showhost | ( r6 ) talking-head: minami.

[ 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?]

Yeah, the easiest way to fix that is to consume another soul just as pure as his is. They cancel each other out.

I tried the opposite and that didn't work in case you were gonna suggest that.

[ it was gross! so bitter and he makes a face at it because ick!! ]

The only other way is to convince him to leave and I've already tried that.

[ keyword: he's tried that, not anyone else. it's something minami won't explicitly say though because he really doesn't like the idea because it's dangerous. ]

[Minami, please, never in a thousand years would he suggest consuming more souls as a solution. In fact, fewer souls consumed, please.........

Still, the rest of what Minami says is more intriguing.

He can't imagine that a soul as pure as that could be that unreasonable, but he's also aware that, well. Minami a) isn't really that great at convincing people to begin with, given his somewhat mercurial nature, and b) he's the one who ate him in the first place.

He probably doesn't really want to talk to Minami that much, huh? If Tsukasa had been eaten by Minami, he feels like he probably also would be a little reluctant to do that sort of thing.

But... there's such a natural conclusion that it doesn't take Tsukasa long to reach it, even if Minami is reluctant to put it to words.]

... Are you the only one who can talk to him?

[ grr... ]

Usually, yeah. Incubi don't dream but I can talk to him when I sleep if I want. And you're gonna ask how you can enter "my dream" next, right?

That's the part that will kill you, either just getting there or if he decides he's had enough with you. Unless you're an exorcist and I had no idea and if that's true then I really give up.

[ he will be consumed by this couch and never come out again!!! ]

[An exorcist? My god. It's enough just to be an actor, he can't help but think.

He shakes his head, of course, but he still looks thoughtful as that all sinks in. It does sound dangerous... no matter how he looks at it, there's nothing about the phrase "that's the part that will kill you" that Tsukasa likes.

For all of his arrogant traits, Tsukasa is under no misconceptions here--he is the most ordinary person here alongside Anna, and no amount of wishing hard enough will make him suddenly the sort of person who can handle an incubus' problems.

But.

It doesn't sit right with him to just give up without even trying, either. How can they know until he tries? How can he give up before he's even made his leap?

He can't, of course. Tsukasa Tenma's never given up a day in his life.

So when he lifts his chin again, it's with a focused smile, brows furrowed in determination.]

I want to try.

[ a sigh because with that kind of face there's no will in him to even ask if tsukasa's sure or more realistically laugh in his face like he would have done in the past. he's gotten so weak... or maybe tsukasa is just this powerful. ]

If you die here it's not my fault but I'll still be really, really, mad at you and I'll chase down your ghost so you can make it up to me. [ that almost sounds cute but he means this with all of his heart (NEW!). ]

[ so when he said it'll kill tsukasa he meant it in two ways.

1.) meeting and talking with the soul in him is dangerous because no one, no matter how strong they are in the physical space, isn't exposed and weak when it comes to talking in the metaphysical space with their soul exposed.

2.) the method of getting there is- ]

I can enter dreams because I'm an incubus. Humans can't because you don't have that kind of magic, but there's a way for me to lend you my magic for a little while.

It involves a ritual and once that's done, then we need to fall asleep together. [ all very normal sounding things so far, good.

it is also completely normal that minami lifts his head and presses their lips together for a kiss. it's a bit different than their usual and obviously meant to be a comfort given how soft and gentle it is. ]

I'm an incubus, Tsukasa. [ a demon who visits people in their sleep and inflicts nightmares but also sates their desires. ]

To share my magic with you, I need to share fluids with you during sex.

[ he can't say it anymore cleanly (ha) than that. ]

[Listen. It's not the first time Tsukasa's jumped first and asked questions later, and it certainly won't be the last.

The danger of it is still a little frightening, of course, but he's determined to make it back to his friends and troupe and little sister, and, well... his SEKAI does function on the power of dreams and whimsy and joy for a reason.

Surely there's a way to make this soul see how far Minami has come, and how much he doesn't need to disappear, and--]

[and--]

[and...?]

[... Huh?]

[Listen, Tsukasa's not... (completely) stupid. He's a teenage boy in his final year of high school, and he's an actor at that. He's not so sheltered that he's not aware.

But.

He hasn't really thought about it yet (m... much?) because he's a bit of a romantic, and there's been a lot going on, and it's only been two weeks at that.

(Also his sister is going to be watching this show. Thank god the cameras aren't on for this.)

But more than anything, he thinks it's the matter-of-fact way that Minami says it that's going to give him an actual heart attack. He can't help but just stare at Minami for a long, long moment.]

[And then he just covers his face with a hand, clearing his throat as his cheeks go bright red.]

Y-you really--don't hold back on some things... do you...?

[Minami is so good at dancing around telling someone "thank you", but of course this is what he can just come right out and say.]

Just--give me a second.

[ is it better or worse that minami starts to blush too? he's said and done worse but there's never been feelings involved, even if he's far from a romantic in the usual sense.

he's still chasing the bright red on the other boy's cheeks though, not with a kiss but with a hand on tsukasa's own. ]

I had to say it like that! I didn't want you to misunderstand and then die when you realized what I actually meant!

[And Minami is so right for that. It can't be a surprise! It's just. It's just A Lot, okay.

The worst part, he thinks, is that he can see the logic and it makes sense, it's just--A Lot.]

No, it's-- it's fine.

[Deep breath in... deep breath out. Okay. One thing at a time, Tsukasa. Okay. If Minami considered the wish for a moment, that probably means this isn't going to happen to him like. Tomorrow. Right?]

... He's... not going to take over immediately, right? You still have time?

[He's not going back on wanting to do this just because of that, he just needs. A Minute. To work up to this.

His romance..............]

[ minami laughs in spite of himself, butterflies, at the implication of tsukasa's question. ]

I have some time. Want me to take you out to dinner first? [ this is so very silly and very warm that he can't even feel gross or icky about it. ]

[Oh.... that's cute. Shockingly romantic of Minami to follow up that blunt statement from before with something like that.

Tsukasa's heart is still going a mile a minute, but he feels his expression settle into a faint smile, and he's finally able to lower his hands from his face.

He's still red-cheeked, but he's doing his best to find his poise again.]

... I want to see this through. I want to see everyone find their wishes and their hopes and their romance, if that's what they want. [And not only would this be a huge distraction, but it's supposed to be dangerous, right? He can't risk that.]

But after that... I'm going to save you, Minami.

Mmmn, you've made up your mind, huh?

[ truthfully, minami still isn't sure about how he feels about this. someone helping him, someone saving him runs in contrast to everything he's ever been. on the other hand he's never been wanted like this.

he looks at tsukasa's face, still flushed with a small smile and realizes what he just asked is pointless. ]

I already told you what I want from this: you. You're not allowed to forget that, even after this show is done. You can't save me if that means I can't hold your hand after or kiss you or laugh at the way you jump when you're scared.

It's not worth it if I'll be around and you won't be.

'Kay?

[And in response to that, Tsukasa grins, bright and unabashed and enthusiastic.]

Ha! Of course!

[Without even a breath of hesitation, with all of the bravado and confidence in the world--]

I fully intend on handling this show, saving you, and returning perfectly fine! It will simply be all in a day's work for the future world star that I am!

So there's no need to worry. Just count on me!

Don't forget the other parts either.

[ because that's all good to hear, but minami is minami just as tsukasa is tsukasa. maybe that's part of why they're here.

he pulls tsukasa down into a kiss, capturing that star and brightness for himself. a kiss with a deeper meaning in many ways, new emotions and feelings playing across his tongue. ]

[Thank goodness Minami shut him up, honestly--

--But Tsukasa's entirely glad to melt into that kiss, eyes fluttering shut as he lets himself just... enjoy the moment.

He knows he's going to have a lot to think about and figure out when this whole moment is over; he's signed himself up for some truly wild things. But--Tsukasa was being sincere when he told Minami not to worry. He has no intentions of self-sacrifice or not coming back. Sure, it may be dangerous, but... well, he's always found a way before. Why should this be any different?

There's something more to this kiss than before, something Minami, as ever, isn't putting into words. But Tsukasa thinks he understands enough of it, at least.

And he hopes, similarly, that his own confidence and willingness is coming through in the way he responds and leans into the kiss--because after all, this is what he wants.]

[ he does feel that and it makes his thoughts even more cloudy than usual, dandelion puffs in the wind. he'll take a few more (maybe a bit more than a few), eager to taste and relish the moment in every way he can.

when he pulls back it's because he realizes he's didn't get an answer to a super important question. (he leaves his arms looped around tsukasa's torso even with their lips parted, since more touching and intimacy is in their future-) ]

So when do I get to take you out for dinner?

[Oh. Right. He's still a little dazed, both from the whole info dump and what he's agreed to, as well as the kisses, which are all quite nice--

But that does bring him back down to earth a little, brow furrowing as he thinks.

Hmmm.

He truly would like to take Minami on another date--and Ritsuka and Anna and Will and so many of the other contestants, simply because it's been fun to get to know them outside of the pressure cooker that is the house they're all stuck in. But it's getting harder to justify, and not just because of Akechi's words.

He has to focus, right? Now he has even more reason to do things right.]

I'm not sure yet. [Sincerely, and a little apologetically. He knows Minami is the sort of person who just does what he wants, and to an extent, Tsukasa does admire that. But he's always been responsible, and he can't turn that off now.] But I'll figure it out and let you know.

Or perhaps I'll be the one to take you out to dinner instead. [Ha! A surprise attack! Which is not a surprise anymore since he said it out loud to Minami's face.]

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/2? I think

nope its 2/3

/done

1/??????

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done. sorry. i'm so sorry

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