[ He tilts his head in Natsume’s direction to give him better access. He’d like to learn to get them on and off himself as someone won’t always be around to assist, but observing the other should prove helpful to that end. ]
Thank you. [Natsume is very gentle, mindful of the fact that he has some very pointy claws that aren't exactly pleasant to have jabbed into one's ears. But they are useful for making sure all the soft, velvety bunnyear fluff lies the right way and isn't uncomfortably rubbed the wrong way by the ear coverings.
Perhaps he's being a bit too meticulous and taking too much time finger combing Junpei's ears, but Natsume will firmly deny that on weird cat instincts. He also wanted to get a closer look at the neck wounds, tail twitching a bit at the severity of them.] Does it hurt? Your neck, I mean.
[ The attention to his ears actually feels kind of ... nice. He gets a little relaxed from the gentle attention, eyes drooping.
In rabbit hierarchy, the ‘top’ rabbit receives grooming from those beneath them, so the action also makes Junpei feel good in that way, even if he isn’t aware that something as simple as having his ears stroked is helping his self-esteem. He’s a movie nerd not a animal behaviorist.
But he’s pulled from his accidentally triggered reverie by the question about his bite marks, eyes fluttering back open as he is suddenly incredibly embarrassed. He’d been hoping Natsume wouldn’t bring them up. ]
The ... newer one is still kind of sensitive. The other one will ache a little occasionally but it’s happening less and less as time goes on.
[Listen, Natsume had 100% intended to just dump the ear coverings and bolt, but they're here now and he feels...not responsible, per se, but perturbed enough to say something. You pet a guy's ears once and suddenly you're his mom, I guess.
He hums softly, the sound almost a purr, still working the fabric up bit by bit over Junpei's ear.] I'm not going to lecture you or anything like that. It's not my business. I just --
[A short, huffy exhale, tail twitching.] I know you're perfectly capable but I wanted to make sure you. Cleaned them. [Cat brain, again, insisting that Junpei didn't do it right, and Natsume needs to do it again.]
[ The concern surprises Junpei, but he doesn’t take offense. It’s very possible a combination of the loneliness he’s been feeling and the grooming-like attention has made him less touchy than normal.
He averts his eyes shyly, finding an interesting spot on the ground. ]
Someone treated the first one and it was bandaged for awhile. The other ... I ran water over it once I recovered.
[ ‘Recovered’ made it sound traumatic, but it had actually been the opposite. As Ethan had described he’d experienced euphoria from being bitten - he’d been happier than he’d been in a very long time. For a little while the world was beautiful and wonderful and he loved everything and everyone.
Coming down from it and back to his reality had been much rockier. ]
Ah. [If it's possible for a single sound to convey immensely fussy disapproval, that one does it, though Natsume's touch is still impossibly gentle as he finishes smoothing out one ear-covering, even finger-combing Junpei's hair into place around it.]
Would you let me help? You don't have to. [Natsume has to force the words out, moving on to the other ear.] But I'm trying to -- ask permission instead of just trying to. Lick it better, like a cat.
[It's honesty hour, apparently! He really doesn't want to just lick your neck, bro, that's not cool. But also he does. It's a Lot.]
N-No! I mean-- [Yes, but no, but yes? The human part of Natsume is squawking indignantly about antibiotics and sterile bandages and you can't just lick someone's neck oh my god.
The cat part disagrees, firmly, because nobody and nothing else is as good as cat brain thinks it is. This conflicting instinct thing is getting very exhausting. Natsume is bright red, ears flicking, tail twitching, but he somehow doesn't just turn and flee. He finishes tugging the ear warmers on, tying the drawstring elastics at the tops in little bows, staring intently at his task.] It's rough. But I'd do -- what you're comfortable with.
If it’s really bothering you ... I guess I don’t mind.
[ At least he knows this guy won’t make it weird and perverted like Dirk would - he really does seem to just want to help. So Junpei tilts his head to allow best access to the bites, which really is a sign of how comfortable he’s feeling around Natsume. ]
[Oh lord help him. It's definitely not weird or perverted, because it's just loud meowing cat brain, but Natsume is also so weird about touching and being touched that it makes him momentarily short-circuit.
Still, cat-brain wins, as it always does, and after helplessly sighing at himself, Natsume obligingly leans forward and. Just drags his (very rough) tongue over the newer of the bite marks. It's not gentle, because this is about cleanliness, damn it, but it's sort of soothing in a way, repetitive and rasping over the mark, over and over, business-like. He's significantly more intense when cleaning the old mark, tail actually twitching back and forth quickly enough that it makes a whip-like snap in the air, but. We'll unpack that later.
He also doesn't much like it if Junpei moves, even minutely, grabbing onto his shoulders firmly to prevent that.]
[ Junpei was not as prepared for this as he thought he was. Surely, he thought, just licking should only kind of tickle a little.
It does not just tickle a little.
He’s doing his best to steady his breathing, swallowing hard as the texture of that tongue runs along the still sensitive newer bite mark. There’s a small gasp he’s embarrassed he made immediately after making it, and he does reflexively wiggle enough to earn the grip to his shoulders.
He hopes his cheeks aren’t flushing, but he knows they are. He swears his body’s been kind of weird ever since the lightning. ]
[Natsume leans back quickly, pupils very round, though they rapidly contract, turning into slits once he makes eye contact again, which is -- probably unsettling.] Am I hurting you? [It's very patient, less fearful than he normally would be about causing discomfort, because he has a Task To Do and the fidgeting is making it more difficult.
But if it's causing actual pain, he'll stop. Grouchily.]
[ He’s having a hard time articulating exactly how it feels, but he’s not experiencing pain. It’s sending little ripples down his body, and it’s just very ... intense.
His voice cracks as he does his best to steady it. ]
[Natsume's ears twitch a couple times, trying to determine what that voice-crack means. Finally he settles for saying, softer:] I'll be a bit gentler. If that helps.
[He doesn't wait for an answer before ducking in again, one hand cupping the other side of Junpei's neck to hold him still. True to his word, the rasp of his tongue is much less rough, but that comes with it's own problems, surely. Still, he's finished with the newer bite mark, just paying attention to the old one, the tips of his own feline fangs brushing lightly against the reddened flesh every so often.
And then he's done, leaning back and flicking his tail in satisfaction.] Better. Sit down. [Oh, we've abandoned all manners, we're just being bossy as hell now.]
[ Uncharacteristically, Junpei does find himself obeying, slowly sitting himself down right on the floor and looking up at Natsume with wide eyed confusion. The cleaning definitely left him in an odd mental state - and he seems to be waiting for whatever direction the other is going to give next. ]
[Now that the earnest, intent, undeniable urge to clean clean fix it clean has abated, Natsume is much calmer, settling down cross-legged next to Junpei and rummaging through his bag some more. The papers fall out as he does, all of them covered with strange arcane symbols and circles, most of them scribbled out.]
Here we are. [Natsume pulls out actual bandages now, intent on making sure that he's also doctoring Junpei up in a human way.] This'll sting a bit. [God knows where he got antiseptic wipes, but he's much gentler about this part, pressing them against the licked-raw marks.]
[ The papers and their bizarre symbols are eyed curiously, but Junpei doesn’t get to dwell on them long before the more human cleaning starts.
This too, in its way, is comforting to him. Being fussed on a little, having someone’s concern. His mind drifts back to being a child and getting a scrape and his mother treating it in a similar way. The memory of her makes his heart ache.
There is the slightest wince at the sting of the wipes, but he holds still to allow Natsume to continue.
He was just expecting to get covers for his ears, not all this personal attention. But he’s being very agreeable, no sign of his more prickly side to be seen. As if he needed this badly and is actually soaking it in.
The rabbit urge to flop on his belly from being so relaxed is strong, but he fights it. ]
[Natsume keeps expecting to be told to stop, to knock it off, but that...doesn't happen. It's weirdly reassuring, like he's actually helping, and not just because someone is indulging him. He wraps bandages around Junpei's neck, neat and practiced, like he's done this a thousand times. He has. It's different on someone other than himself, though.
Once the bandages are fastened, he sits back on his heels, ears twitching a couple times, before he smiles.] There. Feel any better?
[He sees the papers then, and makes a face, starting to push them back into his bag. There's a book in there too, a handbound, handmade thing, oblong and old. Natsume is rough with the papers, but impossibly gentle with the book, nudging it carefully out of the way.] Sorry, I didn't mean to make a mess.
[ But not because of the bites being treated. His loneliness of the past couple weeks has been gnawing at him more and more, and having someone around has served as a better ointment than any physical thing could.
His attention is turned back to the papers as Natsume collects them. ]
Good. [Natsume looks very satisfied with himself, not wholly because of the weird feline urges either. Being able to help others has been his main goal, to be useful without taking up people's time and energy. To do that for a peer is even more of a triumph.
He'll think about how it involved an excessive amount of licking at a later point, thanks.
The papers get a sheepish look, and for a brief moment Natsume debates lying. But then:] Ah, sort of. They're...protective wards. Binding circles, exorcism circles...that kind of thing. I'm trying to see if I remember how to write them.
[Natsume's expression is cautious, like he's trying to figure out if Junpei actually believes all this or is just indulging him. If anything, he's more nervous now than ever.]
No, not at the moment. But I wanted to see if I remembered how to write these, just in case. Mostly the protective ones.
[A moment of hesitation, then Natsume smiles, a cool, practiced expression.] Probably I'm just being silly, hm?
No. It seems like anything and everything is possible here. Stuff like is probably very much needed. I mean ... there are even magic schools. I’m sure they teach similar things.
[ The question brings to mind one of the last conversations he had in his world.
Come back to the magic school with me. There are strong allies there.
There’s a lump in his throat he has to shake off to respond in an even tone. Natsume had already fussed over him enough today. He didn’t need to worry him more. ]
They do. Though I’m not familiar with these symbols specifically ... there are things called curses and sorcerers who fight them.
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[ He tilts his head in Natsume’s direction to give him better access. He’d like to learn to get them on and off himself as someone won’t always be around to assist, but observing the other should prove helpful to that end. ]
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Perhaps he's being a bit too meticulous and taking too much time finger combing Junpei's ears, but Natsume will firmly deny that on weird cat instincts. He also wanted to get a closer look at the neck wounds, tail twitching a bit at the severity of them.] Does it hurt? Your neck, I mean.
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In rabbit hierarchy, the ‘top’ rabbit receives grooming from those beneath them, so the action also makes Junpei feel good in that way, even if he isn’t aware that something as simple as having his ears stroked is helping his self-esteem. He’s a movie nerd not a animal behaviorist.
But he’s pulled from his accidentally triggered reverie by the question about his bite marks, eyes fluttering back open as he is suddenly incredibly embarrassed. He’d been hoping Natsume wouldn’t bring them up. ]
The ... newer one is still kind of sensitive. The other one will ache a little occasionally but it’s happening less and less as time goes on.
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He hums softly, the sound almost a purr, still working the fabric up bit by bit over Junpei's ear.] I'm not going to lecture you or anything like that. It's not my business. I just --
[A short, huffy exhale, tail twitching.] I know you're perfectly capable but I wanted to make sure you. Cleaned them. [Cat brain, again, insisting that Junpei didn't do it right, and Natsume needs to do it again.]
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He averts his eyes shyly, finding an interesting spot on the ground. ]
Someone treated the first one and it was bandaged for awhile. The other ... I ran water over it once I recovered.
[ ‘Recovered’ made it sound traumatic, but it had actually been the opposite. As Ethan had described he’d experienced euphoria from being bitten - he’d been happier than he’d been in a very long time. For a little while the world was beautiful and wonderful and he loved everything and everyone.
Coming down from it and back to his reality had been much rockier. ]
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Would you let me help? You don't have to. [Natsume has to force the words out, moving on to the other ear.] But I'm trying to -- ask permission instead of just trying to. Lick it better, like a cat.
[It's honesty hour, apparently! He really doesn't want to just lick your neck, bro, that's not cool. But also he does. It's a Lot.]
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[ He’s a little bothered to realize he’s not totally against being licked. ]
Do you have a rough tongue like a cat, or is it still your normal one?
[ It’s a big difference in cleaning ability! ]
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The cat part disagrees, firmly, because nobody and nothing else is as good as cat brain thinks it is. This conflicting instinct thing is getting very exhausting. Natsume is bright red, ears flicking, tail twitching, but he somehow doesn't just turn and flee. He finishes tugging the ear warmers on, tying the drawstring elastics at the tops in little bows, staring intently at his task.] It's rough. But I'd do -- what you're comfortable with.
[Cop-out.]
