bakerstreet | ( picture prompt meme )

Oh you know. Wandering around, doing some exploring and shit. Eventually it just lead me there. I'm a little more adventurous than most I guess.

[She shrugs a little. The how never really mattered to her, it was just like everything else she's found. At one point she steps into the grass, leading him away from the road and towards the wooded area.]

I wanna tell you about it, but it's so much better if you just see it for yourself. But everythin' about it's really beautiful. I can't believe no one's found it yet, honestly. I mean I guess you might not think to go that way, but still.

[Natsumi finally throws him a grin, kind of enjoying that look of disbelief he gave her moments ago and his questioning.]

Sometimes a girl just needs a private place away from everyone else, y'know? Just because I'm invitin' you though doesn't mean you can get your boy germs all over it, so you'd better behave. If I see your stupid snack wrappers anywhere in there I'll seriously beat your ass.

[He lets his eyes wander as they enter unfamiliar areas, soaking in the sights and sounds and committing them to memory. If this place is so important to Natsumi, he thinks he owes it at least that much.]

Well, it better be all you're making it out to be, or I'm going to be very disappointed.

[Always hard to please. Or pretending to be hard to please. But after a few more moments of getting absorbed in the scenery, Natsumi's words finally start to sink in. Fuyuhiko's fist tightens around the grocery bag, and he yells loud enough to scare off a small flock of birds nearby.]

H-hey! I wouldn't leave any snack wrappers around outside!

[That's called littering, and it's wrong, and he's better than that!]

[The little bit of laughter that comes out of her at that response can't be helped.]

I know oniichan, I know. Sorry, you're just so easy to tease.

[Something Fuyuhiko may notice is the faint sound of water. It wasn't present before, but the further they go, the stronger the sound gets.]

I mean, who did I learn not to litter from in the first place?

[That would be her brother. Just like probably 60% of everything else she's learned. Sure, her parents tried to teach her things, but she's always been more attached to her brother, following his example from as far back as she can remember.]

[Despite how much she teases him for it, it's a damn good thing he has such a stick up his ass. Without him, Natsumi could be out drinking and partying and doing all sorts of wildly unacceptable shit. So it's at least reassuring that he's around to ground her.]

That's what I fucking thought.

[So how dare she accuse him of something like that? Even if he's laughing at it too, a little bit. Well, maybe not laughing, but it's getting really hard for him to hide a smile, which is enough of an accomplishment on its own.

And he does notice the water. Not enough to comment on it, not yet, but it's at least starting to register]

[She'd be a mess without him, it's true. Just be careful, Fuyuhiko. One day you might find her sneaking out to do that shit in spite of your morals if you're too overbearing! But it's a good thing he's around, really, and for the most part she's happy to follow his good example.

And don't think she doesn't notice how hard it is to hide that smile, mister.]

Yeah, yeah, be proud or some shit like that.

[It's definitely a river they're coming up on, something that'll be more obvious the closer they get. And eventually, up ahead of them, there's a clearing in the trees where the river can be seen. It looks like it's in the middle of a path of some sort, but it's hard to see how far the path goes in either direction until they actually step onto it.]

[Oh, he will be proud. He'll be very, very proud of his sister, and of himself for making sure she turned out so good in the first place (because god knows their parents weren't fucking helping).

The sound of water has his full attention now, and he turns his head to take a good, long look at the river running beside them. He presses his lips together and squints at it for just a moment before speaking.]

You sure nobody knows about this place?

[There's a river. Those are normally on maps, right? So somebody has to know this place exists. And it's not like he's trying to be all finicky about being completely unseen and uninterrupted (well, maybe he is a little). He just doesn't want Natsumi thinking her little hiding place is more secret than it actually is.]

Pretty sure.

[Once they reach the path, it seems to stretch on both ways, following the river.]

They probably know about this part, but my spots pretty hidden. I hope you weren't thinkin' you could just follow this and find it. I'm not that stupid.

[Excuse you. She leads him to the right, where branches hang over the path here and there, and vegetation creeps over it to reach the water. Nothing impeding, but it's awfully pretty.]

I've never followed it all the way down yet. It goes pretty far. The other direction hits the road and bridge back there.

[Fuyuhiko gives a small, private roll of his eyes, but it's definitely not imperceptible. If Natsumi is paying close attention to his facial expressions then it's more than likely she noticed.]

So what, you think no one else is ever gonna think to take the other path?

[So he's making some presumptions about what kind of place this is in order to get answers out of her. So what? He's gotta snuff his curiosity somehow.]

It's a fork in the road, Natsumi. The point is to pick one side or the other.

[And before she can say anything about it—]

And not everybody's gonna care about following the fucking river.

[Not a word he ever thought he'd precede with "fucking," but hey, it happens.]

[Natsumi immediately prickles at his criticism, shooting him a glare.]

Oh, okay, I guess I am just that fuckin' stupid! Good to know that's what you think of me!

[She can't help it, the angry sarcasm practically dripping from her voice as she looks away from him again.]

You know we can just turn around. Clearly it's not special enough for you so hey, no skin off my bones if you don't want to see it. Not the first time you've dismissed me so whatever!

[Despite saying this, she's still walking, so she obviously still wants to take him there and have this picnic. It's just in her nature to argue with him. Up ahead in the path, if either of them are paying attention to it now, it kind of looks like the dirt path is changing to something boarded, like a bridge or a pier almost, with railings along the edge of it to likely keep people from falling in. Still the vegetation hangs over head, untamed and free to grow how it likes.]

