Togusa (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
standalonehuman) wrote2030-01-27 12:00 pm
standalonehuman) wrote2030-01-27 12:00 pm
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Togusa
This is Togusa. Feel free to message me at any time.
VOICE | TEXT | VIDEO | ACTION
[ Despite having the phone in his hand when he calls, James only picks up on the third ring. ]
Hey, Togusa.
[ Might as well rip off this band-aid. He takes a shaky breath and sounds exhausted and dismayed as he talks. ]
They took my arm.
Hey, Togusa.
[ Might as well rip off this band-aid. He takes a shaky breath and sounds exhausted and dismayed as he talks. ]
They took my arm.
“How?” I mean, he knows how, but maybe that’s not the question to ask. There are sounds of Togusa rushing out and down to his car in the background. “Dumb question,” he admonishes himself.
“Where are you right now? Is anybody with you?” Focus on one thing at a time.
“Where are you right now? Is anybody with you?” Focus on one thing at a time.
"I was just at Grell's, she took a look at it. But now I'm just...walking around. Near the park." He pauses as he slumps into a seat on a nearby bench.
"I can't go home with this, or to school. So I'm just. Around." He knows he can't push this off forever, he's going to have to go home at least tonight at some point and begin to deal with...whatever nightmare this is going to be. But right now he doesn't even know how to deal with this himself, much less face however his family and teachers and classmates will react.
"I can't go home with this, or to school. So I'm just. Around." He knows he can't push this off forever, he's going to have to go home at least tonight at some point and begin to deal with...whatever nightmare this is going to be. But right now he doesn't even know how to deal with this himself, much less face however his family and teachers and classmates will react.
"I'll be right there," Togusa insists. "Just give me a couple of minutes."
Togusa disconnects, because he really needs those couple of minutes to throw an absolute temper tantrum complete with punching his steering wheel. Fuck. Fuck! He didn't want to be right, he wanted James to be okay! Why him? Why does Retrospec keep singling him out? How are they even doing this? What's the god damn point of it all?
He has to get that pure rage out of his system by the time he gets to James. He doesn't want to be impassive about this, but neither can he show pity, and the complete out of control anger that he wants to have won't help anyone. Go help your friend figure out what to do next.
It takes Togusa some time to find the right part of the park. His jaw is still clenched tightly when he approaches, he wan't quite successful at not being angry when he makes it there.
Togusa disconnects, because he really needs those couple of minutes to throw an absolute temper tantrum complete with punching his steering wheel. Fuck. Fuck! He didn't want to be right, he wanted James to be okay! Why him? Why does Retrospec keep singling him out? How are they even doing this? What's the god damn point of it all?
He has to get that pure rage out of his system by the time he gets to James. He doesn't want to be impassive about this, but neither can he show pity, and the complete out of control anger that he wants to have won't help anyone. Go help your friend figure out what to do next.
It takes Togusa some time to find the right part of the park. His jaw is still clenched tightly when he approaches, he wan't quite successful at not being angry when he makes it there.
When Togusa finds him, he looks uncharacteristically hunched in on himself, like he's trying to be as small and easy to overlook as possible, the hood of his sweater pulled up over his head. James has positioned his empty sleeve as best he can to make it look like it is, in fact, his actual arm draped over his stomach. It isn't quite successful--while at a quick glance he may seem okay, a close look makes it immediately apparent that something is unnatural here.
His leg bounces rapidly and he's got his phone in a death grip and he keeps looking at it every few seconds--not to even do anything on it, just out of a need to do something without causing a scene. He's so wrapped up in his head he doesn't even notice Togusa approaching.
His leg bounces rapidly and he's got his phone in a death grip and he keeps looking at it every few seconds--not to even do anything on it, just out of a need to do something without causing a scene. He's so wrapped up in his head he doesn't even notice Togusa approaching.
There's a quick wave of nausea that fills Togusa when he spots him, when he can see something wrong. The instinctual human reaction to an injury that he has to fight back down before it shows on his face. This is what they've done to James. What possible reason could it be for?
Togusa tries to look casual about sitting on James' left side, making the lack of his arm less obvious if someone is there. "James." He knows better than to ask how he's doing. The tension crawling out of the kid's form ready to explode is pretty much what he had expected.
Togusa tries to look casual about sitting on James' left side, making the lack of his arm less obvious if someone is there. "James." He knows better than to ask how he's doing. The tension crawling out of the kid's form ready to explode is pretty much what he had expected.
"You two are hopeless, romantic fools," Togusa holds up a finger to clarify. "But you're in the presence of a third hopeless, romantic fool, so I'll tell you it was the right choice. If it's right to you two, who cares what anyone else thinks? Not their life to live." The whole matter is as simple as that, to Togusa.
"What is the plan from here, then? Does- Grell have any family in the city?" A curiosity because he's never gotten the chance to ask her. And Togusa knows better than to ask about Ardyn's own family.
"What is the plan from here, then? Does- Grell have any family in the city?" A curiosity because he's never gotten the chance to ask her. And Togusa knows better than to ask about Ardyn's own family.
