R1 DEADLAND PT2: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO

[lockdownmods]

[it’s strange, for the people who were already dead, the shift in scenery is sudden and complete. For those who have just arrived? It’s like you’re back where you left?

How strange.

But if you ever need her, you can always reach out to the guardian of this place.]

LOCATIONS
Note: locations lag a week behind the living counterparts

Comments

SUNDAY

[lockdownmods]

AI: become megane

[starswink]

((OOC: Yoosung's permissions post has been updated, you can check it out here))

[Yoosung has taken so much away from the AI lessons on their own, but Eve's offer had never quite left his mind even after reading the confusing list he didn't understand. Seeing mishima's fetishes in effect the items come into existence finally made it click how he could get the ability he wants without as much damage to his psyche. Once he realized that, he found the soonest time he could to ask if it would work, and now he finally has them. A pair of glasses that show him the codes in the simulation, as well as the mental upgrade to allow him to understand them when reading. He feels determination when he slips them on over his eyes. He's never needed glasses at all, so the weight will take getting used to. But... somehow it just feels correct for this ability to be tied to glasses. He's cheating to become just like Seven. Someday he'll prove his AI superiority by taking the number one rank in LOLOL, just as Mishima encouraged him back then. For now, though, he's just going to check on everyone's codes. Which means today, Yoosung is visiting you! Yes, you. He's not just here to show off the new look though, he's going to try to be practical.]

Hey, I'm taking orders again for the cafeteria thing I do every day. Let me know what foods you want and leave the cooking to me!

[To people who have gotten used to the food thing though, Yoosung finishes by pinching his frames at the side and wiggling them at you.]

... I bet I seem even more official now with these, huh?

cw gay thoughts

[lovedanime]

[When Mitarai first glimpsed the red outline on Yoosung's approaching silhouette, he didn't actually react. The last megane he knew was Kurusu, and the megane he knew before that was Han, and Yakov Petrovich Golyadkin is a wonderful person who has never done anything wrong ever in his life but has the sex appeal to Mitarai of an airless air mattress, and the megane he knew before that was Kazuo motherfucking Tengan, so Mitarai really thought he was safe here. Then Yoosung fiddles with the frames, and without that support from the temple of the glasses, his bangs swish a little further down his face, and Mitarai thinks, Good grief, are you trying to kill me?

What is this, middle school? Even in high school, Mitarai had already gotten past freaking out when his homeroom teacher wiped his face with her handkerchief! And here he is, entire body racing from the looping mental image of those glasses coming all the way off - if he weren't trying so hard to be less antisocial and appreciate the real images (in... the simulation... he's doing his best), Mitarai would seriously consider running off to draw that motion right this second. He's so uncomfortable that an unaided eye could easily take him for disapproving.]

What's next? A suit?

just cw that for the entire thread

[starswink]

Suit? Haha, I don't know if I need to go that far. It's not just all for show...

[As expected, the code for a person is massive, so Yoosung presses the glasses back into their proper place so he can focus on their input. He's planning to explain once he's actually gotten a handle on it enough to properly put it in words.... But god, it's going to take a moment, the data's as alive as he is. It's really quite fascinating to gaze at it and intuitively understand, and so from Mitarai's perspective he will get to enjoy free of charge a moment of Yoosung's entire attention. His mind, still human and inexperienced, take a moment to process even the basic things for the first time.

He doesn't have to focus too much to view the physical data, though. There are colorful layers. The code for how Mitarai's pupils dilate correspond to what's visible to Yoosung's naked eye, but it's not something he'd have noticed on his own... Meanwhile the code for how fast his heart beats seems like it could be really useful, and that's definitely something he couldn't see with human eyes. His pulse is actually quite fast... Overall, the condition of his body is perfectly fine, but he's... s-sexually aroused?! Can that even be right? Mitarai doesn't even look like he's thinking dirty thoughts at all. He's just looking at him normally, at the space where his hair and the frames are. Normal for Mitarai is always a face not too different from this, like when he stares at him as he's coming over with the usual breakfast. ...Does he not show him the same face as everyone else? Now that Yoosung thinks about it, that definitely isn't true!! His mouth is open in surprise now, and he suddenly thinks that before he gets ahead of himself he needs to do something about it. He stammers. Wanting to hide his face and not quite committing, his hands settle on his cheeks, fingers pressing into the frames as he looks away slightly.]

H... Hey Mitarai. Sorry to ask this, but....

[He's so embarrassed to ask. With a slight sigh of resignation, he turns back to face him.]

Are you, um, are you checking me out in the glasses?

[lovedanime]

...?