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[ At least he knows this guy won’t make it weird and perverted like Dirk would - he really does seem to just want to help. So Junpei tilts his head to allow best access to the bites, which really is a sign of how comfortable he’s feeling around Natsume. ]
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Still, cat-brain wins, as it always does, and after helplessly sighing at himself, Natsume obligingly leans forward and. Just drags his (very rough) tongue over the newer of the bite marks. It's not gentle, because this is about cleanliness, damn it, but it's sort of soothing in a way, repetitive and rasping over the mark, over and over, business-like. He's significantly more intense when cleaning the old mark, tail actually twitching back and forth quickly enough that it makes a whip-like snap in the air, but. We'll unpack that later.
He also doesn't much like it if Junpei moves, even minutely, grabbing onto his shoulders firmly to prevent that.]
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It does not just tickle a little.
He’s doing his best to steady his breathing, swallowing hard as the texture of that tongue runs along the still sensitive newer bite mark. There’s a small gasp he’s embarrassed he made immediately after making it, and he does reflexively wiggle enough to earn the grip to his shoulders.
He hopes his cheeks aren’t flushing, but he knows they are. He swears his body’s been kind of weird ever since the lightning. ]
H-hey ... how much more are you going to do?
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But if it's causing actual pain, he'll stop. Grouchily.]
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[ He’s having a hard time articulating exactly how it feels, but he’s not experiencing pain. It’s sending little ripples down his body, and it’s just very ... intense.
His voice cracks as he does his best to steady it. ]
... you don’t have to stop.
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[He doesn't wait for an answer before ducking in again, one hand cupping the other side of Junpei's neck to hold him still. True to his word, the rasp of his tongue is much less rough, but that comes with it's own problems, surely. Still, he's finished with the newer bite mark, just paying attention to the old one, the tips of his own feline fangs brushing lightly against the reddened flesh every so often.
And then he's done, leaning back and flicking his tail in satisfaction.] Better. Sit down. [Oh, we've abandoned all manners, we're just being bossy as hell now.]
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Okay ...
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Here we are. [Natsume pulls out actual bandages now, intent on making sure that he's also doctoring Junpei up in a human way.] This'll sting a bit. [God knows where he got antiseptic wipes, but he's much gentler about this part, pressing them against the licked-raw marks.]
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This too, in its way, is comforting to him. Being fussed on a little, having someone’s concern. His mind drifts back to being a child and getting a scrape and his mother treating it in a similar way. The memory of her makes his heart ache.
There is the slightest wince at the sting of the wipes, but he holds still to allow Natsume to continue.
He was just expecting to get covers for his ears, not all this personal attention. But he’s being very agreeable, no sign of his more prickly side to be seen. As if he needed this badly and is actually soaking it in.
The rabbit urge to flop on his belly from being so relaxed is strong, but he fights it. ]
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Once the bandages are fastened, he sits back on his heels, ears twitching a couple times, before he smiles.] There. Feel any better?
[He sees the papers then, and makes a face, starting to push them back into his bag. There's a book in there too, a handbound, handmade thing, oblong and old. Natsume is rough with the papers, but impossibly gentle with the book, nudging it carefully out of the way.] Sorry, I didn't mean to make a mess.
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[ But not because of the bites being treated. His loneliness of the past couple weeks has been gnawing at him more and more, and having someone around has served as a better ointment than any physical thing could.
His attention is turned back to the papers as Natsume collects them. ]
What are those? Is that a language?
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He'll think about how it involved an excessive amount of licking at a later point, thanks.
The papers get a sheepish look, and for a brief moment Natsume debates lying. But then:] Ah, sort of. They're...protective wards. Binding circles, exorcism circles...that kind of thing. I'm trying to see if I remember how to write them.
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But shortly before he’d come here the world of curses and sorcerers had been revealed to him, and were a very large part of his everyday reality.
He shows honest interest in them, pressing the subject further. ]
Are you trying to exorcise something?
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No, not at the moment. But I wanted to see if I remembered how to write these, just in case. Mostly the protective ones.
[A moment of hesitation, then Natsume smiles, a cool, practiced expression.] Probably I'm just being silly, hm?
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No. It seems like anything and everything is possible here. Stuff like is probably very much needed. I mean ... there are even magic schools. I’m sure they teach similar things.
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He slowly pushes the last of the papers into the bag, then gives Junpei an intent, searching look.] Do they exist where you’re from?
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Come back to the magic school with me. There are strong allies there.
There’s a lump in his throat he has to shake off to respond in an even tone. Natsume had already fussed over him enough today. He didn’t need to worry him more. ]
They do. Though I’m not familiar with these symbols specifically ... there are things called curses and sorcerers who fight them.
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