none of us are free from sin

[alloutoflove]

At some point I uploaded new icons and botched some of my threads. Oops.
Also listen like 95% of this post is extremely nsfw. Double oops.

Stargazing → It's a nice clear night, and even when you live in a big city, there are places to get away and look at the stars. There's supposed to be a meteor shower tonight; maybe now's the time to make a wish.

Domesticity → Sometimes domesticity is a white picket fence and two kids and a dog; sometimes it's an apartment that's a little shabby but comfortable; sometimes it's just the people you're with.

What The Housekeeper Saw!! → What. What are you doing. Why are you doing it.

Spoiler prompt: There's a game you play sometimes, when you're acting. "Baby, if you love me, please please smile," you say, and the other person replies, "Baby, I love you, but I just can't smile." If you can make them smile, you win. If you don't, they win. And sometimes you don't even know you're playing the game. END PROMPT

Wildcard!! → Just what it says.

Comments

[rockyxiii]

. . . That's good to hear. You know I wouldn't ever let anything happen to you.

[alloutoflove]

I do.

[ What she'd said before hadn't been an exaggeration, after all: she always feels completely safe with him. Their other classmates had always been put off by his size and general attitude, and the few friends she'd maintained outside of Hope's Peak were as a whole frightened of him -- and it's not that she can't see objectively why, but... but!

But she loves him fiercely, and she's willing to go down fighting tooth and nail if she has to.

The thought makes her smile wider at him, but for the moment, she's focused on the grilling. Meat!! ]

[rockyxiii]

[He works on getting his own beef done perfectly, thinking again about how he might like to touch her, how he's not sure sometimes what that means. Chisa's been the source of some sexuality-questioning again and again in his life, thanks to similar feelings on his end. He loves her. He truly does, and sometimes he doesn't understand the separation, only that he feels there is one that he can't explain or quantify.

He wouldn't mind finding out, with both her and Kyousuke. But that just isn't in the cards.

It doesn't matter. This, right now, is enough.]

You're gonna let me try that, right?

[alloutoflove]

We could trade!

[ She snags a piece from the grill with her chopsticks, waving it at him. This time it's not an invitation to feed him -- he'd seemed awkward about it at the cafe, and this place is significantly more crowded -- but it's still an offer. ]

I'm not ready to tap out of eating when we haven't even started.

[rockyxiii]

[He smiles and holds his little plate over for her to set it on.]

That's the best way to do it anyway. This isn't the kind of place you go to alone and stick with what you ordered.

[alloutoflove]

I know, I know... I used to do this with my friends before Hope's Peak, you know? It was always best in a big group.

[ She deposits the pork belly, pursing her lips. ]

But I always had more fun when it was just the three of us.

[rockyxiii]

[He offers her a strip of steak back, and then a second one, because why not? Hmm, maybe they should order a third plate of something else to split . . . ]

We'll bring Munakata here when he's back in the country. I can't imagine wanting to go with anyone else besides you two.

[alloutoflove]

[ She accepts the offering cheerfully, not quite giggling at the thought -- the incongruity of Kyousuke, neat and elegant and composed, in a dark crowded place like this, full of lower-level salarymen and the odd group of college kids. Her smile does widen. ]

A large group is nice because you can cover more of the menu that way! But when there are too many people, you can't hear anyone. I like this.

[rockyxiii]

Seems like the kind of place you'd go with coworkers, but I don't get along with most of them anyway, so this is good. You wanna split a plate of duck?

[alloutoflove]

Sure, sure.

[ She clacks her chopsticks at him briefly. ]

You know, it wouldn't hurt you to make friends with them.

[ There's no actual nagging behind the comment, though, just a gentle sort of nudge. It's not that she doesn't want him to have other people to be close to; it's just that she also wants to keep him closest to her and Kyousuke, a little selfless and selfish both. ]

[rockyxiii]

[He lifts a hand to call the waiter over and order. Dammit, he really wants a drink, but alas . . . he'll just have to look forward to it when he's off the diet.]

What makes you think anyone wants to make friends with me either, huh? I'm not that kinda guy.

[There's no pain in saying so. It's just something he takes for granted about himself.]

[alloutoflove]

I did. Munakata-kun did.

[ So take THAT, ]

[rockyxiii]

You're the only ones!

But you're the only ones I care about, so that's fine by me.

[alloutoflove]

[ There is the impulse, briefly, to reach out and nudge his leg with hers, but even if that weren't too forward between two adults in public, she actually has no idea what he might do in response to that. He's always quick to remind her of Kyousuke, but she doesn't actually think Kyousuke would mind.

But she doesn't want to make him awkward again, either, so she just smiles. ]

I don't think it's a bad thing to care about others, but... mm, I also can't say I'd mind having you stay close.

[rockyxiii]

Ah . . . are you getting possessive?

[It's a joke, a joke, but there's a waver in his voice—not of being disturbed, but some genuine curiosity, and his own appraisal of how he feels about that reality if it's not a joke. There's something he tries not to think about too much that's deep-down exciting about the thought of "belonging" to Chisa and Kyousuke.]

[alloutoflove]

[ I won't just give Kyousuke to you, but there's room for you here, if you want it.

Because Kyousuke is Kyousuke and she's loved him forever. Who wouldn't? And she wouldn't let him go easily, not even to Juzo.

And yet.

For a moment she strongly considers saying just that, to see what reaction it would get. It's a joke without being a joke, something she could wave off if he's actually offended.

But if he isn't... well, if he isn't, this certainly isn't a good place for it! For one thing, Kyousuke isn't even here, and for another, the setting has the wrong sort of mood. This is a place for friends being casually friendly, not -- not not anything beyond that.

That doesn't mean she won't smile at him, brightly, or that there's not an edge of actual steel in her voice when she answers. ]

Mm, maybe I just don't trust other people with treating you right, Sakakura-kun.

[rockyxiii]

Is that it?

[He softens again into amusement, though he can't shake the lingering tingle of excitement he'd felt, and still feels, at the vague promise of—of what? There's some tension between them, and he doesn't mind it, maybe even likes it. He just wouldn't have the slightest clue how to act on it.]

I can take care of myself. But I guess if you're that worried about it . . . I don't mind.

[alloutoflove]

It's not just that.

[ But she doesn't elaborate. If he didn't get it, then that just gives her a little more time to figure out just exactly all of what she means by it. Maybe the first thought was impulsive, but it's not one she feels is wrong, either. ]

Don't let your meat overcook, Sakakura-kun.

[rockyxiii]

. . . You're definitely teasing me somehow. I know you.

[Or—something. But he grabs his beef from the grill when she points it out. Whoops.]

[alloutoflove]

Mmmmm, but if I am, it's up to you to figure it out.

[ She says it brightly, even as she lays down a fresh few strips of meat onto the grill. ]

You know I'd never be too mean to you.

[rockyxiii]

Sounds like you want me to figure it out. Was that a clue?

[alloutoflove]

Hmmmm... it just might be!

[ SLIGHT... PANIC MOMENT... it's okay Chisa it's Sakakura-kun he probably won't figure it out because it involves thinking of him as a person who deserves nice things so ???? you have time.

Her smile doesn't waver, though, except maybe a bit of pinching at the corner of her eyes. ]

[rockyxiii]

[Yeah no worries there! He's curious, but there's no way he's going to sit here and guess now, and he knows it, so he won't even try. He'll just linger on it later.]

You know I suck at that. But I'll catch on to you eventually.

[alloutoflove]

Weren't you the one saying I'm sneaky, before? You'll have to think hard about it.

[ She snags a bit of pork belly and makes another small gesture at him with it in her chopsticks. ]

But if you figure it out, I'll reward you properly.

[rockyxiii]

With pork belly?

[She is waving it at him. He's tempted this time to actually be fed by her, and even leans forward a tiny bit, but he doesn't otherwise go for it.

(And if that's not what she means, what does she mean?!)]