Post by Nicholas Gray on Aug 28, 2015 22:27:10 GMT -6
Maybe he was crazy, but he could have sworn his metal leg didn’t use to make this much noise.
As he walked down the street, that was what he focused on. The slight creak and whine of his Kuller-made prosthetic leg. And he was certain it was quieter before the hospital. Maybe he was crazy, maybe he just hadn’t listened to it in so long that he wasn’t use to the sound he used to find normal. Being in a coma for almost 2 months would do that, he guessed. He was still dealing with the aftermath of that. He still couldn’t quite close his left fist entirely.
He stopped in front of an apartment building, pulling his phone out briefly to check the text with the address to make sure it was the right one. Satisfied, he opened the door and stepped in, immediately heading for the elevator. A quick ride up later and he stepped out into the hall. He checked his phone again for the right number, and walked down the hall until he reached it. He knocked. A moment later, the door opened, and Tom Higashikata came face to face with Elijah Kishibe.
Elijah Kishibe: Tom!
He (luckily) reached his right hand out, Tom grasping it and the two share a handshake.
Tom Higashikata: Hey Elijah. You doing alright?
Elijah Kishibe: Yeah man, of course. Kind of surprised you accepted my invite to hang out. Wasn’t sure, what with...everything.
Tom Higashikata: ...yeah. Well, it got me out of my apartment. Been cooped up there since they let me out of the hospital. Needed something to do.
Elijah nodded.
Elijah Kishibe: Of course. Come on in.
They had met when Tom was at his height of Tom-dom. He thought it would make perfect sense for Tom to make a music video for a rap song. As ridiculous as the entire thing sounded, Elijah has responded enthusiastically to the open call Tom had posted on Facebook. When they first met up face to face and talked, he had assumed Elijah was like him, and so asked him what his real first name was. Elijah punched him in response. Tom respected that. They kept in contact, trading texts occasionally, but as things got harder for Tom to be Tom, he just let the idea of a music video die. They hadn’t really spoken in between that and him asking Tom if he could help him get into SectionB, and not between then and now either. Really, Elijah wasn’t a friend, but an acquaintance.
That made him perfect. He couldn’t bring himself to face any of his friends right now.
Elijah stepped back to let him in, and Tom stepped into his apartment for the first time. It was simple, pretty much just one room plus a bathroom. Bed against one wall, work desk against another, with a kitchen area in a corner.
Tom Higashikata: Cramped.
Elijah Kishibe: Ah, nah, not really. I prefer shit simple, y’know?
Tom nodded, walking around. He looked at the desk, a lamp on it casting light down at the center of the desk, where multiple pages of paper lay. Some fresh, some that hadn’t been touched in days or weeks. All of them fragments of scripts. He picked one up and gave it a brief read. A robot and a sex swing? Alright.
Tom Higashikata: You ever going to actually finish one of these?
Elijah shrugged.
Elijah Kishibe: When one of my ideas is worth it, sure. That one with the robot has potential, but I’m blanking on the third act. Besides just an orgy.
Tom Higashikata: That not feasible? You see who you hang out with now?
Elijah Kishibe: I can’t really show a film anywhere if it just ends with a bunch of people fucking, can I?
Tom Higashikata: I dunno, they showed that movie where Willem DaFoe got his dick crushed, didn’t they?
Elijah shuddered.
Elijah Kishibe: Thanks for reminding me about that.
He then paused and looked thoughtful for a moment.
Elijah Kishibe: I wonder how a robot would react to seeing that movie…
Tom shrugged.
Tom Higashikata: Third act?
Elijah Kishibe: Forecast likely.
Tom smiled and dropped the paper back onto the desk, walking over to the table in the kitchen area, taking a seat, Elijah walking past him to go to the fridge and open it. He pulled out two bottles of beer, and shut the door with his knee. Tom felt some fear come to him. Elijah walked back to the table and sat down, fishing a bottle opener from his pocket and opening one. He started to open the other one before Tom finally managed to bring himself to speak.
Tom Higashikata: Can’t drink.
Elijah looked confused for a moment before realizing.
Elijah Kishibe: Oh, shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t think, with the hospital and all they must not want you drinking.
Tom shook his head.
Tom Higashikata: No, it’s not that...well, yeah, the doctor said not to drink but…
He paused, as memories came back. Of drinking so much he believed a woman pretending to be a dead man, and the fool he made himself look like.
Tom Higashikata: Just...realized I don’t like the guy I am when I drink.
