#distressed decaf

[strawberista]

⚅ — @fangedstories asked: — ⚅

⚅ — "Decaf?"

The voice was soft, the tone frightened, a shaking, skinny yet powerful hand reaching towards the tall barista, then drawing back for fear any contact might shatter him. Purple eyes filled with tears as the music of a torn soul ripped through his psychy.

"What did that bastard do to your song? I'm putting in a transfer. He can't get away with this. It's not like him though...to be this cruel. Not to you...never to you...or so I thought..."

He set an offering down and went to the corner, unwilling to leave without conformation that he wasn't welcome in the cafe anymore. — ⚅

— ★ ⚄ ★ —

God, no. God, no. Why? Why now? He should have put up barriers around his house in addition to locking up, but he really didn't think about it. He'd been wailing into his pillows when Joshua arrived, and the second he heard his voice Hanekoma had completely frozen up.

He sat up slowly as Joshua talked, shaking hard and looking like he was made of porcelain, ready to shatter at any moment. He didn't want to, not really, but slowly he turned to look at Joshua anyway, trying to process in that time what exactly it was he was saying.

"Trans...fer...?" He choked, voice hoarse from crying. "You're... Leaving him...?"

"He can't get away with this."

No. This wasn't what he'd wanted. How has he messed this all up again? He never wanted to force everyone to abandon Hazelnut. What would happen if he was all alone, if everyone turned their backs on him and left him to soak it in on his own? Even Abe hadn't been put through that...

"N-no, wait..."

[strawberista]

⚅ — @fangedstories asked: — ⚅

⚅ — "i had it all and i want it back again." The words were whispered tenderly in secret as a hand caressed the back of Decaf's neck...fingers brushing the little hairs ever so gently, hypnotically. "I can't get the taste of you out of my mouth. I fucking need it back...I need you back." — ⚅

— ★ ⚄ ★ —

Hanekoma swallowed as hard as he could to try to force the knot losing itself firmly in his throat down, but it was a wasted effort. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as his heart ignited into a burst of love and pain and desire all at once. He could feel his mind burning and fighting against itself, begging to run and to fall into this in equal measure.

And he understood the feeling Hazelnut described to him. And he hated himself for it. For being to Hazelnut what Abe was to him.

It still affected him, even if he'd long since moved on to the situation. He remembered the way Abe had touched him, still felt his fingers on his skin and the heady scent of his cologne seemed to be soaked into him no matter how much he washed himself. Abe had become a part of him and he hated how he would never be able to get rid of him. He still remembered how he'd thrown himself on Abe that time he'd found him in Shinjuku. How when he'd been pushed away he'd begged, quietly, just as he used to do.

And now he existed as that relentless shadow against Hazelnut's back...

"You know we can't do that," he choked, fought against the lump in his throat. "You know we can't. And anyway, you... Aren't you moving on? Didn't you find someone new? It's not gonna work for us..."

[strawberista]

⚅— @leoxcantus asked: —⚅ ⚅— “ What’s this I hear about J calling you daddykoma. ” —⚅

— ★ ⚄ ★ —

"Oh, you caught that, did ya? Yeah, some guy was callin' me 'daddy' so Queenie thought he'd get in on it... I don't go by that, by the way. So don't you start in on it, too."

[strawberista]

⚅— Starter for @awesomeuchuu —⚅

— ★ ⚄ ★ —

Hanekoma had entered the pachinko parlor really expecting to spend up his cash and go home, but he'd made a critical error in carrying around his cards this time. He was pretty sure the machine was rigged, but he was completely captivated by the colored lights and brilliant sounds. He'd had a couple of wins, but he was losing big. And aside from that...

"Awww, you were so close! One more time, buddy, you'll get it this time!"

This guy had been standing beside him the whole time, hyping him up more than playing his own games, and he really knew how to stroke someone's ego. He didn't know who this man was, but he couldn't help but cave when he was urged to keep going. And he really had been quite close for a big win that time. Pachislots could be the worst sometimes, but he just kept going, kept trying his luck, kept hitting it over and over. How much had he lost now? How much?

But god, it felt good. He could feel his adrenaline shooting through the roof. With his little cheerleader the rush was immense, and he was dangling off of a precipice, just hovering in front of his success.

He was pretty sure the machine was rigged but... but...

Hanekoma was so engrossed in the machine that he didn't even see Rinne enter or recognize him at all.

[strawberista]

⚅ — @pureposer asked: — ⚅

🔔*

Misc. Actions Meme

🔔  - for my muse to wake yours from a nightmare .

— ★ ⚄ ★ —

Hanekoma's body didn't move at all when he slept. It completely shut down as if a corpse, so normally it would be very hard to tell he was dreaming at all. But terrible. Awful. Traumatizing it still was. So much so that his body awoke and he made awful sounds as it melded between being awake and being asleep.

A terrible thing for anyone to witness, and yet Hanekoma, having already lost much sleep over this very nightmare, was splayed across the counter like this as Hazuki entered. A short break turned into a nap turned into this wretched sight.

And upon touching Hanekoma's shoulder and waking him, the angel bolted upright with a deep inhale and fell backwards from the stool into the floor. All a very terrifying experience for Hanekoma, as he grappled with the floor and threw his arms up to shield himself from the claws, the eyes of gold. And though the presence beside him certainly wasn't Ancestor's, the idea of angels above him right now was nothing short of a waking nightmare.

"Wh-who-- what-- what the fuck...!?" He gasped, shaking, trying to right himself but only succeeding in propping himself up on his knees.

[strawberista]

@ofrozsa said: roman vc: hypocrit

@lunarscaled said: lyric vc: youre one to talk old man

"Now, you listen here. I might not'a done a very good job with the way I went about it, but I was clear about how I felt. I don't like mackin' on someone that doesn't love me. And my life is too damn dangerous for someone when there are other, better options. I made that perfectly clear. You can't get me for not trying just because I sucked at it."

[strawberista]

⚅— @fangedstories asked: —⚅

⚅— "You look exhausted, Decaf. Why not come into my office for a sit-down? I guarantee no one is starting anything here."

Aniki smiled and extended a hand to the other Angel. —⚅

— ★ ⚄ ★ —

That was a nice a offer. But it did feel a little familiar. Hanekoma didn't want to be accused of avoiding his city again. So with a soft shake of his head he just moved around to sit at his own counter instead. No. He wouldn't be leaving his own universe at all, if he could help it. Producers didn't travel. They took care of their cities. And anyway, he had too much to do. He would at least have to wait until there were no games happening in Shibuya.

"Sorry, Aniki, but I can't do that this time," his voice was soft, trying to ease the blow of being rejected. "Maybe some other. But we can just sit an' talk for a while, if ya have time. I don't mind the company anyway."

[strawberista]

⚅— Semi-plotted Starter for @fangedstories —⚅

— ★ ⚄ ★ —

It was another one of those days, and Hanekoma was locking the shop up and putting imprints along it to make sure most people just walked right by it without looking. On days like this Hanekoma lost all of his energy, but he knew he had to keep himself tight. So many secrets he had tucked away inside of himself, and on assessment days it could be insanely difficult. He made sure to keep his children out of this part of his life. They would worry about him and possibly get in the way and make things even more difficult, especially since he couldn't protect their minds the way he could his own. Not when he was holding back this many secrets.

Today was a check in from the Higher Plane. An official assigned to keep an eye on him and make sure he wasn't in danger of falling again. Even though he'd made it out of his incarceration, he hadn't gotten completely off the hook, so he had to deal with things like this. Every person he'd told he was an angel to. Every time he'd saved or protected someone from the HP. Every time he'd done something that might go against them in any way.

And interacting with his elders.

He held it all under his breast and kept a straight face, and so far he'd been lucky enough not to let go of any secrets. Now he had to do it again, and he got a brew ready for his guest as he prepared the seat. No need to unlock the door, he knew. His interrogator would come in straight from the Higher Plane without a need for them.

He felt the rush of energy as the angel entered behind him but made no move to face them yet, just continuing to work on his brew, "Welcome back, boss. Have a seat."