scp r4 ♥ atsushi catch-all

[dereban]

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[scarsnstripes]

[More strangeness. And it's still strange to hear someone call him... another him, 'boyfriend'. It makes his stomach twist awkwardly.]

Ah... I suppose he wouldn't like that either, if we ah... react the same way.

[It's not a topic he's interested in talking about more, the fears he'd had as a child. the fears the other him might have had, as well. He didn't like cages, didn't like being injected with things he didn't know.]

I've never tried catnip, though. Or... whatever that app is. Or meditation. Does it... really help? Can I... I know the moon transformations are unavoidable, but at other times I--

[Wanted to reduce the risks outside of it, if possible. Stress was still an issue he had to struggle with. He does seem taken aback at that last bit of information though, a hint of pink coming to his cheeks.]

He what?!

[dereban]

He said he didn't mind it if it was me, but. . . that's because he trusts me, I think.

[ But she wouldn't want to do that to him. Never. ]

As far as I know, meditation during off full moon days is probably the most helpful, since it'll allow you to have a chance to communicate with the tiger. The other two are more precautionary things for full moon days.

Not to mention that you only transform if you see the full moon, so if you stayed in a room with no windows or the curtains drawn shut the whole evening. . . you should be okay. And I'm willing to stay with you on that day if you'd like me to so that you're not alone. Unless we do wind up utilizing the Dazai method.

[ . . . ]

Yeah. I was pretty surprised, too. I didn't think it would actually work, but it did, apparently?

[scarsnstripes]

Probably. It's more than either of us would have had ah... when... it comes to that.

[He trails off, awkward with the realization that Inaba knows so much more about him, probably, than he does her.

...Still, it's because of that she can be so helpful.]

I've never really learned how to meditate, so I'd have to figure out how. I... don't really talk to the tiger, much. But if it makes me less of a risk to be around for others... I have to try.

[And the full moon... well. It was something he'd just have to live with. But it was better than hurting other people.]

I might see if Dazai-san is willing to keep an eye on me too, the day of. I... he wouldn't let me rampage, at least.

[He hesitates, before.]

How-- I mean, um--... I've never--

[How does he even ask this?]

[dereban]

Mm.

[ It's a bit of a noncommittal hum as she reaches out to pat him on the head. ]

Usually what someone tries to do while meditating is sit down, close your eyes, clear your head and focus on deep breathing.

[ She does see his hesitation and blinks a little bit, tilting her head to the side. ]

. . . Hm? What is it?

[scarsnstripes]

....I've never really dated someone, so I wouldn't know about all that stuff.

[He seems to droop a little. It's not shameful to admit, but it's... a little weird? Talking to someone who's dating another him. He wonders how that happened?]

[dereban]

Oh.

I- I figured. Um, sorry, it's not. . . too strange, is it? Talking to me when I'm dating the other Atsushi, I mean-- [ God, her face is red right now and she is immediately waving her hands frantically in a bit of fluster. ] Uu... god, this is embarrassing.

I know more about you than you know about me, too.

[scarsnstripes]

I-I wouldn't call it too strange but.... it is... a bit strange.

[Ok, very strange. He's turning red now too as he sinks a little deeper into his hoodie, because these two are just that bad about this stuff, apparently.]

You do know a lot about me, but I don't really know much about you. And um... some things are...

[Very personal? Very personal.

He hasn't even kissed someone yet, let alone gone on dates.]

[dereban]

[ She is suddenly very glad she can hide her expression under her hat now, because she feels like crawling in a hole out of embarrassment. A part of her wonders if Atsushi - her Atsushi - can see this and suddenly she's self-conscious. ]

Ah-- I-I wouldn't tell anyone anything, though! About the personal stuff. I'm not that kind of person.

[ Or at least she hopes she isn't.

That's when she clears her throat with a small ahem. ]

I guess I should try to make this even, huh? I don't really. . . have too much to say about myself since I'm not admittedly that interesting, but, mm. I don't mind answering anything you want to ask about me. At the very least, I guess I want to be friends with you.

[scarsnstripes]

Thank you... That means a lot.

[Heaven help them both if the other Atsushi can see this. Atsushi knows he would be mortified in his place, so what would happen to the other Atsushi?]

But I-I couldn't ask that of you! I mean... it is awkward, but I'm not going to ask you to tell me things you don't want to tell. That's not how you treat someone you want to be friends with, right?

[And it's nice, hearing her say she wants to be friends. That he wasn't automatically... lesser, somehow, in some way. It felt like he should be, but...]

[dereban]

It's nothing, really.

[ She threads her fingers together a little nervously before laughing a little bit. ]

Haha, you're right. But you can still ask. I'd let you know if I can't- or won't answer. Besides, you're probably one of the few people here I can talk to about Yokohama. Well, I guess there's Oda and Dazai too, but talking about the city with them is kinda. . .

[scarsnstripes]

[He perks up a bit at the mention of his home. He's homesick and painfully so, and while he hasn't live in the city comparatively very long, he still missed it keenly.]

Are you from Yokohama?!

[dereban]

[ Inaba's homesick too, but..

Well. She made this decision. ]

Yeah, I am. Born and raised, actually. I get homesick quite a bit, so I would sometimes Google Maps it, or search up what events happened recently in the Yokohama of this world.

[scarsnstripes]

[Did she, though? Atsushi certainly hadn't. He wanted to go home, to help people there, but...]

That's surprising... did the other me meet you there?

[Is there an Inaba in his world, too?]

I never thought of that.... is it similar?

[dereban]

[ She had a chance to go home before.

And she just didn't take it. ]

Nope. We met here, in this world. Back in November, on a mission. The Yokohama here is pretty similar to back home, yeah.

[scarsnstripes]

Oh! I guess that makes sense... so there might not be a version of you in my world?

[Huh... that's... ok then. He wouldn't know how to feel about that, if there was. Would that make them soulmates, or something? Or...]

...I might look it up, then. I miss it.

[dereban]

Maybe, maybe not. . . but most likely not? Although it'd be awkward if there was. Then it'd be like that Spiderman meme.

[ INABA ]

You should, but it makes me kind of jealous. There was a Pikachu Outbreak in Yokohama.

[scarsnstripes]

....Spiderman meme?

[Why???]

...You're jealous about phone games???

[dereban]

You know, the two Spidermans pointing at each other. That pic.

[ Yes. ]

And no, it's not a phone game, it's- People actually dressed up in Pikachu costumes parade all in the Minato Mirai area. It's a pretty huge event, actually.

[scarsnstripes]

I mean, if I ever meet the other Atsushi properly it's probably going to be a repeat of that.

[Awkward.]

...But that Pikachu thing sounds cute, actually.

[dereban]

Yeeeeeeah.

And it is. It's super cute.

[scarsnstripes]

Sounds like.

[dereban]

Maybe we should go some time. It'd be fun.

[scarsnstripes]

...I'd like that, if the foundation lets me.

[dereban]

. . . Ah, right.

The other Atsushi can't really leave the site, either. I guess that'd make things hard.

[scarsnstripes]

Ah... they keep a close eye on him, too?