[It was the last thing he expected to hear, and as a result it lances straight through him and he doesn't have time to check the way his expression twists. He tries anyway, muting it as soon as he realizes, and ducks his head to try and hide his face with his hair. It only kind of works, given the strained nature of his forced smile is still clear.]
[His voice is very small, and he reaches across the table for Goro's hand despite his words, whispered hoarsely.] That's not fair, Goro.
[Goro waits for Akira's response, hooded red eyes carefully observing the shift in his face, unsure how to read the expression.
But he's right. It's not fair. Nothing is fair about this situation and he had known it immediately they had agreed to give this thing a chance. Give them a chance. It had been stupid crutch for both of them, which now has turned into something like a lifeline. At least that's how it was Goro.]
I know. I'm selfish like that. [He answers, reaching out to meet Akira's hand, index finger looping around his.]
[He makes an ugly little sound, curling their fingers together, and folds over until his head rests against the table.] That's okay, I love you anyway. [He doesn't want to leave, ever, thanks.]
[and it's that love that chains them down here. Goro knows just how irrational and stupid it is to keep this up, but at the same time he doesn't want to let go. Not now that he finally has something that he can call his own.
When Akira folds down there is a surprised "meow" coming from his lap as Shoyu raises her head. Are you forgotting someone, buddy?]
[Akira makes another little sound, moving his hand from Shoyu's fur to punch the bridge of his nose as he sits up, refusing to let go of Goro's hand.] Sorry, Shoyu.
[He just looks down at her for a while, then, fingers tangled with Goro's, and eventually looks back up to the table of sushi he no longer has any intention of eating.] ...I might go take a bath, if that's okay.
[Goro keeps brushing the back of Akira's hand with his thumb, drawing small idle patterns.]
Sure. It might still be messy there after Shoyu's bath, though. [Then, he withdraws back, breaking the connection between their hands. Goro can't really say whether he feels better after this conversation. It was important to have but at the same time he feels the same anxiety on his chest as earlier.]
.. Sorry, this is not exactly what I had planned for tonight.
[The mild affection almost breaks him, and when Goro draws his hand away he distinctly feels some part of himself crunch, hairline fractures splintering outward like he'd been struck by lightning. He closes his eyes and shakes his head, scooping Shoyu into the crook of one arm and standing.] 's okay, I'll clean up while I'm in there, [His voice sounds odd, even to himself. He moves to lower Shoyu to the couch, not in a place to determine if Goro is okay with her being in their bed or not.] Finish the sushi if you like, you should eat more than you do.
[He goes still, half-crouched as he stands from the couch after putting Shoyu down, and closes his eyes, shaking his head again.] Planning things, with us... never really goes well, does it?
[That remark makes Goro wrinkle his nose, pouting slightly.] I eat just fine. [Is it less than most? Probably. But it's the amount Goro's comfortable with while also keeping the control over his own body.
With a heavy sigh he, slouches back, leaning against the back rest and picks up his glass to take a gulp of the wine.]
It seems like that, yes. Maybe we should stop pretending like we're a normal couple.
[He can't think of anything that won't somehow exacerbate the current issue to say. Saying nothing may just do the same, but-- he just stands up, posture pinned, and moves to clear his own dishes.]
[He's too in his own head to say something they won't fight about, or maybe he's just too afraid that they'll fight to say anything in the first place.]
[Goro watches Akira to move forward the table and pick up his plate. There's a apparent question in his eyes, one that he doesn't voice out. And well, it looks like Akira's done with talking so silence it is.
Silently, he averts his gaze, stands up from his seat and leaves the kitchen area, going to sit by the window near their balcony. Guess, this is it then.
Well, luckily, though, there's now a third personality in the apartment. One that might not be understand the context but can still sense the differences in the tone and and atmosphere. Shoyu keeps peeking from the couch at Akira before jumping off and trotting to push against his legs.]
[He startles with his plates, setting them in the sink with a little less grace than intended, and looks down at her, blinking.] ...Shoyu, don't be underfoot, sweet. I'm not smart and I might step on you.
