[closed] this is the part of me

[tauborn]

Characters: Takuto and Sugata
Location: Shibusen's library
Rating: PG13, for the sake of research topics
Time: June 30, late morning
Description: Takuto has some research to do, and he invites Sugata along because now that they don't live together he has to work at seeing his bff.





[He's sitting at the top of the Shibusen steps, waiting for Sugata and watching the city. He's hoping he'll be able to get some good books and be better prepared to sort out his life.

But then he has to squint because it's really sandy when the wind picks up and okay, actually he's going to wait just inside the door.]

Comments

[peacocked]

[and he, of course, arrives in a timely manner looking as fresh as possible when he steps into the library he swipes the sand off of his shoulders and gives a cough. even living on an island filled with sand he's not used to this. but, then again they never really had to worry about sand storms.... ANYWAY- moving on, he gives the room a quick survey before making a beeline straight for takuto.]

Does this happen often?

[tauborn]

[He laughs a bit, reaching forward to brush sand from Sugata's hair.] You mean me in a library, or the weather?

[peacocked]

[he gives a small chuckle.] Both, actually. I never thought I'd see the day that you'd step into a library willingly.

[tauborn]

[He folds his arms across his chest with a pout that looks far more like a grin.] I'll have you know this is my second time coming to the library!

[And he starts heading towards the psychology section.]

[peacocked]

Second time? I'm impressed Takuto. [he follows suit.]

[tauborn]

[The first time had just been to explore because it was a room he hadn't been inside yet. And he'd hidden from the librarian behind a bookshelf with Sai and it had... been kind of awkward, especially when he thought about what had happened not too long afterwards....

But it just reminded him why he was here in the first place! Such determination--he's in a really good mood, after all.]

Yep. I'm like a whole new Takuto--studying all on my own and things. [He frowns and heads down an aisle, wondering just how many of these books Yako has checked out at least once. He hopes that the books he'll want aren't actually sitting in a pile at her place, and if they were, what that would actually mean....]

[peacocked]

And I didn't even have to nag you about it. [he offers the other a small, cocky smile before slipping his hands in his pockets.] So what are you studying?

[tauborn]

[He stares hard at the spines of the books so he doesn't have to look at Sugata.]

Umm... Cupid and I were talking about something, so I wanted to learn more about, er... polyamory?

[And now he just has to wait to see if this is a word Sugata is familiar with....]

[peacocked]

[his heart literally skips a beat. he also may or may not have stumbled over something on the floor. HE CATCHES HIMSELF BEFORE HE FALLS THO, so all is good. but... excuse me?? he gives the other a confused stare.]

Polyamory? What are you looking that up for?

[tauborn]

[Crapcrapcrap! This is totally a word that Sugata knows.... Takuto's going to keep staring at the books as if he's actually reading the titles.]

L-like I said, I was talking with Cupid about it so I figured I'd do some research....

[It's not technically a lie, of course! But he sounds waaaay too nonchalant and it's obvious there's something more about the subject that's made him come all the way to the library to find out more.]

[peacocked]

[i glances.]

How did you even get on that topic, if you don't mind me asking...

[tauborn]

[He folds his arms across his chest again, turning to face Sugata though he still can't quite meet his friend's eyes.]

She's Cupid, you know? The goddess of Love? So I sometimes go to her when I want advice or questions and I don't know, it's just... it's come up a few times....

[peacocked]

So... you go to her when you want advice on dating multiple people??? [is this conversation even happening right now? he kind of wants to puke.]

[tauborn]

N-no! [He takes the words like a slap in the face, and looks all kinds of horrified that that's the conclusion Sugata has come to first. Really, is that what his best friend thinks of him? It's bad enough that strangers accuse him of doing that, but when it's Sugata?] I don't date multiple people. I won't.

[And then he remembers this is a library so he drops his voice to a painful hiss.] I just--isn't it obvious? I can't seem to help the way I end up feeling about people and it's really--I don't know how it looks to you or anyone else, but it's not fun being in the middle and hurting everyone, including myself.

I just... I just want this mess to stop.

[Cupid had said there wasn't a cure, and Takuto had come here with the honest intention of just trying to understand the idea more. But nothing she'd said had killed his desire to just be normal.]

[peacocked]

[he gives a small sigh of relief.] Sorry I-- sorry. [he looks to the side. he knows how the other feels to an extent when it comes to loving more than one person. but he's never really acted on them (more like he hasn't had the time to and can't really act on it now.) and even if he did try to help the other it would be... well, everything would be rather obvious and out in the open. and that's something he doesn't want to happen. especially when the other is happily in love with someone else.]

No, it makes sense. There might be information about how to stop those... urges you might get.

[tauborn]

[Takuto nods slowly, turning back around to look at the books. He hadn't mean to kind of explode at Sugata on the subject, but he's just been constantly cramming everything away for so long that when a bit of that actually bubbles up he has a reaction that's just short of volcanic. And on top of that, he's scared. Maybe Cupid was right and there isn't a cure....]

S-so if you see any books that look like they might mention something about it, just take them off the shelf. Once we've got an armful or something, we'll sort through them and choose the top three or something. [Because even if this research is very important to Takuto, he can't see himself actually attempting to get through more than three books.]

[peacocked]

Right. [he nods at the other and with that he pokes around and looks for interesting book titles. after a few minutes he pops back out with a decently sized stack of books.]

[tauborn]

[Takuto's done the same, occasionally opening the book to read the inside front cover or to skim through the pages to see if it looks too much or too little like a textbook.]

I was thinking we could use one of those tables over there....

[And he gestures with his armful towards the corner with tables and a few quiet study desks.]

[peacocked]

[he nods his head once more] Looks like a nice quiet little area. [and with that he heads over to one of the tables.]

[tauborn]

[Takuto more or less drops the books on the table with no small amount of noise, earning a cross look from a nearby librarian. He ignores her because he's reclaimed his determination and sense of productivity.]

So, I'm thinking I'll look at the chapter titles, and if there's at least one full chapter dedicated to... to the subject, then I'll put it in the 'keep' pile. [And then if there's more than three books, maybe he'll choose based on how embarrassing the title of the book seems. Or if there are pictures. Or something. He'll figure it out.]

U-um, you don't have to stay here if there's something else you wanted to read while we're here....

[peacocked]

While I usually wouldn't mind helping you out, I... this is something I think you need to figure out on your own. [he did grab a few books that sparked his interest though, so he's not going to wander off to find something.] You'll be much happier once you figure things out on your own. But I'll be right here if you really need me.

[tauborn]

[He nods and grins, feeling a burst of energy for tackling the books. He starts sorting them exactly as he described, and there are surprisingly few books that have chapters with the word "polyamory" in them. Though, there's one book entirely on the subject, and a few that are devoted to words that start with poly.

He glances across the table to see what Sugata is actually reading.]

[peacocked]

[how freaked out would takuto be if sugata was reading the kama sutra??? but no, he's reading a death theme of the little prince.]

[tauborn]

[Takuto thinks Sugata's book looks much more interesting and fun, but whatever. At least it's not something disturbing like the death-themed kama sutra that's supposed to exist somewhere here....

He's got his books down to a stack of ten in the keep pile.]

[peacocked]

How's narrowing things down going? [he doesn't even look up from the page he's on.]