Senri was right. You talk about yourself as much as I do. [Which isn't at all.] And my stories are probably worse.
[At the counter, Senri's jacket gets its own bag, and he gives it to Taka because... it feels more right to do so considering. He didn't want Senri to know the photograph had come from him, or the roses, or that he was a part of the jacket deciding. It's fine.]
But Senri hasn't told me much either, now that I think about it. Your school and Tokyo.
[Their jackets, though. He lets Taka wear the new one, and he'll wear his too. The ones they came in can get put in the bag instead.]
he takes the bag, hanging the handle over his forearm. takaomi will definitely out him for the jacket, at least. he would have for the roses if the week wasn't weird because of the curse so that might have made sasuke more uncomfortable than anything even if the idea came about before he got arrowed. but he's getting outed for the jacket.
but ]
He doesn't want people to dislike him, so it's easier to be selective with what he says.
[ he just latches onto the senri part while ignoring that sasuke also called him out. ]
He already knows I'm aware he's a liar to save face. That he's selfish, that he doesn't have a family, that he got into your school on talent and not who he knew. That he's jealous of seeing others have mementos of their own families even if he's happy.
That his wish was for someone to love him unconditionally, not because he's pretending to be someone else.
[His face is soft.]
In the end, he doesn't need his wish, does he? He got it here anyway. So... he knows doesn't have to keep things from me. So... I don't know why he does.
I guess... he wants the two of you to share them together.
I know. [He tries to smile reassuringly, but, like, smiles are hard for him.] He told me he picked Sincerity because he wanted to be more sincere.
I guess it's up to us to help the stupid rabbit get there.
[Carefully, he shifts things around in his arms until he's comfortable.] Let's try another shop. [Might as well keep moving so they don't have to die of being awkwardly on a date because they like the same moron.
They can go to the next shop over, a novelty one with a bunch of hodge-podge shit in it.]
[ he starts to examine a pile of those really large, floppy sun hats that you'd usually wear during summer. he experimentally puts one on his head, snorts, and takes it off before moving onto another section filled with small trinkets. ]
You're surprisingly more into fashion than I would have thought you'd be.
[ going by impressions sasuke had made in the beginning. ]
[He smirks about the hat on Taka, but looks away to glance over all of the crap they can dig through in here. Ridiculous.]
I wasn't. I... [He glances into one of the tiny, round mirrors sitting above his head, used for all of the shades hanging on the wall racks.] I never had time to do any of this in my world... We're ninja. We... train all of our lives, do missions.
I was too focused on getting my revenge against Itachi for the murder of our clan and our family. So I never worried about things like this.
[He slides a pair of bright green shutter shades on. In the mirror, they look so stupid.] Senri made me dress up to meet Indulgence. After, he kept trying to get me to wear the clothes in the costume hall. He made me go on a date to get a favor from Disorder, and I had to dress up so he could get one from Sincerity too.
Then he challenged me during the week with the rule, to go on a pretend date because he thought I couldn't do it. I had to ask Sincerity for help. [He picks his way slowly down the collection of items.] I guess I understood more after talking to Sincerity.
How... he and Naruto... They can fool everyone by looking stupid with what they wear, by looking weak. But they're covering for how strong they really are.
[He raises something at Taka--a gun. It has a suction cup dart at the end, and he fires it, popping Taka square in the shoulder.
[ he's listening seriously to all of it. he doesn't look at sasuke during it, instead poking at a tea set, but he's not actually paying too much attention to the item.
and then sasuke hits him with the toy, and he turns his head to face him fully and sees
well, that.
there's a pause, and taka just bursts out laughing. ]
[It's surprises him. Not the laugh--well, maybe the laugh some--but how much the laugh gets the tension in him to disappear. Since the start, he felt on edge. Like... he had to walk on eggshells to get Taka to like him for Senri's sake, to make this work, figuring Taka hated him for a lot of silly, teenage reasons.
But the laugh...
He smiles some, a bit more than before, more earnestly. The gun lowers, and he raises the shades up to push them into his hair, letting him see.]
I think... your laugh might be the best part of today.
[ see, it's funny, because takaomi really doesn't have friends amongst the participants. there's people he talks to occasionally, but it's only sometimes, and even with their small group that they made, he only really discusses the competition with them and nothing else.
which is why he hangs out with the gods so much, because in the end they've been the only ones who's forced taka out of his comfort zone and let him talk. they've been, basically, the only ones who made him feel like they're genuinely interested in him for him and nothing else.
so the compliments have been strange, even when taka tells himself it's only for senri, and he doesn't know how to react to any of it. his cheeks flush, and he hurriedly goes to find another item to look at instead. ]
[The gun goes back on the rack, and he doesn't bug Taka with anything. He forgets the shades on his head because they're so light, but it's fine. They're still in the store, and he's again browsing through the crates, and racks, and bins.
It's organized chaos. Nothing really makes sense, the larger portion of joke items, or toys, or whatever. It's weird for him. He's kind of just quietly digging into everything to see what's there.
The mini rubber chicken startles him. He squeezes it not thinking, not knowing, and the loud croak of the hollow inside makes him drop it almost immediately in embarrassment. Taka gets only a millisecond of a glance before he turns completely around to hide the red in his face.
So then instead of touching everything, he only touches some things or keeps his hands to himself. God.
He moves on down toward the back of the shop so they can make a loop and come up later and leave. But... the back. Toys and keychains turn to wallets and bags, and wallets and bags turn to socks, slippers, hats, pajamas... which turn into...
...lingerie, and...
He stops in place and starts backing up, even if it's backing right up into Taka. ABORT. Mistakes.]
[ yeah he is running right into him, who was facing the other way so taka didn't even see him coming.
he stumbles, grabbing onto a rack to keep his balance before he turns to see what is going on?? he doesn't see the sexy panties though, since his attention immediately just goes to sasuke instead. ]
[The bump jostles the shades back down onto his nose as he turns around and away from the back of the store, so Taka won't be able to see his eye. But the edges of his cheeks are maybe a little red.]
Nothing.
[He flees, not super fast, but a quick cross from there to the other side of the store they haven't looked at without venturing to the back.
He's going to pretend like the lava lamps and mugs are way more interesting than being stuck looking at horny outfits with Taka.]
[The glasses are gone when Taka appears, and Sasuke can immediately parse what Taka had run into at the back. Same hat.] Tch... [What the hell are those doing in here? He hates it.
Surprisingly, he actually reaches out and takes Taka by the hand so he can steer them for the exit. Outside, he lets go once they're free of the hold of hell.] That's enough.
I don't... [Right. Isn't he supposed to... like... eat together or something for this sort of thing? Geez. He doesn't know how to maneuver this kid of battlefield.] Nevermind.
[Sasuke stands by Taka at the doors to wait for the elevator which can be heard clicking up. His stare is thoughtful, but lowered idly at the ground by his feet and the bag of their jackets.
Ray's camera sits on top of them, and he focuses on that when he notices. Gently, he sets the bag by his feet and pulls the camera out. He twists enough to look back where they came, and he raises the camera up to snap a photo of the two stores and the floor. Evidence maybe.
The film is plucked out of the front, but when he turns back, he lifts it again. He takes a photo of Taka and the jacket, plucking that one out of the front, too. Then he puts the camera back in the bag. He forgot about the other photo, so when he goes to put these developing ones in, he pulls the previous one out. It's there now, a picture of two emo boys with no smiles.
He puts them all back in the pocket of the new jacket.]
[ he blinks in surprise, and even opens his mouth to comment, but then the elevator dings and the door slides open. there's a pause, before he shakes his head and steps into the elevator. ]
That's Ray's, right?
