[Open+Closed] We’ll All Float On Okay

[beneathmoonlight]

WHO: Atsushi and you! + Atsushi and Shuji closed prompt
WHERE: Various locations in Recolle
WHEN: 3/3 and throughout the month
WHAT: Atsushi welcoming the groups home, and also getting a much needed makeover.
WARNINGS: None so far



I. Sweet Escape

[The moment Atsushi arrives back in the city he heads straight to his place of work; the Blue Moon Bakery in the Tisse district. He’s had more than enough time to rest up while waiting out the storm in Pesgare in the warm, cozy inn there, and he’s ready and eager to get back to work. He throws on his trusty blue apron and sets to work creating huge batches of confetti cupcakes, chocolate chip cookies, and tiny strawberry tarts for a special surprise to thank all the groups for working hard and doing their best on their missions last month.

He sends out a network-wide invitation for the participants to come relax and enjoy free coffee and sweets this afternoon. Even if they weren’t involved with any of the groups and just happen to be in the area, Atsushi will welcome them with open arms. He’s covered head to toe in flour, but his smile is big and bright as the sun as he greets his next guest to come in the door.]

Ah! Please help yourself! There’s a dessert table over there, and free coffee at the cafe!

II. Exploring

[Atsushi is ready and willing to go check out the new areas outside of Recolle, or even to visit Pesgare again. He anxiously awaits his partner outside of his apartment in Birch Hills, messenger bag slung over his shoulder and wearing some suitable gear for the climate of the place that they’re visiting. Hot, cold, or rainy, he’s prepared for it all! He waves at his partner when he spots them, smiling brightly.]

Ready to go? I’m so excited!

III. Walk Walk, Fashion Baby (closed to Shuji)

[Well...here he is, in front of Shuji’s apartment, nervously shuffling his feet. He didn’t expect to be called out for his makeover so soon, but he supposes he really does need it, and he’s been looking forward to seeing Shuji again, so...

He knocks on the door, lost in thought. He’s really not sure what to expect...]

I’m here, Shuji-kun. Are you ready?

Comments

iii

[thesettingsun]

[Shuji opens the door right away. He's already got a jacket on, and he steps outside rather than letting Atsushi in.]

Ready! Just let me lock my door first.

[At least that's quick.]

We'll be going to the hair salon first before clothes shopping, I hope that's okay. I could cut your hair myself, but I'm not a professional and I want to make sure it's perfect.

[beneathmoonlight]

Hello, Shuji-kun!

[Can he have a hug? He wants a hug...]

Oh, um...sure! Lead the way...

[Shuji looks nice as always. It’s making him blush a bit...]

I’m kind of nervous...

[thesettingsun]

[He's going to get a quick hug before they actually start walking.]

You'll be fine, don't worry. Anybody can look good with the right hair and clothes for their body, and like I've told you, you're naturally super cute anyway.

[beneathmoonlight]

O-oh...thanks.

[Now Atsushi is blushing. He’s still??? Not used to hearing that??? Especially from someone as handsome as Shuji...

Not just cute, but super cute...]

So...where are we going, exactly? Is it a popular salon?

[thesettingsun]

It's the one I usually use for my own hair when I do something new with it. I wouldn't trust your hair to anyone I wouldn't trust my own with.

[It's also moderately expensive, but that's the price you pay for Quality.]

[beneathmoonlight]

Okay! That sounds good...

[Atsushi wonders if the two of them walking along like this resembles a date...

No. He shouldn’t be thinking like that. Shuji has a boyfriend that he’s happy with. Atsushi would never want to be a home wrecker.]

Do you still have the picture of what you were thinking?

[thesettingsun]

[la la la platonic friends]

I have a few pictures saved on my phone so I can discuss options with the hairdresser. Don't worry about a thing.

[beneathmoonlight]

Okay!

[He has faith in Shuji’s taste.