Hah, that is true, isn't it? I'm certain I've passed you by on the University, I'm over there to visit Ardyn often enough.
Should I look up your office hours, too?
Should I look up your office hours, too?
Sounds reasonable. If he published anything before then, I couldn't find it.
James only catches sight of his approach at the last minute. As Togusa sits down on the bench, he watches for something on his face. Sympathy? Horror? Disgust? Pity? It doesn't matter, because James doesn't find any of them. Just as well--he wouldn't know what to do in response to that anyway.
He turns his head back to keep staring at the bushes across the path. Now that Togusa's here, he's not sure what to say. Is there anything to be said at all? It takes him a few minutes to think of it.
"You think their R&D Department is just a bunch of monsters thinking of the most sickening ways to ruin our lives?"
He turns his head back to keep staring at the bushes across the path. Now that Togusa's here, he's not sure what to say. Is there anything to be said at all? It takes him a few minutes to think of it.
"You think their R&D Department is just a bunch of monsters thinking of the most sickening ways to ruin our lives?"
Togusa is usually one of the first to jump to Retrospec's defense. But even he is considering things he usually doesn't. "Maybe if they ruin our lives enough, we'll start deciding that we want to be those other people. Give in to what they're doing."
Togusa's hands sit on his knees, clench tight for a second in anger. "I can't figure out how this is supposed to do anything that they're claiming to want." That comes out tighter, teeth clenched as he speaks.
A second. Breathe. "How is everybody reacting? Do they think it's new, or are they just-" it would be worse if everyone was ignoring it, pretending James has always been this way.
Togusa's hands sit on his knees, clench tight for a second in anger. "I can't figure out how this is supposed to do anything that they're claiming to want." That comes out tighter, teeth clenched as he speaks.
A second. Breathe. "How is everybody reacting? Do they think it's new, or are they just-" it would be worse if everyone was ignoring it, pretending James has always been this way.
James laughs briefly, and it's somewhere between nervous and bitter. "They're liars, is how. They lie about what they're doing and why, while they just--" He gropes in the air with his hand looking for the right words but he can't find them. He's not sure there even are words for the depravity of what Retrospec is doing--at least to him. He drops his arm, limp against the seat of the bench. "Like I even want to be the other me, if this is what I have to look forward to."
At Togusa's question, though, he looks down at the ground in front of him. He sounds small. "I don't know. Dad leaves for work before I wake up, and I told my sister to go to school without me. The only other person who knows right now is Grell."
At Togusa's question, though, he looks down at the ground in front of him. He sounds small. "I don't know. Dad leaves for work before I wake up, and I told my sister to go to school without me. The only other person who knows right now is Grell."
I have no idea, I want to know that though.
Like every newly remembered memory, every details of retrospec changes?
Like every newly remembered memory, every details of retrospec changes?
Yeah. If you write things down, but dont refer to the company by name. But, the things I remember, the things I know they’re responsible for, that much I’m trying to write down.
Any dreams I’m having.
Any dreams I’m having.
“They’d have to be telling us a damn thing in order to be lying about it.” Togusa’s tone matches James’. Bitter. Disgusted at Retrospec.
But Togusa hesitates when he finds out that James’ family doesn’t know yet. “If you want to put it off, then by all means. But,” he doesn’t even have to think about the offer, “look. When you do have to go home, you dont have to do it alone. All right?” Glances at James to show how serious he is about this. “Not trying to do it for you, but if you need help with an explanation...”
But Togusa hesitates when he finds out that James’ family doesn’t know yet. “If you want to put it off, then by all means. But,” he doesn’t even have to think about the offer, “look. When you do have to go home, you dont have to do it alone. All right?” Glances at James to show how serious he is about this. “Not trying to do it for you, but if you need help with an explanation...”
Almost as if a switch has flipped in his brain, James's anxious moroseness becomes loud agitation. He suddenly leans forward, glares at Togusa, and begins waving his hand accusatively at Togusa, but then at the empty space on his left side. Contrary to the quiet tone he'd been taking, he is now raising his voice.
"Oh yeah? What the hell kind of 'explanation' could you possibly help with? How could you possibly explain to anyone a decent reason for why I'm suddenly an amputee and how my arm is fully healed in one day?"
By the time he's done, he's yelling.
"Oh yeah? What the hell kind of 'explanation' could you possibly help with? How could you possibly explain to anyone a decent reason for why I'm suddenly an amputee and how my arm is fully healed in one day?"
By the time he's done, he's yelling.
The company of another hopeless romantic fool is always welcome. Especially when it concerns talk of engagement and marriage and everything in-between. It's nice to know that he can rely on him for that.
Ardyn shakes his head. "No, she doesn't." He pauses, considering. "The question of family has never been brought up, given that this is a new development, and-- well, you know my thoughts on my own."
That needn't be said. The only family Ardyn cares to share it with is his younger brother and his nephews. He'll likely give his niece a call, as well.
"The news may spread one way or another, unwilling or otherwise. Such is how things are."
