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[throughthelookingmax]

"Hey, looks like there's a town up ahead."

Reigen obviously saw it --- he was the one driving, so he saw just about everything. But Max wasn't sure that the others in the back had. She looked over the shoulder of her seat as she said it, making sure that her voice wasn't drowned out by the sound of the 80s citypop CD they acquired at the last town they ran into.

Max turned back around and squinted her eyes, trying her best to filter out the rays of blinding light that seemed to reflect off of everything.

"I think it might be near a beach, too," she said. "That looks like a seagull, right?" Max pointed at the figure of a bird flying overhead.

Comments

[espresso_doppio]

Doppio smiled as though he were suddenly calm. "I'd just like to talk."

[aoihitomi]

"Okay." Hitomi said it as though she had no problem with it, but she really did. But at this point, she knew there was no way she could convince him otherwise.

She still planned to follow him secretly, just in case something happened.

[espresso_doppio]

Though Doppio was ready to stride straight back into town, he hesitated.

"...Maybe you'll tell me not to be, but I'm sorry about this."

[aoihitomi]

"Please... don't do anything that might put you in danger."

[espresso_doppio]

"I won't." Doppio stepped forward to hug her, hoping it was okay to do. "The house isn't far. If anyone is still up, tell them I'll be back soon.

With that, he took off running back up the hill into town.

[aoihitomi]

Hitomi hugged Doppio in return, watching as he retreated back where they came from. When she felt it was safe to do so, she stealthily followed behind him.

[espresso_doppio]

As Doppio ascended the hill, gone was his usual fidgety and meandering gait. He was possessed by a certain focus in spite of his injury--or perhaps because of it.

When he came upon the scene, he paused. The two young men were gone. He touched the limestone exterior of the building and took a deep breath. He looked up at the sign hanging above the door that had nearly broken his nose and identified the text right away. It was a pub.

He grabbed the handle and entered and the door creaked closed behind him.

[aoihitomi]

Hitomi quickly scrambled over to a window. There was no way she would be able to slip inside without being spotted. But at least she could watch.

[sun_npc]

"If you don't mind me saying so, you seem a little young to be drinking," Lisa Lisa observed from a slight distance.

[aoihitomi]

Hitomi jumped backwards, taken off-guard by the sudden interruption. Had she been noticed this quickly?

"Y-yeah," Hitomi managed to stammer out to give her enough time to figure out what to say next. "I'm looking out for a friend."

[sun_npc]

Lisa Lisa hummed, taking a good look at Hitomi. Even in the dark she could tell this girl was new. It wasn't exactly a big town. "Your friend inside?"

[aoihitomi]

Hitomi wet her lips. "Yeah."

[sun_npc]

"People gather and drink their woes away. It's not odd for tension to boil over into fights lately." Lisa Lisa nodded towards the door. "If you're concerned, I can go inside with you."

[aoihitomi]

"I don't think he'd like it if he knew I followed."

[sun_npc]

Lisa Lisa got the sense that this girl wasn’t speaking lightly. Maybe time in the village was making her soft-hearted but she didn’t care to simply walk away from her dilemma.

“What does your friend look like?”

[aoihitomi]

"He has pink hair in a braid." There was no need for any further description; there was only one person in the bar that would fit the bill.

[sun_npc]

“I’ll go and take a look inside. Wait there.” Without further comment, Lisa Lisa strode elegantly into the rustic tavern. The door swung closed behind her.

[aoihitomi]

Hitomi's attention immediately went back to the window. She swapped from watching Lisa Lisa stride inside to Doppio, hoping that nothing that was about to happen would require her intervention.

[alteredfates_npc]

Before Lisa Lisa could make her way far inside, the view of the window was suddenly blocked out by someone's broad back who had taken to leaning back against the window. Whoever it was hadn't noticed Hitomi there at all.

[aoihitomi]

Hitomi almost yet out a yelp of surprise but managed to slap a hand over her mouth before it slipped out.

Hand still pressed against her mouth, she maneuvered around the corner of the building to the only other window with easy sight of Doppio that wouldn't require she jump a fence.

[alteredfates_npc]

Through the window, it was cloudy but Doppio could be seen speaking to the bar owner. Even from the side profile, his face was creased with frustration. The bar owner, a tired and bent old man, was nodding slowly at whatever he was saying. Then, he shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.

Lisa Lisa sat at the bar - it wasn't obvious she was looking at him, but she was close enough to hear whatever was being said.

The two young men who had accosted them were nowhere to be seen.

[aoihitomi]

If they weren't there, then... that had to mean that Doppio would be leaving soon. Hitomi felt a wave of relief fall over her. Until that moment she hadn't realized how anxious she felt... and most of the time, she was keenly attuned to her emotions.

[alteredfates_npc]

Doppio opened his mouth to exhale a harsh sigh. When he turned, he saw Lisa Lisa, and his whole body seemed to stiffen up. Even if he wasn't facing the window, the way he began to fidget and shuffle made it clear he wasn't prepared to see a beautiful woman appear in front of him so suddenly. She merely smiled at him when their eyes met, which made him fidget even more.

[aoihitomi]

Hitomi blinked. Was Doppio nervous? She looked over to Lisa Lisa and back to him. Well, she supposed it made sense. Most men would find a woman as beautiful as her intimidating. Even so, Hitomi couldn't help but feel a little jealous.

[sun_npc]

Lisa Lisa said something to him - it was brief but it made his whole body straighten up. He seemed to be back to his usual expressive self in the way he gestured off in some far direction and she nodded. He clasped his hands like he wasn't sure what to do with them and bowed his head (a familiar gesture he had picked up from both Reigen and Hitomi.) She waved that off and nodded towards the direction he was pointing.

At some point the old bartender's sagging eyebrows lifted off his eyes. He reached across the counter to give Doppio a firm but affectionate pat on the back and a little jostle. Doppio reached up and scratched the back of his head, clearly sheepish at whatever was going on. Minutes passed and Lisa Lisa stood and gave Doppio a polite nod as the bar hand sat him down, clearly wanting to make him settle in for a long conversation.

The door creaked open and Lisa Lisa emerged. She seemed to know where Hitomi was even if she was out of sight and she strode around the side of the building - with her long legs it took only a few steps. "Well. I think he'll be alright."