[ By the time Semi returns, Shirabu has finished all he wants to eat from his original plate of food, leaving the chunks of meat completely untouched, and has started to forage for some wild berries that he knows aren't poisonous. Still, Shirabu will give Semi his undivided attention for a bit as he scrutinizes whatever it is he's brought.
To his credit, there's more on this new plate that he likes, or is able to stomach. But that doesn't mean he's going to be gracious. ] I don't need it. Like I said, I can take care of myself - I don't know why you don't understand that.
[ Semi's baiting him, and Shirabu knows it. But it works! ... in a really weird way. ]
Wait. [ The word leaves Shirabu's mouth before he's even gathered his thoughts. He furrows his eyebrows and takes an audible breath. Thinks hard about what literally anyone besides himself would say in a moment like this. A familiar voice rings through his head.
"Sweet Kenjirou... You're always by yourself, aren't you? But you don't have to be alone. Why don't you try talking with other people?"
...
...
....................
For the moment, he settles on handing Semi the plate he already had. ] Take this, too. [ ... but what the fuck is confiding in and relying on others??? He'll. give it a try??? uh. ] I. Can't eat most of this. [ He's never sounded more awkward or unsure in his entire life. ]
[Listen he's trying to be friends but he's not just gonna do shit for him. Especially when this is the perfect opportunity for Shirabu to talk with the others.]
No. I'm going back but I'm not -- That you can't eat this, that's something you need to tell them.
If you tell them, they'll be happy to give you different options to eat and continue to do so, so you don't have to do [he gestures to evidence of previous foraging] whatever the fuck this is.
[ His eyebrow twitches. Intentional or not, Semi's hit a nerve, and those thoughts about getting along with Semi and the others? Momentarily cancelled. ]
This has kept me alive, Semi. And I don't need you acting like whatever this is [ gesturing to the plate ] is better than my way of life.
What the hell are you talking about. [Why is Shirabu getting mad at him??? Besides being the brat he usually is.] I'm not naysaying your "way of life," Shirabu. I'm sure it worked for you while you were out on your own in the wild, but this is different.
There are conveniences available to you now that maybe you should take advantage of?? [Which includes a slight bit more variety in food options if he would just ask for them!!!] That's all I'm saying; don't put words in my mouth
[ Shirabu lets go of the plate he's holding, letting the meal splatter over the ground. He spits his words like venom, seething. ] Just because we're allies doesn't mean I want to be indebted to your kind. I haven't forgotten what you've done.
[ For a brief moment, there's a look on Shirabu's face that Semi's never seen before. He's hurt. But that hurt gets swallowed up quickly by anger and his voice drops in pitch, more like a bestial growl than anything else. ] Then the past means nothing to you man-spawn.
[ And without another word, he disappears into the woods. ]
[Semi is confused to say the least. The past means nothing to him? What happened in the past? Semi only met Shirabu when he first joined the army so there's nothing he's personally done to him. And, as far as he knows, humans haven't fucked with the Taguel. Right?
He remains confused when he arrives back at camp, both plates in hand, and when he plops down next to his brother in the dining hall.] Hey, Akira. You know a lot of history, yeah?
[A whole lot more than Semi at least.] Do you know anything about Taguel history?
[ Kunimi looks to the two plates that Semi's carrying (one untouched, one messy but empty) then up at Semi himself with a raises eyebrow. ]
Not a lot. [ It's not often that Taguel history gets mentioned in the books he reads out of pure boredom, but he's picked up a few things here and there. ] What happened with Shirabu?
[ Because there's no reason Semi would ask about this unless either he or Shirabu said something, right? ]
[Semi flinches.] Nothing! [But who is he kidding, Kunimi's right.]
Urk - okay maybe something. He got mad at me, like really mad, and this time I legitimately don't know why. [Because yeah he knows he's overbearing and annoying sometimes, but there was more to it this time around. He leans on his fist.] He said something about the past so...........
[ Ah. Semi's question now makes sense. Kunimi rests his chin in his hand and wracks his brain for something, anything to help his dumb brother out. ] What about the past? [ Because that... could mean a fair number of things, he thinks. ]
Like how he hasn't forgotten what "we've" done. [He makes a face.] Humans have been pretty shitty to each other, I guess. But what does that have to do with Taguel?
[ Kunimi just looks at him for a moment, obviously a little shocked, before he says slowly. ] ... You really don't know?
[ Oh, Semi. Ohhhhh, Semi you are so, so dumb. And while he tries his best to pick his words carefully, if only for Semi's sake, there's really no delicate way to say this. ]
[It's not like Semi's never read a damn book in his life, but he does not recall any historical collection talking about the exTINCTION OF AN ENTIRE RACE. Semi sweats.]
That's not funny, Akira.
[He's gotta be kidding ohmygod please be kidding Semi knows he's an idiot but not this much of an idiot please!!!]
[ Sorry Semi, but you might actually be that much of an idiot. ] Around ten years ago, a group of humans committed a mass genocide against the Taguel. There weren't supposed to be any survivors.
[ But, well. There's Shirabu. And Kunimi doesn't think Semi needs his help putting two and two together here. ]
[He can't be that much of an idiot when he's never in his life read anything about this or heard anyone talk about it. There was a point in his life where he traveled a lot doing odd jobs, never staying in one place long enough to hear any gossip, but he still should have heard something? Especially when he cares about people as much as he does?
The shock and distress are very clear on Semi's face as he processes all this.] So I pretty much told Shirabu that the murder of his people didn't matter. That's what you're telling me.
Eita... [ Unsure of what to say (he's never been good at comforting people. he says thing as they are, often with little regard to the other person's feelings. not out of malice, by any means - he's just not good at this.) he rests his hand on Semi's shoulder. ]
[ Kunimi can't imagine Lord Oikawa being too happy about that one... but Semi absolutely doesn't need salt rubbed into his wounds. So that hand on his shoulder turns into a half embrace as he quietly says ] I'm sorry.
[ Because Kunimi doesn't have a lot of reassurance for him when it's a definite possibility no one will see Shirabu ever again. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
To his credit, there's more on this new plate that he likes, or is able to stomach. But that doesn't mean he's going to be gracious. ] I don't need it. Like I said, I can take care of myself - I don't know why you don't understand that.
no subject
Then I guess I'll take it back.
[He doesn't expect Shirabu to take the bait but y'know. Worth a shot.]
no subject
Wait. [ The word leaves Shirabu's mouth before he's even gathered his thoughts. He furrows his eyebrows and takes an audible breath. Thinks hard about what literally anyone besides himself would say in a moment like this. A familiar voice rings through his head.
"Sweet Kenjirou... You're always by yourself, aren't you? But you don't have to be alone. Why don't you try talking with other people?"
...
...
....................
For the moment, he settles on handing Semi the plate he already had. ] Take this, too. [ ... but what the fuck is confiding in and relying on others??? He'll. give it a try??? uh. ] I. Can't eat most of this. [ He's never sounded more awkward or unsure in his entire life. ]
no subject
He? What??? Is he asking Semi to take both plates back?]
No?
no subject
You're going back anyway?
no subject
No. I'm going back but I'm not -- That you can't eat this, that's something you need to tell them.
no subject
No. I didn't even want to tell you.
no subject
[he's trying to stay calm, really]
no subject
This has kept me alive, Semi. And I don't need you acting like whatever this is [ gesturing to the plate ] is better than my way of life.
no subject
There are conveniences available to you now that maybe you should take advantage of?? [Which includes a slight bit more variety in food options if he would just ask for them!!!] That's all I'm saying; don't put words in my mouth
no subject
no subject
What -- I -- we haven't done anything??
no subject
[ And without another word, he disappears into the woods. ]
no subject
He remains confused when he arrives back at camp, both plates in hand, and when he plops down next to his brother in the dining hall.] Hey, Akira. You know a lot of history, yeah?
[A whole lot more than Semi at least.] Do you know anything about Taguel history?
no subject
Not a lot. [ It's not often that Taguel history gets mentioned in the books he reads out of pure boredom, but he's picked up a few things here and there. ] What happened with Shirabu?
[ Because there's no reason Semi would ask about this unless either he or Shirabu said something, right? ]
no subject
Urk - okay maybe something. He got mad at me, like really mad, and this time I legitimately don't know why. [Because yeah he knows he's overbearing and annoying sometimes, but there was more to it this time around. He leans on his fist.] He said something about the past so...........
no subject
no subject
[Semi you are so dumb.]
no subject
[ Oh, Semi. Ohhhhh, Semi you are so, so dumb. And while he tries his best to pick his words carefully, if only for Semi's sake, there's really no delicate way to say this. ]
We nearly drove the Taguel to extinction.
no subject
That's not funny, Akira.
[He's gotta be kidding ohmygod please be kidding Semi knows he's an idiot but not this much of an idiot please!!!]
no subject
[ Sorry Semi, but you might actually be that much of an idiot. ] Around ten years ago, a group of humans committed a mass genocide against the Taguel. There weren't supposed to be any survivors.
[ But, well. There's Shirabu. And Kunimi doesn't think Semi needs his help putting two and two together here. ]
no subject
The shock and distress are very clear on Semi's face as he processes all this.] So I pretty much told Shirabu that the murder of his people didn't matter. That's what you're telling me.
no subject
What are you going to do?
no subject
[He wouldn't exactly blame him if he didn't.]
no subject
[ Because Kunimi doesn't have a lot of reassurance for him when it's a definite possibility no one will see Shirabu ever again. ]