the13tharcana | IC contact post for Adstringendum

[Just the reaction he'd predicted.

Upon seeing Ryoji's face, Joshua bursts into laughter - genuine laughter, not his typical amused giggling. Oh, it had been worth it. It had been so worth it.

Today? Today, he's feeling playful.]

You should have seen the look on your face~

[He blinks, still a bit out of it at first. And as nice as it was to see Joshua being in such an unusually good mood for a change--]

Joshua-senpai, you tease...!

[Two could play that game! And this? This was Ryoji trying to catch you, and possibly tickle the hell out of you if he manages to do that, Josh. Run for your life!]

[... oh no. Oh no, Ryoji, you weren't--

Ryoji's fingertips make a swipe at his side before he can fully twist out of the way, and it brings a strangled sort of noise to his lips. But after that? Ryoji isn't going to be so lucky.

Joshua dodges out of the way, arms folded protectively in front of himself, watching Ryoji's movements. He is not about to get tickled. Absolutely not.]

[Well now... that was a bit unexpected~ And the reaction makes him grin probably a bit more than it should. 'You should have seen the look on your face' right back at you, Josh!]

Oh my... someone seems to be ticklish around here~

[And he clearly doesn't have himself in mind. Not that he would really know, anyway.

But the reaction only encourages Ryoji to try and go for it again. Who was bound to give up first?]

[No. No, no, absolutely not, no. Joshua does not approve of this sudden turn of events, playful mood or not.

Very quickly, he levitates himself up onto the top of a nearby wall and well out of Ryoji's reach. He may have been in the mood to play moments ago, but when his own personal boundaries are being threatened against his will, well... that's a completely different story.]

Someone seems to be rather forceful today~

[Yes, that was a jab. You're making him - briefly - reconsider coming out here, Ryoji~]

[You started it yourself, Josh! And that was totally cheating right now... But fine, have it your way. Once Joshua slips out of Ryoji's reach, the boy stops with his advances altogether, and is left to stand there on his own, staring at the other with a faint smile. ...Did he go a bit too overboard, after all?]

...Alright, I won't do anything anymore. Promise.

[Here, he'll even lift is hands up in defeat to show that he means it.]

[So what if he started it? It meant he could make the rules, right? It isn't cheating in the slightest.

The signal of surrender gets a rather long-suffering sigh. But Joshua does at least lower himself down from the top of the wall, still maintaining a safe distance.]

I'll hold you to that.

[Because touching him is one thing, but tickling...]

[And as Joshua decides to go back down to him, Ryoji's smile widens the tiniest bit. He just lowers his hands in the process, but doesn't move otherwise, just like he promised.

He could lie about a lot of things, but the last thing he wanted was for Josh to be paranoid around him, really...]

[... good. Being wary of Ryoji's motives was not what he came here for. No, he had slightly bigger business for this meeting...

Tilting his head a little, Joshua kept the rather serious expression, even if it ended up being a little thoughtful in the process.]

Come closer.

[...This wasn't a trap, was it? Josh isn't going to attack him in return the moment he gets close with his guard down like this, will he?

Somehow Ryoji can't help those kind of thoughts, but at the same time he doesn't find himself to mind, even if they would turn out not to be misplaced. Thus he moves forward, and stops when he's just a mere step away from the other.

Then there was also the other thing that was nagging at the back of his mind, but... asking if Joshua thought about it wasn't really necessary, was it? He could read his mind, after all, and what were the odds of him not doing it at the moment? So all Josh was getting was an expectant stare.]

[Of course it isn't a trap. Joshua very well could dish out a bit of payback, but... well, it's not really what he's here to do. Though it is tempting...

Only a step away, though. That's good. Joshua lets a little smile turn the corners of his lips, and he tilts his head, staying right where he is.]

You're right. Not necessary at all. You're getting good at this, Ryoji-kun.

[It's kind of cute, really. He would laugh if it wouldn't upset the more serious mood of things.]

I did have a chance to think about it, actually.

[So he was right. But don't flatter him like that, Josh... he'll blush.]

I guess spending so much time with you does that to a person...

[And really, their meetings were becoming more and more frequent as of late, weren't they? ...Scratch a couple of events along the way, yes.]

...So did you come to some kind of conclusion in regards to it yet?

[Ryoji imagined Joshua wouldn't have called him out here otherwise. But then again, he might be wrong. And truth to be told, the way Josh seemed to be fairly composed and sure of himself ever since they met today was a bit... confusing, perhaps. He had no idea if Joshua being that way was actually a good thing or not. Nor had he an idea what to expect from it all, considering.]

[He pays compliments where they're due~]

There are worse habits you could pick up from me, I suppose.

[Joshua actually likes how frequent their meetings have been becoming. He's never really disliked spending time with Ryoji, but now... Somehow, Joshua has grown rather fond of him. Ryoji has become someone important. Almost like he couldn't imagine this place without Ryoji in it.]

... mm, I have, actually.

[It all comes down to this. The week of hesitation, of really thinking this over... Somehow, it almost feels like the same rush he'd felt before he and Sanae had taken on Edo's corrupt Composer. An ultimate feeling of excitement, of plunging head first into something you aren't entirely sure will succeed but damn it all if you aren't trying anyway.

Without a word, without any warning, Joshua takes that step closer, lifting his hand to cup Ryoji's cheek as he carefully presses their lips together.

It's chaste, and it doesn't last too long at all - a handful of seconds at the most. But when Joshua pulls away, he's smiling, a little amused simply for the fact that Ryoji's reaction to this has to be giggle-worthy.]

I came to the conclusion that it's rather rude to make me finish what you started.

[Worse habits, huh. Ryoji was on the verge of asking about it - in a teasing kind of way, even - just what it was that Josh had possibly in mind there-- but then the other moved forward... and it pretty much left him speechless on the spot.

He couldn't deny thinking about a lot of case scenarios in this past week, and how nice it would be for something like this to actually happen, true, but... seeing it happening for real? Josh honestly did just kiss him all on his own, and he didn't even seem to be averse to the whole thing anymore, and... it pretty much left Ryoji standing there, wide-eyed, the moment Joshua pulled away. Wide-eyed and beet-red, because oh God you were doing it to him again, Josh, and he really couldn't help that rush of heat in his cheeks no matter how hard he tried.

Then there was a moment of silence before Joshua's words sank in, and Ryoji let out a shaky, almost hysterical-sounding chuckle, as if he couldn't believe what just happened himself. This definitely wasn't an answer he was expecting, and wasn't that actually another attempt at trying to avoid his question again? ...Then again, that kiss alone was enough of an answer in itself, Ryoji supposed, even though... all it did was confuse him all the more so far.

Not. What he was. Expecting. ... Another point for you on the surprise department, Josh. Ryoji can't help but smile a little at that thought, though.]

...Perhaps I should try being rude more often it if manages to work small wonders like that.

[... and there was the reaction. Very close to what Joshua had expected, except with a considerable lack of sputtering. Nonetheless, it got a soft chuckle from Joshua, who tilted his head, the amusement clear in his eyes.]

Shirking your good manners just to get things out of me? How crude, Ryoji-kun~

[Not that Joshua minded. Obviously not.]

Though I have to say, you seem to be taking this better than the first time...

[...Josh, your remarks weren't helping in making him feel less embarrassed in the slightest. But he'd be damned if it stopped him.]

Well... if it turned out you were into that kind of thing...

[He was just joking with that, obviously~ ... But then again, people did say that lies always held some kind of truth in them, didn't they? And if something like that would indeed make Josh happier... well, there weren't really a lot of things Ryoji wouldn't do for him. Someone might keep that thought in mind...]

As do you. [Though in Joshua's case it was more of a 'last time' than 'first time,' considering.] To tell you the truth, I didn't expect you to be in such a cheerful mood while calling me out here. Things aren't as scary anymore, are they?

[The comment made Joshua pause for a moment. But after a second or two, he simply chuckled, lifting one hand to tap his fingers against his lips.]

Fortunately for you, I'm used to taking the lead~

[You want to play, Ryoji? He can play right back.]

I suppose I've finally gotten used to the temperature of the water.

[... Seriously, nothing seemed to be stopping Joshua today, did it? And where Ryoji's imagination had taken him for a second there despite himself would definitely make him blush, had he not been all red already.

And all of a sudden, he found himself resisting the urge to do something in order to just get back at the other. Something uncalled for, perhaps, because what were the odds...]

...You know, if you keep on saying things like that, it might honestly give me the wrong idea.

[And did you want that to happen, Josh? Because try as he may, Ryoji failed to tell if you were actually serious with those remarks or not. ... He kind of wished it didn't confuse him this much.]

[Of course not! He's slowly been growing used to Ryoji's method of playing. Was it really out of the question for him to start pushing back?

... and thankfully, Joshua wasn't scanning Ryoji's thoughts at the moment. He may have been in for quite the surprise. And not necessarily a pleasant one.]

Mm, and here I thought I was fairly certain in the idea I wanted to give.

[Don't worry, Ryoji. He knew what he was doing. He wouldn't have said it if he weren't~]

[Believe it or not, Josh, but that actually... makes Ryoji's smile falter. At first, at least, when it occurs to him that this really isn't just another silly game they'e ended up playing (yet again). Not all of it, at least.

Joshua was actually... serious. He wasn't backing down from his words this time, and he pretty much admitted that this doesn't bother him anymore. He knew about Ryoji's feelings for him, and he didn't seem to mind. What's more, if Ryoji were to take Joshua's last words from the event into consideration, together with his answer right now... did it mean that the other found the whole kissing thing enjoyable, after all?

Did Josh...]

[Slowly, Ryoji's lips curl upwards again. Should he really be worrying about all this so much anymore?]

If that's the case, then...

[Next thing Ryoji does is take half a step forward - shortening the bit of distance the two had between them this time again. But instead of doing anything, he just lifts his hand a bit and extends it towards the other, almost as if expecting for Josh to do the same and take it.]

[To be quite honest, seeing Ryoji's expression fall like that was... not what Joshua expected at all. For a moment, he looked downright somber, and it threw him off just a slight bit.

But seeing the smile slowly return back in place... Well, maybe it had just been a moment of surprise after all.

And the offering of Ryoji's hand was even more surprising. Joshua's own smile slipped a bit, and he stared down at Ryoji's palm for a moment, very obviously hesitating. The thought of seeing just what he was up to crossed his mind for a moment, but he shook it off. It was just his hand. He hadn't held hands with anyone since... well, since he was very, very young. It wasn't something necessarily familiar.

But it wasn't all bad, either.

The smile never quite came back, and, mildly perplexed, Joshua carefully took Ryoji's hand, glancing up at him questioningly without saying a word.]

[Ryoji could see that Joshua was hesitant... and probably suspicious about his intentions as well. And he supposed that all he could do was hope that this wouldn't scare him off. But if kissing didn't, then why should something like this be any different?

The faint smile and genuine expression on his face remained like it had been all the while when Josh decided to reach out to him. Almost as if he was expecting it all along. And then, the next moment, Ryoji's hold on on the other's hand tightened just slightly, and he was pulling Joshua close towards himself. With the small step he's taken, he's practically met him half-way and closed the distance between them completely.

Ryoji's movements were fairly swift, but also careful at the same time. And the next thing Josh could probably feel was a pair of hands enclosing around his shoulders, with a cheek pressed to the side of his head. The gesture wasn't all that firm, though. If Josh showed any signs of wanting to pull away, Ryoji most likely wouldn't stop him.]

[Of course Joshua was suspicious. When wasn't he suspicious about something Ryoji was about to do? Especially nowadays, even if what ended up happening wasn't quite as shocking anymore.

The gentle tug caught Joshua off guard, and with a quick intake of breath, he stepped forward to avoid losing his balance. He hadn't expected Ryoji to pull him like that. At all.

And then, there were arms around him.

It wasn't even a firm sort of hug. It was soft and incredibly gentle, like he was made of hollow glass and Ryoji was afraid of breaking him. Joshua tensed up for a moment, eyes widening, not moving at all. Physical contact without his consent was something that Joshua wasn't comfortable with to begin with, but...

But this was hardly uncomfortable. The only thing uncomfortable about it was the sudden memory that practically slammed into him because of it. Because the last person that had held him had been his mother, just before he had died. And she had held him in much the same way as this.

It was... comforting. But at the same time, it made his heart clench in a way he thought it was no longer capable of.

... a moment of hesitation went by, and very carefully - not to mention awkwardly - Joshua's hands lifted, palms pressing lightly against Ryoji's back. He... had no idea how else to react, honestly. Remaining still wasn't a good option, and he didn't particularly want to push Ryoji away. So, it was all that was left.]

[Well... Ryoji wasn't aware what was going through Joshua's mind at the moment, unfortunately. But at least he wasn't pulling away, no matter how hesitant he still seemed to be in regards to all of this. And the moment Ryoji felt a pair of hands embracing him back the faintest bit, he let himself relax into the hug a whole lot more. Soon, his hold on the other became more firm, as Ryoji started to concentrate more on the feeling itself rather than whether it would make Joshua comfortable or not.

It felt warm. And really pleasant. And... He wasn't really sure how to describe it otherwise, because the feeling itself was so wonderful that it was impossible for him do put it into words alone. Come to think of it, he's wanted to do this for so long... Actually being able to almost felt like a dream come true. He honestly couldn't help but think that he could stay forever like this, if Josh would only let him. As silly as that was.

Ryoji didn't even notice when he's closed his eyes, nor when his smile widened like it did. Not that Josh could see it, but... He let it stay that way. And before he knew it, he was tilting his head a bit, nuzzling the other's hair in the process, just in order to be able to whisper in his ear more properly.]

...You smell nice.

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1/2

2/2 /o/

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