002; elevator of forced honesty

[memefox]

elevator of forced honesty

» POST: a top level for your character(s) » RESPOND: to other characters ICly. your characters are now trapped in an elevator together. » UH OH: neither character can lie. » ADDITIONAL, OPTIONAL COMPLICATIONS: at player discretion characters may also... a. be unable to remain silent when asked questions b. be unable to speak around the truth when answering c. be compelled to reveal truths/secrets unprompted THE POWER OF THE ELEVATOR COMPELS YOU.

Comments

[bottombitch]

I feel sorry for your teachers.

What about here?

[relieable]

[hmm! Osomatsu shakes his head]

Haven't had time to do that yet. I've just been me this whole time.

[bottombitch]

Don't do that to me, okay?

It's embarrassing enough that I can hardly tell you apart as it is.

[ Aoba covers his mouth, his words coming out muffled: ]

...I can't believe I just said that out loud.

[relieable]

[Osomatsu shrugs, seemingly not at all bothered]

If you're havin' trouble, I'll give you a few pointers. For one thing, we usually dress up in our favorite colors! [Osomatsu tugs on his pants] I'm red, Karamatsu's blue, and Ichimatsu is purple. Karamatsu also uses all sorts of flowery language, as you already know.

[bottombitch]

I also noticed he tends to dress a little flashier. And I think he wears cosmetics -- Ah!

[ He said too much again. Just what is with him today? ]

[relieable]

[Osomatsu nods]

Yeeeeah, he does... He sure does... It's super painful. But I've grown to where I don't mind too much anymore.

[ah, that last bit was mostly supposed to be kept to himself]

[bottombitch]

[ Wait. That phrasing is so particular, it stands right out there. For some reason that really reminds him of something that seemed to trigger Karamatsu before. He remembers what he said, those little phrases, strange things that Aoba didn't understand because they were really kind of... out there. Not unusual for Karamatsu to sound weird but these...

They seemed to change his whole demeanor.

'It doesn't bring you... "pain" though, does it?'

'Do not worry, I would never hurt you!' ]

...Have you... ever told Karamatsu that? That it's painful?

[relieable]

Of course! We all have!

[bottombitch]

That's a horrible thing to say to someone!

Don't you realize how much that hurt his feelings?

[relieable]

[oh...

Osomatsu actually takes a step back. what he wants to say doesn't come out. his jaw works but he can't speak for a moment]

...I mean. I guess I realize that. He's got a pretty soft heart.

[bottombitch]

[ Aoba feels so embarrassed having scolded someone like this, so abruptly. It's like his heart is just laid bare. What the hell! This is kinda??? RUDE???

But he can't stop the words from tumbling out. ]

I was a little envious, you know.

'How could anyone be alone with such a large family' I thought...

[relieable]

[hey, now they're getting in deep. Osomatsu wants to stop it, but he can't]

You don't know anything about our family! We all make fun of each other! That's our shtick! We don't mean anything by it 'cause we all really love each other!

[bottombitch]

[ Aoba doesn't think he has any business saying this. This is their family, he should butt out. He should leave it alone. This has nothing to do with him.

But.

But that's not how this meme works, is it? ]

He told me he was so lonely! He said - he hasn't felt like he's belonged since high school!

[relieable]

[the rage Osomatsu's feeling dies down at Aoba's words. then he just looks... shocked.

his voice is a lot quieter when he asks] He... He told you that?

[bottombitch]

[ Aoba's face reddens with embarrassment. This is going too far, he knows it. But no matter how much he tries to swallow down the words, they come up like bitter bile. He nods. ]

Yeah.

...You never knew?

[relieable]

[no, Osomatsu wants to say. no, he never knew. but what comes out is something else, something that he can't believe he's admitting to]

...Maybe I knew. A little. The guy stands alone at the bridge makin' eyes at girls and no one gives him the time of day.

[bottombitch]

Ah, well...

I think that's because he says a lot of embarrassing things...

[ There are so many times Aoba wishes he could walk on by but, needless to say it never works out that way. ]

[relieable]

Yeah, that's definitely why. He says some creepy things, too, an' comes on too strongly...

[and then he hurriedly adds]

But that doesn't mean I don't care about him.

[bottombitch]

I'm starting to wonder if you ever pull back your punches, Osomatsu-kun. But I believe you.

[ Aoba doesn't think he's a bad person. He doesn't think Karamatsu is either. ]

I'm... sorry I scolded you. It really wasn't my place or any of my business... but I couldn't help it.

[relieable]

[yeah, it totally wasn't your place! Osomatsu wants to agree, but a part of him is... glad some of this was aired out in the open? it's weird]

It's because you care about him too, right?

[bottombitch]

Mm.

[ It's not like him and Noiz, not like him and Strider either. Despite the way he embarrasses him, it's... fun. Deep down inside. ]

If I were to put a label on it, I'd... say he's my best friend.

[relieable]

[............

Osomatsu's face falls. he looks. torn. between being happy for Karamatsu, to have earned the fated 'best friend' title.

but he's also jealous. extremely jealous, for a lot of reasons. he brings a hand up to his mouth, breathing deeply while he thinks about this.

for the first time on this elevator, Osomatsu is speechless]

[bottombitch]

[ An uneasy silence falls between them. Eventually, it's just too heavy an atmosphere for Aoba to bear. ]

...

I - [ Aoba fidgets, wanting to shut himself up, but it's impossible. He says in a small voice, just barely audible over the hum of the elevator. ]

You've only just got here, but if you're here then it's because you don't feel like you belong at home either... do you?

[relieable]

[ah... more deep stuff! Osomatsu doesn't like that they are discussing this.

but he can't help the words that come spilling out of his mouth]

...Of course I don't! I don't feel like I belong anywhere. I'm a loser! I'm a shitty older brother who everyone left behind!