Mithrun lives in one of those expensive, private apartments overlooking a beachside. Despite its price, there's not much in the way of security to actually get to the door - so Hani can stroll up easy enough, Malibu, as ever, bustling with tourists squeezing in one last bit of vacation, and eternally ocean-minded locals.
When Hani rings, Mithrun, at least, has good sense to open the door on time. He has a little food on his face (he just finished dinner) and his hair has been brushed through once but not styled, and he's dressed okay enough in an oversized t-shirt and silk shorts - the sort of clothes you lounge around the house in during summer. The house is gorgeously furnished, but kind of in the staged way, like it was put together for a sales catalogue. It kind of seems like this might have been the furniture the apartment came with when it was bought.
He pushes open the door so Hani can come in. His expression seems the same as ever, but Hani asking to come over wasn't unpleasant at all. )
[ the drive is quick, painless. most people are coming back to LA from work, not out of it. dressed in a stylish casual oversized t-shirt and short-short jeans, the weather doesn’t affect them much. the entire time, hani has a mantra they repeat in their head, lest they get distracted and forget.
stick to the plan, hani, stick to the plan - but oh, mithrun is so beautiful that hani sets aside the greeting to push him (gently, intently) into his own apartment. the door swings itself shut with a click as they lean up to kiss him, cradling his face. sweet kisses made sweeter still when they lick off of the rest of the food around his lips and cheeks. mm. they pull back with a soft sound. ]
Hello. [ an almost helpless smile, before they rapidly blink away the heat and dazzle from their eyes. aaaa, the plan!! ] Are you alright?
( Hani is as Hani as ever, and Mithrun finds he doesn't mind it. He lets them kiss him in the same way he always is with Hani and Tylor (or, had been with Tylor, prior to an impromptu break...) - and settles into his face in their hands, as if accepting he will simply occupy this space forever now. )
[ hrm. okay… hani checks his face, then steps back a little - just a little, unwilling to distance themself from him (two distant molecules are already too many) - and looks over him completely. seems fine? the shorts are distractingly cute, but at least they show a lot of skin.
hrm!! ]
You do look fine… [ well, that rules out something. ] Actually, you look very beautiful tonight and Justy-kun would agree. Can we move to the sofa?
( Without caring to lock the door, Mithrun trots on ahead to the living room, where there's a broad, long sofa set out in front of a large, flatscreen TV. The curtains remain open from the day, the ocean visible from the living room, which sort of flows into an open kitchen area. )
... Did something make you think something bad happened to me?
( Looking back to Hani, he sits down with his legs over the edge of the sofa in a very default human being sit. This is how people sit. He's doing that. )
[ bright blue eyes darken and narrow just a touch when mithrun looks away. there! look! ]
Not to you, but yes, maybe something bad. I’m… ruling out all the possibilities.
[ the way he sits is very cute though - no, no, no. hani pats their own cheeks. no, bad. they on the couch, too, legs off the ground and crossed under them. it’s a very rude way of sitting as a guest but detectives can’t afford to be polite, and this way lets them face mithrun completely. ]
Mithrun-kun. Morgan-kun. Will you speak honestly with me again?
( Though slight, his frown does deepen some slight amount when Hani addresses Tylor's injury. He knows that part of Tylor, and it frustrates him.
Fine. He looks back at Hani. )
... I was the one who did the hurting. I can't be hurt. But he doesn't see himself as hurt. And...
( ... what frustrates Mithrun is that he doesn't understand why he's not indifferent to it. What does it matter to him that Tylor doesn't care about some in-game death? What does it matter that happened at the end?
( He knows what Hani refers to - on at least on occasion (the screenshotted text) - because Hani had made such fanfare about it. He isn't sure he wants to know if there are other occasions they consider wanting. He isn't sure what he feels about any of this. He isn't sure about - anything.
Hani's touch feels nice against his cool skin. He hadn't realized he was frowning so much. )
... Do you find it worthwhile, too, that I hurt him?
I don’t know how you think you hurt him. And I don’t know if that was what made him -
[ they cut off, limps pressed together. they should have written these words down first. another try: ]
I only know that he loves you. And after - after, he loved you from afar instead - and that hurt him and he didn’t even realize.
And you are frowning, upset. [ angry? hani understands this a little. they’ve only ever been upset by love. ] Do you realize? I think you love him, too.
( Some part of him does understand as much: that Tylor would forgive most injustices, but he'd get all sentimental and wispy when it came to people going. And, still, he wouldn't take a person for himself.
If Mithrun hadn't said the things he said then, at that first picnic with the three of them, he wonders if Tylor would have said anything to him, or Hani. )
... Tylor loves you.
( Does he love Tylor? Don't ask him that. Don't even imply. All feelings entered stasis once this threeway entity, vague and undefined in Mithrun's monocular eye, did, too. That's what he wants to think. )
... But none of this has to do with what happened. If you want me to let him talk to me again, then he can.
