( OPEN )

[swordsitter]

Who: swordhaus + cr
When: throughout june (+ the end of may, because i missed a month oops)
Where: the three apartments swordhaus uses..
What: june (+ may) catch-all
Rating/Warning: probably nothing, but i'll edit as necessary.

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[ sword mafia at home. ]

Comments

[yaayaa]

[Ah, Namazuo's back. Nakigitsune doesn't really know what to think, other than that--death is as unfamiliar to him as it is familiar to the rest of the swords, and the fact it isn't permanent in this world...doesn't help much with his understanding of it.

What he does understand, though, is that Namazuo doesn't look like the same cheerful figure he's so used to seeing. He's quiet, and tired, and.....the uchigatana pauses only a moment on seeing him, staring thoughtfully, before leaving for a few minutes.

When he comes back, it's to deposit a bowl of mixed snacks on the coffee table in front of his cousin, seat himself on the floor by his feet, and - after a moment's hesitation - grab one of the candies to chew on in silence.]

[horsepoop]

[It may seem like Namazuo doesn't even notice Naki's presence. He doesn't move when Naki comes in, when he leaves, or even when he comes back. His eyes follow his cousin, but other than that, he stays curled up and silent.

But he does notice, on more than a superficial level. He'd known Naki was safe, but it's a relief to see it with his own eyes. Naki is, after all, the closest thing to family he has here.

...Well. No, that's not quite true. But he cares deeply about his well-being, nonetheless.

When he does move, it's not to reach for a candy, though he appreciates the gesture. Instead, he reaches for Naki, threading his fingers through fluffy hair like he's making sure it's really tangible.]

...Did you make it home alright?

[yaayaa]

[Whether he noticed his cousin watching or not, Nakigitsune shows no sign of it. No, he goes quietly through the motions, not giving any more than that original thoughtful glance, not looking at Namazuo at all until--no, not even when he speaks.

He sits still, with those fingers in his hair, and slowly, carefully nods.]

.......Have you? [Made it home alright, that is. Namazuo may have died, but. He's here now, right?]

[horsepoop]

[It's reassuring, in a way. Namazuo is a tactile spirit, and the sensation of touch has always been his favorite thing about these bodies. To be able to do this, to feel for himself that Naki is whole and safe--it's such a relief that it brings tears to his eyes.]

...I'm glad.

[It's barely a whisper, because he doesn't trust his voice not to break. He doesn't answer Naki's question immediately, either, swallowing past the block in his throat as he tries to figure out what to say.

The answer is no, of course. No, he didn't make it home alright. He died, and he went to some strange place full of hanging bodies, and he died again, and when he reappeared...]

...I ruined my clothes.

[That's about as much of a non-answer as you can get, but. It also explains the sparkly, ribbon-y pile of fabric sitting in the corner, and why Namazuo's still in a bath robe.]

[yaayaa]

[It's a non-answer, but. The lack of an answer is answer enough, in a way. Nakigitsune leans back against the couch, careful not to dislodge Namazuo's hand in doing so - he enjoys being able to feel things as well, after centuries of never being touched at all, and...there's a strange sort of comfort in knowing they're in your reach.]

...You can have mine.

[A fox print t-shirt for Namazuo...He might give him one anyway, later, as a gift.]

[horsepoop]

[That wrings a laugh out of him; it's a startled sound, like he hadn't expected it to come out of his own mouth. But the thought of running around dressed like Naki, mask and all... it makes him smile and breaks his heart all at the same time.]

You don't have to do that. [It's not a refusal, but he doesn't want Naki to think he has to go out of his way or anything. This is enough. Just being close is enough.]

[yaayaa]

[He can't help tilting his head back to stare at that laugh - did he say something funny? Is Namazuo a little happier?

It's difficult to tell.

He falls silent again, and reaches for another candy to offer his cousin.]

[horsepoop]

[There's a long pause as Namazuo hesitates, staring at the candy. That alone is a sign that everything isn't okay, not really--but should he tell Naki that? He doesn't want to burden him, but he doesn't want to keep secrets, either.

Well, he can't hide it forever. It wore off the first time, but... who knows how long this will last?]

I can't unwrap it. [Shifting, he shows Naki his other, glitchy hand. He could, technically, but it would be a struggle, and Namazuo doesn't want to make Naki feel bad for a kind gesture.]

[yaayaa]

[Ah.

Naki's gaze fixes on that hand - his eyes don't widen, what can be seen of his face doesn't so much as twitch - he just stares, for a moment. Stares at the candy....quietly unwraps it, and offers it again.

He doesn't know what's wrong with Namazuo's hand, doesn't know how to fix it...but that's okay, right? He'll get better eventually, somehow. Haruji will fix it, or it'll fade away like so many other things in this strange world. And he's happy to help his cousin until then. (Though to be honest, he'd be petting Namazuo right now if he could reach from his seat down here...)

Whether Namazuo can be fixed in the first place isn't really a question.]

[horsepoop]

[Oddly enough, the arm doesn't even bother Namazuo that much. The same thing had happened when he'd first arrived, and it had taken care of itself after a while. It stands to reason that this will, too.

It's just--however long it lasts, it will be a reminder. A reminder of the pain he'd caused his loved ones, no matter how good a reason he'd had for sacrificing himself. A remind that once again, he hadn't been as strong as he'd wanted.

But those are thoughts for another time. When he's alone again, in his room, with nothing but the flickering lights of machinery for company. For now, he can just be grateful.]

Thank you.

[It's quiet, but meaningful. He takes the sweet, but it's so much more than that. Thank you for helping me. Thank you for not being disappointed. Thank you for being here.]