dreamcrystals | (no subject)

Probably.

[Part of him is very lonely, and part of him is very bored. How can he satisfy both of these... ?]

I'd just be pleased if you could send me some interesting people my way. I want to hear more of other worlds. ... Who knows? Maybe someone here knows how to break a curse as strong as mine.

[ Kazuya frowns. ]

I'm an interesting person too, you know. And the one who is going to break your curse.

[ For some reason, he's pretty possessive about being the one who does so. It's... his responsibility in a way. Not only is that part of the reason he became the King of Bel, but Naoya got cursed because of Abel to begin with. Deserved or undeserved, it doesn't really matter.

Though he thinks he's firmly in the undeserved category. No other murderers have had to go through what Naoya has. ]

I just have to figure out how to do it here. Killing God is one thing in the waking world, but I can't really do that here for you.

I know. I know you are. ... But unless we can figure out how to cross timelines, I might be on my own in my time.

[He's not sure. It's hard to know, hard to tell. He stares down at his cake, spearing it and taking another bite.]

... It's worth investigating, at least.

I'll figure out how. I mean, I can technically already cross between the boarders of the demon realm and the human realm and the outter realm, so figuring it out after that has to be possible.

[ He's sure of it. ]

And then I can kick God's ass again, and the ass of that other me.

... I'm sure it is, it's just the finding out that's the issue.

[Given enough time he could... but he's not sure how much time they have.]

Just don't push yourself so hard that you crack.

I wouldn't ever crack. I'm diamond tough, or something.

[ he gives a small flex of both of his lanky ass noodle arms, like it proves any sort of point. ]

... I'll ask around, though. There's gotta be someone who can help me figure it out.

[He rolls his eyes dramatically, but... he does worry about Kazuya. He's seen people crack from less.]

You're much better with people than I am. You're the one who doesn't like hiding in the dark.

All those lives and somehow you've been a shut in in every single one of them, huh?

[He's teasing.]

Pretty interesting, to have been a farmer who's a shut in.

Not every single one. ... Though more often than not, I suppose.

... Wow, I was expecting you to say something completely different to try and defend yourself, but you really are just a loser shut in, huh.

[Kazuya, that is not how you speak to the birthday boy.

Though, now that he's done with his piece of cake, he slides his chair out from under the table and stand.]

I'm gonna go grab the present I got for you.

[He chuckles and tilts his head.]

You did tell me not to lie to you. And there are different ways of being a shut-in.

[Yes, yes. Present time. ... He's a little surprised Kazuya got him a present at all, given what he'd done to the boy.]

[Yeah... He did say that, huh. He rolls his eyes as he leaves, and it takes him a few minutes before he comes back with a medium sized shoddily wrapped box, and another one that's smaller and less shoddily done. The medium one is a little heavier than it looks, and inside is an air plant.

He'll sit down, chin on his hand as he waits for and watches Naoya open it. He'll only explain after the entire thing is revealed.

Inside the other box is a set of dango that Kazuya made, specifically for him.]

I figured since your curse is that the ground wont give you anything, I was wondering about those plants that don't need to be planted.

[He stops and stares at the plant. It doesn't - it...]

[He'd considered these things, but just... given up on the idea. Surely it wouldn't work? ... He reaches out and touches it carefully, feeling the leaves under his fingers. They're strange, yes, but they're green and alive and -]

[Naoya blinks back tears. It's an incredibly thoughtful gift, and he's not quite sure how to respond. He takes a deep breath and looks up at Kazuya.]

... Thank you.

[He sets it down and pulls his brother into a tight hug, leaning his head on the other's shoulder.]

Kazuya...

[He really doesn't expect Naoya's eyes to go shiny with unshed tears. Doesn't expect his brother to grab him and pull him into a hug so tight that he can feel his heart beat, doesn't expect the closeness of him leaning his head on his shoulder.

Honestly, he'd expected some kind of rebuke. That maybe he'd say Kazuya was an idiot for trying this, that it'd only lead to some kind of disappointment or that he'd tried it already. Or, worst case scenario, thought it some kind of cruel joke he was playing.

It's none of those, and relief washes through him as he leans into the tight hug, bringing his arms up around him as well to return it just as tightly. It makes him feel... Happy. Happy that he'd managed to do something for Naoya like this, and also happy that Naoya had initiated such a hug to begin with. Hopefully that means he's no longer as wary of him as he once was.]

It's really nothing. I just hope it works the way I want it too, you know? Not that it's a substitute for actually growing crops or anything, but... It's something.

It's not nothing. ... I admit, I stopped following most agricultural developments a very long time ago. I wasn't...

[His face goes very slightly red. He's trying to hide his embarrassment, but with how pale he is it doesn't work very well.]

... I wasn't aware that there were plants like this.

[ Kazuya.... laughs, reaches up while hugging Naoya that much tighter to ruffle his hair at his embarrassment. Now who gets to play big brother!!!

Even if Big Brother is not accurate in any way, shape, or form. ]

I mean, it makes sense you wouldn't keep up to date with it if you thought it didn't matter. But as your extremely cool and knowledgeable younger brother who isn't God's least favourite, I know a thing or two.

[ He pauses for a moment. ]

Well, I might be God's least favourite now. Maybe you get to be off the hook.

Heh. Not a competition either of us are eager to be in, let's put it that way.

[Hmph. He'll tolerate his hair being ruffled, just because it's Kazuya.]

... You didn't have to, you know. But you did.

[For once his anger is held at bay for the moment, and instead there's just nothing but sheer shocked gratitude. To live with the curse rather than fighting it... he'd tried that before, but it had just felt empty.]

[Was it because he hadn't had Abel by his side? ... He isn't sure. He releases the other from the hug and smooths his hair down, his face still a little red.]

I suppose you're getting to the age where you're going to try to surpass me in some aspects.

[Strength. Speed. Gift giving. Number of demons consumed. Normal things.]

I already surpass you in a bunch of aspects. Like not being a shut in. And not being a nerd.

[He jabs his finger into Naoya's chest teasingly as he pulls away. Is he happy? The red on Naoya's cheeks makes Kazuya think so, but it's always been so rare to see that kind of genuine emotion from him.]

Oh, and being way more popular. Can't forget that.

There's nothing wrong with being a nerd.

[The shut-in part, he'll take.]

And who's the one of us who got more chocolates on Valentine's Day?

That's not fair, you're seven years older than me. No girl in their right mind is going to give a 10 and 11 year old Valentine's Day chocolate other than platonically. Besides, I was practically swimming in it once I hit high school.

I meant in high school. I was as well, if you recall?

[Mysterious and broody can get you a long way in high school.]

Obviously. I meant it was normal for you to get more than me when you were in highschool and I hadn't even hit middle yet.

Yes but comparatively when we were each in high school, I got more.

Now you're just being difficult on purpose.

No way you did. I got so much more chocolate than you.

[ He was way more personable! Girls loved him!!! ]

Unless you're including the chocolate girls got you outside of Valentine's Day because everyone knows about you and your sweet tooth.

You're impossible.

[He reaches out to noogie Kazuya, though not all that hard.]

It just meant that people actually liked me rather than pretended to for appearance's sake.