Birthday Blues PV Kazuo Closed

-------------@Kazuo Shimada----------

S H I R T

J E A N S

S H O E S

Ruka couldn't help the ungraceful snort that escaped him upon Kazuo's words about him throwing himself in front of Vladimir's Flipendo at the Blossom Ball. He'd known it not to be the smartest move, had been fully aware, but... "I thought if I didn't do it, Jack might," he admitted quietly, shrugging his shoulders. He'd seen it before, at the previous Blossom Ball, Jack throwing himself in the middle of Thomas and Erin's ongoing fight. Not again, was all he had really been able to think. He managed to give Kazuo a small smile when he mentioned the way he had talked to Erin just the day before. It hadn't seemed like anything special to him, he didn't quite know what part of it Kazuo considered compassionate, but he hummed his acknowledgment anyway. "I'm not sure what you mean," he pointed out with the wag of a finger. "You seem to be talking to people just fine. Even brought her a rock, didn't you? Very attentive, really." He chuckled and nudged the other boy's shoulder with his own.

Kazuo's self assessment of not being compassionate didn't come as a surprise to Ruka, it was the answer he had expected, though... "You can't study them and be compassionate at the same time?" he wondered with genuine curiosity. Certainly, compassion was inherently emotional, but would it really hinder someone from studying people's behaviour?

Watching Kazuo take another sip of Sake, Ruka leaned back as he listened to the other boy's words about the divining done in his family, his own fate stored away somewhere and all the what ifs connected to it. "What if your refusing to know what it says keeps something great from happening, too?" he asked with a thoughtful hum. "I see what you're saying, I suppose. I don't think I'd have the kind of self-discipline needed to keep myself from checking it out if I were you though." There was a tinge of admiration in his voice as he said it, eyes focused on Kazuo's face as he pondered everything the other boy had said. "Your parents take divining seriously, then?" he asked. That seemed to be the case since they had had it done at Kazuo's birth, though maybe they had just been following some kind of expectation.

Laughing at the expression Kazuo took on at the birthday meal he suggested, Ruka pressed his free hand to his mouth to keep even more giggles from bubbling up. He managed to calm himself down sufficiently enough to let out a deep sigh when Kazuo dismissed his cooking services. "Woe is me," he exclaimed dramatically. "This was my dream job and I have lost it over unseasoned tofu!" His own giggles mixed with Kazuo's and he halted them only long enough to take another sip of Sake. He was unsure exactly what was the effects of the alcohol and what just came with the comfort he felt around Kazuo, but Ruka was full of a pleasant warmth, amusement spreading through his body and making it hard to reel in his laughter, especially when conversation was this light and fun between them. He'd thought of this before, the way their encounters seemed like a rollercoaster ride; Comfortable and amusing one moment, deep and thought provoking the next. He just didn't seem to ever grow bored of talking to Kazuo.

It wouldn't normally have made him nuzzle into someone's hair, but he felt drawn to the contact, eager for that comfort, the closeness, and Kazuo didn't seem to pull back, just allowed him to push and prod at the lines. How far, he wondered, was he allowed to go before Kazuo would withdraw, push him back, demand more distance? Ruka wasn't eager to find out, though he could barely contain his own need to be closer, despite the fact that they were already more pressed together than strictly necessary. He smiled at Kazuo's words, a grateful little twitch of his lips. "I'm doing my best," he said quietly, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. His questions seemed to throw Kazuo off guard for a moment, words coming out less controlled. Maybe the alcohol was getting to him. Ruka gave his hand an encouraging squeeze. "You're important to me," he said matter-of-factly, confidently. It wasn't usually something he liked to admit out loud, felt like giving up some of his defences, but the words escaped him before he could think about them. "If that counts for something." He thought it did. Not a lot of people were important to him, after all.

Heavy conversation faded into laughter again, and Ruka was pleased to find Kazuo wasn't protesting his awkward shuffling and positioning himself practically on the other boy's lap. He thought he noticed Kazuo's face darken with a flush, though he wasn't quite sure if that was a result of Ruka's actions or the effects of the alcohol. Either way, Kazuo didn't complain, only laughed and called him an idiot. It sounded affectionate somehow, made Ruka grin brightly. "It's more challenging this way," he pointed out with a small smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. The little tug on his hand almost made him fall forward, though he managed to steady himself, laughed freely as he tried to meet Kazuo's pocky stick with his own in a badly coordinated swing. "I'll have you know, I have not lost a single duel in twenty years," he declared, trying and failing to sound serious and threatening, giggles ruining any chance at seeming even vaguely intimidating. It was ridiculous, laced with so much laughter that Ruka had to squeeze his eyes shut to keep from tearing up with it. Trying to hit at Kazuo's pocky stick while simultaneously avoiding the incoming attacks would have already been a hard feat while sober, but with his mind pleasantly buzzing he found it to be even harder.

He thought he could risk a particularly determined swing at Kazuo's pocky, flicked his wrist as if preparing for spell casting, and let out a victorious yelp when he actually managed to hit his target.

Reducio

Pocky Duel
Kazuo: [1d20: 14] + 5 = 19
Ruka: [1d20: 14] + 4 = 18
19 > 18 -> Kazuo cheats wins

The feeling of victory was short lived as Ruka watched his own pocky snapping in the middle, leaving him with just a short piece left between his thumb and forefinger. His face fell for a second as he stared at Kazuo's still intact one. "Master Duelist, indeed," he conceded, sighing dramatically before popping the remains of his pocky in his mouth and swallowing it as if to rid himself of any evidence of his loss. Another laugh escaped him at the ridiculousness of the scenario. Taking a deep, exhausted breath, Ruka allowed himself to slump forward, body still shaking with laughter as he rested his forehead against the crook of Kazuo's neck. "What prize do you want for winning?" he asked, one hand still holding on to Kazuo's, while the other carefully came to rest on the other boy's shoulder. He would have thought the position awkward, uncomfortable even, without the alcohol coursing through his veins, but this way the only thing he was really aware of was the slight strain in his thighs from trying to hold himself up over Kazuo's legs to make sure he wasn't putting his whole weight on him. Another small giggle escaped him. "Remind me not to challenge you to duels again," he requested, face still pressed against the side of Kazuo's neck, voice slightly muffled. "Not unless I've had some serious practice at least."

───────────── August 2nd, 2021 @Ruka Burnett-Tân ─────────────

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───────────── Outfit Reducio

Kazuo let out a sigh at Ruka’s response. He didn’t like the answer even though it didn’t surprise him. ”I wish you two hadn’t gotten involved…” He murmured quietly, looking down briefly. There was more that he wanted to say but he held his tongue, not wanting to bring anymore seriousness to their conversation. Not when Ruka had invited him out here to celebrate his birthday. He shook his head, chuckling when Ruka pointed out his brief exchange with Erin. “I gave her a rock then dragged you away for food. I wouldn’t call that attentive at all.” He nudged Ruka back, shrugging at his question. “It gets in the way. How can you make unbiased observations if you let your emotions dictate how you view people? But more than that, not everyone even deserves compassion.” Maybe it was cold to say but to him it was very much the truth.

He gave Ruka’s hand a squeeze as the older boy talked about the divining. “Oh, I don’t.” He confessed with a giggle. “When I first found out about it I searched every inch of my mother’s library. I don’t know where she keeps it hidden. So. I guess that makes it easier.” He sighed softly, a peaceful exhale of contentment as he leaned his head against Ruka’s shoulder. “It’s a tool. Not the kind of tool that you can rely on all the time but a tool nonetheless. My parents aren’t overly superstitious but they also don’t scoff at any kind of magic that could advance their goals.” If there was any single word he would choose to describe the Shimadas it would probably be practical. “From what I understand, not every divining actually shows anything significant. Sometimes it’s just little things. Maybe my divining showed me going to Hogwarts and that’s why my parents didn’t let me see it.” He joked with a laugh.

He continued to chuckle as Ruka dramatically mourned his shot at being Kazuo’s personal chef. “I’ll consider giving you a second chance if you take back the unseasoned tofu plan.” He closed his eyes and let out a quiet hum of contentment. “Our best is all anyone can expect, isn’t it? Honestly, I don’t even expect that much from most people.” He snickered at that. “Most people don’t even bother trying to deal with their emotions. We’re still kids so it makes sense we’re figuring it out, right? But there are so many who just…” He raised a hand and waved it toward the cabins. “They just react however they please. They just do the first thing their emotions tell them to. Kissing, punching, crying, running away. It’s all emotional.” He glanced down when Ruka squeezed his hand, a brilliant red flush blooming across his cheeks at Ruka’s words. You’re important to me. How had he become important to Ruka? He didn’t understand why the older boy had come to trust him. He didn’t have time to dwell on his confused thoughts; Ruka was challenging him to a Pocky duel and he couldn’t help but to laugh at the older boy.

“Twenty years is it? I think someone is exaggerating just a bit!” He teased in response. He swung his pocky stick with little actual skill, mostly just trying to hit Ruka’s without too much thought and it seemed this lack of tactics ended in his favour. As Ruka’s pocky snapped he let out a laugh. “AHA! Pocky Duel Champion!” Kazuo stuck his Pocky in his mouth as Ruka leaned forward, resting against his shoulder. He couldn’t help the soft laughter that bubbled up, the childishness of the situation so at odds with his usual behaviour. A brief moment where he could succumb to childish impulses. “I didn’t realize I get a prize for winning.” He replied with amusement, reaching up with his free hand to rest it on Ruka’s head. As his fingers ran over the softness of Ruka’s red hair an idea came to him. “You know the hair color spell right?” He asked, grinning. “It’s second year, I think, if I remember the syllabus… I want red streaks. Like. There’s this jrock band and the lead singer streaks his hair. I want to look like that. Can you do that for me?”