[video] (Forward dated to Cordis moon)

[demachi]

[Wataru pops up on the video with a big grin, a white dove settled contentedly on his shoulder.]

Greetings, my fellow citizens! I come to you today with two urgent requests, and while it humbles me to make them, I'm doing it nonetheless! In the interest of getting what I need, I'll also get right to the point.

For the first request, I'm interested in gathering connections to other musicians and performance-inclined individuals for a small project. A tiny one. Oya? You're worried? Definitely nothing to concern yourselves over! I know of a few others, but if you introduce yourselves to me directly we can avoid all kinds of delays. I'm especially interested in other idols, and in genres other than what I personally am accustomed to performing. Shown here.

[He plays a song with his acquired music box, just for about forty-five seconds or so as he hums along, then shuts it off and laughs.]

Ah, now... [He sets the box back aside, then takes the bird from his shoulder and pets her gently.] ...The second matter is a little more delicate. I think this has to do with my Moonblessing! I'm absolutely famished at all times during this moon, and especially starved for... Fufufu, well, it's contact I'm starved for! Chroma is a precious thing, and I can't seem to get enough. It's as simple as agreeing to meet up and hold my hand for a while, you see! We'll discuss things, or perhaps we could see a movie, or a play? I could sing to you!~ Magic tricks are my forte, as well, and I'd be happy to show you some of those. Look! One, Two, Amazing☆!

[He pets the white dove once, twice, then nudges her up into flight as a rose blooms where she just sat on his hand. She comes back to land on his shoulder, unfazed.]

See? Just as simple as that. So I'll pay you in entertainment, and you'll give me some companionship! Nothing simpler. Age isn't a factor, or anything else. I'm quite known to love entertaining people of all ages, and I dare say all races and species!

[He doesn't even look embarrassed as he reaches the end of his request, and he grins broadly. This man has NO shame.]

There you have it~ Until next we meet, I'll remain your very own Wataru Hibiki☆~!

Comments

[demachi]

[To the kitchen he goes, eyes scanning for the red tin. When he finds it, he swiftly begins preparing the water for tea, and measuring out the leaves into sachets. Of course, if Shu wants for chroma, he'll find Wataru eager to help, if only because Wataru is having his own troubles. He may be admitting to hunger in the posting, but what he's really feeling is... a sort of shyness and distance-induced poverty, too. He can tell from the state of the place that Shu isn't living in his usual circumstances.]

Aren't we lucky I have two very capable hands ready for your use, Shu? And willingly given, of course, as I daresay this is a bit beneath you. Leave the base task of preparing our drinks to me and focus on other things.

[There. That ought to soothe him a bit. Wataru's eyes needn't scan Shu again, but he's mulling over the animal attributes and wondering how he got such a break... just feathers. Okay, well, Shu's wings are cool. But. The talons must be such a burden.]

You're well otherwise? If you have need of anything, being new and all, I know just who you can ask. Me, of course. [Wink.] To be honest... I wished to see you all, more than anything. Selfish, isn't it? Does that selfishness even surprise anyone, I wonder...?

[dollorous]

Just listening to the nonsense coming out of your mouth is vexing. To call Hibiki Wataru selfish is to slander him, and I will not allow anyone to do so in my presence.

[Even if it's Wataru himself saying it.]

You are someone who shines brightly, more than most could ever hope for. The same can be said for all of us—those of us given that wretched title of Eccentric...you can't be faulted for wanting to be in the company of your equals.

[Shu is in the fortunate position of arriving with some of the Eccentrics already a little more settled, but he's sure if their arrival times had been reversed, he'd have wanted to see the rest of them, too.]

...Rather than asking if I have anything I need assistance with, however, I believe it was I who offered you my own. Though I understand if you would rather not touch me while my hands are in this state.

[Frankly, he'd love to just cut them off himself.]

[demachi]

My, such strong words! I'll take them as praise and affection, whether you intend that or not.

[He grins, beginning to gather everything needed for tea. It's nothing, to do a small favor for a fellow Eccentric. He loves them all dearly, in ways even he doesn't understand well, on a level unlike his affection for any others. They may be strange and cobbled together out of spite and indecent accusations, but they're certainly as tight knit as Wataru would ever wish for in a little group of cohorts. Shu's words warm him.]

