[ This is a hotel, so there has to be ice somewhere, surely.
It takes him a little while to find one, even with the notion of it being a place for them to stay and everything, and he's quick to rush back to his mentor's side, toeing off his shoes again and coming to kneel by the bed. ]
Here! Be careful, though, I bet the furry part won't want to be too cold.
[ His tail has stopped wagging now that Yuji is gone, which makes him give a sigh of relief even though he has the strangest desire for Yuji to come back already. The longer he's gone, the more than sensation occurs until suddenly — his door is opening again and there is Yuji.
And then the wagging restarts. ]
Ah —
[ It's still a bit painful to wag so much which is unfortunate because he can't seem to stop when Yuji is around so...
For now, he'll take the ice pack Yuji has brought him and place it at the base of his tail, against his back, holding it there for now. ]
[ Look, Yuji's not wrong. Nanami's already pieced it together — he needs his tail to grow in fully and get adjusted to it before he can control it more than instinctively. That's going to be embarrassing in the interim. ]
[ The thing is, Nanami knows what his body is aching for right now. To imprint. To hold someone. To find ease in the physical touch. But he's always been... restrained in some way and this pressure in him to chase after what he wants is driving him a little crazy.
Which is why when Yuji's hand pats his own, when he moves to pull away, Nanami's hand reaches out quick to curl around his wrist and tug him in instead. ]
[ The increased thumping of his tail hitting the bed only really gives him away when Yuji asks that question. He still hasn't let go of his wrist. But he does close his eyes then, tired and not in the mood to restrict himself.
[ That would be the cue to let go of Yuji's wrist, right? Since he's going to sit on the bed and they'll just talk. But Nanami can't seem to let go of him now that he's holding him and grimaces slightly.
The tail keeps wagging and he can't let go of Yuji. This transformation really is preying on his mind and body. ]
Thank you.
[ . . . ]
How has... it been, since you arrived? Tell me about it.
[ Pushing himself up and off the ground, he clambers up to settle on the bed beside Nanami, one leg hanging off. He also... Casually reaches out and lets his hand stay brushing over Nanami's, just in case that matters, somehow.
He had felt better when he was with Choso, so... ]
It's not been too bad! I tried to help with the weird plant thing, and I've started doing a little more work at the farm as well.
[ Ah, that... that feels really good. Idly, he lets his fingers fall off of Yuji's wrist so he can catch the hand that's brushing over him instead, catching Yuji's fingers in his grip. ]
Ah, the plant. You didn't hurt yourself in any way, did you?
[ He squints at Yuji, trying to see if he's fully okay himself. He doesn't know Yuji knows RCT yet, after all. ]
[ That really is a lot better, Felwinter wasn't wrong. He feels stupid for ignoring it before but it feels a little easier like this, like his dignity is still intact.
So, he curls his fingers a little tighter around Yuji's. ]
Good. If you ever need help, you know you can count on me, right? I might not be fighting as often these days but I can still come assist.
[ Yuji knows a little bit about imprinting from Gojo, but he's not consciously thinking about that: he's doing his best to be here and help the other man, to sit at his side and do whatever is necessary to ensure he's okay. That's fine with him, at the end of the day.
As long as Nanami is happy here. ]
Sure, I know that! But if I can take care of it alone, I won't bother you with it.
[ With Yuji settling next to him, Nanami is able to settle down himself. They're still holding hands, fingers laced together at that, and unthinkingly, Nanami shifts a little to the side and has his shoulder pressed up against Yuji's.
He doesn't think anything of it. ]
Mm, in this life... I don't mind if you bother me, Itadori-kun.
[ Because things have slowed down for him immensely. Some days he doesn't know what to do with himself and those are days that he finds himself missing the direction being around Yuji gives him. ]
They're leaning on one another now, and Yuji doesn't second guess it. It feels natural and easy, and the little tiger inside of him is content enough that he can relax and worry a little less about the strange discordance he had felt before. Maybe other people are right, and he will get more at peace with his strange new soul the more he's here.
