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[natzoom]

[please leave any IC messages for natsume here~]

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[natzoom]

What? [Natsume looks over, eyes wide, blinking a few times. Then he shakes his head, carefully setting down the knife and scooping the various chopped veggies into a bowl.]

No, no, of course you didn't. I just. Misspoke. [He's so red right now. He offers the bowl.] Ah. Salad.

[moondregs]

[ The salad distraction actually works, Junpei’s eyes going large and shiny at the bowl full of vegetables. He reaches out with hands excitedly trembling, swallowing hard as he licks his lips. ]

All for me?

[natzoom]

[Yessss, thank you, salad distraction. Natsume actually giggles at that, a strangely soft, bright sound, nudging the bowl into Junpei's hands.]

All for you. I already ate. [Meat, that's about the only reason he leaves Junpei's side anymore, because he likes his food medium-rare and that makes bunny queasy.]

[moondregs]

[ One of Junpei’s other odd new habits is a preference to just ... eat like a rabbit. As such it’ll probably be no surprise to Natsume when he just sticks his head down into the bowl and starts grazing. The gentle sounds of a bunny just munching on fresh vegetables, his little fluffy tail wiggling in bliss behind him. ]

[natzoom]

[Oh no, that's cute. Never mind that Natsume has seen it probably a zillion times, it's still adorable every time. He actually just...sits there with his chin propped in his hand. Gazing.]

[moondregs]

[ Breathing is also important! Junpei raises his head to do just that, a piece of lettuce stuck to his cheek as he notices Natsume gazing at him. ]

... ah ... it’s really good ... thank you.

[natzoom]

[Natsume huffs out a gentle laugh, reaching to brush the lettuce bit away.]

You're welcome. Happy birthday.

[moondregs]

[ Only realizing the lettuce was there once Natsume brushes it off, Junpei looks instantly embarrassed, cheeks going pink as he averts his gaze. ]

You have to tell me when your birthday is now. It's only fair.

[natzoom]

[Oh no, his cleverly calculated plan to never have anyone want to do anything for him ever has failed. Natsume also turns pink, averting his gaze and mumbling something that sounds an awful lot like "July 1st".]

[moondregs]

What?!

[ He looks crestfallen, lowering the bowl. ]

That just passed! I ... I have to get you something!

[ Turning quickly, he sets the bowl down on the table as he starts to bound towards the door. ]

[natzoom]

A-Ah, wait, wait, you don't-- [He reaches out, grabbing Junpei's wrist.] You really don't have to, I didn't mention it for a reason.

I don't. Nobody's ever done anything for it, so I don't really expect anything. I wouldn't know how to handle it.

[moondregs]

[ As he's stopped, Junpei frowns deeply. ]

But ... it's not fair that you should always be the one doing everything for me. Making me ear covers ... making me a birthday salad ... I want to do nice things for you, too. You ... give me so much.

[natzoom]

Because it makes me happy. [He tugs a little at Junpei's wrist, pulling him back to sit down.] That's why I do it. Not because I think we're in some sort of...transactional relationship.

Making you happy makes me happy.

[moondregs]

[ There’s noticeable hesitation at the silent plea to sit, but after a minute or two Junpei will, conflict clear on his face. ]

Well, maybe doing things for you would make me happy. Not just being a useless lump who just ... gets all this and never gives back. You’re so amazing, you deserve everything.

[natzoom]

Oh. [Natsume is quiet for a moment, before reaching over and gently taking one of Junpei's hands, squeezing it.] I guess we're both bad at accepting nice things.

So...okay. If it'll make you happy, you can...do something. But you don't have to run out and do it right this second, okay?

Besides, I haven't even given you the other thing yet.

[moondregs]

... oh, right, I totally forgot you said there’s something else.

[ He squeezes the hand back, trying to relax again. ]

... I need to learn more about you ... I want to know everything.

[natzoom]

Mmmhm! But you need to eat first. [He nudges the bowl back forward with his tail. Eat, or he'll be fretful.

Then he frowns, ears twitching.] There's...not much to say about me. I'm not very interesting. Ah, but you can ask anything you're curious about?

[moondregs]

[ Junpei looks back down at the bowl, feeling somewhat guilty he'd just put aside something Natsume had worked on for him without finishing it.

He'll munch at it some more, honestly enjoying it but now distracted by his thoughts.

What is he curious about? Where should he start? There was so much ... ]

Um, do you ... have any friends back home?

[natzoom]

[Natsume hums softly in thought, releasing Junpei's hand so he can eat, though of course he immediately reaches out for one of the long fuzzy lop ears instead.]

Human or yokai?

[moondregs]

[ As ever, the hand on his ear causes him to relax noticeably, and he seems to allow himself to enjoy working on a lettuce heart before he pauses to answer the question. ]

Either. As long as you consider them a friend.

[ The heart must be very tasty, because he's taking his time to savor it, his nibbles very measured as his face lights up. ]

[natzoom]

[Natsume quietly makes a mental note of that. Lettuce hearts are a favorite.]

Mmm, well, there's Sensei, though he insists he's more bodyguard than friend. And Nishimura and Kitamoto, I know them from school. Taki and Tanuma are...they know about the stuff I can see. Taki's grandfather could and Tanuma sort of can. He can see shadows and flickers of things.

[There's a brief, dreamy look that flickers across Natsume's face at the last name. It's soft, mostly nostalgic now, though in the first few days he'd been in Folkmore it was a wild, tangible ache, missing Tanuma specifically.]

[moondregs]

[ Junpei nods, chewing while listening. He finds himself thinking he's happy Natsume seems to be able to name so many friends.

When he says that last name with a slightly different tone, Junpei blinks curiously.

He wants to ask more about this person, someone that Natsume is clearly fond of, but there's a niggling worry he'll sound too nosy.

So, instead, he asks another question: ]

Do you ... enjoy school?

[natzoom]

[That gets a scrunched-up face.] Not especially. I like learning things, but school is...complicated.

[He looks down at the ear he's stroking between his fingers.] Most schools are old, and have lots of things lurking around them. Since I'm the only one who can see them, they tend to...target me. And when I react, I get a reputation as someone weird.

So. Not really, no. [He doesn't ask if Junpei likes school. He knows that answer.]

[moondregs]

[ A frown forms on Junpei’s lips, imagining kind, gentle Natsume being treated poorly. Humans are the worst even in another world. ]

That’s ... so unfair. The types that really seem so eager to be cruel. It’s more about feeling above someone than anything. I despise people like that.

[natzoom]

[Natsume glances upwards, then reaches out for Junpei's hand again. It's strange that he can already recognize that look, the old hurt flaring up into anger.]

People are cruel when they don't understand something. It doesn't make it right, but...I never blamed anyone.

[He still doesn't. Even when he should.]