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[crouching_sin]

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[crouching_sin]

I am trying. I'm used to relying on myself. It's not as if I'll turn around and suddenly be able to ask for help whenever.

I can't promise that I will. I can promise that I will try.

[belheir]

[That's not good enough. It's nowhere near good enough, but it's what Naoya is offering in return to his request, and isn't Naoya the one with more power here anyway?

(No, he's not, but Kazuya can't help the part of him that thinks that.)]

Fine. I'll accept that.

[But his tone suggests that he's very much unhappy with that.]

cw: blood

[crouching_sin]

[He may want more, but there's only so much Naoya can give. He regards Kazuya for a moment before continuing. He can't - shouldn't, won't - keep Kazuya in the circle for much longer. It's claustrophobic, and as much as it would be amusing to leave him there to stew it'd likely end up poorly for him.]

Then the contract is sealed. With words and with blood.

[Did he always have a knife in his pocket? Well he apparently did, because he slices his palm and lets the blood drip onto the circle. It flares for a moment and then the barrier disappears. Naoya winces and smudges the edges of both circles with his foot to open them.]

[belheir]

[His chest feels tight, as he watches Naoya's blood drip onto the circle that contains him. It doesn't feel... much different than how he felt before, other than the fact that none of the Bels inside him are particularly happy with him, and make it known, loudly, as he half stumbles out of the circle.

He feels like what he imagines a dog with its fur brushed the wrong way would feel.

But there's more pressing concerns. Naoya's cut his palm, and he's... incredibly interested in that, though he tells himself that it's because Naoya is hurt and not for any other reason.]

Where do you keep the bandages?

[crouching_sin]

... Under the kitchen sink.

[He'll be fine, it's not a deep cut - but it's still bleeding. And he knows Kazuya won't exactly be dissuaded from that sort of thing.]

[... He can clean up the salt and the rug later. Probably burning it is the way to go. But he sits down and stares for a moment - where is he going to find the magnetite? Maybe something with the journals... he'll have to figure it out.]

[He should... warn Kazuya, but...]

There might be side effects from this. Other than the obvious like you being able to sense where I am and the other way around.

[belheir]

I mean... [Kazuya makes a face that Naoya can't quite see as he retreats to go grab the bandages.]

I kind of already know where you are, most of the time.

[He's got the increased senses of a demon, after all. Though beyond that... It's not like Naoya really goes out much. Or at least that he's seen while he's been here.]

What other side effects could there be?

[And... Got them. He'll return to Naoya, bandages in hand as he takes them out, and doesn't even hesitate before grabbing his hand to wrap it. It smells... less enticing, now that it's covered.]

[crouching_sin]

Mm.

[He doesn't resist being taken care of - not like Kazuya would let him get away anyway.]

... Occasionally for powerful demons our dreams can... mingle. I don't know how it'll affect things in a dream world.

But you did ask me to not hide anything anymore, so...

[belheir]

[That's true. He can't stand to see Naoya hurt, even for something as minor as this. Especially since it'd even been at his request.]

Mingle?

[... That sounds... Weird. He doesn't know how much he likes that, but that is the reality that he's living now.]

Well, hopefully you don't get too many of mine, then. Might be awkward.

[Though he's fairly confident that Naoya already knows about the people Kazuya wants to kiss so desperately.]

[crouching_sin]

As if I've never been a teenager with hormones. Or raised them.

[He huffs and leans into Kazuya. He's a bit drained after that. There's a reason he powered the summoning circles with emotions from the internet.]

... I need a nap.

[belheir]

[Oof.]

Seriously?

[He feels... pretty fine, actually. Other than the fact he still feels weird, like, internally. It's probably just the contract, he figures.

But he'll support Naoya all the same, letting him lean against him.]

You're going to ruin your sleep schedule.

[crouching_sin]

I have a sleep schedule?

[He's used to being up all night - he's mostly up during the day here, but he's still a night owl at heart. He blinks slowly and tries to regain composure. He should... head up to the bedroom.]

But I was powering that whole thing. My magic's drained, essentially.

[belheir]

[No wonder he's tired, in that case. Maybe he shouldn't have taken so long. Maybe they should have figured out a price before even considering the circle, but, well, whats done is done now.]

... Can I give you some of mine?

[It's an honest question. He has no clue. And if he can, is it even safe? Naoya knows way more about this kind of thing than him anyway, so he figures that he'll know the answer if he asks.]

[crouching_sin]

It's... in theory possible, but I've not drawn on someone else's energy directly in a while. Yours is likely to be extremely potent though, so it's... safer to go for a small bite rather than eating the whole thing, if you get my meaning.

[He doesn't want to overload his system. He struggles to pull himself upright again with a soft grunt, trying to maintain some measure of composure.]

[belheir]

I don't think you could "eat the whole thing", honestly.

[But he's quick to help steady Naoya as he needs, because he can't help but fussing. This is his fault, at least marginally. Entirely, even.]

But I'm willing to let you, if you think it's possible.

[Especially since he just wants to help...]

[crouching_sin]

[He nods and steadies himself on his feet, reaching out and grabbing Kazuya's hand. There's a slight sting on Kazuya's end and then Naoya lets the hand go, straightening up a bit.]

[... It's probably not enough to really even make a dent in the other's energy.]

There. ... Now... what to do...

[He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone, glancing at it. He can't really send anything, but...]

Should probably figure out a way to reliably charge this.

[belheir]

[Actually, the sting just has him more curious than anything. It's more like he was zapped by static electricity than anything else, and he isn't even really aware that Naoya did anything to him other than grab his hand which may or may not have just zapped him.]

Maybe we could get a handheld charger somewhere?

[But he is watching, very keenly to see if Naoya unlocks his phone in front of him without thinking.

He wants that password, dammit.]

[crouching_sin]

Maybe...

[He sees you staring, Kazuya. The phone goes back into the pocket.]

Given that this is a dream world, I'd be surprised if you couldn't get anything you wanted somehow. ... Though there are this bauble things that I've found. I'm not sure what to do with them. I think someone said something about a wishing well?

[belheir]

Baubles?

[... Like the things they put on christmas trees?]

Actually scratch that, a wishing well? That'd make it so much easier to get a handcrank charger. Though maybe if Atsuro ends up here we can just use the one he got.

[There's no way he wouldn't arrive with it. Kazuya would very much bet his life on that.]

[crouching_sin]

Heh. If he did, I'm sure there would be some interesting conversations to be had.

I also have a few things I'd like to get, like my laptop. Much easier to hide my notes from you there.

[Is he joking? Maybe. Maybe not. It's both.]

[belheir]

No kidding.

[But also, that's his bestie. Kazuya can't imagine a world where Atsuro wouldn't have stuck by his side, so he feels like he's got at least that going for him.]

You're not allowed to hide your notes from me.

[He says, petulantly.]

[crouching_sin]

... I know you wanted into my phone, but trust me - you don't. There are certain things on there that you don't want to see.

[Less of that on his laptop, but more technical shit.]

[belheir]

No, I definitely want to see.

[ He nudges against Naoya playfully. ]

I want to know all about the weird shit my big bro thinks he needs to hide from me.

[crouching_sin]

And here I thought you weren't interested in dick pics. My little brother's growing up.

[belheir]

...

[ His expression drops immediately, and he makes a face at that. ]

There's no way you of all people is sending dick pics.

[ Please he CANNOT HANDLE that information. But also that makes him incredibly less likely to root through his phone now... he doesn't want to see Naoya's dick, thanks. ]

[crouching_sin]

I might be.

... But a lot of it is Loki's dick because he's a menace.

[... It's not a bad dick though.]