rubycity_rp ic inbox | I

[lapidarius]

"This is Kakyoin Noriaki. Please leave a message, I'll contact you as soon as I can."

⇦ ● ⇨

Comments

[lapidarius]

Nothing--it's not important.

[starmark]

...

[With a faint noise of exasperation, he sat up, flicking the brim of his hat back up as he leaned in intently toward Kakyoin.]

Don't do that. I don't understand what you're getting at; that doesn't mean I don't care.

...Did you think it was something more complicated than just teasing you?

[lapidarius]

Is-...isn't it?

[starmark]

...

I didn't mean it to be. So now tell me: is that...a relief, or a disappointment?

[lapidarius]

A relief, I guess. I just...didn't know what you meant. Saying it's because it's who I am...it's not as though I'm the kind of person that runs around stealing trucks all the time.

[starmark]

You're not the kind of person who keeps your head down and your nose in a cram school textbook all the time, either.

You're smart. Cunning. Resourceful. Brave. I meant that who you are is a lot more than what meets the eye. That...people who don't know that about you are missing out.

[lapidarius]

...

[He pulled up the collar a little, almost trying to hide behind it.]

I seriously doubt they're missing out on that much where I'm concerned.

[starmark]

...Why?

[It was a simple question, maybe almost infuriatingly so, but it came quietly and went straight for the heart of the matter.]

[lapidarius]

I'm just not all that special, it's simple. I'll give you that I'm smart enough, but brave is pushing it at least.

[starmark]

Can you really say that, and then turn around and call me some kind of "source of hope", like you were saying the other day? I'm not any more special than you are.

[lapidarius]

I-...

[He shook his head, looking at the floor.]

...sorry. You're right, it's probably not fair of me to look at it that way.

[starmark]

...What's really bothering you? It's not just about me teasing you, is it?

[lapidarius]

I like this, being able to talk to you like we're normal kids. I just don't...want to ruin it, you know what I mean?

[starmark]

You're not gonna ruin it.

[...]

And you don't look like a delinquent. Or if you do, you look like just enough of one to be cool.

[lapidarius]

...I really am happy with it, Jojo.

[He smiled a little hesitantly.]

Thanks.

[starmark]

...Happy birthday.

[Said the awkward prince of awkward, awkwardly.]

[lapidarius]

...

What day in February?

[oh you're in trouble now]

[starmark]

The eighth. It's annoying because it's right before Valentine's Day, and someone always finds out or remembers.

[lapidarius]

I won't tell anyone. But you should expect that I won't leave it alone, either.

[starmark]

Well, you're not a shrieking girl, either, so it's fine.

[lapidarius]

...

[hm.]

Is it okay that I call you the same thing they do? I just realized that I never thought about whether or not it would be annoying.

[starmark]

...You mean "Jojo", right?

[lapidarius]

Yeah. I do at least remember how annoying it sounded, to listen to them arguing over you.

[starmark]

...

[He fell quiet a minute, eyes a little narrow in thought as he seemed to mull over the question.]

It's different when you do it. It doesn't bother me.

[lapidarius]

...

[Kakyoin tugged on the jacket's collar again, half hiding his face before hesitantly continuing.]

I kept calling you that when we were fighting, but that wasn't...me. You and I both know I wasn't the one speaking back then. When I was myself again, I switched to calling you 'Jotaro' for the most part.

But before long I thought that...I wanted to be able to call you that because I chose to, rather than out of compulsion or mind control. I didn't want it to be irritating, so I only did it on occasion--but you never seemed to mind it, so I guess it's become a habit by now.