swordfucker | IC Inbox

Skip to Main Content

IC Inbox

Guren Ichinose | Red | #A5211F

Text | Action

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[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.]

...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.]

[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.]

[...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.

[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.....]

[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.]

[... Minato peers at Guren quietly at that for a long moment.]

... I'm not really sure I believe you, actually, now that you mention it.

[Especially after all of that conversation about Guren totally not talking about his real feelings ever.]

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.

[He doesn't seem to mind, at least.

But.

Guren does get an arched eyebrow for his trouble.]

No...? What else are you spending your time doing all day and all night here?

[Like yeah, there's a lot going on here, but there's also a fat lot of nothing going on here, too.]

[Hrmm... He stares blankly at him for another long moment.]

Those match ups, checking up on the other groups who went into the forest, writing out ideas on how to get everything that was lost back, brainstorming ideas for new drugs to combat it all.

[PLENTY!!!] Sometimes I eat or take a shit.

[Are you happy, Minato]

[Honestly, yeah..... honesty is good. He's very happy.]

I'm not going to say that that's not all important, because obviously it is... but I still think you can fit some more naps into that schedule.

Ahaha. When we get out of this place, you can come tell that to my higher ups.

[They don't let him rest anyway!!! But the joke is there, and he doesn't intend to nap, anyway. Not now. He'll sleep and nap plenty when there's not shit going on, even in the middle of meetings from said higher ups, in fact! But now? He can't. There are too many people that need help.

He's wasting too much time right now, even.]

I'm glad you're doing alright, Minato. But I have to get back to work. Thanks for the snack.

[... Hm. Minato can't say he's satisfied with this, but... he can tell when he's not going to get anything more out of Guren than this.

He should just be glad Guren ate, huh...?]

Okay. [For now, he'll behave.] I'll just keep pestering you later, then. [.. Behave-ish.

A quick bow of his head.] Thanks for letting me in, Ichinose-san.

You're a real pain. I'm fine.

[But he's not, and he knows he's not going to convince Minato now after everything else. Even if he wants him to focus on himself, instead, or on others... He doesn't deserve any of this concern.

Reaching over, he ruffles Minato's hair. It's not an apology or anything close, but he hopes it can relieve any worry at least a little. Look, he can do dad things!! He's totally fine!]

I'll talk to you later, so get out already. [Affectionately, he says this...]

[he does appreciate the hair ruffles... Minato's grown up with very little in the way of physical affection, so even at a moment like this, when Guren's obviously just trying to convince him that he's fine... it's nice.

He likes it.

But it's okay. He just flashes Guren a vaguely amused look, and nods.]

Alright, alright, I get it. Talk to you later, Ichinose-san.

[And off he goes...but further pestering will happen later.]

Yeah. See ya.

[He turns his attention back to the last cute little apple slices while Minato leaves, considering them quietly. Considering everything Minato keeps trying to do for him. He appreciates it, he really does, but until everyone is better... he can't just stop.

Soon enough, he'll hear from everyone that they're better and be able to sleep himself. But not just yet.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only