bulletfool | (inbox) probably too busy eating to pick up the phone

[The grass is, indeed, quite long.

Luckily for Rohan, Izumi tends to hang around in the warmth of his living room, because it's not like there's anyone with whom to share the large space, and that puts him fairly close to the front door. It's not an immediate response, but the door swings open soon enough.

Wow, that umbrella is no good.]

Mr. Rohan! What are you doing here?

[Oh, good. If he had to look at that grass any longer, there might have been a problem—]

Hey, Izumi. [He sounds innocent, but is this really the face of a man you can trust...] I was hoping you might be able to help me with something. Can I come in?

[He doesn't think he's asking for much. Honestly, if the weather weren't so terrible, he wouldn't even ask to come inside. This shouldn't take long, though.]

[Izumi thinks that's the face of a man who can't take care of himself, and that is precisely why he steps aside to allow Rohan inside.]

Sure. What do you need help with?

[Not the lawn, hopefully. One favor for that is already one too many.]

[Rohan steps inside. As he speaks, he reaches into his pocket to find his pen.]

I just need you to look at something for me.

[Without further explanation, once he's sure he has his attention, he takes his pen and draws in the air. The movements of his hand are so swift and fluid that for just a moment, the image formed by the ink appears to be suspended in the air. When Izumi catches sight of the image, he'll fall unconscious, and his skin will turn into paper, much like that of a book.

The question, then, is this: What will Rohan read about on these pages?]

—huh?

[There's a bizarre image in the air. The glimpse he catches before blinking is enough to send him crashing onto the floor, his skin revealing the contents of his mind and history to Rohan as he slips into unconsciousness.

The first page or two starts with what are, by Izumi's reckoning, snippets of the essentials:]

Kohei Izumi. Born September 21 in Mikado City. Blood type B. Zodiac sign Lupus. Part of a family of four with an older ~~sis~~ter ~~brother~~ brother sister? brother. Lives in Wayward Pines. Lives in Mikado City, Wayward Japinesan. Part-time employee at Java Joe's. Reckless and proud, but adaptive and astute.

Unreliable memories: After leaving the hospital, Mr. Rogers, an art teacher with the physique of a pro boxer, explained the oddities in life at the Pines. On the same day, Ms. Jiaying offered a hot sandwich in exchange for the upkeep of her lawn this month. (Come to think of it, the lawn out front is starting to grow out of control.) 10K asked about a girl who might not be real. Is this really home? Which memories are real?

Squadmates: Tachikawa, Kunichika, Yuiga. What organization do they belong to? Do they use Triggers, too?

Trigger: Four days ago, I wore a new body and walked around in the storm. The rain was cold, but there was no pain from the hail. By the way, the new body comes with a trench coat. Cool!

◉ The paycheck might be in the desk (at headquarters). Was that last week's or this week's from last year?

[And should Rohan turn the page yet again:]

I think Mr. Rohan doesn't know how to take care of himself. We've only known each other for three weeks, and he's always asking for money. It doesn't look like he has a job: Maybe he gets nervous around people. Whatever it is, I've been helping out as his neighbor.

[The text starts off fairly normal, not unlike anyone else Rohan has ever "read" using his Stand, but it gets very weird very fast. At first, he just thinks the kid is just kind of dumb ("Lupus? Does he mean Cancer? That's still wrong!"), but then he thinks that maybe he's confused. ("Is it a brother or sister? Shouldn't he know that? And what the hell's a 'Japinesan'? This kid's not very bright...") And then, it gets even more weird...

There are a lot of things that he's curious about, and even some things that annoy him ("I think he can't take care of himself?" Is that what he thinks of him?!), but most importantly, Izumi's "book" answers two of his biggest questions—namely, whether or not Heaven's Door was legit and not just some elaborate idea he came up with, and whether or not Izumi was like him (that is, probably not from around here). Rohan is a bit torn on what to make of the kid as a whole—on the one hand, he sounded like a pretty typical teenager, and that was what he had gathered from their interactions, but on the other hand, he also kind of sounded a little like a serial killer. He wasn't entirely sure if he could trust him, but... Then again, there was an easy way to deal with that.

Rohan didn't like doing this if he could avoid it, but it was better to play it safe. This place was bizarre, and Izumi seemed a little confused... So Rohan takes his pen and writes on one of the pages:

I will not attack Rohan Kishibe.