Once they arrive at the salon Atsushi nervously takes a seat in one of the chairs. The hairdresser drapes an apron over him to keep his clothes clean before glancing over Shuji’s pictures.]

U-um...can I see the one you showed me again? Just because.

[thesettingsun]

Sure thing.

[Shuji hands Atsushi his phone to show him that picture, and other pictures if he so desires.]

[beneathmoonlight]

It looks so good...

[On the model. Who knows if it’ll look good on him?

The hairdresser nods and begins snipping at Atsushi’s hair, internally questioning why it was so choppy and uneven.]

Ah...is it okay so far, Shuji-kun?

i

[livingimpaired]

Welcome back, Atsushi.

[ After such a bright greeting, he returns it with a calm yet warm response back. His smile remains the same indifferent one that he always gives people. He acknowledges that while such joy makes him tired that he should attempt to return to how he usually felt about other people's happiness. The happiness born from wanting to do something for others is pure, but --

-- he ends that thought as he steps forward to get a better look at Atsushi. ]

Welcome home. You've done very well and already back to work, hm?

[thesettingsun]

[A question the hairdresser probably doesn't want to know the answer to.

Shuji holds Atsushi's hand gently.]

Getting better by the second. I'm not going to let her mess up your hair, promise.

[beneathmoonlight]

Thank you, Shuji-kun.

[He squeezes Shuji’s hand in return with a shy little smile.

When the hairdresser finishes Atsushi can hardly believe how nice he looks.]

Oh...wow...it’s so nice!!

[He stares into the mirror, almost getting teary eyed.]

I can’t believe that’s me!

[beneathmoonlight]

Shigaraki-san!

[He nods, brushing off a bit of flour from his clothes.]

Thank you. And yes, I couldn’t wait to get back and make treats for everyone!

[He gestures to the table filled to the brim with sweets.]

Please help yourself. There’s free coffee too!

[livingimpaired]

To thank them for their hard work? Or let you know that you have missed them?

[ His head gives a small tilt as he looks over at the table itself. ]

I will do that in a moment, but what we discussed a little online... I do want to say in person that you can use what I gave you however you want. There is no right or wrong way to do it, and to not feel guilty about what you do, either.

[ He feels like if he says it in person that it will too help Atsushi not feel like he couldn't use the money however he wishes. To remove any sort of restrictions that the young man may be feeling, Kei is more than content to say a few words on the matter. ]

[beneathmoonlight]

Both!

[Atsushi is so pleased with himself right now, which isn’t something he can say very often. Most of the time he’s thinking of all the ways he’s screwed something up, but today? He’s all smiles and optimism. He wants that mood to become infectious, after all.]

Oh! Actually, I did splurge a little after what you said...

[He points down at his feet, where Kei will see a brand new pair of red Converse sneakers.]

My old ones were getting holes in the them. Normally I wouldn’t buy such expensive shoes, but...

[He shrugs with a soft laugh.]

Oh! And if you’d rather have something savory, I have a batch of pizza rolls coming out soon!

[livingimpaired]

[ His eyebrows lift before he looks down at the new sneakers, giving a small nod. ]

I think that's a good start, Atsushi. [ Yes, it's just a start. Besides, it is something that he actually needed rather than deciding on acquiring something that he doesn't "need." ]

I'll have something savory, then. [ His own personal bubble is one that few people attempt to interact with; he merely has the presence of someone that another person shouldn't touch freely. That said -- he reaches out to place his hand on Atsushi's shoulder. There, there. The happiness that he has is tiring, but he wants to feel like he once did about the happiness of others; as exhausting as it was for him, he should just allow them to be happy. ]

And are you all right? Not haunted by any terrifying thoughts?

[beneathmoonlight]

Sure thing!

[Atsushi is about to go grab the pizza rolls when Kei places a hand on his shoulder, and while he doesn’t mind in the slightest, his eyes widen in surprise. He didn’t think Kei would want to initiate this kind of casual touch, but Atsushi is really glad that he did, grinning from ear to ear in turn.]

I’m glad you came, Shigaraki-san.

[His smile wavers a bit when Kei asks about his thoughts...]

Ah...well. I’m still having nightmares...

[He glances away with a nervous laugh.]

That’s silly, isn’t it?

[livingimpaired]

It would have been wrong for me not to come when you are trying so hard, and I wanted to give you some [ Kei pauses as he rolls his eyes up, attempting to find the word. His eyes dart to a corner on the ceiling before returning to look to Atsushi's face. ] reassurance that you are doing well.

[ Patting Atsushi's shoulder a few times, he lets his hand drop away and return to his own space. ]

No. It's not silly to be having nightmares. [ He shakes his head once. Looking up toward where the kitchen is, he muses over keeping Atsushi until the pizza rolls burned. The fire alarm would come on among other chaos that would erupt. It would end up ruining all the work that Atsushi had put forth. His shoulders drop as he smiles in a sincere way. ] You should retrieve that which is out of the oven and we'll talk more about your nightmares.

[thesettingsun]

I told you!

[How happy Atsushi is just makes Shuji happy. He gives Atsushi a quick squeeze.]

You look amazing right now.

[beneathmoonlight]

I suppose you’re right...

[Kei really is strange sometimes, like now, when he seems to be forcing the reassurance he’s talking about. But that’s not right, is it? Atsushi shouldn’t think of him that way. Clearly he just forgot the word he was looking for. It happens to everyone.

He blinks a few times. The oven...?]

Oh...OH!! The pizza rolls!! Please excuse me!!

[Atsushi frantically rushes to the kitchen to pull the pizza rolls out just in time, and luckily they don’t look burnt. God, he’s such a scatterbrain...

When he returns with a plate of them he’ll show Kei to an empty table near the cafe before sitting down with him.]

Ah...I think it’s normal to have nightmares, but I think others have had much worse memories than me...

[livingimpaired]

[ Kei sighs, uncertain if it is one of regret, before he walks to pour himself a cup of coffee while Atsushi goes sprinted away to the kitchen. He sips the coffee as he imagines what the shop would look like on fire and decide that his intrusive thinking should stop and end there.

His head lifts when he hears the young man returning. He lifts the cup up: ]

Thank you. It's very good. [ He speaks in a strained voice due to the fact he drank it hot. But that is how he likes it and doesn't mind the slight burn. And so he is in lighter moods as he takes a seat at the cafe table. ]

Does that matter? So what if someone has worse memories than you? Your feelings are still valid, Atsushi. Why do you have to compare your pain and fear to anyone else?

[beneathmoonlight]

[KEI NO. NO FIRES.

Atsushi forces a smile and nods at the compliment; at least he can make a decent cup of coffee, he supposes...]

I...I suppose. [He glances away, head dropping a bit.] It’s just...I’ve heard of other people remembering terrible things that they did...like hurting people on purpose...and I think that I’m lucky not to have to deal with that.

[There he goes again, trying to make his own suffering look trivial.]

The nightmares are fewer at least.

[beneathmoonlight]

Thank you...

[Once he stands up from the chair he throws his arms around Shuji in a big, grateful hug.]

I owe you so much for helping me like this.

[livingimpaired]

Atsushi.

[ He sets the cup down on the table. Folding his hands to rest next to said cup, he pauses to look carefully look the young man's expression over. ]

You remembered having a limb torn off by some unknown supernatural force. You remember walking the streets as an orphan in rags yet no one held out a hand to you in order to ease your suffering. And you remember saving the life of someone who wished to die.

[ His head tilts. ] You may be lucky to learn that you were always a young man that wished well for others regardless of your situation... but your suffering is no less than anyone else's.

[ He shakes his head. ] I cannot promise that the nightmares will end, but I can say in this life you have now that no one would wish for you to shoulder such pain alone. Your life is not so insignificant that no one would help you, if you ask.