and relief – or that was how he interpreted it, at least – for all of four seconds before pulling away. The situation did not call for shoving him aside.]

I brought you shoes.

[He announced, his delivery as nonchalant as ever. Digging into his hakamashita and reaching towards the back – how useful it was to have a shirt that doubled as a deep pocket – he produced the shoes, one by one. A pair of Jigen’s footwear, specifically, tied together by the laces. If you felt anything awkward and lumpy when embracing him, Lupin, this would explain it.

One may wonder how these shoes did not happen to tumble out while he was running. Well, a samurai had his share of secrets...]

Edited 2011-11-13 23:55 (UTC)

[Lupin wasn't alarmed by his friend's reaction. He expected it, and was grateful that Goemon held for as long as he did. Just the presence of someone solid, someone familar, was enough. He didn't complain when Goemon pulled away. Impulsive and idiotic as he could be, he understood well the personality differences of his closest partners. It was best just to accept what he was given.

He did notice something odd on Goemon's person, however.]

Ah, so that explains the...

[He cracked a grin.] You're as much of a boyscout as ever.

[The shoes were accepted with equal gratefulness, and Lupin hastily untied the knot with cold, clumsy fingers. He shoved his equally cold feet into them, and immediately started to feel better.

It was a step towards normalcy. It was already better than the hangover, the book, and the wings.]

Let's go. [His voice was impatient. He didn't want to be out there any longer.] You know your way...so lead the way.

And...thanks.

[Goemon stood by in silence, gazing contemplatively into the distance while waiting for Lupin to tug the shoes onto his feet; only at “let’s go” did he smoothly turn on his heel and guide his partner back towards the lake house, his sandaled feet plunging into powdery snow.]

There is a house where Jigen and I have been staying. [He began, stepping over a felled tree partly hidden in snow without glancing at it. Frequenting the Eastern woods at least once a day over the course of several months, he was familiar enough with most of its geography to where stubbing his toes on rocks or tripping on uneven ground were very rare occurrences.]

Jigen is no longer here – [There was a pause, just a split second longer than intended.] - But, a few of the belongings he acquired have remained. The shoes are among them.

[He let that hang in the air, not acknowledging Lupin’s words of gratitude with more than a near-imperceptible tilt of his head. To state, ‘you are welcome’, would have been superfluous, he felt.]

[Lupin fell into step behind Goemon, although with less grace. The cold was getting to him, causing his recognition and reaction time to lag. Where Goemon kept his pace smooth, Lupin found himself stumbling.

Goemon's patient explanation was a welcome distraction. He frowned at the the mention of Jigen's prior presence, mentally noting that he would need to ask Goemon about that later. Instead, he fell to his usual standby--chattering.]

Guess I'm gonna need to thank Jigen for leaving his stuff then, huh? Was it just the two of you in this place? All alone? The two of you didn't get up to anything together, did you?

[The last one was a joke, he simply couldn't help himself. He was just glad to have someone to talk to that wasn't himself.]

[With his back to Lupin, the unamused furrowing of his brow could not be seen, but the heavy silence that ensued spoke volumes; he was more irritable than affronted, however. Had he interpreted the phase ‘getting up to anything together’ as a question of whether they had done anything particularly productive in Luceti, the answer would have been the same.]

No.

[He responded stiffly, decidedly letting Lupin get away with the joke. Then:]

Fujiko and Zenigata are here, too, but they live elsewhere.

[Lupin smiled. Yep, that was definitely his Goemon. There wasn't anyone else he knew who could make a single syllable carry so much weight.

He didn't interpret the negative responce as anything bad. He figured that Goemon would likely have taken advantage of the location to train and meditate in the wilderness. It was a type of location that he would gravitate to in normal circumstances, regardless.

He chuckled.]

Well, its good to know tha Fujiko and Pops are here, anyway. Hey, how far are we going? Where are we?

[He had dozens more questions. Where were the cars? What's up with the book? Why did they have wings? Instead of rattling forward, he decided to try and follow Goemon's example. He knew he that he wasn't likely to succeed.]

We will be at the lake house shortly. Far north of it is a single village. It is possible you will find your jacket and your Walther in the shops there; they frequently are stocked with people’s belongings.

[A quaint, well-kept, two-story cabin gradually came into view, partly nestled among the pines. On sunny, late-summer afternoons, he had been fond of sitting at the end of the dock - taking quiet pleasure in the feeling of tingling warmth on his skin - and gazing out at the sprawling lake. By now, a crust of ice had recently formed over its surface, although it was not thick enough to bear someone's weight.

He supposed that Lupin would want to get a little more settled - eating, dressing properly, and receiving answers to pressing questions - before embarking on an exploration of foreign territory.]

Clothing, food, homes - everything here is without charge. There is no currency.

(ooc: Made a goofy mistake - forget I wrote "Eastern" woods above.)

