Just got to chase the pain away

[superordinary]

Who: Makoto Naegi (superordinary) and Kiyotaka Ishimaru (ardent)
Where: Ice Path (and Blackthorn later)
When: February 13th and onward
Summary: Two dangans and a bloober versus a cave full of ice. This will end in idiocy.
Rating: PG at the most. Also, spoilers for DR may come up.
Log:


[ When Mondo left Johto, Ishimaru couldn't stay there in the Dangan house anymore. He had to leave. So Naegi decided to go with him — letting him wander off on his own would be one hell of a bad idea and Naegi was quick to suggest that the two of them should go to Blackthorn City. He's heard many great things about the city's famed hot springs and getting the chance to soak and relax in the water would do them both good, he thinks. They've definitely earned it.

Now, what stands between them and their destination is the Ice Path and as the name implies, it's full of ice and snow. The inside of the cave is practically one giant thick sleet of ice with frosted stones on the ground and icicles adorning the ceiling, sparkling in the sunlight coming in from outside. It's actually rather beautiful, if you don't mind the perpetual chill.

The slimy little bloober that's been in their company for a total of thirty minutes seems to mind, however. The poor thing's freezing but for some bizarre reason it seems insistent on braving the cold instead of turning back. ]

...Hey, uh. That thing is still...following us, Ishimaru-kun.

Comments

[ardent]

[For a moment, he looks as though he's about to say something but thinks better of it at the last minute; his gaze darts away briefly, as though he's not entirely sure what to do with himself, but at least judging by his expression it's not a bad thing. A bit uncertain, maybe, but he's not bothered.]

...I've known that for sure for a long time, actually.

[superordinary]

T-thank you, Ishimaru-kun.

[ A tiny smile appears on his face, lighting up his expression. ]

I know for sure I can trust you too.

[ardent]

[...Ah.]

...It's very good to hear that, Naegi-kun, I...

[don't know what to do with myself goodness hang on]

...That means a lot to me!

[superordinary]

And I didn't need to see you naked to know that.

[ ...that said, time to change the topic. ]

By the way, do you mind if I ask you something?

[ardent]

...Of course not, Naegi-kun; go ahead!

[Granted, he can't imagine what it is he's about to be asked, but at least he doesn't mind.]

[superordinary]

Um, I noticed that you're...muscular.

[ ...Captain Obvious has now boarded the SS Naw Duh and is on his way to the island of No Shit, Sherlock. ]

How did you get so muscular?

[ardent]

[...NAEGI...]

W-Well, I'm always saying that we need to take care of our bodies, aren't I?!

[...how do we handle this question

he actually has never gotten this question before]

[superordinary]

I, um, think that goes beyond just taking care of it...

[ FUJISAKI SHOULD'VE TRAINED WITH RIPPED HALL MONITOR-KUN OVER HERE JFC. ]

[ardent]

I'm going to want it to perform to the best of its ability - I was given only one of them, after all!

[...okay, look, how is he even supposed to - ]

Outside of that, though...I've done kendo for years, so that's probably got a lot to do with it!

[superordinary]

I didn't take you for the type to do kendo...or any sport, really.

[ Look, he was under impression that you studied all day every day resulting in the poorly socialized "lettuce isn't cold" friend he knows and didn't have time for sports. ]

What's your rank? 3-dan?

[ardent]

[...lettuces are green, though.]

3-dan, yes! It's a good way of reinforcing discipline and self-control...and it's a way of keeping my stress levels reasonable, as well. That's why I started.

[superordinary]

[ and dead bodies are bothersome, am i right. ]

...Just how stressed were you, Ishimaru-kun? That can't have been good.

[ardent]

[Well, they are.

...that said, though, the question seems to make him falter a bit; his expression doesn't shift very far, but his gaze is quick to dart away while he tries to come up with a response.

He shakes his head after a moment, though.]

Ah, don't...don't worry about that, Naegi-kun, it's just senseless complaining anyway - what matters is that it works.

[superordinary]

I don't think it's senseless, Ishimaru-kun.

[ ... ]

U-um, when was the last time you did kendo? We've been here in this world for almost a year and this is the first time you've even mentioned it.

[ardent]

Quite some time ago, really - I haven't kept up with it here. Why?

[superordinary]

Have you thought about picking it up again? Maybe having something like that would be good for you.

[ardent]

I've considered, yes! I don't have anyone to practice with, however, among other things.

[superordinary]

I could practice with you, if you want. But you'd have to teach me first.

[ardent]

[...O-Oh.]

Really? You'd like that...?

[superordinary]

Yeah! I need to start exercising more, anyway. I think I'm starting to get out of shape... not that I was in great shape to begin with.

[ Really, since he moved into the Dangan house he hasn't really gotten much exercise other than going to and back from work and when he decides to explore the city. That binging on ice cream when the nightmares started didn't exactly help, either. ]

[ardent]

[...there's a brief pause where Ishimaru has to mentally remind himself not to comment on that, because there are some things that we apparently just don't agree with and that is approximately all of them in one go.]

Well, if it's what you want and you wouldn't mind, then I don't see why not!

[superordinary]

[ Thank you for having some tact today, kid. ]

...Does this mean I should start calling you Ishimaru-sensei?