![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[to be honest, Baren's been MIA
he might've ditched Nikkari for most of last month simply because he was busy trying to put the city back together. aside from making sure that Nika was alive and not eaten by monsters, Baren didn't do much to stay in touch. and maybe Baren disappearing for weeks at a time isn't all that odd.
a whole month gets kinda weird though.
maybe it's that thought that kicks him into finally sending Nikkari a text when he feels alive enough - and has healed up enough - to see him.]
drinks
something fruity and brightly colored and practically spilling over with regrets
one of those nights nika ♥
i'll pick you up at 9
[the gameplan: steal a giant pitcher of alcoholic flavored bad ideas and see where they go from there]
he might've ditched Nikkari for most of last month simply because he was busy trying to put the city back together. aside from making sure that Nika was alive and not eaten by monsters, Baren didn't do much to stay in touch. and maybe Baren disappearing for weeks at a time isn't all that odd.
a whole month gets kinda weird though.
maybe it's that thought that kicks him into finally sending Nikkari a text when he feels alive enough - and has healed up enough - to see him.]
drinks
something fruity and brightly colored and practically spilling over with regrets
one of those nights nika ♥
i'll pick you up at 9
[the gameplan: steal a giant pitcher of alcoholic flavored bad ideas and see where they go from there]
[Baren's been off for a while now, but Nikkari knows better than when to pry. he knows how far he can go, and that sometimes Baren just needed time. more than usual, but hey, if something happened, he thinks he'll know sooner or later.
doesn't stop him worrying, though, and when he gets the text, he's quick to respond.]
you're on
i'll make sure to dress extra embarrassing before you show up
[which he will not. but it was fun to say.]
doesn't stop him worrying, though, and when he gets the text, he's quick to respond.]
you're on
i'll make sure to dress extra embarrassing before you show up
[which he will not. but it was fun to say.]
feathers or bust
[ - but he shows up, as promised.
Not through any normal means, of course. There's his absurdly nice red convertible parked in the street, hazard lights on as Baren gives the horn one looooong honk before announcing:]
Get in loser, we're going on an adventure!
[ - but he shows up, as promised.
Not through any normal means, of course. There's his absurdly nice red convertible parked in the street, hazard lights on as Baren gives the horn one looooong honk before announcing:]
Get in loser, we're going on an adventure!
[fortunately for everyone, Nikkari's actually dressed normal as he grabs his jacket and swings by to tell his aunt that he's headed out, that he might not be back when she's awake but he has his phone.
which means it's not long before he's sliding into the passenger seat of Baren's ride.]
Adventure. I always like the sound of that.
which means it's not long before he's sliding into the passenger seat of Baren's ride.]
Adventure. I always like the sound of that.
I can't believe you, I've been so misled.
[and that's all Nikkari gets before Baren reaches into the backseat and pulls out an appropriately terrible feather boa to throw around Nikkari's shoulders
and then moving on:]
Right? I knew you would. I'm feeling margaritas - but worse?
[and that's all Nikkari gets before Baren reaches into the backseat and pulls out an appropriately terrible feather boa to throw around Nikkari's shoulders
and then moving on:]
Right? I knew you would. I'm feeling margaritas - but worse?
He'd never. I'm the funniest content creator he's got.
[how is that
a real job that baren has with seto kaiba, we just don't know
but given that, he just laughs and absolutely doesn't hesitate to FLOOR THE GAS PEDAL to get them to downtown. time to steal a pitcher of regret.]
[how is that
a real job that baren has with seto kaiba, we just don't know
but given that, he just laughs and absolutely doesn't hesitate to FLOOR THE GAS PEDAL to get them to downtown. time to steal a pitcher of regret.]
Nika, you won't believe the month I've had - and the returns are barely as good as what I've put in! It's fucking criminal.
[ - not that Nika would get it, even if Baren tried to explain.
His hands on the wheel tighten almost imperceptibly for half a second, because he wishes Maury would've given him some kind of reward for all the shit he went through.
For now though, this is enough.]
Hold on, this light's gonna be close—
[AND HE'S GUNNING FOR THAT YELLOW]
[ - not that Nika would get it, even if Baren tried to explain.
His hands on the wheel tighten almost imperceptibly for half a second, because he wishes Maury would've given him some kind of reward for all the shit he went through.
For now though, this is enough.]
Hold on, this light's gonna be close—
[AND HE'S GUNNING FOR THAT YELLOW]
[the curse manages to get Baren to laugh, throwing his head back but otherwise still a dutiful driver]
You think I'd let you die wearing a feather boa? Nika, please.
If we ever go out in a car, it better be because we pulled a Grand Canyon Thelma & Louise exit.
You think I'd let you die wearing a feather boa? Nika, please.
If we ever go out in a car, it better be because we pulled a Grand Canyon Thelma & Louise exit.
If it was just you, sure, but if we're going out together it's going to be much more interesting than that, you know.
[BUT they've made it to their first stop. Some ridiculous club with black lights, loud music, and most importantly, Baren's favorite drinks.
. . .
Stop is also used lightly.
Since Baren seems to just be putting the car in park and - ]
Keep it running, I'll be back.
[why.]
[BUT they've made it to their first stop. Some ridiculous club with black lights, loud music, and most importantly, Baren's favorite drinks.
. . .
Stop is also used lightly.
Since Baren seems to just be putting the car in park and - ]
Keep it running, I'll be back.
[why.]
Okay.
[there's no question that he won't, he stays in the car and makes sure that no one's going to try and come over and move it. what Baren's doing, he can only guess, but he thinks he'll know in approximately one minute.
he'll just roll down the window a little and wait.]
[there's no question that he won't, he stays in the car and makes sure that no one's going to try and come over and move it. what Baren's doing, he can only guess, but he thinks he'll know in approximately one minute.
he'll just roll down the window a little and wait.]
[It happens very quickly after that.
Baren runs back out of the bar as quickly as he ran in, wearing two pairs of bedazzled shutter shades - only one of them sits properly on the bridge of his nose, the other rests atop his head in its shiny, shiny glory. He brings a big old pitcher of... something, as promised, as well as two champagne flutes. The pitcher is some mix of bright red and a confusing purple, light-up ice cubes swirling inside of it to give it a properly flashy addition.
He's also wearing two leis and carrying a watermelon underneath his other arm. It's quick as he tosses the watermelon in the backseat, shoves the pitcher at Nika, and climbs into the driver's seat.
He pulls off one lei and pair of shutter shades to hold it out to Nikkari even as he moves to drive right off.]
Tropics night!!
Baren runs back out of the bar as quickly as he ran in, wearing two pairs of bedazzled shutter shades - only one of them sits properly on the bridge of his nose, the other rests atop his head in its shiny, shiny glory. He brings a big old pitcher of... something, as promised, as well as two champagne flutes. The pitcher is some mix of bright red and a confusing purple, light-up ice cubes swirling inside of it to give it a properly flashy addition.
He's also wearing two leis and carrying a watermelon underneath his other arm. It's quick as he tosses the watermelon in the backseat, shoves the pitcher at Nika, and climbs into the driver's seat.
He pulls off one lei and pair of shutter shades to hold it out to Nikkari even as he moves to drive right off.]
Tropics night!!
[Baren checks the Retrospec list everyday.
It's not hard when the list of names he's looking out for is so short. He notices when his cousin gets added to the app, shakes his head when it's another day without Okuni, but then there's something else. There's someone else and whatever he's focusing on is immediately abandoned. He runs right out of a scheduled photoshoot claiming an emergency, luckily just short of having changed into whatever costume was asked of him. There's no time for photos and fashion, none.
There are times when he's grateful for his newfound skill in crossing difficult terrains, the balance and agility giving him yet another advantage over most people. As he zips across the city skyline as quickly as he can, this is one of them. It's not the effort or the movement that manages to make his breathing labored, but rather the gasps of excitement as he immediately heads straight for Nikkari's apartment.
Because Nikkari's here.
In every way that counts, Nikkari is here.
They'd just been together so recently, but Baren has no interest in waiting - now that Nikkari remembers, he decides immediately that he has no interest in being apart from him until he's caught up with everything. Everything.
He doesn't have to hold back anymore.
It's that thought that manages to inspire a truly happy smile on his face as he opens the window to Nikkari's room without hesitation, seeing it as his own personal entrance as always. Then there's the gasp for breath, exhilarated and he throws himself at Nikkari completely and totally without any other warning than - ]
Horses, motherfucker!!
It's not hard when the list of names he's looking out for is so short. He notices when his cousin gets added to the app, shakes his head when it's another day without Okuni, but then there's something else. There's someone else and whatever he's focusing on is immediately abandoned. He runs right out of a scheduled photoshoot claiming an emergency, luckily just short of having changed into whatever costume was asked of him. There's no time for photos and fashion, none.
There are times when he's grateful for his newfound skill in crossing difficult terrains, the balance and agility giving him yet another advantage over most people. As he zips across the city skyline as quickly as he can, this is one of them. It's not the effort or the movement that manages to make his breathing labored, but rather the gasps of excitement as he immediately heads straight for Nikkari's apartment.
Because Nikkari's here.
In every way that counts, Nikkari is here.
They'd just been together so recently, but Baren has no interest in waiting - now that Nikkari remembers, he decides immediately that he has no interest in being apart from him until he's caught up with everything. Everything.
He doesn't have to hold back anymore.
It's that thought that manages to inspire a truly happy smile on his face as he opens the window to Nikkari's room without hesitation, seeing it as his own personal entrance as always. Then there's the gasp for breath, exhilarated and he throws himself at Nikkari completely and totally without any other warning than - ]
Horses, motherfucker!!
[this is all weird, this is really strange, this app is making the world be different and Nikkari's trying to make sense of it all. colors he hadn't even remembered as gone are, a day in the past thrown into weird relief - his eye has gone gray and strange. it's concerning, and he's making a mental list of changes.
but glancing over the names that he sees furiously quick and responding, asking questions he has, he's soothed in how not alone he is in at least acclimating to this, it's something that's baffling to many. and he recognizes some of these names, and it's shocking to see an entire secret world he didn't know of around him.
Baren's name is there, and suddenly, things begin to make more sense. strange words and actions he'd brushed off as Baren being himself are explained in this instant. he knew, and he couldn't have said. and that's why...
it's at that moment his window opens, and the very person he was thinking of is coming through. Nikkari can already tell that he's going to hit the floor, accepts his fate with arms wide open and a huge, true smile.]
Horses! I remember them now!
[how could he have forgotten? how could he have forgotten blue, and green, and the way the sky was supposed to be?]
but glancing over the names that he sees furiously quick and responding, asking questions he has, he's soothed in how not alone he is in at least acclimating to this, it's something that's baffling to many. and he recognizes some of these names, and it's shocking to see an entire secret world he didn't know of around him.
Baren's name is there, and suddenly, things begin to make more sense. strange words and actions he'd brushed off as Baren being himself are explained in this instant. he knew, and he couldn't have said. and that's why...
it's at that moment his window opens, and the very person he was thinking of is coming through. Nikkari can already tell that he's going to hit the floor, accepts his fate with arms wide open and a huge, true smile.]
Horses! I remember them now!
[how could he have forgotten? how could he have forgotten blue, and green, and the way the sky was supposed to be?]
[He remembers.
The verbal confirmation means the world, the smile of understanding and happiness despite the situation even more than that - and Baren throws himself at Nikkari with reckless abandon and unabashed, sincere affection. He'd been waiting.
God, he'd been waiting.
It's last minute - how he turns them when they're still falling so he takes the brunt of the fall and lets Nikkari fall on top of him. He's already bruised from the month before, what's a little bit more? He barely even feels it, laughing as happily as he is to feel a reunion slide into place.]
Stupid.
[said far too fondly, expressed even in Baren's one visible eye.]
What the hell am I going to do with you?
The verbal confirmation means the world, the smile of understanding and happiness despite the situation even more than that - and Baren throws himself at Nikkari with reckless abandon and unabashed, sincere affection. He'd been waiting.
God, he'd been waiting.
It's last minute - how he turns them when they're still falling so he takes the brunt of the fall and lets Nikkari fall on top of him. He's already bruised from the month before, what's a little bit more? He barely even feels it, laughing as happily as he is to feel a reunion slide into place.]
Stupid.
[said far too fondly, expressed even in Baren's one visible eye.]
What the hell am I going to do with you?
Tell me I took too long to get here, I bet.
[because it has been a while, if he traces through his memories. the smile can't even begin to fade, because he understands now and sees despite how weird and messed up it all is - there's joy in knowing the truth. he laughs because Baren laughed, and it feels like some kind of distance between them has closed again. they're back to how they should be.]
I want to know everything. Everything worth telling.
[because it has been a while, if he traces through his memories. the smile can't even begin to fade, because he understands now and sees despite how weird and messed up it all is - there's joy in knowing the truth. he laughs because Baren laughed, and it feels like some kind of distance between them has closed again. they're back to how they should be.]
I want to know everything. Everything worth telling.
[The only person who can be on the exact same wavelength as Baren is Okuni.
... but damn if Nikkari doesn't get close.
Baren gives a one-sided shrug as if to admit - yeah, Nika did take too long to get there - but then moves to sit up. He doesn't care if Nika's still on him or not, but he'll at least give him the full rundown if that's what he wants.]
Retrospec, possibly our creepy overlords. Confirmed that they see everything that we use their app for, might even follow us around. Haven't figured out how to circumvent the second part yet, but we're pretty much under constant surveillance.
I hate being watched... but I'm not really sure what the purpose of it is for yet.
You might start seeing weird shit soon, getting weird stuff in the mail, or finding stuff on the street that you feel is meant to be yours. That kind of thing.
Kiyo-chan's on the network. Z too. You're late, Nika.
[... even if there's an obvious person that Baren omits. Even now, he's still waiting.]
... but damn if Nikkari doesn't get close.
Baren gives a one-sided shrug as if to admit - yeah, Nika did take too long to get there - but then moves to sit up. He doesn't care if Nika's still on him or not, but he'll at least give him the full rundown if that's what he wants.]
Retrospec, possibly our creepy overlords. Confirmed that they see everything that we use their app for, might even follow us around. Haven't figured out how to circumvent the second part yet, but we're pretty much under constant surveillance.
I hate being watched... but I'm not really sure what the purpose of it is for yet.
You might start seeing weird shit soon, getting weird stuff in the mail, or finding stuff on the street that you feel is meant to be yours. That kind of thing.
Kiyo-chan's on the network. Z too. You're late, Nika.
[... even if there's an obvious person that Baren omits. Even now, he's still waiting.]
[it's not like he's desperate to be rid of Baren's presence, so don't mind him hanging out really close while he listens to all of this. it's a sobering though, that they were being watched, that things are going to happen. things like the city being destroyed, and then it simply wasn't.
he notices that pause, but he says nothing. Baren's hoping, and for now, that has to be enough.]
Ah man, that's a lot of people...I've been missing out. Sorry for being late.
[even if it wasn't his fault.]
I have to figure out a good way to greet everyone and let them know I've showed up, huh? Not just another comment complaining about how the grass is gray. It's got to be interesting.
[he pauses for a second, though.]
Were you looking for me, Baren?
[there's a smile that promises a lot of shitty jokes if it's not stopped.]
he notices that pause, but he says nothing. Baren's hoping, and for now, that has to be enough.]
Ah man, that's a lot of people...I've been missing out. Sorry for being late.
[even if it wasn't his fault.]
I have to figure out a good way to greet everyone and let them know I've showed up, huh? Not just another comment complaining about how the grass is gray. It's got to be interesting.
[he pauses for a second, though.]
Were you looking for me, Baren?
[there's a smile that promises a lot of shitty jokes if it's not stopped.]
Edited 2017-09-02 05:27 (UTC)
[Ah, he knows that smile.
Just as well as he knows that - yes, yes he was. There are few people that Baren still cared to look for in the city that weren't already on the app, it just so happened that some of those people were the ones dearest to him. Each day he looks for Okuni's name, and up until today, Nika's right along with it.
It's not as if he ever would've stopped looking.
- Not that he says that out loud, instead letting a smile of his own play over his lips as he lets his arms wrap around Nikkari's waist. Partially for teasing, partially for comfort, mostly for unknown reasons past the fact that it's just what they do.]
Aren't I always, Nika?
I nearly died of boredom without you.
Just as well as he knows that - yes, yes he was. There are few people that Baren still cared to look for in the city that weren't already on the app, it just so happened that some of those people were the ones dearest to him. Each day he looks for Okuni's name, and up until today, Nika's right along with it.
It's not as if he ever would've stopped looking.
- Not that he says that out loud, instead letting a smile of his own play over his lips as he lets his arms wrap around Nikkari's waist. Partially for teasing, partially for comfort, mostly for unknown reasons past the fact that it's just what they do.]
Aren't I always, Nika?
I nearly died of boredom without you.
[it's comfortable like this. it's better, to be back and no longer late and to understand what's been going on - sure, he needs to catch up, but he can do that. it's better to have Baren back with him, to be here and think that a stupid phone app is no longer causing an unseen rift between them.]
So that means I came in at the best possible moment to save your life. Don't I deserve praise for that?
[praise isn't needed. now they're just a pair of eyes between two people who can see each other again clearly.]
So that means I came in at the best possible moment to save your life. Don't I deserve praise for that?
[praise isn't needed. now they're just a pair of eyes between two people who can see each other again clearly.]
Page 1 of 14