#❛ ✖︎ — th — ryosuke. °

[silkchvffon]

another one for @invcntions.

HE SLIPS INTO THE HOUSE UNNOTICED, as he usually does. discards of his ripped, bloodied shirt and finds someone else's thrown onto a chair — by the scent ryo guesses it's juke's. he's used to the routine of washing up, tending to his gashes and wounds — he'd just been running through the woods, clearing his head, when the bear had attacked. animals did usually find his confusing nature provoking and so this doesn't surprise him as much as it inconveniences him. pain heals. his head, however, is still not cleared. he's sat on the living room floor when he senses the other's presence. « i am not in the mood for games, nintendo, » he declares, eyes shut. « i am meditating. »

[silkchvffon]

THE RESPONSE IS SO JUKE THAT RYO has to laugh. it's nice, the weight of their reality lifted a little when ryo stops to think about it — how ridiculous their existence is, how nonsensical. he's been alive for so long that he's forgotten that life isn't supposed to look like this. « nah, don't be. second face is prettier anyway, » he jokes, shooting juke a haughty, but feigned grin. ryo's out of practice, he feels it when he turns around and his head spins. all that energy drained only for a bullet wound. he used to be able to lay entire villages to waste, and however much he likes to pretend that life is behind him he does miss the feeling of being invincible — even when he still is. « it used to, » he admits, shrugging slightly. « now it's more like ... a bee sting. more annoying than anything. » he gives juke's arm a gentle tug with his hand, a boyish eagerness taking over. « let's find that gunman and i'll show you just how cool i am, » he adds with a mischievous grin.

he'd agree with ryo regardless of what the other had to say, able to tell from the reaction how seriously it mattered to him, and that's all juke needs for him to accept it. still, he listens intently — mouth ready to open as ryo explains his own immortality and yet the feeling of the hand on his chest is enough to cut short any comment. the pain fades in almost an instant, chest healing at a rate unfamiliar even for vampires. it's enough to know ryo's telling the truth ( not that he had any doubts ) and more than enough for the slow realization that his friend is far more powerful than juke's given him credit for. “ fuck, ” he exhales softly, thoughts searching for anything further to say and yet for one of the few times in his life he finds himself truly speechless. “ i'm sorry they cut off your head. ” it's a lame response, but at least it's sincere. the last way he'd describe ryo is evil, faint smile ghosting on the corners of his lips as he lets the information process. “ you know, i think that makes you the coolest out of all of us. ” he considers aloud, soft teasing lacing the tone as a hand raises to rub the back of his neck. “ does it still hurt though — getting decapitated, or shot, or whatever, do you still feel it like it could kill you? ” at least he could still claim a suggestion of chivalry in sparing ryo that.

[silkchvffon]

HE LETS THE COMMENT SLIDE WITH A disinterested wave of his hand. ryo enjoys the anonymity of not letting them know the full extent of his powers; it's part of the reason why he's been able to stay with them for so long already. « werewolves don't wear shirts, » he counters dryly, completely missing the point — as per usual. he pulls on his hood when they exit their home, unwilling to draw more attention than wanted onto them. « how do you know every movie ? » he shoots juke an almost impressed look, can barely even remember the last one they saw.

“ yeah? cause right now you don't really look like you savage bears. ” he teases lightly, still not completely sure he fully understands what ryo is, yet he knows enough not to underestimate the other. “ mh, i haven't, but i do happen to know these werewolves are often shirtless. you may be ancient, but that's gotta still do something for you, no? ” it's easy to joke with ryo, even if he isn't completely sure how often the other male understands what he's talking about — it makes the supernatural world feel slightly less alien when he's not the only one a little bit lost with the world around them. “ ghost is a different movie. ” juke clarifies as he moves quickly to follow, not bothering to take a break in the conversation. “ but it's also a good one, we can do ghost — you might like it actually, though it's a lot more... soppy. ”

[silkchvffon]

HIS REACTION IS IRRATIONAL, HE KNOWS THAT. he knows how ridiculous this must look through juke's eyes, but even after all these years ryo takes every loss of a life as a personal failure. he remembers every lover, can still feel the ghostly imprints of where they held him, can still feel their blood coat his hands. if he thinks too long about it he might just scream — so he doesn't anymore. he knows juke is different, that it's unlikely he'll end up a name on a long list any time soon. but it's not impossible. and it scares him like hell. « it matters, » ryo insists, adamant eyes glued to the vampire. then he takes a deep breath. « i — i can't die. not just ... that i don't age or i don't die easily. i can't die. » ryo allows for a beat to pass. « the french cut off my head once. it was all the rage back then, » he casually remarks, lifts one hand again to rest it against juke's chest as he channels all the warmth he inhabits. « and you know what happened ? » eyes are glued to where juke's shirt has ripped, the feel of the bullet wound closing rapidly as ryo transfers the dulled pain of it to himself. all that power in his very hands. never enough to save, but at least enough to heal. it wouldn't have taken juke long regardless, but ryo's been hiding enough. this never would've happened if he hadn't. « popped a new one. took me two seconds. they called me le diable and ran me out of town. won't find that in the history books, not even in the professor's, » he muses, referring to jude almost fondly. his hand falls limply down at his side. « so i'll take the bullets from now on. »

