[ Once Riku's done checking his phone, he ends up jogging over to the tree, because there's only so much rain his jacket can take before it becomes completely ineffective. This is so silly, he thinks, and he knows that once he finds shade, he'll try to pinch himself. Maybe then, he'll wake up, and everything will be as it should be. He'll be in his bed, in the IDOLiSH7 dormitory, and he'll wake up and either try to fall back asleep or go and get some food. Who knows what time it is in reality...
Either way, that sounds like a good plan.
...Or so he thinks. This is the furthest thing from a dream and a good part of him knows that, with how real the rain feels, with how the windchill makes a shiver run down his spine. In any case, the tree is here. Riku approaches and sees someone else on the other side of it – a boy with blond hair, also getting soaked by the rain. Someone he's never seen before. How could he dream of someone he's never met, he wonders?
But Nirei calls out to him, and Riku's eyes go wide. ]
W-who am I? Who are you?!
[ That's his kneejerk reaction. Sorry, Nirei. He realizes though that this was in poor taste, and he pauses for a second before laughing a little sheepishly. ]
Ah, sorry! I was a little startled...but, um, I'm Riku. I don't really know where I am or how I got here, so I hope I'm not in trouble?
Edited 2025-06-17 18:03 (UTC)
the wheeze I whuzzed at "who am I? who are you?!" lmaooo
[ Nirei startles too at Riku's sudden outburst, his hands going up and his body tensing. He isn't sure what he expected to happen when he called out, but it isn't that, and the shock has him frozen there with his mouth agape for a second.
Then the surprise passes and he lets out a soft, awkward heh and starts laughing as well. ]
No, no, I, uh...I should be the one saying sorry. I shouldn't have called out to you like that. I'm Nirei. Sorry for startling you.
[ He scratches the back of his neck, unsure of how to say this next part. ]
I don't know where we are or how I got here either. I thought I was dreaming, that's why I yelled. So you're not in trouble. At least, not with me. [ He realizes how that comes off and quickly adds: ] That sounds really bad, sorry. Again. I swear I'm not usually this awkward. I just feel like...
[ Nirei takes a moment to look around the park to gather his jumbled thoughts and words. The rain hasn't gotten any harder, but it isn't letting up either. He notes how there's no one else here but them. There are frogs croaking somewhere and other sounds of nature, but he can't see or hear any other people. Not even the noise of cars in the distance. It's unsettling and doesn't help with his brain going a mile a minute, so he just looks back at Riku and gives him the awkward smile of someone trying not to be scared. ]
I still kind of think this is a dream, to be completely honest. This all feels real, but... [ He gestures around them, at an unreadable sign a few meters away.] ...it doesn't at the same time, you know?
Ah, no! It's okay, Nirei-san. I think we're both startled?
[ They sure seem to be, at least, especially as Riku listens to his explanation. He's not the only one. Oh, that's something like a relief, but also a bit frightening. He doesn't dream of people he doesn't know, and if Nirei also thinks this is a dream, then...? Where are they? Where is here and where is everybody else?
Riku lowers his jacket and twists it, trying to drain some of the rainwater from the fabric. It sure is rainy and makes the mood a lot more somber than it might've been if it were sunny. He can recognize Nirei's attempt to stay positive, though, with that smile of his - all Riku can do is try to match it. He gives a hesitant smile of his own. ]
I know what you mean... I've never seen a place like this before, but the rain is cold, and I can hear you so clearly. I - I don't know if we're in a dream because of things like that.
[ Riku moves to bridge some of the gap between them. He will take comfort in this complete stranger who seems just as lost as he is. He moves towards the trunk of the tree so he has something to lean his back on. ]
I think I want to look around once it gets drier. But...maybe we should stick together? I'll make sure to warn you if there's any danger...!
