[ Tatara just watches Khun's face curiously, blinking slowly as the haze of sleep leaves him. He watches the brush over his cheek and admires the hue, his thoughts moving no further than that. What a contrast to how blue the rest of him is, in general. Curious. ]
Good. [ He smiles.
There's a brief moment of hesitation before he squeezes Khun's hand, then slowly lets go, his hand slipping from his hold. He rights himself, fluffs the pillows, and leans casually against the back of the bed in a sit. ]
Do you usually take a lot of naps?
[ Casually, and curious, because their upcoming (?) date (?) also involves a nap.
He's here for business, yes, ostensibly, but he feels bad rushing straight into it. ]
[ the pillows are very fluffy, with silk pillowcases that feel soft to the touch.
khun himself feels...well soft wouldn't be too off. it takes him another moment where he blinks once more, gets some of his thoughts going about pretty much everything. ah again, though this time he's moving to push up from the bed and then immediately fuss with his hair which he's sure looks like a mess (it does not look that terrible, but his standards).
he responds while he's undoing the hair tie, letting the familiar action ease him into some facsimile of normal, blue strands falling cleanly down across his shoulders. he's been here practically a month now, and it's grown out a little. ]
Not usually. [ said with a hairtie in his mouth, so there's a pause here where he finishes tying his hair back up again. that done he looks back to his usual, shades of blue and white without a hint of pink. one step down. ]
But I guess I might be susceptible to a certain influence. [ with a small smile. right their... date (?). he needs at least another moment (or two, or three, to try to wrap his head back around what he said in the bath). for now with his hair fixed, he opts to sit crossed legged by the pillow, sideways on the bed so he can look at tatara directly.
khun never forgets business (okay, maybe momentarily right there). ]
Give me your hand, O' Wise Sage. [ he holds one hand out, palm up. a different type of touch than before. ]
[ This is dangerous. The most dangerous thing about this is that Tatara can easily sink into these pillows and find himself lying in the bed again. That follow-up nap urge is real, but he'll brush it off with a yawn.
Tatara's own hair is barely mussed, but easily falls back into place when he sits back up. His shirt is wrinkled, but that's what he gets for sleeping in it. (Though maybe it adds to the look, who knows.)
He just watches as Khun minds his hair, admiring how neat he keeps it. For a few brief seconds he searches his face for hints of his prefered hues, but sees none. Mm. A memory he'll have to look back to on his own time, then. A shame.
His influence, hm? Tatara grins when Khun smiles at him, and he leans his head against the headboard (or wall, whatever is or isn't there). If naps turn into a defining feature of their relationship (wait, what relationsh—), then Khun will be a regular day snoozer in no time.
Anyway. He blinks at the offered hand, before settling his on Khun's palm. ]
Are you going to show me magic? [ Partial tease, partial genuine question. Eventually, the easy smile comes back to his lips. ] Can I tell you something first?
You'll see. [ his smile curves wider, not quite a grin but more marked all the same. being a tease is one of his features and he can be this was unabashedly, no matter the circumstance.
i keep forgetting to mention but since his wizard crest is on his palm, particularly with their hands touching like this, tatara can take it in fully. khun for his part, seems content to maintain the contact just like this. ]
[ It is very hard not to mirror all of Khun's laughs and smiles, and that makes it hard to give him some credibility to do his...job, really. For a second, he's a little nervous about doing what he came here to do.
For what thoughts he might've had about Khun's crest, they're gone as his own palm covers it. He squeezes tight, and meets the other's blue eyes with the warmth of his own. ]
For the record... I say this as your sage. I'm still not mad at you. [ It feels weird, still, to say that, like he's putting distance between them. ] But, y'know? The people living here with us are supposed to be our allies.
[ He says "us" and not "you" and that trips him up, briefly. He pauses, his eyes softening. ] I know you were angry, and it's okay. But please don't try to kill anyone, okay?
You could be mad at me. [ said easily, but also genuinely. "allies"... khun and allies is—his smile turns wry, a soft sigh escaping his lips. his words are warmer after, funnily enough and he squeezes his hand back, belatedly. ]
I can try. [ that's not a question and there's no hesitation there at all. tatara is tatara and at this point he could get khun to try a lot of things. no promises, but the fact that tatara didn't try to ask for one, or any kind of guarantee, honestly adds more weight to it. ]
But I want to tell you why I was angry. It's a bit of a long story though, so did you get enough sleep?
That makes two of us. [ one of his fingers curls against tatara's, trying to pull the words together. not that he doesn't know the shape of them, but they're difficult to bring out into the light like this, though the warmth helps. it's one of the reason he demanded tatara's hand, actually. ]
Before I start. I'm not telling you as justification or an excuse. I'm telling you because I want you to know. [ "I want you to know me." ]
Do you remember my other teammate? Not the alligator. The wavemaster and shinsu specialist, Baam. In the Tower, we have to take exams to advance up every floor, but first we have to prove that we're worthy to even climb. Out of five hundred participants that started the very first exam on the Test Floor, only 250 survived by design. The exam wouldn't progress until our number was cut cleanly in half by our own hands and after that, we had to make a team of three out of the survivors. If you failed to make a team, you also died.
We didn't have to, but it was easier to stick as a team after that. The rest of the exams on the Test Floor were similar in nature, high stakes death games designed to weed out the weak and pit us against each other. That's the nature of the Tower and it only gets worse the higher up you go.
The very last exam was environmental, all the surviving teams working together towards a common goal. There were about thirty of us. As lightbearer and leader, it was my responsibility to give orders and ensure our success. The alligator was on the front lines and Baam was assigned a specialty duty by the system with one other person.
[ here his fingers curl again, a twitch turned into something else. his voice is low and particularly flat from this point on. ]
Baam's position was the most dangerous, but the exam was rigged that way. Nothing's ever fair and I never expect it to be fair. I had accounted for everything I could think of, and though his partner in that position was weak, she was someone Baam trusted with his life. If nothing else, even if she was dragging him down, she shouldn't have been actively working against him.
Something happened in the area they were in. They dealt with the monster, meaning we had passed the final exam, and then—Baam vanished. The edge of that area was an abyss that not even the Instructors could reach the depths of. Rachel said that the ground they were on gave way, and Baam pushed her to safety first. It's a very believable story if you've met Baam for more than five minutes.
But it doesn't make sense to me. I researched the layout of that area completely, and such an effect shouldn't have been possible. And it was obvious pretty early on that someone wanted Baam to fail. The only thing I didn't see was Rachel's part in it. I should have seen it. I will get to the bottom of it.
My failure pisses me off.
Baam wanted to see the stars at the top of the Tower, because like the Sun, they're artificial. That's what Mikaela caught me doing last night, looking at the stars. I always think of him when I do. Mikaela read my thoughts, got their names. I haven't mentioned Baam's name to anyone until tonight, and I've never mentioned Rachel until now.
I was angry at the exposure of my failure, but I was also [ he stops, starts again with a conviction he wishes he could rid himself of. ] upset.
[ he can't put as much into words, but it was a combination of his emotions and the reflex to kill when his weakness was exposed. meant or not, he was raised to believe that showing weakness was death. ]
[ Khun talks, and Tatara listens. He lends his head to the wall or the headboard or whatever's back there. Whenever he feels movement on his hand, his thumb brushes over Khun's, a little reassurance that he's listening, without judgment.
He hears the shift in Khun's tone, and concern colors his eyes, and his express drops to one more serious. Does that mean death, then? If Khun's sun is artificial then that means there's a lot he can't possibly imagine about where he comes from.
When he speaks, his voice is quiet. ]
...I'm sorry. That can't have been easy, having that weigh on your shoulders. Even now. Being a leader is never easy, is it? [ He shifts his hand, intertwining his fingers with his again. ]
Your upset is pretty intense. [ He says this with a fond smile, and a warm, accepting tone. Like it isn't a bad thing at all, because he knows—knew someone similar. ] Have you gotten the chance to talk to Mika since?
[ luckily there is a headboard so tatara can be relatively comfy while he listens to all of That. ]
It's not supposed to be easy. If it was, it wouldn't be the real thing. And I don't mind, I enjoy it—I want to become family head and that's a large part of it. [ it's not a rebuke or a dismissal but clarification; the weight of leading others has never felt particularly heavy to him. the weight of needing to be perfect in doing so however, is a different story.
