[Paused with the glass below his lips, he blinks at Junpei's hesitation. Afterward, he smiles mildly, a reassuring sort of thing.]
Don't worry. I'll take care of you, Junpei-san.
[Even if that means he has to touch Junpei to drag the man back to the right room--it's fine? It's fine. Finally, he has a sip from his own glass. It's strong? It's strong!! He coughs, short and sudden, after swallowing. The sting makes him wince. He might have to acquire this taste.]
Junpei-san, [a bit hoarsely,] I thought about what you said before. I would like to tell you two things, okay? Did elder brother talk to you about what he saw when he was with Wei Wuxian-san and Kagachi-san?
...I know. I trust you with that. [Which is maybe more than he'd normally say and says enough about where his head is. He looks a little worried when Hizamaru chokes on the strong taste, but he relaxes and nurses his drink when the sword continues.]
Two things...yeah, he did. I spoke to Wei Wuxian, too. And Dick spoke with Kagachi. What they found and what they heard...it was interesting, wasn't it? The hydra theory. And thirteen other entities among the original group.
[His head nods in agreement.] Demons can be very tricky, Junpei-san. Like the one elder brother fought a long time ago. [He frowns into his glass before looking up again.]
Tonbokiri-san and I received strange gifts. The shoes. But we also received something else. On the bottom of one was a note; we thought the note was about the shoes, but... the shoes haven't acted peculiar.
I keep forgetting some of you have experience from before. [He peers over the rim of his own glass, thoughtful yet sharp all at once.]
When did you receive the shoes? And from where? Do you remember? [...it's odd, because the fact that there's a note in a mystery shoe is unsettling enough.]
"They are not as they sound." Could be a reference to how the demons can look and act exactly like us. Unless you think it may be something else?
It was... after the movies? [For a moment, he looks a little embarrassed.] The performance I had to do with Tonbokiri-san. I thought I had received a strange gift like you did, but... I believe it was from that since Tonbokiri-san also received shoes.
[Gently, his head shakes.]
I'm not sure what it means... which is why I wanted to tell you, Junpei-san. It's odd... that it says "sound" rather than "seem"? Are we meant to be listening for something?
Like the chalk we got after the visit to the lounge. [A prize from the mission. Wow what the hell? That's...surprisingly bold, he thinks, and he goes silent in thought.]
It's possible there's something else we're missing. Have you guys tried wearing them and walking around in them?
Yes. We were a little nervous at first because of the note, but... Nothing happened aside from the shoes having strange wheels on them. I... don't think it's about the shoes.
[His brows furrow.]
Perhaps it's... a piece of something else? Like the notes from before, when we had to put them together. Do you know if someone else has a note...?
I don't think so. Or if they have, nobody's mentioned it. The prize Izuminokami and I received didn't come with a note at all. I wonder if it was a hint just for you two.
We already know the demons don't sound evil though, so what...? [He's just pulling on his own face for a moment.] What'd Higekiri say when you told him?
[It's hard for him not to show what he's feeling. Almost immediately, he looks somewhat ashamed, and his head and eyes lower to the glass he fiddles with in his hands. He worries his lips a moment before getting the courage look up again.]
...I haven't told elder brother yet. [His eyes drop.] I wanted... to try to do it on my own, without burdening him.
I should tell him... [He wants to try to be strong, too, and do some things on his own, but...! Twins, sorta...] I shouldn't keep anything from him. I'll tell him later.
Only if you want to. There's stuff I still haven't told Carlos even though I probably should. Nothing says you have to share everything all the time if you want to work alone first. Just...remember that, okay?
But you'll do what's comfortable. I don't doubt that.
[This manages to get a small smile out of him. It's toeing the edge of praise, and he hikes his shoulder very slightly like he may be getting ready to blush.]
I'll remember. I'll tell elder brother when I'm ready, if I haven't found anything myself. Thank you, Junpei-san.
Yeah, sure. [Not unkindly, but more like "what else would I say to that?" He takes another sip.] ...and if there's anything you want to tell me first before telling Higekiri, you can. Keep that in mind, too. Someone told me that it's better for people to have at least one person to talk to even if they want to handle things themselves.
[He got read the riot act on Saturday, it's fine...]
[Relieved, he smiles weakly and nods in understanding.]
I know, Junpei-san. You're very kind. [He raises his glass and then has a careful sip of it. It still burns, but this time he manages not to break out in a fit of coughing.] I'll tell you if there is something I am unsure of telling elder brother.
I think... you might not need me for much, however. You're very smart, Junpei-san. Elder brother, too. It would be more helpful talking to him, or Nightwing-san, or Kagachi-san.
[Honestly, Hizamaru looks surprised by this? Not unlike a kid who had expected to be passed over when picked for groups. It doesn't seem like he's necessarily bothered by that outcome, just... surprised when it doesn't happen for once.]
