video, @RuffRabbit

[bunnyblock]

[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.]

Comments

[bottombitch]

[ 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?

[bunnyblock]

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.]

[bottombitch]

[ 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! ]

[bunnyblock]

[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.]

1.3

[bottombitch]

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. ]

2.3

[bottombitch]

[ 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. ]

3.3

[bottombitch]

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!

[bunnyblock]

[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.

[bottombitch]

[ 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?

1/2

[bunnyblock]

[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.]

2/2

[bunnyblock]

[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.

[bottombitch]

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.

[bunnyblock]

[....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.]

[bottombitch]

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. ]

1/2

[bunnyblock]

[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.]

2/2

[bunnyblock]

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.

[bottombitch]

[ 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?

[bunnyblock]

It is a surprise.

[Quite on the contrary.]

This is all very... new to me. If that's what it feels like to be 'jealous'...

It means I'm getting closer to what I want, doesn't it.

[bottombitch]

[ Aoba thought he could fluster Noiz, but it really is impossible. What's worse is he just took it calmly and said something sort of romantic. Aoba's face reddens, but he smiles happily. ]

I can't believe how unshakable you can be sometimes, you're not supposed to act so cool after admitting something like that.

[ Aoba even has a hard time saying what it is, calling it by name. He just skirts around the word. ]

...I'm not sure if jealousy is a requirement, but it's certainly a symptom.

[bunnyblock]

...

Hah. You think it's 'cool'...

[He shakes his head, a little grin appearing on his face again.]

What am I supposed to act like, then? [A glance, a meaningful look in quiet, babygreen eyes.] Tell me, and I'll think about trying it.

[A pause.]

What are other symptoms?

[bottombitch]

[ Noiz seems to have a real talent for reaching for some unseen piece of chalk and slowly drawing a luminous line under certain words and concepts for maximum effect, drawing attention to the very things that Aoba doesn't want him to.

No, not 'doesn't want him to' -- it's just the things that are hard for him to express so plainly. That's what makes him so 'cool'. He can say the things Aoba can't.

Aoba watches him through the feed as color blooms on his cheeks. He huffs. ]

...C'mon, even a kid would know.

Sometimes it's like... coming down with a cold. You feel... feverish all over.

[ Weak and energized all at the same time. ]

[bunnyblock]

[A hand moves up, touching his chin. A flicker of something unsure moves over his face, and he shakes his head.]

...Ah. I get it.

Maybe I have felt it before.

[His eyes raise up, and he looks right at Aoba, who's face is turning pink.]

Or... rather...

I've missed out on 'feeling' it.

[He's not sure what it's like to feel feverish. The only symptoms someone without feeling heat or pain would have of a cold is probably dry throat and dizziness.]

[bottombitch]

[ Oh, shit. That's right. Feverish... that's probably not something he can feel very well. ]

There's other symptoms! Like elevated heart rate and respiration!

[ Aoba's making this sound too medical, but that's only because he thinks it a) makes him sound less flustered than the topic clearly makes him and b) is easier than telling him some other embarrassing confession. But more importantly, he realizes he's trying way too hard to prompt Noiz into telling him that ever-elusive phrase, the very thing he keeps chasing after but doesn't want to force. Realizing this only heightens his embarrassment.

So he chickens out, puffing out his cheeks as he sulks. It's exactly as mature as it sounds. ]

Tch. Fine, I get it, I get really bent out of shape about this kind of thing. Stop rubbing it in.

[ He thinks he's being teased about it. ]

[bunnyblock]

[He takes a moment to stare at the other as he admits he's getting 'bent out of shape'. His expression, the way he's responding... it's coming off as sulky and irritated now, too.

A hand moves up to touch his chin, thoughtfully, as he seems to compute this response, and what he might have said to make the other feel like he was 'rubbing it in'.

He shakes his head, and he raises it again to look straight at the other.]

Sorry.

That's not what I was trying to do.

[Surprise, he wasn't teasing you.]

[bottombitch]

[ He's waiting for him to tease him, or laugh, or make some disdainful sound at his foolishness and lack of logic but it never comes. ]

...You're not?

[ This whole conversation is... different. It's not unusual for Noiz to approach the nuances of connecting with others and how it feels as if it were some alien thing, but generally he wouldn't seem this interested. ]

You don't think any of this sounds stupid?