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INLAND EMPIRE – After inquiring on Kim's sexuality and finding out that he is in fact a member of *the underground* your mind exploded with thousands of new conversation branches. But like an overworked laptop with too many tabs open all you could do was stare dumbly at his face that he had already turned away from you. Clearly annoyed with this line of questioning.
INLAND EMPIRE – Why did his answer strike you so much?
Encyclopedia [Medium: Failure] - Obviously you just want to learn more about this *underground* you only recently found out about. New things are just soo interesting. Luckily for you, and your recent amnesic episode, most things are unbeknownst to you.
ELECTROCHEMISTRY [Challenging: Success] - Bullshit! You only find the underground interesting because it sounds like a *party*. You like those. Sex, drugs and alcohol, right up your alley!
EMPATHY [Medium: Success]-Maybe you just want to learn more about Kim? He's your partner after all. Don't fuck it up.
HALF LIGHT [Medium: Success] - FUCK IT UP! Tear right through him, disappoint him, *hurt* him. He'll leave you quicker than you can blink. At least that way you'll have some control over it.
INLAND EMPIRE - All people ever do is leave..
INLAND EMPIRE – -1 damage Morale
YOU – You feel your eyes start to well up, he's not going to leave you, is he?
VOLITION – Please don't start crying. It's okay, nobody's going to leave you. Just look at him.
KIM KITSURAGI – You look at him, nose deep in his notebook, muttering something under his breath. He feels you staring and glances at you. Seeing the tears forming in the nook of your eyes he furrows his brows slightly, looking at you with the softest look anyone has ever given you.
As far as you remember at least.
ESPRIT DE CORPS [Formidable: Success] -You would give up everything you have just for this man to keep looking at you like he knows your soul. Every gaze that shifts over you saying:
SHIVERS - I SEE YOU, DETECTIVE. I HAVE TOUCHED YOUR SOUL AND MUDDIED MY HANDS IN THE ACT. I'M HERE FOR YOU.
KIM KITSURAGI – "Something the matter, detective? You seem... worried about something."
YOU – After you just continue to blankly stare at him he sighs softly. Bringing his fingers to the bridge of his nose.
KIM KITSURAGI – "Oh Dei, this isn't about *the underground* again, is it?" He looks tired with it all
ELECTROCHEMISTRY [Medium: Success] - YES IT IS, bring in the booze, time to boogie all the way to the underground, baby!
-
[Empathy- Medium11] Figure out why you feel so different around the lieutenant.
EMPATHY [Medium: Failure] - It isn't about the underground, not directly at least. You can't put your fingers on it yet though, sorry.
-
[Locked] Figure out why you feel so different around the lieutenant.
YOU – "What?, no!... Why would you.. I'm totally over that, not even thinking about that in the slightest!"
COMPOSURE - You're fidgeting, nervous.
KIM KITSURAGI – "..Right." He cooks his eyebrow, like he usually does after you deflect doing something you're very obviously doing. A sigh. "If you have something to say, please, just say it, detective."
ELECTROCHEMISTRY - Bring in the *questions*!!
- "Since you said you're apart of the underground, mind taking me there?" (wink)
- "Is the underground a secret drug den? Are you secretly an addict, Kim??"
- Just start crying - you deserve it.
VOLITION - Please no. You've embarrassed yourself enough in front of this man. Just try to explain what you feel.
- "Since you said you're apart of the underground, mind taking me there?" (wink)
- "Is the underground a secret drug den? Are you secretly an addict, Kim??"
- Just start crying - you deserve it.
- Say something sensible.
YOU – "I know I said I wasn't going to linger on the question of my sexuality any longer, fuck it I don't need to know everything. But I just feel.. *different* around you."
KIM KITSURAGI – ".. Different"' A smile starts creeping ever so slightly in the corner of his mouth. It's the same one he tried suppressing when you commented on the smokers sense of style. "Care to elaborate on that, detective?"
AUTHORITY [Medium: Failure] - It's obviously because you're homophobic. All these f****ts.. you're right to feel weary about the lieutenant.
LOGIC - No... No. Who let you speak?
-
[Empathy- Medium11] Figure out why you feel so different around the lieutenant..
+1 noticed parallel to smoker on the balcony
+2 Kim asked you to
EMPATHY [Medium: Success] - Something... Something.. It might be endearment? Or love? You're not sure how that felt like but this feels *right*.
Just say something now, his brows are already starting to furrow again. You're just staring.
