ic contact: kaisou (OLD)

[hoshikiri]

You have reached Kesi Takame. I am currently not available to speak. Please leave a message and I'll respond when I return.

Perm AC | WoL GC

Comments

[stripartist]

[Takame honey.]

That would be most things. Spicy or not?

[hoshikiri]

[Listen.]

... Red meat. [he may not be a Dragon but he's a dragon, you feel] Spicy is fine.

[More fiddling with his cast. He was not used to this. You know, stating his preferences when he felt more unworthy of them than ever?]

[stripartist]

Something with spicy beef, then. I can work with that.

[Yusuke reaches out to stop Takame from fiddling with his cast.]

Let me know if you think of anything else you want, dinner or otherwise, Takame.

[hoshikiri]

[Takame stopped when Yusuke reached out, but it was clear he was still full of nervous and unsure energy. His tail twitched instead of his hands.]

Thank you... I... I'm sorry.

[stripartist]

For what? Not knowing what you want to eat?

[hoshikiri]

N-No, for...

[He began to shrink into himself, going quiet for a moment long enough to become awkward.]

For what you had to see in that place you rescued me from.

[stripartist]

Oh. Don't apologize for that, it was my choice to go in and save you.

[Because clearly that's the problem, and not what was seen?]

[hoshikiri]

[He shook his head.]

And I am thankful for that. Truly, I am. You risked much to save me.

[Another long pause.]

I meant... everything that place was. The images of people taken and warped in the Castrum, the Weapon you saw... and. [Recalling it made him start to shake.]

That shadow of myself. That side of me, I... I never wished for anyone to see that. Or for anyone to get hurt, I... I'm sorry.

[stripartist]

Ah. Takame, don't apologize for that--unless you knew what would happen when you agreed to help the Black Order with the MetaNav.

[The slightest hint of a "and you better not have known" in his words.]

[hoshikiri]

I didn't know this would happen. I volunteered for the sake of stopping whatever Zodiac had in store. To my knowledge, each of us were none the wiser even the Order's agent himself.

[Takame didn't know Jusis well, but it's very hard to feign the absolute shock they all had.]

I wanted to do what I could to keep everyone safe. To keep you safe.

[stripartist]

And I appreciate that, Takame, even if it didn't work out like you hoped. We got the peach juice away from Zodiac, so that's all that matters.

[hoshikiri]

I see. So long as that was accomplished, what I went through was a small price to pay. [At the cost of someone's life, but indeed they got it away. He's glad for that. And he could not mourn every casualty. Hells, he struggled to mourn one most days.

And yet here he was falling into his worst habits, ignoring his own feelings but then jumping right into concern for others.]

I pray that the others will recover from their affairs. [Jusis, the young man, and especially Waver. Takame knew he didn't think well of himself and shuddered to imagine what his friend experienced. As much as he wished to reach out, he would give space.]

[stripartist]

I'm certain they will, Takame, so for now focus on yourself. You went through just as much as they did, after all.

[hoshikiri]

I... [He had to be called out to be aware that he was dismissing himself. It was just the simplest path. And at his core he was a worrywart. It was the older brother in him, perhaps.

He assumed he was older than the others involved in the mission anyway. At least by now. Still, he gave a weak nod.]

Alright... I'm... not used to it. [AKA he still felt he didn't deserve it.]

[stripartist]

I gathered.

[He kind of did get a crash course in your psyche.]

But I'll help you get used to it, Takame. I want to.

[hoshikiri]

...

[He shrunk into himself again, hand moving to fiddle with his cast before he forced himself not to. The tail will speak for him instead.]

It isn't easy. [Said at least in part as if warning Yusuke. But half as just a matter of fact. Deep in his heart, Takame wanted to ask if Yusuke was sure he wanted to be with him. He held the question back.]

[stripartist]

And?

[hoshikiri]

Ah.

[Why did that... catch him so off guard? Forgive him while he mentally scrambles a bit. So much for holding the question back.]

I... that is, are you sure you...? [He shut his mouth quickly, afraid he'll offend Yusuke. And he kept it shut for a while.]

I-I'm. I... if you're sure.

[stripartist]

Am I sure I what, Takame?

[hoshikiri]

[Hells...

He... he could potentially get out of this, but he couldn't lie anymore. He was almost certain asking this would upset him and his body language showed it.]

After all you've seen of me... are you sure you still want to even be near me? [He tensed, bracing himself for the response.]

[stripartist]

Yes. I told that other you that I wasn't afraid of you, and that wasn't a lie. I love you, and that hasn't changed.

[Simple as that.]

[hoshikiri]

...

[Kami, his chest ached. Recalling anything about what happened hurt, but Yusuke's words rang clear in his mind. That he wasn't scared of Takame and seeing this would not change that. The same thing repeated to him here with certainty.

The tension came out slowly with shaken shoulders and breaths. A scolding would have been easier to manage than a simple, straight forward answer. At least that he was used to. This he didn't know how to deal with. Just like everything else he felt.

One thing he did know was that he wished to hold Yusuke's hand. So he did, leaning lightly against him.]

[stripartist]

[Yusuke squeezes Takame's hand with a small smile.]

I'm here, Takame.

[hoshikiri]

[With the squeeze to his hand, it started to shake as well. Not because it was too tight, but just the surge of emotions within him manifesting.]

I know... [And that made his eyes start to sting. Like he was moments from breaking into tears, but nothing fell.] Thank you, Yusuke...

[stripartist]

Of course.

[And Yusuke just drops his head to Takame's shoulder. He's here.]