ArchivedLogs:Scars and Bullet Wounds

Scars and Bullet Wounds
Dramatis Personae Anette and Akihiro	2016-12-20 '
Location <BOM> The Nightfort - Ascension Island
A comfortable three-bedroom cabin, sturdily built if inelegant. The front door opens up into a cozy sitting room, sparsely furnished as yet. A futon, a coffeetable, a bookshelf (largely stacked with programming books). The sitting room is adjoined by an equally simple kitchenette with room for small table. The three bedrooms here -- two off the sitting room, one on the other side of the kitchen -- are not uniform in size nor layout, with the considerably smaller kitchen-adjacent room having its own screened-in porch. The one bathroom off the living room has an extremely large claw-foot tub that takes up much of its space. It's been a long day. On top of tending to all of his animals, Akihiro helped with decorating bits of the island that had (somehow) managed to avoid lights and ornaments. With that out of the way he decided to call on Anette, one thing lead to another, and he ended up busting out the grill. With the steaks put away, the choice of what to do next was clear. Sit on the porch and work on a few drinks. "So, decided what you want for Christmas yet?" Even Anette's apartment is decorated. A tree stands in the corner, decorated and lit, with presents accumulating at the bottom. Otherwise, some festive knick-knacks are scattered about the room. Except for the miniature nutcracker, who is currently residing in Vader's teeth. Vader is currently claiming a small spot under the tree not occupied with presents, quietly watching the coming and goings of the room while he chews on the poor nutcracker. Anette is outside with Akihiro, sitting beside him with a mug of spiked eggnog. "I don't care. Christmas has been the last thing on my mind this year. Besides, you already gave me my Christmas present." "A Christmas present. No skin off my back to get you a little something more." Akihiro nods, taking a sip of his own eggnog. He is dressed pretty light, but it's only in the thirties outside. Jamaica Bay ain't got shit on Alaska. "Maybe a new nutcracker. That hasn't been chewed up." "I'm sure Vader would love that," Anette teases, taking a sip of her eggnog as she stares out over the island. "Though aren't you cutting it a little close? Christmas is only in a few more days. Hell, I've got my shopping done already. Including for you." "Everyone knows the best gifts are last minute." Akihiro shoots Anette a grin. "And I got Vader a sweater. Don't worry, I'll put it on him." He props his feet up, looking out at the night. "I could give you a coupon for a year's worth of massages at your local Akihiro." "Why would I need a coupon for somthing that you give out for free anytime I want?" Anette teases, leaning up against him and snuggling a bit closer. "And let's try not to make that cat angrier than he is. Besides, he's 90% fur. I think a sweater would kill him. As cute as he'd look in one." "Fair enough." Akihiro wraps an arm around Anette, finishing off the last bit of his drink. "I'm sure it wouldn't piss him off that much. As long as he got some cat nip in him beforehand. Just enough to mellow him out for holiday pictures." "That might actually work," Anette laughs, snuggling closer as Akihiro wraps his arm about her. "Besides, if we're going to get anyone in an ugly Christmas sweater and take photos, it'll be you." "Well, that was the plan." Akihiro drifts a finger lazily around Anette's midsection. "Gotta start taking pictures so we can make a scrapbook or two. People still do that, right?" "I dunno. We can. Don't know how exciting or interesting it'd be. None of us really do anything. Nothing we'd want in a scrapbook." As Akihiro's fingers trail down her stomach, she quickly shakes her head and gently removes it. "Careful, I haven't been feeling that good lately." On the positive, she relocates his hand to her hip. "You ever think of getting a pet of your own? Dog? Ferret? Parakeet?" "Yeah, thought about getting a dog." Akihiro doesn't seem bothered by his hand being moved, content to move his hand slightly so it rests on Anette's thigh. "I'm sure beef and eggnog go great with an upset stomach." Of course he's just teasing, a grin tugging at his mouth. "Need me to get you anything?" "Oh a little eggnog never hurt anyone," Anette says. "Besides, steak makes everything better. Upset stomachs included." She takes a sip of her eggnog and leans her head against his shoulder. "I could see you with a dog. A little chihuahua maybe. Or a dachsund. Something you can carry around with you," she adds, grinning at the thought. "I was looking at a goofy mix between a dalmatian and a bulldog. But