YOU – "Could it be.. Love? I think I might be in love with you Kim."
KIM KITSURAGI – The lieutenant looks at you for a second, blinks and then starts smiling again. Fuck, his smile. 'Love may be a bit far fetched considering you've only known me for.. approximately 4 days but I do believe you may have some sort of feelings for me, yes.'
He averts his gaze. 'I can't say I haven't been thinking about you as well. '
ESPRIT DE CORPS [Medium: Success] - Its 11pm. A lieutenant of the RCM is standing on the balcony of the wiring-in-rags, nursing his first cigarette of the day. He exhales, looking down at the plaza, eyes catching on the sight of a mumbling disco-man going around collecting tare, occasionally stumbling over his own feet. He smiles softly, stubs out his cigarette on the sole of his shoe and turns heel to head to his room.
YOU – All you can think to do is stare at him, mouth slightly agape. Trying to process the breakthrough you just experienced. Thoughts swarming.
REACTION SPEED [Easy: Success] - wait.. Did the lieutenant just say he also has feelings for you? Please press further.
YOU – "Wait, does that mean you like me as well??"
KIM KITSURAGI – "Yes, Harrier. I can't believe you haven't noticed. Being the human can-opener you are." He's looking at you again, softly, as he's often looked at you before.
LOGIC [Formidable: Failure] - Yeah sorry, we didn't get any of that. Love isn't really our expertise, you know.
SHIVERS [Legendary: Success] - Somewhere in a small shackled house a girl is weeping silently, her arms clutched at her chest for comfort. She's looking at the sky as if in prayer. How can love feel this bad? Why can't you stop loving even if its tearing you apart?
ELECTROCHEMISTRY [Medium: Success] - Literally none of that matters, Kim just confessed his feelings for you! You know what that means, time to get *freaky*.
VOLITION - I'm begging you, control yourself.
YOU – "Cool, cool, that's very cool. Uhm.."
You realize you don't really know what you're supposed to do now. What does one do in a situation like this? You don't remember literally anything.
SUGGESTION - Maybe that's why your wife left you, maybe love just isn't for you Harry boy.
VOLITION - Relax. Kim isn't expecting anything of you. He's going to take it from here.
REACTION SPEED [Medium: Failure] - ..Wait what-
KIM KITSURAGI – Before you can really sort your thoughts or have another breakdown because of your ex-something you feel Kim's hand sliding across the side of your face, curling behind your ear, against your unkempt hair and pulling you close. His gloved hand rough against your skin. Feels nice. Finally, his slightly chapped lips connecting with yours.
You close your eyes and marvel in the taste of him on you. You smell his woody aftershave and shudder slightly.
SHIVERS [Godly: Success] - HIS SCENT MERGES WITH MY STREETS. THE MORE YOU LOVE HIM THE MORE YOU START SEEING HIM IN ME.
SHIVERS – DUST COVERED CORNERS START LOOKING AS BEAUTIFUL AS HIM.
IN EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY YOU WILL FIND TRACES OF LOVE. TRACES OF HOPE.
DON'T GIVE UP ON ME.
INLAND EMPIRE – LOVE TAKES ITS TOLL ON YOUR SURROUNDINGS. YOU'LL NEVER LOOK AT ME THE SAME.
INLAND EMPIRE – LOVE. LOVE WITH ALL YOUR HEART. LOVE WITH EVERYTHING YOU HAVE INSIDE OF YOU.
IT'S ALL YOU HAVE.
KIM KITSURAGI – Then, he breaks the kiss, moves his face back a bit to look you in the eyes, beautiful dark pupils staring at you. Your mouth open, exhaling, wide eyes looking at him expectantly.
INLAND EMPIRE – A smile, again.
KIM KITSURAGI – "I hope I didn't overwhelm you, detective?"
Motherfucker. He knows exactly what he's doing to you.
YOU – "Oh, no, not at all. What makes you say that? Do I look overwhelmed?"
COMPOSURE [Challenging: Failure] - You do. You look like a starved dog that just tasted his first lick of dog food in Dei knows how long.
It's pathetic.
KIM KITSURAGI – "I guess a bit. But if you say so I'll just have to believe you." A crooked grin.
YOU – "Matter of fact, I'm *so* underwhelmed right now I think I'm gonna need you to do that again. For uh.. scientific reasons, obviously."
COMPOSURE - Dog.
KIM KITSURAGI – He raises his eyebrow. "Huh, is that so?" A smirk making it's way onto his face.
INLAND EMPIRE – "Well, in *that* case.. I'd hate to disappoint.." and swish his lips come crashing on yours again. You stumble backwards slightly but his hands have found their way to your waist, steadying you.
KIM KITSURAGI – This time it's more passionate. You're bordering a violent make-out session and the noises you're making are obscene. You just hope no one hears you. Even if they did, you couldn't care less at this point, you have Kim Kitsuragi eating your face after-all, what more could one want?
INLAND EMPIRE – Your hands roam over his lanky body, connecting with his lower back and attempting to slide under his shirt.
INLAND EMPIRE – He stiffens suddenly and pulls away from you, his face scrunching up.
INLAND EMPIRE - Now you did it, you fucked it up, he's going to hate you forever and never speak with you again.
HALF LIGHT - KILL HIM. Kill him before he can tell you to your face how much he's disappointed in you.
VOLITION [Medium: Success] - Don't do that. Just talk to Kim. Listen to him, understand him and you'll be just fine.
YOU – "What's wrong, Kim? Did I do something? Fuck, I'm so sorry, I fuck everything up, I'll just -"
KIM KITSURAGI – "Detective.." his voice is soft and hushed. "You didn't do anything wrong, I just.." he takes a deep breath, "I'm asexual, okay? Do you know what that is?"
ENCYCLOPEDIA [Challenging: Failure] - .. No
LOGIC [Medium: Success] - 'a -' sexual could mean the lack of something sexual you know. 'a-' could be an abbreviation for 'anti-'. like asocial. He could be telling you he doesn't want to have sex with you.
ELECTROCHEMISTRY [Medium: Success] - *'a-sexual'?* Did i just her *sex*? The lieutenant is obviously telling you he's a major freak and wants to fuck you right here on this floor.
LOGIC- What? No. That doesn't even remotely make sense in this situation, please just listen to the lieutenant.
YOU – "I.. don't think I do, is is something to do with the underground?"
KIM KITSURAGI – "I guess you could say that. What it means is that I don't experience sexual attraction to anyone."
ELECTROCHEMISTRY [Godly: Failure] - .. What
LOGIC - See? Told you.
YOU – "But you're still homo-sexual?"
KIM KITSURAGI – "Yes, detective, I am. I experience romantic attraction to men and men only. I just lack the sexual attraction to them." He's patient with you but it's obvious he's tired of having to explain this to people. They never get it.
ELECTROCHEMISTRY - .. How.. What.. How does that work. I'm not following at all.
YOU – "How does that work? Like you like me but you don't want to fuck me?"
KIM KITSURAGI – He smiles slightly. "That's actually exactly what it is detective, great work."
ELECTROCHEMISTRY- Yawnn, boorrinng!! What's the point of love if you don't get to fuck!!
Empathy [Medium: Success] - Actually, love is way more than just sex, it's about mutual understanding and acknowledgement. Being there for someone and knowing them like no one else does. Every relationship is unique and people show their love in different ways. Sex is only secondary.
ELECTROCHEMISTRY- Boooo. Loser.
YOU – "*Asexual* huh, sounds kinda cool."
KIM KITSURAGI – "Does it? It's fine. I mean, I don't mind it. Although other people somehow seem to have a problem with my sexual activity, or rather my lack of it."
EMPATHY - People just loove sticking their nose in other peoples business. Especially when they don't understand something. It's easier to hate than to understand. Also, that way they don't have to confront their own problems.
YOU – "Okay.. I think I get it, asexuality I mean."
KIM KITSURAGI – "You do?" He doesn't actually think you do but his eyes have a hopeful glint to them. You've surprised him on more than one occasion
YOU – "Yeah, you know, everyone feels love different and it doesn't have to be expressed just through sex.
People can show their love in many other forms"
KIM KITSURAGI – He nods. "I'm glad you see it that way, most people don't understand it. They see sexual activity as trivial to any romantic human relationship. I just can't get behind it."
YOU –"Soo.. What does that mean for our relationship? I mean I like you and you like me but like.. I don't think *I'm* asexual."
KIM KITSURAGI – "I suppose you're asking how you're supposed to.. uh.. satisfy your needs. I have to disappoint, there's no way we could have a sexual relationship so if that's what you're expecting from me.." his gaze shifts away from you. He's nervous.
