arcanarum | Secondo ~ video (filtered to house mates)

[HOSHIT.

Nah. He'd expected it to happen. Retrieving a pail he had placed underneath the bed, Gokudera lifts it up to his mouth, simultaneously setting the eating utensil down.]

Was it really that bad? [Couldn't help it. He has a bad habit of making light of any situation, but at least it prevents the atmosphere from getting too heavy.] Here. [picks up the glass of juice] This should wash down the taste.

[This has completely removed any appetite he had for the lasagne. Mukuro retches into the bucket, bringing up mostly stomach fluid and feeling annoyed at the whole damned situation. As he reaches for the orange juice, he resentfully mutters.]

If I'd known it would be so much trouble to recover, I would have stayed in prison.

You'll get better. [hands him the cup, a bit skeptical of his current grasping ability] If you want, I can hold it for you. Brought a straw too. [points at the thin plastic tube on the tray]

And, look at it this way, staying in prison would mean you'd never get the chance to experience a feeling of accomplishment from overcoming your obstacles. [upturns at the corner of his lips] You'd also miss out on some excellent company. [What? He can't praise himself? Don't be silly.]

[He tries to grip the cup but his fingers start to tremble almost immediately and he has to hastily replace it on the tray before he spills the juice on the bed.]

Who, Tsunayoshi? [he asks sarcastically. You're not good company; you're almost as bad as Hibari.] Yes, he'd be wonderful company if he were actually allowed inside the room.

[Leaning against the headboard, he crosses his arms over his chest.]

Did you bring that in here to laugh at me? [he means the lasagne]

[Well, at least he'd tried. Gokudera reaches over to pick up where he'd left off, adding the straw to the glass.

You're making it sound like I bully you. [cocks a brow] Have I? [extends the juice out for him to drink] Last I'd checked, I've been a pretty damn amicable host.

[rests his forearm on his knee, glancing over to the platter of pasta] No. [moment's pause] Yeah, okay. Maybe just a little. But you've been complaining. This was the best way to show you that you're not ready for solid substances yet — something you should already know.

[He considers refusing to drink, but who would that hurt besides himself? Leaning forward, he takes a long draught of the juice then slumps back against the headboard. How can someone possibly be tired and restless at the same time?]

I do know.

[That didn't stop him from wanting to eat something normal. A week and he was already becoming sick of the liquid diet they were feeding him.

Mukuro smirks as a thought suddenly occurs to him.]

Maybe if you feed me more, I'll eventually bring up my stomach and the rest of my organs. Then you can cook them and serve them to Hibari Kyouya and he'll truly be able to bite me to death.

Or... [He sets the orange juice back down, picking up the plate of lasagna. Breaking off another piece, he inserts it into his mouth without a single care in the world.] I could make you some creamy polenta ton—.

[makes a sour face] Yeah, [spits it out into the bucket] you were right. I would have thrown up if I had to eat this too. [returns the platter to the tray] But how about it? [raises his brow] You won't be able to eat a lot of it, but it's polenta. Creamy polenta. You can't turn that down. [Totally not treating Mukuro like a little kid. Nope. NOPE.JPG. No idea what you're talking about.]

[Polenta... His fingers nonchalantly play at the hem of his bedsheets and his eyes fixate on those fingers as well.]

Hibari Kyouya will notice.

[When you can't think of an excuse to say no, DRAG IN SOMEONE ELSE.]

Ya know, [rises up from his seat, picking up both the tray and the bucket] just a nod would do. No need to pretend like you actually care if Hibari finds out or not. [upturns at the corner of his lips] It might make me think you're worried about getting me in trouble.

[Tsk, since when was Gokudera this observant? He looks up and smiles glibly at the bomber in vague puzzlement.]

I really couldn't care less if you get in trouble. It's how he'll punish me I am concerned about.

[since he grew up, that's when] Yeah? [nonchalant shrug] Well, if you're really so concerned, then I guess it's a no to that polenta. Don't want to get you in trouble after all. [starts to head for the door] Enjoy your chicken soup tonight.

[Irritating. So, SO irritating. He can tell he's being manipulated and the bastard wasn't even being subtle about it. This wouldn't happen if he had his strength back, the illusionist thought in annoyance. But he wanted food - real food - not soup, which he'd been fed in some form more or less during his incarceration.

You'd think he'd have long become used to relying upon someone, but he couldn't say the words that Gokudera wanted to hear just so the man would make him something other than soup. He could manage on his own, and the sooner he showed that to his minders, the sooner he could get out of this damn house.

So Mukuro grits his teeth and forces his body to move, shuffling towards the edge of the bed so he can put his feet down and unsteadily try to stand. Yes, he has been practising while no-one was around, but it has only been about a week so his limbs shake when they try to bear his weight.]

[What a surprise.

He hasn't even reached the door yet and he already hears noises behind him. Turning around, he watches with unhidden amusement as the illusionist gets out of bed. It seems he's getting better. Always a good sign since it means there's going to be less work for him to do soon.]

So, what are you planning to do? [arches a slender brow] I mean, I have my guesses. Three, actually. First off, you are in serious need of going to the restroom which I can understand. Reasonable, really. Secondly, you're trying to prove something. Don't know what, but it must have something to do with your pride. And, thirdly, you have a masochistic tendency for embarrassing yourself. If you ask me, it's the last one.

[Mukuro doesn't answer, he just concentrates on putting on foot in front of the other as he makes his way to the door. If Gokudera tries to help or hinder him, he's going to get a bony arm trying to wave him off as he makes his wobbly way over. Don't stand in the way of the determined, frail man!]

[Oh, Mukuro has absolutely nothing to worry about. Gokudera doesn't have any intention of stopping him. In fact, he's just here to observe. With a smile. Because he's a nice guy who respects other people's choices. No matter how irrational those choices are. So, go on. Walk, pineapple. Walk!]

[He's determined - he's going to show Gokudera he can bloody well make his own way and doesn't need help from others to get by. If he had his illusions he could have pretended to be fine, could have made them leave him alone. But no, he was here, kidnapped on the whim of one temperamental Cloud Guardian for some reason he couldn't fathom as yet. Probably just wanted to keep him close so he couldn't lie about his condition.

In any case, the illusionist has almost drawn level with Gokudera and is finding the strain of taking his body this far exhausting. Fuck, he can't even make it out of his own room. Turning around now would mean another notch in the Storm's smugness (though his testimony might convince Hibari to not take him out for some punishing exercise...).]

...Get out of the way, [he growls at Gokudera, hobbling a step closer, relying quite heavily on the wall and furniture. He planned to collapse just before the door frame if his body didn't give out first.]

[It looks like Mukuro isn't doing too well. He's beginning to wonder if he should do something about it. Maybe lend a hand? Nah. Screw it. If he does that, he'll probably insult the man. He's obviously trying to prove something to him. It's just that he isn't doing a particularly good job at it. Either way, pride is on the line. And, despite how much care he lacks for it, Gokudera knows better than to take it lightly.]

Don't push yourself. [of course it doesn't mean he can't offer a pretty reasonable suggestion to him]

[Almost there - Mukuro takes one last step, toeing the line that marks his bedroom from the rest of the house, before his legs give way and he starts to topple. He falls against the wall, thankfully, but the impact hurts.]

Tch.

I'd clap if my hands weren't full.

[lifts up both the tray and pail to make his point] So, [cocks a brow] now that you're done trying to prove something, ready to get back in bed?

No.

[He says that, but his legs give way even further and he slides to the floor with a pained hiss. His shoulder already has a bruise forming and the plaster dragging against the skin worsens it. Someone may have to help him up. Or leave him to crawl back to his bed.]

Oh, yes you are. [He sets the items in his hands on the nearest flat surface before he takes the few steps to where the illusionist lay. Crouching down next to him, he stares at him for a long moment. Then, with a small smile appearing on his face, Gokudera scoops him right up off of the floor.]

Do you know what you remind me of? [starts to carry him back to the bed] You remind me of a stubborn little boy who's perpetually stuck on Opposite Day. You say one thing, but you mean another. You refuse help when it's offered to you freely. You don't know how to show gratitude and you hide it through the excuse of not asking for help in the first place. You're kind of like... [stops abruptly in his tracks, eyes widening] a woman! Holy shit, everything suddenly makes sense.

[Mukuro just rolls his eyes at the epiphany - did you think in his past lives he was always a man? Psh. He scoffs and pokes at Gokudera's neck to remind him to keep moving and not stand there with a silly shocked look upon his face.]

Women usually have breasts, not penises, Gokudera Hayato. Or did you fall asleep during that particular lesson?

[No, because he never bothered to ponder over the intricacy of Mukuro's past lives. But it's interesting how feminine traits can carry over into the next life.

He makes a face at the prod, crossing the rest of the way to the bed. Setting him down on the mattress, he drapes the cover over the pineapple's head.]

I happen to be more verse in that lesson than you need to know. Anyway, I never said you were physically a woman even if you come damn close. I was referring to your personality.

[He in turn tugs the covers down again. Don't smother him!]

Does my being a woman impact on your ability to mother me? [he retorts]

[brow lifts] Oh, so you admit to being a woman then? [snerk]

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