beneathmoonlight | Inbox: Atsushi Nakajima

Oh...

[That’s...

Who falls asleep in a fountain??? Even when they’re drunk...

Atsushi is about to answer his question, but then Howard looks at his watch...somehow...without pupils...and figures it out for himself.

And honestly, the fountain thing takes a backseat to those hollow eyes.]

Um. Howard-san...I hate to alarm you, but your eyes...have changed...

What? What d'you mean, my...eyes...

[His upper body is wet - he's only just starting to realize this. He brushes away wet strands of hair clinging to his neck and face, starting to feel very uncomfortable.]

[He grimaces at Atsushi's observation.]

What color are they now...? Please don't tell me they're something damned like...red...or yellow...

Um...no...it’s not the color that’s changed...

[Oh boy, how does he break this to Howard?

Maybe showing him would be better. He reaches out to poke a finger in one of the holes; if Howard had normal eyes it would be painful because an eyeball would be there.]

They’re...gone.

Hey, what are you...doing?

[He raises his hand to push Atsushi's finger away, but pauses when he realizes that Atsushi's hand isn't pressing on anything.]

[What is he doing, just holding his finger right above them? It's weird, before the tip of Atsushi's finger...he can't really see it.]

That'sa...good joke. Ha. I can still see just fine.

Howard-san...I’m not joking...

[Sigh...

Atsushi fishes his phone out of his pocket, snaps a picture of Howard, and turns the screen to show it to him.]

They’re just...gone. I have no idea how you can still see.

[He...doesn't understand what he's seeing. That isn't him, right? This has to be some kind of weird filter from Instagram or Snapchat or whatever program the kids these days are using. His eyebrows knit together, and, for the first time, he realizes that he hasn't blinked once since he came to.]

[Howard reaches up a hand, fingers sliding over his cheekbone before hitting the edge of his new eye. He keeps it moving over the edge before he slides it all the way in. As far as he can tell, yes, it's just...a hole. He doesn't even know how deep it goes.]

[After a long pause, he turns back to the fountain, bending over and letting his hands slide through the water, feeling along the bottom.]

Can you...help me find my eyes? Maybe they just...dropped out...

Edited 2018-02-24 16:09 (UTC)

[Atsushi is so behind on social media that Instagram and Snapchat are complete mysteries to him, so even if he wanted to play a prank on Howard, he wouldn’t do it that way. He also doesn’t play pranks on people, like ever, so.

Atsushi cringes a bit when Howard sticks his finger deeper into that empty socket, but the discomfort is quickly replaced with sympathy when he sees Howard...trying to find his eyeballs...in the fountain...

What even is Atsushi’s life?]

Ah...sure...

[Atsushi copies Howard, skimming the bottom of the fountain all the way around, but finding nothing except change and the occasional cigarette butt.]

Howard-san...maybe they didn’t fall out? Maybe this is just...temporary...

How did they not fall out if I have holes in my face? C'mon. It's just...logic.

[He's waaaay too drunk for any of this. Howard lets out a sigh, head dipping down to the water again. So his eyes are gone. Great. Just great.]

Ugh...I just want to sleep. [His voice devolves into a mumble.] Maybe somebody took them...I suppose purple eyes are really rare...

Howard-san...

[Atsushi sighs, but it’s more out of frustration that he’s unable to help more.]

You’re not sober, and I’d be worried if I left you here, so can I walk you home at least? I want to make sure that you’re safe. You can sleep there.

[That doesn’t solve the eyeball issue...]

Maybe...we can do some research about this later...

I guess you can.

[Home sounds pretty good right now. He lifts his head to stare over at Atsushi. His hole eyes seem as dark as the void.]

I don't want to be wet anymore. I don't like it...

Okay. Let’s get you home so you can change, then.

[Oh boy...those eyes are so unsettling, but Howard is his friend. He can’t just flake out because he’s not currently himself. In a sense.

He helps Howard to his feet, offering a shoulder to lean on.]

Just...tell me the way. I don’t mind walking.

It's about a block from here, I think. Not too...far away...

[It seems silly, the way his gangly body has to be supported by this young man. It almost looks like Atsushi is propping up a dark pool noodle.]

Thanks for helping me. I'm...really grateful.

[He thinks...? Wow, how drunk is Howard right now...]

Of course, Howard-san.

[It’s the least he can do, really, after all that drama.

Once they arrive at Howard’s apartment Atsushi will help him inside and to his room so that he can change clothes if he wishes.]

I still have no idea how you didn’t drown...

I don't...know. An entire hour.

[He sits back on his bed, groaning. He's already feeling less buzzed and more miserable. He starts to pull off his coat, followed by unbuttoning his wet shirt.]

An entire hour in that fountain. [His hands move up to his eye sockets again, fingers tracing along their edges.] I mean...I'm still alive, right? This isn't like...heaven, or something.

You’re still alive, Howard-san. Somehow.

[Atsushi glances away to give Howard some privacy as he changes. They’re both guys, but Atsushi still thinks it’s the polite thing to do.]

You know how some people have gotten special abilities back? Do you think it could be that?

[He rummages in his cabinet, finally pulling out an old sweatshirt to put on. His pants are fine. He's not going to waste effort in changing those.]

I know about that. I can hear things most people can't, you know...things from far away. And now...this.

[He sighs, finally flopping back onto the bed, long hair strewn around him. This has...certainly been a night.]

Do you think I should try it out? [He suddenly gets back up to his feet less than a few seconds after he got on the bed, stumbling towards the direction of the bathroom.] Let me...try it out.

Oh...I had no idea.

[At least he hasn’t been shit-talking Howard or anything, because Atsushi isn’t that kind of guy.

Howard’s hair certainly is long. Atsushi wonders how he even keeps up with it...]

W-what??? N-no!! What if you end up drowning after all?

[Atsushi frantically catches up with Howard, tugging on his sleeve.]

I don’t want you to get pneumonia or something.

I have to try it out. I mean...this is something I need to know.

[Just how far are his changes going? What is he becoming? He would feel more anxiety over this if his mind wasn't clouded with alcohol.]

Let me try. [He shakes Atsushi off, already moving into the bathroom to switch on the faucet in the bath.] I have to find out if it's true...

[Atsushi supposes he can understand why Howard would need to know something so important about himself...]

Okay...but I’m going with you, and I’m pulling you out if I get really worried, okay?

[Atsushi follows Howard, wringing his hands nervously.]

Please be careful, Howard-san...

Don't worry about me.

[He has to wait for the water to get to the right height, but he's already getting on his knees. He just changed. He shouldn't be doing this. What if this goes completely wrong? He switches off the water, and completely ignoring every doubt, he bends over the tub and just...pushes his face into the water.]

[He stays like that for a good minute. Uh. Maybe he should come out by now.]

[Dont worry, he says. As if it’s possible for Atsushi not to worry when Howard could literally drown in his bathtub.

He sits on the edge of the tub and watches as Howard dips his head underwater, and at first he’s not all that afraid. It’s just a little bit of water. It’ll be fine.

Except Howard stays underwater for far longer than he should, and Atsushi ends up freaking out and pulling him out anyway.]

Howard-san?? Are you okay??

[Howard coughs a bit, but he quickly catches his breath as Atsushi pulls him out. He sniffs, grimacing as the water drips from his eye sockets again.]

I'm fine. There...there isn't any water in my lungs at all. I was...I-I was breathing just fine...

[He actually looks incredibly dismayed, for somebody who just discovered a new superpower.]

Then you can breathe underwater.

[Atsushi’s heart aches for Howard now, because eyes or no, he can tell this doesn’t sit well with him. Atsushi wraps his arms around Howard in a shy, tentative hug, more than ready to be told to back off.]

You’re still Howard-san, no matter what powers you get.

I didn't want this, Atsushi. I didn't want any of this.

[It feels like his fate has been tainted, cursed, corrupted into something he barely even recognizes.]

[There's a long moment before his own slender hands move up to slide around Atsushi, returning the hug.]

Why can't I just be normal...?

I’m sorry, Howard-san...

[Despite Howard being damp, Atsushi continues to hold him, not caring in the slightest. His friend may be not entirely human, but in the end, Howard is still Atsushi’s friend, and he wants to be there for him when he can.]

I don’t know why this is happening, and it’s probably scary, but you’re still you. I promise. And I just know that everyone else will support you too, no matter what.

Inbox: Atsushi Nakajima

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