Ears flicking up, he smiles. ]
Careful, Nanamin, or you won't be able to get rid of me.
[ Nanami's head turns to look at Yuji as he smiles at him, as he warns him to be careful and Nanami's expression softens just a little. He looks much less severe without his sunglasses after all, and sleep soft and disheveled like this, it's hard to look cold at all.
His free hand is going to reach up then and without asking, or thinking twice about it, he pets at Yuji's tiger ear, feeling the soft mix of fur and hair in his palm as he strokes him. ]
[ Yuji's ears are softer than his hair, and they flick unconsciously at Nanami's touch, more on instinct than anything else. As soon as he realises what's happening, he lets it continue, his eyes closing as he hums. ]
I know. You'd be able to say something like 'Itadori-kun, I think it's time for you to leave, now.'
[ Nanami doesn't say anything in response to that because that's exactly what he would say, Yuji isn't wrong.
So, with the way he watches Yuji's eyes close and the soft hum come from him, he just... continues with the petting. He know this made Yuji feel better that time in the park and it makes him feel a little better too so... what's the harm? ]
[ Yuji didn't get to spend as much time around Nanami as he wanted to, wasn't able to learn as much as he'd like about him, but he got to know enough. He knows how special it is that he gets to bother him just a little, that he can poke and prod and not get smacked around the head - not too much, anyway, just enough to be justifiable.
It means he relishes this, even if other people might find it a little ridiculous to be so happy and content around a mentor like this.
The petting keeps Yuji's tail coiling and twisting around, the end flicking, and from Yuji's throat comes an odd little noise. It might sound like a growl at first, until it becomes a little more clear; he's purring. ]
[ Nanami almost stops petting when he hears it. He doesn't quite know what's coming from Yuji's throat and initially does mistake it as a growl but when it clicks for him that first, it's a purr and second, it's coming from Yuji, he's not fool enough to not piece it together. It must be because Nanami's petting his ear.
Which is acceptable to him. It's hard not to do this, not to pet at his soft, soft, soft ears. It fulfills his need for physical touch and this strange desire to show physical affection to his mentee. He wonders how his own ears will feel when they come in altogether. Clearly he's a canine of some kind and that's not what he expected but he hopes he takes to it as easily as Yuji has taken to his tiger features. ]
[ His ears keep flicking against Nanami's hand, chasing the sensation of being pet, and Yuji is lulled into a quiet sense of security as he lets it happen. He doesn't see any reason not to when he's so content, and it makes him settle against Nanami a little more, breathing out.
He doesn't notice his own purring.
Eventually, though, he remembers what he came here for, and he opens one eye, then another, and then... He feels a little like he's blushing. ]
[ Nanami has been settled peacefully against Yuji with his arm wrapped around him to pet at his ear, the arm between the two of them still with his fingers laced with Yuji's. Especially as the purring continues. His own tail is a soft thumping noise in the background as this point.
When Yuji stirs though and opens his eyes, Nanami just looks at him curiously. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ This is a hotel, so there has to be ice somewhere, surely.
It takes him a little while to find one, even with the notion of it being a place for them to stay and everything, and he's quick to rush back to his mentor's side, toeing off his shoes again and coming to kneel by the bed. ]
Here! Be careful, though, I bet the furry part won't want to be too cold.
no subject
And then the wagging restarts. ]
Ah —
[ It's still a bit painful to wag so much which is unfortunate because he can't seem to stop when Yuji is around so...
For now, he'll take the ice pack Yuji has brought him and place it at the base of his tail, against his back, holding it there for now. ]
Thank you.
no subject
[ It's cute, actually... Yuji has always been a dog person. ]
Do you think it's because you're getting used to it?
[ Completely oblivious. ]
no subject
Yes, I think so.
[ He lies, like a liar. ]
Once it grows in fully, I'll adjust.
no subject
[ A little annoying, sometimes, with how it flicks around and droops when he is sad, giving him away, but he can deal with that.
