#ryuondaime

[risendeads-moved]

@ryuondaime : i was just resting my eyes. / i cannot show any weakness prompts , accepting !

it's so easy to adapt to the sleeplessness of kamurocho ; things were always bright , neon lights above and the reflections of them on the constantly wet streets , people shouted as people walk by them , constantly being given items and flyers , advertisements . you always had to be alert . kiryu and sheol always seemed to find each other , exhaustion being recognized but never addressed , finding something to do —- drinks , getting food , walking to find parks where no one was occupying or staring , whatever it may be . so when they decided , after sheol tried to skirt around the question without asking it outright , to meet in his apartment ( 'i'll cook , or something ,' is offered to put seal the deal ) , they were excited for something easy , no prying eyes , no worrying about shadowy figures .

couple of hours into conversation , things got quiet , naturally , as the hours extended past midnight , into early morning . sheol excused themself to rinse dishes that they insisted on washing , drying them , setting them on the counter as looking through his cupboards felt too much like an invasion of his privacy . when they turned towards the living room , they saw kiryu was ... undeniably asleep . sunken into the pillows and head tilted downwards , even breathing . they almost felt bad when reentering , keeping footfalls silent as they pick up their phone off of the coffee table , sitting on the floor in front of the table as to not disrupt him , checking work emails way after hours —- never admitting to their exhaustion . when he stirs , they raise their brow , " morning , " sheol says , with a humour to it , with gaze flicking from the screen to him . " i can leave , i —- i —- if you're tired . "

'i was just resting my eyes .'

" mm , " they hum quietly , trying and failing not to snicker , very clearly not believing it . sheol props their elbow on the wood , head resting on their open palm , " well , i'm t —- ti —- tired , so ... " a lie they don't mind telling . they know kiryu doesn't want to admit to it , admit to his exhaustion . a shared trait . " i , i —- i packed up the leftovers . they're yours and in th —- th —- the fridge . "

[mayoinomori]

@ryuondaime - plotted starter

The dark, dingy streets of Kamurocho were no stranger to beautiful women. They were as common to the habitat as flies to garbage, or frogs to ponds. With the allure of money, booze and lust, it wasn't hard for women of all sorts to make their way in.

However... Not all of these women were human. No matter how human they appeared, no matter how beautiful they seemed.

For decades (but still fairly recent in era), a strange woman had wandered the city streets here. Despite being hunted by the proper paranormal slayers or normal authorities, she escaped each time.

--

Somehow, the streets seemed entirely too quiet. It was late at night, and many people had found their way to their lodgings or remained in bars, clinging to the last drops of alcoholic bliss until they had to trudge to their dead-end jobs in a few hours.

It was here, on this dark, dingy street, that a woman wandered, her dark hair smooth as it flowed down her back, her white blouse accenting the dark sheen as if drawing one's eye to it. To her body- blouse ample in showing the right amount of skin, a creamy pale neck...

It wasn't strange for people to wear medical masks. It wasn't all that unusual for a lady out and about to be wearing one, especially in this part of town.

That woman, beautiful and strange in how her eyes gleamed, approached the tall gentleman with such a grace to her footsteps, it wasn't like she belonged in Kamurocho, or Earth, at all.

"Do you think I'm pretty?" She asked breathily, fluttering her heavy lashes up at Kiryu.

[risendeads-moved]

@ryuondaime : “I can’t fix it, but… I could stay with you awhile if that helps.” / concerned sentence starters , accepting !

they really had to stop meeting like this , but in their defense , they had no other time . there was now an odd sense of comfort that sat over them the later it got into the night , hours clawing into territories that said to sheol : you'll be exhausted tomorrow morning . they ignored it as much as they could . though ... when aren't they tired ? heavy bags set under their eyes , dark circles only emphasizing that this wasn't their first sleepless night this week . they would sleep , maybe consider taking a day off only to work at home . who's to say ? that's a problem to deal with several hours from now .

