Thread continuation for thetaintedsorrow.

[goatsongs]

[from here]

Heh. I can think of plenty of people who'd call me vain for drinking to that one. Lucky I'm drinking with you instead.

[Chuuya drinks, naturally.]

Well, never have I ever been a sexy redhead.

Comments

[goatsongs]

[Well, that's emphatic. Chuuya's not complaining - he meets his boyfriend's kiss with equal enthusiasm.

Before they can get much further past making out, though, somebody knocks (loudly) on Chuuya's door. Chuuya lets out a frustrated noise against other-Chuuya's lips - fuck talking to other people who are probably worried about his health, he just wants to make out with his boyfriend.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Chuuya is equally as grumpy about being interrupted, but he supposes it’s to be expected after bursting into the library like a madman without stopping to explain himself, so he reluctantly pulls away, but not before pressing a chaste kiss to the corner of other-Chuuya’s lips.]

You should probably answer that. Don’t want them thinking I murdered you or something.

[goatsongs]

Ugh... fine, fine.

[Chuuya manages to get up and open the door. The author is one other-Chuuya would have seen at the desk when he stopped in the infirmary.

Chuuya's expression immediately turns from 'grumpy as hell' to 'respectful'.]

I'm fine now, sensei.

[Mori's gaze flicks between Chuuya to the not-author inside his room and back to Chuuya.] As long as you're in stable condition, I won't bother you for now. Come see me before you go into battle again.

I will.

[Mori nods, and leaves, letting Chuuya close the door again and turn back to other-Chuuya.]

Should've figured somebody'd come by.

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Chuuya is just glad that he’s still wearing clothes. Not that it would be difficult to figure out just what he and other-Chuuya were up to before they were interrupted, but still. He doesn’t need random people seeing his bare ass, even if he’s rather proud of it.

He certainly isn’t expecting the person knocking to be some kind of authority figure, though, and when other-Chuuya addresses him as “sensei” he automatically knows that this guy must be a big deal.

When they’re alone again Chuuya raises an eyebrow in question.]

Sensei? Who was that guy, exactly?

[goatsongs]

Mori Ougai. Surgeon General on top of being a famous author. I knew him when I was alive... well, kind of. He and my father met in medical school, and I have a couple memories of him visiting when I was a kid.

[Chuuya's smile is fond in a way it wouldn't be when talking about almost anyone else in this library.]

He's the one who suggested 'Chuuya' when my parents were trying to think of names for me. So in a way, I am who I am partly because of him.

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Will wonders never cease? Another Mori, who’s experienced in the medical field...]

Yeah? He seems like a nice enough guy.

[Of course looks can be deceiving, but other-Chuuya seems to genuinely respect the guy, and he speaks of him fondly, so Chuuya can’t be too suspicious.]

Huh...obviously he has good taste.

[Chuuya huffs a laugh as he stretches out languidly on the bed.]

I hope you’re not going to get an earful, though...

[goatsongs]

He's reasonable, don't worry about that.

[...but talking to his dad's friend kind of kills his mood to make out... So Chuuya just snuggles up next to other-Chuuya.]

Sleep here tonight?

[thetaintedsorrow]

Of course.

[He gladly accepts the snuggles, eyelids growing heavy as he relaxes against the bed.]

You’ll have to introduce me to all the dead authors sometime.

[goatsongs]

If you want. I only like about four of them, and you've met one already, but I'll introduce you.

[Two of the others are kids. It's not great.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

Cool. I can introduce you to a couple of people I know that aren’t terrible, if you want.

[Obviously not Dazai.]

Akutagawa is kind of a grump, but he’s not bad company.

[goatsongs]

I don't mind talking to your coworkers if they're not going to shank me for knowing about the mafia thing.

Akutagawa Ryuunosuke... The one I know's an airhead. I haven't talked to him as much as I've heard Dazai gush about how Akutagawa-sensei is amazing, Akutagawa-sensei spoke to me today.

Do you get along with kids?

[That's a good question to ask early.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

Akutagawa-sensei? The one I know is younger than me, and a killing machine.

[Chuuya huffs a laugh.]

I’m an executive. Kind of a big deal. No one would lay a finger on you if I said not to.

[Except Mori, but he doesn’t need to know.]

Kids? Like...toddlers? I can’t stand screaming brats, but kids aren’t too bad if they’re well behaved.

[goatsongs]

[Let's never let Mori find out, thanks.]

I think Niimi and Miyazawa-sensei are preteens... Hard to say. They only got summoned like that because they're famous for children's books.

[...and yes, he did just attach -sensei to a preteen.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

Oh...so they weren’t kids when they died?

[That’s good, at least. That means they got to live full lives, right?]

Just out of curiousity...is there a Kouyou Ozaki among you guys?

[goatsongs]

[Full-ish.]

There is. He's Izumi Kyouka and Tokuda Shuusei's teacher. I don't know him that well either.

[thetaintedsorrow]

Kouyou Ozaki is the woman that raised me.

[He glances up at the ceiling, looking a tiny bit nostalgic.]

She’s not exactly a good person, but she was kind enough to me, and taught me how to survive in the Mafia.

[So, not exactly a mother figure, but close enough.]

Mori Ougai took Dazai under his wing. I really have no idea how that went, but considering how the bastard turned out...

[goatsongs]

...Probably not great parenting.

[You can't entirely blame parents for how their children ended up, but raising someone in the mafia doesn't help.]

If I ever get the chance, I want to thank your Ozaki.

[He's glad Mafia-Chuuya was able to survive this long, long enough for him to meet him.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Dawww, now he’s blushing as he nuzzles into other-Chuuya’s neck.]

I’d introduce you. I don’t think she’d try to murder you if I told her who you were.

[No guarantees, of course.]

I still dunno why there’s so many dead authors that share names with people I know, but I’m glad you’re here.

[But...]

Even if you probably never asked to be summoned like that.

[goatsongs]

Some people get to live longer or get summoned after they should be dead. Some people don't. Just depends on chance.

[...he doesn't sound that happy.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

...

[Chuuya can sense the sadness in his boyfriend’s words, and he truly wishes he were able to kiss all his worries away.]

It’s selfish, but...I wouldn’t have gotten to meet you otherwise, so...

[He’s glad that other-Chuuya is here, but hadn’t considered how painful it must be to essentially be resurrected when most everyone else you knew is dead.]

[goatsongs]

[Oh, Mafia-Chuuya. It's worse than that.]

I don't think it's selfish. ...I'd never know what I was missing if I hadn't met you.

[Maybe he can't kiss all Chuuya's pain away, but he lessens it just by being near.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Don't mind him. He’s just getting super emotional over here.]

You’re not allowed to scare me like that again, got it? I don’t care if I gotta haul around ink all the time.

[A deep breath, because he’s about to say something that he’s never said to anyone before in his life.]

Because I...love you.

[goatsongs]

[There's a moment where Chuuya doesn't understand what other-Chuuya just said. Those are words he never thought he'd hear addressed to him - not now, not after everything. Not when he pushes people away and clings to the idea that none of them have any reason to care for him, let alone...

Tears well up in Chuuya's eyes, and he tries to speak - can't, he's too choked up. Instead he clings to his boyfriend, burying his face into his shoulder.

They're happy tears, promise.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Chuuya honestly has no idea if what he feels towards poet-Chuuya fits the traditional definition of “love”, but he’s also never been one to care about fitting into some mold set by society, so he’s going to rewrite the definition to fit exactly how he feels about this man. Besides, caring about someone more than you care about yourself and wanting to spend everyday by their side seems close enough.

He kisses Chuuya on the forehead and whispers those words again, over and over, because he really can’t say it enough.

He’s getting a little teary-eyed himself.]

[goatsongs]

[Between the tears, Chuuya manages to speak. Even if he's choked up, even if he's shaking a little, he has to say it. He has to tell Chuuya-]

I love you...

[The most important three words he's ever strung together.]