[ic] dynamite the dam on the flow

[pancakeboy]

[ooc: subsequent to this.]

With Raven hopefully reassured and now upstairs shepherding the kids, Magpie has swung into action.

The tangible shit is easy—check the first aid kit, start water for tea, make sure the stocks of bottled water, soup and so on are reasonably intact, and that nobody's left an upturned Featherman figure or spiky dinosaur anywhere too immediately lethal.

After a moment's thought, he switches on the kotatsu, even though spring is creeping closer. Then, with everything done that should be done, he checks over everything again, like an anxious hen. It's hard to shock him for long, and he's settling on a response, which is that if Sparrow's Ren wasn't already dead, he'd kill him.

Comments

[fogbornphantom]

"Or beneath the stairs, I suppose." Crow can't help but smile wryly. "That is, if our generous host permits it."

It is Magpie's room. His call.

[pancakeboy]

Thank you, Crow. It is his call. He chews his leek, meditatively. "You mean I don't get to join you both in the lovenest? I'm almost wounded."

He is not wounded.

1/2

[unfoggedlotus]

The do you want me to kiss it better? is right on the tip of Ren's tongue, and frankly he's proud of himself for holding it back.

So, he opens his mouth to ask Magpie how his soup is, and says: "D'you want me to kiss it better?"

2/2

[unfoggedlotus]

Shit. Goddamnit. Uh. "Forget I said that. I meant to say do you want me to kiss it better-- I mean. Fuck. Forget I said that. Dammit. Does your your me kiss soup better. What."

All of his bobs have been firmly discom-bulated. He shakes himself out like a cat, gently slaps himself a few times across the face, and then gives up.

"I'm as smooth as mulch with fewer IQ points," he laments, sinking backwards into the carpet.

[fogbornphantom]

"I'll take any kisses he rejects, darling." He's... he's trying so hard not to laugh, but a few little snickers slip out anyway. "And I won't feel too betrayed if he does wish for you to kiss it better."

This is stupid, and he's going to eat more soup while he watches the two of them closely.

1/2

[pancakeboy]

Yeah, don't mind Magpie. He's just going to stare across the table at discombobulated Ren, chopsticks frozen in midair. What the fuck.

2/2

[pancakeboy]

Very quickly, though, he becomes aware of Crow laughing beside him. Crow, who was crying not an hour before. Picking out a stray piece of chicken from his soup, he offers a nonchalant "I've changed my mind. I like girls."

Chicken nom. It's not much of a coming-out, especially since Crow had not unreasonably figured it out already.

[unfoggedlotus]

Okay, the idea of a Goro an Akechi liking girls isn't as ridiculous to him now that he's met Rose, but--

"Pfft," Ren sputters out, picking himself up from the floor. "You just haven't seen me in a dress yet."

[fogbornphantom]

Ren is too adorable for words. Crow looks at him rise, fighting the impulsive urge to grab at his hand...

For all of two seconds. Hand. His. Sitting together. His boyfriend is very good.

"I have. You wear them quite well."

[pancakeboy]

Maintaining his comport in the most excellent way, Magpie lifts his bowl. "You have? Do tell that story."

Sip. Careful, Magpie.

[unfoggedlotus]

"The Halloween party," Ren grins, holding his boyfriend's hand while using his other to take a bite of soup. The great thing about having an opposite-handed boyfriend; hold hands with non-dominant hands, do things with their dominant hands. "The Maid Marian to his Robin Hood. Y'know, Crossroads will be opening soon..."

[fogbornphantom]

"Planning to dress in drag? I'm sure you'd put on quite the show." Here, Ren, have a little squeeze, because holding hands is so nice. He'll of course return to picking at his soup with his chopsticks, too. "I'm sure Akira-kun would find it encouraging, too."

[pancakeboy]

Returning to the picking himself, he brings it down a notch; he doesn't really want to attack Akira-kun, even indirectly. "So can I take it the crossdressing is a universal Ren trait? And Akiras, of course."

[unfoggedlotus]

"I don't know if it's universal, but I do know it holds true for me!" Ren chirps.

[fogbornphantom]

"Freedom from rigid gendered expectations is quite liberating, if Naoto-san is any indication. Their decision to exist outside conventional understandings of masculinity and femininity was bold and admirable."

Hum de dum, time to grab a little chicken in those chopsticks. "If my boyfriend wants to be pretty, I support him. He's already attractive, isn't he?"

[pancakeboy]

And Magpie glances up swiftly, turning a little pink, "I wouldn't know," he covers. "It's true, then, about Shirogane-san?"

Yes, he's heard. He didn't even really object.

[unfoggedlotus]

"Yeah," Ren says, suddenly feeling a little...twitchy? "They're much happier now..." A moment, and Ren pivots. "Guess I still have to charm you with my...Ren-ness."

[fogbornphantom]

"Perhaps your manner of charming is simply for-Ren to him." He pauses, then facepalms. "...Forget I said that. That was terrible."

[pancakeboy]

Ugh. He wrinkles up his entire face, reaching for his cocoa. "More than terrible. I think I liked you better when you were crying."

Sipping his cocoa, he realises he's watching Ren, and looks away. Ren-ness. He's cursed with it.

[unfoggedlotus]

Ren-- okay, he has to laugh at the face Magpie pulls, even if the words sting a little bit. He knows they're just Magpie-brand teasing, but. No tears of sad for boyfriend. Nuh-uh.

"You guys do reinvent the meaning of the phrase "sexy cry"," he grins. "Love me a man who looks wet and pathetic."

[fogbornphantom]

"Are you trying to scheme some manner of roleplay?" Crow gives his boyfriend's hand a little squeeze, rolling his eyes. "Careful, Ren. We don't want to terrify Magpie..."

And at that, his smirk softens. "I, ah. Truly do appreciate that you were so swift to take charge, for the record."

[pancakeboy]

What? He glances to Crow, distracted from the horrors of the phrase sexy cry. "What else was I supposed to do? You both ran out into the night without a second thought. Sexily, probably."

[unfoggedlotus]

"Yeah...we owe you one for that." Ren pulls a face. "Not sexy. Nothing about that was sexy. That Ren and Sparrow...eugh. No."

[fogbornphantom]

"I do hope Sparrow will be all right. He was so terrified when he reached out to me, heartbroken when we delivered the news." He heaves a heavy sigh, taking a sip of his cocoa. "I may have to reach out to the both of them... but not tonight. I know for a fact that you two would confiscate my phone if I tried."

[pancakeboy]

"I'd make you eat it," he says blandly, setting down his cup. "Now that you're feeling more like yourself, what exactly happened down there? With that Ren and the Shadow?"