4 | Joint Text | Subject: ☆★☆★☆

[duplicitoussight]

ヽ(‘ ∇‘ )ノ Hello again, Exsilium!! It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Now, now, everyone’s been fretting over the future of this city, but there’s no need to worry. There's a simple solution that's sure to settle your troubled minds for a little while! Through the use of a very special technique, we’ll be able to tell you exactly what’s in store for you. The method is top secret but 100% effective!

For those who are brave enough to take up the offer, please fill out this chart:

Name:
Age:
Birthplace: (Leave blank if you aren’t from Earth.)
Time of Birth:
Date of Birth: (Use the Earth calendar if you know it!)
Are you in a relationship?:
Your favorite color:
Do you like flowers?:
Tell us one interesting fact about yourself:

Thank you for your patronage~~ (◡‿◡✿)

((Oz & Kano will be replying to comments! This post is generally open to threadjacking.))

Comments

[ringwizard]

[ He rolls his eyes. ] December 22nd. [ His mouth quirks. ] No matter what you do, it'll still be better than my last birthday, as long as you don't summon a horde of zombies. [ Not what he signed up for!! ]

I'll case the town and figure something out. You just keep the evening free. [ He smiles, then hits Nitoh's leg with his knee. ]

Yeah, I've noticed.

[ringbeast]

Aw man that's lame. If there's any zombies on your next birthday just let me take care of them. Your birthday's pretty close to Christmas, too, huh.

[He's never had a date for Christmas. Or Valentine's day or... Any holiday. He kind of beams at the idea of having a chance to plan some stuff. Plus, Haruto's assuming that they'll still be dating four months from now which is... cool. Yeah, it's cool.]

You got it, I'm not usually busy anyway.

[He flicks his nose and flushes a little bit.]

I don't see you complainin' about it, usually.

[ringwizard]

[ He nods agreeably. ] Consider yourself on call. Birthday right before Christmas never really, uh, mattered before.

[ The Christmas before last had been spent in Kazuya's apartment, marathoning a Korean drama he can't even remember the title of, since they'd made a drinking game out of it. He shunts the memory away, mouth curving into a smirk. ]

Did I say it was bad?

[ringbeast]

Oh c'mon, like you never had a girl make you feel weird by givin' you a birthday present and then a Christmas present right after. All oh shoot what am I supposed to say.

[He is a little bit huffy about it, though even he's not sure whether it's jealousy over Haruto's perceived popularity or jealousy over girls goin' after Haruto. But of course the response to his comeback causes him to flush harder.]

Y-You didn't, no. A-anyway we'll do something fun for your birthday and something fun for Christmas. I wonder if it snows here at Christmastime...

[ringwizard]

My birthday's right before the big soccer tournaments, man, I didn't have time for presents. [ He'd dated their manager, once, but it had been in the wake of her beloved crush, their captain, graduating, so it had kind of fallen apart at the beginning of practice season. He reaches out to mess with Nitoh's hair, lingering on his cheek afterward. ] I'm never like 'oh shoot, what am I supposed to say', anyway, what're you talking about?

[ He's warmed by the obvious jealousy, and the blustering leads him to lean for a quick peck at the corner of Nitoh's mouth. He pulls back. ]

I'll mark it on my calendar. It snows--gets cold in winter. And with all this rain... You might need to actually buy a coat.

[ringbeast]

[He quirks his head.]

Huh? I didn't know you played soccer, Haruto...? [He smiles broadly] That's cool! Were you any good, huh? How come I never heard this before?

[He takes the kiss with a little tug on his hair.]

I just put my hood up when it rains. I mean, I got a warm long-sleeve shirt... I guess if I gotta buy one...

[Fukui was pretty warm, and any of the cold parts of his time in Tokyo he just sort of... dealt with. He runs pretty warm, anyway.]

[ringwizard]

[ Haruto's smile half-fades. ] I played in high school. I guess I was good. [ He thinks about changing the subject, but he'd decided to try sharing, hadn't he? ] I went out to be a pro after that. It--well. I'm a wizard now.

[ He clears his throat, looking away for a moment, and puts his hands on his hips as he looks back. ]

I'd prefer it if you were careful--the last thing we need is you out with the flu.

[ Then he shrugs, short. ]

[ringbeast]

[His brow creases, Haruto's holding back on something there.]

Still, you were good enough to go out for it. That's real impressive! Maybe you can show me your moves sometime, huh? I'm no good at team sports, but I could kick around a ball with you!

[He pushes at Haruto's chest, gently.]

Hey, I don't get sick unless some weird future dystopia is makin' me sick! Plus, it takes a lot for me to get cold anyhow.

[ringwizard]

[ Isn't he always. He smiles, kind of false. ]

Sure, I'll kick circles around you, if you want.

[ He rocks back with the push. ]

And what if we get weird future dystopian germs, huh? It gets wetter and colder here than Tokyo, just... keep it in mind. Okay?

[ringbeast]

[He frowns, able to pick out real smiles from fake ones at this point. But it's not time to worry about it.]

I was a pretty passable defender in gym class! Of course mostly that's cos I'd like tackle the dudes with the ball, which I don't think is legal.

[He purses his lips, musing.]

Well, anyway, I'll get a coat if I can find one at a good price, okay? My vest's pretty warm but I guess I've never been anywhere that gets real cold in the winter. I mean it's kind of weird when it gets below freezing in Fukui.

[ringwizard]

Yeah, I'm definitely running circles around you.

[He nods, lifting his hand and half-curling his fingers into a loose fist, to rap his knuckles on Nitoh's chest. They linger there.]

You've got a little time, I think. It's just something to keep in mind. You're not the only guy who missed winter and might need more clothes.

[ringbeast]

Hey I might surprise you! You might have bein' almost a pro on your side, but I'm scrappy!

[He puts his hand over Haruto's without meaning to, and then lets it rest there, tapping on Haruto's fist with his fingertips.]

Yeah, I better get one before all the cool ones are gone. Just cos it's a dystopia doesn't mean I can't look good. I wonder if they got those ones with fur hoods like my vest...

[Then he lets go of Haruto's hand.]

Should I make some breakfast? I already ate a little somethin' but I feel like soft boiled eggs and rice.

[ringwizard]

If you tackle me, I'm giving you the red card. Forever.

[He leans closer, fondly. He likes sharing space, when he lets himself get close. Nitoh's body heat seeps through his clothes.]

Knowing this place, it'll probably be a real animal head, honestly. You might be better off with a coat you can wear the vest under. Since the vest is cute.

['I'm not cute, I'm badass!' No. Not true. He pulls away after Nitoh does, putting his hands to his hips.]

I could eat, if you're volunteering to cook.

[ringbeast]

Again, I don't usually hear you complainin' about it.

[This is a lie, Haruto usually complains loudly when Nitoh starts to roughhouse, but not in a bad way.]

I dunno I think I could rock the wild man look. [He scoffs] Cute. I'll cute you. And yeah, I'll cook. Not like you do, anyway.

[He gets up and moves toward the kitchen, stretching his shoulders and then getting out the pans and leftover rice.]

[ringwizard]

Shows how much you're listening...

[He's pretty sure his complaints have been clear enough, but then it's not like Nitoh listens much anyway.]

I'd worry about you getting too wild. No fur rugs in the apartment. Or mounted animal heads. [He doesn't argue the way Nitoh laughs off cute, satisfied with himself nonetheless as he leans back against the couch's arm.] Well, why would I, when you do it so much better?

[ringbeast]

[He just laughs.]

Yeah, but I'd make it all look good. I'm kinda lookin' for something cool like that to put up in my room. I guess I'll have to see how things go at the flea markets.

[He starts the cooking and grins.]

Well, I'm no chef, but I'm not sure I wanna risk whatever you might be making.

[ringwizard]

[Haruto groans, low.]

I have to sleep in there too, you know.

[As if it isn't creepy enough with the ghosts.]

Hey! My congee didn't kill you, did it?

[ringbeast]

[He laughs from the kitchen]

Congee was invented cos some guy left the rice on too long! The whole recipe is just screwin' stuff up!

[He turns up the heat to let the sizzle of melting lard cover Haruto's indignant retort and smirks as he waits for the pan to cool down enough to make th eggs soft-yolked instead of burned.]

[ringwizard]

[SCOWLING. LOTS OF SCOWLING.

He grumbles under his breath about you being a screwup, but that felt both mean and weak, so he doesn't repeat it.]

The only screwup here is me still finding you attractive.