isleofavalon | put the petal to the metal 🌷🍃 (catch-all)

Teh... [ It's the same as last year, pouring rain that's too sour for Rosho's plants outside and turns Sasara's mood the very same. An endless patter of water against the windows that drowns out the sound of the TV in the afternoon, he just turns it off eventually. Rei doesn't seem to trouble himself with it and made his workday at the Roost another long one.

In front of Rosho, the rain is a welcome excuse for Sasara's thoughtfulness, his restlessness—knowing that it'll pass makes half the difference. But the other half of it won't just come about. Sasara's contemplation, maybe it's being watered by the rain. After turning off the television, he sits up on the couch. Outside is gray, even if the sun stays up a little longer the clouds cover much of the sky, makes one's whole body feel like the evening is closer than it is. He stretches a little. ~~As a cat, arching his back like so felt even better, ya know.~~ ]

Rosho...? [ He's got to be rummaging about in the kitchen, somewhere. ]

[ Just because the saying goes "April showers bring May flowers" doesn't mean it has to actually rain. It does at least mean Rosho's new garden won't need to be watered, but he wouldn't choose that over sacrificing Sasara's usual energetic mood to the dower, depressed silence he always falls into when the rain comes by. Even with the TV on in the background and the sounds of him fussing about in the kitchen, the house feels far too quiet, and its so out of place. Rosho can only hope that a special meal with an extra dessert might put a spring back in Sasara's step for a moment, at least enough to take his mind off of the weather and the unpleasant memories that come with it.

If only he could decide on what to make tough. Rosho's so occupied looking through the cupboard and the fridge that he doesn't notice the lack of noise from the TV anymore. Its only when he hears Sasara's voice that he snaps back to attention. ]

What is it? Are ya hungry already?

[ Maybe he should just indulge for the dreary day and order something for delivery. This seems like one of those days where maybe he shouldn't take the time to cook. ]

[ There are definitely better puns for May, it's a shame Sasara isn't putting any down on paper, ain't it. MAY-be it's too quiet cause'a that...!

It's not all there's to it, though. Sasara's thoughtfulness might not have come accompanied by so much silence if it weren't for the weather, but he would have kept rolling it over in his mind this way and that. ]

A-ah... not really. [ Even though he'd just been the one to break up the air in here, as quickly as Rosho replies it's like he stumbles into the conversation. That ain't at all his quick tongue. The dour, gray skies might make up a good excuse for it without pointing at that, but Sasara has the reason he knows it to be in front of his inner eye; he's between staying on the track he started on and swerving off already.

His pause is way too long for someone who comes up with quick quips! ] Say... well... [ Ahem, but just like forcing a joke, it's bad. ] Err, about Ichiro showing up here, some time ago...

[ He's so quiet and pensive, he doesn't even have the usual energy for his jokes and quips. Sasara probably just came in here for company. Rosho can't blame him for being so clingy. Well, suppose take-out is the answer to his question. There's no reason for him to be meandering about in the kitchen thinking so hard about this meal when Sasara's the one that needs this attention the most. Rosho's not been one about spoiling him, but ever since he learned about this trauma and he has to experience it everytime it rains, it gets harder and harder to say no to the idea.

Just as Rosho closes the fridge and starts to reach for his phone in his back pocket to make a call, he freezes, not at all expecting the sudden change in subject. And immediately he panics. Did Ichiro tell Sasara about the conversation they had? Did he tell him he mentioned Samatoki to Rosho? No, that doesn't seem like something he'd do, but... he doesn't know. And all he can do is assume just like he always does. But he can't panic. Calm down. Maybe it's not about that.

Hopefully its not about that.

Rosho turns around and feigns some mild curiosity. ]

Yeah? What about it?

[ He oughta be taking some time to enjoy being pampered, rather than pulling that sorta affection out of Rosho's nose like some hair. Alas. And if Sasara had his wits ~~and quips~~ about him he might notice his partner's unrest easily. Like so, though: ]

Ya see– [ He scratches his head like he's pulling his thoughts up by the roots of his hair. About Ichiro, to start... ] I mentioned some about knowing him back in the day, in Ikebukuro, yeah? [ And he'd done his best to keep that talk short and vague...! Ahem. ]

When he snuck into the TV studio to talk about someone from our past.

[ Where's he taking this, talking about Nemu-chan!? But like he waits for Rosho to pick up the story he doesn't even know, Sasara pauses again. ]

[ This is feeling more and more surreal by the moment. Rosho's paranoia is through the roof, but there's also an unfortunate amount of frustration in him as well. Years of silence, years of not saying a single thing about what happened during their time apart, and he wants to talk about this now? What even brought this on? He wants to yell at him. He even wants to just ignore him out of spite. But Rosho knows he can't do any of those things, because he's been wanting this conversation for so long, and if Sasara can finally trust him to the degree that he can finally tell him about his time in Tokyo then Rosho couldn't possibly deny him that opportunity. ]

So it was when you were in Tokyo that you met Ichiro. I see. [ He pretends to act dismissive even as he fidgets. His arms fold so he doesn't try to fuss with anything in the kitchen to distract him from his nerves. ]

Is there anything else, or is that it?

W-well... more like, not just Ichiro. [ He's confessed more to that Jyushi-kid, and the words just flowed...! Sasara is biting his tongue, but in a way like he's forcing the words off the tip rather than stopping them. Some more of his confession bursts out. ] That brat Kuko, Nagoya's leader, too.

[ Rosho's anxious wait and whiling, to know what happened in the time they'd been on opposite sides of the country, is finally finding its match. ] A-a-and not just him either!! [ In Sasara's mind, saying the name will make god-knows-what happen. It's like his good senses are dissolving with every word that bubbles over. ]

S-Samatoki Aohitsugi from Mad Trigger Crew– [ Ah, jeez!!! ] –he and I, we teamed up during that time!

[ The more he begins to learn about Sasara's past spent in Tokyo, the less Rosho thinks he should have forced him to talk about it. Even though he feels selfish for wanting the truth, wanting to know what happened to him during their time apart, he begins to think that maybe it really wasn't any of his business. Because as it turns out, Sasara did just fine. He met people. He made friends. He had company. He had this entire other life happening for him. He was probably happy. From what Ichiro told him... yeah, he most likely was. And wasn't that Rosho's own goal after their separation? Finding a new purpose for himself, a new goal, finding something he could be a part of. Finding his own happiness. By himself.

Its fine. Everything should be fine. This is what he wanted. After something so painful all he could ever hope for was that he and Sasara could move on.

And thats what Sasara did.

Samatoki Aohitsugi from Mad Trigger Crew– he and I, we teamed up during that time!

Rosho's silent as he takes it all in. He supposes he finally did it. He got that last piece of a puzzle he hasn't been able to solve for years. Like when he gets stuck on a crossword he can't figure out. Its done now.

He feels– ]

You said you couldn't have another partner, other than me.

[ It hurts. ]

You lied.

( whoops continuéd )

legendary cosplay ⚔️
( Sasara is dressed up like so, thanks to Feldspar, and into KotRE❗️ While he dragged Rosho and Rei along as not only his rap divison teammates but also his raid party—or, at least, he tried to—feel free to find him any place at the convention~ Reply with anything that strikes you, PM, or find me at

nyaruhodo )

panic at the disco 😱
[ He's got kind of a penchant for heading into trouble rather than out—whatever Sasara says is his middle name—even with that orc barreling into the crowd...!? W-well, he's dressed for adventure! The Sage's weapon is a staff to aid his spell crafting and he's got just a few weak melee attacks in the game. Err, plus, it's just about to turn back into whatever he had on hand, come midnight.

The magic in KotRE ain't the same as what's he's got in this kind of world, either. Yet, he yells for that big oaf to turn around. ]

Oi!! They've got music but it ain't like we need an orc-chestra, don't 'cha think!? [ A-ah!? His staff's turned back into the hypnosis microphone– and right as that guy is stomping over...! ]

REI!! [ Even though Sasara yells like they're a mile apart, they're in the same room and, in fact, so close that once again he's shaking himself against the old man's more steady form rather than moving his shoulders so much as a millimeter. ]

Old man, [ Unstoppable force, immovable object!? ] ya oughta know, ya know! [ Ahem!! Where Rosho is, of course! That's all Sasara's been going on about for the last—very loud—5 or 10 minutes, some such. The DotsuHouse isn't usually so lively at this hour. ]

[In normal circumstances Rei would be more perturbed, or perhaps amused, about getting used as an anchor and losing his hearing to Sasara's howls, but this time he's too preoccupied by the chilling seep of comprehension.

Sasara has been making an enormous racket ever since the moment they got home from the Roost. First it was his usual noisy greeting to Rosho, but upon hearing no answer from their early-to-bed third teammate.... well. The house is nearly upside-down at this point.]

Whoa, there. How am I supposed to do anything with you shaking me around like that? [Sasara isn't shaking him around, but that's beside the point. Any banter at all is enough to put off-- even for just a moment longer-- having to deliver his somber hypothesis on Rosho's whereabouts.]

Our Sensei isn't the type to just walk off. [Rei retrieves his phone from his pocket, pointedly ignoring Sasara as he uses Iris to pull up his datasheets. ] And there hasn't been any activity on his bank accounts. I'll search the nearby houses' outdoor security camera footage if you really want me to, but....

[But...]

[ He ain't the type, that's just it... fighting some monster foolishly, and even when he struggled on stage, Rosho never ran out. Maybe Rei's spinning it like some conspiracy in the moment, or at least it's what Sasara hears briefly before he realizes where the sentence sentence ends and the truth of the situation begins.

Fortunately, he's stopped rattling Rei's brain and old bones, but the reason for it is grim, some understanding that's set in without Sasara seeking it, and even as he tries to fend it off. ] Maybe he's somewhere–!

[ Suppose, folks around here come and go. Whatever the real workings of this place are, he's gathered as much over the last year. His grip on Rei's shoulders has quietly turned into curling his fingers into the fabric of his shirt. Holding on. As if. ]

Rei, what you're saying...

[Rei sighs. For all the times he's delivered bad news with a smile, this isn't one of them.

He pockets his phone, looking down at Sasara's stricken expression with a grim one of his own. They both know where Rosho's gone. Does he even have to come out and say it? He'll skip the obvious.]

...He's safer that way. Being home.

[ Maybe... but what about everything that's happened here!? Even if Rei knows more than half of it, Sasara is good at keeping secrets too. ]

Old man, I–I... [ Even better at harboring regrets? ] I only just told him about everything that happened, back in Ikebukuro, ya know...

You did, did you.

[ah... so that's it. What misfortune, he thinks, to have gone out on.]

What'd he say?

Rosho, he– [ Even though Sasara finally said his own piece, guilt bubbles up. ] He said everything he could have, ya see.

[ You, you didn't need me, for any of that... ]

Rei... whatever ya said, about it being me who's holding the two of us back. I got it in that moment. [ While talking too much, he's never said enough. ] Up until, I thought what happened didn't matter and that it would'a been enough for me to decide.

[ And even if Rei knows some—a lot more—he oughta tell him too. Sasara inches his toes over the edge of that cliff, but suddenly it crumbles away under his feet. His fists white-knuckled against Rei's chest, he's literally holding on.

It should be me. ] He apologized...! [ What not just breaks but shatters his voice is a sob, full of everything Sasara wants to say and plain too much at the same time. ]

Sasara...

[Rei frowns pensively, watching the little comedian fall apart. Rosho apologized? For what, leaving Sasara to his own devices in Tokyo? So Rosho's still plumbing the depths of his self deprecation... and Sasara is sick with guilt. It didn't have to turn out like this. And with Rosho now out of the picture for who knows how long, the pair separated again...

Pathetic, gentle little hearts. Rei's got work to do yet.]

Come here. [Stupid, sweet, stubborn boy. Rei collects Sasara into his arms, guides them to the couch to sit down.] Come here.

[ Needless to say he lets him, not finding anything to stand against, and in that moment not having anyone but Rei in this world who'd know the story as well. Who'd team up with him, a friend, and more than. Ya see... for everything that happened in the past year or so...

They'd teetered on the edge of splitting up, all three, of having an abandoned past catch up in long strides. After all that, Sasara never thought it'd happen after coming clean. Never, that he'd have more to say after confessing that much. ]

Rei... I-I was gonna... [ The whole point of it, really– ] Since we could in this place...

[Ah, being cried on. It's been a long time. Such a normal human expression of emotion, of the body regulating its own internal processes... and yet Rei finds himself disquieted. He's never enjoyed tears. And he's seen a lot of things from Sasara over the years of knowing him (of knowing of him), but never this.]

You were gonna what?

[He has an inkling of what Sasara's working up to... but he still has to ask.]

[ It's his character, that he ain't much about tears either. Suppose it's too much of a character. ]

E-eh... maybe, with the way ya are about your relations, ya don't think– [ That it's worthwhile to even think about—? Then again, Sasara can only assume so much. Whatever Rei went through before their trio joined up, ya see, those Buster Bros didn't spring outta nowhere.

But he's not up to quips after all. Crying on someone... Sasara pulls away from Rei's chest, but doesn't lift his head any; a sigh on which his breath shakes and shivers. ]

I-I was gonna propose...

[Sasara....]

Got some shitty timing.

[The words are harsh, but Rei's tone is soft. It's all he says for a while, just looking down at Sasara's bowed head. Being miserable doesn't suit him... But the half-finished quip he struggled to deliver wasn't any better.

This isn't a problem Rei can solve for him. (As much as Rei hates to admit it, such a feat is out of his reach for now.) Still...

Rei cups Sasara's cheek, wiping the fresh tear track away with a calloused thumb. He tilts his team leader's head up, just enough to catch his gaze.]

...It won't be your last chance.

[ He oughta hit the old man ~~weakly~~ for that. But it ain't that Rei's wrong about it, nor that Sasara can say much else. He agrees, but without a nod or much of any gesture. That moment stays for a while, really, it seems forever until Rei takes his face in his hands.

Offering that sorta comfort, even if he's out of practice Rei can't deny that he's got some experience. Now too, smart words remain stuck in Sasara's throat, though. His eyes stay dry, but some feeling wells up instead as Rei holds his gaze. Mastermind and all, or maybe it's just plain wanting it to be that way... For now he's gotta take it.

It's just that, this time, he's the one who's staying behind. ]

Rei— [ The breath Sasara heaves, to say that, suppose it's just the two of them for now or even "Okay", the words that ride on it are something else. ]

About when I went to Tokyo, or more like when I left again...

Uh huh?

[Rei knows. He knows what happened those years ago. When it comes to the play-by-play, Rei has the events memorized.

Still, hearing it straight from the boy himself will be new.]

You got somethin' [else] to confess?

Just sorta...

[ Maybe—Sasara thinks just for a moment—there's a better time and place for this one. But after everything that he'd just spilled, that he told Rosho and still wanted to tell him, more just seeps out. Suppose, the time is now and the place right here; after all he's been holding onto this ever since finding out the microphones were Rei's creation. ]

I didn't wanna tell Rosho, [ No, nothing like that, after saying he wouldn't keep any more secrets like it– ] Or it's that I still couldn't, ya know? The day I split up with Samatoki, I've been thinking about it for a while. [ Try ever since. Now it's not just Rei's hands on his cheeks keeping his head upright, looking at the man. ]

He ain't in this place, but ever since ya said about the mics... W-well, I wanna know something. [ And he believes Rei has the answer. ] Did I get made to hurt him like that?

Hypnotized...?

[ah.... of course. Frankly, it's about time he wondered. Rei brushes back Sasara's bangs, then drops his hands.

He can't exactly lie. Sasara will find out, and Rei's hurt him enough. And the other teams involved--they know by now, don't they? It will come out one way or another. The damage is done-- so he can confirm this much.]

...Probably. The girls have that capability.

[ Suspicions confirmed are plenty, but the relief ain't much. All he really feels is that he stops holding his breath at Rei's short answer. "Probably..." is probably an incomplete sorta answer. Sasara has got that lesson learned, though. ]

Ah... so Kuko too, yeah? [ However, for the time being he's not about messing with him and Ichiro either.

Sasara shifts, taking his seat a little away from Rei on the couch, then no longer looking as he leans back against the headrest. Like the faint chalk marks on some brand-new suit, something he bought after fleeing Osaka... Rosho and Samatoki; the pattern Sasara tries to trace is obviously the same, but the lines are all faded. ]

Samatoki and I, we made an all right team, ya know.

Edited 2022-06-22 14:46 (UTC)

Uh huh.

[Rei watches Sasara go, expressionless... then looks away. They're sitting together, side by side, but the conversation is easier without eye contact.]

Too good of one. Heard you were real delinquents. Girls got fussy, I bet.

E-eh... [ Getting called a delinquent by this old scam artist—! ] We just ran into some trouble out there, it's all self-defense.

[ Ahem... he'd tell that to himself too. In the corner or Rei's eye, Sasara's started fumbling for something in his pockets, even knowing he wouldn't find it. He's only got a lighter. Too nicely made to have been bought on a whim, a couple months back, though. ]

...Let me bum one off ya, yeah?

[If he's honest, Rei expected more pushback. More puzzling over the existence of a hypnosis ability. Unraveling of implications. He lined up rebuttals to predicted questions. But of course... that's not what happens. Maybe it doesn't matter? Maybe Sasara already got what he'd wanted?

He expels a breath, not quite a laugh.]

Rosho's been gone less than an hour and you're already smoking in the house?

[Still, he reaches into his pocket for the pack, shakes one out to hand over. Rei's no stranger to hypocrisy, but he can let this one go for now.

...]

...You're going to be fine.

[So don't backslide too far, stupid.]

[ Probably jot those answers down somewhere, all ain't said. But for now Sasara can't think of putting his head in anything else. It's just an hour, still it'll hit. And he remembers what he got like back when, old habits do come back to ya easily.

Maybe he leans into it. A thin line of smoke climbs up from the end of the cigarette. Though, more than taking a drag, it's another sigh.

He gets what Rei says, and even what he doesn't put out loud... ]

Yeah...

put the petal to the metal 🌷🍃 (catch-all)

April

the confession ... part 1 / glossophobia

waddles my way over here finally...

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CameCon / open

the confession ... part 1.2!?😵‍💫 / groundzeroes

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