There. Problem solved. Those words were now a part of Izumi's "life." From now on, Izumi could never possibly think or feel like he might want to hurt him. (Unfortunately for Izumi, probably.) He's about to close the "cover" of the book, but then thinks of one more thing. It's mostly an afterthought, but Rohan adds: I will mow the lawn for both addresses 5043 and 5044.

Okay. Now, he's done. With that, he closes the book, and Izumi returns to normal.]

Nevermind. [He nonchalantly slips the pen back into his pocket.] Are you okay? It looks like you slipped.

[He says that, but he doesn't seem too concerned?!]

[Not that Izumi would ever feel hostility toward Rohan, but whatever helps Rohan sleep at night . . .

It's as if he somehow went from point A to B between blinks. One moment, he's at the door, inviting Rohan in; the next, he's on the floor and feeling vaguely disoriented as he props himself up on his elbows.]

Looks that way. Jeez, and I'm even wearing socks!

[How embarrassing. With that established, he climbs onto his feet, which he makes sure are planted firmly on the floor.]

Sorry about that. What did you need help with?

[Mowing the lawn? Because that sounds like a good idea right now, for some reason.]

I wanted you to look at something for me, but I seem to have forgotten it at home. [How careless of him, right?? Gosh!] With the way the weather is, I'd rather not have to make even more trips right now. I'm sure you understand what I'm saying.

[In other words, he could get his help on this mystery thing another time. Of course, there was no mystery thing, but if Izumi followed up on it, he could always come up with something for him to do on the spot. (Like, you know, maybe mow the lawn??)

The excuse probably doesn't help Izumi's impression of him, but Rohan doesn't care too much. He could think what he wanted.]

Anyway, I'm sorry for bothering you at a time like this.

[Izumi understands, and he's truly getting the sense of Rohan's flippant character the more he engages—though this is such a small thing that he can't get mad even if he were to try. Rather, he nods and looks at the door behind his guest.]

Does that mean you're heading back already? You can stay for a while. There's no one else here.

[His parents never did come home.]

Are you sure? I know my visit was kind of sudden.

[He could have called, but he didn't. What a terrible, neighbor, honestly. (Then again, maybe that's because he usually didn't have to deal with neighbors in the first place.)

It probably couldn't hurt to stay, though. Maybe he could learn more about Izumi. (Is he or isn't he a serial killer?) Also, he probably had food. If he's being honest, Izumi has actually been pretty helpful to him since he arrived here, even if they were both in the same situation. He kind of hoped he wouldn't turn out to be a serial killer.]

[Izumi would shrug if this were an equal peer; Rohan, however, is an adult, and so he offers a polite response instead.]

That's fine. Would you like something to eat? I was about to have lunch.

[This hopeless neighbor of his probably doesn't have enough food in the fridge at home. As a part-time worker, Izumi doesn't have that much change from which to part.]

[This man does not deserve to be treated like an adult.]

Well, if you're offering, I won't say no. [A snake!!] I really owe you one, Izumi.

[HE OWES HIM MORE THAN ONE.]

[He can't afford to wait longer, having put his lunch off well beyond the hour. Even though he's sure Rohan owes him twenty at this point, Izumi heads over to the kitchen where a take-out from town sits on the counter.]

It's not much, but I've got some sandwiches.

[Rohan follows after him. Normally, he was pretty picky (about... well, everything), but the strangeness of their situation allows him to forgive the fact that Izumi is settling for what he can only assume are mediocre sandwiches at best.]

Thanks. You're a pretty generous guy. [Please be as generous as you seem, Izumi, he's rooting for you. While he waits, though...] Where's everyone else? It's pretty weird for everyone to be out in this kind of weather, isn't it?

[He could understand if the storm had come out of nowhere, but...]

[At the very least, he's much more generous than Rohan ever will be. Izumi pops the lid open and slides the container in Rohan's direction.]

It's just me. Turns out my family didn't move in with me. [And Izumi increasingly doubts that he'd moved in in the first place so much as he'd been thrust here. He chuckles.] It's kind of weird to have all this space to myself.

(inbox) probably too busy eating to pick up the phone

everything i ever wanted

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rohanwrimo.docx

I want to print this out and put it on my wall.

It should've been on your wall exactly five years ago.

Honestly!!

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