Two ota, one closed

[powertotearer]

Who: Eiji Hino (powertotearer), you, and maybe that Ankh guy (notsogreedy) too
When: About the end of Event 33
Where: Around town
What: Event shenanigans meet plot shenanigans
Rating/Warning: None so far

---

1.

Eiji's been having fainting spells lately, ever since the implants first started shorting out. He knows this, and he's promised to stay away from heights until they resolve themselves.

But the problem is, the safest way he can get to work is by crossing the sky bridges.

As soon as he notices the vertigo start, he starts reaching out, trying to find a wall to grab onto. But it's happening too fast, and he drops before he can completely catch himself--he's slumped over the edge of the wall, losing consciousness, and he definitely needs help.


2.

If you're in the gardens at any point, you might see Eiji frantically stomping out small fires around him.

Unfortunately, that only seems to promote it. Seems like someone isn't used to his element flaring up like this.

"Stop, stop! Just stop, please!"

As the grass and flowers start burning more, he looks desperately for anyone to help.

"Water, please? Someone? I promise, I'm not trying to do this, I just want to put it out!"


3. Closed to Ankh

He's used to nightmares, as much as he hates to admit it. Most of the time, he can deal with them, even if he wakes up in the middle of the night.

A dream so good that he wakes up crying? That's new, and he buries his face into a pillow, hoping he doesn't wake up Ankh and have to explain himself.

How exactly would he explain it?

Comments

[powertotearer]

"I don't know."

No, wrong answer, and he knows it. When he tries again, you can hear the cringe in his voice.

"Well, what I mean is...you don't mind the way I look, right? And any of the other problems going on with me? I'm not...I'm not making you uncomfortable, am I?"

[notsogreedy]

If anything, that just gets an incredulous look. He was disturbed by the purple eyes at first for good reason, but he's long since gotten used to it.

"Why should I?"

[powertotearer]

"I don't know."

This time, it's genuine, and he starts to land on a rooftop.

"The dream got me thinking about it again. I feel a little better about everything, but just the thought of going home, and everyone seeing..."

[notsogreedy]

Ankh follows, landing near where Eiji does and letting his wings fold away. At least now he has an idea of what Eiji's worrying about.

"I got used to it. Why wouldn't they?" Really, the person most bothered by all of that is Eiji.

[powertotearer]

"I don't know."

The third time he's said it now, and it's resigned.

"I guess I'm just nervous. I don't know how to, well, to adjust back."

[notsogreedy]

"Obviously," he scoffs back. Ankh can only be nice for so long. There's a slight pause as he looks at him and adds a bit more seriously.

"The only person who's bothered by that stuff is you."

[powertotearer]

"I know."

He deactivates the belt and does his very best to stay standing.

"I guess...the last time I tried to go back to anywhere I called home, after something bad happened to me, it didn't go well."

[notsogreedy]

"Your parents?"

He's still lacking details on what exactly happened there, but he doesn't need them. Eiji had thought the way Ankh was using him was better. That says plenty.

"You already know the rest of them won't be like that."

[powertotearer]

Eiji starts to nod, but it suddenly makes him very dizzy. Probably not a good idea to do that right after using a combo.

"I know that. It's just...bad memories keep coming up."

[notsogreedy]

Well, that much at least he can understand. That wave of dizziness shows on Eiji's face and for a second Ankh isn't sure whether he's going to fall on him again. In all honesty, he's surprised Eiji's still standing, considering.

"You can sit down, you know."

[powertotearer]

"Yeah, that might be a good idea."

He lands just a little too hard and winces.

"At least I'm still awake. That's good, right?"

[notsogreedy]

Ankh sits down beside him.

"Well, that was the point."

Though he wouldn't have been the slightest bit surprised by Eiji passing out whenever he decided to land.

[powertotearer]

Eiji starts to lean Ankh's way. It's accidental, to start anyway. But when he ends up completely leaned against him, it's actually really nice, so if Ankh doesn't mind it, he'll stay.

"This really was nice. Thanks."

[notsogreedy]

He's a little surprised when Eiji leans against him, and he's not quite sure whether that was intentional or not, but he doesn't mind, either way.

"Better than laying around not sleeping."

[powertotearer]

"Mm-hmm."

He's much more comfortable now, and he's starting to feel less uneasy about the dream.

"Thanks for listening to me about everything."

[notsogreedy]

His only reply to that is a vague nod. He's never really known what to do with Eiji thanking him for things.

[powertotearer]

Okay, so Ankh's fine with this. He was okay with Eiji hugging him before. So the next step...

"Hey, Ankh? Is it okay if we, well, if we kiss? I mean, it's okay if you don't want to! I just thought..."

Yeah. You handled that well, Eiji.

[notsogreedy]

There are a few reactions here. Surprise, interest, annoyance... the latter not at the suggestion but at the insecure babbling that followed. So when he just leans in and kisses him without saying anything further, it's half because he liked the idea and half to keep the idiot from talking himself out of it.

[powertotearer]

Oh.

Okay.

This...this was nice. A bit nicer than he'd expected, really. And when it was over, he was speechless, but definitely happy.

There, Ankh. Eiji has shut up.

[notsogreedy]

It takes a second for the bit of frustration behind it to fade, but then... yes, this is enjoyable. How humans ever decided in the first place that smushing their lips together should be a sign of affection is beyond him, but it's certainly not unpleasant.

And there might be a slight smirk as he pulls away, mostly at Eiji's reaction. A way to make him quiet and happy at the same time. Ankh will take that.

[powertotearer]

It takes a few minutes for Eiji to say anything again.

"That...that was really nice."

Admittedly, he's only stating the obvious, but it's something.

Another minute later, he manages to grin, admitting, "I guess I was worried about nothing, huh?"

[notsogreedy]

It is a truly obvious statement, but he nods in reply because... well, it was. The next comment earns a slight huff that's almost amused.

"You do that."

[powertotearer]

"Sorry."

And there he goes again.

"I mean, I know I can't really help it, but if it's bothering you, I'm sorry."

[notsogreedy]

And now he's apologising stupidly again. And yes, it is bothersome, but he doesn't want apologies for Eiji being Eiji. ...as if he hasn't said that enough times already.

So maybe the best answer to that isn't words. He has a new trick for making Eiji shut up, after all.

lalala sometime later~

[notsogreedy]

The dream itself--or dreams, as it seems to be, because it really was too much to hope that they wouldn't last--didn't bother Ankh all that much. It's not that they don't affect him, but when he wakes up, he exists, and Eiji is there with him, and it's enough.

The side effect of all this that he didn't think to expect is how those dreams affect other people. Not just Eiji, but practically everyone. Everything normal on the surface, but underneath it all, a pervasive desire to go home or to be with people who aren't here that probably no one but Ankh even sees. The more he's been out and about, the more obvious it is, and the more it resonates, and it's for that exact reason that he's presently alone in his apartment attempting to ignore the world.

Well, not quite alone. There's a hawk laying very comfortably in his lap, thoroughly enjoying the feeling of fingers ruffling through her feathers.

"You came from somewhere, too." An observation, and one he's made before, but never bothered to think much about. If the zoo has real animals, then they must have been brought in from somewhere just like the people here were. Gavina is a species he recognises, so she's from Earth, or something very similar. Given the past few days, he can't help wondering exactly where and when, though the comment prompts nothing but a mildly perplexed look from the bird. It's not as if he expected anything different. "You don't seem to miss it, though. I guess you're lucky."