[Open] + Catchall

[yokunaru]

who: Yuuri and anyone!
what: Training and exploring the city
when: Early May
where: All around the city
warnings: None so far



A. Perimeter Guard Barracks

[Anyone training in the late morning will notice an unfamiliar face in the area. Though Yuuri does his best to keep out of everyone's way, he doesn't realize he's probably drawing attention to himself just by being there and not going with the flow of things. He's not holding a weapon, for one, nor does he seem inclined to find one to practice with. Instead of approaching anyone, he opts to study people's forms as they practice instead. Feel that prickling sensation at the back of your neck? If you turn around, you'll probably find Yuuri standing a little ways off, watching you intently.

Once he realizes you're actually looking back, his eyes will widen and he'll stammer out an apology.]

I-I'm so sorry! I'm not bothering you, am I?


B. Community Center, Ice Skating Rink

[As always, the ice is a familiar haven to him, a place where he can skate some of his anxious thoughts away. After weeks in the city, Yuuri's managed to figure out the center's schedule and find a perfect time to practice. It's just a break between the classes, and while the rink is still open to the public, he's found that it's usually not very crowded at this time of the day.

Yuuri glides across, alternating between skating some compulsory figures and practicing a jump or two. While all this is normal for him, what isn't normal is the thing that comes rushing out toward him suddenly, making him squeak in surprise, flail his arms, and then go crashing onto the ice. He rubs at his hip with a groan.]

You really have to stop doing that... [Who is he talking to? There's no one there, but if you squint hard enough, you might catch a metallic glint out of the corner of your eye, accompanied by a hollow sounding snicker.]

C. Library

[Ever since picking up his first aid lessons with Dr. McCoy again, Yuuri's tried to stop by the library's medical section to brush up on his knowledge. He vaguely remembers a few things from the mandatory biology courses he'd taken in university, but that's nowhere near what he needs to know if he isn't going to be a burden on the doctor.

Even with his determination to learn, Yuuri finds himself drifting off during one such library run. At first, it's quiet for a while, Yuuri simply dozing at the table. Then, it all happens in a chain. The book he's reading slips out of his hand, falling to the floor with a loud thump. Yuuri jerks awake, startled by the noise, and his elbow just happens to catch the pile of books next to him. Though he tries his best to catch them, the books all go tumbling down to the ground, one loud noise after another, until most of the people around the tables are staring at him.

Turning a brilliant red, Yuuri sinks down in his chair a little before deciding the best way to escape is to slip onto the floor and start picking up the books he's knocked over. Hopefully nobody was reading those!]

Comments

[yokunaru]

Oh yeah, you said he does magic. [Yuuri peels himself off the table and props his chin in one hand.] Your Wataru sounds like an interesting person. I would've liked to meet him.

[If only because Eichi seems to speak so highly of him.]

I think I understand what you mean, though. Not that I'm not grateful that Viktor's here, but my best friend back home had a personality like that, too. Not...bizarre, but he's so happy all the time, it's easy for him to distract you from whatever's bothering you.

[finethanks]

Fufu, I'm certain he would be happy to meet you as well, if he ever arrived here. But what is your friend's name? You never talk about yourself, so it's a rare moment where I get to hear something like this.

[Tell him more, more!!]

[yokunaru]

Phichit. [Though there's the familiar ping of homesickness when he thinks about his friend, it's easier to bear this time around. The best way he can remember his friends and familiar is to think of the good parts, after all.]

He was my roommate when I was training in Detroit, and my rinkmate, too. Kind of addicted to social media, but you couldn't find a better friend to have around.

[finethanks]

Phichit-kun sounds like someone who would balance Yuuri very well. Fufu, I hope I can meet him some day. You'd introduce me, wouldn't you?

[He places his hands together eagerly.] I'm certain he must also have many cute stories about Yuuri from his training.

[yokunaru]

Of course. I think you two would get along pretty well. [Maybe a little too well?] When you stopped to record Hyousuke chasing after us, you reminded me of him.

[Yuuri smiles, just a touch sadly.] I shouldn't complain when I already have several people from home here, but I miss him and my family a lot.

[finethanks]

[Eichi automatically opens up his arms in response to that, an invitation for a hug if Yuuri will take it.]

Having others here isn't a reason not to miss those still at home. I hope that Yuuri can return to them some day soon, even if it means that I won't be able to see him again. ♪ I'll send you on a safe journey, so enjoy it once you go.

[yokunaru]

[He looks a little surprised at the gesture, but he accepts the hug with minimal hesitation. Wrapping his arms around his friend, Yuuri leans his head against Eichi's quietly.

And then he tenses up.]

I... don't think that's going to be possible.

[finethanks]

[That's an odd reaction to have, and it's one that has Eichi's stomach twisting nervously. He blinks calmly despite that, quietly leaving this hug as it is.]

What do you mean by that?

[yokunaru]

[Yuuri sighs quietly, letting his hands drop back to his side.]

Viktor's been asking around about the portal. It's true that they can send people back home if they want, but... it's more complicated than that. [There's still some sadness in his eyes, even if he's had a little time to get used to the idea already.]

The portal... it doesn't send people home, it sends people back where they were before the portal brought them here. For most people, that means they go right back to their own world, but for us... [Yuuri trails off, knowing Eichi will figure out what he means.]

[finethanks]

[Eichi's calm expression falls away pretty quickly at that as his mind races. Back to the Eluvio, then? That horrible place where he kept almost dying?]

And there's no way around it? [That portal was strange, so maybe if they waited, it could be figured out, or...]