agoge | >>@ENTERTHEDRAGON

[For a moment, he just sits there, the cloth burrowed against his eyes to wipe off the shame of the day. He knows that, Achilles. He's met so many in his life that ended up being complete and utter assholes, and yet, here he was- sitting in bed with his thoughts pointed straightly at himself. He draws the rag downward, eventually blotting down skin against his neck and v-line of his chest.

He doesn't really want to talk about tonight, even when provoked to do so. He notes, mentally, that he needs to be way more careful. Those words aren't lost against him. He just never thought he'd be in this sort of situation, where all the things that made him unique would stand out in a way that could make him the prime candidate for a person to get taken advantage of. Pulling the cloth down, he looks up at Achilles.]

I uh... I don't really... feel comfortable goin' back. [It's a rare moment to see Ryuji struck to the core like this.] Is it. Is it okay if I spend the night here? I don't mind takin' the floor or anything.

[ Okay... Achilles isn't THAT much of a pervert, so he doesn't stare as Ryuji starts dragging that cloth everywhere and getting the front of his shirt all damp. He abashedly looks towards the wooden ceiling above, idly counting the webs stringed to the corners of the beams. ]

Hah? Do as you please. This is your room for tonight. Heroic Spirits don't need sleep. [ But sleep would actually help him conserve the mana he just extracted from killing that sorry sack earlier. ]

[He may be a vulgar boy, considered by society to not have a lick of manners inside him, relegated to the type of person that does whatever the fuck he wants to do, but he feels compelled to make up for the idiocy that he's proven himself to be. It's enough to be close to someone who knows that won't screw him over, and as he shifts, he feels the knot in his stomach tighten. With some labored movement, he stands up, holding his hand against his stomach, and points to the bed.]

Take it. I can... I can manage by myself. You've already done enough.

[He doesn't have a clue what the hell a Heroic Spirit is, but he knows that no one in their right mind would turn down a comfortable bed for the night. He breathes in, feeling rather dejected for the time being, and again, showcases his intent. He's a stubborn little asshole when he wants to be.]

You're.. uh. You're not gonna leave me here alone tonight, right? So take it.

[ Achilles is a hero with a great amount of good will, but he's also ... a guy from Ancient Greece. He's not as considerate as he should be. So when Ryuji moves up to stand on shaky legs, he doesn't do anything to reach out to him or force him back on the bed. Instead, he just stares at him, as if challenging him to keep this up or gauge his will. ]

Are you so foolish? [ He lets out a bullish snort. ] I'm a Heroic Spirit. What part of that don't you understand?

You need the rest. If you want to repay me, then offer your body instead.

[Of course he's this foolish. Rider, meet Ryuji. At least, the real Ryuji.

He stands on his own, no matter what sort of infliction threatens to break him. That's who he is. He's the chariot arcana, after all. His will is to power through anything that comes his way. That said, he grimaces and admits to his lack of understanding... until Achilles clearly comes onto him.

Wow. Okay. That's not... okay. He throws the wet rag at Achilles' face.]

Don't be weird.

[ Whap.

The rag hits his face and it ... slowly falls off and into his lap. He just stares over at Ryuji, unimpressed and mildly agitated.

This is an act of disrespect, you punk.

He picks up the rag... and throws it back, though he's careful not to use too much strength. Ryuji will just get hit in the face with the rag. He's petty, alright? ]

I don't want anything from you, especially if it's meaningless. Now, get back into bed.

[ The horse snorts from the window, since no one is paying attention to her. ]

Edited 2017-11-15 06:49 (UTC)

[Ryuji just... stands there, with the wet rag against his face. It still feels nice, okay? He's not meaning to be disrespectful, it's just how guys his age tease each other and play around back home.

It's kind of nice, actually.]

I wouldn't say it's meaningless.

[He pulls the rag down and drops it into the bucket. He can tell when he's met his match in stubbornness, and winds up sitting back down. The sound of the horse startles him, though, and he looks over to her. Even with all the amounts of restlessness in Ryuji, even with all the amounts of extreme fatigue, he's not settling in until he feels comfortable knowing that everyone else is okay, too.

So much for resting off his injuries. He walks up to the horse, and, for the most part, ignoring Achilles' demand for him to go back to sleep, pets her with the grain of her mane, eventually flitting a few fingers down the the front of her forehead and down towards her nose- carefully avoiding actually touching the sensitive parts there.]

Is this guy creepin' you out too? It's okay. Ryuji's here.

[ He grins slightly as Ryuji ignores him for the nickering horse. So much for reasoning with him... He didn't even take the bait of his teasing. ]

Ah... She's just hungry. You think she wanted only your attention? [ He's partly correct, since the horse has been pretty spoiled up until now. ]

So, Ryuji, are you here to fight a battle that isn't yours? [ Let's talk about it. He's interested in hearing what he has to say, since Achilles knows the people of his era are rather avoidant when it comes to violent confrontation. What sets this guy apart? Is he a mage? ]

Well... yeah, that's okay too. Horses gotta eat. Sorry, I ain't got nothin' for ya.

[A few more dotes of attention, and he backs away from her. He can't tell if she's annoyed that he didn't have some snacks to tote along with him, but Ryuji reminds himself 'next time'- he'll come with something more than just an open hand. The blond is far from spoiled, but he knows what it's like to be hungry and that fucking sucks.]

Kinda. [Crossing his arms, he gives Achilles a proper look over. Not checking him out, just... trying to get a feel for what type of person he is. This stranger saved his life once already, so it's only right that he gets to at least know his face.

But it's tiring to stand up when he feels this utterly drained. Back to sitting on the bed he goes.]

In my world, I was a thief. [He stretches his legs out forward, always unable to sit still. His right one still feels stiff, and it strains when he does it. But it still felt good. Moving his attention from his feet back to Achilles, he watches for an expression.] I stole hearts.

[ Ryuji turning around stops Achilles from ... admiring the view, so to speak. He hadn't even realized he'd been looking at his backside and noting his physique.

Maybe he's just tired. Or maybe he's just feeling a little greedy (in more ways than one). Their gazes meet briefly, and if Ryuji were receptive, he might've caught the fleeting interest that had the older man's pupils dilating. But he isn't, and Achilles is more subtle than others may give him credit for.

Either way, he's letting his eyes shift modestly as Ryuji makes his way back over to the bed to sit beside him. ]

The hearts of many maidens? [ A bit cheeky, but his tone takes an immediate drop into something more sinister. ] Or maybe I was wrong about you, and your youthful, innocent looks belie your true nature...

If you're in fact a demon, I'll have to kill you right now, you know.

[Well.

This went from 0 to 100mph real fast. Ryuji's eyebrows quirk downward. Man, he was supposed to sound cool saying that line. He had been waiting to use it for almost an entire year. It was the only good one he had. And it's not like he can show off either- he left his persona mask back at the inn (he doesn't know yet that no one else can see Seiten Teisei in this world, but hell, what a fireworks show that would be). WHICH IS... in retrospect, probably for the better. Achilles looks actually murderous like this. He doesn't need to know he can summon.]

Tch, yeah right. The only devilish thing I got goin' for me is my good looks.

[He pushes Achilles at the shoulder.

He's kidding.

Please don't kill him.]

[ Oh, so he is... a Casanova.

Achilles almost laughs out right, but the push comes as a shock.

Oh. Oh.

He lets out a noise, pleased but not quite jovial and returns the push. Which should send Ryuji rolling back onto his side on the bed. Sorry this guy is so extra. ]

Devilish isn't the word I'd use to describe you, kid. [ His long arm easily stretches over to allow him to reach for his cheek and pinch it. ] You look more like a harmless little rabbit with this baby face. Maybe that's why it seems like you'd make easy prey.

[ Achilles, you're being so creepy. ]

Edited 2017-11-16 02:42 (UTC)

[Definitely not a casanova. Barely functional, to be honest.

He feels the abrupt shove against him, and it's way stronger than he would've thought it should be. What the hell?]

... dude, you're really weird.

[Rubbing his cheek, he looks at Achilles dejectedly.]

I ain't some piece of meat that you can just go 'n tenderize, y'know.

[ WHY ARE YOU GIVING HIM MIXED SIGNALS? Achilles is at least put off by the turnaround and withdraws his hand compliantly. He ... he ain't a rapist. ]

Then you should go back into the hole you hopped out of, little rabbit.

You'll get devoured otherwise. [ Instead of reaching for his cheek this time, he places a strong hand over the top of his head, rubbing at his cropped hair. ]

Edited 2017-11-16 02:51 (UTC)

[HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE PINCH TO HIS CHEEKS. That skin's soft and silky smooth, he doesn't need it be roughed up to make it look like he's flushing. Ryuji looks at Achilles, confused as all hell for a few seconds.

Rabbits? Holes? Why is it that everyone that time travels talks really oddly? But then there's a hand at his head, and he secretly hate-loves-loves when he's being doted on like that, so he gives up and loosens his posture. It does feel nice. He hasn't been given physical attention since coming here... aside from an absolutely terrifying old man.

Oh well, he'll play along.]

Are you supposed to be a lion or something? If you think I'm a rabbit.

[ ... He lets out a genuine laugh at that, surprised by the irony of a perfect stranger likening him to a lion. ]

That's right! [ Now he's ruffling his hair pretty roughly, enjoying himself as he makes a mess of it. ]

But this lion's full tonight, so don't go worrying about getting eaten while you sleep.

[ Yeah, maybe there's a bit of a sexual undertone to his jokes. He has no clue it's going over Ryuji's head. ]

[He doesn't quite get the laugh that proceeds, but something about it makes him smile too. Ever since joining COST, he hasn't felt his facial muscles stretch in this direction too often. The roughness against his head is met with a disdained grunt from his vocal chords, but even if he's giving off some opposition to it, his aura says otherwise.]

The lion is full tonight? [Does he even want to know?]

I wasn't worrying about sleepin' but man, you're giving me a cold wind over here!

[He doesn't dare push him again. He doesn't know if his HP can survive another flank attack.]

Thanks, by the way.

For savin' my ass.

[ His thanks is met with a smile, looking much to kind for someone who had decided to capitalize on the opportunity to benefit himself. Not that he wouldn't have saved an innocent from getting kidnapped.

No, he's smiling fondly because he's partly fascinated by the way in which he's receiving this thanks. It isn't packaged with the typical reverence he'd usually get when being thanked by someone he saved. It kind of makes him realize how different the culture of today is. ]

We're comrades, aren't we?

It's only natural we look out for each other. [ And he believes this in earnest despite... what legend says. His myrmidons had been important to him because they belonged to him; since then, he's learned to appreciate his comrades as much as his underlings. As long as one proves their goodness, he'll do anything to protect them and and their integrity.

Moving up on his feet finally, he stretches long arms up towards the ceiling, shifting and rolling his shoulders as a way of limbering up. ]

I'm going to get Keraunos here something to eat. And I suppose you'll need to fill your stomach before you sleep as well.

[Probably better that Ryuji didn't have to know about that right now. The guy deserved what he got, honestly, but he didn't know if he had it in him to stomach the talk about Achilles and how he sustains himself. It's been... already a pretty long night. Ryuji, though, looks undeterred for the most part. All this energy, never having a place to actually go; would he even be able to sleep properly tonight?

But he shares that sentiment. He would have died for them if it meant saving them. They didn't have to prove anything in particular, he just... feels it at the core of his being. He trusts...trusted... every single one of them without batting an eyelash.

It feels like forever ago that he almost did, making a risky move at Shido's palace to put the rest of his friends out of harm's way, and he would do it again even with lesser odds of survival. That's the type of boy that Ryuji is- and Achilles will eventually figure that out on his own.

Watching Achilles get up, he notices the sheer amount of muscular strength that he has. If it looks like a small window of admiration, it's definitely there. Ryuji wanted so badly to fix the problems with his leg, to compensate by building muscles elsewhere and being the exact type of hero that came to his own rescue tonight. Creepiness aside, he is thankful. Without even realizing it, he had started what would eventually become a certain respect and appreciation for the other. For now, he just feels it as a heat in his cheeks.]

Huh? Yeah. Some food would be... really 'effin nice right about now. I hate to be a bother, though. [He feels his stomach rumble, not sure if it's the mention of food or the pain that's still shooting through it from that punch.] I uhm... I don't really have much, but. [And he rifles through his pocket, taking out a few scant bills. He's already been enough of a burden for one night.]

[ He takes the crumpled bills in his hand, looking them over like he isn't quite that impressed. He's about to open his mouth to refuse, but looking down at Ryuji and seeing that ... stupid earnest meek look makes him think twice about stepping on the poor boy's pride.

He pockets the money. ]

You're right, it's not much at all. [ He pokes him right in the forehead. ] It might be enough for a loaf of bread, but you're not going to get any butter to go with it.

[His eyes cross as he rears a hand straight up to him, and he shakes his head. This guy is really into physical touches, huh? He grimaces internally about the bread situation, but doesn't argue.]

Man, why couldn't we be in Italy or something, instead? Then we could at least have, like, pasta or something. [Be careful what you wish for, Ryuji...] I take it back. I don't want to hate pasta.

Pasta? [ He's never had it... It wasn't a thing in his era and his location of the world. ] Don't go complaining about what you end up getting, now.

[ Waving him off, he'll start approaching the exit. ] I'll be back. Look after Keraunos for me.

No complaints here, yo.

[In the end, he won't. He's not that ungracious of a guest to do that sort of thing. Even if he has not-the-best-manners in the world, he knows that he was raised better than that. His eyes follow Achilles to the door. Something about seeing him leave makes him a little dismayed. He's not alone; he has the horse to keep him company, but after spending a year with people, seeing them almost every single day, it was weird to be thrust into these missions where he had to learn to be by himself again.

He makes himself comfortable, at least for now. Untying the cloth belt around his waist to let himself have breathing room, he reclines in bed and places his hands behind his head. Even with the window open, he feels a slight bit of warmth tickle up to his chest, so he unbuttons the top fold of cloth of his loose fitting shirt and starts to feel the air getting inside him.]

Rider, huh?

[It doesn't take incredibly long for him to doze off. It wasn't even what he intended to do, but once his eyes close, he feels consciousness for a few more moments before it's suddenly not there at all anymore. His body must have been tired after everything- which was weird, since Achilles being in the room made him feel far more alive, more energetic. But here he was, in some stranger's bed, in a strange land, a strange time, but the sheet smell nice and the soft sound of the horse not far away is reminiscent of the white noise he used to fall asleep to back in Tokyo.]

[ Teenage boys need a lot of food. Achilles remembers a time when he'd been that age, and how his growing bones needed the proper amount of nutrition to expand.

So he doesn't go to just any bakery; not that any bakeries would be open at this time of night. Instead, he ventures into a rowdy tavern close to the hotel he'd left the boy at, and makes a few extravagant purchases.

A bottle of wine, a hunk of cheese, a loaf of bread, and a few apples.

He carries them back to the hotel, expertly opening the door leading to their room with his foot on the handle.

Luckily for Ryuji, Achilles isn't so much of an asshole that he'll just wake him up for the hell of it. He'll arrange all of the food and the bottle on the table in the corner of the room and proceed over to his horse to feed it about two pounds' worth of apples. ]

[It's probably an hour or so before he winds up stirring back into consciousness. Sleeping, for Ryuji, is always a bit of a crap shoot. Sometimes he lays there calmly, spread out in all corners of the bed and taking up as much room as he could possible. Other times, he's restless. Not the type of tossing and turning style of restless, but his feet make involuntary movements and his body twitches from time to time until he ends up rolling over (rinse, repeat until he's back to sleeping like a log). He yawns, rubbing his eyes before the shape of the room takes its form in his eyes, and he looks over to see the assortment nearby.

It looks... a lot nicer than what his own money could've procured. And sure enough, no butter. Still rubbing one eye, he looks out over Achilles.]

Huhn... weren't kiddin' about the butter...

[Another small yawn, and he cracks his neck. Eventually sitting upright, he works to fasten his cloth wrapping again, just so that they don't threaten to fall off when he actually gets out of bed.]

Sorry. Were we s'posed to have like. Some sorta romantic dinner 'cause I think I might've overslept and stood you up. [Over to the corner he goes, looking at the... cheese.

That's cheese.

Actual cheese.]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject