jikan_rpg | What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?

[ There was something he couldn't put into words, between the way the other just brushed off his comment so easily or how his name kept being spoken by this seeming lookalike. It wasn't even accounting for the strange, unsettling way those fingers brushed against his cheek before he'd had the chance to move away completely.

Even if such was just him sitting upright immediately afterwards. ]

There is probably a reason for that...

[ It's spoken under his breath almost, though anyone observant may be able to tell he's ready to spring into a fight if he needs to. The life of an exorcist had drilled that into him, but he didn't want to hurt the other if it was a multiple personality thing or something similar to Tyki and the Noah that inhabited his body. ]

Where is Kuro now... and why do you speak as if you know how much time he's spent around me?

[ At least he was being somewhat cordial with the demonic figure who just... came into his room without warning. ]

[Yet again, it seems as if the person--was it a person?--in front of Allen didn't even seem to register his distaste.

He leans forward just a tiny bit more, just an inch closer, piercing red eyes focused on Allen's own. That stitched up mouth curls into a smile... or what might be a smile anyway, twisted as it was around the stitchwork.]

He's somewhere.

[A dismissive wave of the hand, as if it doesn't matter.] And of course I know, why wouldn't I?

[That answers... almost nothing, actually? Not that the stranger seems to care, as he reaches over towards Allen again, like a child that hasn't mastered 'look, don't touch'.] Aaaah, the irony though! [His smile widens into a grin that is too wide by far. He seems to be all smiles in comparison to Kuro, who never has.] Does he not know? You never knew either, did you?

[It's delightful.]

[ It was hard to get a reading on this other being with him, as even with his clear distaste? The other just leant a bit closer, eyes locked on his while that stitched up smile was hard to miss. That answer barely even constituted as an answer on it's own, dismissive and it irked him a little. ]

...You say that as if... you're a part of him...

[ His voice tapered off as the realization began to hit, though it didn't stop Allen from grabbing the other's wrist once it got too close to him. The other... spoke of irony but he wasn't sure of why, that smile setting a chill into his bones and a buzz began humming in the back of his mind. ]

I don't know what you're talking about. Stop being cryptic and get to it.

[ Something about this had him on edge and nothing of which that he didn't want to really think about. ]

Or is it that he's a part of me? It's so easy to get lost in semantics. But I'm not 'Kuro'.

[Allen can grab his wrist all he likes, and Sloth... Sloth is undeterred, and just curls his fingers around his hand, still seeming delighted. This is a rare sort of joy, after all.]

'Kuro' doesn't exist. But the one you call Kuro does. He's such a sloth-- sleeping away. Heheh.

[That last part is said with... almost a giggle, really. Is it just in his nature to talk circles around his answers? It seems like.]

But he's not the only one, is he? You're very good at hiding, but I can see you.

[He leans in... far too close, lips almost brushing Allen's as he uses the grip the younger has on him to keep him there.]

I... don't doubt he's been through a lot, and if you two are part of the same person? I can't say I really blame him for sleeping so much.

[ It's just second nature for Allen to be as transparent with his barbs and comments in times like these, so while he can be - and is - a nice person at heart? He was also quite honest and unafraid to really hold back with his words.

He'd grabbed that wrist to stop the other from touching his face again, and yet it didn't phase the other from just latching onto his hand instead. Sure, he'd wanted to ask why 'Kuro' didn't exist but the one he called him did... which implied that the name Kuro was probably just an alias or something. Not that it was Allen's business to pry into that, and he was also more focused on the one speaking here with him.

That chill became even more pronounced, eyes widening. His vision blurred for a second and instantaneously his whole body tensed up, which would probably be VERY telling in and of itself. ]

...You can tell? Just by looking at me?

[ With this closeness, one can see how pale Allen had gotten. His heart was beating loudly in his ears, and his limbs weren't working to where he'd be able to move away from how close the other had gotten to him.

His head was hurting slightly, and for a second? Allen swore he could feel Nea pulling at him from the inside, and that wasn't something very promising he wanted to linger on. ]

I have it under control. That's why I haven't told anyone about it.

Edited 2022-01-21 06:12 (UTC)

'The same person'... [That giggle returns, but there's an edge to it that's a little manic, a bit smugly derisive.] No, No... he's too weak for that.

[Too weak, too cowardly by far. Especially the Sleepy Ash who shared a body with this one.] Aaaah-- you two are similar, you know? But 'Kuro'... he's a coward. He ran away, you see. Not like this 'us'--

[He rests one hand on his chest, as if making a heartfelt admission, though the twisted grin says otherwise.] This one never even managed that much.

[he watches Allen react to his words with unconcealed delight, leaning closer. One could almost mistake him for going in for a kiss-- almost. Instead he slips an inch to the side, lips brushing against Allen's ear.]

Do you really? Are you sure? If you had it under control, you wouldn't look so scared.

