02 - [CLOSED] Shine Off!!

[bittydragon]

Who: Yamato Hotsuin (bittydragon), Alcor (jumyouboshi), and Kaito Watari (awww_yeeeeeaaaah)
Where: Alcor's Apartment
Summary: Kaito investigates cryptic shit, finds bitty Yamato instead
Warnings: Awkwardness

[It was almost as if Yamato had never left home, with how easily he fell back into routine with Alcor and Cerberus. The surroundings were very different - smaller, for one - but he had his chess board, and his books, and it wasn't as if Yamato rarely ventured from his little hermit hole anyway.

Alcor's apartment was small and Spartan, and although kept clean, it was obvious that it wasn't very well lived in. That was fine by Yamato - his own room back in his world had been in the same state.

He currently had his nose buried in one of his books, perched on Alcor's bed with Cerberus curled up on the floor next to him. The chess game had been abandoned, if only because Yamato had been starting to lose and he claimed boredom and headache to wriggle out of it before a checkmate could be claimed. He wouldn't admit defeat on this day (or ever).

Alcor was a quiet, yet constant presence. It was actually nice, although Yamato would never voice this thought a loud.

Sadly, this peace was broken by a sharp knocking on the door. Yamato lifted his head from the book with a small frown, somewhat perplexed. This was Alcor's stead... who would come to visit him? Unless it was Miyako? Hmph, well, if it was, he'd answer it...

So Yamato, without waiting to see if Alcor reacted or not to the door knocking, closed his book, slid off the bed, and padded over to the door - Cerberus instantly lurching awake and lumbering after him]

Comments

[bittydragon]

[Yamato finally looked up from his book. He looked unimpressed]

...I see. Well, if you wish to talk to me over tea, you have to know how to conduct yourself properly during it. You should research the subject before coming round again.

[Aaaand eyes back down to the book. He seemed very engrossed in it...]

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

...No offense, but I don't think I could normally afford lessons.

[There's a pause as he thinks of how he can make what he just said sound less dickish.]

If you want, you can walk me through the basics so I don't screw up.

[bittydragon]

Hmph. Maybe.

[Yamato's nose was still buried into the book, so his words seemed dismissive]

We don't have the proper equipment for tea ceremony, anyway, so this will be a casual affair. Just don't slurp your tea or spill it.

[jumyouboshi]

[Alcor returned from the kitchen with two cups of green tea, one in each hand. The taste was surprisingly good, given that he had little formal training or knowledge. Perhaps he tampered with it or its molecules...? Or perhaps he made it of his own skill?

Either way, it was acceptable, he hoped.]

I have finished preparing them, as you wish. I hope you find them satisfactory.

[He telekinetically suspended one right in the air in front of Kaito, then one in front of Yamato, and floated a step back.]

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

[Ahh, that actually smells really good!]

Thank you! [He carefully took his cup, careful not to spill it, but didn't take a drink from it just yet.]

[bittydragon]

[Yamato closed his book and set it aside on the bed beside him. He reached up and delicately grabbed his tea, letting it rest on his lap with his hands curled around it.

He then openly watched Kaito, as if searching for any mistakes or poor manners, before slowly lifting his cup up and taking a small sip. He made every movement look very graceful and well timed - it didn't help that he was in traditional clothing as well, so...]

[jumyouboshi]

[Alcor nodded toward Kaito, obviously pleased with the gratitude. At least one of them thanked him...]

You are welcome, Shining One.

[He said it completely on reflex. Since it had been years since he last addressed Yamato as such, and only addressed Kaito as such much more recently, it was only natural.

Right?

...How terrible.]

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

[He was in the middle of taking a small sip, but thankfully he doesn't sputter, he just freezes, the cup still to his mouth. Leave it to Kaito to immediately read the emotions in the room and, at the moment, there's a sort of tension that's solidifying at the moment.

Kaito says nothing, he merely stands there with the cup to his face and waits for the blow up.]

[bittydragon]

[Alcor was lucky that Yamato had been in the middle of taking a sip when he said that. Startled or not, manners of tea were instilled very thoroughly into Yamato, so he waited until he very calmly swallowed his mouthful of tea and lowered the cup onto his lap. It thankfully gave him enough time for him to not immediately react - which would have been in a very explosive and childish manner.

Instead his face was scarily blank, and his eyes were emotionless as they pinned Alcor down with a very cold look]

What did you just call him?

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

It's... [Quick, diffuse the situation!]

...probably a slip of the tongue! Alcor can be pretty spacey, huh? [Haha, get it? Spacey? Spa....ce.......yeah.

An attempt was made.]

[jumyouboshi]

[Even though an attempt was made, Alcor, for better or for worse, was not one to shaft responsibility onto someone else for his mistakes.

The smile wavered, and quickly faded from his face as soon as he realized what he had done. His expression turned into a guilty yet blank one as well, one that could almost match Yamato's. Almost.]

...I called him the Shining One.

[Problem, Yamato?]

[bittydragon]

[There was a very tense pause where Yamato didn't immediately react. It was obvious that he was holding his cup very tightly though, and as the seconds ticked by, his expression was becoming increasingly upset, enough so that Cerberus seemed to sense something was wrong.

The demon was up on its feet immediately, and it padded over to Yamato with an inquiring noise, snuffling at the young child's hair in an attempt to soothe. Yamato just slowly bowed his head, remaining very quiet]

...

[His thoughts were buzzing. He couldn't pinpoint why exactly he was so upset at first. Alcor - he wasn't very attached to him or anything! Yamato allowed him to call him Shining One this, or whatever, because the man was interesting, being a self-proclaimed observer of humanity. If the man turned his attentions on someone else, well, it meant less time of Yamato's being wasted with stupid ramblings about humanity and potential.