YOU – "No! No, not at all. I'm fine with just being with you. I mean, you're perfect and I love.. sorry, like you so much I would be fine with anything you give me."
INLAND EMPIRE - Its true.
KIM KITSURAGI – "Khmm, I'm not sure. I won't be able to give you what you need. No offense, detective, but you're an addict, you basically *chase* highs. And with me you wouldn't have any of that. You'd get bored."
ELECTROCHEMISTRY [Medium: Success] - HIGHS! AMPHETAMINE! PYRHOLIDON! COCAINE! Anything that distracts us from the fact that we exist.
YOU – "But I'm willing to change for you. I want to try. Please."
KIM KITSURAGI – He seems to contemplate your words for a bit. He's unsure about giving into you, scared of being hurt and left behind. Vulnerability is still hard for him. "Well.. If you're aware what you're signing up for.." He's partly trying to convince himself.
YOU – "I do, yes! Yes! I just want to be with you Kim, I'll be there for you and only do whatever you want. I'll never force you to do anything you don't want!"
KIM KITSURAGI – "Khm, very well then." He adjusts his glasses. "Please just tell me if this isn't working out for you anymore. I want us to be on the same page."
Empathy [Medium: Success] - He's scared you're going to get bored of him. He doesn't want to give into something that can easily be slipped away again.
YOU – "I will! Kim I love you so much."
KIM KITSURAGI – He clears his throat. Vulnerability, remember? "Yes detective, I know." He still gives you a small kiss on your cheek and smiles at you awkwardly. He for one shows his love predominantly nonverbal. He loves quietly but passionately.
SHIVERS [Legendary: Success] - Somewhere in the streets of Revachol a little boy crouches down at the curb, picking up a small, injured insect in the palm of his hand. He whispers that everything will be okay, he is going to save it, knowing the insect does not have the comprehension for his language. Still he keeps talking to it, looking into it's beady eyes that somehow seem to realize he is not going to hurt it. Love transcends every boundary.
INLAND EMPIRE – I LOVE ALSO YOU, I WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU AS MY OWN.
YOU – "So.. is it still fine if I touch you? Hold you hand, brush through your hair, kiss you.. you know."
INLAND EMPIRE – You're a bit shy now, yet desperate again.
You want to be near him but don't want him to be uncomfortable.
KIM KITSURAGI – He doesn't seem to mind. On the contrary, his ears redden ever so slightly at your mention of intimacy.
VOLITION - See? I told you, you just need to understand how the person you love wants to be loved. Understanding is primary in relationships.
KIM KITSURAGI – "Yes Harrier, you may touch me. I only backed away before because I felt like you expected more to come out of that kiss. I didn't want to disappoint you later on so I stopped you before anything more happened. I hope you don't feel too rejected. It really isn't personal."
YOU – "I don't! Don't worry about me, the last thing I wanted is to make you uncomfortable. I just want you to feel good around me, you know. Just tell me what you want and I'll do it."
KIM KITSURAGI – He doesn't say anything for a moment, you observe the blush on his ears deepening as he clears his throat. "Khm, okay detective. I will."
EMPATHY [Medium: Success] - He's obviously not used to people showing him this much devotion.
INLAND EMPIRE – You want to give him the whole world.
YOU – "Since you said kissing is fine though.."
KIM KITSURAGI – You pull him in by the waist in a swift motion and are greeted with his beautiful beady eyes looking up at you. He's usually very composed but right now you can feel him crumbling in your touch.
You don't waste any more time and melt yet again into his lips.
He exhales a sigh he didn't know he was holding and embraces you once again.
INLAND EMPIRE – You could do this all day.
ENDURANCE [Challenging: Failure] - No you couldn't, we're already out of breath and it's only been like a minute. Stay real.
INLAND EMPIRE – Still.
INLAND EMPIRE – When you back away from the kiss you're left gasping for air. Gasping for more of him.
KIM KITSURAGI – He seems amused by the level of desperation you're showing for him. 'Now now, detective. We'll have enough time to make out once this case is solved, yes?' He says this but the look on his face betrays him. He's holding himself back and it's taking everything inside of him to not attack your lips again.
INLAND EMPIRE – He straightens his back, flattens out his crumbled jacket and again, clears his throat. He shoots you a quick smile before beckoning you to follow him - the case waits for you.
INLAND EMPIRE – You grin back at him like a flimsy schoolboy who just received his first kiss, which, in some way, is true.
INLAND EMPIRE – All you know is, he's going to be the end of you.