loudmouths | PRISMATICA ►INBOX

[ So Keigo's free... That's all Renji needs to know.

A few seconds later, Renji is at Keigo's front door. He palms a small box wrapped in a bright, floral-patterned cloth, turning it over in his hand. It had been a pain to wrap something so small; the fabric hangs a little loose and the knot is almost as big as the box. But hopefully Keigo will appreciate the effort. He takes a deep breath, a faint, sweet perfume filling his chest, and he knocks at the door. ]

[ well he should have expected that. renji had a habit of just leaving him hanging and then showing up at his doorstep.

still, keigo was hesitant to open the door. he was feeling some mild effects of the cordis moon, mostly in his mood and some minor physical qualities, like his hands and teeth. who knew if he was gonna go full-blown fever dream, but he knew those pheromones were the real issue.

so when he answered the door, he cracked it open and peeked out, fully knowing who was on the other side, but still exerting some caution. ]

... You shouldn't be here, y'know...

[ Looked like Keigo was being careful about how he answered the door. That's a relief, if nothing else. The pheromones wafting through the small opening weren't quite the same overpowering, honey-sweet scent that Renji remembered, but it stirred a longing for Keigo's touch all the same. Desire was drawn to the forefront of his mind, an unspecific but nagging urge to bring Keigo closer to him. Renji did his best to ignore it, arms rigid at his side. His fingers closed tight around the box in his hand. ]

I'm fine.

[ One measly moon wasn't enough to worry him. Or at least, this one didn't. He'd be far more cautious in a few days, when his own moon cycle would start. So it was better to do this now, while he was at least sightly less likely to not embarrass himself.

Renji leveled a long stare at the crack between the door, at the sliver of Keigo peeking out through it. ]

I wasn't kidding when I said I'd pay for the door.

[ No one could ever say Renji didn't give people fair warning before he forced himself into their homes. For their own good, obviously. ]

[ was he fine, though... keigo knew renji well enough to tell when he was getting to be on edge and by the looks of his posture, he was teetering there. keigo felt a familiar anxiety start to well up in him as he gripped at the door, as if bracing himself for an inevitable explosion. ]

Ugh, Renji...

[ keigo sighed deeply, his voice thick with exasperation at the amount of stubbornness on display. both of them, really. keigo would have stood there and dared renji to try and break the door down with him standing right behind it, but he was also too tired to argue. cordis's cycle left him aching for chroma, and no amount of food shoveled down his throat could fully sate that need.

so he relented, pulling the door open to let him in. ]

I don't wanna hear any complaints, then! You'll make me feel bad!

[ On the edge of fine was still fine, at least as far as Renji was concerned. So he stood his ground, spine pulled straight, staring Keigo down as he sighed his name. And that's when Renji knew he won this round. He gave a short nod, sharp and maybe too quick. ]

No complaints.

[ Entering Keigo's apartment again wasn't the same arresting experience it was a few weeks ago. There wasn't that heady sweet scent or any wild impulses to taste Keigo on his lips or feel his hips rolling underneath him. There was just a mild fragrance in the air, delicate and pleasant with a slight seductive middle note. Which was good, because if he couldn't control himself now, it'd just prove Keigo's point that he should stay under lock and key.

Renji did wonder if this mild effect was because Keigo's pheromones were stronger when all three moons were out or if the heat made him as sensitive to his scent as it made him sensitive to everything else... but he could worry about that later.

With thinly veiled concern and a deliberate foot away, Renji swept his gaze over Keigo and then over the state of his apartment. It served the dual purpose of looking after him and trying to appear a little less awkward standing in his apartment and suddenly unsure of where he should go. ]

How're you holdin' up?

[ keigo's little stipulation was rooted in a genuine fear of making renji uncomfortable, unable to reel in the pheromones that caused such a strong reaction the first time. so even though he agreed to the terms, keigo still felt wary about renji being in that apartment with him for any time longer than a few minutes.

it was why he waited for renji to be a good distance away before closing the door and following after, looking a bit more wary than he probably should have. he was probably giving away the answer to renji's question a bit too readily with how he was standing, looking awkward and uncertain with himself.

his teeth sank into his lower lip anxiously, one fang overhanging visibly before he spoke up. ]

'm alright. [ he offered a shrug to go with that dismissive answer. ] I was just watchin' some TV, like I said. What's goin' on?

[ Indifferent response and a self-conscious stance. Renji was getting better at sizing Keigo up, but it didn't take getting to know him this intimately to see that he wasn't being completely honest. His eyes tracked down Keigo's face, lingering at the peek of fang. ]

Nothin'. Just wanted to see how you were doing.

[ Not great, it seemed. Self-imposed exile was one of the few things that didn't look good on him. ]

And... [ There was a rare hesitation from Renji, his hand coming up but still tensed close to his chest. After a moment, he extended his palm with the small, cloth-wrapped box. ] ...to give you this.

[ the last thing keigo expected from renji was any kind of gift. for the nonsense he put him through, he shouldn't have been getting rewarded. but what was throwing him off was the small box... what could be inside of it?

keigo's brain uselessly supplied a few embarrassing possibilities, all of which he elected not to announce, but even still, the surprise was clear on his face. the red that seeped into his skin was a bit telling, too. ]

Um... You got me something...?

[ okay, so he was a little excited, but still pretty flustered. he took the box from renji slowly, gingerly holding it in his hand. but before he could unwrap it... ]

W-what's the occasion?

[ Keigo had a strange way of pulling Renji into his emotional spirals. When he flushed, Renji did the same, like mirrors reflecting into each other. A slight shade of pink tinged his cheeks and his face felt warm even while his now empty hands felt clammy. Renji was a little quicker at the recovery, though. Or so he thought. ]

Can't I give you somethin' 'cause I want to?

[ That admission was too candid by half and as if to mock him, much better answers sprang instantly to mind. He'd missed Keigo's birthday, which was true. He wanted to make up for the ringer he put him through in the Lightless, which was also true. But neither that nor the dozen other things that he could have said were any more true than the words that actually left his mouth. ]

Just open it already.

[ Renji crossed his arms, tucking his hands under his elbows in a somewhat imposing posture if it weren't for the nervous, stiff line that his shoulders formed. Whenever Keigo decided to open his gift, he'd find a crescent moon-shaped barrierette, fashioned with gold and decorated with a lustrous, sky blue jewel dangling off the lower point. ]

Edited 2019-07-21 07:09 (UTC)

[ the short answer was no because keigo always wanted a reason for these random acts of kindness. but in reality, he also wasn't about to stall out for a carefully crafted reasoning when no reason at all was probably just as heartfelt.

still, he was a bit uncertain. without knowing the reason, he couldn't possibly guess what was inside. that was a bit frustrating, all things considered. but renji looked fairly impatient for him to open it, so he went ahead and pulled the wrapping apart to reveal the treasure inside the box. ]

Uoh...

[ well, it certainly was pretty... but keigo wasn't sure what it actually was. some sort of accessory, that much he determined, but why? he blinked past the initial reaction of awe and lifted his gaze to look at renji quizzically. ]

It's pretty but... what is it?

[ The quizzical look only got a shrug in response from Renji, quite an odd-looking gesture on him with his hands still tucked firmly under his elbows. The reaction was a bit more muted than he expected... but then again, he also thought Keigo would already know what it was and all he'd have to do is explain what made it's special. ]

The wolf guy runnin' the shop told me it's a barrette. You wear it in your hair.

[ Renji motioned to Keigo's head. The merchant had shown him how to equip it and it looked pretty foolproof. And stylish, which was just as important. ]

When you need it to, it summons a barrier. So you can protect yourself.

[ The emphasis Renji put on the last part was rife with meaning. So Keigo could protect himself because this world was dangerous, because Renji had already proven that he couldn't always be there to protect him. But between the lines, what Renji meant to say was that Keigo and his continued well-being was always on his mind. ]

Edited 2019-07-21 07:46 (UTC)

[ ah, he should have known. or at least, he should have taken the barrette out of the box before asking questions. truth be told, he was afraid of it being more fragile than it looked. ]

Ohhh... I see it now...

