tunasub | stop eating grass seto

[ So maybe Shin couldn't actually eat anymore. That was fine and expected; he'd been fully aware of the consequences of assuming a virtual form when he did it. But he could still remember how to cook and the taste of food and certain dishes. Day by day, spending time with the other few people that shared this little spaceship cabin, he was beginning to remember more about what humanity was really like - before Glass Cage and the human empathy project, before he learned about everything. And little by little, he was starting to open back up again. When they'd celebrated his birthday unexpectedly, he'd been pleasantly surprised - a feeling he hadn't had since that night on Tokyo Tower. But, moreover, he wasn't just pleased; he was grateful. That never happened.

Towards Seto, he especially felt gratitude. After all, he already owed him a great deal. Thus, for once, the bitter Shin felt like he ought to do something for someone, and that would be why he's in the kitchen, apparently making noodles. Just udon noodles.

Maybe he wasn't great at it, but he might as well try. ]

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[ It's obvious, all right. This is not the kind of situation someone like Shin should be put into; he was bitter and unkind and anti-social, and his heart was only just beginning to heal. Yet here was this boy, sobbing and holding his hand for things that Shin didn't even remember doing - that he hadn't done yet, he supposed. The boy that he'd supposedly raised from what must have been infancy. Honestly, he has no room to doubt Seto; after all, he's the one with all the information here. He just looks at him, and then to the hand he's holding.

Why did these people keep appearing? He hardly deserved to be thanked for anything or to be the recipient of all these tears. He hadn't deserved Sai's forgiveness or her feelings, either. And yet... here he was and here they were. ]

You... shouldn't thank me for anything. [ He ducks his head, trying to hide whatever his expression is, but, after a moment of hesitation, he takes Seto's hand in return. He feels like he shouldn't. Like this is someone else's thanks that he's taking. But he can't help it. As always, he was damned selfish. Like every other human out there. ]

[Somewhere between crying and trying to talk, Seto realizes Shin took his hand back. It's surreal. There's no warmth left in his hand that Seto remembered while he was growing up, clinging to that old man like he already knew they only had each other. It's cold and Seto grasps it a little tighter, as though trying to warm it. A wasted effort, more than likely, but he doesn't care.

Seto would do anything for him.]

You raised me and...took care of me. We read books and...looked at the stars and you taught me so many things. You let me...draw on the wall while you were reading and...let me sit beside you every night. We did so much together and sometimes...we did nothing together. We would just sit and not talk.

[ Reminiscing so fondly about his Grandpa to Shin makes him happy for some reason. Shin may not remember, but Seto can remember for the both of them. He has every reason to thank him.]

It's because of you that...I'm alive. That I can experience everything in the world and make friends. So I want to thank you for every single thing.

[Kinda hard to thank someone when you're crying so much though.]

Edited 2012-04-17 06:15 (UTC)

[ None of it is familiar to him at all - nothing Seto says, not the warmth of his hand. Gazing at Seto helplessly is really all he can do. Even if he were a more social creature, this sort of position would be an awkward one to be in, and Shin is clueless. The person he's talking about sounds like someone else - for all intents and purposes in his mind, it is someone else - and yet he can imagine it. His real self, in loneliness and despair, powerless to do anything about Glass Cage in a physical body crushed by it. It wasn't out of the question that something like this could happen. All he'd intended to do when he left for that observatory was to eke out a miserable little existence for a while and then die like the rest. But if he'd found a child...

How could any child he'd raised turn out like Seto? Wasn't he the most bitter monster of them all? Wasn't he aiming to kill the remaining humans? That was his goal. Perhaps it was different for his 'real self.' Maybe that one had retained some hope when he met this boy so early on. ]

... I'm sorry. I don't remember it.

[ but he lets Seto hold his hand still, clearly thinking deeply. ]

It's okay.

[While Seto said that, the reality of the situation is just starting to dawn on him. He is the only one with memories of their time together and he knows, without a doubt, it was Shin. He realizes that Grandpa is still dead and what remains is the him before they met.

Still, it doesn't hurt. Seto is glad to have any part of him still here. It's not better, but it's almost nice. The old man in his final days seemed so lost and sad. This was a chance to protect him from that. Shin might be a ghost, but that doesn't mean he didn't deserve a chance to live and be happy.

During this silence, his tears have subsided and he looks up at Shin with a smile.]

We're...still family. You're Shin and I love you a lot. Even if you don't remember, I still...want to make you happy here.

[ You're Shin and I love you a lot.

His eyes widen at that statement, staring at Seto like he grew a second head. Seto loved him?

Just for that? For something he didn't remember doing - something he hadn't done yet? It made no sense.

And yet he'd raised this boy. The real Shin, with his empathy. He'd known whatever feelings Seto had been feeling, accepted him and raised him anyway, and with these results. These had to be his honest feelings. If they weren't, he wouldn't have kept him around. He'd known him like this. Just like this...

Shin is quiet for a moment, eyes softening as he looks at the boy. Then, hesitating, he lifts up one ghostly hand before placing it on top of Seto's head. The life with Sai he couldn't have. The child he couldn't raise. Everything he'd missed seemed to be coming back now. ]

... I'm sure that he knew it. Thank you... Seto.

[This kind of affection was rare growing up. It was something that happened from time to time, only when he seemed to feel at his lowest and it would immediately cheer him up. Now isno exception. In fact, those words and the feeling of Grandpa's hand on his head makes him almost want to cry again. Thankfully for Shin, he can hold it back. He's too overwhelmed by how happy he is.

Shin's reaction is all he needs to feel comfortable releasing his hand and turning slightly. Within moments, he has both his arms wrapped around him, standing on his tiptoes as high as he can go. Yes, Shin. It's hug time and you will never escape.]

I'm so glad. Thank you, Shin.

[ He stiffens up at the contact, hands hovering a little awkwardly behind Seto. It wasn't that he hadn't expected this, but the situation was still so surreal - especially for him. It shouldn't be happening. If it were up to him, it wouldn't be. But Seto seemed convinced that Shin was Shin was Shin. And considering he was the one with the memories, it felt wrong to deny that he was right.

Hesitantly, he returns the embrace, just barely putting his arms around Seto. Ghostly hug for sure. ]

[It's enough for him. All he ever wanted was to have the chance to be with his grandpa and tell him all the things he never said while he was alive. Shin could probably tell that he's elated. So beyond happy his big head could float all the way into space.

While he was lonely most of the time living with grandpa, he was never unhappy. The old man took care of him and helped him. The best moments were when they were together, like this, though he wasn't affectionate and Seto could count on his fingers the number of times it happened.]

I'll still call you Shin. That's your name and that's...who you are now.

[He starts after a few seconds of silence, still holding onto him.]

But I will always love you like Grandpa and I'll protect you.

[ It still feels wrong to him. Whatever semblance of morality he had left, whatever was in the process of growing back, was quite determined on feeling guilty about this. However, it was hard to push Seto away when he was obviously so happy, even for Shin. He lets his hands rest a little awkwardly on Seto's shoulders, clearly uncertain on what he should do. It wasn't that he didn't like kids, if Seto could still be called one - back before Glass Cage, he'd been quite fond of them, actually. But it had been years and years since he'd touched anybody, or even wanted to, and vice versa. Until that night on the tower with Sai, he hadn't even had the faintest inkling of any sort of positive emotion. In a word... he was rusty. Emotionally.

And this is all a little overwhelming. That not one, but two people could say that they loved him, even now... If he looked up at Shin's face, he'd see him with a rare expression - one of vulnerability and caution and, just barely, gratitude. What can he even say to that? ]

... Thank you. [ he answers a little lamely. He wasn't old enough to be called Grandpa, anyway. Or he didn't feel like it. ]

stop eating grass seto

FBSDBDBDBFBSFB

THUMPATHUNBKAPPf

HBLBIBLBIBLGBIB SETO

RUURUWROWARW SHIN

this is too precious i don't even know if I'm happy or sad

ALL MY SALAMI OH M YGODkF:LAKF:LAFKAFiei on the ground noo

/lies on the ground with your salami

be sure to treat it nicely

oh my god seto is so cute i'm going to throw up all my organs