showhost | ( r6 ) talking-head: minami.

[Ouch. Poor Will. He does not deserve this, but also, Tsukasa is pretty aware of how Minami feels about Will, and trying to defend him will probably only stoke all of that. Best to just let Minami move on...

Besides which... Minami's not wrong, and he knows he's not wrong. If Tsukasa had been acting the perfect host, Akechi still would have done everything he did. All of them would have. It's just that Akechi would've had less ammo for that interview, but he probably still would've found something.

... Still. Akechi isn't wrong either. Tsukasa hasn't been acting as a host should, and that's objective fact.

... So Tsukasa just groans, letting his forehead plop forward onto Minami's shoulder.

And mutters something, which Minami probably picks up easily since he's a demon, and is something like "I had no idea it was going to be like this".]

[ ahhh. that simple action soothes the other part of him that was already thinking of a million and one ways to rip out goro akechi's insides for all to see. his voice is still different than usual though, lower though not frigid.

tsukasa will probably eventually come to realize that this is what minami sounds like when he's speaking with every single part of him, even the parts he wants to keep hidden and away from everyone, even himself. ]

Me either. But I wouldn't change it for anything, even if it kills me. [ he laughs though it's silent, but tsukasa can certainly feel it given his positioning.

"if". it's only a matter of time.

minami doesn't know what he's doing, but he made up his mind that one night. ]

[... Tsukasa pauses at that, brow furrowing. What... strange word choice. The worst that can happen here is the contestants don't get their wishes, right? And that is a terrible outcome, don't get him wrong--he is determined to see Steve and Akechi be able to survive, for instance.

But...

... What does that have to do with Minami's life?

He lifts his head at that, expression quizzical.]

"If it kills you"... why would that be a concern?

[ shaking his head. ]

I'm not telling you 'bout that unless you promise not to worry about what some loser said to you.

[ sorry, he doesn't play fair. ]

[hey. Wow!! Now he's concerned, brow furrowing even deeper, since obviously it's not nothing.

But still, he has to be honest:]

I can't simply dismiss it. I came here to improve my skills, and get closer to my dream. So... if I just try to ignore it, it feels a little counterintuitive.

But... I'll at least not take it personally. It's a learning experience, after all.

[ no being concerned he's allergic!

tsukasa's getting a poke on his cheek. ]

...'kay. But I won't forget you said you wouldn't.

[ in the tone of: if you short me a date this week you have a big demon debt to pay!!! ]

[Too late, he's concerned!]

Alright... I understand. [does he really, tho. time will tell]

But now will you tell me what you meant before?

[ ... ]

Do you know why I came here? The real reason.

I don't...

[He really only knows a few details about each contestant... this is starting to sound very serious though.]

Why did you come here, Minami?

Because I need a soul. A special kind of soul, purer and brighter than all the rest. Not because I'm hungry and not because I just want to eat one, but because without one I'll lose who I am.

All of me and there won't be anything left.

[ he could almost laugh again at how it feels to finally say that. something he should have said much sooner, even if only to himself.

but that's the problem isn't? feeling and these emotions that he's too greedy to throw away but that will be the end of him. ]

... Huh?

[Wait, so that's... why Minami was searching for a soul? He needed a soul to consume to save himself? Is that... what he's hearing?

But then, if Tsukasa was supposed to be that soul, then--

I wanted to, but I don't want to anymore. I'd miss you too much.]

[He doesn't like the picture he's starting to piece together.]

Wait, then--

[It was laid out plain and clear, but... it's like a record scratch in his brain when he tries to step back to look at the whole thing.

Minami is going to...]

--you'll... disappear? [The Minami as he is now will cease to exist? "The won't be anything left," he says.]

That's not...

[His brain absolutely does not want to parse this as something that could even happen.]

But... that's not going to happen, right? [For... some reason or another. Minami figured it out, which is why he doesn't have to eat Tsukasa's soul, so everything's fine now... right?]

Edited 2024-11-25 04:09 (UTC)

It'll happen. [ like tsukasa, minami is straightforward in matters of the heart. for better and worse. ]

And don't even mention the wish because I'm pretty sure that would make it worse and I'd rather just cease to exist than cease to exist and have this soul take over my body too.

[...?

Just like that?

"It'll happen," as if it's a done deal, as if there's no solving it, as if this is the end for Minami?

... No, Tsukasa can't accept that. He's never been the sort of person to accept inevitabilities, or to dwell on hopeless situations.

He lifts his chin, frowning, brow furrowed.]

Not the wish, then, but there still has to be a way to stop it from happening.

[A way that doesn't involve Tsukasa losing his soul--there has to be something.]

Then we just have to do that instead...!

[ he grumbles because half of him wants to turn away, kick away like the demon he is and the other half of him still thinks the weight of tsukasa on top of him is nice. ]

You don't even know what "that" is or if it's possible. You still want to do it?

[...!]

Then there is a way!

What is it? What do we have to do?

[They can solve this! Minami doesn't have to disappear!]

I'm gonna bite you now. [ this is not a lie actually, because he does have access to tsukasa's neck given their positioning. it's not a real bite though, but it a bit pointy because of his fanged incisors.

...he'll explain, probably. ]

H--

[?!?!?!??!

aljksdklansk

Just imagine Tsukasa somehow verbalizing a keysmash in this moment, because even with that brief warning, he was not prepared.]

Pff-heheheheh! [ he feels so much lighter now and it shows in the way he's grinning. if tsukasa isn't squirming too much he'll plant a kiss where he just bit before settling. ]

It wasn't that. But "that" is dangerous and I'm not even sure if it'll work. And if biting you almost killed you than I don't wanna risk it.

[Oh my god.

Tsukasa is absolutely full on pouting at that teasing. At a time like this!!]

I--I just wasn't prepared! You have to give more warning than that. Besides which, your fangs are sharp!

[HMPH!!]

Tell me what it is.

Okay, then I'll give you a few more seconds of warning next time.

[ because that's an invitation for a next time! heheheh.

as is that pout, which is so cute... ]

Edited 2024-11-25 17:50 (UTC)

I'd need to tell you why first and it's stupid. And I had this whole argument ready for why I didn't want to tell you that but then you skipped around and just want to help without knowing and now I feel both happy and gross.

And I already decided that I just want to do things that make me happy even if I don't understand them and you make me happy and I like seeing your expressions, all of them not just the bad ones and—

[ taking a breath with the implicit notion to let the couch consume him. ]

—I give up. I'll tell you if you really want to know, I guess.

[ none of that was what tsukasa wants to know, but he'll get there. minami just needs a moment because again he finds himself saying things and doing things that are contrary to what he thinks he should be doing and it's a lot. ]

[Well, it may not be the answer to what he was asking about, but... it's not like he ever minds hearing Minami's honest feelings. Besides, this is all...

(It's really cute, isn't it?

He didn't doubt that Minami enjoyed spending time with him, but having it laid out so plain and honest like this is... it truly makes him feel so happy to hear.)

Tsukasa does his best to make sure to meet Minami's eyes despite the way that he's clearly considering just melting into the couch and being gone forever, and nods.]

Tell me! Please! I want to know how I can help.

[Because that's the sort of person he is, in the end. If there's something in front of him that he can do, then... he'll do it.]

[ hnnnnngh.

minami doesn't look away despite wanting to, because tsukasa is really, really, cute even like this. he's so bright it nearly burns actually but, it's fine. ]

Incubi are dream demons. We only exist in the sleep of humans unless we grow strong enough to have a sense of self and consume a powerful enough soul to give us a body. It has to be a high quality soul and those are really rare, once in a century or two, and people with those type of souls usually don't fall pretty to an incubus.

I found one and made a pact to consume his soul: he wanted me to make sure his family survived and had a good life or whatever. I followed through on my end and then I ate him.

But instead of being absorbed by me, he's still around in side of me. He told me he would change me, teach me what it was like to love someone, to care about them and all that garbage. I ignored him for a long time but he was still there.

He won't leave. He won't leave no matter what I offer him, tell him, or threaten him with.

And even if maybe I don't hate all of these stupid feelings, I still want to be me. I'm a demon and I don't want to lose that. And I definitely don't want to become him.

[Help this is so much to digest for a normie. He's gotten used to the idea of things that are so outside of his field of reference, to a certain extent, but this is...

It feels a little closer to home in some ways. Maybe because it's Minami, and he's been inviting Minami more and more into his life, and vice versa? At some point, he's going to have to get used to this sort of thing, isn't he...?

(Still... he wanted me to make sure his family survived. What a tragic reason to make a deal with a demon. What a deal Tsukasa can horribly, completely understand.

Tsukasa's equally sure that that man's soul must have burned brightly, altruistic and pure and hopeful. It's a shame that it ended the way it did, but... Minami wouldn't be this way if it hadn't, right? In a way, maybe that's also that man's legacy, just as the health and well-being of his family is. Because Tsukasa's pretty confident Minami is plenty capable of something like love now.)

... He drags in a slow, deep breath as he slowly processes all of that, a frown tugging at his features, expression as open as it ever is.]

So his soul is slowly taking over... and that's what you meant by losing who you are.

[Then... what do they do about that?]

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