there are no happy accidents | closed

[nemuru]

Who: Ritsu Sakuma & others
When: June
Where: Around
What: Just a bunch of starters for this month, playing catch-up.
Warnings: The horror movie bullshit the tunnels in the Following Rumors log presented, underage (? there is no drinking age in Aefenglom but-) drinking; others will be added as they apply.

Starters and etc. will be in the comments. If you'd like to do something with anything posted this month, let me know at galaxydestiny!

Comments

[topslug]

[ Perhaps she’s never experienced being slowly turned into a monster, but the feelings Ritsu must be experiencing aren’t so unique as all that. Fear of rejection, reluctance to accept change, being forced to deal with circumstances that challenge your very idea of yourself ... that’s something all people go through at some point in their lives.

As well as the desire to push it down and suppress it, to carry on as though nothing is wrong. That’s what Yako would tell him if she could read his mind, anyway — but she can’t. There isn’t even a trace of the temporary Bond they’d shared between them, now, so he’s harder to read despite what his new changes give away.

Still, his comment about Nel draws a quiet laugh. ]

You shouldn’t talk about someone you live with like that. [ Not the least because Nel knows an alarming number of parts of the human body to stick a knife in. Not someone whose bad side you wanna get on, Ritsu. ] We promised we’d make something together, didn’t we? You’re the one who should come over — I’m sure Sakuma-san would be happy to see you.

[ She’s only teasing, though. By this point she knows Ritsu’s avoiding Rei, though she doesn’t quite understand why. ]

[nemuru]

[ He respects and fears Nel, but also: it's Nel. She's rough on him, and he doesn't like it, but she's weirdly caring.

Just like Sena!! ]

I'd only visit when he's out. [ Said with a slight pout, even if he can't sell his usual grumpiness about his brother entirely. ] Ahh, enough about him... You're gonna ruin my appetite, Yako-chan... And I wanna spend the whole night with you.

[ there has to be a better way to say that but would ritsu ever? No- ]

Let's go, go, go~.

[ And, maybe due to being a bunny now - or because time is edging closer to night - Ritsu's energy is nice and high, and he has little trouble tugging her along into the throes of the festival. Like most festivals, there's a lot going on - dancing, people going in and out of brothels as if it's going out of style, couples cuddled up together... The only thing that really feels off is how forced some of the cheer is - the air is still, like the city is waiting to see what's going to happen with the reddening skies hanging overhead.

How performative, but tradition is tradition; it must be something normal they can cling to.

He keeps close to Yako as they make their way 'round shops and streets - probably teases her about eating so much, but tries to get fed by her anyway and feed her in return; he doesn't mind being mistaken for a couple if it gets them free snacks and it's fun, too. He had fun with Iramaat the same way and she's one of his better friends, it's a tried and true strategy-

but Ritsu is happier when they're not around a lot of people, having finally guided Yako and himself down towards the river. Most people go down to the harbor, given the sailing-based other half of Litha, but the river herself? Not so much. It's a nice, ideal place to settle down, and he lets his legs hang off of the edge, watching the water below.

The water. Mmm. His bunnied reflection stares back at him, and his ears twitch at the sight. ]

...Yako-chan, you went on that cave thing too, right? [ A beat, and he tilts his head. His reflection does, too, but his gaze slips over to Yako's reflection in the water instead to gauge her reaction. ] Mmmmm... That water was awful... You think the river here's ever gonna be like that?

[topslug]

[ Yako hadn't realized it herself, until just now, how much tension she was carrying around with her -- how heavily her thoughts about the discoveries the cave and all the rest have weighed her down -- until all that weight is, at least for the span of the afternoon, lifted. Not gone, but having company eases it.

And if she doesn't look too closely at what she's putting in her mouth (and doesn't mind the lightheaded giddiness that follows after) well, that's her business. Perched beside Ritsu -- their shoulders companionably pressed together, the spiced food encouraging a natural seeking out of physical contact that she doesn't worry too much about -- she glances at him when he asks the question, having to work past her own daze to think of wha the answer might be. ]

I hope not. [ She answers, her pleasantly cheerful expressions turning more serious again. Sitting up just doesn't seem quite enough right now, so for once it's her turn to lean on Ritsu, tipping her head so she can tuck it on his shoulder. ]

But we don't know what caused it in the first place, do we?

