Guys' Night [OPEN]

[seafloor]

WHO: Dudes, dude. Bring all your dudely Outsiders, bro.
WHAT: Man I sure wish I could tell you Cracking a cold one open with the boys
WHERE: The Onsen
WHEN: 4/11
WARNINGS: Alcohol, nudity, dad jokes... This'll be updated accordingly

[ A few days after the girls have had their fun (cause girls just wanna have fun), another blanket text sweeps over the Outsiders' inboxes. This time, it's from Kaito: and he is proposing a very original idea that all the guys should come by the hot springs in a few days' time. Gossip and bathing are optional, but an empty stomach is mandatory.

Several pictures of newly purchased smokers, grills, and even a fucking pizza oven can be seen at various points throughout the message. There are also mountains of stacked beer and soda cases. Kaito's apparently going to be cooking enough to feed the whole base, or so he purports.

Where did he get all the money for this? Whatever, it's free!

He also adds in no uncertain terms that if any girls try to show up and sneak a snack, he will send them home with a stern warning and a bottle of water.

If you take him up on the invitation, welcome! It's a spring cookout and Pitmaster Kaito Nagano is going to be serving up enough barbeque to temporarily turn the onsen area into a Texan territory within Japan. Seriously, there's gonna be a metric fuckton of food and booze, and the hot springs will be right there when you're ready to get hot and hungover.

There are absolutely no plans after food. Feel free to stick around and socialize, but you will not be publicly shamed for just yoinking a plate and dip setting. Probably.

Aside from the barbeque, there are some horseshoes and cornhole boards set up (google it, it's safe, this is not a bit it's just a funny name for an american game) for dudes to try their hand-eye coordination at after having one too many drinks.

If you're feeling particularly brave, Kaito's got an ice box full of artificial fish (all the meat's artificial, let's be real) that you can try to attract a feral cat with. Good luck. ]

(( ooc: hello yes i didn't want The Boys™ to feel left out so feel free to make top levels and just get some general cookout social time in with your boyos. make it as friendly or awkward or awkwardly friendly as possible. go nuts. get naked. cause a ruckus. [ insert toxic masculinity here ] ilu ♥ ))

Comments

[blastedass]

[ooc: i don't think it'd get removed unless gege asked hori to do that... which i doubt he would.]

I see.

[something like that will never go away. bakugou's aware of it first hand. from sludge villain to all might's end to izuku's almost death... traumatic situations won't leave people alone forever. the mark is there, scarred and permanent. but no, now's not the time to talk about that kind of thing. apparently it's time to talk about weird shit, like who's attractive and other guy gossip bakugou would never wanna be a part of. despite being a part of it right now. idiot.

the question denji asks is... not surprising. bakugou had a feeling whatever happened between the two related to something like that. it still hits like a ton of bricks. because he's asked himself the same question about midoriya. after everything bakugou did to him, the years of abusive bullying and mockery... it's something he'll never understand about his friend.

and yet, the answer's not hard to know.]

When they'd rather be happy with them together than let painful memories take them away.

[when they forgive them. the pain won't leave, the memories won't fade, but they choose to make better moments together and look to the future than be mired in the past.]

[nutkick]

[ ooc; excellent. i'm glad he put denji in the heroes side I'm crying. thank you for sharing ♥ ]


[ but, what if they didn't have any future together? aki is dead, and he will stay dead. everything about their reunion felt like he was being haunted by the ghost of his sins. he didn't know how to be okay with it, how to forgive himself, how to stop hating himself for it. there's a lot of steps they have skipped for the sake of forcing normalcy between them and it's not - right. they are both trying and maybe one day it will be okay. maybe.

he considers that answer, and it does make sense. sometimes you just want to move on, and try to build new memories together that will outshine those traumas. it's possible, and yet- ] You're right. But, we both know one day they will wake up and realize that it still hurts and ... they can't be around each other anymore. [ that's also another possibility that denji couldn't ignore.

he turns his head so he can regard bakugou again, noting the expression on his face. ]

... Have you dealt with something like this before? [ he doubts it would have anything to do with murder, but you know. ]

[blastedass]

[ooc: cause denji's a hero!]

[that's a question he can't answer. he's already met someone who died back in their world. what would he say if he met midnight-sensei here? knowing she wouldn't be alive when he returned back home. it would be foolish of him to think he had the answer. to spend the time here and consider it a second chance or bonus time never gotten at him... would that seem shallow? selfish? wise? to say nothing of the emotions that came from the dead and the living.

but it's unknown. all he can do is answer the question denji asks and think for himself on his own answer. moving forward is unfortunately the only recourse left, unless denji or aki want to stop moving. time doesn't quit for anyone.]

What do you mean? Pain doesn't go away. But no one's saying you can't be around each other. [as far as literal "no one" in neo tokyo. denji would be the only one capable of blockading himself from aki. bar lilith being an absolute beast.

the question that comes his way earns a different reaction. eyes lidding, jaw setting slightly, lips settling together. takes a few seconds, but...] Aa.

[maybe this isn't the best place to talk about the heavy topics.]

[nutkick]

[ ooc; 🥹 ]


[ that's the problem. the pain wouldn't go away. it never does. how can anyone heal from it and just forget? yes, even if they build happy memories and agree to move on, the past can't be forgotten. maybe one day the person who carried all that heartache might decide it's not worth it— being together. maybe they're better off drifting apart because it's too much and it's too heavy. denji paused and then decided to keep those anxieties to himself, it's not bakugou's job to fix him. they both had to take a leap of faith and hope there is a future where all can be forgiven. ]

I'll always be there for him. Pain or no pain. He's my family ...

[ ah, he doesn't know how he feels about seeing bakugou like this. denji is used to that image of sheer confidence and strength— now there's vulnerability behind those eyes. suddenly, chilling in the water didn't seem so important anymore. they can do other things at this party, in a more private space... ]

... Wanna grab something to drink?

[blastedass]

[healing from it isn't impossible. the ache will stay, but it doesn't have to ruin life each time the old pang shows up. forgetting isn't an option; never should be. the past isn't meant to be forgotten. it's mean to be accepted and learned from, used as building blocks for a better and happier future. some wounds between people may be too much to make continuing forward together impossible, but bakugou gets the feeling that's not the case with denji and aki. it may feel like it now, but is that because it's the truth, or because a certain someone hasn't learned to forgive himself...

this isn't about fixing denji. this is about helping him. the gruff, blunt kind that hits a bit close to home this time.]

Then the decision to be together rests on him.

[you can't say "always" like that and make a limitation on the same "always" right after. bakugou may have his own vulnerabilities, buried away deep and handled in private. the momentary flicker of them right now is pushed away a few seconds later as denji asks about getting something to drink. he closes his eyes and lifts his head to roll it on his neck, a shoulder hiking up until there's a crack somewhere. ah, feels better. one of those "done with this" shrug motions. bakugou doesn't dwell on painful things very long. it won't do him or anyone around him good.]

Aa. I feel like a fucking sponge right now. [with that, he leans forward, slides his arms off the rim, and stands up in the water. as it cascades down, he grabs his towel off his neck and sweeps it around his waist before stepping out of the pool. whoa, head rush...]

[nutkick]

[ 'Then the decision to be together rests on him.' — if it was up to aki, he would stay. even if it makes him unhappy.

denji glanced over at his old friend, waiting long enough to get his attention and briefly let him know that he was going for a walk. they've been in the warm water for too long, anyway. they could use a change of scenery, but that's not the only reason why he asked bakugou to join him. watching the hero wobble a bit made him grin, and denji was quick to step out of the water and move to his side, ready to catch him if he needed it. oh, right. he's still naked— it's time to secure the towel around his waist. ]

Yeah. But, it was still relaxing.

[ until the conversation got a bit too heavy, which is ... yeah. denji was fine to shrug it off, telling himself he was the only one going through such doubts until he realized he might not be alone in this. he nodded towards where the drinks were placed; a diverse option of sodas and water bottles that were enough for all and seconds. the host of this party is certainly generous. ]

[blastedass]

[the question is, does it make aki unhappy, or does denji project his own feelings which only expect aki to be unhappy? bakugou has a lot of experience with a boy who's too nice for his own good. the kind who says "i'm fine" while his arm's broken at his side. someone who forgives grievances so fast and readily, it's almost inhuman... and no, it's not easy to accept.

good thing bakugou didn't see denji smirk at his slight imbalance; he'd kick water at him without a second thought. he notices the guy's presence at his side (knows why he's there) and deliberately locks his knees. don't you dare think he's gonna fall over cause of some shitty steam head rush...

bakugou wraps the towel at his waist and then knots the corners at one side above his pelvis to hold it in place. stretching an arm over his shoulder, he pads away from the pool. no point in drying off if he's gonna get back in a while later.]

Some guys talk about the stupidest crap. [despite participating in the dumb "who's attractive" topic regardless. at least he managed to avoid saying anything about the topic in relation to himself? ... for what good that did. bakugou waits for denji to catch up, then takes sample of the drinks. soda... nah. water's the preferential choice, but he opts for a sports drink. it's a cookout; there's bound to be a few.]

[nutkick]

Fun crap, though. I actually had fun ...

[ fuck water. denji grabs the most sugary, artificial soda brand possible because who cares about health, right? not when you can regrow new organs 3-4 times in a month; the damage of such toxic treats won't catch up to him. plus, he could use a bit of energy after cooking in the water for too long. leaning back on a nearby wall, denji pulls on the tab's ring, smiling at the satisfying sound. they could talk about the dumb conversations of horny feels, sex and all — and they will, eventually. before they do that, denji had to make sure of something.

he'd wait until a couple from the outsiders had grabbed their drinks, laughing and chatting away as they returned to their group. it's quiet for now and that's when denji asked- ]

You wanna talk about it?

[ there was something on bakugou's mind back then, right? ]

[blastedass]

Not surprised.

[denji is someone who would unhesitatingly weigh in on the topic of which girls are most attractive in a group. bakugou used to think the guy was a big damn pervert (and granted, denji has elements of that) but he's come to view the half-devil's attraction to girls in a different light. is he jealous? no. why? that's his fucking business.

he doesn't say shit about denji's choice of drink as he uncaps the sports drink bottle in hand and lifts it to his lips. it brings to mind the reality that the devil hunter has that regeneration going for him nigh-full-time. smoking, drugs, drinking, he should be able to do all of that with zero negative results even over time. lucky guy. not that bakugou wants to get involved with any of those shitty habits.

leaving the majority of the party behind, bakugou heads for a quieter area, taking his place by the wall denji's leaning against. bracing one foot on the surface behind him, he eyes the air in front without much focus, reminiscing about his past. does he really wanna talk about this with denji? ... not really, but maybe he owes him that much.]

I know what it's like to wonder why someone you treated horribly would want to still be around you.

[does that explain things? not really. but it suggests the familiarity.]