text; [you tried] sticker goes here

[ourtomorrow]

My name is Ken. I need a job and a roommate.

[ ...that's it, right? Those were the first steps recommended to him, and they make sense. If this world can only be saved by people touching, then first Ken has to find people he's comfortable enough around to touch. He needs to form relationships.

He has no idea how. But he has to.

The world depends on him. ]

Thank you.

[ ....incidentally, anyone walking by Ainea's temple might notice a kid sitting outside of it, absently yet intently people-watching. ]

Comments

[5thchild]

[ Kaworu is usually the one asking all the questions] Yes?

[ourtomorrow]

Would you like to meet? In person.

[ Specifics are important. ]

[5thchild]

[ well, he doesn't see why meeting Kaworu is important but he is also not going to say no to interaction with others]

Certainly. We can meet now if you'd like.

[ourtomorrow]

[ Now?

Ken almost types that - in fact, he does, then erases it. They wouldn't have sent him this if they hadn't meant it. Now. They want to meet him right now. ]

Thank you.

[5thchild]

I will wait for you by the fountain.

[ourtomorrow]

See you soon.

[ The fountain is one of the places Ken knows in town, so he hurries over, head up and alert for anyone who might seem like they're anticipating someone. Come to think of it, he has no idea what to expect, nor does the person he's looking for...

Anyway, here is a literal child. Glancing around. ]

[5thchild]

[ Kaworu is a teenager which is, in a way, a child. Not that anyone in his world cared, it seemed.

In any case, Kaworu is easy to spot if only because there aren't many people there at the fountain. As usual, he has a smile and hands in his pockets, as he approaches Ken ]

Hello. Are you Ken? [ kaworu never did introduce himself did he? ] I'm Kaworu. Kaworu Nagisa.

[ourtomorrow]

Nagisa-san. [ Ken bows - he's not quite as proper as one of his friends may be, but that doesn't mean he has no manners. ] I am. Ichijouji Ken, that is.

[ This is going well. ]

It's nice to meet you.

[5thchild]

Just Kaworu is fine. [ he doesn't care much about names, but knows to be called by his surname lacks intimacy. And Kaworu surely is all about intimacy. ]

It's nice to meet you as well. [ he smiles wider leaning forward a bit what is personal space ]

[ourtomorrow]

[ --He's forward in body language just like he was with his questions. Somehow Ken was not expecting that, and steps half a pace back.

While realizing he wasn't sure what he wanted to do here.

...Oh, right. Saving the world.

Ken sticks out his hand. ] You helped me a lot. If you don't mind, would you like...?

[ Is this what he has to do? To save everyone?

Why is this harder than shooting lasers at evil? ]

[5thchild]

[ Kaworu looks down at the other's hand. Who is being forward now? It seems Ken doesn't fear contact at all.

And neither does Kaworu. His hand reaches for Ken's and he holds it with much gusto. Kaworu does like contact even though he... Never really had any.]

To help this world, right?

[ourtomorrow]

Right.

[ And that's what's helping Ken give this a try now. He'll...do his best to make this a good hand-hold, whatever...That means.

.....Is something supposed to be happening? ]

[5thchild]

[ look kaworu has no idea he never did this either]

For how long would you like to hold hands?

[ourtomorrow]

[ That's a good question. Ken pauses for a moment, realizes that if anything is happening, they're not going to see it, considers. ]

Maybe - a minute?

[ Is that not enough time. How is he supposed to save a world in a minute.

But he also knows one has to baby-step these things. A minute may be all the self-consciousness he can take. ]

[5thchild]

[ kaworu is willing to do this for hours, you better be the one deciding how long it goes on for, Ken ]

I see.

Would you like to walk around the city as we do so? [ kaworu has so many questions, they can do this while he asks ]

[ourtomorrow]

Please.

[ There's so much he needs to learn.

....In a few ways. ]

[5thchild]

[ the questions will be super awkward though

And as they walk, Kaworu will continue to hold Ken's hand and gently squeeze it. He was given the chance for contact and he will not shy away from it]

Are you alright with physical contact with others? [ and strangers]

[ourtomorrow]

[ Oh. Squeezing. Ken looks away. He's the one who offered this, but... ]

I'm not used to it.

[5thchild]

[ yeah. y e a h. Kaworu and his intense hand-holding. ]

How come you aren't?

[ourtomorrow]

I've only recently made a friend.

[ His family's becoming more physical, too. It's....not bad. Just new. He isn't sure what he's supposed to do in those situations. ]