[When Yoosung first says it's not all for show, Mitarai returns the searching gaze. He wonders, why wouldn't it be for show? Did Yoosung wear contacts before? That would explain the color of his eyes, and it's not like his hair is an unlikely result of bleach as opposed to anime hair... No, his eyes look exactly the same color as they always did: Unforgettable. Then why is Yoosung holding the glasses like he's trying to see something? With his long fingers...

In short, the overall situation doesn't change at all before Yoosung asks that question.]

???

[He was already starting to experience a little anxiety as he received an apology for getting asked something... but that's nothing compared to the actual question.]

Ch-ch-ch-check... Check?????? Out?????????

[Try as he might, Mitarai can't come up with any plausible alternative to that sense of checking a person out. But why now? He's not exactly openly leering! It's far from the first time he's looked closely yet civilly at this guy's face! When did he cross the line between appreciation and approaching?

If nothing else, he finds the faith in Yoosung to believe he would not make this up out of thin air and torture him. Somehow, despite his best intentions, his feelings must have become noticeable to the other man. Therefore, Mitarai can't lie. All he can do is lament. He swallows and makes something resembling eye contact.]

That's... sor... I didn't mean to make...

[starswink]

[Well, that guilt all over Mitarai's face makes him feel like kind of a jerk for asking so bluntly... he puts a hand up, peacemaking.]

It's not like that! You don't have to apologize or anything...

[But man, the data remains consistent, and he didn't deny it either. So, Mitarai's attracted to him, huh? In a pretty big way, too, if his code can be believed. Yoosung was slightly worried the ability to see everyone's clockwork would run the risk of making them seem more like simple machines, but this situation immediately captures the complexity of humanity. A humbling experience right off the bat.]

I mean, I'm the one who asked.

[He literally asked for this, not realizing how deep the abilities would run. It's going to make it really awkward to explain it now, though... and he's still kind of flustered to boot, ready to dig himself a new hole.]

I can consider it a compliment?? [It isn't NOT one, to be honest, who ever thinks of him as sexy instead of just cute or something? But he mostly just doesn't want him to feel bad about being discovered this way when he tells him, and he definitely can't tell him until he thinks he's okay.]

[lovedanime]

[The hand gets all of Mitarai's attention, and the subsequent clarifications get his heart to slow down... Until compliment sends it hurtling our the window again. Because Mitarai realizes something very important. Yoosung couldn't possibly consider his warped, swirling emotions a compliment, right? Maybe "it" is just a typical way that particularly fashion forward and meek herbivore guys are supposed to support each other in tailoring their appearance for women, and the possibility isn't even crossing his mind that Mitarai could be hoping to put those assessments into action the way so many guys around here manage to do together. Is that why "it's not like that"? Mitarai's heart skips a beat as he aches for multiple reasons that Yoosung wasn't there for truth or dare.

Regardless, Yoosung seems to only know about the way Mitarai feasts his eyes on his body, not about his heart. Should he be relieved? Instead he just feels like a rat scurrying across the kitchen floor that managed to hide in the diagonal shadow of a table leg. His eyes dart looking for exits, not secure in this position at all. He wants to run away so badly, but that would just draw more attention to himself, and Yoosung with his fit legs will probably catch up. Mitarai grabs his head with both his hands like it's a basketball about to teeter down from the top of a hill. A change in any direction makes him uncomfortable, but the stress is building up too much for him to stand still.]

Oh no... I can't talk about this in front of everyone, but if I ask you to be alone with me, that will be weird now...

[starswink]

[What is "this" that he needs to talk about... Yoosung's hope that he will be able to clear this up easily is plummeting. Did he actually uncover some kind of land mine here? If that's the case, he needs to come clean before he causes a situation they'll regret!]

Wait, wait... It's not like I'm trying to demand an explanation, okay? I was just... surprised! You see...

[He just points at the glasses again.]

It's because of these. They let me analyze our codes. It was just supposed to be so I could look out for trouble, but they're telling me things like your heart rate, and I... I didn't know what to think... you look the same as ever, after all...

[He's trying to remove the pressure from him. Although, he didn't say no to going anywhere with him. It's a big school, there would have to be somewhere to talk.]

[lovedanime]

[It's because of the glasses. Mitarai feels relieved. He didn't leer.]

Oh!

[He looks the same as ever... Then he can't be relieved! Yoosung is going to be cursed with this knowledge of his twisted desires for the rest of this simulation!

One thing is really clear: Mitarai is literally on the precipice of a panic attack.]

