jikan_rpg | ✵ [Jan Catchall] Hope is not pretending that troubles don't exist.

[there has to be something said about not taking things offered by strangers, or something. perhaps Luke should have been a little more aware when he was shoving baked goods in his mouth. ever since arriving in Nippon, his vigilance had been lowered, as if the loom of having to save the world isn't weighing down on his shoulders.

for once, he'd been able to actually relax without any responsibilities, even though every so often, his mind would go back to the things he needs to do back home. well, at least the deadly miasma covering the world had dissipated, so everyone can breath in (literally) a sigh of relief, for the moment.

but that isn't what's concerning him. what's really wrong right now is the fact that he just feels weird after eating; he'd remembered reading that they were "uki" baked goods (whatever that means), and that they tasted good. but it's a weird feeling he just can't seem to shake off, nor can he explain; maybe if he goes home and sleeps it off, he'll feel better.

so off Luke shuffles to... try to find his way home, only to get turned around and lost. it doesn't help that the weird feeling is starting to cloud him mentally; he'll randomly stop in the middle of his trek, seemingly looking like he's trying to gather his bearings. in reality, he's momentarily forgotten what he's doing, before he suddenly remembers and continues his walk.

but, as he keeps walking, the weird feeling only grows; he can feel himself getting warm in the face and... well, this is embarrassing. at least it isn't as strong a feeling of arousal like that time in the hot springs...]

Edited 2022-01-11 19:22 (UTC)

[Not having to eat or drink has its perks, and at least one of those perks when it comes to Nippon is that Raphael doesn't end up accidentally ingesting things that could influence his behaviour. He does at least know what uki is and when to avoid it, though he has partaken now and then... just a little.

He isn't following Luke so much as heading in a similar direction, but he sees the young man stop in front of him several times as if he's trying to figure out where he's going.

Luke hesitates enough times for Raphael to catch up with him purely incidentally, but as he does so he gives him a quick glance and sees that... not all appears to be well with him. He looks flushed and confused, and the bleeding heart that Raphael is is immediately sympathetic.]

Are you lost? [A gentle touch to the man's shoulder is all he needs to realise that... he has no idea what this person is. His fingers twitch back uncertainly.] Where are you trying to go?

[the good thing about the uki is the fact that he;s a lot calmer. if it were any other time, if he were sober, and lost, he'd be an anxious mess trying to get home. and really, despite feeling the way that he is, the walk is nice. maybe if he just goes on a little adventure, then it'll be fine. he's fine. yeah.

but when he feels Raphael's hand on his shoulder, he jumps a little at the sudden contact, head craning over his shoulder so fast that it's surprising that he doesn't give himself whiplash. it takes a moment for him to answer, his uki addled brain trying to catch up]

Um... Home. I'm trying to go home...

[He doesn't know what this person is but his curiosity overrides his sense of caution and he stays close by, looking at him carefully. Even his ability to see outside of the human range of light sensitivity is doing him no good here. It's as if... the young man isn't quite real.

But he feels real, and he's acting real. Raphael gives a small and reassuring smile, glancing off up the street ahead of them.]

Do you need help? It looked like you don't quite know where you are.

I...

[well, Raphael is not wrong in that regard; Luke really has no idea where he is, now that he thinks about it. looking around at their surroundings, suddenly everything looks unfamiliar to him. huh... it seems like he really did get himself turned around...]

I'd like the help...

[he shifts on the spot for a moment, that odd feeling rising in him more now, and it's starting to become harder to ignore]

All right.

[A kind smile. Even restrained as it is right now Raphael's aura can often have the effect of making people trust him easily and he doesn't think too much of it now. The archangel looks around them, getting his bearings, then back to his new companion.]

Where do you live?

[That would be a good start. He is still so curious about how different this person seems. How they almost feel like they are made of light, or sound, or...

Raphael touches the young man's elbow, unintentionally sending a soft ripple across whatever it is that makes him. He doesn't mean to do it - it isn't something that would happen with a mortal - and he looks startled the moment he sees it.

Ah... hopefully he didn't notice.]

