Guren Ichinose (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
swordfucker) wrote2018-03-10 06:49 pm
swordfucker) wrote2018-03-10 06:49 pm
IC Inbox
Guren Ichinose | Red | #A5211F
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Guren Ichinose | Red | #A5211F
Text | Action
Sorry about that. I had to take care of Akechi first.
I'm fine. What happened with you?
I'm fine. What happened with you?
[Guren is full of half lies and partial truths. He loves each and every friend he makes, but he places them all before himself, no matter what they say. He's so emotional over this that he desperately needs help, but instead of admitting it, he's just trying to move on, and half of the time it's his normal personality dealing with it, and half of the time it's his namanari side. No one can tell the difference here, either. Not when he's being careful.
So he laughs, quietly, still a little distant.]
You're good at that. [Teasing, affectionate enough to be clear that he doesn't mean it as an insult.]
So he laughs, quietly, still a little distant.]
You're good at that. [Teasing, affectionate enough to be clear that he doesn't mean it as an insult.]
[There's a lot there to unpack that Minato still doesn't know or understand, of course--but the best he can do is to keep trying to understand Guren, day after day.
Maybe someday, it'll be enough.
The affectionate teasing, at least, gets a soft snort out of Minato.]
...Yeah, I think I am. [It's his only real saving grace, his refusal to give up on people. Over and over again, that's...his real virtue.]
But you know... since that's how it's going to be... [With Guren always saying he's fine--] I guess I'll just have to always check up on you.
[Even if Guren really is fine, every single situation...that's the best way for him to be sure for himself that it's true (or not), right?]
Maybe someday, it'll be enough.
The affectionate teasing, at least, gets a soft snort out of Minato.]
...Yeah, I think I am. [It's his only real saving grace, his refusal to give up on people. Over and over again, that's...his real virtue.]
But you know... since that's how it's going to be... [With Guren always saying he's fine--] I guess I'll just have to always check up on you.
[Even if Guren really is fine, every single situation...that's the best way for him to be sure for himself that it's true (or not), right?]
[He places a hand on his hip, staring incredulously at Minato. Hang on, revealing his tsun secret doesn't mean using it against him? That basic math isn't allowed?]
Don't you have other people to bother?
Don't you have other people to bother?
How annoying.
[He's so mean, he loves it, really... But Mahiru is still hanging around, and he still doesn't have the willpower to make her vanish. She's sitting on the countertop, swinging her legs as she leans over the bunny apples.
"I could have made you a bento with apples like this, Guren. Is that what you'd like?"]
Get lost. [That alone might have seemed like a really mean comment to Minato, and maybe it still does, but it's accompanied with a strange swat of his hand over the plate before he grabs another apple. Leave him alone!!! Demon!!!]
[He's so mean, he loves it, really... But Mahiru is still hanging around, and he still doesn't have the willpower to make her vanish. She's sitting on the countertop, swinging her legs as she leans over the bunny apples.
"I could have made you a bento with apples like this, Guren. Is that what you'd like?"]
Get lost. [That alone might have seemed like a really mean comment to Minato, and maybe it still does, but it's accompanied with a strange swat of his hand over the plate before he grabs another apple. Leave him alone!!! Demon!!!]
[... Hm.
Maybe this would seem stranger if Minato was someone without multiple pieces of his psyche floating around in his head, but... right now, he's starting to wonder.
Guren isn't even really looking at him.]
... Ichinose-san... [Hm.] I know this might sound weird, but... is there someone else there?
Maybe this would seem stranger if Minato was someone without multiple pieces of his psyche floating around in his head, but... right now, he's starting to wonder.
Guren isn't even really looking at him.]
... Ichinose-san... [Hm.] I know this might sound weird, but... is there someone else there?
[ Ah. No one has ever asked him straight up, but then he’s never been this bothered, either. In the car, with his friends, but they knew not to ask. He sighs, his eyes acthally directly finding Mahiru as she says some obnoxious comment about introducing her. ]
No one to worry about. [ But he pauses again, and relents. ] Just a demon. The one in my blade. Keep that to yourself.
