doggone

[repeatedprayer]

[In the time following his departure from Tabito and Manabu's company, the alias "Grey" has wound up sticking.

Not that everyone calls him that, he's used a few other aliases since then, but it's what he's wound up thinking of himself as. If Grey had taken the time to think about it a bit more he might have picked something with a little less connection to Rezo's name, but it's still leagues better than thinking of himself as "Rez- wait, no, just a copy." And maybe that's why he's felt significantly calmer since he left Sairaag.

By his own standards, Grey has been laudably well-behaved; sure, he's been mostly doing under-the-table psychic work, often on behalf of criminals, but! He's been trying to keep a low profile so it's usually things like clairvoyant spying rather than anything violent, and he's been making a point of not doing anything that directly impacts the galaxy railways.

It would be extremely awkward if Manabu Yuuki had to try and arrest him, after all.

He's found himself frequently thinking about Manabu, much to his annoyance. He has no serious expectations of ever seeing Manabu again, so it's simply a waste of mental bandwidth to find himself wondering what Manabu is doing right now or where he is, or to reminisince over their incredibly brief acquaintanceship. Grey can only suppose that because Manabu was the first reasonably normal person he got to know after leaving Sairaag that Manabu is going to stick out in his mind for a while.

And it's probably because of the real estate that Manabu is hogging in Grey's mind that he's been very aware of every mention of the SDF that crosses his path. He hasn't exactly been tracking the SDF's activities deliberately, but he does pay attention to the news and the SDF frequently winds up in there, even if Manabu's name in particular isn't normally dropped.

Until the day it does.

SDF Officer Taken Hostage By Pirates]

* * *

[It's taken several weeks of investigating, but Grey has been able to track down The Huntress's client, a Dr. Parish and associates. It must be a small galaxy, because Dr. Parish is someone Grey knows. Sort of.

Rather, Dr. Parish was a colleague of Rezo's who collaborated with the man on chimera research (and other unsavory things) in the past. Not only that, the man was an ardent admirer of Rezo's superior psychic prowess, and desperate to improve his own meager abilities.

He'd had quite a shock when Grey approached him in town, but after the initial surprise it had been sickeningly easy to convince Dr. Parish that he was the real Rezo. Grey can only surmise that the man wants to believe too badly to let himself be properly suspicious. It had only taken a day for Grey to be invited to tour Parish's laboratory.

The lab's located on the grounds of a former Marquess's estate, a ways out of town and secluded by trees, a high wall, and a long drive. Grey's done a little recon before, but actually being here is different, especially since he has to navigate by cane at the moment. Grey is doing his best to politely nod and smile as Parish guides him from room to room, explaining their work and occasionally handing him things to examine himself.

But evidently Parish realizes that "Rezo" isn't entirely interested, because he stops partway through an explanation of some stem cell experiments he and a few others have been working on to say "Of course, the really interesting specimens are kept in the basement floor."

Grey already knows this. He hopes his expression seems the right sort of eager.]

Interesting?

["Something along the lines of what we did in the past. Would you like to see them?"]

Nothing would please me more.

[Grey can practically hear Parish's delighted grin. To soothe the surge of irritation, Grey reminds himself that he's going to kill this man before the end of the day and allows Parish to guide him out into the hall and to the basement entrance at the back of the building.]

Comments

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey listens for a few moments, but when Manabu mentions the trail Grey's eyes snap open and he holds up a hand to halt Manabu's pleas.] Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Going out is one thing, investigating a location we know to be dangerous is another.

[Just watching Manabu struggle to walk around the apartment is stressful enough. The idea of him stumbling about out there like a young colt surrounded by wolves is almost unbearable.]

[siriusly]

Okay, fine-- [he grimaces, but he relents a little.] At least somewhere in the periphery? So I know a bit more about where I even am...I've never even been to this planet.

[never mind that he doesn't even have shoes to walk in, that's beyond his scope to think about right now; achieve the goal first, sort the details later.]

Your errands--if you have to do more, why can't I go, too? Isn't that reasonable?

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey exhales softly and after a beat, nods.]

Very well. I need to do some laundry downstairs, and I was thinking of bringing you with me.

