thenearshore | inferno fire

[The call was a bit unusual.

Well, not unusual, but Izumo certainly wasn't expecting to get a call from Fubuki.

It's not too long before he goes to meet where the other shinki is, curious.]

Fubuki?

[He may or may not have froze up for a second when he hears his name. The moment of truth is impending]

Hey.

Great day for volcano-watching, isn't it?

[AHAHAha... These are things that he has to ease into. Too late, he thinks he should have dressed up nicer (maybe even got a bouquet)...but it'd largely been a whim. No telling how long this eruption will last, after all.]

Do you like volcanos?

I was rather surprised you called me out here for this, to be honest.

[Standing beside him, he does seem fascinated by the lava spewing out of the volcano, blissfully unaware of Fubuki's internal debate.]

I don't mind them. They've always been fascinating.

[Good...if he said it somewhere Izumo didn't like, it would be pretty lame.]

Then I made a good choice, then, it looks like.

[At least it isn't rain. Heh.]

[He spends a long moment watching it, before speaking up again.]

Actually...there was something else.

[Izumo laughs a bit.

Look, he'd rather take the lava over the rain. What does that say about him?

However, he turns to look at him.]

What is it?

[For one thing, lava is more majestic than rain, so it only means Izumo has good taste—]

[But speaking of lava. He spontaneously chose this moment almost purely because it's suitably dramatic. This would probably be more proper with a letter. But this is fine, too.]

[He smirks ~mysteriously~ as he strides out and turns to face Izumo (so the volcano is behind him as a majestic backdrop, you see).]

Izumo... [Here's a deep breath.] I realized something. I became aware of it the other day...I don't want to leave your side. And I don't want you to leave mine. I want to—that is—

[He clenches his fist as he makes the most dramatic declaration in his (un)life.]

I like you! Please go out with me!

[For a moment Izumo just looks at Fubuki curiously and then that--]

[....WHAT?]

[Izumo's sure his brain just died down and he's not exactly looking forward to what he's going to do next. Not at all, but it's better than leading Fubuki on like this.]

[It still stuns him for a brief moment before he can manage to collect his thoughts together. It's admittedly a bit odd for him to even consider this, to have to do this, but--]

Fubuki...

[His expression turns apologetic.]

I'm flattered, but unfortunately, I'm going to have to tell you no. I don't feel the same way about you. [It could change, but Izumo is also against the idea of dating someone only to have their hopes come crashing down even further if he still feels the same regardless.]

[For a second, he doesn't speak.]

[Then he lifts his head again, his voice heavier but the cheer not altogether gone.] I understand.

But I won't give up. [If he gave up so easily, he wouldn't be worth it.] I'll show you how cool I am. Then I'll seize your heart!

[Still saying cheesy things with a straight face!]

[It's good to see that Fubuki hasn't lost his cheerfulness.

It makes Izumo smile at him.]

I'd wish you good luck, but that'd be cheating.

[Considering Fubuki is going to try and win him over.]

I'm not sure how you can say that all with a straight face honestly. [His tone is teasing now.]

Haha...probably.

[The latter...well, it's only natural to say things like that sincerely! Actually...he gets the impression he should have said it more forcefully. He's unexpectedly unable to bounce back as well as he thinks he should, or maybe that was...someone else?]

[He settles back into a more natural smile, anyway.] I mean it, though.

I won't ask you to wait for me. [Since that wouldn't be fair.] But...don't run from me, either.

[He chuckles, his expression smoothing out into something softer.]

I won't run from you, Fubuki.

[It was never a doubt that he wouldn't run away from the other shinki. It was never about that, after all.

Fubuki's his friend in the end.]

Glad to hear that.

[That's a load off his mind; he'd be a fool to assume this wouldn't make things weird, at least a little. Just the natural risk when it comes to these kinds of things.]

...Think you can stay a while? [Eruption's still going on and all. Haha.]

I don't see why I can't.

[A shrug.]

I don't have anything else planned for the day.

Then stick around for a bit...

[He goes back to the tree and takes a seat with his back against it.]

Good thing for me this volcano was here, huh? Haha. [Though if he'd known he was going to be watching it for real, he would have brought some things...]

Izumo...you like smoky drinks, right...? Does that apply to food, too? [It is kind of transparent what he's after here, but hopefully the fact that they're having a bit of a mini-viewing party (and what viewing party doesn't have snacks?) will disguise his intentions a bit.]

Good thing for you, but I'm not sure if the rest of the Heaven agrees.

[Even if he did find it interesting to watch.

At the question, he laughs a bit.]

Actually, no. I'm rather open to any sort of food in general, so I don't have a particular favorite. [If that's what he's aiming for.]

Hmm...? [It is a little...ashy right now, but it doesn't seem to be doing any harm. Thinking it over, though, he supposes it can be alarming.] Heh, I guess so.

[On the other hand.] You answered that pretty easily... [But it is easier to answer things for which you don't a have a favorite, after all. Fubuki'll have to come up more advanced tactics]

Are you sure about that? [...That is not the advanced tactic. Just a natural follow-up! Haha.] How about really spicy?

[Fubuki, what kind of advanced tactics are those?

That's enough to get him to chuckle, a grin stretching on his lips.]

Spicy is fine, too. I usually eat curry.

Hrm...? Really. [There's one or two things he can think of to do with that news, but super-spicy challenges are really more a thing among friends (the, uh, normal kind...), anyway.]

[...He also catches himself staring, and quickly looks away. Not like he's never looked before, but it's way different now that Izumo knows.]

[He draws his knees up.] ...Would you eat something I made?

[Izumo notices Fubuki staring, but instead of calling him out on it, he simply smiles.

He won't do anything to deter the shinki from wanting to do anything. In fact, he's looking rather forward to what he might do.]

I would. [It'd be absolutely wrong not to if Fubuki put in the effort.]

[He snickers into his arms a little.] That's pretty brave...! I'm not a very good cook, you know?

[Fair warning. But at least he won't purposely do weird things with it. ~~For his own definition of weird.~~]

...Is it okay if I call you? [He won't be able to deliver it otherwise.]

It's something I'm willing to try. It's not so bad to get some cooking lessons, too, if you really want to get better at cooking.

[He's had worst cooking. Probably.

He nods.]

You're always free to call me.

[Well...technically it's not like he wants to get better at it as its own thing...]

...Is that an offer? [...Is that too much? He looks over to gauge the reaction.]

[But that and asking about calls might be too much, though. Going too hard at this will just make it...worse. Then again, having this conversation after having just gotten rejected is making things...slightly weird for him, emotionally. Haha... (He can't be ~cool~ and ~impressive~ like this. Maybe he should have held off... (b-but the volcano))]

Don't regret it if I call you in the middle of the night, okay?

[To his credit, Izumo doesn't look bothered.

The older shinki eyes Fubuki for a moment, amused.]

That's fine. I'm still working out some kinks in my sleeping schedule, so I might be up late at nights, anyway. [A pause and then:] You've never been to my bar yet, have you?

[Watching intently.]

Bar? [If he did, he doesn't remember it. But it seems like he does, in fact, remember everything from when he was 20-for-a-day (no missing time (except for the nap)), so...] I haven't.

[...Is. Is that an invitation. He was the one who asked (sort of) (about the cooking) (is the invitation related to the cooking), pretty much (???), but how should he deal with this]

[He freezes up for a second, but then a chuckle escapes. (~Cool~ ~like his namesake~)] Ah—calling you at night was a joke... [His tone turns a little wistful.] I'm...glad to hear that you don't mind, though.

[He turns back to watching the volcano.] If you're inviting me to your bar...I should say that I don't think I can drink.

[Fubuki, don't overthink this.

Though Izumo can't help but watch the other now to see his reactions. Just...how big is this crush of his anyway?]