I think I really need some fresh air... [He takes a few big steps backwards and cracks a nervous grimace.] You can probably tell from those! Ahaha! [That does it, walking backwards isn't fast enough - Mitarai begins walking briskly forward to the nearest door leading outdoors, which specifically goes to the garden. His stomach is sinking into the abyss... But out of the corner of his eyes, he's still subconsciously looking for Yoosung to follow him.]

[starswink]

[All of those strongly visceral reactions are pinging his sensors like crazy. And when he says that last thing, Yoosung becomes convinced that he is just really freaking him out. For a moment, he stands rooted in place, stunned and doubting himself, not wanting to leave it this way but afraid to make things worse. But he notices the subtle turn of Mitarai's head toward him as he starts to turn around the corner, and at that point he makes the split decision and jogs to catch up.

At the same time, he pulls the glasses off of his face. Regardless of if that is a motion that Mitarai would notice and treasure, he catches up at the grass. Well... he did want to be alone with him. If he stops trying to get away from him here, he could get his wish.]

No one's at the gazebo...

[lovedanime]

[Mitarai stopped looking back at Yoosung as soon as he was out the door, though partly because he could hear those footsteps following him. By the time those words reach him, Mitarai has braced himself against a tree already getting out of breath from even this much running. Now he uses it as leverage to look up at the gazebo.]

You're right...

[Mitarai pushes himself up to look at Yoosung. Without the glasses but with the mental priming from what has happened so far, the story unfolding on his face is pretty easy to read. He looks at the bare face, double takes, looks down at the glasses in the hand, and then looks at the face again slightly disappointed. Then he turns out to look at the gazebo once again and speak all wistful.]

This is how it should have been that day...

[starswink]

[Yoosung had thought he was freaked out by being looked at through the glasses, which is why they are now in his hand. He did run away almost immediately after hearing it, although he also could see his relief, so... who knows, he thought it was better safe than sorry after running after him.

Hearing that line, though, it makes him think Mitarai was probably kiting him to this spot. Though he doesn't know why, what the significance of the garden would have been for "that day" - They already hung out in the garden at Chuseok, it can't be that. But there wasn't any other time they were supposed to go to the garden alone, as far as he knows.]

When...?

[lovedanime]

[Mitarai is walking up the steps into the gazebo. He is completely dependent on the hand rail. His entire forearm braces against the hand rail as he rotates back to look at Yoosung.]

You know...

[It really sounds like he is about to name a specific day that he expects Yoosung to know. But he gets derailed.]

Hey... [He crooks his finger at his own temple in the universal gesture for "put on your glasses".] What happened to your happiness not mattering? I actually... really admired your resolve to protect all our codes... I didn't want to get in your way...

[starswink]

[Yoosung is following behind him cautiously, but stops short and blinks a couple times when he points at his face, leaving Mitarai to stand a little taller than him (for once) on the higher step. Admiration, huh. Yoosung nods... Maybe Mitarai thought he was looking down on him or something, but he won't ignore his wishes. It's true that his happiness doesn't matter that much in this case.]

Y-You're not in the way... we're the only ones here. [But still, he unfolds the glasses and puts them back on, codes streaming across his third eye once more.]

...I misunderstood you. But anyway, the code analysis is back on now. Should I focus on it while you're talking to me, though?

[He's not sure if that's what he wants or not... it shouldn't be a distraction either way though, because of how it works alongside his cognition.]

i mean.... also gay thoughts

[supportrole]

[ It's been almost a week since that moment Mishima shared with Yoosung during Chuseok, and while they've maybe been a little more affectionate since then, neither has actually come out and suggested taking things further. Not that Mishima doesn't want to, but-- you know, they were kind of drunk, and even if those feelings they'd shared had been genuine, maybe they could have been a little distorted or something?

Anyway, he's fine with taking things slow, or maybe even not ever getting to that destination at all, as long as nothing messes up their friendship. So as usual, Mishima happily turns around to look at him when he hears his voice. ]

With--

[ With what, he's about to ask, but then he sees him, and that certainly answers that.

Oh, well. Uh. The last megane Mishima knew before this was also Kurusu, and... well, that really covers everything that needs to be said, doesn't it? These glasses are even red like the Phantom Thieves' image color! ]

Oh! Yeah.

[ This isn't really a surprise, since he'd suggested this method himself in the first place, but it's the first time he's actually seen Yoosung wearing them. They're more stylish than he expected! (He's not sure if that credit should go to Yoosung or to Eve.)

Man, it's embarrassing that something like this is making his heart beat faster... he hopes variable heart rate isn't a thing you can read in code, but it probably is.

Blushing, he smiles, and anxiously messes with a bit of his hair. ]

They, uh... they look really good on you.

CW FOR THE ENTIRE POST..................

[starswink]

[Yoosung has approached their Chuseok confessions with a similar trepidation, basking in the glow and yet unsure that the moment hadn't passed, and a little nervous to ask for clarification. Their walls were completely down then, but now they're back where they were, keeping these feelings contained. It also seemed fine to him for the moment, but seeing Mishima's heart flutter in the code with the pink face to match, Yoosung feels relieved from head to toe.

...It's a little more awkward now to hear how good they look on him, since thanks to Mitarai's reactions, he definitely knows. But he can still be happy about it. He wants to talk to him about the code reading itself, but that can absolutely wait until he's done soaking in Mishima's praise.]

Thank youuu... When you suggested it, I thought it would make me like Seven. I had no idea how much it could suit my face. Did you?

[Now that he got a big reaction, it's kind of exciting for him to imagine that maybe Yuuki had been trying to dress him up like his tastes.]

[supportrole]

I mean, I'd kind of imagined it before?

[ Like, the first time he brought this up as a possible option, actually, though he hadn't consciously been thinking of it That Way at the time. He'd pictured black frames back then -- no points for guessing why. ]

I, uh, also just sort of like glasses in general, though, haha...

[ He turns a little redder admitting those two things together, and laughs awkwardly. That might have been a factor in his suggesting this, he guesses. Maybe. Subconsciously!

A-anyway, this red suits Yoosung a lot better than the black he'd pictured before. It's more playful! He leans in a little closer to get a better look, curious if there will be any weird reflections or anything. They really do look pretty normal... ]

So, uh... what are you seeing right now, anyway? Do I look all glitchy or something?

[starswink]

[Well, it's less playful than Seven's crazy striped ones though. This is a normal level of playfulness that suits his personality. But he was right about him being a glasses-lover! A flicker of a grin appears as he mentally cheers... the urge to ruffle his head is back but he doesn't want to get in the way of his forward lean. After all, having him gaze in his eyes like this is a little bit like Chuseok. His expression sobers a little more at the serious question, but he's still smiling peacefully.]

No, you totally look the same! I can still see the same with my eyes... putting on the glasses just makes it like I have another set of eyes that can see a screen full of codes somewhere. There are layers and layers of code here, and when I analyze it, I can form a strong mental picture of what the data means. It's kind of like a daydream, except it's not distracting.. the glasses adjust my processing speed to fit it. I guess that means I'm thinking like a computer, hehe.

[Well, this was only possible because he'd accepted that he was an AI and should embrace the potential. He's looking at this like it's something cool. But Mishima would probably be curious how he "looks" in the data picture too, right? He can tell him a little about that.]

As for what I'm seeing of your code though... I have to focus in order to visualize anything, but any notable changes alert me. So I could tell when your heartrate went over 120 bpm a second ago. That's a little above the normal rate, you know~

[Saying this in a playfully nagging way, like he's a cute nurse or something.]

[supportrole]

That's pretty cool! Kind of hard to imagine how it'd actually look, but I think I get it.

[ He wonders again now if he should do something like this himself... He'd like to be able to feel more useful too.

That line of thought gets cut off pretty quickly, though. Aw crap, those things really can measure how fast his heart is racing. Yikes... he guesses it's a good thing they've both confronted this already, or he might be learning some really uncomfortable facts about himself right now. ]

O-oh, yeah? Well, that sounds about right. [ God, he has no idea how to be smooth, but he's trying. ] ...Can you tell when it started?

[starswink]

[Yoosung would have liked to think it's happening because of the fact that they've confronted this already... then again, that's obviously not entirely how attraction works, especially here. He's got a lot to get used to... Even though this analysis is such a machine thing, it's clear that he's still a sentimental person from the way his own cheeks turn slightly pink at being asked to tell him that directly. Yuuki, that's corny. (He loves it.)]

When... When you turned around and saw me...

[He's not going to measure his own bpm.]

[supportrole]

[ Yeah, the romantic part of it is one thing, but his megane kink probably would not have waited for him to sort out his feelings, so this timing really did work out for the best. ]

Yep... haha.

[ Just... scratches his head awkwardly. All right, that was as far as he had that exchange planned out... ]

[starswink]

Right!

[Oh, that was it... well, it's still nice!! That he's willing to talk about it even a little... maybe that means it's finally time to ask. The butterflies take off in his stomach as he takes a little step closer.]

Are you okay with that, Yuuki? With... me.

