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[extramortem]

@fausteen

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OPEN SEASON

@fausteen
17 / male / interested in: men / 6♠

About Photos Questions Personality Compatibility

Details

My Self-Summary

Prior to arriving here, I was a new demon applying myself to learn everything I could about Hell and its rules as well as demons and the games that they play among one another. Prior to that, I was human—a student in school.

Anything else you want to know about me, you will have to ask me yourself.

My Future Plans

Regardless of whether I’m here or in Hell, my goal is the same: I want to learn everything I can about this place and its people, and then I want to utilize the rules and rewards of the Game to best benefit myself. I want to discover what it means to become “powerful” in this place, and I plan on collecting cards and climbing ranks in order to do so—and on my own terms.

My Talents

Determination and adaptability.

Favorite Books, Movies, Music, and Food

I’m interested in anything thrilling, frightening, or mysterious. Beyond that, I’m willing to try any number of new things, though I typically tend to focus on whatever is capturing my interest at the time. As for food, I would say that my sweet tooth is comparatively underdeveloped—I tend to prefer savory food, though I would be happy to share sweets with another.

My Ideal Partner

What’s most important to me is that it’s someone who accepts me and loves me for everything that I am.

…Though, if he’s attractive, that would certainly be a bonus.

Height 5’5” / 165 cm Body Type SLENDER Smokes INFREQUENTLY Drinks INFREQUENTLY Drugs NO Sign Libra Education PARTIAL HIGH SCHOOL, TUTORED, PRACTICAL Occupation None Presently Income None Presently Children NO Pets NO Hobbies Learning new things

01. WINE OR BEER

Wine

.02 CLOWNS OR MIMES

…Neither

.03 SHOWER OR BATH

Bath

.04 PIRATES OR NINJAS

Seriously? Neither. This is kind of childish…

.05 TITS OR ASS

Depends

.06 COFFEE OR TEA

Either

.07 SPICY OR SWEET

Spicy

.08 SUMMER OR WINTER

Winter

.09 LEATHER OR LACE

Lace

10. ROUGH SEX OR GENTLE SEX

Both have their place, I think…

Personality Type
INTJ-T

ENERGY

91%

introverted

MIND

62%

intuitive

NATURE

73%

thinking

TACTICS

56%

judging

IDENTITY

85%

turbulent

personality test. art credit.

hover for rating.

Comments

[belheir]

[He's definitely fine with tea, so sharing that isn't terrible, or anything. In fact, he's kind of surprised, considering they were just talking about cocktails, but in the end, he's relieved. Gin won't be kicking his ass today.]

Not really. I was trying to decide what would be the most appropriate kind of movie for a date. I mean, horror, sure, because you always see couples clinging to each other watching horror movies, but maybe an action movie would be more interesting?

[He can't decide....]

Are there any movie genres you prefer?

[extramortem]

( he'd just been curious! it's not like he wants to get sloshed on their little "date." honestly, if he had gone that route, he believes kazuya would've been well within his rights to be offended; in makoto's mind, you only really cloud yourself with alcohol to take the edges off being with someone you'd rather not be.

he doesn't have any such issue spending time with kazuya.

he snickers. ) "Appropriate"...

( well... there's a huge swath of movies that would be "appropriate" for a date with basically any normal person.

and then there's makoto, who isn't normal at all. because he doesn't really want to hurt kazuya's feelings, he tries to modulate his response, though perhaps there's the tiniest bit of sourness to at least the latter offering. really, kazuya, an action movie? absolutely not. and anything even half-way rom-com-adjacent will probably cause his brain to start dripping, semi-liquified, out of his ears. )

We're a "couple" now, huh? ( he's teasing him in order to buy time. he takes in a breath, sighing through his nose. ) I wasn't much of a movie buff when I was still human... But maybe a horror movie or something like a crime thriller would be interesting? ( yes, these were the only types of things he actually did bother to watch, though maybe he should be careful. too much blood and gore and he might have to explain why he's getting a little antsy? (either that, or he'll end up really peeved at how fake it ended up looking??) sigh im sorry he's like this )

[belheir]

[ Kazuya goes a little red as he laughs. Not embarrassed, but a little endeared as Makoto calls him out on his phrasing. No, they're not a couple, so he probably could have chosen his words a little better.

