indensity | when you're helpless, waiting to collide

when you're helpless, waiting to collide

[Chuuya has lost all track of time while he's been there. The drugs they've injected him with has him slipping in and out of consciousness, and it's making it difficult to think, made worse by the fact that every inch of his body seems to hurt. He only vaguely remembers the fight. He's pretty sure his coffee had been drugged when he bought it, that or his croissant, and then when he'd felt so dizzy only his ability could keep him standing, he'd been attacked out of nowhere by two ability users. One of them had some sort of lightning based ability, he's not sure about the other.

He's pretty sure he has a concussion.

He's been trying to gauge his injuries, figure out if he'll be able to move, trying to figure out a way to break himself free. He's chained up, but he should be able to break those if the drugs wear off. The door to this room looks solid, but he can break it. If not for the drugs.

At some point, someone comes into the room and injects him with another dose, and he loses all consciousness again. When he wakes up, he starts the thought process over. Where is he, can he fight, how will he get out. He's not the type to ever just wait to be rescued.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[And Dazai, fully prepared, holds that remote wayyy high in the air, where Chuuya can't reach, because Chuuya can't reach.]

If you're just going to complain about it all the time, what's the point in watching?

[Dazai moves the remote around to dodge any attempts Chuuya makes to retrieve it, though he only moves his arm, not anything else. That would be effort, and he doesn't actually care all that much.]

You don't want to watch a movie, Chuuya. You're only looking for anything that confirms your own points of view.

[He might be able to reach if he climbed on top of Dazai. Chuuya considers it, snatching after the remote that's just out of reach, wondering if it's worth turning it into an actual squabble. It might ruin the mood for the rest of the movie. On the other hand, can he really just let Dazai get away with being a dick?

Except those words are enough to make him pause.]

That's not what I'm doing.

[It was. And he hates when Dazai calls him out for actually valid reasons. He feels himself deflate a little, sinking back down against the couch, not quite as tucked agains Dazai's side as he was.]

... I want to watch the movie. Those guys deserve a happy ending.

[That was easy! Is that a good thing, though, or the exact opposite? Dazai side-eyes Chuuya, trying to figure it out.

Oh well, an obedient Chuuya deserves a reward, he supposes. He lowers the remote again, pushing play.]

Nobody really deserves anything, Chuuya.

But let's see how the story goes anyway.

[Was there more popcorn? He's having more snacks.]

[There are plenty more snacks, because Chuuya always buys more than they need. He'll pass it to Dazai without making him wrestle for it, for once, though he'll snag a handful for himself. He doesn't immediately eat it, though. Or respond.

So maybe he's thinking.]

They do. It doesn't mean they'll get it, but they can still deserve it. What someone deserves is just opinion anyway.

[He doesn't believe there's some inherent right some people have to certain things. Although some people do seem to get more than their fair share, don't they?]

[Dazai hums in agreement... for once. Let's not think too much about that. He's already been contrary enough on purpose, surely? Variety is the spice of life, and all!]

If what someone is thought to deserve is up to chance, and what they actually get is the same, maybe it all evens out?

[He's not sure himself how serious he is about that, really, but it seems as likely as anything.]

Although putting it that way also makes it seem like anyone getting what you feel they deserve is like winning the lottery. [He throws a bit of popcorn into the air, just so he can catch it with his mouth.] Not worth buying a lottery ticket, really!

[Basically just reward and/or murder as you see fit; that makes much more sense. Not that he makes a habit of murder anymore, but it's pretty solid in theory!]

Edited 2023-03-09 09:31 (UTC)

[Chuuya can't resist. Dazai throws the popcorn, and he reaches up, snatches it right out of the air before Dazai can catch it again. He's smiling wide, smug.]

Or maybe it's up to me to give people what I've decided they deserve.

[Dazai's not the only one who gets to have a bit of a god complex here! Though Chuuya is definitely joking. Mostly. Hey, one of the perks of being powerful is that when someone deserves to get their ass kicked, you can just do it.

And if he decides someone deserves protection, he can arrange that, too.]

But don't buy a lottery ticket. You definitely don't deserve to win, so I'd reward someone else with that money instead.

[Wow. Wow! Dazai pops your metaphorical corn, and this is how you thank him?! Dazai gives him the dirtiest of dirty looks, though he doesn't otherwise acknowledge Chuuya's actions... for now.]

It would be weirder if you chose to give people what they didn't deserve, surely?

[No, what Chuuya said kind of makes sense, but Dazai is in no mood to admit that anymore. Just watch the damn movie and stop emotionally and/or culinarily bullying him, gosh!!]

Mwu mweena brado ooie ia uh-ay.

[... So, about that popcorn... It seems the whole rest of it has found itself into Dazai's mouth. All at once. Imagine that!

This is how you give people what they deserve.]

[Chuuya is just gonna eat his rightfully stolen piece of popcorn, enjoying that dirty look Dazai is giving him. Any victory against Dazai is always satisfying.]

It would be. But not as much fun for me.

[Because maybe he likes rewarding people. Or maybe because he likes punishing Dazai. Few things are as entertaining as that, even if he's rarely able to get away with it. It's usually worth risking the revenge.

Except eating all the snacks isn't even revenge??]

What the hell, Dazai, you're gonna choke!

[Just gonna try to yank all the snacks back and move them out of his reach, if he can.]

That's disgusting!

[Dazai isn't going to fight Chuuya over what little may be left of the popcorn, let alone any other snacks lying around. He's... going to need a bit of time to get what's in his mouth all chewed up and swallowed, anyway.

But not as long as you might think.]

On the contrary, it was very tasty.

[Ignore how he's casually wiping some crumbs off his face. He really had to go deep for a moment there!]

My compliments to the chef. [ L O L ]

[He dumps the snacks away from them both, since Dazai isn't fighting for them. He should have stolen the rest of the popcorn bag along with that one kernel, clearly, just to actually get one over on Dazai.

He tosses a napkin at Dazai as well.]

Choking would have been what you deserve.

[Except, no, Chuuya would have freaked out. But still.]

[Dazai catches the napkin Chuuya throws at him - which is a lot harder than it looks, but of course he manages. Of course they both manage. He very elegantly dabs at his mouth with it before sticking it into his pocket. (Is he just stealing for fun now?? It's hard to say.)]

You don't believe that.

[Which is probably not a call-out he should be making, now or ever, but the words leave his lips regardless.

Oh well, it's probably fine.]

[The only reaction he gets is a slightly annoyed look, Chuuya turning his head away, back towards the tv. He doesn't like being called out. Anyway, he wasn't called out, because Dazai is wrong, as always.]

Yeah, you would have ended up coughing on me if you did.

[Clearly the only reason he wouldn't want Dazai to choke on anything.

And -- oh, is that guy in the movie finally going to get revenge? He's going to ignore being called out (he's not sulking) and focus on that, making a small jump in excitement, punching the air with his free hand, as Inigo Montoya finally kills his father's murderer.]

Yes! I knew he wouldn't chicken out!

[So maybe he gets really into movies, don't tell anyone.]

You really think I couldn't choke on something properly?!

[Dazai lets his head fall back against the couch in mostly-faux annoyance, briefly closing his eyes, but he's not really that emotionally invested either way. It's just a bit annoying when he could call Chuuya out, and he probably should call Chuuya out, but if he did so, he would be bringing attention to a fact - i.e. Chuuya actually caring - that he would rather be ignoring at the moment, himself. This is true suffering! He could be calling out Chuuya six ways to Sunday, and yet..!

Fortunately the movie is a good distraction - and, for the record: Dazai is not the least bit surprised at how into things Chuuya got. He's the same with games, after all. Heck, he's the same with everything, isn't he? Not that Dazai is jealous, or anything.]

Well, there's no way a movie would have let things end differently... but I will agree that it's well deserved.

[You know, that "deserving" thing that he just admitted was bullshit. That deserving. But, even if it's just a social construct at best... it's not so bad, in movies and the like? Perhaps the concept is even more artificial there, but all the same... there's a certain beauty in something fake being played as something fake.

Maybe Dazai doesn't mind movies, either. But they're a lot easier to enjoy with a simpleton like Chuuya, enjoying them vicariously through him just enough that all the things that are emphatically wrong and/or fake don't stand out as much somehow.]

I think you have to be as annoying as possible about everything you do, including choking.

