recolle | [closed] how did it come to this

( he's almost begrudgingly amused, but it was easier to laugh at how absurd that story was compared to the rest that Anya's been forwarding. they're not patently believable, per say, but it's enough that he starts reading. he can't stop reading. it gets into his head, and then here he is at night, flinching away from sounds and getting more and more on edge until he gives up and trolls the internet for distractions until he passes out, exhausted.

so he's in better humour (still tired, but that's accumulative) when he says: )

I don't know, sounds rocky for him —

( then there's a sound. a clattering. a clunking? a thud? he's not sure what to quantify it as, only the he hears it and is almost instantly on his feet. surprisingly quiet as the bun-cat (that Yato had forcibly dumped at his door) tumbles off the couch as Yuri rounds off with the kitchen. the currently dark kitchen. it's not even fully separated except by ludicrous half-bar setup; he can see into half of it from here. but the other half... )

Nastenka, stay here.

( times like these he wishes he owned a baseball bat or something. he doesn't even have a crowbar. what he does have is his wooden practice sword from the whole romeo and juliet play. stalking forward, he picks it up from where it leans against the wall by the couch, making his slow, heart pounding progress toward the kitchen. )

[ Sometimes Anya wanders out at night and you gotta follow her to make sure she'll be alright.

And sometimes you get hungry along the way and let yourself into the kitchen of her destination for a quick snack.

Aaand sometimes you aren't as familiar with said kitchen so you have to rummage through e v e r y t h i n g to find the goodies.

Anya and Yuri's chatter is a constant throughout Yato's snoopventures, and he begins to tune them out as he squints at items in the dim. The fridge was lame, so next came the pantry... but even Yuri's dry goods are disappointing. Where are the chips? The candy? All Yato's found so far are some dry rice and potatoes. No wonder why Yuri's such a severe grump. He eats like a pauper from the 15th century, and this is coming from a homeless dude.

Ugh, but Yato is sooo huuungry. He begins to open the last cabinet door -- oops, it's got a squeaky hinge... He opens it slowly in the hopes that the noise will be less noticeable.

Sk... skrrr-e-e-e-e...

Nope. NOPE. Oh well. Yuri and Anya are probably too busy doing whatever they're doing to notice. There's a faint, whisper-dry rustling as Yato shifts to peek into the cabinet. Ooh. Ooh, he sees a shape! He reaches out, grabs it--

-- it's an onion. Yato drops to his knees, his entire being balling up in fetal agony around this shitty fucking onion. Yuri Plisetsky, why the fuck do you only have rice, potatoes, and onions in your pantry. Ugh... This kitchen sucks... and he's still starving...

So as Yuri makes his way to the kitchen, he may hear a veeery low, very deathly moaning. It originates from a hunched shape on the kitchen floor, black from top to bottom. It is, of course, the back of Yato with his black hair and black tracksuit crouched in despair over an onion. So absorbed is he that he won't notice Yuri sneaking along... ]

["Stay here," says the completely untrained 17-year-old grabbing a prop sword and making his way over to the kitchen.

Anya's worried, given all the thoughts of ghosts that are floating in her head, but that manages to get her unimpressed enough to shoot a flat look at Yuri's back. Please.

Stepping lightly over buncat, she's going to be completely noncompliant in the face of realizing that there really might be a home intruder. Some part of her recalls telling Kashuu just earlier that she didn't know how to fight ghosts - but people? She can probably make a decent effort with what Chuuya taught her while Yuri actually calls the police. Which is why she follows behind him with light footsteps, peering around when she hears the low, deathly, pitiful moaning.

... and she thinks it sounds familiar?]

Oh... Is that...

[Oops. She didn't tell anyone besides her mother where she was spending the night, huh.

That prompts her to straighten up almost immediately, skipping over to where she knows the light switch for the kitchen is and very anticlimactically flicking it on, flooding the kitchen with light to reveal the sad shape of a broken man and an onion on the floor. As if her mood also lightened up with the flip of a switch, she perks up and chirps in excitement:]

Yato! [Though upon further examination, her smile turns sheepish... One hand picks at her hair as the other pulls on the dumb shirt with a tiger on it that definitely isn't hers.] Ah, did you not eat again...

[A shake of her head as she's already making a beeline for the fridge, apparently making decisions all by herself to feed her poor hobo.]

Yuratchka, he is голодающий. So hungry! I will heat up the leftovers. Mm, I will bring you lunch tomorrow to trade. Okay?

( To his minuscule credit, Yuri realises he's not the one better equipped to handle this once Anya's up and moving as well. He steps back, letting her take lead... but she shifts body language so abruptly he lurches after her and is about to ask what's going on and what the fuck is that in his kitchen when the lights cut on and...

He ends up pointing and shouting right at Yato while Anya starts talking nonsense. )

What the fuck are you doing on my kitchen floor?! When did you get in here? This is breaking and entering!