[ he finally decides to ask about it. he hadn't known that sasuke kept the camera. ]
[The only pictures of him and Senri aren't even of him and Senri. It's of Senri taking dumbass, embarrassing pictures of him being stupid shit.]
We have cameras in my world. They are similar to Ray's. We have technology--television, movies, radios. [But it's all basically from the 80s. He's quiet for a few floors.] Our teacher has one of us. Team 7. I don't know if he still has it.
Maybe... if I can get a copy, I'll show you. Later.
[ it's said softly. for the longest time, all takaomi really knew about sasuke was that he had a friend named naruto who reminded him of senri. he's curious to see him, and the rest of them. ]
[He glances at Taka out of the corner of his eye, face soft. And then he looks away again, almost like he's shy.
The doors to the floor with the restaurant open, and he steps out now that he's released, though he does wait on Taka rather than leave the other boy behind.]
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[At the counter, Senri's jacket gets its own bag, and he gives it to Taka because... it feels more right to do so considering. He didn't want Senri to know the photograph had come from him, or the roses, or that he was a part of the jacket deciding. It's fine.]
But Senri hasn't told me much either, now that I think about it. Your school and Tokyo.
[Their jackets, though. He lets Taka wear the new one, and he'll wear his too. The ones they came in can get put in the bag instead.]
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he takes the bag, hanging the handle over his forearm. takaomi will definitely out him for the jacket, at least. he would have for the roses if the week wasn't weird because of the curse so that might have made sasuke more uncomfortable than anything even if the idea came about before he got arrowed. but he's getting outed for the jacket.
but ]
He doesn't want people to dislike him, so it's easier to be selective with what he says.
[ he just latches onto the senri part while ignoring that sasuke also called him out. ]
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That his wish was for someone to love him unconditionally, not because he's pretending to be someone else.
[His face is soft.]
In the end, he doesn't need his wish, does he? He got it here anyway. So... he knows doesn't have to keep things from me. So... I don't know why he does.
I guess... he wants the two of you to share them together.
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The fact that he even told you that much is already more than he told most people.
[ senri may be getting a little better at his lying habit, but he still isn't being truthful to just anyone. ]
It's just... a hard habit to break out of, even if he's trying.
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I guess it's up to us to help the stupid rabbit get there.
[Carefully, he shifts things around in his arms until he's comfortable.] Let's try another shop. [Might as well keep moving so they don't have to die of being awkwardly on a date because they like the same moron.
They can go to the next shop over, a novelty one with a bunch of hodge-podge shit in it.]
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You're surprisingly more into fashion than I would have thought you'd be.
[ going by impressions sasuke had made in the beginning. ]
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I wasn't. I... [He glances into one of the tiny, round mirrors sitting above his head, used for all of the shades hanging on the wall racks.] I never had time to do any of this in my world... We're ninja. We... train all of our lives, do missions.
I was too focused on getting my revenge against Itachi for the murder of our clan and our family. So I never worried about things like this.
[He slides a pair of bright green shutter shades on. In the mirror, they look so stupid.] Senri made me dress up to meet Indulgence. After, he kept trying to get me to wear the clothes in the costume hall. He made me go on a date to get a favor from Disorder, and I had to dress up so he could get one from Sincerity too.
Then he challenged me during the week with the rule, to go on a pretend date because he thought I couldn't do it. I had to ask Sincerity for help. [He picks his way slowly down the collection of items.] I guess I understood more after talking to Sincerity.
How... he and Naruto... They can fool everyone by looking stupid with what they wear, by looking weak. But they're covering for how strong they really are.
[He raises something at Taka--a gun. It has a suction cup dart at the end, and he fires it, popping Taka square in the shoulder.
He... grins, still in the shades.]
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and then sasuke hits him with the toy, and he turns his head to face him fully and sees
well, that.
there's a pause, and taka just bursts out laughing. ]
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But the laugh...
He smiles some, a bit more than before, more earnestly. The gun lowers, and he raises the shades up to push them into his hair, letting him see.]
I think... your laugh might be the best part of today.
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which is why he hangs out with the gods so much, because in the end they've been the only ones who's forced taka out of his comfort zone and let him talk. they've been, basically, the only ones who made him feel like they're genuinely interested in him for him and nothing else.
so the compliments have been strange, even when taka tells himself it's only for senri, and he doesn't know how to react to any of it. his cheeks flush, and he hurriedly goes to find another item to look at instead. ]
That's... I guess.
[ he picks up a teddy bear. ]
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It's organized chaos. Nothing really makes sense, the larger portion of joke items, or toys, or whatever. It's weird for him. He's kind of just quietly digging into everything to see what's there.
The mini rubber chicken startles him. He squeezes it not thinking, not knowing, and the loud croak of the hollow inside makes him drop it almost immediately in embarrassment. Taka gets only a millisecond of a glance before he turns completely around to hide the red in his face.
So then instead of touching everything, he only touches some things or keeps his hands to himself. God.
He moves on down toward the back of the shop so they can make a loop and come up later and leave. But... the back. Toys and keychains turn to wallets and bags, and wallets and bags turn to socks, slippers, hats, pajamas... which turn into...
...lingerie, and...
He stops in place and starts backing up, even if it's backing right up into Taka. ABORT. Mistakes.]
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he stumbles, grabbing onto a rack to keep his balance before he turns to see what is going on?? he doesn't see the sexy panties though, since his attention immediately just goes to sasuke instead. ]
What?
[ sasuke. what. ]
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Nothing.
[He flees, not super fast, but a quick cross from there to the other side of the store they haven't looked at without venturing to the back.
He's going to pretend like the lava lamps and mugs are way more interesting than being stuck looking at horny outfits with Taka.]
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unfortunately, taka is curious, so he heads to the back.
a moment later, taka is very suddenly at sasuke's side, his expression pinched and uncomfortable. he saw the bras. ]
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Surprisingly, he actually reaches out and takes Taka by the hand so he can steer them for the exit. Outside, he lets go once they're free of the hold of hell.] That's enough.
Are you hungry?
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We can go to the restaurant.
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Let's go.
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taka presses the button to summon it, and quietly waits for it to come up to them. ]
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Ray's camera sits on top of them, and he focuses on that when he notices. Gently, he sets the bag by his feet and pulls the camera out. He twists enough to look back where they came, and he raises the camera up to snap a photo of the two stores and the floor. Evidence maybe.
The film is plucked out of the front, but when he turns back, he lifts it again. He takes a photo of Taka and the jacket, plucking that one out of the front, too. Then he puts the camera back in the bag. He forgot about the other photo, so when he goes to put these developing ones in, he pulls the previous one out. It's there now, a picture of two emo boys with no smiles.
He puts them all back in the pocket of the new jacket.]
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That's Ray's, right?
[ he finally decides to ask about it. he hadn't known that sasuke kept the camera. ]
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Yeah. It was in the parlor with his things.
[He hopes Ray doesn't mind them borrowing it for gay reasons, like trying to prove to Senri they actually went out together. Poor Ray...]
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Have you used it before this?
[ he assumes with senri. ]
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[The only pictures of him and Senri aren't even of him and Senri. It's of Senri taking dumbass, embarrassing pictures of him being stupid shit.]
We have cameras in my world. They are similar to Ray's. We have technology--television, movies, radios. [But it's all basically from the 80s. He's quiet for a few floors.] Our teacher has one of us. Team 7. I don't know if he still has it.
Maybe... if I can get a copy, I'll show you. Later.
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[ it's said softly. for the longest time, all takaomi really knew about sasuke was that he had a friend named naruto who reminded him of senri. he's curious to see him, and the rest of them. ]
Try to. I want to see it.
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The doors to the floor with the restaurant open, and he steps out now that he's released, though he does wait on Taka rather than leave the other boy behind.]
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hits post by mistake smh
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