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[divinereaper]

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closed to Lucilius | :3c

[divinereaper]

Feel free to drag me back to reality at your convenience

Going in as if they already know each other.

[axionapocalypse]

I'll assume you meant this for someone else, but I'll bite. What happened this time, and do I need to bail your impulsive ass out of jail again?

yes

[divinereaper]

uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
tried to break up a fight but they thought i started it
LISTEN IT WASNT MY FAULT OK

[axionapocalypse]

Eugh... alright, I'm coming over to pick you up. But keep doing this and you may not get off so easy.

[divinereaper]

im sorry you have to waste time on me
theyre not even pressing charges on me they just want me to pick me up

...

mom pick me up im scared

[ :3c ]

they are now in a car

[axionapocalypse]

I care about you, I really do. And I get you always want to do the right thing, but again you have to consider how your actions might look to someone who wasn't involved.

Please, next time just tell someone.

[ Though his tone is exasperated, his face is gentle. ]

[divinereaper]

No.

[ He's pouting as he slinks deeper into his chair. Not happy is an understatement. ]

I don't want to be the reason something really horrible happens, alright? Yeah, it was stupid, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Challenge Quest: Help Me Blend In

[brokendome]

[?] Help Me Blend In
Client: Naoto Reward: 2500 Macca
Task: Escort the client safely to Cafe Florida in Shinjuku.

Listen, I know you probably won't believe a word of this, but I'm not even from this world at ALL and I'm beginning to worry the people here are getting suspicious. I keep hearing people gossip about things going on in Tokyo, so if it's anything like the Tokyo back home I think I can at least blend in. Please help me get somewhere safe there!

[ The request seemed simple enough, if Flynn could drag Navarre kicking and screaming all the way to Shinjuku, then he could absolutely do the same with someone more... sane.
He'd seen this kid around, so may as well accept his request. ]

[divinereaper]

[ naoto had been terrified. being in a new place after being spit out by the boundary was always terrifying, but it was always in a place where he could at least blend in. the eastern kingdom of mikado was not one of those places. he found himself struggling to fit in, with all their rules and class system. he was never one for class systems, and had accidentally almost started a riot— what made matters worse was that he couldn’t exactly fight unless he revealed bloodedge, and that could’ve broken his cover far too quickly, as he could’ve easily been called a demon. that, coupled with his otherworldly presence immediately cast suspicion on him, so he had to bail, and soon.

but what really bothered him was the numbers everyone in mikado had. it was if they were all suppressed. unable to live to their fullest. maybe because of all the visible indoctrination of following the church. so once he heard that there had been a place called tokyo, he knew that was his ticket out. if getting out meant securing his life, naoto had to take it— so he put in a request through the samurai channels, hoping one would be crazy enough to help him.

as he waited, he made himself small as to not arouse suspicion. so when he saw flynn approach him in all that fancy samurai garb, his eyes lit up with hope. maybe he had a future after all. ]

Are you the Samurai who’s gonna help me? [ naoto’s voice was small, trying to hide the hope from his voice, and failing miserably. ] If not, I get it.

[brokendome]

I am, yes.
[ He extends a hand to the clearly anxious young man. ]

Ahaha, I've got to admit your request seemed frantic and outlandish, but I couldn't just ignore someone in need.

My name is Flynn, by the way.

[divinereaper]

[ naoto takes flynn’s hand and shakes it, relief flooding his body and letting it show on his face. he can get out in one piece. ]

Nice to meet you, Flynn... Thank you again, really. I’m Naoto.

[ he looks around, trying not to seem suspicious. ]

Um… where exactly are we going through to get to Tokyo, though?

[forsaintcecilia]

It had been awhile since that night. Kazuki took that sick day off like he said he would. But while his asshole recovered, his heart never really did.

He was used to it, though. It definitely wasn't the first time his spirit had been wounded while in the trade, and he knew how to bear it, and continue working regardless. His regulars still kept coming, and a few more had even joined the ranks. But there was always one person that could see straight through him.

"A penny for your thoughts, Hihara?"

Kazuki jumped a bit at being addressed, as he was ruminating at the bar, not really paying attention to his surroundings. But he knew that voice.

Azuma Yunoki was one of the top billers at the brothel. His time was at a premium for men and women alike. His long, purple hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail, with his forelocks loose and swept across his forehead. His voice was as silky smooth as his mannerisms. Kazuki was one of the few that understood there was something darker beneath it all, but he accepted his surface personality as part of the game they all had to play.

"It's nothing, really," Kazuki turned and smiled at him the same way he did to customers, even though he had a feeling it wouldn't work here. "It's just... Business, you know?"

"A client, then?"

"Yeah, I guess," he replied as he straightened his back, and looked towards the ceiling. "Kind of? He only came in once. Do you remember that weird one that just grabbed me and dragged me back without any drinks?"

"Ah, that was the subject of workplace gossip that night," Azuma put his elbow on the table, and rested his chin in his hand. "He never returned? Did he really become a member for just one visit?"

"His father was lending him membership. Insisted he, uh, 'learn how to please his fiance,' or something like that. He didn't really want to be here, but thought he could at least make a night of it."

"And this charmed you?" Azuma lifted one delicate eyebrow.

"Not really," Kazuki smiled wryly. "But he was earnest. Probably the most honest I've ever seen here. And between you and me..."

He leaned into Azuma's space conspiratorially.

"His cock was huge."

Azuma covered his mouth to hide his laughter.

"So that was what charmed you?"

"Nah, I just thought I'd lighten the mood," he shrugged a little. "What really surprised me was, after we were done, he asked me if there was some kind of way he could buy me out of here."

"After just one night? Does he not have anywhere better to stick his giant cock?"

"Maybe?" Kazuki laughed too, this time. "But he was just so... He meant it, you know? I think I could tell he meant it. Because... Well, he seemed really hurt when I told him I couldn't do that."

"Well." Azuma was clearly unimpressed. "He doesn't understand the circumstances, then."

"Probably not. But it still got me, the way he turned away. I don't think he could bear to look at me after that. I think I even cried a little."

"You've always had a soft heart," Azuma put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "It's going to be the death of you, you know."

"I know," he sighed. "I've never been able to handle it like you do. I wish I could, but I just can't."

"I understand that about you. Your greatest strength, and your biggest weakness. I'm here for you, Hihara."

"You're a good friend, Yunoki."

[divinereaper]

Naoto never thought to return to the brothel. It had been some time, and he had pretty much buried the encounter under work and other obligations that came with running the family. It would occasionally come up when any of his family members would mention how empty his smiles looked next to his wife, but he didn't bother justifying any of his expressions to those who only cared about their position in the family. Naoto couldn't stand being used, so lie to their faces was what he did. Seeing right through their games, he decided to leave them be before he cut them out entirely.

In fact, naoto had buried everything that was his past self when he was married to a woman he barely even knew. His mother was the only one who knew of her son's true emotions and was even the one who asked him to return to the brothel. While the suggestion shocked him, his mother only justified it with the idea that he needed a break from obligations and formality. Naoto would have argued but knew when his mother gave him a suggestion, there was usually a very good reason behind it. Even his own sister and best friend told him to go, wanting only the best for him

"If you don't go, I'm dragging you there myself!" were the words of Raquel, his best friend and the only woman outside of the family who knew of Naoto's true self.

And while Naoto himself was absolutely against being dragged, he still took his damn sweet time. Raquel was a woman of her word, and dragged back into the brothel he was. With father's membership card in hand and fee paid, a woman with long, blond hair and sharp red eyes walked into the lounge with Naoto in tow-- which only made them look like a normal couple rather than a man and his best friend.

"Now take a seat, Naoto, we're not playing any more games." Raquel said with a huff, essentially dumping Naoto onto the sofa, taking a seat right next to him. "No worries, I'm staying with you."

Naoto, now grumbling as he makes himself comfortable, shot a weak glare at the woman. "Couldn't just leave me alone, huh, princess?"

"Not at all." she said with a smile. "After all, I've been eying this brothel myself, and you did promise me a birthday gift!"

"Oh my god, you freeloader."

[forsaintcecilia]

It was a slow night, at least for the male prostitutes, so Azuma stayed at the bar with Kazuki, idly chatting while also keeping an eye on the customers coming and going. It was beginning to look like they were going to have an off night, until Azuma spotted a familiar face entering with a beautiful woman in tow. A sly smile spread across his face.

"Speak of the devil, and doth he appear," Azuma said under his breath, and Kazuki turned towards him in question-- only to spot Naoto on a nearby couch.