[before Luke could string together a thought coherent enough to answer Raphael's question, the thrumb of vibrations ringing through him stops him, eyes widening every so slightly as he reaches out to grab him. what in the world-- he's already surprised enough that he can feel idle vibrations in the very air around them, quite similar to the fonons back on Auldrant. but for someone to make his own fonons react in such a way...

and the even more surprising thing is that, unlike when Lorelei or Asch speaks to him through their connections, this doesn't result in a splitting headache, nor does it feel like he's going to vibrate into nonexistence. it... actually feels pleasant, leaving a nice tingle throughout his body, momentary pins and needles that had accompanied him since getting rid of the miasma back home]

Wh... What was that?

[Ah...

He could lie, but he's never been that good of a liar.]

It was me...

[He carefully steadies Luke as the other grabs on to him, but his own aura is softly ringing now. Not a sound that anyone could hear, but a reaction to the response his innocent curiosity had got from this young man's body.]

I'm not human. I can sense that you're... different. [Raphael is grateful that it is that and not 'not human either' that launches out of his mind and into speech.]

I didn't hurt you did I?

[it's definitely not something audible, but Luke can definitely feel his aura; a gentle vibration resonating within him. it's almost... inviting, in a sense, not knowing that the resonance of Seventh fonons could feel this nice. he shakes his head, hand now firmly holding onto Raphael's arm, as if to make sure the man doesn't pull himself away.

however, what surprises him (again) is the admittance of said man (not... man?) and his... non-humanness. what's even more surprising is the fact that he's able to pick out the same fact in regards to Luke's own existence. while the words aren't said, Luke has a hunch that Raphael knows that he himself isn't human. and while this would have bothered him any other time, this time, it doesn't. could it have something to do with being under the influence of the uki? or is it because Raphael isn't human, and it's something that he could relate to on some level?

but if he's not human, then what is he? his aura doesn't feel like the Seventh fonon at all; nor does it feel like he has any fonons in his body. so that rules out the idea that he's also a replica. he looks human enough... but...]

What are...

[no, that seems to rude to ask. but how could he ask in a way that wouldn't sound as such?]

[Raphael doesn't mind the hold. It's nice, actually. He hasn't felt his own aura resonating with someone else like this since long before the second Celestial War broke out. It's strange, different, yet somehow comforting.

The unfinished question isn't missed by him, but he shakes his head - 'not here' - as his only answer. While he's grown more comfortable with discussing what he is, doing it in a crowd still doesn't feel like the right idea. Instead, he starts nudging Luke to walk up the street in the direction he had been uncertainly heading before.]

You should get home. [He hadn't answered before, had he? No, that touch had distracted him too much. So Raphael tries again.]

Where do you live?

[again, another thinky question that Luke has to take a moment to actually rub the two braincells that are currently working together. but when he does have enough of a mind to tell him, it's an address somewhere in Nara, and luckily not too far of a travel distance to where they currently are. thank Lorelei for small fortunes.

all the while, Luke had also been shifting closer to Raphael, wanting just a little more of that contact, just a little more of that resonance. with the vibrations of his fonons currently settling into a comfortable thrum, and with the effects of the uki taking hold of him, all he really wants right now is the closeness of this strange person]

[Raphael doesn't need to eat or sleep and isn't affected by the elements, so he doesn't tend to think about needing shelter or somewhere to rest. He does, however, have a good memory for where most things are in Nippon and he recognises the area of the address that Luke gives him. As luck would have it, it isn't far and more or less in the direction that the man was going in to begin with.

He starts walking, but he doesn't miss the way that the man is keeping so close. It isn't something he minds - he's grown to enjoy physical contact quite a bit - but it does beg the question...]

Does it... feel good? [It was an accident and he isn't even sure of what he's doing, but does it actually feel nice?] I can try it again...

[all Luke can do is nod as he shuffles along by Raphael's side. he still can't make heads or tails of this whole situation, though an idle thought passes through his mind; one that reminds himself of a certain Colonel back home, and how he'd probably love to run some sort of experiment on him just to see what else this odd resonance can do.

maybe it's a good thing Jade isn't here, then.

letting out a soft hum, he peeks up at Raphael through his bangs. he can't help but let curiosity take over him]

Y... Yeah...

