PCs for room 11!

[shortforever]

Because there's going to be a lot of these lol

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[survivaltricks]

[FORTUNATELY, Akira has already made his way back to Room 11, so he's curled up in the (still stripped bare) bed when Chuuya stumbles in. the noise jerks him out of his nap and he bolts upright immediately, eyes blinking blearily as the blur that is Chuuya rushes to the bathroom]

-- Chuuya?

[shit. fuck. what?? Akira slides out of bed and stumbles towards the bathroom]

Chuuya, are you okay?!

[shortforever]

I'm fine!

[His voice is just a little shaky, betraying that he's not fine at all.

Akira will be able to see that Chuuya is completely unharmed. No marks on his body, no blood on his clothes, nothing. But he looks pale, and he smells faintly of blood and rot.

Those shaky hands are now holding onto the sink, fingers white as they practically dig into the porcelain. ]

I just- need to wash up-

[survivaltricks]

[FAINTLY. . . OF BLOOD AND ROT. . .]

Shit.

[and in an instant, Akira is at Chuuya's side, concern suddenly flickering to life as their emotions intertwine. he places a hand on Chuuya's back to steady him]

What did you see--?

[though, it's not really about what Chuuya "saw," is it?]

[shortforever]

[The concern is met with flashes of anxiety, irritation, and fear. He flinches at the physical contact, but it's more out of surprise at being touched than anything else. ]

You wanna know what I saw? I saw us wake up with one less person in the damn group, that's what I saw!

[survivaltricks]

[Akira flinches back as well, but only for a brief second before he rests his hand on Chuuya's shoulder]

Chuuya.

Who was it?

[who went missing. . .?]

[shortforever]

[For a half-second it looks like Chuuya might lash out at Akira. He's already pulling back his arm to brace it for a shove. But he stops himself, and he crumbles a bit as he speaks. ]

Mammon. Mammon's missing.

She- Brilith- she's really upset about it. And it's rubbing off on me.

[Not really, most of those feelings are his own. ]

[survivaltricks]

[ah]

[Akira's expression crumbles as well. he hadn't known Mammon well, but he can imagine it wasn't easy for Chuuya to wake up with one less person in their room. to know that sometime during the night. . . someone snuck in and killed another person, right in front of him]

[and while Akira is not a touchy feely person, in situations like this, there's really only one thing he knows to do]





[he surges forward and draws Chuuya into a tight hug]

[shortforever]

[That right there is the crux of it. Knowing that someone just straight-up murdered a man while he was sleeping near him is, well, terrifying. It could have easily been him, and he wouldn't have been able to do a thing about it. He hates being vulnerable like that. 0/10, would not recommend, give him his gravity powers back.

But that hug. That hug. Hm.

Chuuya tenses slightly, and then he just. Stands there. At first he just plain doesn't understand what's going on. He knows it's a hug, and he knows that hugs are meant to express feelings and stuff. But he just can't understand why Akira is hugging him now. What feeling is this meant to express? And why does being hugged like this make his face start leaking at an alarming rate?

Watch out, Akira. There's a tea-waterfall going down Chuuya's face right now.]

[survivaltricks]

[what feeling is this hug meant to express. . .? sympathy, a desire to comfort, sorrow, a bit of grief of his own. . . this mansion sucks, and three weeks in a row of dead bodies-- three dead bodies this time-- takes a toll on a person]

[so even when Chuuya doesn't hug back. . . Akira's grip on his roommate merely tightens, fingers balling into fists at the back of his shirt. he can't see those tears due to hug, but that's okay]

[let it all out, Chuuya. Akira's got you]

[shortforever]

[It sure does, and part of Chuuya feels like he should be the one supporting Akira. And yet, when he reaches up his hands to try and do something, anything, he just ends up holding onto Akira's arms.]

I-

[Well, that voice crack betrays him right there. He's definitely crying now.]

Why?

[survivaltricks]

[. . . why?]

[at that, Akira pulls back, albeit only slightly. his hands rest on Chuuya's shoulders, and he's still well within his roommate's personal space]

I can't imagine how much you're hurting right now. I wish I could do something about it.

That's why.

[shortforever]

[...]

...

[He doesn't pull away from Akira's hands, but he does glance to the side as he reaches up to wipe some tears away. ]

You don't have to. I've always taken care of myself. That's how it is on the street, you know?

[survivaltricks]

[Chuuya. . . Akira has, up until now, avoided asking about Chuuya's life before the mafia. getting these little glimpses into it are. . . well. difficult]

You're not on the street anymore. Are you?

I don't feel obligated. You're just my friend.

[a gentle shoulder squeeze]

That's all there is to it.

[shortforever]

[That's all there is to it, huh? How can Akira make it sound so easy?

...

It might be a bad idea to say anything, but...]

No, I'm not on the street anymore.

But street or no, nobody's ever hugged me before.

[Just. Putting that out there. So that maybe Akira can understand why it's hard for him.]

[survivaltricks]

[ah--]

[. . . well, Akira looks a bit sheepish at that. though he doesn't draw Chuuya back in for a hug, he doesn't move his hands from his roommate's shoulders, either]

I. . . ah. Sorry-- I guess I should've asked first.

[but it seemed-- it felt-- like the right thing to do]

[shortforever]

[Honestly, it was the right thing to do. Chuuya's just good at making people feel self-conscious.]

You could've just said you needed a hug, you know.

[YEP. TURNING IT BACK ON AKIRA NOW. Akira looked troubled today anyway, so.]

[survivaltricks]

[i]

[oh my god]

[JUST. . . HUFFS A LAUGH]

Bear with me, I haven't slept in nearly five days. I'm losing it.

[shortforever]

[Hey, at least it's successfully distracting Chuuya from the trauma he just experienced? Until he goes to sleep next, at least.

Speaking of which...]

We've got a whole day until the trial. C'mon, Fort Asshole beckons.

[survivaltricks]

[oh my god]

It has a name now?

[but he draws back and stifles a yawn as he makes his way to the fort]

I've never been so happy to see Fort Asshole in my life.

[shortforever]

Of course it does. It needs an address for when you invite people over, or else they won't know where to go.

[Chuuya himself could use a nap, so he'll climb in on his side and curl up under his blankets.]

[survivaltricks]

1234 Fort Asshole Street, Room 11 Lane?

[that address doesn't make sense but it's okay AKIRA'S SUPER SPENT. so he's just gonna crawl inside as well and not even bother to curl underneath the blankets before he buries his face into the pillow]

[. . .]

. . . you'll be okay. Right?

[shortforever]

Exactly.

[That second bit, though. With the worst of the morning past him now, he actually feels a little silly for reacting so strongly. He's tougher than that, damnit! He's the one who should be looking out for others.]

Yeah, I'll be fine. I've been doing the 'on my own, taking care of myself' thing since I was seven, so I'm pretty good at it by now.

But are you gonna be okay? No offense, but you're a huge softie.

[survivaltricks]

I'm fine.

[he feels. . . a bit disheartened. a bit helpless. guilty and frustrated and grieving just a little bit, but. . .]

I might be a huge softie, but I'll never stop moving forward.

[shortforever]

Good.

[He actually wants Akira to be okay. Is this progress?]

...hey. Tell me something about yourself. Something I don't know yet.

[survivaltricks]

Hm. . .?

[props his head up in his hand, blinking at Chuuya]

Something you don't know?

[what can he share, what can he share. . . ah. he knows]

I had special abilities back home too, actually.