[He steps back and crouches, holding out a hand to let her rub against it.]
[She chirps in response, shaking her head and moves in closer, takes a quick sniff at his hand. Then she jumps on her hind legs and places her front paws on that hand, meowing at him with a demanding tone.]
[She knows just what she wants, obviously! With another meow she takes her opportunity and uses Akira's hand as a leverage to jump further and climb over his shoulder.]
[He makes a startled little aborted sound, but sits very still once she's hopped up on him, until he slowly sinks to sit on his knees, a small laugh escaping him.]
[Shoyu grabs on the fabric of his shirt as she climbs up, settling down on to perch on his shoulder. So what if she's peeking up at the kitchen counter where the dishes (and leftover sushi) are left waiting. Her tail keeps swinging back and worth in front of Akira's face.
As for Goro? He's settled down to sit in the arm chair next to window, looking out of it a the empty streets. There's a book on his lap, more to be a prop than anything else, honestly. An attempt to pretend that he's total normal here, not bothered by the conversation cut short or by the anxiety gnawing him from the inside.
But when Akira calls out for him, Goro turns his head to look at the pair. And when he does it's just then when Shoyu's tail manages to smack Akira right on his face. An act that just draws a laughter from Goro, pulling a small smile on his lips.]
[Nooo, her genius plan to get her paws into treats is now ruined. Shoyu meows softly when he moves, balancing herself on the shoulder. But at least she isn't trying to hop off.
Goro, in return, looks Akira back, leaning his cheek on his hand that's propped up on arm-rest.]
[A stressed frown forms onto Goro's face, brows knitting together and lips pulling into a tight line.]
That's greedy. [Though, that's pretty rich coming from him. Considering just how selfish he is being here as well.] You know who I am, Akira. I can't just sit still and wait what happens. I need to uncover the truth and take down the power ruling over us. That is my rebellion.
But... [Goro pauses, trying to find how to put his words.] I want that power for us. So that we can control and decide our fates here. Whether to stay or leave.
Hey--! Watch it, you still have Shoyu. [And fair enough! When Akira moves to with him she lets out a deep meow and jumps off his shoulder, landing gracefully right on the backrest of the chair.
And yeah, since it is an arm chair Akira you're going to deal with sitting partially on Goro's lap.]
[Just as keikaku. He swings his legs over Goro's leaning so he's half on Goro and half actually sitting in the chair properly.] She's a cat, she knows what she's doing.
[He finds one of Goro's hands, twines their fingers.] Anyway we're both jerks, but you're my jerk, and I love you. We really ought to work on our communication.
[Goro ends up pushing the book on his lap off to the floor to make room for Akira, one arm sliding behind to his back to support the other.]
You're jerk. And an idiot. [he scoff softly and rolls his eyes at him as a protest. but still, he ends up resting his head against Akira's shoulder.]
We're already too involved with this world. [They're no longer strangers. Not with how they've integrated themselves to Aldrip and it's community. Having jobs, a place to call a home. A pet. ]
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2024-01-14 02:55 pm (UTC)[His voice is very small, and he reaches across the table for Goro's hand despite his words, whispered hoarsely.] That's not fair, Goro.
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Date: 2024-01-14 03:34 pm (UTC)But he's right. It's not fair. Nothing is fair about this situation and he had known it immediately they had agreed to give this thing a chance. Give them a chance. It had been stupid crutch for both of them, which now has turned into something like a lifeline. At least that's how it was Goro.]
I know. I'm selfish like that. [He answers, reaching out to meet Akira's hand, index finger looping around his.]
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Date: 2024-01-14 03:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-01-14 03:58 pm (UTC)When Akira folds down there is a surprised "meow" coming from his lap as Shoyu raises her head. Are you forgotting someone, buddy?]
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Date: 2024-01-14 04:12 pm (UTC)[He just looks down at her for a while, then, fingers tangled with Goro's, and eventually looks back up to the table of sushi he no longer has any intention of eating.] ...I might go take a bath, if that's okay.