[The stairs may still be an issue, but if Manabu holds onto the railing and Grey stays in front to catch Manabu if he trips, then maybe it'll turn out alright.]

If you're willing to help with that, then let's find your hat and go.

[So saying, Grey slips off the bed and gets to his feet to get started on gathering hat, laundry, and...

...Wait.]

-I don't have any shoes for you. I didn't know your size. [The walkies are cancelled!!!

jk grey's not THAT heartless.] Ah... Perhaps you can wear two pairs of socks? It isn't as if we're going anywhere fancy.

[siriusly]

[Manabu perks up right away and is practically jumping to make moves to get hat and then--

wait...

shoes...

he deflates. dammit, he has nothing of his own to his name right now, does he? his prospects of being able to even just wander the block are dashed, scope shrunken to a downstairs trot.

it's more than he's got, but it's hard not to feel bummed out.]

...Y-yeah. I don't mind that. [but he's not gonna be over the moon about it, either! man, this sucks!]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey scoops up the laundry bags he'd gathered earlier, and glances at Manabu. He can practically hear a whistle from Manabu deflating- all droopy ears and tail...]

We can buy you a new pair after this, if your stamina's still good.

[See! Prospect of more walkies later! Doesn't that sound fun??!]

[siriusly]

[that does help him not look like his birthday was just cancelled. he nods.] It will be! [he's decided. whether or not his body listens to him is another thing. maybe starting the day off fucking like animals isn't really setting himself up for success BUT ANYWAY--]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey hopes Manabu is correct but, well, he also knows "No I'm too tired," is not a combination of words that has ever left Manabu's mouth ever.

Once Manabu has his hat and socks on, Grey hands over one of the laundry bags.]

Here, you can carry this.

[And after a moment's thought, Grey fishes the apartment key out of his pocket and hands it to Manabu as well.]

And this. You're in charge of locking up.

[The reason for this is simple: Grey is not only heading out the door first, but once he's out there he immediately takes a hold of the railing and starts climbing down the stairs backwards.

Slowly, waiting for Manabu to get the door locked, and keeping only a few steps of distance between them at the time. Should Manabu fall forwards, he'll at least have a Grey to break his fall.]

[siriusly]

Uoh-- [whoa! tasks! he's being given laborious tasks!! exciting new developments. Manabu's still not the steadiest on his feet, so moving while his hands are full will be a new trial...one that he's more than eager to face. never has there been a man so eager to eat shit down some stairs as Manabu Yuuki.

the hat smushes some of his hair in his face, but none of it is going to impair his vision too badly; he shuffles out after Grey once he's decided on just slinging the bag over his shoulder as something of a counterweight to his missing tail-led balance, hanging onto the door knob and pulling it along after him.

fresh air...!

he looks about at what he can see of life outside the laundromat-flat - sky, roofs, traffic...

normal things. planets still turn, days and months pass with or without him. he wants to be part of it again. badly.

the tinkle of the key ring in his hand is what reminds him he's got to take care of that, so he does, then moves to the head of the stairs, blinking down at them...and Grey.

new challenge mode unlocked. after stuffing the key in his pocket, he inhales, gripping the rail and making his moves down.]

Oh--whoa-- [moving down while looking down makes the vertigo a bit more intense in a way he wasn't expecting, prompting him to stay a bit hunched after that first step as he reconciles the way things seem to split into double and move about. he closes an eye with the hope that it'd blot that out, offering a grimacing smile.]

I-I'm okay! It's just different with stairs, I think... I can do this, though! [and he's going to! just watch!

it's...gonna take a bit longer than he'd like, but he's gonna do it!]

[repeatedprayer]

...

[During the moment where Manabu takes in the sights Grey goes quiet, watching the expression on Manabu's face. This technically isn't the first time Manabu's been outside since he was imprisoned in the lab, but it's the first time without Manabu also being in a semi-drugged stupor. Grey thinks he has a pretty good idea of how Manabu must be feeling. The taste of freedom is a powerful one, something that can only whet the appetite for more.

Then the moment ends and Manabu takes his first step down the stairs and immediately looks terrible. Grey tenses, poised to hurry up and press a hand against Manabu or something-]

Are you-?

[-but Manabu is quick to reassure Grey so Grey relents and lets him get on with it.]

