riverviewlogs | [Closed] Try to get out but we just keep sticking around

It's not your business. [He repeats, much more pointedly this time, before... awkwardly shrugging and avoiding his eye contact.] ...And. You're welcome. I guess.

[He's not really sure if he's accomplished what he wanted. But he pays for the meal, and he gets up to lead Eichi out, finally being able to light a cigarette once they're outside and happily smoking for a minute before he speaks again.]

Stray dogs never knows how to act without masters... they get thin, scruffy. You know? [He huffs under his breath, finally dropping the cigarette, crushing it, and just replacing it with a new one.] I'm not even sure I want a master, exactly. I know Reaper isn't really the type of person I need for that, but... he's someone I need in my life, even if he doesn't own me. I'm guessing that's something you haven't felt about anyone.

[It's a disgusting feeling, how very desperate he feels for Reaper's attention. But that's his own problem.]

...You probably wouldn't understand someone like me.

[He says this after a few coughs, covered with his hand. He'll politely put up with the smoking, even if it's kind of killing him and his weak lungs. He's had worse.] I was once told that I would never have any precious friends in my life, because I had crushed all of the potential candidates beneath my heel. It was a curse of sorts... But somehow, there are those who defy that.

I can understand a need for certain people, but in order to find my purpose, I went about things quite differently. Jealous of those people who had healthy bodies and could effortlessly rise as stars, I sought out to have each of those idols of mine on their knees beneath me. I carved my own path, even if it meant playing dirty, and completely changed the workings of an entire school, caused a "war" and emerged as "Emperor."

Well, but it was lonely on top of the throne, and it was only afterwards that I realized there were people that I needed. I believe Reaper-san is one of many of my precious friends here now, but even if he and everyone else were to disappear and leave me here alone, I'd crawl my way forward, digging my nails into everything I could and stubbornly living.

[He talks so much, but this cigarette smoke actually makes him have to stop to cover more coughs. He's fine, he's fine...] ...So, it's different. What you're saying makes me unsure if I should pity you or be irritated by you.

[He knows his smoke is making Eichi cough, but... he can't help needing his fix. At least after this cigarette he can hold off for a bit, for the kid's sake.

He listens quietly, and.. well. He can't say he likes what he hears; Eichi is the type of kid that he's always thought of as dangerous and untrustworthy. But he guesses it's because it's the type of man that always ends up being his master.

Finally, he crushes his second cigarette and turns to talk to him.]

Don't do either, then. I don't need your pity and I don't care if you don't like me - I'm only telling you all this so you aren't surprised when I don't listen to you about Reaper. [He nods his head in the vague direction of the shooting range he's seen further downtown.] Shall we?

[At that, Eichi eyes him for a long moment before he looks away and chuckles. Even when that chuckle turns into a cough.] Fufu... I don't expect you to listen to me about anything.

[Another couple of coughs, and he seems to be okay again, blinking where he gestures and then glancing around, clueless.] Ah, where's the car?

[Eichi honestly can't even picture the idea of walking there. He never walks to destinations. People always offer him rides... He can't do something physical like that?]

Don't have a license. [He shrugs.] Getting some exercise won't kill you, anyway. Trust me.

[It's not a long walk... for Dodger. But he is blessed with superhuman endurance, and it hasn't really crossed his mind exactly how taxing 30 minutes of walking can be for a person with Eichi's weaknesses. Still, he's keeping a close watch on him while they walk. Just in case.]

What's wrong with you, anyway? Cancer?

That's what Gladio said, and I ended up in the hospital, as well...

[This isn't very good. He'll walk, right now, but it's slow and with nervous stares ahead at where they're going. He'd love to be able to walk that far, but even short walks have made him have to stop and take breaks or he'll pass out.]

No. It has no name, but it's an illness that runs in my family. Death is common because of it, so my grandfather who was able to live as long as he did was considered a demon. I have a weak heart, and something as simple as the weather or physical exertion can cause my body to be overworked. I spent most of my childhood in the hospital, and some days I was so weak that I couldn't even lift a spoon.

I'd rather not fall unconscious on my first date, so if we really are walking, I may have to stop quite often.

[He raises a brow at that, but... he kind of understands. He's been around a lot of mutants, and sometimes instead of getting powers they just get some horrible illness, or some other mutation that actively endangers them. It's horrible.]

Just let me know if you need a break.

[Eichi can probably thank Shigeru for the fact that Dodger's become aware of necessities like that, and more willing to be patient with them... he's starting to grow beyond the husk of a man that first ended up here.]

[He hums in acknowledgement. His generic anime disease is really irritating, honestly, and he hates being treated differently for it in ways of pity, but basic understanding of his needs is helpful for sure. He's just left to get annoyed at it on his own.

The combination of the smoke from earlier and the walking now has him needing to stop only a short couple of minutes later, looking down at the ground as he finds a pole or a wall to lean against so he doesn't just fall over.]

...So it won't be inconvenient, why don't I pay for a taxi? [He hates this, and this wounds his pride, but also he doesn't want to die.]

It's not inconvenient, it's your life.

[Really, he doesn't see a point in putting it in terms that induce pity. It's a fact of life, and if the medicine around here can't cure it then there's no reason to judge him for it.]

I'll pay for a taxi if you want it.

[He's insistent on being the paying party here... partly to be nice and partly to avoid giving the kid small victories.]

[Ugh, he can't even pay for his own life taxi? He can't really fight that, though, as he clutches at his chest with a hand to try and still his heartbeat.]

If we continue to walk like this the whole way there, I won't be able to have any fun at all. I doubt I'd be able to lift a gun. [As disappointing as it is.] So, if you could...

[He guesses that is a fair point. He nods and pulls out his phone to call for a taxi, and a silent cab ride later they've gotten to the shooting range.

The next time Dodger addresses Eichi, it's as they move through the shooting range. No one is there at this time of night, so it's peacefully quiet... but Dodger's more at peace from the feeling of having a semi-automatic in his hands. He picks a target and ushers Eichi over to it.]

Most people start with a pistol, but I'm more partial to SMGs. Home territory and all. [He offers the gun to him.] You know how to hold one of these?

[It's a little eerie to be here alone with Dodger, but Eichi has kept himself calm by reminding himself that if he really wanted to, he could have teleported them both away from crowds of people. So it's really the same. It's a twisted sort of reassurance to himself, but it works.

Eichi takes it with both hands, glancing down at it.]

I could guess, but I'm not certain. I'm left-handed, but should I use my right hand for something like this?

You use both hands for it - it's just about knowing which hand to put where.

[Dodger moves his hands for him, placing Eichi's left hand on the handle in front and his right hand back by the trigger. His touch is surprisingly gentle; it's clear there's a lot of strength there, but also a lot of care not to hurt him while he's doing this. And once he's satisfied he moves behind Eichi, checking that his elbows are bent properly and fixing a few more aspects of his stance before he places his hands over Eichi's to point the gun properly at the target.]

Usually you have a headpiece to block the noise in places like this, but I think you should know what it's going to sound like when it fires in the real world... you ready?

[It's extremely helpful. Eichi is used to watching videos and routines and then being able to perform them perfectly the first time, so having any sort of example at all is nice. He'll commit it to memory, determined to be able to function in some way if he and his friends ever do another mission.

It's still nerve-wracking having Dodger this close, after everything that happened, and he's noticeably tense, but he doesn't say a word. He's learning.]

In other words, it's going to be startlingly loud, right? [He expects that, and yet he knows he's still going to end up jumping. Staring down the target and trying to brace himself, he lets out a little breath.]

I'm ready.

Relax. [He can't help running his fingers lightly over Eichi's hands, moving a bit closer, but he really is trying to hold back his interest for the kid's sake. He'll just hurt himself if he jumps.] Breathe in when you aim... breathe out when you shoot.

[He takes a breath as an example, and presses down Eichi's finger to pull the trigger. The gun isnt much for accuracy, but Dodger's grip is firm and holds it better than Eichi would be able to alone. And the target is peppered with a few bullets before he lets the trigger go and his hands slip down to Eichi's waist instead.]

[All of this is so distracting, he doesn't know what he should focus on. He certainly can't relax, no matter what Dodger says. He's very excited to be able to shoot something, feeling a bit like a rebel to be doing so, but it still makes him worry that he'll mess up. On top of that, these brushes and touches are a lot different when there's no masks in the picture. He's completely aware, and it's a little startling.

He follows the breathing tip, but his ears are ringing after it shoots. Even so, the breath he lets out turns into an excited little laugh that he doesn't know what to do with, and he accidentally bumps into Dodger behind him.]

It's so loud! Amazing, even with your hands holding it too, I could feel it through my whole body. What power... Imagining myself wielding something like this in combat is too much to believe. ♪

[It must be a Tenshouin thing to enjoy weapons so much, too.] I can't hear very well, right now.

It'll fade.

[He gently, subtly pulls Eichi closer and rests his head on the smaller man's shoulder, his breath moving across Eichi's neck.]

If that was a person, you'd have shot through their lungs... they'd be drowning in their own blood. But I've seen people take a few people with them in that state - you might want to aim for the head instead.

[He'll steady his hands again if he needs it, but if not he's happy to just stop Eichi from falling over under the force of the gun's backfire. It frees his hands for subtle exploration.]

[Though he does visibly react to that breath, shuddering a little and having to straighten himself to lift the gun steady again, Eichi doesn't actually tense at everything else. He's focused, and until it goes too far, he's used to people hanging off of him anyway.]

Am I supposed to be imagining that this is reality? I wouldn't have anyone to guide my hands, or prevent me from falling backwards. There wouldn't be this protective wall, and if it were up to me, there would be a number of things between me and my enemy.

After all, I prefer to work from the shadows, carefully watching as the situation unfolds before I take my aim and fire. [He's aiming now, taking in his breath like he was told, and then calmly exhaling as he shoots on his own this time. The kickback is the only thing that seems to be his downfall, here, since his aim was pretty spot on. But just as soon as he's shot up the "head," his hands can't take the weight, he's backing up into Dodger again and he sighs a little heavier.]

Ah, I don't look as cool as I did in the arcade at all. How disappointing.

[That makes Dodger laugh a bit, letting out a quiet chuckle against Eichi's skin. Of course his only experience would be an arcade.]

Toy guns don't have a kickback - real guns are much different.

[His hands move to fix Eichi's posture, before his hands go back to moving softly over his waist and stomach. If Eichi isn't going to stop him, then he'll take that as a go-ahead to just keep touching him. Although he's kind enough... or perhaps just smart enough... to keep his hands above the belt.]

I could teach you to snipe, if that's the sort of combat you like, but you're never going to build up the stamina to get up and down buildings fast enough. Sniping would put you in a disadvantaged position, so you'd be better off knowing how to handle close combat. You're more likely to survive like that.

[He tips his head to watch Eichi's expression, curious to see how serious he is about all of this.]

And if we try sniping, I think it's better to learn with a moving target. Something outside of the range.

Naturally. It was my first time with an arcade game, as well, you know.

[He's new to all of this. That continued touching has him hesitating— physical contact is nice no matter who it comes from, it seems, but he pretends not to notice as he steps on Dodger's foot for it after some time.]

I'm well aware of my strengths and weaknesses. Someone like me would do better with a weapon that could be easily concealed and pulled out. It's not likely that someone sickly and spoiled like me would have the need for my own weapon, right? After all, I have bodyguards and comrades.

Even for someone as ruthless as you, who kicked me while I was down, I could have done some damage without you expecting it had I been carrying something. [He should have brought a knife?? His bad. (He's got one now, somewhere, but thankfully it's nowhere that Dodger is feeling him up.)]

The truth is... I prefer to avoid violence like this, so I'm not interested in practicing on live targets. I'm someone who can perfect an action by watching, so a few times should be enough.

Someone like you would work best working with explosives.

[Just saying. And while he notices Eichi stepping on his foot, it doesn't hurt, so he's ignoring it. If Eichi's got a problem, he's sure the kid will say it aloud.]

Trust me, you wouldn't have been able to take me by surprise... if you're relying on luck like that, you're going to get yourself killed by people who know what they're doing. Especially if you're not planning to use live targets.. you'll just be setting yourself up to die if you ever do end up needing your gun.

[Eichi may notice that each time he shoots, Dodger seems to get more interested in touching him. It may not be as strong an impulse as it would be if they were shooting live targets... but the man's far from sane, and the sound of a gunshot is enough to wake up the scrambled wires in his head that mix up violence and sex.]

That may be true...

[He shoots one more time, and it's really noticeable how Dodger is only getting worse. He stops stepping on his foot, glancing down at those hands.] But for someone like me, if I ran into someone who knew what he was doing, it's likely that I'd die anyway, right?

Yet somehow, here I am... It seems my luck isn't so bad.

[Taako came to his rescue, conveniently, after all. Anyway, he turns halfway, lightly shoving his elbow at Dodger's ribs.] Hey, you're getting awfully touchy for a first date, aren't you? Let me see you shoot this.

[Eichi is rather lucky, since he's managed to get Dodger in a state where he'll listen to him even under the influence of a lusty mood. He retracts his hands with a husky little huff, shaking himself a bit like a dog getting rid of water before he takes the gun off of him.]

Been a while since I've handled a gun... but I figure it's like riding a bike, huh?

[He holds it one-handed, not bothering with the stabilizer in front, and holds it turned like a punk. But despite this, he holds it steady and doesn't seem bothered by the recoil. With a blank expression, he peppers the target from its chest up through its head in a nearly straight line, accurate as he can be within the limits of the gun choice. And after he's satisfied with the mental image of them splitting in half, he hands the gun back to Eichi.]

Don't try any of what I just did. You'll break an arm.

[Eichi actually watches in amazement for the quick minute while this goes down. He does it so easily, and he finds himself watching that arm with clear envy before his eyes fall on Dodger's face. He accepts the gun back with both hands, blinking.]

Wahh, that was pretty cool, Dodger-kun. [He changed the honorific...?] It might have been sexy if I wasn't worried about how serious your thoughts must have been just now. Someone like me couldn't pull off that sort of look at all~.

[He says that, but he's already stepping forward to try again. Hmm, well, he's not going to copy any of that at all, because he's not stupid enough to injure himself, but he is going to try to do more of this on his own. He's already about deaf from all of these shots, so it should be fine.]

[He notices the change... he doesn't know nearly enough about Japanese to know what that signifies, but he knows there's a definite shift there... and wonders if he should ask Eichi or just look up exactly what it means.

With a grunt of acknowledgement he just leans against one of the dividers to watch,
keeping careful tags on Eichi's form. He is a quick learner, he'll give him that...
intelligence like that is dangerous in the wrong hands. He's starting to think a second date is definitely a good idea.]

You got a specific issue with touching, or are you just a virgin?

[Partly, he's asking to tease... the other part is genuinely checking boundaries, since Shigeru's got him used to looking for those signs.]

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