incelligent | IC INBOX; POLYMYTHOS

... I don't bathe with other people to look at them, Simon. I bathe with them cause it's relaxing and we all need baths.

D'oh...

[somehow even his texts have the stupid sound effects rip]

So it's like a pool party?

Except without the swim trunks?

[Simon's unfortunate diction is at it again, he doesn't mean to sound like a nudist, just-]

That sounds nice.

It's not even like a pool party. You just relax and talk quietly and help bathe each other. Personally, I'd like someone to help me get my back.

And my wings.

God, that sounds even better.

[Simon was not invited to many things as a child, and truth be told, his memories pre-train are hazy and disconnected, also because he has purposely tried to forget them. Even now, as he tries his damndest to recall the last pool party he attended, he can't remember much.

He attempts to reach through the fog in his mind, pulling nothing but a few vague descriptors. Feelings of isolation. His shirt still being on. The sun was too hot and the music had been too loud.]

I think I can do that! If you want me to.

Haha, y'know what they say! You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours. Or, I guess, scrub? Rub-a-dub-dub? 🎵

That is the idea. I don't mind washing places that are difficult for you to reach.
After all, we have a fair agreement with one another.

I'll meet you there in 20 minutes. I'll probably bathe in my devil form first, so don't be alarmed.

Okie-dokie! 👍🏻

[Simon is the type who prefers to arrive places a few minutes early, and while he's no stranger to the baths, this is the first time he's had company here. Already fully disrobed save for the hairtie that still remains in place, he has a towel tied tightly around his tiny waist.

His skin is pale, as the light within the Infinity Train is largely artificial, and he hasn't seen real sun in nearly a decade. His arms and legs, slender though they may be, are sinewy and toned. He may not look like much, but years of fighting tooth and nail for survival and scurrying up obstacles like some sort of blond spider monkey has made him almost entirely all lean muscle and bone. If anyone were to look closely, however, they would notice that his ribs do indeed show.]

I wonder if there are any rules for this naked pool party thing...

[Yes, he's talking to himself as he stows his clothes away safely. That disguise was stolen, okay? He did some very laborious clobbering of an innocent resident to obtain that outfit. People in this era wear so many layers! Simon's victim had to be utterly and thoroughly knocked unconscious.]

There are. At least in Japan there are.

_{[ Oh. Someone heard Simon. And look who it is— the fuckwit himself. There's no need for a towel around his waist since he's in his demon form, both of his wings out but folded neatly against his back. He does seem to have a towel draped over his arm.. for later. ]}

You're supposed to shower first then just soak in the bath.

_{[ Akira eases out a breath through his nose, and then: ]}

How are you?

_{[ oh.. a nice and friendly greeting.. ]}

You are well, I hope.

_{[ It sounds sincere. ]}

Oh, hey! There you are.

[Simon's head whips right around, leaving him to lock eyes with Akira's demon form. He's gotten used to it by now, but he prefers the other boy's human body by far. In that scenario, Simon is actually the taller one.]

Looks like I just broke rule number one. Have you even managed to find a shower around here? I've been lookin' for one ages!

[Since they touched down, at least.]

Um, not dead yet! So that's a plus.

[Not one to set the pace, and more of a follower than a leader despite his desperate desire to be one, Simon waits for Akira to choose a direction.]

What about you?

[His tone remains casual, although Simon hopes that Akira will feel comfortable enough to open up, at least a little.]

Yeah? I'm glad about that. I would have been a big failure if that would have happened. You won't die. I'll make sure of it.

_{[ It's mostly cause Akira doesn't want to be another failure instead of the fact that he somewhat cares for Simon. That's the real motive. Akira does lead the way to the communal bath. It looks like there is a small area to rinse off in before soaking with each other and it's the closest thing to resemble a shower.
The answer to the question is tricky, though. Things were just.. so very weird in regards to he and his relationship with Ryo.

He crouches on his haunches and starts to rinse himself off with something similar to a hose (idk how this is set up and im lazy to ask...) ]}

I'm not worried about survival here. I'm just worried about dealing with any more emotional hurt.

_{[ He's already starting to be more vulnerable around Simon which is a plus. ]}

Also, my bracelet turned yellow. I'm not sure why. I don't care about it enough to really find out.

