spider-man pointing meme

[catarou]

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[catarou]

[ In the aftermath of the party, Gentaro is surprised at himself. Joining the party game that involves physical intimacy? He isn't totally sure why he'd put himself out there. Still... he doesn't exactly regret it. It is somewhat embarrassing that the first people he'd ever kissed had been strangers, but...

Look, he has eyes. He also has an appreciation for beauty, and that includes people. One in particular's been on his mind. He won't admit that, though, not ever. This competition won't last forever, and he'd come here for only one reason.

Everything else is just a bonus, but he's certain he won't go gallivanting around.

Anyway. The next morning, he's taking a stroll around the courtyard. It gives him time to think, even if that's somewhat dangerous. Too many thoughts in his head has never exactly worked out. He is, at least, aware of the fact that the very person he's tried not to think too much about seems to have had the same idea. ]

Ah, good morning.

[partymagician]

[ Gentaro was one of the highlights of the party, especially with his fashionably late entrance. It left enough of an impression on Fai that he doesn't even let himself think as he makes a beeline for Gentaro when he sees him the next morning.

That urge to bother rises up and he can't help himself, it's what has him sidling right up to Gentaro as they both walk. ]

Good morning~ Taking a nice walk to help recover from last night's festivities?

[catarou]

[ The urge to bother? Gentaro can relate.

Surprisingly--or maybe not so surprisingly--he's glad for the company. Hm. There's a moment of realization: He really has changed, and he chalks that up to Dice and Ramuda's friendship.

He clears his throat lightly. ]

Oho, you have caught me. You see, in my old age, I have become quite easily exhausted. I fear I may never recover completely... It truly is a tragedy.

[partymagician]

Ah, a tragedy indeed!

[ Fai puts an arm around Gentaro's shoulders in an attempt to guide him out of the courtyard. ]

Do I need to put you back in bed, old man? I'll tuck you in and everything too~

[catarou]

[ Oh, this backfired. It's fine. If he keeps playing it up, he can distract himself. ]

What a kind young man... I shall remember this selfless kindness for the rest of my days.

[partymagician]

I'm glad I'll make such an impact on you!

[ Fai continues to lead them out of the courtyard, but he doesn't go back to their rooms. Instead, he's walking towards the restaurant. ]

Although... I'm certainly older than you are.

[catarou]

[ He really doesn't mind, because he could use a bite to eat. ]

Goodness, you look very good for your age... however old you are.

[partymagician]

Hehe... take a guess!

[ The age on his profile is just an estimate based off of his looks, so he's curious what Gentaro might say.

He guides Gentaro to one of the tables, pulling a chair out for him. ]

[catarou]

Making me work for an answer? You are quite the crafty one.

[ But he's charming, too. Gentaro takes his seat, considering. With so many people from so many different worlds, anything is possible. From the way Fai's spoken... ]

One hundred, perhaps? Two?

[partymagician]

[ Fai plops into his own seat right across from Gentaro, immediately resting his chin in his hand. ]

Ah, got it on the first try! I’m one hundred or so. You tend to lose count after a certain amount of time, you see.

[ He grins. ]

What a smart man you are.

[catarou]

Why, thank you.

[ He nearly mirrors him, but instead, his hand curls gently against his cheek. ]

Someone who has seen as many years as you must have quite the stories.

[partymagician]

I do! But I’m sure you have plenty of interesting stories of your own as well.

[ In other words, please don’t make him talk about himself. ]

[catarou]

Oho, do you think so? I am but a humble office worker, you see....

[ Big mood, Fai. Gentaro has a lot of baggage, and he has no plans to unpack it. ]

week 3... :worry:

[catarou]

[ Gentaro's been avoiding him.

It'd started around Thursday, after things had gotten too out of hand the night before. It's not that he isn't attracted to Fai. He very much is, and not just because he's achingly beautiful. By now, he's more than caught onto the fact that they have so much in common, so much that it's terrifying.

In a heartbeat, Gentaro would have put himself completely in Fai's hands... if it weren't for his fear of being too vulnerable. Fai's broken down some of those walls already. They're brittle now. Gentaro can't let him smash them to bits until they're nothing but dust. It's entirely too risky to continue this... whatever it is.

(He refuses to admit that it's much more than attraction.)

So, after the dates have finished, Gentaro heads straight to his room. He'd gotten matched with another, and it should have brought him some relief. He'd intended to take a match to that bridge and never look back.

But his heart aches terribly when he thinks of Fai with someone else. ]

[partymagician]

[ He had wondered if Gentaro would avoid him after things went farther than just a simple kiss. After all, Fai knows that much of this is uncharted territory for Gentaro and that what they did might cause confusing feelings for him.

...Only, it caused confusing feelings for Fai instead.

Especially when Gentaro rejected him. While he knew rejection was the name of the game and he had done the exact same thing to plenty of people already, the way his heart ached to see "REJECTED" on his phone screen was unsettling. He's felt a pit in his stomach ever since then, and he knows that said pit can only be relieved by talking to the cause of it.

Which is why he's waiting outside of Gentaro's room in the hopes that Gentaro would make a beeline for it after their dates. ]

...Ah. You did come back here after all.

[catarou]

[ He really should have known.

Of course Fai would seek him out after that. He'd like to say he wouldn't do the same, but Gentaro can't fool himself. A part of him appreciates that Fai's come to see him, but he also feels terrible and guilty. His rejection hadn't had the intended effect. He'd meant to chase him away.

But here he is, and Gentaro has to face the consequences of that choice.

He'd frozen in place the moment he'd seen him, and it takes a couple of fleeting moments for him to recover. ]

Naturally. [ He at least looks Fai in the face, but it's very much detached, like he doesn't want Fai to come any closer, physically or otherwise. Yet he walks over to the door and starts to open it. ] It has been a long day. I plan on turning in early, you see.

[partymagician]

[ A flash of anger rises up in his chest, threatens to spill out past his lips in the form of words he’d surely regret. But he manages to tamp it down to a low simmer instead, breathing out through gritted teeth. ]

Early? The evening has barely just begun.

[ And he reaches out to grab onto Gentaro’s wrist, his fingers tight in their grip.

He may as well let the mask drop now. That very movement shows all of his cards, after all. ]

Why did you reject me? Give me a reason and I’ll leave you alone. I just want to know why.

[ He worried his bottom lip, the anxiety he so often conceals seeping through and onto his face. If he did something wrong, he has to know what it was. ]

[catarou]

[ It's not at all difficult to identify some of what Fai's feeling. That breath out--yeah, that's something he picks up on. He feels another stab of guilt, and he looks away. He can't even look at Fai when he knows he's hurt him.

That's what he does, though. Even if someone might not realize it, even if he keeps it secret, he knows in the end that he'll hurt people.

But Fai reaches out and that's when he has to look at him. Gentaro makes sure to keep his expression carefully composed. It's vastly different from the usual expression he wears with Fai. ]

I cannot allow this to proceed any further. It will end poorly for both of us. We are here to win that prize, after all. Any affection I may harbor is simply part of the game.

[partymagician]

[ That expression... it feels cold, like he's had cold water splashed onto his face.

But his grip only strengthens around Gentaro's wrist. That expression and that formal speech... it tells Fai all he needs to know. ]

Don't lie to me.

[catarou]

[ He draws in a breath. Of course Fai would pick up on that. Gentaro looks at him for a few moments, but it feels like it stretches on forever. ]

I would prefer not to do this out here.

[ He's too exposed like this. Inviting Fai in is a bad idea, but he'd rather show how much of a mess he is to just one person instead of a possible audience.

Gentaro pulls his wrist away before unlocking the door. He steps inside, holding it open as he gazes at Fai. ]

[partymagician]

[ Fai has half a mind to say no, to tell Gentaro he'll say it out here, but even in his anger he can't do that.

That's a line too far.

And so, Fai slips past Gentaro, waiting until the door is closed before finally speaking. ]

Explain yourself.

[catarou]

[ The door clicks shut, and Gentaro stays there for a moment or two. He doesn't know what will happen here. For as clever as he is, he isn't sure. It's maddening. He doesn't want to turn around, because the guilt threatens to eat him alive.

He could leave, right now. He could leave Fai waiting and wondering, but then again, Fai would find him. It should be comforting, but it only fills him with cold, sharp dread.

Gentaro turns to face Fai. ]

I told you, didn't I? Nothing good will come of this. If you know what's good for you, you'll give up on me.

[partymagician]

And why do you say that?

[ Fai could say the same thing himself, after all.

But he wants to know Gentaro's reasons, so Fai sits down in a chair and crosses his legs, looking at Gentaro expectantly. ]

[catarou]

[ He really is stubborn, isn't he?

Gentaro stays by the door, leaning against it. As he looks at Fai, he crosses his arms, as if to protect himself. ]

Because you deserve much better than I. [ ... ] Because when this ends, we'll return to our homes and never see each other again. I'm far from worth that sort of pain.

[partymagician]

[ That honest reason actually gets Fai to calm down, and he smiles softly. ]

You don't know that for sure, Gentaro. I am a wizard, after all.