Here, I won't let anyone speak ill nonsense about you, either! Why wouldn't I want to touch you? You're Shu, dearly admired and beautiful, even if you're a little indisposed when it comes to the use of your hands. Whatever you offer me, I'll take with all due gratitude. It's... [His tone shifts, to something a little darker, more honest, less theatrical.] ...difficult to find a reason and a cause to be close to people. I can't do it as easily as my request might've implied. It's a terrible truth I'll entrust you with, Shu. That I'm dangerously close to wearing myself too thin to function. I won't let you do the same, so we'll have to do something as gauche as cuddling, if it comes to that!

[dollorous]

[Truth be told, Shu isn't entirely convinced he hasn't already worn himself too thin to function. This is all too much, too quickly—he still hasn't even properly recovered from the disastrous live that ruined his unit, and now this? All of this?

He certainly would have broken by now, were it not for the fact that there are people he knows and people he cherishes here. He has to keep up appearances for the former, and...though he may not be of as much assistance as he should, for the latter, he'll still give as much of himself as he can spare in the effort.

The Eccentrics have been through enough already. This is the least he can do for them, after they've all been to hell together.]

...Then allow me to offer a truth of my own, Wataru. You do not and will not ever need a reason to seek me out. Of course, this doesn't give you permission to come and go as you please!

[He has to have some modicum of privacy and security, after all.]

But just as you say you will not allow me to fall into ruin, I refuse to let it happen to you as well. Even if it means I must endure being touched...

[Word on the street is moonlacing feels amazing, but the thought of it still makes his skin crawl. Still, if it's for Wataru...if it's for someone he cares about, this is a sacrifice he'll make.]

...If it must be done, then I would choose any of the three of you over anyone else. Rei as well, should he arrive.

[After all, they understand better than everyone else just how uncomfortable this is for him. He doesn't have to explain it, doesn't have to explain all his anxieties and neurotic behaviors, because they all know already. In other words, right now, the only people he can trust with his body are the other Eccentrics.]

[demachi]

[Wataru won't let anything bad happen to Shu on his watch, or any of the others. They're too dear, too necessary for his survival. And, though he isn't sure he believes in mystical wishes coming true, he did wish for the others to arrive to keep him company, oh so selfishly. Shu won't have to do much to satisfy Wataru's heart and his need to be close. Maybe they'll sit with knees touching! Maybe he'll lean his head on Shu's shoulder and listen to the lovely sound of his voice! Maybe they'll share tea and miseries and Wataru can stroke the wings he's bearing!

Because in honesty, Shu's been informed correctly: it does feel good.]

When it comes to being touched... How should I put this? I may be used to more than some, from being in theater, of course! But when it's with someone you truly treasure, the dividends are enormous and the feeling warms you right through to your very soul.

[The way he feels with a select few here... People he'll hold fast to and pray never leave his side. He doesn't want to make new friends. He doesn't want that on his back. He just wants to exist and make art.

The water is on to heat, and the prepared tea bags sit awaiting it in dainty cups. Wataru turns toward Shu and raises one hand with a flourish. If Shu hasn't let anyone close since he arrived, he's probably in need of chroma. Wataru can deliver, carefully and politely and with a sincerity and appropriate distance that will set Shu at ease. It's a challenge, but he thinks he can do it.]

May I demonstrate? Gently, ever so gently, for my dear fellow Eccentric.

[dollorous]

[Shu's gaze flickers from Wataru's face to his hand and back again, before he draws closer, wings and shoulders drooping just a bit. He's...exhausted, truly, perhaps even moreso than the days immediately following Valkyrie's fall. He had been too wracked with emotion to be all that cognizant of his body, then; here, between his bad habit of eating little and moonlacing even less, he's sure his physical exhaustion is threatening to dull his feelings in much the same way.

What a bother, being human. Nothing is ever aligned just right. This is why dolls are much better.]

Do as you wish, Wataru. I trust you, after all.

[He's not entirely sure what motivates him to say it aloud, when merely agreeing to the offer should be enough, but it feels like it's something that needs to be said.

After all, the Cordis moon is shining, and to Shu Itsuki, self-indulgence is admitting he has a self to take care of in the first place.]