IC Contact

[busball]

Text | Call | Action

Comments

Voice

[konpeito_aji]

I can't get a hold of Crichton, he's my first friend. I told him to send me a message if something happened, and I found his gun, so I guess he got killed before he could do anything? I'm going to try scouring the Spirit Halloween for his body, or just see if I can mark the spot I found his gun with a bonfire.

Actually, do you know how fast this kind of clothes goes up? Are those tombstones actual stone, or are they flammable? Who else do I know good with fire? Pratt and Sharky? I wonder if Clarke knows. Okay, I'll call them and then... do you want to come with me? I kind of don't want to let you out of my sight until I know exactly what's happening. Even if you can take care of yourself, I would have thought Crichton could too.

Fire club? Fire club.

- Oh this is... Demon King. Simba. Yeah, call me back when you get this.

return text

[busball]

oh hey
uh sorry about your friend
are you sure you want to set it on fire?
you could just mark it?
but i dunno.

Sure he's gonna get out of bed and look at things and get dressed and go to the Inifinite Spirit Halloween anyway.

be there in a few.

return text

[konpeito_aji]

Not all of Spirit Halloween. Just a large enough portion. Like mapping.

[He won't need to though since the place where Crichton died was already set on fire, so good enough!]

Thank you. I don't trust myself enough not to kill if something happens to you too.

[busball]

oh. huh.
well okay.

[He smiles a little at the response, rolling his eyes]

i thought you said i was a warrior
i'll be fiiiiine 💯

[konpeito_aji]

You are a cute tiger, who could get stuck in a tiger trap, or lured away by strong enough bait, and catnip. Metaphorically-ish.

Don't go in without me, please. You can pretend it's a date, and you're trying on costumes for me. If you want.

[busball]

probably fair

are you asking me on a spirit halloween date?

[konpeito_aji]

Yes.

Am I doing it wrong?

[busball]

no.

[Not that he's ever been asked on a Spirit Halloween date. Really, even dates in Vietnam weren't properly called dates]

i'll totally go on a date to the spirit halloween and try on clothes for you, buddy.

[konpeito_aji]

You're a good friend. 😈

Text post Halloween

[konpeito_aji]

[Okay, Ava taught Nobunaga that 10am is still too early by non-army times, and Klaus is an ex-soldier not a current one (even before the ship) so that includes him. So Nobunaga fires off a text for when he wakes up.]

Lucky #, text me back or let me know whenever you wake up. This is 😈

[As if it would be anyone else.]

[busball]

[Klaus woke up nauseous and bleary-eyed. He feels like death. God. Last night was shit. He’s still in his dress, curled up on the floor where he fell asleep, face a mess of streaky blood and tears from the night before.

The minute he realizes there’s a text on the phone, he looks at it, willing it to be Nobunaga finally. And it is and he can feel the relief. He needs to find him, though.

Needs to be there.]

Omw
I’m coming.

[He spares a moment to look at himself in the mirror before grabbing a set of clothes to change into. And his toothbrush because he’s going to be sick at some point.

He moves again, frowning. Okay, that point is now.

But once they’re finished, they rinse their mouth out with mouthwash and water before leaving.

They get to Nobunaga’s door and the queasiness of it all is not gone and they look like shit. Covered in blood, dress torn, but still the makeshift fix for the utility belt is keeping it on.

He knocks, leaning against the door with all the clean things in his arms, waiting]

1/2

[konpeito_aji]

[Nobunaga was outside and returning with a green tea, hot chocolate (for Klaus!) his mop (yes) and some clocks in a bag, but seeing the state of Klaus, his carnelian red eyes widen.]

That bad?

2/2

[konpeito_aji]

[Mop and bag go on the floor, the drinks are handed to Klaus and he holds him close and kisses his face all over, forehead, nose, and cheeks.]

Holy fuck Klaus.

Tell me everything.

[Okay, to the phone for unlocking the door, and letting them in.]

[busball]

[Klaus drops his clothes to take the drinks and leans into the touch even if a part of him feels anxious about the fact that Nobunaga moved first to initiate the touch. It’s just a moment.]

Are—are you you? You…I…it’s just-

[They draw in a shaky breath.]

You said not to…let you [Vaguely gesturing.] It wasn’t you, but I had to… [There’s a brief pause.] Is that blade really cursed or is it just…something people say?

[konpeito_aji]

[Oh.]

[Wow.]

[That explains a lot more.]

[Nobunaga swallows thickly, and lets them in. How can he prove himself?] I'm me. You really... [The only person who would be that shook up about killing Nobunaga (a ghost possessing Nobunaga) would be Hideyoshi, and Hideyoshi, Oda isn't even sure COULD do it, no matter what. Maybe. Knowing it wasn't Nobunaga, just a copy. Maybe. It'd be hard for him, he would have gotten someone else to do it, surely.]

[Nobunaga moves to grab the bag and mop, bring them inside, and set Klaus down on the couch, though he mentally fusses a little about wanting to clean both the couch, Klaus, and so forth.]

It's not that cursed. Do you feel any need to conquer the rest of the ship, do you want to give it back, or do you feel like it's taking a hold of your soul or mind? [Another kiss to Klaus' forehead, and after Nobunaga sets the stuff down, drinks on a small table, and sits next to them on the couch, he takes Klaus' hands in his own.] I seem to have pressed a lot of responsibility on your shoulders rather suddenly. On a scale of 1 to 100, would you rather cry uncontrollably for hours, get drunk, and punch me for doing that, or just take a short nap and get waffles and see if ice cream is back on after you wake?

[UGH he kind of wants to hug Klaus, but just... holds their hands, not moving beyond that.] How many pe-- ghosts did you have to kill with the Souza anyway?

[busball]

[Klaus couldn't let something possess Nobunaga and he couldn't let them do terrible things to anyone else and it was...it was a lot. So he's kind of a mess. He pauses to kick his clean clothes inside with them so he doesn't have to pick them up, but he's going to get them. In a minute.

There's a frown, but at least most of the blood is dried by now. It's just...kind of itchy.]

No? I don't really want to conquer anything. Definitely not anyone. You can...you can have it back. And the gun. All of it. [He shakes his head at the question about drinking.] I'm so hungover I feel like I might die. And I threw up. Again. I hate it. And I don't want to punch you. I just...

[They sigh, running their hands through their hair and wincing as the fingers catch.] I think I need to shower. And change...and then maybe we can cuddle. For a while. [They look up.] Just you. You were the only one. Two dead people landed on me and Jeff's head rolled over by my head...on the fall. Do you remember the fall?

[konpeito_aji]

I remember the fall. I thought I died from it.

Let me clean you. Least I can do.

If it's just me... then don't worry about it. You've already conquered my heart. [Listen. He has wanted to use that line his WHOLE LIFE.]

[He regrets nothing.]

Want me to carry you? [TSUN TSUN head turn.] So you don't throw up on the carpet.

Who beheaded Chase? Bash? [Meh. Whatever. Peace was never an option probably.] I was with... whoever had Tear's body. Went to sleep. So I missed... probably everything. And then the other time I was -- [He glances at his wrist, but it's all been healed, of course.] bit by Yuuki. So I don't remember much. You survived though. I'm proud of you. [Kisses Klaus' head!] And it sounds like I wouldn't be me if you hadn't stopped me.

[busball]

[Klaus shakes his head.] You didn't. Well. Almost? I guess. But you...you hugged me. And I knew.

[Klaus is about to reply to the let me clean you when Nobunaga has to go and throw you've already conquered my heart at him and he's left staring. His head feels like it's swimming and he feels gross, but that's the part that's got him the most off kilter.] You can't just...what? [And he really wants to kiss him, but not like this. Not like this.

So he carefully gets up, wobbling slightly.] Just...help me. You don't have to carry me.

[Klaus shrugs at the question. They don't know. Someone probably?] I'm sorry. [Their voice is quiet, tears welling up in their eyes.] I could have let someone else, but I didn't...want to tip whoever it was off. [His fingers move for a moment over the front of Nobunaga's throat, but there's nothing there.]

[konpeito_aji]

[Nobunaga half laughs... half chokes on the proclamation that hugging him was what tipped him off.]

[Ahahahahahahah that's so funny. Because it's fucked up.]

[That's how fucked up Nobunaga is.]

[Awesome.]

[He wants to hug them for real, but obviously can't now.]

Oh, you fucking -- [Screw this, Nobunaga pushes Klaus down into the couch instead of pulling him up, and kisses Klaus brutally hard, both of Nobunaga's arms over Klaus' head cradling him lightly, protectively.] Don't apologize. Don't you dare. [A small glare and a tiny bite to Klaus' nose.] If anyone but you killed me... I'd have hated it. I wouldn't have forgiven you. [He feels like a rigid spring, stone and metal, unlike his Tanegashima, worse, but just ever so gently holds Klaus' hand his again, remembering at least how to breathe, and pulls Klaus' fingers up to lightly kiss the knuckles.] With you I can say, "It's fine, you've already conquered the most dangerous part of me, what's a little more?" If anything... [Narrows his eyes on Klaus.] It's my fault for putting that on you. I never asked. I've just taken. And I will still. I'll still continue to do so. [Kisses the knuckles and then sighs, drops the hand and rests his head on the couch over Klaus' neck, to their head.]

You're stronger than you give yourself credit for. I guess it was an impossible order, but I never... Ha... [Hug. How to hug. He can't do it. He'll work his way up slowly. He kisses Klaus' temple gently.]

When you took my Tanegashima... [He pulls back looking at Klaus, and smiles softly.] I've never wanted someone as badly as that moment. Even though you hate all this, you didn't collapse or run for cover. The closest was when Mai Mizusaki kept telling me off for bossing her around. But it's different. Because -- [Does he have to explain it? He's not even sure he can.]

I know you hate war. Fighting. Ghosts. And instead I dragged you into the worst of it. Put you in an impossible situation. If you told me right now you never want to see me again, I'd tell you, too bad, you won't get that wish. Anything else, I'll break a world for you, or remake it over again.

[Sigh.]

[Best he can do for now.]

[He offers a hand up to Klaus, though he doesn't completely rise yet, waiting for Klaus' decisions, reaction.]

Remember how I've been studying music to surprise you? This is another. I will keep surprising you. A real hug. Not right now... but sometime. And other things. [Tsun glances away again!]

[busball]

[There's a surprised noise as he's pushed back onto the couch. Oh. Well, this is fine. He feels more comfortable with the roughness of the kiss than the softness of everything else.] I...fine. Okay. [They're still sorry, though. Still incredibly sorry. But distracted by the feeling of teeth on his nose, wrinkling it just slightly in response.] I...used your weakness against you. I figured you'd forgive me. Since you were possessed and I had to...do something.

[The kisses to his knuckles make him smile just a little. It's the words about how strong he is that throw him off and he stares without saying anything for a long time because...what? Why do people keep saying things like this?]

Well, if I had known handling your gun would do it for you, I'd have handled it a long time ago. [Okay, dirty jokes he can handle. That's fine. This is fine.] But also if I was going to break up with you, I would have done it and you definitely couldn't have stopped me. [He gives him a small, sort of weak smile.

And he takes the hand, smiles again.] You...I'm not...really all that, though. So you don't have to act like you'd make it hard for me to leave. But I really...need to stop being covered in dried blood. So let's go.

[konpeito_aji]

Yeah, I'm proud of you. [He is, too! All smiles. And then also:]

That worked? Wait. Which weakness? [His neck? But then, shouldn't Oda's body have been sort of spazzy? Or maybe it was different for someone not used to his body??? Or is it part of his soul too? As another weakness, he was already sleep and riled by music, so sure whatever. And cuteness??? Maybe? Thats kind of what the ghost in Tear did. And Klaus with the dance and idol moves. Catching the kiss was ultimate weakness!!!]

[And a chuckle about handling his gun.] I think it was more the context. When Clarke tried to steal it, I did want to keep her, but not romantically at all. More like Ieyasu. With you, I definitely thought of a hundred ways I want to train you sexually to suit my own devious designs.

[He helps Klaus up, and walks backwards leading to the bathroom.] Even if you did "break up with me" as you say, I would keep bugging you and trying to make you smile. [He crosses his arms, and takes Klaus other hand in that one too.] I'd be very tricky. I'd cheat and go without sleeves, and show off. You are definitely all that.

You'd be like, "no, no, no"
And I'd be like, "really it's yeah, yeah, yeah."

[He just sang Destiny's Child lyrics at him, is he winning? If he was braver he'd sing Show Me the Way. But baby steps.]

You'd say goodbye, and I'd say hello. Hello, hello. [Just... smirking even though he switched to Beatles.] I don't know why you'd say goodbye, but I'd say hello.

[busball]

[Yep. Still going to stare awkwardly. People being proud of him? Abnormal.] Uh. Cool. Yeah. [Cue awkward, nervous laughter.]

Your neck spot. It was enough to distract from what I was doing or at least put them off. [They shrug. They don’t really know what to do with all the positive reinforcement, or the feeling of shuddering discomfort they’re feeling in that exact moment. The knowledge that murder is something worthy of praise. He doesn’t like it. But he also doesn’t like the flashbacks. The blank expression on Dave’s face, the look on Nobunaga’s.]

There’s ways to train someone sexually with a gun? [Okay, yeah. The confusion of that has definitely knocked his brain out of it’s spiral into things he’s not trying to think about.] Or is this something else entirely?

[But they are moving and he feels particularly woozy still, but at least there’s something to hold onto.] If we do break up…I’ll let you know if I need time. I don’t really think it’s something to worry about and -- Wait a minute. Are you singing Destiny’s Child at me? [There’s an involuntary shudder, but he covers it up as quickly as he can with a smile.]

And the Beatles. [Which is funnier knowing his tattoos. Right. Anyway. He needs...a bath or a shower or whatever. So he's gonna try to turn the water on for himself.] Can you grab my clothes? I mean...not that it really matters if you see me naked since you have like a bunch of times, but...I left them in the room.

[konpeito_aji]

Something else. [A soft laugh, a head shake, and Nobunaga goes to get the clothes, even he is not oblivious to those shudders.]

[He fetches and returns.]

Can you show me what you did to my neck? I'm in control now, so I won't hurt you. But if it's too much, don't worry, just say umbrella.

Hey 4, are you... [Shit. How to ask? The right words. Obviously Klaus is not okay. What can he do to make it better? He hums Hey Jude for a little.] Take a sad song, and make it better. [Even Nobunaga can be sad, it turns out.] Hey 4, don't be afraid. You are stronger than you give yourself credit for.

But... [He drops the singing for now.] You don't have to be strong for me right now. You already were.

[A head bow.] Thank you.

[busball]

[Klaus lets out a slow breath. He knows he's not okay, knows that he's hungover, sick, and just generally somewhere in his own thoughts and memories. But still...he's not sure he can drop the act. It's a hard act to drop.] I... [They shake their head.] I keep getting... [Another pause] Nevermind. It's fine. I'm just glad you're okay now.

[His fingers reach out, to touch his shoulder.] Are you sure you want me to touch your...spot? You told me not to before. You said it was torture.

[This is all said as he carefully unties the fabric holding the utility belt together. Slowly followed by the dress. There's nothing under the dress and he glances down.] That was supposed to be a fun surprise last night. When I feel less like I'm dying and less like I'm using it as a coping mechanism and not something fun...we really should pick up where we left off. You didn't even blush at any of the things I said when you weren't you. Which was actually disappointing.

1/2

[konpeito_aji]

[Nobunaga can't help laughing at all of it. A small low chuckle at first, and then his deep booming demon king laugh as the anxiety fades along with Klaus' dress.] I will find you another dress. A better date in the store. Less toxic fumes risk next time.

[Just kisses Klaus hard, giving him a light bite before getting out of his own armor as well.] I'm almost sorry my lion top did not survive. Your masochistic urges are still unsatisfied? Then of course I shall oblige!