[He should respect Chuuya's privacy more than this. These are his thoughts and it's important that he gets the words out but -
There it is. The driving need for information, if only because he thinks he needs that information in order to help anyone. Anything. Chuuya's not telling him to close his eyes even though he knows Baren's right there and - normally Baren can live in that unfairness. For years, the lack of balance in their relationship never even made him blink.
Right now he can't take it so - ]
... Open your eyes, Chuu. It's - fine.
[It's a trade.
Tanuki reacts to the stress of someone in distress as he knows how, by nudging against them softly and letting himself be held.
Baren's heart's in his throat and he's already thinking - so fast, the words are scrolling.
There has to be someone in the city who has some kind of power to stop this I just need to find it. If there's gods then there has to be someone who can dictate people. Mind control to hold it at bay for even a little bit. Retrospec gives powers, I'll break in again and see if Maury or Jojo can give me something. I'll trade, there has to be something they want, something I can get them to owe me. I'll run a debt, I'll fix it, there has to be a way.
His confusion shows in his thoughts-- he doesn't expect Baren to offer, to allow him to look when he's trying to avoid it-- but Chuuya accepts after a moment, glancing up. The scrolling thoughts immediately draw his attention, and-
Ah. Chuuya's eyes widen a little in surprise, there. He didn't think Baren would plan things like that for his sake.]
You- Baren, you don't have to do that for me, alright? You don't have to go that far.
['Don't think too hard about it' is easier said than done. There's a brief one in response (Don't think you're getting rid of me that easy before he exhales a heavy breath.]
I- look, you know everything I know, okay? I told you, I was blacked out while it happened. All I remember of it is just... right before I came out of it I think I heard myself laughing.
[It was awful.
He shakes his head to clear it, continuing-]
...there's someone else who might know, though. You ever met John Becket? He's- in my memories. He mentioned seeing it. But he was an enemy of mine back then and I'm pretty sure he knows it, I don't know if he'll tell me anything.
Was he?... We met a while back. Didn't know you two had run into each other.
[He's relaxing by degrees, now that he isn't focusing on, you know, his own potential death. He scratches behind Tanuki's ears, humming quietly under his breath.]
I kicked him into the woods. In my memories, I mean. So- yeah, it's pretty much gonna have to be you.
[Agreeing to see Chuuya's thought bubbles was Baren's worst fucking idea, especially as his own thought bubble suddenly just becomes -
Embarrassing and gay.
- before he reaches out to thwap the brim of Chuuya's hat down.
He wanders back to his seat now with his gaze fixated on the wall and his thought bubble is a bunch of stormy scribbles but also Stop liking me so much, jackass. What shitty taste. Come to your senses already.
Tanuki, now without Baren, goes back to pressing his head into Chuuya's hand. Peeeeets.]
Chuuya sputters and tips his hat back up, then thinks better of it and just sets it aside, focusing on petting Tanuki. He can have all the pets he wants tbh.]
If that was gonna happen it already would've, asshole.
[He just... answers aloud without thinking, there.]
[And so here he'll sit like a puffed up, fussy cat. He won't look back at Chuuya's thought bubbles for the time being, now that they've run out of information for him. But he's... also not headed for the door or window.]
[but whether Baren is looking or not: If you didn't drive me off yet you're not going to.
If he feels like staying, though, Chuuya won't ask him to leave. He's perfectly content to just cuddle this tanuki, because honestly, he still really needs that tonight. It's a safer form of comfort.]
[Tanuki is happy to cuddle with Chuuya. He's getting used to the city now. It's different from what he knows. Baren was the only constant, because Kumous always mean something to Tanuki. He's happy, though, knowing that his Kumous found other warm people again.
He doesn't understand everything, because he wasn't there for Chuuya's first realization and he can't read, but he can understand when someone needs comfort. He crawls up to nudge against Chuuya's face with his own.
With his hot mess of an owner, there's a too honest bubble that really simplifies Baren's problems to the core: I don't want to be alone.
[It's silent for a while and it's almost thought that maybe Baren is ignoring the answer but then, suddenly:]
Why not?
