dissimilates | INBOX.

[ I think you could be worth it, he wrote. ]

I think I just needed the clarification.
Even if I wouldn't have been mad at you for booty calling me, I'm happier that it isn't the case.
Spending time together is a gift. I'm happy you think so, too.
Let's have fun today.

Let's.

[ spending time together with jyuto is something he treasures, too. it's a gift; they get along like a house on fire, and their banter delights him -- especially when jyuto continues to surprise and delight him.

kogami is early, turning up five minutes before in a black button up, jeans and a leather jacket. in his hand is a small, wrapped box of chocolates. ]

[ Jyuto, in the mean time, shows up right on time. He's empty handed when he approaches, and when he catches sight of the chocolate box he wonders if he should have brought something himself. ]

Kogami. [ He's here. Gracefully lifting a hand, he comes closer. ]

[ jyuto's elegance catches the eye, and kogami smiles faintly as he waits for him to come closer. when he does, he offers him the box. small, just a little larger than his palm.

he's just as gorgeous as he remembers. ]

Hey. This is for you, to make up for my cancellation.

[ Ah. So that's why. ]

You didn't have to get me anything. [ Attempting to feign disinterest in the chocolates. There's almost some childish excitement to receiving them, though. Jyuto's a big fan of neatly presented snacks, and the box seems like it was bought somewhere high-end. He wants to taste them, but he's trying to maintain some modesty! ] It's so good to see you again. Are you feeling better?

[ he sees right through you, jyuto. it's not difficult to see that the man appreciates the finer things in life, and kogami hasn't quite navigated through that particular mire yet, which is why he'd made a beeline straight for the most expensive-looking shop and asked for the most expensive thing available.

which, unsurprisingly, took quite a chunk of his already considerable chroma. but then jyuto is trying so hard to play it cool even though kogami knows he recognises it, and he can't help but think it's worth it. ]

Yeah. I turned into a wolf for a day. That was new.

[ he gestures to the prettily tied up glitzy little elegant box. ] Do you want to see what's inside?

Into a wolf? [ Jyuto doesn't understand to what extent Kogami means here. Maybe just the ears and tail? If that's the case, Jyuto can sympathize. ] I turn into a rabbit during Iris, I learned. Moonblessings surely are something, aren't they...

[ His box! He hasn't taken it just yet because it feels too greedy and forward. Of course he wants to see what's inside. ]
Isn't it rude? It can wait until after the museum, if you want to share them with me. [ The adult thing to say, yes. ]

You turned full animal, too?

[ wow, a rabbit, huh. then it's a good thing kogami hadn't gone to find him -- what if he'd eaten him up? rabbits are small, fragile creatures. moonblessings definitely are something. ]

I'm fine with you opening it. Besides, [ he smiles, warm and pleased. ] you look like you want to.

Not entirely, but I had ears and a tail? [ He tries a smile. It's an odd thing to confess, but he supposes every moonblessed here in Lunatia is going through something their time around. ]

I'll just have a peek. [ Jyuto complies, finally accepting the box. ] But I think eating them with you sounds better than eating them by myself. Imagine that. [ Poking some fun. He'd most definitely normally want them all to himself.

Jyuto carefully unravels the ribbon around the edges of the box and unlids the contents. The assortment inside is aesthetically pleasing. ]

These were expensive, weren't they? [ He can tell just by the appearance. ] I told you that you didn't have to... [ He's so flattered, though. Kogami is thoughtful to have brought an apology gift, even if the situation had been beyond the control of anyone. ]

Still want to share?

[ ah, it's a shame kogami missed those bunny ears and a tail, but the chocolate and how much jyuto likes it is more important right now -- he's watching, intent; he'd simply gone for the priciest item in the store, being unversed in the competitive world of chocolatiers. fortunately, he's hit the jackpot.

jyuto looks happier than he's ever seen him, and this? this is definitely good enough for him -- how endearing, that jyuto would look so delighted by this. ] I've got us the tickets, too. Apparently there's a very interesting exhibition about human nature that's just opened.

I still want to. [ Decisively. Jyuto closes the box again, rearranging the ribbon the way it'd been before he peeled it back. Charmed as he is by the chocolates, they have a date ahead of them. He hadn't looked too into the museum or its events, figuring he'd leave himself to be surprised. ]

There was a ticket fee? Let me repay you, I didn't know. Demichroma's fine?
[ If tonight turns out anything like Christmas Eve, he's sure they'll be flooded in chroma, but still. Kogami's made the decision to spend his currency for Jyuto's sake... not even once, but twice. ]

[ he still wants to, huh? well, that's a good thing. he shakes his head with a smile when jyuto offers to pay: ]

No, it's fine.

[ like heck he will take any demichroma or chroma when he's on a date. he's guiding him to the entrance, getting their tickets stamped. ] You can foot the bill next time.

[ also definitely his way of making sure there's a 'next time'. ]

That's fine with me. [ Taking the bill. It's actually an exciting thought for him. ] I'll pick the next place we eat together, all right? Let me decide, since I haven't been given the opportunity yet. [ As they pass through the mouth of the museum, he passes staff a polite smile as they stamp their tickets. An exhibit on human nature, he said... ]

Somehow, I'm not surprised that you like museums too. [ He's reaching to take a little brochure. ]
When I have spare time, I go to the one in Yokohama.

Sure.

[ kogami wants to see what kind of restaurant he likes, and he's always been one to try something new -- especially so when he knows that jyuto's got a better appreciation of the finer things in life than he does.

he keeps close, casual but intimate, looking over at his brochure. ]

Yeah? [ then, just to tease: ] I remember there was a cup noodle museum there.

[ It's there even in Kogami's world? Or it was? Jyuto wonders just how parallel they are. ]

Have you ever the chance to see it? It's pretty cute, our grade school used to take us there on our field trips when I was growing up.
[ He doesn't seem to realize Kogami's Yokohama based, himself. Jyuto had assumed him to live closer to central Tokyo. ]

Yeah. I lived there when I was a kid.

[ there it is, one of the few pertinent pieces of personal information kogami shares. he smiles faintly, guiding him to the exhibition with a gentle touch to the small of his back. ]

It was ancient, though. More for history than anything else.

[ A well-received truth. Even if it's not the same Yokohama, it bears similarities. Strange, how they can come from completely alternate realities, and still know this much is the same. Jyuto's bias for Kogami grows stronger though he hadn't imagined it any more influential than it already was. He's easily steered, because Kogami seems to know at least a little more about where they're headed compared to himself. ]

If that museum's history to you, someone like me who still finds it relevant must be in an urn already. Do I count as a cradle robber? Maybe a ghost? [ Of course, it doesn't really matter now. Lunatia is the only place where they can coexist in the same time and place. ] I feel a little embarrassed now, to bring it up. What's your Yokohama like? Is there at least a bay still there? [ Because who knows how different it may actually be. Maybe it's a completely different landscape, like desert Yokohama. With the crusty cup noodle museum. ]

[ ah, isn't that just incredibly sobering? kogami has thought of that, but to hear it like this makes his heart tighten a little. jyuto would be a ghost in his world in an age long past, and his brows knit, quietly thoughtful. ]

It's still there, as beautiful as ever. As is the city. There are a lot more holograms, though.

[ it's a bittersweet thought as they come across a series of black and white photography on human faces, scenes, images captured in time. can he do that, too? can he capture jyuto in time? he turns to him briefly, but the question does on his lips. instead: ]

I'd want to remember you.

[ It sounds beautiful and surreal, even if he's somewhat aware of how just how tainted Kogami's world is. With technology overrunning the way humans bring justice to their criminals, he isn't sure that this Yokohama is something he should say that he wants to see, together. Because of that, he doesn't speak.

He's studying the photograph of a bride whose smile drew him in when Kogami angles himself to face him. Because Jyuto isn't quite aware where his dark humor has brought Kogami's train of thought, so it's almost sudden to hear. He'd want to remember him. He remembers the text message from before, too. He thinks he could be worth it. Jyuto looks at him, his smile a little sad. ]

You mean if we have to go back? [ He has to guess. ] I hope I'd remember you, too. [ And lately he thinks that he doesn't want to go back. He'd arrived so determined on figuring out how to get himself and the rest of MTC back, but now... he's starting to feel like this is better for all of them. He's come to like it here, and... if he isn't here, he and Kogami can't coexist. ]

I haven't met anyone like you before.
[ Jyuto won't elaborate, it makes him too vulnerable. He looks back at the image of the bride on the wall, to the child and then the tired, rugged looking man. He thinks about how fleeting happiness can be, and wonders how long he's meant to have Kogami beside him. ]

[ kogami's in the same boat, too -- he hadn't wanted to be here, not really, because while japan is the far less unsavory version, he had work to do there; but as the days passed, as he'd come to know others and jyuto here more and more, the reluctance to leave this city grows.

kogami's quiet for a long moment, and he decides that he doesn't like this feeling, as if he's fighting to remember ever inch of jyuto; the solid figure he cuts just paces from him, the green of his eyes, the glint of light off his glasses, the gloves, the polished shoes and the chain over the knot of his tie.

it's seared into his memory, as is dozens of little moments, fragments frozen in time. his smile, the tender way he looks at him after sex, the way he asked for the time. christmas eve. the moment his lips closed around his dogtags, wait, he'd said. he's collecting every glimpse of jyuto, every expression, but finally he's found one he doesn't like.

the curve of that sad little smile, and his words catch in his throat, his answer to that sentiment unspoken but never clearer in his mind, i hope you never remember.

you can't be sad over what you don't know is gone.

so he turns to look at what jyuto's looking in. ]

Me neither. [ then: ] Do you know where they sell those instant cameras? I think they used to call them... polaroids?

[ The impermanence of their time together isn't a pleasant thought. It never is— it's one of those anxieties that haunts Jyuto frequently, a core fear that's made Jyuto the way he is. If only Kogami knew. The reason he doesn't let others in easily is because... ]

You want to buy a polaroid camera when we leave?
[ No more. He doesn't want to think about losing Kogami, yet. They haven't even started. ]
That's what they're called, yes. They develop within the frame of a couple of minutes. We may be able to find one at an electronics store. Isn't there one near the burger place?

I'll have to find it.

[ he gives him a crooked smile when they make their way to another collection of colourful photos of couples and joyful children at play, as well as a particular poignant one of a man and a woman walking together in a field of golden barley. ]

You'll have to be my subject for some of them.

I don't mind taking a detour together tonight, if you want to. [ If polaroids aren't around in Kogami's time, has everything become digitalized? Do they still print pictures, or are they all holograms too? ]

But if you really want to take photos of me, I'm warning you now that I'm not very photogenic. You'd be better off with pictures of birds or landscapes, I think.

Let's take a look around first, then I'll take you up on that detour together.

[ as much as he likes the museum, it's jyuto he's spending time with, and he's pleased that the man's willing to look for it with him. raising his brows at him in mild amusement at the assertion that he's not photogenic, he asks, ]

Who told you that?

No one, I just know it for myself. I imagine you'd photograph well, though.
I think there's a modeling agency for moonblessed now, if you're interested. [ Mostly teasing, he doubts Kogami would take up a modeling job seriously. ]

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