starmark | IC Inbox

[ Now that Rohan has moved most of his finished junk over to the tailor shop, there has been less clutter around the apartment. More breathing room and less for Jotaro to trip over or put a wing through. That has made everyone's lives easier and isn't a reason for tension or testing Rohan's patience anymore. He still works on things by his window and has been for most of the day. Rather, he's been trying to decide on what to paint and has been stuck flipping through a sketch diary to see if anything stands out.

Elbow settled on the window sill, Snakebutt is gingerly holding the book up on no page in particular while Rohan himself has dipped into his smoothie backlog and tossed it into a wine glass he found in the back of the tailor shop the other day. He isn't watching for anything, but he has forgotten if Jotaro is even home or not. Yes, he's that out of it from all the work he's been doing and the, erm... 'Stressors' he has been preoccupied with but for the most part he is placated.

The 'stressor' is something he has been trying not to think about or draw attention to.

Rohan has the lip of the glass near his own, stopping short to call more or less at the window-- ]

Jotaro, are you home?

[ Maybe he's sleeping. It's been hard not to space out lately. Nighttime is hit or miss. Gargoyles can be anywhere at this hour. Oh well. ]

[He's not in the house, but he is at home — and within earshot, besides. At the moment, he's up on the roof, perched and staring off into the night not unlike Batman and approximately as broody. Hunger is gnawing in his belly these days, growing insistent in a way that he's rarely able to ignore. It's been making him want to be up high more often than not, as the urge to eat has honed his gargoyle's other instincts into razor edges as well.

So it's a little bit of a blessing when Rohan calls his name, because Rohan is easy to focus on. It drags him out of his thoughts, covering over the nag of the hunger with smooth dulcet tones.

He crawls along the roof in an easy prowl, gripping onto the eaves and turning wholly upside-down, lowering himself down far enough to peer into the window from above, his hat staying nestled securely on his head despite the fact that he's completely inverted as he appears in the upper half of the windowpane.]

I'm up here. What's up?

[ oh my god he's doing the bat thing now

He purses his lips and furrows his brow, squinting. He pulls his chin from his hand and uses it to open the window on its door-like hinges. ]

What are you doing up there? [ Scouting for something to eat? No, not Jotaro. He's the least dangerous gargoyle Rohan has ever seen. He knows a girl who is more aggressive of a character than the imposing, Actually Frightening Jotaro. ]

It's been a quiet night. I was bored. [ He takes a sip of the slurry in the glass. ] I'm even starved of things to draw at the moment. I have been doing so much work that I'm getting burned out.

I could use some conversation. If you aren't busy with your brooding.

[Jotaro Kujo: ruining his future self's street cred for being cool since 1987.

Semi-artfully, he holds on to the edge of the roof and swings himself down and through a half-revolution, so that he's dangling upright by his arms now instead of peering upside-down through the top of the glass. His claws, like his talons, are made for gripping; though it's probably not doing the roof any favors, he's in no danger of falling for the moment, either.

More likely than not, he's getting in position to half-swing, half-clamber back over the sill in the next few seconds.]

I wasn't brooding.

[HE WAS SUPER BROODING.]

Conversation is all you want? You sure you're not trying to get me to ask you on a date, or something?

[ DON'T TRY TO CONVINCE HIM THAT YOU WEREN'T BROODING, SON.

The less than graceful dismount causes Rohan to coil backward with a reactionary hiss to someone invading his Personal Space Bubble. ]

If you want to ask me on a date, fine. [ That's only semi-not serious. Lord. ] That wasn't my aim so it's neither here nor there.

How much has Josuke told you about where we come from? If anything at all? I'm just curious as to how much you might or might not know. He can't keep his mouth shut but I can't help but wonder.

Honestly, I don't really know that much about the...

[He trails off, eyes locking onto Rohan's wineglass for just a second, but then regroups and shakes his head, resuming his thought where he'd left off with it.]

...future. The only things I've asked about have related to me, who I am when you know me. The rest of it didn't seem like anything I needed to know.

[He cocks his head.]

Or is it?

I thought you might be interested is all. [ He catches the doubletake to his glass and skeptically offers it out. C'mon, Jotaro. You know you want some smoothie. It smells not so dead with orange and lemon zest. ]

If you're not, I can nix the subject there...

[ This sure is an appeal to Jotaro's natural desire to know things. ]

There is a reason that I ask. There may be someone from our time period who you could consider... Less than desireable that washed up.

...That's a little more significant than just "I might be interested". If somebody's here that I should know about, then I want to know about it.

[He hesitates, fingers twitching with indecision before eventually reaching for the glass that's been offered. They say sharing a drink is supposed to be cute, but it's a little less so when there's this particular brand of jamba juice involved.]

Who is it? What does "less than desirable" mean — someone you don't like, like Josuke? Or are we talking more dangerous than that?