"pretty intense", huh. he sighs at that, but it's amused. some of the curve returns to his voice in spite of everything else he's feeling (and not feeling), even if his cadence still isn't close to what it usually is. ]
...that's one way to put it. And no, there's no reason to—seeing me would probably make him think that I wanted to finish what I started.
[ not that khun would judge him for that tbh, he thinks it's pretty reasonable. ]
[ Ooh. A shadow of a...look crosses Tatara's face at the clarification. It's like he takes in Khun in a slightly different light, and he's processing what he sees. Someone who has all the qualities of a leader, like someone he knows, but actually strives to be one, unlike someone he knows.
...Hm. ]
Mm. Yeah, you're right. I don't think I'd want to see you at each other's throats again.
[ More like, he doesn't really want something to happen to Khun, if Mika retaliates. ]
But, thank you. [ He squeezes, and his smile widens. ] Thanks for telling me about you and your world. I feel like I understand you a little bit better.
[ He won't be able to remember everything, but he makes a mental note to write down what he does into his book, once he gets back to his room. ]
I think I should be the one saying that. [ thanks he means, though he doesn't say it explicitly. instead, he squeezes his hand back and finally allows himself a ghost of a smile, his voice warming more. ]
Tell me more about yourself sometime, I want to hear it. [ it doesn't need to be now, but he wanted to make his desire clear. ]
[ Tatara isn't sure what he did to warrant any thanks, so he just tilts his head when Khun squeezes his hand.
He laughs lightly at that, though, tickled by the idea. ]
Sure, if you want to know. I don't have friends that are talking alligators, though. Or have to take a lot of big, important tests.
More importantly—
[ He leans forward slightly, peering into the cool blue of his eyes. ]
Thank you for listening to me. I...don't think I want you to get hurt.
[ That applies to all his wizards, right? He tries to think about what it might have been like if Khun were the one injured, not Mika. What would've he done?
...Well, that didn't happen, so his mind doesn't go there. But so his eyes remain, wide and pleading. ]
[ as novel as his world is to everyone else, it's functionally the same in reverse. with most people though khun hasn't pried too hard, but tatara isn't everyone. he doesn't get to say anything beyond tip his head in affirmation, because even if he's still coming into feeling again, the color coral is still distracting up close. ]
My blood makes me pretty durable. [ he says that, but he knows that's not the point. and he hasn't forgotten that tatara said he was concerned about him before either, it's just worse now with that expression. khun doesn't really do guilt, but that doesn't mean he doesn't feel the urge to make things better. with a breath in to brace his core (his ribs are still tender so he probably shouldn't be doing this, but that's never stopped him before), he leans forward, freeing his hand to half-flop, half-hug tatara. and the bed probably, if they fall back onto it.
he lets out the breath and the words he was holding in his chest once they settle. ]
It would be hard not to listen to you. [ it's not something he would normally say, but he really is still sore all over. ]
[ Durable or no, he's not indestructible. There's a little moment where Tatara's eyes quickly flit over Khun's body, as though reminded he could very well still be injured. But he doesn't get very long of a chance to do that—
Because see, these pillows were dangerous. Tatara has sunk and slid into them, just a touch, at this point, just enough that when Khun flings himself onto him, it's more than enough to knock him off balance. But like, in slow motion. Tatara sinks into the pillows, back onto the blankets, but now with his legs to the side and Khun on top of him.
He gives a light laugh, and he feels the happiness thrum in his chest and dance on his cheeks, and he gently wraps his own arms around Khun's middle. ]
Khun... [ He says this in a half-whine, half-exclamation, nothing particularly heartfelt or serious, his laugh the undercurrent in the way he says his name. ]
Are you sure about that? Not gonna get second thoughts if I decide to drag you halfway across the country to try a rare and unique art of fruit cutting with me?
[ Totally made-up example, but he knows a handful of his closest cohort at Homra would absolutely complain if he did that to them. ]
[ complain? if he had more information he'd already be making an itinerary. they won't always agree and there are some things khun's immovable on, no matter who's asking. but the rest of the time? he likes spoiling those he cares about and he knows it and isn't ashamed of it.
he lets himself fall into the hug, tatara, and the bed completely; he's more solid than you might guess just by looking at him, toned and muscular even with his torso wrapped under his t-shirt to support his ribs. which might be stinging a little right now, but khun doesn't pay it much mind. ]
That's a very specific example. We're not going today, but tomorrow should work.
[ The exclamation comes from surprise, comes with another burst of laughter. It's hard when Khun, sturdier than he is, is weighing him down, but he finds it hard to mind.
The more surprising thing, though, is that Khun is willing. Planning ahead of him, even. Is this what it's like to be on the same page as someone? For a second, it catches him by surprise again, but...he doesn't hate it. ]
When we haven't even gone on the first date yet?! [ Labelling it as a date as opposed to, you know, just a regular outing where he so happens to drag another person along. ]
Hmm, you're right. In that case you'll have to be patient. [ said very matter of factly and seriously, which does take effort on his part due to the laughter he can hear and feel (it reflects in his eyes, which are bright despite the rest of his played on demeanor. )]
Or we can call it our preludial date. Your choice.
[ He tries to turn his head to get a better look at Khun, but his head is right there, and his nose just ends up colliding with ?? a part of his head. He'd tell himself he's just given up on his quest to look at him, but a small part of him is a little embarrassed (because it forces him to think about their kiss again), so he rights his head again. ]
Mm... I think I'll be patient.
[ His tone cools, like the placid waters of Khun's eyes and hair and everything else, and a hand shifts to rest higher on his back. ]
You were just in a fight, remember? You didn't even tell me if you were hurt. ...But I guess I should've asked.
[ There's worry in woven in to his words, but faint. ]
That's why I said tomorrow and not today. [ he's a terrible patient and does not do sitting still unless he's literally unable to move. here though he shifts just slightly, so he can look up at tatara, even if he's on an angle.
oh. he's caught just a bit off guard by a reverberation, though this one he did to himself. it makes his words have a soft edge to them, just a bit feathery. ]
I was, but I'll be fine. I think if anymore people came to offer me healing, it would have been an actual parade. All I was missing was sleep, but—
[ he can't really gesture with his arms like this and he doesn't care enough to move, so he just tilts his head instead. (actually he should definitely eat at some point, but he's never been particularly good at sticking to mealtimes when it's just him.) ]
[ And Tatara tilts his head to look at Khun in turn. There's a curious, almost innocent look in his eye, but perhaps Khun will come in time to learn that this is an expectant one. The closest thing Tatara Totsuka can get to a scolding look. ]
You're okay now?
[ It's hard not to smile, though. So one tugs at the corner of his mouth as he looks at him in the pause. ]
What about food?
[ Tatara is mentally checking off the list: first aid, water, rest, food. He's seen his fair share of...every wound, thanks to his life in the gang. So no matter what time of day it happens to be now, he's going to ask.
[ he might learn or he might just continue to lose himself in those open expressions. probably both. ]
Mmhmm. [ right, his words. ] Well there's that. [ he shrugs as much as he can like this, and yawns a little. honestly he wants more sleep than food, but both things are conspiring against him at this point. ]
[ deflates very dramatically, defeated. he's mostly playing, though he's still pretty short of a full night's sleep, not to mention everything else. ]
They really need to invent energy drinks here. [ he's had coffee (the cup somewhere over on his desk) since malice is a real one, but there's nothing like caffeine + taurine + a whole bunch of electrolytes to really keep you going. ]
[ There's a quiet chuckle in Khun's ear when he deflates, and Tatara starts to squirm under him. ]
Then what about another nap? I could tuck you in and everything.
[ He's going to try and roll Khun over, so they're side by side again.
His intent is to leave him to sleep on his own, so Tatara can wander the manor in a semblance of being a responsible sage. But he probably won't say no if Khun insists. ]
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Good. [ He smiles.
There's a brief moment of hesitation before he squeezes Khun's hand, then slowly lets go, his hand slipping from his hold. He rights himself, fluffs the pillows, and leans casually against the back of the bed in a sit. ]
Do you usually take a lot of naps?
[ Casually, and curious, because their upcoming (?) date (?) also involves a nap.
He's here for business, yes, ostensibly, but he feels bad rushing straight into it. ]
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khun himself feels...well soft wouldn't be too off. it takes him another moment where he blinks once more, gets some of his thoughts going about pretty much everything. ah again, though this time he's moving to push up from the bed and then immediately fuss with his hair which he's sure looks like a mess (it does not look that terrible, but his standards).
he responds while he's undoing the hair tie, letting the familiar action ease him into some facsimile of normal, blue strands falling cleanly down across his shoulders. he's been here practically a month now, and it's grown out a little. ]
Not usually. [ said with a hairtie in his mouth, so there's a pause here where he finishes tying his hair back up again. that done he looks back to his usual, shades of blue and white without a hint of pink. one step down. ]
But I guess I might be susceptible to a certain influence. [ with a small smile. right their... date (?). he needs at least another moment (or two, or three, to try to wrap his head back around what he said in the bath). for now with his hair fixed, he opts to sit crossed legged by the pillow, sideways on the bed so he can look at tatara directly.
khun never forgets business (okay, maybe momentarily right there). ]
Give me your hand, O' Wise Sage. [ he holds one hand out, palm up. a different type of touch than before. ]
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Tatara's own hair is barely mussed, but easily falls back into place when he sits back up. His shirt is wrinkled, but that's what he gets for sleeping in it. (Though maybe it adds to the look, who knows.)
He just watches as Khun minds his hair, admiring how neat he keeps it. For a few brief seconds he searches his face for hints of his prefered hues, but sees none. Mm. A memory he'll have to look back to on his own time, then. A shame.
His influence, hm? Tatara grins when Khun smiles at him, and he leans his head against the headboard (or wall, whatever is or isn't there). If naps turn into a defining feature of their relationship (wait, what relationsh—), then Khun will be a regular day snoozer in no time.
Anyway. He blinks at the offered hand, before settling his on Khun's palm. ]
Are you going to show me magic? [ Partial tease, partial genuine question. Eventually, the easy smile comes back to his lips. ] Can I tell you something first?
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i keep forgetting to mention but since his wizard crest is on his palm, particularly with their hands touching like this, tatara can take it in fully. khun for his part, seems content to maintain the contact just like this. ]
Go ahead.
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For what thoughts he might've had about Khun's crest, they're gone as his own palm covers it. He squeezes tight, and meets the other's blue eyes with the warmth of his own. ]
For the record... I say this as your sage. I'm still not mad at you. [ It feels weird, still, to say that, like he's putting distance between them. ] But, y'know? The people living here with us are supposed to be our allies.
[ He says "us" and not "you" and that trips him up, briefly. He pauses, his eyes softening. ] I know you were angry, and it's okay. But please don't try to kill anyone, okay?
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I can try. [ that's not a question and there's no hesitation there at all. tatara is tatara and at this point he could get khun to try a lot of things. no promises, but the fact that tatara didn't try to ask for one, or any kind of guarantee, honestly adds more weight to it. ]
But I want to tell you why I was angry. It's a bit of a long story though, so did you get enough sleep?
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now that this happens post kissTrying is better than refusing outright, and the faint ghosts of tension in Tatara's shoulders seem to ease.The way he asks permission, though, causes a softness to color his smile, and he nods slowly. ]
I slept pretty well. [ He could keep napping, as per usual. ] Go ahead. I'm listening.
tower of god part 1 spoilers
Before I start. I'm not telling you as justification or an excuse. I'm telling you because I want you to know. [ "I want you to know me." ]
Do you remember my other teammate? Not the alligator. The wavemaster and shinsu specialist, Baam. In the Tower, we have to take exams to advance up every floor, but first we have to prove that we're worthy to even climb. Out of five hundred participants that started the very first exam on the Test Floor, only 250 survived by design. The exam wouldn't progress until our number was cut cleanly in half by our own hands and after that, we had to make a team of three out of the survivors. If you failed to make a team, you also died.
We didn't have to, but it was easier to stick as a team after that. The rest of the exams on the Test Floor were similar in nature, high stakes death games designed to weed out the weak and pit us against each other. That's the nature of the Tower and it only gets worse the higher up you go.
