[He fucking vaults back over immediately because the sight of weapons now triggers an automatic fight-and-fight reflex and he looks like he might try to slap it out of his hand but fortunately, he Overcomes his stupid reflexes before then...]
Baren laughs at the hand flapping even as he sheathes the knife again and reaches out to fix Kashuu's hair with one hand before actually moving to fix up his injuries.]
He keeps my secrets, I keep his knife.
[the shit baren does when you leave him alone]
So take care of him too, okay? Even if he has a stupid nickname for you....
[JUST HUFFS LIKE THE BIG BRAT HE IS... But at least Baren's not threatening to get his cheapo college apartment couch dirty with blood, anymore. Blessings.]
You're really shady, y'know that? [Why... That also has him arching a brow, because one:]
What's the stupid nickname? [And two:] ...I didn't even know you two knew each other.
[Only 18 because that's how long he was in Japan, but there are some details even he won't quite willingly volunteer. Instead, he'll answer... the rest.]
He calls you Flower Power.
We dated when I first got here... I guess I wouldn't have had a reason to tell you back then. Or before all this.
[ . . . ]
So you keep my secrets too, 'kay? I've already asked enough from you that I won't ask for more, though.
[JUST GIVING HIM A LOOK... But as usual, he doesn't bother pressing for information because who would he be if he just didn't ask questions when he probably should!!
He does make a face at that nickname, though.]
...Could be worse, I guess, but still. You start shedding flower petals around a guy once. [SIGHS.
And then just nods.
Because apparently he's accepted his fate as Secret Keeper.]
Sure, sure. ...Y'know, his reaction makes a lot more sense now, though.
[JUST SHOOTING HIM A LOOK god... Though it's kind of funny now, since he remembers when sakura fubuki-ing had been the weirdest thing about him. Oh, the early days.]
Nah, not at all. I just told him I was going out drinking with you on my birthday and he was basically like "holy shit! You're dead!" Only someone who's spent a looot of time around you drunk would say that.
[Why is he Like This. Why are any of them like this??]
Oh yeah, but he's a tooootal lightweight. Still is! Give him more than three of anything and he's done for. And if you ever see him reaching for his phone when he's drunk off his ass, do me a favor and make sure he... doesn't, 'kay?
[he might've had to disappear in the middle of their adventures a few times... because of chuuya.... to go pick up his drunk ass]
[He almost feels a little sorry for Chuuya. Truly, it's a mystery to him why so many people end up dating and/or hooking up with Baren Barenson, the actual demon.]
I mean, I'm not planning on drinking for a while so I probably won't be able to catch him drunk in the first place. [He's still scarred by how badly his birthday drinking went in the aftermath, okay. He's tired.] But I'll keep an eye out. ...Is he like, one of those exes?
Do you remember that time I had to abandon ship riiiight before we got the kiddie pool full of glitter on top of that frat roof? It's because that idiot called me from the middle of Tisse, stumbling around by himself. If he's with other people I can send him to voicemail but like -
[GOD LIKE on one hand he's definitely mentally shaking his head at Chuuya. Don't be that ex, Chuuya!!
But on the other hand he feels kind of sorry on the guy...]
I mean, he does, obviously. ...That's kinda sad, though. Maybe he should install one of those lock app thingies that makes you put in real complicated passwords and stuff before it lets you open your contact book.
Well, there goes like 90% of his ideas to help out. Baren manages to come in with an even worse idea but that's not surprising considering this is Baren.]
Yeah, there's no way that could end in some weird soap opera-y drama.
Still though Baren just grumbles, frustrated in his own way. He... might have been wrestling with this for about four years now. The only person he's even vaguely mentioned it to is Nikkari so....]
Do you know any better ways to shake an ex when you've already told them repeatedly that you don't want to start anything up again? I broke up with him three years ago and he doesn't deserve being strung along, but I could've sworn I dropped the rope forever ago.
[He shakes his head, irritated.]
I thought we were on the same page but then he goes ahead and pledges himself to me or something - but he's not even a sword, so -
[An annoyed huff.]
What am I supposed to make of that?
[He tightens his own bandage too tight in his irritation - and because of karma - and winces a bit. Whoops.]
[IMMEDIATELY JUST shoving himself into Baren's space and whacking his hands away... He'll take care of doing that bandage up properly since apparently Baren's irritation has taken away all of his first aid skills.
But that's some very real frustration, still... He's kind of surprised to see it at all, considering how cagey Baren tends to be. Is it just him or is he hearing more honest things lately?? HM.
...He isn't actually going to be helpful with solving a problem like this, though. He doesn't know what it's like. He's been married to Yasusada from day one without actually realizing it, pretty much.]