Mm...

[He could..? It isn't often that Raphael doesn't understand how one of his own abilities functions but he has never seen a person quite like this. Even with his own kin, the resonance was entirely different.

While they're walking, he looks across at Luke and a small frown worries at his brow. It couldn't hurt him, right? He said it didn't hurt.]

I'll try. This is... new. [But he remembers what he did before. That soft touch that had sent a ringing ripple out across the young man's body.

So he tries that again. He touches Luke's shoulder and the same soundless ringing pulses out from the point of contact, like a tuning fork being hit.]

[little does Raphael know, this is also entirely new to Luke, too. and soundless are those pulses to anyone listening around them, but Luke can almost hear the ringing in his ears as he feels his fonons-- no, his body vibrate. it's nothing he's ever felt before, like every fibre of his being reacting to the resonating pulses as they wash over him. his other hand comes up to grab hold of Raphael as his knees buckle and almost give out from under him, leaving him gasping softly as he tries to keep himself steady against the archangel.

the most surprising (and pleasant) thing about this entire experience is the lack of headaches that he would expect with something like this; the fact that this all feels so good only leaves him wanting more of it. maybe it really is the uki effecting him, or maybe it's something else, but right now, all he wants is so much more.]

Edited 2022-01-13 01:02 (UTC)

[The reaction is a surprise, again, though simply because he has no idea of just how this is working. He catches Luke easily enough when the young man almost collapses against him and holds him up, steadying him with the hand still clasped on his shoulder.]

You should get home. [He reminds him, keeping his voice soft and trying not to draw attention from the people walking around them. The last thing he wants is for someone to think he's up to anything... untoward.]

Come on, I'll help you.

[if only Luke could explain it to him, but really, if he were to explain what a fonon is, his head would explode, much less how resonating with someone who doesn't have the same fonon frequency as him is able to do this. it's all sciencey mumbo jumbo that he has no clue about, and, quite frankly, doesn't even want to think about.

at the suggestion of going home, it does snap Luke out of it some as he gives his head a small shake. oh, right, that's what he was focusing on before Raphael found him. taking a cautious step, he can feel himself wobble ever so slightly, but it shouldn't be too bad. just... as long as this guy doesn't do... whatever it is he did while they're walking, because Luke's sure that he wouldn't be able to keep himself up the third time around]

Yeah, home sounds good...

[sorry Raphael, he's usually more coherent than this! maybe when he gets home, he'll be well enough to thank him for bringing him home...]

[For the sake of getting Luke home safely he doesn't do it again, though he does keep his arm around him as they walk to make sure he doesn't fall or simply stop thanks to whatever was making his mind so scattered when Raphael first came across him.

It gives him time to consider just what had happened. The angel isn't ignorant of the concept of harmonic resonance but he had never considered that he might be able to apply it to a person. So just what is this young man? It's the curiosity more than anything that burns at him while they walk and thank the heavens that the address isn't far away, because he wasn't sure how much longer Luke could stay on his feet.

When they reach the door Raphael stops, making no assumptions, and he smiles slightly.]

I think the phrase is 'safe and sound'? Do you think you're going to be all right?

[time seems to blur as Luke shuffles his way home; it's almost shocking that he'd been able to make it without too much of a hitch. but to go their separate ways already, when he's in such a state almost seems criminal, not when he... really does want more of whatever Raphael is able to do to him. sure, he'll be alright, but he also doesn't want him to leave him alone]

I am, but... I don't wanna be alone, right now.

[the walk itself had cleared Luke's head enough that he can actually form a thought and convey it into words, though, usually he's not this assertive. normally, he would let Raphael go (because he's sure he has other things to do), but right now, as Luke's hand practically clings to the angel, he's not too keen on letting him go]

Can... Can you stay with me and.. Do that thing again?

[He might have stayed for no reason at all - after all he has nothing pressing to be doing right now - but the request gives him pause. Was it really so effective that this young man wants more of it? Now he's had some time to think he's sure that he can do it safely and... quite effectively, even if he is still unsure of just why it creates the effect in Luke's body that it does.]