( He's more keyed up from being freaked out that he didn't know Yato was there and if Yato had been anyone who is a big threat this would have been really screwed up and even more not okay than it already is. )

Huuuh? What do you mean, you're heating up the leftovers? He broke into my apartment! Why are you feeding him? Nastenka, he didn't even knock!

( That said, he moves toward Yato, only not stomping because the floors aren't thick enough to bear with it and he has neighbors he doesn't need to piss off tonight more than his shouting right now. It's also what gets him controlling his volume after a pointed thump from nextdoor. Okay, okay, he gets it. He's also nudging at Yato with his foot if the guy hasn't gotten up already.

No, wait, he's using his foot to shove against Yato's leg even if he is standing up. )

Yato. What the hell is your damage?

[ Yuri says this is breaking and entering, and Yato gives him a look that says "yeah s o ? ?" Yuri is interfering with Yato's immediate desire to cheerfully greet Anya and thank her for (Yuri's) food, and this is unacceptable.

When Yuri shoves a foot at him, Yato stands and thrusts the onion at Yuri's face, along with a potato from his pocket he apparently took because he was that resigned to eating wholesale potato. ]

My damage? Look at this! This is no diet for a modern teen! Get some fruits and greens in here, you foul-breathed, tuber-gargling period drama reject!

[ He's still being loud, sorry... Except he turns to Anya and. Pauses. At a much more moderate volume: ]

A... Anya, is that a new shirt?

[ She wasn't wearing that earlier... for sure... and where else has he seen dumb big cat fashion hmm ]

[and here is anya, not even missing a beat as she takes the leftovers to the microwave because even though yuri is mad and yato is hangry and there's a lot of yelling, she has priorities]

It is Yuratchka's.

[the shirt. easy.

now moving on.

once the microwave is humming with its job of heating up the food, she's going to stand by the two of them and address yuri's concerns by talking to yato, apparently]

Yato... тихо. Quieter please. [and she presses her finger to her lips to help express the gesture before she tilts her head] Yuratchka is working hard but you are eating his food. You surprised him too.... Неожиданный? We were not expecting company?

[and she perks up, offering a smile to try to convince Yato to calm down]

So say sorry and thank you, please.

[to Yuri, she offers a... slightly more sheepish smile]

Mилосердие...? [which is closer to "charity" but] Ah... patience? Sorry. I did not tell him I was staying over. He was probably worried.

[and hungry.

but that part's probably more obvious.]

( oh, screw this. Yuri bats at the potato and onion shoved in his face, Yato's insult making so little sense other than Yuri knowing it's meant to be insulting and this asshole is eating his food (or was trying, and will be soon, thanks Anya) having earned it not even in the slightest. not only did he not bother knocking like a sane person, he'd raided Yuri's cupboards, made his sanctuary unsafe by violating it without a thought, and now he was yelling at Yuri?

then Anya is talking, and it's one of those disjointed times where he realises how abnormal everything about her is. he loves Anya. he really does.

but she treats shit like this as normal and okay, and he knows it isn't.

pissed off and low-key scared by the fact this happened at all, Yuri handles it like a teenager who's... both pissed off and low-key scared. he reaches up and fists his hand in the material of Yato's shirt at the back of his neck, almost like scruffing a particularly unruly kitten with its needlesharp claws all in raking range. pushing his head down as he yanks him forward, Yuri tries marching Yato straight toward his front door. this isn't a large apartment. not even close. the front door is right there where the "kitchen" more or less peters out into "entranceway." (the change from linoleum to beat-up old wooden flooring marks the delineation.) )

Screw that. He can be worried all he likes. He still has to fucking knock!

( addressed to Yato: )

Get the hell out in the hall and learn to arrive like a normal guest or I'm calling the police, asshole!

( he will do what he can to have dragged Yato over and thrown his own front door open to shove the Technical Adult out into the hall. with force. he hasn't been sleeping and he works himself to the bone: his temper is even thinner tonight than normal for these kinds of antics. )

[ If Anya knew she'd be staying over then wouldn't she have brought her own shirt--

Oh... she's chastising him. Very gently, but still chastising him? He'll stop yelling because she asked him to, and even drag out a sorry and thank you. Or he would, except Yuri's yelling at him, his shirt's getting yanked, and Yato knows too well when someone is trying to bodily eject him from premises...

He doesn't fight Yuri, but Yato's body goes limp and it's all up to Yuri to drag 150 pounds of noodly hobo the rest of the way to the hall, boots dragging across the floor and all. Yuri isn't playing by Anya's rules and?? That isn't fair?? So as Yato mops the floor with his tracksuit, he looks desperately at Anya and holds his arms out to her. ]

Aaaanyaaaaaa...!

