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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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?

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.

[ 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.

...

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?

[ 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. ]

[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.]

[ 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. ]

[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.]

[ 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?

[He knows it's weird. To put in effort where he normally doesn't. But he's... trying to understand these things. Emotions he's never experienced, nuances that may as well have been alien to him.

It's like re-writing how his brain is coded, except he isn't well adapted to the sort of coding necessary for this sort of re-work. He's needed help for so long, and now that he's finally getting it...]

No.

It's different. Strange, sometimes.

But it doesn't sound stupid.

It's not like... I mean you haven't felt those kinds of things before, right?

[ Aoba instantly regrets saying it for the ache that stretches out from his stomach to his heart, but it's a fact of their life now. As much as he'd love nothing more to know his feelings aren't unrequited, he knows that this is something he doesn't want to force. Somehow, knowing what he has with him sometime in Noiz' potential future, and what he has now... he feels like using Scrap would be risky and selfish. ]

I'm just glad you don't think it's stupid, I mean - those feelings are really strong ones...

[ Aoba mumbles, trying to sound threatening and failing spectacularly. ]

It'd be bad if you teased me for having them, you know.

Most of them. I felt a few new things when I'd taken that potion.

[Things he didn't have a name for, feelings he'd never experienced before and needed a bit of help putting a name on. Things like that.

This conversation was something that was helping him put a name to those feelings, so...]

I'm not teasing you for them.

I want to understand them, too.

So I know when they happen to me.

[He raises his gaze, piercing, hawklike. A gaze that would almost stare straight through the other.]

I was serious about what I said before.

[ Ah, right. That potion.

It was meant to enhance sensation in the presence of soulmates, but in Noiz' case it made him actually feel. That had been a day of new experiences and Aoba was infinitely glad to have been a part of them, borne witness to them whereas before he was left behind, only to see a different Noiz emerge from the silent backdrop that had become... well, their relationship put on hold.

It was incredible, but Aoba can't help but feel like he squandered it somehow when the effect wore off unexpectedly. But then again, who can really prepare for that kind of scenario, really? ]

... [ Aoba falls silent, an obvious hush draping over him like a blanket. He's holding his breath for fear of asking Noiz if he's felt it yet. He doesn't want to ask because if he says 'no', his heart will break again. ]

Serious? [ He instantly thinks of that promise made amongst the heavy cloud of steam and that rush of water in the shower. That time when he said he wanted to learn how to feel how Aoba did. ]

About what?

[He doesn't have to think about this answer, or take long to explain it.

It's simple, and about time he said it, even if his brain was taking its time in fine-tuning the details.]

About being in love with you.

[He's figured it out.]

[ ... ]

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