I can do that. [Another smile as he agrees. Raphael is no longer the naive person that he was when he arrived here even if he still lacks the experience when compared to some. He knows by now what he likes, and that he doesn't mind giving others what they like too.]

You can call me Raphael.

I'm Luke.

[there's barely a pause after their introductions as Luke takes hold of Raphael's wrist, opening the door to tug him in. thankfully, it seems empty in the house; usually he'd see someone mulling about in the lounge area or whatnot. but there's barely a creep in the walls, and honestly, Luke's thankful for it. the last thing he needs is Law teasing him for bringing a guy home, or something. it was already embarrassing enough to admit to his friend that he thinks guys are attractive, and he'd hoped time would reset itself so they could both forget that mortifying moment.

but, he'd rather not think about that, for the moment.

opening the door to his and Law's room, Raphael would see that it's a very... teenager like living space, slightly messy, and with a bunk bed tucked against a wall. in all honesty, Luke was jealous that Law had claimed the top bunk, but right now, he's thankful as he leads Raphael in, nudging the door closed with his foot, before shuffling to his bed and plopping down on it unceremoniously. Luke finally lets go of him so he can lean back on his arms as he sits back, watching the angel for a moment. now that Raphael can get a better look at him, he'll probably notice just how flushed Luke is, and how half-lidded his eyes are. it's very clear just how much their resonance had affected him, though he's trying his best not to make it seem so obvious]

How're you able to do... [he lifts a hand for a moment to gesture it in the air, before dropping it behind him again] ...That?

[He likes the mess. One can tell a great deal about a person from the space they choose to live in and even if Raphael has little understanding of being a teenager, never having been one himself, he can still recognise the chaotic disorder that comes with youth. It's... pleasant, in a way.

Raphael sits down by Luke after moment of looking around the room, taking it all in. He observes the young man for a moment and he is not ignorant to the look that he has or the flush on his face. The angel is still learning, still naive in many ways but he knows enough now to understand the kinds of things he likes having done to his body... and that he enjoys doing things that other people like.]

I don't know. [He replies carefully, thoughtfully.] I have the ability to manipulate matter in different ways. I wouldn't normally be able to affect a human body this way. But you... [It's his curiosity, again, that drives him to place his hand on Luke's thigh. This time is isn't like a ringing. It's a slow, steady, soundless bass rumble that buzzes outwards from his palm like the still surface of a pond shaking.]

You feel different... You feel like-- [And he pauses, searching for words.] You feel like music.

Music...

[while that's not too far off the mark, what with Seventh fonons being that of sound and memory (Luke would never be able to explain why those two correlate with each other, but whatever), but to be described as feeling like music... only makes him feel just a little better about being a replica. ever since finding out just what he is, he'd always put himself down, always thought of himself as nothing but a replacement (much to the chagrin of his friends), but to be told that he feels like something pretty like that only makes him feel a but more content with who and what he is.

he also can't hide the slight surprise on his face; Raphael also has the ability to manipulate matter? there are so many things he's curious about when it comes to the him, but with the hand on his thigh and the thrumming coming from the touch, that thought is quickly banished, replaced with a sudden need for more. letting out a shaky breath, Luke lowers himself down onto his elbows, not being able to keep himself up any longer, his eyes trained on that hand]

But you're not... A Seventh Fonist or a replica... [that, he's sure of. but still... just how...]

[Like music.

It's the best way he can think to describe it. Like liquid sound, but with form and function, every part of the whole its own unique note. He has found beauty in the forms of others before and often in ways he did not expect but this is an entirely new experience.

But Luke doesn't seem to mind, and so Raphael lifts his hand but softly frowns in concentration as he continues to send gentle trembling vibrations through the young man's body.]

I don't know if what I am would make any sense to you. [Raphael has realised this. So many people here have no idea of what an angel even is, let alone what one might be capable of. It's comforting in a way.]

But I... have a great deal of power. [He shifts, moves the position of his hand until it's over Luke's abdomen. A small motion of his fingers sends out a pulse, plucking him like a harp string.]

✵ Raphael

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