No one to worry about. [ But he pauses again, and relents. ] Just a demon. The one in my blade. Keep that to yourself.
[Oh. Izuku places a hand over his chest where Guren had tapped him, still looking up at him with that overwhelmed expression on his face. We're family now. For the longest time, it's only been him and his mom, his father simply absent in a way that doesn't even hurt him anymore. You can't really miss someone you barely remember.
For Guren to just say something like that, to claim Izuku as family when no one used to want him around--it's a lot to take in all at once.]
Okay. [Izuku's voice cracks with emotion, the tears welling up again, because how can he not cry at a time like this? At least they're happy tears this time. Hurriedly, he wipes them away and beams at Guren.] That... that means it's the same for you. I know I'm still... just in training, but if there's anything you need, I want to know.
For Guren to just say something like that, to claim Izuku as family when no one used to want him around--it's a lot to take in all at once.]
Okay. [Izuku's voice cracks with emotion, the tears welling up again, because how can he not cry at a time like this? At least they're happy tears this time. Hurriedly, he wipes them away and beams at Guren.] That... that means it's the same for you. I know I'm still... just in training, but if there's anything you need, I want to know.
Don't apologize! I would've wanted you to do that anyway.
How is he?
We didn't run into much trouble on our path.
How is he?
We didn't run into much trouble on our path.
With cursed gear, demons can talk to their wielder in a space in their heart.
[Mahiru is just... extra weird and powerful. Guren was an accidental test subject for this whole thing, so it's all kind of a wild ride. He crosses his arms, and makes Mahiru actually vanish.]
Or, in our minds. I'd have to sleep to go talk to her in my heart, but here, she can tell me things only I can see. It's part of how they try to tempt humans into using too much power.
[Mahiru is just... extra weird and powerful. Guren was an accidental test subject for this whole thing, so it's all kind of a wild ride. He crosses his arms, and makes Mahiru actually vanish.]
Or, in our minds. I'd have to sleep to go talk to her in my heart, but here, she can tell me things only I can see. It's part of how they try to tempt humans into using too much power.
[That's better, and Guren laughs, reaching for a cloth nearby that Izuku was probably using earlier to drop on his head, playful.]
I don't need anything from a crybaby. [He's teasing, of course. It means agreement... even if he's never been good at that.] Come on, keep cleaning. I'll help you out.
I don't need anything from a crybaby. [He's teasing, of course. It means agreement... even if he's never been good at that.] Come on, keep cleaning. I'll help you out.
Not great. He gave in to a demon. His color is gone completely, and so are his emotions.
[That's a lot. It's a lot to process, but what he's really taking away from this is:]
So... does that mean she's trying to tempt you all the time?
[Is Guren dealing with this burden all the time, every single day, every minute, over and over and over again?
That sounds exhausting.]
So... does that mean she's trying to tempt you all the time?
[Is Guren dealing with this burden all the time, every single day, every minute, over and over and over again?
That sounds exhausting.]
...Kind of.
[It's been eight years with this demon, another year with the demon before that. He's so used to it all that it's hard to think of when he didn't have that voice inside of him that he could reach out to for power. He can remember it, of course, but the peace, the quiet... they're distant memories.]
But a demon has no desires of their own. They latch onto the desires of their host and encourage them. She wants what I want, and with drugs and the restrictions already in place, I'm in control. You don't have to worry.
[Probably. Maybe.]
[It's been eight years with this demon, another year with the demon before that. He's so used to it all that it's hard to think of when he didn't have that voice inside of him that he could reach out to for power. He can remember it, of course, but the peace, the quiet... they're distant memories.]
But a demon has no desires of their own. They latch onto the desires of their host and encourage them. She wants what I want, and with drugs and the restrictions already in place, I'm in control. You don't have to worry.
[Probably. Maybe.]
