[ There had always been something peculiar in Ryo.
For one who was marked once to be afraid, he'd circled the periphery of the metaphorical lion's den more times than could be counted. Each burst of adrenaline, each death-defying feat — the rush crackling over Ryo's skin like brush of tinder to an open flame —, Ryo found himself in contradictory delight of it. For some, the chemical cocktail was potent. For some, it was addictive. For Ryo, it was magnetism. A persistent l'appel du vide, tempered by the stability Akira's hands could provide. And yet, for anyone else at all, the predatory quiet that melds into Akira's frame should bring to him more than the slowest shiver, one that blooms from the base of his spine and climbs. The blue of his eyes, in the advent of fight or flight, go warm and dark.
Ryo, in all that has happened, is used to being hunted. He is used to the beat of wings in the dark, the slick of ichor beneath his heels. He is used to the saliva, the hot and putrid breath. He is used to scent of beasts smeared across the full of him.
Ryo, however, is new to being willing prey.
He accepts the packet back with a small nod of his own, the confirmation that he's noted and counts on Akira's understanding of what he asks. The restraint that Akira occupies is narrow and so he only toes it, his hand returning to rest against his lap as Akira listens to the full of his instruction, adheres to it with no more than a promise to be back.
For Ryo, that absence allows him time to assess. Brief though it may be, Akira's determination will inevitably be stalled in part by the search. Even Ryo, who could match his persistence, would have found it difficult to track down all that might be available to them (though he had several guesses as to where a kit could be hidden).
Even so, more people would surely grow agitated with the fact that Ryo's stockpiled any number of things over raiding the medical kits. He'd long ago gathered spare sheets and blankets, a number of pillows — water, alcohol, and food that did not seem to degrade no matter its base formula. There were a number of other objects too, ranging from the seemingly mundane to the crucial, but there was no need to discriminate. When left to a limited overall supply, Ryo had no trust in others not to snap up more than their fair share. And besides, medical lubricant wasn't a necessity per se — not when any other items would be equally as serviceable. There was no need to worry about it, especially with the possibility of opening inaccessible rooms underway.
And there was really no need to worry about everything else either, as far as Ryo was concerned. He tucks the packet in his front pocket of his jeans and rises from his spot on the couch, clearing his coat and communicator from the table before him with enough consideration to return it to the wardrobe (before he forgets). He settles on the edge of the double bed and turns the communicator back on for the moment, but it is largely aimless and mostly precautionary. If Akira needs him, Ryo has him at hand as he always does.
no subject
For one who was marked once to be afraid, he'd circled the periphery of the metaphorical lion's den more times than could be counted. Each burst of adrenaline, each death-defying feat — the rush crackling over Ryo's skin like brush of tinder to an open flame —, Ryo found himself in contradictory delight of it. For some, the chemical cocktail was potent. For some, it was addictive. For Ryo, it was magnetism. A persistent l'appel du vide, tempered by the stability Akira's hands could provide. And yet, for anyone else at all, the predatory quiet that melds into Akira's frame should bring to him more than the slowest shiver, one that blooms from the base of his spine and climbs. The blue of his eyes, in the advent of fight or flight, go warm and dark.
Ryo, in all that has happened, is used to being hunted. He is used to the beat of wings in the dark, the slick of ichor beneath his heels. He is used to the saliva, the hot and putrid breath. He is used to scent of beasts smeared across the full of him.
Ryo, however, is new to being willing prey.
He accepts the packet back with a small nod of his own, the confirmation that he's noted and counts on Akira's understanding of what he asks. The restraint that Akira occupies is narrow and so he only toes it, his hand returning to rest against his lap as Akira listens to the full of his instruction, adheres to it with no more than a promise to be back.
For Ryo, that absence allows him time to assess. Brief though it may be, Akira's determination will inevitably be stalled in part by the search. Even Ryo, who could match his persistence, would have found it difficult to track down all that might be available to them (though he had several guesses as to where a kit could be hidden).
Even so, more people would surely grow agitated with the fact that Ryo's stockpiled any number of things over raiding the medical kits. He'd long ago gathered spare sheets and blankets, a number of pillows — water, alcohol, and food that did not seem to degrade no matter its base formula. There were a number of other objects too, ranging from the seemingly mundane to the crucial, but there was no need to discriminate. When left to a limited overall supply, Ryo had no trust in others not to snap up more than their fair share. And besides, medical lubricant wasn't a necessity per se — not when any other items would be equally as serviceable. There was no need to worry about it, especially with the possibility of opening inaccessible rooms underway.
And there was really no need to worry about everything else either, as far as Ryo was concerned. He tucks the packet in his front pocket of his jeans and rises from his spot on the couch, clearing his coat and communicator from the table before him with enough consideration to return it to the wardrobe (before he forgets). He settles on the edge of the double bed and turns the communicator back on for the moment, but it is largely aimless and mostly precautionary. If Akira needs him, Ryo has him at hand as he always does.
He doubts that'll be the case. ]