August Bonding

[sleight_of_hand]

WHO: Tohru Adachi (with some open prompts)
WHERE: Largely Heropa this month
WHEN: Through the month of August
WHAT: The last two months were hell on wheels for Adachi, and he's determined to focus on work getting his schedule back on track.
WARNINGS: None yet.

[ Early Morning | Heropa Streets | Viktor ]
[ Though he had promised he wouldn't be running away from Viktor that... didn't end up being the case. Once the rains had abated and allowed for him to go back home and recover from his cold, the horror of what he did finally set in. He had kissed a drunk man. If said drunk man hadn't been sober enough to push him away... well, he wouldn't have gone that far, but he certainly would have done a little more than just a kiss. How he felt about Viktor was getting way out of hand, and was definitely probably the reason for 90% of his problems. ]

[ Dammit, why did he have to be engaged? Or why did he have to be so free with his affections? This wouldn't be as much of a problem if either of those weren't a thing. Though as soon as such a though occurred to him, he had to smack himself. He wouldn't want to wish Yuuri into non-existence! Nor did he want Viktor to change the kind of person he was; that was part of what made him so damn likable! Why the hell was this so complicated?! ]

[ He knew he couldn't avoid Viktor forever, but he didn't want the chance of running into the others when he did either. So, Adachi opted for meeting him at the early morning workouts he had been missing out on for various reasons over the last couple months; seriously, if he managed to get through this month without any kind of serious injury, he'd be impressed. ]

[ Adachi stood there awkwardly once he approached, not sure what to even say after over a week of avoiding him. He rubbed at the back of his neck, before sheepishly raising his hand in greeting. ]

Y-yo!

[ Nailed it. ]

[ Night | Heropa Ice Rink | Open ]
Why are you still paying for this?

[ Adachi looked up from where he was writing out a check, raising an eyebrow at the ice rink owner. He was "awake" for once, staring up at him from around his "I rather be fishing" hat. ]

Your friends aren't coming around, you know.

[ A sour look came to Adachi's face at that, and he ripped out the check, slapping it down. ]

Just take my money, and let me get my skates.

[ He was out on the ice before long, blades cutting along the surface as he started on his circles, but he wasn't really focused on it. He really didn't need the reminder that the others weren't around that much, that him trying to learn this was probably going to be for nothing. But, dammit, he wanted to do this; there was so much he wanted to say and didn't have a lot of time to say it, or the words to say it. He had to do this now. ]

[ Adachi went drifting from circles to some attempt at a program, not that it was very much of anything. There was still a lot he didn't understand, especially how things were supposed flow together. Anyone that came in would be able to see he made an attempt at trying to understand, though. A small notebook was sticking out from his dufflebag where he dropped it, with the names of moves and positions along with scribbled stick figure drawings giving an idea of what they were supposed to look like. There were a lot of notes on the margins as well, mostly consisting of, "Hands go where!??!?!" ]

[ He's trying at it! A little harder than he tries at anything else at least. ]

[ Private Communication to Persona Users ]
So uh...

I know there's like.

A lot.

That we need to talk about with each other and all that? But uh... we've all got the same power, and we're all more or less on the same side. It's probably best if we at least prepare ourselves to fight like a team if we need to.

So uh

I'm totally up for training with any one of you guys. I need to find a new place to do it now that my old one's been compromised, but we should try to get to know each other's skills better.

[ He really hoped that sounded sincere, because he was definitely trying to be. ]

[ Wild Card ]
[ When Adachi isn't busy with others, he'll be all around the porter cities working various cases for his native clients. He's up for being stopped for just about anything. ]

Comments

[sleight_of_hand]

Y-you can't just dismiss it like that!

[ Viktor, will you be mad at him for this? No?! Why can't you blame him for something for once?! ]

[fourlevels]

I'm not dismissing it, just ... it might be a possibility. Yuuri only just got here—again—and Yura's been spending time with training his powers rather than his skating so ...

[sleight_of_hand]

B-but...

[ But wasn't this what Viktor did?! How could he be okay with just... not doing it? What was the point of pushing himself to do that whole long routine if he wasn't going to compete?! ]

[fourlevels]

[ The smile Viktor gives Adachi this time feels a little thin, a little too brittle. ]

So it's just something I have to prepared for as their coach.