Ardyn shakes his head. "No, she doesn't." He pauses, considering. "The question of family has never been brought up, given that this is a new development, and-- well, you know my thoughts on my own."
That needn't be said. The only family Ardyn cares to share it with is his younger brother and his nephews. He'll likely give his niece a call, as well.
"The news may spread one way or another, unwilling or otherwise. Such is how things are."
I'm in my office very nearly always, frankly, but yes: you're more than welcome to drop by.
Somehow, it's better. Seeing James' usual temper come out, the indication that he's still in there actually gives Togusa some relief. "Good. You're not giving up."
Togusa's gaze stays firm, a little angry, himself, and he breathes out sharply. "I don't know yet! But either way, some story needs to get attached to this, and I'm not leaving you to deal with it alone." He's scared to go home, the thought of what his own family would say has to be the most frightening part of all of this.
Togusa swallows hard. "The- healing part, it turns out, that might be the easiest to explain, though. Somehow the local hospital has a surgical option, something from the other Togusa's memories. We can say you got that."
Togusa's gaze stays firm, a little angry, himself, and he breathes out sharply. "I don't know yet! But either way, some story needs to get attached to this, and I'm not leaving you to deal with it alone." He's scared to go home, the thought of what his own family would say has to be the most frightening part of all of this.
Togusa swallows hard. "The- healing part, it turns out, that might be the easiest to explain, though. Somehow the local hospital has a surgical option, something from the other Togusa's memories. We can say you got that."
Togusa tilts his head to the side. "For you two, no, even family considerations shouldn't matter, it wouldn't stop you two. Don't let it. I repeat, who cares what anyone else thinks? Grell already loves the Twins, and she's uncannily good at dealing with your brother, so I think that's that."
"Mmm," Togusa puts a hand to his chin in thought, then snaps his fingers and points. "There's a young lady named Anya, I accidentally messaged her last month, but she referred to Grell as 'Auntie.' Even though they aren't actually related." Ardyn likely already has it in hand, but it's interesting to see the unorthodox cobbled-together ideas of family on both sides.
"I'm amazed it isn't all over the network already, to be honest."
"Mmm," Togusa puts a hand to his chin in thought, then snaps his fingers and points. "There's a young lady named Anya, I accidentally messaged her last month, but she referred to Grell as 'Auntie.' Even though they aren't actually related." Ardyn likely already has it in hand, but it's interesting to see the unorthodox cobbled-together ideas of family on both sides.
"I'm amazed it isn't all over the network already, to be honest."
"I'm suppose to trust my bodyguard, you know?" After all, it would be hard to put up with the rules if he couldn't stand being around the guy for more then a few minutes at a time. "He's pretty level-headed but yeah, he doesn't need to always keep me in one piece."
He nods even if Togusa couldn't see it. It was just nice to know that he felt that way and that Yoon-sung wasn't weird for being a little guilty over this.
"Yeah... I know I shouldn't. I guess it was just a shock of it, you know."
He nods even if Togusa couldn't see it. It was just nice to know that he felt that way and that Yoon-sung wasn't weird for being a little guilty over this.
"Yeah... I know I shouldn't. I guess it was just a shock of it, you know."
"It's healthier to have more than one person that you trust with this sort of thing," Togusa agrees. "Better that he knows what's going on again, though." Yoon-sung did not seem to be doing so well when David was out of the loop, so to speak.
"Give it some time to process, then. It'll feel less bad when you get some distance. But if you do need to talk to someone when these come up, my phone's always open. Just. Yeah, make it a phone call next time if it involves killing someone? Or a clarification that it's a memory and not something happening right now?" Because seriously, Yoon-sung. Togusa is too young to have a heart attack.
"Give it some time to process, then. It'll feel less bad when you get some distance. But if you do need to talk to someone when these come up, my phone's always open. Just. Yeah, make it a phone call next time if it involves killing someone? Or a clarification that it's a memory and not something happening right now?" Because seriously, Yoon-sung. Togusa is too young to have a heart attack.
I can't thank you enough for this.
But I'm still unsure of where to go from here.
But I'm still unsure of where to go from here.
James tries to cross his arms, but of course only manages to shove his forearm against his chest. He gives up on it with a tense, angry flourish. "God damn it."
He forces himself to exhale. "What are you saying, that there is actually a way they could've done surgery on me and fully healed it in less than a day?" This sounds like complete bull.
He forces himself to exhale. "What are you saying, that there is actually a way they could've done surgery on me and fully healed it in less than a day?" This sounds like complete bull.
"No." Togusa shakes his head firmly. "However they're doing this, it's not stealth-surgery. They would have had to do a lot more to remove the arm, themselves. It's more of that unreality bullshit. Push one button, give everybody superpowers. Push another, take away somebody's arm. They need to be stopped."
"But for the immediate problem of 'how to explain this to your family'? The microsurgery will make for a convenient excuse."
"But for the immediate problem of 'how to explain this to your family'? The microsurgery will make for a convenient excuse."
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