[Simon would have addressed the first part, but then Akira had to bring up the color change so shortly in the following breath, and Simon is very much a One Track Mind (read: neurotic) sort of guy-]

What? Akira!

[His breath draws in with a hiss, and despite their lack of clothing, he comes closer to inspect Akira's Scrywatch. Thankfully, he has yet to remove his own towel.]

When? For how long?

[The real obstacle is that Akira doesn't care. Ugh, what a load of Randall.]

This is important information! If we can figure out what event made it change, we could-

[He stops here. By this point, Simon is well aware that the Devilman has no desire to return home or ever really leave this place.]

We could help the others.

[He says it so damn convincingly, with just the right amount of a fry in his voice to imply an emotional compulsion, accompanied by the ferocious intensity that Simon typically applies to all his tactical pursuits. In reality, however, he is selfish.

He just wants to return to living life on his own ruthlessly hedonistic terms.]

And, maybe you, too. If gettin' these lighter really means bein' a better person or whatever... Who knows?

Maybe you'll start feelin' better.

_{[ Akira pauses and watches Simon react, his slitted eyes growing at the blond's response. He idly lets the water run down the pelt on his legs. ]}

Uh. I'm not sure, really. It's been recent.

_{[ Help the others, huh? ]}

Sorry. I'm not really interested in helping others or really going off of someone's poor judgment of me to improve myself. I'll be my own judge of myself.

_{[ The hose lifts and Akira pours it over his head, stretching out his little winged ears and then rinsing behind them. ]}

You're being obsessive about it again. Not everything in life has be on a ranking system.
Come here and let me hold this over you so you can also rinse off.

_{[ He's taller this way so it's like a shower! Isn't that what you wanted, Simon? ]}

But if I don't know how I'm doing, how am I supposed to know what I'm worth? Without ranks or numbers, I just feel like I'm-

[Nothing.

And therein lies the problem. Numbers, charts, and analytics make everything simpler. They've all been there for Simon to set some sort of standard, to know who he is by virtue of comparison and supposedly concrete facts. Outside of his friendship with Grace, creepy little hobbies, and leadership of the Apex, he's had no opportunity to develop realistic goals.

Simon looks down, watching his visual perspective warp, quite literally, as he zones out. The ground looks further than it should be.]

So this is supposed to be fun?

[ Nervous fingers curl into a soft towel.]

I'd have to take my towel off.

You're Simon. And there's nothing wrong with that.

_{[ Akira interjects, cause he knows where that thought was going. He has often felt that way about himself before he merged with Amon. He holds up the hose and beckons Simon closer. ]}

I'll hold this for you.. you just shower. You can keep the towel on in this part of you want, it'll just get wet and we'll have to get you another one.

_{[ Akira tips his head slightly. ]}

... I'm not making you uncomfortable, am I?

[But without all that... Is he really Simon?

Simon has measured his worth in tangible things. Numbers can be counted, but so can victories and even favors. He knows just how much he's done for his best friend, and while he'd say he doesn't regret it, he has tallied each and every tender gesture and soft utterance in his mind. All the while knowing full well that even in that regard, when the tables are turned, Grace will always beat hm.]

No.

[Idly, he finally pulls his hairtie off, revealing blond locks that fall about his shoulders. The ring of elastic remains betwixt his fingers. Simon doesn't really care whether or not it gets wet. He stands where he's supposed to.]

I've just never done this before.

_{[ The tiniest and fangiest smile reaches his face as Simon settles underneath the water stream. He’s feeling a bit of nostalgia— although he never formed close bonds with peers, he remembered bathing with them. For a moment, he feels a little bit of giddy happiness just cause he’s having a moment with someone he finally feels like he can trust.. to an extent. He almost forgets to talk for a moment. ]}

Oh.. right. Once you’re rinsed.. if you didn’t mind getting my wings and back.. I would like that.

_{[ He will return the favor but in his human form once Simon has cleaned the spots he can’t reach. He wouldn’t want his claws to accidentally scrape his companion. ]}

... Why are you obsessed with getting home, Simon? Do you still have people you care about there and you don’t like being separated from them?

_{[ Akira would feel the same way if he had anyone left so he would understand. ]}

Well, yeah, my other half, she's-

[The sound of water hitting the marble beneath their feet is strong enough to prevent him from sharing more than he bargained for. It's not quite a drum beat, but the pitter-patter is loud.]