[ save him from this rude teenager ]

[that's her hobo

Some part of her heart aches, don't get her wrong. She looks sad as Yato reaches out to her and. To be honest she follows along just so that she can hold his hands.... she's so easily played... but at the same time - ]

It is not my house, Yato...

[and getting yuri to listen to her is literally a coin toss anyway. so she squeezes his hands up until the moment that he's juuust about at the door because she realizes that there miiight have to be a chance that she'll ask yuri to let him back in]

Yuratchka is fair. [moody. but fair.] Ask nicely. Say sorry. And thank you. And please.

[aaaand she will... try her best from her end.... which might also be the grand strategy of asking nicely, saying sorry, thank you, and please]

Oскорблять... Please do not insult each other anymore....

[and that goes for both of them, coupled with the saddest kitten eyes she's got. these are two of her favorites?? why can't they all get along

the microwave dings softly in the background probably]

( Yato, only you care about the fact Anya is holding your hands while wearing Yuri's shirt, okay. also, when did Yuri become the Dad Friend. he turns a blind eye to the fact Anya remains as easily played as ever; he's hypocritical enough to call it out, unfortuantely, but fortunately he's hauling deadweight in his literal arms at this point, so hefting Yato along takes up most his concentration. meaning Yuri has to actually exit his own apartment to offload Yato into the hall, absolutely scowling.

so when he dumps Yato there, he nudges him with his foot, tipping his chin up and staring down at him over the length of his nose. no... no, he's definitely just lightly resting his foot on Yato. )

Knock. And I'll consider. Letting your law breaking ass in.

( consider his foot the pseudo-gentle shake of Yato's shoulder for emphasis before he's whirling around and stomping back to his apartment, swiftly (but quietly) closing the door behind him.

Anya gets an unimpressed look. he's not happy with her being a loving doormat today. he's not feeling like being cajoled. he's pissed as he hears the microwave ding; the only upside is there's too much anger and low-key fear directed at very tangible realities that the whole creepypasta fiasco is firmly out of his head. )

Anastasia. However you treat people in your house is between you and your mom. It's not my business. In my house? People announce themselves when they arrive before they're fed. Then they're fed.

( that said, he's laid down his rules with both Anya and Yato. it's not that people stopping by unannounced is bad. it's not bothering to be honest about it when there's no need for secrecy (is Yato being stalked by the mafia or is he just insulting Yuri's kitchen because he's stalking Anya) and no friendship between Yato and Yuri to rely on.

Stone Cold Ice Tiger in the House. )

[ Anya lets go of his hands and Yato is?? sad?? Normally, he'd drag himself away from this incident and mope over a drink or late night snack. He didn't really care about being inside and he can ultimately find food elsewhere. But now Anya is sad too and that doesn't sit well with him... Her sorrowful kitten eyes haunt him even as he lies on the floor outside.

This is his fault... Yuri is still a rude jerk with a shitty lame-ass kitchen and also an impractical tryhard emobang, but Anya would not be sad if Yato hadn't come by. He owes it to her to at least attempt to get back in.

So... after a lengthy pause, in which a passerby pauses uncertainly before tip-toeing around this teary-eyed hobo and his loose onion and potato on the floor, Yato reaches over to the door and knocks.

Knock...

Knock.........

and yes he's still on the floor ]

Ana—

[Anastasia.

That's her.

You can probably see the echo going on behind her eyes in a haunting repeat. Anastasia. Anastasia. Anastasia. Anastasia....

Anya happily ignores 98% of rules when it comes to how Russians address each other and other people - she's bizarre by their standards, going straight for diminutives upon first meeting and shamelessly using pet names without reservation but. That's her ignoring it. It's not a lack of understanding - not now that she has the fluency under her belt. No one calls her Anastasia unless she's in Very Big Trouble.

Yato can probably hear her distressed tone through the door.]

Yuratchka, don't be mad.... [nOT THAT MAD even as her shoulders droop and her head bows - which culture is she adhering to for body language we just don't know] I am sorry. He was hungry.... Hепроизвольный... My body moved on its own. It would be the same for Davenka or you but - Anya will try not to do it again.

[but at least there's a knocking???

even as her head is still trying to wrap around it

Anastasia.]

( Tonight we've learned a few valuable lessons. One, Yato won't run away from problems if he thinks he's made Anya said in the context of that problem. Two, Anya being called by her proper name does merit the reaction he knew it would. Three, her distress actually bothers him.

But she's not right.

And he's firm in that belief, even though he sighs and shoves a hand through his hair, looking at her. )

You have no self-preservation instinct! Anya — Nastenka — the things you allow like this aren't okay. Breaking into people's places isn't normal. That's not safe. Maybe this Yato asshole isn't a criminal, but you just don't stop to think and it's...