under any other situation he'd probably make a joke about the fact he's never been shot before, though he can see rather quickly from the expression on ryo's features that it would be misguided. ryo's looking at him like he'd actually been in danger — and for some reason that surprises juke. he knows ryo knows it won't hurt a vampire, even if it did there's perhaps a small part of him that wasn't sure if ryo would really care. that part's very quickly fading at the response, his own head softly shaking at the other's distress. “ i'm fine. ” he reassures quickly, as if that might help ease the weight of the situation. “ i'm totally fine. it doesn't even hurt now. ” just a faint sting, one barely worth noticing when his attention is so fixed on the other. “ i'm not playing the hero, i just — i didn't know if it would hurt you. ” perhaps with a little time he would have considered he's seen ryo recover from worse, but there hadn't exactly been chance to work that thought out. he probably would of done the same had it been a stranger. of course he was going to do it for ryo. he'd do it again in a heartbeat, if it wasn't for the current clear insistence that he didn't. “ it doesn't matter, yeah? i'm okay, and you're okay. it's not like i thought it all out. i just didn't want to see you get shot. ” and perhaps he ought to promise on the spot, yet it's difficult to claim he won't do it again when it's no secret that he cares about ryo, that he couldn't really imagine adjusting to being a vampire without the other around.

[silkchvffon]

HE REGARDS HIMSELF IN DISINTEREST and gives juke a shrug. « i savage bears, not the other way around, » ryo counters defensively and is already making his way towards the door. « i can't do four more of the twilight. i could barely do the one. i did some research on the line. online ? whatever. there are werewolves in the next one ? have you ever met one ? horrible things. no thanks. » the rambling is uncharacteristic of him, but something within ryo always seems to loosen around juke. walls come crumbling, much to his own dismay. « ghost – what ? » he mutters as he motions for jude to follow him outside. « ghost is good. ghost i can do. »

it strikes him quickly that interrupting ryo's meditation while he was trying to heal wasn't necessarily the most considerate move. teeth bite gently at his bottom lip as juke assess the situation, light-eyed gaze pulling over the other as if he has even the slightest ability to pass a judgement on ryo's state. “ you want to do that now? i can always wait. don't want you to go out and get savaged by a bear on my account. ” words only half-joke, offer entirely sincere even if he makes no actual move to get out of ryo's way, not when there's chance to continue discussing his cultural education. “ well, if we're looking for ones you'll understand — there are four more films after the first twilight. you still have those to get through. ” he suggests, words seemingly in earnest before a grin pulls faintly to his lips. “ or we can do ghostbusters... kind of want to make sure milo and frances aren't around for that one though. ”

[silkchvffon]

HE SUPPRESSES A LAUGHTER AT JUKE'S COMMENT, finds it endlessly entertaining that these vampires have formed hunting parties in order to babysit their newest. it's sweet, if it wasn't for the fact they're killing people. though in all his years, ryo's grown desensitized to the value and subsequent loss of human life — he's seen it happen way too many times to care much anymore. « i'm certain we could make it entertaining, » he assures juke thoughtfully, but doesn't push further. he acts as if he considers juke's question when he's already made up his mind to come with him — not because he particularly wants to stop him ( and whether he will is still up in the air ), but it's fun to know that he could. it makes him feel valuable, and ryo hasn't felt like that for decades. « i'll go with you. and you'll let me finish my meditation when we get back. no pestering tonight. » if juke's even able to, ryo's not too sure.

the opening of his eyes feels like a small victory, visible shift in ryo's attention towards him turning a grin on the corners of his own lips. “ ada's been too busy with her new friend, no idea what jude's been up to either and i'm not meant to go on my own so — ” shoulders raise in a small shrug. the rule bothers him less than juke supposes it ought to, sure taking the pressure off when he isn't the one calling the shots in the first place. “ funny. ” lips curl a little higher at the edges even as the tone deadpans. ryo throws out the suggestion so casually that for a moment he can't help but consider it — still, juke does his best to push the thought and any subsequent ones quickly away. “ i can't. ” he hums eventually instead. “ you ever stood by the side of some footpath deciding if someone's running style's bad enough for them to die? doesn't sound like much fun. ” no, he knows how he'll feel after. how he'll see it in the way the others look at him even if nothing actually changes. “ you wanna come with me? would just need to stop me before i, you know, accidentally kill anyone. only if i'm going to — should be able to stop it myself. ”

[silkchvffon]

THE SURPRISE IN JUKE'S VOICE at ryo's easy acceptance makes the kitsune deflate a little, as if saddened by how little faith the vampire has in him. ryo's done little to earn it though — always keeping two paces behind everyone else, watching like a hawk yet never interfering. « don't thank me yet, » he grumbles as he gets to his feet, most of his smaller cuts and bruises already gone from the little rest he got before he was interrupted. it's endearing, juke's need for company. it's also annoying, but ryo has learned to endure it — a small price to pay for staying here comfortably with a bunch of vampires and a ghost. « until i'm fully healed. should not take too long. » he shrugs at the mention of a movie, not quite used to the idea of moving images on a screen. « i suppose. but choose a good one. one i'll understand. » mall cop had been a hard one to swallow.

teeth bite gently on his own tongue at the other's comment, searching for the opinion he's meant to take when it varies depending on which of the group juke's talking to. killing's a prerequisite to the whole vampire thing — except for some of them it isn't, and for others it comes with requirements. even jude might preach for chaos and yet juke's pretty sure the moment he somehow manages to do that wrong it'll be him who gets kicked to the curb. “ you'll come? ” a note of surprise laces the tone as he's pulled from the thought, used to it taking at least a while of bothering ryo to convince him to do anything. “ thanks man. ” lips spread to a smile, small nod of appreciation offered before a familiar grin pulls back over his features. “ sure, how long do you need to meditate for? you wanna hang out after, we could watch a movie or something. ”

[silkchvffon]

THE PROBLEM WITH BEING INVINCIBLE is you stop sensing danger. the problem with being immortal is you forget everyone else don't. a bullet would be the equivalent of a mosquito bite for ryo and so whilst he hears the click of the trigger he knows he has no reason to worry — until juke's there, in front of him, groaning. « no. nonono, » ryo breathes and moves swiftly to the other's side, one hand on juke's chest. trauma makes him forget juke isn't actually mortal. ryo's been here so many times before and there's a desperation in him he hasn't felt for quite a while and he knows he can't do this again; can't stand by and watch the life in someone's eyes dim whilst there's nothing he can do about it. he feels sick with guilt, concern, distress. and juke stands there and he's ... well, shot, but fine. « am i — » ryo trails off, confusion and irrational anger written all over him. and fear. ryo can't remember the last time he was so scared, which can only mean he cares, and that revelation is more terrifying than anything. « don't fucking do that ! don't ever fucking do that, nintendo ! » he raises his hands to give the vampire a shove, but thinks better of it. he turns away from him instead, frustration desperate for an outlet. « fuck ! » he yells, then hangs his head when the sudden surge of energy leaves him. « never again. promise me. you don't get to play the hero with me. »

open to: m/f/nb plot: juke's an idiot (and vampire) who jumped infront of a bullet for someone who may or may not have known he was a vampire

he's always been impulsive, ready to act first and think second, especially when it comes to someone he cares about. he didn't even mean to do it, the gun pulled and he'd moved infront of the other before anyone could blink - realisation only coming at the sound of the gunshot, the stranger on the far side of it running in the other direction and the searing from his own chest. “ fuck, that still really hurts. ” he groans softly, hand moving to press against the wound. the pain's an inconvenience rather than anything else, perhaps one juke should have expected when he isn't actually bulletproof — though he's pretty sure it's already starting to heal as he turns quickly to face the person behind him. “ are you okay? ” brown eyes pull over them, too distracted by the answer to his own question to consider what he's just done.

[silkchvffon]

ONE CORNER OF RYO'S LIPS TWITCHES into a smile, sort of. juke is lucky he doesn't smell good, but that warning would fall on deaf ears. and for once, ryo has meet someone he doesn't really care to hurt. « i'm clean, » he argues, which doesn't matter much when his clothes are not and his wounds are open still. he keeps his eyes closed as if to emphasize that he's not partaking in this conversation, but juke continues to talk and ryo knows there will be no peace. he sighs as he opens his eyes and glances over his shoulder at his company. « you're due a hunt, » he notices immediately, ignoring juke's question completely, eyes scanning the vampire curiously. ryo suffers no consequences for his actions, not even here — he's witnessed jude's wrath once or twice before, but he's never been on the receiving end of it so he figures he's safe enough to play the devil's advocate. « you know, the south side of the forest sees a lot of lone joggers. some bears have not yet gone into hibernation and are hunting still. it would not be ... entirely uncalled for that an untimely death could occur. » not that he cares much for whatever diet juke follows — he's just curious to see what would happen if he encouraged a little chaos.

he can smell it the moment ryo arrives back, metallic tinge of blood heavy in the air and juke's never been more grateful that whatever ryo is — the scent and any subsequent thoughts of drinking from him hold no appeal. although it is still distracting. “ man, you're lucky you don't smell good. ” he only half-jokes, the declaration from the other as good as ignored as he moves further into the room, dropping himself down onto an arm chair across from ryo as his legs sling over the arm rest. is anyone's lucky it's him, under no illusion that were he to snap near the other he was unlikely to be the one making it out of the confrontation. “ no, but, for real, it's uh — a little intense. ” he mutters, hazel-eyed gaze moving almost unintentionally to the blood decorating the tattered clothing. ryo might not be a meal, but he's still trying to ignore the fact that he's hungry — and that he doesn't particularly like seeing him this way. “ you all good? ”