No...currency?

[Lupin frowns.]

Aside from that being bad for the economy, you are aware that I'm now out of a day job, right? [He sighs. He would deal with his wandering hands and wandering thoughts later. Having nothing to do for too long made him stir-crazy.]

Just a single village, huh? With no currency, no charge...life must be pretty peaceful. [If boring. He didn't say that.] But Goemon...why would they have my stuff in the shops? Why are there shops if there is no money to begin with?

[So many questions, so many questions. He looks up at the cabin through the pine trees, straightening his thoughts into some semblence of order. Naturally, he continues rambling.]

That's where you live? It's big, but looks like it could be cozy... nice pick, Goemon.

[Life was not entirely peaceful, he mused grimly – not with the Malnosso manipulating the world within the barrier as they saw fit, surely consumed with curiosity or boredom or sadistic delight. Stopping short of entering the front door, he removed his sedge hat, briskly shaking off the snow.]

I do not know, nor do I know why Zantetsuken was there when I arrived. This is simply how it is, and how it has been.

[Perhaps this was some measure to pacify newcomers - an attempt to encourage them to happily adjust to life in an invisible prison.

Turning the chilled knob, he pushes through, greeted with a warm blast of air from the running heater that makes his skin prickle. He steps out of his sandals and hangs his hat over a peg on the wall, by the chin strap.]

You will notice that much about this place and the happenings here often appear to be illogical.

[The compliment on the house was answered with a deep, mono-syllabic murmur in acknowledgement.]

[Lupin shudders when the warm air hits him--he didn't realize exactly how cold he was before, and how reliant he was on the comforts provided by modern technology and society, until it was forced into context. As a man, Lupin could fish and maybe make a fire, but he was just a man. He was in a bad position without protection from the elements.

He steps out of the shoes Goemon brought him, following his example. You could take the man out of Japan, but you couldn't take the culture away from him. It was Goemon's home, more than anything. As much as he wanted to keep those shoes on, he understood the importance of politeness.

Instead of shivering and waiting for leave, he dashed to the heater. He would clean up later. First, and most important, he was cold!]

At least you make sense, Goemon. [Lupin spoke up, and kept his voice even.] That immediately makes it easier.

[Although what I will tell you may not be so reassuring, he thought, while shuffling to the kitchen. The living room – that was to say, the space Lupin now occupied – had few things in the way of way of possessions aside from the couch: there were some potted plants (most likely an attempt to bring some of the liveliness of spring indoors,) a couple of books in Japanese laying on a table, and a small rabbit-eared radio. More of a house than a home, especially in the absence of their mutual friend.]

Jigen’s room is upstairs. [He called out, his attention on the stove where he was heating a kettle of water. Of course, he could trust himself to prepare tea mindfully and to his tastes, avoiding bitterness that resulted in the use of boiling water or by steeping the leaves too long. A shame to ruin a delicate flavour.]

Edited 2011-11-15 17:30 (UTC)

And where do you sleep?

[He called out his reply.

Lupin noticed the sparse posessions, the attempts at making the home more cozy. It worked, almost. It didn't feel like a place Goemon would want to stay in for the long term. Then again, there were few places that did.

He was loathe to be left alone in such a place, even if he was warmer and more comfortable than he had been all day. He padded after Goemon and into the kitchen, and watched his friend make tea. Even in the wierdest of circumstances, there were some things that could be relied on.]

At least there's tea. [He gave a small smile.] That's good.

[He was grateful. Simple things were good too.]

Upstairs. [He explained as Lupin approached, not sparing an upward glance.] There are other rooms. [After a while, he snapped the switch of the stove off and set the kettle onto a coaster, lifting the lid. When the water was at an appropriate temperature, he poured it into a stout teapot into which he had spooned leaves, allowing it to sit only briefly before fetching two ceramic cups from a cabinet overhead.]

We have wine as well, if it suits you.

[The ronin said, after steadily, carefully filling the cups and setting them down over the table – and not without a hint of a grin tugging at one corner of his mouth. He and Jigen had kept a couple of bottles of quality red wine for some special occasion that hadn't yet arisen in the time they were together; had he been present, the gunman might have smiled wryly and seen it fit for them to indulge.]

[Lupin saw that look. It was a rare moment indeed, for Goemon to express himself as such. He returned the sentiment, and settled himself in a chair.]

I hate to disappoint you then, but I'm not really feeling up to wine right now. Tea is just fine.

[He gratefully accepts the tea, and sips with all of the eagerness of a man who was stranded in the wilderness. The tea was perfect--not bitter at all, with a refreshing, revitalizing feeling. Trust Goemon to make a perfect cup.]

If you have any food around too, I'd be grateful. I'm starved.

And information. Goemon, I don't even know where to begin asking questions here. ...How was I able to see you through this stupid book? How were we able to talk through it? Is it a phone, a laptop, or something?

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