Montague-Dojima Apartment, Tokyo, Tuesday Daytime

[withoutverona]

Romeo's college required he take a business ethics course. It wasn't such a bad idea, really. In Verona, showing up with a few bodyguards and asking pointed questions about how attached a rival was to his cars was considered a reasonable opening salvo. He flipped through the text with a highlighter in hand, occasionally shooting worried glances at the door.

Yurika wasn't saying anything, but he could tell something at work was troubling her. A friend had died; that was as much as she'd told him, and that was worry enough.

He reread the passage on ethical hiring practices and hoped she'd be home soon.

[OOC: For the hime and calls/emails/texts.]

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[intraspective]

Her smile, though he couldn't see it, was slightly bitter.

"I think I would have rathered be shoved into that other world," Ino admitted. "I could have--done something there, something with more action. The hall was just quiet and depressing 'cause there were so many in the cots."

[withoutverona]

"Well, I won't hope it'll happen again just so you can do something," Romeo said slowly. "But it does sound -- horrible. I would have felt useless too."

[intraspective]

She laughed softly.

"I don't want it to happen again either," she assured him. "I just want something where--I can do something. Maybe some good."

And if that was a bit more wistful than it would have been a little while ago, well...

[withoutverona]

"The island's never short on chances for that," Romeo said. "You've another two years, and then your work at home." He laughed at himself. "Do I sound 500?"

[intraspective]

"Ewwww," she laughed. "You sound like a grown-up! And--I know, I guess. I think I just want something useful right now, if that makes any sense? Even if I know I'll have a chance later."

[withoutverona]

"Anything but that," Romeo laughed. "May I ask you for a favor, though?"

[intraspective]

"You can ask," she said easily. "I'll tell you if I'll do it afterwards."

[withoutverona]

"When giant squids attack the island, take a moment to send me an email?" Romeo requested. "A text, even. I hate that I found out a month later."

[intraspective]

Ino was, like, the world's worst correspondent.

She totally knew that.

"I'll do my best?" she said honestly. "Though I make no promises 'bout it 'cause sometimes Fandom kills signals and stuff and, honest, if it were giant squid you'd probably get a text at the end of it going 'OMG GIANT SQUID YAY'."

[withoutverona]

He knew it too, but she was who he had on the other end of the phone line just then.

"Your best is all I can ask," he said. "If it is OMG GIANT SQUID YAY, send a photo too?"

[intraspective]

Ino laughed at that.

"I can totally send photos," she promised, because that she could actually remember to do. "Like, before and after photos. Before: giant looming monster. After: lookit that, I kicked it's ass!"

[withoutverona]

Romeo burst out with a laugh. "I will watch for those," he said. "Thank you for calling, Ino. I'd missed you."