[Though what would be more annoying: Dazai choking and coughing on Chuuya, clearly fine; or Dazai choking without being dramatica and obnoxious about it, so Chuuya can't easily tell that he's fine?

He's not gonna think about it.

Dazai slumps back against the couch, and Chuuya slumps back into him, as though he's also fake annoyed, and not just settling against Dazai again like he's wanted to, so he can keep enjoying it for now, until the movie ends. It's wrapping up, after all, and they don't do this that often. He wants to do it more, but he won't say that.]

Sometimes they pretend to take some weird moral highground.

[He waves it off. It's not important, since the movie didn't do that, but he does find it annoying when it usually feels too naive at best.]

He should have been the main character. The couple isn't bad, though.

[They're "the couple" now, much as he claimed their relationship was doomed.]

"Annoying" is a matter of perspective.

[And Dazai's perspective is: if it only annoys Chuuya, it doesn't count. So there.]

Mhm, that's the one downside of the black-and-white classics. Stunningly beautiful, but morally patronizing.

[He could have gone for some nice noir, otherwise, but... having morals shoved in your face like that ruins the suspension of disbelief, doesn't it? Especially for people like them.]

Here I thought you'd be into the giant.

[Not only for the obvious reasons... but also for those, let's face it.

Well, Inigo was always going to be Chuuya's favorite, though.]

With you it's not. It's always annoying.

[Says the person clearly enjoying Dazai's company. And even agreeing with him, which is annoying, but too many movies have been ruined for both of them because they lean too heavily on some message of morality that could never apply to their lives. Although - ]

Shouldn't you agree with those movies now? Since you're a good guy or something.

[Just saying, Dazai. But also - ]

I'm not into giants? [Pause.] And you're not even a giant. [Pause.] And I'm not into you.

[Covering all his bases. Almost all. He can sense it, he knows what's coming, this is building up into Dazai being a dick. He knows there's a short joke coming. He snatches a piece of chocolate, and the second he sees Dazai's mouth open, he's going to shove that into his mouth to cut him off from speaking.]

I'm not? [Wait, what? No, he does have a point:] I'm on the side of good. There's a difference.

[He's not a good person, though, and he never claimed to be (at least: not seriously). Apart from anything else: that's clearly impossible when he's not a person to begin with??

There was definitely a short joke coming, but something about Chuuya making the implications so personal surprises Dazai, even though it really shouldn't. That was one layer of meaning he hadn't intended! He opens his mouth - and Chuuya shoves some chocolate in there. Hmm... Well, the second or two of thinking time it provides him is honestly welcome, though he still chomps away the chocolate quickly enough.]

... You're not?

[You're not into him, Chuuya? Really? Somehow, Dazai manages to utter the question lightly and sincerely, like Chuuya being into him is as obvious as grass being green.]

To be on the side of good, you have to believe in good. Or something.

[Okay, so maybe he doesn't believe in it all that strongly. He's pretty sure Dazai is on the side of those people, anyway, more than any idea of "good," though he doesn't want to actually ask. It's awkward enough without them actually taking the converstion seriously.

Not that the rest of the conversation is any better. He's just going to

Shove two pieces of chocolate into Dazai's mouth, and arm himself with more.]

Definitely not.

[Mmm, more chocolate! Now there's a welcome side effect to what was, actually, a somewhat-almost-kinda genuine question. Dazai hums thoughtfully as he noms, still relaxing on the couch. The final moments of the movie aren't as interesting as this, anyway: he can afford to have his attention wander further as he enjoys his chocolate. And then his mouth is once again unoccupied.]

First time I've heard of that!

[If his question from before was simple and sincere, entirely unconcerned, then his reaction to Chuuya's answer is much the same. If that's how it is, then that's how it is! Not that Dazai believes it is, necessarily, but it's interesting to consider whether it would be better or worse than the alternative.]

[It's the sincere tone that's getting to him. If it was mocking in any way, if Dazai was trying to call him out, he could just hide behind his anger, they'd squabble, they'd move on. But he's saying it so casually and Chuuya doesn't know how to counter that, although he's still considering hitting Dazai in the face with a pillow.

Or making him choke on those chocolates.

Or just letting gravity pull him through the couch and the floor until he can escape through the apartment below.]

It's not like you need to ask if I'd have sex with you.

[And clearly, that's the only thing that's relevant here, so they're changing the subject!]

Next time, you don't get a say in what movie we watch.

Of course not. But that's different.

[Dazai isn't going to push the subject any further, though: he's as happy to leave it behind them as Chuuya seems to be. He's really not sure why he brought it up anyway, except... maybe it's sort of reaching out? Trying to connect on a slightly higher level? Ish???

Nah, he's probably just got a sugar high. These things are dangerous when combined with alcohol, don't you know?]

I'd leave the movie choice to Chuuya, except you always pick the worst movies.

[What really is the point of action movies for people like them, especially if Chuuya's just going to spend them critiquing technique?]

Yeah. Of course it's different.

[He says it reluctantly, and then doesn't immediately say anything else. He doesn't answer Dazai's comment about his taste in movies. For some reason, he doesn't feel like starting one of their usual squabbles after all, even though it should be safe and familiar. It's what they always do. He squeezes Dazai's hand, like a question.

Now it feels dangerous.

He lets out a soft noise, frustration, or like he's giving up. His movement is smooth as he shifts into Dazai's lap, but there's none of his usual confidence in his body language.]

I'm not even drunk, you bastard.

[He kisses him. He usually keeps his eyes open while they kiss, but they're shut now. There's none of his usual urgency, no attempt to push this into something more. He's not being rough at all. It's just a kiss, because there's no way he can answer Dazai's questions without humiliating himself, and this way he can deny everything if he has to.

And this way, Dazai can't talk, either.]

[It's rare for Dazai to say or do anything without a specific goal in mind, but as much as he tries to come up with his own motivation after the fact, he can't. That's fine, he thinks: there's some amusement in doing something randomly, too, and if this was a bit more sincere than he usually is... there's no reason why he needs to admit to that, or why he should have it stay that way if he decides to change his mind. And so it's fine. It's just a bit weird when Chuuya holds his hand that way - somehow the gesture still holds more meaning than it should, coming from Chuuya - and Dazai tries to reset his course for the million ways this encounter could go next.

Kissing is an effective way of shutting Dazai up, as long as Dazai is willing to go along with it - and, surprising or not, at this moment he is. When the kiss ends or slows down, however, his lips curl into a smirk.]

It's true, just like you said... I don't need to ask.

[Heh. Sex for him~! Not only did he not have to ask, but he really wasn't even aiming for it, either. His charm is just that powerful~!
... Well, maybe the fact that he doesn't bother saying that proves he doesn't really believe it. But it's a nice flow of thoughts to roll around in, and so he does.]

Edited 2023-04-03 16:59 (UTC)

[Chuuya doesn't immediately open his eyes again. But then, he doesn't need to to know that Dazai is smirking.]

Shut up. Who says I'll have sex with you?

[Except if this isn't about sex, then Chuuya kissed Dazai for another reason. If this isn't about sex, then it's because Chuuya is into Dazai, just like Dazai was asking him about... And he can't admit to anything like that.

He'd never live it down.]

But I guess I don't mind letting you fuck me.

[He kisses him again, still strangely gentle. He's never been good at doing anything like this without violence. He's holding himself back, wanting to be close, not wanting to be the one to ruin it. His lips drift along Dazai's jaw for a moment.]

If you promise to shut the fuck up.

[Sex is easier to think about, and talk about, than any possible alternative. And, sure, Dazai enjoys sex well enough. He's not really aiming for it here, though: it just seems to be the path of least resistance, and it's definitely the path of least inconvenience, so he sort of veers in that direction for convenience alone. It's not even a deliberate attempt to avoid other topics, as such; if anything, that part of it is just old habit. He's relatively relaxed about the idea of talking about more, for the moment.

But frankly he's far more about this lazy kissing, kissing Chuuya back in kind. It surely can't be that silly-if-nice-enough movie that has put him in such a relaxed mood, and yet relaxed he is, highly unusually.

Not so relaxed that he'll let Chuuya have everything his way, though. He's not dead (to his everlasting regret).]

Not a chance~

[Maybe he doesn't quite hate you right now, Chuuya, but if you think he'll shut up for you, think again! You're probably short (pun intended) on thoughts anyway.

Hmm, he better kiss Chuuya again before Chuuya can throw too much of a hissy fit.]

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

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject