Trash Squad Day 4 - ELIMINATION?

[chinhotta]

Mornin', sweethearts? Did you have a good night? Feel any romances start to blossom?

Well, you've got another chance if not! Check your tablets for your dates!

[ The dates this time are: ]

Isuke	Yuri	Aquarium Tunnel
Joker	Sudoh	Art Room
Shirayuki	Hinata	Greenhouse
Shuichi	Avenger	Gymnasium
Niwatori	Reyson	Holding Cells
Sayori	Arianna	Indoor Playground
Ike	Futayo	Interrogation Room
Mikan	Peter	Kitchen
Kaito	Tatsuya	Library
Rin	Sonia	Library 2
Tohsaka	Elizabeth	Morgue
Akechi	Ouma	Nurse's Office
Sara	Akira	Props Room
Allen	Yusuke	Rec Room
Ruler	Persephone	Science Lab
Komaeda	Kiyo	Shrine
Obi	Zen	Wine Cellar

Nice going! Everyone who's still around got a date! That means there's no elimination today, have fun!

...Oh, but Astolfo, Ichigo, and Ranulf have been disqualified for the rest of the game. Don't worry about them, though, geez! They're perfectly fine! Maybe they're even hanging out on a romantic getaway with everyone else! Don't get your panties in a twist. Unless you're into that.

---

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Comments

[flamingprick]

You're really think I belong on it?

[DOES HE REALLY THINK RIN IS HOT???]

[lefthandpath]

[.... er.

oh no.

um.]

Well! ... I can say you do have a nice body, in fact.

[ahaha.]

[flamingprick]

[That.

Wow.

Excuse Rin for a moment there he's actually kind of happy? But he doesn't know how to respond to that, so he immediately goes grumpy.]

You're just saying that to be nice.

[lefthandpath]

[this look tho]

Rin. I don't lie when I compliment someone. That would be rude.

[flamingprick]

[God, he's so screwed.]

Oh.

W-well thanks then, I guess? Nobody's ever called me hot before. Not in that way at least. They always meant the actual fire.

[lefthandpath]

... "actual fire"?

[rin wat.]

[flamingprick]

[IT TIME

Rin has a 'probably up to no good' smile as he motions for Allen to come closer.]

I'll show you, but it's a secret! So we gotta go somewhere secret.

[lefthandpath]

[goes up to, kind of confused but also Rin wat.]

Okay?

[flamingprick]

[Just.

Grabs his hands and drags him off to the greenhouse. Because there's water there in case this goes wrong.]

For this to work, you have to trust me 100%. I won't hurt you, I promise. Okay?

[lefthandpath]

Rin, I'm literally armed with a holy weapon.

[amused but okay, it's cute that you think I'm worried about being hurt.]

[flamingprick]

But that's what I mean: if you do some weird arm shit, you might actually hurt yourself. So trust me, alright?

[He has no idea how demon powers and Innocence will react to each other, but he's hoping that the fact that this won't actually be hurting Allen will be enough to make the Innocence not react.

Plus he'll keep it small, just in case.]

[lefthandpath]

I promise I'll be careful. I know you won't hurt me.

[intentionally...

look, he just. doesn't have much experience of people not hurting him at some point or another, but that's fine?]

[flamingprick]

[...okay that actually means a lot to Rin, that Allen would trust him not to get hurt. And that can easily be read in the fond look he gets on his face. Ask him about it later for Fun Backstory Stuff, but for now there's more distracting things happening!

Rin takes Allen's right hand in both of his, and he focuses on it. After a moment, a bit of blue flames licks up out of his hands, extending to Allen's hand as well. The flames stay only on their hands, though, they won't spread further than that. And the fire doesn't burn hot like fire should. It feels warm, actually. If Allen has any fond memories of sitting in front of a warm fireplace on a winter night, or maybe of basking in sunshine on a spring day, he might be reminded of it. Because this fire is warm in a comforting way. One that's clearly meant for healing and protection, not for hurting.]

[lefthandpath]

[in Allen's case, it reminds him of falling asleep in piles with his fellow Exorcists after a long day. of Mother and Baba's home where Cross took him to recover.

... of Mana.

they're all bittersweet, now, but no less comforting in their own way. this, though, feels like those felt when they happened.

the initial surprise falls off his face into that gentle smile again.]

[flamingprick]

[There it is. There's the smile Rin finds himself searching for more and more these days.

Rin keeps the fire up for about a minute or so, letting Allen see and feel it plenty before it fades away. It's only when the fire is gone that Rin speaks up again.]

Those are my flames. They can burn stuff too, like normal fire does, but I can control what I burn and don't burn. It can heal people too! I can burn away sickness while not hurting the person.

[And the flames can be comforting, he has found.]

[lefthandpath]

... they're lovely. Very warm. Gentle.

[he's... actually kind of sad they're gone now but like. understands that that probably takes a lot of focus and concentration]

[flamingprick]

[Rin's heart swells when he hears that. Not just because it's Allen saying it- though that does help- but because such positive words are being used for it. Only one other person has described his flames as 'warm' before. Everyone else has focused on the much more negative aspects of them.]

They're...I want them to be that. Warm, and gentle. I'm pretty strong, and I like fighting, but I don't like hurting people. Especially not with my fire.

[But Allen doesn't have the knowledge of why blue flames are significant. He can't possibly understand the familial history Rin is fighting against here.

Rin lets go of Allen's hand, but he looks him straight-on as he continues to speak. Allen has to know. He deserves to know.]

When I told you about those restrictions on me, the ones like the limiter on my tail and how I have to get my license? Those weren't put on me because just because I'm half-demon. Half-demons are uncommon, but they're still around. Plenty of them work for the Order with no problems whatsoever. One of my classmates is like that, actually.

I'm...I'm a special case.

[lefthandpath]

[oh.

oh no.

he gets the feeling that he and Rin are far more alike than he'd expected.]

A... special case?

[flamingprick]

[YEAH UH get ready for this Allen. Because it's eerie how much these two have in common.]

Sixteen years ago, something called 'The Blue Night' happened. Thousands of people spontaneously combusted into bright blue flames and died horrible, painful deaths. Many of them were high-ranking exorcists too. Pretty much everyone I know through the Order either saw it happen or lost a friend or a family member in it. Or both. And that was only a small taste of what the blue flames could do.

[He hesitates for a moment, his insecurities setting in and making it hard for him to speak. He's tempted to stop there, to not explain himself fully, just so he doesn't have to risk having Allen become fearful as well. And for a moment, he almost does. His hands drop down and he looks away, excuses and apologies already on his tongue.

But he fights the urge to say 'just kidding' and powers on through it, though the pain and reluctance are very clear on his face. He's bad at hiding his emotions even on his best days, there's no way in hell he could hide anything now. This is tough for him to talk about, and he's already bracing himself for a bad reaction to it.]

There's plenty of fire demons in my world, but they all have red fire. The only demons who have blue flames are Satan and his children. That's why everyone's afraid of me: they don't see 'me', they see 'Satan's son' and think I'm gonna turn on them all and help Satan take over the world.

[lefthandpath]

[... this is the stare of someone who is. maybe a little skeptical for a moment but then, Rin has a terrible poker face and he's so clearly upset that Allen finds himself reaching out with his right hand to catch hold of one of Rin's.

he's finding he doesn't really like to see Rin so upset. someone who's kind and has a lot to give to others like Rin shouldn't be so unhappy, Allen's pretty damn sure.]

Rin. I can assure you. I don't see you like that.

[flamingprick]

[It's funny how they're so much alike, isn't it? Both with a lot of baggage to carry, and yet they end up worrying about others more than themselves.

He's holding onto that hand pretty tightly now, by the way. Because it's hard to get him to start talking about sad stuff like this, but once he gets going it's so much easier to let it all out.]

I'm glad, I really am, but-

[He takes in a shaky breath before continuing.]

I can't always control it. I'm getting better about it, but when I get really mad sometimes the fire comes out on its own. I've got a really bad temper, you know? And I've lost it before, I've hurt people-

[Shit, now his face feels wet. He reaches up and rubs at one of his eyes with his free hand, trying to dry his face. This is so uncool, he probably looks like a crybaby right now.

He tries to smile, but it's not a happy one at all. This is the face of someone who normally ignores his problems and doesn't really know how to handle them.]

Sorry, It's- I shouldn't- You needed to know. I don't want to hurt people, but sometimes I- People probably should be scared of me.

[And that hurts to admit, because all he really wants in life are friends.]

[lefthandpath]

[the terrible thing about Allen Walker: he sympathy cries.

but more importantly, Rin continues to hit on points that Allen understands only too well. things he never talks about and probably still won't even in this place, despite finding someone who does understand that sort of thing so intimately.

he doesn't mind the grip on his hand. it just means it's solid, real.

and makes it really easy to pull Rin into a hug, all the better to keep from crying himself in shared pain.]

[flamingprick]

[If Allen doesn't want to talk about it, that's okay. Rin can do all the talking for them.

It's hard for Rin to be so open like this, and he finds himself easily accepting that hug and grabbing onto Allen to return it. He just doesn't get to hug people that often at all, and every time he does it he's reminded of how touch-starved he really is. He really needs to initiate more casual contact with all of his friends here.

But this is fine for now. They're hugging, and while his face is getting wetter he's doing a good job of keeping himself from actually crying. And hey, since they're not shirtless this time, that means Rin's tears are just getting Allen's shirt wet!

But still, he has to ask:]

You're not scared?

[lefthandpath]

[the laugh-cry of someone who is just astounded to be asking that question now when they're in the middle of tearful hugs.]

I'm scared of a lot of things. But not you. Why should I be?

[flamingprick]

[LOOK. Rin's got a lot of insecurities and he has to make sure, alright?

And that answer right there? That's enough to get him to start crying for real. Because after explaining who he is and why he's dangerous, Allen isn't afraid of him. Only two other people have accepted him so quickly and fully, and he cried on them over it too.

Sorry Allen, he's not going to be able to talk for a moment. But at least it's turning around to something a bit happier? Rin might be crying, but his tail is swaying back and forth in a happy wag, betraying his true feelings right now. This is Too Much but in a good way now instead of a bad one.]