mineo

[dotcom]

Comments

[sengokus]

[he is definitely behind him - but at least mineo isn't a total slob. the loft is reasonably clean even though he didn't make his bed today on account of.... tired. but he'll remove his eyepatch (why did he put it back on) and rub at his eye before going to sit on the couch]

But seriously, are you doing okay? How'd the hacking go?

[dotcom]

It just gave me some information on Wrath and Despair. Specifically, they read like someone else was keeping files on them. It said Wrath is undead, and is considered volatile and should be handled with caution. Despair is... unsundered? I don't know what that means. But that they're indifferent, and it's okay to proceed.

The computer shut off after that.

[sengokus]

Huh.... I'll talk to Wrath-san about it again - they didn't seem to know anything about the eye that Vira-san and Grace-san saw when I asked about it. But it seemed like the MRI machine... all the mold inside it was pink too.

[he probably gave a more delirious explanation right after but - ]

I figured it was the most obvious thing to investigate so I didn't really want to just leave it - but when I was inside, where the pink stuff got on me kinda burned, but it didn't last. And my head started spinning, like it was on overdrive but not in a way I could focus.

I don't know if that's related to the weird pulsating image of a brain tumor I saw on the screen beforehand.

[dotcom]

Huh... oh, one more thing.

[ he'll walk over and reach over to grab mineo's cheek and pull on it.

not as hard as he would normally, since mineo did get fucked over by the mri machine, but enough for it to sting a bit. ]

[sengokus]

[GHK]

Ow ow ow - why....!! No more punishment, I've had enough this week!

[dotcom]

You absolute moron. What if it melted whatever is left of your brain? You don't have enough to spare already!

[ he sounds actually mad about it. ]

If you didn't already get fucked up over it, I'd give you a punishment.

[sengokus]

[NOOOOOOO]

Wh - I didn't think I'd get trapped in it or anything...!! But it was the most obvious thing, how can I not look into it?!

[mineo genuinely does not know enough about machines or science to be afraid of an MRI]

Could it have actually done that...?

[dotcom]

The point is that we didn't know what would happen, stupid! Idiot!

[ he takes a step back. ]

I'll vote for you.

[sengokus]

Don't be that mad at me...!! That's not enough reason to vote for me, I'm already feeling off this whole week!

[HE DOESN'T WANT TO DIE AGAIN]

[dotcom]

Then don't do things that will piss me off.

[sengokus]

[he's just grumbling at that - but he looks away because he knows that he's probably in the wrong here]

I'm sturdy, it's fine... I'm used to being in danger.

You don't have to be so pissed about it...

[though it's. gradually clicking why takeru might be mad? but it feels presumptuous to think he might've been worried...?]

[dotcom]

Being used to danger doesn't mean you should actively seek it out.

[ but he'll go to sit down on the couch that's here. ]

[sengokus]

I was looking for answers and I sort of accepted whatever came with that. It's all I'm really good for here, you know?

[throwing himself headfirst into things. but he'll at least frown a little bit more and pause when takeru goes to sit with him.

he reaches out to knock his knuckles lightly against his shoulder]

... sorry.

[dotcom]

It would just be inconvenient to me if I lost my pack mule over something that preventable.

[ they would have to go and fuckin explain to everyone what happened? horrible. ]

[sengokus]

[he just rolls his eyes at that before snorting and taking a sip out of the water bottle]

Nah. I'm way harder to get rid of than that.

[they already tried once and here he is!]

... I'll try to be more careful next time, Takeru.

[dotcom]

Fine. Well, if that's all.

[ he gets up

he is completely aware that's not all that mineo wanted but takeru is now going to attempt to escape before he remembers the rest of he initial text. ]

[sengokus]

[oh my god he's just catching his wrist]

Let me get this over with! Everyone else already knows what I think about them!

[dotcom]

Ugh.

[ UGGGHHHHhhhh ]

[sengokus]

I don't like it either but I don't wanna risk whatever happens if I don't do it!

And the only horrible thing I've done here is let you bite me and that's even worse to tell someone!!

[THEY LITERALLY TALKED ABOUT HOW AWFUL IT'D BE]

[dotcom]

I'd strangle you with your own tie.

[ so yeah that's a bad option. ]

Just get it over with.

[sengokus]

Can you just stop with my neck?!

[IT'S GETTING ALARMING

but he tugs on takeru's hand. sit back down on the couch. he needs to mentally prepare for this too. he hates it.]

[dotcom]

[ mineo's new fear for his neck is so real

but after a few seconds of deliberation, he'll sit. this is uncomfortable. ]

[sengokus]

[it's very uncomfortable and mineo actually has to finish drinking his water to figure out what he wants to say. confess his sincere feelings, huh.... it's unfortunate that he thinks they're pretty complicated.]

You know, you still haven't agreed to call me your partner. And I think part of it is because I answered your question wrong... but I do think we're partners.

You piss me off a lot, and it's weird because I don't think there's anyone around who annoys me as much as you do. But I'm also pretty sure that you make fun of me on purpose and that's part of your hobbies. It's a pain but - [ . . . ] Not so much of a pain that I don't like hanging out with you, even if you hate talking about yourself.

I guess I still wanna try to remember everything you do say. Like a puzzle even though I'm no good at puzzles. And I decided a while back that I trust you, so that means knowing that even though you're probably lying to me about some things or there's more stuff you don't want to tell me -

... I'm sort of okay with that. I'll be pissed sometimes but... I trust that you won't betray me, or if you ever do - then you probably have a really good reason for it, and you don't actually want to. I've decided that... it's still worth it, to work with you, knowing that.

And I'm kind of pissed that you're here - I don't want you to be in danger - but... I think I also work harder and do better because you're around. So... thanks, for that. [for the validation, for the acceptance, and for lighting a fire under his ass.

he pauses like that's the end of it and - maybe it should be? but there's something that nags at him and gets him to just say:]

You keep talking like you’re gonna go away soon - like you’re headed somewhere that you don’t want anybody to follow you... And I just want you to know that I think that’s bullshit, and I’m gonna keep trying to reach you. [a beat] Not in a stalkery way! But -

[ . . . . he runs a hand through his hair.]

… sometimes it gets really tiring to see someone you care about isolate themselves when they don’t have to. You know what I’m talking about, right?

[because for all the times that mineo tried to brush off takeru’s harsh words before they got here - that was his way of reaching out. even if mineo was too blind to see it at the time, he’s decided he doesn’t want to be blind now.]

So... even if I’m sure it’s annoying, and you'll probably get mad because you're way smarter than me, I’m gonna stubbornly keep being right here. Because that's what partners do.

[dotcom]

[ takeru knew this would give him hives, and he was right.

because it's definitely uncomfortable to just sit here and listen to all of this, to hear mineo say something while knowing the why to his questions but still refusing to give that answer out. takeru has always known that he's guarded, but to be told again and again while here, it makes him pause.

... not to be less so, but he worries that the recent events have made more cracks show that he's comfortable with. ]

Okay. [ okay. he taps a finger against his chin. ] Is that it?

[ it's probably not the response that mineo wants to hear.

but takeru isn't sure what response to give; it's supposed to be sincere feelings, but he still was hoping it would be less... well. less sincere. ]

[sengokus]

Mm... probably.... I just don't want to be struck by lightning for not going along with it.

[to be honest. and it seems like he's not really disappointed by takeru's lack of response - he kind of expected that too. his shoulders might slump just a little, but he doesn't show any of it on his face.

but.]

... are you gonna be okay?

[given that he's aware that takeru has a tendency to be very forthcoming about how he feels!

.... at least, until it feels like it matters. and then mineo's done the work of sifting through the asshole stuff but even that took months of getting used to. but who knows, maybe there's someone that takeru gets along with here that it'd be easier to be sincere with.]