[ The glass is surrendered and Rohan flutters his fingers in the air in the second that it is taken. ]

Someone I dislike more than Josuke. You have an enemy, right? A person who has done heinous things? [ He already knows this. ] I can't be TOO sure. [ That's a lie, Kira already slathered his resume on the network. ]

If you happen to speak to a man who goes by the name Kira Yoshikage, be sure to avoid him at all costs. You can also eat him if you want but he will surely give you heartburn worse than anything you have ever touched in your lifetime.

Let's say that Josuke and I don't have a good history with him. However, he is in Vandare and shouldn't be a problem. [ Okay, but we're skirting around WHY he's awful.

Changing the subject on a dime should deflect further questioning. ]

I have started fermenting herbs in those. Is it any good?

[ The thing in the fancy wine glass that is anything but fancy. ]

...You really hate this guy.

[It's an attempt at getting himself centered, after Rohan's leapt from subject to subject like a Frogger player character trying valiantly to get across a busy city street. Enemies, one enemy, Kira Yoshikage, Vandare, eat him, eating, hungry, people juice in wineglasses.

Okay.

First things first, he tries a sip of the drink in the glass, feeling the familiar seize in his throat in the first moment that he remembers what he's drinking, but swallowing past it when it hits his stomach and dulls the rumbling edge in a way that makes him abruptly, guiltily grateful. He doesn't drain it, though, just sips; when he's done, he offers it back, and tries to resist the compulsion to lick at his lips.]

Nothing's ever going to make it taste good. But it does taste less bad, I guess.

[Liar. The gargoyle is hungry. Anything would taste excellent, and that scares him.]

And as for this Kira guy...if he's anything like Dio, then he's going to be a problem no matter where he is.

[ The glass is plucked from Jotaro's hand once he sees that it is about to be sent back. That isn't exactly a compliment. He'll take it.

The subject jumps right back to Kira and Rohan is beginning to realize that he made a mistake through ever saying anything. ]

Long story short, he was a Stand User and more importantly a serial killer back at home. He would take the hands off of his victims to do... Whatever with them. [ Annnnnd we're about to touch a nerve--

Three, two, one, go.............. ]

It turned out that one of his victims was somebody I knew as a child. She was ultimately the one who helped us catch and get rid of him, but it wasn't without a lot of trouble. Everything he did was wrong... [ Instead of blustering out a sigh, he sips at the lip of the glass again for a pause. Its contents is starting to run dry, only sticking to the very bottom. ]

It hits closer to home than it should. He can't do anything here. Yet when I look at his behavior and then my own from being caught in the circumstances of being here--

[ Hm. ]

I feel like a hypocrite.

...Aren't you the one who's always telling me I'm nothing like my demons? It goes both ways.

[And now he draws a little closer, instinctively making himself radiate warmth a touch more openly than he'd been before — a long-practiced attempt at offering comfort that's now turned reflexive and habitual from all the times he's used it.

It's easier to forget the hunger now. He's too focused on Rohan, enough so that the soft velvet of his own voice manages to surprise even him when it escapes his mouth.]

You said it yourself. It's "circumstances". You didn't ask for this. Isn't that what makes the difference? He chose to be what he was — is. You didn't. Isn't that different?

[ It's a little off considering that Rohan was the one who told Josuke that he wasn't a murderer for HAVING to do what he needs to in order to survive. That was before he had to do it himself. He has an existential crisis every now and then but this is the first time he's had one in front of someone else.

There's a first time for everything. ]

I know that. I just haven't fully convinced myself to an extent. [ He stops looking at his glass and focuses his attention Jotaro-ward, blinking slowly and in stilted contemplation. ]

It's something in passing that I think about on and off. It's not that important when I look at the big picture. [ It still feels like he is obligated to think it's important. That has to be the worst part of it.

Snakebutt set the book on the floor a while ago and has wriggled up to take the glass from his human half's hand. A talent of his that he has figured out. ]

I was the one who told you all of that. [ That Jotaro is the only enemy he ever seems to lose to. ] Doesn't ignoring that make me a hypocrite?

[ getting awfully profound tonight, rohan. ]

...Come here.

[Rather than answering, he extends one arm, not quite offering a hug exactly, but at least putting forth the suggestion that there's physical comfort he's willing to offer along with his words. Maybe that's not surprising; neither one of them is very good at talking about things like this, and he's always been better with tangible expressions of emotion, anyway.

Maybe that just emphasizes how very much he does want to offer that comfort, that he doesn't have much confidence in his ability to do it properly through words alone.]

I don't think you're ignoring it. If you were, you'd be insisting...refusing to hear otherwise. Doubting yourself too much to accept anything else.

...I make you promise not to let me forget things all the time. That doesn't mean I don't believe you when you do say them. It just means...sometimes I need to hear them a lot. Maybe you're the same way, about this.

[ book of mormon voice: WHOAAA TURN IT OFF ]

I'm don't think I'm THAT insecure over it. [ His reply is indignant and he isn't sure how to handle the... Maybe-Lean-On-Him thing. Physical things run so strange with him. Sometimes he's fine with it, others he would rather stew in on his own.

Complicated.