[Minato just shakes his head at that, expression a little rueful. Even now, Guren...
That's not at all what he's concerned about.]
I'm not worried about you losing control, Ichinose-san.
[... He tilts his head.]
But... it sounds really exhausting. That's what I'm worried about.
[Minato has faith in people. He definitely has faith in Guren, who has been nothing but impressive this entire time. He's not worried Guren will lose control, he's just worried about Guren.]
That's not at all what he's concerned about.]
I'm not worried about you losing control, Ichinose-san.
[... He tilts his head.]
But... it sounds really exhausting. That's what I'm worried about.
[Minato has faith in people. He definitely has faith in Guren, who has been nothing but impressive this entire time. He's not worried Guren will lose control, he's just worried about Guren.]
[...What an unbelievable answer. That's not what he should be worried about at all. He laughs, because he's not sure how else to react.]
So, what, are you going to tell me I have to nap? Life is exhausting. We just have to keep going and deal with it.
So, what, are you going to tell me I have to nap? Life is exhausting. We just have to keep going and deal with it.
[It's a very Minato answer, though--so best get used to it, Guren.]
... Maybe you should nap.
[Maybe you should!!]
I think it's admirable the way you always keep going, no matter what, and do your best to protect people, Ichinose-san. But... what's wrong with taking a nap sometimes?
[SLEEP... MORE.....]
... Maybe you should nap.
[Maybe you should!!]
I think it's admirable the way you always keep going, no matter what, and do your best to protect people, Ichinose-san. But... what's wrong with taking a nap sometimes?
[SLEEP... MORE.....]
[Ahhh, geez!! Nagging!! He sighs like he's irritated, even if he does appreciate the concern. But appreciation for it doesn't mean he'll listen, either.]
I sleep every night. I don't need to waste my time doing it during the day. [He has slept maybe one or two hours maybe every other night, lately, he is a mess.]
I sleep every night. I don't need to waste my time doing it during the day. [He has slept maybe one or two hours maybe every other night, lately, he is a mess.]
[Knock, knock, knock!
It's a few hours after Guren texted her about sparring and she wasn't going to bother him but... he just seemed so terse. It's only been a few days after their foray into the forest and he's already pushing himself to contact people. She's not sure if he's doing it to stay busy or what, but whatever it is she decides that he needs a break.
Hopefully he doesn't get too annoyed at her for the unexpected visit.]
It's a few hours after Guren texted her about sparring and she wasn't going to bother him but... he just seemed so terse. It's only been a few days after their foray into the forest and he's already pushing himself to contact people. She's not sure if he's doing it to stay busy or what, but whatever it is she decides that he needs a break.
Hopefully he doesn't get too annoyed at her for the unexpected visit.]
I don't care. Believe what you want.
[Ah, he's being short again... And to cover it up, he's going for another apple slice. At least he's eating? He hasn't eaten in a while, he needed this.] I don't have time for naps.
[Ah, he's being short again... And to cover it up, he's going for another apple slice. At least he's eating? He hasn't eaten in a while, he needed this.] I don't have time for naps.
[He's busy, he's tired, he's stressed— all of this is hidden from his face with expertise, but his actions are more focused and his eyes look a little dead when he answers the door. Emma gets a long stare before Guren opens the door the rest of the way, sighing. She's going to want to come in, of course.]
What do you want?
[But he's curt... Moreso than usual, if him immediately turning to walk inside and away says anything.]
What do you want?
[But he's curt... Moreso than usual, if him immediately turning to walk inside and away says anything.]
I'm serious. [He half-heartedly protests, even as his face scrunches up when he grabs the cloth and brushes the dust out of his hair.]
You're just getting all the dirt and dust I cleaned everywhere again. [Izuku teases him right back, still red-eyed from the crying, but looking much happier now.]
You're just getting all the dirt and dust I cleaned everywhere again. [Izuku teases him right back, still red-eyed from the crying, but looking much happier now.]
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