piratejournal | [Locked to Spade Pirates, written]

I know you wouldn't...

[His voice kind of trails off on that last word, and he finds himself holding Natsuno's gaze for longer than is probably necessary.

Honestly, he's relieved Natsuno isn't going to ask just what the heck was going on with him, then, if all that stuff about his heartbeat speeding up had nothing to do with being scared. He still isn't sure he has an answer, but...

Riku's eyes narrow slightly, his stare turning into more of a searching look. Searching for what, he doesn't know, but his eyes run over Natsuno's face, bouncing from feature to feature and there's kind of a warm feeling in his chest and—

Oh.

Realization hits him like a wooden sword to the back of his head, and all at once he's looking away, sitting back slightly and loosening his hold on Natsuno's wrist.

Well.

That's...a thing. That. Is happening.

Apparently.

It's something he'll have to examine more closely later, when he's got time to sort out the jumble his thoughts just became.

For now, he just clears his throat attempts to look casual.]

You, uh. You don't mind that I called you that, by the way...do you? Natsuno?

[All at once, the tension seems to dissipate and he lets out a breath that he didn't realize he'd been holding. There's something electrifying about looking into Riku's eyes.

His heart was beating quickly and he feels a little warm. It's nice and uncomfortable at the same time.

When Riku lets go of his wrist, he can't help but touch it in wonder, subtly. It's the kind of shock that he's not used to and although he's getting more and more of an inkling, he's not entirely sure he wants to go there yet.

Then he opens his mouth again and he's floored. There's something about the way he says his name that's just as intense as the look they just shared and he inwardly curses as head spreads to his cheeks. Riku, hopefully, won't notice that.]

I...

[Natsuno swallows. If he says yes, it's not a lie because he does hate his name, but if he says no, Riku might call him that again.]

I guess I don't mind too much.

Edited 2013-12-10 08:19 (UTC)

[He's still got his head turned, staring in an extremely interested way at...absolutely nothing, so he wouldn't have noticed if Natsuno hadn't hesitated. That pause draws Riku's attention again, though, and when he glances over he does, indeed, notice his flushed cheeks.

He notices it a lot, actually.

Possibly he's even staring.

It's a good look, though.

The corners of Riku's mouth tug upwards, a stupid grin unwillingly forming on his face, and he ends up having to duck his head to hide it.]

Well, then I guess that's what I'm sticking with. [Pause.] Natsuno.

[A shiver passes through him at that and it doesn't do anything to help with the blushing, in fact. Although Riku may be perceptive, he isn't quite as much.

He's not sure if Riku is teasing him or not, but he can't help his own reaction to it. Sometimes, he thinks he's entirely hopeless. There is nothing good about his first name, damn it.]

That's...fine.

[He rubs at his wrist a bit absently, although it's not really a pain signal, just something that's on his mind. It's not even the first time Riku's grabbed his hand or wrist. He did that day too.]

If it gets annoying, just tell me. I'll stop.

[Gets his grin under control before looking up again, and by then the casual act isn't so much an act anymore. He leans back against the side of the crow's next, arms crossed behind his head. Really, he feels much better. The tension's gone -- actually, he feels good. And not awkward. That's always a plus.]

What else can you do when you've just fed? Do you get a lot stronger or anything?

It's fine. I'll let you know.

[Natsuno covers a little cough and takes the subject change for what it is - a way better idea then dwelling on this.]

The illusions are probably because of the amount of blood I've consumed. It's a lot more than usual. The more I drink, the stronger I get, but yes, strength and speed. I don't know about flying, I never tried it. I also feel really...I don't know how to describe it. Good. Really good. I heal faster, also. When I'm getting close to the time I need to feed, I'm only about half as good at that as I usually am. Eventually it would all fade away if I never drank blood again.

Strength, speed, illusions, healing faster, why wouldn't you drink more often? Flying, though...

[Riku sits up a little, dropping his hands into his lap.]

You should try it.

I only mention it because you did it. You know why I don't drink more often.

[Natsuno sighs softly and nudges him lightly on the knee.]

Seriously, I don't even know how I would test that.

[Slight eyeroll.]

Fine, yes, I know. Do you mean the 'turn into a bat' kind of flying, or just...flying?

I don't think I could turn into a bat. [Natsuno scratches his head a bit.]

I'm not even sure.

[He lept to his feet.]

I've never seen anyone turn into a bat. You know if these things really are that beneficial I could, I mean, if I wasn't hurting anyone.

[Cranes his head back to look up at him.]

You're not. Try it. Just...jump or something.

[Natsuno jumps, but it's just a jump and he shuffles his feet a bit, feeling a little silly about doing it. At least only Riku is watching him. He takes a deep breath. How did he do the hypnosis? He concentrates, takes a deep breath. His eyes change again and he jumps. It's nothing spectacular, but he is hovering a little bit. Like hypnosis, it's not as easy as it looks. If he drank more, maybe.]

[Doesn't say anything after the first jump, just keeps watching. When he manages to hover the second time, Riku grins.]

Look, you're doing it! ...Kind of.

[He drops to his feet and sighs softly.]

It's really not easy. That feels like it would take more concentration then I have right now.

[Natsuno moves back over and slides down to sit next to Riku, barely space between them. He doesn't think much of that.]

I'm kind of mentally exhausted. Illusions are hard.

[Tenses for half a second at the closeness, but he relaxes again almost immediately and kind of lets his weight rest against Natsuno. Which means whatever little space Natsuno had left between them vanishes with the contact.]

Do you think any of it will get easier with practice? Or does it really just rely on how often you eat?

[Natsuno shakes his head, resting his arms on his knees as he pulls them up.]

I really have no idea yet. I'd have to experiment more and to do that, I'd have to do a lot more creepy things and I don't think that's a good idea. But to feel like this, like I do now, I'd have to eat again soon. Otherwise my power will start to wane.

[He's thinking about it, his mind working.]

It might be a bit of both. Other vampires didn't seem to have problems doing things like this.

[Natsuno exhales a little and glances at Riku. When did he get so close to him?]

Besides, all this thinking about it makes me look at your neck more.

...

[Well, that makes his eyebrows go up a bit.]

My neck? [Laughs slightly.] What, like that vision? Is that better than going for the arm or something?

[Natsuno swallowed a bit and shrugged.]

Maybe. I wouldn't really know, although if I was going to kill someone and I wasn't careful, that would be how. There's a vein in the neck that if punctured, you'd pretty much die.

The artery you use to check for a pulse, right?

[Lefts two fingers and rests them against his neck, just under the left side of his chin, as if to demonstrate. He tips his head to the side slightly when he lowers them again, exposing more of his neck.]

That something you wanna try?

Killing you? No, not particularly.

[Natsuno gives him half a little smile.]

You shouldn't tempt me. It's not very fair.

[Aside from not being fair, it's making him watch Riku very carefully, his tongue tracing his lips. He's not even hungry!]

[Snorts out a laugh.]

Oh, well. That's appreciated.

[With a hooded gaze, he watches Natsuno watch him, his eyes zoning in on that tongue movement in particular. After a moment, he forces himself to redirect his stare straight ahead and focuses on taking steady breaths.]

...Anyway, I can't help it if I'm tempting.

[Natsuno exhaled, what kind of look was that? He clears his throat.]

I think you could. You could not offer yourself up on a platter like that, because you never know, I might just bite you.

[He's teasing a little, he reaches out and touches his neck lightly.]

Right there.

[Grins, his eyes sliding shut for a moment.]

Hey, I'm just sitting here. If you're tempted, that's on you. You probably just wanna get your mouth on me again.

[Reaches up, his hand brushing over Natsuno's as he moves to pull his hair out of the way.]

Right here.

[His breathing picks up a little bit, because he's incredibly tempted, in more ways than one. That brush against his hand sent another little spark.]

You're lucky...

[Natsuno's voice caught for a moment. He swallowed and continued.]

You're not in a very good position for biting your neck.

[They're too close together, it'd be too awkward.]

[Gives Natsuno another sideways glance, debating...

He smirks a bit.]

Then what position should I be in?

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