He felt his heart leap up and lodge itself in his throat, and he had to fight the urge to hide... Even though he wasn't upset, or scared. No, if anything, he was weirdly happy to see Naoto again, but something about the situation had suddenly made him shy. What a feeling for a man in this line of business to have! Pull yourself together, Kazuki!

Azuma, however, seemed as pleased as a cat after catching the canary. He stood up from the bar (removing any kind of barrier Kazuki had between him and Naoto, curses) and walked over to Raquel. It was rare for Azuma to approach anyone, normally he was a bit more coy with his intentions, and Kazuki immediately knew that he was scheming himself some entertainment for the night.

Goddammit. Azuma always loved watching him squirm.

"Good evening," he greeted them both in a perfectly genteel manner, "and welcome to our establishment. I don't believe I've seen you here before, Miss, would this happen to be your first visit?"

[divinereaper]

Raquel, still grinning that she even managed to drag Naoto to the brothel in the first place, didn't register that Azuma was speaking to her until he asked about a first time. She spared a glance at him, almost uninterested, nodding as a response.

"This is my first time, yes. My patron for the night, however is not." she answered smoothly, causing Naoto to shoot her a weak glare.

"Gee, thanks for humiliating me even more." he quips, only to go back to keeping his gaze down. He thinks he can make the best of it, if he's just here to support Raquel and get himself into a drunken stupor before anything else happened. Because he just wants to disappear, he even tries to make himself small, something that Raquel doesn't exactly appreciate.

"If you can, do get us some cocktails to start." she says with a small smile. "We need to loosen him up."

[forsaintcecilia]

"Ah. Right away, miss," Azuma replied with a gentle bow at the waist, then turned back to the bar. "Hihara, do you mind? You've always had a knack for cocktail recommendations."

"Ah--" Kazuki paused to clear his throat, and through sheer willpower forced himself to maintain an outwardly cool demeanor, despite how his stomach was doing backflips, "Of course. Just a minute."

Even with the greatest of efforts, it was excruciatingly hard to hide his nerves. It took all his concentration not to somehow make a fool of himself as he walked behind the bar. Still, as he mixed another Caipirinha for Naoto (and a Cosmopolitan for the lady) he made way too much noise with his shaking hands, drawing all the attention in the room to himself.

Azuma gave absolutely no sign that anything was amiss, and Kazuki was going to murder him the very moment he had a reasonable alibi.

[divinereaper]

When the heir heard Kazuki's voice, he had to hold himself still to hide the jump his body gave. Stupid, so stupid. There was no way he should be that scared to hear someone he only spent a night with. He knew, yet he shrinks down into himself even more. He knew he fucked up, there's no point trying to mend a non-existent relationship.

Raquel, for the time it takes for their drinks to arrive, keeps a close eye on her best friend, wanting him to just relax, but noticing that he's doing anything but. She almost starts to second guess herself, only to snap herself out of it by pressing herself next to him, taking her hand in his. Nothing would stop her from making sure Naoto smiled at least once!

The hand holding was appreciated, on Naoto's end. But he still keeps himself quiet as Raquel speaks for him.

"So do you just sit here, waiting for patrons to arrive? Doesn't it get boring?" she starts, leaning her head on Naoto's shoulder. "Though as I think of it, getting paid to look pretty sounds really nice."

[forsaintcecilia]

"It can be dull, sometimes," Azuma admitted, perfectly composed even when being frank. "It's an odd night if we don't get business. But I don't mind spending an evening to myself every now and then. Although, I think there's a bit more to it than simply being pretty."

Azuma's answer left a convenient lull in conversation, So Kazuki took a deep breath and came back around the bar with drinks for everyone. He had made a Dark and Stormy for himself and a Martini with Blue Curacao and Grenadine for Azuma. He leaned over a bit as he offered the tray towards the couch, the drinks arranged on the tray so the cocktail that was meant for each recipient was closest to them.

As he did so, he finally gathered the courage to look at Naoto directly. He smiled in a way that looked a little bit apologetic, but the warmth still reached his eyes. Kazuki was trying to make it clear that, while flustered, he wasn't upset.

closed to kazuki | soulmate au

[divinereaper]

[ discovering his soulmate was an experience that naoto couldn't say he was excited about. it was one of the many things he had pushed to the wayside, with all the rules and obligations he had to handle. but at the same time, he couldn't deny the fact that he had been curious. he wanted that fairytale romance all his visual novels spoke of, even if he'd never admit it to anyone.

but it happened, and naoto was trying his best to just get used to kazuki's presence. it felt like a first meeting, and he had to remind himself that it wasn't-- it had been some time that they had met, having a chance to be friends before he even asked him out. but being at his house, in his living room was a little different. it a personal space he hadn't exactly thought about crossing, but starting now was better than never doing so at all.

despite his nerves, it was that silent but firm pull from deep within his chest that told him that it was alright. it was one of the signs his parents always told him were the sign of a tight soulmate bond. that at least made him happy. for now, he was comfortable with his head in kazuki's lap, humming ever so softly as he scrolled through the tv for something to watch. ]

You're comfy. Don't know why I didn't do this sooner.

[forsaintcecilia]

[Kazuki was still a bit mystified by the position he found himself in right now too. For a long time, he had thought that he had already found his soulmate, in a girl that never returned his feelings. He'd longed for her so deeply that he could have sworn up and down that she was the one, but... Well, it never turned out, and he had more or less given up on ever finding that person, but. Then he met Naoto.]

[While he had an inkling of an idea that he might be interested in men as well, suddenly having a crush on a man after years of desperately thirsting for a woman made him feel like he'd been spun around and around and was then expected to run in a straight line towards the goal. He stumbled all over himself in their first interactions, unsure and confused about everything he was feeling, but undeniably attracted to him. He wanted to be around Naoto all the time, and enjoyed every second they spent together.]

[Thankfully, they had a substantial buffer of being friends, giving Kazuki time to sort himself out. Now that they were officially together, he was a lot more comfortable with all the things he felt for Naoto. He had some anxiety about where they were going, and subjects they hadn't broached yet, but it felt less all-consuming and more like the regular sorts of worries anyone would have about their relationships.]

I like it too. [He admitted, and tentatively stroked Naoto's hair.] You don't mind, right?

[Kazuki didn't want Naoto to feel emasculated. He'd had such strong notions of traditional gender roles for so long that he sometimes doubted even what felt most natural to him. He was still learning how to navigate all that complicated, wibbly-wobbly, spaghetti messy gender stuff.]

[divinereaper]

No, of course not. In fact, please continue. I quite like it.

[ it's a nice reprieve from what he has to deal with. in fact, he loves the touch in his hair. thankfully naoto is very much in the market for anything romantic, given he's exposed himself to varying gender roles throughout his life. with a small hum, he leans into it as he continues talking. ]

The question should be: are you happy?

[forsaintcecilia]

[Kazuki was open to nearly everything, as long as Naoto was genuinely enjoying it! While he was nervous, it was also fun and exciting, in a trying-new-things kind of way. There was a lot of self-discovery going on these days, and he was all for it.]

Your hair is softer than it looks. [Although it had a kink that stood up no matter how many times he smoothed it over. Kazuki knew the struggle, he had cowlick from hell himself.] Yeah, I am! I don't think I've ever, uh-- done the Netflix and chill, you know?

[It is entirely possible that he does not understand the innuendo behind that phrase.]

[divinereaper]

[ he appreciates the compliment, definitely. but if he knew about the cowlick from hell, naoto would only say "same."

the 'netflix and chill' phrase came into his ears, and naoto froze for a second. oh. uh. that's wholly and completely unexpected, okay. he can only hope kazuki was pure, or else that... would be awkward! he keeps his eyes on the tv as he speaks, hoping it'd hide the light pink blush on his cheeks. ]

N-Neither have I, honestly... But I mean, there's a first for everything, right?

[forsaintcecilia]

[Absolutely pure. On a scale of 1 to cinnamon roll, Kazuki is the entire Cinnabon store.]

[To prove this, he quirks his head innocently at Naoto as he flusters, leaning over just slightly to get a better look at him.]

Are you okay? Did I say something weird?

[divinereaper]

[ while naoto is pink on the outside, on the inside he's already melting. oh god, he is too cute!! too cute!!!! he's going to die at this rate-- ]

No, you're good. [ he forces out. this isn't the time to act like a lovestruck teenager. ] Just... be careful to who you say that phrase to. I don't want to be beating anyone up.

[ he totally would, too. his scars would prove he knows how to fight. ]