DMMD AU POST

[was_no_monster]

let's be real I'll probably lock this later in a fit of shame but in the meantime YOLOOOOOOO

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[was_no_monster]

[of course the only times he ever seems to get jumped by Ribsters would be when he's hauling shit home. OF COURSE. he doesn't really mind them making the mistake of thinking of him as a no mark, after all; showing them how wrong they are would be pretty fun... if he weren't trying to, say, keep his fucking food intact, unspoiled, and in his possession.

god damn.]

[feelthisnoiz]

[the worst part is always when it ends.

when the game is concluded, when he leaves the field, when he leaves behind simulated reality and simulated feeling for the actual reality of no feeling at all. when he does Rhyme, for just a little while he feels alive - and coming back to the muffled senses of his numb, painless body is all the worse because of it.

so he's glad of the excuse, when he sees the fight. he doesn't know why they're fighting. he doesn't care. the impact of his fists against flesh is almost like feeling, the rush of adrenaline is almost like being alive. it's good enough. it's good enough.]

[was_no_monster]

[...huh. someone else...? on his side, too. not that he needs the help, but it's not like he can reject it, either.

(...and okay, it's kind of nice. it's not much, and more than a bit morbid, but the reminder that even the small drip that was his existence in a much larger body of water could cause ripples that made other people move... it was something that he needed sometimes, that's all.)

between them, though, the fight suddenly becomes a lot shorter. the other guy might not have his raw power, but the way he throws himself heedlessly at whoever comes at him is certainly familiar, and a distinct advantage. pretty soon they're the only two left standing. ...or rather the other guy is, because fuck that, he has groceries and seams to check. no point in going home yet if he has to replace anything, and he learned his lesson the last time he tried to walk anywhere on a torn foot.

sitting down heavily with a whoof of expelled air.]

...Shit. Thanks for that...

You all right?

[feelthisnoiz]

[he'd thought that his involvement with the stitch-faced stranger - whatever category you would put that involvement in - was over with after that day.

(he'd hoped it was. he'd hoped it wasn't?)

regardless of the other man's words, regardless of any superficial similarity between them (no one, no one in his life has ever been like him, a lack that is all the more excruciating for the contrast of suddenly being filled, even for a moment), there was no point in anything more. people didn't bother with each other for anything more than self-satisfaction and personal profit. their transaction was over.

so he's - surprised? annoyed? something else? - when one of his teammates mentions that some tall, stitched-up guy has been asking after him. he tells them not to give him any info, and leaves it at that. he doesn't need anyone interfering in his life. he doesn't need anyone in his life.]

[was_no_monster]

[the abrupt cut-off of information does give him some pause. it isn't really a hindrance; he's already gotten the other man's name from another Rhyme player, and now he can tell who is and isn't affiliated with him from who will answer his questions and who won't. still... obviously someone has told them not to answer, and there's a fine line between being the pain in the ass that gets someone to move and being a public nuisance.

he'd given his word, though, even if he hadn't put it as such. and he can't make the other man— he can't make Noiz matter to him more if he doesn't make the effort to know him better, and he sure as hell knows that if their positions were reversed he wouldn't believe any of what he had said unless he saw that effort anyway. so! in the end, there's nothing else he can do but press forward.

which in this case means keeping his ears open and doing his best to hang around the area Rhyme's supposed to play out that day. he has such good plans :P]

[was_no_monster]

[sometimes my plans are awful and sometimes they are totally, amazingly brilliant. or at least hilarious, which is just as good.

KNOCKING ON NOIZ'S DOOR 8D]

Pizza delivery!

[feelthisnoiz]

[awesome I love pizza opening the doo--]

... What.

[was_no_monster]

[why do your Allmates have to be more friendly than you are, though. he's been idly stacking them in pyramids and the like while listening to Noiz tap away and steadfastly ignore him.

...something occurs to him, though. glancing over in Noiz's direction to make sure he's not looking, and then picking up a cube and turning it over in his hand]

[feelthisnoiz]

[they've gotta make up for me somehow

definitely not looking, just typing one-handed while occasionally stabbing his fork into the plate of pasta next to him]

[feelthisnoiz]

[wow, Kaito's apartment is crap. it's about as close to the North District as one can possibly get without actually being in the North District, and Noiz would be surprised if anyone was even actually collecting rent on the place. he seems to have electric, at least, if the shitty little fridge and stove are any indication.

also it looks like Kaito's a late sleeper. Noiz amuses himself while he waits by letting a few cubes of Usagimodoki off the chain to tease the little calico cat, who seems happy enough to have something to bat at.]

[was_no_monster]

[Kaito is both a late and heavy sleeper; what can be seen of him under the pile of old blankets he has instead of a proper futon doesn't even twitch at the cat's initial mewing, before she got distracted.

eventually, though, she gets tired enough of the game (or maybe just hungry enough) to leave off, padding over to Kaito to squeak at him and enthusiastically bump against his face.]

Ngh. Eve, no... don't. Why can't y'make your own g'ddamn—

[blinking one eye open—]

...Noiz?! What the hell—

[attempting to get up and falling over onto his face before making it even halfway]

[was_no_monster]

[...Kaito's been looking... well, kind of off today. kind of jumpy, and definitely like he didn't get much sleep.

Kaito is also flopping down miserably right inside your personal bubble]

Noiz. Can I borrow your computer whenever you're not using it next? Please?

[feelthisnoiz]

What do you need it for?

[I am at the computer and will have to stop using it for you to use it]

[feelthisnoiz]

[the aftermath of Rhyme is a little different now, since he started getting involved with Kaito. he doesn't go so immediately from feeling to numb anymore - a dim, prickly feeling stays with him, for as long as ten minutes (he counted, measuring every moment) after leaving the field. it's an irritating feeling, but he welcomes it as he does the flashes of pain Kaito gives him.

today the Rhyme site was less than ten minutes from his apartment. if he can get home and get Kaito to kiss him, he can prolong this feeling even further, stave off the numbness even longer.

he kicks the door shut behind him, crossing the room in long strides towards Kaito, without even looking at what Kaito is doing yet.]

[was_no_monster]

[whup— glancing up and then hastily stowing the needle he was using away. he's got a nice skirt fluffed across his lap; if he got rust stains on it, trying to work around them or cover them up would completely fuck over his current plan for it.

that done, he raises an eyebrow at Noiz's haste. sardonic]

Ta~da~i~ma.

[was_no_monster]

[coming home from one of his market days, dressed up to the nines in a nice blazer and with his hair artfully styled. also looking smug as hell because that skirt ended up going for like twice the price he thought it would, fuck yeah B)

shoving the door open with his shoulder]

—Oi, Noiz, I'm paying for dinner tonight.

[feelthisnoiz]

Yeah?

[Noiz is sitting at his computer as usual, with his Allmate hovering around as usual

what's not usual, though, is that box next to him. what is that...?]

[bunnycubes]

[one of the challenges of being Noiz's Allmate: trying to get him to see to his own bodily needs. without much feeling he's not good at noticing things like when he's hungry - he's been getting better, lately, but he still needs to be reminded a lot.

that's fine, though, that's well within an Allmate's duty and capabilities. what's less fine is the way Noiz tends to get so wrapped up in his work he ignores them and their reminders.

before, they would just keep at him until he noticed, flinging theirselves against him and floating in front of his face if they had to. but as it happens, there's a much faster and more efficient solution nowadays.]

Kaito! Kaito! Make Noiz eat!

[was_no_monster]

[looking up from his own work]

Aah, did he forget again?

[yes Noiz that was aimed at you ARE YOU LISTENING]

[was_no_monster]

[IT'S LATE AND THERE IS A DISTINCT AND WORRYING LACK OF BOYFRIEND IN THIS APARTMENT 8( I don't approve of this or the fact that I don't have a Coil I could call and yell at him on where is he]

[feelthisnoiz]

[walking in the front door, actually]

[bunnycubes]

[it's a pretty normal day of sitting around in the apartment and working when:]

Noiz! Aoba's at the shop! He's at the shop!

[feelthisnoiz]

[you have my full attention]

Give me audio.

[feelthisnoiz]

[boy I sure do love running from the police it is my favorite way to spend a morning

leans against a wall in a deceptively nonchalant way to catch his breath, taking stock of their surroundings. well they sure are off the beaten path. but the important thing is: no police.

he glances over at Kaito, to see how he's holding up after that run.]

[was_no_monster]

[he's flopped over against the wall in a decidedly less nonchalant way, his forehead pressed up against the brick. although he isn't even breathing hard, he is sweaty and overheated looking]