[ 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.
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. ]
no subject
( 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.
no subject
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.
no subject
...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.
no subject
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.
no subject
[ 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.
no subject
( 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.
no subject
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.
no subject
...I know my parents are shitty, if that's what you mean. Aren't everyone's?