[ Something about all this really had been leaving a bad taste in his mouth and he couldn't put a finger on why it did bother him up until the other spoke again. His first instinct was to defend Kuro but he stopped short, but it wasn't so much the lack of believing in the other but more that he didn't know the vampire that well so he couldn't say anything otherwise.

'You two are similar'

Hearing things being said about Kuro just set him on edge, but for now just listened. This 'us'? This one? Was this one of those copies of people that had been happening here the past few days? ]

Then I feel bad for them. If they really had little choice in what seemed to have happened.

[ That earlier pain in his head was getting worse, still frozen in place as the other moved in close enough to have lips brushing against his ear. Allen opened his mouth to refute that comment, but the words never came. How could he argue that, the lingering fear always dancing along the surface of his mind...

A pause followed, then an exhale of breath.

Something in the air seemed to shift, and a soft chuckle escaped into the air. Any tension in his body loosened up somewhat as well, then there was a small smile. ]

You could tell I was here? My, that's quite the sharp intuition you have there.

Edited 2022-01-21 09:10 (UTC)

[It was fair enough, really: Kuro wouldn't argue with much of anything the demon said about him, in truth. The vampire had long ago acknowledged how much of a coward he was, accepted--resigned himself--to his own weakness.

It was only recently he'd dared try to face it all. Even now, he had no idea if he really had the strength to face his demon and win. The time-loop that had brought him here did no favors for him, in that regard.

And as for 'Sleepy Ash'.... well, he'd never even found there was a possibility for anything else, but to be dragged along by the demon every night.

The demon waits for a response, but what he gets is so, so much more. Perhaps it's just some manner of otherworldly sense, perhaps it's just perception, or heaven forbid hope. But he realizes what's happening as Allen suddenly relaxes, grin growing so wide it seems the stitches might pop, crimson eyes practically gleaming.]

Ah... there you are.

[He pulls back slowly, just enough so he can meet this new one eye to eye, words soft... almost admiring.]

It wasn't hard to guess. You took a peek once before, didn't you? [Said in a teasing manner, as if chiding for being a peeping tom. He 'tsks'.] 'Kuro' saw, but he wanted to pretend he didn't. Rude of him, but that's just how he is.

[He always chose to ignore the things that he shouldn't. It was simply how the vampire was.]

[ As their gazes met, one would be hard-pressed to miss the way his eyes were a gleaming gold instead of a blue-gray and his demeanor was far from the good natured exorcist.

There was something of an apt, quiet curiosity as he watched the other and listened quietly. He'd even released the demon's wrist as he wasn't really bothered by this closeness for the time being, amusement clear on his face as he smiled. ]

Guilty as charged, I suppose. One could call it testing the waters... as i'm doing now. [ He chuckled softly. ] How could I not show myself when I was clearly being called out like that?

Edited 2022-01-22 07:52 (UTC)

[Sloth certainly doesn't miss it-- indeed, he's pleased by what he sees. It's a rare treat to meet someone in a similar position to himself, after all.

With his wrist released, he doesn't even hesitate to curl one arm around the young man's shoulder, leaning against him and looking like a cat that caught the canary, so to speak.]

The water is nice and warm, if you ask me. You should take a dip more often, it makes life so much more exciting.

[...Kuro might have a lot to apologize to Allen about, later.]

[ If this being were human or one of his family, he may have been a bit more adverse to someone touching him but the inhuman nature of someone so similar to himself was oddly refreshing. So he'd allow it, even humming softly after the other's words. ]

That may be true. I do feel I need to be careful, however.

[ He raised one hand up to tap the side of his head in thought. ]

I find it's easier to 'take a dip' when it's least expected, as I know Allen isn't going to let me have full control of this body yet.

[Meanwhile, Sloth was terribly used to people not wanting to be around him him-- Most humans terrified of what they saw, or what he did. So when he finds a kindred spirit... well, who can blame him for wanting to get up close and personal?]

Ah, so he's a troublesome one like that, is he?

[Said as if Allen is a child unwilling to share a toy, as opposed to well.. his body. To be fair, as a demon that seemed terribly unfair.]

I suppose I got lucky, since 'Sleepy Ash' is so weak-willed.

That's certainly one way to put it. He's... tenacious. Already wrested control from me once, which I must give him some credit for.

[ The manner in how they're talking about this is so painfully casual that one wouldn't think they were speaking about such a serious matter. He also finds some curiosity bubbling up at the other's words. ]

Oh? Has he always been like that?

Aaah... gutsy of him.

[#justbodysnatcherthings, y'know. it's hard when your physical form requires sharing with a whiny brat, so he relates.

His mouth stretches in a weird way, stitches pulling against his lips in a manner that looks painful, but the demon doesn't seem to mind.]

Oh yes, always. He was a people pleaser before I even got here, and now... well, he never had enough willpower to take back control of this body. So as soon as the sun sets, this body is mine.

What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject