@PLUMBLOSSUMSNOW ⠀“ It's you, ” snapped an uneasy voice, going on with razor-sharp points metaphorically pinning the dog in place. “ You've been following me. What do you want? ”
@PLUMBLOSSUMSNOW ⠀Tendrils of black and blood-red emerged from underneath the fabric of outdated pride without warning, stretching to threaten the face of a man he'd learned hardly anything about since first impressions.
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@arhbkk ⠀He'd been still for some time, cheek to the earth, too weak to move. Always too weak — always worthless, always disappointing, always tired.
⠀Going cold from blood depletion seemed more and more appealing as the seconds ticked on. Surely, he'd be doing the world a service.
@arhbkk ⠀Thick, strained muscles of throat and tongue silently struggled against desperate attempts for breath. Even the shock of strangulation was not enough to stir Ryūnosuke from his collapse upon the blood-saturated dirt and dust of Yokohama's back alleys.
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⠀“ You beat me down as though you would not be the same coward if I were to admit it. Do not act a hypocrite, and I will refrain from treating you as one. ”
⠀“ Shove it. ”
⠀To the mirror's image, the wolf had long since caught its rabbit. Teeth sunk into delicate flesh perhaps a bit too violently — perhaps with too much inhumanity.
⠀It glued black soles to concrete all the same.
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so desperate to be perceived. ”
⠀Akutagawa's firm glare followed the clone of his person, observing each step and every breath. A liar he would be if he were to deny feeling taunted, both verbally and physically.
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⠀₍ A short flinch followed hands upon his own. Dull gray fell to inspect the contact, blinking black and white lashes toward it. ₎
⠀Who are you to say what he approves of? He wouldn't even notice if I cut my own hands off. You only did because I'd been messing with them.
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⠀No —
⠀₍ In quick succession, Ryūnosuke stepped toward the weretiger, settled two hands atop his shoulders, and gently pushed him back down upon the chair. ₎
⠀It isn't that serious. Don't be dramatic.
⠀₍ He did not like owing favors, despite being owed one himself. ₎
⠀₍ Bony fingers met to idly pick at healing scabs and old scars upon the opposite hand. It was more of a mindless habit than anything purposeful. ₎
⠀The crime of loitering, if you'd like to label it ...
⠀There was not a single bone of cowardice in his body, or so he constantly convinced himself. Only a mirror image would understand those reasons and unluckily for him, there one stood.
⠀“ I am no 𝘤𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥, ” he spat, “ I've seen countless manifestations of myself. ”
⠀Akutagawa's knack for being gullible never seemed to change, even after his learning years of Mafia work. Anyone who knew of this flaw used it well.
⠀As such, he quickly took the bait, stopping suddenly.
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⠀What is that even supposed to mean?
⠀₍ Careful steps brought him to door's edge, though instead of opening it to leave, he turned his attention over his shoulder.
⠀Maybe, he had only moved to put distance between them. Who's to say? ₎
⠀... Is anyone else here?