thenearshore | 016 | The Good Old Days

Entry tags:

016 | The Good Old Days

Who: Everyone!
What: Ageswapping
When: July 15-17
Where: Everywhere
Summary: A breach in the space-time continuum is messing things up.

Edit: OVERFLOW is here!

The Far Shore has been dealing with a lot of space-time pulsating through the past week or so and everything is culminating on the night of the 15th, even though the Heavens are preparing for an all-out Obon bash. They had planned to have the celebration on the 15th itself, but Amaterasu asked to postpone a day due to the horrible feeling that is permeating the Far Shore.

And it turns out she was right to postpone everything. In fact, it will have to be postponed another whole month at this rate...

Before

Late in the day on July 15th, the new batch of shinki will arrive to a Far Shore with a thick, tense atmosphere. All night on the 15th it feels like something is about to happen - and it's difficult to tell whether that something will be good or bad. Any attempts to contact the management of the Far Shore have fallen on deaf, slightly harried ears and so everyone is left to their own devices to try and figure out why things are so tense.

July 16

Just after midnight, an explosive shock wave rips through the Far Shore, bringing on the age changes with it. Even the spirits of the Far Shore seem to be affected - for example, the library goblins are either toddling around on wobbly legs or are dragging themselves from place to place and looking decrepit. There are a few gods and shinki that seem to have been exceptions from the change, though it is not clear why.

July 17

Another wave of energy comes in the early morning of the 17th. Fewer people are affected this time and it seems to alter those people's ages a second time. There is no rhyme or reason to who is being affected further. Several of the library goblins have just dropped dead from severe old age. Oops.

Aftermath

Late on the 17th brings about one final burst from the energy that has been plaguing the Far Shore. For a short moment, every new temple glows with a soft light, seeming to beckon to their owners. But the light is gone quickly and everyone will find themselves back to normal with complete memories of everything that happened during their age adventures. The goblins that died, though, are still very dead. Looks like the library will need to get some new help soon.

In Summary:

Meet the newbies
Get aged or de-aged
Deal with other too young/too old people
Try to handle the consequences
Have fun~

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Oh, is that what happened?

[He knows that's why, but he chooses to tease Sousuke about it since he's going to be such a grumpy pants for a little while longer. But at least he's trying to be helpful and caring despite all that, tucking and kicking until the blankets just about hike up over his knees. And look at that. No kicking! Of course Rin could do this himself, but since Sousuke'staking the time, who would he be to stop him? So he makes himself comfortable, all snuggled in and properly warm once half his body's covered and he can easily tug on the sheets to bring them over his shoulders. Ordinarily he'd prefer being unrestrained while he sleeps but he's up for a change tonight. Just this once.]

So.

[Opening his eyes again, peeking across the bed]

Are we really gonna sleep now?

Uh-huh.

[Said in a droning voice because duh. Of course that’s what’s happened. Rin’s gonna tease him with something dumb, he’s gonna give him a dumb response. Doesn’t stop him from still working on throwing more blankets up, leg going back and forth on the bed to kick the material further up. Of course Rin could reach down and get those things up himself, but apparently he’s content to let Sousuke do all the work. Which, well, he’s doing voluntarily and all.

He’s only getting halfway though. Once those things are up at his waist, Sousuke drops his leg and stuffs it back under his own covers before fishing around with his hand until his middle finger catches on the diagonally-draped bedding. A few tugs and shrugs and he’s got the blanket tucked up under his arm, shoulders and upper chest left bare as he settles against the soft mattress again. It’s cool enough that blankets are comfortable in this room.

That question. Sousuke's smirk comes clean through his voice.]

I dunno. Depends on if you’re gonna fall off the bed again.

[Oh, come on, don't be so sarcastic with him! And anyway, he's already doing Rin a huge favor here with the blankets, so as far as Rin's concerned, he's coming out of this a winner. A somewhat sleepy winner... but a winner either way. Although now that he thinks about it, is he really that sleepy? Maybe just tired. Or relaxed. ... Honestly, the thought of falling asleep so soon doesn't settle well in his stomach. Being this way with Sousuke again–

He never thought he'd feel so comfortable.

Yes, even when Sousuke still manages to throw jabs at him when they've just gotten cozy. Grumbling, Rin reaches his arm out so he can shove at his best friend's shoulder.]

Or maybe you'll fall this time.

[Sure, after you stop bossing him around! But the blankets are done and he’s settled and there’s no way he’s going to bother mouthing off about it right now. Way too comfortable in the bed. Winner? Was there even a competition? Sousuke snuggles into the pillow a little more before relaxing completely. Eyes closing, breath easing. Man, after the day they’ve had, he’s looking forward to getting some sleep finally. Recuperate for whatever tomorrow brings…

… except there’s still some nagging, little childish thought in his mind telling him he’s going to miss out on something fun if he goes to sleep.

Why should it be that way though? They’ll still be the same people tomorrow, even if they do go back to being teenagers. Right? They can do the same things they did as kids. Well, minus getting baths together…*cough*

He’s just about to tilt over into the dozy world when suddenly there’s a hand shoving at his shoulder. Sousuke rocks a little at the push and opens his eyes, a grumpy, annoyed pout coming to his face. Seriously, Rin?]

Mrgh… Push me off the bed and I’ll throw you out the window. Got it?

[Sousuke, there's always a competition! Haven't you learned this about Rin by now? If you don't stay on your toes, how can you prepare yourself to win? Not like Rin has anything against claiming all the successes. If Sousuke wants to hand them over, that's more than ok with him. Another thing that won't change, even if they wake up tomorrow back to their normal bodies. So he shouldn't be restless. He shouldn't worry about falling asleep. Change happens. It always does.

... But does it have to so soon? ~~Baths together though... They can talk about that later.~~

Determined then to hang onto a few more precious seconds, Rin snickers softly then trades his arm for his leg beneath the sheets, nudging at Sousuke's leg this time with several persistent pushes. It's not enough to shove him off the bed, but it's probably more than enough to keep him awake. Oh yeah. He's testing you. Not afraid to admit that.]

[He knows but can’t they have a competition over who can fall asleep the fastest right now?! You’d think by this time Sousuke’d be wise to sleeping in the same bed as Rin… but apparently ever since that one night after the fireworks on the beach, when Rin said they’d drag another bed in here, Sousuke’d never bothered to make that necessity happen. It was just… stupidly comfortable. Even if this kind of crap happened more often than not.

And there he goes. Not content with the hand on his shoulder pushing—or heeding Sousuke’s warning—there’s now a leg nudging at his own beneath the sheets. Push. No motion. Push. Nothing doing, Rin! Push. He’s gritting his teeth and doing his damnest not to move, you know. Push. AUGH that does it! Sousuke grunts and shoves right back with his leg, trying to put Rin’s leg back on his side.]

Mnrgh, Rin! I’m gonna smack you!

[Ohoho, has he finally hit a nerve? Or should he say, has he finally hit another nerve? Wow, he's awfully good at this. He can't remember being this good at it back in the day. But he's not complaining, not one bit, because poking fun at Sousuke's always been his favorite past time, and somehow doing it as a child feels so much more fulfilling. Maybe it's because they're smaller and there's no need to worry about being pinned down or sat on without any chance of getting up again. Sousuke might still be taller, but he's lost all that muscle mass, you know!

So he's going to milk this for all it's worth. Poke, poke! Wah, you can't shove him back to his side! That's not fair at all!

Scooting in closer, he giggles.]

Go on, smack me then. I dare you!

[What nerve? He’s just being annoying; that’s all! Sousuke grumbles into the pillow that he drags down in front of his face, trying not to yell further. Oh sure, Rin’s such a good expert at ruffling his feathers. Way to be proud of yourself, brat. And that stupid leg’s still pushing at him. An irritated mixture of whine and growl muffles into the fluff in front of his face and Sousuke keeps trying to push Rin’s leg back onto his side.

There’s a tiny part of him that’s actively attempting not to laugh or grin through his pout though because rough housing with Rin is fun. Even if he really wants to push Rin right off the bed by this time.] Rin! Stop it! Come on! [Sousuke just wants to pretend he can try to get some sleep here! This time, both legs go back, aiming to lop around that petulant limb and lock it down. Until he feels the bed shift and a certain someone scoots even closer to him. Giggling. Like a girl.

Wha--? He dares to dare him to smack him?! His pleasure! Sousuke almost instantly grabs the pillow an—Wait, no! If he does smack him, Rin’ll cry and he doesn’t want that all over the bed. Instead, Sousuke irritably jerks his head back and twists around as fast as he can on the bed.] I said—Mnp!

[And shuts up because Rin’s a lot closer to him than he thought… and…

… and …

His mouth just ran into Rin’s mouth.]

[This is too rich. There's no way he can give up this easily. Not when the night's still young and he has all this energy coursing through his veins! Besides, Sousuke can't fool Rin. He knows he's not really trying to fall asleep over there. If he were seriously bothered right now, then Rin would be back on the floor, face first down on the carpet. So, time to push more buttons! Push, push, push! Nudge, nudge, nudge!]

What's the matter? I thought you wanted to--

[... What.

What is--

What.]

Mn?

[It doesn't... register at first. Initially he thinks it's just a nose bump, a forehead touch, a swipe of his bangs against his cheek, but-- It's not any of those things at all. Because his lips are warm, his face is tingling and Sousuke's way closer than he should be.

Five seconds later, it finally clicks, and with eyes blown open wide Rin gasps, hunches his shoulders, then scurries backward so quickly to his side of the bed he almost throws his neck out in the process.]

O-oy, Sousuke!!

[he shrieks, tugging the blankets up to hide half of his face.]

What's the big idea!?

[Sousuke barely has thought in his head. It’s all blank for a few sudden seconds. Somewhere the scenes are playing in his head: turned around, opened his mouth to snap… and now there’s warm right against his mouth. And he’s knows it’s not some bump on the forehead or nose, not some brush of hair.

It’s mouth … to … mouth.

Rin’s right in front of him, way too close for this to be some safe distance. And that’s the last thought because it all snaps into place.]

Blaugh!

[Sousuke jerks himself back so fast he probably gives his shoulder a burn against the sheets! Sputtering and making noises, he shoves his face against the pillow, deliberately wiping his mouth on the cloth. Also to do his damnest to hide just how dark his face his flushing. Blood pounds in his ears and he swears he can feel it throbbing in his lips of all places!

Wait—Seriously!? Rin’s yelling at him like it’s his fault?]

WHAT?! You— You were the one getting too close to me!

[Yell right back at him!]

[He's... not even sure what happened here. How did their faces just happen to be that close to each other? And even if they did, how did they manage to-- to do that!? Briefly he questions if Sousuke might have done it on purpose, but... No, that doesn't make any sense! And Rin definitely didn't do it on purpose either! S-So--!

He jerks back right as Sousuke does and burrows so far down under the covers it makes his head swim. He can't look at him. He can't even talk to him!

Well, he manages that for a few seconds. Until Sousuke goes shrieking at him and he has to toss back the covers again, revealing pink cheeks and damp eyes, semi-pointed teeth flashing when he growls,]

W-was not!!

[Sniffle sniffle]

You turned your head too fast!!

[Do they have to keep thinking about it?! It’s an accident, never has to happen again, hell they can deny it ever occurred and he’ll be fine with that! If only his stupid mouth would stop burning like a firecracker! Sousuke drops down onto the bed again, face buried in the pillow despite his moment-ago-yell of a retort still ringing in his ears.

Of course he had to yell at him! He’s not going to take the blame for this! It’s Rin’s fault for getting so close and pestering him!

It’s really no one’s fault and he knows it, but he can’t let it slide. Someone has to take the blame here because it’s embarrassing! He just had his mouth on his friend’s mouth! AS A KID! That’s even worse, weirder, what—SOMETHING!

Sousuke doesn’t even look when he hears the covers get yanked down; he knows Rin’s going to yell, all teary-eyed and red-faced. Doesn’t want to look up and see it because he knows exactly where his stupid eyes are going to go.

… seriously? Was he crying? Come ooonnn… Sousuke groans in annoyance into the fluffy depths of the pillow.]

Wouldn’t’ve mattered if you’d not been riding all up my back!

[So there!]

[His lips aren't fairing any better over here, tingling and warm, even warmer now that he's shoved himself under the sheets where their combined body heat flushes his face. It's probably for the best they can't see each other, at least for a minute or so, because Rin's positive this situation will only escalate if they can. Though speaking of that, are they... overreacting? Is this worth getting worked up over? Or are they in the right to yell and blame each other over... whatever the heck that was?

Tsk. Who is he kidding? He knows exactly what that was.

... It was his first kiss. Wasn't it?

Rin doesn't have a comeback for that muffled grumble nor does he feel like coming up with one. Instead, he curls his fingers into the sheets so tightly his knuckles turn white, bites his lip, then abruptly tosses the blankets off his body so he can stand. This is stupid. And there's no way they can sleep like this. Not in the same bed.

So he goes, grabbing his pillow as he quickly stomps off towards the bedroom door.]

[Sousuke keeps his face smooshed into the pillow; he might end up suffocating himself, but that’s better than fessing up and facing Rin right now, right? Not really… but it feels that way! He knows Rin isn’t looking at him either and it’s no easy thing on his side of the bed. Seriously, what’s he supposed to think? He just kissed Rin! His first kiss … ~~as far as he knows~~.

Of course now that time’s passing, he’s actually getting to think about this logically. It’s just a kiss. They’re freaking out about a little accidental mouth touch that could’ve happened just as easily if they’d been wrestling on the floor or something. And they’d probably end up yelling at each other over that too, but it’d be more embarrassing if they were older. Or not… Ugh! He doesn’t know! It’s not like he wants to up and do it again or where the hell’d that thought come fro-?!

Sousuke tenses a little when the bed bounces and he hears blankets fly and sheets his. … Rin’s getting out of the bed. So what, he’s leaving? Hmph! Fine, he can be that way! Just walk off and he’ll get to sleep in the bed all by himself and… you know… get some sleep for once. Or something. … Great, now he’s pouting into his pillow as well as being red in the face.

It’d just been some accidental touch… right? … UGH.]

Where’re you going?

[Duh, but he wants to hear Rin say it so he can hear how stupid it sounds.]

[Could that even be counted as a kiss? It was... more an accidental lip brush, if anything. Come on, Rin, you're the god of love and expert of all things romantic, right? This shouldn't be rocket science to you... But it feels that way and he wants nothing more than to explode and– What if they did that when they were older? Would they be reacting the same or... Ugh, what does it matter? Why should he care? It happened and there's no way they can go back to change it!

He already has the door opened when Sousuke speaks up again but rather than keep on walking he freezes, pillow pulled to his chest and fingers shaking on the door handle. Where's he going? Well, another bedroom might be a start. Not like he'll be able to sleep there either. Maybe he's hungry? Nn, no, that's not right either.

In the end, he holds his pillow tighter to his body then with a muffled,] Outside! [he takes off down the hall. There's a balcony nearby he can step onto for some fresh air at least. That'll cool his face, his nerves and whatever else. It has to.]

[Well that’s his answer. Sousuke’s frown probably reaches the bedsheets as he watches Rin storm out of the room. There’s a part of him that wants to go after. Because yes, it does sound stupid. The whole thing. But the majority of him is still a flustered, frustrated mess and he’s got no intention to do anything but sit here.

So he does.

Right in the middle of that big bed. Their big bed. Used to be just “Rin’s” bed. Hmph. Is he angry? Is he sad? Is he glad to be alone for a bit? Is his stomach twisting in knots and his tongue sticking to the roof of his mouth? All of those. Sousuke punches both fists into the bedsheets and heaves himself over, flopping onto his back like a beached fish. Arms splayed out, legs spread, taking up as much space on the bed.

Before scrambling all his lanky limbs like he’s making some kind of sheet angle. So stupid! If he’d just kept his body still and not turned around, none of this would’ve happened! They could’ve been joking and wrestling and having a great time right now! But nooo, someone had to ruin it by moving too fast. … Rin shouldn’t have been jumping on his back either. He told him to stop it! Rin didn’t listen to him!

Sousuke gives his arms and legs a shake to stop their motions and glares up at the ceiling. Pooey. This sucks.

… and of course now his brain’s reaching back to the way Rin’s lips felt against his own and the kid’s about to scream in a few minutes. Or—well… at least whine.]

[It's easier this way, putting some distance between them so they don't end up wrecking their surroundings or each other in the process. Or so he thinks. At first. Can't say he isn't used to it... and as he stomps down the hall he wonders if he's experiencing some weirder form of déjà vu. Didn't they fight over something stupid like this before? Probably. No, not probably. Definitely. And didn't that fight end up exactly like this too? Going their separate ways, giving the cold shoulder, eventually breaking the quiet with a compromise or a cola.

Is he sad? Is he angry? No... He's not quite either of those things. And once his footsteps draw to a halt in front of the balcony door at the end of the hall, Rin realizes he's more exhausted than anything else. Could've just slept and gotten it over with.

... He wonders what Sousuke's doing. Hn. Probably got his head shoved under his pillow. Or maybe he's spread out like a starfish and cursing the ceiling. Both images make him scoff either way just before he pushes open the large glass door to let the nighttime chill brush against his face. Who cares what that idiot's doing? He's going to do his own thing and enjoy it without him!

Rin still has his pillow pulled to his chest when he makes his way closer to the stone railing, which proves to be for the best since it's colder than anticipated out here. Out here where he can hear water and branches, his own heart thump-thumping away between his ears... Rin folds his arms over the railing, using his pillow for added cushion, and stares down at the gardens several feet below. He's not sure if everything's always been this huge or if his smaller frame only makes it seem that way. For that matter, has everything always been this... important? It seems he's been paying extra special attention to everything he's done these past two days, from his choice of words with that woman he never met over the network to the way he smiled at her when they parted ways... from the way he overreacted in the morning to the way his teeth wouldn't stop itching right now.

Unconsciously Rin purses his lips as if that will help dull the weird sensation. Must be something to do with his not-quite-pointy-teeth and nothing at all to do with Sousuke's lips on his--

He could scream into this pillow, he really could! ... Instead, he opts for whining. Stupid Sousuke. ... Stupid him for getting so close.]

[Easier, yes. But more frustrating. Because even if Sousuke thinks it’s better to be alone right now—and it probably is—he can only lie here with his thoughts. Unable to talk to Rin or yell at him or otherwise hash out this problem between them. So many times, they’ve gotten into fights, sometimes over serious big things, often over stupid little things. Their first night after Rin made him his shinki, they’d split up by the time the night came. Sousuke’d been too frustrated over his lack of memories, over Rin’s responses. And he knows Rin had been pretty overwhelmed too. It wasn’t like the other boy had tried to stick around when Sousuke drifted off into silence to do stare out one of the room windows.

Eventually he’d gone to find Rin and ended up spending his first night on the floor in a nest of blankets and pillows beside his god’s bed. The morning had been… well… a mess, both with good things and bad things. It’s annoying, thinking back on all those things as he lies here in the bed. Burdened under the awkward feeling left over by the kis—MOUTH MISTAKE!—and knowing Rin’s frustrated all over again, his mind wanders over those other memories. The sound of Rin’s voice calling his name, the way he smiles at him after taking a taste test of whatever Sousuke’s making for the night, that growling pout whenever the other boy’s embarrassed or irritated. It’s not been a very long time, and yet, Sousuke feels like he knows a lot about Rin.

Strange to think of it that way. He’s pretty sure Rin’s either stomped off into another room and flopped face down on another bed to go have himself a hot, not-crying session, or ended up outside looking up at the stars with that stupid pillow pushed up to his chin. Sousuke snorts quietly and rolls onto his side, shoving one arm under the pillow. Che… why should he care what Rin’s doing right now? He’s the one being a huge butt over some little accident. It’s still Rin’s fault for getting so close to him.] Told you… dramatic maniac. [Grumble grumble. If Rin wants to be alone, then fine, he can be alone. Sousuke doesn’t need him around. He’s fine being on his own, being responsible for himself.

There’s so much stuff that happened over the past few days, all because of them being little kids. Not just with each other either. The beach, the park, the few people he met… Crap! He’s licking his lips again! Sousuke shoves himself up and off the bed with a huff. They still burn! He can still feel the sensation of Rin’s mouth on them. It’s his turn to go stomping off, his path taking him to the bathroom so he can shove his face under the faucet and splash his mouth a few times. Drink some cold water while he’s here too.

Maybe later he’d try to go to sleep.]

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016 | The Good Old Days

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