( IC INBOX / BUSINESS CARD )

[manuscripture]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, ROHAN KISHIBE. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 512.66.730.91 *** USER has joined 512.66.730.91 <AUTOMATED REPLY, DO NOT RETURN:> You have reached the inbox of Rohan Kishibe. I am currently away and unable to answer messages. Leave a BRIEF message with a subject line below. Messages will be replied to in order of importance and subject matter. Advertisements and junk mail will be ignored and blocked from this server.

[ Somewhere around town-- at the bookstore, the Tomoe-Kaname Bakery, attached to posts and notice boards --you find a small white notecard. On it is printed a little message and some numbers in ornate lettering. If you look closely, it reads the following: ]

Rohan Kishibe, Mangaka & Visual Artist
Owner Pro Tempore of Ebony Threads Tailor Shop
Highly Experienced.
Commissions & Advertising For Hire
Pay Negotiable.
Contact At: 512.66.730.91 for inquiries
Castle Lüvchaque - Directly North of Bavan per appointment ONLY.

(( feel free to use this as an action-based prompt too. any random interactions will MOST LIKELY take place in the form of walk-ins at the tailor shop unless it's pre-planned. just drop a starter in here! ))

Comments

[pomaded]

[The hand- whatever happened last night really wrought havoc on his manicure- attempts to weakly bat his tail away but gives up within a few seconds of impotent flailing. Whatever. This is fine. He doesn't care if Rohan sees him looking like death, he's feels like he's dying anyway. Though he doesn't so much as look up from where he's lying face-down on the pillow somehow the mournful quality to his voice manages to carry right through it, only amplified by how muffled it is.]

I smell like a dog.

[he's not even trying to deny it rohan that's how bad things are]

[manuscripture]

You taste like one too.

[ He shivers and tosses the blankets aside. His arms aren't doing a thing-- he's rather shaking his head with his cheek in one hand. He knows how to wake poor Josuke up but it ain't gonna be fun.

Please enjoy a chunk of COLD FROM CRAWLING AROUND OUTSIDE scaly tail being draped all over your person, Josuke. Any bare skin is going to feel like a bucket of ice was dumped on it. ]

Up-up. You wanted my help. You're getting it.

[pomaded]

[The reaction is instantaneous. With a startled yelp, Josuke jerks himself away from the cold, slippery mass of Rohan's tail- easier said than done when it's not exactly light and he's out of it- and slams his back to the wall, snatching up his pillow at the last moment for good measure. Now that he's upright, it's easier to see the raccoon-like blotches under his eyes and, weirdly enough, a purple ribbon tied loosely around his neck.

Oh, and he's growling. It's not quite as impressive without the claws and teeth.]

That wasn't funny...! [Sulkily, he rests his chin on the cushion.] I knew I should've called Jotaro...

[... which would have been literally no help since he's probably a giant, beefy rock right now but fine, okay.]

[manuscripture]

[ Yup, there he goes. Rohan pulls his tail away, thumping it on the floor benignly. What a survey this is. ]

Jotaro wouldn't treat you any different. He'd light a fire under your ass. [ He taps his mouth in a yawn. Being in the cold makes him sluggish but giving Josuke a hard time doesn't. ]

What's with the ribbon...? Did you stop by the Triple T before you crawled into a trash-heap's trash-heap?

[pomaded]

Shut up.

[Irritably, he attempts to tug the ribbon loose, succeeding only after he nearly chokes himself with his first few attempts and sore fingers. He'd completely forgotten it was still knotted around his throat, if he's honest, but he's not about to tell Rohan how it really got there. At least, not the details of it.]

Someone put it on me while I was a wolf. [It sounds considerably more impressive than wolf-sized poodle. He rubs his head, still a little groggy.] What time is it?

[manuscripture]

[ If Josuke thinks he isn't going to get pressed about it, he's wrong. ]

Mid-afternoon. [ He's slithering about, collecting the scraps of the poor, not-goblin's clothes like he's his mother or something. ]

I'm going to ask a question.

A horrible one that I don't know if I want the answer to because I might strangle you.

Are you okay with that?

[pomaded]

[Ugh. Of course he wouldn't just let it go.]

I don't think I've got a choice.

[Josuke stays exactly where he is, legs crossed and pillow clutched to his chest like it's going to actually do anything against a soon-to-be enraged naga looking to Old Yeller him for Suspicious Activities with a known psychopath. Sighing, he presses a hand to his forehead.]

Just do it and let's get it over with.

[manuscripture]

[ Listen, he doesn't WANT to do this. In fact, he's already rolling his eyes into the back of his head with the thought of having to taste what he has to ask. ]

Are you still running around with Kira?

[ Not to sound like A Mom or anything but: ]

Honest to Fog, Josuke. Are you really?

[ He's not mad. Just disappointed and mad. ]

[pomaded]

[Even without the ears and tail to do the heavy lifting, there's really no other way to describe Josuke right now but scolded puppy. He's not even going to fight you on this one, Rohan, you've caught him red- purple?- handed.]

It's not "running around", it's just we keep bumping into each other or some shit happens and I end up taking his cats or... or whatever. [He gives another short sigh.] Sorry. I'm not doing it on purpo-

[And then he freezes. No way. Did he just-]

Please tell me I heard you wrong and you didn't just say "honest to fog". Don't you think that's kind of- kind of messed up too?

[manuscripture]

[ MMMHMMMMMMM. ]

Bullshit--

[ BUT-- ]

Excuse me? What's more messed up?? [ Oooooh boy, that tail is ready to whip now. Josuke is also all too familiar with Rohan's teeth and his smell. ]

Me saying a word, or you saying that you're just running into someone you should be actively avoiding for obvious reasons?? Bash my alignment all you want but at least I know where my loyalties really lie when it comes to interpersonal connections! You have a new excuse every freaking time.

You end up taking his cats. [ Those clothing bits go flying because his hands are in the air. ] THAT'S what you have for me this month??

[pomaded]

[From scolded puppy to hangdog in one word. He's screwed up and he knows it, which is why he doesn't even attempt to bolster that last, weak argument or even meet Rohan's eyes.]

Look, I told you I'm sorry. It really does just keep happening and then when it does I can't leave it alone because he's fun to mess with and... and...

[He slumps a little further down in his bed and drags a hand through the tangled remains of his pompadour. Being anything but totally honest right now is only going to get him a face full of tail or, if he's particularly unlucky or Rohan angry, bile.]

... if it matters, that was the first time I've actually seen him in months and it was an accident. I was suddenly a goddamn dog, freaking out and recognised the cafe's smell so I went for it. [a pause] Fuck.

[manuscripture]

[ It really depends on which of the two he uses to take off Josuke's head first, honestly. Caustic exposure or blunt force trauma. He's trying-- He's trying to stay chill. Chill isn't one of Rohan's strong points and they are handling a permanently very, very delicate subject. ]

No, it doesn't matter! I don't know why you think that it would! [ He is at a loss here. ] There is nothing fun about that man. He's evil, he hasn't changed! [ Rohan hasn't seen him in months either but he isn't stupid. ]

Whatever pity you've decided to harbor and let grow on him is toxic as Hell and dangerous. You of all people should know that and I'm the one being the rational party here. I get dragged for following the Fog God but at least I can admit that the things I have done for Her have been questionable to flat-out wrong on an ethical scale.

HE doesn't have an excuse and neither do you. [ His fingers have instinctively started scratching at his sweater for the key underneath it on his chest. ] The things I do might be wrong but I can say it.

[pomaded]

You're right, he hasn't changed and he probably never will- but you have, Rohan, and it fucking scares me-!

[It comes out before he can stop it, a verbal landslide of frustration and fear and concern that he just can't seem to find footing in before it comes crashing down on whatever it was he wanted to say before and his voice cracks. Fuck. None of that was supposed to happen. He was going to do it calmly and sensibly, not when he's still half growls and aching all over and itchy, whiplashed senses.

If nothing else, he seems remorseful for his outburst. Unable to look at him, Josuke tugs his knees up to his chest again, letting his forehead fall against the pillow with a soft sigh.]

... can we have this conversation another time? I feel like shit. [His voice is muffled but, in a way, it's almost easier; emotion doesn't carry well through fabric and feathers.] You don't have to stay if you don't want to.

[manuscripture]

[ okay ow.

Rohan's lips press together. He stops. ]

Tell me how I have changed...

[pomaded]

[For a few, tense moments, it's up in the air as to whether he's even going to answer. He really doesn't want to do this right now but the abruptness of Rohan's response tugs at his chest- it would be pretty cruel to just leave it hanging. So, reluctantly, he gives another sigh.]

... I don't like how you do things. I've never liked how you do things.

[Read: "it's okay to slowly waste someone away for my art".]

But this? This is different. When did you decide that it's okay for some god who did all this in the first place to mess with you and get you to do all her fucked up dirty work? Or that it's okay if you kill people and string them up like New Years lights just because she told you to? [Though he doesn't look up, he shakes his head.] You're an asshole, Rohan, but you're not a goddamn psychopath. And don't tell me you're doing it to try and fix things- you're in deep with this cult shit. You're hers and she can do whatever she likes with you and you're not even fighting it.

[Please, Rohan. Make me understand.

The words don't leave his lips but perhaps they don't need to.]

[manuscripture]

[ While he just admitted that he knows he does wrong, it's hard to be given such harsh criticism from Josuke of all people. Rohan's skull is too thick to shake it off and he, of course, takes it personally. Josuke is saying that he isn't a psychopath-- He's not mad, just disappointed.

Josuke isn't aware of WHY Rohan is in on this. It's for a selfish reason. A reason nonetheless. ]

Josuke, She helped me. She helped fix something that I wouldn't have been able to mend on my own. You know that I am not the type to blindly run into things. When I needed the most help--... When I was rapidly losing inspiration to make art here, that was when I went to Her. I'm well aware that some of the things I do to stay in Her favor are wrong. It's not like I want to. It's...

It's normalcy. I'm not trying to fix anything. I don't feel like I have to. [ His hand scrambles to his chest to make sure his key is still under his shirt. ] I was desperate, Josuke. I was desperate and She has done nothing but make me feel better. You told me that you hated yourself when you first became a monster and had to deal with the psychological and physical things, right?

I hated it too. She makes me feel like I'm secure with myself again. [ Rohan's wall of words shakes here and there but he means it. ] The things She asks me to do aren't 'fun'. I would rather be considered safe with the entity who brought me here for a reason than sit idly by. You don't see me forcing it on you or Jotaro, do you?

I... I'll be fine. [ A pause. ] I came here with a name no one knew because we weren't from the same place. It feels good to have a purpose again. I can make all the art I want here but if there isn't anyone who appreciates me for what I do-- [ Because Mister Man's anxiety and social issues are showing through. ] --what else do I have?

Don't call me a psychopath, Josuke. I don't like that word.

[ It's a rare moment where Rohan Kishibe feels actually upset and it shows in his face rather than just his body language. ]

Please understand. I don't want to go back to hating myself because I'm a nobody again. [ Another beat. ]

Take that stupid ribbon off.

[pomaded]

[Josuke listens. Had he the attentive puppy ears still, they would be twitching with concentration but the determined look in his eyes has much the same effect. He takes in every word slowly and carefully, fighting every urge to respond until the naga has finished speaking- and, by then, he's long since lost any need to argue.

Is it worth it? Isn't that selfish? The questions that he wants to ask suddenly don't feel so important. The man standing in front of him looks hurt and tired and, most uncharacteristically of all, shaken; it's such a strange thing to see someone who, until this moment, appeared to float on a wave of self-importance, look so insecure. In the end, it's empathy and an ache in his chest that wins out and, after a few moments, he shakes his head.]

... you're not a psychopath. You're Rohan Kishibe and you're a mangaka. My old man owns most of your work. You're rude and you could turn holding grudges into an Olympic sport. You can make acid spit look artistic. You have a house full of Pretty Woman furniture no one but you uses. [He swallows hard.] You're in love with my nephew and it's gross. You can hold Shizuka without making her cry.

[As he speaks, he unties the ribbon, winding it around his finger and gently setting the roll on the bedside table. And then, with a wobbly smile, he leans forward and puts his arms around Rohan's shoulders, hugging him tightly to stop him from immediately squirming away.]

You couldn't be a nobody if you tried, Rohan Kishibe.

[He sounds a little muffled now but he's glad for it; he might have successfully hidden the hot prickle of tears in his eyes but he wouldn't have been able to do the same for the catch in his voice.]

[manuscripture]

[ This is embarrassing. This is so embarrassing. Rohan is mashing the heel of his palm into his cheek in an attempt to not end up crying this one out. Not in front of Josuke. No, ma'am. Cool guys don't cry. The hug obscures any of that so it's juuuust about keeping his voice steady.

They hug too much.

He sniffles and shuts his eyes. He doesn't sound the least bit serious, covering up what he wants to say in favor of just being prickly: ]

I hate you, Josuke. You're the worst.

[ The naga draws the backs of his fingers underneath his right eye to avoid smearing his makeup, exhaling hard. Go away, emotions. ]

Every time I want you to go away, you say something like this and--... [ The Moment is busted by Rohan's tail wrapping about Josuke's leg and PULLING. ] You smell like a dumpster. Don't touch me.