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[personajesus]

[tonight, there is a teen walking down the street. not that unusual, really. except, this teen is on a mission. he's headed for a certain chiropteran's house, and nothing will stop him!

....unless someone happened to grab him for random conversation. in which case, he would be very well-deterred.]

Comments

[decadenzas]

[WHEN YOU GET THERE he will be...... home.

as usual.

probably holed up in the master bedroom or raiding the kitchen like a night demon.]

that icon

[personajesus]

[WELL IF HE MISSED THE KITCHEN RAID then

he will wander up to the master bedroom and just... knock on the door or something. what the hell man shouldn't your parents have that room]

it's a matching set

[decadenzas]

[they would indeed have that room if...he didn't claim it and threaten them both with bodily harm if they tried taking it back. priorities, he has them.

ALSO, assumes it's one of said parental figures or Shiro being a spazz again. there'll be a grumpy-sounding 'hold on a moment' and the rustle of sheets and book pages before the door opens a crack and he peers into the hallway.]

[decadenzas]

[...and just kind of freezes, expression caught between confusion and 'WHY ARE YOU IN MY HALLWAY'.

definitely leaning toward the latter.]

You--

[personajesus]

[just kind of... gives him something of an odd smile, as small as it is, but it probably comes out looking more awkward than anything. now that he's here he's not quite sure what to do with himself, honestly.]

....Is this a bad time?

[decadenzas]

[and as soon as the surprise wears off, he's quick to fall back on the familiar bitterness of a grudge. it's a bad habit, and one he doesn't plan on fixing.]

If you're involved, it is. [there's a hostile bite to his words, but he doesn't make any move to order Minato away either, curiosity taking a temporary front seat.]

[personajesus]

[he recognizes that tone from their last attempts at conversation, the blatant edge that says that says damn right he's still mad, and Charles has everyone reason to be. so Minato just shifts on his feet, looks downward (almost, almost uncertain) briefly before looking up again.]

...Charles... We're friends. [...] Is there... some way I can fix this?

[decadenzas]

[that...probably wasn't the best thing to say. though his expression shifts quickly into a wide smile, it's by no means a friendly one, and his tone seems to grow even more hostile.]

Oh! That's strange, I wasn't aware we were. [yep, stressing the past tense there, even if he never admitted to their being friends when they were on good terms.] Nor was I aware that anything needed to be fixed. I believe we have already reached an understanding, isn't that so? Unless you're here to take me up on my offer to even things out. [not that he believes that'll be the case.]

[personajesus]

[and his own expression in turn falls as Charles smiles, and into a more guilty look as he speaks. so it really had to come to that, didn't it? you're such a stubborn little kid, Charles, even if you're really an old man deep down.]

...Would you be able to forgive me then?

[decadenzas]

[that causes him to pause again, a short laugh of disbelief following soon after. it isn't in him to forgive so easily, and he certainly doesn't want to accept something like this, because yes, he is a stubborn little kid. just allowing the score to be evened so easily seems like an easy way out to him, and that is not okay.]

That's a heavy word, you know. I'm uncertain if you'd even have the strength to stand toe-to-toe with me now. [he swings the door open further, though, allowing the light from his room to illuminate the hall.] I won't accept if there isn't something of a challenge.

[personajesus]

[something in the pit of his stomach drops at that word, the way Charles says it. it brings back unpleasant memories of England looking worried and confused, bus signs, broken ribs again, and Minato doesn't like that at all. but...]

...I'm definitely strong enough. [he could think of a million ways to provoke him - "I didn't know your weaknesses", "I was toying with you", "I know them now" - but he wouldn't. not ever. that wouldn't help at all.] What kind of challenge?

[decadenzas]

[provocation or not, Charles isn't exactly a shining example of mental stability. the words already spoken and the promise of a chance to even the score against someone who would actually fight back are enough to stir a bit of bloodlust and spur him onward.

he lapses into a thoughtful silence for a few moments, weighing his options. when he speaks again he almost looks like the child he's supposed to be; it would be difficult to pick out any malicious intent in that smile.]

Let's make a game of it! You like hide and seek, don't you?

[personajesus]

[the expression almost makes him sad, if only because it's one that Charles just doesn't wear often enough. but he remains silent until Charles speaks up, frowning only slightly at the suggestion.]

...I haven't played in a long time. [hell, he hardly did those kinds of things as a kid. didn't grow up in the kind of environment where you could make friends and play freely like that. but the implication... Charles wanted a game of cat and mouse?] I do like it, though.

[decadenzas]

[he doesn't wear it often enough and it certainly doesn't stick around very long, either. oh, he's still smiling, but it's a far cry from the childish delight shown just seconds earlier. cat and mouse indeed.]

Good. I'll be seeking this round. [it's almost like he believes there would be a second one.] Does a minute sound like enough time for you to hide?

[personajesus]

[really, he just doesn't understand you sometimes, Charles. why would you ever want to try something like this again? ...though, he supposes, it's probably just part of evening the score, a way to make it feel more like Charles was the one winning this time around; make it seem more real and fix his cracked pride. and Minato could certainly give him that.

it wasn't like he was going to hurt Charles after all, challenge or not; not now, not ever again.]

...did you want to stay inside, or are we moving outside?

[decadenzas]

[he's tempted for a moment to say it makes no difference; unless Minato had regained some rocket shoes or super speed, there was only so far he could go within a minute, whether they were inside or outside.

but there was a chance their game might get interrupted if they held it indoors, and the limited amount of space would make for a lot more property damage.]

Outside. [and without really waiting for a yea or nay, he brushes past teenjesus and heads down the stairs.] I'll count from the porch.