Mailbox | Holly Heights

[permboy]

Gintoki Sakata 坂田 銀時
#1470
Son



Mail ♣ Call ♣ Text ♣ Action

Comments

action, backdated to whenever the rose event wears off

[bombdemon]

(( sequel to this ))

[ It dawns on him suddenly, like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, the moment Landlord's magic wears off. It would be so much easier if he didn't remember any of it, but he does, and it tears at him from the inside. He was supposed to be Gintoki's last, eternal pillar of support, of understanding, something that wouldn't get compromised no matter how times changed. Things he said -- things he never believed, never would have -- to him, like tearing into still open wounds with a crowbar and a packet of salt. He's afraid to imagine how much it might have hurt. ]

[ He spends an hour at most being utterly disgusted with himself, and lamenting how such a "harmless" effect could have led to this - he underestimated their captor, this is the only explanation - before he slowly picks himself up and heads towards the house he knows Gintoki's been assigned to. ]

[ He has no idea if he's even there, but as he circles the house, wary of running into Ayame if he tries the front door, he does spot a familiar mop of white on the living room couch. Feeling his heart clench, he knocks on the glass. ]

[permboy]

[ It really had been exactly that: Crowbar and salt. Afterwards, Gintoki had gone to find himself a lot of alcohol and sweets, used up the very last of the money he got when he first came here, and crashed somewhere in Pleasure Gate. Honestly, he still can't recall exactly where.

Then he'd crawled home to an Ayame still affected by the rose he gave her, doing his everything to not look at the house across the street, and eventually gotten off his ass somehow to find some boring job. One of the first he found, really. Just so he wouldn't get thrown out again whenever those rose effects wore off, because then he wouldn't have anywhere to go. As much as that is far from an unfamiliar feeling for him, he'd rather not experience it if he can avoid it.

He still feels like shit when the effects finally wear off, because it's only been a couple of days and he hasn't gotten proper sleep. Passing out from intoxication is just awful, and he's only managed to get a few hours before a nightmare's forced him awake and left him unable to go back to sleep. And try as he might, he hasn't been able to keep himself from crying once or twice. Mostly because it's the first time Katsura's been the one to say anything like that.

Of course it hurts.

By the time the knock on the glass comes, he's not doing anything but sitting and staring into nothingness. It's difficult to motivate himself to do anything after he's only slept maybe five hours in two nights and somehow managed to get himself to work one day when he feels like he can't even bake himself a cake or something.

The knock pulls him down to earth rather abruptly, and he jerks upright and looks around, blinking. It takes him a few moments to realise what's happening, and then he finally notices Zura.

And something twists in his stomach.

But he's relieved, because he was starting to worry Katsura really wouldn't want to see him again (even though logically he knows it was probably the effects of the roses), so at the same time he's already feeling a little lighter.

He takes a very deep breath, and shuffles over to the window, opening it and leaning forward on the window sill.

There are definitely dark circles under his eyes, and he definitely hasn't showered. ]

Yo. Decided to ditch the gorilla?

[bombdemon]

[ I did this, he things as he stares at the pathetic state Gintoki's in, and he clenches the hilt of his sword because of course, the first reaction is SEPPUKU. But no. This is Gintoki, and this won't help him feel any better (if it did, he'd totally do it, too). So after the initial pause, he starts talking. Kind of fast. ]

I'm so sorry. Those things I said, I want you to know I never thought that way, I was bewitched by some kind of evil but I understand if you can't forgive me and --

[ pauses, and frowns. ]

You reek.

[permboy]

[ Gintoki's just about ready to tell Katsura to shut the hell up when he does that himself, so instead he just blinks slowly. ]

You were so close to a proper apology but you flubbed it there at the end.

[ Not that he was actually looking for an apology. As far as he's concerned, the idea that Katsura has anything to apologise for is simply absurd. Doesn't mean it's not reassuring to hear that he doesn't think what he said, even if Gintoki can't quite fathom it.

Still nice.

There's a pause, and then he lifts his arm and sniffs his armpit.

--ew. Okay. Yes, he does.

He should probably fix that before Ayame comes back. Or not and see what happens ...

When he lifts his head again he doesn't look like he thought it smelled terrible, though. ]

Didn't notice.

[bombdemon]

[ Katsura flails a little at the notion that he's 'flubbed' something. ]

I swear I did not mean any of it! [ pauses thoughtfully ] Well, I suppose I'm not completely opposed to a joint bath, but definitely not the other things. [ folds arms as if telling himself now he did a good job with the apology. ] Can I do anything for you to make it up?

[ Please don't stop relying on him. Or trusting him. Or being comfortable around him. That much should be visible from his expression. ]

[permboy]

[ Huff. ]

Of course you're not.

[ But he assumes no romantic expectations this time around.

He frowns lightly, and lowers his head, rubbing at the back of it. Since he's in the window, though, doing that doesn't really work as a method of hiding. Oh, well.

