smdh | [closed] with yaywon dgm edition

[STOP the way i could have just dropped a text starter since they have nokias

Lavi's feelings about being back are conflicted. He's glad not to be in the town of Scawwy anymore, but at the same time... he has no rituals or last-minute preparations or trials to use as excuses not to think about the bigger picture -- like his future and the clan and the Order and who he is as a person.

But identity issues aren't exactly a new thing for Lavi, especially in these three years he's been at the Order. And more importantly, he's good at shelving these distractions aside for the other big picture -- which is just spending time with Kanda without being afraid of losing him on a Thursday night.

He stops in front of the stall, eye alight on the different colors and lengths of cord displayed. the shopkeeper is currently occupied with customers, leaving Lavi and Kanda free to peruse... well, as much as Kanda is interested in perusing at any given time, but still!!]

Yeah? What else did he mention about 'em?

[Shhhh it's fine it's fine identity issues can wait.

Uselessly, Kanda shrugs.]

I don't remember. Daisya interrupted right after he started talking about it. [Daisya who loved to kick his dumb little soccer ball at Tiedoll's head for fun... Kanda's quiet, remembering his death, but only for a moment before he moves on.] What are they supposed to be for?

[thinking about how lavi and daisya probably got along bc they're both mischief-makers.... hoshino give us the lore,

Lavi glances at Kanda, and then reaches down to tug at the end of a cord, the wheel turning as he pulls,]

They've got a bunch of uses. Decoration, jewelry, even as historical records. The number of knots can signify numbers or events.

[once he's got a nice length, he gestures for the keeper to snip the end, then he turns to face Kanda, holding up the scarlet red cord.]

Give me your hand.

[lavi says, while just taking Kanda's free hand anyway,]

[Hoshino really gave Daisya 3 seconds of screentime and then instantly killed him... Hoshino please]

Why'd you ask if you weren't going to wait?!

[TCH... but he lets this happen, 50% because it's not annoying enough to justify the headache of making a scene and 50% because he's still figuring out how much Lavi is allowed to get away with now, and this is relatively innocuous.

(He's also a little curious, but he'll never admit THAT)

So he complains, but he just watches what Lavi is doing without pulling away.]

[it's the tried and true Lavi strategy of never asking permission first because 9/10 times Kanda won't say yes!!!! Better to ask forgiveness!!! he flashes Kanda a cheeky smile as he slips the red cord around the other man's wrist, tucking and braiding the ends around each other,]

Where was I... right, knots can be charms too! For fortune, luck, good health... And of course, romance.

[eventually forming a scarlet red knot]

They say that lovers can't be parted if they tie a knot for each other. Like this one!

[It's true... this is the way Aerith got him into a kitty cat kigu. At least this is much less ridiculous in comparison. Can't believe Lavi is replacing the mysterious purple bracelet, damn... where did it come from, where did it go!! We'll never know.

Kanda has no appreciation for aesthetics, but he likes listening to Lavi rattling off his knowledge, even if he'd deny that. The word "lovers" sticks oddly in his chest, but he doesn't acknowledge it; instead, he raises an eyebrow, glancing at Lavi.]

You believe that?

[STOP listen maybe he's wearing his purple bracelet on the other wrist??? for now, Lavi tilts the one in his hands this way and that, checking to see if the bracelet's too tight or loose... and then smiling when it's obvious that it's the perfect size. It's the combination of his Bookman eye and his obsession that he knows Kanda's measurements, which should be FREAKY but unfortunately Lavi is happy to have both right now,]

Not really. [how ROMANTIQUE LAVI.... but Kanda knows him too well to believe him if he lied and said 'yes', and he'd notice if he demurred and moved on without answering,] But even I don't know all the mysteries of the universe.

[so if there's a chance, then why not take it? wow, maybe there's a little romantic in him after all.

he keeps holding Kanda's hand, but his grip is loose enough that Kanda can easily pull away,]

More importantly -- I like how it looks on ya.

[LMFKJSHDGK NO THE PURPLE BRACELET IS GONE FOREVER only knotting now

And Lavi's right--he would know if Lavi lied, and though he'd just roll his eyes if Lavi made a big silly show of being a romantic, the choice of honesty doesn't escape his notice. That's what speaks to him, even more than the meaning behind the bracelet, or Lavi opting to partake in such a sentimental tradition.

It's the sort of gesture Kanda would've scoffed at before, when he was too bitter with loss and reality to indulge in the fantasy of a happy ending. But things are different now. And, more importantly--this is Lavi carving out a tiny space for himself, leaving proof of his existence beyond his chosen name on a piece of paper. Kanda doesn't miss that, whether Lavi realizes it or not.

Kanda has no appreciation for aesthetics. But he does like breaking rules.]

You just like accessories. [And dressing up... slut behavior. He studies the bracelet, but he doesn't pull away--he just flexes his wrist in a few different directions to make sure it's not tight enough to hinder him when he fights. But, naturally, it fits perfectly, so he's satisfied.] ...The red's okay.

[Kanda that's your favorite color don't just say it's "okay"]

[it's okay because Lavi knows that red is Kanda's favorite color!!! yet another fact in the kanda lexicon!!! well maybe he didn't actually KNOW know beyond noticing the color of Mugen's hilt and some of the hair cords Kanda wears, but sometimes that's all he needs when it comes to Kanda.

He feels so foolishly pleased to see Kanda wear this bracelet... and even happier to see him accept it in his own way. ]

I do. That's why I wanna match! [he grabs another red length of cord and holds it out,] Your turn.

[HAS KANDA EVER MADE A CRAFTS IN HIS LIFE besides haunted house origami]

[Hoshino does a livestream and is like "actually Kanda's favorite color is yellow"

AND HE has probably been forced to once or twice but the closest experience he has for this is tying his own hair cord... he does let go of Lavi's hand this time in order to take the cord, frowning at it. But it can't be that hard right? He watched Lavi do it just a second ago, surely that's enough.

He starts fiddling with it mostly to prove that he can, and he gets a few loops in--and it looks okay at first!! But then before it becomes obvious that it definitely doesn't look the same as Lavi's. HE FROWNS MORE... tries to fix it by tying it some more instead of starting over...

...

.......]

Tch, this one's a bad piece. [KANDA,]

[KANDA'S FAVORITE COLOR IS YELLOW AND LAVI IS 5000 YEARS OLD

Lavi watches Kanda attempt to Knot, at the way he very stubbornly keeps at it, fingers plucking and tugging at the string. It's a wonder really, how Kanda can be so deft and elegant when swinging his sword or handling his chopsticks, compared to how clumsy and unsure he is with a KNOT. The difference makes Lavi smile, that and just getting to see Kanda work hard at something he would never have bothered to try if things were still the same between them...

He watches this weird knot take form, and then sticks his wrist out anyway, expectant.]

No, it's perfect. [he likes this weird-ass bracelet.....] Here, put it on me.

[tie!! tie!!! tie!!!]

[Lavi is being so cute with his fond feelings, meanwhile Kanda is just:]

No. [Shoves the bracelet in his pocket and holds out a hand for a new piece of cord]

[HELLO? HIS BRACELET??]

But I like that one! It's cute!

[HIS BRACELET....... he's pouting..........]

Shut up.

[DON'T TELL YOUR BOYFRIEND TO SHUT UP ON A DATE!!! KANDA

He takes a new piece himself and starts over, concentrating very hard]

[HIS BRACELET!!!!!

Lavi's pout doesn't remain for long -- he's too interested in watching Kanda try his hand at knotting again, noting the furrowed brow and Kanda's intense look of concentration, and thinking about how both are cute... Kanda really told him to SHUT UP and Lavi just thinks he's CUTE..... Another group of customers approach the stall, and Lavi uses that opportunity to move closer to Kanda,]

Want some help?

[LISTEN... Lavi is the one who said he wanted to match, okay, and Kanda does NOT want him flaunting a blatantly crappy first attempt when they're going to track down ALLEN AND TIEDOLL of all people. He'd have to murder everyone in the room if they made fun of him.

But he's also a stubborn idiot, so, grumpily:]

No. [He's going slower this time, and it looks a little better, but he does not have a perfect memory... he pauses, hesitating, because he definitely does need help--but he's allergic to asking for things, so he stares at the cord instead, the way you stare at a test question and will the right answer to magically jump into your brain,,,]

[STOP!!!!

GRITS HIS TEETH AND SHOVES THIS ONE IN HIS POCKET TOO

GRABS ANOTHER PIECE]

[KANDA YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE!!!!!!

Lavi could really stand here all day and watch Kanda angrily knot bracelets, but he only has so much money and the shopkeeper is giving them a side-eye for taking all the red cord? there are other couples here??? But instead of dragging Kanda away from the stall, Lavi presses close against Kanda's back, tucking his chin on the crook of his shoulder as he wraps his hands around Kanda's. he's... helping!!!]

You're doing pretty good! Just gotta loop this under instead of over. See?

[he'll intervene whenever Kanda gets stuck.... but he's mostly just draping himself on Kanda and watching him Knot,]

[If he doesn't die in the war Kanda is going to become mortal and then instantly keel over from a rage-induced heart attack yeah

Whether it's because all his focus is on this damn bracelet now or because Lavi has boyfriend rights is unclear, but either way, Kanda doesn't shrug him off. He grumbles a little when Lavi has to step in to guide him, but luckily he's more impatient than he is prideful, at least over something like this. And he is a decently fast learner--between the two of them, it doesn't take long before he's finally satisfied with the end result.

He doesn't ask permission either when he tugs Lavi's hand in front of him so he can tie it on. It's a tad too loose, because he doesn't have a perfect memory and he is hyperconscious of hindering Lavi's movement, but it probably won't fall off, so good enough.]

That was way too much effort. [NO ONE ASKED YOU TO TRY THREE TIMES KANDA]

[STOP feeds him foods that will help with blood pressure and are low in cholesterol... no more soba only diet

They're pressed close enough together that Kanda can probably feel the thrum of Lavi's laugh, happy that Kanda's not pushing him away YET and that he just made him a cute bracelet!!! it only took him three tries!!!!]

I like that you kept trying.

[it's cute... he stretches his hand out so he can admire the bracelet on his wrist, and curls the other around Kanda's waist, snuggling in]

Now we match for real!

[Swaps out his soba for Cheerios

But yes, he can feel it, and it's just as nice as it was in the ferris wheel, but he is safe from thoughtshare forever so Lavi will never know. He makes a face at Lavi's cheesiness, and then another at the shopkeeper so blatantly waiting to be PAID and for them to MOVE so that other couples can come do this too,,, I'm saying at this point they've managed to scrounge up a little money in one way or another, so he doesn't have to lose more buttons from his coat just yet--he pays dutifully, but he doesn't shove Lavi off, so they can keep loitering a little longer. He doesn't even complain about the snuggling (yet)... incredible]

It's gonna burn off next time you use fire.

[Mr. "my favorite stamps are fire and lightning"]

[wow lavi should have paid... THIS WAS HIS IDEA!!!! even though they're absolutely sharing one wallet between them, but it's the principle of the matter? except Lavi's not very fussed about the particulars right now... which is why he hasn't thought of the longevity of this bracelet when he's throwing fire around all the time -- LUCKILY HE DOESN'T HAVE TO]

Not if I concentrate!

[something something manipulating the heat of fire something something why does his scarf and headband and earrings and eyepatch all remain intact when he uses fire stamp every time.... is it cause it's all made of special material or because Lavi just makes sure to keep his style intact even while he's fighting.... one answer is probably more annoying than the other,]

But just in case...

[he turns his head, aiming a kiss on the spot right beneath Kanda's ear. at the same time, he slides his hand in the pocket of Kanda's coat and rescues the other two bracelets.... his now]

[Fortunately(?) Kanda doesn't know anything about date rules so he doesn't even know Lavi cares

MORE IMPORTANTLY--Lavi is sooo lucky Kanda has not only grown used to having him in his space, but has also come to want it, because even though Kanda's awareness snaps to Lavi's hand, his instincts don't register a threat and he doesn't reflexively jam his elbow backwards or spin around and strike him over the head with Mugen's hilt. No, the lashing out doesn't happen until he feels Lavi's lips on his skin, brazenly dividing his attention. It's not until he feels Lavi pickpocketing him that he realizes what happened, and that's when he shoves Lavi off (not with Mugen, so clearly it's not that big of a deal).]

Tch--Stupid Rabbit. [WHY IS LAVI LIKE THIS. He'll finally move away from this booth though, especially since people are probably staring at them by now.]

[HEHEHEHE Lavi slips his prize onto his other wrist as he follows after Kanda, shaking his hands so that the bracelets jump around.]

Now I have three.

[though he'll treasure the one that Kanda deems perfect... he still likes all of them. But what he likes most of all is the sight of his bracelet dangling on Kanda's wrist. It makes him want to reach over and grab his hand, but the crowd is starting to grow bigger, and he's not at that point where his fledgling attempts at romance are stronger than his paranoia. Clearly, that just means he should grab Kanda's hand when they're in a more secluded (flushed) spot....]

Wanna get dinner? We can eat somewhere away from the crowd.

[kanda only eats soba WELL MAYBE A STALL WILL SELL SOBA? this is a multicultural festival]

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

no subject