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Hmm... They probably went outside to play. I suppose that gives us time to formulate a plan, at least.

[He tentatively takes the green bag, bowing in thanks.

He'll just need to get some utensils from one of the drawers. Stress eating may be unhealthy, but he doesn't care right now.]

[Yeah, he pulls out two of those insanely expensive red sushi boxes, pulls out some eel and shoves it unceremoniously into his own face, then fridges the rest for the evening. The next bag holds an assortment of cheaper foods, mostly frozen, though there's also a large bag of cheap and cheerful donuts.]

This will all keep till the evening. Luckily, if only the two of us are here.

[... but he turns to give Raven something more of a commiserative glance.]

Honestly? I'm surprised you didn't go mad weeks ago. You're welcome to do it now, if you like. I can handle it. [Kidding. Mostly.]

[He takes a particularly fierce bite of the dessert after skewering it with a fork. Fear him. He is powerful!]

Honestly, I try to keep it together because I know Crow is pushing himself too hard, and somebody has to ensure he doesn't overdo it.

I'm old enough that I can care for the children too, and I do try. I think he just feels obligated to carry the responsibility as the eldest and most experienced.

Ugh. Did you have to put it like that? I have experience that would make him die in his bed. [Unloading some bottles of sparkling water and an array of fresh soups, as well as a dozen eggs and some salad, he starts loading up the fridge.

With a pasta box in hand, he glances around at the Dojima kitchen.]

... how does he still not have a dishwasher? It's as if he enjoys pain. Which wouldn't surprise me, after today.

When I say experienced I mostly mean in terms of caretaking. He's certainly had more time with Nanako-chan, for instance.

[Five years... They're probably siblings by then, aren't they? Truly siblings, who love and cherish each other.]

As for a dishwasher, I suspect it's mostly the installation. He's not exactly a plumber.

Surely it can't be that difficult. I don't know that I want to trust to the Internet here, but I imagine the manual would help. Assuming I could read it.

[Pasta into the fridge; slam. He turns to flop back against the counter, food adequately concealed.]

I didn't quite realise he was coping so badly. I rather thought we thrived on stress.

I should think your recent bonding exercises may have helped. Rank 3, is it?

[Oh, look at the sparkle in his eyes. Curiosity burns bright, it seems.]

But... yes, I think a part of it may be some strange form of loneliness, guilt, or an unholy amalgamation of both. He's kept himself busy, but at the cost of his own physical and mental health.

You and your whispers. [He mutters, and reveals something they may or may not share.] It's like second grade, when nobody would talk to me... or us? Was it us?

[Does a "bond" even mean anything? There's no reason a "bond" couldn't be thrown aside, as far as he's aware.]

Meanwhile, I'm more bored than I know what to do with, and I have a conspiracy board in my head the size of Peru.

We could always collaborate on a grand conspiracy board. Put it on display for the entire Velvet Room to see.

[Oh, it would be delightful. And so impressive, too, he's sure.]

Also, as I recall, we still need to vandalize the Diet.

Yes, we got a little preempted on that, didn't we? And blew up Shinjuku instead. Which was absolutely fine, the last I saw.

[He turns away from Raven to pour two glasses of water, muttering something that sounds suspiciously like piece of shit couldn't even leave her house alone. One glass gets passed down the counter.]

I don't know that my conclusions are for the whole of our cohort. Just you. And Crow, I suppose. And a few select others.

We could make it a special conspiracy board for the Akechi Alliance, then. That could still be worthwhile...

[Ah, he'll accept the glass with a smile. Hydration is important.]

But I do still think it'd be fun to let loose on the Diet. In fact, it would be a welcome distraction from the fact that the boy I am going to date in a few years is here. I don't even know what that means for me.

Edited 2023-10-11 16:05 (UTC)

[Yeah, he glances, one gloved finger delicately poised on the rim of his glass.]

Why does it have to mean anything? More than any other vision of your future you've so far received?

I mean, beside the fact that Crow appears to have lost his mind.

I suppose it's not really an immediate concern, but since I'm going to grow up to be Crow, it's a lot to take in. If I need to behave a certain way, or what he'll be like...

[He looks away, just a tiny bit sheepish.]

Crow seemed so happy to see him, but it's still weird in the sense that someone who will doubtlessly impact my future is right there.

Truthfully, I doubt you need to behave in any way. Ren will look at you and see Crow.

[A deeper concern, in fact, is that Raven will be put off Ren at this age. In fact, since he's certainly already thought of it....]

Are you concerned about your future first meeting, then?

...Well, Crow seems utterly infatuated. There must be something there. I barely know him, so I can't judge his intentions or personality just yet.

[His cheeks tint a little pink and the looks away, muttering something along the lines of, 'he is kind of cute...' Then he coughs.]

But if we're to live together, I wonder if it'll be awkward for him, too.

[Honestly, he goes a bit crosseyed—come on, Raven, not you too! But then he thinks for a moment. A long moment.]

If it is awkward, or if you just need space, you're welcome to move to the city. Or stay there temporarily. The apartment next to mine is vacant, as you know.

[He doesn't think the kid will want to—this house, facsimile or not, is the closest he's had to a home. But he's making the offer to watch over him, all the same.]

...I appreciate the thought, but I can't leave Akira-kun or Hawk behind. I'm certainly willing to visit, but I don't want to abandon them.

[They're his little buddies. He has to protect them!]

Right. Of course not. [Welcome to the Reasonable Tone Of Voice. He knew Raven wouldn't say yes, for fuck's sake.]

Actually, it's good to know there'll be someone here looking out for them. Not to mention Moth. How's he doing, by the way? He seemed lonely at the beach.

[Change of subject, him?]

We're trying our best to help him feel included. I think he's simply used to being self-reliant...

[Which prompts a little frown and a sigh.]

I think he just needs time to adjust to such a different living situation. The vampire Akira has been helpful too, though.

Yes, he seems... [His mouth twists, and he turns away, opening a lower cupboard to peep inside. Pots and pans, no plumbing; he closes it again.] Quite normal, apart from the teeth. And the indefinable aura of power.

[The what? Akechi, the what?!]

I wonder if he is self-reliant, or if he's just afraid. [Second cupboard, under the sink. There's some plumbing here; he crouches down to have a look.]

...I suppose he would be strong? If he's a vampire. Moth did seem apprehensive about showing violence, too.

[Curious, Raven follows along, peeking down at the cupboard, too.]

But we just have to be patient.

Like taming an animal. [He mutters it. Wow, that sure is a familiar-looking assortment of U-bends, pipes, connectors and switches. He has almost no idea what any of it is for.]

This can't be so difficult.

[And he reaches gingerly over the assortment of cleaning fluids and rags, to reveal the copper pipes.]

Um... What exactly are you doing with our plumbing?

[Magpie... Magpie, he's worried about you, buddy. Look at those wide eyes staring down.]

I'm looking. I won't patronise you by saying no harm ever came from looking, but that's all.

[Yeah, because if he hadn't "just looked"... well, he'd be an ordinary high school boy, probably. Or in a psychiatric ward, or prison. He coaxes some bottles apart, revealing what look like turn switches at the far back on the pipes, one red and one blue. The pipe ends abruptly just past them, as if it was severed.]

Edited 2023-10-15 21:40 (UTC)

Is this because we're still lacking a dishwasher?

[It's... interesting, he supposes, to see the jungle of pipes, but also daunting. Very daunting.]

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