and he's in higher spirits given the fact that now everyone has assigned rooms! no more loss of beauty sleep. it bothered him to realize that gi-gan was not in his set of dormitories and so he went to investigate
But Gi-gan is going to kick his ass if she notices. So he tries to not let it show. He doesn't hover around her today, given the fact that it's still light out. Other people would notice if a murder was afoot and stop it.
Even still, the ink from her tapestry continues to drip.
So he tries to drown out the noise with his own, seated somewhere with his erhu. He plays - stops, picks a different song, starts - and repeats that. Like his mind can't settle on one he'd like, on one that calms him rather than agitates him further.
It's probably just as annoying to anyone else around as it is to him.]
[It's a miserable sound. The flip flopping between songs is obnoxious and annoying, and knowing the source, Sousei knows full well by now that it means Jae-ha's own mind is amiss in some way. Mustn't it? Someone who clearly treasures beauty and the like, making a cacophony of noise like this...
And yet. Jae-ha's right--if they're going to be here awhile, he needs more clothing, and he'd like to preserve his uniform as long as possible. And so...to the tailor he goes.
but also jae-ha's going to be on the lookout for a tape measurer thanks! because apparently this is happening and he doesn't quite seem to realize the fate he's bringing upon himself]
[He can imagine the last thing Jae-ha wants is company right now. Honestly, would anyone want company after something like that? Her death, and finding out in that way--
It's horrible.
But Sousei made a promise, and failed it, and Sousei can't let that stand. His own fate hangs over his head, but he puts that from his mind as an issue for later. Right now, he has to concern himself with this.
(He can't forget the way Jae-ha had looked out there. He can only imagine how many placating words he's received already, and knows they don't help. How could they? Nothing helped after Tenka's death, senseless as it was.)]
... Jae-ha. [When he finds him, in an empty room down a dark hallway, his voice is quiet--though his posture is as straight as ever, chin up. He won't hang his head, even if he feels so much shame.]
Will... you speak with me for a moment? [No orders this time, or anything even remotely sounding like it. No "I would speak with you"s out of Sousei's mouth. Not for this. It's a question, plain and simple, with very little behind it but sincere willingness to take his answer and accept it.
[If it had been in the foyer, Jae-ha would certainly still be snarling.
He knows it innately because he can still feel it now - the temptation to demand answers from Sousei, the urge to shake him and ask what had gone wrong, the snarling anger of a dragon stolen from him - but it's further away. Everything feels... further away.
Like those feelings are also locked up behind a glass case.
But he sees the way that Sousei looks at him, hears his tone, and he can't help but huff out a breath. The faintest, faintest tone of amusement - though it might be closer to a dim mirth.]
If you're about to offer me an apology, I don't want it.
Jae-ha was dragged aside by... people. Of course there were people who wanted his attention. So many people thought that this would be the end for him. Yet despite joking with Sousei the other day about taking his spot.... he doesn't feel like it would be true. Maybe it's because he's so prone to running away from others.
There's no curfew tonight, and there's certainly no Sharpay waiting for him to return, so he doesn't mind when it stretches later into the night for him to find Sousei.
It's away from everyone else when Jae-ha manages to find him, and he approaches with an easy-going grin.]
[... Of all people, of course it's Jae-ha that finds him when he wants to be left alone. He's tried (and failed) to avoid so many conversations, and yet even off in this corner of the manor, even with his hat pulled low over his face and his arms crossed as he leaned in the shadows...
Jae-ha found him.
But because it's Jae-ha, because they are in the exact same situation, he doesn't have the heart to turn him away, either. He pauses...and then he sighs, lifting his chin, though the hat still shadows his face.
(He's come up with nothing. All he's wanted is a way to think--because now it's not just his life, it's Jae-ha's, and they still don't know enough about this game to break it.
Frustrating.)]
...You know full well how they are going. [A snort, wry.] And what about you? I cannot imagine what you must be feeling now.
[... It's ridiculous. He should not still be alive, but this marks yet another execution he's somehow managed to escape. Whoever it is that has that role--he supposes they had ought to thank that person, eventually. It's a lot to process, and he knows he will still be processing it for a few hours yet.
