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]

What, am I impugning the honor of your homeland?

[siriusly]

More like your own tastes...can't believe you're too scared to try a drink. [he takes a big bite of sandwich - a bit more than he can chew at once, so he's silenced for a bit.]

[repeatedprayer]

It's not a matter of fear, it's simply common sense to avoid something you won't like. [Harumph!

Anyway, since Manabu's started on his sandwich Grey will follow suit. Munch munch.]

[siriusly]

Nrrhh-? [the food-muffled ehh.

after getting that down:] That's not sense at all. You don't know you'll not like something unless you've tried it!

[repeatedprayer]

[Swallow.] Actually, I've had cold tea before. [Grey shoots Manabu a triumphant look, confident that he has won this stupid-ass argument.] It was not an experience I think would be improved by coming in a can.

[siriusly]

But you don't know for sure. So you're just avoiding it because you don't want to be surprised by something I already know is good for a fact!

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey considers this.] Shall we make it a bet, then? Since you're so confident about it?

[siriusly]

[one eye squints.] Bet on what? You know I don't have any money right now.

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey makes a dismissive gesture.] Money isn't important to me. How about you have to fulfill one of my requests instead? And conversely, if I do wind up liking it, then I have to do something for you.

[Not that Grey has any solid thoughts on what he'd make Manabu do, but hey. At the very least it potentially gives him something to lord over Manabu.]

[siriusly]

[Manabu hums a dubious sound while popping off the lid of his own drink, letting it cool faster.]

That's pretty broad, but I guess that works...

[repeatedprayer]

It's a deal, then.

[And Grey reflects once more on what a trusting soul Manabu is.]

[siriusly]

[Manabu nods mid-bite. no skin off his teeth; it's not like if Grey wins he's going to as Manabu to do crime - crime doesn't count in fair bets! though it does make him wonder what he could ask for in turn, given the man's already doing a whole bunch for him...hmh...]

We can check that konbini we passed on the way back, I suppose.

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey also wonders what Manabu would ask him to do. Let Manabu walk fifty kilometers? Help an old lady cross the street? Vow to never again use a fake ID?

...Grey has the concern that Manabu might try and bring up the possibility of Grey integrating into society again. He does his best to swallow that bit of worry down; it's not like he expects Manabu to win the bet.]

Very well. I'll let you pick the brand and flavor.

[siriusly]

It's gotta be Tabito tea! [!!

...

...]

If...if it's sold on this planet...

[repeatedprayer]

[...

Grey finishes off the last of his sandwich before responding.]

I've never heard of it. Is it difficult to find off of Tabito?

[Surely this bodes well.]

[siriusly]

Kind of... [he's got the last of the stock ever delivered to Destiny, that's for sure.] Though, I don't know for sure. I didn't really look around for it on other planets, you know?

[repeatedprayer]

Despite it supposedly being so delicious? [His mouth twitches.]

[siriusly]

[his face gets red.] It-it's not like we're a premiere exporter! There's only so much to share with the galaxy, okay!

[repeatedprayer]

[And that twitch grows into a proper smirk.] A premium resource. This is sounding better and better.

[siriusly]

[Manabu slurps on tea loudly in lieu of responding right away; one can envision the ears and tail twitching.] It's good, okay? I've been drinking it since I was a kid, I should know!

[repeatedprayer]

Yes, I'm sure you're quite the connoisseur.

[Grey just keeps smiling, clearly enjoying the grumpy expression on Manabu's face. If he didn't have to worry about dislodging Manabu's hat he'd reach out and muss up Manabu's hair just to annoy him further.

But since he does have to worry about keeping incognito he occupies his hand with his tea cup instead.]

[siriusly]

[Manabu throws the remainder of his drink back, picking at the last third of his sandwich. he's already feeling pretty full, but he can't just leave the remains here! man...

after forcing the rest down:] Th-thanks for the meal... [so full...]

[repeatedprayer]

How did you like it?

[Grey is still drinking his tea, refusing to be in a rush about this. Get rested, idiot.]

[siriusly]

Mn, it was good! [he can still be chipper about it, even if regrets were had. dog-eating behavior tbh.] Ham, right? I hadn't had that in...I don't know. I can't remember how long, eheh...

[repeatedprayer]

[At least four months? Grey wonders what they were feeding Manabu while he was in the lab, but of course this isn't the best time or place to ask something like that.

Grey takes a long, thoughtful sip of his tea.]

You know, I don't think I've ever asked. What foods are your favorite?