[ this is hard. they really, really should’ve written down some words. searched up the ones that might potentially explain their feelings, critically comparing each word with the others on the branch and picked out the best ones they could. put it in their little basket and come more prepared to -
to fight? to be frustrated? to be hurt? to love so aggressively that it’ll make these two understand. ]
Not me. [ the plan is justy and mithrun, not hani. ] How do you know he loves me?
( He's being unfair to Hani and he knows it. He gets approximately what they came here to do and he's winding his way around the point. Because - he doesn't understand, and every bit Hani digs they get a little closer to excavating a truth he won't be able to ignore. )
... Are you asking because you don't think so, or because you want to know what I think?
( He got out of the hospital bed for the sole purpose of killing somebody, and navigating the nuanced complexities of relationships period disorients him more than anything brain damage could ever do to him. )
I don't know.
( Frustrated, taking Hani's hand at his face - not forceful, but some kind of grip, like searching for a buoy - turning toward them, one leg pulling up on the couch, folded under him. )
I don't know. I just look at him and you and I understand what he means when he says you're just right for him. You're always in concert, even when you're out of tune.
( He squeezes Hani's hand, like he's trying to convey - something. )
... In every universe the two of you met but hadn't met me, you wouldn't have been lacking.
[ this is the only way hani knows, to dig so deeply it’s painful and uncomfortable and near unwanted. ]
No. I don’t want that. This is not one of those universes - you don’t see. We wouldn’t be lacking, but we would still be less without you.
[ they squeeze back, small tremors brought out by the heady upset feeling in their stomach. it builds fast, piling and piling until the bubbles threaten to snap and overflow. ]
And I just look at you and I understand how you must feel about him. You don’t see the faces you make for him, only for him. But you must have noticed, you’re so brilliant, you must, you must. You must have noticed how he looks at you, how I - we look at you.
[ they rush over that last bit, stumbling fiercely over the next couple of words. ]
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Date: 2023-09-02 02:56 am (UTC)Date next time! Tonight is just us first. I'll be there soon.
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Date: 2023-09-02 05:26 am (UTC)( Mithrun, none the wiser...
Mithrun lives in one of those expensive, private apartments overlooking a beachside. Despite its price, there's not much in the way of security to actually get to the door - so Hani can stroll up easy enough, Malibu, as ever, bustling with tourists squeezing in one last bit of vacation, and eternally ocean-minded locals.
When Hani rings, Mithrun, at least, has good sense to open the door on time. He has a little food on his face (he just finished dinner) and his hair has been brushed through once but not styled, and he's dressed okay enough in an oversized t-shirt and silk shorts - the sort of clothes you lounge around the house in during summer. The house is gorgeously furnished, but kind of in the staged way, like it was put together for a sales catalogue. It kind of seems like this might have been the furniture the apartment came with when it was bought.
He pushes open the door so Hani can come in. His expression seems the same as ever, but Hani asking to come over wasn't unpleasant at all. )
Hello.
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Date: 2023-09-02 05:56 am (UTC)stick to the plan, hani, stick to the plan - but oh, mithrun is so beautiful that hani sets aside the greeting to push him (gently, intently) into his own apartment. the door swings itself shut with a click as they lean up to kiss him, cradling his face. sweet kisses made sweeter still when they lick off of the rest of the food around his lips and cheeks. mm. they pull back with a soft sound. ]
Hello. [ an almost helpless smile, before they rapidly blink away the heat and dazzle from their eyes. aaaa, the plan!! ] Are you alright?
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Date: 2023-09-02 06:03 am (UTC)... I'm fine. Did something happen?
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Date: 2023-09-02 06:14 am (UTC)hrm!! ]
You do look fine… [ well, that rules out something. ] Actually, you look very beautiful tonight and Justy-kun would agree. Can we move to the sofa?
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Date: 2023-09-02 06:20 am (UTC)Sure.
( Without caring to lock the door, Mithrun trots on ahead to the living room, where there's a broad, long sofa set out in front of a large, flatscreen TV. The curtains remain open from the day, the ocean visible from the living room, which sort of flows into an open kitchen area. )
... Did something make you think something bad happened to me?
( Looking back to Hani, he sits down with his legs over the edge of the sofa in a very default human being sit. This is how people sit. He's doing that. )
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Date: 2023-09-02 06:37 am (UTC)Not to you, but yes, maybe something bad. I’m… ruling out all the possibilities.
[ the way he sits is very cute though - no, no, no. hani pats their own cheeks. no, bad. they on the couch, too, legs off the ground and crossed under them. it’s a very rude way of sitting as a guest but detectives can’t afford to be polite, and this way lets them face mithrun completely. ]
Mithrun-kun. Morgan-kun. Will you speak honestly with me again?
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Date: 2023-09-02 06:49 am (UTC)He frowns. Something bad...? )
... Yes. What is it?
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Date: 2023-09-02 06:54 am (UTC)[ did one of you break? how can they fix you? ]
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Date: 2023-09-02 07:08 am (UTC)Mm.
Well, he presumes Tylor didn't tell them anything, either. That's very like Tylor.
He's quiet for a moment, his gaze drifting away again. )
... Yes.
( But he doesn't elaborate. )
It's something that can be left alone.
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Date: 2023-09-02 07:15 am (UTC)[ and it’s that. they don’t like that. ]
That’s something Justy-kun would say with a smile and believe it even as his wounds fester and rot on the inside.
[ sharp and - ]
Are you? Can you tell if you’re bleeding the same? Do you know?
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Date: 2023-09-02 07:25 am (UTC)Fine. He looks back at Hani. )
... I was the one who did the hurting. I can't be hurt. But he doesn't see himself as hurt. And...
( ... what frustrates Mithrun is that he doesn't understand why he's not indifferent to it. What does it matter to him that Tylor doesn't care about some in-game death? What does it matter that happened at the end?
Frustrated. That's the only word he has for it. )
... He doesn't know how to be upset with me.
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Date: 2023-09-02 07:40 am (UTC)[ and hani can only be themself. though they don’t want to bring too much of them into this. they’re not important here. ]
You want him to be upset with you.
[ as much of a question as it is a statement. ]
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Date: 2023-09-02 07:44 am (UTC)... That can't be true.
( That would be two for two on a want associated with Tylor, and he's still not convinced on the first. (He's seeing two, and missing the others.) )
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Date: 2023-09-02 08:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-09-02 08:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-09-02 08:19 am (UTC)[ on hani’s phone is proof of it, a happy screenshot they had saved. a precious thing. it would, they decide, be proof but only as a last resort.
(it so precious, if mithrun denied any part of it, they would be - their stomach tightens. hurt might be the word they’re looking for. it would hurt.
but for justy, they would - could use it. for mithrun, they would try.)
for now, they just reach for the corner of mithrun’s frown. light touches. ]
Why frown at all then?
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Date: 2023-09-02 09:28 am (UTC)Hani's touch feels nice against his cool skin. He hadn't realized he was frowning so much. )
... Do you find it worthwhile, too, that I hurt him?
( Sidestep. )
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Date: 2023-09-02 09:45 am (UTC)[ they cut off, limps pressed together. they should have written these words down first. another try: ]
I only know that he loves you. And after - after, he loved you from afar instead - and that hurt him and he didn’t even realize.
And you are frowning, upset. [ angry? hani understands this a little. they’ve only ever been upset by love. ] Do you realize? I think you love him, too.
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Date: 2023-09-02 09:56 am (UTC)If Mithrun hadn't said the things he said then, at that first picnic with the three of them, he wonders if Tylor would have said anything to him, or Hani. )
... Tylor loves you.
( Does he love Tylor? Don't ask him that. Don't even imply. All feelings entered stasis once this threeway entity, vague and undefined in Mithrun's monocular eye, did, too. That's what he wants to think. )
... But none of this has to do with what happened. If you want me to let him talk to me again, then he can.
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Date: 2023-09-02 10:12 am (UTC)[ this is hard. they really, really should’ve written down some words. searched up the ones that might potentially explain their feelings, critically comparing each word with the others on the branch and picked out the best ones they could. put it in their little basket and come more prepared to -
to fight? to be frustrated? to be hurt? to love so aggressively that it’ll make these two understand. ]
Not me. [ the plan is justy and mithrun, not hani. ]
How do you know he loves me?
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Date: 2023-09-02 10:50 am (UTC)... Are you asking because you don't think so, or because you want to know what I think?
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Date: 2023-09-02 11:05 am (UTC)[ no less warm than usual, but strained. don’t treat them like this, like they can’t be hurt and brittle. ]
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Date: 2023-09-02 11:33 am (UTC)I don't know.
( Frustrated, taking Hani's hand at his face - not forceful, but some kind of grip, like searching for a buoy - turning toward them, one leg pulling up on the couch, folded under him. )
I don't know. I just look at him and you and I understand what he means when he says you're just right for him. You're always in concert, even when you're out of tune.
( He squeezes Hani's hand, like he's trying to convey - something. )
... In every universe the two of you met but hadn't met me, you wouldn't have been lacking.
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Date: 2023-09-02 02:00 pm (UTC)No. I don’t want that. This is not one of those universes - you don’t see. We wouldn’t be lacking, but we would still be less without you.
[ they squeeze back, small tremors brought out by the heady upset feeling in their stomach. it builds fast, piling and piling until the bubbles threaten to snap and overflow. ]
And I just look at you and I understand how you must feel about him. You don’t see the faces you make for him, only for him. But you must have noticed, you’re so brilliant, you must, you must. You must have noticed how he looks at you, how I - we look at you.
[ they rush over that last bit, stumbling fiercely over the next couple of words. ]
Take him, you can.
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