deercountry | soft hours

You know I don't mind that you fell asleep, right? [He wants to reiterate the fact a thousand times over. Manabu clearly needed the sleep, and really he did get caught up reading a bit more than he probably should have.] I still enjoyed myself.

[He has to think of all the places he hasn't been in Trench and where it would be nice to actually explore and go. He blinks, then smiles, quickly turning to face him again.]

Maybe we could go to Achelliac and check out the hot springs?

Eh?? [he blinks.] Hot springs? There's...hot springs in Trench?

[man's been living here near half a year, but anything fun-related is still alien to him besides a Raccoon Room and a Red Room.]

Apparently! I think someone mentioned it not too long ago and I've been curious.

[It honestly sounds relaxing compared to the horror show they deal with on a constant basis.]

I haven't been to Darcmouth yet so it could be interesting! I really need to just get a map of Trench and mark down the places I've been... [And the places he hasn't bene. He's not really been too much beyond Trench's boarders - probably for the best but it does have him curious as to what is beyond them.]

[bewildered, quietly:] A scary place like this...has something like that? Maybe even a ryokan? I haven't been to one of those since... [since home.]

Right? I never expected it either. [He smiles, before rubbing the back of his head.] It would be nice, wouldn't it? Actually, getting a chance to relax... [Would they actually relax? It remains to be seen but the idea of it was nice.]

[Manabu blinks again, looking back at Ryunosuke.]

I...mn, maybe... [he looks askance, feeling a shade guilty.] I'm not really the best at that sort of thing, though.

I know. [He chuckles a little.] I know, but I suppose I figured it wouldn't really hurt to try. We really need to find something you'd like to do, however.

It can be anything! I'm willing to try anything once.

[his mouth twitches on one side. what he'd like to do? come on! there are a million, billion easier questions to get answers to than that!]

I-it's alright! I'm usually better...bouncing off what other people are interested in, really. It's not like I had a lot of hobbies back before Trench and stuff or anything, so...!

Maybe a hobby is just what you need. [He shakes his head quickly.] But! No pressure though. I mean-- you don't have to have one if you don't want to.

We'll figure out something to do even if it's just going out to dinner again. [Enjoying each other's company over a meal every once in a while wasn't such a bad thing.]

Ye-yeah... [he's grateful Ryunosuke doesn't press the matter of hobbies and leisure too much, especially since he has no means to escape it with a good excuse like gotta go run errands right now.

he looks down, realizing he's been hanging onto Ryunosuke's hand, and hesitates a beat before letting it go.]

A--sorry. You gotta...gotta check on Kazuma, right? I should let you do that.

[He's almost sad that Manabu has released his hand, but he smiles all the same, glad that the affection was hopefully going to be a common thing between them. The more he thought about it, the more he'd like to be affectionate with him - gentle touches, soft kisses, it's not anything he'd have considered before. Dating a man was... very new to him, not something he would have considered back in his time, but the newness of it all was exciting.]

Yeah, I should go check on him, make sure that he's not moving around too much with that broken rib of his. [A small sigh as he takes one last look at Manabu's ankle.]

If you need anything, just call. Once I check on Kazuma I can start cooking something to eat.

Mn, okay. [sheepishly:] I'm going to be saying 'thanks' a whole lot for a while, I think...eh-eheh...

[and Ryunosuke's going to be saying 'it's no big deal' or some iteration of that, too. all while checking on folks and cooking...

Manabu sends him off with a little wave before his head tilts back and stares up at the ceiling. he can still feel his heart drumming too fast to relax, and his fingers tingle a bit, remembering the weight and texture of Ryunosuke's hand. hands aside, those kisses?! holy smokes. Manabu's always been too busy to think about that kind of stuff, just assuming it'd fall into place after he had his career sorted out - one thing after another in a neat little line, right? but Wu reality-checked him about that a while back, which is...likely why he was able to let his thoughts and feelings get taken advantage of in February.

but that...did lead to being able to ask, right? even if he hadn't meant to in the moment, following through...that was a good thing. right?

it's a little confusing.

...

okay, well...it's a lot confusing, the way all first experiences can be. pair that up with an insatiable hunger to do his best and do things right, and that's a fine breeding ground for some worry! yet despite all of his muck-ups...Ryunosuke still smiles at him, and he draws near, and...

...and Manabu sinks down a bit, hands to his burning face, feeling all fluttery and flighty and foolish in a way he doesn't entirely hate like he maybe ought to. or maybe not! maybe this is...okay.

we're together now, he said.

gosh...]

soft hours

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject