2025-12-14: After the Altar
- Log: After the Altar
- Cast: Tsubasa Seki, Ichika Kawase
- Where: Kawase Household, Iwatodai
- OOC Date: 2025-12-14
- IC Date: Sat, Aug 25 2012
- Summary: Ichika and Tsubasa decompress after their successful heist.
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Once the Phantom Thieves got out and managed to debrief over the treasure -- a fucking photograph -- Ichika and Tsubasa made their way home. (Sans photograph. Ichika doesn't want it, and Tsubasa sure wouldn't.)
"Man," Tsubasa huffs, as they sit down on Ichika's bed -- today's wig is blonde, and today's obnoxious colour is orange -- looking over to her. "Your hair looks fuckin' great. How's it feel?"
They're not just talking about her hair, but they're also talking about her hair.
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
The frame is nice. Ichika still doesn't want the photograph. But it would be creepy to mail it to him or something. It might be mean to burn it. What are they going to do with it?
That's Joker's problem, she hopes.
But Ichika rolls in, dressed in comfortable clothes still now that she's out of her garb of Rebellion. She went for something she could move in today--cargo pants, midriffy shirt.
And, of course--
Much shorter (but not precisely short) hair.
Ichika lets out a big breath. "Thanks," she says when she has the air again. "My head feels like, so much lighter," she answers about her hair.
"As for the rest..."
Ichika stares into nothing for a moment.
"What do you call it when you feel like, everything at once?"
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"Yeah," Tsubasa nods. "You got free of a lot, out there. Gon' be easier to shampoo like that, huh."
Tsubasa, that's so distractingly practical...
"C'mere," they say, reaching out to her. "Let me see." They already saw! This is just a ploy to get her on the bed!!
"As for a feelin' like that... I dunno. Prolly somethin' to do with God, right? Like... some Zen-ass shit."
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
"True," Ichika agrees. "...I'm glad you like it. I'd feel weird if you were all about the old way instead."
But, here!! Ichika laughs, and walks over. "Yeah?" she says. "You can see."
She is just prepared to get pulled somewhere, probably. But as that might happen...
"Some Zen stuff, huh...? Maybe. The root of suffering is desire... When you think about it like that, you can see he fucked up."
"...But there's some things I like desiring."
She has a lot on her mind still. But she's in good spirits.--
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"Pfft," Tsubasa snorts. "C'mon, babe. Me? Th' old ways? Ain't never 'bout them."
They're not even going to officially get married, probably. The horror...
Tsubasa reaches up, to pull Ichika down onto their lap, flashing a grin. They loop an arm around her belly to steady her, as their left hand fans her now shoulder-length hair through their fingers. "Damn," they remark. "You got a real nice, clean cut with my sword out there... wonder if we can all grab each other's weapons like that, or if it got somethin' to do with you askin' to borrow me knife out here in th' real world?" The one they hide on their person, that is. It's very illegal! And sometimes, incredibly useful.
"Yeah," they nod, behind her. "He fucked up. But that don't mean promises are bad, like... don't mean it's bad to want shit. You jus' gotta be open to shit changin'... an' do right by who ya got."
Tsubasa rubs a hand at Ichika's shoulder, as they look to her. "You wanna talk about it... or you rather hear what I was sayin' 'bout how I felt again?"
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Ichika laughs along as Tsubasa pulls her down, putting arms around Tsubasa in turn. "I guess because there's a lot of 'Cognition' of doing cool sword haircuts...? Nah, that sounds like smart people stuff." She's still smiling. "Maybe it's just because I asked," she says. "Or maybe it's because I've asked before. I dunno..."
"...Right," Ichika says. "Promises aren't bad, or anything. I believe that, now. ...I wondered for a while."
She looks back. "...I kinda do wanna talk about it a little," she says. "I don't wanna cut you off, though--you sure?"
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"Maybe," Tsubasa smiles, "you're jus' that special. You were really somethin' else, out there... really admire you, y'know?"
They run their fingers through her hair, again, as they add: "And not jus' 'cuz ya hair so good."
Also because her hair's so good, though.
When Ichika admits that, though, Tsubasa reaches down, a hand at her knees and her arm to reseat her so she's sitting sidelong on their lap, putting her at a right angle to them rather than being behind her. (Which also, coincidentally, makes it much easier for her to see them.) "So long's ya remember what I said," they say, with a hint of teasing. "Man, even with the mask, I can't believe I said somethin' like that in front a everyone..."
Tsubasa keeps one arm around Ichika, keeping her steady, as they reach for her hand with their other hand. "I could guess what's on ya mind," they add, a touch more gently, "wanna hear it from you, tho'."
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
"Thanks," Ichika says, and sighs at Tsubasa's fingers in her bleached hair. But Ichika is a little surprised by being moved. Not displeased--just surprised. But now she's able to look at Tsubasa, and she hooks her closer arm about their shoulder. "Tsubasa..."
"I remember," she says. "And I feel it with you. Welcome, I mean. Like... you're where I belong."
She accepts Tsubasa's hand, curling her softer fingers into theirs. "...Yeah," she says.
"It's.. a few things."
"I feel great," she says. "Mostly just... great. There's part of me waiting for the other shoe to drop--I think that'll be like that til he turns himself in or whatever. ...But it was a rush, right?"
"But..."
"But part of me saw him looking so miserable and just... it hurt, you know? It made me wonder."
She shakes her head. "But you were right about those promises, too. ...And the other thing is..."
"What he said about my brother. I just don't know what to think of that. I'm not ready to think about that. ...I just need to like... Put it away, and process it later."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Tsubasa feels -- warm, when Ichika hooks her arm around them, too. There's this flash of unguarded happiness on their face, surprised themself but quite happy to be, when she declares she feels welcome with them. "That's great... that's real great. That's... that's me, too."
They listen, though, as she shares her feelings. Great! And when she asks, they answer: "Yeah. It was so fuckin' satisfyin' to jus'... lay right fuckin' into th' prick. But they say it'll work... I trust Amamiya-kun 'bout that."
But...
"Made you wonder if he can change... right?" Tsubasa ventures, smoothing their thumb against the side of her hand. "It's... a normal thing to think 'bout, like... we doin' this 'Change of Heart'. But... even if he becomes a different person tomorrow, you won't forget what he did. You said that yaself... an' you were right to say it."
They look down to their hands, brow knitting, when she ventures about her brother. "I got some ideas," they say, quietly. "I'll keep thinkin'. When ya ready... we can talk more 'bout it. Yeah?"
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Them, too. Ichika smiles and leans into Tsubasa with a little sigh. "Yeah," she says. "Great."
But, then, she lifts up a little to talk, her feet rocking a little as she does.
"Yeah," Ichika says. "But I did say that. And it's true. Even if he's different... I won't forget. I just..." She shakes her head. "That's it. It's 'I just'. There's not really anywhere it goes. ...I'll feel better when it's really done, you know?"
"I trust Ren-kun, too, though. I'm sure it'll work."
Still, "...Thanks," Ichika says. "When I'm ready... I want those ideas. I gotta talk to Ririka-chan about it, too..."
While maintaining her cover, of course. That's all the more important now. "Those people she was with, with the armbands... I wonder about that."
"...Anyway."
She leans into Tsubasa again. "....The other thing I feel is just... happy."
"You're not going anywhere. We all got out OK. The people who came to back us up backed us up."
"And..."
"...And I feel like... my little girl can rest, now. You know? ...Like..."
"Like justice matters."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"Well... it's cool, y'know? Uh, like -- normal. Like..." Tsubasa shrugs their free shoulder, glancing aside. "... I'd be a real bastard if I gave ya shit for havin' them feelins' after how I took that fuck Hajime not knowin' shit 'bout what his friend were doin'."
Which is to say: they kinda get it.
"Cool," they nod, looking to Ichika. "When ya ready. Armband guys, tho'... ain't got no clue. High roller with the dice was sick as hell, tho'. Reckon she were 'bout ready to kill fuckin' Eiji herself, at one point... it's good how Kawase-san had someone lookin' out for her in there, too."
They smile, though, lifting the hand supporting her to rub at her upper arm as she leans into them. "Yeah... me an' Sakamoto-kun both, I reckon. He was real solid, back there." They appreciated his efforts to spite Eiji as much as their own; of course he isn't going anywhere, in their mind.
Still... her little girl.
"It matters," they promise. "She matters. An' I meant what I told that Cognition, y'know...? Goin' forward... ya kids are gonna have so much support. Can't go back in time, can't help your little girl... but I can make sure her sisters ain't ever gotta go through that."
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Cool, normal... "Yeah," Ichika says. "It's like that. I'm not gonna call it stupid," she says. "Just... He's the one who fucked it. Not me."
But, "Oh yeah, she was real cool," Ichika agrees. "I couldn't see most of the others since they were dealing with those other Shadows...." She nods. "Yeah. I'm glad she was looking after her." Ririka.
But both! Ichika stays on Tsubasa this time, leaning into them instead of looking them in the eye. "You both were," Ichika says. "...Heheh. Even when he gets his ass kicked he still has shit to say. It's nice."
But, "...I said I was both of yours, in front of everybody. I'm... happy, I could do that."
It matters, and she matters. "Yeah. I appreciate everybody who tried to be kind to her... Just because she's not real doesn't mean I don't remember being her, right? ...Maybe it says as much about us, how we treat her. As anything else."
A pause. "Yeah," she answers then. "They are. We'll be safe," she says, she and her kids, "Because you'll be with us. ...Not like I can kick a lot of ass while I'm having a baby, right? So I'm gonna count on you. ...I know I can."
She smiles. "Sisters... that's a nice thought, too. I'd be OK with a boy, too. ...But I gotta admit, a little girl... That might be kind of healing."
"Well, it's a while off anyway," she says. "But it's good to know that when I get there, it'll be OK. Right?"
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"Yeah," Tsubasa affirms. "He fucked it."
They nod, as well, when Ichika speaks of SEES. "Good she got good friends out there." They were worried about Ririka, of course, but... they weren't in a position to be looking out for her the whole time, like Hitomi must have done.
They smile, when Ichika chuckles. "Right? Nothin' gets him down. An' callin' that fuck 'Garfield', man... wish I could just gen a zinger in a fight like that." Tsubasa mostly just swears. A lot!
Their cheeks feel warm, as they squeeze Ichika's hand. "That... that was really somethin'," they add, softly. "Knowin' how free you are... how much you valued that. Makes it... really mean somethin', how ya willin' to let us have you. Ah..." They add, tilting their head to glance to her, though it might be more the motion of their cheek. "I... said you was our partner, out there... how ya like that? Kinda... uh, guess it's a bit mature, but..." But they've been trying to figure out the right word for ages! They've gone through 'themfriend', 'guyfriend', 'datemate'... and, well, they all sound very new.
"Yeah," Tsubasa's tone quiets, when Ichika moves on to Cognitive Ichika. "We... got the same kinda view there, I reckon... knowin' where she's standin'." Tsubasa wasn't supposed to, but Cognitive Hajime made everything worse, like all those versions of him always do. "Jus'... didn't feel right treatin' her wrong. Tried not to hit her with that shell..." When they fired their rocket launcher, they mean.
They smile, rubbing Ichika's arm. "You'll still kick plenty've ass," they assure her. "You jus' gon' be delegatin' a bit more while ya busy, that's all. I'll be there... and it ain't jus' gon' be me, neither."
They're still smiling, as they add: "Reckon so. But yeah, it'll be a while... jus' want ya to know the future can be different. Yeah?" Tsubasa tilts their head, to press a kiss to Ichika's forehead. "It's important to ya... an' it's important to me, too."
Oh, no. Their smile muscles are broken. They still haven't stopped smiling. "We got lots to do before then. We runnin' with th' Phantom Thieves, now... we're gonna save the fuckin' world, man. We still got school to get through, an'..." Tsubasa nuzzles their cheek against Ichika's head, warmly. "... there's still lots a shit I wanna do with you 'fore ya start thinkin' family. You still gotta take me campin', right...?"
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Ichika laughs again. "Garfield. Yeah, right?" She's not very quippy either. But...
She feels warm, too. Ichika smiles, and she finds she can't stop. "I said I wouldn't be held down," Ichika answers. "But you're not holding me down. You're giving me a place to be."
She pauses. A little mature, but, "I like it. I can't say you're both my boyfriend, since you're a guy, not a boy... so partner, that sounds really nice. It really suits." She's been trying to figure it out, too. But now they have it.
Knowing.. "Yeah," Ichika says. "That was good of you. I guess it wouldn't hurt me any physically for her to get hurt, but..."
Emotionally? Maybe so.
She grins, and leans her face more against Tsubasa. "That's true," she says. "Delegating, huh?"
But, "...Yeah. The future can be different. The future... might be good. It's important to both of us."
Ichika curls her fingers in Tsubasa's hand. "Damn right," she says, and sighs.
"Yeah. I do! That'll be a lot of fun..."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"Don't ever wanna hold ya down," Tsubasa says, and it's not the first time they've said it, either.
Their smile warms, when Ichika says that she likes the word they settled on. "Cool. Great," they further illustrate, because it's better than just cool.
"... but she still looks just like you did back then," Tsubasa takes a guess at how that sentence might end, and illustrate their own thoughts in the process.
"You're still the Boss," Tsubasa grins, against her, a playful edge to their voice. "Just 'cuz we got a Boss in the Phantoms now too don't change that."
(Ichika can be the Boss and still get rearranged on Tsubasa's lap, evidently.)
"Maybe... we can make the future good," they advance, looking down to their hands. "Even if it was gonna suck." It's... hard, for Tsubasa to imagine a future that doesn't, but... but they love Ichika, too.
Tsubasa lifts both their hands up, feeling Ichika's fingers curl, and this time their head tilts down so they can press their lips to her knuckles. "Heh," they rumble, in their chest, their smile fond.
They're still fond, as they say: "I'm warnin' ya, I ain't so much as touched grass once in me life, you're gonna have your work cut out for ya..."
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Ichika smiles. "I know. You promised."
But, great! Great. "We're partners in a lot of things," Ichika says. "...I really like it."
Tsubasa takes a guess, and Ichika nods to that too, holding Tsubasa's shoulder with her far hand. "Mm-hm," she says. "That's a me who could've been. ...I couldn't just abandon her."
"Yeah!" She's the Boss. Ichika beams, and Tsubasa probably won't feel it against them, given the binder, but it's still true. "I'm OK with Joker as the Phantoms' Boss, though. Joker like... really is a leader. I get it, you know? Since I am, too."
But, "Right. It's not gonna be good just because we want it to be. It's gonna be good because we make it like that."
Ichika sighs happily, closing her eyes. "...Don't worry about that. I'm not gonna ask you to clean fish or anything. But there is gonna be a lot of walking."
"...And a tent. That's important."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"I like it, too," Tsubasa affirms.
And they squeeze the arm where the hand holding her steady is resting: "Me, neither."
They can still hear her smile, in her voice, so it's fine. "Cool," they smile, and for once they can look down to her instead of up with her nestled in against their chest like that. "Yeah... you'd know, huh? I ain't got that kinda scope, but man... he's pre' good at lookin' out for folks. Like... y'know, yesterday? He didn't give up when I was pre' sure the fuckin' universe had it out for me that day... insisted on doin' somethin' nice. Fuck, man... I woulda been way more fucked if he ain't did that. So, y'know... I'm cool callin' him Boss, too." Because this is the kind of thing you opt into, clearly; what kind of gang pressgangs its members?
It's people what did that that make things easier... and that's how it goes in the future, too. "Yeah," Tsubasa nods. "Since we makin' it like that... maybe that'll work better."
Ichika can feel them chuckling as much as she can hear it, with jerky motions in their chest of heh-heh-heh. They feel their lungs getting aggravated; they cover it up by clearing their throat, instead. Perhaps they're just a little intimidated by the outdoors. "Hem. Walkin', huh... I mean, we walkin' through th' city all th' time, how hard could it be?"
Did she mention the rocks, Tsubasa? Or the inclines? Or the MOSS?!
Their tone turns a touch sly, though, as they add: "... jus' one tent, eh?"
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Hearing is good enough. And she would know! "Yeah," Ichika says. "You mentioned. And that's really important. Knowing your crew, knowing what you gotta do for them..." It is something you opt into. "Cool. I don't think he'll steer us wrong."
But they're making it that way. Ichika smiles still.
The outdoors... "It's harder than you think," Ichika says, "But we'll go on an easy trail to start. The big thing is you gotta carry anything you want to keep with you--but you're used to that on our tagging runs..." Though Ichika does a lot of the carrying there, so Tsubasa can move more freely.
But she grins, at that. "Mm-hm. Just one tent. You'll have to be OK with the ground, but..."
She murmurs in Tsubasa's ears, "I think I've got something better than a sleeping bag for keeping it soft."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"You gotta think about a lot, huh...? That's cool. Bet you two can talk shop 'bout it." Tsubasa's never been much of a leader, themself; they're just kind of someone you point at a problem you want to go away. Through violence! Magical, magical violence!
(Okay, maybe sometimes it's literally magical violence now.)
"Pshhh," Tsubasa blows off the idea of an easy trail. "I ain't that soft. So you jus' gotta haul shit? That don't sound so bad..."
They pause. "... huh, that why you so good at haulin' th' bags out 'round there? That's cool. Y'know, come to think of it, their idea last night weren't bad... maybe we oughta exploit th' Dark Hour more for taggin' runs. Ain't no cops in th' Dark Hour."
They pause again. "Ain't no cops 'cept Sergeant Suou in th' Dark Hour."
Okay, maybe they still have to be a LITTLE bit careful.
But Tsubasa's face heats up, their arm around Ichika's back curling a little tighter, when they hear Ichika murmuring. "Y...yeah, I bet you do..."
And if anyone else asks, they're NOT thinking about Ichika's --