He rubs the back of his neck sheepishly, but good mannered all the same. The stalling definitely works. ]

It's alright. To not be a big movie buff. I mean, I went... not often, but often enough, I guess? Usually if there was a movie one of my friends wanted to see. One of them is way too into action movies, and the other is way more into rom-coms.

[ As for him, well... He's more in it for the company than the movie, in most, but not all situations. There's been a good few that have grabbed his attention and kept it. ]

I kinda don't have too much of a preference myself. So if those are your go-to genres, we can try and find a place showing them?

[extramortem]

( makoto smiles a little too sweetly. ah, kazuya, you’re entirely too easy to tease… )

I see.

( what a good friend. maybe that’s why makoto had never managed to make or maintain them—he certainly wouldn’t have been able to subject himself to one or two action movies or rom-coms, let alone a semi-regular occurrence of going to see them.

(but, yeah, I mean, we know that’s not anywhere close to the actual reasons he had no friends. anyways.)

he can’t help but laugh. ) You’re the one that wanted to watch a movie! ( he’s not saying it harshly—as far as date activities go, there are surely worse to be found in the resort—but he thinks it’s a little ironic that kazuya’s own opinions on the matter are so watery. ) Yeah, we can see if there’s something like that around here.

( given the resort’s particular prerogative, he gets the sense they’re more interested in artificially creating a “netflix and chill” environment than actually letting people enjoy the artistry of film, though… )

[belheir]

I know! I know. [He laughs too, because yeah. He had wanted to watch a movie, but honestly he's never really the one who gets to pick, so making that kind of decision is hard! Especially when he doesn't know too much about Makoto or his interests yet.

He'll learn them, in time. Slowly, maybe, but he'll learn them all the same, since he's so eager to have this connection with someone who'd gone through the same thing he had, somewhat.]

Do you think it'll be more focused on sex, considering this place?

[Even if it's a horror or thriller movie... For some reason, he really just can't trust this place to be normal.]

[extramortem]

( yes, and maybe it’s for the best if he doesn’t learn what makoto’s interests are? has he ever considered that learning that particular thing about makoto might be a little more than he bargained for?

the server arrives with the pot of hot tea and two cups, though blessedly they did so after the question kazuya asked. makoto smiles at them genially and thanks them before they leave; he considers the answer with a wry smile impressed on his face as he takes the initiative to go ahead and fill both cups, setting the pot down and taking his own afterward. )

It wouldn’t surprise me. ( he traces designs in the smooth porcelain with the pad of his forefinger. steam from the hot tea wafts up toward his face. ) Those… books and games and things they wanted us to play earlier? You should’ve seen some of the ones I looked through.

( that bizarre version of cluedo he’d played with stiles had been particularly striking… though also pretty funny, admittedly. )

[belheir]

[No, because Makoto at least hasn't murdered anyone. As far as he knows. But also, he's friends with someone who definitely has frequent murderer flier points.

Kazuya busies himself with his tea, though the hot drink nearly gets spat out as Makoto mentions the books and games from that whole thing they'd made people go to.

Oh yeah. How could he forget?

He swallows hard, has to pound his chest as the sensation of hot tea gets stuck in his throat painfully, but at least Makoto isn't wearing it.]

I'm... aware.

[He half coughs, half wheezes out.]

[extramortem]

( no, he hasn’t murdered anyone. and, even now made inhuman and into an unholy demon, he doesn’t really want to. he thinks, perhaps, if he ever tries to learn the demon’s trade and contract with humans, he might—but that was different, right? any human who contracts with a demon knows that their soul will be forfeit at its completion. it feels distinctly different from taking a life that was desperate and unwilling.

regardless, kazuya might as well have lit up a blinking neon sign that there is a story to be told here with that reaction. he delicately sips his tea before setting his cup down on the table, leaning forward so he can rest an elbow on its surface, chin resting in his palm. )

Kazuya…

( his expression is almost angelic. which means kazuya should be very scared. )

Do you have something you want to share?

[belheir]

[ Well, there's no covering that up. He turns his head, beats his chest a little more to clear it, as if it'd help clear the awkward feeling too. ]

I got drugged. Again. Found out some interesting stuff about me too, that I had absolutely no clue about.

[ He doesn't sound entitely enthused, but he is going to take a proper drink of his tea this time before he continues.]

I've got a pair of wings, funnily enough. Or I guess I can make some appear. Same with having fangs and sharp teeth.

[extramortem]

( … )

Why does this keep happening to you?

( yeah, yak, why

though the fiendish glee in his expression slowly curdles into something surprised, curious, somewhat envious, and then downright irritated as he continues. minegishi kazuya, are you daring to take a grousing tone with him when talking about how you’ve just recently discovered you have some demon characteristics you didn’t even know about beforehand?? it’s a good thing makoto’s not holding his tea cup right now because he might have shattered it in his hand. as it is, his knuckles are white as he grips the side of the table. )

Oh. You poor thing. ( his sarcasm is scathing; he sits back in his own seat, crossing his arms and tossing his head to one side, expression scrunched into something sour. ) How terrible that you have some demon qualities that you can make appear. How troublesome! And here I am, having been told I would be given nothing of the sort.

( yes, he’s being bitter and shitty and he’s aware of it. but, like, come on, man. )

[belheir]

[because its funny and i like to see him suffer.

Kazuya watches his expression twist, not quite catching on until he speaks as to why. And through it all, Kazuya just sits there, bewildered at the fact that Makoto is upset that he can make his demonic qualities appear whenever he pleases (apparently), and that he gets nothing to his name to confirm what he is.

He places his hands on the table, and leans in like this is an incredibly serious matter, because it is. It's something that he finds obnoxious, but that Makoto seems to desperately want, to the point of scathing envy.]

... Do you want them?

[He's being incredibly serious, because between the two of them, surely they could figure something out. Makoto is a demon, and Kazuya knows that technically two demons can fuse together, but he wonders if maybe... Parts can be used instead. An idea that comes from the fact that Makoto's head is sewn onto his body.]

[extramortem]

( his attention is tugged back to kazuya as he puts his hands on the table to lean in closer to him, whispering with such conspiratorial furtiveness that he at first believes that this is some sort of joke. but the moment overstays its welcome, and makoto slowly starts to piece together from his knowledge of kazuya up unto this point that he’s… being entirely serious. makoto’s eyes narrow. when he had asked J about this exact thing—about how he had thought that, if he were to be a demon, he might have horns or wings or a tail or something like that—the older demon had laughed scornfully at him before telling him that, no, he wouldn’t be given any. any he would have, he would have to obtain for himself.

he had never really explained how. makoto had taken it as a staunch refusal, not yet understanding exactly how his body works. he still doesn’t. )

What do you mean, ( he ventures, tone of voice still low and cutting, perhaps implying that if this were somehow a joke or was perhaps something kazuya was just offering half-heartedly, then that wouldn’t be well-received at all, ) Are you offering to tear them off and give them to me?

sharp claws* up there bc im dumb as hell

[belheir]

... I don't think I can tear them off. [As if in point, he kind of reaches behind him to.... Little effect. He's just not flexible enough to do something like that, but:]

Demons where I'm from can fuse with each other. And... I was kind of thinking about how your head is sewn on? I don't know if it's possible, but I'd be willing to try.

[Anything, anything to retain some semblance of having a normal body. There's nothing he wants more, and as closer as he can get to his perceived "normal", the better he'll feel about the entire thing.

Even if in his heart, he knows that even if Makoto ripped those wings off, he'd undoubtedly regenerate and heal from it.]

