trans_9 | Meat n' Greet

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Meat n' Greet

The rest of the crew assembled on the Observation Deck to meet the latest editions to their numbers. After the revelation that their worlds are gone, many of them are even more eager to see people they knew from home.

Several people are set up near the doors to provide the new people with omnicoms and comm rings. New crew-mates might see a tall man in green armor and snake girl among their number. There are also several authoritative-looking figures ready to introduce themselves.

There's a lot to tell the new people. It's going to be a lot to take in.

[ooc: Only new characters and Command Staff can start new threads for introductions, to limit the number of threads. Everyone else, just tag in and have your guys greet the newbies.]

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"I found a building from home here, too," Hoshi finally spoke up, deciding to not stay at the sidelines anymore. She wanted to show that she was friendly and trustworthy enough. "It's a beystadium, which is pretty much an arena of sorts."

She got on the HardBoiler herself, having driven it to the Observation Deck when they were told that the pod caverns would open up, starting to put the helmet on.

"...And, there's the Great Wall of China, too." Yup, definitely strange.

"The possibility of those who we care about being down in the pods is fairly good," added Philip, to point out that losing hope would be slightly negated. "People from all times and points were pulled here and placed into pods, so there is a good chance we'll have to just wait and see."

"We'll head to the agency, it's just a short drive from here," said Philip, getting onto a RideVendor and tossing Shotarou the keys to his own. "There's quite a lot to explain."

Shoutarou nods at Philip, then looks over at Hoshi. That's one thing that's gonna have to be explained - why was this girl here, and why was she riding his bike?

That can wait, though. He catches the keys, donning the helmet on the bike and seating up, ready to follow Philip.

Once the helmet was securely on, Hoshi began to rev up the bike and once that was done, she decided to start driving off towards the agency.

On her end, she did feel like she had a lot of explaining to do, which she didn't mind all too much, anyway.

Arriving shortly afterwards, Philip lead them inside. It was almost wall to wall books, all purchased from the previous arrival at XaXing. "Sorry about the books, Shotarou. I ran out of room in the Atori."

"Ah... don't worry about it," he says, almost absently. It's not surpring, really. Was probably just a matter of time before Philip moved on to books with actual words in them.

Shoutarou walked over to his desk, running his hand over the top of it. It's...actually here - his desk, his typewriter - the hats on the door to the hangar...

"Well, I'd say you have plenty to keep you busy," Hoshi said to Philip as she went to sit down on the couch.

Right. There was no harm in getting straight to the point of why she was here, why she was driving a motorcycle, and the rest of it, right? "So, um... Shoutarou, wasn't it? Did you want to get started on stuff at all, or just take a moment to get comfy?"

Considering the Gaia Library didn't cover aliens, it was probably a given that he picked up all of these books.

"I think we should skip right to the explaining," said Philip. He knew Shotarou seemed a little frazzled, and being from before their reunion would undoubtedly not allow him to take the next part of the news well.

Giving Hoshi a look to hang back a little, he stepped forward. "Shotarou I'm sharing the Double powers with Hoshi for a while, because circumstances required her assistance. I hope you understand that I wasn't trying to replace you at all."

Among the books, there was even that copy of The Long Goodbye he read so often. He takes it off the shelf, and is looking it over when Hoshi and Philip start talking.

"I'm fine," is the answer Hoshi gets, but Philip's words make him drop the book, and cut a sharp look at Philip.

"You WHAT?!"

Hoshi gave a nod towards Philip and she observed Shoutarou to see what his reaction was, which was... not a good one, admittedly.

She decided to try to make this work as best as it could and spoke up, "Considering the circumstances we're faced against, I thought it'd be a good idea overall, since without Seraphiel, my holy beast, to protect me, I'm pretty much a sitting duck in a multi-universal war. I also knew it wouldn't be a permanent thing, either, until you woke up, Shoutarou."

"I figured you'd act like that, Shotarou. Considering we're partners and breaking up anything is hard for you to do. But be reasonable, that's the only reason why I let this go through, because I wanted to protect her." said Philip, trying to placate Shotarou.

Shoutarou draws a ragged breath, then lets it out. Hearing this seems to have let the weight of everything hit all at once. Put enough pressure on something, and it'll break...

"Circumstances, circumstances - what about my circumstances?! I've been trying to pass myself off as doing well for a year! And now--now I'm here! Now, I'm here, and Fuuto is gone." Shoutarou paces as he says this, periodically glancing at the others, though mostly Philip. "I didn't want anyone in Fuuto to cry, but not like this!"

Then he steps up to Philip, though he points at Hoshi. "And I get here, and there's some high school girl riding my bike, working with my partner, and taking my place as half of Double?!"

Oh, Hoshi hated hearing others yell, no matter what it was. It caused her to get upset and worried about the overall well being of someone. While she was a little bit flustered at what Philip said (it was nice and she'd have to thank him once things simmered down), she steeled her emotions so that she'd appear calm and focused at the task at hand.

She stepped up to Shoutarou and Philip, not really knowing what to say other than-- "Listen, I'm sorry. I never meant to take your place, Shoutarou. I... I also wanted to protect Philip because he's helped me out with a lot of things since I woke up," she said evenly, her hands tightening into fists slightly. Yeah, the uncertainty, amongst other things, was showing on the surface since she tended to wear her heart on her sleeve most of the time.

"I'm sorry. I really am." And, for the first time in a while, she decided to let a frown show, which was rather uncharacteristic of her to begin with.

"Shotarou, there's a difference between being replaced and aiding someone!" exclaimed Philip hotly. "She was in trouble, and while Fuuto is gone, I had a duty as a Kamen Rider to protect the smiles of everyone here. Getting mad isn't going to solve anything!"

This was going to go downhill pretty fast, his hand clenching around his blank book.

Between what was hitting him on both sides, it wasn't doing much to improve Shoutarou's mood, if anything. Too overwhelmed, too befuddled by Philip being alive, too caught up in the past, and it was all coming to a boiling point.

Finally, shoutarou growls, then yells - "You told me that I was your only partner!" He then punched Philip square in the jaw.

"Philip!" Hoshi called, watching the punch connect. Instinctively, she went down to help him out, doing a visual check to make sure that he was okay.

"Please, you guys don't have to do this! There's always something we can figure out if we work together!" she cried out, desperation clear in her voice to try to reason with Shoutarou.

Reeling, Philip responded in the only way he could, launching a punch right back at Shoutarou. "You are my only partner, but I'm allowed to help people aren't I?"

He held out a hand to Hoshi, despite the ache in his jaw. "Don't interfere!"

Maybe it was what Hoshi said, or what Philip said, or the punch that knocked him back against the wall that made stuff clear. Or a combination of all three.

Either way, Shoutarou blinks several times, looking at the others, but his mind is a hundred miles away. He looks down at his clenched fist, which slowly unfolds into a shaking hand. It goes up to his head, and he sinks to the floor. Philip was right - he was always right - why should he act like this? Philip was just doing what was needed to help people - being a Kamen Rider.

"...what am I doing..." he mumbles to himself, voice shaky.

Hoshi stood frozen in place, unsure of what to do. She wanted to help Philip and Shoutarou out, but when someone said don't interfere, well... what could she do, other than just stay in the place she was in?

She gave Philip a nod and bowed her head in regret, moving a hand up to wipe at her eyes.

"Sorry," was all that she could say after that.

"You're reacting just like how I expected you to, Shotarou." said Philip, now immediately in make up mode as he walked over, crouched down and extended a hand for Shotarou to take.

"You're still my number one partner, aibou." At that, he added, "Hoshi's a good friend, but she's not you, which is more than I can say. C'mon."

Shoutarou took the hand, and pulled himself up - noting in the process what Hoshi was doing. Once he was upright, he sighed as he put his hat back on, then wiped down his face with one hand. "I'm glad to hear that, Philip, but..." He pulls the hat down, but turns toward Hoshi. "...sorry about all that." His tone is sincere, just...he's not good with words.

Hoshi lifted her head after she calmed herself down, shaking her head. "It's okay!" she said, a little smile crossing her lips. She didn't want to worry the both of them by just getting upset. She'd get over it, that's for sure.

"At least things are... kinda patched up for now?"

"As well as they can be," said Philip, nursing his aching jaw. "You still hit as hard as you usually do, Shotarou. That's a good thing then."

"As do you," Shoutarou responds with a chuckle.

Of course, now that his head was clear... "There's still one thing that needs to be done, though--" He returns Philip's pounce from earlier. "No fair getting me while I was confused!"

In order to busy herself, Hoshi went over to the fridge to get together some ice for both of them. When she had them in two dish towels, she turned around just when Shoutarou pounced Philip.

She chuckled and shook her head, a grin on her face. "Well, when you two are done making up, I have some ice here for the punches and all that. Want me to make some tea or something, too?"

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