TALKING ABOUT A STRAWBERRY

[flamingprick]

[SO.

After Ichigo's under control/knocked the fuck out in the infirmary, Rin's going to pull Akira aside. Because conversations need to happen.]

We need to talk about that absolute idiot.

Comments

[purrtagonist]

[holy shit, that's. jesus. Akira thought Rin had good reasons for hating Satan before, but now he understands that on a much deeper level. his good hand tightens into a fist]

. . . you really do.

[mmm. his gaze narrows, and he nods again, firm and determined. he's decided; he, Rin and Ichigo will absolutely make it out of here alive. they have to]

It's no wonder that you're willing to fight so hard to stay alive. And no wonder that you're so insistent on-- if you have to die-- dying as yourself.

[flamingprick]

Yeah. It's pretty terrible, you know? I've lost control before. I don't really remember what happened then, but when I came back, and I saw everyone's faces...

[How horrified they were. How all of his friends saw him for what he truly was.

...no, not what he 'truly was'. The demon in him is a part of him, but that is not all of who he is.]

...I don't want that to happen again. I'm not a monster, and I don't want to become one.

[purrtagonist]

As long as you hold onto your strong sense of self, you won't ever be a monster.

[he says that with full belief in his words. he knows that they're true]

1/2

[flamingprick]

[He nods in agreement. More than anything else, he wants to keep himself from hurting others.]

2/2

[flamingprick]

[AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!]

Oh yeah! I got some stuff to tie Ichigo down with, so if he tries to do stupid stuff again we can just tie him to the bed.

[purrtagonist]

[WELL THAT IS WHIPLASH]

"Some stuff?" Stuff that won't hurt him if he struggles, right?

[flamingprick]

[IT SURE IS]

It's bedsheets!

[So no, it shouldn't hurt.]

We just tuck him in real snug-like, and he'll have to nap.

[purrtagonist]

[oooooh]

Just like we're swaddling a baby, right?

[SORRY. . . ICHIGO. . .]

[flamingprick]

Exactly! That's supposed to help with crying too, I think.

[Rin has no experience with babies.]

[purrtagonist]

[neither does Akira]

It is?

[flamingprick]

Sure! It's like...comfort, or something. Like they're being held.

Because babies like that.

[purrtagonist]

Technically Ichigo isn't a baby. . .

[flamingprick]

No, you're right, he's not.

Shit. How're we supposed to help him when he cries and freaks out then? Hug him into submission?

[purrtagonist]

[RIN. . .]

I honestly just tell him exactly what I'm feeling. . . it usually works?

[flamingprick]

...really? That's all you gotta do?

[purrtagonist]

Yeah?

[maybe Akira is just good at knowing what to say and when to say it]

It's not that hard. He just. . . need encouragement, sometimes.

[flamingprick]

[Yeah, that's more Akira's specialty.]

Maybe that's why you two get along so well. I'm kinda new to the 'friends' thing, I'm still figuring stuff like this out.

[purrtagonist]

Nothing wrong with that.

[holds up a fist! for a fist bump!]

We'll teach you the ropes as we go along, right?

[flamingprick]

[A fist bump! He can do that! Buuuump ]

Heh, works for me. I'll try to be a good student.

[purrtagonist]

[SHOUNEN SOLIDARITY]

We really need to do something fun. All three of us. Like that wheelchair the other day.

[flamingprick]

Oh yeah, he didn't get a turn, did he?

[purrtagonist]

Nope. And he was pretty pissed over us flipping him off, too.

[flamingprick]

Oh shit, that was him? I thought it was Ulaz!

[purrtagonist]

I think it might've been both?

[yeah]

[flamingprick]

Well then we have to take Ichigo on an apology-road-trip down the hall.

[Ulaz gets no apologies.]