My opinions haven't changed, they won't, but I have no choice in being here or not. The same as you. I don't plan on being near your students, as long as I'm given the same courtesy we won't have a problem.
( The hermit lifestyle is apparently looking real good. )
[ it has been over a decade now. gojo doesn't have any expectation of geto's ideology shifting just because of one near death experience. he will never be that naive. ]
What exactly do you think I'm going to do, Satoru? Make some ill-advised move?
( He still thinks the attack on the school was justified. His bid for Rika needed to happen before the boy got too strong or the higher ups killed him. He'd avoided it before. )
The curse with a conscience told me we were comrades.( And oh, how Geto had hated it. ) And that Lilith is always watching. Dying before hasn't exactly worked out well for me. I'm not looking for a repeat.
[ it looks like suguru has already met choso, but considering he can still sense the death painting womb's cursed energy, he must have somehow survived the encounter. how interesting. has his abilities been affected by LILITH too? ]
you cant expect me to believe that youre turnin over a new leaf just bc youve been brought back from the brink of death
then again what use is your cause here? this world isnt even our own
hate to break it to you tho unless youre plannin to side with the kaiju youre gonna have to suck it up & play nice with alllllllllll the nonsorcerers here
( Ten years he's managed to wriggle his way loose from any attempt at sincerity and this bastard thinks he can try now? Geto would rather get eaten by a Kaiju. )
I said I'd leave your people alone. Do the same for me.
I don't mean that. It's meant to be enjoyed together.
[ rover reads his response and thinks, okay. that sort of makes sense? it's a new environment, you'd want to be careful, right? and it's not a crime to be picky. people have different hangups with food. ]
I'll just pick something else. I'll feel terrible otherwise.
( He hates this limbo he has himself stuck in, incapable of sticking to either sets of his morality, never knowing which direction to take. Is she human? He doesn't know. Does he want to know? Does it even really matter? Will answering that send him spiralling further?
Time to suck it up. )
You didn't bother me.
I'll come with you to the buffet. I'm sure it will be fine. Is Jinzhou where you're fine?
Having lived a life in which you are content in your death, even if it's not something you have a choice in, is something to be envied of. Most people can't say that for themselves.
I don't know who you are. I just know what you've told me about yourself:
You want to watch me eat. You avoid competition and being around people. You think sharing food is important, but you haven't done it with anyone else here in a while. You have two daughters and you're dead, but you're here, and that's something, whatever that means.
... It just seems to me like it's an otherwise lonely existence. Isn't it tiring?
[ after all, she has no reason to think otherwise. so: yes, all of what he said is possible. for better or worse, she'll take his word for it sincerely.
she'll give him this get out of jail card, he can take it if he wants it: ]
Tell me when you're free to go to the teahouse. I'll come with you, if you still want my company.
i'm poor so the only thing i can pay you with is a coupon for crepes but since he is turning me into a criminal for the sake of grades i may as well conspire with the other criminal here
yeah it is i don't want to, but we all decided we would do it or else he's going to be insufferable if we get failing grades and have to do something worse
Names and genders changed to protect the innocent.
Mark and Bob are acquainted with each other. Mark feels strongly for Bob. Bob is rather indifferent to Mark. Mark is an okay acquaintance, but he has his quirks that make him unbearable to other people. Bob has a lot of patience, so the two of them can be said to hang out well enough together.
Mark is upset about this arrangement and decides to put more effort into attracting Bob's attention. Bob wants to understand Mark.
1. Do you think Mark is rational in this arrangement? 2. Is negative attention better than no attention at all for Mark? Why?
( Wow Rover, he was pretending to be asleep. Though, he supposes bonus points for LILITH's tech, he doesn't have to open his eyes for a response. Still, this is a lot to mull over and also ... oddly close to home. )
Clarifying questions:
If Bob is indifferent why does he allow Mark, whom you've said has unbearable quirks, spend so much time with him? What kind of idiosyncrasies are we talking about? And why does Bob want to understand a man difficult to spend time with?
also these are difficult questions. he is truly an expert, as rover suspected. ]
Mark isn't unbearable to him. It's just that he can be unbearable to other people. Bob has spent enough time with him to know when Mark means to be insulting, and so on. Bob wants to understand him, because at the end of the day, when they get along, they seem to be really good friends.
Is the indifference feigned, then? If Bob has spent time enough with him to know when Mark means a thing or not. Or is his wish to understand the other man more scientific than genuine affection?
The indifference is not feigned. Bob just doesn't feel anything strongly about Mark. Bob means to understand him in order to be a better friend. It's possible that his scientific inquiry into Mark's character can lead to affection, but Bob isn't a cruel person to begin with.
If he has no interest beyond working out the inner machinations of a person that genuinely wants to be his friend? Why try? It's cruel, and it will only hurt Mark in the end.
( It makes sense to a man who went off the rails and left his only friends behind rather than drag them down with him. It's very black and white. )
[ wow ... all this time, has she been the baddie? is mark owed an apology? asking for a friend. ]
I see. You think Bob needs to make an effort, and meet Mark where he wants to in this situation, or otherwise make it plain to Mark that he no longer wishes him to be his friend. Is that correct?
Doubtful. Both of them do not care about how they are perceived to begin with by other people; they are rather stubborn, actually.
But it's possible Bob and Mark don't know each other as well as they think they do, and therefore, are creating difficult rules for each other to 'become friends'. Does that make sense? What do you think?
If they don't care what anyone else thinks, and if they both want it, and if nothing detrimental will happen because of it, then why waste time with pointless hoops? Just be friends.
[ ah, how terrible ... rover sits up from her chair to try and see where he is, but everyone's tall, also her seatmate is busy torturing people. she'll have to figure out something else. ]
... But either outcome presents the importance of keeping in touch with you. Even more after the disappointment, because that's when my worries, as you'd said, would come true.
The way I see it, as I think through the situation objectively, leaving you to your own devices is actually the worse decision.
( Oh, he does not like that. Fuck LILITH for making this a thing, because Geto does not need Gojo's voice blaring at him. It's the surprise that keeps him from replying at first, and then, less loud, milder. )
I have been.
( Only the very deserving. )
Aiy, Satoru. You put me in a zoo you can't expect me to not call it like I see it.
Don't give me that load of crap. You know what I expect from you. [ it isn't rocket science. ]
Treat my students like how you want me to treat either of your girls. You don't need to be friends with them. Avoid 'em for all I care. But at least be civil with 'em. They might not be important to you, but they are to me.
( The silence is DEAFENING for a long, long moment. Geto's half tempted to just disappear. But he promised he'd try, and having it laid out so plainly is hard to avoid. )
Fine.
( Short, sharp. )
I'll leave her alone. Is that it? Or do you need something else from me?
[ but, no, that’s too dismissive of who taught him, and how it came to be. try again. ]
but i learned first from a friend of he and i, who does more good than i can count. i learned because that friend was willing to teach. now, i can cook and feed the people i want to.
these kinds of things are never as important when it’s just for ourselves. so it’s important that someone else makes sure we’re properly fed too. hence why i’m here taking up your brain space.
( He doesn't reply, but instead of leaving Choso completely on read Geto does actually show up roughly ten minutes later. He's wearing sweats, and his hair is in a ponytail, and he looks mostly normal except for the slightly guarded way his gaze sweeps the cafeteria.
[ it’s probably not a trap, but choso is sat at one of the tables already, one ominous cube of tupperware-equivalent takeaway vessel sat before him like a strange offering to unnameable gods. there should be nothing out of the ordinary here, save for choso himself whose very presence strains the seams of ‘ordinary’ on even the best of days.
his weird little pigtails seem a little jabbier than usual. ]
Geto Suguru.
[ it should have been a ‘hello’, but maybe he’s still reminding himself, affirming the name that sits in flesh right and proper. ]
( Briefly he considers just turning on his heel. Either to abandon this endeavour entirely or to pick up his own chopsticks. But then he remembers the ones he's hiding away have cats on them and he's not sure he's willing to show that side of himself to this man.
So he shrugs, slides into a chair opposite. )
That's fine. I can eat with my hands.
( He thinks about offering a warning over it potentially being poisoned, but no. Itadori has been kind lately, Choso probably wouldn't upset him like that. )
Did you use the cafeteria kitchen to cook? Are outsiders allowed to do that?
( Because it's been cup noodles for months. He might be deficient. )
[ to the hands, he means, not that he puts much emphasis on it. he’d been eating with his hands until mid-april, so who was choso to judge, really?
pay attention, choso: Geto Suguru is taking a seat, settling in like a bird of prey on its roost with all the air of something that intended to do so anyway, tupperware or not.
the tup gets nudged over in offering. ]
The robots don’t care and management doesn’t seem to give note unless a mess is left. Bakugo and Lucy use the kitchens often, so I use them too.
[ tofu, browned along its edges and sprinkled with what looks like the dried and synthesized spices that came out of the prize round from the last mission. There seems to be some onion pieces lying in the sauce that the block is resting in. ]
Once a week.
[ that he himself cooks, is what he assumes geto was asking. ]
I haven't figured out what neighborhoods the tofu man goes to on days other than Friday.
( He puts the piece in his mouth, chews slowly, carefully, watches Choso as he does so for any sign that - what? Nothing really. He just prefers being watchful. )
I didn't know how when we first ended up together. But I was the grown up, so I had to learn.
( Seventeen, hardly an adult. It had felt it then. )
[ there is a little sheet pinned up in choso's head with Geto Suguru's name on it, and under the heading grows a bulletpoint list of things he has learned about the man since first he truly laid eyes on him. in that moment, he adds a checkmark for 'daughters' next to the 'girls?' bullet.
this was a family man. ]
Nn. That's good.
[ about the girls, he means. about the herculean effort it took to become the world for two (two? more?) entire lives, young and hungry and raw. learning to cook was the least of the duties Geto Suguru has taken on, and choso can almost feel the weight of it in his own bones. ]
Bakugo taught me how. So I have practiced.
[ made a whim into a skill, an understanding of another facet of the living, human world. ]
So if you know other ways to make it taste good, tell me and I will try.
( Another piece, another slow chew before he replies. )
Mm. You probably don't need my guidance. And whatever I can make isn't very fancy. I always aimed more for speed and comfort than anything else. ( Because in the beginning it had just been the three of them, rammed into a tiny apartment he could barely afford, stretched thin with all the things he had been trying to do. And even in his more affluent days when the family had grown Geto had opted for things more homely.
Here is a chance though, another option for a small step forward. )
I can send you some recipes. How well do you handle spice?
[ choso is prepared to accept it as is; he fed Geto Suguru, and the man accepted. this quest has been completed. but as Geto continues anyway, choso finds himself leaning over despite everything, alert and attentive. ]
Terribly, but it’s a good terrible. I want Yuji to eat many delicious things. Something you made for your girls will be perfect.
[ family dinners, courtesy of daddy longleg geto. ]
( The attention is awful, Geto's shoulders round ever so slightly. Had he not very recently decided to Make An Effort he would absolutely just get up and leave. )
I'll have to check you can even get the ingredients here first. I haven't looked.
( Aforementioned cup noodle time, like the sad and aimless bastard bachelor that he is. )
I'm glad that you're looking out for him. You should do the same for yourself too. If only because Itadori-kun would be sad if anything happened to you.
[ were choso a more learned creature, he may have picked up on how Geto Suguru dislikes pointed attention, shrinking under it like a cat under critique, but choso is only who he is, and all he notes is that Geto is wisely unnerved by the half-curse’s presence. ]
Tofu and strange spices for sure. Seafood is in abundance. Kelp, agar, some limited forms of flour. Lots of salt.
[ there he goes, just listing off whatever ingredients he’s sure he’s seen on city shelves and in city coolers. ]
I take excellent care of myself now. I take regular baths. I eat. I even sleep.
( The ingredient listing is, however, mildly appreciated. )
That's all survival, which is very well and good. But Itadori-kun has a problem relaxing. Maybe if he saw his brother doing it too he'd be better at it. Do you have any hobbies?
( He's very much pot-kettle here. But all hope is already lost for him. So he eyes Choso up speculatively. )
[ whatever’s going on with choso’s face… hmm. it’s like he’s still getting used to letting it rest, the crook of his mouth working a moment as he figures out the configurations it had been in only a moment ago. ]
Anything can be done together. We go to the onsen together. And have meals. And take pictures.
[ but teens are teens and they roam about more than choso was prepared for. ]
( If only he could raise his gaze to the ceiling for guidance. )
Have you tried the arcade? Though it is less about the activity and more about the company. But something good and distracting might help. Your brother could think himself into knots.
( Almost fondly. For all Itadori calls himself stupid, he's certainly introspective enough to be hard on himself. But he studies Choso anew, carefully. ) What do you do for fun? Beyond Itadori-kun?
Names and genders changed to protect the innocent.
Geto meets Satoru in the gala. Geto and Satoru exchange gifts because they haven't seen each other in a while. Geto thinks this is awfully generous of Satoru, Satoru thinks it's just nice that they're giving gifts to each other.
Satoru makes a stray comment about kissing Geto. Should Geto take him seriously?
( His first terrifying instinct is to ask her who she's been talking to. Because he was tipsy after the Gala and he's fairly certain his conversation with the man in question dipped uncomfortably close to flirtation, but he doesn't think think Satoru would mention it to anyone. It didn't mean anything, not really. It couldn't. So why -. But this is Rover. Has she picked up on something? No. Probably not. He doesn't even let himself think about things so she can't have. It's just names. Maybe she thinks she's being funny. Maybe it's just random.
Throughout all of this internal conflict Geto has forgotten his cigarette, and the ash burns his hand as it falls. Which means his second message takes a moment, sullenly pressing his tongue to the mark afterwards.
Geto would never think Satoru was serious about kissing, because Satoru doesn't have a serious bone in his body when it comes to those sorts of things. If you want me to be objective you need to use better names.
Is this the same person as before?
Edited (gotta edit bc he's being nicer about gojo now) 2024-09-29 13:46 (UTC)
[ but then the problem is that she's also dealing with a clown, so - ]
Why wouldn't you be objective regardless? We're talking about fake-Geto.
Follow-up question:
Would a change in behaviour indicate a more genuine attempt at interest in Satoru's part, or is that still part of the same careless attitude he uses to disarm the audience?
Geto ... feels that there are moments of genuine sincerity interspersed between his clownish behaviour. It does not help that as far as Geto knows, this kind of behaviour is unique to Satoru's when it comes to him.
The real Geto should be cutting down on his vices since this isn't about him, unless he is also creating strange rituals with men named Satoru to disguise emotions about kissing and so on.
[ ah, well. what does she know? ]
Anyway, fake-Satoru is a clown to everyone, but sometimes, he is very sincere to fake-Geto.
Wait, nevermind. This is about my imposter. Let me make it clear. You have a friend. A friend who is bad with social cues and politeness. A friend who makes things feel like a joke sometimes. A friend who you feel might have some kind of genuine feeling, but you're afraid that, what, they're not sincere? Why wouldn't they be? Do they kiss a lot of people?
Wait. I had used you and your friend's name as an analogue because I consider you rather well-experienced about ... matters, but now I'm wondering. Do you make such rituals with real-Satoru the way fake-Geto does?
I'm sure you're very well-adjusted in your past life. Which is why you stared at his door the first time you let me into your room for tea, for no reason at all. [ lmao ]
Anyway, the answer is that it's hard to determine sincerity with someone whose emotions are more guarded than yours.
[ and now that she thinks about it, it seems a bit odd with how callisto ended the conversation. there's something about it that she needs to grasp but it's not quite at her fingertips at the moment.
anyway, one question at a time - ]
He brought it up. It wasn't the right moment, so I just said I'd be willing to try it.
He asked if he could kiss you and you said what, 'sure maybe sometime?'. Do you want to kiss him? Are your feelings romantic? I only ask because you weren't even sure they were truly anything more than curiosity once upon a time, and I'd hate to aid an accidental heartbreak.
( And then a picture, sake on a dingy table in a secluded corner. He's doing this the truly serious way now. )
Neither of us pursued it in the end - we're not shy people, so ... I think it was just a matter of giving things time to grow. It's not like we stopped talking to each other after.
( His hand flattens, presses down against Itadori's shoulder as he tries contacting Nanami himself. When it doesn't work he lets out a small breath, but bolsters himself quite quickly. )
All right, don't panic. Both nanami and your brother are strong. And we don't know if anything untoward has happened yet. Where have you checked? Did you know where either of them were staying?
( There was a woman making eyes at Nanami, wasn't there? Maybe he went with her. But no, that doesn't feel right either. )
[ The little weight on his shoulder does help, just a little. He keeps snapping at people, he keeps ending up breaking and crying, something more sometimes, but... But...
He doesn't know what else to do. ]
Choso fell asleep beside me. I - I didn't see Nanamin after we danced, but...
[ Breathing out, he tilts his head up, to look over at Geto. ]
( That's slightly more concerning. For what he knows of Choso he wouldn't willingly leave Yuji to his own devices. To disappear in the middle of the night is not good. For Itadori not to notice either - well. )
All right. I saw Nanami last night too. Do you know which room he was in? We can go and check it.
( Using the hand on Itadori's shoulder to turn the boy towards the buildings, Geto lifts other to summon Rainbow Dragon, who slithers to existence and immediately breaks off towards the woods. )
We'll check them all then. Try not to panic, Itadori-kun.
( He lets go if only so they can start working, head cocked carefully and his gaze moving across the street. )
Do Choso and Nanami have a relationship? Would they have gone anywhere together, do you know?
Mm, I was just wondering in case they might have gone someplace together. But one of them would have said something. Can you take me to your room, Itadori-kun? Then we can look and see if there aren't any clues.
( If anything it will be slightly productive while he has his dragon search the woods. )
( Though, in their lives it's something of a fool's wish. Geto stops in the dirt in front of the row of houses they've been kept in, eyeing it up speculatively before his gaze drifts along the street. Footsteps, but that's to be expected. He can't feel any cursed energy though, which might be a problem. )
All right. Can you take me to where you and your brother were staying, Itadori-kun? Just to check first.
[ On edge, still unsure, Yuji hesitates. He doesn't need to grab Geto's hand, doesn't need to walk with him like a lost child, but he does stick close. It's impossible not to, when he can't sense Nanami, can't sense Choso, either through the bond or their cursed energy.
It's an impossibility to think they're gone. ]
It's just this way. Let's go.
[ Starting to walk, Yuji tries not to let his hands shake too obviously. ]
( He walks, sneaking glances Itadori's way. This is not going to end well, he can already tell that. But if he can minimise the fallout as much as possible -. )
LILITH wouldn't send people back mid-mission, Itadori-kun. If anything the fact we had to travel so far means they couldn't. If they are missing it will be another factor, and something we can deal with. Satoru is going to check the woods, and Rainbow Dragon will return if she finds anything. We just have to keep our cool.
I know, but it doesn't make any sense to remove him. We need more hands, not less. I'm just saying that from a mission standpoint it wouldn't work. Which is why I don't think this is LILITH.
( He'll apologise later, if it turns out that is what's happened. For now though there's just helping keep the boy relatively sane. )
There's something strange about this place. It isn't the usual brand of village inanity.
There's a fervour to the air, Itadori-kun. I've been to my fair share of places like this. They're hiding something.
( It isn't quite generalised distrust. Geto knows himself enough to access his feelings carefully. The idolatry for one, the smoke and mirrors. He hasn't let his guard down since stepping out of the forest. )
( After a moment he merely places an arm carefully around Itadori's shoulder, squeezing him tightly for a long second. It's true that he feels a certain amount of care for the boy now, overriding any of his other issues to want to provide comfort. )
It's going to be all right. We still have each other. And Satoru has not gone anywhere. Wherever they are we'll find them. And were LILITH foolish enough to send them home without a word then we'll simply deal with them too, mm? ( Is he willing to fight the people in control of his survival? Absolutely. Just give him the chance. ) You're not alone in this, Itadori-kun. I won't go anywhere, and we'll see this through together, all right?
It will. You can trust in me and Satoru. We'll find your brother, and we'll find Nanami, and we'll deal with the problem together, mm? You're not alone this time.
( It is time for Geto to step up, apparently. )
Now. First thing's first. Signs of entry. Are you a deep sleeper?
( A thoughtful hum. Geto knows he has to be careful here, he can't let his own prejudice be that obvious. )
I wouldn't discount it, Itadori-kun. Villages like this are often hiding something. And there's a layer of fanaticism I don't like. They might be worth looking into.
( Distracted, so he's not exactly minding his words. He pauses from rattling the window lightly to glance Itadori's way, but there's very little point hiding what he's been and so a shrug, easy and light. ) The iconography didn't belong in a bad horror movie, anyway. And technically I only subsumed the cult. It existed long before me, Itadori-kun. I merely made it more useful.
( Collecting curses. Murder. A nice little shield when he needed it. It was only really the main family he cared about. )
But I've been to many places like this, and usually the smallest of minds exist within their protection. Cruelty often hides in plain sight.
I think a lot of people are your favourite type of people.
We defeated it, took out some cultists, got back our own. There's not much of a story beyond that. Unless you're one of the bitten. Are you? Maybe it's not my zaru soba you're after.
I see So in the spirit of us getting to know each other better: Money is just money As long as we have enough to live it is fine But what would I do with a fortune here?
Trying to find things he thought this man would like was a little hard for Yuji, but he did his best - and he can only hope that Geto ends up liking the things that Yuji managed to put together. The box is wrapped in black and blue paper, with a black bow on the top, and inside is a series of hand wrapped gifts:
🐯 A bottle of what seems to be pretty fancy sake, or at least that's what the shopkeeper told Yuji. 🐯 One sunshine emoji pillow, to match the rain cloud one they won together for Yuji to keep. 🐯 Some chocolates, a mixture of dark, milk and white. 🐯 A scarf, in a dark colour, definitely not hand made. 🐯 A mug, with a dragon motif decorating it and a little dragon head peeking out the bottom on the inside.
At the bottom is a note:
Geto-san,
Thanks for looking out for me. I hope you have a really good next year, and that we can spend more time together.
( He doesn't take long, the lazy swipe of slippered feet mostly carrying him across base. He hadn't planned to do anything with his day, but maybe he's relaxing a little if he's wandering less put together. Either way his smile is soft, fond when he finds Itadori. )
[ Yuji turns at the sound of the voice, his eyes widening. He has new scars, now, and his strangely clawed fingers are back to being normal - save for the missing two on his left hand, stubs where fingers should be. When he sees Geto, all he can do is grin. ]
( Geto pauses, still holding on to Itadori's wrist. His gaze settles on his face, ticking to the scars and then back to his eyes. And then he smiles, it blooms slow and steady, hands shifting to tug the boy into a better hold, a quick and tight hug. )
You won.
( There's relief in his voice. He'd believed everything he said, that Itadori was capable, that he would survive, but there had still been something. A worry taking root. )
Itadori, you did it. How do you feel? ( Pulling back to look at his face again, a different concern, almost parental. ) Are you all right? Will you tell me what happened?
[ Yuji's arms wrap around the other man immediately, sinking into his body without hesitation, breathing out a sharp sound of relief as he sinks into him. ]
Yeah, we... We did it.
[ His face presses into Geto's chest briefly before he manages to find his words, swallowing. ]
I'm okay. I'm healed now, and I can live without the fingers. Probably.
( He tightens his grip a little more, lets Itadori seek as much comfort as he needs. There's a great well of pride unfurling in Geto's chest either way, bright and pleased. )
We'll figure that out, I'm sure. LILITH can do something, and if not then you'll have half the base willing to help you. Are you in pain?
Geto presses a hand to his shoulder, careful. ) You're here, and he's here, and you've done what you need to do, Itadori-kun. Everything else can be dealt with in time, mm? Do you need anything else?
It was like I went to sleep and woke up with all the new memories. I think they call it one of their glitches...? I'm not really sure how it works, but it's happened twice now.
( Carefully. ) Sometimes it's psychosomatic. I lost my arm before I woke up here. It twinges where the tear was every now and again. But there's no real reason for it to hurt. So it could be the same for Nanami. They call them phantom pains, don't they? Funny.
( It isn't. )
I check up on him sometimes, you know. He was my kohai. You don't have to run yourself ragged, there are people who can help your loved ones too.
He wouldn't thank you for putting yourself out at his expense.
( Geto understands it a little better nowadays. )
I'm not saying you can't be concerned for him, just that he wouldn't want you to wear yourself too thin. None of us would. You have people you can rely on to take some of that wait now, Itadori-kun. I'm certainly not incapable. I can keep an eye out for you.
( That's a consideration. Nanami does seem very serious nowadays. But. )
I think he'd prefer if you gave yourself space to be a teenager. Do something fun. Something that has very little to do with survival and just ... whatever you feel like.
Do you think LILITH will let us send Satoru home to buy one? ( A grin, semi-sly. ) I would have probably made him back then too, had I not already left. It's about time he does something nice for me.
[ Getting the right ingredients and the right kitchenware takes a little bit of trading and bargaining but in the end Nanami manages to create a close approximation of zaru soba paired with two pieces of ebi tempura. Next to the bamboo tray is a small bag of the biscuits he made with Yuji the other day, attached is a small card.
To the prettiest princess the happiest of birthdays. --7
( If Nanami didn't expect an acknowledgement then he should have played his hand a little better, because after Geto gets over the horrifying ordeal of being known -. )
Nanami-san, I don't think you're supposed to be thinking about famed curse user's waists, no matter how snatched. But thank you, I put a lot of work into it.
(u‿ฺu✿ฺ)
( Is he ... the worst person you know? Probably. )
You didn't have to do anything, but it was very nice. So thank you.
( Hard to both show and also handle sincerity. He could possibly get a little wet around the eyes, don't look. But he's also not going to not acknowledge the kindness, so. )
( It wasn't when Geto kissed him, but he doesn't know if that means anything. And it's not like he can mention that, so. Emotional vulnerability of a different kind it is. )
I don't check.
( He just assumes it would be. Why wouldn't it? He lost the privilege. )
happy birthday suguru~ youre growin up so fast it almost brings a tear to my eye too bad youre always gonna be younger than me now hey maybe you should start callin me senpai from here on out go on try it im waitin~ kekeke
( Is he going to make demands? Probably not. Is it funny to think he might, the big age that he is and the person that he is, bidding Gojo to win him toys like they're silly teenagers? A little. Even then he barely played his part well. )
I'm dressed. And hungry. Come on Satoru, come treat me nicely.
Honestly, I hadn't been thinking about it. It feels insignificant with everything else going on.
( He thinks to point out that his family aren't here, but that's - not exactly right anymore. Things are not perfect, but Geto has people here he is learning to love. Satoru, Nanami, Yuji too. He still has people. He's very lucky. )
I can cook, but something doesn't translate to baking. Our second year of living on my own I almost burnt down our then apartment with a cake in the oven.
I was nineteen! I had never tried baking a cake before. And the thing with children is they need your attention right that very second, because it's life or death to them even if it is a Barbie having lost her leg. I had a water curse, we survived.
[ And here's the coordinate ping for the part of the Kyoto base that he's set up shop on. Not that its easy to miss, but... maybe Yuta's weird coworker he's weird about just doesn't pay attention to things? ]
[ Not in a million years could Yuta have ever foreseen a curse coming to blacken his doorstep to deliver him maybe-or-maybe-not-poisoned food made by someone who tried his hardest to kill him in the past. Yet that's exactly what happened and despite whatever common sense might caution him to do, Yuta has oyakodon for dinner that night. (It was only ever a small gamble when he has RCT anyway and it paid off deliciously.)
Rather than text him, Yuta's thanks comes in the form of a token of (uncertain? begrudging?) appreciation left by Geto's doorstep the next day: a little box of traditional tea snacks that aren't too sweet and a soft drink that Geto will like. Or rather, the exact kind Geto would have grabbed when he was younger and the title of 'the strongest' was shared between two boys. How does Yuta know that particular preference? ~It's a mystery.~
[ But he does come to the park, at least, in a dumb hoodie. He looks... Like shit, really. Dark circles under his eyes, lethargic, certainly not his usual, happy self, and he hovers near the ping, looking around nervously. ]
( He arrives with a plastic bag hooked over one arm and a concerned gaze sweeping once over Yuji before he nods to the abandoned swings. )
Be a delinquent with me, mm?
( He takes the one closest to the park entrance, dropping his haul to his feet, leaning forward to pull a soda free anyway. You thought he'd stop giving traumatised children drinks? No. )
[ Yuji goes to sit on the swing too, sitting on it wrong so that his back can lean against the chains, and he can hold the other side in front of him, thumb brushing idly over the top of the can of soda. ]
Thanks.
[ And now he doesn't really know what to say. It feels harsh, somehow, to say something like "I know you became a curse user so you must have been really mad or upset, how do you cope with your emotions", but... ]
You've been through a lot, Yuji-kun. Here, and back home. Most people would have already buckled under that weight long ago. And even if the fight wasn't a big deal in the first place, it's just another stone on top of the pile you're already carrying, no? It's okay to not feel like you are. What's important is that you don't bottle it up.
( Knee flexing as he pushes himself back, lets gravity drop him back down again. )
You don't have to be the strongest all the time. It's not sustainable.
[ But he can be. He's survived so much so he can protect the others, so what's the point of it all if he gives up now? It doesn't matter that it hurts, if it means the others are okay. It's like grandpa said - he's strong, so he should protect and save people, as many as he can.
Everything happened because I ate Sukuna's finger. I brought him back, and then - and everything else happened because of that. If I hadn't eaten the finger, or if they'd executed me right away...
[ The spiral of negative emotions is inside of him, always has been, and he can't help but blame himself, too low and vulnerable to argue against it in his head at the moment. ]
[ Yuji blinks up at him, then frowns, considering. ]
I thought... If I left, I'd have nightmares. That I wanted to help people, that... That maybe I had a curse, too. But the reason I ate it was because Megumi said that it would give me cursed energy, and I thought if I did that, too, then I could be strong. That there would be a way to save everyone.
The strength you sought, it was for the sake of keeping other people alive, no? Whatever was happening, it must have been scary. You stayed, you didn't run. You swallowed a finger to do something good, didn't you?
Looking back at it, I don't think the curse was even that scary.
[ Not after all the other things he's fought. ]
But... Yeah. Megumi was afraid, and I guess I was too, but it was the easiest answer. If I ate the finger, I'd be able to protect him and my classmates. I didn't know anything about Sukuna then.
Whatever happened afterwards, whatever might have been the fallout, you wanted to help. You saw a frightened person, and you hoped to fix it. And, Yuji-kun, just because you were a vessel doesn't mean you are to be held accountable for Sukuna's crimes. If not you, then it could have been someone else. If not you, he might have been taken by a weaker person. Do you really mean to tell me you didn't do everything you could? Because I wouldn't believe it.
( He knows this boy. )
You're not to blame for it. Sukuna is, or the higher ups are, for not outfitting their sorcerers better, or I am, for defecting and upsetting the balance. You understand, don't you? That things will have fallout, but you don't have to be held responsible for every little bit of it.
That's what everyone says. I hear it all the time, about Sukuna, and the Rift, and everything else that happened. Even Higuruma-san said I was innocent, but...
[ He swallows, his hand resting over his chest. ]
I still feel so bad, all the time. And I don't know how to stop it.
You're going to feel bad about it, Yuji. I wish I could tell you that you won't, but it's going to follow you for the rest of your life. But doing this? Telling someone. That's a good thing. It might not feel like it just yet, but some day you'll be able to breathe a little easier. It will hurt less. You just have to be kinder to yourself.
I would get angry at Satoru. ( Maybe a non sequitur, maybe not. He thinks Yuji needs to hear it anyway. ) For not being there. For being on missions. For going somewhere I couldn't follow. It felt like I was drowning and each time he left the water got higher. I didn't even know, back then, what it was I was feeling. Or how to combat it. It festered. It wasn't his fault. But it was hard to ask for things. It still is. I understand that part.
( He offers up a small smile. )
And your emotions don't necessarily have to make sense. Sometimes it's not the root cause that gets you. You've grown up too quicker. That's usually the fate of a jujutsu sorcerer, but for you it's been far more, far faster. Nanami cares about you though, I'm sure he'd listen to you.
It's exactly like that. The weight of emotions, smothering him. He tries to fight against the tidal wave of it, pushing and fighting back, but more and more of it comes and then...
The more he learns about Geto, the more alike they are, and he's not sure if that's a good or a bad thing. He thinks back to his friendships, to the fight with Sukuna, and he thinks It'll be lonely without you, Fushiguro, and he understands completely. Just because you're strong doesn't mean you have to do it alone, right?
Right?
Shaking his head, he laughs through his tears. ]
I'm not going to make Nanami feel bad on his birthday, Geto-san. He's already taken care of me enough.
[ The way Yuji feels towards him now is definitely adjacent to how he feels to Nanami, to Gojo, on a growing level. He's not really capable of admitting that, though, and he kicks his foot into the ground below him, frowning.
( He takes his own swing again, gaze tipped up to the sky. )
I don't mind it, just so you know. If you need to just talk whenever you're feeling like it's too much. It's not a problem. I would prefer you to, in fact. It's an awful thing to go through alone.
( Finally he pushes himself back far enough, letting his feet lift off the tarmac so the swing carries him. It's childish, lacking in any grace. He's just doing it for the sake of it. )
You're not keeping me from anything, bar finishing my game, and possibly being very, very bored.
Pulls him up short. The chain on his swing clanks, Geto letting gravity twist him about for a second. )
It's not an inevitable path. Feel enough pain, become ungovernable. But it is part of it. The last drop in an overflowing cup. I was tired, and I didn't have anyone to pull me out. The people who noticed were struggling themselves, and you know what it's like. The school doesn't care as long as you can keep going. I wanted all of those feelings to stop, I didn't see another way.
( A tuneless, toneless hum. )
I wouldn't advise it. More hassle than it's worth.
The school never cared about me to begin with. I was destined to die the moment I joined.
[ Yuji frowns, rocking on his swing absently. ]
I guess... I understand why you might feel that way. Why you would be so angry and disappointed in everything. I wouldn't ever do that kind of thing myself, though, I... I made a promise. I promised my grandpa, and I promised Megumi, and I guess I kind of promised myself, too.
( He laughs, and it's not as cruel as it could be. He thinks Yuji deserves the truth from him. No smoke and mirrors. )
Sometimes I think I should have just left. After our mission with the Star Plasma Vessel. It had already started by then, I was already grieving. I watched a girl get shot in the head, and the assassin told me Satoru was dead, and I thought, why? What was the point? Even though he survived, he could have been taken from me any moment after. The way I severed the ties that I did, it was to outrun that pain. It's why I badger the rest of you so often about relying on your friends. I've done the bloodletting, it doesn't work.
( Back to swinging. )
And it doesn't excuse anything. My violence still exists.
I thought that too. After Nanamin and Kugisaki, I thought...
[ He frowns, fingers playing idly with the chain. ]
I was a murderer. I was just like Mahito, with a role to just kill curses, over and over again. To keep fighting until there were none left, and I would have, too. I wanted to remove them all and not let there be any others, to protect the people I love more than anything. I think if I didn't have Todo in Shibuya, I would have given up.
[ He frowns as he looks over at Geto, his head tilted. ]
I'm not here to forgive you, whatever you did. I wasn't even a sorcerer then, so that's not my right.
I'm not asking for it. Forgiveness is for other people, and I don't believe the things that I did were unjustifiable. Even given a second chance, I'd probably go the same way.
( He shrugs his shoulders, a rare idleness for the conversation. )
But no one else has to. It's my weight. I wouldn't want it for anyone else. And while we're more alike than either of us would like, I think, I have hope for you.
[ Yuji doesn't think Geto would do the same thing now, but that's because he has people looking out for him. He himself would intervene and do his best to help him, no matter what. ]
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@macarons
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Can we really attribute that to the boy and not the thing inside of him? Either way, he got lucky. It won't happen again.
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[ not anymore anyway. ]
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There won't be a third time lucky.
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if you rly want to fight someone im right here
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The boy attacked me first. I was defending myself.
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but he wouldnt have fought you if you didnt have such an ugly face suguru
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im very proud of his progress
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you should watch who you call a monkey around here suguru
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Are you going to stop me, Satoru?
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( The hermit lifestyle is apparently looking real good. )
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[ it has been over a decade now. gojo doesn't have any expectation of geto's ideology shifting just because of one near death experience. he will never be that naive. ]
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What exactly do you think I'm going to do, Satoru? Make some ill-advised move?
( He still thinks the attack on the school was justified. His bid for Rika needed to happen before the boy got too strong or the higher ups killed him. He'd avoided it before. )
The curse with a conscience told me we were comrades. ( And oh, how Geto had hated it. ) And that Lilith is always watching. Dying before hasn't exactly worked out well for me. I'm not looking for a repeat.
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you cant expect me to believe that youre turnin over a new leaf
just bc youve been brought back from the brink of death
then again what use is your cause here?
this world isnt even our own
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( There is no other way around asking his next question, no matter how much it sets his teeth on edge. )
Have you seen a cursed spirit here? Beyond the one I mentioned.
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no
none like the ones we have back home
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It doesn't matter much. All you have to do is look beyond these walls and you know they've found other ways to be parasitic.
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Oh, I'm sure I'll make friends.
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Why would I tell you?
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were teammates now~
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you dont gotta tell me
hate to break it to you tho
unless youre plannin to side with the kaiju
youre gonna have to suck it up & play nice with alllllllllll the nonsorcerers here
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I can manage alone, I have done before.
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quit bein stubborn suguru
you dont have any more reason to be like this
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Maybe I was wrong earlier, maybe you are a fool.
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i just dont want you to waste your time on smth that has no meanin here
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( It makes him feel itchy and discomfited. )
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( Ten years he's managed to wriggle his way loose from any attempt at sincerity and this bastard thinks he can try now? Geto would rather get eaten by a Kaiju. )
I said I'd leave your people alone. Do the same for me.
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no
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...
... )
Don't push me. I'm at least trying to be reasonable.
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@loremipsum
Let's try it out.
yeeees.
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Man or robots?
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I can come with you though. There'll probably be tea.
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If you can't eat the food, it's going to be really weird if you just sat in front of me to watch me eat.
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( He still takes his daughters out to eat, he just doesn't. )
And no allergies, no. I just don't unless I know where it's come from. Or who.
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[ rover reads his response and thinks, okay. that sort of makes sense? it's a new environment, you'd want to be careful, right? and it's not a crime to be picky. people have different hangups with food. ]
I'll just pick something else. I'll feel terrible otherwise.
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First the sandcastle, now this. )
There's a teahouse that is run by virtual assistants. I've been there before. It does food too, I think.
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I'll make sure to eat dinner before we go out.
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It has more to do with my appetite than anything else.
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I'm sorry if I bothered you. I thought I'd ask if you're available, but I'll keep in mind your restrictions with food next time.
Jinzhou is big on hospitality, and the best way they like to show it is by sharing food with others.
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Time to suck it up. )
You didn't bother me.
I'll come with you to the buffet. I'm sure it will be fine. Is Jinzhou where you're fine?
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... well, sure. it's not wrong if she says otherwise. she was from jinzhou. ]
... I don't want you to just stare at me eat.
I will go with you to the cafe instead.
And yes, I came from Jinzhou.
wow ty for reading the comment how i meant it and not how i wrote it???
But it's been a while since I went for a meal with anyone, it's possible I'm rusty.
i gotchu
It takes time to learn, and we have nothing but time now.
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It's not like we can decide to go home. And not everyone would want to either.
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Ah, it doesn't matter if I want to or not.
I'm dead back home. Or I will be very shortly. I don't particularly have a say in it.
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I'm not.
( Actually, he's spiralling but that's nothing to do with Rover. )
LILITH was just particularly clever with the timing, that's all.
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Are you ... happier, then, being here?
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That's better than nothing.
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[ so he's just ... miserable. got it. ]
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Usually people wait a while to call me that.
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On the contrary, I didn't ask to be brought here.
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You want to watch me eat.
You avoid competition and being around people.
You think sharing food is important, but you haven't done it with anyone else here in a while.
You have two daughters and you're dead, but you're here, and that's something, whatever that means.
... It just seems to me like it's an otherwise lonely existence. Isn't it tiring?
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It's entirely possible I'm just not an extravert.
And that this place does not lend itself easily to that.
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[ after all, she has no reason to think otherwise. so: yes, all of what he said is possible. for better or worse, she'll take his word for it sincerely.
she'll give him this get out of jail card, he can take it if he wants it: ]
Tell me when you're free to go to the teahouse. I'll come with you, if you still want my company.
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Tomorrow?
I have errands, we could meet after.
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I'll see you then.
@naiiledit
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Why?
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because he's being annoying
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All right, I'll help.
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i'm poor so the only thing i can pay you with is a coupon for crepes
but since he is turning me into a criminal for the sake of grades i may as well conspire with the other criminal here
[that's... that's you...]
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Is this to do with the task he set up? Itadori-kun mentioned his.
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i don't want to, but we all decided we would do it or else he's going to be insufferable if we get failing grades and have to do something worse
what did yuji say his was?
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because mine directly impacts my classmates and that's not fair if he let yuji off with something easy!
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Itadori's is to disallow bad pictures being taken of him. I'm not sure who's in charge of that.
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we rarely take pictures of each other, and even if we did they wouldn't be bad ones on purpose!
HOW IS THIS FAIR????
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If it isn't something you do usually, that is. Has someone photographed you lately?
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sometime during the 3hr flight to seoul 1/2
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Mark and Bob are acquainted with each other. Mark feels strongly for Bob. Bob is rather indifferent to Mark. Mark is an okay acquaintance, but he has his quirks that make him unbearable to other people. Bob has a lot of patience, so the two of them can be said to hang out well enough together.
Mark is upset about this arrangement and decides to put more effort into attracting Bob's attention. Bob wants to understand Mark.
1. Do you think Mark is rational in this arrangement?
2. Is negative attention better than no attention at all for Mark? Why?
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Clarifying questions:
If Bob is indifferent why does he allow Mark, whom you've said has unbearable quirks, spend so much time with him? What kind of idiosyncrasies are we talking about? And why does Bob want to understand a man difficult to spend time with?
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also these are difficult questions. he is truly an expert, as rover suspected. ]
Mark isn't unbearable to him. It's just that he can be unbearable to other people. Bob has spent enough time with him to know when Mark means to be insulting, and so on. Bob wants to understand him, because at the end of the day, when they get along, they seem to be really good friends.
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( This would probably be much easier if he understood any of the players or the motivations going on, but he'll play along for now. )
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What makes Bob an ass in this situation?
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( It makes sense to a man who went off the rails and left his only friends behind rather than drag them down with him. It's very black and white. )
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I see. You think Bob needs to make an effort, and meet Mark where he wants to in this situation, or otherwise make it plain to Mark that he no longer wishes him to be his friend. Is that correct?
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Well.
What does Bob actually want? Scientific discovery? Or a friend?
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besides, it's a reasonable question. what does she want from the experience? she hadn't exactly been quite honest about that either. ]
Bob wants a friend.
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Is it the fear of what other people think?
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But it's possible Bob and Mark don't know each other as well as they think they do, and therefore, are creating difficult rules for each other to 'become friends'. Does that make sense? What do you think?
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( Alas. )
If they don't care what anyone else thinks, and if they both want it, and if nothing detrimental will happen because of it, then why waste time with pointless hoops? Just be friends.
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You're right.
Thank you. You've been quite helpful.
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He can go back to feigning sleep now. But actually, because you can never escape being a little shit -. )
I hope your friendship proves fruitful, Bob-san.
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I'm not Bob.
Besides, you can't prove I'm Bob.
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My mistake.
( He's so full of shit. )
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I wish you neck cramps and back pain.
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Anyway, Mark is aware of my idiosyncracies.
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fixed it
( Jokes? From this cult leader? It's more likely than you think. )
Sure.
So why exactly was "Bob" hesitating? You - I mean, he - don't seem easily put off.
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Maybe I just wasn't very good at explaining the situation ... although you did give me plenty to think about.
But also, it's just who he is.
[ 😮💨 bobby over here sweatin' beneath the LILITH gear. ]
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Why is this one so difficult?
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This is just my guess, but I think ... it's because he is royalty.
And therefore, has certain expectations about people, and how he ought to act around them - or how they ought to act around him.
We don't have such people in our world, so I'm very baffled by his behaviour.
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Just don't let him. If he has airs and graces tell him to just be normal. If he doesn't know what that is then just show him.
( Spoken like a man with Experience. )
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He has quite the ego. Stubborn, and stuck to his ways. But I think I'll wear him down eventually. I just have to be patient in getting to know him.
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If you think it's worth it though, then you should.
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I guess it just communicates badly.
Thanks for your help. I know it was an odd question, but it was nice talking it out with someone.
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( Does he mean Gojo or Maki? Maybe a little of both. )
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Not anything I can't handle though. People just won't mind their business.
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I like to be mysterious.
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Do you think this plane has parachutes?
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Probably? Why?
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Myself, probably. Less likely that I'll get a disapproving lecture.
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You're very important to me. I won't have a lunch buddy otherwise.
Throw out your seatmate instead.
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( Maybe this time his attempted murder would stick. )
But no, since you need a lunch partner so bad I'll refrain. I'll just think about it really hard.
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He's a good boy, he's already much better at behaving than I am.
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I'm sure he'd have a fair few things to teach me.
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He's very kind.
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You need more kind people in your life.
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Ha.
No, I have enough.
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( That or he'll disappoint her enough that she leaves him behind. Either one. )
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... and then what?
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The way I see it, as I think through the situation objectively, leaving you to your own devices is actually the worse decision.
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I'm taking a nap. Not because I'm not fine. But this plane is very full, and very noisy.
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Rest well. I'll see you later.
@macarons, audio—
OY SUGURU, did I not tell ya to watch who you're callin' a fuckin' monkey? You wanna explain yourself?
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I have been.
( Only the very deserving. )
Aiy, Satoru. You put me in a zoo you can't expect me to not call it like I see it.
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So, you think it's justified to call one of my students by a slur?
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I wouldn't call her anything if she left me alone.
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( Bored sounding in answer, as though the threat is nothing. )
At least then I'd be saved all this hassle. I've been perfectly reasonable. Your gnat of a student keeps bothering me.
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[ all he's hearing rn are excuses. ]
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Ow. )
I think we're all forgetting who I am, and how I've been playing nice.
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[ tell him he's wrong ]
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( He doesn't want to redeem himself, it's too haaaaard. )
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You can't possibly be serious.
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[ how to frame this in a way he'll understand? ]
If I were to call Nanako and Mimiko by a slur and then told you that I'm at least not throttlin' 'em with my bare hands, will that be enough for you?
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( Tone weirdly pleasant, because Gojo has touched a nerve and this is his only defence against it. )
I don't know what you expect from me. I don't know what any of you do, but it's getting tiresome.
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Treat my students like how you want me to treat either of your girls. You don't need to be friends with them. Avoid 'em for all I care. But at least be civil with 'em. They might not be important to you, but they are to me.
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Fine.
( Short, sharp. )
I'll leave her alone. Is that it? Or do you need something else from me?
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[ his sheer lack of faith. ]
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You're right, it would.
( Too bad he's going to try, too bad Gojo will never find out. )
text; @CURSE - 09-28-78
[ !? ]
baby booooy
( He shouldn't have to clarify but he does fall out with people publically on the regular. )
gotta pester the local emo cultist
he's not even got a cult anymore ;;
Why? Has something happened since?
choso can be his cult… cult kaisen
will choso stop gojo from beating him up in hallways bc he might then
Itadori-kun forgives too easily.
he’d do his best
have you been eating?
mmmm maybe we'll see if he gets blamed for the new cults
Why are you asking?
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because i’m going to feed you?
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( An understatement, but at least he's giving a little. )
Do you cook?
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i can make simple things. fried tofu. seasoned fried chicken breast. fried egg. miso. cup noodle.
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( Does he need to eat? Maybe. Admittedly Geto tries not to think about Choso, it makes things complicated. )
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[ but, no, that’s too dismissive of who taught him, and how it came to be. try again. ]
but i learned first from a friend of he and i, who does more good than i can count. i learned because that friend was willing to teach. now, i can cook and feed the people i want to.
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I learnt to feed my girls too. It hadn't been important before.
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so it’s important that someone else makes sure we’re properly fed too.
hence why i’m here taking up your brain space.
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( Which might seem rude but it mostly just a comment. He's deeply curious though. )
Just as long as you know you don't have to. I'm not going to snap and kill everyone if I don't eat anything other than combini supplies.
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[ choso stands at the top of the ladder of calling himself down. hearing it from someone else isn’t that big a deal. ]
and i know i don’t have to.
but i still want to anyway.
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Okay, sure.
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Tell me where and I'll come to you.
( It feels weird to make Choso bring the food to him? )
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cafeteria. i will await you.
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It's probably not a trap. But it could be. )
Yo.
( Casual. )
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his weird little pigtails seem a little jabbier than usual. ]
Geto Suguru.
[ it should have been a ‘hello’, but maybe he’s still reminding himself, affirming the name that sits in flesh right and proper. ]
I forgot to bring chopsticks.
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So he shrugs, slides into a chair opposite. )
That's fine. I can eat with my hands.
( He thinks about offering a warning over it potentially being poisoned, but no. Itadori has been kind lately, Choso probably wouldn't upset him like that. )
Did you use the cafeteria kitchen to cook? Are outsiders allowed to do that?
( Because it's been cup noodles for months. He might be deficient. )
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[ to the hands, he means, not that he puts much emphasis on it. he’d been eating with his hands until mid-april, so who was choso to judge, really?
pay attention, choso: Geto Suguru is taking a seat, settling in like a bird of prey on its roost with all the air of something that intended to do so anyway, tupperware or not.
the tup gets nudged over in offering. ]
The robots don’t care and management doesn’t seem to give note unless a mess is left. Bakugo and Lucy use the kitchens often, so I use them too.
[ which seems to answer: yeah, they’re usable. ]
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How often?
( Yep. Sure does look like Tofu. )
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Once a week.
[ that he himself cooks, is what he assumes geto was asking. ]
I haven't figured out what neighborhoods the tofu man goes to on days other than Friday.
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( Can he just pull a bit free? Is that rude? He might do it anyway. And then, as an afterthought. )
I liked to cook.
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For your daughters?
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( He puts the piece in his mouth, chews slowly, carefully, watches Choso as he does so for any sign that - what? Nothing really. He just prefers being watchful. )
I didn't know how when we first ended up together. But I was the grown up, so I had to learn.
( Seventeen, hardly an adult. It had felt it then. )
This is good.
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this was a family man. ]
Nn. That's good.
[ about the girls, he means. about the herculean effort it took to become the world for two (two? more?) entire lives, young and hungry and raw. learning to cook was the least of the duties Geto Suguru has taken on, and choso can almost feel the weight of it in his own bones. ]
Bakugo taught me how. So I have practiced.
[ made a whim into a skill, an understanding of another facet of the living, human world. ]
So if you know other ways to make it taste good, tell me and I will try.
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Mm. You probably don't need my guidance. And whatever I can make isn't very fancy. I always aimed more for speed and comfort than anything else. ( Because in the beginning it had just been the three of them, rammed into a tiny apartment he could barely afford, stretched thin with all the things he had been trying to do. And even in his more affluent days when the family had grown Geto had opted for things more homely.
Here is a chance though, another option for a small step forward. )
I can send you some recipes. How well do you handle spice?
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Terribly, but it’s a good terrible. I want Yuji to eat many delicious things. Something you made for your girls will be perfect.
[ family dinners, courtesy of daddy longleg geto. ]
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I'll have to check you can even get the ingredients here first. I haven't looked.
( Aforementioned cup noodle time, like the sad and aimless bastard bachelor that he is. )
I'm glad that you're looking out for him. You should do the same for yourself too. If only because Itadori-kun would be sad if anything happened to you.
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Tofu and strange spices for sure. Seafood is in abundance. Kelp, agar, some limited forms of flour. Lots of salt.
[ there he goes, just listing off whatever ingredients he’s sure he’s seen on city shelves and in city coolers. ]
I take excellent care of myself now. I take regular baths. I eat. I even sleep.
[ just like a real boy. ]
Yuji has nothing to worry about on that end.
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( The ingredient listing is, however, mildly appreciated. )
That's all survival, which is very well and good. But Itadori-kun has a problem relaxing. Maybe if he saw his brother doing it too he'd be better at it. Do you have any hobbies?
( He's very much pot-kettle here. But all hope is already lost for him. So he eyes Choso up speculatively. )
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it doesn’t quite work. weird… ]
Patrols and cats-watching endeavors. I have learned how to use a camera. Do these suffice?
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Photography does.
( You know who likes taking pictures? This bitch. )
Is there anything you can do together?
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Anything can be done together. We go to the onsen together. And have meals. And take pictures.
[ but teens are teens and they roam about more than choso was prepared for. ]
Are there other activities?
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Have you tried the arcade? Though it is less about the activity and more about the company. But something good and distracting might help. Your brother could think himself into knots.
( Almost fondly. For all Itadori calls himself stupid, he's certainly introspective enough to be hard on himself. But he studies Choso anew, carefully. ) What do you do for fun? Beyond Itadori-kun?
@loremipsum
I need your expertise again.
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Geto meets Satoru in the gala. Geto and Satoru exchange gifts because they haven't seen each other in a while. Geto thinks this is awfully generous of Satoru, Satoru thinks it's just nice that they're giving gifts to each other.
Satoru makes a stray comment about kissing Geto. Should Geto take him seriously?
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( His first terrifying instinct is to ask her who she's been talking to. Because he was tipsy after the Gala and he's fairly certain his conversation with the man in question dipped uncomfortably close to flirtation, but he doesn't think think Satoru would mention it to anyone. It didn't mean anything, not really. It couldn't. So why -. But this is Rover. Has she picked up on something? No. Probably not. He doesn't even let himself think about things so she can't have. It's just names. Maybe she thinks she's being funny. Maybe it's just random.
Throughout all of this internal conflict Geto has forgotten his cigarette, and the ash burns his hand as it falls. Which means his second message takes a moment, sullenly pressing his tongue to the mark afterwards.
He really should quit. )
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Is this the same person as before?
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[ and then, after a minute, because having the truth means geto would be more powerful, ]
No.
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Why wouldn't you be objective regardless? We're talking about fake-Geto.
Follow-up question:
Would a change in behaviour indicate a more genuine attempt at interest in Satoru's part, or is that still part of the same careless attitude he uses to disarm the audience?
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Is fake-Satoru the royal one again?
How has fake-Satoru's behaviour changed? Does it feel more genuine? Has it changed towards everyone or just you? I mean, fake-Geto.
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Geto ... feels that there are moments of genuine sincerity interspersed between his clownish behaviour. It does not help that as far as Geto knows, this kind of behaviour is unique to Satoru's when it comes to him.
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The real Geto. Me. I'm going to get drunk now and this is all your fault.
( Announcing it now so if he needs someone to walk him home later Rover will be suitably guilted into it. )
Do you mean the clowning is happening specific to fake-Geto? Or is fake-Satoru a clown to everyone?
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[ ah, well. what does she know? ]
Anyway, fake-Satoru is a clown to everyone, but sometimes, he is very sincere to fake-Geto.
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Do you know something?
Wait, nevermind. This is about my imposter. Let me make it clear. You have a friend. A friend who is bad with social cues and politeness. A friend who makes things feel like a joke sometimes. A friend who you feel might have some kind of genuine feeling, but you're afraid that, what, they're not sincere? Why wouldn't they be? Do they kiss a lot of people?
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( Maybe. )
Answer my questions please, Rover-san. As an aside, I'm a single father who runs a religious organisation. Matters rarely come into it.
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Anyway, the answer is that it's hard to determine sincerity with someone whose emotions are more guarded than yours.
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Back to the start. Which one of you mentioned kissing?
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[ no wait let's get to the bottom of this first. ]
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Back to yours, please.
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[ ah, how threatening. ]
Well -
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anyway, one question at a time - ]
He brought it up. It wasn't the right moment, so I just said I'd be willing to try it.
[ and why not? ]
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He asked if he could kiss you and you said what, 'sure maybe sometime?'. Do you want to kiss him? Are your feelings romantic? I only ask because you weren't even sure they were truly anything more than curiosity once upon a time, and I'd hate to aid an accidental heartbreak.
( And then a picture, sake on a dingy table in a secluded corner. He's doing this the truly serious way now. )
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[ how does she explain this .... maybe it was a mistake to reach out to geto after all. ]
I think the idea of kissing him isn't unpleasant.
We've been affectionate in other ways. So, I just thought, if he wants to kiss me, I wouldn't mind it at all.
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Or his?
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I understand being cautious, but Rover-san, if it's something you want you should take it.
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I suppose you're right - I must seize on the initiative while we have it.
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Good. Have fun. You should.
text
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Are you okay?
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That breaks him out of his village-induced-rage-stupor at least. )
Where are you? I'll come to you.
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( And he is, not five minutes later, striding across the dirt like a man on a mission. )
Itadori-kun. ( Fingertips against his shoulder, light and careful. ) All right, when you say missing - have you tried contacting them specifically?
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Geto-san...
[ Blinking, eyes wide and a little damp with tears, he nods. ]
I tried. I've messaged them, and I can't... I can't feel Choso right now.
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All right, don't panic. Both nanami and your brother are strong. And we don't know if anything untoward has happened yet. Where have you checked? Did you know where either of them were staying?
( There was a woman making eyes at Nanami, wasn't there? Maybe he went with her. But no, that doesn't feel right either. )
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He doesn't know what else to do. ]
Choso fell asleep beside me. I - I didn't see Nanamin after we danced, but...
[ Breathing out, he tilts his head up, to look over at Geto. ]
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All right. I saw Nanami last night too. Do you know which room he was in? We can go and check it.
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[ Stupid. He should've been doing something, should've been making sure that everyone was okay. They're in a strange, new place, so... Surely... ]
I should've checked.
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We'll check them all then. Try not to panic, Itadori-kun.
( He lets go if only so they can start working, head cocked carefully and his gaze moving across the street. )
Do Choso and Nanami have a relationship? Would they have gone anywhere together, do you know?
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I'm trying.
[ But it's hard, when the people he cares about most are gone, missing in a strange, new country. ]
I don't think so. I don't know if they've even spoken to each other properly.
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( If anything it will be slightly productive while he has his dragon search the woods. )
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[ It’s a little easier to focus on Geto, to start heading to his room and find a starting point there. Still… ]
My tracker ring isn’t working either.
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( It makes sense if they've been taken, but he doesn't actively want to focus on that just yet. Better to rule out the less sinister alternatives. )
Did your brother come to the party last night?
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[ The panic is bubbling inside of him, but he's trying to focus on Geto and the job they're trying to do. ]
When I woke up, he was gone, and I thought...
[ He'd gone for a walk or something. ]
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( Though, in their lives it's something of a fool's wish. Geto stops in the dirt in front of the row of houses they've been kept in, eyeing it up speculatively before his gaze drifts along the street. Footsteps, but that's to be expected. He can't feel any cursed energy though, which might be a problem. )
All right. Can you take me to where you and your brother were staying, Itadori-kun? Just to check first.
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[ On edge, still unsure, Yuji hesitates. He doesn't need to grab Geto's hand, doesn't need to walk with him like a lost child, but he does stick close. It's impossible not to, when he can't sense Nanami, can't sense Choso, either through the bond or their cursed energy.
It's an impossibility to think they're gone. ]
It's just this way. Let's go.
[ Starting to walk, Yuji tries not to let his hands shake too obviously. ]
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LILITH wouldn't send people back mid-mission, Itadori-kun. If anything the fact we had to travel so far means they couldn't. If they are missing it will be another factor, and something we can deal with. Satoru is going to check the woods, and Rainbow Dragon will return if she finds anything. We just have to keep our cool.
( He should check in on Rover, actually. )
Have you spoken to anyone else?
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They brought Nanamin in mid-mission.
[ That's not helping him at all, is it. Nodding, though, he breathes out, tries to focus. ]
I've checked in on the others. And Ratio-san checked on me.
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( He'll apologise later, if it turns out that is what's happened. For now though there's just helping keep the boy relatively sane. )
There's something strange about this place. It isn't the usual brand of village inanity.
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[ More than anything. Right now, Yuji would do anything to save any of the people who have been kidnapped, especially the people special to him. ]
What do you mean?
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( It isn't quite generalised distrust. Geto knows himself enough to access his feelings carefully. The idolatry for one, the smoke and mirrors. He hasn't let his guard down since stepping out of the forest. )
We'll find out. They won't get the better of us.
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[ Yuji steps a little closer to Geto, hesitating for a moment. He's not necessarily seeking security, but... ]
I just want to get them back.
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( One more than the other, truthfully, but from what little he's aware of Choso he already has an impression. )
- they won't let themselves be kept from you for long. And we're working on finding them, aren't we? Between us we'll figure out what's happened.
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[ Yuji hesitates for a moment, unsure. Why do people get hurt around him? Why does this keep happening to the people who mean the most to him?
He's scared. ]
I believe you, Geto-san.
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It's going to be all right. We still have each other. And Satoru has not gone anywhere. Wherever they are we'll find them. And were LILITH foolish enough to send them home without a word then we'll simply deal with them too, mm? ( Is he willing to fight the people in control of his survival? Absolutely. Just give him the chance. ) You're not alone in this, Itadori-kun. I won't go anywhere, and we'll see this through together, all right?
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It's nice, to have that sudden nudge of comfort, and Yuji glances up briefly, almost smiling. It's closer than he's got for hours. ]
Yeah, I know you're right.
[ Carefully, he rubs his face. ]
It'll... It'll be fine.
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( It is time for Geto to step up, apparently. )
Now. First thing's first. Signs of entry. Are you a deep sleeper?
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[ Like the dead. Kind of. ]
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( Unfortunate. But he pauses. )
Is this your room, Itadori-kun?
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[ Yuji sighs, and nods, motioning with his hand. ]
That's it. I don't know if there'll be many clues.
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( He moves into the room, heads to the window to check the latch. It doesn't budge. )
Did you see anyone strange hanging around last night?
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[ Yuji pokes around the room, still looking mildly distraught. ]
I don't think anyone here had something to do with this, right?
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( A thoughtful hum. Geto knows he has to be careful here, he can't let his own prejudice be that obvious. )
I wouldn't discount it, Itadori-kun. Villages like this are often hiding something. And there's a layer of fanaticism I don't like. They might be worth looking into.
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[ Frowning, he rubs his forehead. This is too hard. ]
I've never seen this kind of thing before, but since you led a cult...
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( Distracted, so he's not exactly minding his words. He pauses from rattling the window lightly to glance Itadori's way, but there's very little point hiding what he's been and so a shrug, easy and light. ) The iconography didn't belong in a bad horror movie, anyway. And technically I only subsumed the cult. It existed long before me, Itadori-kun. I merely made it more useful.
( Collecting curses. Murder. A nice little shield when he needed it. It was only really the main family he cared about. )
But I've been to many places like this, and usually the smallest of minds exist within their protection. Cruelty often hides in plain sight.
@turtleneck
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You survived?
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I couldn't kill it in one blow
Can you imagine that?
Ahhhh
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I wouldn't take it to heart.
But, are you particularly strong, Reiji-san?
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Now we should go to dinner and trade war stories
Yes
Are you particularly strong, Geto-san?
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Too late.
What kind of war stories?
And yes.
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About what just happened with that kaiju
This is a war, isn't it?
Good, strong people are my favourite people.
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We defeated it, took out some cultists, got back our own. There's not much of a story beyond that. Unless you're one of the bitten. Are you? Maybe it's not my zaru soba you're after.
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No no
Not bitten
Just a little bored
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( Beyond being vaguely off-putting, at least. )
Our first moments peace in weeks and you're complaining? Tch. Try the simulation rooms.
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Oh Geto-san
Punching something over and over gets boring too
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Bully my protégé and his best friend
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Tell me, do you have a sweet tooth too?
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Do you know a good place to get ice cream?
Or crepes! I do miss that little place in Harajuku
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But I know which place you're talking about. My girls liked it. I haven't found a replica.
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[ suddenly, everything else is forgotten!!! ]
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( He is. It isn't a lie. They're his girls in the same way he is theirs. )
Twins. Mimiko and Nanako.
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How old are they?
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They're not here, are they?
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For that I'm glad. If the same thing happened to them that did our other recruits even LILITH would not still be standing.
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Separation is still difficult, Geto-san
I am sorry
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( And he would be gone either way, so. )
Do you have family to miss, Reiji-san?
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No!
I only work
Sad
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[ press f ]
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Well, I certainly aren't extravagant
Nice things are nice but not necessary
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But we get paid for the Kaiju at least.
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So in the spirit of us getting to know each other better:
Money is just money
As long as we have enough to live it is fine
But what would I do with a fortune here?
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Though there is a lot of time between missions. You might get bored.
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Imagine your girls show up, how is their papa gonna take care of them?
He has got to bake them lots of sweet things
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It is the little things that make life bearable
Here or elsewhere
[ he is teasing, can't help himself ]
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Learning to make something sweet is fine. Do you have anything in mind?
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How about some nice croissants?
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You can find a recipe for egg tarts
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An interesting mix, but sure.
( He'll pencil it in amidst the brooding. )
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That's more like it, Reiji-san.
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Do you know how to mix a good one?
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I'd try it.
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Let's do it
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12-20-78; @curse
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I'm going to need you to define 'things'.
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Yes, I like things. I'm dead, not dull.
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ok let me narrow it down.
what will you NOT take?
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Also is Choso trying to give him something? Does he need to add him to the list of begrudging holiday gifts? Will he? Only time will tell. )
I don't need anything.
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you’re so hard to shop for.
did you… eat the puppy?
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( No. )
I had Manami take it to a shelter. Also no bugs, absolutely. If I get a pet I'd get a cat.
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impeccable taste.
you are a definite improvement.
[ over the thing that was wearing your skin, he doubtlessly means.
… but which part does he mean?? ]
what about liquor?
that seems like a dirty priest thing.
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The higher alcohol content the better.
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okay.
i will destroy your liver this coming holiday.
if fortune is with me i may join you.
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What about you? What do you like? Bugs?
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lucky you.
but yes, actually, bugs.
they’re interesting when they’re small.
but i like cats more.
and i like yuji the most.
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( Hard to be less pointed over text so this is a wonderful segue. )
You love him.
Your brother, I mean.
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[ no. nope. naw. don’t do it ho ]
i do.
yuji is everything.
he’s capable of anything.
i love him more than the world.
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What is supernova?
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i can give you a demonstration or two.
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I suppose that could do.
🐯 delivery!
Trying to find things he thought this man would like was a little hard for Yuji, but he did his best - and he can only hope that Geto ends up liking the things that Yuji managed to put together. The box is wrapped in black and blue paper, with a black bow on the top, and inside is a series of hand wrapped gifts: At the bottom is a note:
Geto-san,
Thanks for looking out for me. I hope you have a really good next year, and that we can spend more time together.
I'm still sorry for beating you up.
- Yuji. ]
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Also he will be giving Itadori grief over the apology later, when he's not busy. :) )
delivered sometime this week :)
So delivered by courier at an odd time of day is... a small bag.
Inside is A nice bottle of Japanese whiskey and a glass. It looks like it should be a pair, but... It's by itself.
he might be trying to say something bitchy here about being alone is better than being with old friends.
But! It's also unsigned! So! It could be someone else! ]
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Geto will cherish it, lonely spikey glass and all. )
text @vessel
i remembered more
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Would you prefer to talk in person, or is this helpful enough?
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it’s good
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Where are you? Give me a few moments and I'll come find you.
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the cafeteria?
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( He doesn't take long, the lazy swipe of slippered feet mostly carrying him across base. He hadn't planned to do anything with his day, but maybe he's relaxing a little if he's wandering less put together. Either way his smile is soft, fond when he finds Itadori. )
I hope I didn't keep you too long.
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No, you were really quick! Hey, Geto-san!
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You said good news.
( Eyes move, examining every inch he can, a furrow growing beneath his brows. ) What happened?
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[ Briefly, for a moment, he looks sheepish. ]
We fought Sukuna. And we won.
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You won.
( There's relief in his voice. He'd believed everything he said, that Itadori was capable, that he would survive, but there had still been something. A worry taking root. )
Itadori, you did it. How do you feel? ( Pulling back to look at his face again, a different concern, almost parental. ) Are you all right? Will you tell me what happened?
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Yeah, we... We did it.
[ His face presses into Geto's chest briefly before he manages to find his words, swallowing. ]
I'm okay. I'm healed now, and I can live without the fingers. Probably.
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We'll figure that out, I'm sure. LILITH can do something, and if not then you'll have half the base willing to help you. Are you in pain?
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[ As if that's the only worth he has right now. ]
It doesn't hurt, no. It's fine.
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( There's still work to do with that then it would seem. )
You wanted to take water to your brother, right? Let me walk with you.
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[ A careless shrug, as if it's - whatever. ]
I... yeah. [ That dampens his mood a bit, grabbing the cup. ] Yeah, let's go.
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Is something the matter with him?
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[ Yuji swallows, covering his mouth, breathing out. Tears prickle at his eyes.
Is that answer enough, he wonders? ]
I need to get back to him.
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Geto presses a hand to his shoulder, careful. ) You're here, and he's here, and you've done what you need to do, Itadori-kun. Everything else can be dealt with in time, mm? Do you need anything else?
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[ Yuji's just glad he didn't have to say it out loud, that he didn't voice the hollow void in his chest, anoher grief to add to his pile. ]
I just need to take this back, and then... Go for a walk, or something.
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( Saves them having to do an about-turn. )
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[ Sheepish, a little shy for it, Yuji looks around. ]
... Maybe some ice cream?
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( Just operating on assumptions, but he turns towards them and waits for Itadori to follow. )
Are you hungry, Itadori?
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[ Yuji slips away from his side briefly to head back in, to slip through the doors into the large kitchen, humming softly. ]
Hungry? Mm, not really.
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( Does he have a small list of people he needs to mother hen? Yes. )
How does the remembering work, Itadori-kun? I admit I wasn't really listening to LILITH when I first arrived.
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It was like I went to sleep and woke up with all the new memories. I think they call it one of their glitches...? I'm not really sure how it works, but it's happened twice now.
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( He really wishes he had more power to fight LILITH. Even if they work in his favour for now, he does not like what they're able to do. )
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[ Looking down, he wiggles his fingers absently. ]
... Does it help if it was worth it?
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( Itadori won. All that loss was not for nothing. )
Of course it does. But that doesn't mean I can't still be concerned for you, Itadori-kun. So you'll have to tell me if anything starts to hurt.
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[ His eyes flick over to Geto briefly. ]
... Would Nanamin's arm hurt, too?
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( Carefully. ) Sometimes it's psychosomatic. I lost my arm before I woke up here. It twinges where the tear was every now and again. But there's no real reason for it to hurt. So it could be the same for Nanami. They call them phantom pains, don't they? Funny.
( It isn't. )
I check up on him sometimes, you know. He was my kohai. You don't have to run yourself ragged, there are people who can help your loved ones too.
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[ Yuji sighs softly. ]
Nanamin... Some of it was my fault, because I relied on him too much. So I want to really make sure that he's doing okay here.
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( Geto understands it a little better nowadays. )
I'm not saying you can't be concerned for him, just that he wouldn't want you to wear yourself too thin. None of us would. You have people you can rely on to take some of that wait now, Itadori-kun. I'm certainly not incapable. I can keep an eye out for you.
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Yuji sighs, nodding his head. ]
You're right. He probably wants a little bit of space to be a grown up anyway, right?
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I think he'd prefer if you gave yourself space to be a teenager. Do something fun. Something that has very little to do with survival and just ... whatever you feel like.
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[ When he smiles, it seems... Genuine. ]
Remember the festival games? That was pretty fun, wasn't it?
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( A hum. )
You can borrow the nintendo, if you want. ( You know, the pink one he's sometimes seen with. ) I need help finishing the pokedex.
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[ Look at him beam. ]
I think you need two copies to get all of them, though.
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Do you think LILITH will let us send Satoru home to buy one? ( A grin, semi-sly. ) I would have probably made him back then too, had I not already left. It's about time he does something nice for me.
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[ He cups his hand behind his back. ]
Maybe I could ask them for one, and some other games we can play together.
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Ah, Itadori-kun. I'll find us some games to play together. Don't worry about that.
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[ A laugh. ]
It's not that big a deal, Geto-san.
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( He laughs, reaches a hand to ruffle Itadori's hair quickly. )
Fine, fine. But I'm very competitive, Itadori-kun. Ask your sensei.
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[ Look at the grin on his face. How can you be mad. ]
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( But the smile is exactly what he was looking for. Geto hums peacefully, leaning against the freezer. )
All right, let's go and deliver the rations. You can tell me about your favourite kind of games as we go.
Delivery on 03 Feb
To the prettiest princess the happiest of birthdays. --7
😭😭😭
Princess?
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I don't really have the face or hair or waist to pull that off.
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(u‿ฺu✿ฺ)
( Is he ... the worst person you know? Probably. )
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How many hours of hula hoop do go into that, one wonders.
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Daughters truly are the better children.
Did she teach you?
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She taught me a whole routine. It involved a song about rainbows, I think.
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You should show us sometime.
Or teach the boys. I'm sure they'd love it.
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It can't get worse, can it?
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Did you make this by the way?
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( Hard to both show and also handle sincerity. He could possibly get a little wet around the eyes, don't look. But he's also not going to not acknowledge the kindness, so. )
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I owed you one.
The last time you had a birthday in school I was [...] distracted.
[ And don't think he hasn't noticed the mother-henning. ]
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I was going to ignore it. It feels silly marking it now. ( Because RIP. ) And also I don't have any terrible news to deliver via icing.
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Wait, are we the same age now that you've skipped a year?
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Ugh. Does it count? Satoru wants me to call him senpai.
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[ Nanami, no... ]
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If he didn't have infinity on or he ever slept I'd glue a beard on him in the dead of night.
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Is it on around you?
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I don't check.
( He just assumes it would be. Why wouldn't it? He lost the privilege. )
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I'm sure others will want to monopolise your time today as well.
Have a happy birthday, senpai.
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Be good, Nanami-san. Don't do anything I would.
@macarons, early in the morn on 2/3—
youre growin up so fast it almost brings a tear to my eye
too bad youre always gonna be younger than me now
hey maybe you should start callin me senpai from here on out
go on try it
im waitin~
kekeke
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Fuck off.
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rise & shine bday boy
were going out today
or do you need me to come help you get ready?
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The mission isn't until later.
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were going out to celebrate your bday
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so are you gettin your ass ready or not?
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( Yes.
Dragging his aging corpse from the bed. )
This isn't a repeat of my 15th, is it? Because I will hurt you.
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i would never rehash an idea
esp one that ends in you whining about it for weeks
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( ... )
Anymore.
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wanna tell me how youre gonna achieve that suguru?
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( He has pants on now at least. )
Where are we going?
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( Is he going to make demands? Probably not. Is it funny to think he might, the big age that he is and the person that he is, bidding Gojo to win him toys like they're silly teenagers? A little. Even then he barely played his part well. )
I'm dressed. And hungry. Come on Satoru, come treat me nicely.
@vessel
(¬､¬)
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It wasn't important?
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⋋_⋌
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Aiy, I'm sorry. But you didn't need to be concerned with an old man getting older.
( Twenty-eight. Ancient. )
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Honestly, I hadn't been thinking about it. It feels insignificant with everything else going on.
( He thinks to point out that his family aren't here, but that's - not exactly right anymore. Things are not perfect, but Geto has people here he is learning to love. Satoru, Nanami, Yuji too. He still has people. He's very lucky. )
Tell me yours, Itadori-kun.
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mine?? it's march 20
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( Because it's easier to focus on someone else. )
Though if you do need to tell me something earth shattering, please not via cake.
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[ Lies. ]
shall we do something in the middle? celebrate them both?
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But if you'd like, that does sound like fun.
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You're right, we should enjoy these things. What do you want to do?
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maybe we should have a picnic
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If we're inviting Satoru we'll have to pool our resources to keep him in sweets, but that does sound nice. I can make us some tamagoyaki.
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katsuki taught me
man i love bakugo teaching everyone. he's teaching vash too.
Nanami left me some.
that's his bestie!!!
CUTE
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I can cook, but something doesn't translate to baking. Our second year of living on my own I almost burnt down our then apartment with a cake in the oven.
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did you really almost burn it down
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But I bought cake every year after.
( And now he can't. )
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sore bought is probably okay in cases like that
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But I wouldn't mind learning more with you, Itadori-kun.
