[ 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. ]
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. ]