as if on cue, six's ears flicker ever so slightly around the same time a sigh escapes him. it doesn't really bother him so much anymore given that it tends to happen with almost everyone he meets for the first time, but it does make him wonder what makes his ears so interesting. ]
... They're real.
[ real soft and warm and velvety, that is. ]
We either go through the process or we're stuck with each other for however long. Do you have any preferences?
[ this is beginning to sound like a business transaction but it's probably better this way, given that they're strangers. ]
I didn't doubt their authenticity. [He has seen many individuals with unusual appearances in his lifetime; he isn't staring for that reason alone. However, better to discard that angle of his interest as inappropriate.] I apologize if I've made you uncomfortable.
[Does he have preferences? More than anything he had discussed last time, with the only other stranger he'd allowed Synchrony with, but far from an unreasonable question. Part of him appreciates Six's courtesy in asking at all.]
... I prefer to minimize physical contact, but in our case, I don't think it can be avoided. Some amount will be required to make the connection possible.
[And here, Itachi extends one slender white hand, black sleeve hiking a few centimeters above his wrist. Burned scar tissue is just visible in a strip beneath it.]
[ six can only shake his head when the apology comes, a motion that's quickly followed by a simple don't worry about it, and that's the end of that discussion.
the burned area isn't something he fails to notice, but it’s also not any of his business to comment on it, not when his own palm is calloused from years of using his hands as his main weapon. he is careful when he tugs off one of his gloves to reveal an equally pale hand, reaching forward to be the first one to grasp the other's. right now they're particularly banged up because of what he'd been preoccupied with earlier on, bruised knuckles and all.
at least his fingers aren't cold, a comforting warmth to curb the awkwardness of this whole exchange. ]
One can only hope this won't take forever.
[ and now they wait.
all the while, six keeps a close eye on the red string that keeps them together. ]
[Clasping that other hand, his own fingers are more chill to the touch, eyes briefly surveying the evidence of damage from fights and worn use across Six's knuckles and palm. He does not feel in any rush, content to let this play out as long as it takes—although the discomfort of Synchrony never manages to fade completely. It requires intention and focus of him in the moment, so Itachi clears his mind, allowing that channel to widen between them, amethyst glowing pale purple in his throat.
His emotions are only a slow trickle at first. Cool, impersonal, starved like a river almost run dry to its riverbed, greater depth hidden like the sheer drop of a cliff at a distance. He keeps red eyes leveled on the Erune with an intense, almost meditative concentration, examining his expression rather than the string between them.
What is it about this person that the forces of this world would tether them together? Or is it random? He won't ask outright, not carelessly, and yet he's driven to wonder...]
[ synchrony will never stop being a source of discomfort for six either. it's worse around people he doesn't know, but at least it means the exchange of emotions isn't as exposing: his own are just as guarded, walls all the way up, a neutral feeling that's neither up nor down. he can't tell if this is doing anything since the strings remain tied to them for now. ]
... Here? It helps me work through the excess energy.
[ back home, he's someone who was always on the go, an eternal meant to fight against the enemies of the skies. being here in noctium is almost like an extended (unnecessary) vacation. ]
I was curious. There seems nothing to gain from these fights, except perhaps a reputation among the locals of this dimension. You're accustomed to combat, that much is obvious.
[Interest that lingers still, red eyes never straying far from the erune in front of him. An individual with a menacing aura about him, suitable for the context of violence—but for those ears and the light, floral scent Itachi notices given their proximity. As someone who looks for these details, it does not escape his notice.
With that thin, starved trickle of Synchrony between them, the red string remains taut, shimmery like a magical vein between them.]
... Perhaps we need to go a step further. [His frown is subtle, mild, lips pinched at the corners.] I have some ideas.
You're right. There isn't anything to gain from them.
[ even though the money can be good, it's not like six is the type of person who needs a lot of it to survive. he's never been materialistic nor does he ever plan to be, so most of his reasons for participating in cage fights is purely for the thrill of it. ]
As for this...
