NSFW CMO

[misheard]

Call out one of my characters with a starter, or a prompt, or a 'look idk how but I want these two to bang' and we will Do A Thread.

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[bleakdog]

Wait, what? More people know?

[Akutagawa looks like he might pass out.]

Why does everyone know!

[crabcanneryship]

It's probably just Naoya. He knows Musha too well to not know when he's messed up.

[And this was definitely a mistake.]

[bleakdog]

[It doesn't seem to matter that it was just Naoya. Akutagawa is bright red again and very fidgety, staring down at his feet as they walk.]

I don't want other people talking about what you and I do. Like that. I only want us to talk about it. It's not for anyone else.

[As insistent as he is about this, he still glances at Takiji for confirmation. It's not as though he knows.]

[crabcanneryship]

...I don't want them to talk about it in any detail. It isn't their business. But... I don't mind my friends knowing that we're in a relationship to start with. Because I'm tired of keeping secrets.

[Of not being able to trust people, even the ones he wants to trust, the ones he thinks he knows. That period of his life is over and he's glad for that.]

I don't like you being upset either. Is there a middle ground...?

[bleakdog]

That's not-- I don't--

[He puffs up a bit, embarrassed and flustered.]

I'm not--it's fine that they know. It's embarrassing, but it's fine. Because they're your friends, and you . . . you talk to friends about things like that. [This trails off sort of uncertainly, because he just doesn't have any practical experience at all. He's pretty sure that's how it goes, though.]

I just don't want them to talk about the--the phys-- The sex part. I want that to just be with you. Is that--isn't that right?

[crabcanneryship]

...I'd prefer if they didn't talk about that either...

[Because that's embarrassing, and not in the same way that them talking about Takiji dating is embarrassing.]

But I don't know how to get them to stop, if just telling them to stop will let them know that they upset you.

[bleakdog]

Oh.

[Hm. Akutagawa considers this and weighs his options. It's not a hard decision in the end. On the one hand, Musha might realize that Akutagawa was upset. On the other hand, if this happens again, he and Takiji will be upset, which is infinitely worse.]

Okay. You can tell them.

[crabcanneryship]

Alright. I can always say that he upset me.

[It wouldn't be a lie. He's not happy about Musha sticking his nose into their business.

...After a moment, Takiji leans up a little and kisses Akutagawa's cheek.]

[bleakdog]

[He's about to say that Takiji doesn't have to, but then--he gets a kiss. It's very distracting and makes him feel much better immediately. Flushing a little, he works hard to conceal a smile.]

. . . I didn't have a bad time. Your friends aren't scary.

[Maybe one day he'll even like them. Except Musha, maybe.]

[crabcanneryship]

[Kisses are a very useful tool for making Akutagawa smile.]

They're not scary. And they liked you.

[bleakdog]

They did?

[He . . . isn't good at being able to tell if someone likes him. He thought Dazai liked him, or could.]

[crabcanneryship]

[Well, Musha aside...]

Naoya is someone who will make it very obvious if he doesn't like you. If he thought you were bad for me he would probably have threatened you - he's protective even when being protective is putting himself in harm's way. ...He's kind of an idiot that way, but I'm grateful to him.

[Takiji sounds fond. He is fond of his mentor, even if Naoya could absolutely have been in danger just for publishing a eulogy for him.]

[bleakdog]

He would have threatened me?

[Akutagawa doesn't sound scared or even annoyed. No, he sounds approving. To him, that's appropriate behavior regarding someone you care about. No issues there.]

I wouldn't hurt him. He's your friend. He seems very sensible.

[crabcanneryship]

He published a eulogy for me after I was killed by the police. He could have easily been imprisoned or killed as well for that.

[Takiji's calling Naoya an idiot is less because of that and because he said that he didn't do anything special.]

[bleakdog]

[Oh. Yes, that makes sense. In an emotional way, even to Akutagawa, that makes sense. To take risks for someone you care about, to put your own precious survival on the line to memorialize their life . . . He understands the value of that.]

Takiji.

. . . I still don't entirely understand how friends work. But I think that I'm glad you have him.

[crabcanneryship]

[That earns a smile from Takiji, wide and genuine.]

Thank you. You might have friends too, after mine get to know you better.

[Since his friends like Akutagawa, too.]

[bleakdog]

I might?

[He doesn't really understand how. He's never really strived to be a likeable person, so why would they be his friends? He trusts Takiji, but this is just kind of weird.]

[crabcanneryship]

They like you already. If they get to know you more, they'll probably end up as your friends without you trying.

[He can't see Akutagawa trying very hard to make friends, even with Takiji's coworkers.]

...At least, my comrades will get attached to you.

[bleakdog]

. . . Do you want me to try?

[A small, consternated frown forms between his brows.]

I don't think I'd be any good at it.

[crabcanneryship]

...No. I don't want you to make yourself do anything you don't want to do.

[Especially if it's for his sake.]

[bleakdog]

I don't know if I don't want to do it. I might. I just never have.

But you like them, don't you? You trust them?

[crabcanneryship]

I do. My comrades from when I was alive, especially - I'd trust them with anything.

[His life, his dreams.]

[bleakdog]

And I trust you.

[He shrugs. It's simple math to him.]

If you trust them, then I'll try. It's safe.

[crabcanneryship]

[Takiji smiles, and kisses him on the cheek again.]

They're safe. I promise they won't bring you harm.

[bleakdog]

[He flushes a little. Which is stupid. But it's what he does anyway. Because he got a kiss.]

. . . I made you happy. [mumblemumble]