[extramortem]

( he looks… disappointed at that. yeah, he looks disappointed that kazuya can’t just tear off his own wings for him. weirdo. )

I don’t know… I haven’t heard of any sort of, “fusion” like that where I’m from.

( except for, like, sex? vore?? but he’s pretty sure that’s not what kazuya is talking about. )

And if you can’t tear them off, it’s not like I’m going to be able to do it. Well, ( here he leans forward to put his elbows on the table, forearms crossed in front of him as he thinks it over, ) not unless I’m able to—steal a knife from a kitchen or something. I haven’t really seen anything like that available anywhere otherwise.

( yes. yes, he has been looking.

but he’s slowly emerging from a brief submersion into that possibility space. he refocuses his bright, sharp gaze on kazuya, analytical. appraising. )

…You think I’d just be able to sew them on? ( his voice is lightly incredulous, but… he’s never tried. he does by this point know his body heals quickly, so long as he’s able to sew up any wounds he sustains. and J had specifically said he would have to “get them himself,” even if he hadn’t gone into details.

there’s a longer pause, and then perhaps the more pertinent question: ) And you’d just be okay with me… doing that to you?

[belheir]

[Maybe if he spends more time in peacock he'll learn to be a little more flexible. Until then, someone else is going to have to do it.]

That's what I was thinking. A knife, or something sharp. There's some demons with weapons I could summon... Maybe a sword? An axe? Either way, I could probably get them to give you it.

[That's the plan, anyway. The plan that is rapidly forming in his head. It's not a good one. Haphazard at best, really, but he continues on anyway, though his voice is far from frantic it is a little... Eager?]

And... I thought so. Maybe? Or.. Maybe if you try hard enough, they could fuse to you? I'm not really sure how fusion in general works, since... I was only ever the one fusing demons together and not the one being fused.

[And to his question, Kazuya pulls back a little, seemingly finding himself again. Would... he be alright with letting Makoto do that to him? To mutilate his body on the off chance that maybe those wings would never appear again?

It's not that he likes being in pain, really. And something like that would probably be incredibly painful, which is enough to get him to slow his roll.]

I... think so? Maybe. I mean, I'm the one that suggested it, so at least part of me has to be alright with it.

[extramortem]

( right. makoto forgets that kazuya can just summon demons, or something like that. he’s certain he’s mentioned it before, though he’s never seen him do it. if it works, he supposes that would be one way to find a weapon in this place, though the whole concept is still… it’s weird, kazuya. it’s really weird, to propose summoning one of your little demons to give makoto a knife or a sword or an axe or whatever for the express purpose of mutilating you.

and you know it’s weird when makoto thinks it’s weird. )

I… I’ve never tried something like that before.

( he has, by force of necessity, learned how to suture the wound around his neck; he’s also gotten pretty good at applying what he’d learned there to other wounds as well. he knows from that experience that he could figure it out, he at least has the skill, but… would it actually do anything?

as for kazuya’s proposal about the “fusion”… makoto shrinks back a little bit in his seat, looking concerned. )

I don’t know… if I really want to try anything like that. ( how—does he even put something like this into words? i mean, it seems natural not to really want to fuse oneself with entities they don’t really understand, but, ) It seems different than just—putting something on me. That… Would something else then be mixed up into me? Would I, be… any less—myself? I…

( he turns his head, looking away. he catches his lower lip between his teeth for a moment before shaking his head.

it’s his halting answer to perhaps the most pertinent question here that drags makoto’s attention back to him, though it’s just his gaze; he looks at him sidelong out of the corner of his eyes, still uncomfortable-looking where he sits with his back against the backing of his chair, arms tightly crossed, face half-turned away. ) Part of you isn’t good enough. ( his tone is cutting, but in a way that’s very characteristic of makoto, it’s him… caring, in his own weird way. ) With what you’re asking me to do… I won’t accept anything less than full confidence that you’re okay with it, that this is what you want. ( something difficult to define softens in his expression, and he continues in a lower tone, ) It’s not like I need wings or anything. ( “especially not if it’s at potential great cost to either you or our friendship,” seems to be the unspoken undercurrent. )

[belheir]

[Actually, Makoto poses a good question. What would happen then, if they were to fuse by his own worlds rules? They'd become a new being, certainly, but what kind?

... It doesn't really matter. Makoto is right, in that in theory, or at least from his admittedly limited understanding of it. But... Would it be the same with part of him? It's not like his consciousness is in his wings, after all, and he frowns as he thinks about it, turns over the idea in his head.

At the same time, absorbing Beldr's power had changed him, however slightly. And that change had only grown with each of the Be's he'd consumed, though at the end of that all, he had still been him. He was still Kazuya Minegishi, despite Babel. Despite Naoya. Despite Remiel and Metatron.

He'd like to think that it'd be the same for Makoto too, since it'd be a piece of him, and not his very being.

The line of thinking is interrupted too, by Makoto speaking again, by him so vehemently telling him "No", that he wouldn't do it without it being something that he wants, and the notion of that kind of throws him a little, and he goes slack in his seat.

Is it something he wants? Or is it something that he wants to do to make Makoto... Maybe not happy, but at least to help him out a little? He's made choices in the past, always with other people in mind. It's the same situation here.

Naoya had called him his pawn, once. And honestly, he didn't mind. Doesn't mind being used by other people, so long as it's people he likes. How weird is that?]

I... don't know. [He shifts a little in his seat.] To both of the things you said. I don't feel like anything would be mixed into you, but I also don't really know, since my case is pretty unique to all demon-kind where I'm from. And then... I'm not sure if it's something I want to do, or something I want to do for you.

[There's a difference there, however slight. An incredibly messy situation.]

[extramortem]

( most people fear death, or at the very least they fear the concept of cessation, of nothing, of some sort of divine judgment—even makoto, who had once been so disillusioned with his own life that he had summoned a demon knowing it would cost him his soul, had drug his heels at the end. it’s natural to fear something beyond knowing. but having had his death denied to him, having been instead given eternal life against his will… there are different things to fear. cessation can be relief, for some. now, chained to an immortal existence so long as his name is known, so long as it is spoken (and considering how many demons know it and can speak it, that’s probably a very, very long time), he has touched on more far-flung and altogether more terrifying fears.

fear of eternity, fear of abandonment. it had yawned wide, an open wound in his soul, when J had offhandedly offered to datenshou to dismember him and toss him aside in his storehouse, should he prove useless in his establishment. what horror would it be like, to sit immobile and powerless, gathering dust and unable to die until everyone who remembered you one day forgot?

fear of losing himself—

“himself” is all he has left. he fears becoming someone he doesn’t recognize. that, in and of itself, would be a “death,” and not even one that would offer relief.

it’s not an easy topic of conversation for either of them. it’s a path barely cut from the wild of the wood, overgrown with thorns and clouded by the unknown. it had been an offhanded offer, and it’s only characteristic of makoto to overthink it, to anguish over all the different angles and possibilities. looking at kazuya’s face as he replies, he realizes that, in doing so, he’d infected the other young man with the same.

there’s a long pause, but it’s one he breaks by turning back toward his friend, mustering a smile. perhaps it’s a little forced, at first, but it gets more and more genuine the more he speaks. ) Hey. It’s not something we have to get hung up on now. The fact that you offered, that you would do something like that for me… ( fellas, you ever blush a little bit because a guy offered to self-mutilate for your benefit? ) It’s not really what I expected to be offered on a first date, but—thank you.

( and it’s right about then that the food arrives—thankfully at a point where the sever didn’t overhear them talking about how they would potentially cut body parts off of kazuya! (or maybe they did overheard and just aren’t letting on.) )

[belheir]

[Maybe it's for the best that Makoto was the one to overthink it, because if it had just been Kazuya, he well and truly would have done it in a heartbeat. But then, he's always been the sort to do for other people, to care about himself after.

The food comes, and serves as a decent distraction, and Kazuya smiles a little in return, rubbing the back of his neck, sheepish. Embarrassed.

Somehow, he hadn't thought the topic would be so serious, despite it's very nature.

He waits for the server to leave, prods at his own meal before he speaks up.]

No, it's probably not really first date material, is it? Or maybe it is, considering what we are? I don't really, know.

[extramortem]

( that’s just kazuya’s genki shounen protagonist spirit, willing to go full head empty and charge blindly into the unknown regardless of potential permanent consequences. it’s honestly a little endearing, even if there’s a decent portion of makoto that thinks it’s a foolish and bad habit.

the waiter is conscientious as they deliver the food, distributing utensils enough for the two to share the dishes that they had ordered. makoto is quick to claim one of the yakitori, though his coin-like eyes are intent on the steaming gyudon. it smells incredible; he hadn’t actually thought himself all that hungry before, but now that the food is in front of him, he’s far less daunted.

makoto strips one of the pieces of chicken from the skewer when kazuya continues. a small smile hooks in at the corner of his mouth as he chews. yes—that’s a good point, isn’t it? )

Well… Yes, from my experience with demons where I’m from, you’re not wrong.

( dismemberment had been immediately on the table when makoto had summoned J, but that hadn’t really been a “date”… )

Though that might be a little forward. Because that’s got to be, what, at least second or third base?

( he’s joking………… )

[belheir]

[To be fair... He's only a genki shonen protagonist for his friends!!! And friends of friends.

Otherwise he genuinely could not care less. He'll be polite, but he's definitely someone who needs a little encouragement from friends most of the time to do the right thing. Which may have gotten worse, recently. Oops.

Anyway, Makoto strips one of the skewers, and Kazuya is quick to reach out to grab one, lest he not get none considering the gusto in which he'd devoured it. Himself? He eats much slower, more polite. Chewing as he considers the words given to him thoughtfully, before he tilts his head, looking contemplative.]

Really? I wonder what fourth base is, then.

[Makoto is joking and... Kazuya is kind of enabling it by pretending to be serious about his words.]

I mean, I don't think I'd mind even just going to second or third, with you. I did offer, after all.

[.... this guy.]

[extramortem]

( yeah, but how quickly you seem to make friends, that could be a lot of people?? but, of course, makoto’s only frame of reference on this is how quickly kazuya had (forcibly) befriended him…

when compared to makoto’s general misanthropy, listen. it’s still pretty genki.

makoto doesn’t reply, merely giving kazuya a heavy-lidded, sly look. is there ever question what a home run is in these circumstances? the only difference with demons would be… there’s probably more blood, pushing more violence and extremes than mortals would ever consider because they had to concern themselves with permanent consequences. demons, representing “concepts” more than singular individuals of flesh and blood, didn’t have to worry about that sort of thing. they would recover from anything so long as their name was known and spoken.

he laughs, shaking his head. ) Well, I should certainly hope so. ( when he says it, he’s thinking more about the more “human” standard, but—he remembers what they had talked about, earlier. how kazuya might have inklings for things beyond what most humans were comfortable or happy with. even so, ) There’s no rush. We can work up to it, if you wanted.

( his own patience and generosity surprise him. he’s not exactly known for either. but… even in makoto’s mind, it’s murky. his proclivities always lean towards the extreme—extreme in violence, in possession, in appetite. unless he’s satisfied like that in some way, he often ends up feeling… somewhat unfulfilled. but he’s already been surprised to have found others in this resort both willing and capable of surprising things. and kazuya… he does like him. as a person, as a friend. the things he wants will always be the things he wants, but his internal conflict becomes stronger when it’s someone he sorta cares about; it makes him even more strongly want to pull back from them.

for those curious: yes, it can be exhausting. but he’s just taking it one step at a time. typical teenage friendship is still pretty new to him, after all (there’s almost nothing typical but it, but sure). he takes a bite of gyudon, thinking. ) So… On dates like this, you typically try to get to know the other person better, right? ( yes. he’s never been on one before, what of it. ) Is… there anything you’d like to know?

[belheir]

Working up to it sounds more fun, I think.