[ a bit embarrassing. but now that he knew what it was, there were a few questions that seemed to crop up... but first, keigo looked at the little barrette, then back up at renji with a small, slightly sheepish smile. ]

Um... but thank you. I didn't realize you were that worried about me...

[ Renji returned Keigo's slight smile with a serious expression. This would normally be where his pointless bravado would try assert itself, insisting he wasn't that worried. Instead his eyes shifted to the small box in Keigo's hands. He sighed sweet fragrance, the ruler-straight line of his shoulders slumping a touch. ]

...Yeah. [ Yeah, he was that worried. And yeah, he'd tried to make sure Keigo wouldn't know how deep those still waters ran. ]

I don't want you gettin' hurt. And after everything that's happened...

[ Renji's hands closed into fists, tightening as memories of that disastrous mission surfaced again. How they'd both been beaten, shot, bled because he'd been far too careless. After a moment, his gaze turned back outwards, looking at Keigo with the concern in his gaze no longer veiled. ]

You'll wear it, right?

[ ah, so that was what this was about... while keigo was hardly a fighter, he also wasn't the type to blame anyone for his own mistakes. he knew it was a potentially dangerous mission, but he insisted on going, anyway. what happened wasn't anyone's fault but his own.

all the same, he knew how renji was. he wanted to keep keigo safe. it was humbling to think that he was on his mind that often, but he also couldn't help but feel guilty for putting renji in that spot in the first place.

keigo's smile faltered a bit, lips curving downward as he truly felt renji's concern seemingly radiating off of him. ]

Yeah. Yeah, of course.

[ for good measure, he took it out of the box. ]

Wait here.

[ with that, he retreated off into the apartment. ]

[ Renji nodded at Keigo as he turned and disappeared into the apartment. After a moment, he ran a hand through his hair, arms finally uncrossing.

This wasn't... really the mood he was going for when he decided to visit Keigo. He sounded miserable on the network, he looked sort of miserable now. Renji thought a present might have made him feel better... But then again, this wasn't really a cheer up gift as much as it was a "sorry about almost letting you die in an underworld criminal den" gift.

Still, he didn't give that barrette just to make that everpresent smile of Keigo's slip, even for a moment. ]

Idiot.

[ Well, clumsy as the delivery was, at least Keigo had the barrette. That's what really mattered in the end. Renji leaned against the wall and waited and tried to be content knowing at least Keigo would be safe. ]

[ while renji had his moment to himself, keigo was standing in front of a mirror in the bathroom, holding the barrette in his hand. he looked at himself, combed his clawed fingertips through his hair, then gave a sigh. he really didn't know what to do to make renji feel better, other than show him he was taking his concerns seriously.

so he put the barrette in his hair, sliding it over the right side and clipping it in place. it probably looked... a little goofy. he was a guy, after all, but if this was what renji wanted... ]

Okay.

[ looking a bit sheepish, keigo came back into the main room where renji was waiting. his face was flushed and he fidgeted with the hem of his shirt as he walked closer. ]

There. See?

[ he turned his head to the side to let renji look at the clip in his hair. ]

[ Hearing Keigo's footsteps, Renji looked up just in time to compose himself as he re-entered the main room. Renji's gaze tracked from Keigo's flushed face to the thin twist of gold and the swaying jewel in his hair. Renji took a step closer, his lips curving into a short smile. ]

Looks good.

[ Real good, actually. Kind of lovely, with his face all red and the blue pendant glinting when he fidgeted. The colour suited him.

Renji's hand lifted to brush at the soft, gathered strands of hair. That magnetic pull of Keigo's pheromones stirred the air, but Renji stopped just short of indulging the touch any further. ]

Uh... [ Renji's hand fell back to his side, his cheeks beginning to colour as well. ] You didn't have a hard time putting it on?

[ whenever renji happened to look at him like that, eyes alight and smiling, keigo couldn't stop the fluttering of his heart. it was a level of affection he was grateful to be the recipient of, even if the situation was a bit embarrassing...

his eyes closed briefly as renji touched his hair, enjoying the contact. he was fairly starved for attention, and subsequently chroma, so the connection was appreciated. too bad it didn't last that long. ]

Mmn, not a lot... [ keigo admitted, opening his eyes again to look up at renji with a sheepish smile. ] It was pretty simple. You really think it looks okay?

[ That flutter of Keigo's eyes closing as his fingers stroked along his hair roused something Renji, a strange warmth entirely aside from the tingle of Chroma blossoming between their touch and the pheromones hanging in the atmosphere. It caught him a little off-guard, enough that when Keigo asked him the question he answered hurriedly, honestly. ]

'Course. Better than okay.

[ No sooner had the words left his mouth than Renji glanced away. He looked like he was in some kind of competition with Keigo to see who could become the most flustered in the shortest amount of time and he was trying to give him a run for his money. His hand came to scratch the back of his neck, clearing his throat a little. ]

...As long as you like it.

[ If it was possible to look away harder, he would. Somehow, Keigo made all this stuff look so easy by comparison. ]

[ keigo watched renji's hurried reaction with a mild sense of amusement; he could tell when he was fighting with his more tender side and it often elated keigo to see that tough guy exterior chip away little by little. complimenting him so honestly did bring a bit of a flush to his cheeks, but the endearing way renji looked around at anything other than keigo outweighed any embarrassment he might have had. ]

Heheh, is that so?

[ cordis's cycle tended to make keigo more flirtatious than normal, and it was working its magic on him as keigo reached toward renji, chuckling warmly. he gently slid his clawed fingers against renji's chin and jawline, coaxing him to look back directly at him. he would offer renji a soft smile, eyes reflecting some amusement, but the absolute endearment toward him wasn't hard to miss. ]

I love it.

Edited 2019-07-26 05:31 (UTC)

[ The sound of Keigo's soft laughter drew Renji's gaze first, instinctively seeking out a hint of his lips curving from the corner of his eye. His touch directed him further, unflinching as the gentle prick of claws skimming his skin guiding him until he faced Keigo again. There was still a fading flush on his face, but Renji could swallow some of that blundering embarrassment for the sake of those eyes watching him so warm and fondly he almost wasn't sure that Keigo was actually looking at him. He only believed it because of that little spark of teasing amusement, knowing how much of a sappy fool he couldn't help acting like in these private moments. ]

...Good.

[ Renji cracked a smile too, nearly as soft as the one he was reflecting. His hands slid up to Keigo's waist, a reflex tugged along by the sweet scent suffusing through the room. He didn't end up drawing him to his chest, pressing his face to the crown of his head, even if the coax of that bouquet-like perfume made him want to even more than he usually did. But he didn't want these gestures to come off forced, compelled, "problematic". He hoped the sincerity of wanting Keigo close to him came across in his own way, with the gentle rub of his thumbs at his hip and the brief tightness of his fingers before they settled and went lax. ]

Bet you're glad you let me in now, eh?

[ And not just because he wouldn't have to deal with a broken door. ]

[ keigo wasn't stupid, even if he could be dense, in a manner of speaking. there was no way he could miss renji's shift from flustered to truly affectionate, of course, but more than that, the subtleties in his touch as he drew him in just close enough were easy enough to pick apart. it was slightly guarded, yet eager, and keigo had to wonder if renji was holding back for some reason or another.

then, as renji nuzzled at his hair, keigo remembered. renji said it quite plainly, after all. bringing them right back to that concern of keigo's: of renji being drawn in like he was hypnotized. clearly he could resist for now, but the risk was there, wasn't it? keigo's lips drew tight; he was resisting, too. he had urges to moonlace that were difficult to resist with his already impulsive nature and his love for renji powering most everything else. ]

...Well, I don't think I could keep you out for long, to be honest... [ keigo sounded a little indignant, like he was caught in an embarrassing trap. he let his fingers drag across renji's chest lightly, truly resisting the urge to tear his clothes off and feel his bare skin. ] ...even if you didn't break down the door, I would have let you in eventually... I don't... really wanna be away from you when I'm like this, but...

[ but...

keigo pressed his hands against renji's chest, putting a little bit of distance between them. ]

Are you sure it's okay?

[ A rake of Keigo's fingers over his chest and Renji was already feeling a shiver shoot up his spine, his fingertips trailing warmth that ended far too abruptly. Renji really was a weak man, weaker still for almost grabbing Keigo and yanking him back when he pushed that slight distance away from him. He made his hands still for a moment, silent as he saw in Keigo's face the willful restraint, before his arms closed tighter around Keigo. Taking control and relinquishing it, all at once. ]

Yeah, I'm sure.

[ No wavering or hesitation. Renji might not look like the sort of man who gave things much thought, the crease on his brow spoke more of grumpiness than deep contemplation, but he had turned this over in his head all day, and for many days before that. And in the end what he knew for sure was this: it wasn't the pheromones that made him want to hold Keigo like this. They just... helped things along, tinder to a flame but not the spark that set it alight. So there wasn't any point in resisting the things that encouraged him to pursue what he already wanted. ]

If you're not gonna come out, you oughta have someone to keep you company.

[ Even if the craving for moonlacing was only mentioned obliquely, Renji heard enough about it to know how hard it must be for Keigo to stay cooped up in his apartment. And, well. ]

'Sides... [ The first hint of something faltering crept up, not in an unsure or doubtful way but the same kind of stalling that made Renji's eyes dart away when he told Keigo his new hairpiece looked better than okay. ] It ain't like... this is all that bad.

[ keigo didn't ever want to doubt renji, but he couldn't help it in this situation. it was actually quite scary that he could be at a point where he wasn't sure where the divide was between the pheromones and renji's actual wants. was he just saying it was okay? did he really mean that? or was it keigo's pheromones influencing his decisions?

renji closing around him even more insistently than before did startle keigo a bit, but he didn't make any move to resist this time, either. maybe this was fine... but there were other parts to it that keigo still had come concern over. ]

Mmn... well... [ keigo leaned his head against renji's chest, his fingers slowly curling around renji's forearm. he figured if they didn't want any secrets between them, it was better to address it now than continue to ignore the issue. ] Maybe now it's not. But when both of us are affected by the moons, I don't want to put you in a position where you're uncomfortable...

[ he was trying so desperately to make his language as neutral and vague as possible, but somehow keigo's face and ears were burning anyway. ]

[ With Keigo's head on his chest, Renji hoped that he didn't have a good view of how his whole face seemed to flush red at even the delicate, careful way Keigo phrased his concerns. Somehow, the euphemisms were almost as bad as Keigo being straightforward and asking him if he was really, really sure that it was okay that his mere presence inflamed an insatiable lust for Keigo pounding him. ]

That's...

[ Renji's voice halted again, caught in a trap of his own making. He should have expected this, after Keigo's post to the network and his repeated concern and, to be honest, his own reticence to talk about... all that... after it had happened.

It'd be easier if Keigo wasn't so damn considerate, worrying about how he felt, wanting to make sure he wasn't "uncomfortable", whatever that meant. After all their time in the station, this was a relatively mild occurrence. It didn't force him into a locked room, muck around inside his head, change his whole history so he couldn't tell reality from fantasy. It just... unearthed a very specific desire.

Well, a very specific desire that Renji had never entertained outside a VR simulation. Had been aggressively disinterested in entertaining, if he were honest. He spent a lot of nights lying awake and trying to sort out his feelings about that affair after the fact. What it meant for him and his self-image to have their positions reversed. He wasn't done sorting them out, really. But in the end, the thing that struck him the most was that nothing changed between them. Keigo still looked at him the same, still treated him the same, and Renji still wanted to be near him.

Not that he could say any of that out loud. Especially not like this, his arms linked around Keigo, Keigo's head pressed against his chest and giving him the distinct impression that he could hear his heartbeat quickening. Renji wasn't the sort of man who could have these kinds of frank discussions anyway. He spoke with his actions, with forcing himself by Keigo's side because it was the place he wanted to be more than anything.

But he'd have to say something. And after a short pause, words tripped out of his mouth, a little faster but more certain as Renji spoke. ]

There's no helping the moon shit... I'm not gonna let you stay locked up here all on your own. And I— I just wasn't expectin' that. At least I know what's comin' this time.

[ Renji's head turned aside, as if he'd said his piece, and then he added in a low murmur: ] And it wasn't... all that bad either.

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