[ He feels the wound in his soul mending at the words on his screen. There's even a ghost of a smile starting to form on his lips. A blush on his cheeks. ]
And you are captivating in a way I can't quite articulate. Like seeing a cryptid up close and in the flesh. You're special. Anyone would feel special being able to have your attention and your very, very intense and sweet love. It's real. It's not the performative kind other pretty faces give out. Shallow or cheap. You love with every fiber of yourself, Dirk. Every atom. That's beautiful. Even your vulnerability is beautiful.
[ From a horror movie nerd like Junpei that's actually a compliment, weird as it sounds. ]
I'm not always so sure I deserve them either. But I don't think they're going anywhere.
That's probably one of the better compliments I've ever received. I dunno if I'd call it sweet, but...Thank you.
Thank you.
(Even as good of a connection as he had with Kaneki, he still had days where he worried about being too intense, too weird. Kaneki had their own struggles and they never held it against each other, but it was...always a little nice to have these things comforted.
And man, does Junpei know him better than most people probably even realize. He can feel some heat flushing across his face and getting him to blush was practically a miracle most days.)
Yeah, well. (KICKS FEET.)
I love your vulnerability too. I don't mean that in a condescending way. And I ain't trying to mimic you here. You're just...approachable and easy to talk to.
Guess it ain't up to us as to who we do or don't deserve.
Sweet. I'm flying to get you. I'll be there in a few.
[ A lot of the time when Junpei is stressed, he's taken to reverting to his rabbit form. It's perfect for hiding under the bed or in the woods. Being small and hard to find is somehow a comfort in a weird way.
But somehow, he feels like if anyone would understand, it would be Dirk.
He's sitting on a stump at the edge of the woods, looking up at the night sky for a sign of Dirk. He's sitting on his back legs, nose raised to the air and twitching. ]
(It doesn't take Dirk long to arrive where Junpei is. And he does get it. Sometimes it is easier to exist in a different state than your original. He lands down close by, his attention drawn to the familiar rabbit.)
Hey, bunny.
(His voice is low and warm. While he had always teased Junpei about being a bunny, there is something obviously gentler in his tone now, more like a fond old joke shared between two friends rather than him trying to annoy Junpei.)
Want me to carry you to dinner? I don't mind. (Listen...Junpei is still really cute, okay, especially as a bunny. Even Dirk is not strong against the bun.)
[ Junpei hops down off the stump and slowly over to Dirk. Purposely within easy scooping up distance. ]
Yeah. I'll change once we get there.
[ The softness of the other's voice ... feels good on his soul. Like a soothing balm is being poured over it. Something sorely needed after their little disagreement.
Once he's picked up he'll cuddle slightly against his friend. Staying in this form makes that action easier to perform as well. Doing it as a human would just feel too vulnerable. But it's normal and okay to cuddle a cute small animal. ]
That's fine with me. (He had an undeniable fondness for familiars at this point. Granted, who didn't like cute animals? But all the same, he really did believe that familiars were the best thing about this place.
In some odd way, Dirk needed to be kind too. Back when he was younger, he never knew how to act after fights - and he had plenty of vile ones where he had believed he nearly ruined entire relationships. He had been cold and vicious. Belligerent.
But he has changed since then, especially in Folkmore, and he realizes now that there was tremendous strength in just being good to someone you were angry with after apologies had been traded off. He wasn't good with emotions, no, but he was good at loving, and love Junpei he did, even if platonic. He grabs the familiar and huddles him right up against his chest, giving a small squeeze in a subtle huglike gesture.
He rubs Junpei's small, soft body and presses a simple kiss to the top of his head. He slowly floats up into the air, but he doesn't go too high, and he doesn't go too fast. Might as well enjoy the evening, because Junpei was right, it was a nice night.)
Yeah. It is. I've always preferred nighttime. Feels like everything is calmer.
[ The kiss isn’t expected. But it’s not unwelcome. Bunnies cannot blush, but what many people don’t know is that they can purr, and without even really thinking on it Junpei starts to do just that. A quiet, content rumble from deep within his furry little self.
Aside from his spat with Dirk, the Kyle situation had been stressing him out, as had little worries about his own relationship. While he and his boys never fought, he was getting more and more anxious about linking. What could go wrong. What if one of them vanished before they could go through with it?
To have this moment of understanding between the two of them … it felt good. Reflecting on where they’d once been, how he had assumed for so long they’d be totally distant forever and lying to himself that he was fine with that … ]
Yeah … night meant I didn’t have to be at school. So. I tended to prefer it.
[ He watches the scenery as they go. Quiet for a few moments. ]
I’m sorry I brought that mess on you. I didn’t … I wasn’t thinking. I should have known better.
(The reference to school only makes Dirk squeeze Junpei a little tighter. As if he could protect his friend through sheer force alone, but he knew timelines weren't that easy to alter and the damage had been done long ago.
At least here, Junpei had people to keep him safe. The purring catches Dirk off guard almost as much as the kiss caught Junpei off guard. It still surprised Dirk whenever he managed to make someone...happy. It makes him feel like the young person he actually was instead of like the Cool, Indifferent Dude he always preferred to act as.)
I can imagine. The idea of being around that many people like that is- unpleasant. (Dirk found that he got easily overstimulated by large crowds and excessive social situations. And add the whole sadistic bullying thing into it...well...
Dirk's distracted by the apology and he's quick to shake his head. Just once.)
Nah. Don't apologize, man. It's not your fault. You were just concerned about Kyle. I am too.
(And they both loved Kyle, so. He swallows slowly, mulling the whole situation over in his mind.)
It really ain't your fault. I'm uh...I'm not great with that subject, I guess. Sometimes I think I've matured past it, but then shit comes up and I feel like I'm sixteen and stupid again and I guess it's just a sore spot for me. Even if it's not about me. I just- I guess I know how it feels to be...
[ Junpei had only had the one relationship. Well. One relationship with two people. And both of those people had loved him so soundly from the start that being replaced had never been one of his worries. There wasn’t a way he could fathom Choso or Natsume cheating or betraying him.
He’d been haunted by the idea of HIM being made to cheat by some unexpected magic nonsense constantly. Even though logically the two boys were equally as susceptible to the whims of Folkmore, they were held at such a high regard by Junpei he couldn’t imagine them doing it even then.
He gives a little nuzzle up against Dirk. A reassurance. Comfort. ]
… it’s hard to forget … those old feelings. Even when you tell yourself you’re safe now. You’re loved now. You’re protected now. Your soul remembers.
[ He may not know the pain of being replaced, but he struggles sometimes still with traits gained from those days when he was bullied. The worry of opening up making him vulnerable. ]
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no subject
And you are captivating in a way I can't quite articulate. Like seeing a cryptid up close and in the flesh. You're special. Anyone would feel special being able to have your attention and your very, very intense and sweet love. It's real. It's not the performative kind other pretty faces give out. Shallow or cheap. You love with every fiber of yourself, Dirk. Every atom. That's beautiful. Even your vulnerability is beautiful.
[ From a horror movie nerd like Junpei that's actually a compliment, weird as it sounds. ]
I'm not always so sure I deserve them either. But I don't think they're going anywhere.
Yeah. Let's do that.
And you can keep my DVD for awhile longer.
no subject
Thank you.
(Even as good of a connection as he had with Kaneki, he still had days where he worried about being too intense, too weird. Kaneki had their own struggles and they never held it against each other, but it was...always a little nice to have these things comforted.
And man, does Junpei know him better than most people probably even realize. He can feel some heat flushing across his face and getting him to blush was practically a miracle most days.)
Yeah, well. (KICKS FEET.)
I love your vulnerability too. I don't mean that in a condescending way. And I ain't trying to mimic you here. You're just...approachable and easy to talk to.
Guess it ain't up to us as to who we do or don't deserve.
Sweet. I'm flying to get you. I'll be there in a few.
no subject
But somehow, he feels like if anyone would understand, it would be Dirk.
He's sitting on a stump at the edge of the woods, looking up at the night sky for a sign of Dirk. He's sitting on his back legs, nose raised to the air and twitching. ]
no subject
Hey, bunny.