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Date: 2024-01-14 04:41 pm (UTC)Sure. It might still be messy there after Shoyu's bath, though. [Then, he withdraws back, breaking the connection between their hands. Goro can't really say whether he feels better after this conversation. It was important to have but at the same time he feels the same anxiety on his chest as earlier.]
.. Sorry, this is not exactly what I had planned for tonight.
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Date: 2024-01-14 06:12 pm (UTC)[He goes still, half-crouched as he stands from the couch after putting Shoyu down, and closes his eyes, shaking his head again.] Planning things, with us... never really goes well, does it?
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Date: 2024-01-14 06:34 pm (UTC)With a heavy sigh he, slouches back, leaning against the back rest and picks up his glass to take a gulp of the wine.]
It seems like that, yes. Maybe we should stop pretending like we're a normal couple.
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Date: 2024-01-14 06:43 pm (UTC)[He's too in his own head to say something they won't fight about, or maybe he's just too afraid that they'll fight to say anything in the first place.]
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Date: 2024-01-14 07:03 pm (UTC)Silently, he averts his gaze, stands up from his seat and leaves the kitchen area, going to sit by the window near their balcony. Guess, this is it then.
Well, luckily, though, there's now a third personality in the apartment. One that might not be understand the context but can still sense the differences in the tone and and atmosphere. Shoyu keeps peeking from the couch at Akira before jumping off and trotting to push against his legs.]
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Date: 2024-01-14 07:10 pm (UTC)[He steps back and crouches, holding out a hand to let her rub against it.]
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Date: 2024-01-14 07:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-01-14 07:31 pm (UTC)we need to get icons for shoyu obvs.
Date: 2024-01-14 07:40 pm (UTC)it's a work in progress maybe
Date: 2024-01-14 07:49 pm (UTC)Goro, look at her.
eyes emoji
Date: 2024-01-14 08:27 pm (UTC)As for Goro? He's settled down to sit in the arm chair next to window, looking out of it a the empty streets. There's a book on his lap, more to be a prop than anything else, honestly. An attempt to pretend that he's total normal here, not bothered by the conversation cut short or by the anxiety gnawing him from the inside.
But when Akira calls out for him, Goro turns his head to look at the pair. And when he does it's just then when Shoyu's tail manages to smack Akira right on his face. An act that just draws a laughter from Goro, pulling a small smile on his lips.]
It looks like she has already you under her paw.
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Date: 2024-01-14 11:14 pm (UTC)...can. Can I try that conversation again, from before.
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Date: 2024-01-14 11:56 pm (UTC)Goro, in return, looks Akira back, leaning his cheek on his hand that's propped up on arm-rest.]
Was there something you wanted to add?
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Date: 2024-01-15 12:05 am (UTC)[His shoulders pin inward again.] ...so just. Can we enjoy what time we have?
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Date: 2024-01-15 12:35 am (UTC)That's greedy. [Though, that's pretty rich coming from him. Considering just how selfish he is being here as well.] You know who I am, Akira. I can't just sit still and wait what happens. I need to uncover the truth and take down the power ruling over us. That is my rebellion.
But... [Goro pauses, trying to find how to put his words.] I want that power for us. So that we can control and decide our fates here. Whether to stay or leave.
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Date: 2024-01-15 12:47 am (UTC)Scootch over, Rebellion McGee. [He's going to sit with you whether you make room for him or not, Akechi.]
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Date: 2024-01-15 12:56 am (UTC)And yeah, since it is an arm chair Akira you're going to deal with sitting partially on Goro's lap.]
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Date: 2024-01-15 01:13 am (UTC)[He finds one of Goro's hands, twines their fingers.] Anyway we're both jerks, but you're my jerk, and I love you. We really ought to work on our communication.
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Date: 2024-01-15 01:25 am (UTC)You're jerk. And an idiot. [he scoff softly and rolls his eyes at him as a protest. but still, he ends up resting his head against Akira's shoulder.]
We're already too involved with this world. [They're no longer strangers. Not with how they've integrated themselves to Aldrip and it's community. Having jobs, a place to call a home. A pet. ]
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Date: 2024-01-15 02:10 am (UTC)...would have been kind of hard to not be.
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