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i think it would make me happy
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Something easily shared with your friends. ( And his. )
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We'll impress people.
un: forgery
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You're on base?
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[ And here's the coordinate ping for the part of the Kyoto base that he's set up shop on. Not that its easy to miss, but... maybe Yuta's weird coworker he's weird about just doesn't pay attention to things? ]
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I'll be there as soon as I can.
delivery.
Rather than text him, Yuta's thanks comes in the form of a token of (uncertain? begrudging?) appreciation left by Geto's doorstep the next day: a little box of traditional tea snacks that aren't too sweet and a soft drink that Geto will like. Or rather, the exact kind Geto would have grabbed when he was younger and the title of 'the strongest' was shared between two boys. How does Yuta know that particular preference? ~It's a mystery.~
With it comes a note that simply reads: ]
Too bad, I lived.
- Okkotsu
@vessel
geto-san.
are you busy right now?
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Not particularly.
Is something wrong?
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[ Then, after a moment of it going "..." "..." "..." ]
yeah
sort of
i think
probably
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[ No. He's trying to be better. He is. So. ]
my room
but i can meet you somewhere else
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( He sends a ping. )
It's empty enough, and the sun is out. It might help. Do you want something cold to drink? Something to eat?
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and no
im fine
[ But he does come to the park, at least, in a dumb hoodie. He looks... Like shit, really. Dark circles under his eyes, lethargic, certainly not his usual, happy self, and he hovers near the ping, looking around nervously. ]
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Be a delinquent with me, mm?
( He takes the one closest to the park entrance, dropping his haul to his feet, leaning forward to pull a soda free anyway. You thought he'd stop giving traumatised children drinks? No. )
It's cola. Full sugar. You look like you need it.
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Thanks.
[ And now he doesn't really know what to say. It feels harsh, somehow, to say something like "I know you became a curse user so you must have been really mad or upset, how do you cope with your emotions", but... ]
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Did something happen?
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[ He frowns, tilting his head to look at the sky. ]
It was my fault. And not my fault. I guess, it was like that...
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Something you think you can't overcome? Or just something that hurts?
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[ He gazes at the sky still, voice soft and quiet. ]
I think, maybe... I'm not?
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( Knee flexing as he pushes himself back, lets gravity drop him back down again. )
You don't have to be the strongest all the time. It's not sustainable.
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[ But he can be. He's survived so much so he can protect the others, so what's the point of it all if he gives up now? It doesn't matter that it hurts, if it means the others are okay. It's like grandpa said - he's strong, so he should protect and save people, as many as he can.
How much did grandpa know...? ]
I am strong, so I should. It's okay to, isn't it?
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( Mild, lacking in judgment. )
Would you judge anyone else for needing a bit of support?
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[ Said almost poutingly.
But it is a good point, and he shakes his head. ]
No, but... It's different.
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Why?
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[ Yuji might be blinking back tears, now, a lead weight in his chest as he breathes in and out. ]
All the bad things that happened... They're my fault.
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( Maybe he should go back in time and have words with people. )
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[ The spiral of negative emotions is inside of him, always has been, and he can't help but blame himself, too low and vulnerable to argue against it in his head at the moment. ]
It's all I can think about. I can't stop.
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Tell me why you ate that first finger, Yuji. What was going through your head, do you remember?
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[ Yuji blinks up at him, then frowns, considering. ]
I thought... If I left, I'd have nightmares. That I wanted to help people, that... That maybe I had a curse, too. But the reason I ate it was because Megumi said that it would give me cursed energy, and I thought if I did that, too, then I could be strong. That there would be a way to save everyone.
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( He knew that, but it needs to be said plain. )
The strength you sought, it was for the sake of keeping other people alive, no? Whatever was happening, it must have been scary. You stayed, you didn't run. You swallowed a finger to do something good, didn't you?
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[ Not after all the other things he's fought. ]
But... Yeah. Megumi was afraid, and I guess I was too, but it was the easiest answer. If I ate the finger, I'd be able to protect him and my classmates. I didn't know anything about Sukuna then.
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( He knows this boy. )
You're not to blame for it. Sukuna is, or the higher ups are, for not outfitting their sorcerers better, or I am, for defecting and upsetting the balance. You understand, don't you? That things will have fallout, but you don't have to be held responsible for every little bit of it.
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[ He swallows, his hand resting over his chest. ]
I still feel so bad, all the time. And I don't know how to stop it.
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You're going to feel bad about it, Yuji. I wish I could tell you that you won't, but it's going to follow you for the rest of your life. But doing this? Telling someone. That's a good thing. It might not feel like it just yet, but some day you'll be able to breathe a little easier. It will hurt less. You just have to be kinder to yourself.
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[ He laughs a little, tears in his eyes. ]
It's so stupid. We had this big fight over Nanami's birthday, and he wouldn't even want me to celebrate it anyway. I was just so... Tired.
[ Tilting his head, he watches Geto, quiet for a moment. ]
I can talk to people, but... It's a lot, isn't it?
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( He offers up a small smile. )
And your emotions don't necessarily have to make sense. Sometimes it's not the root cause that gets you. You've grown up too quicker. That's usually the fate of a jujutsu sorcerer, but for you it's been far more, far faster. Nanami cares about you though, I'm sure he'd listen to you.
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It's exactly like that. The weight of emotions, smothering him. He tries to fight against the tidal wave of it, pushing and fighting back, but more and more of it comes and then...
The more he learns about Geto, the more alike they are, and he's not sure if that's a good or a bad thing. He thinks back to his friendships, to the fight with Sukuna, and he thinks It'll be lonely without you, Fushiguro, and he understands completely. Just because you're strong doesn't mean you have to do it alone, right?
Right?
Shaking his head, he laughs through his tears. ]
I'm not going to make Nanami feel bad on his birthday, Geto-san. He's already taken care of me enough.
[ Not "Nanamin", huh. ]
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( Another hum, he rises to a stand, knees cracking. Oh no, almost thirty. )
Also, I'm notoriously unemployed and a ruthless villain, so if you do need someone to talk to, I'm not going to balk at any of it.
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[ The way Yuji feels towards him now is definitely adjacent to how he feels to Nanami, to Gojo, on a growing level. He's not really capable of admitting that, though, and he kicks his foot into the ground below him, frowning.
He doesn't want to talk to Nanami. No way. ]
What do I do...? If it feels this bad again?
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( As easy as anything. )
We'll do something. We can talk. We can not talk. You can hold all of my questionable groceries for me.
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[ As if it's that easy. Come to Geto, and they'll figure it out. It's almost silly, and he shakes his head. ]
I could carry you and the groceries, Geto-san.
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( He takes his own swing again, gaze tipped up to the sky. )
I don't mind it, just so you know. If you need to just talk whenever you're feeling like it's too much. It's not a problem. I would prefer you to, in fact. It's an awful thing to go through alone.
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[ Hit the nail on the head with that one, huh. ]
It's a lot of bad things. My head feels like it's a mess... Choso says I have nightmares, too, but I don't remember them.
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( Still mild, not forcing the issue either way. )
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[ Yuji shifts, uncomfortable. ]
I didn't want to.
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You don't have to. It might help, but I understand not wanting to. It's a complicated thing, growing.
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[ Even if LILITH knows about their world. ]
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( They'd probably lose it themselves though. )
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[ The poor person would never catch a break. ]
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( Letting his swing spin a little. )
Is there anything else you want to talk about? Since we're on the topic.
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[ It already feels like he's said a lot, even if he hasn't, really. ]
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( Finally he pushes himself back far enough, letting his feet lift off the tarmac so the swing carries him. It's childish, lacking in any grace. He's just doing it for the sake of it. )
You're not keeping me from anything, bar finishing my game, and possibly being very, very bored.
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[ Yuji laughs softly. ]
Are all those feelings... That's why you became a curse user?
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Pulls him up short. The chain on his swing clanks, Geto letting gravity twist him about for a second. )
It's not an inevitable path. Feel enough pain, become ungovernable. But it is part of it. The last drop in an overflowing cup. I was tired, and I didn't have anyone to pull me out. The people who noticed were struggling themselves, and you know what it's like. The school doesn't care as long as you can keep going. I wanted all of those feelings to stop, I didn't see another way.
( A tuneless, toneless hum. )
I wouldn't advise it. More hassle than it's worth.
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[ Yuji frowns, rocking on his swing absently. ]
I guess... I understand why you might feel that way. Why you would be so angry and disappointed in everything. I wouldn't ever do that kind of thing myself, though, I... I made a promise. I promised my grandpa, and I promised Megumi, and I guess I kind of promised myself, too.
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( He laughs, and it's not as cruel as it could be. He thinks Yuji deserves the truth from him. No smoke and mirrors. )
Sometimes I think I should have just left. After our mission with the Star Plasma Vessel. It had already started by then, I was already grieving. I watched a girl get shot in the head, and the assassin told me Satoru was dead, and I thought, why? What was the point? Even though he survived, he could have been taken from me any moment after. The way I severed the ties that I did, it was to outrun that pain. It's why I badger the rest of you so often about relying on your friends. I've done the bloodletting, it doesn't work.
( Back to swinging. )
And it doesn't excuse anything. My violence still exists.
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[ He frowns, fingers playing idly with the chain. ]
I was a murderer. I was just like Mahito, with a role to just kill curses, over and over again. To keep fighting until there were none left, and I would have, too. I wanted to remove them all and not let there be any others, to protect the people I love more than anything. I think if I didn't have Todo in Shibuya, I would have given up.
[ He frowns as he looks over at Geto, his head tilted. ]
I'm not here to forgive you, whatever you did. I wasn't even a sorcerer then, so that's not my right.
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( He shrugs his shoulders, a rare idleness for the conversation. )
But no one else has to. It's my weight. I wouldn't want it for anyone else. And while we're more alike than either of us would like, I think, I have hope for you.
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[ Yuji doesn't think Geto would do the same thing now, but that's because he has people looking out for him. He himself would intervene and do his best to help him, no matter what. ]
Ah... I have my own weights, too, though.
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( Gently, carefully. )
You're here, aren't you? That's better than not, Yuji-kun. That's the start of things.
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[ He's sure some people would say otherwise. That it would be better if he was gone. ]
Thanks.
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Do you want to get ice cream? We won't tell anyone. Well, we can tell Satoru after, just so he knows we went without him.
( True villainy. )
I've heard they're doing taro now.
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[ As if the last few weeks of literal torture didn't rip what little fat he had from his bones. ]
I'll get sensei a takeaway box.
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( A rude noise. )
The point was to deprive him.
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He has so many of you wrapped around his fingers, tch.
( Also he bit Geto too hard last night, so. He wants to be petty. (* ￣︿￣) )
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If it helps, you're wrapped around my finger, Geto-san, so it evens out.
[ :D ]
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Oh, I suppose you're right.
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Geto-san, I was kind of joking…
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( He's kidding, he's kidding. But also, a bully. )
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[ A family prayer. ]
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His expression softens. )
Mm, this is why I keep buying you ice-cream. It's what should be done.
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[ Because he loves him… ]
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( 🍦 )