Because you have a tendency to listen. [Which for someone like Junpei who usually doesn't get to make his own choices before they're made for him, and for people like Junpei who has had enough people leave and meddle with his life...it says something.] You're consistent and you're smart and you constantly want to do better even when things here keep getting worse. You're easier to talk to because you don't try to come up with an answer that "should" be, but instead "could" be.
[Oh nO. Oh no, oh no, oh no. Very quickly, heat climbs right up his neck and into his face. He stares, lips parting, and raises a hand somewhat like he's getting ready to wave away Junpei's words, to tell Junpei to stop.
But Junpei keeps going, and all he can do is very softly keep shaking his head.]
[But he stops. How many times has he said that since being here? Before being here? "Elder brother" this, "elder brother" that. How many other things has he done on his own and been okay, and none of it affected Higekiri?
But Higekiri means so very much to him, and... it's so hard to forget being cut for being longer.]
Yeah...why wouldn't it be? I think your brother would want you to also be your own person and be happy with that, don't you? [The genjis are very confusing.]
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Don't worry. I'll take care of you, Junpei-san.
[Even if that means he has to touch Junpei to drag the man back to the right room--it's fine? It's fine. Finally, he has a sip from his own glass. It's strong? It's strong!! He coughs, short and sudden, after swallowing. The sting makes him wince. He might have to acquire this taste.]
Junpei-san, [a bit hoarsely,] I thought about what you said before. I would like to tell you two things, okay? Did elder brother talk to you about what he saw when he was with Wei Wuxian-san and Kagachi-san?
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Two things...yeah, he did. I spoke to Wei Wuxian, too. And Dick spoke with Kagachi. What they found and what they heard...it was interesting, wasn't it? The hydra theory. And thirteen other entities among the original group.
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[His head nods in agreement.] Demons can be very tricky, Junpei-san. Like the one elder brother fought a long time ago. [He frowns into his glass before looking up again.]
Tonbokiri-san and I received strange gifts. The shoes. But we also received something else. On the bottom of one was a note; we thought the note was about the shoes, but... the shoes haven't acted peculiar.
The note said: "They are not as they sound."
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When did you receive the shoes? And from where? Do you remember? [...it's odd, because the fact that there's a note in a mystery shoe is unsettling enough.]
"They are not as they sound." Could be a reference to how the demons can look and act exactly like us. Unless you think it may be something else?
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[Gently, his head shakes.]
I'm not sure what it means... which is why I wanted to tell you, Junpei-san. It's odd... that it says "sound" rather than "seem"? Are we meant to be listening for something?
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It's possible there's something else we're missing. Have you guys tried wearing them and walking around in them?
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[His brows furrow.]
Perhaps it's... a piece of something else? Like the notes from before, when we had to put them together. Do you know if someone else has a note...?
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I don't think so. Or if they have, nobody's mentioned it. The prize Izuminokami and I received didn't come with a note at all. I wonder if it was a hint just for you two.
We already know the demons don't sound evil though, so what...? [He's just pulling on his own face for a moment.] What'd Higekiri say when you told him?
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...I haven't told elder brother yet. [His eyes drop.] I wanted... to try to do it on my own, without burdening him.
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It's okay. There's really nothing wrong with that, and I won't tell him either. I just didn't know.
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I should tell him... [He wants to try to be strong, too, and do some things on his own, but...! Twins, sorta...] I shouldn't keep anything from him. I'll tell him later.
He may have heard something, too.
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But you'll do what's comfortable. I don't doubt that.
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I'll remember. I'll tell elder brother when I'm ready, if I haven't found anything myself. Thank you, Junpei-san.
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[He got read the riot act on Saturday, it's fine...]
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I know, Junpei-san. You're very kind. [He raises his glass and then has a careful sip of it. It still burns, but this time he manages not to break out in a fit of coughing.] I'll tell you if there is something I am unsure of telling elder brother.
I think... you might not need me for much, however. You're very smart, Junpei-san. Elder brother, too. It would be more helpful talking to him, or Nightwing-san, or Kagachi-san.
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[Even though he trusts and likes the other three, Hizamaru somehow puts him at ease enough to be more open and honest with what he's doing.]
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No... Why?
[bc him baby]
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So...why wouldn't I trust someone like that?
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But Junpei keeps going, and all he can do is very softly keep shaking his head.]
Junpei-san...
[He's DYING.]
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What? [He doesn't get it because sometimes Junpei just says thing and then never shares anything again for months.]
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[He! can't figure out what to say! There's so many compliments, and he doesn't think he deserves a single one of them. His eyes lower bashfully.]
Thank you, Junpei-san, but... you don't have to...
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[But he stops. How many times has he said that since being here? Before being here? "Elder brother" this, "elder brother" that. How many other things has he done on his own and been okay, and none of it affected Higekiri?
But Higekiri means so very much to him, and... it's so hard to forget being cut for being longer.]
Is it really okay... to be that way on my own?
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I'm not sure... Elder brother can sometimes be... [He glances off distantly, like he's trying to find the right phrase.] ...proud.
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