Ayumu Yamazaki [ 山崎 歩 ] (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
kagenonadeshiko) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
thenearshore2018-08-03 05:20 pm
kagenonadeshiko) wrote in thenearshore2018-08-03 05:20 pm
Entry tags:
[closed] Reunion for the holidays
Who: Ayumu and Lavi
What: Prayer #66
When: December 29th
Where: Various Near Shore locations, primarily Tokyo
Warnings: Potential references to prejudice in Japan.
[New Year's Eve is approaching quickly. While Ayumu has her own plans for that night, there's a mission to complete before then. One of Vesta's followers, an elderly widow in a rural village feeling the loneliness of a holiday without family, had petitioned for aid. The task should be simple enough in theory - persuade her estranged son to return home for the holiday.
Of course, the situation that had caused the estrangement to begin with had been rather complicated. The son had chosen to marry a woman his parents hadn't approved of, resulting in harsh, unforgiving distance between them. Since then, both the son's father and the wife he'd forsaken his family for had died. Now the mother and her son stubbornly spent their holidays apart and alone rather that bridge the distance between them.
The prayer had struck a chord in her, not simply becaue of her own situation in the present, but all those years of stubborn pride alienating her and her brother. Now Susumu's long dead and she has little hope of ever being able to see him again or tell him how much she regrets.
The old woman's years may be numbered. If the son's not careful, he could wind up with the same sorrows Ayumu feels every day.
The last train's leaving so Ayumu hurries to get there, managing to miss a familar, tall redhead rounding the corner along the way. Ayumu knocks into Lavi hard, speaking to him as if he's just another stranger on the street.]
Oh! I'm sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going. Are you okay?
What: Prayer #66
When: December 29th
Where: Various Near Shore locations, primarily Tokyo
Warnings: Potential references to prejudice in Japan.
[New Year's Eve is approaching quickly. While Ayumu has her own plans for that night, there's a mission to complete before then. One of Vesta's followers, an elderly widow in a rural village feeling the loneliness of a holiday without family, had petitioned for aid. The task should be simple enough in theory - persuade her estranged son to return home for the holiday.
Of course, the situation that had caused the estrangement to begin with had been rather complicated. The son had chosen to marry a woman his parents hadn't approved of, resulting in harsh, unforgiving distance between them. Since then, both the son's father and the wife he'd forsaken his family for had died. Now the mother and her son stubbornly spent their holidays apart and alone rather that bridge the distance between them.
The prayer had struck a chord in her, not simply becaue of her own situation in the present, but all those years of stubborn pride alienating her and her brother. Now Susumu's long dead and she has little hope of ever being able to see him again or tell him how much she regrets.
The old woman's years may be numbered. If the son's not careful, he could wind up with the same sorrows Ayumu feels every day.
The last train's leaving so Ayumu hurries to get there, managing to miss a familar, tall redhead rounding the corner along the way. Ayumu knocks into Lavi hard, speaking to him as if he's just another stranger on the street.]
Oh! I'm sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going. Are you okay?
no subject
Instinctively, he reaches out to catch her, surprise a brief flicker in his eye before it fades away. He looks torn for a second before his expression fades out.]
...Yeah, I'm fine. What about you?
no subject
[Ayumu sounds normal enough, friendly if a little distracted. She is in the middle of a job, after all. That makes it a little easier to focus on work instead of the sudden pang of heartache hitting her upon seeing Lavi again. Ayumu promised to keep her distance and not push, though.]
I'm off to answer a prayer today. Or at least, try my best to.
[It feels a little strange saying that now after so long. But it's good, isn't it? Returning to work and estabishing a solid routine is as good a place to start building a new life as any.]
I'm helping someone. A mother. It's the holidays and she hasn't seen her son in a long time.
no subject
[He knows it's not unnatural, but...he thought it'd be more important for Ayumu to do this with someone she trusts or like instead of being alone.
Still, Lavi looks contemplative, especially at the given information.
....He shifts almost nervously.]
Mind if I come help you?
no subject
Sure. If it's not any trouble for you and you're not too busy.
[It couldn't hurt to have some backup. She's not expecting any trouble beyond her usual fumbling during emotionally charged situations. Coaxing information out of people is one thing; mediating delicate affairs requiring diplomacy and a gentle touch isn't her strong suit.]
I'm on my way to meet with her son now. From what I've gathered, he lives alone in an apartment in Shinagawa.
[Surely, they can keep this professional, right?]
no subject
[Though a part of him does wonder if it's a good idea if he should tag along. Either way, it's too late now.
Lavi gives a nod.]
Just lead the way then.
no subject
After a moment, Ayumu stops agan, reaching into her coat pocket and pulls out a slip of paper with an address on it. Lavi explores the city. Maybe he'll recognize the neighborhood and know a shortcut?]
I don't suppose you're familiar with this neighborhood, are you?
[She hands over the address.]
no subject
Yeah, I am.
[It's very lucky Lavi takes to exploring.]
There's a turn up ahead that we can use to get there faster.
no subject
[She laughs a bit sheepishly.]
I looked up the directions with my phone but they were long and a little convoluted. Better than nothing, I suppose, but still.
[Ayumu heads toward the turn he indicates. She'll keep walking, making polite, small talk about their surroundings as she might do with any casual acquaintance. Eventually, they reach a high rise apartment building that looks like it might cost a pretty yen to live in.
Once they're there, she pulls out her slip again to check the apartment number.]
It's Apartment... 1204. I hope they have a directory. This place looks pretty big.
no subject
They should. If not, then we can make an estimate. As long as it has an elevator, we can make a guess as to how these apartments work.
[Lavi peers at the slip.]
So, let's try the first floor first.
no subject
[Ayumu heads to the first floor entrance. No one notices her as she simply walks into the building. Sure enough, there's a directory of names and numbers. She scans the list, finger gliding steadily down it until she finds the right number.]
...Second floor. Do you see an elevator anywhere?
no subject
There's a light nudge against her elbow.]
Over there by the stairs.
no subject
[Ayumu heads over to it, hits the button to call it, and waits. When it appears, she'll quickly enter it and take a position to the left side. While in the elevator, which is rather small and cramped as it turns out, she'll be very careful to keep from accidentally brushing up against Lavi.]
no subject
Lavi just seems to keep up a casual front. He's a little quiet than he would usually be around her, but given everything that's happened, it isn't a surprise. Lavi just glances at her whenever he feels her brush against him.]
no subject
She's not upset or angry with him at all but it's still painful to stand so close and not be able to touch him, especially when she knows he's hurting, too.
Ayumu gets to work inspecting the apartment numbers on one side of the hall for the right one.]
1204.... 1204... Do you see it?
no subject
As...limited as it might be sometimes.
Lavi lifts his head, staring at the numbers before he nods his head to the end of the hall.]
Think that's the one over there.