-IC Contact- [deercountry]

[icanhearscreams]

"... Leave a message."

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[siriusly]

You're not a burden.

[whether it's catching him in the kitchen, the den, or up in the gradually-de-booked room that used to be Manabu's, he catches Jun's eye and makes that statement unblinking.

yea bud, he heard the network thing. and this is before Manabu winds up in his own mini hell this month.]

If you need to hear it again, I got no problem saying so.

[ever have a guy just walk up unsolicited and tell u ur valid??]

[icanhearscreams]

[Huh wh - he was just getting breakfast...]

[He stares at Manabu for a moment before his shoulders sag.]

I... I didn't mean - ugh. Shouldn't have said something like that in public...

[He still feels like he's just a freeloader, but he isn't going to say that.]

[siriusly]

[good morning welcome to your daily affirmation!!!!

Manabu surveys him a bit before moving on toward a cupboard to get a glass.]

You must've needed to in some way, otherwise you wouldn't have said it at all, right? That's not the kind of guy you are.

[icanhearscreams]

[He presses his lips together in a thin line and then sighs.]

I guess. I just... I didn't really expect you to... ngh. I'm just... I feel like I don't deserve this.

[There. He said it. Happy?]

[siriusly]

Yeah, well... [he fills a glass with water.] This is why people don't get to decide what they do and don't deserve for themselves. What we feel...it's real, but it doesn't paint the whole picture.

[he turns around, leaning on the counter.]

You don't have to feel like you deserve it for it to be happening all the same. You gotta take in other people's feelings and convictions, too.

[icanhearscreams]

[He looks away from the other, trying to compose himself.]

I'm not good at that part. Dealing with other people... has never been my strong suit.

[He prefers books and facts and science and logic. Not people, who are so messy and complicated.]

[siriusly]

[with a chuckle in his breath:] That's just something you gotta work at, like a muscle! Just because you're not good at it now doesn't mean you can't get better, bit by bit. It just takes work.

[icanhearscreams]

[He groans at that, rolling his eyes.]

Great, more exercise. As if I'm not getting enough, jumping around rooftops.

[Wait, he hasn't told Manabu about that, has he? Whoops.]

[siriusly]

Jumping around rooftops? [Manabu looks understandably concerned.] First of all: When have you had time to do that since moving books from one building to another...and second of all...

What?

[icanhearscreams]

... Right.

[He sighs and is glad for his long-sleeved shirt that keeps his bruises hidden. He doesn't need Manabu worrying more.]

Vi's been teaching me how to get around fast. I've been meeting with her after work, usually while you're still closing up. I'm... I'm not a fighter, and we both know that. So that leaves running as my only option.

[siriusly]

[Vi's launching kids off rooftops for their personal development.

this............................doesn't surprise him in the slightest.

but considering he watched her get kicked square in the head by a murderhorse, he has to be that voice of concern:] Ooookayyyy, are...you at least wearing gear for this? A helmet?

[icanhearscreams]

[Absolutely not.]

... Yes?

[siriusly]

[wow sound a little less confident Jun i dare you.

frowning frownier:] At least wear a helmet, Jun... Vi of all people should know head trauma's no joke.

[icanhearscreams]

... I'll... see if I can find one.

Wait, what do you mean? Did something happen to her?

[siriusly]

[he makes a sound pre-sip, pausing to have a drink, sighing when he's had one and lowering the glass.]

Yeah. She's okay, of course, but... Not just everyone can get kicked right in the head by a horse and be okay. So. Maybe don't take her as a sterling example of playing it safe.

[he has 0 room to criticize given his own experiences but this isn't about him.]

[icanhearscreams]

[He snorts a little. Really? He'll have to tease her about that later.]

I'm being careful, though. I'm learning how to turn falls into rolls, for one. I've almost got it down.

[Though not... quite.]

[siriusly]

Okay, well, turn those falls into rolls with a helmet on. [sound more like a mom Manabu i dare u.]

[icanhearscreams]

Yeah, okay mom.

[If you're gonna try to act like a mom you're gonna get sass for it!]

[siriusly]

Haa-? [he squints, his mouth twitching on one side.] Is that you getting sassy instead of just apologizing to me a thousand times?

[icanhearscreams]

[He puts his hands on his hips and tilts his head.]

Well, it's not like I really know what moms act like, but you're sounding like one.

I'm a teenager, I'm supposed to sass you.

[siriusly]

[he exhales a low, surprised sound, holding a stare with him for a long time before he breaks, bursting into laughter.]

No, that's perfect, Jun! Haha-!

[icanhearscreams]

[This... was not the intended effect. Jun just stares for a moment, his brain utterly confused as he tries to work out what to do.]

[siriusly]

[the laughter tapers quickly enough, but it was still enough of a flag for Magnet to come trotting into the room to investigate. WHO AUTHORIZED LEVITY WITHOUT HIM?]

Ehehe... [he shrugs his shoulders up when he catches the bewildered look on Jun's face.] Sorry, but it just made me think...the shoe really is on the other foot! This must be what Mamoru felt like, back when I used to talk back to him.

[icanhearscreams]

Mamoru? Is that your - brother? Or...

[Some kind of father figure? He doesn't really know anything about Manabu's past, now that he thinks about it.]

[siriusly]

Mn-! Big brother, yeah. I was much more a pain than you are, though, eheh...