[Kazuya, still slow with eating, hasn't even finished his own chicken skewer... It'll probably be the case that Makoto will likely eat most of it on his own. He does make a contemplative sound, leans his head into his hand as he watches the other demon passively as he eats.

He's also never actually been on a date before either. Despite his popularity at school, and the incredible amount of people who were into him, he'd never even so much as gave them a second glance. He just wasn't interested in them. How weird now, considering everything that's happened in this place. The fact that he's... more or less become comfortable with it's nature, in a way.

Then again, demons do tend towards hedonism, and that's something this place is only all too happy to encourage.

(Part of him wonders how much of that is his own wants and wills, and how much it's the other Bel's influence on him, how much his lack of humanity plays a part in things. It's a part of him he all too quickly stops thinking about.)]

I'm not really sure. I don't want to ask you anything you might not want to share, even if you're obviously welcome to not share it. [It'd be a bit of a mood ruiner, her thinks.] So... Maybe we can start small? What's your favourite colour? Animal? Things like that?

[Out of all the things he could ask, that's what he goes for. Maybe it's a bit silly, but he's not sure how much he wants to ruin the mood with a serious topic again.]

[extramortem]

It can be.

( there’s something to be said about both. though, considering kazuya is a little more uncertain about the more extreme types of things, it’s probably for the best. makoto certainly hadn’t exercised such patience and pacing—his own blood hadn’t even been dry on the contract he’d signed with J before he’d torn the demon in half. sometimes he thinks maybe it would have been better if he did try to restrain himself. he didn’t remember all that much from that first day, or the first two. it had all been one fevered haze—a lurid smear of light and color, the actualization of a baseborn taboo desire he’d thought he’d die before he ever got to satisfy. but still… he wouldn’t change that he’d done it. only how he’d done it.

here and now, however, he eats methodically; his manners are sharp and clean, finely-practiced, but perhaps a little clipped at the edges. he also gets the sense he will probably eat the majority of the meal, but that’s fine. he leaves half the yakitori to kazuya, splitting the okonomiyaki down the middle with a deft slice of his chopsticks before claiming one half for himself. the gyudon remains on the table between them, perfectly easy to pick from.

perhaps makoto is lucky he has raised his cup of tea to drink from when kazuya presents his questions. it helps mask the half-wince of his expression. it… tended to be conversations like that which turned well-meaning kids away from him. it’s not as though he’d always been avoided in school. there had been some kids who had tried, who had extended an olive branch in friendship and at least done their due diligence. but it just never seemed to take very long in the “getting to know you” process for them to realize that something was… off about him. then they started to observe their distance, wholesome intentions stymied.

he would almost rather talk about larger, thornier, potentially mood-ruining topics. at least they were things he really felt he had an opinion on. but… he’ll try. )

Okay. We can do that. Um… Favorite color—probably red. ( probably for normal reasons. (: anyways. ) Favorite animal… how about you go first?

( as he takes another bite of gyudon, wondering if he needs to lie. )

[belheir]

[He only barely catches the fact that Makoto had made such an expression, even behind his tea, and only because he'd really been studying him first in general. Is he that uncomfortable by what Kazuya considers to be perfectly normal, perfectly harmless questions?

How strange.]

I know this may shock you to hear, but I really like cats. [There's humour in his voice, at least. To try and help smooth any sort of uncomfortable atmosphere he may have cultivated by asking such a question. He'll even continue on:]

I had a pair of headphones back home, they were given to me as a gift a couple of years ago, and they had a cat-ear outline. [He says, even lifting his hands to mimic the outline of them.] It was probably done as a joke, but the quality was great, and they were surprisingly sturdy. They even survived me getting my ass kicked by demons several times during the lockdown, even despite how old they are.

[The craftsmanship was kind of second to none, honestly. They'd even really only sustained mild scuffs by the end of it.

He snatches up some of the gyudon. Pauses, before putting it in his mouth.] My favourite colour is pink. Probably surprising, right? Though blue comes pretty close.