outfields | open post ; reunited meme

THE "REUNITED" MEME

for all of your shipping multiplied by time and distance needs.

I. atmosphere:
01. bittersweet: you parted with unfinished business, or circumstances are less than ideal. whatever it is, this isn't a fairytale reunion of long lost lovers.
02. angry: whatever happened last still has you itching to tear someone's head off, or you're outraged by what they did while you're apart, or you're going to set the record straight once and for all--!
03. excited: you can't wait to see them again.
04. anxious: what if things have changed too much? what if you're not the person they liked before? what if? you might know this is irrational, but that isn't going to stop you.
05. hurt: they left you behind, or in a time of need, or without saying goodbye, and you're anything but over it.
06. tender: you've been apart, but you care about them, still. always.
07. distant: whatever separated you, you've decided to protect yourself, and if that means pretending not to care that you've seen each other for the first time in five years, then so be it.

II. circumstances:
01. accidental: you ran into each other at the grocery store, you rang a number you can't bear to delete from your phone without meaning to, you stumbled on their twitter and followed because the app is shit, wait shit we both changed our online handles and made friends all over again.
02. new information: you haven't spoken to them in months or years, but something you've only just found out changes everything.
03. purposeful: you sought them out, for one reason or another.
04. set up: someone else is pulling the strings, and arranged it to put you together again.
05. in a crowd: it's your class reunion. you knew you might see them there, but even when you do reunite, there's people who know you both around.

III. wildcard.
what it says on the tin. make it yours!

as usual, drop top-levels with or without a starter, or let me know if you want someone in particular and i will provide!!

the tumblr post i stole the concept for this from is here if you want ideas.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ playing baseball at the university level is really, really fun.

it's not quite the same atmosphere as seido, but it's still as good. haruichi works hard and plays with all his might, swings his bat twice as much and bonds with his teammates with all the skills that he can. it felt almost nostalgic to be a first year again, reminiscent of his first days chasing in his brother's footsteps, a path he still walks to the side of, ever present in the back of his head. with national scouts watching his every move he studies hard and practices harder, following a dream that even ryousuke hadn't achieved. and it's nice--if a little lonely.

haruichi's always been careful to keep in contact with eijun and furuya. he's caring towards his friends above all else, and treasures the two of them in ways that he can't describe, but some of the others fell to the wayside. you-san, he still talks to--he comes for dinner at the kominatos sometimes when everyone's home for christmas--and a few of the others, but haruichi mourns the losses that come with the strenuous training of professionals.

its why a chance meeting in the grocery store has him pausing in his tracks.

haruichi's former roommate has always carried a certain presence. he's a big guy, and in the--its been three years, four?--since haruichi last saw him, he's grown a little further, broad, familiar shoulders wider, stretching out a blazer of a suit jacket. it's almost comical to see him dressed so nicely, and haruichi stares at him for a second, holding the milk he'd run out to get in his left hand, in his grungy post practice sweatpants and a too big t-shirt, strangely choked up.

should he say something? this moment could just pass, haruichi at his back, and be gone again. how long has it been? would he be glad to see him as haruichi was, something warm in his chest he can't quite describe with words?

there's only one way to find out. when haruichi speaks up, his voice cracks initially, and it makes him flush. ] Z--Zono-san?

Edited 2016-01-18 06:39 (UTC)

[ in the last six months, kenta has found that he likes working. it's tough, to be making phone calls and going to meetings - those are things adults do, and he doesn't feel like an adult, even though he pays his own bills and rides a train in rush hour traffic almost every morning and plays first base for a company team - but it's interesting. the energy he used to put into swinging his bat into the night is used on daylight hours. he's the low guy on the totem pole, but the company is small, and young, and they've all got big plans for bigger contracts.

he hasn't lost touch with most of the people he'd called friends - kuramochi is on his speed dial, and he'd scolded miyuki through that knee injury back in the fall, and nakata was his roommate when he first moved back out of osaka - but haruichi kominato had slipped out of his life as quietly as he'd installed himself in it, a quiet fixture at his elbow and across the room. he wishes it had gone otherwise, but he hadn't quite known how to track him down.

he'd spent two years putting himself past a crush instead, so when haruichi's voice finds his ears, he dismisses it as his ears tricking him. haruichi's face has been on the news in the university ball reports, which he still pays attention to, so it's probably just that, right? nonetheless, he turns from scanning the eggs. just in case.

and he freezes. he very nearly drops his basket, full of yogurt and a package of riceballs, as he forces his voice out. it's too loud for the aisle, surprised, and he pulls it back down, red-faced in return. ] Kominato?!

[ okay, play it cool, kenta, play it cool-- ] The hell're you doing here? [ he's never been cool a day in his life.

it's kind of unfair that haruichi manages to look cute in clothes he's probably owned since they were sweaty teenagers. probably, because haruichi is bigger than he'd been when kenta left seido in the hands of his juniors. maybe not much taller - though he thinks he might be, a little - but certainly broader, or stronger, maybe, and more importantly, older. even if he is still blushing when someone looks at him wrong. ]

[ haruichi blinks at him as he reacts, and it's just so familiar--the bark of kominato taking him back to high school almost immediately that he's not even sure what to say. for a brief moment, he wishes for his bangs again, something to hide his face with, but he's been without his security blanket for years now and thus his wide eyed reaction plays out clear as day.

he glances down at the basket in his own hand. ] Um... milk. [ which is arguably the least smooth and comfortable answer he's ever given in his life, and he gives the container in his hand a little shake to gesture to it. milk. is why he's here. wow. okay, try that again: ] Our practice facility is right up the street...

[ it's just a local grocery store, which means that zono's local? how long have they been this close to each other? suddenly, haruichi has a thousand questions and apologies to match, and this time he can't help the smile from spreading out on his face, beatific and surprised and a little flame of delight playing out on his pink cheeks. ] It's good to see you, Zono-san--you're wearing a suit!

[ and he can't help but scoot a little closer, now, warm with the reunion and the reminder of years of camaraderie, of two years being roommates and batting partners and friends, certainly, of haruichi cheering for his achievements and finding him a support when he needed it most, motivating his practice skills and coming out of his shell in twain.

the milk in his hand feels lighter, forgotten. suddenly, the atmosphere doesn't matter so much, even if haruichi still wants to apologize for losing contact with someone who was always there for him. ]

open post ; reunited meme

kenta maezono | ota

3/6ish... + 1... ill be back for kanemaru later

rubs hands together

♥