[ Maybe it's just the weight of being soaked making him tired, or maybe it's Riku's voice and presence, but Nirei's spiraling thoughts begin to slow. He leans against the tree trunk too, and lets out a long sigh as he runs his fingers through his wet hair. Unlike Riku, he wasn't lucky enough to wake up here with a jacket, so all he can do is slick off the rainwater on him and wring the edge of his shirt as best he can. ]
That sounds like a good plan. [ He gives him another smile, a brighter one this time. Still afraid, but more hopeful. ] I'll do the same for you, Riku-san.
[He pats his shirt pocket hoping his trusty notebook isn't damaged, but feels nothing where it should be. Nirei furrows his brows and looks down at his chest, realizing he was so caught up in the situation that he didn't notice it didn't come with him to this odd place. He tries to push away the uncomfortable feeling and digs through his pants pocket instead.
With a sigh of relief, he pulls out his phone. At least he has that. The battery isn't full, but it's over half, and more importantly: it isn't damaged, just a little damp. ]
We should avoid splitting up or losing sight of each other if we can help it, but just in case, maybe we should exchange contact info...
[ There's no signal on his phone. Nirei frowns as he tries to send a text to his friends, but nothing's loading or sending or anything. He looks over at Riku. ]
Hey, does your phone have data, or...?
ooc: Sorry this is so late D: Life stuff's been happening so my pace is kind of all over the place.
[ (ooc: omg no i'm sorry this is so late! i lost this tag in my inbox cries. i hope life lets up for you soon ;; irl is happening on my end as well, so don't worry, i am always happy to backtag this thread as long as you are!)
Seeing all of the rainwater on Nirei makes Riku frown a bit, and he feels like he should offer his jacket, but there'd really be no use in doing that. It's completely drenched, just like Nirei himself is, so if anything, offering it would likely make matters worse. He simply frowns a little, but when the other boy smiles, Riku's quick to match it. It's a nice smile, he thinks. ]
Contact info? That's a good idea. Um, let me see...
[ He pulls out his phone, too - at least they both have that. And like Nirei, Riku's phone is fully functional. ... Except for not having any data, which is not entirely surprising given their already very strange circumstances but unnerving all the same. ]
Oh, it doesn't look like it does. It could be the bad weather? [ Which is a very optimistic take on the situation, really. ] I think it'd still be good to exchange information, though, in case it comes back.
[ Riku holds out his phone for Nirei to enter his information. He probably has quite a few notifications visible, especially on his social media applications, and his home screen is a selfie of him and some other guys in pretty fancy outfits. Almost like they're dressed to perform somewhere or something... ]
I'm really glad to have met someone else so soon, honestly. Waking up here was pretty strange, and I'd be feeling a lot worse if not for you.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Either way, that sounds like a good plan.
...Or so he thinks. This is the furthest thing from a dream and a good part of him knows that, with how real the rain feels, with how the windchill makes a shiver run down his spine. In any case, the tree is here. Riku approaches and sees someone else on the other side of it – a boy with blond hair, also getting soaked by the rain. Someone he's never seen before. How could he dream of someone he's never met, he wonders?
But Nirei calls out to him, and Riku's eyes go wide. ]
W-who am I? Who are you?!
[ That's his kneejerk reaction. Sorry, Nirei. He realizes though that this was in poor taste, and he pauses for a second before laughing a little sheepishly. ]
Ah, sorry! I was a little startled...but, um, I'm Riku. I don't really know where I am or how I got here, so I hope I'm not in trouble?
the wheeze I whuzzed at "who am I? who are you?!" lmaooo
Then the surprise passes and he lets out a soft, awkward heh and starts laughing as well. ]
No, no, I, uh...I should be the one saying sorry. I shouldn't have called out to you like that. I'm Nirei. Sorry for startling you.
[ He scratches the back of his neck, unsure of how to say this next part. ]
I don't know where we are or how I got here either. I thought I was dreaming, that's why I yelled. So you're not in trouble. At least, not with me. [ He realizes how that comes off and quickly adds: ] That sounds really bad, sorry. Again. I swear I'm not usually this awkward. I just feel like...