But for now...
He's alive, and so is Jae-ha, and now their lives are irrevocably tied to one another, and he supposes that that is somehow fitting.
So, dryly, as they finally pull themselves away from the scene of the execution:]
Not because he's bored, not by any means, he certainly did just feel his heart nearly pulled straight out of his chest - but rather because he's exhausted. He hasn't been sleeping well since Thursday night, after all. On some nights, not sleeping at all.
But this is an odd, familiar feeling - the one he gets when Yona isn't somewhere that he can see her, when the other Dragons aren't present, because he's worried that something's happened to them. But he can't feel any of their presences here. He can't even necessarily feel Sousei's -
But it's out of the ordinary enough that he can pinpoint it.
This isn't dragon's blood, but it's close.
Hence why when Jae-ha returns to their room he doesn't hesitate:]
[Sousei is an incredibly self-sufficient person, and his loved ones are generally also incredibly talented and self-sufficient. Which means that since the age of six or so, he hasn't really felt a single shred of paranoia for another person, sans a few particular instances.
He hates it.
He hates when the feeling flares up in his chest, because he knows it isn't his own, and that means--
Sousei's got his arms crossed, finger tapping at his own arm with a clearly irritated beat.]
[Sousei is generally a very solidly dependable sleeper. He does not move, he simply remains in the bed, still and quiet, until his hours are up, and then he gets up and lets Jae-ha have his turn.
This time?
There's a nightmare.
His breath hitches, and he jolts awake suddenly, brutally quickly as he launches himself up to a sitting position, eyes wide.
He knows there's someone else in the room with him even as he tries to catch his breath. But. It's Jae-ha. If anyone will leave him be over it, it's him (and how alarming that that's how he feels about it now, when before, briefly, he had thought Jae-ha was a fool).
So softly, shakily, he gives himself a brief moment of pressing his hand over his eyes, as if to try to push the images away, of Tenka dead at his own hands.]
[It's because Sousei is such a solidly dependable sleeper that Jae-ha notices. He looks over from where he's sitting, guarding the door and keeping his watch, but it gives him pause. For a few breaths, he lets Sousei regain himself, recognize where he is -
And then Jae-ha slowly stands to sit on the edge of the bed to join him.
When he asks, his voice is low, even if it's just the two of them in the room.]
Jae-ha returns at some point, after making his rounds throughout the castle, and there's a certain tiredness around his eyes even if he otherwise carries himself the same. He pauses when he catches sight of Sousei pacing, and then moves to sit down on their bed - much like Wednesday.
He's getting better at deciphering ways to respond to Sousei.]
Jae-ha is honestly just hanging out. Reading. It's so nice to be reading again. He's by the window in their bedroom, listening to the birds, feeling the warmth of the sun, and he's reading. It's a fairytale - one that he's not particularly familiar with - and as such he feels like he can call this studying.
. . . .
It would be terrible if something ruined this nice peaceful moment.]
It's just too bad that for once he's not guaranteed to have the best tolerance of everyone in the room. So regardless of whether he wins or not, he's certainly tipsy by the time he's done.
And he wanders back to the room, humming a little song to himself.
He's in a good mood.
He has another drink in his hand, as well as another bottle.
[It's Thursday of the week that Sousei's tapestry is up - and while they've agreed in deciphering the meaning and it isn't quite as damning as it was the week of Gi-gan's.... Jae-ha's still on edge.
He left their room rather early in the morning to go to the kitchen in the first place. While he's there, he prepares a plate of karashi renkon, neatly following the instructions of a recipe book that he'd found in the library, and looks it over. Did he do it correctly...?
But he thinks he remembers vaguely, so very vaguely Sousei eating a plate of this before.
So he goes off to find him, wherever he is in the castle, bringing this plate and two cups of tea along with him.]
[Sousei's a little restless as well, probably unsurprisingly. He's ultimately in one of their little corners where nobody tends to go, hip resting against a side table against the wall as he thinks.
It likely won't go so poorly as that very first week did.
But they really have no way of knowing with all of those illusions around, do they...?
Either way, he's not hard to find, even if he is shadowed. He's probably lifting his head before Jae-ha even gets there, honestly, because the mustard is a pretty distinct smell.]
When he was confronting Fitz, he wore a smile that he didn't feel in the interest in pleasantries. When Sandalphon kissed a corpse, startling as it was, Jae-ha chose to move on. Yet as it continued, as Sandalphon grew more desperate for his own death, Jae-ha felt it all starting to click in place. A plan to end his own life.
He feels like he's about to snap as he enters their shared room, expression falling from the carefully neutral face he wore outside.]
- what do you think, about someone so willing to throw away their own life?
I'm supposed to commend him, aren't I? For selflessness?
[That entire trial left a bad taste in Sousei's mouth. To go all of that way, only to receive a confession that was clearly tailored to be experienced from the beginning... what a waste of time.
What a waste of a life.
Natsuo deserved better, and all Sousei can feel in this very moment is bitter.
He looks over at Jae-ha, though, and sees that expression on his face, and feels an odd flash of concern.]
... No, certainly not. I do not find someone else being willing to throw away their own life as selfless at all.
It is those left behind who have to pick up the pieces and carry on. There is only more hardship being placed upon the shoulders of those who remain.
[So some people are just innocently chilling in their room to escape further socializing after awkward encounters and aren't thinking much of today!! Yet!! He even has a book, it's so peaceful.
[The funny thing is that Sousei might be able to tell that he's coming closer to the room - because the odd unhappiness that was a very, very distant thing, underneath the rest of Jae-ha's feelings seems to be getting stronger as he approaches their room. It becomes more cleanly felt as jealousy, and then irritation, and then it repeats.
Up until Jae-ha opens the door when he sees Sousei and then there it is - surprise.]
[Jae-ha cuts it painfully close to missing their set time for sleep shifts tonight. He didn't really want to go back tot he room? Sousei can probably feel it - the dull way that Jae-ha seems to lack any amusement throughout the day. It started sometime in the afternoon, with a very sharp and noticeable pain that only dulled.
And Jae-ha will somehow be running into Sousei at the exact same time, gaze flitting up from where he was most certainly focused on something else. He tilts his head.]
Jae-ha will just go to find Sousei sometime on Monday, not in their room because I no longer trust them, but probably still somewhere quieter and with less people. Somewhere outside? Probably somewhere outside, on their way to explore new parts of the castle grounds.
It's hard to say what reminds him of it - maybe he sees Shirasu out of the corner of his eye - and then he remembers:]
Oh, right.
I might have accidentally painted a target on my back.
[it's a cheery little greeting because of course it is?? wherever sousei is, jae-ha is going to come by with a tray with some tea and sweets. because apparently this is going to be pleasant time now.]
[Why are you like this, honestly... Sousei just sighs softly, but honestly he's a bit better off than the week before thanks to their by-week... he's still tense, but not as tense as he would be if more murder had happened, you know?]
But presumably, he managed to pull Sousei and Shirasu apart from each other - though he also doesn't dare try to demand any of Sousei's attention with a hand on his wrist or any physical touch for the time being. Nope, aside from a suggestion that they go back to their room, he's actually maintaining a fair distance.]
... so I take it that you didn't share anything pleasant.
[WHO KNOWS WHERE THE FAN WENT AFTER - but jae-ha did see it. and knowing that sousei doesn't own something like that normally, he can take a guess that it was probably a bubble problem]
[Yeah, sorry about the unpleasantness, Jae-ha. Sousei's bruised up but not actually too poorly off--sans the fact that he's still simmering, eyes narrowed, teeth clenched.
Nothing pleasant.
That's one way to put it.
He's stalking through the hallway towards their room, at least taking that suggestion, with the grimmest look on his face.]
... I learned something that was overdue, if nothing else.
Anyway, Jae-ha's carrying Sousei to the infirmary. Princess carrying, for what it's worth, because it's easier when he's absolutely going to be jumping to get them up up up the stairs.
Is Sousei eventually going to wake up on his own or are they gonna be stuck like this.]
[Sousei is totally gonna wake up, coughing and attempting to roll over (which isn't so easy to do in someone's arms), jerking his eyes open and waking up pretty much how you'd expect a soldier to wake up who was mid-dangerous situation.
He's immediately ready to Fight.
Though he at least recognizes that it's Jae-ha before he tries to punch him. Small favors.]
[Jae-ha wandered off as soon as he woke up. He took a survey of his surroundings - slower now. There's a lot of castle to cover and he doesn't want to miss a single detail of why it looks so familiar and yet so... wrong. It's thorough, coupled along with his swirling feelings that he's working through one by one.
Betrayal after betrayal.
Yet he pauses when he sees Sousei - even the silhouette of Sousei somewhere outside. His hand moves before his brain processes the action and his fingers wrap around Sousei's wrist.
[Well, it's nice that he's fixed up? No broken leg. No broken wrist. None of the bruising and pain he went through before--
On the other hand.
It's less nice to receive that letter, and even less to see Jae-ha here too. Sousei's eyes narrow, and he scoffs, meeting Jae-ha's eyes with a rather displeased expression on his face.]
Neither are you. Why are you here? I had thought there were minimal targets on your back.
His expression isn't a pleased one. Apparently he's here for business rather than pleasure for once. When he lifts his hand, he holds a letter in between two fingers.
His tone is lightly frosted - still obviously unhappy.]
[You know what they probably need after that disaster?
To work off a lot of this irritated, frustrated energy.
Because Sousei is definitely feeling that, fingers clenching and unclenching into fists as he paces in an area where nobody's around to bother him. Except like. That one guy who always manages to find him to bother.]
He's not sure whether he's looking for Sousei or if it's a coincidence that he found him - but regardless, he is happy to see him. He notices the pacing, and he suggests without worry - ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
week 0, idk like monday night
But.
Before they retire for the night, here's Sousei chilling, leaning against the wall as he thinks with his arms crossed.
THE PERFECT TIME TO AMBUSH HIM clearly!!]
no subject
[it's not that funny
and he's in higher spirits given the fact that now everyone has assigned rooms! no more loss of beauty sleep. it bothered him to realize that gi-gan was not in his set of dormitories and so he went to investigate
and look at who he found]
Might I borrow a few minutes of your time?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
[1/2]
[2/2]
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
week 0, thursday afternoon
But Gi-gan is going to kick his ass if she notices. So he tries to not let it show. He doesn't hover around her today, given the fact that it's still light out. Other people would notice if a murder was afoot and stop it.
Even still, the ink from her tapestry continues to drip.
So he tries to drown out the noise with his own, seated somewhere with his erhu. He plays - stops, picks a different song, starts - and repeats that. Like his mind can't settle on one he'd like, on one that calms him rather than agitates him further.
It's probably just as annoying to anyone else around as it is to him.]
no subject
Sousei approaches, frowns, and crosses his arms.]
Enough of that. This is clearly not helping.
(no subject)
(no subject)
[1/2]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
week 0, wednesday post-festival
And yet. Jae-ha's right--if they're going to be here awhile, he needs more clothing, and he'd like to preserve his uniform as long as possible. And so...to the tailor he goes.
Sousei's expression is still sour.]
no subject
[gesturing to the uniform
but also jae-ha's going to be on the lookout for a tape measurer thanks! because apparently this is happening and he doesn't quite seem to realize the fate he's bringing upon himself]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
week 0, friday evening
It's horrible.
But Sousei made a promise, and failed it, and Sousei can't let that stand. His own fate hangs over his head, but he puts that from his mind as an issue for later. Right now, he has to concern himself with this.
(He can't forget the way Jae-ha had looked out there. He can only imagine how many placating words he's received already, and knows they don't help. How could they? Nothing helped after Tenka's death, senseless as it was.)]
... Jae-ha. [When he finds him, in an empty room down a dark hallway, his voice is quiet--though his posture is as straight as ever, chin up. He won't hang his head, even if he feels so much shame.]
Will... you speak with me for a moment? [No orders this time, or anything even remotely sounding like it. No "I would speak with you"s out of Sousei's mouth. Not for this. It's a question, plain and simple, with very little behind it but sincere willingness to take his answer and accept it.
Just a moment. He only needs a moment.]
no subject
He knows it innately because he can still feel it now - the temptation to demand answers from Sousei, the urge to shake him and ask what had gone wrong, the snarling anger of a dragon stolen from him - but it's further away. Everything feels... further away.
Like those feelings are also locked up behind a glass case.
But he sees the way that Sousei looks at him, hears his tone, and he can't help but huff out a breath. The faintest, faintest tone of amusement - though it might be closer to a dim mirth.]
If you're about to offer me an apology, I don't want it.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
week 0, saturday evening
Jae-ha was dragged aside by... people. Of course there were people who wanted his attention. So many people thought that this would be the end for him. Yet despite joking with Sousei the other day about taking his spot.... he doesn't feel like it would be true. Maybe it's because he's so prone to running away from others.
There's no curfew tonight, and there's certainly no Sharpay waiting for him to return, so he doesn't mind when it stretches later into the night for him to find Sousei.
It's away from everyone else when Jae-ha manages to find him, and he approaches with an easy-going grin.]
Hello, stranger.
How go the war preparations?
no subject
Jae-ha found him.
But because it's Jae-ha, because they are in the exact same situation, he doesn't have the heart to turn him away, either. He pauses...and then he sighs, lifting his chin, though the hat still shadows his face.
(He's come up with nothing. All he's wanted is a way to think--because now it's not just his life, it's Jae-ha's, and they still don't know enough about this game to break it.
Frustrating.)]
...You know full well how they are going. [A snort, wry.] And what about you? I cannot imagine what you must be feeling now.
[Gi-gan's murderer was caught, and yet the cost--
Frustrating, as well.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
week 0, sunday evening
But for now...
He's alive, and so is Jae-ha, and now their lives are irrevocably tied to one another, and he supposes that that is somehow fitting.
So, dryly, as they finally pull themselves away from the scene of the execution:]
I suppose this is some sort of irony.
no subject
Not because he's bored, not by any means, he certainly did just feel his heart nearly pulled straight out of his chest - but rather because he's exhausted. He hasn't been sleeping well since Thursday night, after all. On some nights, not sleeping at all.
But as they walk away - ]
Irony? I'd rather see it for the gift that it is.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
week 1, monday eeeevening?
He's quite self-sufficient.
But this is an odd, familiar feeling - the one he gets when Yona isn't somewhere that he can see her, when the other Dragons aren't present, because he's worried that something's happened to them. But he can't feel any of their presences here. He can't even necessarily feel Sousei's -
But it's out of the ordinary enough that he can pinpoint it.
This isn't dragon's blood, but it's close.
Hence why when Jae-ha returns to their room he doesn't hesitate:]
Did you feel that?
no subject
He hates it.
He hates when the feeling flares up in his chest, because he knows it isn't his own, and that means--
Sousei's got his arms crossed, finger tapping at his own arm with a clearly irritated beat.]
Yes.
[Thanks, he hates it.]
They are messing with our heads again.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
week 1, tuesday evening
This time?
There's a nightmare.
His breath hitches, and he jolts awake suddenly, brutally quickly as he launches himself up to a sitting position, eyes wide.
He knows there's someone else in the room with him even as he tries to catch his breath. But. It's Jae-ha. If anyone will leave him be over it, it's him (and how alarming that that's how he feels about it now, when before, briefly, he had thought Jae-ha was a fool).
So softly, shakily, he gives himself a brief moment of pressing his hand over his eyes, as if to try to push the images away, of Tenka dead at his own hands.]
no subject
And then Jae-ha slowly stands to sit on the edge of the bed to join him.
When he asks, his voice is low, even if it's just the two of them in the room.]
Saw something?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
week 1, tuesday
Jae-ha strides out of the dining hall with confidence, like a man on a mission, and he finds Sousei to ask:]
Is Goro Akechi your son?
no subject
no
why]
...Excuse me?