Rohan will just take it the way he does whenever he is offered an opportunity to be warm. The offer is reciprocated with a lean into Jotaro's arm, his own crossed and plastered over his chest. ]

I'll be fine, Jotaro. I don't need reminders. [ yes he does ]

I had something for you. Now that I'm wanting to not talk about this more than I already did.

You must be feeling a little better. You're back to taking jabs at me again.

[Is Rohan going to get a quick, light nuzzle to his hair? Probably. Is it weird and affectionate? Absolutely. Does Jotaro look like he gives a fuck? Not in the slightest.]

It's fine if you don't want to talk about it. But I'm glad you told me.

[WHO IS THIS WHAT IS COMMUNICATION IN A RELATIONSHIP CAN YOU EAT IT WHAT IMPOSTOR IS THIS]

You have something for me?

Yes.

[ what is happening it's time to Abort The Mission. Not without an arm loosening and crossing over to touch the gargoyle's forearm. Also weirdly affectionate and lingering. He sorta gives a fuck but there's nobody around to see it. ]

Here. [ He reluctantly pulls away, slithering out of Jotaro's grasp to quickly disappear down the hallway with all the naga finesse he possesses. It's off to his room where some rummaging can be heard and when he returns, he has a box in his hands. ]

Here. I made you something.

[ He holds it out to hand over. Inside is a LOVELY PAIR OF PANTS reminicent of his last shed pattern. Oh. Gross. ]

I got creative. It has accommodations for your tail. The whole nine yards. They actually zip up the side of the left leg. I think they look pretty good for an experiment.

[ This is literally the epitome of taking things Too Far. ]

[On one hand: oh, goodness, this is touching and actually thoughtful as all fuck. It's clothes, obviously. It's something to let him function without looking like a gigantic pantsless tool. It's — proof that he's Rohan's first real customer. It's sweet, in a weird sort of way.

On the other hand: nothing says dokidoki like HEY GIRL I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO WEAR MY SKIN

at least they're black. black snakeskin is probably preferable to, like. tan snakeskin or something. what kind of asshole would walk around wearing something like that.]

This is...you.

[OH MY GOD???]

Me about a month ago, yes. Normally I wouldn't condone the use of animals in anything that I wear, but since it was produced BY me I don't mind.

[ Does this not give you the dokidokis? Are you not ENTERTAINED? ]

The waistband actually dips in the back to make room for your tail without restricting it in flight or on the ground. Innovative, no?

Do you like them?

[ OH MY GOD???? ]

I wouldn't have guessed you for someone with those kind of scruples.

[Maybe a polite way of saying "you look like the kind of person who'd demand his pants be sewn with thread made from the eyelashes of baby seals", but you know. Details. He's pleasantly surprised.]

I guess I'll have to try them on and see...

You're really fine with me wearing your skin?

What else am I supposed to do with the piles of dead skin we've been sweeping behind the couch?

[ File under: Things We Never Thought We'd Have To Say. ]

If I wasn't fine with it, I wouldn't have used it as an experiment. Besides, we've been sitting on it since I had to replace almost all of the couch after that incident.

[ The couch Enjolras is going to be stuck with. ]

Go on. Change into them. If all of my measurements were correct-- and they are --they should fit without any snagging or discomfort. I want feedback.

You want to see me wearing your skin.

[He says, in a tone of voice that makes it sound like he'd said, "you want to see me take my pants off again".

But off he goes, obligingly, because evidently today modesty is in vogue and he's going to change elsewhere rather than right in the middle of the living room.

Which isn't going to stop him from shouting back through the walls to continue the conversation, either.]

They're soft, I'll give you that.

[ Shouting through the walls in this house is PRETTY NORMAL.

He takes up a stray pencil with his tail in the meantime, passing it to his hand so he can start putting anything on the canvas while he waits. ]

Because I used another two layers for interfacing. [ That is SO MUCH SKIN. ] If you ever want to turn them inside out, you'll have another pattern.

[ And you can flip the zipper. Look at this guy go. He thought ahead. ]

You made me reversable snakeskin pants out of your own skin?

[THIS RIDE JUST KEEPS GETTING WILDER AND WILDER. Also he's going to be offscreen for a little bit while he carefully gets himself into these things; it'd be bad to be careless with the merchandise, after all.]

Did I stutter?

[ Pfft... Listen, he got bored. He had to experiment. Things went... Decently. They're nice to look at and easy to wear. Just be glad you have anything, Jotaro. ]

They're better than having to cut a hole in your old ones. Count your blessings.

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, THIS IS JOTARO. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 019.20.118.16 * THIS IS JOTARO has joined 019.20.118.16 <THIS IS JOTARO> okay i'm typing now what <THIS IS JOTARO> delete what i just said <THIS IS JOTARO> delete what i just said <THIS IS JOTARO> delete everything i just said <THIS IS JOTARO> make this an automated messa <AUTOMATED REPLY, DO NOT RETURN>** This is Jotaro. Whatever you want, hurry up and tell me already.

IC Inbox | ryslig

ACTION idk dated 8/14. late evening i guess

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here come the benadryl typos

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