( Upsetting. He drops his hand away from his hair, eyes flicking to the door. He hears the knock. Part of him wants to ignore it, but it's a selfish, petulant part of himself. He knows he's ultimately capitulating to Anya's whims as well as his own word. It still grates. Just not enough to spite himself and her for the hell of it. He sighs, feeling all his exhaustion catching up after the adrenaline rush of finding a home invader Anya knew. When he holds out an arm and pulls her into a half hug just to get her to stop looking like a kitten in a tropical storm, he's officially done with all this tonight.

Somehow this really has all been Anya's fault. He can't find it in him to resent her for it; she was and remains the first person to reach out and flat out insist they're friends. He's dumped snow down her back (you're welcome), lured her off collapsing balconies, and also had her point out things he's missing because he's too focused on other goals. It's all that in his head, flicking around, as he tucks her in against one side and opens the door with the other hand. Yato gets a glance and a frown; Yuri grimaces, chin tucking in defensively. )

You can come in, Yato.

( No room for hesitation. He has to mean what he says, and stick with his word. His grandpa would be irritated with him otherwise. Besides... food's waiting in the microwave for Yato, apparently. )

And eat.

( B E G R U D G I N G L Y )

[Well. Yuri's right.

Anya's open-hearted enough to the point of carelessness, reckless with her own well-being, and way too trusting for her own good. It's a good lecture for her to have and she's internalizing it, she swears. There are gears whirring in her head to memorize this moment because it's Important.

But so is the fact that he called her Anya before sliding right back home to Nastenka. Then he pulls her into a half hug which she answers by clinging onto him as if it'll make the heartache of being called by her proper name go away. It's why she has nothing more to offer than a softly wailing:]

Yuratchkaaaaa.

[which will surely be muffled into his shirt as she buries her face in his chest with how goddamn clingy anya's hugs are when she's upset

she will remember yato and his leftovers in a hot second. rip]

[ The door has opened and that's great, but as Yato stares up at Yuri with Anya tucked against his side and her face in his (scrawny) chest, Yato sees a terrible vision.

What the fuck happened while he was outside. That was like thirty seconds, tops. Yato rolls over and pushes himself up so that he can thrust a bewildered finger at Yuri. No more time for tears, only righteous indignation. ]

Oy! What happened here?! Did you say something to upset her?!

[ Yato does not understand the concept of staying on non-Anya people's good sides... ]

( But are they riding a tiger, Yato. Are they riding a tiger.

He's fed up with what he takes as Yato's blatant tendency toward melodramatics and manipulation at this point: to go from the crying mess to righteous indignation? His opinion's sinking lower...

Mostly because he would still love to believe adults have anything put together. He knows often enough they don't.

It's still disillusioning. )

Did you ever stop to think what you were doing could be upsetting, or is that as impossible as finding your dignity while you were crying crocodile tears on the floor?

( His foot keeps the door propped open, staring down at Yato with his expression showing more of his exhaustion than his distaste. It's uncomfortable having Anya's face pressed into his chest; it's almost a performance with Yato staring, and he doesn't like being put on stage when he's firmly off it. At the same time, he knows that's an irrational response.

His arm tightens around Anya's back as he sighs, not quite able to tell her it's okay. He settles on telling Yato: )

Get in or get out.

( Which is a snippy statement, and equally as obviously tired. )

[This adult in particular does not have anything put together, Yuri.

Still, Anya looks up when Yato's there accusing Yuri of making her upset (which is true, the power of a name is terrifying for Russians apparently) and she's pouting almost immediately as the bickering continues. At this point she can tell that reasoning with Yuri will probably be way too difficult until he relaxes some more, so she'll instead try with Yato, reaching out with one hand so that it covers his and gently tries to push it away from Yuri before he tries to bite it or something]

Yato... It is okay. Anya is okay. [how often does she have to reassure him of this. still, she lets her lips curl into a small smile to try to prove it] Yuratchka and I are okay, too.

[she thinks? hopes??]

But ah - I put food in the microwave for you. Закусить? Eat please?

[and then she glances up at Yuri, offering the same tentative smile:] I think I have snacks in my bag - we can all munch munch together?

[onomatopoeias are her favorite. also maybe if he's eating too then there won't be room for anymore rudeass insults]

[ Yato's tears are too real but it's nice of Yuri to think that Yato could possibly be put enough together to fake them... melodramatics and manipulation on the other hand are too spot on...

And as always, Yato can't not be pacified by Anya's peacemaking. He bristles at the comment on dignity and crocodile tears, but Anya's hand is gently pushing his and she's saying she's okay, so he purses his lip and stows his retort away. Who needs to get into it with a little snot like Yuri anyway?

(Yato... Yato does...)

And since Yuri has so kindly offered, Yato saunters back into the apartment like it's his own. He treats every apartment like it's his own... But without looking back, as he makes for the microwave, he swallows his pride and throws out: ]

... Sorry for breaking in! And thanks for letting me back in.

[ not actually sorry about breaking in

but look he's making an attempt ]

( he's never met a spontaneous crier before, Yato, please? let him live?

Yuri barely manages to not slam the door, and that's mostly because Anya's still right there and it's late enough he doesn't want to send his neighbours into bitching fits at him right now. instead he glares at the back of Yato's head: )

This was your second and last chance.

( on breaking in. he's calling the police next time; Yato doesn't have his regard, nor is he gaining it right now, acting like he is. though he knows there are peacekeeping measures Anya is pushing herself toward...

... and makes himself stop trying to cater to that, no matter how fond of her he is. people have to get along or not on their own. he's let Yato back in.

he doesn't have to say you're welcome. he's not. he's not welcome. he hasn't earned that regard. )

Don't forget that.

( he is going to gently extricate himself from Anya and head back into the living area. he tosses the buncat onto the couch again, picking up his phone to check for messages and tossing it back on the couch when there's nothing grabbing his attention. )

[there go her favs.... butting heads like only a grouchy teenager and a petty hobo would. but anya's just going to shake her head a little bit - this is good enough for now - before she also wanders back to the couch to check her phone. best not to make sure that chuuya isn't about to try to barge in too. she doesn't look at it yet though.

she just carries it with her in one hand (and tucks a little box of pocky under her arm) before she walks over to the kitchen and reaching out to hold onto yato's hand and give it a squeeze along with a smile. briefly, just for him:] Thank you. I know you did not mean harm.

[proving that to yuri is another thing.

still she's blinking even as she finally checks her phone and finds herself frowning.]

More creepypasta....? I have to read and send again?

[well it's not that bad. she's actually hard to scare.

other people in the room, however....]

[ Yato is being vaguely warned and/or threatened but lo and behold sometimes he does learn, because he takes Yuri's comments without retort. But it's not like he'd want to come back to this godless food purgatory anyway!!

Besides, there are more important things here. Like 1) the leftovers (what even is this) and 2) creepypasta? He rescues the food from the microwave before sidling over to Anya and snooping over her shoulder. ]

What is it? Anything juicy?

[ Creepypasta is dumb and he has no fear!!...... ]

( Yuri looks up from where he's half sprawled on the couch, frowning. He leans in to catch sight of whatever one it is this time. )

A whole new one?

( Implying there's old ones, but really, if this is more then it's been an ongoing thing for several people. Not one of the glitches Yuri's run into himself, but he's getting all sorts of other little quirks. His eyes flick to Yato. )

You're not one of those people who like these things read out loud, are you?

[A whole new one. Anya's already reading over it - she's gotten slightly faster at reading English over the month to try to keep up - and she's humming softly to herself even as her eyes flick up to glance between Yato.

And Yuri.

And then back down at the creepypasta.]

... I do not know if we should read it out loud.

[they should.]

Read it! What's the harm? Don't tell me you guys get spooked by stories on the internet.

[ He whips a pointed look over at Yuri. Why don't you want it read out loud, bro?? ]

( NO. THIS IS TERRIBLE. THIS IS WHAT TEEN DRAMA IS MADE OF: HORMONES AND PISSING CONTESTS. And Yuri is not above either so he slowly sits up and leeeans over to read what's on Anya's screen.

It can't be too bad, right? )

It can't be worse than that serial killer one with the dog and the licking and the... you know.

( The Everything, essentially. )

[ . . . . uh-huh. Anya just looks away from Yuri briefly at that, mumbling quietly:] ... I said I was sorry...

[But Yuri also said that he wasn't scared of creepypasta so! You know!! That's how we ended up here. Still, she'll look over the story since she's pretty easily led around. It can't be too bad, right? Since now she's here to make sure that no one gets too scared. Yep. That's her role.]

Hmm... It is called Bedtime.

[She speaks out loud as she scrolls, her eyes reading over the words and trying to relay them as she can. Maybe in bits and pieces it will be less scary for Yato and Yuri to hear?]

It is a little boy - "Bedtime is supposed to be a happy event for a tired child; for me it was terrifying."

At 8 years old, he moved into a new room of his own. Without his big brother. The little boy stayed in the back room of the house, a long room with a place for a bed and drawers. Nothing out of the ordinary but... mm. Light did not reach that room.

He was given the old bunk bed, excited for the top bunk. But on the first night, he kept looking to the bottom bunk. Empty. But something was moving? Like it did not want to be seen. Still, he went to bed.

But when he woke up, something was moving.

[Her lips purse even as her eyes continue to read through the story and she furrows her brows.]

Mm... the rest of the house was silent. But there was a noise that woke him up. The noise was the rustle of bed sheets. The door was shut. It was not the cat. Maybe his mama checked on him and the cat snuck in? Maybe that.

Except he turned - and the rustling stopped. "The disturbed sleeper began to toss and turn violently." Scared, the boy cried out for his mother. But even as he called for his mama, the tossing and turning got worse. It scraped against the wall. He did not want to jump down. The thing would grab him.