Take your time. The laundromat doesn't close until late at night.

[The trip down the stairs is much akin to when Manabu was doing his laps around the bed earlier, in that Grey spends the entire time staring at Manabu and mentally calculating how exactly he's going to break Manabu's fall when/if it happens.

Since Grey takes a step down every time Manabu does, progress for both of them is, needless to say, slow. Grey's glad for both their sakes that the stairs are behind the building, where there aren't any other people walking around to observe their descent.

Step by step... It gives Grey a little jolt when he takes the last step and feels the ground under his feet instead of another stair. Almost there!]

[siriusly]

[Manabu descends those stairs with a near-equal measure of determination and dismay in his heart: dismayed at how pathetic it is he must go this slow to avoid keeling over, but determined to see it through. he can only get better if he tries, after all...

and it's not like he'd immediately crush his skull falling: Grey is right there. and is kind enough to not tease or heckle him about it, either! it's heartening, albeit a touch emasculating. but then again, he can't really say much about that since they crossed such a huge threshold already.

weird how he's made such huge strides in some ways and these infuriatingly short ones in others.

at the last step, Manabu straightens up, looking queasy but vindicated; were his tail out, it'd be wagging.] Told you I could do it. But don't give me any credit for it yet! Not until I can do that without being completely pathetic.

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey's heart swells when Manabu finally reaches the ground without any real incident. If Manabu weren't wearing the hat, Grey would probably go ahead and ruffle the hell out of his hair. Perhaps it's strange that he should feel such vicarious pride, but- Grey's been doing his best to watch over Manabu, to nurse him and walk him through physical therapy multiple times a day. This accomplishment feels partly his.

But at Manabu's insistence, Grey doesn't fuss, just grins and adjusts his grip on his bag.]

Of course. We don't want your ego growing too large, do we?

[Grey turns partly away, still keeping his head tilted in Manabu's direction.]

Shall we keep going or do you need more time to catch your breath?

[siriusly]

What! Just...stand at the bottom of the stairs? [no way. he follows along, needing to close his eyes between steps to curb the nausea.] We're cleaning all this stuff, right? So let's do that.

[repeatedprayer]

Very well.

[Grey's brow arches, and he makes sure to stick close to Manabu as he walks. But he does let Manabu keep moving, and maybe the flat terrain will treat Manabu better than the stairs did.

They turn a corner, walk through an alley between the laundromat and a building with peeling siding, and then they're out on the main street. It's actually a fairly busy part of the morning they've chosen to come out; it's past the peak of morning rush hour, but there's still plenty of people traversing the streets, getting coffee, etc.

Grey gives Manabu a glance to see how he's handling being in public proper before heading for the entrance of the laundromat.]

[siriusly]

[out in the world...

it's different than tromping down some stairs at the back of a building. there's people about, living their lives. people who belong here. the feeling hits harder seeing it at street-level, gives him pause to just...watch.

the breeze of traffic rushing by rustles some of his hair, kicks up nostalgic smells, and makes his stomach knot and throat tighten.

Mom...are you doing okay? Is Shutaro still...

feeling his eyes start to sting prompts him to move, nearly right into Grey if he doesn't get a move on himself.]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey does get a hasty move on once he sees Manabu starting to move again; if Grey also spots a hint of tears in Manabu's expression, he's kind enough not to say anything about it.

Grey holds the door to The Laundry Quandary open for Manabu and once they're both inside, heads for a free table to dump the various linens. There are a few other customers inside the laundromat, and a middle-aged employee who gives Grey a greeting when he comes in, which he rudely ignores in favor of calling out to Manabu.]

Help me sort these.

[Grey has to speak a little loudly- there's a TV on in the room which is set to a channel playing some TV drama wherein one woman is very angry at a man for kissing some other woman. She's doing a lot of yelling about it while the other woman cries and the man tries fruitlessly to calm both of them down.]

[siriusly]

[for what it's worth, Manabu does make eye contact and give a polite head-bow to the employee before his attention is diverted.]

A--mn, yeah...

[if Manabu were a better friend, he'd recognize the show as one of the dramas that Louis loves to follow! but...he kind of zones out when she starts talking about those sorts of things.

he can't be a better friend, so he may as well be good at digging clothes and bedding out of the bag he brought with him per Grey's instructions. it's such a mundane chore, but there's meaning in being able to even do it again.

man...this is so messed up. i'm so messed up...]

[repeatedprayer]

I believe we'll have to do this in two batches.

[Grey has a fairly haphazard approach to laundry, courtesy of his issues with colors and relative lack of housekeeping knowledge- he basically just sorts things into "lights" and "not lights" and leaves the rest in God's hands. Manabu may be able to offer some additional suggestions, or perhaps he's too busy marinating in the sads.

Regardless, it's not too long before a batch of laundry and detergent is ready to be tossed into one of the washers... leaving both of them with not much to do other than wait while the machine does its thing.

Grey gives Manabu an uncertain glance. The subdued mood is obvious- Manabu's rarely subtle about his emotions- but damned if he has a clue as to what to do about it.]

Shall we sit down?

[There are chairs! And magazines. And the fucking TV, which is currently taking a break from the show to play an ad for life insurance.]

[siriusly]

[Manabu is not that anal about laundry - honestly, he's more lax about it (put clothing into machine, press button, the end, really) - so he follows Grey's sorting process without much question or concern...his thoughts aren't entirely in that room, after all.

i'm doing things people do...but i don't feel like...a person...?]

Hm-? [the suggestion cuts into that weird, existential thought and makes Manabu hesitate to process.] Oh, right. Yeah.

[the moment he sits, his nausea surges and reminds him it's there. he swallows back against it and slumps in the seat, looking around the area, hyper aware of the discomfort his bound tail is causing in all of this.]

How long is it? [he can answer his own question by just...looking at the machine.] Oh. Mn. Okay.

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey, naturally, takes the seat beside Manabu. He quietly observes the way Manabu slumps, and generally looks awful.]

Here now.

[Completely ignoring the fact that other people can see him, Grey sets his hand against Manabu's face and tilts his head in his direction. Grey frowns a little as he examines Manabu's complexion.]

You're looking rather pale. Are you feeling alright?

[siriusly]

Eh-? [Manabu forgets to flinch away (he's getting used to all the face-touching, yanno), blinking back at Grey. at the ask, his face starts to get a bit pink.]

I-I'm fine! [he turns his head, doing a slight double-take in remembering being in public.

he scratches a bit under the hat.] Just sitting around isn't hard... [lies. it's torture!!!!] And even if I wasn't okay, I'd still have to sit around, right?

[repeatedprayer]

[Honestly Grey's already tempted to pull Manabu into his arms and just try to cuddle the sick out of him, but the slight withdrawal is enough to make him put that option on hold.]

If you'd be more comfortable standing or would prefer to go somewhere else- [Whether that's back upstairs to collapse or to the bathroom at the back of the laundromat to puke.] -then we'll do that.

[Gosh, Manabu, you're acting like your well-being isn't the most important thing here!]

[siriusly]

[the restraint is for the best: Manabu already feels too fragile and useless that being coddled would just make it worse. besides, they're in public...he's had to shoo off people for excessive PDA on the job, you know? he'd be a hypocrite!

while that part may not be clear, it is clear that Manabu is not at his best when he feels sick, but who is? he stubbornly crosses his arms and sinks a but into the uncomfortable seat, then blinks, looking over at him.]

...Go where?

[repeatedprayer]

[With the patience of someone who is, despite claims otherwise, used to dealing with sick people:]

Back to the apartment, to the washroom, or just outside the laundromat if you need fresh air.

[Y'know, Manabu, because you're soooo sickly and weak.]

[siriusly]

[he tries to not look too put out, even though he lolls his head back and scowls at the ceiling.]

...Right... [this is hell!!!!!!!!!!

...

...

...]

Outside is fine, though.

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey nods and gets to his feet, before heading to the door at a leisurely pace. This catches the attention of the laundromat employee-

"Hey, your laundry's still in the machine."

-and Grey makes an acknowledging noise in response.]

I know. We're just stepping out for a few minutes.

[Hopefully the employee can be trusted to keep an eye out for laundry thieves on their behalf.

Again, Grey holds the door open for Manabu. Look, fresh air!!!

...Well, as fresh as the air in a slummy part of a city can reasonably be expected to be.]