icarusalsoflew | Waking the Dead 2.0 || August 19, 2063 || Friday

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Waking the Dead 2.0 || August 19, 2063 || Friday

[This one disappears for about thirty minutes, and returns as quietly as he left with two briefcases. He doesn't explain where he went, but from how he ducks into Hikaru's room for about fifteen minutes after that, it can probably be inferred that he fetched a few things from Falner.

Looks like he'll be staying at the Tower while he has taken control of his Brother's body. You're usually going to spot him hovering around, smoking, working through a glass of rum, eyes crimson-ringed and glowing oddly in all lights (or lack thereof) watching... who knows what he's watching? And that suit he's wearing - three-piece, black, pin-striped, with ghostly faces and smoke occasionally moving over the "fabric" - is pretty nice, creepiness aside.

Please excuse him if you find him suddenly popping in on you. It's just what he does.]

OOC Notes:
+ Drop starters as you please! I'll have Death haunt you accordingly. ♥
+ Feel free to do other stuff among yourselves here as well.
+ Do note that Makoto's out and solid for this evening too, so you can bug him or ping me if you want him to come around and bother you.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ There's a momentary Ah on Josh's face when Brother Death mentions that Hikaru will not be hearing this conversation.

It feels a little like being left alone to speak with your significant other's... elder family member. Who is also the abstract construct of The End.

When he does find his tongue to reply though: ] I'm fine with it.

[ The smile he offers might be a little hesitant, but mostly because it's been a while since that Walk he joined you on back when things hadn't changed between him and Hikaru and he's... not entirely sure if smiling is... appropriate? But hey, whatever, right? ]

What Wiseman Tagabigay did for me earlier... [ and his thoughts are flashing briefly to the way he'd faced his inner demon, his insecurities ] ...it helped.

[ He bows his head at that. Holding a dying Hikaru in his hands had felt real, but he'd also understood, once he'd let the emotion bleed out, that his boy was alive and well, and Brother Death's Hour was just one of the many things that he would have to learn to accept and understand as part of that one.

Long haul.

I decided I loved him. Me. ]

[He's quiet for a couple of heartbeats after you finish talking, and watches you without blinking.]

So emotionally, you are "fine", as you say.

[It seems as though Death is as deliberate with his word choice as Hikaru is.]

That's a... funny way of putting it, but-- [ have a light shrug of his shoulders, and a smile that is better than the last one as well. ] Yeah.

I'm good. [ And because Hikaru isn't around to listen. ] I'm not going to let my insecurities hold me back anymore.

I love him. And I don't want to waste any more time worrying over time when I could spend it enjoying what we have.

Good.

[Now he's going to go for his (Hikaru's) cigarettes.]

And it is serendipitous that you should mention "enjoying" the time that the two of you have.

[That may make things easier.]

Edited 2014-05-05 09:42 (UTC)

[ It's automatic how he goes for his lighter, flicks the flame to life and offers it over. ]

Well, most people only have one life to live.

And given my circumstances, this is actually my second.

[ Because he accepts now, that he did die, and that it was only because Coach intervened that he's back on his feet. Internal pun intended. ]

Indeed, it is.

[Yes, he's picked up that Hikaru Shinta mannerism where a sentence that sounds final isn't final at all, because there is more that he wishes to say.

No smile, though, not from this one. Just a straight, unblinking gaze.]

[ Yeah, this might be feeling a little bit creepy.

Not the bad kind, mind you. Just... strange. Because he knows that this is Brother Death with Hikaru's face, and he knows that they're two separate entities in and of themselves -- who just happen to share a body. ]

You um, [ he cants his head unconsciously to the side. One of this one's tics when he's trying for an opening. ] I get the feeling that... there's more that you'd like to say.

[ Might as well come right out with it, yeah? ]

[A nod.]

I have concerns over your sexual habits with my brother.

[Because what is subtlety or easing into sensitive topics? Hell, what does "sensitive" even mean? That's so human.]

[ ... ]

Uh... oh. I, uh.

[ REALLY. What a way to put it. ]

W-what... about?

[ Josh is feeling the familiar creeping of a flush at the back of his neck, because of all the questions that he figured Death might want to ask -- this was not in his Top Ten. ]

The two of you rarely engage in intercourse. I have several points of comparison by which to assess the rhythm that the two of you appear to have established.

[He also knows Hikaru's needs best. They are kind of together, like, all the time.]

[ Suddenly, Josh is wishing that Hikaru were here to referee this. Because this is really out of left field. ]

W... well.

[ Yeah. This one is definitely blushing. ]

We're been busy.

[ With engagements, and sorting their shit, and then O-Bon, and coming back to deal with more things. ]

And what do you mean "rarely".

[ Honestly? By Josh's estimation, he'd been starting to worry that every single time he was left alone with Hikaru it felt like he was always on the verge of jumping his boyfriend. Which usually happened, because it's not like they haven't been fucking. A lot. And at length.

Don't get him wrong, it's not that he doesn't enjoy it -- on the contrary, he does, it's just... seriously, where was this coming from anyway??? ]

Busy.

[Flat, and just a shade of neutral that is closer to unimpressed than it is actually "neutral".]

As for "rarely", my brother grew accustomed to engaging in intercourse at least once per day of the week.

[You can probably guess at who he used to do that with.]

Edited 2014-05-05 14:35 (UTC)

[ Josh is just going to scrub his face with his hands because Almightly Elaine help him that is a detail he did not exactly need to know???

Feeling a little exasperated now and actually going off to hunt up the stash of Black Stones that he normally just keeps for Makoto.

He needs nicotine. The strong kind. ]

Well, you live in the same space as he does, we haven't exactly had it easy in the last two months.

[ Don't get him started on their individual responsibilities, the lack of a shared space because barring the Tower it's not like they can screw each other senseless at his house.

Even Hikaru's room is off limits right now because--

Yes. That is him pressing the heel of one hand into his eye before he takes a breath -- a long, long one -- and then turns around. ]

We're figuring out how we work.

[ Jesus. Really. ]

What is this about?

[ No, he will not think that maybe he's been remiss in relationship duties, godfuckingdammit, if Hikaru was having issues with not getting laid he should have just said something. ]

[Black Stones. Noting that down, along with their significance for this one.

Hand gestures pertaining to exasperation, confusion, exasperation, anxiety?

Interesting.]

I am merely expressing my concern. You do not fit the pattern, and yet he is... happy, with you. He has curbed his natural instincts and is content with the few moments you have.

[Taking a drag, and never taking his eyes off of Josh's face.]

I believe he is satisfied, but I am wondering if an increase in your sexual activities would make him even happier. I am wondering if that is at all possible, which does lead to another concern that I wish to bring up with you.

[ Yeah, he's taking all of that in but it's also mostly kind of flying over his head because as he's listening to all of this, he's finding himself wondering if Alistair, or the Kaiser, or even Aria had to have this kind of conversation with Brother Death.

( Probably not. By the way that mention of 'curbing natural instincts' was thrown out in the open. ) ]

If... [ wow, how is this so awkward ] I'm just.

[ He gives up on discussing his sex life with an abstract being, he just can't wrap his brain around this conversation so he might as well catch up and cut to the chase. ]

I'll discuss that first part with Hikaru when he gets back.

What's the other concern?

[ Can't be much worse, right? ]

The two of you will not have time with each other for at least a week because of current circumstances.

[Namely him occupying Hikaru's body. Which he is now using to lean back, and tilt his head up at Josh, gaze steady as always.]

You may use me as you see fit.

[He doesn't particularly mind. He'll even tell you his rationale behind it if you ask.]

[ .............. ]

W-wait. What?

[ Just this face, really. ]

You may use me as you see fit.

[Evenly and patiently.

Perhaps he was not clear?]

[ There's is not much room to back up into but he will put a bit more distance nevertheless??? ]

No-- [ okay, maybe that protest was a little loud? Joshua, really, remember you might actually insult him -- but that then begs the question: can abstract beings be insulted to begin with? ] --I mean.

No. Jesus. Why would you even offer that?

[ Yes. Same body. Different entity. Big difference. ]

I went twenty-eight years without sex, I think I can wait a week.

[Blinking. No, he's not insulted in the slightest. Intrigued, though... yes. That.]

You feel that it would not be the same?

[He'll tackle some other points that he is concerned with later.]

[ He is opening and closing his mouth like a fish. He is aware.

Finally, though, when he finds his voice again: ]

No, it wouldn't. [ It really wouldn't. ] It won't feel like him.

[ He is having a strange moment of deja vu only back then it was Jessiah Vice trolling him jokingly about a threesome with Ginko to which he had also answered a resounding NO, he is a one person-man, thank you. ]

I know that you are both essentially one, but-- [ IT'S JUST DIFFERENT, DAMMIT. ]

It'd feel like cheating.

Edited 2014-05-05 15:20 (UTC)

We are one.

[And the slight shift of emotion on his face and cant of his head might tell you that he is not quite sure what the problem is.]

How is it "cheating"?

[Yes, he is honestly asking you that.]

[ Here's a sigh from Josh and a lifted hand as he asks for a moment to gather his wits, because this is not how he thought he would be ending what has actually been a pretty long day.

After that moment though, here's Josh coming over to sit down right beside Brother Death. ]

I know you're one and the same... in the sense that you share the same body, that you learn from him and whenever he comes back... so will you.

[ Seriously. How is this a thing. ] But you're also... not. You're not Hikaru. [ Is he even getting this right? ] He's your vessel. You've called him that.

[And he waits obediently enough, and does not move or look particularly bothered by the fact that you shift closer. Why should he be?

...Anyway. Now he is beginning to understand.]

Fair enough. Nevertheless, are you certain that you are fine with waiting?

[ The chuckle that leaves him most definitely sounds relieved that Brother Death seems to have accepted the way he's laid it out.

To that question: ] I am.

[ He really is. It's not like he and Hikaru haven't spent time apart. And he understands that Death needs to be around, and that it means Hikaru can actually take time to properly recover. ]

He's worth waiting for.

[ His gaze falls away at that, down to where his hands are resting on his knees. ]

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