TRAVEL LOG #7

[synfluxmods]

TRAVEL LOG #7

CONTENT WARNINGS: memory manipulation, nausea, headaches, references to hunting

▶ 001. IT’S (NOT) LONDON, BABY.

As the last dregs of summer fade into the beginning of true Fall in Neo Tokyo, Outsiders wake up to the sound of sirens blaring, the call coming through their implants - there's no time for relaxation, not when the world still needs to be saved. As soon as everyone has gathered for the debriefing, Yamakawa explains their next destination: a request for aid has been sent by a civilian militia group in Windsor, England, and it's a desperate plea for support for an ongoing kaiju crisis.

While LILITH doesn't have a branch in the area, they're able to work with their contact to ensure that a data portal is set up for the easy transportation of Outsiders from the main base. Travelling feels a little bit easier compared to before, but the common side effects still remain - a little nausea, some headaches, dizziness and some minor glitching. It seems as if caffeine is a solution, and upon arrival, Outsiders are offered a cup of tea to get them settled.

Weirdly, unlike previous teleportation, physical touch seems to make the symptoms worse, rather than better. Anyone attempting the usual form of intimacy will find that being close to people, especially those they’re most comfortable with, will feel strangely awkward, leaving them with an uneasy sensation and the urge to take a step back.

As this is another warp rather than air travel, Outsiders will be asked to bring only what they deem necessary on this journey. Yamakawa reminds the Outsiders that, once they arrive, further supplies will be sent; both those that the outsiders request, and additional medical supplies for the militia in England to support them in their ongoing quest.

Everyone will be given the standard 24 hours to pack and prepare for departure. Once the time is up, Outsiders are transported to the arrival point... In Windsor Castle.

▶ 002. AN OUTSIDER WALKS INTO A CASTLE.

Upon arriving in the bailey of the castle, a beautiful woman who introduces herself as Gwen approaches. She welcomes the Outsiders to her base of operations, promising to provide beds and food for everyone. She’s quick to give an overview of why they’ve been summoned to the castle and what the problem is: they’re a militia group who are fighting against a large kaiju that is threatening the remains of the civilian population of the United Kingdom. They need help from the Outsiders to put the kaiju (and the rebels that are supporting it) down so that peace can continue. With how few people they have capable of fighting, they turned to LILITH in desperation.

As the Outsiders are directed to one of the wings of the castle to settle in, some might notice something… Off. While all the Outsiders who had agreed to go to the mission are present and accounted for, some members of their group are acting a little odd. When spoken to, they behave the same in terms of personality, but some of the things they’re saying are strange, or don’t sound right…

Some Outsiders have come to believe that they have always lived in Neo Tokyo, and don’t remember any other life. They’re convinced that this is the truth, and any attempt to dissuade them is met with resistance, both of the Outsiders feeling nauseated, with the risk of migraines developing. It doesn’t seem as if anything works to break this strange sickness, no matter what is attempted.

That might be a problem to deal with later.

Once bunks have been agreed on (and they will need to share rooms), Outsiders are given free rein to explore Windsor Castle. Gwen - and her generals, a group of women who can often be found around her, peering over maps, reports and other paperwork, giving advice and arguing about the best course of action - tell Outsiders that it would be best to stay within the castle walls, due to the threats of smaller kaiju outside the base. They do ask that, if they have spare time, that they help the people around the castle as much as they can, as there’s a lot of upkeep to do, and they’re running low on people thanks to their failed missions.

The castle is large, and beautifully decorated with medieval tapestries that have clung to their existence despite the impact of time. There are various locations of interest that the Outsiders are welcome to nose their way around: a library, filled with hundreds of books; the stable, where various horses of different kinds can be found (and ridden!); the outskirts around the bailey, with various small dogs; the feasting hall, where meals are served (mostly farm grown foods, and very limited meats) and, finally, the garrison (which, at the moment, only the non-afflicted Outsiders are permitted into, for ‘the safety of the others), with medieval weaponry on the walls.

▶ 003. IT HAS A GREAT KNIGHT-LIFE.

As the Outsiders settle in, the influence of the strange memory manipulation becomes stronger. Outsiders who are convinced they’ve been in this world their entire lives may grow more determined about it, and find strength in talking about their strange new memories. Anyone attempting to convince them otherwise will likely find themselves ostracised and left to the generous mercy of the civilians around the castle. Either way, both sets of Outsiders are generally welcomed around the castle.

The accommodation is good, but there are a few minor issues. Some of the dishes the Outsiders are served taste a little off (perhaps the lack of spice?) and locals urge their guests to stay away from some areas of the castle. If they do decide to go there despite the warnings, there doesn’t seem to be anything amiss. Maybe it’s a British thing?

There are a huge amount of things that need doing around the castle, and the native population are more than happy to encourage the Outsiders to take part and help them with what little resources they have remaining. If Outsiders volunteer to help, they’re informed about the many odd jobs that need doing around the castle and how they can support the locals:

OPERATION: CAN WE FIX IT?

Outsiders are tasked with helping to repair and, in some cases, reinforce the wall surrounding the castle and the bailey.

It’s clearly been damaged from kaiju attacks, and some areas are more damaged than others.

There are limited amounts of brick, so there may be a need to go out on a reconnaissance mission to gather more supplies.

Outsiders will be rewarded with carved items from the civilians - dogs, horses, dragons, and lions.

OPERATION: WE’RE GOING ON A KAIJU HUNT.

Outsiders are asked to go out in small groups to deal with the small, minor kaiju that have been threatening the castle.

The threat is a mixture of various wild kaiju, including vicious wild deer, boar, foxes and badgers. Some are more dangerous than others, and most attack on sight.

Outsiders will be rewarded with small gifts from the civilians - gloves with sheep wool interiors, large cotton blankets and, if they bring back their kills, fresh kaiju meat meals.

OPERATION: CLAYSON’S FARM.

Outsiders are asked to help the castle farmers for the upcoming months, both the livestock and the crops themselves.

The calves will need to be weaned (which might include chasing them around a field), wool from ewes clipped and harvesting the winter wheat, potato and sugar beet before planting the new crop.

Outsiders will be rewarded with small gifts from the farmers - bouquets of dried flowers, their first choice of the harvested crops, bottles of homemade cider, and even naming some of the livestock after the most helpful.

OPERATION: THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT (AU’D CHARACTERS ONLY).

Outsiders are asked to tend to a graveyard deep in the back area of the castle, surrounded by forests.

They will need to clean the graves, tidy up anything that has been left behind, check the records are accurate and pay their respects.

Outsiders will be rewarded with a broach in a strange horse shape from Gwen herself, who says it will permit them into some of the closed off areas of the castle. This includes the ‘spa’ (where the water is always cold); the ballroom (where the curtains are too heavy to move, so it’s always dark) and a special dining hall (which none of the cooking staff seem to know exists).

OPERATION: A PROPER GANDER (NON-AU’D CHARACTERS ONLY).

Outsiders are asked to deal with the rebel propaganda that’s popped up around the castle.

They will need to clean the graffiti, remove posters, try and track down where they’re getting in and ensure none remains.

Outsiders will be rewarded with Turkish Delight candies (hand-delivered by Gwen, as it’s her own personal recipe), nightly offers of hot chocolate and their choice of art supplies so they can add their own murals to the castle (once approved by the generals, of course).

There are dozens of other odd jobs that need done, too, and Outsiders can find themselves tasked with almost any minor task that they can imagine - from novice carpentry, to cleaning, to taking care of the corgi population to even exercising the horses. There are no limits to how helpful the Outsiders can be to their temporary home.

Throughout this time, Gwen and her generals are preparing for the upcoming mission and sharing briefs with the Outsiders as they gear up: there’s been a trace of the beast somewhere near Egham, ironically called the “Enchanted Forest”. If the Outsiders attempt to probe Gwen or question her for specifics, she’ll shrug them off, for now; there simply isn’t enough time to answer everyone personally, and she’s incredibly busy.