I never mind. Only as long as the calls aren't complaints. [His voice is teasing, hinting that even if it is about complaints, he'll answer.

He chuckles.] That's fine. I do serve non-alcoholic drinks.

Even when your sleep schedule gets all worked out again? [Wouldn't it be weird to get woken up and it wasn't a complaint? (Or at least an emergency?) Haha...]

[...So the invitation wasn't for the cooking? ~~Which was an excuse Fubuki cooked up to stay close to Izumo in the first place~~ Isn't a bar someplace to pick people up?]

[...Should he stop trying to find ~symbolic~ meaning in all of this.]

Heheh, good for me, then. [Does that mean he can stop by whenever he likes]

I work in a bar, Fubuki. It'll take a long time before my sleep schedule does get readjusted. [Bars are known for opening late at nights, after all.

Izumo laughs a bit.]

You were always free to come to the bar whenever you like. I do keep it open during the day sometimes.

Hm...? Is that right? [Should he ask what kinks Izumo's trying to work out, then? But the other thing distracts him—]

["Always"...haha. It was his own fault for putting too much importance on the invitation, though.]

Would you prefer I drop by in the day? [He can't bring over a lunch bento at night, after all. Haha. And a lunch is what girls (but that's unimportant) give guys they like, otherwise he wouldn't think of doing it for someone who's stated he likes to cook and would probably be unimpressed by Fubuki's rather ordinary fare... (He considers it worth it to get the sentiment across. Shh.)]

[Then again, that's why he asked about phone calls. So he could check beforehand.]

[But, also—] I'd brave the night for you. [—he's just joking around, too.]

Day or night, you're always welcomed.

[Izumo smiles at him.

He's honestly not thinking too much about this at all. Nor will he really tell anyone about this either. This is between him and Fubuki only, after all.

But he laughs a bit.]

Going to be my knight in shining armor? [He teases right back.]

Haha, I guess so. [If he's braving the night to get to Izumo, though...wouldn't that make Izumo the princess?]

[...And what would that make the volcano? A dragon? ...A dragon chick??]

But I don't have any armor, though. Sorry. [He looks over.] But, seeing as I don't... Would you bless something for me? As a protective memento.

[Izumo is definitely not a princess.

It might be the other way around.]

Hm? And what would you like me to bless for you?

[...Wait. Will Izumo actually do it? He was expecting another rejection, because that—that is in fact what Fubuki would do if their situations were reversed. (Why does he seem to know what he would do in a reverse situation? He'll think about that later...) But this is fine, too. A dozen things run through his head for a split second, but ultimately—]

[He gets up.] ...Can I take a picture?

[And then bless the picture on the phone, yes. This is totally a good plan.]

The ones I already have won't do. It has to be of this moment.

[Izumo would reject it, but he thinks he's humoring Fubuki. Besides, with Anna, it's nothing too different. It's already much like a vow, anyway.

He looks somewhat surprised.]

So you want to take a picture and have me bless it?

Why not? [Said entirely cheerfully]

But if the blessing part is weird, we can leave that part off. [He'd been joking before, but now that the idea's in his head, he wants a memento of this moment, after all.]

If you don't want to have your picture taken, though, then bless this one. [He takes a quick shot of the volcano, and then holds the phone out in both hands. Of course, since he was joking around to begin with, for him "bless" doesn't actually mean anything. Just a connection...that's all.]

[A "blessing" isn't needed, but Izumo supposes it can't hurt.

He smiles slightly, reaching over and tapping the phone. It's not exactly a blessing, per se, but in the end, it's really the connection that's needed.]

And so you have been blessed, Fubuki.

Thanks. [He would add something like, "I'll treasure it forever," but...it's his phone... He has no composure right now.]

My armor's complete. [So saying, he puts the phone away.]

Now that I'm safe, I'll come by...next week? Don't get a lunch...I'll bring one.

[Chuckling, he nods.]

Next week sounds good. I'll be looking forward to it.

inferno fire

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