Elijah nodded, slowly, as he started to understand.
Elijah Kishibe: I get it. It’s cool, man, my bad.
He stood up then, walking back to the fridge. He opened it, replaced the beer bottle, and took out a bottle of coke. He walked back to the table and offered it to Tom, who took it and opened it, taking a drink.
Tom Higashikata: Thanks.
Elijah Kishibe: No problem. So...shit, how’re you?
Tom was silent a moment. Truth was, he didn’t know. But that wasn’t the answer someone would expect.
Tom Higashikata: I’m...alive. That’s something, ain’t it?
Elijah Kishibe: ‘Course! I was really happy when I heard you had woke up, man. I know we ain’t that close, but I was scared still.
Tom smiled a bit.
Tom Higashikata: Thanks, Elijah.
Elijah smiled back.
Elijah Kishibe: Ain’t no problem!
He smile faded a bit, as he took a drink of his beer.
Elijah Kishibe: Gotta admit though. After everything that’s happened, I get a little uneasy sitting there in the RIMAC sometimes. Like there’s something wrong. Get a chill. How silly is that?
Tom shook his head.
Tom Higashikata: It’s not silly. I’ve gone past it a couple times since I got out and every time I just want to walk away from it. And I do.
Elijah nodded.
Elijah Kishibe: Can’t blame that, I guess. With everything. I don’t know what I’d do in that situation. Hell, I don’t know if I’d even be walking around. You’re something else, man!
Tom suddenly finds the table incredibly fascinating. He didn’t want to respond to that, he didn’t want to straight up lie to Elijah, and he was here to avoid telling the truth. So he avoided it.
Tom Higashikata: You enjoying that SectionB life?
Elijah Kishibe: Man...it’s more than I expected. Like, I knew what I was getting into, but at the same time...it’s so much more. It’s so damn fast-moving, and everyone’s always talking to each other. It’s kind of hard to keep up with.
Tom Higashikata: It really is. Helping you sleep?
That was one of the reasons Elijah had told him he wanted to join the infamous group of fans. He was an insomniac, and figured the intensity of the SectionB party life would help put him under. Which seemed like a recipe for disaster honestly, but fuck it, he wanted to help a dude out. Elijah smiled and nodded.
Elijah Kishibe: Anytime we really get going I manage to pass out and catch some sleep, yeah. Thanks.
Tom nodded and took another drink of his soda.
Elijah Kishibe: It’s a strange world, isn’t it?
Tom raised an eyebrow.
Elijah Kishibe: I just mean...this is strange even for a wrestling company, isn’t it? Look at everything. None of it makes sense. It’s just...strange.
Tom shrugged.
Tom Higashikata: I guess. Haven’t really put any thought to it. Been busy.
Which wasn’t a lie. He was just busy specifically not thinking, instead shouting and yelling and being Tom. At least before all of this. Now, he just tried not to think so he didn’t have to think about what he did to himself.
Elijah Kishibe: Maybe I’m thinking about it too much.
Tom Higashikata: Maybe.
Elijah Kishibe: Ah well...how’s your brother?
Tom went silent again, as he thought of his brother. He frowned.
Tom Higashikata: He’s...angry. Not at me, or anything. Shit, maybe not even at SHOZO. I think he’s just angry with himself. Big hero that couldn’t protect me.
A small pause as his frown deepened.
Tom Higashikata: Think that’s going around. People angry that they couldn’t help me, protect me, keep me from a coma.
Elijah nodded, understanding immediately who he had to be referring to.
Elijah Kishibe: The moth.
Tom Higashikata: Yeah. Ophelia.
Elijah Kishibe: You...like, okay with what’s happening in a couple weeks?
He knew what Elijah was talking about. It took up a lot of space in his head since it was announced. Ophelia Hildegard vs. SHOZO. He wanted to lie, but couldn’t bring himself to.
Tom Higashikata: ...I’m scared. Way too damn scared.
He reached up and scratched the back of his head, Elijah just letting him go.
Tom Higashikata: And I feel so damn stupid for being scared because honestly she’s way stronger than I’ll ever be and I feel like I’m insulting her by being afraid but God I don’t want to see SHOZO do anything to her.
He stops, suddenly, realizing how far he’d gone. He looks down at the table, not wanting to look at Elijah.
Tom Higashikata: ...sorry.
He couldn’t see the smile that came onto Elijah’s face, but he could feel the hand that patted him on the shoulder.
Elijah Kishibe: Don’t worry, you needed to get that out. I think it’s fine to be scared. Have you talked about this with her? Or, shit, talked with your brother about his anger?
Tom shook his head repeatedly, far faster than necessary. He couldn’t do that, he couldn’t talk to them face to face. Couldn’t even bear to face them. Because he could still remember the words.
Those words that he heard, just before the feeling of some kind of...consciousness returning to him, he thought about them constantly. They rolled around his head time and time again, taunting him with the truth. He couldn’t deny it. All that shit he said in that stupid video. That he wanted to prove SHOZO was irredeemable, to make Shinji see that, to try and claw SHOZO’s eyes out...all of it was complete bullshit. The truth was that video was his suicide note, and the only reason he wanted that match with SHOZO was so he could get killed by him. And he couldn’t even manage that right.
Kintaro, Shinji, Ophelia, Carey, Destiny...how many of them realized?
He couldn’t face them.
He took another drink of his soda before speaking again, ignoring the previous question.
Tom Higashikata: ...I’ve thought about going home.
Elijah looked confused for a moment, before realization hit.
Elijah Kishibe: Oh! Hey, if I’m keeping you then I’m sorry…
Tom shook his head.
Tom Higashikata: Don’t mean it like that.
Elijah just looked confused again.
Tom Higashikata: I mean...I’ve thought a lot about going home to Japan.
He took another quick drink of his soda before continuing.
Tom Higashikata: I keep thinking about how long it’s been. I haven’t been home in almost 3 years. Ain’t seen my folks in any way in 3 years. Can you imagine?
Tom doesn’t really notice, but Elijah’s head droops for a second before picking back up.
Elijah Kishibe: Yeah, I can. That’s….damn.
Tom nodded.
Tom Higashikata: Yeah. And I fucking almost died! I just...wanna see ‘em again.
Elijah nodded, repeatedly.
Elijah Kishibe: You should, absolutely. It’ll do you good, I think.
Tom Higashikata: Yeah…
Elijah Kishibe: So, if you don’t mind me asking…
Tom raised an eyebrow.
Tom Higashikata: What?
Elijah Kishibe: After that...what’re you gonna do?
Tom was silent, instead focusing on his soda, Elijah frowning. He couldn’t blame him, it was a simple enough question.
What will you do now, Tom?
That was the million-dollar question.
And he hadn’t a single fucking clue.
As he walked down the street, that was what he focused on. The slight creak and whine of his Kuller-made prosthetic leg. And he was certain it was quieter before the hospital. Maybe he was crazy, maybe he just hadn’t listened to it in so long that he wasn’t use to the sound he used to find normal. Being in a coma for almost 2 months would do that, he guessed. He was still dealing with the aftermath of that. He still couldn’t quite close his left fist entirely.
He stopped in front of an apartment building, pulling his phone out briefly to check the text with the address to make sure it was the right one. Satisfied, he opened the door and stepped in, immediately heading for the elevator. A quick ride up later and he stepped out into the hall. He checked his phone again for the right number, and walked down the hall until he reached it. He knocked. A moment later, the door opened, and Tom Higashikata came face to face with Elijah Kishibe.
Elijah Kishibe: Tom!
He (luckily) reached his right hand out, Tom grasping it and the two share a handshake.
Tom Higashikata: Hey Elijah. You doing alright?
Elijah Kishibe: Yeah man, of course. Kind of surprised you accepted my invite to hang out. Wasn’t sure, what with...everything.
Tom Higashikata: ...yeah. Well, it got me out of my apartment. Been cooped up there since they let me out of the hospital. Needed something to do.
Elijah nodded.
Elijah Kishibe: Of course. Come on in.
They had met when Tom was at his height of Tom-dom. He thought it would make perfect sense for Tom to make a music video for a rap song. As ridiculous as the entire thing sounded, Elijah has responded enthusiastically to the open call Tom had posted on Facebook. When they first met up face to face and talked, he had assumed Elijah was like him, and so asked him what his real first name was. Elijah punched him in response. Tom respected that. They kept in contact, trading texts occasionally, but as things got harder for Tom to be Tom, he just let the idea of a music video die. They hadn’t really spoken in between that and him asking Tom if he could help him get into SectionB, and not between then and now either. Really, Elijah wasn’t a friend, but an acquaintance.
That made him perfect. He couldn’t bring himself to face any of his friends right now.
Elijah stepped back to let him in, and Tom stepped into his apartment for the first time. It was simple, pretty much just one room plus a bathroom. Bed against one wall, work desk against another, with a kitchen area in a corner.
Tom Higashikata: Cramped.
Elijah Kishibe: Ah, nah, not really. I prefer shit simple, y’know?
Tom nodded, walking around. He looked at the desk, a lamp on it casting light down at the center of the desk, where multiple pages of paper lay. Some fresh, some that hadn’t been touched in days or weeks. All of them fragments of scripts. He picked one up and gave it a brief read. A robot and a sex swing? Alright.
Tom Higashikata: You ever going to actually finish one of these?
Elijah shrugged.
Elijah Kishibe: When one of my ideas is worth it, sure. That one with the robot has potential, but I’m blanking on the third act. Besides just an orgy.
Tom Higashikata: That not feasible? You see who you hang out with now?
Elijah Kishibe: I can’t really show a film anywhere if it just ends with a bunch of people fucking, can I?
Tom Higashikata: I dunno, they showed that movie where Willem DaFoe got his dick crushed, didn’t they?
Elijah shuddered.
Elijah Kishibe: Thanks for reminding me about that.
He then paused and looked thoughtful for a moment.
Elijah Kishibe: I wonder how a robot would react to seeing that movie…
Tom shrugged.
Tom Higashikata: Third act?
Elijah Kishibe: Forecast likely.
Tom smiled and dropped the paper back onto the desk, walking over to the table in the kitchen area, taking a seat, Elijah walking past him to go to the fridge and open it. He pulled out two bottles of beer, and shut the door with his knee. Tom felt some fear come to him. Elijah walked back to the table and sat down, fishing a bottle opener from his pocket and opening one. He started to open the other one before Tom finally managed to bring himself to speak.
Tom Higashikata: Can’t drink.
Elijah looked confused for a moment before realizing.
Elijah Kishibe: Oh, shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t think, with the hospital and all they must not want you drinking.
Tom shook his head.
Tom Higashikata: No, it’s not that...well, yeah, the doctor said not to drink but…
He paused, as memories came back. Of drinking so much he believed a woman pretending to be a dead man, and the fool he made himself look like.
Tom Higashikata: Just...realized I don’t like the guy I am when I drink.
Elijah nodded, slowly, as he started to understand.
Elijah Kishibe: I get it. It’s cool, man, my bad.
He stood up then, walking back to the fridge. He opened it, replaced the beer bottle, and took out a bottle of coke. He walked back to the table and offered it to Tom, who took it and opened it, taking a drink.
Tom Higashikata: Thanks.
Elijah Kishibe: No problem. So...shit, how’re you?
Tom was silent a moment. Truth was, he didn’t know. But that wasn’t the answer someone would expect.
Tom Higashikata: I’m...alive. That’s something, ain’t it?
Elijah Kishibe: ‘Course! I was really happy when I heard you had woke up, man. I know we ain’t that close, but I was scared still.
Tom smiled a bit.
Tom Higashikata: Thanks, Elijah.
Elijah smiled back.
Elijah Kishibe: Ain’t no problem!
He smile faded a bit, as he took a drink of his beer.
Elijah Kishibe: Gotta admit though. After everything that’s happened, I get a little uneasy sitting there in the RIMAC sometimes. Like there’s something wrong. Get a chill. How silly is that?
Tom shook his head.
Tom Higashikata: It’s not silly. I’ve gone past it a couple times since I got out and every time I just want to walk away from it. And I do.
Elijah nodded.
Elijah Kishibe: Can’t blame that, I guess. With everything. I don’t know what I’d do in that situation. Hell, I don’t know if I’d even be walking around. You’re something else, man!
Tom suddenly finds the table incredibly fascinating. He didn’t want to respond to that, he didn’t want to straight up lie to Elijah, and he was here to avoid telling the truth. So he avoided it.
Tom Higashikata: You enjoying that SectionB life?
Elijah Kishibe: Man...it’s more than I expected. Like, I knew what I was getting into, but at the same time...it’s so much more. It’s so damn fast-moving, and everyone’s always talking to each other. It’s kind of hard to keep up with.
Tom Higashikata: It really is. Helping you sleep?
That was one of the reasons Elijah had told him he wanted to join the infamous group of fans. He was an insomniac, and figured the intensity of the SectionB party life would help put him under. Which seemed like a recipe for disaster honestly, but fuck it, he wanted to help a dude out. Elijah smiled and nodded.
Elijah Kishibe: Anytime we really get going I manage to pass out and catch some sleep, yeah. Thanks.
Tom nodded and took another drink of his soda.
Elijah Kishibe: It’s a strange world, isn’t it?
Tom raised an eyebrow.
Elijah Kishibe: I just mean...this is strange even for a wrestling company, isn’t it? Look at everything. None of it makes sense. It’s just...strange.
Tom shrugged.
Tom Higashikata: I guess. Haven’t really put any thought to it. Been busy.
Which wasn’t a lie. He was just busy specifically not thinking, instead shouting and yelling and being Tom. At least before all of this. Now, he just tried not to think so he didn’t have to think about what he did to himself.
Elijah Kishibe: Maybe I’m thinking about it too much.
Tom Higashikata: Maybe.
Elijah Kishibe: Ah well...how’s your brother?
Tom went silent again, as he thought of his brother. He frowned.
Tom Higashikata: He’s...angry. Not at me, or anything. Shit, maybe not even at SHOZO. I think he’s just angry with himself. Big hero that couldn’t protect me.
A small pause as his frown deepened.
Tom Higashikata: Think that’s going around. People angry that they couldn’t help me, protect me, keep me from a coma.
Elijah nodded, understanding immediately who he had to be referring to.
Elijah Kishibe: The moth.
Tom Higashikata: Yeah. Ophelia.
Elijah Kishibe: You...like, okay with what’s happening in a couple weeks?
He knew what Elijah was talking about. It took up a lot of space in his head since it was announced. Ophelia Hildegard vs. SHOZO. He wanted to lie, but couldn’t bring himself to.
Tom Higashikata: ...I’m scared. Way too damn scared.
He reached up and scratched the back of his head, Elijah just letting him go.
Tom Higashikata: And I feel so damn stupid for being scared because honestly she’s way stronger than I’ll ever be and I feel like I’m insulting her by being afraid but God I don’t want to see SHOZO do anything to her.
He stops, suddenly, realizing how far he’d gone. He looks down at the table, not wanting to look at Elijah.
Tom Higashikata: ...sorry.
He couldn’t see the smile that came onto Elijah’s face, but he could feel the hand that patted him on the shoulder.
Elijah Kishibe: Don’t worry, you needed to get that out. I think it’s fine to be scared. Have you talked about this with her? Or, shit, talked with your brother about his anger?
Tom shook his head repeatedly, far faster than necessary. He couldn’t do that, he couldn’t talk to them face to face. Couldn’t even bear to face them. Because he could still remember the words.
“What will you do, now that you’ve failed even at suicide?”
Those words that he heard, just before the feeling of some kind of...consciousness returning to him, he thought about them constantly. They rolled around his head time and time again, taunting him with the truth. He couldn’t deny it. All that shit he said in that stupid video. That he wanted to prove SHOZO was irredeemable, to make Shinji see that, to try and claw SHOZO’s eyes out...all of it was complete bullshit. The truth was that video was his suicide note, and the only reason he wanted that match with SHOZO was so he could get killed by him. And he couldn’t even manage that right.
Kintaro, Shinji, Ophelia, Carey, Destiny...how many of them realized?
He couldn’t face them.
He took another drink of his soda before speaking again, ignoring the previous question.
Tom Higashikata: ...I’ve thought about going home.
Elijah looked confused for a moment, before realization hit.
Elijah Kishibe: Oh! Hey, if I’m keeping you then I’m sorry…
Tom shook his head.
Tom Higashikata: Don’t mean it like that.
Elijah just looked confused again.
Tom Higashikata: I mean...I’ve thought a lot about going home to Japan.
He took another quick drink of his soda before continuing.
Tom Higashikata: I keep thinking about how long it’s been. I haven’t been home in almost 3 years. Ain’t seen my folks in any way in 3 years. Can you imagine?
Tom doesn’t really notice, but Elijah’s head droops for a second before picking back up.
Elijah Kishibe: Yeah, I can. That’s….damn.
Tom nodded.
Tom Higashikata: Yeah. And I fucking almost died! I just...wanna see ‘em again.
Elijah nodded, repeatedly.
Elijah Kishibe: You should, absolutely. It’ll do you good, I think.
Tom Higashikata: Yeah…
Elijah Kishibe: So, if you don’t mind me asking…
Tom raised an eyebrow.
Tom Higashikata: What?
Elijah Kishibe: After that...what’re you gonna do?
Tom was silent, instead focusing on his soda, Elijah frowning. He couldn’t blame him, it was a simple enough question.
What will you do now, Tom?
That was the million-dollar question.
And he hadn’t a single fucking clue.