when sheol learned his name was beyond them . it was kind of funny , in a humourless way , how many times someone has whispered , shouted , or sneered his name . even this late , he has enemies around every corner , a statement he made towards them still haunts them as they muse upon it : do they crave danger ? is this one of the reasons they often wordlessly fall into step with him ? he brings danger , in a way , where they are unharmed ( for now ) . but this little park seems to be a little safe place . the same bench they patched up his knuckles is the one they sat at , take away container in their lap , exhaustion catching up with them to the point that their reinforced walls slip a bit while talking , " ... and , you kn —- kn —- know , that's just what happens when you li —- live when you everyone says you should've died , " an offhanded comment , continuing to shoot from the mouth in a mostly grumbled rant before abruptly pausing , shitty chopsticks moving their food instead of bringing it to their mouth . they don't crave danger . brows pin slightly , voice dropping an octave , " sorry . i shouldn't have said th —- th —- that , " a bit quieter , sheepish , trying to erase it from conversation . but too late , it's out in the air now , and sheol knows he's going to address it . it's something frustrating about him that they've picked up even from fleeting encounters : always perceptive . so why did they still feel surprise at his comment ?

he can't fix it . of course he can't , not unless he'll bury their bones next to their father . and they didn't want to ask him to fix it , anyways . for a man so roughened by the world ... sheol is amazed he remains kind - hearted . the world chewed them up and spat them back up onto a hospital bed , and they had forgotten how to be kind . how to open up . lips turn downward against their will . would it help ? gaze sets downward , avoiding it all as they tried to answer it as they slunk into themself a bit . could they be just a bit selfish ? he's offering , but guilt still plucks at their heartstrings , and they want him to occupy their time . it felt like the only break they ever had , really , was the twenty minutes it had taken them to patch his hand up . head turns only slightly to look at him —- well , really , past him . over his shoulder . " yeah , " they start , weak , " yeah , it might . " they are careless .

[risendeads-moved]

@ryuondaime : sometimes i think of the faces of those who died because i wasn't fast enough. / another inbox meme i'm too lazy to find , accepting if you wanna find it !

it wasn't hard for the pair to slip into conversations like this . all it takes is a beat of silence or a comment taken just a bit too seriously , and light topics switched to introspection . sheol eyes him as he says these things ; it doesn't take a genius to notice that kiryu has more happening behind his eyes than his lack of words let on . when he speaks , they listen ; not just the doctor , but anyone around him , they're sure . he's mentioned a few people he knows , maybe even a few of them were people that would like sheol , but they never wormed their way into that aspect of his social circles . would he even let them ? they don't know . it often times feels like he's trying to protect them from a side of him that they know is there . does he think that they don't pick up on the clues so obvious they'd have to be deaf and blind to not notice ? regardless . sheol mentions family , offhandedly , head tilted and resting itself on their shoulder as they rest their eyes . " i try not t —- to , to regret stuff . but it's ... so , s —- so easy to , " it's muttered , a thought rather than a self - deprecating statement . eyes glance down to the burn mark that blooms on their hand . the funny thing about scars is that they're almost passively punishing . it's the pettiest thing the body does . sheol's never lost anyone that they could save . even in the case of their father , it's a miracle , a fluke , that they weaseled their way out . a long sigh through their nose as the burned hand goes to rest at the back of their neck , base of their skull , contemplative look on their features .

' sometimes i think of the faces of those who died because i wasn't fast enough . '

oh . it feels like their heart pauses , it tightens in their chest . they hum , quietly , in acknowledgment , after a long beat of silence . it's not often he lets them into that aspect of his life , and they don't wish to push or pry . they let that air . they wonder : does he see their faces in strangers like they do ? they see him everywhere . in men who laugh with their belly , mother's who are fixing their children's clothes , business men on their way home with five o'clock shadow or a cigarette perched between their fingers . it must be impossible not to see everyone who's died in people you've never seen before . but even then , this extends to themself . the college students they teach who have a thousand keychains and charms attached to their bags and phones , the way some of them giggle at a joke and the way their hands cover their mouths , the wish to be seen even when independently working , the anxious look in their eyes as sheol hands them back a paper they were nervous to hand in . is it weird to see someone who never died as much as they did , in strangers ? maybe that's a question for a different day , as when they finally open their mouth to speak , all they manage is a quiet , thoughtful , " me , too . "