[sleight_of_hand]

[ It was that smile that killed him. Adachi knew that fake smile from anywhere, and the guilt felt like it stabbed him straight through the heart. He had to clutch at his chest a moment, taking a deep breath to try and get his body working right again, before he balled his fists up. ]

D-don't act like that! I know you're not happy with that, Viktor! If you want to skate, you should skate, regardless of what they're doing, or w-what I...

[ He ran out of energy at that, the guilt hitting him fresh once again. ]

[fourlevels]

[ Viktor takes a step forward when he sees Adachi clutch at his chest,drawn forward by the powerful emotions he had so plainly on display right now. ]

Tohru ... I'm just saying that this place and its effects are unpredictable. We don't know what will be coming our way tomorrow, or on a day there's a competition.

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi took a step back... but there was the end of the sidewalk there. He squeaked as he tried to compensate for the lack of it, failing miserably and falling back on the pavement. ]

[ Ow... ]

[fourlevels]

Ah—! [ Viktor took another step forward himself, looking down at him and offering a hand to help him back up. ] You okay?

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi didn't take it, ducking his head and looking away even as he rubbed at his rear. ]

...m'fine...

[fourlevels]

[ ... He wiggles his fingers for emphasis. Don't ignore the offer, Adachi. ]

[sleight_of_hand]

[ ...Viktor please. Adachi let out a sigh, allowing him to help him back up and onto the sidewalk, but he couldn't bring himself to look at him, or the fact he was still clinging to his hand. He was still in emotional hell, and it showed clearly on his face. ]

[fourlevels]

... Tohru, talk to me.

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi frowned to himself, well aware of the hand he was still clutching to. His thumb stroked at it absently, before he pulled Viktor closer to him, finally looking at him. If he wanted intense, then he certainly got it; the look that was in Adachi's eyes could only be described as that. ]

If you still want me just to focus on you, then you have to return the favor or let me leave, got it?

[ The seriousness in his voice shifted over to something that sounded more pleading. ]

At least... until Yuuri says one way or the other, all right? I can't keep playing this game of emotional chicken, because someone's going to get hurt and it's probably going to be you.

[ At least he was being honest; he didn't trust himself not to lash out if things kept going the way they were going, trying to change or not. ]

[fourlevels]

[ Viktor's tugged closer, the action as well as the words making his eyes widen a little more as he looks down at Adachi. ]

Return the ... ?

[ Then he's frowning, tilting his chin downward to level Adachi a Look of his own. His tone softens though, lowering to almost a whisper. ]

Did you give Mayumi an ultimatum like that too?

[sleight_of_hand]

[ For a moment, Adachi looked like he was finally going to get some relief and understanding from what he was feeling. If Viktor could help him, then everything would be okay. ]

[ And then Viktor verbally stabbed him in the heart. ]

[ Adachi immediately let go of his hand, looking utterly stricken as he stumbled backward, almost falling off the sidewalk. His moth worked, struggling for a reply, but he couldn't get it out. He finally closed his mouth, the pain on his face increased tenfold from what it was before. ]

...no. I didn't even give her that much.

[ His voice was soft, almost inaudible. It was a moment before he ducked his head down, that familiar emptiness clawing at his heart. No, he couldn't stay here right now. He was going to break down. He was going to fall apart, and he couldn't do it here. ]

[ Without a second thought, he turned and ran as fast as he could, not looking back. ]

[fourlevels]

[ Viktor had been still while Adachi backed away again and stumbled, a seemingly immovable object in the face of Adachi's growing pain. His voice was still soft when Adachi bowed his head, just a hint of pleading in his own voice when he opens his mouth to explain what he meant by what he said. ]

Tohru—

[ But then Adachi turns and runs? What the hell?? It stuns Viktor, not expecting such a reaction when Adachi had promised him he wouldn't, so Adachi gets a several-seconds head start, Viktor following after him once the initial shock worse off. ]

Tohru, wait—Tohru!

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Nope. Nope. Just so much no. He couldn't deal with this right now. It hurt; it hurt, and he could feel the Emptiness clawing away at his soul. He could almost feel something shattering for a moment, but he clung to it for all it was worth, refusing to let it crumble. He couldn't have that happen. He needed to keep this, even if it was just... just... ]

[ What was it? He never really got a real answer out of Viktor, and then he had to go and slap him in the face like that. Was that all a lie? Was all the encouragement, all the silly times, the gentle moments, the acceptance... That was all a lie, wasn't it? Why else would he say something like that, even if he was out of line?! ]

[ Adachi wasn't exactly in the most prime of running shape, and considering he was in the middle of emotional hell at the moment, it wasn't helping matters. His legs were wobbling as he struggled to run away, and it was a miracle that he hadn't fallen over yet. ]

[fourlevels]

[ Under other circumstances, Viktor might have let Adachi find a place to calm down; he was so like Yuuri in that regard that he really shouldn't have been surprised by his running away. But under this circumstance, with the way Adachi's expression was burned into Viktor's mind, he just couldn't let their conversation end there. ]

Tohru, will you just wait—!

[ He could easily catch up with Adachi even with his head start, Viktor just that much more fit and coordinated, but he didn't want to physically drag on his arm to get him to start. Slowing down just slightly, Viktor tries to pull up his power in the back of his mind; he's in the wrong mindset to get it to work quickly, having never practiced it extensively since arriving here, but after just a moment or two of concentrating, his feet are just barely hovering above the ground, his skating power kicking in.

And then Viktor kicks off, building more momentum in skating then he ever could with just running flat out. In just a matter of seconds, he passes by Adachi to get in front of him, then he turns sharply to face him, the angle would have sent up a spray of chips and fleck were he actually on ice. He times the turn so Adachi has no time to dodge or turn aside, and he reaches out to grasp Adachi's upper arms. ]

Will you just stop for a moment?!

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi didn't even realize what was happening. One moment, he felt something breeze by him, the next he was being grabbed. His legs stopped awkwardly, very nearly plowing into Viktor as he struggled to get enough coordination together to stop properly. His head snapped up in surprise, tears he didn't even know had started falling staining his face. ]

[ He stared at Viktor for a long moment, like he couldn't comprehend why he was there, before he attempted to shove himself away, his arm trying to snap up to shake him off. ]

[fourlevels]

[ Oh god, not the crying, anything but that. Viktor flinches at the sight, but his grip stays firm on Adachi's arm even when he tries to pull away. Viktor concentrates on that movement rather than the tears on his face. ]

You promised me you wouldn't run away!

[sleight_of_hand]

You promised me you trusted me!

[ Adachi was shouting, he couldn't help it. If Viktor didn't want to look at the tears, then he was going to regret still holding onto Adachi. His tears only increased now that he wasn't concentrated on running, struggling against outright gross sobbing, and failing miserably. ]

[ Since Viktor wasn't going to let him go no matter how much he tried to twist himself, he settled for thumping his fists against his chest. ]

Don't say you trust me and throw something like that in my face! Even if I was out of line! I should be the only one between us that doesn't trust me!

[fourlevels]

[ Good thing Viktor is thick in the chest then. Also stubborn. Though he is actually regretting that just a little bit when Adachi continues to cry, ugh. H doesn't prevent Adachi from thumping on him though, just continuing to hold him by his upper arms. ]

I do trust you! And you trust me too, don't you? It's why I said what I did, because you should know that I don't mean it the way other people would say it.

[sleight_of_hand]

That's not what it sounded like!

[ He thumped his fists against his chest again, weaker this time, before just... kind of folding over in Viktor's hands, too emotionally weak to even hold his head up. Tears were still falling though, rolling down the trails on his face before dripping onto his clothes or the grown between them. ]

I can't handle this...

[ He sounded pathetic and weak; like he was just a few shakes away from completely breaking apart. ]

I don't know what to even do. Someone just tell me what the hell to do...

[fourlevels]

[ The grip on Adachi's arms turn from demanding to something more supporting, helping hold Adachi up so he doesn't fold over onto the ground. ]

That's just the thing, Tohru ... no one can tell you but you. You have to start trusting yourself, to not rely on other people to just give you what you want. That's what I meant when I said that.

[ He squeezes Adachi's arms. ]

Don't fall back into your old patterns.

[sleight_of_hand]

I can't...

[ God he sounded so pathetic. He raised his hands to make a weak attempt at trying to clear his eyes, but his tears just kept coming. ]

I can't trust myself. A ridiculous rumor being false was enough to get me to lose it. I don't want to know what I'd do now that I'm actually in love with someone.

[ How the hell did he even deal with an emotion like this? Fuck if he knew! He was supposed to have had a cute little wife fall into his lap for being a good student and getting a good job. He wasn't supposed to be interested in a guy -- that was already taken no less -- and he definitely wasn't supposed to be falling in love like this. ]

[ Fuck everything; he wasn't just hurting right now, he was in agony. ]