Hikaru Shinta (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
icarusalsoflew) wrote2013-12-24 01:52 pm
icarusalsoflew) wrote2013-12-24 01:52 pm
003. and in every raindrop... // open post.
Take a prompt, take some time, drop in as you like. If you're from Eudio, though, mosey on down here.
Take a prompt, take some time, drop in as you like. If you're from Eudio, though, mosey on down here.
[ Josh excuses himself from the company of his peers at The King's Rest, waving goodbyes to Yulia and Kaz, Brig, Stanley and the rest; a light hand on Brianna's shoulder as he sidesteps her question of who he plans to see with an easy smile and the phrase 'just need to catch up with a friend,' before he turns to go.
He hits up Haven first, stepping past it's open doors towards the steady hum of music and percussion beneath his feet when Coach catches his eye by the door with a quiet shake of the head.
Not in Haven then.
The second place he thinks to hit up are the training halls, but he's halfway up the staircase to the third floor when he finds Coach on the steps, a steady, somber wrong place again, boy sending him backing up and out.
The third place he thinks of is Kibo, Antipolo, but no sooner had he thought of the house he'd visited with Rethe at his side does he hear his geist let out a tired sigh. ]
Alright, I'm not doing this right. [ He takes a moment to think on it then, remembers the way Hikaru had looked, for all his exasperated smiles at his daughter, Sara; for all the bluster that Alistair showed after.
And then he makes a beeline for the Great Hall. ]
He hits up Haven first, stepping past it's open doors towards the steady hum of music and percussion beneath his feet when Coach catches his eye by the door with a quiet shake of the head.
Not in Haven then.
The second place he thinks to hit up are the training halls, but he's halfway up the staircase to the third floor when he finds Coach on the steps, a steady, somber wrong place again, boy sending him backing up and out.
The third place he thinks of is Kibo, Antipolo, but no sooner had he thought of the house he'd visited with Rethe at his side does he hear his geist let out a tired sigh. ]
Alright, I'm not doing this right. [ He takes a moment to think on it then, remembers the way Hikaru had looked, for all his exasperated smiles at his daughter, Sara; for all the bluster that Alistair showed after.
And then he makes a beeline for the Great Hall. ]
[Of course, Hikaru was blissfully unaware of the fact that someone was looking for him. He had done his damage, hadn't he? Most people in Netsach made it a habit not to bother him while he was on the estate grounds unless it was really important, and he at least liked to think that the few who might have were pissed off enough not to bother.
This might be behind the reason why Hikaru didn't end up retreating to "safer" territory, like his conspiracy's own power bases on Philippine soil, or Hell, even his own room in the Manor. Then again, while he was loathe to admit it, he needed a familiar but public place to chill the fuck out. Today's events had left a sour taste in his mouth.
So there's the Blade King, all alone at the table that was always set aside for Malice Kings like himself. He's armed with his laptop, an ashtray, lots of cigarettes, and music. It was past dinner and bordering on 'decent' to 'almost late'; there weren't a lot of other people hanging around. A good thing, that.
He'd be fine tomorrow. He'd make sure of it.]
This might be behind the reason why Hikaru didn't end up retreating to "safer" territory, like his conspiracy's own power bases on Philippine soil, or Hell, even his own room in the Manor. Then again, while he was loathe to admit it, he needed a familiar but public place to chill the fuck out. Today's events had left a sour taste in his mouth.
So there's the Blade King, all alone at the table that was always set aside for Malice Kings like himself. He's armed with his laptop, an ashtray, lots of cigarettes, and music. It was past dinner and bordering on 'decent' to 'almost late'; there weren't a lot of other people hanging around. A good thing, that.
He'd be fine tomorrow. He'd make sure of it.]
Edited 2014-01-05 13:42 (UTC)
[ It's not until about half an hour after Cen falls asleep on the pillow beside her that she gives in to her husband's earlier coaxing ( You should text him. I don't see why he'd take it the wrong way, babe ) and sneaks out into their living room to settle on the couch with her phone. ]
[ There's a moment of hesitation before she sends a follow up message: ]
SENT: 02:46 AM
i heard about south korea. kang-dae's
worried about you, you know?
[ There's a moment of hesitation before she sends a follow up message: ]
SENT: 02:47 AM
we all are. please take care.
[He gets the message while he's in the shower, where he can hear his phone beep from over the running water - it isn't the only one that ends up coming in either. Still, he doesn't rush, doesn't bother moving any faster.
Granted, the delay on his part isn't just because he was busy. It was also because he spent a good few minutes dressed down, drying his hair with a towel, staring hard at both messages.]
[No smiley this time, because he's only half-joking and even when he's at his worst, he's not one to lie so brazenly about anything, even if it happens to be through text.]
Granted, the delay on his part isn't just because he was busy. It was also because he spent a good few minutes dressed down, drying his hair with a towel, staring hard at both messages.]
SENT: 3:20 AM
It seems like everyone's heard about South Korea. I'm starting to wonder if my Rashiban operatives are doing their jobs right.
[No smiley this time, because he's only half-joking and even when he's at his worst, he's not one to lie so brazenly about anything, even if it happens to be through text.]
...Edited because now I have a better icon for this now. =w=
icarusalsoflew
- 2014-02-01 16:21 (UTC) - Expand[Huh.]
SENT: 9:55 PM
Who is doing what now?
Timeskip! 2-4 days after Brianna learns of 'The Secret'
therealbrianna
2014-02-01 06:19 pm (UTC)(link)
[ After letting a few days pass by after Liandrin let her in on a "little" secret, Brianna decides to check in on Daddy Hikaru.
...but how to steer the conversation in that direction? Must see Hikaru in person, then.]
...but how to steer the conversation in that direction? Must see Hikaru in person, then.]
SENT: 01:06 PM
Hi!
Edited 2014-02-01 18:20 (UTC)
And now we're going for 4 days after. I will put the link up on the timeline soon. =w=
icarusalsoflew
2014-02-01 07:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[His response is delayed because he was asleep.
Yes, Hikaru Shinta DOES sleep, especially after spending the past three days sick as hell.]
[This was random. Still, he knew enough about Brianna to determine that she wasn't nearly as innocent as she appeared to be. Might as well play things out for the moment, though...]
Yes, Hikaru Shinta DOES sleep, especially after spending the past three days sick as hell.]
SENT: 2:15 PM.
Sorry, I only spotted your text now. Hi. :)
[This was random. Still, he knew enough about Brianna to determine that she wasn't nearly as innocent as she appeared to be. Might as well play things out for the moment, though...]
Re: And now we're going for 4 days after. I will put the link up on the timeline soon. =w=
therealbrianna
- 2014-02-02 06:31 (UTC) - Expand[ Mommy and Daddy Lopez informed their baby girl that their family is going to attend some sort of formal business-related ball, and Brianna is highly encourage to bring a date. A few days sweep right past Brianna and she has less than a week left to look for a date.
Thankfully, her mentor (and BFF) Tala suggested that she ask Hikaru.
Brianna then texts Hikaru in obvious panic. ]
Thankfully, her mentor (and BFF) Tala suggested that she ask Hikaru.
Brianna then texts Hikaru in obvious panic. ]
SENT: 09:16 PM
DADDY HIKARU!!!!! :( :( :(
[Responding to that text a little late, both because he had been hacking away at some Pandorans holed up in a cave up in Hokkaido, and because of its contents.
... o_o]
... o_o]
SENT: 9:25 PM
Um. Yes?
Waking the Dead 2.0 | Timeskip Shenanigans | Night before Taning's initiation
bladeweaver
2014-02-07 05:22 pm (UTC)(link)
[Taning has doubts. Serious ones. Not that he'd back out, only that he worries he's compromised his ideals somehow. He's not THAT worried, because he believes in Hikaru Shinta. But, well, he'd like to try and have those doubts allayed.]
SENT: 10:30 PM[Then:]
Hikaru-san... for tomorrow's hit, and for all subsequent hits I will have to do, can I have your word that I will at least be told why that person had to die?
SENT: 10:32 PM
If you say it's because you said so, I'd take it. Because I trust you. But if it matters at all to you, it would make me extremely uncomfortable, not knowing.
[Honestly? He was kind of expecting this.]
SENT: 10:34 PM
We kill because we have to and when we have to, Taning. No more, no less.
Finding another way is your prerogative. Getting the job done does not always have to mean ending a mark's life, especially if you're good enough to keep it from getting to that point in the first place.
SENT: 01:00 AM
I need to tell you something. I know it's early but are you free? I'm at the Shatterdome but I can meet up at King's Rest or any other bar we can drink.
[Huh.]
SENT: 1:03 AM
Just got off duty. Will this conversation require some measure of privacy?
[ Yulia is off to one side, fuming. She's angry, frustrated and embarrassed with the way things went on that night. She wants to kill Brigade with her bare hands, but she knows she couldn't do that to her blade mate, no matter how angry she is with him. It's also why she's distanced herself from Taning and Brig.
She didn't think their initiation would end like this- should end like this. It shouldn't have. Goddamn Brigade and his goddamn shoe. ]
She didn't think their initiation would end like this- should end like this. It shouldn't have. Goddamn Brigade and his goddamn shoe. ]
[And even while he's all smiles and joking around with the boys, he DOES have his eye on Yulia. He can feel her frustration; it's practically a force of nature at the girl's disposal.
It's for that reason that - when they have all headed back to Kibo (Blood Walked, because a flight would take too damned long), and Taning and Brig have gone off, he touches her arm and smiles.]
Will you let me walk you back to your room?
It's for that reason that - when they have all headed back to Kibo (Blood Walked, because a flight would take too damned long), and Taning and Brig have gone off, he touches her arm and smiles.]
Will you let me walk you back to your room?
 |
   |
Step one: Drink,
Step two: Make mistakes,
Step three: Pretend you don't remember.
Step four: Drink a little more,
Step five: I need to run dry.
I need to run dry. (x)
Edited 2014-02-11 05:39 (UTC)
[So it all started with two strange texts, received just as he was getting off-duty somewhere in Tokyo (and under Tohru Fukuzawa's watchful gaze, no less).]
[Color him surprised. Last he had checked, Josh was doing fine? What in the world had happened?
In the end, that is why Hikaru's blood walking down to Falner instead of Seigi or Kibo, and appearing just in the corridor of the Malice King's Wing.
...Yeah, that is Josh, all right. Moving right in, and crouching down in front of him.]
Uh. Hi there.
FROM: JESSIAH VICE
SENT: 3:42 AM
For your reference: there is a drunken hobo sitting outside of your door.
FROM: JESSIAH VICE
SENT: 3:43 AM
P.S. It's Joshua LaRue.
[Color him surprised. Last he had checked, Josh was doing fine? What in the world had happened?
In the end, that is why Hikaru's blood walking down to Falner instead of Seigi or Kibo, and appearing just in the corridor of the Malice King's Wing.
...Yeah, that is Josh, all right. Moving right in, and crouching down in front of him.]
Uh. Hi there.
[ A series of texts sent off because someone can't sleep. ]
[ It's been barely a week. The whole exchange with Rethe and the misstep from that night is still branded into Josh's brain. ]
SENT: 02:26 AM
bailing on a blade mate's birthday party is a dick move, right?
SENT: 02:29 AM
i want to go. this is brianna. and since she's sort of your
daughter now i probably shouldn't be sending you these
messages to begin with.
SENT: 02:31 AM
i know you said to chill out. and i've been doing that.
i just have a feeling in my gut that i should sit this one
out until the whole thing blows over.
[ It's been barely a week. The whole exchange with Rethe and the misstep from that night is still branded into Josh's brain. ]
[And getting those texts, yet again, just as he's getting off-duty. Tohru is lifting an eyebrow at his direction, as he's smiling, shaking his head as he reads the texts.
"It's nothing, father. Give me a second, okay?"]
[And, after reading those texts through Josh's eyes, Makoto is chuckling in his temporary host's head.
He is mostly flirting with you, partially trying to make you feel better.]
"It's nothing, father. Give me a second, okay?"]
SENT: 2:45 AM
They're going to worry about you, you know, if you don't go. They'll ask questions.
SENT: 2:46 AM
We've got to stop having these late night rendezvous, Josh. :)
[And, after reading those texts through Josh's eyes, Makoto is chuckling in his temporary host's head.
He is mostly flirting with you, partially trying to make you feel better.]
"Oh, [NAME GOES HERE]" works for everyone, really...
icarusalsoflew
- 2014-02-16 08:02 (UTC) - Expand[ There's a neat trick that Josh learned back in Vancouver when it comes to letting food -- particularly the ones with sauce, sit. Sometimes, you see, they'd get customers who'd put in an order -- and then some five minutes later, change their mind, and pick a different dish. Cook hated letting food go to waste, but they couldn't serve food that wasn't fresh. It had been a then twenty-four year old Josh LaRue, barely six months into the job who'd shyly approached his boss to ask if he could handle the food that no one wanted to go to waste, because most of the staff preferred to put together their own meals in the upstairs living quarters.
"I'm Cook's assistant, sir. I just want to figure out how it's done."
It had been an accident, really. He'd stored the food in the fridge, forgotten to take it out the next morning, and then Cook had assumed it was something pre-prepared, heated it up it a pot and found that their ( not really ) leftovers were actually... kind of good.
He'd gotten chewed out for it. And then asked what the hell he'd done to get the chicken to actually absorb the marinade better.
The short answer? "I guess it's better if you let it sit a while?"
So yeah, nobody talks about how they prep a set amount of orders the night before, let the finshed product sit, before carefully baking it again the next day ( there was a lot of trial and error to make sure it didn't burn ) before serving. They weren't leftovers. It was just the way that particular dish was Done.
Back in the Tower, one Josh LaRue, now twenty-eight, has been knocking on a particular Blade King's bedroom door for about oh... five minutes? He isn't the klutzy kid that found his way to Derik Sloane's Blue Coffin anymore, quietly trying not to be unobtrusive -- the way he's knocking on that door kind of, yeah. ] Hikaru, you and I need to talk I don't care if you're sleeping like the dead.
[ Where were we: oh right. See, relationships -- platonic, romantic, whathaveyou -- are a little like dishes prepped in the kitchen. Cooking's an art. It's baking that's the science. And as with all things relating to art, things aren't always precise, or planned, or go the way you think they will.
Josh, you are so lucky Makoto has your back -- have pity on that door. Weren't you supposed to be the considerate kid? ]
"I'm Cook's assistant, sir. I just want to figure out how it's done."
It had been an accident, really. He'd stored the food in the fridge, forgotten to take it out the next morning, and then Cook had assumed it was something pre-prepared, heated it up it a pot and found that their ( not really ) leftovers were actually... kind of good.
He'd gotten chewed out for it. And then asked what the hell he'd done to get the chicken to actually absorb the marinade better.
The short answer? "I guess it's better if you let it sit a while?"
