realityshifted | 037: Just Keep Swimming

{Sure, there's already a beach on the plane, but it could use more water. So this time, the plane now has part of a lake, complete with an over-elaborate rich-person's dock. Diva and Ikki are in the water, but Hei is sitting on the dock with a mid-afternoon snack. He's just there because he doesn't trust either one of them to, you know, live. The three are all in attire for the occasion, thus wearing bathing suits}

{In the water, Diva is clinging pretty tightly to Ikki because her experiences with water haven't been the best} N-Ne, Ikki, this is fine, alright? Tell me if you let go or anything!

[Ikki, of course, has no problem with this. He places his hands on her shoulders, almost around them, as he tries to get her to float on her stomach better.] You're doing just fine, babe. Relax and kick your legs out a bit. Don't need to splash too much, I've got ya.

[Hei narrows his eyes at the scene, looking a bit exasperated.] No groping allowed, Ikki.

[Diva holds his hands tightly, but does relax enough to try and float a little better. It's not going exactly well, since she'll sink, panic a bit, be fine, and then repeat until she's mostly underwater]

[Ikki has no shame. But he does focus more on tugging her around the water.] Yo, whatever gets the job done. Diva, deep breaths, alright? If you're breathing all over the place you won't float. Kick, kick...

[After a few more attempts with taking his advice, she's at least above the water a little more, and smiling brightly] Ne, Ikki, like this? Ah, how neat, it's working!

Yeah, you got it! Now... pull your legs up toward your chest. I got ya, so you won't sink. And I want you to clasp your hands, like you're praying.

Ummm...Alright, if you say so. [It takes quite a bit for her to actually let go to do what he asked, but she does, if not very stiffly]

Great. Now, on the count of three, you're gonna stretch your arms in front of you and kick like a frog at the same time. You won't go anywhere yet 'cause I'm holding onto you. [Her hips. This could get dangerous.]

[She nods absently, concentrating on the task because she is taking it very seriously! Aw.]

[Ikki smiles winningly.] One... two... three!

[On three, she kicks forward, but a bit harder than she really intended. So suddenly, Ikki ends up holding her bikini bottom, and Diva is bottomless. She makes a noise of surprise, but still clings to Ikki because she doesn't want to be dropped.]

[It takes Ikki a moment to register that Diva isn't in his arms anymore. A bikini is. And she is clinging to him. And the bikini is not on Diva anymore.... And then he goes completely red. CUE DORKFACE.] I-I think I just passed into the afterlife.

[Hei, who has ben watching intently to make sure there are no fatalities or hijinks, flushes bright red as well. He covers his face with a hand, shaking his head.] We're going swimming, they said. Come with us, it'll be fun, they said. Ikki, only you are capable of something like this.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He's not an object to be stolen or talked about like he can't hear every word we're saying.

Or is that just how you think of people?

[Yyyyeah, at this point he kind of just wants to flee.]

Ah...both of you, don't fight.

Ne, to be honest, it's how I think of some people. You have to remember, Misaki, for the past 120 years or so, I've thought of humans as trash. Really, I'm the superior species, but I live with humans because I have to and because I love them.

For most people, they're objects and I don't care about them at all. But people like Hei are people I care for enough to give my life for him~ Which I have, as a matter of fact. It's the ultimate show of my trust. I'm too selfish to give my life for something beneath me, even if they would live if I did.

But I'm trying to change that, of course. ♥

[Crosses her arms] And I've given my life for a city that will never know it. Are you trying to intimidate me? Am I supposed to be in awe? Or admire the fact that someone who can't really die is willing to do it for someone she doesn't consider a step below refuse? The casual way you refer to death makes me wonder how hard it really is for you to die for someone that matters. What is it for you? Besides uncomfortable? Besides a way to show off and bind the ones closest to you by your side with guilt?

Good luck. With changing. I've heard it's a particularly difficult thing for quasi-immortals to do.

{She stares for a moment before laughing} Uncomfortable? You really think it doesn't hurt as much for me when I die? {Then with a purr} And you really don't know me to think that I bind people to me with guilt. There are a lot of things that I can do to make a person mine, and guilt is one of the last ones.

{Surprisingly tender} It is. But for Sam, I'll definitely change.

[Okay, this is going a bit far.]

Both of you, stop it. You're both out of line.

Though I would think the value placed on death depreciates after a while, pain aside. [Little laugh of her own] Like hate? You're good at that one, it seems. Those signs the TARDIS put up were quite a winning likeness.

[And that gives her pause, though only a slight one.] And what about Hei? What for him? Or are you only--

[And she stops. Because that really would be out of line.]

...don't worry about it. I'm leaving.

{Diva looks at Hei with a kind of "awww come onnn" expression, but only says one more thing} I'm Hei's if he wants me. So anything he asks of me, I can gladly do. I trust Hei, maybe more than I trust Sam.

And apparently he trusts you.

[Turns and starts to walk away again. Yeah, Hei, that was a slap aimed in your direction. She's still stinging over what you said before.]

[That Diva trusts him more than she does Sam gives him pause, but Misaki's next response brings him back to reality.]

That's not...that's not what I want from you, Diva.

And Misaki, I... [He pauses. Does he really trust her? He thinks about the time they've spent on the Plane, the things he's talked about with the Misaki in his own world, everything she's done for him and vice versa. It's not much of a contest anymore.]

I trust you just as much as I trust Diva.

{Coolly} Of course not. No one wants it.

[Tempted to snap something at Diva, to tell her to stop being so pathetic, to stop wanting more--and clamps down on it, hard, because it's simple, petty bitterness trying to claw its way out of her throat. She wanted to be first. That there was someone else--another woman, someone from a world that had nothing to do with theirs--who knew him better and did so before her... Hurts. Still hurts. And it's just made sharper by what he said before. She can't seem to forget it or forgive it.]

Thank you. [It sounds stiff and choked even to her own ears.]

Diva, that's not what I mean and you know it.

[Looks over at Misaki, and even though he can't see her face he knows how much she's hurting.]

Misaki...

It's not what I meant either. {Which she leaves it at}

Sorry. [Grits her teeth, turns, and bows to Diva.] I apologize to both of you.

037: Just Keep Swimming

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject