[ He gets it. Sort of. The sense that somebody needs to do something instead of just sitting around waiting for things to change. He's weirdly reminded of the time he'd tried to punch out Es, back at the start of Milgram, though he's not sure if that's a good thing to be reminded of. ]
... fine. You can let me know if you want, I guess.
[ A pause before he clears his throat and adds, perhaps with a bit more force than necessary: ]
But this better not be some dumb ploy where you're trying to get him to pay attention to you by doing something dumb, you hear me? [ Wait, never mind, that came out a bit harsher than he'd intended. A muffled grunt before he grudgingly lowers his voice a notch to add, ] ... he'd probably just get pissed if you did something that stupid, so. Don't go acting like a moron. It doesn't help anyone if you just go get yourself killed and come back fucked up.
( That earns a huffy little exhale, like he's in disbelief. )
I don't need dumb ploys to get his attention, you know. I've been planning this for months, and he's been there for some of it.
( A tad defensive, he says this much, and though his tone doesn't reach the normal volumes it can when he's usually upset, it's still noticeably bothered. Naturally. )
It might be possible that I can open paths to our original realms, so it's relevant to everyone, him included.
[ Selfishly, his first thought is, 'who said everyone wants to go back to where they came from?'
Even worse, even more selfishly, it's followed by the guilty thought of, 'and I don't really want him to go back, either.' Dabi, that is. Where he'll probably kill at least one other person, and then die. ]
... sure. Good for you.
[ Fuuta might be trying to feign casual, but he's never been a good liar. Anyone would be able to hear the pause before he'd been able to muster that response, the uncomfortable tightness in his voice, the way he's forcing those words. He takes a quiet breath before tacking on, equal parts half-hearted and tense: ]
You shouldn't get all confident before things actually work out though, you know. ... how sure you are that this is gonna work out?
If it does work, I'm not going to force anyone home, you know.
( Ironically, Esikko doesn't want to go home either. But that's not something he wants to admit out loud, because it's not something he wants to have to explain, so this is all he gives. At the question, at least, he can answer in more detail. )
I've been able to find out a fair amount on the House already, with minimal interference, and I've been able to alter things like time and fate in my own realm. Even still, it's not something straightforward. It's only a 50% chance of any sort of successful traveling between realms, considering there's a lot I haven't been able to dig for.
( He's so much more focused when he talks about his magic, and it's clear in his tone, his steadier voice. )
But as for risks... It would be difficult for me to list every possibility, but rest assured the majority of it would be risk for me. My body is weak, so it's a strain to do magic like this, but I shouldn't die.
And even if I did, I have things in place to come back on my own terms. I've done that before.
( He sighs a little. ) Nothing is ever certain, even when you think it is. This is no different.
[ Esikko sounds more confident than ever talking about his magic, but it just earns a weary sigh from Fuuta. ]
You talk about all that stuff like I'm gonna understand it. I told you there's no magic where I'm from, didn't I? It's all just made-up stuff. Fiction. Even if I sorta get it, I'm not really gonna believe any of this stuff until it's actually happening and I can see it.
[ That goes the same for the positive and the negative. Whether Esikko manages to become their collective savior and finds a way for them to all go back if they want, or whether he fucking ... explodes, or something. He'll just have to take things as they come, he supposes.
So he grudgingly circles back to the only thing he can think to say. ]
Just don't do anything stupid. This place can do a lot worse than just kill you, so.
[ B-baka, it's not like he cares about Esikko's wellbeing. It's not like he'd rather the guy didn't get blown up or psychologically tortured by the resort's security. ]
...If I didn't know any better, I'd think you might be worried about me.
( Idiot that he is when it comes to these issues, his voice delivers that with a tired little laugh. It's the same laugh that always tends to come when he's hiding that sting, the sting that always comes when he's decided for someone else that he's not liked. )
But it's so not to bother Dabi, right? Well, it's fine. I'll be as careful as I can be.
[ He's not sure if he's more annoyed that Esikko is being this obtuse, or the fact that he's actually going to say this shit out loud and force him to address it. Fuuta doesn't bother stifling the frustrated grunt that escapes him before he mutters, ]
No, you dumbass. It's because normal people don't want other people getting fucking ... tortured and executed by the security of a goddamn sex resort. What kind of psychopath do you think I am.
[ Oh god this guy's for real. Give him a second to rub a hand at his face, and he is trying very hard not to sound too exasperated when he responds. ]
I mean, I'm not in any rush to wish that I could die instead of you.
[ Which he thinks is reasonable? It's not unreasonable that he doesn't want to die? And then, scowling, because in a very weird way, having to say this out loud is more embarrassing than the fact that they've fucked: ]
... but no, I wouldn't think 'good riddance.' Yes, I'd care if you got tortured or executed, because that's messed up. These are stupid questions, don't ask them again.
It makes sense when Dabi says that to him. It makes sense that Kirma keeps saying those sort of things, because he's been with him for so long, been so weird no matter what's happened to him. But this? This doesn't make sense to him. And when he tries to think, would he care if Fuuta was tortured or executed? The obvious "no" isn't so obvious. It falters a little, combines with a sinking feeling. Maybe he'd care a little?
But, undeniably, he'd also be a little relieved if Fuuta died. How can it be both at once?
And why would Fuuta care about him at all...? He doesn't exactly want to ask, either, and so... there's just awkward silence on his side of the line as he processes it. )
Don't thank me for that. [ It's grumbled irritably, because what the hell is this conversation, truly. ] You're right that you've been a pain to deal with, and I'm pretty sure you're gonna keep being weird at me, so I'm not looking forward to that. But that's that, and this is this. It's basic human decency to not want other people getting messed up. Especially knowing what kinds of things this place can do.
[ Sigh. ]
... why do I need to explain this to you? I know you're a prince or whatever, but don't you know this much? I thought royalty are supposed to have citizens to protect and care about.
Wh... what sort of impression do you have of royalty, exactly?
( He's baffled by that last line, honestly, and that comes across in the way he stumbles over his own questioning of it. )
We have citizens, but it's all... performative. My father is rotten, and he hates our citizens just as much as they hate him, not that they can say as much without worrying about their own necks. We'll sit down to dinner with "esteemed guests" that could just as easily get into a fatal accident on their ride home, or be arrested for attempted poisoning, you know? There are no friendships, there's no concern for anyone but themselves.
( To him, it brings to mind how Fuuta always mentions how his magic sounds fantasy, like a fairy tale. All of these assumptions or understandings of relationships beyond how to use or be used are what sound like fairy tales to him. Ugh, but there's no way he's going to say that aloud. He huffs. )
It's just... You know, this place has been entirely different from what I'm used to. In that way. It makes sense, if you think about it... Our lives were never meant to pass like this, and yet here we are.
[ Oh. Okay. So Esikko is a 'edgelord grimdark depressing fantasy' crown prince, not a 'designated happy-ending vaguely RPG-flavored high fantasy' crown prince. Noted.
On Fuuta's end, there's a brief pause as he listens to Esikko's entire explanation. Then, slowly: ]
... okay. But -- you get that that's messed up, right. Where you're from. How things were. You get that that wasn't good, right.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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... fine. You can let me know if you want, I guess.
[ A pause before he clears his throat and adds, perhaps with a bit more force than necessary: ]
But this better not be some dumb ploy where you're trying to get him to pay attention to you by doing something dumb, you hear me? [ Wait, never mind, that came out a bit harsher than he'd intended. A muffled grunt before he grudgingly lowers his voice a notch to add, ] ... he'd probably just get pissed if you did something that stupid, so. Don't go acting like a moron. It doesn't help anyone if you just go get yourself killed and come back fucked up.
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I don't need dumb ploys to get his attention, you know. I've been planning this for months, and he's been there for some of it.
( A tad defensive, he says this much, and though his tone doesn't reach the normal volumes it can when he's usually upset, it's still noticeably bothered. Naturally. )
It might be possible that I can open paths to our original realms, so it's relevant to everyone, him included.
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Even worse, even more selfishly, it's followed by the guilty thought of, 'and I don't really want him to go back, either.' Dabi, that is. Where he'll probably kill at least one other person, and then die. ]
... sure. Good for you.
[ Fuuta might be trying to feign casual, but he's never been a good liar. Anyone would be able to hear the pause before he'd been able to muster that response, the uncomfortable tightness in his voice, the way he's forcing those words. He takes a quiet breath before tacking on, equal parts half-hearted and tense: ]
You shouldn't get all confident before things actually work out though, you know. ... how sure you are that this is gonna work out?
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( Ironically, Esikko doesn't want to go home either. But that's not something he wants to admit out loud, because it's not something he wants to have to explain, so this is all he gives. At the question, at least, he can answer in more detail. )
I've been able to find out a fair amount on the House already, with minimal interference, and I've been able to alter things like time and fate in my own realm. Even still, it's not something straightforward. It's only a 50% chance of any sort of successful traveling between realms, considering there's a lot I haven't been able to dig for.
( He's so much more focused when he talks about his magic, and it's clear in his tone, his steadier voice. )
But as for risks... It would be difficult for me to list every possibility, but rest assured the majority of it would be risk for me. My body is weak, so it's a strain to do magic like this, but I shouldn't die.
And even if I did, I have things in place to come back on my own terms. I've done that before.
( He sighs a little. ) Nothing is ever certain, even when you think it is. This is no different.
no subject
You talk about all that stuff like I'm gonna understand it. I told you there's no magic where I'm from, didn't I? It's all just made-up stuff. Fiction. Even if I sorta get it, I'm not really gonna believe any of this stuff until it's actually happening and I can see it.
[ That goes the same for the positive and the negative. Whether Esikko manages to become their collective savior and finds a way for them to all go back if they want, or whether he fucking ... explodes, or something. He'll just have to take things as they come, he supposes.
So he grudgingly circles back to the only thing he can think to say. ]
Just don't do anything stupid. This place can do a lot worse than just kill you, so.
[ B-baka, it's not like he cares about Esikko's wellbeing. It's not like he'd rather the guy didn't get blown up or psychologically tortured by the resort's security. ]
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( Idiot that he is when it comes to these issues, his voice delivers that with a tired little laugh. It's the same laugh that always tends to come when he's hiding that sting, the sting that always comes when he's decided for someone else that he's not liked. )
But it's so not to bother Dabi, right? Well, it's fine. I'll be as careful as I can be.
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No, you dumbass. It's because normal people don't want other people getting fucking ... tortured and executed by the security of a goddamn sex resort. What kind of psychopath do you think I am.
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...So would you care? If I was tortured or executed?
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Are you seriously asking that out loud.
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( He's ignoring what Fuuta just said to continue like this... )
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I mean, I'm not in any rush to wish that I could die instead of you.
[ Which he thinks is reasonable? It's not unreasonable that he doesn't want to die? And then, scowling, because in a very weird way, having to say this out loud is more embarrassing than the fact that they've fucked: ]
... but no, I wouldn't think 'good riddance.' Yes, I'd care if you got tortured or executed, because that's messed up. These are stupid questions, don't ask them again.
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It makes sense when Dabi says that to him. It makes sense that Kirma keeps saying those sort of things, because he's been with him for so long, been so weird no matter what's happened to him. But this? This doesn't make sense to him. And when he tries to think, would he care if Fuuta was tortured or executed? The obvious "no" isn't so obvious. It falters a little, combines with a sinking feeling. Maybe he'd care a little?
But, undeniably, he'd also be a little relieved if Fuuta died. How can it be both at once?
And why would Fuuta care about him at all...? He doesn't exactly want to ask, either, and so... there's just awkward silence on his side of the line as he processes it. )
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[ He's going to be so pissed if this guy just trying to hang up on him after making him answer that bullshit. ]
Are you fucking serio -- I can see the connection's still open, you asshole. Say something.
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( It's rare that he apologizes, but it comes out quickly this time, a mumbled thing rather than anything too deep or thoughtful. )
I was just surprised. It's not as though I've offered you very much in any way...
But... thanks. I suppose.
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[ Sigh. ]
... why do I need to explain this to you? I know you're a prince or whatever, but don't you know this much? I thought royalty are supposed to have citizens to protect and care about.
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( He's baffled by that last line, honestly, and that comes across in the way he stumbles over his own questioning of it. )
We have citizens, but it's all... performative. My father is rotten, and he hates our citizens just as much as they hate him, not that they can say as much without worrying about their own necks. We'll sit down to dinner with "esteemed guests" that could just as easily get into a fatal accident on their ride home, or be arrested for attempted poisoning, you know? There are no friendships, there's no concern for anyone but themselves.
( To him, it brings to mind how Fuuta always mentions how his magic sounds fantasy, like a fairy tale. All of these assumptions or understandings of relationships beyond how to use or be used are what sound like fairy tales to him. Ugh, but there's no way he's going to say that aloud. He huffs. )
It's just... You know, this place has been entirely different from what I'm used to. In that way. It makes sense, if you think about it... Our lives were never meant to pass like this, and yet here we are.
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On Fuuta's end, there's a brief pause as he listens to Esikko's entire explanation. Then, slowly: ]
... okay. But -- you get that that's messed up, right. Where you're from. How things were. You get that that wasn't good, right.
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...I know my parents are shitty, if that's what you mean. Aren't everyone's?