Teenagers Scare the Living Shit Out Of Me etc. etc.

[dyingtohealyou]

[Characters passing by the bulletin board may notice a new message tacked to it!]

Drinking party at the bar at 8pm. Under 21 only. Adults will be persecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Fun and games included, party hats optional. Don’t be late!

[Sure enough, there’s a gathering of teens (and maybe some not-so-teens?) to be found in the bar! While the posting mentions this is a teen only event, adults are in fact allowed as long as they are cool. OOCLY please be aware there are going to be teens drinking alcohol and possibly smoking! Also additionally, please let the teens/players have fun; again, adults are allowed but only if they’re cool enough to play along without snitching them out!

All party game top levels are going to be made under Ahito’s account but please assume ICly that Akira instigated/explained them! Once the game toplevels are up you can also post your own toplevels to mingle freely if you like IDK IT’S A PARTY HAVE FUN]

Comments

[lustro]

... I'm used to you just answering whatever questions I have...

[impacter]

Haha. I try my best.

Does that mean you'd rather not play for now?

[lustro]

Do you want to play?

[impacter]

Why not?

I may not be very energetic, but it's better than sitting in my room.

[lustro]

Maybe I should dare you to go back and rest.

[ Not joking!! ]

Okay, truth or dare?

[impacter]

[dwbi bruno will come kidnap him in the nebulous future]

Truth.

[lustro]

What are you most worried about? Wait, no, that’s a little unfair. Um… what’s one thing you’re worried about… in some way?

[impacter]

[There's a quiet look of relief at the change of topic (though Ahito and Mika already got his answer for what is most immediately on his mind).]

Mmm...

[There's a lot he could fill in the blanks with here, but... he'll lower his voice for Ginger.]

The longer we're here, the more I can feel my connection with Barbatos weakening. I'm worried that it's going to snap completely if we run out of time.

[lustro]

[ He lowers his voice to match. ]

What if… you use the strength of your emotions to strengthen the connection? If anyone can do it, it’s you. The spirits would help.

[impacter]

[He shakes his head.]

It's far more complicated than that. It's not our pact that will break, but... something else. You could call it a "loan".

It was already thin and strained in the situation I was in. The fact that I can still feel it at all with another world completely in the way is a miracle, but... if I lose it, we'll be stranded.

[lustro]

Then… the only solution would be to go.

[ … Is his cup of alcohol still full? This is a perfect moment to drink it so he doesn’t sound as glum as he feels - for some reason. Who knows why. ]

You must want to leave first.

[impacter]

[...

What a strange statement. Was Ginger... not wanting to see him go?

...

He keeps his words gentle.]

It's always been my goal to leave, I'm afraid. No matter who I've met here, or how I cherish our bonds... this isn't where I was ever meant to stay.

[lustro]

[ No comment no comment no comment, only sips. ]


… If we had made a pact, how would that have worked if you had to leave?

1/2

[impacter]

[..]

/2

[impacter]

[this goDAMN HONESTY CHARM WHY]

I don't know, Ginger.

There's no guarantee anything would have ever happened in the first place. If it had... perhaps it could still be viable, if I had the full strength of my magic. Or perhaps it would be rendered useless, were either of us to leave.

Not to mention... if either were to end up here without the other, then that could very well count as a promise broken.

So I'd rather not discuss this further.

[lustro]

[ Ginger wishes he didn’t get so caught up in himself and his tiny anxious world because, until now, it never occurred to him that the people here would… leave.

Or at least… not… in a way that seemed real. Not in a way that was as tangible as loss.

Logically, the idea was there; they’re not from this world, so some or all of them will go home one day. But Ginger is used to a slow-changing home, so slow it feels locked in stasis. He’s known the same people his entire life. He would have known the same people his entire life.

But Solomon reminds him, horribly, that these relationships are temporary. This is why Day had been worried, and Ginger just hadn’t understood, so self-assured of his own permanence. It’s terrible. He hates this.

He doesn’t -

He doesn’t know how to say goodbye. ]

Fine.

[ … is what comes out of his mouth, short and strained. His lips press into a line to stop whatever else might come out of his short-tempered mouth, upset at himself. Irrationally upset at Solomon for reminding him that his feelings will eventually settle like dust, neglected - forgotten. ]

Do we keep playing?

[impacter]

[Ah. He can hear that tension. But there's nothing he can do to sway Ginger's heart. So he lets the discomfort settle, his voice gentle when he does finally speak up again.]

We can.

If you're upset, though, Ginger, then we don't have to continue.

[lustro]

[ No need for the kid-gloves. He's. Absolutely. Fine. ]

Dare.

[impacter]

[Oh, Ginger.

He takes a moment to adjust himself in his seat with some considerable effort.]

Say something kind and truthful about your capabilities. Only for yourself, and it must be honest. Then go tell it to Mika.

If you downplay it in any way, or compare yourself to anyone else, I will have you start over.

/2

[lustro]

[ He goes quiet for so long, it’s as though he’s forgotten Solomon entirely. He’s thinking, and every option he comes up with is tossed out by way of an immediate rejection. (I’m persistent, devoted. Is he though? Not to Rum. Doesn’t count.) ]

[shortleash]

( Mika has not been - intentionally scouting out for Ginger's conversations, or anything. He's been trying to allow him the privilege of privacy. But he can't help that his senses are attuned to all of Ginger - that his voice carries easier across the crowd - and that he hears this that, in every regard, worries him, because what he knows of pacts are terrible things, and he would not want this for Ginger— would not want this for Ginger with Solomon, an unclear threat.

It reminds him too much of Yuu's attachment to Guren - and all the good that did him. It scares him, makes him uneasy,

and makes him jealous, that Ginger would promise himself away so easy to other people. It reminds him of that cruel instinct in his own heart that reminds him he's only so special - but not very much; not truly forever, just until that until rolls around.

Whenever Ginger's conversation with Solomon closes, he might catch Mika's gaze in his. It drops, at first - like he doesn't want to talk about it, like he kind of just wants to swallow it up. But, after a moment, he will lift it - he will meet Ginger's gaze proper and tip his chin - come here, he means. )

[lustro]

[ …?

It’s the easiest thing in the world to come back to Mika’s side, stopping short of collapsing in on him entirely like an object drawn to a black hole. He’s an object that wants to be swallowed by Mika’s existence, squeezed into his singularity. He stops too close anyway because he misses Mika, hands already brushing his forearms to his side. And if they’re in a corner that gives off the illusion (barely) of secluded privacy, his broader back blocks out Mika’s silhouette. ]

Mika?

[ Murmured in the same way as when he says ‘my sweet heart’ and ‘tell me if it hurts’ as they move together in the mornings. Soft concern pillowed on pure love. ]

[shortleash]

( He prefers that Ginger is this close - claustrophobic, the rest of the world cut off (they don't need them, anyway), Ginger's broad shadow cast over him in this corner. It reminds him Ginger hasn't yet tired of him.

His eyes find their way to Ginger's own, and he finds them big and oblivious and silly as always - so endearing, it's hard to comprehend how no one here has taken him away for themselves.

But it's because Ginger's intent is pure in his gaze and apparent on his lips, Mika doesn't want to sound accusatory. Ah; maybe he should just hold his tongue, send him on his way. Mika's the one being... excessive.

Gently, he... lays his palms along Ginger's upper arms. )

... Would you make a pact with him if it'd help?

( No specifics. Ginger knows what he means. "Help" is terribly vague; it takes on any shape Ginger needs it to. Would you make a pact with Solomon if it provided some benefit you wanted? is really what it boils down to. )

[lustro]

[ Ah, Mika knows about Solomon and his pact thing? ]

With that guy?

[ If it’s Ginger bringing up Solomon, then it’s… fine. But if it’s Mika (Solomon’s blood on Mika’s lips, jealousy still burns low) - and maybe because he is, still, upset about the things he’s been reminded of - there’s a trace of derision when he says ‘that guy.’ ]

After he held his wand to your neck?

[ With some restraint - because he’s angry, he’s upset and he’s never good at controlling his strength when he’s like this - he hugs Mika loosely, lips by his ear. ]

No. Never.

[ Then he pulls back (staying close, intimate in his personal bubble) to meet his eyes again. ]

He just - seemed like he wanted to at one point, but now he’s saying he’s always meant to leave, so - it didn’t make sense in my head. That’s why I asked.

[shortleash]

( Ginger's reaction seems to surprise him, but he goes easily into the hug, fingers curling instead into Ginger's back - clingy, annoying.

He's relieved. So relieved Ginger won't go into the arms of someone not fully trustworthy (or go into his arms at all ...) - still, he's a little surprised that what Solomon had done to Mika factors into the decision at all, that he's so angry on his behalf. This isn't a face he sees on Ginger often. )

... Okay. I didn't— I just wanted to know. He's also told me... that he wanted to, with you. I hated it.

( ... Gently, he unhooks his hands from Ginger's back to take his face, as he's wont to do.

Yuu-chan never thought much about the things Guren did to Mika, so Mika had come to think... it didn't really matter. Those things wouldn't factor in. Yuu-chan cared for him most of anyone, so if it mattered, he'd be upset about them, too. (Some part of him understands, too, that Yuu would forgive Guren for killing him. Of course he would. He's Yuu-chan. And he loves Guren that much. Probably... more than Mika.)

... Ginger is really kind. )

... You don't have to get this upset for me. Not if it's hurting you. ( Does it hurt him to feel that way? Mika worries. But: ) ... I wanted to kill him, though, both times he mentioned it. I don't want him binding you. Not someone who doesn't love all of you— not someone who'd be willing kill you so easy.

( And that last part, he speaks with bite. He said Ginger didn't have to be mad on Mika's behalf, but he sure is mad about the same thing. )