[risendeads-moved]

@ryuondaime : please tell me what it is you need. / an inbox meme i'm too lazy to find , accepting if you can find it !

there's a multitude of things that they need . a house with warm lights and music playing , full of guests who have to bend down to smile at the young scientist - to - be , large dishes with food for everyone , a fireplace with a content flame , to be hoisted onto the hip of their father and carried around , meeting faces who they will come to work with when they're old enough to . a hug from someone who loves them , who's arms circle them so tightly that the wind is squeezed from their lungs slowly , comfortingly ; one that lasts maybe a few seconds too long , a nervous laugh and a pat on each other's backs to signal that it's okay to let go but neither move to . fingers in their hair , braiding it and pinning it up , making sure it's secure , brushing their bangs away from their eyes , a comment on how they should get it trimmed with a smile . a mother who didn't send their brothers to burn their house asunder ; to know those brothers , maybe they'd love them , sheol wants to love them . they need someone to give their attention to . dote on them , share the stacks of baked goods they often ate in place of meals . they need a meal . a real one . a nap . what else ? sheol knows they need these things ; love . primarily , they guess , that's what it comes down to . some sort of genuine , fulfilling , connection in the world that they've created for themself . their isolated world where there's only space for one .

" vegetable curry , " they say , finally , on a particularly exhausted exhale . at least start with something that he can help with , yeah ? that seems like the best option . and it's not a lie . among the list was a meal , and honestly , something heavy and warm , comforting , was all the better for them . they would , still , refuse to cut the head off of the snake that was admitting that they're , ultimately , extremely lonely . it opened them up to loss , something that they'd rather never , ever face again , even if they aren't acknowledging the facts that if kiryu disappeared tomorrow , they'd feel the same hollowness of loss that they almost consider it a friend at this point . eyes are downcast still , fingers playing with a charm hanging off of their satchel , " i'm ... st —- s —- starving . "

[hadobreeze]

✮

               Shuffling against the cold grass, she looks over at the other, then back up at the myriad of stars dancing above. It was a quaint little place they shared so often from mere coincidence, yet the company was nice. He wasn't a talkative type, but she knew he was always listening to her grandiose tales about her mundane life. Anything he lacked in words was made up tenfold in his actions. While his presence was comforting during quiet nights as these .. contrasting from the heightened noise of the city, something felt off. She couldn't put her finger on it, but he looked deep into contemplation laser eye staring above. ❝ Mister ... ❞ she breaks harsh uneasy silence, ❝ Are ... you okay ? ❞

✮ = stargazing.

send one for my muse’s reaction to your muse --- (  accepting ! )

[risendeads-moved]

@ryuondaime : ∗ 97﹕ sender has hidden an injury from receiver , and receiver finds out . / 100 non - verbal prompts , accepting !

kiryu was almost a spectacle to them . they don't and haven't asked many questions , though they cannot deny how curious they are about what got him to where he is . sheol has had to bite tongue , not asking who certain people are , why two - bit , wannabe yakuza are so hell - bent on getting into brawls with him —- they thought they were an unlucky target of kamurocho's cruelties , until the night where kiryu had to pull them off the street as a car veered so dangerously close to them , intentionally . while people didn't like them , sheol figured that vehicle wasn't aiming for them but instead the man that people taunted as he walked by . that should've been when they asked what , exactly , was up . but dazed and confused , sheol just let him get them home without a question asked . regardless , they forget to ask . they forget to prod . sometimes intentionally , most of the time not .

