myblacksorrow

( It's 4am, and a message appears? Clearly not with any urgency, given the contents, but it'll still light up his Watch. )

Are you awake?

[ He's surprised when there's suddenly a message going off in the dead of night. There was less surprise when he saw from whom, but was also perplexed why Esi was even awake. ]

Yes.
Are you always up this late?

( He's honestly surprised to get a reply! Hypocrite that he is. )

I should be asking you the same. I thought you might be someone with a strict sleep and wake schedule, though I suppose there was always a chance you were someone with a teeeeerrible one, too.

Anyway, as for me, not always, but I often struggle with falling and staying asleep. At this point, I've given up for the night, you know?

So I wanted to chat.

( And chatty he is. )

I am. Pets always have strict schedules. Mine has just been a little messed up for a few months. I don't let it disturb my day schedule, though.

[ So much has happened that he didn't even remember what originally started keeping him up at night. Now he had new reasons to stare at the walls silently. ]

Feel free to talk, then. I'm pretty awake.

You're no longer a pet, right? So do whatever you'd like.

I actually wanted to share pictures of my actual pets.

( And so, a handful of pictures follow of Chaos and Order, his rabbits! )

Aren't they cute? I was worried about what might have happened to them, after I died here, but a friend of mine was able to take them in. The black one is named Chaos, and the white is Order. Hehe.

It’s not as easy as ‘doing whatever I want’. There are a lot of things I have to learn to do for myself now. It’s a slow process.

[ But oh, rabbits! He doesn’t think he’s ever seen actual ones before. ]

Poetic. Do they live up to those names?

Of course, of course. I'm simply here to be the bad influence whispering in your ear. ♪

They're both perfect angels. Okay, Order is a bit naughty, and they're both fairly demanding and needy, but it's precious how they hop in circles.

There was a time early on where soooo many rabbits were all over the place in the gardens and vale, you see, so I took it upon myself to grab two of them for myself. Perhaps when I have my own healthy space again, I can invite you to pet them?

A villain, trying to destroy my perfect record.

You sound like a better pet owner than many I’ve known. They sound well cared for. It’s would be my first time seeing what a human’s pet is like, too.

How long do you think it’s going to take for you to make your way up?

( A better pet owner...?? That just makes him concerned for whatever Ivan has seen, but. He guesses his bunnies are spoiled. )

About that. The House has issue with me. There's a loophole I'd like to exploit again, but to do so now would draw attention to me, I think. So, for the sake of staying safe, I'm going to lie in wait.

For now.

Then, when I can, I'll hop right back~ That's the idea, anyway.

Sneaky.

[ He won't ask in case things were monitored, but he is amused that Esikko knew how to game the system, so to speak. ]

If you have Chaos and Order with you, it means you aren't alone, at least. Cuddling and petting them is probably very nice.

Well, they have their own space... And I am staying with a friend, right now, but it's in a guest room. So I'm still rather alone.

Petting them is nice, but they're getting proper sleep. Both the bunnies and my friend.

My sleep schedule has always been poor, but it's been extra unfortunate lately. I'm just lying awake thinking of how restless I feel.

( He's wording it like this, but the truth is that he's dealing with the love mania part of his revival curse... )

What would help you sleep?

[ He could be more detailed or vague about everything, but no, just a direct question will do. ]

Alternatively, you can share your thoughts instead.

I don't know.

( and then, a moment later: )

My thoughts are embarrassing, I think.

( and shortly after again: )

Maybe I want to see your face. ♪ A picture?

I'm not going to think you're embarrassing.

A picture now? I'm not even prettied up.

[ He could imagine the mess it would have made back in his home universe. Such pictures of The Perfect Child would have been appalling. So scandalous. Ivan obliges, though, and attached to his text will be a picture of him as he is right as he's messaging.

Ivan is laying on his bed in the dimly lit room, his disheveled hair lightly curling against the pillow he's laying the side of his face against. The man is shirtless against the white sheets from the look of his bare shoulders and collarbones. ]

How is that?

( There's a bit of a pause because what do you mean, not prettied up, you're so unfairly hot— )

I'm going to need at least three more.

( a little shameless )

I can't imagine any of these are good. I'm not used to being the one holding the camera.

[ But he was still a model, and so that is what Esikko gets. One is a higher shot of the first one, showing his bare side that does down to the waistband of his pajama pants. In the second shot, he has rolled onto his back to give a picture of his full, bare upper body. His free hand rests against his abs, Ivan giving the camera a half-lidded look.

In the third picture, he has rolled over one more, laying on his stomach. His head is against the pillow once more, giving a sleepy or seductive smile, his free hand making half a heart against his cheek. ]

Number Three Idol, Ivan's private shoot just for His Highness's eyes and no other.

( Saving all of these, thank you very much... But ugh, he's gotta be cute about it too, huh. )

You definitely know you're good at this. You're teasing me.

( Still, he decides to send a picture back, even if unprompted. Unlike Ivan, he wears a top to bed, though it is slipping from one shoulder. His free hand is trying its best to make a half heart himself. Honestly, he pulls it off, though from his expression he clearly feels silly about it. Pouty? )

What's this cute pose, anyway?

[ Ivan wasn't expecting him to do it back. That is being saved immediately. He wants to be able to look at that pouty face later. And the peek of shoulder, but he's not going to say any of that. ]

I was a professional model, so I know how to pose. Handling the actual equipment and fixing the photos are not my specialty, though.

It was something we started doing at appearances. I think it's supposed to be some sort of 'love you' thing to the fans.

( A love you thing? A love you thing... that's so... cute? To the fans, but he's getting this special? He's definitely going manic over here, dear god.

It takes him a moment to focus on what to write, even if it does come across a little disjointed. )

I think I can see the appeal.

Do you like to be alone, Ivan?

[ And yet he has no idea the mild panic he caused. He's just happy he hasn't completely eroded his abilities in the months here. ]

I don't. That might be why I end up being so clingy when I'm around people.

I do know how to be alone, though. It doesn't bother me.

I don't like it either. But I don't think I've ever learned how to be, even if it always goes that way.

I hate it.

You aren't alone right now. You're with a friend, and you're talking to me.

Unless it's not the same unless you can hold something.

[ He would understand. It was why he was awake and wrapped around his pillow for the moment. ]

( It's true, he's right, and that last part makes him pause. Unless he can hold something? )

It's... different, at least, right? Like being in the room with someone who pays attention to you versus someone with their mind elsewhere.

The physical reminder is nice.

Part of me wants to sneak out at this miserable hour and visit you. For that reminder, maybe.

Is anyone going to tell you no?

[ If Ivan had to really think about it. Maybe the friend was his boyfriend or lover and would pout if he left. Ivan doesn't know how these things work. ]

What does the other part of you want?

No. Unless you might.

The other part of me says I should be more reasonable than to bother you at this hour with my own desires.

text ; un: wildflower

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject