[OPEN] fuck timelines

[flowerclips]

[ after fucking off from the dungeon, leaving the daitengu all alone and sad (invite them too, guys :'( ), it's time to have fun. at whatever agreed upon time, the ou hirajiro gang is here to finally get some good r&r. rei has been extremely excited so she's early in front of the bathhouse, holding a bag of her belongings. she waves down anyone she sees. come faster!! let's get this show on the road! ]

Bathhouse time, hoooooo!!

[ for things in the bathhouse, there are your usual spa options: a sauna, jacuzzi, pedicures, manicures, that kind of stuff. have fun, everyone. ]

Comments

[overstrain]

Yeah! Back when I was a dog... but you had force yourself to do it, huh... I don't want it to happen like that again.

[ Let Sasuke smile on his own accord. Yeah. He'll just keep hugging Sasuke though. This is normal. This is fine. ]

[not_that_sasuke]

[Is him smiling really that rare???

...Oh. Yeah, it probably is, huh?]

...Sorry. I guess I'm still not really used to it...

[Not just smiling, but emotions in general. He's just so used to trying to stay neutral, he does it out of habit.]

[overstrain]

Hm... maybe it just makes your smiles all the more like treasure then!

[ He treasures every single one he sees from Sasuke. It's funny how it all started with how Terry felt like he had some responsibility to oversee Sasuke's progress on getting better, but now he's just attached. ]

[not_that_sasuke]

...That just shows how much I don't do it.

[Mmm that delicious self-loathing.]

[overstrain]

[ ... ... ...

Terry holds Sasuke's face and raises each corner of his lips into a funny-looking forced smile with his thumbs. ]

I'm not gonna take that! And you shouldn't either!

[not_that_sasuke]

[WELP THIS IS HAPPENING. This "smile" looks so pained.]

Sho-ry?

[HE CAN'T TALK LIKE THIS.]

[overstrain]

[ Terry smiles and lets go of his face after massaging his cheeks. ]

Talk better about yourself.

[not_that_sasuke]

[He winces once he's released, bringing up a hand to rub his cheek.]

Sorry. I'm...

["still bad at that" will probably just get his cheeks mooshed again.]

...still learning.

[overstrain]

Good! As long as you're learning and not giving up!

[ Don't end up like Terry... ]

[not_that_sasuke]

[Sigh.]

...It's hard. I think I've probably been this way for too long.

I might need reminders sometimes. But I'm trying.

[overstrain]

[ Terry slumps down on the bench inside the bath next to Sasuke. ]

I believe in you, Sasuke. I know you can do it. I'll always be there if you need my help.

[not_that_sasuke]

...Yeah. Thanks, Terry. You... really have helped a lot.

[And he tries to get the earnestness through in his voice.]

[overstrain]

[ Terry sits up and looks over at Sasuke with a surprised look on his face, which eventually turns into a huge grin. ]

I just want to help you, Sasuke, as a friend. You deserve a lot of good things in life too.

[not_that_sasuke]

[...

He still doesn't feel like he does. But...]

Mm. You and everyone else here keep reminding me when I forget.

[overstrain]

Yup, and I'm gonna be super annoying until you don't need any more reminding.

[ Hehehe... Terry will sink into the bathwater again and probably doze off. It's so relaxing here... ]

[not_that_sasuke]

[Pfft. There's a soft huff of almost-laughter, and he turns away.

But he's smiling as he does so.]

...Thanks, Terry.

[He'll never be able to say it enough.]