...or rather, this was what Yamato told himself, but it still... it kind of hurt to be replaced. Ah. So that was it. Yamato had been replaced by someone else. Why didn't Alcor tell him that?]

I see. [Yamato's voice was flat] Did I do something wrong?

[That was the logical conclusion he made. He had to have done something for his worth to dip low enough for Alcor to seek a new 'Shining One'.]

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

[Kaito could see he was clearly upset, and it was killing him. He guess from what Saiduq said that he was Yamato's only real parent figure, but...this was a hard swing into reality. It hurt, seeing him like that, just as it hurt seeing him reducing to a raving mess on Sunday. God, what is he going to do...?

Rather than gloat, or try to come closer, he gets onto Yamato's eye level and...he does look pretty hurt. Like Yamato being upset affects him, or he doesn't want him to be upset. But how can that be? He doesn't know Yamato...right?]

Yamato... [Whoa there friend, suddenly talking like they're familiar.] Of course not. Right, Alcor?

[jumyouboshi]

[Thoughts of a meritocracy and rejecting possibilities swam in his mind. The honest answer was "no", but...]

...That's right. You did nothing wrong.

[How to...put this nicely...]

...It was simply a shift in your mindset and state of being.

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

[Oh my god did he just-]

Alcor... [He says his name through gritted teeth, because he didn't NEED to tell Yamato about THE THING. At least, not yet. He's not even paying attention to his tea anymore, but one thing is pretty clear: whatever they were hiding has just been kicked out in the open. Thanks, Alcor...]

[bittydragon]

[Yamato was just growing increasingly confused - which fed directly in his growing agitation and upsetness. Why was Kaito being so familiar with him? Did he pity him or something? He was the new Shining One so, why did he even care?

And shift in mindset and state of being? What the hell did that mean? It must've held some significance since Kaito seemed agitated himself at the mention of it]

...I don't... [Understand]

[He did sound a little lost here, and he was turning the cup in his hands with a sort of anxious energy. Cerberus huffed beside him, unsure on how to alleviate its master's distress]

A simple shift in mindset and state of being...? So, simply put, we grew incompatible as I got older?

[...hey, Yamato is a genius kid, he could connect the dots even when confused]

[jumyouboshi]

...There is much more to it than mere incompatibility.

[The whole meritocracy shebang? He wasn't going to bring it up, at least, not until his hand was forced. The incompatibility was tied to their split, and it was Yamato who rejected him, not the other way around...kind of.

...Although, he wasn't denying it, so Yamato was correct. Alcor sighed, and pressed a hand to his mouth.]

...But let it be known that I still care for you.

[Because in the end, that was the truth.]

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

...That's right. He cares about you very much, Yamato.

[Okay then well what's Kaito's story, considering he's acting way too familiar to have just "heard about Yamato".]

[bittydragon]

...

[Yamato suddenly took a sip of his tea, still keeping his head somewhat bowed. Then;]

Up until we grow incompatible again. From what it sounds, it is a natural progression that will occur one way or another.

[Yamato's voice was very composed, and so what his expression when he lifted his head. In fact, it was very cold and empty, like he was taking great pains to shove everything down and ignore it. He stared at Kaito]

I didn't give you permission to use my first name.

[jumyouboshi]

...Incorrect.

[But he said nothing more, because it was both true and not. He would oppose him, but Alcor was still very much capable of caring about him as a person...and a friend.

At least, a former friend. Perhaps much too late, Alcor tried to change the tone of his voice, modulating only slightly, making it smooth and gentle. He could...try...]

...I understand it may sound strange, but he is a friend of yours hailing from the future. Such familiarity has become habit to him.

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

Yeah, hah, surprise! I didn't really know how tell you, and I know it sounds...kind of weird.

[bittydragon]

Ridiculous, actually.

[There was an awkward moment of silence, one where Yamato just looked blankly between Alcor and Kaito. He reached out slowly, and started petting Cerberus on the nose, if only because his demon was starting to get restless. His movements were rather mechanical]

I'm confused as to why I would be friends with the new Shining One, if I become unworthy of that title due to us standing on opposing sides. It does not make sense.

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

You're not unworthy of anything! Look...we met and you helped out my friends a ton during an invasion. And you were cold at first, but as the days wore on, we got to know each other really well. And- [He has to settle himself, taking a deep breath before continuing.] -we got through that week because of you, but even if we didn't, I still enjoyed being your friend. You know? I'm...really glad I met you. I get that it sounds weird coming from a stranger, but...

[He has to pause again, in order to keep from tearing up, and he rubs his eyes to get a hold of himself.]

[bittydragon]

[...wait, hold up a second]

Invasion...? What invasion?

[Hero speech flies over his head because... what]

[jumyouboshi]

[Alcor let him speak, saying nothing. Yes...that was why Kaito could sway the hearts of many, to determine the will of the species. That was why he was so fascinating, really, able to unite others under a common ideal, able to sway the opinions of even those who were so, so committed to their ideals that they would even die for them, able to act as a leader while the one who was born to be one couldn't, able to...

...Ah. Yeah. That detail. About the whole. Septentriones invading thing. Granted, he told the Hotsuin family long ago, and gave them the means to defend humanity against the supernatural and them, and it was only "recently", before the invasion, Yamato came to him for advice, but...at the age Yamato was right then, he was probably told about the world's fate, but wasn't told about the specifics. At least, not yet. Not about how Alcor's own kin would attack the world he cherished.]