(His voice is low and warm. While he had always teased Junpei about being a bunny, there is something obviously gentler in his tone now, more like a fond old joke shared between two friends rather than him trying to annoy Junpei.)
Want me to carry you to dinner? I don't mind. (Listen...Junpei is still really cute, okay, especially as a bunny. Even Dirk is not strong against the bun.)
no subject
Yeah. I'll change once we get there.
[ The softness of the other's voice ... feels good on his soul. Like a soothing balm is being poured over it. Something sorely needed after their little disagreement.
Once he's picked up he'll cuddle slightly against his friend. Staying in this form makes that action easier to perform as well. Doing it as a human would just feel too vulnerable. But it's normal and okay to cuddle a cute small animal. ]
It's a nice night.
no subject
In some odd way, Dirk needed to be kind too. Back when he was younger, he never knew how to act after fights - and he had plenty of vile ones where he had believed he nearly ruined entire relationships. He had been cold and vicious. Belligerent.
But he has changed since then, especially in Folkmore, and he realizes now that there was tremendous strength in just being good to someone you were angry with after apologies had been traded off. He wasn't good with emotions, no, but he was good at loving, and love Junpei he did, even if platonic. He grabs the familiar and huddles him right up against his chest, giving a small squeeze in a subtle huglike gesture.
He rubs Junpei's small, soft body and presses a simple kiss to the top of his head. He slowly floats up into the air, but he doesn't go too high, and he doesn't go too fast. Might as well enjoy the evening, because Junpei was right, it was a nice night.)
Yeah. It is. I've always preferred nighttime. Feels like everything is calmer.
no subject
Aside from his spat with Dirk, the Kyle situation had been stressing him out, as had little worries about his own relationship. While he and his boys never fought, he was getting more and more anxious about linking. What could go wrong. What if one of them vanished before they could go through with it?
To have this moment of understanding between the two of them … it felt good. Reflecting on where they’d once been, how he had assumed for so long they’d be totally distant forever and lying to himself that he was fine with that … ]
Yeah … night meant I didn’t have to be at school. So. I tended to prefer it.
[ He watches the scenery as they go. Quiet for a few moments. ]
I’m sorry I brought that mess on you. I didn’t … I wasn’t thinking. I should have known better.
no subject
At least here, Junpei had people to keep him safe. The purring catches Dirk off guard almost as much as the kiss caught Junpei off guard. It still surprised Dirk whenever he managed to make someone...happy. It makes him feel like the young person he actually was instead of like the Cool, Indifferent Dude he always preferred to act as.)
I can imagine. The idea of being around that many people like that is- unpleasant. (Dirk found that he got easily overstimulated by large crowds and excessive social situations. And add the whole sadistic bullying thing into it...well...
Dirk's distracted by the apology and he's quick to shake his head. Just once.)
Nah. Don't apologize, man. It's not your fault. You were just concerned about Kyle. I am too.
(And they both loved Kyle, so. He swallows slowly, mulling the whole situation over in his mind.)
It really ain't your fault. I'm uh...I'm not great with that subject, I guess. Sometimes I think I've matured past it, but then shit comes up and I feel like I'm sixteen and stupid again and I guess it's just a sore spot for me. Even if it's not about me. I just- I guess I know how it feels to be...
How it feels like you can be so easily replaced.
no subject
[ Junpei had only had the one relationship. Well. One relationship with two people. And both of those people had loved him so soundly from the start that being replaced had never been one of his worries. There wasn’t a way he could fathom Choso or Natsume cheating or betraying him.
He’d been haunted by the idea of HIM being made to cheat by some unexpected magic nonsense constantly. Even though logically the two boys were equally as susceptible to the whims of Folkmore, they were held at such a high regard by Junpei he couldn’t imagine them doing it even then.
He gives a little nuzzle up against Dirk. A reassurance. Comfort. ]
… it’s hard to forget … those old feelings. Even when you tell yourself you’re safe now. You’re loved now. You’re protected now. Your soul remembers.
[ He may not know the pain of being replaced, but he struggles sometimes still with traits gained from those days when he was bullied. The worry of opening up making him vulnerable. ]