expiationnet | festival;

(himself is some ways, different in others. his essence cannot change, though - even if he has a better understanding of what about him bites him in the ass on occasion. manjiro is just manjiro.

there isn't any trembling on his voice as he continues his exercising, even as he speaks through it.)

Forreal.

(but once scott actually does it, it makes mikey giggle a little. it feels like someone placed a grape on his back, which is ridiculous. he hates this place. the only thing that changes is his focus on balance, so scott doesn't fly off.

well, better to plank. so, he's just planking.)

Sure thing. Dude, you ain't weighing at all. How much do you weigh? Grab another.

[He's tempted to smack the back of Mikey's thick skull with the weight in his hand. Like, he's pretty sure that Mikey could cause a dent in the weight and not the other way around, but Scott also doesn't want to chance it in case his head isn't actually mightier. So, he just settles for smacking Mikey's back with his hand, a grunt leaving him because he's no lightweight!!

Not like he's known as slim or something in the future okay--]

Fuck off man, I'm comfortable now. I'm not bending down to pick up another weight.

[...Guess he is actually sort of comfortable. At least Mikey probably has a harder time seeing his expressions like this.]

You weigh like a fucking grape.

(fortunately, he doesn't feel all that murderous violent thoughts, or he'd dip a hip and make scott fall off from his back. but, right now, he too is comfortable, planking doesn't break a sweat for him so far.

he can withstand it for a few more minutes before he makes scott help some other way.)

Fucking get it off your chest already, I know you ain't just come see how I'm doin'.

[You're a grape--

This is definitely the weirdest way he's ever talked to another person before. Normally he'd go for something at a diner or maybe just have a face to face conversation like any other regular person, but nope, here he is sitting on Mikey's back and letting himself be moved up and down from the other's planking.]

Shut up. [He says in response to... everything. He just needs a couple moments to gather his thoughts and Mikey is making it hard. Yeah, he's blaming everything on him, so sue Scott. It's also maybe just a little nice to hear his friend ask what he wants like this. Dumb feelings.]

I just saw your message about that holiday. Sounded kind of cool, I guess.

Obon? Yeah. Huge thing that's been around for centuries - bit of a Buddhist and Shinto fusion, right up my alley.

(the signs of manjiro's spiritual self are subtle, but they're there. the 'manji' on everything, from his name, his gang, the racing company he started for himself, the shrine where toman would rally.

he does a little wiggle, though, just for funsies.)

You wanna try a Yukata or somethin'? I got a bunch.

[Scott really doesn't know much about Buddhist or Shinto religions, honestly he's a little surprised that Mikey follows any religion whatsoever. He's not bothered by it though, just shrugging briefly before leaning his chin against his hand as a noncommittal noise leaves him.]

You mentioned a Yukata in your announcement. [He knows it's some style of Japanese clothes, but.] Yeah, I'll wear one. Never tried something like that before though.

[He wonders if Kotone would be pleased to see him wearing a Yukata. He hopes so. Also, yes, he is definitely stalling talking about feelings and crap by discussing Obon first.]

Trynna impress Kototan?

(that's the first thought that comes into his mind - and as such, he will express it. his workout should already be done anyway, so he wiggles a little bit to tell scott to move out of his back so he can stand.)

I might have something that fits you, but even if I don't, we can take some to the tailor's to make adjustments or we can take it so they have a basis to work on one for you.

[Wow, called out immediately.]

What of it?

[Scott huffs once more, but he really can't deny Mikey's very accurate claim. Yeah, so he wants to impress Kotone, wear something from her culture. He thinks she'd like it. Any chance he has to make her smile, he's more than willing to take it.

...For the most part. Wearing a yukata shouldn't be a problem at all.

Nonetheless, Scott climbs off Mikey, dropping the weight on the ground before stretching a little. Man, his friend really is some muscle machine for being able to do his workout like that... or he can just blame the super strength. Eh, Mikey's always been a meathead.]

That sounds good, yeah. [Scott acknowledges, before turning slightly to face Mikey again.] ...Thanks.

Nothin'. I'mma also look cute as fuck, so I guess you can try to outshine me or somethin'. I'll show you what I'm wearing, too.

(it's nice, you know. with how many Japanese friends scott has, to understand them a little bit better, their beliefs, their culture. it makes him a little more excited about it, to be able to show scott something he holds so dear.

with a shake of his head and a simple stretch of arms above his head, he can gesture to the staircase.)

Nah, don't mention it. Let's go to Shinichiro's room, he probably would have something from when he was younger -- all the height in this fucking family went to him.

(that room has always been off-limits, but considering he's alive, manjiro can stop hogging it. it'd also make the man happier to be around the community - manjiro had just been hard at grief and a little selfish.)

I'm definitely going to outshine you. American charm or whatever.

[It really is so easy to tease Mikey again, isn't it? Scott almost finds himself going back into that natural banter between them, although a part of him still hasn't completely let go of what happened. Maybe he just needs more time, that's probably understandable, right?? Stuff like this is just hard. At least the thought of wearing a yukata and making Kotone happy is simple and easy to go along with.

There's no second thoughts about that.

Still, Scott has sort of clamped up just a little, hands in the pockets of his jeans as he shrugs at Mikey.]

Alright, cool. Let's go.

Please, with this hair? You cannot outpretty me, to say the least.

(he jabs right back, a little laughter as he guides them to the upper floor. it's not one he took scott frequently, so he doesn't expect him to know where he was going. the room he opens is the one that is the most lived in, because mikey never really moved anything around, nor allowed another person in. he cleaned it, but everything always stayed as was.)

Just so you know, he's like, super alive. This doesn't feel cursed anymore, so yeah, come in.

It's not all about the hair dude.

[Look, Scott isn't going to argue about whose hair is prettier, he knows that Mikey wins in that department. Gotta argue in a different way! Geez, what a pain in the ass though... especially as the former biker laughs in that bright way. He really is an asshole for making him feel happy for Mikey. He knows he's only laughing like that because a lot of weight is off his chest, at least when it comes to stuff back home.

He's not going to forget that, not when so many of his friends are miserable back home. Or dead.

Stepping into the most unfamiliar room, Scott looks around for a moment before turning attentively towards Mikey.]

...Things really turned out better for you, didn't they? [Scott asks softly. Yeah, Mikey told him last time, but seeing the undeniable proof has really hammered it home.] And those close to you.

Hah, you think I'm pretty, no take-backs.

(please, no one has in a while, he needs to think he has heard it! but, even if scott is mad at him, it doesn't dim the smile. it's the same that he used to give before... everything. so bright that it may even light up a room. with no hesitation, manjiro enters, finding his way towards the older man's wardrobe. he's not an extravagant person - there are old gang uniforms with 'black dragon' and 'president' stitched on it, a selection of simple outfits, and manjiro has to tiptoe to get some yukatas from the shelf.)

Mhm? Yeah. It's not perfect, cuz it ain't ever gon be perfect, but better and alive sounds like 'good ending' in my book.

(his mom still died. izana was still abandoned, so was emma, the list goes on. but they... won. they managed.)

I'm still working things out here. I'm... Managing. You ain't happy with me for sure, and well, Yuchin is... We're solving things, I think. It's better, and all I can ask for. I just haven't talked to Yosuke yet, cuz, you know. I want things to be better before I do.

(he's telling as he's putting the yukata for view on the bed, careful with each one of them.)

There ya go. All Shinichiro's yukatas. Man, if you shake this room, I don't even know what you might find.

Edited 2024-07-09 01:21 (UTC)

[That's not what he said!!

Obviously, Mikey is teasing him though, that bright smile not dimming in the slightest as he shuffles into the room and starts digging through the wardrobe. It really is a good look on him, not that he'll say it out loud, because he's supposed to somewhat upset still. He'll... he'll just be secretly relieved and happy for him, even if it's really not that much of a secret. He wonders if Dazai's whole 'give people second chances as long as they're trying to do better' applies now. Probably.

Scott continues to hover nearby, watching Mikey as he digs through Shinichiro's belongings.]

Yeah, I'm still upset. [He confirms, but the mutant doesn't leave at that, sighing lightly even as Mikey starts placing the yukatas on the bed. They look nice, although he might just ask his friend to choose one for him. Hard to pick a color when everything's red. Although honestly, the festival stuff has kind of shifted to the back of his mind, focused on his friendship with the biker.]

But... I don't want to avoid you, Mikey. [Especially if Yu is really trying to move forward in his own way. He told the other teen that he doesn't want to avoid Mikey and it's clear Yu has taken that same path. If he's managed, so can Scott.]

Yeah, I know, but you're trying not to be.

(seems like they're talking now, so manjiro gives the yukata work a little break. no space on the bed means he gets to sit on the floor, tapping the space before him to invite the other boy to join him.

a gentle laugh comes out of him, and it's more of disbelief than anything else - it's not the first time he hears something like this, and he thinks it won't be the last.)

For some reason? People always come around for me. I don't think I'm worth it, but I can't stop being thankful.

[He accepts the invitation easily enough, plopping himself in front of Mikey and sitting cross-legged in front of him. Scott doesn't look 100% comfortable, but he seems like he at least wants to have this conversation now. He's had time to think since their last conversation, not to mention that he's spoken to Yu, so... no point avoiding this. He doesn't want to avoid it, not if he's going to continue hanging out with Mikey. Maybe the other teen could ignore it, but for Scott, it would just be a cloud hanging over their heads.

He can do this. It's just sorting out his stupid feelings.

Still, he snorts hearing Mikey's comment. Dude's still surprised by that?]

Because you're... [Good? Maybe not the thing he really wants to say after Mikey kicked him and choked Yu. Not to mention being a former biker probably still meant that he did some crappy things. So, what does Scott say? He thinks back on the times Mikey has hung out with him, remembering how he helped out and-- guess that's the answer, isn't it? At least Scott's.

He sighs lightly, hands folded in his lap as he looks at him. He's not sure if Mikey needs to hear this.]

You are worth it. You've helped me with my shit multiple times in the past. Hard to just brush that away. [It really is talking about feelings time, huh? Somehow, he's kind of gotten used to it since coming here. Between all the emotional outbursts of his own and listening to others... yeah. Scott Summers, bona fide expert or whatever, even if he's not.]

I don't think I'm the one who gets to decide how you feel, so if you think that, then you think that and it's your choice n' all.

(kotone said as much, and he agrees. nobody could tell mikey shit, so he gets that stubbornness that arises from the boy. either way, what a sore point that scott stumbled upon. the large irises, black and hollow, scan the room they are in - the reason why he had that curse is remembered by him in each turn and corner. he could never blame shinichiro for it, he did it out of love, out of yearning.

he respects it.

he also doesn't think he was worth it, much less all that takemichi went through, even less what his friends here are. his eyes eventually fall back onto the boy in front of him, and there's a sigh. the fact is, better doesn't mean perfect. talking is never going to be his strong point, he can't develop too much feeling through it, but he will at least be honest. he owes scot that much.)

Listen, Summers, I... Everyone went to great lengths for me, always, all the time, here and at home, in every possible timeline. I've messed up everywhere, but at home, the only person who knows everything I have done is Takemitchy, who never really cared about how horrible I can be. I worked so hard to make sure everyone would be okay - but here, I have to face things I haven't had to think about in a long while.

I don't know how to make it better with everyone. I can only try. I don't think I am worth all this fucking trouble, but if you think I am, all I can do is honor it.

Edited 2024-07-10 17:53 (UTC)

Good, because I don't feel like arguing about that.

[He is grateful for that, honestly. He really didn't want to spend the next few minutes trying to reinforce his point. Although they're already heading to Big Emotion Talk, it's nice not needing to defend his position and feelings on that. Mikey will just have to accept that Scott cares, even if he did shitty things. ~~It definitely helps that he still doesn't know that he actually killed Yu.~~

He wants to say he's surprised that Mikey has such little regard for himself, but he remembers that other conversation he had with him, where Mikey admitted that didn't really live for his own future. It felt familiar in a heartachingly way. Still, his ruby shades meets those large irises unflinchingly.]

A good start is not kicking me in the fucking face again. [He snorts, but also, yeah, Mikey better not.] ...Look, an asshole told me once before that as long as you're trying your hardest to do better, be better, then you should be given that chance. I'd be surprised if you knew what to do immediately anyway.

[Granted, that was also paired with Dazai pretending to abandon him and making Scott feel all kinds of bad ways, but don't worry about that. The point was made loud and clear, nearly seared into his mind. Truly a lesson he'd never forget.] I'm not excusing the crap that happened though, so don't worry about that. I'm not Takemitchy either.