The very last exam was environmental, all the surviving teams working together towards a common goal. There were about thirty of us. As lightbearer and leader, it was my responsibility to give orders and ensure our success. The alligator was on the front lines and Baam was assigned a specialty duty by the system with one other person.
[ here his fingers curl again, a twitch turned into something else. his voice is low and particularly flat from this point on. ]
Baam's position was the most dangerous, but the exam was rigged that way. Nothing's ever fair and I never expect it to be fair. I had accounted for everything I could think of, and though his partner in that position was weak, she was someone Baam trusted with his life. If nothing else, even if she was dragging him down, she shouldn't have been actively working against him.
Something happened in the area they were in. They dealt with the monster, meaning we had passed the final exam, and then—Baam vanished. The edge of that area was an abyss that not even the Instructors could reach the depths of. Rachel said that the ground they were on gave way, and Baam pushed her to safety first. It's a very believable story if you've met Baam for more than five minutes.
But it doesn't make sense to me. I researched the layout of that area completely, and such an effect shouldn't have been possible. And it was obvious pretty early on that someone wanted Baam to fail. The only thing I didn't see was Rachel's part in it. I should have seen it. I will get to the bottom of it.
My failure pisses me off.
Baam wanted to see the stars at the top of the Tower, because like the Sun, they're artificial. That's what Mikaela caught me doing last night, looking at the stars. I always think of him when I do. Mikaela read my thoughts, got their names. I haven't mentioned Baam's name to anyone until tonight, and I've never mentioned Rachel until now.
I was angry at the exposure of my failure, but I was also [ he stops, starts again with a conviction he wishes he could rid himself of. ] upset.
[ he can't put as much into words, but it was a combination of his emotions and the reflex to kill when his weakness was exposed. meant or not, he was raised to believe that showing weakness was death. ]
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He hears the shift in Khun's tone, and concern colors his eyes, and his express drops to one more serious. Does that mean death, then? If Khun's sun is artificial then that means there's a lot he can't possibly imagine about where he comes from.
When he speaks, his voice is quiet. ]
...I'm sorry. That can't have been easy, having that weigh on your shoulders. Even now. Being a leader is never easy, is it? [ He shifts his hand, intertwining his fingers with his again. ]
Your upset is pretty intense. [ He says this with a fond smile, and a warm, accepting tone. Like it isn't a bad thing at all, because he knows—knew someone similar. ] Have you gotten the chance to talk to Mika since?
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It's not supposed to be easy. If it was, it wouldn't be the real thing. And I don't mind, I enjoy it—I want to become family head and that's a large part of it. [ it's not a rebuke or a dismissal but clarification; the weight of leading others has never felt particularly heavy to him. the weight of needing to be perfect in doing so however, is a different story.
"pretty intense", huh. he sighs at that, but it's amused. some of the curve returns to his voice in spite of everything else he's feeling (and not feeling), even if his cadence still isn't close to what it usually is. ]
...that's one way to put it. And no, there's no reason to—seeing me would probably make him think that I wanted to finish what I started.
[ not that khun would judge him for that tbh, he thinks it's pretty reasonable. ]
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...Hm. ]
Mm. Yeah, you're right. I don't think I'd want to see you at each other's throats again.
[ More like, he doesn't really want something to happen to Khun, if Mika retaliates. ]
But, thank you. [ He squeezes, and his smile widens. ] Thanks for telling me about you and your world. I feel like I understand you a little bit better.
[ He won't be able to remember everything, but he makes a mental note to write down what he does into his book, once he gets back to his room. ]
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Tell me more about yourself sometime, I want to hear it. [ it doesn't need to be now, but he wanted to make his desire clear. ]
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He laughs lightly at that, though, tickled by the idea. ]
Sure, if you want to know. I don't have friends that are talking alligators, though. Or have to take a lot of big, important tests.
More importantly—
[ He leans forward slightly, peering into the cool blue of his eyes. ]
Thank you for listening to me. I...don't think I want you to get hurt.
[ That applies to all his wizards, right? He tries to think about what it might have been like if Khun were the one injured, not Mika. What would've he done?
