coolerjunpei: (022)
bitcoin scholar junpei tenmyouji ([personal profile] coolerjunpei) wrote2024-07-01 10:02 am

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USERNAME: junpei
Junpei Tenmyouji
Zero Escape

TEXT • AUDIO • VIDEO • ACTION • OVERFLOW
incorrigibles: (( 62 ))

[personal profile] incorrigibles 2024-10-01 10:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[ oh, ghosts may not sleep, but ghosts can absolutely fall into a zoning-out-of-it state, the one step before going unconscious — and if he's a bit loopy because most of his energy is going to healing, well! not his fault, that.

it's also not his fault that that means he's not exactly thinking straight (ha) about this whole thing; on a normal day, he'd have sense enough to not suggest this, or at least he'd be more mindful of the implications... but right now, it just seems like a great idea to save junpei from the horror of needles in his legs, while also still keeping him there and close. because really, as much as charles is enjoying lying here like this, junpei's still not close enough —

so it is with a soft sigh that he turns, and before he actually moves away, he just kind of tucks his face against junpei's side, breathing in, out; and then he's pushing himself up (with a wince, yes), shifting onto his side, injured side up, until he's made enough space for junpei to lie down next to him. then, with a tug to their joined hands, he motions for junpei to move.
]

C'mon, on your back, [ he says — or perhaps mumbles is more accurate — his eyes with a somewhat hazy look in them; as soon as junpei's done as instructed, charles slides one of his arms under his neck so junpei can rest his head there, and then he hooks his elbow so he can hold him, moving their joined hands to rest on junpei's chest. the overall effect is not too far from charles having wrapped him up like a koala, especially with the way he then tilts his head down, rests his forehead against the side of junpei's face.

with his eyes closed and mouth tilted into a small, pleased smile,
] This's better.
incorrigibles: (( 31 ))

[personal profile] incorrigibles 2024-10-01 11:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[ in turn, charles does in fact tilt his face in a way that can be called nuzzling, brushing the tip of his nose against junpei's temple, making a soft noise at the back of his throat as he gives their joined hands a squeeze.

and though for a moment it seems like he's too out of it to talk, he whispers, quiet and sweet,
] Missed you, too.

[ but then he falls silent, letting junpei's voice wash over him as he talks about gab's eating adventures — and surely if he was capable of sleeping, he'd fall asleep just like this, fully relaxed and content.

except it seems that he does fall asleep, impossible though it is — the next time his mind swims back into awareness, as he blinks his eyes open blearily, it takes him a moment to register the room as junpei's bedroom, and then another moment for the fact that he's holding him in his arms to sink in.

oh, bloody hell. he remembers it all, now, and he can't help but feel a tad bit embarrassed over his own behaviour; but there's not long to dwell on that, not when the fact he'd somehow lost consciousness has to mean something. only... he glances down; sometime during whatever has happened, they've moved so that junpei has his back pressed against charles' chest, his head still resting over charles' arm while his other is thrown over his waist, their hands still holding each other’s, and —

the first thing charles thinks of is that junpei fits in his arms very, very nicely.

the second thing he thinks is that his side no longer hurts.

the third thought is him trying very hard not to think about anything else, at all. which is why he leans forward and says, as softly as he can,
]

Junpei? [ as much as he thinks his dignity would make it out of this more intact if he could simply get up now on his own, well, both his arm and hand are held hostage, so waking junpei is his only option. ]
incorrigibles: (( 11 ))

[personal profile] incorrigibles 2024-10-02 12:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[ now, he's seen junpei drunk before, and somewhat sleepy, too, so charles thinks he's well prepared to face this. and yet, when junpei turns to him, hair adorably messy and his expression soft and open with the last vestiges of sleep still clinging to him, well — it's not unfair to say that he feels akin to having been punched in the gut, drawing in a breath like that alone could fortify him against the sight of a sleepy junpei. and then he keeps looking at him like that, which makes his chest flutter dangerously and his head duck in a wave of something like shyness, and oh, that is unfair, how much fondness he's able to fit in his pretty eyes — ]

Hey, [ he says back, in that not-quite-a-whisper that people use when they've just woken up, and his great plan of not looking at junpei is thwarted when he lifts his head almost involuntarily, unwilling to miss even a second of this, even if it means his heart is in danger of bursting open.

