On aaaaalllmost missing his birthday

[sweetigami]

Mun, hey mun, it's okay! You've got a lot on your mind now, what with all the professional writing you've been doing, and you had that head-cold around Valentine's Day: that'd knock anyone out of their groove. But at least you've been thinking about me, about the time I spent at the Mansion. I miss it, too, so you've got company. I think about it a lot, about the people I met there, about finding Hisoka again. Some days, I remember that first day like it's happening in front of me, walking up that snowy walk to the front door, me feeling all confused and wondering how the hell I got there, how I was supposed to find Muraki again. Maybe there'll be more to come, but don't push yourself, you know how you get when you've been pushing yourself. We're too much alike that way.

Maybe some red velvet cake is in order? Or those red velvet Oreos?

(Cross-posted from dear_player)

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[shinra_dog]

[Peeks in.]

Hey hey.

[He offers a smile and a red velvet cupcake with one candle stuck in it.]

Happy birthday, you.

[sweetigami]

[Looking up from clicking pages on old journals.]

Hey there! Long time no see... I was hoping I'd see you around here.

[His quiet smile broadens into a grin as he eyes the cupcake and looks up at Reno.]

For me? You shouldn't have! [A chuckle of pleasure.]

[shinra_dog]

Well y'know how much I just love t' grant wishes. Pretty much just t' people I like, though, everyone else can shove it.

And yes, it's yer birthday, you gotta have cake! I just wish I coulda' found a bigger one. I was gettin' to the point lookin' where I was about desperate enough t' have to get you one a' those red velvet flavored yogurts.

[sweetigami]

Ugh, those red velvet yoghurts just don't do anything for me. I mean, they're okay in a pinch, but if I have my druthers, I keep away from the stuff.

Well, when you put it that way, I'm glad to be one of the people you like, for a lot of reasons. [Grinning, chuckling, even blushing a bit.]

[shinra_dog]

Well sure! What's not to like? You're fun, you can bake -- you got a cute ass. All around, I'm sold.

I miss you, y'know -- what've you been up to?

[sweetigami]

[Chuckling, his eyes crinkling up.] Ahaha, well, I have gotten better at baking, so sometime I could make you something, if you like.

I've been back and forth between my world and... wherever the hotel that the mun maintains is. Sometimes I'm staying there, sometimes I'm back in my world, working cases.

...We cracked a really tough one, sort of, but he got away again. Feels like a waste, but... we *had* him, that's what matters, and we might get him again.

[shinra_dog]

But he got away. [Reno frowned, disappointed on Tsu's behalf.] That sucks. I mean, now he's out t' do more of whatever.

[He didn't want to blame Tsuzuki, or anyone he worked with, but... who let a criminal get away?]

[sweetigami]

He had help: we had a skeptic in custody and his skepticism kept wearing down our wards. The guy more or less caused a prison break and our tricky subject slipped out in the process. We're searching for him again, but he doesn't even seem to be on earth. We're thinking he fell into another universe again. Which means I might be traveling again... [Not sure he likes the sound of that, but he can bear with it]

[Pulling himself back into something like his usual cheer.] How about you? been staying out of trouble? Doing any traveling yourself?

[shinra_dog]

Ugh.

[Magic always made everything more complicated.]

Me? Staying out of trouble? Whatever gave you that idea? [Reno managed a grin. On the off-chance he did try, something told him trouble would follow him anyway.]

I am. A world that, somehow, some way, wants us to save it from being turned to crystal, except we have no idea how to do that... Still better than being strangled for sex. But it almost makes me miss that mansion.

[sweetigami]

I agree: it's not exactly our finest hour, but at least it's showing us what we need to do to improve things.

[A blush and tucking his head.] Well, I wouldn't want you to get too far in over your head and for you to get hurt.

Wow... that's gotta be a tough problem to solve, but I'm sure with enough people putting their heads together and learning what you can about the place, you'll find the solution.

Strangled for sex?! What? Is that some kind of a kink??

[shinra_dog]

Well... yes... and no...

[He cringed, trying to think of how to explain it. He'd forgotten how naive Tsuzuki could be. It was a sweetness he'd really grown to like in the other man but it made things like this... awkward.]

I mean, it is for some people, but not for me -- look, okay, that's not exactly what I meant when I said --

[Reno took a breath to collect his thoughts.]

I was trapped on an island, an' all of us other-world people had collars. An' every day they'd tighten until we gave in to what the world's goddess wanted... or, after fourteen days...

[He shrugged, as if the alternative was obvious.]

[sweetigami]

[He'll take this all in, slowly putting the pieces together in his head, but he'll give Reno a sympathetic look.]

Ohhhhh, I see now. Yeah... things can get weird when gods or goddesses get involved. Sounds like a really tricksy goddess. So... in order to get the collars to loosen you had to... you know... [A bit awkward now. Well, more than a bit. Well... maybe a lot of a bit.]

[shinra_dog]

[Reno's mouth twisted. Sorry, Tsu.]

Yeah. A lot, frequently, and sometimes pretty weird.

[So many strange curses to try to inspire kinks and fetishes. If nothing else, Atia could be creative.]

But, I mean, it wasn't all bad. Dealt with some soul-searching shit. Met some great people.

[Some amazing people. He couldn't help a small smile.]

That part I wouldn't give up for anything.

[sweetigami]

Okaaayyy... [Breathing a little easier now, that part is out of the way.]

Well, for all of that, it sounds like it was like any other world you might fall into: there's other people in the same situation, and it's not hard to strike up conversations or even make some good friendships, given half a chance.