...Well, that didn't happen, so his mind doesn't go there. But so his eyes remain, wide and pleading. ]
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My blood makes me pretty durable. [ he says that, but he knows that's not the point. and he hasn't forgotten that tatara said he was concerned about him before either, it's just worse now with that expression. khun doesn't really do guilt, but that doesn't mean he doesn't feel the urge to make things better. with a breath in to brace his core (his ribs are still tender so he probably shouldn't be doing this, but that's never stopped him before), he leans forward, freeing his hand to half-flop, half-hug tatara. and the bed probably, if they fall back onto it.
he lets out the breath and the words he was holding in his chest once they settle. ]
It would be hard not to listen to you. [ it's not something he would normally say, but he really is still sore all over. ]
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Because see, these pillows were dangerous. Tatara has sunk and slid into them, just a touch, at this point, just enough that when Khun flings himself onto him, it's more than enough to knock him off balance. But like, in slow motion. Tatara sinks into the pillows, back onto the blankets, but now with his legs to the side and Khun on top of him.
He gives a light laugh, and he feels the happiness thrum in his chest and dance on his cheeks, and he gently wraps his own arms around Khun's middle. ]
Khun... [ He says this in a half-whine, half-exclamation, nothing particularly heartfelt or serious, his laugh the undercurrent in the way he says his name. ]
Are you sure about that? Not gonna get second thoughts if I decide to drag you halfway across the country to try a rare and unique art of fruit cutting with me?
[ Totally made-up example, but he knows a handful of his closest cohort at Homra would absolutely complain if he did that to them. ]
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he lets himself fall into the hug, tatara, and the bed completely; he's more solid than you might guess just by looking at him, toned and muscular even with his torso wrapped under his t-shirt to support his ribs. which might be stinging a little right now, but khun doesn't pay it much mind. ]
That's a very specific example. We're not going today, but tomorrow should work.
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[ The exclamation comes from surprise, comes with another burst of laughter. It's hard when Khun, sturdier than he is, is weighing him down, but he finds it hard to mind.
The more surprising thing, though, is that Khun is willing. Planning ahead of him, even. Is this what it's like to be on the same page as someone? For a second, it catches him by surprise again, but...he doesn't hate it. ]
When we haven't even gone on the first date yet?! [ Labelling it as a date as opposed to, you know, just a regular outing where he so happens to drag another person along. ]
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Or we can call it our preludial date. Your choice.
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Mm... I think I'll be patient.
[ His tone cools, like the placid waters of Khun's eyes and hair and everything else, and a hand shifts to rest higher on his back. ]
You were just in a fight, remember? You didn't even tell me if you were hurt. ...But I guess I should've asked.
[ There's worry in woven in to his words, but faint. ]
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oh. he's caught just a bit off guard by a reverberation, though this one he did to himself. it makes his words have a soft edge to them, just a bit feathery. ]
I was, but I'll be fine. I think if anymore people came to offer me healing, it would have been an actual parade. All I was missing was sleep, but—
[ he can't really gesture with his arms like this and he doesn't care enough to move, so he just tilts his head instead. (actually he should definitely eat at some point, but he's never been particularly good at sticking to mealtimes when it's just him.) ]
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You're okay now?
[ It's hard not to smile, though. So one tugs at the corner of his mouth as he looks at him in the pause. ]
What about food?
[ Tatara is mentally checking off the list: first aid, water, rest, food. He's seen his fair share of...every wound, thanks to his life in the gang. So no matter what time of day it happens to be now, he's going to ask.
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Mmhmm. [ right, his words. ] Well there's that. [ he shrugs as much as he can like this, and yawns a little. honestly he wants more sleep than food, but both things are conspiring against him at this point. ]
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Still sleepy?
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They really need to invent energy drinks here. [ he's had coffee (the cup somewhere over on his desk) since malice is a real one, but there's nothing like caffeine + taurine + a whole bunch of electrolytes to really keep you going. ]
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Then what about another nap? I could tuck you in and everything.
[ He's going to try and roll Khun over, so they're side by side again.
His intent is to leave him to sleep on his own, so Tatara can wander the manor in a semblance of being a responsible sage. But he probably won't say no if Khun insists. ]
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