Reaching out, he pats Nanami's hand gently. ]
If anyone can figure it out, Nanamin, I'm sure it'd be you.
no subject
Which is why when Yuji's hand pats his own, when he moves to pull away, Nanami's hand reaches out quick to curl around his wrist and tug him in instead. ]
Ah, wait —
[ He didn't mean to!! ]
no subject
[ Yuji might be slow, but he's not a complete moron, and he lifts his head to gaze at Nanami. There's something a little softer in his expression. ]
Did you want me to stay?
no subject
So... ]
Yes, I'd appreciate your company.
no subject
It's not that big a deal. He can help Nanami out, which is all he wanted to do to begin with. ]
That's fine. I can sit on the bed and we can keep chatting.
no subject
The tail keeps wagging and he can't let go of Yuji. This transformation really is preying on his mind and body. ]
Thank you.
[ . . . ]
How has... it been, since you arrived? Tell me about it.
no subject
He had felt better when he was with Choso, so... ]
It's not been too bad! I tried to help with the weird plant thing, and I've started doing a little more work at the farm as well.
no subject
Ah, the plant. You didn't hurt yourself in any way, did you?
[ He squints at Yuji, trying to see if he's fully okay himself. He doesn't know Yuji knows RCT yet, after all. ]
no subject
[ Their fingers link together and Yuji doesn't second guess it, tail wiggling around with contentment. ]
It wasn't too bad. Nothing I couldn't handle!
no subject
So, he curls his fingers a little tighter around Yuji's. ]
Good. If you ever need help, you know you can count on me, right? I might not be fighting as often these days but I can still come assist.
no subject
As long as Nanami is happy here. ]
Sure, I know that! But if I can take care of it alone, I won't bother you with it.
no subject
He doesn't think anything of it. ]
Mm, in this life... I don't mind if you bother me, Itadori-kun.
[ Because things have slowed down for him immensely. Some days he doesn't know what to do with himself and those are days that he finds himself missing the direction being around Yuji gives him. ]
no subject
[ In this life...
They're leaning on one another now, and Yuji doesn't second guess it. It feels natural and easy, and the little tiger inside of him is content enough that he can relax and worry a little less about the strange discordance he had felt before. Maybe other people are right, and he will get more at peace with his strange new soul the more he's here.
Ears flicking up, he smiles. ]
Careful, Nanamin, or you won't be able to get rid of me.
no subject
His free hand is going to reach up then and without asking, or thinking twice about it, he pets at Yuji's tiger ear, feeling the soft mix of fur and hair in his palm as he strokes him. ]
That's not my intention, Itadori-kun.
no subject
I know. You'd be able to say something like 'Itadori-kun, I think it's time for you to leave, now.'
[ He laughs softly. ]
It's fine. I get it.
no subject
So, with the way he watches Yuji's eyes close and the soft hum come from him, he just... continues with the petting. He know this made Yuji feel better that time in the park and it makes him feel a little better too so... what's the harm? ]
no subject
It means he relishes this, even if other people might find it a little ridiculous to be so happy and content around a mentor like this.
The petting keeps Yuji's tail coiling and twisting around, the end flicking, and from Yuji's throat comes an odd little noise. It might sound like a growl at first, until it becomes a little more clear; he's purring. ]
no subject
Which is acceptable to him. It's hard not to do this, not to pet at his soft, soft, soft ears. It fulfills his need for physical touch and this strange desire to show physical affection to his mentee. He wonders how his own ears will feel when they come in altogether. Clearly he's a canine of some kind and that's not what he expected but he hopes he takes to it as easily as Yuji has taken to his tiger features. ]
no subject
He doesn't notice his own purring.
Eventually, though, he remembers what he came here for, and he opens one eye, then another, and then... He feels a little like he's blushing. ]
Nanamin...
no subject
When Yuji stirs though and opens his eyes, Nanami just looks at him curiously. ]
Yes?
no subject
[ Yuji swallows, cheeks a little red, even as his tail sneaks up between them to curl around Nanami's arm. ]
Is this part of us having the souls and stuff?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)