[Anonymous]

[tigerpoet]

I need something to occupy me that doesn't require me having control of my body.

Split personality. There's less we have to fight here, so I take control less than I used to, and I'm bored.

I'd take offers to spar but you'd have to run it by the other half first.

Comments

[tigerpoet]

You're a good sparring partner. ...And having someone to talk to myself isn't... bad. I suppose.

[Tsun tsun, dere dere.]

[scarsnstripes]

You are too..! At least, I think you are.

[Again: not a lot of fights without attempted murder.]

And you're just nice to spend time with, too. You and him both.

[tigerpoet]

Doubtful. I'm not much of a talker.

[...having said that, he slides his hand closer to the other Atsushi. Not moonlacing, but the offer is there if he so chooses.]

[scarsnstripes]

[Oh!

He's learned enough here to recognize the offer as what it is. Amazing what a few months in affection city will do to chip away (slightly) at natural obliviousness. Atsushi will happily tuck his hand alongside his, smiling a little as he laces their fingers.]

You don't have to talk much to be good company, you know.

[tigerpoet]

...Hmmph.

[The tips of Atsushi's ears are turning pink, but he doesn't argue with that any further.]

Our usual method of healing wounds is much more efficient. If less pleasant.

[Not that he's enjoying cuddling or anything.]

[scarsnstripes]

Oh? What's usual? If it's anything like Yosano-sensei's method... I'm sorry.

[He really, really is.]

[tigerpoet]

It's this.

[With his free hand, Atsushi reaches into a pocket and pulls out an inkwell. Uncaps it. Tosses the whole thing back like he's drinking a shot.

Some of Atsushi's wounds do clear up immediately, so you can't say it isn't effective, but...]

[scarsnstripes]

[Atsushi stares for a long, long moment in horror, because the contents of that bottle was undeniably ink to his nose, and the 'blood' coming from the other's wounds smelled like it, too.

holy shit.]

Is that ink?!

[tigerpoet]

Of course it is. What else do people keep in inkwells?

[Like that was the problem here?]

[scarsnstripes]

You're drinking ink?! 'Less pleasant' is an understatement, here.

[Seriously?!]

Even when I was eating out of dumpsters I never-- I mean.... No one should have to drink stuff like that!

[tigerpoet]

It's not something you have for the taste.

[Because however bad Atsushi imagines it tastes, it's probably worse.]

I'm used to it.

[scarsnstripes]

[Probably much worse, yes.]

Well... does moonlacing help at all?

[tigerpoet]

It does.

[Just leaning against Atsushi had started to ease his aches, though it didn't heal his wounds near as quickly as just downing some ink.]

Why?

[scarsnstripes]

[Atsushi's quiet for a moment as if considering something, before--]

Well in that case, let me help you heal. I did cause those injuries, after all. I don't think I'd want to kiss you on the lips when you have ink in your mouth unless you rinse it out, but I'm happy to help with anything else.

[tigerpoet]

[Oh. Atsushi is a little more pink than he was before. How is his blushing a normal color despite him not having red blood? A mystery.]

This isn't you taking pity on me, is it?

[Because he hates that. His pride is too strong to ever accept such an offer.]

[scarsnstripes]

No, it's not. It's me caring about you... and if you like, taking responsibility for my actions.

[He's smiling a little. That blush is cute okay.]

[tigerpoet]

...I'm the one who asked you to spar with me. I should be helping you with your moonlacing, if that's your reasoning.

[And what if he just doesn't acknowledge that 'caring about you' part ever! That sounds great!

Atsushi reaches out to pet the other Atsushi on the head between his ears. He'd liked that before, if Atsushi remembers right.]

[scarsnstripes]

Then we can help each other, right?

[Telling this Atsushi not to care is futile, sorry. He's already invested, you've got a stray cat following you forever now.

As it stands, he's leaning in to that petting with a happy sigh, smiling softly.]

Mmm... that feels nice.

[He'll wrap one arm loosely around the other in response, the contact easily dislodged if it made the other uncomfortable.]

[tigerpoet]

[He could dislodge the contact, but he doesn't. He hasn't been hugged all that many times before. ...Atsushi doesn't dislike it.

Atsushi turns his head to place a kiss on the other's cheek. Even that much is strange and vulnerable for him.

His ears are absolutely burning.]

[scarsnstripes]

[Oh...

from this angle, he can most certainly see the ways his ears are burning, and it's terribly cute. He's a pretty easy blusher as well, but still... something about the almost shyness is attractive here.

He turns, leans in, and presses a kiss to his cheek as well. And then he presses yet another to the corner of his jaw.]

[tigerpoet]

[Maybe it's the difference in personality. The other Atsushi seems much more like the kind of person who would blush, but inner Atsushi is still working on the 'interacting with anyone in a positive sense' part of moonlacing. Or having friends. Or anything.

Then again, he's not as different from his other half as you might assume. Maybe they just both have the blushing gene.]

This isn't necessary. ...And I have little experience with it.

[He says that as he gives Atsushi's hand a tiny squeeze.]

[scarsnstripes]

Honestly, I don't either... relatively speaking. I hadn't even kissed anyone before I showed up here. But because my ability takes up so much Chroma between the healing and the transformations, I picked up a lot from... certain people.

[Translation: He's a reckless idiot and so it became a crash course in maintaining his Chroma.

He'll return that squeeze gently, offering him a smile.]

I won't kiss you again if you don't want to.

[tigerpoet]

I remember him doing it, but that's different from doing it myself.

[Also, his memories of that are only vague ones.]

...you can keep going. I don't dislike - mmph. I like it.

[Actually directly admitting a positive feeling about something is more difficult than the moonlacing.]

[scarsnstripes]

I suppose that's understandable... kissing can be pretty awkward if you only know what you've seen.

[He leans in again, pressing a gentle kiss to Atsushi's forehead.]

If you want a kiss on the lips though, you're going to have to rinse your mouth out. I'd rather not deal with the taste of ink, if it's all the same.

[tigerpoet]

...one minute.

[Reluctantly, Atsushi untangles himself from the other Atsushi so that he can step into his bathroom. There's the sound of running water, etc., that suggests that he has gone to rinse his mouth out. Because he has.

When Atsushi emerges, he wordlessly sits down next to the other again.]