they're laughing , or as much as these two can laugh . sheol's snickering , an almost sneering gesture that they cover with their fingers , brows pinning together in confusion , " wai —- w —- hold on , one more time ? what'd you s —- ay ? " shifting in their seat , ankles hooked together as their arms cross , amusement in their eyes as they desperately wish for him to repeat whatever it was that was so funny . the bar they're in was definitely supposed to be closed , but barkeep saw his face and smiled , letting the pair slip in and settle in on a set of couches ( another thing sheol picked up on and should have questioned ) . they swear his chuckle as he goes to speak is interrupted by a wince , one he must be an expert at covering up . and if they weren't intently focused on him and trying to get him to repeat himself , they might've missed . cup is set down on a coaster , leaning into his space , their cold fingers slip under the suit jacket before they can think of their actions and press into his side , searching his ribs until he hisses in a breath .

they have no right to be upset by him hiding it . and they know this . but they are . when kiryu was a stranger , one sheol thought they'd never see again , they had no issues calling him stupid or lecturing him about keeping his wounds clean and protected . they still can't decide whether or not he's a stranger or an acquaintance , maybe a friend . it doesn't help that they feel more comfortable being strangers than friends . they can easily care for someone in passing , forget about them later . having him become something more constant is something they don't exactly know how to feel about , how to react , how to prepare themself for , especially if said friend was going to consistently show up with injuries that he hides from them as easily as he did .

now , though , hand withdrew as soon as he expressed any pain as if they , themself , were burned , and they sighed through their nose . sheol knew he knew , maybe that's why they also bite back any of what they're thinking ( stupid , are you stupid ? what the hell are you doing to get yourself beat up like this ? who did this to you ? why do you keep letting it happen ? why didn't you tell me ? are you a masoch —- ) from being said out loud . " kiryu , " said with an edge of disappointment , worry , frustration , " how long h —- ha —- have you been walking around like this ? " they can't fully assess if it's bruised or broken , but either way , it's not good . they sit up , uncrossing their legs as they glance around for any sign of the bar's owner who was kiryu's friend , voice muttered as they tried to cover their concern with a mask of indifference , annoyance , " don't move . you need ice . wh —- what's the ... bartender's name ? " he didn't need badgering , though he wasn't free from it : they'd bother him with questions later .

[risendeads-moved]

@ryuondaime : “  no.  don’t move.  you need to stay still.  ” / injury prompts , accepting !

it's not unfathomable that sheol continues their streak of reckless abandon . and while the first words they said to kiryu when they found him was along the lines of , 'it's not as bad as it looks' , it wasn't exactly good . but they wanted to spare him from his safety spiel , especially after seeing the face he made when absorbing in the sight of their wounded state . they honestly don't really remember what happened as much as they felt it : bruise blooming on their ribs , scrapes on the palms of their hands and non - scarred cheek , scalp stinging where they assume their hair was yanked , and several hundred yen cheaper . would they ever have thought that kiryu would be the one assisting them with picking gravel out of their cheek ? no , honestly . they wouldn't have asked him for help if they didn't run into him almost face first , but here they are : happenstance always bringing them together somehow . they winced as they shifted , lips pulling back in a grimace as they sucked in a sharp breath .

" yeah , i know . it fucking h —- urts , " they hiss , hand going to hold their side blindly , as if it would help . " not everyone has your pa —- ain tolerance . " muttered sharply , instantly regretting it . sheol feels almost like a child as they shift gaze and pout , conflict towards themself as they were being snippy towards the only person in kamurocho they could realistically trust . trust is a silly thing , something they don't let themself fully embrace or believe in . though they try to relax and keep their fidgeting still . head tilts just a bit , other hand that wasn't cradling their side fidgeted with the edge of their shirt . they don't intentionally play fast and loose with their safety , but they don't do anything to prevent trouble from finding them , either . so they decide to shut up , but not until they've mustered the strength to apologize . " sorry . i don't d —- d —- do pain well . " . . . " thanks for your help . "