[The door does indeed open, and Tsukasa pauses mid-step inside at that question, freezing in place.
And then he just sighs a little, stepping into the stand properly, rummaging around.
He doesn't answer at first. Instead, there's just the rummaging, and then Tsukasa comes back out with a few bags of popcorn in his arms. He hands them over one by one.]
Ramune. Confetti. Cheddar. Cinnamon-sugar.
[So many flavors.
...]
I don't know if that's why it was "chosen", or anything like that. But I suppose that might be why I was too-easily swept up into things.
[ Elysium will accept each and every bag he hands over. There's something almost mechanical about it, like he's moving on autopilot while his thoughts are fixed elsewhere. Namely, on how to broach this topic with Tsukasa. It'd been easier with Mafuyu when he'd already had the rapport from helping her with her injuries. But, there is also the sense that she's just more honest in general—or, perhaps, the better word would be apathetic, however concerningly forced it might be. ]
… You're the only person I haven't had the chance to talk to about this yet. The world you came from—with Operator Phantom and the Crimson Troupe—they're not just abstractions. They're real and their problems are still unresolved.
[ The last of the bags crunches in his hand a little. ]
Will you talk to me about what you experienced, Tsukasa? Operator Phantom has been a major concern for the Doctor. I'd like to help them both however I can.
[ So he says, but it's really Tsukasa who he's worried about here. ]
[He may really be worried about Tsukasa here, but he's going about it the right way; something in Tsukasa tenses up when he brings up the Crimson Troupe again, and then despite himself, he takes a deep breath in and slowly lets it out, forcibly easing said tension.
If he thinks it's for Lucian's sake, then yeah, he'll say anything. If it's for someone else's sake--]
Lucian is--?
[A "major concern"... he wonders what that means. If it has anything to do with what he experienced.
... He nods.]
Alright. I'm not sure what I saw will be that useful, but I'll do what I can to help. Let's go sit over here.
[He'll lead the way to a bench! It's in front of a colorful flowerbed. Everything about this feels like a poor backdrop for this story.]
Have you already spoken with Mafuyu or Edamura-san? I don't want to repeat things you already know.
The circumstances that he joined under are mysterious, to say the least. Rhodes Island has a strict policy of not asking Operators about their pasts, since many who seek refuge just want a fresh start.
For Operator Phantom in particular, his skill set isn't something you acquire if you live a privileged life. [ … ] There are things that don't need to be said to draw a conclusion from.
[ He smiles weakly but follows Tsukasa to the bench nonetheless. At least the atmosphere keeps things from feeling too dour. Elysium kicks his feet, gazing up at the sky so Tsukasa doesn't have to worry about his eyes boring into his soul. ]
Mafuyu gave me a basic rundown, and Edamura mentioned that you two handled most of the work. I heard you spent the most time with Operator Phantom himself?
[... Yeah. It's obvious that none of that comes as a surprise to Tsukasa.
He drops his own gaze to his hands, threaded together in his lap.]
That's not...
[Mmm...
He pauses, brow furrowing, and searches for the words.]
Instead of spending time with him, I... I guess I lived it. A lot of his life.
... After Edamura-san and Mafuyu both disappeared, I stumbled across the Crimson Troupe by myself. I met the Troupe Master there, and--I don't know what he did, but...
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
The door probably opens, but he falters, steps slowing as something else Tsukasa says catches his attention. ]
… Is that why they chose the Crimson Troupe of all things for you to deal with? They thought you'd be able to relate?
no subject
And then he just sighs a little, stepping into the stand properly, rummaging around.
He doesn't answer at first. Instead, there's just the rummaging, and then Tsukasa comes back out with a few bags of popcorn in his arms. He hands them over one by one.]
Ramune. Confetti. Cheddar. Cinnamon-sugar.
[So many flavors.
...]
I don't know if that's why it was "chosen", or anything like that. But I suppose that might be why I was too-easily swept up into things.
no subject
… You're the only person I haven't had the chance to talk to about this yet. The world you came from—with Operator Phantom and the Crimson Troupe—they're not just abstractions. They're real and their problems are still unresolved.
[ The last of the bags crunches in his hand a little. ]
Will you talk to me about what you experienced, Tsukasa? Operator Phantom has been a major concern for the Doctor. I'd like to help them both however I can.
[ So he says, but it's really Tsukasa who he's worried about here. ]
no subject
If he thinks it's for Lucian's sake, then yeah, he'll say anything. If it's for someone else's sake--]
Lucian is--?
[A "major concern"... he wonders what that means. If it has anything to do with what he experienced.
... He nods.]
Alright. I'm not sure what I saw will be that useful, but I'll do what I can to help. Let's go sit over here.
[He'll lead the way to a bench! It's in front of a colorful flowerbed. Everything about this feels like a poor backdrop for this story.]
Have you already spoken with Mafuyu or Edamura-san? I don't want to repeat things you already know.
no subject
For Operator Phantom in particular, his skill set isn't something you acquire if you live a privileged life. [ … ] There are things that don't need to be said to draw a conclusion from.
[ He smiles weakly but follows Tsukasa to the bench nonetheless. At least the atmosphere keeps things from feeling too dour. Elysium kicks his feet, gazing up at the sky so Tsukasa doesn't have to worry about his eyes boring into his soul. ]
Mafuyu gave me a basic rundown, and Edamura mentioned that you two handled most of the work. I heard you spent the most time with Operator Phantom himself?
no subject
He drops his own gaze to his hands, threaded together in his lap.]
That's not...
[Mmm...
He pauses, brow furrowing, and searches for the words.]
Instead of spending time with him, I... I guess I lived it. A lot of his life.
... After Edamura-san and Mafuyu both disappeared, I stumbled across the Crimson Troupe by myself. I met the Troupe Master there, and--I don't know what he did, but...
[Then he was living Lucian's life instead.]