022 | 69 | Video | February 7, mid-morning

[karmafree]

[When the feed comes on, perhaps the first thing anyone's going to notice is the fact that the pair of eyes staring into them are different colors: one red, one blue. The red one has a very peculiar mark on it... is that some sort of symbol?

The poster moves the communicator back a bit, so that everyone can see the rueful shake of his head and a smile just before he's turning away, looking back up at the sky.]

Oya, oya~ so we're back to this place again, is it? It's a good thing I managed to get so much done while I was out. [Siiiigh.] I suppose I don't mind continuing this little vacation...

[Trailing off, to rake a hand through his hair and toss his ponytail over one shoulder. Then he's started walking again, traipsing down the steps of the Academy as he speaks.]

So, how interesting did it get around here? Anyone care to share?


Filtered to Rhode;

[The expression Mukuro has on now is Very Serious.]

Where are you?

Comments

[suchselfishness]

... He said not to worry.

[ She hesitates, glancing toward a flower in a paper cup on the bedside table. ]

I'm sure they'll forget, eventually. Everyone was having trouble.

[karmafree]

Or they will not. Humans are tenacious things.

[But he was wrapping an arm around her now, and leading her to the door.]

[suchselfishness]

No. I told you. If you ever left again, I'd kill you.

[ She pulls away for a moment, being stubborn, but she doesn't resist as he leads her along. She wants to be mad at him, but it's better to do it at home, while they're together, where she can collect her nerves and get used to the idea that he isn't gone for good. ]

... But you're going to leave again.

[karmafree]

Won't we all eventually?

[suchselfishness]

I don't know.

[ She doesn't want to think about it, not today. She's still a bit tender on that foot, wincing when she accidentally steps on it too hard. ]

We just keep coming back. Maybe we'll never really leave for good.

[karmafree]

[Catching that, of course.

Have a thin smile.]

Shall I carry you, my dear?

[suchselfishness]

[ She glances up at him, giving him a Look that makes it quite clear that she hasn't forgiven him yet. But she stops, turning to face him. ]

I suppose it would be faster. I wasn't wearing very sensible shoes for getting my hands dirty.

[karmafree]

Very well.

[And it's almost effortless, how he sweeps you right up and keeps on walking.

No quips on your weight either. Whaddaya know?]

[suchselfishness]

[ Rhode lets out a soft noise as she's scooped up, arms reaching out to wrap around his neck and hold on tightly. After a moment, she settles against him, resting her head on his shoulder and taking in every bit of his presence that she can.

He smells the same, though it's a bit different- Not entirely Death City, but not enough to put her off. He's warm, too, and she moves ever so slightly to get the most heat she can from him. She almost- almost reaches out with her soul, but she stops the instant she makes the slightest contact, drawing back.

She's still mad at him. He's perfectly fine, and she'll give him the cold shoulder until she's less upset about his disappearance. ]

[karmafree]

[But he's offering his wavelength to her anyway, for her to take or ignore as she pleased. He's also humming, as they leave the hospital. Another one of his Italian lullabies, it seems.

Mukuro doesn't do apologies, at least not in words. Sometimes, that is better.]

[suchselfishness]

[ He knows her far too well, and she can't ignore his wavelength for long- Not when it makes her feel so much better, when it calms her down and somewhat soothes the ache of her shame and anger.

She doesn't move toward him again, but she's relaxing bit by bit in his arms, the stressed prickliness of her soul subsiding slightly as she lets his wavelength wash over her. ]

[karmafree]

[And it's a short walk, at least, from the clinic to their apartment.

From the way he carries her while still managing to do everything, it's clear that he's used to doing something like this.]

[suchselfishness]

[ The apartment's a bit messy, simply because she was there by herself for a few hours before the madness began to affect her. A few clothes left on the floor, the bowls from food, and some cat food still left in the dish- Rhode had put a bit too much in the morning she'd left, distracted by her partner's disappearance and the mess going on on the network.

She doesn't loosen her grip on him, even once they're inside. Awfully attached, for someone who's supposed to be so mad, but she doesn't particularly care at the moment. ]

[karmafree]

What would you like to do now, my dear?

[It's like he doesn't notice the mess at all. Maybe he'll tease her about it later.

Maybe.]

[suchselfishness]

[ It takes her a long minute to respond; she wants to stay close to him, but she doesn't want to say it out loud. Her need for attention and reassurance trumps her pride eventually, though, and she tightens her embrace slightly. ]

Nothing. [ Short, muffled by his shoulder. ] I want to stay like this.

[karmafree]

Very well.

[And he's traipsing right over to the couch and plopping down, with her still on him.]

[suchselfishness]

[ She lets out a little 'whuf' as they land, still not letting go of him. This is just the right place, after all- He can't see how awful her face looks, and she doesn't have to see his face, either.

After a while, though, she will relax a bit- Sitting back so she can breathe, since she's nearly smothering herself against his shirt. Her soul is still a bit out of sorts, the anxiety and edges of those bloodthirsty cravings still clinging to the surface, but she has control over it now. She still isn't looking Mukuro in the eyes, though, letting her gaze trail along the apartment floor in search of the cat as she keeps her grip on his shoulders. ]

[karmafree]

[He's back to humming that lullaby again, as he strokes her hair, as he offers his wavelength to smooth hers out.

What happened to you, my dear?

But it's a rhetorical question at best. He doesn't need to know if she doesn't want to tell him.]

[suchselfishness]

[ Though she isn't really paying attention to his humming, it's serving its purpose; she's calming down nicely, and though she does hesitate when he first reaches out to her- I'm still mad at you, stubbornly reminding him- she returns the gesture after only a few moments, grudging cooperation as she lets her wavelength settle into his own.

There was something in the water. She shifts uncomfortably, head leaning into his touch on her hair. I went out for breakfast, and when I was walking back, I got... distracted. By fights, and allies, and people who apparently enjoyed killing as much as she did- and just happened to be much larger than her. ]

[karmafree]

[I know about all of that.

His question is a bit more... visceral, in nature.]

[suchselfishness]

[ And that's where she doesn't really want to take it. She doesn't like thinking about why things affect her, especially when she's finally regained her composure, managed to hide it from anyone who can't feel what's more than skin deep.

... I lost control.

What else is there to say, really?

There are details, of course. The memory of the worst moments, when she couldn't even think coherently, and worse, someone was there to see her in that condition. It was terrifying, to feel it, to wake up and remember that feeling of powerlessness as her ability to control those impulses slipped away. ]

[karmafree]

[And there's no answer, not in words. He's soothing her with touch and presence, and starting to sing again.]

[suchselfishness]

[ It's almost a relief that he doesn't press the matter. She closes her eyes, trying to focus on calming down quickly. But that's not how it works, though she's willing it to be so. The only way is to let it happen on its own, and so she does.

As he continues to comfort her, her grip on his neck loosens slowly, and she eventually moves so she's a bit more comfortable against him on the couch- Though her head is still resting on his shoulder, and she's settling in to fit against him. Bit by bit, she's calming down, the rough sensation of her wavelength shifting to match his own. She lets him see a little bit of those feelings as they go- The thrill of her fight with Anise, the hunt with Bansai, and the blind, final desperation of her rather one-sided fight with Ling. ]

[karmafree]

[He takes it without comment, or judgment. He'd have to talk to some of these people later.

'Later', though, was later for a reason.]

[suchselfishness]

[ She doesn't particularly want him to talk about her messes with others, but what she doesn't know can't upset her.

Soon enough, with his attentions, she's draped against him with her eyes closed, not quite sleeping. Basking in the feeling of their resonation, feeling her heartbeat slow to match his, letting the euphoric feeling permeate until she has her sense of stability once more- The feeling that she is the one in control of herself, and that she won't be shaken so easily with her partner by her side. ]

... Can we go on a mission?

[ A bit out of nowhere, mumbled against him, but she's absolutely serious. ]