lucetilogs | (no subject)

All right. [He stares at it for a moment, then chooses a relatively easy piece to pull out. It was loose anyway.]

[Naoki stares at the tower, as though willing it to fall and only grumbles a bit when it doesn't. He's going to take his tiiiiime finding a piece to carefully extract.]

[He snickers at that, staring intently, just waiting to see how Naoki will fare.]

[Carefully...pulling...the block...out.

Ahaha. Victory. Grinning as he sets it to the side and nodding for Ted to take his turn.]

[He's more amused at Naoki's reaction than the game really, but he focuses. Right now all his targets are center blocks, the loose ones help him a lot.

Poking one out then.]

[Waaaaaaatching. Fall fall fall fall fall...

He's far too competitive sometimes.]

Your turn. [He says in a singsong manner, taking the block out with ease.]

[Naoki's tongue sticks out of the corner of his mouth as he leans forward to find a loose piece and carefully pull it out...]

...

BOO!

[FSDFLFKGFJLGJSF

Wooden blocks go flying everywhere as he jumps.]

[Just this face.]

Cheater! [POUNCING ON. B|]

[A bit of a squawk, mostly still laughing those.] You should've--- You--- [Trying and failing to swallow his laugh.] Your face--- priceless! [HAHAHAHA]

[8[ Flopping bodily on top of you, Ted. And mussing at your hair with both hands.] Shut up, you!

Not the hair! [He whines, struggling this time, though still with an impish smile on his face. He just couldn't help it, okay?]

[MERCILESS RUFFLING.] You asked for it!

[Swaaaatting.] Nuh-uh!

[One last ruffle! Then Naoki rolls off of him, settling next to him.] You did. Cheater.

[FREEDOM! He grins at him despite his hair completely messed up.] You were taking the game way too seriously.

[Pout. And snickering a bit at the state of his hair.] Was not.

You were. [He reaches up in order to comb it to something a little more manageable, before deciding against it and reaching over to Naoki instead, arms wrapping around him and pulling him close.]

Nuh-uh. [Naoki pauses, blinking as he's pulled.]

[Ted buries his face against Naoki's chest, closing his eyes and staying quiet for now. A little odd because it was all skin and not clothes, but then it was something he can easily put aside.]

[Another blink before Naoki wraps arms around him slowly in return, falling silent.]

[He doesn't say anything for now, content with just that. Content with just memorizing the feeling he had right now. Content, happiness, something he was willing to forget once more, but somehow couldn't. Because he knew what it was like to lose someone he cared about too much too often. Because he understood this place did not choose, only takes, and the consequences of these actions can either help or devastate a person. Because Naoki's grief earlier reminded him that he can't promise to be here forever, and he just pulls him closer and tries not to think of the fear of losing him, or the other way around. He wants to cherish the moment like this, to know that he can wake up again the next day, to know he can bring a smile to someone with his existence.

But he can't keep promises anymore, he's been breaking them more than he could try keeping them. He wondered just how he can be Naoki's shield if he can't even promise that tomorrow, he'll still be here. Like Nami. Like Usopp. Naoki had a world he did not want to return to. Ted had nothing to go back to. Before, when he went home, he still had a life he needed to lead, to help Tir, to make sure he can protect him until his last breath. He didn't have that now, if he went back, and he wasn't sure he wanted to pass on already. Like he was supposed to. He was certain the rune wasn't pleased with the delay.

It's been a while since he wanted to continue living, to continue laughing, breathing, hugging, smiling, crying--- it was so easy with Tir, before Windy came along. He was---is-- his best friend, and always will be. He didn't care about dying because it kept his friend's life, and even if it brought about severe loneliness, it was a small price to pay in exchange for a chance to live. A chance to grow, a chance to become a great person, like Ted wants Tir to be. He wanted him to be happy, to have a better chance at happiness even with such a cruel fate, even if it meant he had to sacrifice himself. It's so easy with Naoki now, too easy, but he didn't need a reason to die. He had a reason to live, and he didn't want to leave.

But he doesn't let any of this show, just holding him in content, because he didn't need to worry him. He didn't need to let his thoughts show. Because as long as he can keep smiling like this, it was fine. All was fine.]