[He doesn't contest that, staring quietly at the ceiling instead.
Incidentally, if she looks around the room -- whether she's been in Natsuno's room or not -- it definitely bears traces of things having been moved recently. Or rather moved in. There's a lot of clothes in the closet (like, a lot, some of which Emi might also recognize), a big familiar cleaver sword that a certain someone has used in public a lot, other little touches.
There's no restless energy to him still, not like usual, but does he seem like the type to go punch things when the going gets tough? Because he absolutely is.
The tough going just hasn't quite made it through his thick skull yet, honestly.]
I don't mind living next to you, then. You kind of get it.
[ She could... definitely offer some personal details in that regard herself, but it isn't really about her right now, so she'll hold off on that for a while. ]
Did it feel good having someone who could relate to you that way?
[He stumbles to a stop for a moment, like he's trying to get words out and failing a lot, actually. It's overall unusual for someone normally as at-ease and chattery as he is.]
[He's quiet for a moment, thinking things over this time, before he stretches a little and tries to answer the question.]
I've known he was a jinrou since the first time we met, actually. He was stuck outside the mansion with the goats and pretending he wasn't. It was actually really funny. He does strange things like that sometimes, like going to sleep in a poison oak tree even though I told him it was a bad idea. He seems like a pretty level-headed guy, but I think he's actually kind of a hothead. And he'd rather set himself and everybody else on fire than do something he doesn't want to do.
[As usual, he doesn't mince words, though there's a softness to the way he runs through it that might be reminiscing or something else entirely.
This is probably the most he's said at once since the investigation started.]
Fighting him was fun, too, once he got around to drinking blood. He's still not that great at it, but training with him is almost like being back at the tournament properly. It's always the best when your opponent really wants to be there.
[...]
He was really bad at dying. It's been a couple of times now, because that's how jinrou work, I guess... but he's really bad at it.
[ She smiles as she listens to it all. Parts of it almost sound a little like Jiro, though she knows there were plenty of differences between them. Jiro probably would have liked Natsuno, though, and would have wanted to protect him, too. He was a superhuman, after all. ]
I wish I'd gotten to know him better. I'm glad you did.
[ It's good that they had each other for a while, she thinks, even if it hurts terribly now. ]
[There's a definite hesitation there, but this type of honesty is instinctive for him, the urge to live true to himself. That's probably what it is, even if he screws up his face a little after saying that, like it might have slipped out somehow or like he might have wanted to make an entirely different expression.
He keeps talking as though that will help his face. And maybe it does.]
I don't know if it was being a jinrou or not. I never exactly met him as a human. But maybe it's because he was both at some point? Maybe it's better if you mix it up.
[ Having two identities at the same time from the beginning is one thing; changing from one to another is always even more complicated when there's no guarantee that either side will accept you. They'd seen that enough times. ]
I think it's easy for humans to think that way about anyone who's different and doesn't submit to their wishes, though. It's usually their morality that defines for the world what's good or bad, and their "good" usually lines up with whatever is most beneficial for them.
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[ It's a good thing that jacket makes a sound, or else it might have taken her a minute to notice where he was.
She comes over and sits on the edge of the bed nearby.
(Which jacket is this?) ]
I hadn't known you were that close to him before.
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Natsuno might have been wearing it for most of their second week here, if Emi is one to notice the fashions of young'uns.
Anon at least has his head pillowed on his arms, so he's not just lying there like a sack of potatoes. He doesn't look at her, still.]
It's just something that happened.
[Like a rainstorm, or tripping over a crack in the sidewalk, his tone seems to say. Like he didn't know either.]
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I think that's probably how it happens a lot of times.
[ She wants to believe that about Jiro and Kikko, anyway. ]
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[He seems fairly matter-of-fact about that, actually, where you'd expect him to be petulant. It's just a statement.]
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Well. He was special.
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[He doesn't contest that, staring quietly at the ceiling instead.
Incidentally, if she looks around the room -- whether she's been in Natsuno's room or not -- it definitely bears traces of things having been moved recently. Or rather moved in. There's a lot of clothes in the closet (like, a lot, some of which Emi might also recognize), a big familiar cleaver sword that a certain someone has used in public a lot, other little touches.
Hmm.]
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Are you going to stay in here now?
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I don't really want to leave.
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[ They can check with the goats or something, but. ]
I'm right around the corner if you do stay. It's obviously not the same, but you know I like you, right?
[ Even if you have her clothes... ]
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[He might end up fighting the goats regardless.
There's no restless energy to him still, not like usual, but does he seem like the type to go punch things when the going gets tough? Because he absolutely is.
The tough going just hasn't quite made it through his thick skull yet, honestly.]
I don't mind living next to you, then. You kind of get it.
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[ She's just... going to lie down here on her side, actually. ]
I'd like to hear more about him, if you want to talk about it.
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Then it's back to the ceiling for a long silence that they both listen to. Eventually--]
Watanuki called me a villain one time, you know? It was actually kind of flattering. I've never been called a villain before.
[It's hard to place his tone here. His eyes are closed now.]
Koide gets that. That part. He's the only one.
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[This time, he doesn't seem to be being elusive on purpose.
It's also possible that he doesn't know quite how to articulate the thing, either.]
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Did it feel good having someone who could relate to you that way?
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[He stumbles to a stop for a moment, like he's trying to get words out and failing a lot, actually. It's overall unusual for someone normally as at-ease and chattery as he is.]
... It doesn't happen to me.
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What else did you like about him?
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I've known he was a jinrou since the first time we met, actually. He was stuck outside the mansion with the goats and pretending he wasn't. It was actually really funny. He does strange things like that sometimes, like going to sleep in a poison oak tree even though I told him it was a bad idea. He seems like a pretty level-headed guy, but I think he's actually kind of a hothead. And he'd rather set himself and everybody else on fire than do something he doesn't want to do.
[As usual, he doesn't mince words, though there's a softness to the way he runs through it that might be reminiscing or something else entirely.
This is probably the most he's said at once since the investigation started.]
Fighting him was fun, too, once he got around to drinking blood. He's still not that great at it, but training with him is almost like being back at the tournament properly. It's always the best when your opponent really wants to be there.
[...]
He was really bad at dying. It's been a couple of times now, because that's how jinrou work, I guess... but he's really bad at it.
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I wish I'd gotten to know him better. I'm glad you did.
[ It's good that they had each other for a while, she thinks, even if it hurts terribly now. ]
Was it being a jinrou that made him a villain?
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[There's a definite hesitation there, but this type of honesty is instinctive for him, the urge to live true to himself. That's probably what it is, even if he screws up his face a little after saying that, like it might have slipped out somehow or like he might have wanted to make an entirely different expression.
He keeps talking as though that will help his face. And maybe it does.]
I don't know if it was being a jinrou or not. I never exactly met him as a human. But maybe it's because he was both at some point? Maybe it's better if you mix it up.
[That's just an idle musing, probably.]
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[ Having two identities at the same time from the beginning is one thing; changing from one to another is always even more complicated when there's no guarantee that either side will accept you. They'd seen that enough times. ]
I think it's easy for humans to think that way about anyone who's different and doesn't submit to their wishes, though. It's usually their morality that defines for the world what's good or bad, and their "good" usually lines up with whatever is most beneficial for them.
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[It's very soft, but he's raised a hand and is staring at his wrist where the stripes down his arm are showing just a little, the sleeve riding down.]
Not just humans, even if a lot of people here probably know humans the best.
Everyone and everything is like that.
It's the way living things work.
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[ She watches him, quiet for a while.
Stripes, huh...? ]
Do you mind if I tell you a few things about my world?
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