[nemuru]

[ Oh, that's close- he's not used to other people getting close first, doesn't usually like people touching him first, and ... circumstances hasn't really helped that; but the food they'd snacked on does, and he rests his head against hers, gaze lidding halfway in relaxation - more like a cat than the animal he's turning into. ]

Nah, we don't... Unless it's like, mm... You know those people stuck in the ice? Maybe they were infected too, and when it melts it carries their contaminated juices to whatever the source of that water is... Or something. [ He has a high school education at a school focused primarily on the performing arts, don't judge him. ] Or maybe it just happens when an area gets infected... Or maybe someone poisoned it deliberately.

[ Which sounds... bad, considering what else is down there, and he sighs softly, shifting to accommodate her a little better against his side; his hand lays innocently by her opposite side, not quite at the relationship (or cuddle food) point to settle on her waist proper. ]

Mmm, it sucked, that's all... I was kinda excited about somewhere dark and cool, but then it turned out to be such a pain.

[topslug]

You shouldn't talk about people's 'contaminated juices,' Ritsu-san ... [ Yako protests, mildly, from where she's resting against Ritsu. Because that's the truth, you just shouldn't! It doesn't make her pull away, though. The rest of what he says makes her fall silent, though, thinking it over. They don't really have all the answers right now, and as much as she's used to being in that position, it's also a little frustrating.

She sighs, chest heaving in and out. ]

... with that much ice, I think it must have been magic that put them there in the first place. [ She says, after a moment. This talk is really harshing her mellow groove, but at least Ritsu is a steadying presence at her side, making it easier. ] I think it's worth talking to the Wilders about it ... since I'm pretty sure they're going back there.

[ A pause. ]

This might sound strange, but ... I wish I could go. Even if they probably aren't going to be accepting anyone who isn't Bonded or experienced with combat, after this.

[nemuru]

That's an easy fix for a girl like you though, right? Just get a Bond and get some fighting experience.

[ He makes it sound so simple.

...but to him, it is, especially if it's Yako they're talking about. ]

You're cute and fun, so you'll probably get a who~le lot of offers if you put out an ad. [ Ritsu grins slightly, nuzzling the side of her head. the thought of her going back out there, somewhere that dangerous, doesn't wholly sit well with him- he doesn't reflect on it too much, quietly breathing in her scent since he's so close. ] Mmm, even I've got half of that... kinda. I've been in a couple of dangerous situations, anyway. Think that counts.

There's no harm in asking anyway. [ hmm-hmm♪ ] No one could refuse someone like you, Yako-chan... I know a couple of people like you, and that's the truth for them, so I figure it's the same.

[ people aren't so hard to figure out. he likes to think that, anyway. ]

[topslug]

[ Cute and fun...? Yako can certainly say she's never thought of herself in such terms, and she's still puzzling over that when he nuzzles against the side of her head, a contact she instinctively leans into. That's nice. This, here, is just nice overall, even if the topic they're discussing isn't terribly pleasant. Still, she laughs quietly against his side. ]

Miss Nel did give me a knife lesson, once. [ Not the most reassuring thing to say when she's close enough to stick Ritsu's kidneys, but... ]

Putting out an ad sounds strange. [ Is what she'll settle on finally, but not without a small smile. ] But it would be nice if it were that simple, wouldn't it? I wonder how many other mirrorbound have already found their Bonds.

[nemuru]

[ Ooh, knife lessons. It's cute to think of Yako wielding one. ]

Me too. Maybe we're the only two left without one. [ Well- he's pretty sure Rei doesn't have one, or anyone else from there... Maybe it's the effect of being an idol - not being allowed relations (not that that's really stopped any of them, but they're teenagers; they're still protected by the school; it's not as bad, and the climate is changing too, bit by bit) - or maybe the idea of linking your feelings together is just one none of them are too keen on.

Maybe no one really is. It's kind of a heavy thing, even with the levity the Coven seems to treat it with. Ritsu hums. ] Mmmmm, I guess I didn't mind it when we had one. It was kinda fun.

[ read: her reactions were fun. ]