(OPEN) "HARU YOU'RE NOT IN HIGH SCHOOL"

[ephydriade]

Who: OPEN -- Haru & Makoto & YOU
What: Haru and Makoto were supposed to be going on a shopping adventure, but Haru's attention is diverted (3 guesses as to what distracted him) and he and Makoto become separated. Time to play the not so fun version of Marco Polo.
When: PRIOR TO EVENT; backdated to May 14
Where: the near shore-- starting off at Tokyo subway and then proceeding all around the city??? sure.
Warnings: does Haru count as a warning (other than that, none)


An innocent day of shopping... that was what Makoto was hoping for. He had managed to get Haru to agree on going into town to do some more shopping for groceries and other necessities, and that was a feat in and of itself. A part of him had truly hoped that Haru was finally softening up to him. Haru on the other hand... he had originally saw it as a way to get Makoto to stop nagging. But he genuinely started to show more interest as they made their way towards the Far Shore. It was definitely a nice change of scenery.

Making their way to the subway, they hopped onto their train and were soon off. The train was surprisingly crowded at the time, so they stood, holding onto the handles hanging overhead. The smile plastered all over Makoto's face was hard to ignore at this point, and Haru reluctantly decided to say something. "You've been smiling since this morning." Makoto blinked. "Ah, I'm just really excited to spend the day with you, Haru!" Blinking, Haru gave a flustered pout before looking away, his brows furrowed slightly. Of course, that reaction didn't stop Makoto from continuing. "I was thinking, maybe we could get a rice cooker while we're out! Having rice with our meals would be nice, don't you think Haru?" Haru gave a low "Mm" in response which prompted Makoto to continue.

"We should also see if we can find you more clothes. I know we bought some last time, but you can never have too much... Oh, and maybe we can see if we can find a new recipe book! So we can try making some more dishes!"

Makoto's rambling continued, much to Haru's dismay, and as a result, he kept his attention elsewhere. Soon enough the train slowed into a stop, and once the doors opened, a new crowd of passengers made their way onto the already full train. In the midst of the scrambling, Haru managed to notice the elaborate fountain in the distance. Eyes practically shining, he immediately started making his way closer, exiting the train while everyone still scrambled to get on. He didn't even notice the door closing behind him, too focused on the fountain and how peaceful... and big it looked.

Unfortunately, Makoto was unaware of Haru's interest, and as soon as the train began moving again, he decided to give his shinki a heads up. "Haru, try and stay close so we don't get separated." The lack of response wasn't too unusual, but Makoto couldn't help but turn to look to see where Haru was. The fact that he wasn't where he last was made him a little nervous, and soon he called out again. "Haru? Where are you? Haaaruuu!" No response again. A panicked look came across Makoto's face as the reality started to sink in.

"I lost Haru?!"


( ooc: we are splitting this into two main thread categories: one where Makoto is actively searching for Haru, and the other where Haru is... being Haru. your character is free to interact with either of them~ action tags are okay! please help Makoto locate his pooty shinki. )

Comments

[takenwithhim]

You don't know?

[Sousuke gives Makoto a small look at that one. Honestly... His god and apparently Archie, Goten's god, already knew how to do that kind of thing. Granted, Rin's still learning things about how to be a god (Sousuke as well), so he doesn't hold him in too much surprise. But... Shouldn't that be important?

He shakes his head, pushing the thought away. Fine, Makoto doesn't know. And since Sousuke can't change into his vessel without Rin, that eliminates a... certain other possibility (which he's not going to offer). The gratitude's waived and Sousuke turns to face away from the train tracks.]

Do you know if he got off on the same exit? Same station?

[Asking around might help too.]

[thekillerwhale]

I know how if I know where he is...but I can't sense him really well.

[On top of being a very awkward god, he and Haru's relationship isn't the best. His shinki has been terse and irritated with him more often than not to the point where Makoto feels like he has to be more than just Makoto now.

But he can at least read his movements pretty well without god abilities. He just needs a little help.]

I think he got off on the previous exit without me seeing since it got so crowded.

[Especially Haru doesn't stand out as much as himself]

He's attracted to water, mackerel, and mascot characters. So maybe he's headed somewhere where those things are advertised.

[takenwithhim]

[Sousuke brushes the topic off. It’s something Makoto can work on later if he so chooses. The darker swimmer doesn’t exactly like the idea that Rin’s able to track him and thus keep tabs on him at all times. Hell, Rin can probably summon him at any time he wants. But… Sousuke’s pride and his logic are at odds on this, because even he can see the uses in keeping track of shinki. For more than simply getting lost…]

It’s fine.

[Aka: don’t fret over it. Sousuke has no idea what Makoto and Haru’s relationship is like, but if Haru’s the guy he’s thinking of, the swimmer’s pretty sure Makoto’s got his hands full. That guy doesn’t seem the kind of guy who’d be fine serving someone (like Sousuke, though Sousuke feels he’s got a better way of handling it since he has no real choice). Such thoughts probably coming from the fact Eros’ shinki has no fond memories of Poseidon’s…]

Then let’s go to the previous exit and start from there.

[Slipping his hands into his pockets, Sousuke heads off towards the steps. The crowds are still milling around and the next train to take them back to the previous exit doesn’t appear to be coming for several minutes if the schedule posted’s any indication. He trusts Makoto to keep up with him. It’s a little easier going, since the crowd tends to part in front of him. They are, after all, a pair of really tall, broad shouldered guys (or maybe it’s Sousuke’s face).]

What is he, a fish? [Said in some wry disbelief. As for suggestions, he has no idea where those things are advertised.] Maybe an aquarium or water park… [Just a suggestion.]

[thekillerwhale]

[Makoto walks next to Sousuke, his eyes darting around them just in case Haru was hanging around the station. He could hope, anyways. But he doesn't see any sign of Haru anywhere.

He looks over at Sousuke when he mentions the couple of very plausible suggestion. He smiles a little at the remark.]

More like a dolphin.

...but I don't think he knows exactly where any of those places are around here.

[He lets out a thoughtful hum.]

There are fountains or pet stores...

[His shinki is obviously a very strange one if Makoto is seriously contemplating his shinki splashing around in a fountain and squeezing himself into a fish tank.]

Thank you for helping me look, by the way.

[takenwithhim]

[Sousuke keeps his attention in front of him, letting Makoto do the looking on the side while he covers the area before them, occasionally scanning from the corner of his eye to the other in slow sweeps. There are a lot of people here with dark hair so… he tries to focus on the eye color and if any of them happens to be soaking wet or something. Based on what Makoto’s said, of course.

He remembers well enough what Haru looks like; after all, the guy had practically fallen on top of him his first day here.]

So he’s lost too?

[That’s not good news. Trying to find someone as lost as they are is going to be even harder. What if Haru moves the opposite direction they are or goes past them while they’re not looking? Tsk, they should have a way to contact other people… shinki to shinki or something.]

Let’s check the pet stores first. There’s probably less of them than fountains big enough to climb into. Plus they can call others.

[At the gratitude, he doesn’t say much of anything. Only glances to the side like this isn’t a big deal or anything and Makoto really shouldn’t be thanking him for it.]

Aa…

[thekillerwhale]

[He keeps looking around, but no sign of his watercentric shinki.

Calling his shinki on his phone would have been a good idea if his shinki didn't suck at keeping his phone on his person.]

He's most likely lost since he doesn't leave the temple much at all.

[Unless Makoto nudges him to go out. And then this happened.]

Mm...even if pet stores could call other pet stores, I don't think the employees will know what we're talking about since people can't really see us.

[Which isn't so obvious now with people moving out of their way as they walk, but he'd noticed that when he was out getting clothes, he had to really call attention to the shop clerk when they normally shout an "irashaimase!" to each guest.]

[takenwithhim]

[He keeps looking around, but no sign of his watercentric shinki. Calling his shinki on his phone would have been a good idea if his shinki didn't suck at keeping his phone on his person.] He's most likely lost since he doesn't leave the temple much at all. [Unless Makoto nudges him to go out. And then this happened.]

[Sousuke finally catches sight of something and a few moments later, he’s all but dragged Makoto into the nearest phone booth. It’s a bit of a tight squeeze, considering the two of them are pretty strapping athletes and all, but it’s better than one hanging halfway out the booth.]

If he’s lost, then we’ll use something else.

[That’s a frustrating point though. The pet stores wouldn’t see Haru unless he purposefully willed it or something to happen. That’s how he understands it at least. Maybe he and Makoto’s presence together is enough to make people notice? No idea. But he opens the phone book anyways and starts flipping through it to locate… well there’s a map, so that’s good.]

What station are we at? We can find the nearest pet store.

[thekillerwhale]

[Makoto makes a small yelping noise as he's squeezed into a phone booth with Sousuke.]

Ah...uhm...we're near this station right here.

[He points a finger to a spot on the map.]

I think he might have gotten off at the station before it, so it would be over here.

[He moves his finger along the page to the previous marked subway station.]

We should go there then?

[takenwithhim]

[Maybe he should've warned him first. Mah, it's not worth it now. He turns a little to the side, giving Makoto more access to the door so he can get out first if he gets too cramped in here. Standing more or less at an angle and nigh-flush to the other boy, he has to lean back a little so they can get the phone book between them.]

Aa. Looks right.

[So if they're here... then the station Makoto's mentioning is there. And those are the streets that are around them.]

Here's the map. See if you can make a list of the roads and streets around that area. I'll find a pet store to call and get the locations of others in that area.

[Even if other people couldn't see Haru, it'd at least give them a place to start looking. A focused place.]

[thekillerwhale]

[Makoto isn't bothered by the close proximity, but he was surprised by it.

He traced his finger along the roads and named them off, keeping a mental tab on them. He pauses for a moment before looking up from the book to Sousuke.]

...I don't suppose we could ask the pet store if their fish tanks are doing weird things, could we?

[It sounded like a silly question, but if they couldn't really see Haru, they could at least see the water sloshing around in a tank where Haru would be getting into and soaking in.]

[takenwithhim]

[Sousuke can be callous and rude at times, but shutting Makoto out of the phone booth while he went in to find a map didn’t sit well with him. It’d be better to squeeze. Not that he’d explain that to him, nope…

As Makoto begins reading off the names, Sousuke quickly scans through the pet shop section in the phone book. It’s a bit of a stop and go since he has to find the names of the streets and they’re not in alphabetical order. But they make some headway.]

What? Why would their fish tanks be doing weird things?

[Well, Makoto is Poseidon after all so… but how is that going to help? Even if Haru has the power to mess with fish, he still can’t use it without Makoto.]

[thekillerwhale]

[Isn't it obvious Sousuke?]

Because Haru likes to soak in any body of water he can fit into. So the fish tanks would have their water swishing around in them.

[The funny part is that this strange trait of Haru's has nothing to do with the fact that he himself is now the acting face of Poseidon. But it can easily be construed as such.]

[takenwithhim]

[No. He doesn't know anything much about Haruka (besides a rude first impression that doesn't make him want to know more).

The answer earns a slight arch of his brow and his lips twitch in the barest of strange looks.]

That sounds like a mental problem.

[Look, he's not one to really insult, but if someone's so in love with water they'll climb into fish tanks in a public store? Yeah...]

[thekillerwhale]

Haru is just Haru. It's the way he is.

[He says that in a way that signifies that he's stubbornly consistent with his behavior, but not in a way that suggests that he hates it.]

Hmm...so maybe we should start with the pet store nearest to the station. He wouldn't bother searching for others.

[takenwithhim]

[He's not letting that go so easily in his head. It's a strange affliction. But Makoto seems determined to accept it. Well, his shinki.

Sousuke's just glad he doesn't have to deal with it.]

All right. I've got the address and number... here.

[And points to it. Then looks at the phone, only to balk.]

You got some yen?

[thekillerwhale]

Ah...yes!

[Makoto digs into his pocket and pulls out enough yen for the pay phone. Even though he has a cellphone, he doesn't even think about it since he's following Sousuke's direction. Some god he is.]

Here you go.

[He hands it over promptly.]

[takenwithhim]

Hey, how do you get money?

[The questions kind of hummed, an 'over the shoulder' casual thing like he just realizes it. It's not like Rin or Sousuke have jobs at the moment and they've only answered a few prayer requests... Might as well ask.

Taking the change, he slips them into the phone's coin slot, enough for the call, and hands back the rest. Sousuke cradles the black piece between his shoulder and head, leaving his hands to mess with the phone book.]

Hello? Aa. I have a weird request.

[Better jump in now, Makoto, if you think you can put this better than the blunt way Sousuke's going to.]