It's a normal morning for anyone who's managing to sleep a standard schedule- up until a mass text goes out, that is. Everyone will find the same thing from either Mafuyu or Aerith's username:
... Simple enough. And should you choose to attend, both your hostesses will be pleased to see you once it's time to head over.
As they said, the aquarium is largely empty save for the group, and it's definitely worth it. A serene song plays overhead while attendants give tours or explanations as needed. The variety of aquatic life is surprisingly vast as well, and spacious halls give way to plenty of opportunity to explore.
Come nightfall, certain rooms dim the lights but the tanks stay lit- or black lit as darker enclosures like the jellyfish hall and the octopus tanks remain- and only a few staff remain to keep an eye on things- so... stay on your best behavior. The two restaurants stay open- a regular fast food joint with kitschy island cabana theming, and a much more upscale lounge where Aerith plans on corralling the adults for fun this evening.
Once it's time for the age groups to split, Aerith will lead the adults to a pleasant lounge with more tanks, large couches or more private tables, and a view overlooking one of the main rooms of the aquarium- wave to the kids if they're there! Or don't. Bouquets of flowers are placed around the room, and it looks like Aerith has a few ideas already, though she won't stop anyone from going out to review the different sections again.
Contrasting Mafuyu, who is content to let the fellow teens do whatever- though if they do congregate, she's not really the social sort and will simply be content to enjoy the vibes. Even if you just want to take a nap somewhere, there's plenty of dark secluded areas to do so.
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beathollow) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
linkingup2024-10-07 02:44 pm
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Izou's thoughts are far less openly destructive and pessimistic, but it's clear they're somewhat aligned in the way McGillis's violent imagery just seems to make him almost tremble the way the phrase excites him. It's the raw, feral intensity that they both share that make this whole situation so stimulating. What brought interest and seeking understanding to something more bordering on... The romance neither of them is willing to call by that name.
That said, he sighs, half contented and the admission and half annoyed.]
Well see that's what I'm sayin'! It ain't the same thing! Like... Ta me, I don't see why if you find yer friends attractive you can't fool around with 'em a bit.
[To Izou, sex is just a Bonding Activity sometimes! One he likes a lot.]
But like... [And he actually takes care to lower his voice here.] I wouldn't call... The other night. That wasn't just foolin' around. S'different somehow. I dunno if that makes sense.
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But well. There's one thing he agrees on and that is that last point. ]
It does. All my past encounters were either matters of force or quick affairs with the end goal of brief relief. I get up, I shower and I leave. It's so distant now, I barely recall the names of men I've been with.
But I'll remember you. [ Regardless of where this goes, regardless of how badly they fuck it up, he'll remember. ]
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The note about him... Is a little flustering but mostly he's like. But of course. He is desireable and good at sex!! You better remember him!!!]
Obviously. Ya don't go puttin' all your effort into makin' someone lose their damn mind from yer dick on a passin' fancy. You've been bewitched by sword genius Okada Izou!!
[IZOU CAN YOU STOP BRAGGING AND FOCUS.]
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[ DISGUSTINGLY UNROMANTIC. BLOCKED. ]
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I thought you didn't wanna get all... Emotional about it!
[YOU'RE RUINING OUR PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY OF NOT BEING IN LOVE, MCGILLIS.]
But... me too I guess. S'the only time it felt like more than just... Like it was like my brain got off too insteada just my body.
[Elegant. Is this what you wanted, McGillis.]
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So McGillis reaches up to run a hand along Izou's cheek, briefly playing with his hair between his fingers as he goes. ]
Just because it's not love doesn't mean there's no emotion worth mentioning here.
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And he'll lean into that touch, regardless. Pet him yes please thank you.]
Well yer gonna have to figure out what it is exactly because this is more complicated than me and Ryouma even, and I needed a whole palace to figure that out.
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And then Izou brings up the other big issue in the room, the specters of men they were forgetting by collapsing into one another. ]
Oh, so you did figure it out for good? What is he to you, now?
[ Maybe this is even more important to settle than whatever the deal is with Eli and Celeste. ]
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Mm. I mean, after all that palace shit I decided that I wanted ta stop being mad at him but...
[He shifts a little, really wedging himself in. Comfy.]
Hookin' up with him always felt different than being with anyone else... But then bein' with you was different too. So I decided it's really jus' like how I feel about Eli and Celeste, y'know?
[Hitting McGillis with the one-two punch of "oh yeah I slept with Ryouma before, probably multiple times from this phrasing" and then "but sleeping with you made me realize that I wasn't in love with him or the secret worse thing we are doing."]
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Well, that's not true, he did see it coming that Izou is attracted to Ryouma - how could he not have been? The rest of it though... Consummate attraction, and then-- ]
... I see.
[ This whole time he'd still believed himself to be something of a stand-in for Ryouma. Fighting the invisible shadow of the Other Man, an act that brought him a cynical sense of satisfaction. But if it's... ]
But you're not in love with me.
[ Just. Re-confirming this. ]
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Mm. It's something else, but it's still like... More intense than with other people I like.
[The way neither of them are even considering that they're simply mid way through the process of falling in love. Because they're too busy being weird and intense and using violent metaphors to express that.]
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The hand on Izou's cheek moves again, though not to continue the petting but rather to run a thumb over Izou's lips. ]
I think... I could have once fallen in love with Gaelio. He'd been by my side for 20 years, a constant presence, a warm place in the sun when I was freezing in my own house.
[ Give him a minute, he's actually going somewhere with this. ]
You don't make me feel safe like that. You make me feel like I'm going to be dissected inside-out by hungry eyes seeking to claim every last dirty hidden part of my being.
When I was alive, I would have killed you for the mere attempt at peering behind the curtain. But now... People have averted their eyes from my truth for too long. I like that you won't avert yours.
[ Always one thing or another, always a hollow shape, a mask, never a fully rounded person. "Look at me", Gaelio used to scream at McGillis, and now McGillis gets it. But Gaelio had never been looking at him either, had he now? ]
So I want to make you mine, with or without love. Is that acceptable?
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The hypothetical murder threat to Izou is just a matter of course. Only fair. If other factors hadn't been in play he'd have fully committed to killing McGillis too.]
Mm. People're always saying shit ta me about how I gotta act. "Don't be so loud," "You shouldn't enjoy killin' people," "take this more seriously," always some issue with how I'm too much of whatever they don't want. You ain't never tryin' to change me even when I'm pissing you off, and it makes me feel... [He doesn't want to say safe after what McGillis said. Fuck, what can he say instead.] comfortable?
... I wanna be the beast that keeps you in line, but I also wanna be... I want you to feel like you can rely on me. Like ... A guard dog, but one that'll rip its masters throat out if he gets out of line. Is that the same as what you want?
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What Izou is offering now is still the leash, but... ]
Your master, huh...?
[ Not one who summoned Izou, but a master nevertheless. There's an element of choice to it that's making it more appealing. A perversion of servitude for their own enjoyment only. ]
I wonder how long it'll take until you decide to rip out my throat instead. Not that I'd hesitate to put you down if you ever did.
[ And completely opposite to the actual words he's saying, he'll give Izou a real proper romantic kiss. ]
Let's find out.
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He'll accept that kiss, happily. But then it's his turn to say something unbefitting it.]
Yer real sure of yourself fer a guy who can't even shoot right anymore. That's why you need a guard dog.
[Izou like "NAH I'D WIN."]
I... I can't offer the same kinda shelter as Gaelio even if you wanted me to but... I like protectin' the people I care about so I wanna become something like that fer you too. If that's okay.
[Maybe then they can say they're in love.]
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Just don't go gettin' the "master" thing twisted! Outside of the bedroom you ain't the boss of me!!
[WHY IS THIS THE PART YOU CHOOSE TO SHOUT.]
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... Izou.
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Stuff like this is is why everyone had a gossiping newsletter on the network when we first kissed, you know.
[ He's so tempted to throw you out his lap but it's too late for emergency measures like that..... ]
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They had what!?
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[ Said like this explains everything. He's so tired, Izou.... ]
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[Yeah no actually he isn't even that surprised.]
What the hell is there to educate about?? It's the same as anyone else kissing!!!
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[ Unfortunately, they are in hell!! ]
Apparently he thought we were fighting and needed to be broken up, which resulted in a community crash course about homosexuality. I haven't seen the chatlog, but I've been told by the newby.
Who greeted me with 'you're the one that's in love!' based on this comedy of errors.
[ Please appreciate with him how much this sucks! ]
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But yeah, the lap sit, the kiss, the announcing your sex life... all get a thumbs up. Good for you.]
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