(closed)

[masakados]

Who: Naoki (masakados) & Yang (flaredo)
When: IC: 11/28, OOC: 3/06, forward-dated!
Where: a nice empty lot
What: idk some demons and some legs and stuff like that
Rating/Warning: None?!

[Naoki's starting to learn a few things about Yang the longer that he spends time with her. One of these things is that she seems to remember well even the things he thinks she says completely jokingly-- like how they talked about coaxing bellyrubs from one of his demons. How she's going to do that, he's not sure, but hey, there can't be any harm in letting her give it a shot if she's even a bit serious. Especially since he's here in case Yurlungur gets any ideas of trying to eat any magatsuhi.

Tearing his curious gaze away from the outfit she's switched to today, he props his hand on his hip.]

Since you dressed up and all, I could let you try it out. Buuuut, it's not too late to call it off either. [And they can get on to training! He looks again at her clothes, secretly admiring (where he's sure Yurlungur won't). It's different and fresh and er anyway back on track he's completely focused on the topic on hand.]

Comments

[masakados]

No.

After the Conception, after I was changed... It was just like I was another demon.

[And he remembers. Since you're not human anymore, he remembers Isamu saying. That's why he couldn't understand him? Him and his Reason? Chiaki thought he'd be fine with killing, just because he'd been changed? Hijiri had used him, Hikawa was simply another enemy, Yuko... he doesn't know what she'd been thinking.]

[flaredo]

[ She still doesn't understand why, why he'd changed, but more importantly--

There's a whole lot Yang doesn't like about this. ]

But you're not. I think I'm more vain than you are. You're not egotistical, you didn't try to chew on my magawhatsit, and what kind of demon offers himself as a heater?

[masakados]

[What had gone wrong? Was it because he couldn't do anything? He looks at Yang, his expression puzzled, before he gazes down at one of his palms, the marking on it.] Yeah.

I knew I was human. I didn't think I changed from who I was, even with this new body. Even if I had to do things I'd never had to, I tried to stay myself.

...I don't understand it either, Yang.

[Later on, perhaps he could've understood why they'd call him a demon. After what he'd had to do.]

[flaredo]

Well, then I think it's stupid that no one else got it.

[ Succinct, yes, but it's so obvious, how could anyone else not mention it? ]

[masakados]

[Naoki's expression softens and he steps closer to her. He moves to set his hands on her elbows; sorry about accidentally tugging you before, Yang.]

Heh, yeah. [He manages to smile about it, but not because it's any less painful; it's because Yang's saying what she is.]

But even if they didn't, I'm happy enough right now knowing you do. [Even if... Doubts swim at the back of his mind, pass through to the forefront. If she knew it all, would she still think the same?]

[flaredo]

[ Even his smile looks a little sad...

Yang sighs, remaining still underneath his palms. She can't even imagine how he would have felt, how he still feels about this. Blake, maybe, truly understood-- but she's the one here with Naoki right now, and the only thing she can really do is maybe not understand, but accept. ]

I don't see how 'Naoki is Naoki' is so hard to get.

[ It's an indignant mutter. ]

[masakados]

Maybe I should stick a sign on my chest.

[He's joking quietly, for her benefit as much as his own. If he thinks too long on it, he starts to sink down into dark thoughts and doubts.]

But, you know, I can bear it if I know there's even one other person out there who gets it. Well, that might be too simple of me.

[It doesn't erase it, but it makes it easier. Yang gets indignant, angry on his behalf. Who ever did that before? And while Futomimi may have understood, he's not here, he's already gone--]

[flaredo]

You could do with a few more, honestly... [ she shakes her head, still very much irritated. ]

But my mind's not going to change.

[masakados]

[Oddly, her irritation makes his chest feel hot with emotion, gratitude, warmth-- He laughs and rubs at her elbows soothingly.]

I didn't think you were the type to let your mind get changed easily.

[He feels a naive, clinging hope battling with persistent doubt that even if he told her someday, she might understand. Not now. He's too afraid to say it yet. But, maybe one day...]

[flaredo]

I'm not. [ It's said instantly, but Yang takes a few seconds to will away most of her ire. No use going home grumpy. ]

... You're okay, though?

[ He's trying to soothe her temper, she knows, but there's still concern when she meets his eyes. Even though he'd said one other person was enough... just how much has this hurt him? ]

[masakados]

Yeah. Right now, I'm okay.

[He can smile at her, meet her eyes, and mean it all, wanting for her to see that he's fine. He doesn't lie and say he's okay all the time, because there're few days that go by that he doesn't think of it...

But for now, he's good.]

Are you okay?

[flaredo]

I'm mad, but that's not your fault. And I'll be fine. [ she'd flap a hand if he wasn't still caressing(???) her elbows. ]

I bounce back quickly, remember?

[masakados]

[He's not caressing he's just like holding now... give him a moment and he catches himself, dropping his hands down.]

Yup, I remember. It's one of those things I kinda admire about you.

[He tips his head, a little let's get going? and turns slightly.]

[flaredo]

[ He's a lot more willing to do the physical contact thing than she originally would've guessed-- not a bad thing, though. ]

You-- [ And she moves to follow him, one eyebrow arched pertly. ] kinda?

[masakados]

[Naoki casts a look sidelong at her before clearing his throat quietly.]

...no, not just kinda.

[He got embarrassed halfway so he had to cover it up with a kinda.]

[flaredo]

[ ... Boys. ]

Okay, so a lot. You could've just said that.

[ And she's grinning as she trots ahead of him like a jerk. ]

[masakados]

{That's fine, he'll just follow along while she trots ahead and watch her hair. Until she gets too far, at least.]

Hey, I said that much. You got it fine in the end.

[Where's his praise!!]

[flaredo]

Women's intuition!

[ sure, it's all about that again. But she's also calling this over her shoulder. ]

[masakados]

That again?

[BUT YOU KNOW WHAT he's kicking off the ground in a jog after her.] You wanna get home that bad?

[flaredo]

No, I just felt like a change of pace.

[ and jogging will do that. ]

[masakados]

Hmmm.

It looked like you were planning on leaving me behind for a minute there.

[flaredo]

If I was planning on leaving you in the dust, you wouldn't even see me right now!

[masakados]

Good to know.

[He looks over at her with a raised eyebrow. He's used to jogging along places, though; it's not like he had many other modes of transportation in the Vortex World, aside from the Terminals.]

[flaredo]

It's good to get the heart beating a little faster, anyway! Or I really might be grumpier longer than I wanted to be.

[masakados]

... [It really bothers her, huh? Naoki laughs next to her, though it's barely a laugh at all, quiet as it is.

And then his speed raises so that he passes her, while throwing a glance back at her over his shoulder.] Then, I might have to go a little faster to really get my heart going.