middaeg | [closed] the haze in the sunrise

Jonas expressed interest both in you and my brother.

[This is a flat statement as his attention returns, at last, to the dessert. He's forced to clean the rim of the cone off with his tongue, considering how it has melted due to negligence, dripping bright green ice cream dangerously close to the knuckles of his fingers. Itachi does this in one singularly efficient, scraping lick.]

I already know Sasuke's answer. What was yours?

[He's far less familiar with Jonas and Stiles' relationship—primarily due to a lack of interest, but that interest is present now, studying the boy as he waits.]

Edited (sighs) 2020-07-05 16:45 (UTC)

[ Ever a voyeur, Stiles watches with morbid fascination as Itachi neatly licks a clean line around the circumference of the cone. He’s suddenly overcome with envy, having already decimated his own ice cream. Just how likely is Itachi to share…? Probably extremely unlikely. Damn. ]

That’s super personal. Why do you even care?

[ Subtly leaning closer to Itachi, eyes pointedly anywhere but the cone. ]

[You want to share his already-licked ice cream? Disgusting. Itachi turns flat, dead eyes onto him, a gaze that seems to cut straight through whatever rests in its path.]

It's trivial. Given what you know of me, I don't see why this bothers you. Are you uncomfortable because of your feelings toward Jonas? ... Do you, like Jonas, also hold those feelings for my brother?

[Here black eyes narrow in scrutiny. Of course, he notices the lean-in. Watch it.]

[ That look is returned with one just as flat, though his has an edge of dry humor to it as he continues to sidle closer. ]

Don’t tell me it’s trivial when I just said it’s personal. Like, c’mon, dude. That’s rude as hell.

[ Pauses in the half-planned ice cream heist to sigh. ]

I definitely don’t “hold those feelings,” [ complete with air quotes, ] for your brother. So, you can quit pretending to be interested in my love life.

[Trying to steal some of his ice cream is also rude as hell.]

Hm.

[How is it one sound can contain so much judgment within it? Itachi leans an elbow on his bent knee, casually licking more of the melty green tea off the edge of the cone like he's fine if it takes an hour to finish.]

I'm also interested as it concerns Jonas. However, I have a different question. From your Bond, you experience the other person's emotions, correct? What has that been like? Do you ever feel affected or even overwhelmed by it?

Edited 2020-07-11 15:14 (UTC)

[ This bitch. Wetting his own lips unconsciously – as if he could from afar taste the smell of the green tea ice cream hanging in the air – he watches the scandalous display of Itachi dismantling the dessert lick by silkily efficient lick. Goddammit. He should have kept the second cone for himself. ]

Affected…?

[ Stiles blinks, stirring from his ice cream-fueled reverie. ]

Uh, yeah. All the time. Jonas probably has the worst of it, though. The negative emotions hit harder than the positive ones, I’ve noticed. [ Implying, of course, that Stiles harbors more of the former than the latter. ] But nothing’s been overwhelming yet. Maybe that’ll change when I Bond with Sasuke tomorrow. Dunno how having more than one Bond complicates things. You worried about Bonding? Oh. Sorry. How about – “preoccupied with the logistics,” instead? Can’t let the world know you have feelings and worry.

[ Have an amiable elbow to the ribs, Itachi. Lightly, because he’s aware of your injuries. ]

[That first fact isn't especially surprising. Negative emotions, in his mind, have always had a stronger pull. Or so is how it worked for the genetics of an Uchiha. It isn't a topic he's eager or willing to broach at this moment, here and now, knowing how deep Stiles is inclined to dig at the barest scrap of information.

They aren't so different in that.

It's the second piece of news he focuses on, instead. Dark eyes narrow slightly.]

You're Bonding with Sasuke. [Jonas, he eventually accepted. Now Stiles? Is it necessary for Sasuke to have another? And why a Monster, when he himself is a Vampire?] I see.

[The judgment painting his tone is undisguised, but he doesn't comment further.]

The logistics are important. Every individual is unique, and the same goes for their magical signature, whether Witch or Monster. The dynamic changes with every Bond. I'm sure you're aware that there are benefits as well, depending on the magic specialization of the Witch and the innate abilities of the Monster. It's important to [obsessively dissect] analyze what sort of impact a Bond will have on both individuals.

[There's your lecture. Better than talking about The Other Thing.]

Edited (did you miss my edits) 2020-07-18 17:43 (UTC)

“I see,” [ he parrots back in a tone of affected solemnity, staring down his nose at Itachi despite their approximately similar stature. ] “You, Bonding with my little brother? I don’t approve.” That’s what you want to say, right? Asshole.

[ Yet – for all his insecurities – the judgmental look he earned doesn’t actually appear to have upset Stiles one way or another. After all, he’s been dealing with the marked disapproval of people far more important to him since childhood; Itachi’s esteem means little beyond how it impacts Sasuke. So he continues slouching on the bench of the boat, almost stereotypically lackadaisical for his age as he turns a bored gaze out to the river. ]

All three of us will be Bonded to each other, [ Stiles continues after a moment of consideration, mulling over Itachi’s advice. ] There’s definitely going to be…an echo chamber of emotion, y’know? But I’m not Bonding with Sasuke on some whim. [ Frowning, he glances back at Itachi. Though he doesn’t expect to win over the older Uchiha, there’s a part of him that wants to reassure the shinobi. ] I’m taking it seriously.

[His eyes narrow through the explanation, irritation lining his face that wouldn't ordinarily show.]

Whatever my thoughts on it, Sasuke will make his own decisions. [A fact since nailed into him now. It isn't that he would prefer to pick or even suggest better Bond choices for Sasuke—no one comes to mind immediately—but there's a lingering unease about it nonetheless.

The great difference in ability between Sasuke and his chosen Bondmates also doesn't escape his older brother's attention. It's also something he chooses not to put voice to, after Stiles' confession of inadequacy before.]

As far as whether you're serious, I don't question that. You have made your feelings toward my brother clear from the beginning. [Since almost every conversation they have is about him.] It isn't necessary to—

[—and before he can finish speaking, a screech rends the air, followed by a blur of black feathers as Russell crashes through the open gap in the curtains. Her body collides with the hand Itachi's holding the ice cream cone in, and it splatters them both.

Messy, dripping green tea ice cream. Everywhere.

He stares, unmoving. Meanwhile, Russell hops into Stiles' lap, unconcerned with her newly green-spotted wing feathers.]

[ “You have made your feelings toward my brother clear from the beginning.” Whoa, that’s a little uncomfortable to hear – especially given the nature of his discussion with Sasuke just last night about Jonas’ interest in the three of them together. Expression vaguely panicked now, Stiles opens his mouth to cut in with an interjection and insist that those feelings are strictly platonic, thank you. Then Russell divebombs her master like a bat out of hell. Or maybe a bat into hell, given the frigid look on Itachi’s face. Eyes wide, Stiles peers at the other man tentatively before turning his attention to the obese bird perched in his lap, her glossy plumage stained green. If she wasn’t such a questionable creature of dubious habits and grooming, Stiles might have scraped some ice cream off a wing onto a finger and into his mouth. ]

Itachi, [ he begins, tone warming as he slowly reaches out to stroke beneath the familiar’s beak, ] your bird is the dumbest animal I’ve ever known, and my pet snake used to try and swallow rocks.

[ Who’s a good girl, Russell? Yes, you are! You are! ]

She's awesome.

[closed] the haze in the sunrise

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