[It was undeniable the feeling they shared that night was real. Even so, Yuuki might have gotten caught up in his pace. Yoosung would never want to pressure him into anything, to hurt him. The one thing he never wanted to be was just another adult taking advantage of him.]

Just so you know. I'm here for you no matter what you say.

[supportrole]

[ Mishima smiles, though he has his own swarm of butterflies to contend with as the reality of this sets in. ]

I know.

[ And if he has lingering doubts, supportive words like those make him more certain. How to say what he wants to say, though... well, obviously he could just say yes, and he probably should, but he kind of feels like he needs to explain himself properly.

Or maybe he just needs to explain to himself, and that's why he wants to put it into words rather than feelings. ]

I... I guess I never really let myself think about anything like that before. Because of what other people would say, or... did say.

[ He swallows, smile faltering for a moment before he shakes it off. ]

I mean, obviously it's different here, since pretty much everyone seems to be okay with it. [ Which is actually kind of weird if he thinks about it, and raises some questions about the administration's criteria in selecting students. But that's a subject for another time. ] But I just kind of felt like it wouldn't be okay if it were me, you know?

[ He takes a breath. ]

You always make me feel better about myself, though. I mean, you make me feel a lot of things, haha... So...

[ Tilting his head slightly, and with his eyes glimmering with the same hopefulness they'd reflected under the moonlight before, he holds out his hand. ]

If you're really okay with me, yeah.

[ His face is burning by now, and he laughs softly as he imagines the readings he's got to be giving off. ]

My heart rate's probably off the charts right now, right?

[starswink]

Yeah. It's beating really fast...

[Yoosung takes his hand and holds it tight.]

This reminds me of back at your trial. Ever since you accepted my hand that first time, I haven't been able to stop thinking about you ever since. It was painful those months, but I... I remembered what little hope you tried to give me too. I wasn't just living for LOLOL and the RFA. I was living for you, too. Even after I died, and remembered all that horrible stuff, I was so thankful we could meet again.

[but speaking of horrible things... Yeah, Mishima wasn't the only one with baggage.]

At first.... I didn't think it was possible for me to fall in love with a guy. Not really from experience, but especially not after all of what Saeran did to me... but I always wished to protect you so much, and make you smile again, and I felt so good whenever I could. It always felt like something different from a family bond. Something intense... I think I just didn't realize because I was focused on being something else for you. To be honest, I hoped you'd see me as an adult that you could rely on, unlike anyone else. But... I guess in the end, that wasn't much different from wanting you to see me as a man. I know you don't care about our slight age difference, but I hope you at least think I'm cool, hehe.

[With the hand that's not in Mishima's he adjusts his glasses. He wore them at suggestion, but they'll make him look mature in his eyes too, right? Because of that, he really, really likes them.]

From now on, Yuuki... I'm not ever gonna let go of your hand. I want you to be my, my whole world. And I hope you'll look only at me. Never at anyone who makes fun of us... I will never let them say anything about you. I love you. Our hearts are one.

[As proof, he takes the hand he's holding and presses it to his chest. He's not even going to data transfer. He can feel it racing just fine without glasses or memory sharing.]

[supportrole]

[ Oh.

There's... so much there, to the point that it's really overwhelming, and Mishima doesn't know how to begin to respond to it.

There's so much he never thought he would really hear from anyone -- I haven't been able to stop thinking about you, I was living for you, my whole world. For someone who was told he was nothing for so many years, that no one would ever remember he existed, it's all hard to take in, no matter how much he trusts the person saying it. Because he does trust Yoosung so much, and because he'd already felt his feelings firsthand once before... maybe now it isn't so much that he can't believe in those feelings as that he's afraid he's undeserving of them. But, even if it's a little selfish, he really wants to accept and return them as best he can, whether he really deserves it or not.

Then, there's that part that hurts, about what Yoosung's captor had done to him back home. It's subtle, but Mishima gets the implication. That it was more than just physical abuse. And... god, he understands that distinction. His own bruises and broken bones were almost fond memories in comparison to those few others. That's something they'll probably both have to deal with in the future... but dealing with it together seems like it might make it a little easier for both of them.

Yeah. They'll be good for each other.

By the time he's feeling Yoosung's heartbeat under his palm, he's having to blink back tears, and he thinks it's a little funny that all the times he can remember crying since starting high school -- from something other than physical pain, anyway -- have all been in these past few months, when Yoosung showed him acceptance and affection. ]

I... love you too.

[ It seems strange saying such strong words so quickly, before they've ever kissed, or been on an official date, or anything. But he's sure it's true.

So for now, maybe that's the only response he really needs to give. ]