My best friend's still back there. We've got the Apex now, but for years, it was just me and her.

[There is a desperation in his voice, wild and a little bit unsteady but laced with yearning instead of fear. From the first minute, she had decided to be friends. Grace was so good at that.

Is. She is fine. She's not here, but she's not gone, she's-]

All these years, she's always been there for me. She made every day feel special and fun, even though things were really hard for such a long time.

[He doesn't mention that whenever she does one of those well-practiced, agile twirls of hers, the world seems to stop even though she continues spinning.]

We take care of each other.

She needs me.

[Or, rather, he needs her.]

Sorry, you asked me somethin' else. What was that?

[im so mad he missed the cute lil fangy smile bc of his own PERSONAL draMAH smh]

Edited 2021-06-02 06:33 (UTC)

_{[ As Simon talks, Akira is reminded of Miki, and it makes his teeth gnash because although it's been over a year, he is still immensely bitter and still feeling a lot of loss. Steam puffs from his nostrils, but it gets lost in the mist of the water. ]}

I understand. I used to have someone like that.

_{[ He's not ready to discuss exactly what happened and he pushes the hose into Simon's hands along with a bar of soap. Akira shifts and crouches back on his haunches in front of Simon. Please wash those hard spots. ]}

.. I asked why you wanted to go back home so badly, but I think I understand now. You want to go back to your special person. That's a valid and noble reason.

_{[ He pushes his wings out to their fullest span (which is about 10 feet) and steadies them. ]}

Wash me, please.

_{[ It's a firm command, but he's polite about it. ]}

Right! Yeah, you... Mentioned that before, I-

[Simon catches himself, although it's not the first time. He has a tendency to drift into the many "realities" he has created for himself, but here it is dangerous. He has yet to discover a safe hideaway where he can make his stupid little miniatures and craft his shoddily written tales. Maybe it's for the best that he's finally being faced to force reality, and while it leaves Simon with a queasy feeling in his stomach, the kind that he despises, in the long run?

It's for the best.]

Sorry.

[For drifting, and surprisingly, for the loss as well.

Simon handles the hose and soap nervously, placing one in his right and the other in his left respectively. This is harder than it looks, especially because he doesn't wish to spray anything unnecessarily, for fear that he may ruin their alliance all of a sudden.

With the suds, Simon is meticulous. His nose curls as observes the dirty drip down the other's massive wings and shoulders, although he continues to move his hands in small, repetitive motions, leaving no spot untouched. The routine of this, the rhythmic motions and the clear visual progress, the act of watching something dirty become clean-]

How's that?

[Is mind-numbingly pleasurable.]

Edited 2021-06-04 04:20 (UTC)

_{[ If she were still alive, I'd want to go back too. That's what he almost says, but he's still a little bit too closed up to word it like that yet. Besides, feeling those hands smooth over the dips and rises of his muscles and then along the membranes of his wings.. it's very relaxing. Why is it always more relaxing when someone else does it? It was easy to just close his eyes and fade away for a moment. He doesn't even notice the small, slow but repetitive wag of his tail nor the bellowing noise that sounds like a brief purr. It's Simon's question that breaks him out of his moment of bliss. He snorts. ]}

Yeah, that was nice.

_{[ If they were in a closer friendship, he's turn around and insist that Simon do the same thing on his chest, but since they're not at that stage yet.. Akira reluctantly stands back up and folds his wings against his back, taking the soap and hose and switching positions. He doesn't give Simon any warning; he simply transforms back to his human form and settles a palm on Simon's shoulder to steady him. ]}

Your turn.

[Other than with Grace, Simon has rarely had any opportunities to make anyone else experience a simple joy in this way, and in all honesty? It's not as though he's wanted to. Usually the selfish type, he finds himself surprised by the satisfaction it brings him.

Is... Is Demon!Akira's tail wagging? Oh no, oh no no no... That's adorable.]

M-my turn?

[Simon is whisked around without warning, and to make matters worse, it's Akira's human form that's holding him steady. He is no stranger to touch, as the very nature of physical contact soothes him, but in this situation there's little to no clothing involved and Akira will be the first non-parental figure to put his hands all over Simon's bare back. W-wait! What's going on here? That's, wh... Kinda... soRTA-]

Uhhhh, have at it, big guy!

[s e x y

Embarrassed and now with a face the color of a cherry tomato, Simon awkwardly offers the other teen an all too sheepish thumbs up. Thank goodness his back is turned.]

_{[ Akira just kind of stares at him and the two little thumbs that go up. Man. This guy is so fucking weird. In any case, something about it makes Akira chuckle— it's very brief and light, but the relaxing atmosphere has made it easier for him to laugh. He scrubs at his friend's back with the bar of soap, letting it bubble up and lather over the pale skin. Apparently there's no sun in weird train worlds Akira gathers. He makes circular motions and swipes water over the places he's cleansed. ]}

See? It's fun.

_{[ He's washing Simon's lower back now. Not thinking anything of it. Just allowing those suds and water to run down those porcelain asscheeks. Before you know it, it's over and Akira goes back to rinsing and washing himself. ]}

Finished. We can soak in the bath part now.

Hrrrgh...

[The hairs on the back of Simon's neck bristle, an instinctive reaction to being touched by anyone who isn't Grace or a child underling, though the latter usually opts for a tug on the sleeve as opposed to an actual backpat. The growl he just let out is merely an overly aggressive reaction to what he's really experiencing, which is a wildly tingly feeling at the base of his stomach. Bathing friends may be normal for Akira, but for Simon, this is the first time that he can ever remember any fingers gracing his bare back. He has yet to remove his towel, but the water somehow manages to drizzle under it, leaving him with a damp sensation that is entirely uncomfortable.]

Ugh.

[While Akira goes on to rinse himself, Simon finally yanks off the accursed piece of wet fabric and thoroughly submerges himself in the standing liquid, leaving only his face and the top of his shoulders visible.]

Yeah.

[Boy does he sound disgruntled.

Simon is also grateful that the water is warm enough to heat the body, though not enough to burn because... His pouty face is still completely red. It's the hot water. It has to be the hot water!!!]

I usually don't spent that much time in here.

Edited 2021-06-07 02:31 (UTC)

_{[ Once Akira has rinsed himself off, he joins Simon, not allowing too much space between them even though they have plenty of room to spread out. He just didn't think anything of it since the baths back home are usually crowded, so it's just natural for him to sit next to the person that is his company. There's an exhale of relief; his eyes have fanned shut and he seemed completely captivated by the water. Akira falls silent. Nothing is heard besides some trickle of water and his steady breathing. ]}

Oh.. yeah.. it's impolite to let your hair touch the water too, so don't completely submerge yourself.

_{[ He doesn't open his eyes when he says this, but the smallest smile is on his face again. He likes bath time, okay. ]}

You should spend more time here. It might relax you a little.

Edited 2021-06-09 16:03 (UTC)

[There is a brief moment of silence between them, as Simon is distracted by the serenity of Akira's expression. This is the happiest the demon boy has been since they've both arrived here, and while Akira had been excited to talk about his powers and vanquishing enemies, this is such a calm tranquility, and so very different than that.

Simon doesn't make the connection as self awareness is not really his strong suit, but Akira looks... Well, for a lack of better words, beautiful.]

R-really? But mine's so long, I uh, o-oh...

[Simon turns away, running a hand over his head, feeling even more timid all of a sudden. He wants to admit something and talk about how relaxing is difficult for him, especially without his normal hobbies or even the comforting or wily nature of his best friend.

It is here that Simon comes upon a horrifying realization- What has he been able too do without Grace? Since they've met, even when he's made an intelligent tactical decision or led the Apex to victory, she had always been by his side.

That makes him feel like weeping, but he holds it in.]

...You think so?

[And then, quietly, as if it's under his breath-]

Would you come with me?

Edited (edits to make more gay) 2021-06-09 16:40 (UTC)

_{[ He peeps one eye open at that. ]}

You can tie it back up again. Just in case. I mean, I wouldn't want any of your hair to come off and get on other people in the water, right?

_{[ Right. That eye closes again and Akira shifts a little, his head lulling to one shoulder. ]}

You can at least try. Most people aren't good at it especially if they don't try. It's just human nature to worry. It's not that I don't worry, but I put myself in a space where I can relax cause it's healthy for you. A space like that is right now. I'm very relaxed.

Aren't you?

_{[ A pause, mulling over the question. ]}

I'm here now, right? So it would make sense to come with you here again.

Edited (typos ) 2021-06-09 17:00 (UTC)

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