bakerstreet | Appearances Don't Matter

Appearances Don't Matter

It all goes so well when people don't see you, so it's easier to hide away. And why wouldn't you want to keep away from the eyes of others? You're hideous to the world at large, despite your own opinions of yourself, no matter if you're human or otherwise. You don't appear to be anything most would want to be around, much less befriend. If you're human, your appearance could be chalked up to mutation, a freak chance at birth, or an an accident later in life; if you're not human, you just happen to exist in a place where those who look like you would never be accepted by the mainstream. Maybe it's not even your whole appearance, though. Your point of contention could be something like an injury or prosthetic that makes you feel not whole, though it may be insignificant in the view of the kind and open-minded. There's more comfort in covering that up and not letting anyone get close.

In any case, you don't expect someone to love you, be attracted to you, or even want to be with you, especially a beautiful someone. Yet somehow, somebody does...or, at least, it seems that way. Will this new development last? Can you put your demons at bay long enough for it to do so?

HOW TO PLAY

Comment with your character, canon, preferences, and whether or not you want shipping only or smut. Also, information about what side your character fits into best is imperative!
Reply to others.
Use the RNG to determine your prompt or choose your own.

PROMPTS

Meeting | You've never seen anyone who doesn't balk at your appearance, but they don't.
Growing Close | It starts as a friendship or an alliance, the grows to- more?
Jealousy | There's no way they could see you as anything special. Surely, they have someone more handsome or beautiful in their sights.
Realizing Feeling | At first, you didn't realize how your heart was feeling just by them being around, but now it's becoming clear: you're falling for them.
Can't Tell Them | You'll ruin your bond with them should you tell them how you really feel. They'll be disgusted, so you'll keep mum.
Touch | They touch you without a hint of distaste, which could be a big plus compared to what you usually deal with.
No Difference | Actually, they can't tell that you're different, due to lack of vision or something similar. All they can discern is your personality.
The Way It Used to Be | You didn't use to look this way, and it's hard to come to terms with your new look and how it affects
Confession | You can't keep in your emotions anymore, or they accidentally get revealed.
Good | They share your feelings! You never could have imagined this, but you couldn't ask for more.
Bad | ...oh, you thought they...oh, they're so sorry.
Scared | "Friendship" nor a "relationship" was never on their mind. In fact, they're scared of you.
Cruel | All of their supposed kindness was actually just them using you for their benefit. To think, you really believed they cared about you!
Defense | They step on the line for you, standing up to those who'd consider you a monster or somehow lesser.
Uncovered | You're exposed and they can see everything you've tried to hide. You want to crawl into a hole and die. They want to keep you from feeling that way.
Shouldn't Be | People oppose your relationship, and there may be some points to the arguments.
Intimacy | Even being close, which most take for granted, could be a new and possibly uncomfortable event for you.
Smut | The obligatory smut option, with all the baggage, angst, and difficulties that may come with it.
Misunderstanding | You heard them insinuate that you're nothing but the ugly outside, or, at least, that's what you think came out.
Bad End | The messy breakup option...or worse.
Good End | The happy ending option...or better.
WILDCARD

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Ah, okay. I forgot my jacket but it should be fine. [In his silly excitement. This is the closest he's ever felt to being on cloud nine before. Maybe this is it.]

So what are your friends like? I mean, obviously they're cool people of course...

If you get cold you can borrow my yukata. [He had two layers on and could shed the top one without problem. His way of dressing often made people call him old fashioned, but it wasn't anything he really cared about. After all he had been born long before Japan opened up to the rest of the world.]

Where should I start? Well Aotabo is this really big intimidating dude, but he is not bad guy and likes to laugh. Kurotabo is dark and mysterious, but you should see him drunk. Kejoro is very kind and caring, a bit motherly perhaps. Kubinashi can be very serious and scolds me when I'm not doing things I should. And then we have Setsura. I haven't seen her in a long while, but she have always been like a big sister to me.

[Or Saya could borrow him, which he totally would pull the other's arm around him or something but they were at a busy train station. Instead, he smiled and nodded at the offer. He always could pull off the yukata look.]

You all sound like a big family. It must be real nice! [And definitely more than just a circle of high school friends that stuck together.] Hmm...Aotabo...Kejoro...I've never met people with names like that. [An honest remark and not much else. Come to think of it, Rihan's name was pretty unique too.]

[If it wasn't for the people around them that would totally be a valid option.]

We are. [That was what happened when you lived and worked together.] They are a bit unique I guess. Nothing I really have been thinking about.

I don't really have people the way that you do. [Admitting that out loud sounded pathetic, but it was the truth. Clubbing "friends" didn't come close to family.]

Honestly, I'm a little jealous.

[The train arrives and the doors open. Once the crowd exiting dies down, he bumped shoulders with Rihan (the public equivalent of nuzzling, in their case) before stepping in.\

I'm sure you will be great friends with them as well. [He knew that the others were curious about Saya. After all their commander acted so happy every time he spoke of his human boyfriend. Like father like son since his old man had fallen for a human as well.

Stepping into the train, Rihan found them a pair of seats and sat down, taking Saya's hand in his. Just try to stop him from showing these small gestures of affection.]

I'm jealous at the fact that you can cook. Me trying to make food would end up in disaster.

You really think so? [Although Riahn holding his hand is more than enough of an answer for Saya to be hopeful. His first instinct was to look around if anyone was staring. Thankfully, people tend to mind their business on trains and whoever would notice likely wouldn't want to start a commotion. Feeling reassured, Saya gives Rihan's hand a gentle squeeze, smiling to the floor before letting out a laugh.]

Haha! Come to think of it, I've never seen you in the kitchen. I've always cooked for you. [Mostly because it was all Saya could do for him. He was rather short on talents...] You should try anyway. Maybe I can teach you.

[If anyone would start something Rihan would be there to protect Saya. He wasn't a stranger to violence, even if the last decade or two had been calm. And if someone would spill a rude comment, he felt confident that he could bring that person down with words alone.]

That is because your food is really good and I would probably start a fire. [Rihan let out a laugh. It wasn't that bad.]

[Saya laughed too. They were by no means disruptive but they were louder than the typical train crowd.]

If we can, we can try cooking something easy when we get to your place. [He yawned. Train rides were easy to doze off in. Already sleepy from hearing nothing but the rails, he started to close his eyes.]

Hey, wake me when we're there? [He yawed again, nuzzling close to Rihan's neck, and not letting go of his hand.] I'll teach you how...

Perhaps, we will see. [He didn't really own a modern stove and when he said not modern he meant one that uses firewood. Walking into his house were more or less like walking into the past.]

Sure, I will wake you up when we arrive. [Rihan smiled as Saya dozed off. He were so cute while sleeping, face free of troubles. The reminder of the trip he simply watched the other's sleeping face with a fond smile on his lips.

As they closed in on their stop, Rihan gently nudged Saya to wake back up.] Time to wake up. We need to get off soon.

[Short, dreamless naps seem to work like a time machine.] Mmmhghnkay...[He sits up straight and rolls his shoulders. Thankfully he didn't sleep long enough to drool on Rihan. That would turn him into a tomato.]

Thanks~ [Saya gave Rihan's hand a squeeze. Still holding on. That probably explained the lack of nightmares. Those come more often than Saya would ever want to admit.]

Hey, did you think about what you want to make? As long as it's not macarons or something, I'm sure we can do it.

[Smiling, Rihan placed a soft kiss to Saya's head. Of course he made sure that no one were looking their way before he did that. He respected that Saya had his problems due to his past. It wasn't something he blamed him for and he had been making improvements.] Good morning.

Ah no. I forget to do that. [He rubbed the back of his neck with an apologetic expression on his face.] I kind of lost myself in looking at you.

Oh, geez. That's so cheezy of you to say. [But considering how much Saya was grinning (and blushing), the line worked. He soon busted out laughing, opening eyes to commit Rihan's expression to memory. The man always had been so kind and gentle with him, but sometimes little cheese ball things like this still caught him by surprise. Maybe he just never expected to receive affection in the way most couples would. Some might have taken it for granted. Saya wouldn't. He counted his blessings every day.]

So is it the next stop?

You enjoy it when I'm cheezy. [Rihan playfully poked one of Saya's red cheeks. His boyfriend really wasn't good with hiding when he enjoyed something. Perhaps if he wouldn't smile and blush so much whenever he said a cheezy line he would stop. Or he would still do it to tease.]

It is the stop just ahead. [A voice called out to tell that they would reach the station soon and reminded everyone to not forget anything.]

[The giggle that escaped Saya was a sign that he did enjoy it. His chuckle died down as he bite his lower lip.] I'm suddenly feeling kinda nervous...

Whenever I'll meet your friends, I mean. [Saya scratched the cheek where Rihan poked him. Usually he had no problems meeting people and starting up a conversation, but that was the "fake" Saya, the one that people thought was straight...

That he was gay was no longer a secret now that Rihan's friends already seem to know about them. He felt more out in the open and yet a little more vulnerable at the same time. It was one thing to have Rihan put in a good word for him but the actual meeting could go anywhere.]

I don't want them to hate me.

Hate you? [Rihan let out an amused laugh. The others really wasn't the kind of people that judged others by their sexuality. They felt more confused about him dating a human, but his old man had done the same thing.]

For them to hate you, you would have to intentionally try to hurt me. There is nothing to worry about.

[He squeezed Saya's hand reassuringly and stood up at the train came to a stop. He wanted to hold Saya close and kiss him and tell him hat he had nothing to worry about, but there were a bit too many people around for something like that.]

[It wasn't even so much about his sexuality as much as it was...every other aspect of himself. A high school drop out that would help out at his family's small, small restaurant of which he lived right on top of...didn't sound the least bit impressive.

But Rihan's reassurance worked, enough for Saya to convince himself that he was worried over nothing.]

You're right... [He squeezed back as people began exiting out of the train, and he stood up to follow suit, turning to the other with a smile.] I can't wait to see your place! Let's make something homey...like beef stew or something!

[At least he had attended school for a period. Rihan had never gone to school, only being home tutored by his mother as a child and that held true for a lot of the others. And a modern school they had been to even less.]

You really are into the idea of making me cook. [He chuckled and squeezed Saya's hand again as they stepped off the train.

The area around them looked like a perfectly normal suburban area. Houses fit for families with one or two kids. Nothing out of the ordinary. Walking down one of the streets, Rihan closed in on the only thing that stuck out. An old and big house that looked to be picked out from some historical drama.]

It's an important skill to learn! I know I work in a restaurant, but eating out all the time isn't always good. [Granted, he could easily cook Rihan a homecooked meal no problem but that wasn't the point.

They still held hands which was good because Saya wasn't looking to let go any time soon. By the time they arrive at the ~~palace~~ house though, his grip went limp for a moment before tightening again.] U-uwahh?!

[He did a doubletake between Rihan and the house. While he had been preparing himself to feel "small" so to speak, in case he met anyone new, the feeling was now literal with the size of the place and all.]

T-this is your place?! You're kidding! [Although he likely wasn't, as big of a tease this man can be to him. Come to think of it, the place sort of suits him.]

But your cooking is better then anything that I ever would be able to create. [It was just a playful whine really. He were willing to try it out, but it might just be better for him to learn at Saya's place where there were modern tools around.

That reaction were priceless. He probably should have told about his home beforehand, but that was to late to change now.] Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that my place is kind of big. [Kind of being the understatement of the year. But he had grown up there and therefor saw nothing odd with it.]

This place have belonged to the Nura family for around four hundred years. [He hadn't really used his family name much either, not even back when they first had met. Rihan knew that some humans knew of the name and while most just saw them as old fashioned eccentrics some knew that they were yakuza.]

"Kind of" this guy says. [Saya sneered as he gave Rihan a playful shove, which wasn't a hard one at all.] I can't believe you never told me! [The family name did sound familiar, but he couldn't recall why. Saya never was one to truly follow gossip. Instead, he would let the others (usually girls) do the yapping while he would smile and nod along. That, and maybe he was still trying to take all this in.]

Four hundred years, huh...must be real old fashioned inside, right? Or did you guys renovate?

Sorry. It kind of slipped my mind. [The size of his home actually were a thing he had forgotten to talk about for real and not simply avoided.]

It probably looks a lot like you expect it to. We have electricity and water, but not in every room. It is super old fashioned inside.

[Rihan looked at the big gates and dearly hoped that someone had spotted them and reported that. Explaining why his home crawled with youkai was not the first thing he wanted to do.

Steeling himself, he pushed the gate open and to his luck they had been seen. He could feel how the small one were hiding out of sight, no doubt watching them and the rest were lined up along the pathway to the house, bowing as they walked down in.] Welcome back Nura-sama.

Honestly, what else don't I know about you? [He mumbled as he followed him to the gate. (Seriously, this could easily be a park!) The lack of modern utilities explained the whole cooking situation, sort of. That was far from Saya's mind now though, as he bit his cheek to keep himself from saying something stupid in front of the...servants?

Saya...was definitely feeling very small.]

A few things, but I don't know all about you either, right? [At least Rihan assumed that he did not know everything about Saya, even if his own secrets were a bit bigger. And he really should tell about himself, but the idea that Saya would not understand and leave him scared him.]

Do you want a drink? We can just take it easy for a while.

[His boyfriend probably needed some time to just take the whole place in. Rihan would not blame him for that. It was a big old place that he completely had missed talking about.]

There isn't much to know, really...but I'll answer anything you want. Small>[Saya smiled sheepishly. He wasn't lying. Life after dropping out of school had been quiet for him, because he made it that way. Hanging out at nightclubs were the only times things would get loud. Sometimes tiring too.]

M-mm! Sure. [The idea of a spontaneous cook off sort of went out the window for now after what he just saw. Honestly, he was under some impression that Rihan lived in an apartment or a flat or anything not at this scale.

He followed Rihan like a duckling, meanwhile wondering just how much more he wanted to get to know the other man.] Let's um...get to know each other even more over tea or something.

Edited 2016-07-06 05:55 (UTC)

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now i picture them both sharing a giant yukata hehe

wouldn't that be cute?

that should happen...like a sweater order gone wrong and they got XXXXL haha

it would give them the perfect excuse to snuggle together

Wahhh yes! ;3; <3

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