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[oculusriffs]

TG: this is going to be fucking stupid isnt it


[want to get in touch with Dave? you can leave a TEXT, VOICE, or VIDEO message — or alternatively, he shouldn't be too hard to track down in person. it's a hunk of junk space house. in space. he's around here somewhere.]

Comments

[oculusriffs]

[how much Ryuji has leveled up his ability to be comforting, or even how confident he is in doing so, doesn't really matter much in the end, because Dave's not all that used to being comforted. it's why he still sort of hesitates, despite that large and blaring invitation to lean on him, before he goes ahead and just. does so slowly, cheek properly smushed against Ryuji's shoulder and everything.]

Banana milk. [what the fuck, he's never ... heard of banana milk. there's an entire fucking thirty-second pause while he processes that, and sort of wrinkles his nose at the idea, but that's only because he has a very obvious bias when it comes to fruit-flavored beverages.]

[.......... banana milk.]

No, I mean - I remember the commercials, but our shit wasn't nearly that, uh. Fashion forward? Are khakis even a thing anymore? I don't fuckin' know.

But they're called Capri Sun on my Earth. Which just makes them sound like soccer mom juice or something - I think they had commercials like that, too, though.

[Dave is too out of it to offer a thoughtful rating on how how comforting Ryuji is being, other than that he can sense the affection behind it. but the fact that he's electing to stay where he is, being a lot more warmly efficient than that shitty blanket Ryuji brought with him ever was, is probably a good indicator of what he thinks. maybe they need to work on these sort of things compared to someone else's standards, but right now, they seem to be going along at a rate that's working just fine.]

Capri might also be an island.

[ryuji]

Yeah, banana milk.

[Oh god, not one of these loops again.

But seriously, if he's never had one before, that's a weird thought to Ryuji. Cultural differences, probably? Maybe America didn't have those things stocked in the grocery stores or something. Or maybe his earth was really into strawberry milk. There's so many possibilities to think about here, and such a small amount of willpower to actually do so.]

It's... really freaking delicious. Kinda has the same color as your hair, too. [His master plan all along was cannibalism, it's already begun. The zombie virus is taking its course.

But all this talk about brains doesn't quite (grey) matter. His initial worries seem to calm down a bit when Dave is up against his shoulder and hooooly shit, that's a cool feeling. Well, not exactly cool, since he's practically melting sitting up, but it didn't really feel all that different than baking in the sun on a summer day.]

Hell yeah, khakis are definitely still a thing. I have a pair of cargo khakis back home that I wear in the summer. The pockets are great for holdin' shit. Dunno if there's an island... y'know. Named Khaki or anything. Think... I might've failed geography...

[oculusriffs]

My hair's... [banana ... milk ... no ... no, that's a really, really stupid thought. better put a lid on it before it spirals somewhere even weirder.]

[so he decides to focus on a mishmash of thoughts about pockets, shorts and geography instead. and those subjects just kind of rattle around and get to know each other in his brain, while he sits there in silence for once in his life instead of letting whatever the hell he's thinking about fly free. when he does finally say something, though, it's probably a valid enough thought.]

S'fine. Earth geography's pretty pointless right now anyway.

[he sort of mumbles it, though, and is less leaning and more completely hanging off of Ryuji by this point, somewhere between falling asleep and not really being able to. it's the same sort of state he's been struggling with for a day or two now.]

[but, that's when he finally notices it: the weird, unnatural looking discoloration that looks like it's slowly snaking its way down Ryuji's hands, and suddenly, he's as fully alert as he's capable. with little thought to what he's doing other than he needs to get a closer look, he reaches over and grabs at Ryuji's wrist so he can get a better look.]

What the hell is this. [he doesn't mean it sternly. if anything, he just sounds anxious.]

[ryuji]

[True, nobody will hear you scream in space, or hear you scream about pop quizzes either, so he's safe for as long as someone doesn't get the administrative idea in their head that there's a lot of teens on board and they probably need a good education to get by. Not that it matters, either way. Gardens are being tended to, some of the more accomplished space travelers have their eyes on life support, and, oh yeah- there's a doctor on board too! He's a vampire, though, and that's kind of wild to think about. Who needs centrifuges when you could just taste disease. Or something like that, he doesn't really understand the whole concept.

