15strangers | (no subject)

Entry tags:

*round 2,
*week 2

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WEEK 2

[The unfortunate death, and subsequent execution, has no doubt weighed on everyone's minds since. The dam has burst, and now, the idea that someone may kill another in this place is not just a possibility anymore. It is reality, and a very terrifying reality at that.

Yet, there is a strange side effect to the murder's aftermath. When the Titled go to sleep on Saturday evening, they will dream, even if they don't normally do so. When they wake up, their dream stays with them, and a thought comes to everyone. A realization.

Their dream had been a memory they lost. Now, they have it back, as if they had never lost it.

Nor is that the only change. They also feel just a little more confident in their power. Confident enough that they find that their ability has evolved to become stronger. Whether that's a good or a bad thing, well...

Soon enough, too, the Titled's phones start pinging, and when they open up their LIME app, they receive a simple message:]

Your Mall Map has been updated!

[And indeed, those who go to check the Food Court will find an elevator on the eastern end which leads to a brand new wing that had previously been obscured by the barrier.

Dio and Wake's information is also slightly different from before on the LIME app, but...maybe it's best not to think about it. Last week had been...disheartening.

Hopefully, this week will be better, right? Surely, this week, temptation won't win out again....right?

Well.

There's only one way to find out.

Welcome to Week 2, Titled.

There are thirteen strangers in this place.

This week's crab is Dungeness.]

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[ The twirling stops and he offers a small smile. ]

Thanks...

[ And, man, does he need that...

There's a short pause; there's something he's been noticing (how could he not, after all) and it's something he's feeling compelled to tease on. ]

So, leader... [ a playful grin ] Any plans for later?

[ Dinner, hanging out, etc... ]

[It feels strange to hear that from Akira, especially after having recently remembered calling him leader. It brings a slight flush to his face as he leans over to kiss Akira's cheek.]

We could see if there's anything worth watching in the video store.

[ The blush has that grin turning a bit more mischievous, and he actually turns his head last second to try stealing a kiss to the lips. Or, at the very least, to the detective's cheek in return.

With that, he pauses to take a sip of the coffee. ]

Sure thing. [ a softer smile ] Anything in particular you're hoping for?

[ Cleeeearly you're only into that crime drama stuff, right? ]

[He'll let Akira have that kiss to the lips, reaching up to brush gloved fingers through his hair.

He could pretend he wants to watch a crime drama, but really. He's past the point of trying to convince Akira his job is his hobby.]

I do have a fondness for action movies...

[ His smile turns fond as he nods, stealing one more kiss before he leans back a little, stretching. ]

Well, that works out perfectly, since that happens to be one of my favorite kinds.

[ A soft grin. ]

Hopefully we'll find something good.

If we don't, I'm sure we can find something else to do.

[ A glint enters his eyes. ]

Well, you do get pretty creative when it comes to finding ways to fight off boredom...

[Behave, Akira. Public.]

A necessary life skill, when you spend so much time with dull paperwork.

[He gives an exaggerated sigh.]

[ Hey! Not like anyone is really around right this second.

... Buuuut he isn't the kind of guy to not know when to take it down, at least??? He's giving a quiet laugh at the exaggerated sigh. ]

Back home, I'd usually just work on infiltration tools whenever things got too dull.... [ a thoughtful hum ] Or whenever my teacher created a distraction for me.

I'm afraid that's a luxury I don't have at the courthouse. If nothing else, Sae-san might skin me alive if she caught me slacking off.

[...Somehow, he manages to make the description of Sae's wrath sound fond.]

I really hope to meet this Sae-san of yours someday soon.

[ He's shifting in his seat so that one arm is draped across the back. The image of perfect posture, really. There's fondness in his gaze. ]

Does this lovely lady have a family name?

You haven't heard about her yet? Her full name is Sae Nijima. Makoto Nijima is her younger sister.

[ Something enters his eyes -- a clear sign of something between confusion... and frustration.

Makoto's sister...? He does remember feeling like he already knew her sister -- knew of her...

Goro actually started going to the cafe because of someone, but he hadn't been able to remember who that was, either. Now... Augh.

With a soft frown, he holds a blink and shakes his head. ]

Guess that explains something about those holes.

[ A soft sigh as he gives a gentle shrug. ]

No point trying to force it...

[He leans over to give Akira a kiss, running one hand gently through his hair.]

If it helps, I don't think you've interacted with her much. She doesn't go anywhere outside of work much, these days...

[ He will happily return that kiss, hand lifting to briefly rest on top of Goro's. ]

Workaholic?

Very much so. There have been times when I've asked her to eat with me when we've both been working late, and she's claimed to be too busy. There are even days where I'm fairly sure she doesn't even go home at all...

[ His expression softens a bit, a gentle smile resting on his lips. It's not directed at the words, but at the level of concern and thought towards this woman...

One hand rests gently against his boyfriend's face. ]

You really care a lot about her... and I'm sure those gestures mean a lot.

[ Hand not moving... ]

You still have a crush on her, huh?

[At that question, the look of concern on Goro's face abruptly shifts to one of discomfort and guilt. His first instinct is to lie, to claim that those feelings have been completely drowned out by his love for Akira...but he's not sure he could sell that one. Especially not to someone who knows him so well.]

I...I would never choose her over you. You don't need to worry about that.

[ O-oh...That's far from what he was going for with that, and yet it answered far more questions than he's had the chance to ask.

Well... the sigh he releases isn't one of total relief, but also not one of anything negative. A fond sort of exasperation, perhaps. ]

That wasn't a concern... [ with a thumb gently brushing over the skin ] ... but thank you.

[ He offers a warmer smile. ]

I'm pretty sure just about anyone could get feelings for more than one person at a time... It doesn't mean you're a bad person, Goro.

I don't want to insult you, by looking at someone else that way while we're dating. You don't deserve that uncertainty of what you really mean to me.

[ ... Please don't make that face?

A thoughtful look appears on his face for a moment. It's after a short pause, he slides his hand down to gently take his boyfriend's. He interlocks their fingers. ]

There's not even a little doubt in my mind how much you care.

[ He lifts that hand to his lips, kissing it. ]

Just because you care about two people in a similar way, doesn't mean you're comparing them. [ staring down at their hands ] It's not all that different from having more than one amazing friend.

[ There's a pause as he shifts in his seat a little, his gaze shifting to the floor. ]

Want an example?

[ Hopefully Goro doesn't mind that he's giving one without waiting for an answer. ]

The first friends I made were Ryuji, Morgana, and Ann. [ just going to ignore that he doesn't remember how... ] They've been there for me through a lot of things, and we've had each other's backs ever since the day we teamed up.

[ And now there's a calm, but serious look in his eyes as his gaze shifts back to Goro. He'll get on with the rest of the point in a bit, but he's gonna pause for something.

It's not a challenge; it's a real question: ]

Do you think I ever saw one of them as more important or valuable than the other two? [ or even: ] Do you think I see those three as more important than the members who joined later?

[He doesn't remember much of his time with the Phantom Thieves, but he does remember times he's run into them as a group. How close they'd all seemed...it's hard to forget, really, with how much he'd envied them.]

Of course not. But is that really an equal comparison, considering how many people use others they find attractive for personal pleasure, regardless of the feelings of those individuals or those of their romantic partner?

[He did use a very specific word for what his mother was to Shido...]

[ Without skipping a beat. ]

In the case of us, yeah. [ shaking his head. ] I'm talking about people in a relationship where everyone respects one another's boundaries and needs...

[ But... okay. He feels like he's getting somewhere with understanding this. His thumb brushes over the back of Goro's hand as he wields a dim, thoughtful expression. A slow breath in, he carefully considers his words... ]

Everything you said earlier makes it obvious all you're thinking about is my feelings... and that goes both ways, here.

[ A very gentle squeeze of his boyfriend's hand. ]

We're not everyone else... Especially not Shido.

Edited 2017-12-14 02:38 (UTC)

Heh...I don't really have much prior experience seeing that sort of relationship...

[It's part of why what he has with Akira is so important to him. He'd needed this proof that such connections really did exist.]

But...I do know that my feelings for Sae-san haven't changed, despite falling in love with you.

[A weak smile.]

So much for getting over a hopeless crush by dating someone else, huh?

[ He...

Well, there are a few things he's considering saying in response to the first part, only to find his mind making like a scratched record. There's a soft blink, and then his cheeks darken ever-so-slightly. ]

...

[ The last part actually has a quiet laugh slipping out, only to come out just a tiny bit louder than he'd intended. Funny how surprise can amplify things ever-so-slightly, even for him... His focus lately has been on... other things, so... ]

Not gonna leave anything for me to do first, huh?

[ There's a small, fond smile on his lips as he reaches to tug Goro into a kiss. There's a pause after their lips are parted just enough for him to quietly add: ]

I love you, too.

[ One more kiss is given, and then he pulls back to reach for the coffee, taking a sip of it. It's colder now, but no way is he letting it go to waste.

He's making a thoughtful face as he takes a deep breath. ]

You're not the only one here with experience in having a crush on more than one person at a time.

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There be spoilers here.

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