[Izou simmers down a little both at the acknowledgement of his boast and also the book being put down because that means the attention is all on him now. As he deserves.]
That's right!! And so are you in a different way, that's why work so good.
[ Do they work well? It feels like the answer should really be a resounding 'no' on that one, but somehow McGillis is still sitting in this supernatural tank in a different world with Izou and feeling fairly content.
Two wrongs might make a right just yet. ]
You said it.
[ Since Izou is not making any efforts to sit up and get on McGillis' eyelevel, he's instead going to lay down fully as well. ]
So, did you explain the punch to him or was that the end of the talk?
[Ah!! Izou cosies up to him almost instinctively. His doggy instincts.]
That was it... But when I turned around ta storm off that bastard just laughs and says we'll "talk more later" so he probably figured out I misunderstood somethin' anyway... Pisses me off.
[Izou: How dare my best friend understand me so well.]
[ A bloodthirsty assassin should not be this big on cuddling... and yet.
McGillis himself still feels a little take it or leave it on this level of casual physical intimacy, but as Izou enjoys it there is no real reason to deny him. It's easy enough to wrap an arm around his waist and just keep still, soaking in warmth. ]
And yet it appears to me that you achieved all you came for, albeit in a roundabout way. Good job.
[Even someone as simple as Izou contains multitudes. He makes a low rumble of thought as if he hadn't considered that he technically did accomplish his objective.]
I suppose I did... But I looked like a fool doin' it an' people saw.
[Given the vast majority of the "people" on the shadow border and the rest of the wandering sea are famous historical figures... Embarrassing.]
But if you think I did a good job does that mean I deserve a reward?
[ Yeah, the looking like a fool part is difficult to deny. But at the same time, the multiple ways in which this went awry are just making it more impressive that somehow communication was achieved regardless.
McGillis isn't sure he wants to field the 'opening Izou up' conversation with Ryouma later, but... that's a problem for tomorrow. He'll have to lie through his teeth and pretend his first advice hadn't been 'become torturously obsessed with making him look at you'.
It's a good thing that Izou never took that advice. If he hadn't, there'd be no expectant eyes on McGillis right now, and McGillis himself might still be a person incapable of finding joy in that fact. ]
You were going to come and claim one either way, weren't you?
[ But he'll be merciful and kiss Izou before he gets a chance to protest. ]
[Good thing the rest of Izou's palace squad and the palace itself taught him that it's better to just be honest about how he's feeling. Instead of having shrimp emotions the way McGillis prefers to do.]
Y- [But then yeah, he's shut up. When it's like this, he can hardly complain. He leans into it, and as is customary, bites a little. A kiss isn't fully complete if he doesn't get the taste of McGillis in his mouth in more ways than one.
He's already starting to get flushed and breathy when all of a sudden, a voice shouts through the door;
Oi, Okada, are you coming to play cards or not!?
Izou bolts up, looking embarassed as if he'd been caught in the act, despite the closed door.]
I told you, damnit, I'm busy tonight!!! Get lost, Robin!
[The man shouting on the other side of the door groans, and mumbles something about how now he's going to lose without Izou around, but presently footsteps can be heard retreating.]
[ McGillis loves it when Izou makes him bleed a little. That much is, unfortunately for his pride and sanity, not up for debate. In Sunset City, he'd been happy to indulge it too. Everyone there had seen him at his lowest and in a lot of ways he'd had nothing left to lose. Here though, he's trying to build a new life. Angling for authority. That's going to be a lot more difficult if he has traces of their adventures visibly all over him.
So McGillis is just about to chide Izou for bruising him too obviously, when they're rudely interrupted. McGillis shoots upright as well, because he doesn't trust Izou to have locked the door nor his friends to not just open it unceremoniously, and 'caught laying on the bed' is really the last thing he wants right now.
It's only when the footsteps seem to leave that he exhales. ]
Busy. In your room. That you share with your mysterious lover from another world.
[ Raising an eyebrow. ]
How lucky that it's fairly believable that I'd make you do 'homework' with me.
[Oh the door is absolutely not locked. He probably isn't even allowed to lock it after he repeatedly needed to be fetched for missions and bodily dragged out of bed due to hangover. Probably that could be waived now that McGillis is around though.
That said, while Izou certainly doesn't want them being walked in on, he also clearly has no issue with people surmising they're fucking, case in point as he frowns at McGillis in mild confusion;]
Why the hell would ya need to make up a lie like that?
[A beat.]
You embarrassed fer people to think we're fuckin' or something? What, you worried people won't take you seriously if they know yer foolin' around with a dog like me, huh? [Oh no, his insecurities.]
I mean... in the like, front part of my brain, not really. But the back part... I guess I'm just so used to people bein' happy with me until I ain't convenient and then they get ashamed of associating with me.
[He means his conscious and subconscious he just doesn't know those words.]
And what do ya mean, "alright then"!? You ain't gonna say anything like "yer never gonna be inconvenient fer me, Izou!?"
[Like he knows this is different because McGillis actually cares about him rather than just seeing him as a tool or a means to an end, BUT AT LEAST SAY THE THING YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO!!!]
[ It had been on the tip of McGillis' tongue for a moment, but he had decided against saying it. It's the kind of thing he would have told Almiria - not a lie, but a little too sugary sweet to be the real truth either. It certainly kept her happy... and he's sure it'd keep Izou happy too, if he treated him that way. Izou is easily controlled by the right words to say and it's not like McGillis doesn't know what those words are.
But if that was all he and Izou amounted to, he wouldn't have come here.
So now he's a little put on the spot. ]
I didn't think you wanted any platitudes from me.
[ Okay, that reads wrong so let's try and elaborate. ]
I can't promise you a future in which I never feel that way... I can only promise you a future in which I'm by your side, regardless. Or rather, I have promised you that future already.
[ 'Yours, eternally'.
Even now, McGillis can't bring himself to say that he loves Izou, but those words... Those are words he stands by. ]
[Izou starts to settle a little. As much as the animal part of his brain does want those platitudes, he also knows he wouldn't trust them. Because of course people have said that to him before, because he'd grown worried of it happening again and even without him saying so, people could tell.
The idea of McGillis staying with him even if he became a burden... A part of him rankles at that. What a miserable situation that'd be for McGillis. And yet at the same time, he latches onto it. Something only for him no matter what. Maybe it's selfish but the thought appeals to him.
Still, he can't help but laugh a little.]
Yer so inelegant sometimes. Guess that's all your fancy rich people training fallin' by the wayside.
[In favor of the child from the streets that McGillis is at his core.]
[ Inelegant...... He should really be insulted. But then... He knew the elegant path here and simply didn't take it, because despite himself he's actually learned a thing or two as Braphine's chosen. He's resolved to live his life more honestly, and it's rough when he doesn't truly know where he ends and the mask begins.
Maybe it's alright to be a little clumsy, behind closed doors. Maybe.
He smiles a little. ]
What can I say? You bring out the worst in me.
[ It's lighthearted but not untrue. The vindictiveness, the self destructive urges, the ungratceful honesty, the drive to isolate himself, the ugly possessiveness... Izou has unearthed more compromising states of being than McGillis has ever shown to anybody else. ]
[Izou grins at this. He is absolutely taking this as a compliment. The "best" version of McGillis is fake and also boring, after all. He's now properly cosying back up ready for more physical attention. His kimono starts to slip very slightly askew, exposing more of his shoulderblades, and he lets it.]
What can I say? Yer way more attractive when you're bein' bad.
[ McGillis laughs lowly at that. Maybe Izou is right. Being 'bad' certainly got them into this situation. They'd never have arrived here if he wasn't a type of person so despicable that Izou just had to cut him down... did that make him more attractive? He wouldn't be surprised. That's the messy way they operate, after all.
Interruption now safely beyond them, McGillis (who still hopes to the heavens that the door is actually locked) wraps his arm around Izou's waist and leans down to press a kiss onto his newly exposed collarbone. There's no reason not to take the bait of that exposed skin. He's meant to be rewarding Izou either way, and he's not disinclined to being indulgent today. ]
What nefarious act do you wish I'd do to you, then?
[Listen, Izou finds power sexy and also thinks McGillis looks sexier when his hair is more disheveled. Beyond that he's more comfortable when everything is a little grayer. Mostly though he's just flirting and not actually putting that much thought into the words he's saying.]
Goddamn Professor Fareed bustin' out the fancy words. Well, since yer givin' me homework, and I definitely didn't do it, I guess you gotta punish me, hm?
[ It's not a serious concern over a contradiction, merely some idle teasing. It certainly tracks for Izou's general preferences - McGillis has not exactly forgotten all the 'subtle' 'hints' in that direction. ]
Very well then.
[ Unfortunately, this smile is very foreboding. ]
Let's see a proper repentant seiza, then.
[ Why does the whitest man in the world even know this word? Well, he's studious. ]
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That's right!! And so are you in a different way, that's why work so good.
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Two wrongs might make a right just yet. ]
You said it.
[ Since Izou is not making any efforts to sit up and get on McGillis' eyelevel, he's instead going to lay down fully as well. ]
So, did you explain the punch to him or was that the end of the talk?
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That was it... But when I turned around ta storm off that bastard just laughs and says we'll "talk more later" so he probably figured out I misunderstood somethin' anyway... Pisses me off.
[Izou: How dare my best friend understand me so well.]
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McGillis himself still feels a little take it or leave it on this level of casual physical intimacy, but as Izou enjoys it there is no real reason to deny him. It's easy enough to wrap an arm around his waist and just keep still, soaking in warmth. ]
And yet it appears to me that you achieved all you came for, albeit in a roundabout way. Good job.
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I suppose I did... But I looked like a fool doin' it an' people saw.
[Given the vast majority of the "people" on the shadow border and the rest of the wandering sea are famous historical figures... Embarrassing.]
But if you think I did a good job does that mean I deserve a reward?
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McGillis isn't sure he wants to field the 'opening Izou up' conversation with Ryouma later, but... that's a problem for tomorrow. He'll have to lie through his teeth and pretend his first advice hadn't been 'become torturously obsessed with making him look at you'.
It's a good thing that Izou never took that advice. If he hadn't, there'd be no expectant eyes on McGillis right now, and McGillis himself might still be a person incapable of finding joy in that fact. ]
You were going to come and claim one either way, weren't you?
[ But he'll be merciful and kiss Izou before he gets a chance to protest. ]
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Y-
[But then yeah, he's shut up. When it's like this, he can hardly complain. He leans into it, and as is customary, bites a little. A kiss isn't fully complete if he doesn't get the taste of McGillis in his mouth in more ways than one.
He's already starting to get flushed and breathy when all of a sudden, a voice shouts through the door;
Oi, Okada, are you coming to play cards or not!?
Izou bolts up, looking embarassed as if he'd been caught in the act, despite the closed door.]
I told you, damnit, I'm busy tonight!!! Get lost, Robin!
[The man shouting on the other side of the door groans, and mumbles something about how now he's going to lose without Izou around, but presently footsteps can be heard retreating.]
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So McGillis is just about to chide Izou for bruising him too obviously, when they're rudely interrupted. McGillis shoots upright as well, because he doesn't trust Izou to have locked the door nor his friends to not just open it unceremoniously, and 'caught laying on the bed' is really the last thing he wants right now.
It's only when the footsteps seem to leave that he exhales. ]
Busy. In your room. That you share with your mysterious lover from another world.
[ Raising an eyebrow. ]
How lucky that it's fairly believable that I'd make you do 'homework' with me.
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That said, while Izou certainly doesn't want them being walked in on, he also clearly has no issue with people surmising they're fucking, case in point as he frowns at McGillis in mild confusion;]
Why the hell would ya need to make up a lie like that?
[A beat.]
You embarrassed fer people to think we're fuckin' or something? What, you worried people won't take you seriously if they know yer foolin' around with a dog like me, huh?
[Oh no, his insecurities.]
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................... what.
This just just gets the flattest possible look. ]
Izou. I let you introduce me as your boyfriend. Would I do that if I was afraid of being associated with you?
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Then why th' hell does it matter if Robin knows we're fucking??
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[ Like, people generally know he's fucking Izou? Reasonable. Let Izou brag about that or whatever he wants, it's chill.
Being asked in the morning how the night was? No, thank you!! ]
Some things are for you and I only.
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[He clearly doesn't see a problem in people knowing the WHEN.]
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[ McGillis sighs and shakes his head a little. Circling back a little though, because that extremely fast spiral has him thinking: ]
Do you actually believe I'd be ashamed of you?
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I mean... in the like, front part of my brain, not really. But the back part... I guess I'm just so used to people bein' happy with me until I ain't convenient and then they get ashamed of associating with me.
[He means his conscious and subconscious he just doesn't know those words.]
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... alright then. Please rest entirely assured that no matter whom I could be seeing, I'd prefer outsiders don't know specifics of my sex life.
[ .... granted, he's never actually dated anyone before this, but. ]
1/2
You ain't even dated anyone before me.
[Like he doesn't know this on a factual level but instinctively he's certain.]
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And what do ya mean, "alright then"!? You ain't gonna say anything like "yer never gonna be inconvenient fer me, Izou!?"
[Like he knows this is different because McGillis actually cares about him rather than just seeing him as a tool or a means to an end, BUT AT LEAST SAY THE THING YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO!!!]
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But if that was all he and Izou amounted to, he wouldn't have come here.
So now he's a little put on the spot. ]
I didn't think you wanted any platitudes from me.
[ Okay, that reads wrong so let's try and elaborate. ]
I can't promise you a future in which I never feel that way... I can only promise you a future in which I'm by your side, regardless. Or rather, I have promised you that future already.
[ 'Yours, eternally'.
Even now, McGillis can't bring himself to say that he loves Izou, but those words... Those are words he stands by. ]
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The idea of McGillis staying with him even if he became a burden... A part of him rankles at that. What a miserable situation that'd be for McGillis. And yet at the same time, he latches onto it. Something only for him no matter what. Maybe it's selfish but the thought appeals to him.
Still, he can't help but laugh a little.]
Yer so inelegant sometimes. Guess that's all your fancy rich people training fallin' by the wayside.
[In favor of the child from the streets that McGillis is at his core.]
But so'm I so I suppose that's just fine.
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Maybe it's alright to be a little clumsy, behind closed doors. Maybe.
He smiles a little. ]
What can I say? You bring out the worst in me.
[ It's lighthearted but not untrue. The vindictiveness, the self destructive urges, the ungratceful honesty, the drive to isolate himself, the ugly possessiveness... Izou has unearthed more compromising states of being than McGillis has ever shown to anybody else. ]
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What can I say? Yer way more attractive when you're bein' bad.
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Interruption now safely beyond them, McGillis (who still hopes to the heavens that the door is actually locked) wraps his arm around Izou's waist and leans down to press a kiss onto his newly exposed collarbone. There's no reason not to take the bait of that exposed skin. He's meant to be rewarding Izou either way, and he's not disinclined to being indulgent today. ]
What nefarious act do you wish I'd do to you, then?
I finally washed the blood off of Izou
Goddamn Professor Fareed bustin' out the fancy words. Well, since yer givin' me homework, and I definitely didn't do it, I guess you gotta punish me, hm?
[This metaphor is a little convoluted.]
he had a doggy bath...
[ It's not a serious concern over a contradiction, merely some idle teasing. It certainly tracks for Izou's general preferences - McGillis has not exactly forgotten all the 'subtle' 'hints' in that direction. ]
Very well then.
[ Unfortunately, this smile is very foreboding. ]
Let's see a proper repentant seiza, then.
[ Why does the whitest man in the world even know this word? Well, he's studious. ]
he got those little bows on him now
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YELLS I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS MY TURN
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