I could bite you if I ever need to fight you, probably would do a hella less damage.

(trying a humor, but it's hard to guarantee anything. how many times have things happened beyond their control? how many incidents, how many fights, how many distortions has he ever seen? scott might be the next one to lose control, it'd not be the first time it happens to someone in this land.

the last point does have him sniggering, because actually? who even is takemichi if not takemichi himself?)

Yeah. I can't tell you all how to feel, is all. We'll see how things go, you can take your time through it.

... And his name is Takemichi, actually. I just call him like that, and then everyone in ToMan does, too. Cute that you do. I'll miss him here.

Just punch me man, even if it'd hurt more. It's about pride at that point.

[Also, Mikey sinking his teeth into his arm sounds pretty painful!! Or wherever else. Nope, he's not putting any more thought into that because really, he doesn't want to fight the other teen again. Maybe it will happen at some point because of some other crap in this world, but Scott isn't going to think about it right now. He just doesn't want to. It's already a struggle dealing with his current feelings.

He's grateful that Mikey is letting him take his time though. Giving him space when he needs it or being there when Scott seeks him out. Mikey's always been pretty cognizant about crap like that though, huh? It's one thing that he used to really admire about him. Maybe still does.]

Oh, right. [He acknowledges almost awkwardly, nodding a little. If Mikey doesn't mind, he doesn't mind... and guess the other teen isn't here to clarify what he wants.]

Yeah, he was a good friend. [Not that Mikey needs that reassurance, but.] And look, you haven't pushed me away forever.

My punches are worse, though.

(mmmm, are they? not really. but he wants to laugh at that, to prefer to be punched rather than bitten.

naturally, he wishes things could go back to normal. part of him knows this place will put them in the same place manjiro had been - perhaps differently, but it seems like loss of control is a given. he just hopes they deal with it better than manjiro has.

he figures that's the issue, at least.)

He's... Definitely one of the biggest loves of my life. Along with Kenchin, Baji, and... Yuchin. I wish you spent more time with him, he's this beacon of hope that just never quits. We need him around.

(we - as in aldrip. someone who can scream, cry, and show up either way, knowing fully well he will succeed - somehow.)

Yeah, we actually have him to thank for that, too.

Edited 2024-07-20 20:54 (UTC)

[If Scott's surprised to hear Mikey openly declare Takemichi as one of his biggest loves in his life, he doesn't show it. Mostly because he's not surprised in the first place. It's not like he's unaware that his friend is gay and it's always been apparent that him and the disappeared biker were extremely close. He'll never forget the time Takemichi reached out to him about Mikey's curse and everything.

...He would say that it's upsetting that the teen isn't here to see Mikey now, but he's going to be okay with him in their actual world.]

Maybe you should start following in his footsteps.

[Be a beacon of hope and stuff. Scott doesn't think it's impossible for Mikey-- this Mikey.]

I actually have. He's been fighting for a better future with me since we came back to freaking '98.

(and he knows scott too well. it's actually very fun to him per se to give him some panic, to make him choke a little because mikey can't help but be too blunt.

so. might as well bring that back, just for old time's sake.)

Unfortunately, too straight, kinda like you. I've only managed a kiss here before he left. No chance for me when I'm back home, boo.

[Time travel stuff is so confusing. Scott's really trying to follow everything Mikey's told him because it's really important stuff, but at least he can always remember that things turned out (mostly) okay for him. As long as that holds true, he's fine hearing the weird time loops and stuff or whatever strange sequence of events that led Mikey to be like this now.

There's a moment where he feels good about stuff again and then--]

What the fuck???

[Scott just immediately responds, a flush rising to his cheeks because he was not expecting Mikey to just come out and say something like that! Good thing he wasn't drinking anything or else all of that liquid would be on his friend right now.]

(and immediately, manjiro falls to the floor in laughter, holding his stomach as he lets the giggles and chuckles leave him. it's always so funny - scott, claude. too reserved, and it makes his gremlin self come out immediately.)

What, the -- kiss part, or the fact he's getting married to a girl sometime? Both true. God-- I think I got laughing cramps--.

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