It's just Zura. It's fine. ]

You don't need to do anything, idiot.

[ Just stay. Like you always do. ]

[bombdemon]

[ that... that kind of sounds like he's forgiven? ]

[ he stares at Gintoki with a quivering lip, then makes a disgusting sound of happiness and fucking hugs him through the window ]

[permboy]

[ THE WINDOW REALLY DOESN'T MAKE FOR THE BEST HUGGING POSITION. His stomach ends up uncomfortably pressed against the windowsill as he's pulled down, but ... He accepts it without any grumbling. He even lowers his arms enough to sort of return it, with a somewhat awkward pat to Katsura's back. ]

This is pretty uncomfortable, you know.

[ And it makes it hard to breathe so it definitely comes out a bit strained. ]

[bombdemon]

Oh.

[ He's back to his usual deadpan now. ]

May I come in?

[permboy]

[ Go figure. ]

I guess.

[bombdemon]

[ clambers in through the window, with surprising grace considering he's pretty much wearing a skirt. ]

[ smiles gently ]

I have something for you.

[permboy]

[ Gintoki's not really surprised at all, and just smoothly steps back to let Katsura through.

And at the mention of "something for him," he immediately perks up. Well, the fact that they're all fine helps too. He feels a lot better already. ]

What?

[bombdemon]

[ Yes, well it's part of them being all fine, probably. Katsura always makes sure he has some kind of bribe to placate Gintoki just in case his delightful presence is not enough. ]

[ And now he's pulling out a jar of Nutella, the smallest variety, with a homely looking yarn tied around it to hold a tag saying something mushy like "for best friend" or similar in place. ]

[permboy]

[ He takes the jar, and sniffs a little at it. ]

This size? How cheap.

[ HE KNOWS THERE ARE BIGGER ONES.

Then he turns it over and reads the tag, however, and his pretend scowl softens, followed by a fond huff. ]

Idiot.

[bombdemon]

I'm merely looking out for your diabetes.

[ HEY he didn't say you can take it. So when Gintoki's distracted by the sappy tag, he snatches it back. ]

Nuh-uh-uh. You get it after you shower.

[ it's not idiot, it's mom ]

[permboy]

[ He does what he wants okay?

HUFF. ]

Why?

[ Yes yes he know he stinks. Whatever. ]

I don't need bribes to shower.

[bombdemon]

Then why aren't you doing it?

[ have you missed this? ]

[permboy]

[ ... Sort of?

Because he's been miserable thanks to you. Did you forget already. ]

Because it takes more than a second for me to get to the bathroom and into the shower?

[ Meaning, yes, he's going. But not before he looks down at his clothes - which definitely need a launder - and grumbles. He still doesn't have more than on yukata like this and it's very frustrating.

Oh, well. Fine. He'll just go slip into his and Ayame's room to find something decent first. ]

[bombdemon]

I'll wait here, then.

[ Calls after him merrily and plops down on the couch. Of course he didn't forget, he just shoved it back with the rest of the things he's in denial about. Please don't dig it up. ]

[ Ah, hope Ayame doesn't come home early. ]

[permboy]

[ Oh, he has no intention to. The sooner they leave this all behind the better, if you ask him.

So, Gintoki throws his clothes in the washing machine (and starts a load while he's at it because, hey, he's on a roll here, and he wants his clothes washed so he can wear them), takes a shower (with shampoo and soap and all), and then puts on a simple dark blue yukata, hangs a towel over his shoulders and leaves it at that. Then he comes back to the living room and, circles under eyes aside, he looks a lot better, and not just because he's clean. ]

Happy now, mom?

[bombdemon]

It's not mom, it's Katsura. [ He says it brightly enough for it to be a positive answer, scoots to one end of the couch and holds out the jar. ]

[ It's amazing what a shower can do to a person. (It's just one little part of what actually caused this improvement, but details, details.) ]

[permboy]

[ And he will take that, and plop down next to Katsura while he opens it. And then he just sticks his finger in and starts eating it like that. But, you know, whatever.

He'll try to save something to bake with later. ]

[bombdemon]

[ Katsura looks a little shaken for a moment (he could have probably found a spoon in those botomless sleeves of his), but once he reassures himself that if anyone would lick that finger absolutely clean afterwards, it's Gintoki, he manages to relax again. And lean back into the couch. Hm, wonder if there's anything good on TV... ]

[permboy]

[ Honestly, he'll take a spoon? But doesn't really care about asking. Finger is fine. A moment later he shifts enough to kind of lean back against Katsura's side, putting one foot on the couch, and sighs blissfully with the finger in his mouth.

This is fine. ]

[bombdemon]

[ Ah, yes. This is normal. He can feel at peace again, seeing Gintoki (relatively) happy like this. ]

[ But now that he's leaning on him, he doesn't want to move to turn the TV on, so he'll grab a newspaper that's conveniently laying over the armrest. ]