closed;

[grylls]

🧙 WHO: Riou and Jyuto
⚔️️ WHAT: Riou is sorry and attempts to make it up to Jyuto by giving him some private time.
🕒 WHEN: Early March
🗺️ WHERE: Jyuto's place
⚠️ WARNINGS: Riou is a survivalist and a soldier and a lot of his identity revolves around that, so there's a chance that discussion of hunting or war may crop up as always. (It's not in the main post but it comes up, it's who he is.) Will update as necessary with anything else.

[ Riou's been thinking for a while now that Jyuto hasn't really forgiven him for what happened while he was a rabbit. Even if it was simply a case of Riou being overzealous in attempting to demonstrate his skill as a means to reveal his identity, it had only convinced Samatoki and left Jyuto more convinced than ever that it couldn't possibly be Riou.

Riou would never hurt him, after all, and knowing that Jyuto felt that way had been cause for alarm. Perhaps Jyuto had long since forgiven him and Riou hadn't understood the subtle social cues, but to Riou, he hasn't done anything to compensate for his behavior. As such, he has planned a special private night for Jyuto filled with his favorite things.

When Jyuto returns home from his daily routine, he'll notice that there is both sound and strange scents wafting into the main room from the bathroom. As he approaches closer, the sound is clearly music-- a soft, slow-paced rap song ideal for a relaxing drive or a moment of quiet. When he peeks through the bathroom door, he'll see Riou taking the temperature of a milk bath filled with rose petals. There's a TV tray next to the bath with a glass of wine and a small plate with various cheeses. The room is also lit with a number of candles posted across the sink and bath surfaces, creating a dim and romantic feeling.

It's the kind of thing that he thought Jyuto would enjoy after a long day, and something to show Jyuto that his teammate is sorry. :( It's not his fault if the bougie stuff Jyuto likes makes this look like some kind of seduction... ]

Comments

[inthebuilding]

[ Why is his door unlocked? Jyuto cautiously makes his way inside. He hears water running in his bathroom, but nothing else to indicate the identity of his guest until— there they are. He sees that Riou's shoes have been neatly placed in the doorway. While it certainly isn't his longterm home, Jyuto still appreciates that Riou at the very least respects the carpet.

He figures that maybe the river is too cold today and that Riou wants to enjoy a hot bath instead. That's just about the only excuse he can make for this situation, anyway. The display he ends up witnessing, however, looks more like a fantasy suite scene from The Bachelor. What is he even doing? ]

Hello, Riou. [ Jyuto greets him. His lips pull into a tight, awkward smile. ]

[grylls]

[ Riou sits up from taking the water temperature when he hears Jyuto's voice. He's doing his best to keep it regulated while he's waiting with an immersion water heater rod that he sometimes uses when he wants a hot bath in the woods. ]

Welcome home, Jyuto.

[ He turns the immersion heater off and stands up to get a towel to wipe his hands on, but doesn't until it's okay to turn the immersion heater off. He shouldn't get in while it's in so he doesn't get burned by touching it, after all. Once the heater is out, he dries his hands with the towel and sets the heater on top of it on the sink. ]

I apologize for last month.

[ That's his explanation for This. ]

[inthebuilding]

[ Last month? Jyuto doesn't register what Riou's even apologizing for, mostly because he's so caught up in trying to figure out what he wants to do with his time as of late. The other members of MTC already seem to be working... ]

You owe an apology? [ Yes, the rabbit incident happened. Despite that, Jyuto seems to have credited Riou's misdemeanor to his animal-brained state. ]

[grylls]

[ Riou isn't. 'u' He only needed his job for as long as it would take to afford his survival supplies. He's done and already moved out to the woods, he's only keeping his inn room for free storage. ]

My behavior as a rabbit. I did not mean to cause you to think I would ever attack you. It was intended as a display of skill, not aggression.

[ He stands up, fully facing Jyuto now as he no longer has his hands occupied with the heater or the bath, and formally bows. He's half-American, but he's also half-Japanese and knows how to make a proper apology. ]

Please accept my apology.

[inthebuilding]

[ Jyuto isn't so used to apologies on a personal level. While he's familiar with them from responsible colleagues in the work place as a sergeant, it's virtually unheard of for him to get them from Samatoki, the person he's arguably closest to anymore.

The fact that he isn't sure how to handle them outside of a work scenario due to this is apparent when Riou bends forward to apologize. Jyuto can't even look at him straight on, and his immediate reaction is to try and brush it aside.

Riou isn't wrong, though. Jyuto had certainly thought that the rabbit version of himself had been aggressing him. ]

—There's no need to apologize for that, now. The explanation is appreciated nonetheless. [ He remembers how embarrassed he'd felt when it really had turned out to be Riou in a rabbit's body. Jyuto doesn't like when Samatoki smears things in his nose, even when he's right. ]

So long as my past logic stands true, I suppose. I wasn't wrong in thinking you wouldn't attack me? [ It's not needed reassurance, but it's still desired. Jyuto wants some butt pats after Riou turning out to be Riou had made Samatoki look so much more right about everything back then. ]

[grylls]

I would not attack you.

[ It's just the reality of the situation. It doesn't need to be a means to feed Jyuto's despite to be right, it's just a fact. Would he subdue Jyuto if for some reason it became necessary for his own safety? Yes. But he would not do so in a means that would cause him permanent harm. He would never use a weapon against him. It is at Riou's very nature to protect his comrades, not harm them, even down to his mic ability.

And Jyuto in particular he feels a specific desire to follow, not go against. Even in moments of frustration. He stands up straight.]

Though I intend on educating you in regards to certain rabbit species. 45rabbit should be capable of telling the difference between rabbit genders and species and not call a muscular Flemish Giant fat and pregnant.

[ Thanks....... ]

[inthebuilding]

[ Oh, right. Riou remembers every argument Jyuto had thrown at Samatoki to try and prove himself right before. Jyuto doesn't like hearing those points recounted, because he's pointedly aware of how wrong they'd been. Isn't it enough for him to stew on in his free time? He frowns, eyes looking elsewhere. He isn't sure if he should be preparing to get in the bath or what, either. ]

You were just big.

[ This is so awkward. ]

—I'm not so much of an animal person.

[grylls]

I'm aware.

[ Riou isn't pointing it out to drive the point home, even if it definitely would've made Riou feel better not to be called a big eater and pregnant after all his hard work. Rather, he genuinely just seems interested in showing Jyuto things that are interesting to him.]

For the record, if you touch the area south of the anus on a rabbit, a male will have a protrusion under the skin and fur. I didn't think it would be appropriate to demonstrate at the time. Perhaps we should devise a code for any and all magical transformations in the future for just the two of us.

[inthebuilding]

[ Riou’s anus as a rabbit is still Riou’s anus. He can see why he’d think it inappropriate... ]

Maybe a sequence of things. The reason I was so difficult to convince was because some of the animals here are much smarter than the ones from our world. For all I could’ve known, you may have been someone else’s familiar.

[ He doesn’t like that he was wrong... ]

We can decide that sequence now. While we’re thinking about it.

[ Sighing, Jyuto begins to loosen his tie and undress himself from the shirt down. He isn’t bothered by Riou’s company. ]

[grylls]

I understand.

[ Jyuto is intelligent. He can't just accept things without question- it's what makes him a good detective. Unfortunately, it also makes things much more complicated the more possible solutions there are to a problem. Riou moves to take a seat on the floor next to the bath, not bothered by sitting on the ground. Jyuto is a clean guy, he's sure it's fine. If Jyuto wants him to stay, it's more than fine. It isn't as if he hasn't seen a naked man before. ]

It will have to be non-verbal and possible without thumbs.

[inthebuilding]

[ Writing out a specific, nonsensical phrase might be good. But without a writing utensil of some sort, what then?

Jyuto lowers into the bath, cloudy water and rose petals settling around him when he sits. His knees and shoulders are all that sit above the surface, and he removes his glasses since they grow foggy with steam. ]

It can't be too simple. Nothing some other animal might do by coincidence, but it also can't be too difficult, in case we're lacking material.

[ He sets his glasses on the ledge of the tub, frowning. Jyuto squints, but not at anything in particular. ]

— It feels wrong to get in a bath without showering off first.

[grylls]

[ Ah.. Riou hadn't thought of that. He bathes outside, so it's not like there's a process of showering before he gets into the lake. He stares at the water, lips turning down in a slight frown, thinking. ]

Do you want to drain it and shower? It may take some time, but I can draw a new bath.

[ ...It's an entire bathtub full of milk that he had to heat, you know?? It was a lot of effort, and that one statement has him frustrated with himself that he didn't consider something like that, undermining his entire effort. Riou isn't used to not sticking the landing with things, and he finds himself more frustrated now than he had been when he hadn't apologized. It feels often like even if he can become an expert at so many things, the one thing he struggles to get right is other people. It's even worse a feeling when it's Jyuto he messes up with, since Jyuto holds him in such high esteem. ]

[inthebuilding]

[ Jyuto is quick to retract what he's said. He's observant and able to read the air, and while strangers might find Riou's expression changes subtle, to Jyuto, it's quite noticeable a difference. The milk sloshes around him as he moves suddenly, straightening his posture and then pulling his knees up to his chest. He shakes his head— ]

No, I didn't mean it like that. [ Because there's nothing wrong with it. It isn't as if the two of them are in Japan anymore. The bathing culture doesn't carry. ] I only remember we're somewhere else every now and again. Having you and Samatoki here makes this all feel like some bizarre vacation.

[ He relaxes, visibly less tense because he doesn't want Riou to think too hard about it. ]

Thank you, Riou. [ Jyuto hadn't said it sooner, and he doesn't want to seem ungrateful. ] Running this bath for me must've taken quite some time— it's a shame there are no bath houses.

[ Or rather, maybe there are, but Jyuto has yet to notice them... ]

[grylls]

[ The fact that Jyuto notices is one of the things that Riou likes about him. Riou doesn't particularly entitled to other people noticing his feelings. He's a soldier; ultimately, they don't matter, so long as he is able to complete his mission. The fact that he's given Jyuto his submission in many ways and Jyuto still takes care about his feelings, even when he doesn't express them well, means a lot to him.

A soft smile pulls to his lips in lieu of the act of kindness and change of attitude. Jyuto may not want others to realize it, but he is a very kind person. (At least to Riou.) ]

I haven't tried to location one. I'll look into it for the future.

[ They can take a bath together then. He would like that. ]