riverview | video, @RuffRabbit

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video, @RuffRabbit

[For the first time since he's gotten here, months ago--He's actually posting a video instead of leaving cryptic or weird texts he expects people to understand without any real explanations.

At first, however, the videofeed is quiet, except for the faint whirring of machines. With a press to one of the holographic keyboards near him, the image of a tall man flickers to life.

He looks every bit like the real version of a man who used to be here--if anyone had the privilege of meeting him. Ozymandias, King of Kings--an apparent pharaoh who had been called here 'against his will.'

Another press of a button, and the man speaks, though most notable is a peal of heartfelt laughter.

A strange look flickers across Noiz' usually emotionless face, and he shakes his head.]

If someone who was dead before they got here leave...

I wonder where they go.

[In Noiz' weird way, one might be able to recognise the feeling of loss he's having trouble trying to process.]

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[He's quiet for a long moment, as if he doesn't know what the other is asking. But he's not quite that stupid, and, after a moment... he nods.]

He saw enough.

Kept telling me what to fix. Asking me to record his own lines, away from my script.

[Ozymandias just liked seeing himself talk and walk around as a hologram, he guessed.]

[ That sounds like him, the Pharoah wasn't really the type to varnish his opinion either. But that's just the sort of thing Noiz would appreciate - someone being straightforward and blunt. ]

Mn.

[ First, that business with the potions and the numbness that returned to Noiz after, now this. Aoba feels gloomy on his behalf. ]

I'm sorry, Noiz. You've lost a lot recently.

[He gives Aoba a strange look when, of all things, he apologises. Why would Aoba apologise for something like this? He can't quite get it, but it's not something he'll laugh at, at least.

Instead, he'll raise his head a bit in the video feed to give him a very curious look.]

...Why do you apologise for things you haven't done?

[What a funny thing to focus on. But this IS Noiz.]

You...
...
'Lost' a lot...

[He raises a hand, touching his chin with a focused look.]

Is that what this is. [This feeling.]

[ Blinking back at the feed, Aoba stares wordlessly for a moment as Noiz works his mind around this apparently baffling concept. Then he makes a small, exasperated sound.

But... he really does have to explain this kind of basic stuff to him, doesn't he? ]

It's called sympathy, Noiz. SYM-PA-THY.

[ He sighs and rests his chin in his hand. ]

It's normal to feel like you 'lost' something, when someone really means something to you. I've heard this can happen with rivals too.

...It just means that you miss him, because he was important to you in some way.

[Right. Sympathy. Hasn't Aoba explained this to him before? He takes a note of it with a free hand, as if reminding himself to look it up to better understand it later.

See.
He's making an attempt, here.

That aside, the image of Ozymandias flickers, and the man peals out another laugh again, announcing himself as King. Noiz' eyes dart over, but return to Aoba within another moment. His expression doesn't change, even though it... really probably should.]

I don't know if I'd call him 'important'. He just talked a lot. And made a lot of noise.
Asked too many questions and didn't understand why showing up at 3am wasn't okay.

[He sounds irritated now, but. His eyes close, after a moment.]

He never once called me 'strange'.

[ It really is a startling likeness. But not so startling as this remarkable new learning moment this has become for Noiz. Aoba also notes that his expression never shifts, not once. Not until he starts to sound annoyed.

That feels a little weird, Aoba's not sure how he should feel about that. Don't worry, though, he'll be sure to anxiously come up with a list of things to fret about later. It's... what he does. In the meantime, he replaces his confused expression with a neutral one. ]

And here I thought you were having fun somehow.

[ Aoba was the one who got woken up the first time with that loud man's braying! ]

... [ Never once called him strange, huh? Aoba feels a small, guilty sting - he's called him weird before. Also perverted brat, and all manner of other names. ]

[It was, once again, Noiz' inexperience with dealing with other people inside his personal bubble. He didn't know how to categorize having fun with other people yet, and the things he COULD categorize were feelings he understood. Like irritation, anger, and things like that.

He's growing, still. Faster than one could hope for, especially with Aoba helping him along. After all, the moment the other mentions that he 'was having fun', an emotion does flicker across his face.
As if he'd needed Aoba's statement to click together the pieces of the odd puzzle.]

...Maybe I was having fun. [He would admit that teasing the Pharaoh with Aoba had been... strangely enjoyable.

A hand moves up and over his cheek, rubbing there as if it itched.]

...

You should invite some of your friends over, sometime.

[ What an odd, absent gesture. He's not used to seeing Noiz do something like that - act as if he's itchy. But it's also such a normal gesture that Aoba doesn't really think much of it. Mostly because of what he says next, which completely floors him.

Ah, he just agreed. Aoba stares at the feed, blurting out in surprise. They'd talked about this before a while ago, but the response had been nowhere near even lukewarm, so Aoba left it alone. ]

R-really? You... mean while you're around, right? You'd... meet them?

Yes, while I'm around.

[He raises his head a little from where he'd been toying with something offscreen--and the image of Ozymandias fades with a crackle.]

...

If it gets too annoying, I can just go to my room.

[See? Compromise.]

[ Aoba sucks in a shocked breath. ]

And... if they need to crash overnight - is it okay?

[ Just in case. Honestly, Aoba's already made so much progress this far, he shouldn't ask for so much! ]

[Give him a second.

And a moment to give a bit of a sour look...

And then he's looking at Aoba.]

Only if I sleep next to you on those nights.

[Whoops, what was that.]

Eeeh? But you have your own room to --

[ Aoba reacts without thinking, only assuming that Noiz is being difficult for... well, reasons. Stirring him up, rattling him. He's so used to Noiz teasing him. ]

Edited 2017-10-18 01:30 (UTC)

[ But then he remembers how he was in Germany, when he spoke of his younger brother and how he initially mistook him for Noiz.

How jealous he was that he spent time with him. That shuts him up right quick. ]

A-a-as if! You! Have to worry about s-something like that!?

[ He's so startled that he's stammering, flustered by the insinuation. Not only that, but he really doesn't need Noiz pulling something while he's got company over? ]

No one's staying in my room while there's company over!

[Seems that Noiz is still Noiz after all--even if it's a little more subtle than the other would remember, it certainly was just like how he'd pouted when he'd found out Aoba and Theo had spent time together.

His fingers tap a few buttons on his screen, but nothing of real worth seems to happen. Either he's trying to pretend disinterested, or something--hide the fact that he'd asked something so petty of the other.]

...Ah. Noone.

[He seems to think about that. Noone ... well. He'd rather be there to chase off anyone who might try to sneak in to Aoba's room, but... ~~Noiz, noone but you would do that.~~]

That's fine, then.

[ There's a moment where Aoba frowns at his screen, half defensive, half flustered. He doesn't need Noiz pulling something while guests are over! It's embarrassing! ]

Eh?

[ It's EXACTLY like when Theo and he had spent time together and Noiz found out. That's...

Wait. Hang on. Why would Noiz, the way he is here and now, feel this way? His expression twists into something vaguely mischievous. ]

...Are you jealous?

[He doesn't say a word. Not at first. But the usually stoic expression he holds flickers, and it's hard to miss--that look of apathy going to something annoyed, his small eyebrows furrowing.]

[And then the way he catches himself, teeth gritting with a hissed 'tch' sound, a hand moving up to adjust that odd hat on his head. Yeah, caught fucking red-handed, Aoba.]

Don't suggest stupid things.

Hahaha! I knew it!

[ Noiz only ever got this way when they were in love and living in Germany, so Aoba settles down, resting his chin on his hand. ]

...In a way, that makes me really happy.

[....Time for one of Noiz' more puzzled, but curious looks.

That's... not what he expected the other to say. Huh.]

That's an odd thing to be happy about.

[At least it is to him.]

Is it really that odd?

[ He really is happy, this makes him feel just giddy enough to say something ridiculous. ]

It means you're falling for me. ♥

[ GOD... he sounded a little too much like one of his friends just now, too close for comfort at least. But he couldn't help himself. It was just too perfect a moment to say something embarrassing in the hopes of flustering Noiz. ]

[Any other person might take that second bit as a joke, or some sort of attempt to get a rise out of them, but...

It's responded with a slightly surprised expression. One that changes to something quiet, contemplative.]

[Then, after a moment and he looks up.]

Ah.

So that's what that is.

[Attachment. He can logic it out, sure, but actually defining that odd feeling had been hard without it being pointed out.]

Then it's not 'odd' at all, is it.

[ And here, for this brief moment, Aoba thinks he has the upper hand. Instead, Noiz proves to him he's ahead of his game. No, no! This totally sucks! How is Aoba supposed to surprise him when he can't even??? ]

Not when you already know you're in --

[ This is that moment of revelation. Aoba opens his mouth to object. ]

You mean to tell me that this doesn't even come as a surprise?

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