▶ 004. HASTY PREPARATION.

Not long into the Outsiders’ stay at the castle, a scouting report comes back with alarming news: the kaiju is on the move and seems to have more humans under its control, preparing to launch a counterattack on the castle and the people within. The generals, Gwen leading the charge, are quick to gather their weapons and supplies and start to consider a way of fighting back before the worst happens: the castle is laid siege.

Everyone in the castle is suddenly part of a whirlwind of motion, all trying to plan the counterattack and how to deal with the kaiju before it’s too late. Gwen is more than willing to listen to what the Outsiders have to say as spokespeople for LILITH, and due to their experience in dealing with kaiju in the past; she’s keen to know what they’ve tried, what worked, and what didn’t work.

The next few days have the castle in preparation mode. Weapons are checked, books on tactics and histories are revised to see for any weaknesses that might have been missed, and Outsiders are encouraged to do whatever they can to help, just as they have been before.

It’s as hard to get Gwen and her generals alone as it was before, but there’s a general feeling of finality around the keep; this could be it. She does make an announcement a day before the march:

"My men and I have discovered what may be causing the strange... Affliction your friends are suffering from, dear soldiers of LILITH. The kaiju seems to have the power to influence emotion, and memory along with it. A previous attack left a relic in the beast, which has healing properties: it is this that will cure your friends. We must defeat the monster and bring this relic home, with all swiftness."

Killing this kaiju might be the only way to free the Outsiders from its influence.

This might be the final push to get rid of the kaiju forever.

▶ AFTERWORD.

This Travel Log #7!

Due to the nature of the final prompt, the Kaiju RNG will be posted in a few days to allow for time for Outsiders to gather clues and plan a counterattack against the kaiju.

The clues Outsiders receive (both AU and non-AU options) will be vital for charting a course for tackling this kaiju, so please add your suggestions (and ICly +1 other people's) before the 10th at the latest. We strongly encourage players to coordinate their clues together ICly to come up with solutions!

The planned attack will be based on character suggestions using this comment.

All comments in this event count for 2 points towards October AC. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask them below.

EVENT BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)

1. IT’S (NOT) LONDON, BABY: Outsiders are awoken to the siren alerting them to a mission and are transported to England to help a militia group with a kaiju problem.

2. AN OUTSIDER WALKS INTO A CASTLE: Outsiders meet the leader of the group, Gwen, who urges them to get settled in. Some Outsiders begin to have strange issues with their memories, and side effects when challenged.

3. IT HAS A GREAT KNIGHT-LIFE: While they settle in, Outsiders are tasked with helping the organization out with various tasks with various rewards for their hard work.

4. HASTY PREPARATION: Gwen and her men prepare for a final counterattack against the kaiju with LILITH's support, and ask the Outsiders to suggest ways to track down and kill the threat to their people. They must retrieve a relic embedded in the kaiju to free their friends.

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Comments

[misclassed]

[ tasuke dreams of swords.

the plane stretches on and on, littered with blades like gravemarkers, each curved edge catching the firelight with a brutal, beautiful sheen. the thunderclouds overhead roll, but refuse empty their contents over the burning fields, leaving tasuke standing in the middle of the hellish glow, admiring the work even as the fire starts to lick at his clothes. he knows, if he can but take the right one...

but someone is saying his name. a voice belonging to someone who he would walk through hell to find and keep safe, who he wants to answer to, calls out to him with a rushing tide of wrong following in its wake. he cannot leave him on his own. this is his responsibility, isn't it? the sword forgotten, tasuke turns his back on the burning field and stormclouds to claw his way back to wakefulness and that feeling of wrongness and want. ]

Mnh...?

[ but instead of an answer, there's a spectre looming over him. shadowed, tired eyes under a shock of dark hair in a pale face, with some terrible thing in the corner waiting to attack at a moment's notice. he doesn't need to see it with his eyes, because he can feel in every fibre of his heart. he can feel something horrible, gripping his soul with an iron hand, squeezing him tight with fear and terror in equal measure, the smell of smoke and iron replaced with blood... and that splitting headache when he touched the swords in the garrison. something is wrong.

and then his sleep-addled brain catches up with his eyes, and he exhales in relief. no shadow. only his friend, reaching out to check his temperature again, like he had so many times this trip... of all the augmentations he's received, this one has been the worst. he's glad its yuta come to check on him, and not some horrible ghost in the dark. ]

Oh, Yuta... You okay?

[ tired and still warm (nearly feverish) under yuta's hand, tasuke blearily tries to get the important things set right. (he's glad yuta's touching him again.) ]

[copy]

[ Tasuke stirs and Yuta falters for a tiny moment in his reaching, the pang of guilt only deterring him for a second or two, before he follows through on his intention. His friend is already returning to the waking world so... Yuta allows himself two gentle passes of his hand through Tasuke's hair under the guise of brushing the unruly tufts back, out of the way, before pressing a cool palm against his forehead.

It's— pretty much what Yuta's come to expect to feel by now and yet how unnaturally warm Tasuke's been to the touch ever since he got his new augmentations right before the mission still continues to nag at him. The urge to go grab a cold, damp cloth and painkillers has yet to dissipate entirely even though all signs indicate that this higher body temperature just seems to be Tasuke's new normal. He's grappling with that selfsame compulsion, teetering on the verge of turning his head and asking for Rika's assistance, when bleary eyes and a groggy voice—so familiar and dear— distract him from it. ]

Me? [ He blinks in surprise before helpless fondness and faint amusement replace it with his next sentence. ] It's other people who got hurt, you know.

[ It would make more sense to ask after the patients who'd been in his care. Daybit got shot, Tezcatlipoca lost a leg; their well-being was in far more danger than Yuta's ever was when he's whole and unhurt. The concern is sweet though, stirring warm embers in his chest, and Yuta is quick to soothe it all the same. ]

I'm okay. [ More or less. ] Are you?

[ His palm has yet to move. ]

[misclassed]

[ Yuta's hand feels cool on his face. Like pressing his face against the window of the train late at night after he leaves work, glass fogging up with his breath as he waits for the stop closest to Yuta's apartment. It feels familiar, a physical sensation that he can focus on instead of that lingering feeling of heat from his dream. ]

And who's gonna look after you for looking after them if I don't? S'my job, man.

[ His eyes flutter shut again for a moment, as he leans up into that cool feeling. Whatever Yuta's doing, it's... it feels good. Tasuke doesn't want him to stop. ]

I'm just — ...tired, I think. Fuckin' stupid, right? Nothing even happened to me.

[copy]

[ Yuta continues to be helpless to stop the further stoking of fire in his chest, embers being nudged into re-alighting flames that should have died a long time ago yet have refused to ever fully do so. His expression softens (helpless, so helpless) with the warmth of both it and Tasuke's sentiment. ]

Right, of course. You're not doing that job alone though.

[ Rika looks after him plenty in her own way, too. Yuta is so, so fortunate to have them both in his life.

His gaze doesn't stray from his best friend's face, carefully taking it in with the excuse of professional interest only vaguely kept in the back of his mind. He should remove his hand, get Tasuke something better like a cool wet cloth. He doesn't. Can't bring himself to when Tasuke leans into his palm the way he does. ]

No, not at all. You just witnessed something traumatic and your body went through an adrenaline rush. It's only natural to crash like this.

[ He reassures with calm evenness, no judgement, just gently matter of fact. He hears Rika set his bag down in the background and his hand finally moves— drifting down before turning, pressing the back of his fingers against his cheek, offering a cooler touch for the fact that Tasuke's heat hasn't permeated through his skin on that side of his hand yet. His other one comes up to mirror it on Tasuke's other cheek, catching his face between tender knuckles. ]

You still feel like you're burning up...

[misclassed]

[ That cool feeling seeps into his skin from Yuta's palm, spreading over his face and sinking into his skull, filling in that place at the very top of his forehead that's ached for days without respite. It settles into his bones, pours into the space behind his eyes, and slowly, slowly begins to drip down his spine. The coolness spreads, stepping down over each vertebrae, climbing into his throat and then sliding into his lungs with each breath. Tasuke can't even — doesn't even care to suppress the contented sigh he lets out as he listens to Yuta talk, watching his friend through half-closed eyes and not even paying attention to the explanation. He simply lies there and breathes, and lets the sound of Yuta's words wash over him like the feeling of coolness. He could stay here all afternoon, if Yuta were willing to be here too. He could pretend there is no blood on the floor, no stupid mission, no painful feeling in his chest when he looks at those bone swords, no shadows looming in the corners of the room when he wakes up at night.

They could stay like this.

A bruise somewhere deep inside him twinges when Yuta's hand starts to slip away, aching with the sudden threat of loss — but he's only moving his hand, and bringing the other up to touch his face as well. Yuta smells like soap, the same smell that those fuzzy purple flowers out in the garden leave when he crushes them in his fingers and... Something else. Sweet and soft, like faded summer. Pears?

Rather than let him move his hands again, Tasuke untangles one hand from the blanket and grabs one of those delicate wrists to pin Yuta's fingers against his face, then the other. The coolness in Yuta's skin spreads through his palms, his own fingers, bleeding into his veins slowly. If Yuta doesn't ever move again, maybe... ]

It's not bothering me, though.

[ (Isn't this enough? It feels like it's not.) ]

[copy]

[ Yuta can tell Tasuke's not really listening to him, but it's hard to care when he seems so content just to soak up his presence and touch — obvious in the satisfied sigh and the heavy droop of the eyes watching him. Tasuke looks like a pleased cat basking under the attention and Yuta really does not have the heart to move away. Not after what they just went through, not when it makes his heart flutter just to see Tasuke like this. If just staying put keeps everything bad currently going on at bay and makes his friend feel better, of course Yuta will do it. It helps him too, to narrow down the world to just this, just them; Rika's ever-steady presence in the background, Tasuke warm under his fingers. He wants to stay like this.

It doesn't feel like he's getting much of a choice when hands come up to grip his wrists anyway. Yuta all too gladly resigns himself to his fate, only shifting his lower body so he can sit down on the edge of the bed, feeling the warm press of Tasuke's hip against the side of his own through the blanket; another anchoring point of contact added. They're here, they're unharmed, they're safe. For a moment, this moment, it can be all that matters. Surely they're allowed a little bit of such selfishness after everything. ]

Mm, that's good.

[ It will likely continue to nag at Yuta as it has ever since they arrived, but so long as Tasuke doesn't actually feel feverish despite his raised body temperature then it's probably fine. It's only normal that messing with his hormonal system might have some lasting effects. Yuta will just have to go get his reassurances from Dr. Spim once they get back. But what he does know has been bothering his best friend... ]

How is your head?

[ His hands are carefully turned in Tasuke's grasp, fingers unfurling so that the tips of his index and middle fingers come to rest against Tasuke's temples gently. ]

[misclassed]

[ The sound that slips out of him is small, tired — a trembling little groan gathering up the lingering tension in his body and shoving it away to make room in him for the comforting feeling of Yuta's closeness. All of Tasuke's bravado falls to pieces under Yuta's hands, as Yuta lets him be nothing more than simply himself. No need to play tough in front of others, or play a role someone his age probably has no place playing. How many times has he heard someone say his name wrong, this past week? Not having to keep his guard up is as much a relief as that cool feeling.

Tasuke turns his face to press Yuta's palm closer against his cheek, feeling the line of calluses from kendo lessons against his skin. His voice is still soft, but his breath, hot and damp, drags his words across the heel of Yuta's palm. (His mouth is just as warm as the rest of his face.) ]

'S the same. [ Like someone tried to split it open with a rock. ] Still won't go away.

[ And he stays there, breathing in that sweet, earthy smell of soap. It's different. Maybe there haven't been enough serious injuries for Yuta to use it before this, but he can't quite figure out what's so appealing about it. He could stay here and breathe it in all day. Different from the acidic smell of the city at home, or this dusty old castle, or that lonely empty shed with the soot blackened stones on the big fireplace.

Tasuke likes it best, by far. ]

You smell like one of those weird sodas Geto-sensei's always giving you.

[ (Is he one of Geto's students? No. But he calls the man sensei anyway, because Yuta does, and he follows the lead of the better influence... sometimes.) ]

[copy]

[ Tasuke sounds so tired, looks so worn, it triggers the protective instinct that wants to zealously safeguard all the vulnerable parts only he gets the privilege of seeing all the harder. For all that he knows how to fight, Yuta doesn't go toe to toe with kaiju in quite the same way Tasuke and Rika do — he isn't as enhanced and unnaturally strong as they are. It isn't entirely his forte, but that's okay because this is. He is here to be their safe haven to return to and to offer gentle hands that care about their well-being more than anything else to soothe away their hurts and catch them when they fall. Tending to them is what he does best and so tend to them he does, gladly, gratefully, with all the love in his heart and all the knowledge that years of experience caring for them afford him.

He wouldn't give this up for the world.

Yuta's momentarily (very) distracted when Tasuke fully tilts into his touch, attention snagged like a loose thread on both sensation and the sight Tasuke makes so sweetly turned into his hand. The firmer press of his friend's cheek against his palm is already enough to make his heart skip a beat, but the hot gusts of air against his skin as Tasuke speaks and stays right where he is are cause for another or two. (Maybe several.) But the pendulum swings from the heady distracting mix of affection-attraction-longing right back to concern at what Tasuke's saying. That the headache keeps persisting is... worrying to say the least.

His brows knit together in visible concern, though before he can say anything, Tasuke's spoken again and the comment draws out a soft laugh instead, the very sound fond. He'd washed his hands in the bathroom nearest to the hospital wing with whatever had been available, had to really scrub to get all the stubborn flecks of dried blood off and he'd felt compelled give his hands several soapy passes. It's no surprise the smell lingered. ]

The bottle said it was lavender and pear-scented soap. I guess that would be the sort of unusual combination found in one of those mystery sodas of his.

[ They can be pretty hit or miss, yet Yuta always finishes whatever weird flavor Geto graces him with. (It helps to share.)

With Tasuke leaning so heavily into one hand and Yuta not wanting to dislodge him, he can't massage his temples like he wanted to so he switches tactics. His other hand goes back to its starting position on Tasuke's forehead, letting his palm rest there again while his thumb is lowered to gently rub the pressure point between his brows in tiny circles. ]

I can give you a painkiller, if you like.

[ There's always some he keeps set aside for Tasuke anyway. ]

[misclassed]

[ In any other situation, Tasuke might answer differently. Might complain that it's not fair if he hogs all the painkillers, when he only has a headache and someone else has a bullet wound (or a missing leg, except Tezcatlipoca's a dick, so fuck that guy — but not really), because if there's one thing that's always been true about Tasuke, it's his intolerance for things in the world being the way they are, simply because things ended up that way. But with his face pressed against Yuta's hand, with that cool feeling dripping into his veins like an IV, with the ache in his chest of loss and want (and the way he needs something, but just can't put his finger on it)... it's hard to find the words to be generous.

Yuta's hand on his forehead is cool, his thumb has found that spot where all of his headaches seem to gather normally when he's under stress, but it's not enough, is it? It's really not. ]

... Maybe I want something else.

[ The smell of pears and lavender soap isn't enough, the offering of a useless painkiller isn't enough, Yuta's hands on his face just doesn't feel like enough, and even that way the bed dips by his hip from Yuta sitting on it is only a suggestion of another option. Tasuke breathes in again, tasting that sweet smell in the air and something underneath that, even. Something that just feels like Yuta, like that cool feeling in his hands is in the air itself, waiting just out of reach of his mouth.

(Elsewhere, watching as if from a dream, Muramasa recognizes the feeling of a mana-hungry physical body and tries to surface — but Tasuke is almost eighteen years worth of a concept creating a person, and he drowns out Muramasa's mere two years of manifestation through sheer force of want like the legend is worth nothing.) ]

[copy]

[ Knowing Tasuke as well as he does, Yuta's prepared for a protest that ultimately doesn't come. He's so ready to argue that he's got plenty of painkillers to spare while keeping his Tasuke-specific inventory hidden, well aware that his friend wouldn't approve of the special treatment if he knew. (It doesn't stop Yuta from acquiring extra for that sole purpose though, the cause is more than worth it to him.) Admittedly it's hard to focus on anything but the warm mouth against his palm—the tantalizing tease of lips against the heel of it, the way Tasuke keeps purposefully breathing in the smell of the odd-scented soap lingering on his skin—and how it intensifies the warmth that has nestled in the pit of his stomach, radiating an increasing want he's gotten somewhat used to ignoring during their stay in Windsor so far.

But it's getting a little harder to ignore with each passing second that they stay put like this so maybe it's a mercy that he doesn't have to gather his wits about him in order to make any arguments. He should probably move that hand though. The gentle massaging of his thumb of the other is as much a paltry attempt at keeping himself focused as it is to alleviate Tasuke's headache and it isn't really working much.

His hand stays right where it is. ]

What is it?

[ Said softly with a curious tilt of his head and a gentle, indulgent smile; the unspoken promise woven throughout his tone that he will give Tasuke whatever it is he wants. He need only ask. ]

[misclassed]

It's...

[ Another deep breath, drawing in the smell of pears and lavender, Yuta's hand still cool on his face, but less than it was when Tasuke put it there. Time against his skin has bled that warmth that's suffused him for over a week into Yuta too, in the very parts where they touch. The same for Yuta's wrist in his grasp — pushing past a bunch of tendon with his thumb, he finds new, unmapped coolness over the graceful shadow of Yuta's veins. When he presses his thumb down, he can feel Yuta's heart thrumming in their shape, pumping the coolness from his chest towards Tasuke's face with each beat.

Tasuke knows, that if he opens his mouth just a hair more, he can drink that feeling in directly instead of waiting for it to seep down through his skin.

So he does. Presses a kiss right into the shape of the eddy in the middle of Yuta's palm, feeling it against his mouth. No pears or lavender, though. Just Yuta. ]

[copy]

[ Yuta, ever attentive and keen to please a loved one, hangs on that unfinished start of a sentence with anticipatory interest, ready to oblige and get Tasuke whatever he needs. Only the answer never comes. There's just another inhale against his palm, the gentle digging of Tasuke's thumb into his wrist to seek out his pulse, and then—

Well, maybe the action that follows is the answer in itself.

Where the drag of Tasuke's mouth against his skin whenever he spoke could be considered incidental before, this is anything but. It's undeniably a kiss, lips impossibly warm and soft where they apply firmer pressure, utterly unmistakable. Yuta's breath stutters hard in his chest and there's a little warm lurch in his gut that coincides with the swift heat rising right up to his face as though he's leeching off some of that uncanny fire that's taken root in Tasuke's body. He freezes, thumb stopping its circular motions, eyes going wide with (hopeful?) disbelief.

He's painfully aware of Rika in his peripheral and he wants to turn his head to check if she's seen, to see her reaction, but he finds himself too transfixed by the sight of Tasuke's mouth against his palm, unable to look away. Perhaps he should just remove his hand entirely to be safe, to be sure, before Rika can see if she hasn't yet. This is something he meant to have a discussion about when they got back home.

Tasuke has that grip on his wrist though. So obviously he can't do that. ]

T-Tasuke...?

[ It comes out a breathless whisper, voice tight where the longing comes bleeding out at the edges to betray him. ]