[ Nirei takes a moment to look around the park to gather his jumbled thoughts and words. The rain hasn't gotten any harder, but it isn't letting up either. He notes how there's no one else here but them. There are frogs croaking somewhere and other sounds of nature, but he can't see or hear any other people. Not even the noise of cars in the distance. It's unsettling and doesn't help with his brain going a mile a minute, so he just looks back at Riku and gives him the awkward smile of someone trying not to be scared. ]
I still kind of think this is a dream, to be completely honest. This all feels real, but... [ He gestures around them, at an unreadable sign a few meters away.] ...it doesn't at the same time, you know?
LMAO i am so glad...finds a matching icon
[ They sure seem to be, at least, especially as Riku listens to his explanation. He's not the only one. Oh, that's something like a relief, but also a bit frightening. He doesn't dream of people he doesn't know, and if Nirei also thinks this is a dream, then...? Where are they? Where is here and where is everybody else?
Riku lowers his jacket and twists it, trying to drain some of the rainwater from the fabric. It sure is rainy and makes the mood a lot more somber than it might've been if it were sunny. He can recognize Nirei's attempt to stay positive, though, with that smile of his - all Riku can do is try to match it. He gives a hesitant smile of his own. ]
I know what you mean... I've never seen a place like this before, but the rain is cold, and I can hear you so clearly. I - I don't know if we're in a dream because of things like that.
[ Riku moves to bridge some of the gap between them. He will take comfort in this complete stranger who seems just as lost as he is. He moves towards the trunk of the tree so he has something to lean his back on. ]
I think I want to look around once it gets drier. But...maybe we should stick together? I'll make sure to warn you if there's any danger...!
no subject
That sounds like a good plan. [ He gives him another smile, a brighter one this time. Still afraid, but more hopeful. ] I'll do the same for you, Riku-san.
[He pats his shirt pocket hoping his trusty notebook isn't damaged, but feels nothing where it should be. Nirei furrows his brows and looks down at his chest, realizing he was so caught up in the situation that he didn't notice it didn't come with him to this odd place. He tries to push away the uncomfortable feeling and digs through his pants pocket instead.
With a sigh of relief, he pulls out his phone. At least he has that. The battery isn't full, but it's over half, and more importantly: it isn't damaged, just a little damp. ]
We should avoid splitting up or losing sight of each other if we can help it, but just in case, maybe we should exchange contact info...
[ There's no signal on his phone. Nirei frowns as he tries to send a text to his friends, but nothing's loading or sending or anything. He looks over at Riku. ]
Hey, does your phone have data, or...?
ooc: Sorry this is so late D: Life stuff's been happening so my pace is kind of all over the place.
no subject
Seeing all of the rainwater on Nirei makes Riku frown a bit, and he feels like he should offer his jacket, but there'd really be no use in doing that. It's completely drenched, just like Nirei himself is, so if anything, offering it would likely make matters worse. He simply frowns a little, but when the other boy smiles, Riku's quick to match it. It's a nice smile, he thinks. ]
Contact info? That's a good idea. Um, let me see...
[ He pulls out his phone, too - at least they both have that. And like Nirei, Riku's phone is fully functional. ... Except for not having any data, which is not entirely surprising given their already very strange circumstances but unnerving all the same. ]
Oh, it doesn't look like it does. It could be the bad weather? [ Which is a very optimistic take on the situation, really. ] I think it'd still be good to exchange information, though, in case it comes back.
[ Riku holds out his phone for Nirei to enter his information. He probably has quite a few notifications visible, especially on his social media applications, and his home screen is a selfie of him and some other guys in pretty fancy outfits. Almost like they're dressed to perform somewhere or something... ]
I'm really glad to have met someone else so soon, honestly. Waking up here was pretty strange, and I'd be feeling a lot worse if not for you.