[It comes out a little more sharply - frustrated as Baren is. There's the surge of text again, flooding a thought bubble -
Why wouldn't you want anyone else? You know there are good people in this city? Against all odds, there are some seriously good people in this city. You can't tell me that you haven't met them. They make sense. Anyone can fall in love with Foxy, especially your dramatic ass. And even the strangers - they still surprise me with how good they are. They're good people. So why not them? They won't leave you after nightmares. They won't break up with you without explanation. They won't hesitate to trust you. They're not fucked up.
Don't you realize what you're waiting for is a disaster?]
[there's silence from him too, at first, while he processes that, but--]
Mm... good people are too boring, I guess? Foxy already let me down easy anyway.
[it's too flippant an answer to be his real one, though. he's just putting his thoughts together a bit more.]
I think you're less of a disaster than you think you are. Yeah, you fucked up when you broke it off, I'm not gonna say you didn't, but... you've still been around for me, you know? You pick up when I call you at ass o'clock in the middle of the night drunk, you keep my secrets, you listen to my issues...
And it's not like I'm not fucked up, either. It's just... fuck, they're not you. That's all it comes down to. They won't sneak in my window to make breakfast or paintbomb a professor who was a dick to me or go out in the middle of the night to do stupid shit together. I don't want them to do it, anyway.
He didn't expect a why. Sometimes Baren's biggest mistake is forgetting that Chuuya's so blindly honest. At times it's refreshing and it's part of why he likes him so much -
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There it is. The driving need for information, if only because he thinks he needs that information in order to help anyone. Anything. Chuuya's not telling him to close his eyes even though he knows Baren's right there and - normally Baren can live in that unfairness. For years, the lack of balance in their relationship never even made him blink.
Right now he can't take it so - ]
... Open your eyes, Chuu. It's - fine.
[It's a trade.
Tanuki reacts to the stress of someone in distress as he knows how, by nudging against them softly and letting himself be held.
Baren's heart's in his throat and he's already thinking - so fast, the words are scrolling.
There has to be someone in the city who has some kind of power to stop this I just need to find it. If there's gods then there has to be someone who can dictate people. Mind control to hold it at bay for even a little bit. Retrospec gives powers, I'll break in again and see if Maury or Jojo can give me something. I'll trade, there has to be something they want, something I can get them to owe me. I'll run a debt, I'll fix it, there has to be a way.
In the same span that all he says is - ]
Don't freak out.
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His confusion shows in his thoughts-- he doesn't expect Baren to offer, to allow him to look when he's trying to avoid it-- but Chuuya accepts after a moment, glancing up. The scrolling thoughts immediately draw his attention, and-
Ah. Chuuya's eyes widen a little in surprise, there. He didn't think Baren would plan things like that for his sake.]
You- Baren, you don't have to do that for me, alright? You don't have to go that far.
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[Harshly, because -
It's really fucking inconvenient for you to know what I'm thinking but ]
If I see your thoughts, just deal with mine for a while. Don't think too hard about it.
[People are harder to get rid of when they realize I care about them.]
But - this isn't about me, it's about you. What else about the ability? I need everything.
[I can't stop it if I don't know.
These thought bubbles really are especially inconvenient for him.]
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I- look, you know everything I know, okay? I told you, I was blacked out while it happened. All I remember of it is just... right before I came out of it I think I heard myself laughing.
[It was awful.
He shakes his head to clear it, continuing-]
...there's someone else who might know, though. You ever met John Becket? He's- in my memories. He mentioned seeing it. But he was an enemy of mine back then and I'm pretty sure he knows it, I don't know if he'll tell me anything.
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I don't know if I want to anymore flashes in the blink of an eye.
But he focuses.]
John - on my team John?
[I like him but I can't read him. Fuck. Fine.]
I'll see what I can find out.
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[He's relaxing by degrees, now that he isn't focusing on, you know, his own potential death. He scratches behind Tanuki's ears, humming quietly under his breath.]
I kicked him into the woods. In my memories, I mean. So- yeah, it's pretty much gonna have to be you.
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.... yeah, fine.
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[If he saw my ability it's not like we were there for a friendly fucking meeting, asshole..]
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[Or you'd try to fuck it.
Thanks Baren.
This is where Tanuki reaches up to bap at Baren's cheek with his little paw.]
Tanuki agrees.
[is that what that means]
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[There's an annoyed huff at that, but- then he cracks a tiny smile as he shakes his head.
That's more like normal. It's a fond pastel pink shade.]
I think he's telling you to shut up.
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Embarrassing and gay.
- before he reaches out to thwap the brim of Chuuya's hat down.
He wanders back to his seat now with his gaze fixated on the wall and his thought bubble is a bunch of stormy scribbles but also Stop liking me so much, jackass. What shitty taste. Come to your senses already.
Tanuki, now without Baren, goes back to pressing his head into Chuuya's hand. Peeeeets.]
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Chuuya sputters and tips his hat back up, then thinks better of it and just sets it aside, focusing on petting Tanuki. He can have all the pets he wants tbh.]
If that was gonna happen it already would've, asshole.
[He just... answers aloud without thinking, there.]
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[And so here he'll sit like a puffed up, fussy cat. He won't look back at Chuuya's thought bubbles for the time being, now that they've run out of information for him. But he's... also not headed for the door or window.]
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[but whether Baren is looking or not: If you didn't drive me off yet you're not going to.
If he feels like staying, though, Chuuya won't ask him to leave. He's perfectly content to just cuddle this tanuki, because honestly, he still really needs that tonight. It's a safer form of comfort.]
You're not busy or anything?
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He doesn't understand everything, because he wasn't there for Chuuya's first realization and he can't read, but he can understand when someone needs comfort. He crawls up to nudge against Chuuya's face with his own.
With his hot mess of an owner, there's a too honest bubble that really simplifies Baren's problems to the core: I don't want to be alone.
But what he says is different, of course.]
Not sleepy yet.
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[There's a hint of a laugh in his voice there, because with that little facenudge he's affectionately ruffling Tanuki's fur.]
And you too. What if I just kick Baren out and let you stay, huh...
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[Why is he not surprised.
But Tanuki will take the affectionate ruffles. He sure does bask under this attention. He's going to be spoiled rotten soon.]
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[Honestly, Baren...
and Tanuki just gets more scritches because he isn't fucking rude.]
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[he said it that way on purpose]
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[annnd he's red again, thanks Baren.
I guess that's true though.]
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Can't you just find another sadist or someone with a shitty personality...
[But not too shitty because fuck some of the people you dated they deserved to have tarantulas in their drinks and legos in their shoes.]
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[Chuuya hums to himself, shrugging one shoulder.]
Anyway, I just don't want them.
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Why not?
[It comes out a little more sharply - frustrated as Baren is. There's the surge of text again, flooding a thought bubble -
Why wouldn't you want anyone else? You know there are good people in this city? Against all odds, there are some seriously good people in this city. You can't tell me that you haven't met them. They make sense. Anyone can fall in love with Foxy, especially your dramatic ass. And even the strangers - they still surprise me with how good they are. They're good people. So why not them? They won't leave you after nightmares. They won't break up with you without explanation. They won't hesitate to trust you. They're not fucked up.
Don't you realize what you're waiting for is a disaster?]
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Mm... good people are too boring, I guess? Foxy already let me down easy anyway.
[it's too flippant an answer to be his real one, though. he's just putting his thoughts together a bit more.]
I think you're less of a disaster than you think you are. Yeah, you fucked up when you broke it off, I'm not gonna say you didn't, but... you've still been around for me, you know? You pick up when I call you at ass o'clock in the middle of the night drunk, you keep my secrets, you listen to my issues...
And it's not like I'm not fucked up, either. It's just... fuck, they're not you. That's all it comes down to. They won't sneak in my window to make breakfast or paintbomb a professor who was a dick to me or go out in the middle of the night to do stupid shit together. I don't want them to do it, anyway.
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But.
He didn't expect a why. Sometimes Baren's biggest mistake is forgetting that Chuuya's so blindly honest. At times it's refreshing and it's part of why he likes him so much -
Other times.
It's.]
Shut the fuck up, who asked you?!
[Too fucking much.
(Also you did, asshole.)]
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