slowly, he untangles their hands, so he can lift his and card his fingers through junpei's hair, smiling at him with pure adoration, hoping for a moment that he could just pause time, right here, commit this sight to memory. and yet, he doesn't want to have this only in his memory — if he could start every day like this, he wouldn't mind that, at all.

the question is almost a surprise, because in this quiet moment, he's forgotten all about his shock over his own brief state of unconsciousness, forgotten about the world and the reset and everything; it shows, too, in the way he blinks like he has to center himself, in the way it takes him a second or two to tear his eyes away from junpei, to glance to where the arrow had hit him a day ago.
]

I'm fine. Really, [ he adds, reassuringly, he isn't just saying it this time. ] Can't even feel it. [ a pause, and he looks around them. ] You think...

[ he trails off, but the rest of the sentence is pretty clear. because if he'd really been unconscious, then — something must have happened, and yet the room looks the same as it did a few hours ago. ]
incorrigibles: (( 81 ))

[personal profile] incorrigibles 2024-10-03 07:20 pm (UTC)(link)
[ the three rapid sighs one after the other make charles turn his head and look at back junpei, an are you okay at the tip of his tongue, except the words never have time to be spoken as junpei then leans his head against his shoulder, and charles — well, what else is there to do but to wrap his arms around him and just hold him there, gentle and yet decisive enough to betray the fact he'd hold him like this forever if he could.

the pat on his cheek makes him chuckle, and he has to suppress the urge to grab junpei's hand and turn his head just a little, to press a kiss to his palm — and hell but this is starting to get unbearable, unsustainable, the way he feels far, far too much to suppress it effectively anymore.
]

Yeah, definitely not. [ his voice is — a bit rough, there, like the words are catching in his throat; but he manages, and manages a smile, too, when junpei finally lifts his head and looks at him... though the look he gets, the one that's at once against going out and yet suggesting it at the same time, it makes him make a face of his own. ]

Guess it did. And we should. [ should, but he doesn't want to... but fine, fine! they can't stay here, can they? it is with a sigh of his own that he actually pushes himself up, too, finally able to move his other arm as junpei's no longer lying on it. ]

... Right. I swear, if it's some kind of white void there, I'm coming right back inside. [ no shade to ketsora, but he's had enough of white voids recently, thankyouverymuch. it's with this grumbling that he actually gets up, though, running a hand through his hair and rounding the bed, stopping to crouch down to pet gab in relief that he's still around and alright, too.

he waits for junpei by the door, and only pushes it open when they're both ready to face whatever's on the other side — except, well, once it's open... it's abundantly obvious that the answer to "what is it like out there" is "the same as always" — minus the glitches, which have been obvious enough lately than just a few minutes out there makes it clear that they're no longer happening.
]

Well, [ charles says, a little bit incredulous and a little more relieved, ] I guess... it did work, then. Sure seems like things're stable to me.
incorrigibles: (( 69 ))

[personal profile] incorrigibles 2024-10-03 09:56 pm (UTC)(link)
[ charles, of course, would give him as many minutes as he needs — the longer junpei stalls, though, the more his fond look is overshadowed by the lingering concern from before, and it doesn't dissipate even as they walk outside, not even when junpei simply takes his hand and starts to tug him through the streets towards central aldrip.

for his part, he ignores the locals completely; perhaps on a normal day, he'd note the way the looks they're getting are distinctly more unfriendly than before, but he doesn't have the presence of mind for that right now. instead, he looks around a little half-heartedly, and every few seconds his eyes shift to look at junpei, to try and glean what he's thinking simply from his expression... and though he usually finds him pretty easy to read, well, perhaps that's just one more thing that's strange about today. instead of relieved, it is as if something weighs on him, and all charles can think to do is squeeze his hand in reassurance, even when he doesn't really know what he's reassuring him of, here.

the question makes him blink; is that what this is about? what-ifs? the fact that things could have gone far, far worse, and it's only due to luck that they didn't? maybe — and if it was anyone else asking, he would shake his head, say of course not, say what's the point of thinking about things that didn't happen... but it's junpei, the only person capable of drawing actual honesty from him because charles loves him far too much to lie to him, not even when he wishes he could.
]

Yeah, of course I do. It's like regrets, innit? If we hadn't managed the reset... or if things in Ketsora had ended differently. Do I wish I'd done something that I didn't?

[ he ducks his head, smiling despite it all, though there's a distinctly sad edge to his smile as he lifts his gaze, fixes it on junpei. ] I shouldn't have left. I don't — I mean, I don't regret helping out. But that's not where I should've been.

[ because when it comes right down to it — that is what he regrets, what he wishes he had done differently: junpei means more to him than anything or anyone in this place, and just like he'd left him to deal with the end of the gnos infection on his own, he'd left him alone this time, too. the words they'd exchanged over the network could well have been their last ones. and he's not quite sure he can entirely forgive himself for that. ]

From now on, I promise I'll stick with you, yeah? Unless you don't want me to.
incorrigibles: (( 18 ))

[personal profile] incorrigibles 2024-10-04 01:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[ his sad little smile turns, well, a little less sad at that reassurance — he echoes the squeeze to their joined hands, and then falls silent; not because he wouldn't have things to say about the whole trying to fix things part, but because the way junpei speaks, eyes trained at something at the end of the street, is the way he sometimes starts some distance away from the point he wants to get to, circling it until he can finally push himself into facing whatever it is. and for that, he doesn't need charles' words; he needs his silence.

and that stays, even through the moment junpei takes to find the rest of his words; meanwhile, charles watches the red that stains his cheeks and oh, that's a sight that never gets old, never fails to make his heart flip. and then, a few seconds before junpei actually gets to the point, right around "i can't stop thinking about it," it flips again, and again, until it just... stops. in fact, charles could swear everything stops — the sounds from the town, the slight wind, anything and everything... because nothing really matters to him except junpei, and the way his arguably incredibly dorky (and yet so, so endearing) confession makes charles feel like he's somehow forgotten to let gravity affect him and is floating in the air.

he doesn't think he's ever felt as happy as he does, now.

though words are something that are beyond him, in the moment that junpei's question hangs between them, well, the way he looks at junpei belies it all: if he'd thought that the way charles looked at him before was openly affectionate, that holds no candle to this, here, his immediate answer not spoken aloud but no less obvious for it.

and then he's tugging on their hands, using his own to pull junpei close, his other hand cupping the back of his head gently as he leans down to press a kiss to his lips. and he means it to be a short, sweet thing, really, except he's wanted to do this for months and one kiss turns into two, three, until he's finally able to pull back just enough to touch their foreheads together, his hand moving from the back of junpei's head to the side of his face.
]

Yeah, [ he says then, smiling softly, ] Yeah, it's aces. [ with a quiet exhale, he straightens up so he can actually look at junpei properly, thumb brushing against his cheek, and the words — yeah, they're there, now. ]

You, Junpei Tenmyouji... I love you. [ in the end, it's a simple thing to say — like the words have just been waiting, all these weeks, for him to be brave enough to speak them aloud. ]
incorrigibles: (( 06 ))

[personal profile] incorrigibles 2024-10-04 04:42 pm (UTC)(link)
[ holy shit is about right — he's feeling far too much to coherently put words to it, the staggering relief and the bubbling happiness and the way all the love he feels doesn't quite seem to fit inside him, like every single atom in his spectral body is already made up of nothing but the sheer strength of how much he adores junpei and still there's more left spilling over. he thinks he gets it, now, why people describe a love returned as giddy — he feels almost light-headed with it all, and can't help but laugh as junpei just abruptly rests his head on his shoulder like he, too, is suffering from the same affliction.

which — he is, and the knowledge makes charles smile wide and bright and joyous.
]

Oh? [ he can't help but feel just a tad bit smug when he says, voice lilting, ] Thought about that, have you?

[ well, maybe it's a good thing junpei now has a very effective way to shut him up — one he uses to his advantage, and charles is all too happy to oblige him. and if his smile after matches junpei's, well! that's just fine. he thinks they deserve this, after everything, a moment to simply beam at each other in the middle of a goddamn street of all things. ]

That makes two of us. [ who should have said it sooner, he means — and then, voice soft and tender, ] Good.

[ and really, it's hardly charles' fault if the only possible answer to that is to lean down again, letting his hand slide down to the back of junpei's neck, fingers curling in his hair as he kisses him in earnest, this time... and while the earlier kisses were sort of, vaguely, still public-appropriate, this one is skirting the line, what with charles being very intent on leaving junpei breathless when they finally break apart. ]
incorrigibles: (( 32 ))

[personal profile] incorrigibles 2024-10-04 06:48 pm (UTC)(link)
[ in response to the eyebrow raise, charles just cocks his head back with easy confidence, a kind of you said it, not me. when junpei slides his arms around him, he doesn't waste time to wind his now-free arm around his back, and while he doesn't really need to pull junpei closer — he's done that all on his own — well, it doesn't hurt, either.

the street could just as well not exist, for how little thought charles spares it; even as they break apart, even as he, too, feels breathless despite not even needing to breathe, all he has eyes for is junpei. and hell, but he can't really believe his luck — why on earth junpei would love him is quite frankly beyond him, and if he allows himself to dwell on it he's not entirely sure he deserves it, either; but he won't think of that, now, will avoid thinking of it as long as he can, because if junpei for some unfathomable reason seems to think him worth it... then charles won't doubt him.

what he will do instead is aim a grin at junpei, shrugging his shoulders.
]

That's not a complaint. [ and despite his tone, his eyes are full of warmth — and then he's leaning forward to press a kiss to his temple, his fingers untangling themselves from his hair as he moves his hand to join his other one around junpei. not for a moment does it occur to him they're still on the sidewalk; all he knows is the world could literally end right now and still he wouldn't let go.

the suggestion gets a hum from him.
] You mean, I'll get to see you in something else than a t-shirt? [ where's the nearest clothing store —

no, but joking aside, why is this even a question?
] Of course I do. [ he feels compelled to add, with a kind of devastating honesty, ] Junpei, love, you know you could ask me to go mountain climbing, or learn Ancient Greek, or watch seventy hours' worth of reality tv with you, and I'd say yes. Because it's you.
incorrigibles: (( 105 ))

[personal profile] incorrigibles 2024-10-04 09:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[ he chuckles at the promise of the two out of three, and then his heart soars again, like it's grown wings and learned to fly within the past five minutes — will he ever get tired of this, junpei speaking halted but honest words about how much charles means to him? no, he doesn't think so. he has equal trouble believing he'll ever really get used to it.

and then you've been the best thing that's ever happened to me hits him with the force of a bloody missile — not least because he can't quite believe he could be the best thing to happen to anybody, but also because this is junpei, who so often chooses actions over words, and to hear him actually say this out loud —

it's staggering, is what it is, and it makes charles have to glance away just for a second to gather his bearings.
]

You — [ no, his voice still sticks in his throat, but he tries his best, tightens his arms around junpei as he looks back at him, ] Sometimes I love you so fucking much I don't know what to do with myself.

[ and that 'sometimes' is not entirely accurate — perhaps 'increasingly often' might work better. still, he smiles, just a bit tremulous, and yet no less adoring than before. ] It's just you, [ he says, because in the end, that is what it all comes down to. ] Of course it's you.

[ it is an echo of what he'd said, back in that dressing room — back when he had been saying this same thing even without knowing it.

and when he bridges the already small distance between them, it's to press one of those chaste, loving kisses against junpei's lips. as he pulls back, he huffs out a slight laugh.
] Right, can't keep kissing you forever on this sidewalk, can I? Should we...

[ he trails off, because he's not entirely sure what to suggest except move — keep walking? he's not really interested in seeing the city, right now. go back home? certainly an appealing idea. get junpei something to eat? probably sensible but also not very romantic — ]
incorrigibles: (( 54 ))

[personal profile] incorrigibles 2024-10-05 07:35 am (UTC)(link)
[ it's all too easy to get lost in junpei's eyes; but the overwhelming surge of feelings calms into something no less strong but steadier, an ocean instead of a waterfall, and charles exhales slowly and smiles as their hands find each other once again. and they've done this so many times now that it's almost routine, but it feels different, more somehow, with both of them knowing the meaning behind it now. ]

Right, [ he says with a little grin, and well, charles would be lying if he tried to say junpei's frank correction and the implicit and explicit permission to kiss him whenever doesn't make him want to do just that, despite just having decided otherwise; he compromises by lifting their joined hands and pressing a kiss to junpei's knuckles instead.

and then the question makes him look around, considering.
] You mean, more than they should be for us blocking the sidewalk for ten minutes? ... Huh. Yeah, guess they do.

[ and that's probably something to look into, because that definitely wasn't a thing before... but does he really care? really, truly? ]

Well, that's different and all if we're not just imagining it, but... being honest? I don't really give a shit. Not right now. [ instead, he fixes junpei with a look. ] When's the last time you actually ate something? Like, an actual meal?

[ because it's been three days and he's having a hard time believing junpei bothered to make anything proper for himself if he spent the entire time worrying. ]
incorrigibles: (( 75 ))

[personal profile] incorrigibles 2024-10-05 02:26 pm (UTC)(link)
[ in response, charles lets out a fond sigh; this is just about exactly what he expected, really, and he gives junpei one (1) look of gentle admonishment — before he does what he explicitly said he wouldn't do and just, you know, ducks his head and leans in to give him yet another kiss. oops —

anyway, pulling back,
]

Yeah. You got anything back at the house? No, [ he corrects himself immediately, ] Probably not what I'd need.

[ and then he seems to realise he's being a little cryptic, and directs a sheepish smile at junpei. ] I'm not a great cook, but I do know some recipes, yeah? Used to help Mum out with chores. One time when her wrist was broken, back when I was twelve, I did all the cooking with her instructions, so I kind of kept helping after that, too. Dad never did much in the kitchen, so...

[ so it was a win-win in his eyes, spending time with his mom while avoiding his dad. and the implications of how his mom's wrist got broken aside, ]

Anyway. You fancy some curry?
incorrigibles: (( 30 ))

[personal profile] incorrigibles 2024-10-05 05:38 pm (UTC)(link)
[ as they wander along the street towards the closest grocery store, charles lets out a genuine chuckle over the curry it up, and if that doesn't show how far gone he truly is then nothing does — and then, with a bright, somewhat nostalgic grin, ]

Yeah, she's brills. Her chicken curry was the highlight of all the potlucks, you know, my cousins and I would fight over who got the biggest portion. And shit, her baked plum tart? Wish you could taste that... but I don't know the recipe. She only made that on special occasions, and wouldn't let me help with it.

[ he sighs as he stops in front of a store called 8-twelve, which, hm! but he pushes the door open even as he says, ] She loved cooking. Reckon she still does.

[ there's a touch of wistfulness there, enough for him to drop the topic as he starts gathering ingredients, spending the longest time in front of the spice selection. but maybe it explains why he is strangely invested in cooking despite thirty-five years of not needing to do it at all. ]

How about you? What's your favourite dish? [ he tries to sound very innocent, like he's asking just out of curiosity and not so he can just learn how to cook whatever it is... ]
incorrigibles: (( 26 ))

[personal profile] incorrigibles 2024-10-05 06:32 pm (UTC)(link)
[ it's really not his fault that he finds junpei incredibly charming when he's making little jokes like that — or perhaps it is, but it's a fault he's happy to embrace.

at the little offhand comment of him being hungry, charles blinks and nods.
] Right, so we'll get you a snack. It takes a bit to simmer, so...

[ anyway! junpei doesn't need to stand idle for long, because charles starts handing him the things he picks out, one packet of spices after another. and then, ] Hold on a tick, [ he gives junpei's hand a squeeze before letting go and phasing through a few shelves, returning in maybe half a minute with a basket that's somehow half-full of an assorted collection of vegetables and a plastic-wrapped piece of chicken.

as he entwines their hands again, he does, in fact, give junpei a look that's half-flat and half-amused, because instant ramen and fast food, seriously, he hopes it's not been the case here because then he should have been cooking for him months ago.

but oh, an actual answer,
]

Cold soba, huh? Right, sure. I'll look into it. I was already gonna learn how to make a ramen broth or whatever that's called. You're gonna have to taste-test for me, though. Got no idea what the authentic thing tastes like... and it's not like I can taste it myself, can I?

[ he then tries to sort of wave his other hand at their surroundings, except it's holding the basket, and so all he ends up doing is jostling it and nearly tipping it over — he manages to balance it with a sharp snap of his wrist, but not before swearing under his breath. ] Uh, so, pick a snack? Or two. Or ten.

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