[ his brows knit themselves together, eyes narrowing. it's true that what they're doing doesn't appear to be enough to grant them freedom but how much further do they need to push this? full synchrony with a stranger is out of the question.
[Not a productive reason to be fighting, yet still he does it. The concept is foreign to him but he can make the leap of logic nonetheless; an understanding brought by the world he's come from, built on battle. So he leaves it alone.
The better to confront their current predicament. Either they must somehow work to expand the flow of Synchrony between them by allowing it to run deeper—exposing more depth to emotional vulnerability in the process—or they must discover the other method that will loosen the string. As Itachi sees it, the options are slim.]
We discuss ourselves and our backgrounds and attempt to determine if there is a reason the two of us were specifically bound together. [Conversation, not his strong suit. And less when it might require revealing private information.] ... Or, perhaps, increased physical touch will allow Synchrony to work more efficiently. That has been my experience in the past.
[Red eyes watch the cat-eared stranger, cool and collected despite the proposal.]
[ when the suggestion to offer up more than he's willing to share comes up, six can't help the way his eyes narrow — he understands that their options are limited, but that doesn't mean they have to rely on doing something like this. it's already hard enough as it is for him to open up to someone he actually cares for, so asking him to do it with a stranger...
his answer is clear. ]
The latter. It's the lesser of two evils, wouldn't you agree?
[ it's also just as uncomfortable but it sure beats sharing his whole life story with a stranger. ]
[The lesser of two evils, but not necessarily made easier. Not being under the influence of outside magic, he rarely initiates physical contact with even those who are closest to him; to do so now goes far against his nature. Yet the conditions don't necessarily require anything too intimate.
He's already made his decision even before Six poses that question. A slight incline of his head is his initial response meant to communicate agreement, then seconds of hesitation, and arms are slowly lifted.
The concept of a hug should not be so difficult. Still, for someone who hasn't willingly initiated one even with his beloved sibling or significant other, the act is... difficult. A step closer brings himself into Six's personal space—slight, covered arms closing around the Erune's narrow shoulders—and it happens. The most awkward hug. Between them, the red string shimmers as it tangles into the embrace, slack and hanging loosely.]
[ it's not itachi's fault that the erune's first instinct upon seeing those arms wrap around him is to freeze up like a deer caught in headlights. years of dealing with people trying to steal his mask have left him with little to no trust, especially around strangers, but once his mind understands that this isn't one of those scenarios, he gradually relaxes.
while mentally chiding himself for being so foolish.
he knows that it takes two to tango, especially if they want it to count, so he returns the embrace — just as awkward and uncertain. at least the suffering is mutual and that knowledge alone somehow makes this a lot easier... sort of.
he starts counting down the seconds, not quite sure when he should let go, if he should be the first to do so, but it's because he has no idea that he stays put. the silence between them probably makes this worse but he has no idea what's there to say.
the string hangs much more loosely now, ready to unravel at any moment. ]
[Despite the air of awkward and uncomfortable tension, Itachi prefers the silence. There is nothing easy about physical contact, worse with a stranger—is it comforting to know that Six feels similarly to him about their predicament? Surely it would be more challenging if he had to engage in something like this with a less understanding individual. It feels as though the entire situation has played out without difficulty due to some sense of agreement on an intuitive level. Understanding.
In the space of that silence, it is easier to accept what he is doing in the moment, easier to sink into the pleasurable comfort of Synchrony as he has begun to do with Stiles. Muscles relax, warming into an embrace that is less the stilted thing it began, loosening into something proper. Synchrony becomes more fluid—still small and starved, yet not the uncomfortable stutter it had started, running clear with emotions of uncertainty and interest alike.
He takes in a breath. His eyes drift half-closed, eyelashes low, head drooping down. He's close to those twitching ears. In sudden compulsion, Itachi leans and allows his cheek to brush up against one, to see how soft and warm it is. Just like a cat's.
Suddenly the string between them vibrates, then begins to fray apart, unraveling loose from both of their fingers. Itachi is quick to withdraw and step back. His gaze hovers somewhere near the ground, uncharacteristically discomfited.] ... It seems we've satisfied the requirement made of us.
[Please don't mention anything about how he almost rubbed his face all over your ears.]
[ that single thread of understanding between the two of them might have been the only thing that made this a lot more bearable than it should be. six doesn't want to call it lucky to have the other person be just as uncertain as he is, because itachi could have been so much worse, but he can't deny feeling relieved that neither one of them attempt to go beyond what is necessary.
at least, that's up until he feels something solid nuzzling against his ear. that causes both ears to twitch and flicker, suddenly alerted to the fact that this is happening, but before six can say anything, itachi is pulling away from him. it doesn't register that the string has now completely unravelled until moments later.
a part of six knows he shouldn't say anything. another part wants to know what was that for—? ]
So it seems. [ ... ] Did it satisfy your curiousity?
Itachi's gaze automatically latches onto twitching ears, unable to repress the feelings of nostalgic fondness dredging up in him at the sight. That, and for the first time in several years, he finds himself considering something cute. But he will not say that aloud; he still has that much composure.]
I apologize. My behavior was impulsive and unacceptable. [He definitely would not have done that five months ago; the gembond is a bane.] ... I'll leave you now. Goodbye.
[Time to escape with what honor he may still have.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
as if on cue, six's ears flicker ever so slightly around the same time a sigh escapes him. it doesn't really bother him so much anymore given that it tends to happen with almost everyone he meets for the first time, but it does make him wonder what makes his ears so interesting. ]
... They're real.
[ real soft and warm and velvety, that is. ]
We either go through the process or we're stuck with each other for however long. Do you have any preferences?
[ this is beginning to sound like a business transaction but it's probably better this way, given that they're strangers. ]
no subject
[Does he have preferences? More than anything he had discussed last time, with the only other stranger he'd allowed Synchrony with, but far from an unreasonable question. Part of him appreciates Six's courtesy in asking at all.]
... I prefer to minimize physical contact, but in our case, I don't think it can be avoided. Some amount will be required to make the connection possible.
[And here, Itachi extends one slender white hand, black sleeve hiking a few centimeters above his wrist. Burned scar tissue is just visible in a strip beneath it.]
no subject
the burned area isn't something he fails to notice, but it’s also not any of his business to comment on it, not when his own palm is calloused from years of using his hands as his main weapon. he is careful when he tugs off one of his gloves to reveal an equally pale hand, reaching forward to be the first one to grasp the other's. right now they're particularly banged up because of what he'd been preoccupied with earlier on, bruised knuckles and all.
at least his fingers aren't cold, a comforting warmth to curb the awkwardness of this whole exchange. ]
One can only hope this won't take forever.
[ and now they wait.
all the while, six keeps a close eye on the red string that keeps them together. ]
no subject
His emotions are only a slow trickle at first. Cool, impersonal, starved like a river almost run dry to its riverbed, greater depth hidden like the sheer drop of a cliff at a distance. He keeps red eyes leveled on the Erune with an intense, almost meditative concentration, examining his expression rather than the string between them.
What is it about this person that the forces of this world would tether them together? Or is it random? He won't ask outright, not carelessly, and yet he's driven to wonder...]
Why do you fight here?
no subject
... Here? It helps me work through the excess energy.
[ back home, he's someone who was always on the go, an eternal meant to fight against the enemies of the skies. being here in noctium is almost like an extended (unnecessary) vacation. ]
I have nothing else better to do. Why do you ask?
no subject
[Interest that lingers still, red eyes never straying far from the erune in front of him. An individual with a menacing aura about him, suitable for the context of violence—but for those ears and the light, floral scent Itachi notices given their proximity. As someone who looks for these details, it does not escape his notice.
With that thin, starved trickle of Synchrony between them, the red string remains taut, shimmery like a magical vein between them.]
... Perhaps we need to go a step further. [His frown is subtle, mild, lips pinched at the corners.] I have some ideas.
no subject
[ even though the money can be good, it's not like six is the type of person who needs a lot of it to survive. he's never been materialistic nor does he ever plan to be, so most of his reasons for participating in cage fights is purely for the thrill of it. ]
As for this...
[ his brows knit themselves together, eyes narrowing. it's true that what they're doing doesn't appear to be enough to grant them freedom but how much further do they need to push this? full synchrony with a stranger is out of the question.
at least he's willing to listen for now. ]
What are your ideas?
no subject
The better to confront their current predicament. Either they must somehow work to expand the flow of Synchrony between them by allowing it to run deeper—exposing more depth to emotional vulnerability in the process—or they must discover the other method that will loosen the string. As Itachi sees it, the options are slim.]
We discuss ourselves and our backgrounds and attempt to determine if there is a reason the two of us were specifically bound together. [Conversation, not his strong suit. And less when it might require revealing private information.] ... Or, perhaps, increased physical touch will allow Synchrony to work more efficiently. That has been my experience in the past.
[Red eyes watch the cat-eared stranger, cool and collected despite the proposal.]
Which would you prefer?
no subject
his answer is clear. ]
The latter. It's the lesser of two evils, wouldn't you agree?
[ it's also just as uncomfortable but it sure beats sharing his whole life story with a stranger. ]
Perhaps more contact...?
[ can they survive a hug?? ]
no subject
He's already made his decision even before Six poses that question. A slight incline of his head is his initial response meant to communicate agreement, then seconds of hesitation, and arms are slowly lifted.
The concept of a hug should not be so difficult. Still, for someone who hasn't willingly initiated one even with his beloved sibling or significant other, the act is... difficult. A step closer brings himself into Six's personal space—slight, covered arms closing around the Erune's narrow shoulders—and it happens. The most awkward hug. Between them, the red string shimmers as it tangles into the embrace, slack and hanging loosely.]
no subject
while mentally chiding himself for being so foolish.
he knows that it takes two to tango, especially if they want it to count, so he returns the embrace — just as awkward and uncertain. at least the suffering is mutual and that knowledge alone somehow makes this a lot easier... sort of.
he starts counting down the seconds, not quite sure when he should let go, if he should be the first to do so, but it's because he has no idea that he stays put. the silence between them probably makes this worse but he has no idea what's there to say.
the string hangs much more loosely now, ready to unravel at any moment. ]
no subject
In the space of that silence, it is easier to accept what he is doing in the moment, easier to sink into the pleasurable comfort of Synchrony as he has begun to do with Stiles. Muscles relax, warming into an embrace that is less the stilted thing it began, loosening into something proper. Synchrony becomes more fluid—still small and starved, yet not the uncomfortable stutter it had started, running clear with emotions of uncertainty and interest alike.
He takes in a breath. His eyes drift half-closed, eyelashes low, head drooping down. He's close to those twitching ears. In sudden compulsion, Itachi leans and allows his cheek to brush up against one, to see how soft and warm it is. Just like a cat's.
Suddenly the string between them vibrates, then begins to fray apart, unraveling loose from both of their fingers. Itachi is quick to withdraw and step back. His gaze hovers somewhere near the ground, uncharacteristically discomfited.] ... It seems we've satisfied the requirement made of us.
[Please don't mention anything about how he almost rubbed his face all over your ears.]
no subject
at least, that's up until he feels something solid nuzzling against his ear. that causes both ears to twitch and flicker, suddenly alerted to the fact that this is happening, but before six can say anything, itachi is pulling away from him. it doesn't register that the string has now completely unravelled until moments later.
a part of six knows he shouldn't say anything. another part wants to know what was that for—? ]
So it seems. [ ... ] Did it satisfy your curiousity?
[ might as well call him out. ]
no subject
Excuse me, why are you doing this to him.
Itachi's gaze automatically latches onto twitching ears, unable to repress the feelings of nostalgic fondness dredging up in him at the sight. That, and for the first time in several years, he finds himself considering something cute. But he will not say that aloud; he still has that much composure.]
I apologize. My behavior was impulsive and unacceptable. [He definitely would not have done that five months ago; the gembond is a bane.] ... I'll leave you now. Goodbye.
[Time to escape with what honor he may still have.]