It stopped when his mama came in. She slept in the empty bunk.

It happened again... it kept happening. The turning of bed sheets and a wheezing noise. Ghost? Nightmare? The little boy is not sure. It moves to grab him, tries to get him from the bottom bunk. The bed scrapes along the wall with the force. The thing is angry. But it is gone when his mama comes to see him.

Soon, his mama has to take care of his grandma. She cannot sleep in the bed with him. So the little boy changes the bunk. He moves the sheets away and puts a desk in the bottom space. He tells his papa he is making an office, but he does not want to give the thing a place to go.

When he wakes that night, there is no rustling. But the intruder is in his bed.

Winter is long and his mama cannot come get him. It wheezes and lays on top of him. Still, he tried to escape. He tries to remove the blankets but when he does, he feels something. "Something smooth and cold." Then it is trying to grab him, squeezes his shoulder, even though the sun is becoming to come up. It pokes its head out from the blankets and it is cold and rasping. Wheezing. There are fingers around his neck.

... and then he hears his papa calling him for breakfast. The little boy moves the bed away from the wall. He hears the wheezing from inside the wall, calling for him.

His parents later gave him the larger room. They took his old room. They moved out of the house 11 days later.

[ . . . she tilts her head after she is done with the story. She didn't bother to look up to see Yato or Yuri's expressions, though they were free to read along with her as she scrolled. Then she hums softly.]

... Eight out of ten?

[what scale does she even use]

[ A story about bedtime... okay good good, classic nightmare fuel. Rustling and wheezing, nice. Yato is on board, it sounds like this story has promise!! ]

[ OH SHIT the thing's on the boy!!!! Creepy as fuck!!

Yato's totally engrossed, leaning in as the climax unfolds. What's gonna happen...?! ]

[ Oh the parents chickened out. Pbbbtttt. He leans back and crosses his arms, disappointment settling on his brow. ]

Five out of ten! If they were so scared, they should've invested in a night light. Or at least kept a knife under the pillow! I call that weak parenting.

[ Stab the fuck out of that shitty ghost, what does it think it is. ]

( Yuri absolutely has not managed to find a pillow and hug it to his chest without having thought about it, reading over Anya's shoulder and hunching his shoulders a little more as time goes on. having an active imagination sucks when he can feel this happening; when he thinks about being alone and unable to move, unable to cry out, unable to break free.

there's logical reasons, of course. there have to be. it's not like ghosts are, um... )

I wonder if he was just having night terrors. Which are creepy as fuck, but it's not like a ghost or anything worse.

( he's not sure what's worse. he's not really game to figure out. though he gives Yato a look like he can't quite believe... )

Okay, but what if the night light didn't work? What if the knife under the pillow got used when the kid couldn't move? Wouldn't the fear of that be pretty shitty?

( Yuri you just said there was no ghost involved now you're talking about a ghost shanking a child while partly ducking behind Anya's shoulder. which. he's going to pretend he didn't just do. )

[ . . . Yato would give his kid a knife? Or a night light. Yato would make for such an interesting father.

Yuri also trying to explain it away with night terrors is Something.]

... Maybe do not leave you two with children.

[That's just her quiet little mumble before she sends this creepypasta - it's going to Dante, yup - before she actually gets around to checking her text messages and snapchats. Her free hand that isn't occupied on her phone is just going to gently pat Yuri on the shoulder.

There there, Yuri, you're safe.]

[ OH SHIT Yuri is right... The ghost might turn the knife on the kid. Sneaky, ghost... So alarmed is Yato by this revelation that he doesn't even notice Anya's comment. ]

Glue some salt on the knife! It won't be able to touch it then!

[ Just then, Yato's phone dings with a notif. He digs it out of his pocket, glances at the message, and-- ]

... I got one too! I'm gonna read it!

[ Why does he look so surprised at his own declaration ]

( Yato gets a disgruntled glare from beyond Anya's shoulder (thanks, Anya, even if they'd both be wrecks faced with actual ghosts, at first) to grouse: )

If salt keeps them away, why not do a ring around the bed? The hell...

( while he tenses up by Anya's side. he doesn't need to hear another of these, let alone from someone with perfectly easy english. unless Yato tries telling this one in Russian, which would be impressive on the spot translation. that? Yuri is here for. )

What is this, story time? You had to send them on, not read them...

( he's one step removed from whining. this is galling enough he straightens up where he sits and tries scooting away from Anya. he's Got This. )

Fine, whatever, you do you.

[oh god dammit

she immediately finds this concerning, switching between concerned looks to Yato to turning to Yuri and reaching out to snag his sleeve]

Yuratchka, did you forget why Anya is sleeping over -

[because of your bravado. male pride is so stupid. she would say this if she had the words for it.

and yet she's also turning to Yato and probably already too late]

Um Yato maybe n—

[JUST KEEP GOING]

[ Yato is as single-minded as a man presented with a mysterious big red button, so as soon as Yuri says for Yato to do Yato, Yato's doing Yato. Sorry Anya, he just isn't listening...

He reads in a somber voice that seems to succeed in spooking even himself out: ]

"There was a hunter in the woods, who, after a long day hunting, was in the middle of an immense forest. It was getting dark, and having lost his bearings, he decided to head in one direction until he was clear of the increasingly oppressive foliage. After what seemed like hours, he came across a cabin in a small clearing. Realizing how dark it had grown, he decided to see if he could stay there for the night. He approached, and found the door ajar. Nobody was inside. The hunter flopped down on the single bed, deciding to explain himself to the owner in the morning.

"As he looked around the inside of the cabin, he was surprised to see the walls adorned by several portraits, all painted in incredible detail. Without exception, they appeared to be staring down at him, their features twisted into looks of hatred and malice. Staring back, he grew increasingly uncomfortable. Making a concerted effort to ignore the many hateful faces, he turned to face the wall, and exhausted, he fell into a restless sleep.

"The next morning, the hunter awoke. He turned, blinking in unexpected sunlight. Looking up, he discovered that the cabin had no portraits, only windows."

( male bravado dies very slowly. very, very slowly. much like Yuri lets out his held breath, shuddering at Anya's side, next to impossible to hide from her for all he keeps the physical manifestation from showing much further than his initial shudder.

he glances toward the window. nothing other than their faces reflect back; lights outside are just far enough away to make the light from inside better at reflecting than allowing them to see through. )

What kind of creepy cult cabin did he wander into? If they were so pissed at someone staying there for the night they could have said something, geez.

( he says this, still ducked by Anya. he's. going to scoot a little closer because he's closer to the window. not that on this floor anyone will look inside.

unless someone does. )

Edited 2017-04-29 08:05 (UTC)

[Given Anya's tendency to watch the people she likes the most very, very closely - she doesn't miss the way that Yato seems to give himself chills or how Yuri continues to duck and worry. Why are they like this... Why do they insist...

Automatically, she reaches for Yuri's hand -

Physically pauses. The moments where Yato seemed unhappy whenever she held onto a boy's hand flash in her mind's eye.

Thinking better of her current course of action, she instead moves to just link her arms with Yuri entirely. Yeah. Makes sense. Solid substitution. She pats his arm reassuringly before putting her focus back on Yato.]

... Yato, do not try to sleep in cabins please.

[is that what she got from that story]

[ It's true. The dudes should've just come in and killed the guy if they were so pissed. Staring is just rude. ]

Maybe it's like when you hate someone's guts, but you still understand their position so you cut 'em a little slack. That, or they were really resentful pushovers.

[ Maybe that story was a little dumb after all. Still, he immediately forward it to Mikoto.

Meanwhile, he glances at Anya linking arms with Yuri. That's. Fine he guesses. Yuri's looking a little spooked (hahahahahaha) and the alternative is them holding hands so this is a much safer route...

... And already he gets another text. Like a real hobo with no impulse control, he immediately starts reading it out loud without asking if anyone wants to hear it. ]

"I've been lying down for hours now. It's 5:35AM and there's not much I can do. You know what the worst part about my situation is? I’m in the same room with my parents. They keep looking at me, and I can’t help but look back and try not to cry or scream. Their eyes are focused on me and their mouths are wide open. There’s the strong scent of blood and I'm paralyzed with fear.

"Here’s the thing. The second that I make any hint that I’m not asleep anymore, I’m completely fucked. I will die and there’s nobody around to save me. I've been trying to think of a way out but the only idea I have is to rush for my bedroom door, run outside the front door, and scream for help, hoping any neighbors hear me. It's risky, but if I stay here, I'll surely die. He's waiting for me to wake up and see his masterpiece.

"You're probably wondering what's going on. I do get ahead of myself sometimes.

"About three hours ago, I heard screaming from the other side of the house. I got up and went to check on the noise and I realized that I had to use the restroom. Instead of doing the smart thing and investigating, I used the bathroom first. I could've gotten myself killed right then for my stupid actions. But I actually did my business and took a peek outside the bathroom. There was blood on the carpet. I got very worried and ran back to my room and hid under my sheets like the wuss I was. I tried to convince myself to go back to sleep, that it was just some really vivid dream or something.

"I heard my bedroom door open. Like the terrified child I was, I peeked from under my blankets to see what was going on, I could see something dragging my dead parents into the room. Whatever it was, it wasn't human, I can tell you that. It was hairless, with no eyes, and no clothing. It walked like a caveman, with its back slouched as it dragged my parents. But this thing was much smarter than any caveman. It was aware of what it was doing.

"It propped my dad up on the edge of my bed, and made him face me. Then, it sat my mother down in the chair and positioned her towards me as well. After that it started rubbing its hands on the walls, staining them with blood, and then drew a circle with a pentagram in it. To finish it off, it scribbled a message on the wall that I couldn't read in the darkness.

"It then positioned itself under my bed, waiting to strike.

"The scariest thing is now, my eyes have adjusted to the darkness since then and I can read the message on the wall. I don't want to look at it, because it's terrifying to think about. But I feel the need to see, before I'm killed.

"I peek at the creature's masterpiece.

"'I know you're awake.'"

[ OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. He slaps a hand to his cheek. The author is so dead!! ]

( this one seems to bother Yuri less, a little less possible. the more human the monsters are, the more subtle and insidious the horror, the more it crawled under his skin, making it impossible to sleep at night. this?

this kind of pisses him off. that kind of deliberation, the fact the whole thing is set up as a story that never could have been told unless the kid lived, the murder of his parents... )

What the hell kind of story is it if the kid is dead from the start?!

[here is anya, positioned between two manchildren

and she's just going to wince faintly even as Yuri yells, her arm around his tightening just a bit from her being startled

aaaand since apparently this one spooked yato instead, she's going to go ahead and reach out to his shoulder too]

So many scary stories before bed... Yato does not have work in the morning?

[she's got a set up on the couch calling her name but she can't leave these two ~~idiots~~ of her dearest and most important friends alone????]

[ Yuri!! God!! ]

The kid texted his story while he was under his blanket, obviously! It makes more sense to let the world know while you still can!

[ COMMON SENSE!! What else is there to do when a weird monster thing is lying in wait for you... This is like when people in horrors leave super long detailed notes for protagonists to find, but in smart form!

Anya has a point though, and Yato pauses in the middle of also sending this story to Mikoto. ]

I do have work, but...

[ He kind of doesn't wanna sleep by himself at the moment... ]

You guys are having a sleepover, right? I'm sleeping over too!

You can't fake being asleep if you're texting under your blanket!

( yato, he objects. he objects even more with a wordless: )

Haaaaah?!

( when the hell did this become a slumber party? even Anya over tests some of Yuri's limits, and that's with permission from his grandpa. Anya, please restrain him, because he's about to get up and get in Yato's face. )

It's been an hour! Does the concept of asking mean nothing to you, asshole?!

[honestly Anya doesn't see this as a weird chain of events at all. Yato always sleeps over at her house? so it's fine. but then also it clicks again that this is... Yuri's house and -

she remembers just in time to turn back to him entirely and cling around his middle to get in the way of him trying to fight yato. nnnnnnooooooo not again]

Yuratchka, wait—

[and then whiiiiining

Yato - позволение! Please ask if it is okay...!

[ ugh asking for permission slows things down so much, IT'S SO HARD NOT TO SIGH. Yato sits and watches with arms crossed defensively while surprise linebacker Anya takes Yuri on. ]

It's a habit, okay?! These things take time! [ deep breaths yato ] May I sleep over with you guys?

[ does he even want to anymore, he has serious doubts because yuri will probably shank him in his sleep ]

( Suddenly, here's Anya, and his midsection and lap are all hers? More than anything it means he's left flopping back into his seat and lifting his hands up like this will reassure her to let go, he totally isn't about to stand up and get into Yato's face.

It'd have been a lie, but that's why he didn't use any words for any of this. Such as it is, he's still sitting there, hands hovering over Anya like he's contemplating where to grab on to haul her off (despite the fact she's the one with martial arts training) when Yato bothers asking, and thus he has to look up to him and frown. )

... Fine. You and I get the floor.

( a begrudging statement, considering before Yato showed up, Yuri planned to sleep in his bed and leave Anya in the living room. Probably. His nerves might not have caught up!

... Maybe... )

[That's a victory, somehow.

Still though Anya's sighing at that, releasing Yuri upon his agreement even though she watches him warily for a moment. He's not the type to take back his word but who knows how far his annoyance with Yato goes.... And then what he says actually manages to permeate and then she's blinking.]

Ah? Yuratchka, it is your home... I can get the floor?

[this feels??? uneven????]

[ yay

A proper slumber party is concluded on the floor, in Yato's opinion... Anya does not deserve to be on cold hard floor, but maybe they can get enough cushion to make it fun!!

--ugh but Yuri will probably get mad. Unless Yato asks for permission MAYBE. ]

You wanna slum it on the floor too, Anya? Can we make a nest??

[ He shoots a glowing smile at Yuri, looking for permission. Can you disappoint this face, Yuri!! ]

We're not birds.

( He points out, but he's not going to contest... that everyone's sleeping on his floor apparently. )

We can all be on the floor, whatever. I'll drag the rest of my blankets out here. No nesting. There isn't enough for that shit.

( Carefully pulling himself away from Anya so he can tromp back to his room, grumbling, and start tearing up blankets and pillows. UGH. Ugh. Uuuuuugh. )

[closed] how did it come to this

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