I'd probably get a tiny dog too." Akihiro leans over to bury his nose in Anette's hair. "I don't think Vader would like them though. Or other cats. Vader doesn't really like anything." "He really, really doesn't. You should see him when I have his food though. Nicest cat on the planet. The second I set it down for him, I can fuck off." Anette turns her head to glance towards the door where demon cat is likely still lying under the tree, though she smiles softly as Akihiro buries his face in her hair. "I'm not going to lie, but that sounds like a hideous dog." "Actually very pretty." Akihiro wraps his other arm around Anette, letting her borrow some of his warmth. "I think I'll pick her up tomorrow." He actually yawns quietly, letting his eyes drift closed for the moment. "Well, you do what you like. As long as she's nicer than Vader. Between you and Vader, I can't handle anymore moodiness." Anette does indeed cuddle closer, though she does cast a glance up to Akihiro. "You know, it's things like this that make me question when you say you're fine with us just being friends." Not that she's fighting or arguing it. "It's warm. Everyone is full and happy. I can quit if you want though." Akihiro lifts his head slightly to look down at Anette. "Besides, it's not like we're having sex anymore. Though I don't suppose that really means anything." "I...don't know," Anette says quietly at the suggestion of him quitting. "Every time I try to think about things, I fuck everything up." She does look up to him, raising a brow. "Just because it went from daily to weekly doesn't mean we're not having sex anymore. Would you like me to cut you off entirely?" "Then don't think, just do what feels best." Akihiro gives her thigh a squeeze, lowering his lips to her ear. "Do you want to cut me off?" he whispers, "I could definitely handle it. But I'd miss getting to do my favorite thing." Anette sighs softly but still smiles as Akihiro whispers to her. She places her hand gently on his and interlocks her fingers. "Maybe I should try not thinking. It would be nice to not think and do something other than gouge eyeballs out." She turns her head slightly and gives Akihiro a quick peck on the lips. "You enjoy it more than drinking? That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me." Akihiro presses his nose against Anette's, "Of course I enjoy spending time with you more than drinking." He brushes his thumb against the back of her hand, smiling gently. "Shit, I enjoy spending time with you more than anything else." Anette grins and turns her head, laying it back down on Akihiro's shoulder. "Just spending time with me? Here I thought we were talking about sex. If you'd rather just sit and talk about our feelings than drink, well, you're just crazy," she teases. "Maybe if I got drunk." Akihiro presses a kiss to the top of her head before settling back down. "And that's my second favorite thing. Well, third." "You're ridiculous," Anette teases. She smiles a bit at the kiss though it slowly fades. "Do you ever feel like...when things are going good, it's too good to be true? Like...if everything is going the way it should and you're happy and there's nothing wrong, something's about to come along and fuck everything up." She pauses to take another sip of her eggnogg, leaning forward to set the mug on the floor before resuming her spot in Akihiro's arms. "Maybe that's what I should wish for Christmas. To be happy without sabotaging myself. Or feeling guilty or wondering what's going wrong or how it can hurt me." "Yes." Akihiro sets up slightly before Anette returns, arms looping around her once more when she returns. "But we've both seen a lot of negative. Thankfully I'm not the same person you started hooking up with anymore though." He's quiet for a second or two, thinking. "But I feel like we should deal with that when, no, if it shows up." "And yet nothing about me has changed. I'm still the same unstable, angry person you knew a year ago," Anette says, closing her eyes as Akihiro wraps his arms about her. "And if what shows up?" "Trouble." Akihiro presses his lips to the top of Anette's head once more. "Still the same amazing, kind woman I fell in love with. Even if you try to hide it." "Amazing I'll take. Kind...do you remember me trying to claw your face off?" Anette says with a soft chuckle, though she tenses once Akihiro brings up the 'l' word. "I wish you wouldn't say that..." she says quietly. "I try to limit it to past tense." Akihiro flashes an unseen apologetic smile. "And of course I remember it. It was kinda hot." "We both know it's not past tense," Anette says coolly, though she does relax a bit at his joke. "Should I do it more often then? Next time I can try to remove an eye." "And we both know that it doesn't matter. I'm happy to live in the moment." Akihiro does straighten up a bit more though. "Maybe just not the face next time. One day I'm bound to not bounce back as quickly." "You can say it, doesn't mean I believe it," Anette says, glancing up towards him as he suggests avoiding his face. "Shame. Scars are sexy." Akihiro exhales through his nose, pursing his lips. "Wouldn't say that if I didn't have my healing factor. Be covered in scars and old bullet wounds." Anette can't help but chuckle. "You say that is if being covered in scars and bullet wounds is a bad thing," she teases, patting her shoulder bearing the bite scar and tattoo. "Believe me, you'd still be as sexy. Though...you'd look a little closer to sixty and this would be weirder. "I'd definitely look seventy. But I also wouldn't be here." Akihiro turns his gaze back out to the night. "Be fishing with my grandchildren and deciding who should inherit the family wealth. But, thankfully, I don't have to worry about any of that." Anette watches Akihiro, her eyes silently gliding over his features before she too turns into the night. "You think you'd have grandchildren? Is that...something you want? A family?" She pauses moment before chuckling. "That just sounds so...suburbia and normal." "Maybe. Nobody wanted anything to do with me, so probably not." Akihiro stops to think about it for a moment. "I did. I wanted somebody that knew what it was like to be as lonely as I was. I gave up on that years ago though. I became bitter. Why I was always sleeping around and getting into fights." "Pretty sure most of the island would understand loneliness. We don't become terrorists because our parents loved us." Anette pauses a moment, collecting her own thoughts. "Well...I didn't have it quite as bad. Mine tried and I'm sure they did love me. They just...didn't know what they were doing. It's not really their fault, it's not as if 'What to Expect When You're Expecting' has a chapter on mutants." She takes a deep breath. "Sounds like me though. Keep distant. Can't be hurt if you don't let anyone in. I thought I was the only one." "Mine didn't. Well, Akihira did. Right up until he killed himself in front of me." Akihiro uses his thumb to crack his fingers, something he only really does when he's anxious. "Natsumi thought I was a monster. Guess she saw who I was going to become. I'm sure I told you, but she actually tried to kill me. First time I popped my claws. Ended about as well for her as you'd imagine." Anette gently rests her hand on Akihiro's hand, the one he's trying to crack. "I know. I'm sorry," she says quietly, giving his hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze. "But you're here and now though. With at least one person who cares about you." "Except I did a great job of fucking that up. I can't even say love near you anymore." Akihiro's good mood has officially gone away now. "I thought it'd help us, but it just pushed you towards Killian. I hate myself a little more every day for that shit." "Just because I'm fucked up and can't even handle my own feelings, doesn't make it your fault," Anette says, leaning up off his shoulder and inching away to better face him. "You didn't push me toward Killian. You didn't push me toward anyone. You were...not here. I didn't know you if you were coming back and I was hurt and he was here. I loved him." "Sounds an awful lot like pushing to me. I should have just killed him when we fought." Akihiro grits his teeth, jaw clenching. "I should have never left. If I'd have just dealt with my emotions like I always have, we wouldn't be doing this right now." "What did you want me to do? Sit home alone, wondering what happened to you? Wear a black veil over my face, stand on the beach and wait for you to come home?" Anette inches further away from Akihiro now, shaking her head with a grin, though much darker than her previous ones. "Is me being happy that much of a threat to you? I'm supposed to be just as lonely and miserable as you? That I can only be happy if I'm with you?" She moves to stand up off the seat and walk towards the porch railing, not leaving yet but putting distance between them. "No. I just hate him." Akihiro pushes up to his feet and starts over to the door, pausing to look over. "He was the only person I ever worried about. I knew what he wanted. But I also wanted you to be happy. It's why I lied and said I didn't have a problem with you being with him. It's why I didn't kill him. If he happened to show back up and you two got back together, I'd lie and say I was happy for you again." With his piece said, he opens the door and starts off.