Sunday, 9/3, morning (Week six beginning)

[godinsolitude]

[Ayumu isn't usually up this early, except for Mondays. But for once he hadn't slept well, and he's feeling tired and rash enough to sneak out before everyone else in his room awakens.

When he spots Mahiro in the halls, he follows him to the baths, eyes narrows and steps light. He waits until Mahiro enters the bath before following him in, still dressed.

There's a sharp look in his eyes Mahiro hasn't seen before.]

We need to talk.

[Man to man. Dude to Dude. Time to lay everything bare.]

Comments

[irrationalities]

[It was a long trial. All of them were, but this time was different, and that's why he couldn't forgive. Couldn't just leave the execution to the Sage and the Teishu, not when they had absolutely no stake in these things.

He shot, he killed, and that was it. Things made sense, even if just for a moment. But even if he'd be loath to admit it, things wore on him, so that's why he decides that an early morning bath would... maybe not help, but just take his mind off things.

Mahiro doesn't expect to see Ayumu there, though.]

What do you want?

[There's a lack of the usual irritation there as he looks back. Call it neutral, call it tired, but in contrast to Ayumu, he looks subdued.]

[godinsolitude]

I want to talk to you.

[He's dressed in plain slacks and a shirt, nothing complicated, and he settles into a crouch a few feet away from the edge of the pool--

Far enough away to be out of arm's reach of Mahiro, but close enough that he can see his expression in the steamy room. He seems a little unsteady as he crouches, probably because the floor is wet and he's wearing his freaking shoes in here like a cretin.]

Tell me why you did it.

[irrationalities]

[Mahiro just watches Ayumu move before he just leans back in the bath, looking towards the sky.]

To hell, allegiance! Vows, to the blackest devil!
Conscience and grace, to the profoundest pit!
I dare damnation. To this point I stand
That both the worlds I give to negligence.
Let come what comes, only I’ll be revenged.

[It's not quite the full quote, but it's more than enough for Ayumu to identify if he's familiar with Hamlet.]

[godinsolitude]

[Ayumu stares at him while he recites, lips thin and brows drawn. 'Hamlet'? Really? He was reciting plays at a time like--

Ugh.]

Revenge... Is that really all it was? Simple revenge? You really risked your reputation and used up some of your precious ammo, just for that?

[irrationalities]

Call it whatever the hell you want. Judge me however you want. I'm not gonna apologize for anything.

[And he's not going to regret what he did either.]

Is that all you came here to find out?

[godinsolitude]

I didn't come here looking for an apology.

[The word is practically spat. Apologies didn't fix anything, nor did they bring back the dead. He sighs, momentary fire leaving him as he runs a hand through his hair.]

I came here looking for an explanation. So answer my question already, Fuwa. Why did you bring the gun to the trial, and was Mako's death only for the express purpose of revenge? I'm not leaving until you give me a real, honest answer.

[irrationalities]

[It only takes a second before it clicks as to what Ayumu may be looking for here.]

I didn't plan on bringing the gun to the trial until I saw the bodies. What, do you think I killed him because I was told to?

[godinsolitude]

I don't know, why don't you tell me?

[He's cautious, but he's not denying that it's what he's asking.]

Revenge can be a powerful motivator, but you could have gotten that just watching Mako get torn apart. Does pulling the trigger yourself mean that much to you, or was there more at play? That's what I want to know.

[irrationalities]

I won't say I wouldn't work with them for the right incentive. But they've never offered me anything and I've never offered back. I don't enjoy getting threatened all the time either.

Think what you want, but I did this all on my own.

[godinsolitude]

[He eyes Mahiro closely, looking for any signs of a lie-- and in absence of one, probably looking a bit nutty honestly. But he has to be sure.

After a moment he lets out a huge sigh.]

So you really are just a reckless idiot.

[irrationalities]

[It's okay, he's kind of used to people scrutinizing him, so getting stared at is pretty much par the course. Maybe not while he's buck naked, mind, but meh. Modesty is overrated...!]

You say that like I haven't heard that one a million times before.

[Mostly from Aika, and sometimes with Yoshino, albeit without the idiot part.]

Your guess is as good as mine as to why I was allowed. Then again, it's not like people've asked before.

[Although the Sage sure sounded pissed at the end, huh...]

[godinsolitude]

I'm not at all surprised.

[Look at this face, Mahiro, he is unimpressed by your risk taking.]

No, they haven't.... and from their reactions, I wonder if the Sage would have allowed it if you hadn't been so quick about it. The Teishu seemed pleased, but the Sage....

[irrationalities]

Probably not. He likes order, and having me involved changed things up from how they were in the previous weeks. And considering he's the one in charge, I bet it chafes his ass to have his second-in-command call the shots.

[godinsolitude]

Probably..... though I wonder if that's all it is.

[He shakes his head, squinting a little in the steam. It was awfully hot in here...]

The Sage and Teishu.... are they really as much of a team as we think?

[irrationalities]

[just strip ayumu gosh!! Mahiro, on the other hand, just sinks a little deeper into the springs. It didn't look like he was going to be leaving anytime soon, after all.]

You said you were looking for a little more information about them, right? If you have anything interesting, we could do another trade.

[Probably a sore reminder, but uh. Since when has Mahiro cared about that shit apparently.]

[godinsolitude]

[He's not stripping, he's got his pendent tucked under his shirt and he has no intent to bathe in here with you Mahiro, sorry. You did just kill a man yesterday.]

Another trade, hm? Considering the results of our last one, I'd want a little more assurance that the information is an equal trade here.

[irrationalities]

[To be fair, he wouldn't actually want to bathe with Ayumu (or rather, he would have a neutral opinion on it either way), so whether it happens or not isn't something he'd care about much.]

I'm not asking for another weapon. Information for information. If you want an assurance though, that can't happen unless you give me an idea of what you do or don't know.

[godinsolitude]

[And Ayumu just didn't want to get into a public bath period.....]

I can give you some information on the Sage.

[A shrug. He's being casual, but he wouldn't know what Mahiro knows and doesn't know, either.]

[irrationalities]

Sure. I've got some stuff on the Teishu.

So, how do you wanna do this? Just turn this into a Q&A period?

[godinsolitude]

Fine by me. One piece of info for one piece of info. Whatever you can give me would be useful.

[A pause, before he ventures.]

The sage dislikes plums.

[Is he--

Is he really???]

[irrationalities]

You know, if all your info's like this, this is just gonna be a waste of time. I don't care about his likes and dislikes.

[But he'll give one piece of info just for that tidbit.]

He doesn't spend much time near the ocean.

[godinsolitude]

This is the second time the sage has attempted to call warriors from another world.

[Well that's a step up.]

[irrationalities]

[...]

The Teishu had another master before the Sage.

[godinsolitude]

Another master....? Who?

[A pause, before--]

The warriors the first time didn't arrive safely.

[irrationalities]

[He just shakes his head at Ayumu's questions before he answers.]

The Teishu helped run a challenge under his former master.

[godinsolitude]

He helped run---

[He frowns, crossing his arms.]

But if it's only been run twice by the sage, and the first group didn't arrive, and the Teishu's run one other before.... there's been at least a total of three attempts. One of which was done by someone prior to the Sage.

[irrationalities]

It might be more than just one attempt with his other master. He didn't say anything specific about the total number of times he's done it.

[An exhale here.]

But since you talk to the Sage so much, you might've heard this one before: this is the last time the challenge is gonna be needed.

[godinsolitude]

I've heard.

['Heard'... Not directly from the Sage, though. He nods.]

Should the purification prove successful, anyway.

[irrationalities]

He sounded pretty confident about that too. That they'd have 'everything they need'.

[godinsolitude]

Everything they need...... which they didn't, in the past?

[Hm....]

The Sage said that he doesn't enjoy doing this, that he'd much rather be doing other things. I'm not sure how honest his words are, given they're secondhand.

[irrationalities]

Clarify that bit for me. Secondhand as in you heard them from the Teishu?

[Because he kind of likes the Teishu more at the moment...]

[godinsolitude]

I heard it from..... Sen--

[He blinks, looking just a little crosseyed, flushed cheeks going oddly pale. It was too damn hot in here-- Everything seemed fuzzy...

He makes the mistake of shifting in place, reaching up to press a hand to his brow, and that's when he slips and falls hard onto the tiles, almost comically sliding onto his back thanks to the wet floor. The impact hurts, but he feels sick, dizzy...

Honestly, he feels a little like throwing up. Or passing out. Either or.]

Ugh.

[irrationalities]

[Well uh. That sure happened. It definitely gets him to at least sit up to see where Ayumu landed. And while he's not exactly the paragon of altruism here, even Mahiro knows it would be dumb to just let Ayumu get thrown out if fainting in the bathhouse was considered rulebreaking.

So here you go, dude. Your naked prince comes to the rescue.]

You idiot.

[Assuming there isn't going to be a ton of squirming around, Mahiro's going to move to grab Ayumu from the back so he can haul him in the direction of the exit.]

[godinsolitude]

[Ayumu does not need a prince, naked or otherwise, gosh!

Except he can barely stand right now so sure, fine, Mahiro can haul him as he pleases. This close, Mahiro might be able to tell that, oddly, his pulse rate is disturbingly elevated, as if his heart is struggling to compensate for something more than the heat and he's still really, really pale. Not that Ayumu isn't already plenty pale to begin with, but...

After a bit he'll struggle to try to brace himself against the changing room wall, trying to get to his feet with a dizzy wince.]

Shit...

[irrationalities]

[Mahiro might notice, but honestly, he's not really sure what else would help aside from put him in a better position to breathe. So when Ayumu moves to stand up, Mahiro's going to move to push him back down. It's not as gentle as it should be, honestly.]

Just sit down and catch your breath. You trying to trip over your feet again?

[Which is definitely not what happened but. Meh!! Details.]

[godinsolitude]

[No, it's definitely not what happened. Ayumu's breathing a little hard, and he goes back down... pretty damn easily, with Mahiro's push. Possibly too easily, ow damn it. If he bruises he is going to get petty revenge somehow.]

It's the heat.... I think.

[He thinks?? Shouldn't it be obvious?] It should pass....

[irrationalities]

Then strip. I'm getting a towel.

[And for a couple minutes, Mahiro's gone so Ayumu is blissfully spared the sight of his junk and naked ass for the time being. There's the sound of a shower running for a few seconds too before he returns, thankfully this time with a towel wrapped around his waist.

There's also another towel that he holds out in front of Ayumu, although he'd find that this one's moist and cool to the touch.]

Take it.

[godinsolitude]

[Thank goodness for small mercies, he won't have to be eyelevel with Mahiro's junk anymore. Some things just weren't necessary ok.

Ayumu doesn't want to strip, he wants to go back to his room and pass out in peace-- but it would probably help a little to at least unbutton his shirt, which he does with fingers that feel a little weak at the moment. He's not sure if it helps or not, but when Mahiro returns he takes the towel gratefully, pressing it to his face with a groan as he leans his head back against the wall.

His head is pounding, but the coolness helps.]

Sorry... I didn't expect that.

[He actually sounds contrite, embarrassed even, though grumpily so.]

[irrationalities]

[Wow do you have something against Mahiro's junk Ayumu!!

But anyways. Really, if it were anyone else he might not have given it a second thought because heatstrokes happen even in normal people. Still, Mahiro does recall the time Ayumu passed out and left the door open; he'd had trouble breathing there too, hadn't he?]

This kinda thing happen to you a lot?

[godinsolitude]

[No offense Mahiro, some things Ayumu just does not want to get acquainted with, and your junk is one of them.

There's the tiniest, tiniest tell-- one that might not have been there if he wasn't still grappling with the changes himself. As it stands, Ayumu pauses in wiping down his face for a split second before he continues, resisting the urge to shake his head-- he was feeling like that would be a painful idea right now.]

Heatstroke? I've never been much for the heat, I suppose.

[Smart as he is, Mahiro might smell bullshit.]

Cold suits me more.

[irrationalities]

[He's at least paying attention to how Ayumu's acting here so he does catch that pause, even if he can't necessarily tell why it happened. But either way, he's got enough to go off on.]

If this was the only place it happened, sure. That doesn't explain why you were showing a couple of the same signs a couple weeks back.

[It's not a particularly accusatory statement the way he's saying it; more just like a statement of fact than anything else. Mahiro's just interested to see if Ayumu would try to keep dodging it anyways.]

[godinsolitude]

A couple weeks back.....?

[He seems to be musing over the statement, before he shifts the towel just enough so that one grey eye is revealed from beneath. Right.... that.]

As I told you before, I was tired. I think most people would have moments like that, in a place like this.

[irrationalities]

[On one hand, he could keep prying about it. On the other, if Ayumu doesn't want to expose a vulnerability (since honestly, he's not even sure why some people even still trust each other) he can't deny that would be a logical reason to want to deflect.

So Mahiro just lets out a bit of an exasperated huff.]

If you don't wanna talk about it, just say so. Does Yuizaki know about this at least?

[godinsolitude]

Do you honestly think there's anything going on with me she doesn't know?

[Deadpan. Of course she knows, but he isn't going to tell Mahiro what's wrong. He's right on his money with the thinking-- It's too much of a risk to admit to having had these spells before.]

She probably knows the contents of my underwear drawer back home, I don't think I can hide anything from her.

[He's... deadly serious about that, actually. Be very glad she hasn't nosed around you more Mahiro, be very glad.]

[irrationalities]

You're the one who insisted you weren't going out with her.

[Which was blatantly lies because first name basis!!!]

She's that into you though, huh? I guess you're lucky to have her around.

[is he going to get into this again already--]

[godinsolitude]

I'm not. Did you miss the 'stalker' bit?

[They're awfully chummy for her being his stalker though???? What the hell Ayumu, are you that desperate--]

She's stubborn is what she is.... but I guess her reliability is a plus.

[Ayumu's an asshole, Hiyono's nosy, they're a match made in hell basically. He leans against the wall for a moment before shifting his head lightly. Still felt uncomfortable, but the dizziness was definitely lessening.]

I think the dizziness is subsiding now.

[irrationalities]

No. And I didn't miss the bit where you guys were suddenly on first-name basis too.

[Yes, what a time to bring that up when Ayumu is feeling dazed and Mahiro is standing there half-naked?? With that said he will walk closer to just check up on how Ayumu looks after that last bit. Hello, no personal space?!]

[godinsolitude]

[This is the most awkward possible setting for digging like this, you know that Mahiro? Ayumu glances up at him with mild irritation, taking a deep breath. He does look slightly less out of it, at least.]

It was overdue, that's all. Wouldn't you feel the need to right something like that considering last week?

[Which, you know, indicates plenty all on it's own, but hey.] Stalker or not, I owe her a lot. The least I can do is call her by name.