Ryuji's noticing him starting to become increasingly woozy, too, so maybe the dude can get a little rest? Similar to the way that Dave couldn't move when Lisa is on his lap, he'll stay there and let him get some shut eye if that's what he needs. There's a sort of complacency in that too, like he feels a little bit more secure of this whole, uh...., relationship thingy, almost as if he's trying to learn the ropes via brute force. It's going pretty well, no complaints on his end, until his wrist is pulled and examined.

His eyes follow downward to where Dave's are, and. Well, this is great. Looks like it was starting to spread down to his hands, too. It was relatively expected to happen anyway, but- geez, what a boner killer. Which also sets off a whole plethora of regrets, too, because he knows where this is heading. Or at least, he thinks he does. Damn, he was actually settling in on this whole aggressive Take Care Of Dave mission. As if the station would actually allow that.

It's also kind of alarming how his tone shifted so quickly. His mental room is being painted in colors of lavender, trying to calm himself down enough so that it doesn't turn into a big thing. He'll be okay.]

I dunno. It doesn't hurt though. It just looks kinda weird. [Ryuji... your body is literally decaying, that's not really going to make anyone think that everything's honky dory here.]

Just sorta woke up like this? Maybe it's like... a second puberty.

[oculusriffs]

[if there's one thing the station is exceedingly good at, it's giving them things to worry over concerning each other, keeping them in a rather depressing, when you think about it, balancing act of aggressively taking care of each other. because it isn't just a space flu, it's a fucking curse that's running dark in Ryuji's veins and trying to rob Dave of whatever lucidity he can hang on to at the moment. it's a curse stubbornly trying to tear them down while they, more stubbornly probably, cling to what sense of normalcy they've found together.]

[that's how Dave sees it, anyway. he hates how unfair it is, but he's never really been one to put up with a bunch of asshole ghosts, either.]

[if Ryuji wanted to pull a cheap shot, Dave could probably be felled with a light shove at this point, not unlike how he was once felled by a ball of yarn in an equally cheap shot. but that's kind of the last thought on his mind at the moment. he runs his thumb lightly along one of the rapidly darkening veins on Ryuji's wrist, anxious.]

That definitely ain't puberty, dude. Have ... have you talked to what's his name, uh. The plumber doctor guy.

[ryuji]

[Just... 5 more minutes. Is that really too hard to ask for? He just wanted to do the whole chicken soup for the time god soul and wrap an arm around him and not have to have something smack its ugly head right into it. Ryuji closes his eyes and breathes out, trying to not get livid at something he has no control over; and besides, getting angry at something right now might distort that into it looking like he was angry at Dave, which he definitely wasn't. He's pretty hard to talk down from a ledge when that happens, though, and maybe it says something that he's more tilted by that than his weird blood issues that are going on right now.

And no, no cheap shots needed. Dave's already cashed in that check for himself, giving Ryuji's wrist attention that makes hair on the back of his neck practically stand on edge, hyper aware of it for some reason.]

Huh? No way. These ain't pipes, they're veins. [He knows what Dave meant. He's being just as stubborn as he always is.] It's okay, really. It'll go away in a few days, probably. Looks like mostly everyone's sick around here, including you, so, uh. The med bay's probably packed and... y'know. Fevers are more dangerous than whatever the hell this is.

[oculusriffs]

[Dave may be about one degree fahrenheit from completely fucking out of it, but he still remembers something Ryuji said in one of their very first conversations. they'd been sitting around with a pack of contraband licorice, and he'd been trying his best to explain why changing a major part of your past, using whatever method that entailed, always had unexpected consequences.]

[he's not the type of guy who really cares what happens to himself, he'd said. he's probably not going to get a clearer view of that in action, of Ryuji purposely putting Dave before himself, than this moment — unless he did something really dumb like pull a goddamn Bruce Willis at the end of Armageddon on everyone. which. let's be real, at the rate they're going, at the rate the space station is going, one of them is bound to pull a stunt like that eventually.]

[he straightens a little, but doesn't really pull away. he lacks the strength to, both emotionally and physically. and there's a frustration bubbling up in his chest, too, because he knows from experience that trying to argue the disadvantages of self-sacrifice is going to get them exactly nowhere except both of them blown the fuck up, because he doesn't want to change Ryuji, and it's not like he could anyway, because at the end of the day he understands. Dave doesn't really give a shit about what happens to himself, either, when it's compared to what happens to people who mean everything to him.]

[but it's more than that. he's frustrated over the fact that he thinks he should have the ability to save them; he's got the sort of powers people write entire shitty movies and novels over. but he can't.]

[so what does he do? he wraps his hand around Ryuji's wrist tightly, and speaks bluntly.]

Maybe. But if something's gonna happen to you, I'd rather ... I dunno. Know what it is. Even if I can't do anything about it.

[which is a lot for him to admit, frankly — the fact that he can't save him from this and he knows it.]

[ryuji]

[It's mostly true. You don't get to just jumpsuit up into mythical level pajamas, or, in Ryuji's case a skull mask and a set of biker's leathers, and suddenly just become some superhero. They've both made a lot of sacrifices and came through to understand that it's still worth it, right? Ryuji wouldn't change himself and he wouldn't change his past, including every stupid thing that he's ever done. Especially the ones that he did for others. There was a moment he was never privy to, a conversation between Ren and their teacher, Kawakami-sensei, where her initial distaste of Ryuji was finally subdued a little. She had realized that all his shitty attitude or the way he got aggressive - it was never over himself. When he punched Kamoshida, and when he was thrown down and had his leg broken, it was because his team was suffering through their coach's abuse. It was because Kamoshida had let leak the circumstances of his home life... and he didn't care about how that made him look. He thought about his mother, who worked so hard to keep the two of them safe after his father had left the picture. And her honor. Especially her honor.

And maybe that same sense of self-abandon is something people don't really assume about him until they get to know him. He might look like and act like the type of punk that wants people to fuck off, and sometimes- yeah- he does. That's definitely true. But he's never fought once on his behalf for his own benefit. He stands up for everyone but himself, because he thinks that other people have a right to have their moment in the sun. On the flipside of that, of course, is the reliance on a really dumb idea... that he's damaged goods himself, but whether or not he deserves anything had never crossed his mind. At least, maybe, and probably it's a dumb idea too- that since he owned up to his feelings, since they both did.

That maybe he deserved to be happy with Dave?

And there are so, so many things he really likes about him- sure, seeing his own style of histrionic heroics reflected back right at him is sort of a reminder of his own stubbornness, but honestly? He respects him so much for being that way. He respects that he understands it and doesn't give him shit for it. He'll course a line through all the things that they can't fix themselves, and it's not Bruce Willis in Armageddon he's aiming for, but Will Smith in Independence Day. Now all he needs to do is learn how to pilot, and maybe he can run off into the hivemind of utter bullshit and blow it to smithereens. But barring that, maybe he can just make a bubble for the both of them, at least. Keep this safe. The way he feels when Dave has his hands on his wrist is too real, too important to not want to protect that.]

Hey. [His voice softens, obviously having hit a chord-] You've saved my ass like. How many times already? And sure, I know it's a pretty killer ass to look at 'n everything. [Ryuji.] But... no matter what, we're gonna be alright. Even if there ain't shit you can do right now. You know? As long as I got a place by your side, I'm gonna find my way back to it.

[He doesn't know what's happening to him, though. He also doesn't really... want Dave to see what his chest looks like, with his heart all blacked out and clearly visible even through the skin. Especially ironic since he's supposed to be a person who can steal hearts.]

So, uh. I mean, how about this? What if I stay long enough to make sure you get some sleep and I'll head over after you've dozed off? This way we can both stop worrying about each other for a few minutes.

[oculusriffs]

[Ryuji might not be hiding what's happening to him as well as he thinks, if only because Dave's well aware that veins travel in only one direction, and to one direct point in the body. he has no way of knowing how bad it is, or how bad it's going to get, without demanding that he see it, but in this moment, at least, he's reasonably satisfied that Ryuji will go get it looked at. there's nothing else he can do. he doesn't have any other ideas right now.]

[and even if he's fully aware that there's nothing he can do, and even if he just outright admitted it, it's so, so hard to stop having the thought that agreeing here feels like he's giving up. it's the same stubborn overprotectiveness that drew the two of them to one another in the first place. he needs to stop being sick, to cool off so he can think straight and try something.]

Yeah. All right. [there's a bold thought, that Dave's going to stop worrying. but he lets go of Ryuji's wrist, fumbling with his own smartwatch for a minute, until it slides off and he deposits it into Ryuji's open palm.]

[it's ... not entirely clear what Dave wants him to do with it, because he doesn't actually specify. he could be giving Ryuji permission to go shitposting under @turntechGodhead. maybe he thinks Ryuji needs to take measurements for that smartwatch cozy they were snarking at each other over earlier.]

[or maybe, Dave wants to make sure that what Ryuji's said does happen — that he's going to go out there, get taken care of, then find his way back here. he'll need the watch to open the door, after all.]

[... what was he supposed to be doing? oh, right. sleeping. it'd probably be more comfortable if he moved to actually lie down, but he just relaxes where he is instead. and maybe just goes ahead and says his next thought out loud.]

You're not wrong, though? 'Bout the ass. [Dave.]

[ryuji]

[He doesn't really get the motion of receiving Dave's watch, and at first, a really... really morbid kind of thing passes through his mind that he has to fight off immediately. That this might be some sort of parting gift, that he'll watch Dave go to sleep and then leave. But when he comes back, what if the Worst Thing happens and he has to see something he promised himself he would never let happen?

Fuck that thought. It's not right. And he kinds of hates himself for even having it. He swallows down, a lump in his throat- and shit, Dave's somewhat immortal. That's not even in the realm of things that can happen. So, really, don't think about it. Instead, he accepts it, and- oh, right? You need these to get into rooms. Wow, he sure does feel dumb. The station's getting to him, as it has before, and will probably happen again.

Ryuji raises an eyebrow though, because is now really a time to pump up the volume on the flirting front? Probably, to be fair. When is it ever really a good time to tell anyone that they have a nice ass.]

Nice.

[He slides the watch on his other wrist. How bored do you have to be to send messages back and forth between yourself if you're stuck in a waiting room with nothing to do? Probably just the right amount. Please look forward to the torrent of roleplay that Ryuji's going to sadly commit to, in order to keep his mind off actually having to go through with being poked at and prodded. Man, he hated hospitals so much- and even though this wasn't exactly the same as a full blown operation, it had the feeling of it.]

Like filet mignon at a buffet, yo.

[Is he really still talking about his butt?

Yeah.]

A-anyway... I'm thinkin' you've had enough. Too much and you're gonna get the meat sweats. [Doubly meant here- he really should be in a horizontal position, so Ryuji will lift his hand up to his shoulder, scoot over a bit to make room, and guide him down. If the positioning isn't right, he'll try to fix that too, to let him spread out a little bit, or curl, or... hell, he doesn't really know how Dave sleeps other than the time he asked to sleep in his bed and that was with the other teen slumped up against a wall, so he couldn't judge by that.]

Night, knight.

[oculusriffs]

[look, deliriously ill or not, Dave knows good looks when he sees them? he's never actually outright told a guy he's got a nice ass before, though, which ... sure is a thing he just did. if he weren't already flushed with a fever he might think to be embarrassed about it, but to be honest, he's just kinda happy he thought it for a split second, then blurted it out, as he does. like he was brave enough to divulge an unabashedly physical item on the long list of things he really likes about Ryuji, because shit, he'd said he was going to, wasn't he? right before they were interrupted by their weird time marker of a frozen space burrito.]

Dunno much about filet mignons, but guess I do now.

[yeah, he looks pretty damn pleased with himself as he lets Ryuji lay him down for a nap. he'd be a lot less pleased if he knew about the morbid thought that had crossed his mind, though, because somehow, it feels like it'd take a lot more courage to lie to him right now. like he wouldn't be able to come up with anything other than the truth, that the universe has never really cared whether he's sort of immortal or not. space stations probably aren't any different.]

[but anyway, it sounds like he's got a lot of very confusing text messages to look forward to, until he figures out that Ryuji was texting himself. and, Dave has two standard modes of sleep, assuming Sburb shenanigans aren't involved. the more common one is pretty light, and in short bursts, like a cat or some other small animal that always has an ear open, just in case. that's the mode he was in when he was sitting against the wall, while Ryuji was sleeping in his bed.]

[and then there's the sort of sleep he slips into once Ryuji has him nice and tucked in. it's that rare sort of sleep that only happens when he's exhausted beyond measure, and more importantly, when he feels safe — and when he sleeps like this, he is completely fucking out, limbs splayed and body flat against the mattress. he won't be coming around again until he's good and ready, which is probably for the best, because it's not like the fever's going to be breaking anytime soon.]