[???!????]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
week 1, wednesday
Sousei is miserable, because even with his full uniform back on and his gloves on and huddled in blankets, it's fucking freezing.
And he hates it.
Who allowed this shit?
This is a very dour looking Sousei sitting on the bed wrapped up in a blanket, great.]
no subject
angry and cold
mood]
... did I not grab enough extra cloth from the tailor's?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
week 1, sunday
But either way, it's Sunday evening and Sousei is!! Pacing!! In their room!
Huh, he must have a lot on his mind...]
no subject
Jae-ha returns at some point, after making his rounds throughout the castle, and there's a certain tiredness around his eyes even if he otherwise carries himself the same. He pauses when he catches sight of Sousei pacing, and then moves to sit down on their bed - much like Wednesday.
He's getting better at deciphering ways to respond to Sousei.]
... and so? What are you thinking?
[The first prod.]
(no subject)
[1/2]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
week 2, idk tuesday
Jae-ha is honestly just hanging out. Reading. It's so nice to be reading again. He's by the window in their bedroom, listening to the birds, feeling the warmth of the sun, and he's reading. It's a fairytale - one that he's not particularly familiar with - and as such he feels like he can call this studying.
. . . .
It would be terrible if something ruined this nice peaceful moment.]
no subject
In fact, Sousei is not even in their room, though he's on his way back. He's about to open the door when...the memory hits.
And he's so distracted that.
He runs into the door.
Thump.
Yeah, that's a thing. Now he's standing outside their door with his nose held in one hand and the other pressing at his temple. Ow?
(He needs a moment to process everything he just saw; give him a moment.)]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
week 2, monday evening
It's just too bad that for once he's not guaranteed to have the best tolerance of everyone in the room. So regardless of whether he wins or not, he's certainly tipsy by the time he's done.
And he wanders back to the room, humming a little song to himself.
He's in a good mood.
He has another drink in his hand, as well as another bottle.
Why.
Anyway, enter the room and:]
Partner. ♪ I'm home.
no subject
Sousei slowly lifts his head, meets Jae-ha's eyes and.....
Arches an incredulous eyebrow.
Yep.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
week 2, thursday
He left their room rather early in the morning to go to the kitchen in the first place. While he's there, he prepares a plate of karashi renkon, neatly following the instructions of a recipe book that he'd found in the library, and looks it over. Did he do it correctly...?
But he thinks he remembers vaguely, so very vaguely Sousei eating a plate of this before.
So he goes off to find him, wherever he is in the castle, bringing this plate and two cups of tea along with him.]
no subject
It likely won't go so poorly as that very first week did.
But they really have no way of knowing with all of those illusions around, do they...?
Either way, he's not hard to find, even if he is shadowed. He's probably lifting his head before Jae-ha even gets there, honestly, because the mustard is a pretty distinct smell.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
week 2, sunday
When he was confronting Fitz, he wore a smile that he didn't feel in the interest in pleasantries. When Sandalphon kissed a corpse, startling as it was, Jae-ha chose to move on. Yet as it continued, as Sandalphon grew more desperate for his own death, Jae-ha felt it all starting to click in place. A plan to end his own life.
He feels like he's about to snap as he enters their shared room, expression falling from the carefully neutral face he wore outside.]
- what do you think, about someone so willing to throw away their own life?
I'm supposed to commend him, aren't I? For selflessness?
no subject
What a waste of a life.
Natsuo deserved better, and all Sousei can feel in this very moment is bitter.
He looks over at Jae-ha, though, and sees that expression on his face, and feels an odd flash of concern.]
... No, certainly not. I do not find someone else being willing to throw away their own life as selfless at all.
It is those left behind who have to pick up the pieces and carry on. There is only more hardship being placed upon the shoulders of those who remain.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
week 3, monday
Some people!!!
Like Sousei!!
Hit him with your worst, Jae-ha.]
no subject
Up until Jae-ha opens the door when he sees Sousei and then there it is - surprise.]
... oh? You're just here?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
week 3, wednesday
And didn't quite disappear.
He's both tired and quiet as he enters the room.]
... I'll take the first watch tonight?
no subject
[Look, he's not going to pretend like he didn't feel that... he sure did.....
So fess up, Jae-ha.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
week 3, saturday
It's fine.
Sousei is finally returning to the room after checking up on people, expression somewhat tense because nothing about this is anything he likes.
Now's a great time to run into his roommate as they both arrive at the room at the exact same time by some weird miracle.]
no subject
And Jae-ha will somehow be running into Sousei at the exact same time, gaze flitting up from where he was most certainly focused on something else. He tilts his head.]
... good evening, partner.
[And he'll open the door to their room - ]
After you?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
week 4, monday
Jae-ha will just go to find Sousei sometime on Monday, not in their room because I no longer trust them, but probably still somewhere quieter and with less people. Somewhere outside? Probably somewhere outside, on their way to explore new parts of the castle grounds.
It's hard to say what reminds him of it - maybe he sees Shirasu out of the corner of his eye - and then he remembers:]
Oh, right.
I might have accidentally painted a target on my back.
no subject
Oh, yes? To who?
[He takes this pretty well, honestly.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
week 5, monday
[it's a cheery little greeting because of course it is?? wherever sousei is, jae-ha is going to come by with a tray with some tea and sweets. because apparently this is going to be pleasant time now.]
Have some time for me?
no subject
Very well then.
[He's even being agreeable!]
What is it?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
week 5, wednesday pre-cyoa
But presumably, he managed to pull Sousei and Shirasu apart from each other - though he also doesn't dare try to demand any of Sousei's attention with a hand on his wrist or any physical touch for the time being. Nope, aside from a suggestion that they go back to their room, he's actually maintaining a fair distance.]
... so I take it that you didn't share anything pleasant.
[WHO KNOWS WHERE THE FAN WENT AFTER - but jae-ha did see it. and knowing that sousei doesn't own something like that normally, he can take a guess that it was probably a bubble problem]
no subject
Nothing pleasant.
That's one way to put it.
He's stalking through the hallway towards their room, at least taking that suggestion, with the grimmest look on his face.]
... I learned something that was overdue, if nothing else.
[But no, it was far from pleasant.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
week 5, wednesday post-cyoa
Anyway, Jae-ha's carrying Sousei to the infirmary. Princess carrying, for what it's worth, because it's easier when he's absolutely going to be jumping to get them up up up the stairs.
Is Sousei eventually going to wake up on his own or are they gonna be stuck like this.]
no subject
He's immediately ready to Fight.
Though he at least recognizes that it's Jae-ha before he tries to punch him. Small favors.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
week 5, sunday in the graveyard now.... yike....
Betrayal after betrayal.
Yet he pauses when he sees Sousei - even the silhouette of Sousei somewhere outside. His hand moves before his brain processes the action and his fingers wrap around Sousei's wrist.
. . . ]
You aren't supposed to be here.
[Intelligent.]
no subject
On the other hand.
It's less nice to receive that letter, and even less to see Jae-ha here too. Sousei's eyes narrow, and he scoffs, meeting Jae-ha's eyes with a rather displeased expression on his face.]
Neither are you. Why are you here? I had thought there were minimal targets on your back.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
week 6, uhh fuck thursday?
His expression isn't a pleased one. Apparently he's here for business rather than pleasure for once. When he lifts his hand, he holds a letter in between two fingers.
His tone is lightly frosted - still obviously unhappy.]
I found out why you died.
no subject
Well, I assume it wasn't only for sport, then.
[A quirked eyebrow.]
Let's hear it.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
week 6, like sunday or something
To work off a lot of this irritated, frustrated energy.
Because Sousei is definitely feeling that, fingers clenching and unclenching into fists as he paces in an area where nobody's around to bother him. Except like. That one guy who always manages to find him to bother.]
no subject
He's not sure whether he's looking for Sousei or if it's a coincidence that he found him - but regardless, he is happy to see him. He notices the pacing, and he suggests without worry - ]
Shall we have a spar?
(no subject)
(no subject)