Mm... Some people are just loyal, y'know? You don't have to not be human for that. And it's really hard to actually get your feelings to listen to what your head says sometimes, too. It's not his fault, but it's not yours either.
that said it's mostly tired - and he'll accept it when Kashuu insists on taking over, shaking his head. he reaches up to his hair, fussing with it and admits openly for once:] Pretty sure this is my fault somewhere.
[being too pretty or something
... or something other than that. Asking for too much and not giving enough in return. Taking a perfectly kind and loyal person and fucking them up somewhere along the way. Ruining everything he touches like a sickness.
he doesn't say that out loud, either.
it's totally being too pretty]
... guess I'm just waiting for him to get his head on straight after three years. There are better things to waste your time on, you know?
I mean, you can say that sorta stuff all you want, but it's not like you can decide what's important or not to him, y'know?
[Though he won't bother speaking in more detail than that, because relationships are messy and Baren Relationships™ are even messier. He may sometimes misstep, but he's not like Yasusada, who puts his foot in his mouth way too often to count. He's quite careful not to overspeak in these kind of situations.
Once he's done loosening that bandage and fixing it back up properly, he'll move on to the next one, apparently deciding that Baren just needs help fullstop.]
I can try to convince him that his priorities are fucked.
[In simpler terms - he can try to convince Chuuya that he's not worth it. It's what he's been doing, even if the words don't quite make it out of his mouth. There's a self-loathing that Baren can't quite shake, but it's too pathetic for him to admit out loud.
[i still can't believe no one guns for baren's blood as hard as dana]
Yeah, but you get what I'm getting at too, right?
["Don't blame yourself". It's a lot to ask from someone which is why he doesn't say it in as many words, but really, there's only heartache in trying to accept responsibility for someone else's feelings.]
[And he means to say it more flippantly - but he's still thoughtful. He hears the old man sigh and some part of him feels... guilty? For putting an additional burden on Kashuu.
So he reaches up a moment later to give him a little pat on the head.]
What were you headed into the kitchen for? Want me to make dinner while Yamyamtaro is passed out?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[and here he is, pulling out a comically large knife because he's apparently dEDICATED]
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BAREN—!
[He fucking vaults back over immediately because the sight of weapons now triggers an automatic fight-and-fight reflex and he looks like he might try to slap it out of his hand but fortunately, he Overcomes his stupid reflexes before then...]
Where did that even come from?!
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This? Ah, it's Chuuya Nakahara's. I'm holding onto it for him as collateral.
[that's
a more direct answer than toshi and even chuuya's own cousin got]
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But he'll at least flop over unceremoniously onto the seat that Baren gestures to, flapping his hands in his general direction.]
What the hell kinda collateral is that?
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Baren laughs at the hand flapping even as he sheathes the knife again and reaches out to fix Kashuu's hair with one hand before actually moving to fix up his injuries.]
He keeps my secrets, I keep his knife.
[the shit baren does when you leave him alone]
So take care of him too, okay? Even if he has a stupid nickname for you....
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You're really shady, y'know that? [Why... That also has him arching a brow, because one:]
What's the stupid nickname? [And two:] ...I didn't even know you two knew each other.
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[Only 18 because that's how long he was in Japan, but there are some details even he won't quite willingly volunteer. Instead, he'll answer... the rest.]
He calls you Flower Power.
We dated when I first got here... I guess I wouldn't have had a reason to tell you back then. Or before all this.
[ . . . ]
So you keep my secrets too, 'kay? I've already asked enough from you that I won't ask for more, though.
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He does make a face at that nickname, though.]
...Could be worse, I guess, but still. You start shedding flower petals around a guy once. [SIGHS.
And then just nods.
Because apparently he's accepted his fate as Secret Keeper.]
Sure, sure. ...Y'know, his reaction makes a lot more sense now, though.
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[he's too tired to put effort into making kashuu sakura fubuki again though.... eventually.... eventually...
that said, he tilts his head and pauses in his cleaning of his wound - ]
... what reaction.... What does he say about me when I'm not around anyway? Is it grudgey ex shit or what?
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Nah, not at all. I just told him I was going out drinking with you on my birthday and he was basically like "holy shit! You're dead!" Only someone who's spent a looot of time around you drunk would say that.
[Why is he Like This. Why are any of them like this??]
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that said baren is?? cracking up????]
Oh yeah, but he's a tooootal lightweight. Still is! Give him more than three of anything and he's done for. And if you ever see him reaching for his phone when he's drunk off his ass, do me a favor and make sure he... doesn't, 'kay?
[he might've had to disappear in the middle of their adventures a few times... because of chuuya.... to go pick up his drunk ass]
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I mean, I'm not planning on drinking for a while so I probably won't be able to catch him drunk in the first place. [He's still scarred by how badly his birthday drinking went in the aftermath, okay. He's tired.] But I'll keep an eye out. ...Is he like, one of those exes?
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that said, no hesitation:]
Yup.
Do you remember that time I had to abandon ship riiiight before we got the kiddie pool full of glitter on top of that frat roof? It's because that idiot called me from the middle of Tisse, stumbling around by himself. If he's with other people I can send him to voicemail but like -
What the fuck, Kiyo? Who even does that?
[this is just gossip now]
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But on the other hand he feels kind of sorry on the guy...]
I mean, he does, obviously. ...That's kinda sad, though. Maybe he should install one of those lock app thingies that makes you put in real complicated passwords and stuff before it lets you open your contact book.
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[ . . . . . . .
yeah it's sad and he knows it
he looks to the ceiling]
Maybe I should fake date somebody else...
[on today's list of bad fucking ideas]
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Well, there goes like 90% of his ideas to help out. Baren manages to come in with an even worse idea but that's not surprising considering this is Baren.]
Yeah, there's no way that could end in some weird soap opera-y drama.
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Still though Baren just grumbles, frustrated in his own way. He... might have been wrestling with this for about four years now. The only person he's even vaguely mentioned it to is Nikkari so....]
Do you know any better ways to shake an ex when you've already told them repeatedly that you don't want to start anything up again? I broke up with him three years ago and he doesn't deserve being strung along, but I could've sworn I dropped the rope forever ago.
[He shakes his head, irritated.]
I thought we were on the same page but then he goes ahead and pledges himself to me or something - but he's not even a sword, so -
[An annoyed huff.]
What am I supposed to make of that?
[He tightens his own bandage too tight in his irritation - and because of karma - and winces a bit. Whoops.]
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[IMMEDIATELY JUST shoving himself into Baren's space and whacking his hands away... He'll take care of doing that bandage up properly since apparently Baren's irritation has taken away all of his first aid skills.
But that's some very real frustration, still... He's kind of surprised to see it at all, considering how cagey Baren tends to be. Is it just him or is he hearing more honest things lately?? HM.
...He isn't actually going to be helpful with solving a problem like this, though. He doesn't know what it's like. He's been married to Yasusada from day one without actually realizing it, pretty much.]
Mm... Some people are just loyal, y'know? You don't have to not be human for that. And it's really hard to actually get your feelings to listen to what your head says sometimes, too. It's not his fault, but it's not yours either.
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[even when he's being stupid!!!
that said it's mostly tired - and he'll accept it when Kashuu insists on taking over, shaking his head. he reaches up to his hair, fussing with it and admits openly for once:] Pretty sure this is my fault somewhere.
[being too pretty or something
... or something other than that. Asking for too much and not giving enough in return. Taking a perfectly kind and loyal person and fucking them up somewhere along the way. Ruining everything he touches like a sickness.
he doesn't say that out loud, either.
it's totally being too pretty]
... guess I'm just waiting for him to get his head on straight after three years. There are better things to waste your time on, you know?
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[Though he won't bother speaking in more detail than that, because relationships are messy and Baren Relationships™ are even messier. He may sometimes misstep, but he's not like Yasusada, who puts his foot in his mouth way too often to count. He's quite careful not to overspeak in these kind of situations.
Once he's done loosening that bandage and fixing it back up properly, he'll move on to the next one, apparently deciding that Baren just needs help fullstop.]
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[In simpler terms - he can try to convince Chuuya that he's not worth it. It's what he's been doing, even if the words don't quite make it out of his mouth. There's a self-loathing that Baren can't quite shake, but it's too pathetic for him to admit out loud.
until he gets burnt to a crisp but y'know]
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Yeah, but you get what I'm getting at too, right?
["Don't blame yourself". It's a lot to ask from someone which is why he doesn't say it in as many words, but really, there's only heartache in trying to accept responsibility for someone else's feelings.]
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... Maybe, maybe not.
[and if he even listens to the advice is another matter entirely. some things still make baren very clumsy.
like.
emotions.]
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Here. Are any of these too tight?
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[And he means to say it more flippantly - but he's still thoughtful. He hears the old man sigh and some part of him feels... guilty? For putting an additional burden on Kashuu.
So he reaches up a moment later to give him a little pat on the head.]
What were you headed into the kitchen for? Want me to make dinner while Yamyamtaro is passed out?
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