So yeah, nobody talks about how they prep a set amount of orders the night before, let the finshed product sit, before carefully baking it again the next day ( there was a lot of trial and error to make sure it didn't burn ) before serving. They weren't leftovers. It was just the way that particular dish was Done.
Back in the Tower, one Josh LaRue, now twenty-eight, has been knocking on a particular Blade King's bedroom door for about oh... five minutes? He isn't the klutzy kid that found his way to Derik Sloane's Blue Coffin anymore, quietly trying not to be unobtrusive -- the way he's knocking on that door kind of, yeah. ] Hikaru, you and I need to talk I don't care if you're sleeping like the dead.
[ Where were we: oh right. See, relationships -- platonic, romantic, whathaveyou -- are a little like dishes prepped in the kitchen. Cooking's an art. It's baking that's the science. And as with all things relating to art, things aren't always precise, or planned, or go the way you think they will.
Josh, you are so lucky Makoto has your back -- have pity on that door. Weren't you supposed to be the considerate kid? ]
[And it took five minutes and then some because really, all things considered? Hikaru Shinta is fucking exhausted.
If it was simply a matter of overtaxing one's self physically, this wouldn't be a problem. Here's a man who could, quite literally, go without sleep, drink or food for days on end if he needed to and still be as perfectly charming and quick on his feet as ever. That's the one lovely thing about not being human anymore: preternatural physique, metabolism, the works.
Once you add in Feelings, however, and Thoughts, all of that very slowly but surely starts to go out the window. And there have been Feelings and Thoughts a plenty lately.
Who can blame him, then, for not being able to wake up immediately? When he finally does, though:]
What the hell...
[That's muttered to nobody in particular as he's pushing himself rather reluctantly up from his bed (Mitsuru, you ought to note, is about as annoyed as he is based on the tiny and disgruntled mewl he gives the moment his master's warmth is gone). Then he catches the voice on the other side of his door. Who it belongs to.
The Boneyard registers a moment later. He knows, instantly, what it is, and who put it up, and how its arranged.
Snapping awake now, walking over to open that door, and leveling his gaze up to that face. What choice does he have?]
Josh, what's going on?
[His expression is carefully schooled, of course. He doesn't want to think about what this might be about, and he certainly doesn't want to start paying attention to his heart all over again. As things stood, he had barely made it through that latest club run in one piece.]
If it was simply a matter of overtaxing one's self physically, this wouldn't be a problem. Here's a man who could, quite literally, go without sleep, drink or food for days on end if he needed to and still be as perfectly charming and quick on his feet as ever. That's the one lovely thing about not being human anymore: preternatural physique, metabolism, the works.
Once you add in Feelings, however, and Thoughts, all of that very slowly but surely starts to go out the window. And there have been Feelings and Thoughts a plenty lately.
Who can blame him, then, for not being able to wake up immediately? When he finally does, though:]
What the hell...
[That's muttered to nobody in particular as he's pushing himself rather reluctantly up from his bed (Mitsuru, you ought to note, is about as annoyed as he is based on the tiny and disgruntled mewl he gives the moment his master's warmth is gone). Then he catches the voice on the other side of his door. Who it belongs to.
The Boneyard registers a moment later. He knows, instantly, what it is, and who put it up, and how its arranged.
Snapping awake now, walking over to open that door, and leveling his gaze up to that face. What choice does he have?]
Josh, what's going on?
[His expression is carefully schooled, of course. He doesn't want to think about what this might be about, and he certainly doesn't want to start paying attention to his heart all over again. As things stood, he had barely made it through that latest club run in one piece.]
Edited 2014-03-09 17:34 (UTC)
Waking the Dead 2.0 || May 20, 2063 || Sunday After Dinner
therealbrianna
2014-03-11 06:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Brianna drives up from her house to the dorms in Falner. As she steps down from her car, she takes her tablet with her. At first, she's walking slowly, still trying to make sense of her feelings. That elevates to her usual stride, and then later on, she finds herself marching angrily towards Hikaru's door.
She bangs on the door furiously. ]
DADDY!
She bangs on the door furiously. ]
DADDY!
[Whoa, okay. That's a little surprising.
Leaving what he's doing now, and heading over to open the door. He looks concerned, of course, the moment he sees you.]
What's wrong?
Leaving what he's doing now, and heading over to open the door. He looks concerned, of course, the moment he sees you.]
What's wrong?
[ They'd stayed up talking ( and making out, and talking some more ) until about four. As it stands, there's still so much to sort out between them, but at least some of the important issues have been addressed: Josh is okay with Hikaru's people knowing about them, and the Blade King can tell them at his leisure, and Josh will handle his family and the Hounds, with the exception of Brianna because Hikaru offered and honestly, Josh has no idea how to approach that topic himself.
Josh wakes up slowly. Awareness comes to him in snatches of sound, and then in shifts of light behind his eyelids, and then his brain kicks in, noting the warmth and scent of the man curled up at his side ( Hikaru's head on his shoulder, steady breath warm against his neck, that forehead cool beneath Josh's cheek ) and of the tiny breathing thing wedged between them.
He smiles quietly, opens his eyes, hand gently scratching Mitsuru behind one ear and rewarded by the kitten twisting around, fast asleep.
Guess he's not moving then. Poor thing stayed up as long as they did.
His eyes wander to Hikaru's door. There aren't any shadows moving in the crack beneath it, but he was pretty sure he heard someone moving about. ]
Josh wakes up slowly. Awareness comes to him in snatches of sound, and then in shifts of light behind his eyelids, and then his brain kicks in, noting the warmth and scent of the man curled up at his side ( Hikaru's head on his shoulder, steady breath warm against his neck, that forehead cool beneath Josh's cheek ) and of the tiny breathing thing wedged between them.
He smiles quietly, opens his eyes, hand gently scratching Mitsuru behind one ear and rewarded by the kitten twisting around, fast asleep.
Guess he's not moving then. Poor thing stayed up as long as they did.
His eyes wander to Hikaru's door. There aren't any shadows moving in the crack beneath it, but he was pretty sure he heard someone moving about. ]
[And because you're looking towards the door, you might not immediately notice Makoto stepping through the wall separating your room from Hikaru's. Once you have, though, your adopted geist is cracking a smile. He'll save the semi-bad news for later.]
Things worked out pretty well, huh?
[Speaking into your head. Best not to wake the Blade King. It's been a while since he's been this relaxed.]
Things worked out pretty well, huh?
[Speaking into your head. Best not to wake the Blade King. It's been a while since he's been this relaxed.]
[ He wakes up and it's a little past midnight. There are no dreams to hold him back in slumber, only the quiet blackness of oblivion that bleeds quietly into the dark of his own room as Josh realizes that he's been staring up into space for the last few minutes or so.
He only barely remembers how he might have fallen asleep, shortly after he'd left Yulia, Brigade andthat fish the Great Spirit that had been, as far as they knew, a koi up until the moment that he wasn't anymore.
Josh checks his watch. It's a ways yet until two a.m. ( and three seconds, he'd been told ), so he gets up and takes a shower before he hunkers back in bed with his tablet on his lap to wait. ]
He only barely remembers how he might have fallen asleep, shortly after he'd left Yulia, Brigade and
Josh checks his watch. It's a ways yet until two a.m. ( and three seconds, he'd been told ), so he gets up and takes a shower before he hunkers back in bed with his tablet on his lap to wait. ]
Edited 2014-03-30 05:37 (UTC)
[And at exactly 2:00:03 AM, your phone is ringing. It's his number.
It's raining outside, by the way. It swept over the city, quietly and suddenly, and the sound of it is all around you. Seigi itself is quiet, but that probably isn't a surprise given everything that has come to pass.]
It's raining outside, by the way. It swept over the city, quietly and suddenly, and the sound of it is all around you. Seigi itself is quiet, but that probably isn't a surprise given everything that has come to pass.]
Edited 2014-03-30 06:39 (UTC)
[ He steps out of the shower to find a Themis document set down on the bed, a small note from Tala Vega stuck to the top of it. He knows which file this must be by that note alone before he opens it. He'd been one of the four in the Hounds who had sat down in the Arcanum to go through the files on one Hikaru Shinta, had seen the videos, read the first-hand accounts and diary entries penned in the hands of some of the Malice Kings, gone through the reports.
But the context has changed. He and Hikaru had been little more than acquaintances then, and now he was familiar in a far more intimate way with the Blade King: friend, lover, beloved.
By the time you return, Hikaru, Josh has moved to the floor, legs crossed as he has the dossier open on his lap. There is an ash tray containing a number of cigarettes, and he is going through yet another one as he reads the passage that has drawn him back repeatedly: ]
But the context has changed. He and Hikaru had been little more than acquaintances then, and now he was familiar in a far more intimate way with the Blade King: friend, lover, beloved.
By the time you return, Hikaru, Josh has moved to the floor, legs crossed as he has the dossier open on his lap. There is an ash tray containing a number of cigarettes, and he is going through yet another one as he reads the passage that has drawn him back repeatedly: ]
Hikaru unabashedly fits the profile of a high-functioning sociopath. His condition allows him to retain the memories and skills of all of his previous lives together with the new range of abilities that he has been granted as the recognized vessel of Death, making him a formidable figure to deal with across the board. Furthermore, his ruthless pragmatism and perceived lack of empathy have made it clear, in the opinion of many, that there are few things that he cares about. All of this, however, may be a front that he uses to hide crushing insecurity, and a deep-seated belief that he should not exist.
[Hikaru does, of course, return from his duties after precisely two hours. He did promise you, after all, and admittedly? He doesn't want to push himself. It's been too hard, too utterly fucking insane, for too long. Even gods like him need their rest, right?
He's smiling before the door even opens by his hand because he picked up the familiar sounds of you still in his room, and also caught a whiff of your scent, your clothes, your brand of cigarettes. When he sees what you're doing, though, that smile falters.
It's hard, all of a sudden, to move away from the door frame. It's hard, as well, to find the words. (That happens rather often these days.)]
He's smiling before the door even opens by his hand because he picked up the familiar sounds of you still in his room, and also caught a whiff of your scent, your clothes, your brand of cigarettes. When he sees what you're doing, though, that smile falters.
It's hard, all of a sudden, to move away from the door frame. It's hard, as well, to find the words. (That happens rather often these days.)]
[ This one of the two on top of his list when the news of Brother Fukuzawa's recovery hits. ]
SENT: 12:05 PM
He's awake, Brother! I'd call for afternoon Sapporo with you but I'm sure you're probably on your way to him, if not with him already. Don't break your father with too tight a hug!
[Excuse the delayed response, Brother. He was a little busy, and he's about to get busier. Ahahaha. orz]
SENT: 1:38 PM
Haha, yeah, he is. I'm... well, I can't even begin to express how relieved I am. :)
I'd take you up on that offer, but I'm actually with Josh right now. Turns out that Davis' parents came from Cape Town, and he'd like to see the place for himself.
Thinking of going to Seigi right after Kaiser Delacroix brings everyone back to Falner. Come with?
[ Its an interesting sight, watching Hikaru maneuver around the Hounds. Riley recalls the day he'd first met them as a group: young and promising with their lives ahead of them and yet with the firm choice to follow the path that Hunters can only choose for themselves.
He's moving his palm gently atop the rest of his cane when he finally catches the Blade King's eye and he smiles. ] Hikaru, come join me for a bit?
He's moving his palm gently atop the rest of his cane when he finally catches the Blade King's eye and he smiles. ] Hikaru, come join me for a bit?
[ This one's quietly drinking his tea in his office, reading through the news on one of the fresh newspapers laid out on his desk. The recent attempt on Catherine Stone's life has him frowning, but other than that, he's fine. It's Vigil business, something he would like to feel more mobile on, but Riley's aware that he can only do so much, given his current condition.
He's not tired round the clock like when he first woke up, but he's not like other particularly stubborn Malice Kings who push the envelope where it concerns the words "house arrest".
Still, it is so damned tedious to be stuck, and to know that only time and rest can see to it. ]
He's not tired round the clock like when he first woke up, but he's not like other particularly stubborn Malice Kings who push the envelope where it concerns the words "house arrest".
Still, it is so damned tedious to be stuck, and to know that only time and rest can see to it. ]
[And where Hikaru really meant to head straight for his room and curl up and maybe pretend he wasn't alive for a few hours, he finds himself wandering close to the office Liandrin shares with Riley and Aidan. He can also hear Riley inside.
Something in him aches. Maybe it has to do with what he's just figured out for himself a few minutes ago. Maybe it has to do with that odd sense of deja vu that's coming over him, given the last time it wash him here, and that man over there. Maybe it's both.
He really, really hasn't been at his best lately. This had to stop.
For the moment, though, he's going to see what he can do to not make any of this seem too strange. Riley's probably noticed him by now: might as well preempt the other man. (Yes, he did promise to be better. It doesn't have to be now, though, does it?)
Knocking now, and valiantly resisting the urge to just... lean on the thing. People are passing through the area. It's morning.]
Riley. Are you going down to join the others soon?
[...And really, Hikaru Shinta, get your shit together. He's definitely going to hear the way you sound (read: like you are not good in the slightest).]
Something in him aches. Maybe it has to do with what he's just figured out for himself a few minutes ago. Maybe it has to do with that odd sense of deja vu that's coming over him, given the last time it wash him here, and that man over there. Maybe it's both.
He really, really hasn't been at his best lately. This had to stop.
For the moment, though, he's going to see what he can do to not make any of this seem too strange. Riley's probably noticed him by now: might as well preempt the other man. (Yes, he did promise to be better. It doesn't have to be now, though, does it?)
Knocking now, and valiantly resisting the urge to just... lean on the thing. People are passing through the area. It's morning.]
Riley. Are you going down to join the others soon?
[...And really, Hikaru Shinta, get your shit together. He's definitely going to hear the way you sound (read: like you are not good in the slightest).]
[ This is a text sent your way while Josh is peering over the top floor rail towards the activity area of the Shangri-La Plaza. There's someone playing down below on the baby grand piano they have set up in the middle of everything and by the way that the woman's going through her pieces -- this seems to be a normal occurence.
It's... nice. ]
[ He's dressed up, but nothing too formal: a good pair of well-fitting dark jeans, a button down shirt in light gray and a lightweight blazer in charcoal -- with a pair of converse sneakers in black and white.
( The place he's picked looks classy but it's listed as a 'casual restaurant' with a price range that doesn't quite match the streamlined decor. He knows a little of this stuff, but they didn't specify a dresscode so... whatever works, right?
He's never done this date thing before, okay. ) ]
It's... nice. ]
SENT: 07:39 PM
i'm a little early. see you soon though?
[ He's dressed up, but nothing too formal: a good pair of well-fitting dark jeans, a button down shirt in light gray and a lightweight blazer in charcoal -- with a pair of converse sneakers in black and white.
( The place he's picked looks classy but it's listed as a 'casual restaurant' with a price range that doesn't quite match the streamlined decor. He knows a little of this stuff, but they didn't specify a dresscode so... whatever works, right?
He's never done this date thing before, okay. ) ]
SENT: 7:41 PM
Yeah, already en-route. You know I like to be punctual. :)
[His car, in fact, is already driving the both of them towards Shangri-La. He took a bit of time to drop all work-related things off at the Tower, and dress up in something that was a notch nicer than his usual. Just a notch.
Is he pleasantly surprised by this? Yes. Yes, he is.]
[ This text comes a little after evening training at Ateneo. They wrapped up early, so it was mostly drills and strategy -- and a whole lot of congratulations sent his, because someone spotted him looking at his Zangyaku mask and everyone else put two-and-two together. ]
SENT: 08:07 PM
hey, not sure what your schedule is like today but
dinner? my treat? if you're busy with the princess
that's cool. i've just missed you and last night
was pretty crazy.
[Getting that text just as he's stepping out of the shower and finishing arrangements with Rethe. The angel has insisted on taking duty for him again, and nothing he could do could deter the kid.
This is why he thinks you're awesome. Rethe.]
[He's not ashamed at all to be open about that.]
This is why he thinks you're awesome. Rethe.]
SENT: 8:10 PM
I'm not busy at all now, actually. Satsuki has a dinner with the President, and it's apparently a one-on-one sort of thing. Politics. :)
Anyway, someone else is going to handle picking her up, and dinner sounds like a great idea. I've missed you too.
[He's not ashamed at all to be open about that.]
[ Josh slides his fingers through Hikaru's as soon as they're out the door of King's Rest, but it's only a fair distance from the pub ( and when he's more or less sure that barring the presence of any Whisperers in the area ) that he stops in his tracks and tugs on that hand to gain the Blade King's attention.
This is right out of a cheesy romcom, but who cares? You've both just had your respective sit-downs with each other's parents and he wants to kiss you. ] Hey, c'mere.
This is right out of a cheesy romcom, but who cares? You've both just had your respective sit-downs with each other's parents and he wants to kiss you. ] Hey, c'mere.
[Excuse him for not immediately noticing, because his head's still spinning and his heart's still heavy from the conversation he just had with your parents.
"You love him. Both of us can see that."
Still: this is you, and it's been long established that he can't help but be attuned to everything that you are to a perhaps inordinate degree. As such, he does obey, and does turn in your direction.]
Mm?
"You love him. Both of us can see that."
Still: this is you, and it's been long established that he can't help but be attuned to everything that you are to a perhaps inordinate degree. As such, he does obey, and does turn in your direction.]
Mm?
[ He isn't sure how long your dinner with Lia is, so he just decides to text you for whenever you get a moment to read this shortly after they all make their way back to Falner: ]
SENT: 10:22 PM
not sure when you'll be free but would like
to see you tonight if you're game to meet :)
[Responding promptly, because he and Liandrin finished up some ten minutes ago. He just got off the phone with Rethe; no duty for him tonight.
It's nice having people who give a shit about your personal life.]
It's nice having people who give a shit about your personal life.]
SENT: 10:24 PM
I'm free now, actually. Was going to go on duty, but I think Rethe's gift to me is freedom from that for the moment. :p
[Taning will find himself in your car, being relatively crazy enough to actually enjoy having left his stomach back in Falner when you gunned the engine.
Forces mage. Go figure.
Honestly? He's a little afraid of letting you in his head. Not that you might break it, of course. It'd just be because it would be a relatively new experience, and one he absolutely does not have a baseline for. And this is the kind of man that hates not knowing.
He'll just be smiling quietly on the drive. He doesn't have anything in particular to talk about, and he's wondering about what and how you'll teach him.]
Forces mage. Go figure.
Honestly? He's a little afraid of letting you in his head. Not that you might break it, of course. It'd just be because it would be a relatively new experience, and one he absolutely does not have a baseline for. And this is the kind of man that hates not knowing.
He'll just be smiling quietly on the drive. He doesn't have anything in particular to talk about, and he's wondering about what and how you'll teach him.]
Edited 2014-07-05 03:32 (UTC)
[Well, first off, the two of you are pulling to a stop in front of the Heartnet-Duskrider house.]
C'mon. Need to get Rilea to fix me up.
[You'll understand soon enough, unless you've already figured it out all on your own.]
C'mon. Need to get Rilea to fix me up.
[You'll understand soon enough, unless you've already figured it out all on your own.]
[ He has to will himself to slow his step as he leads you both out of the palazzo and onto the gondola that will take you both back to the parking lot. His hand never falters from yours, twined as his fingers are with your own. There are several kisses -- none stolen, because there's nothing to steal. You're his now, and he's yours. He'll think about all the logistics for a proper ceremony later, but he keeps his promises; you know this pretty well.
The hotel suite that Kaz booked isn't too far from the Aviary. It's a nice place, and he wraps his arm around your shoulders as he leads you through that lobby and towards the elevator.
He's so happy that you said yes, that now it's just the two of you and he doesn't really give a shit if there are cameras in this thing because he's taking your face between his hands and slanting his lips over yours as he backs you up against one wall. ]
I love you. [ That's coming out so utterly heartfelt that he thinks his chest just might burst. The ring fit, he got the words out and you said yes. It's been a pretty amazing evening so far. ]
The hotel suite that Kaz booked isn't too far from the Aviary. It's a nice place, and he wraps his arm around your shoulders as he leads you through that lobby and towards the elevator.
He's so happy that you said yes, that now it's just the two of you and he doesn't really give a shit if there are cameras in this thing because he's taking your face between his hands and slanting his lips over yours as he backs you up against one wall. ]
I love you. [ That's coming out so utterly heartfelt that he thinks his chest just might burst. The ring fit, he got the words out and you said yes. It's been a pretty amazing evening so far. ]
[ If your boy was quiet and generally distracted save for the moments that you came around to kiss him (which he responded to perfectly, by the way, each and every time), please try to understand: he's in shock, he's higher and happier than he has been in a long time, and he's reeling from how good and perfect all of this feels right now. It's the weight of your palm against his own that grounds him, and even that is relative.
You proposed to him. You fucking proposed, to him. He had not seen it coming. He hadn't thought, hadn't even brought himself to think beyond the now, or towards any other possibility more serious than the two of you deciding to pursue this thing that happens to be your relationship. Yet here he is, and here you are, and its all he can do but kiss you back yet again, breathe you in and drink from you until your smell and taste fill his brain up so perfectly it makes him dizzy with need, and keep his hands firm on your waist, fingers curling into the cloth of your pants, like all he wants to do is to do everything in his power to keep you here with him. ]
I love you too. More than I'll ever be able to say.
[ By Elaine, you're the most handsome thing he's ever had the pleasure of seeing right now. Everything about you, in his eyes, is perfect, right down to those inevitable flaws that only make a body seem more wonderfully human. ]
You proposed to him. You fucking proposed, to him. He had not seen it coming. He hadn't thought, hadn't even brought himself to think beyond the now, or towards any other possibility more serious than the two of you deciding to pursue this thing that happens to be your relationship. Yet here he is, and here you are, and its all he can do but kiss you back yet again, breathe you in and drink from you until your smell and taste fill his brain up so perfectly it makes him dizzy with need, and keep his hands firm on your waist, fingers curling into the cloth of your pants, like all he wants to do is to do everything in his power to keep you here with him. ]
I love you too. More than I'll ever be able to say.
[ By Elaine, you're the most handsome thing he's ever had the pleasure of seeing right now. Everything about you, in his eyes, is perfect, right down to those inevitable flaws that only make a body seem more wonderfully human. ]
[ You asked for time and he's learned to give it, even if the urge to seek you out a second time is strong. The subsequent make up with the rest of the Hounds has helped him focus somewhat on how this is nothing to do with the two of you, how it's just a minor bump in the road, because of course you're stressed: this is Arcadia, it fucks people up because that's just how it works.
Still, by the time you come around your fiancee will have been waiting in your chambers, cross-legged on the edge of that large bed, one ashtray set on the floor in front of him and several cigarette butts smoked through. He's had dinner -- and it was a beautifully prepared meal, but he's anxious over your last exchange so he didn't enjoy it half as much as he would have if the last twenty-four hours hadn't been so harrowing.
He's halfway through yet another stick, earbuds tucked in his ears and his phone's music player shuffling through his entire library.
Honestly, he will wait all night if he has to. It's all a matter of distracting himself in order to stay awake. ]
Still, by the time you come around your fiancee will have been waiting in your chambers, cross-legged on the edge of that large bed, one ashtray set on the floor in front of him and several cigarette butts smoked through. He's had dinner -- and it was a beautifully prepared meal, but he's anxious over your last exchange so he didn't enjoy it half as much as he would have if the last twenty-four hours hadn't been so harrowing.
He's halfway through yet another stick, earbuds tucked in his ears and his phone's music player shuffling through his entire library.
Honestly, he will wait all night if he has to. It's all a matter of distracting himself in order to stay awake. ]
[ Given what you're occupying yourself with, you might not immediately hear your fiancee coming in. Perhaps you'll only look up in time to spot him slipping into the bedchamber, expression pensive, hands occupied with tying his hair back. He's decided to let it start growing out, even if he's stubbornly refusing to shed his human skin and let his mien shine through completely.
It's been an interesting couple of days, and that would be the kindest way of putting it. Today, of course, has been the most interesting one in the lot. He's... not entirely sure how to feel about some aspects of it, but he is hopeful, at least.
Fixing his gaze on you just as he finishes with his hair, and offering a small smile as he approaches. Just that first. The words will come around shortly. ]
It's been an interesting couple of days, and that would be the kindest way of putting it. Today, of course, has been the most interesting one in the lot. He's... not entirely sure how to feel about some aspects of it, but he is hopeful, at least.
Fixing his gaze on you just as he finishes with his hair, and offering a small smile as he approaches. Just that first. The words will come around shortly. ]
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