Edited 2017-08-21 23:11 (UTC)

Is it such a crime to be concerned about your well-being?

[It might sound like he's showing weakness, but he's only doing it with the express purpose gaining the upper hand in their argument. So it's not like he just admitted to caring deeply about her safety at all, see?

To further his argument, he gestures directly to the floor underneath them as they step onto the boards.]

Someone had to have built this, Natsumi. Shit like this doesn't come out of nowhere.

[And obviously it's being decently maintained, otherwise he would be complaining about how it could give out underneath them at any second. That means someone besides Natsumi must be showing up here at least semi-frequently to maintain it.

He really isn't trying to imply she's stupid, at least not now. He just wants to prove a point.]

Tch...

[She can't decide if she wants to stubbornly turn around, go back and sulk for the rest of the day and maybe tomorrow, or stubbornly go on ahead anyway just to prove him wrong. Because she's positive her spot's good! Yeah, he's right on that, but she's not saying this part is hidden! But now she's doubting herself, and she hates doubting herself. She does it enough as it is with everything else in her life. But, at this point, he'll probably just insult it the whole time too, won't he? Maybe she should turn around. Nothing she does is good enough for him, so why would she think this is any different? He's always looking down on her and everything she does...

Chewing on the inside of her cheek, she keeps walking. When she replies, her voice is strained from trying to keep it level and calm, not angry or disappointed, even if that's how she feels.]

You wanna go back, just gotta follow the path in the opposite direction. I'm sure you can find your way back home once you hit the road. Just because I asked you to come doesn't mean you've gotta if it's gonna be so annoying for you.

[He confused for only the briefest fraction of a second.]

It's not...

[And as what he's done registers, he slows down until he's come to a complete stop. The guilty and slightly horrified look on his face is one that Natsumi should treasure for years to come. It truly is, more than anything else, a sign of how much he cares, no matter how much he might try to hide it.]

I'm not really mad Natsumi, I'm... I'm just being an ass again. I thought we were doing that thing where we argue but don't really mean it, you know? Didn't think it meant anything to you. Sorry.

[It's not the best or most eloquent apology, but it'll have to do, because she certainly won't be hearing him repeat himself any time soon. After a beat, he sucks in a deep breath and continues down the path with a renewed sense of determination.]

Well, come on. This food isn't going to eat itself.

[She definitely will treasure it, later when she's in the right mind to. Right now she looks a little more like a kicked puppy, pouting just a little bit as she walks along with him.]

Jeez...I have feelings you know. If you sit around and shit on something I'm really excited about, I'm gonna get upset with you.

[But you know what would make it better? Definitely seeing if this is a chance for her to just sneak out and wrap an arm around one of his. He's apologizing for making her feel bad, so she bets he'll totally allow this.

Definitely. Maybe. Okay, 50/50 on if he will, but she'll take those odds over the 90/10 that he won't most of the time. Either way, whether he allows it or shakes her off, she manages a little smile again. He apologized, and that's good enough for her.]

But it's okay. We do have way too many of those stupid arguments don't we? It gets pretty hard for me to tell if I'm really upsetting you or not sometimes, so I can't be too mad.

[He'll allow it, just this once, if only because no one else is around and he doesn't want to risk upsetting her again and fucking this situation up more than he's already managed to. But because he's a solid inch or two shorter than her, he ends up feeling sort of like her worn-out teddy bear.]

I know, I know... I'll think before I open my mouth next time, alright?

[As long as it keeps her happy, which is all that really matters. Honestly, fuck other people. They couldn't be better than this, right? Yeah, he didn't think so.]

But... yeah. Guess we need to learn how to talk things through at least some of the time if we wanna avoid shit like this.

[Probably one of the few times he'll admit he needs to work on his emotional business. But if it's for Natsumi, he really doesn't mind. Or he at least minds a lot less.]

Okay.

[Don't even think like that, Fuyuhiko. Holding onto your arm like this makes her very proud, thinking more like they look amazing side by side; The powerful heir to the throne Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu and his terrifying but beautiful younger sister Natsumi. People see the two of them coming down the road and they should be parting like water for them! Even if she doesn't match up to him in any way, she is at least above a majority of the peons that walk the Earth.]

Probably, but I mean when has that ever gotten us anywhere?

[That's because they haven't actually given it an honest try.]

I don't even know where to start with that touchy feely shit. Am I supposed to just confess my deepest, darkest secrets and hope you know what I'm talking about? Oh oniichan~

[She's doing her best to mimic the kind of overdramatic tone you might hear in soap operas or bad cheesy romance flicks, even going so far as to carefully slip the handles of her bag over her wrist so she can place her hand over her heart.]

I haven't dared to tell you this before now, but...we need to talk things through! And I just...I have to tell you...it hurts me so much that you wear those dorky ties with your suits! As someone who cares a lot about fashion, it really fuckin' offends me! I don't know how we can possibly work this problem out though!

[Whoops, apparently we can't make fun of something without also dragging Fuyuhiko a little.]

[Hey, it's not his fault he has highly conditional self-worth and an intense need to appear as masculine as he possibly can, and that those two things just love to mingle. Either way, the teddy bear feeling at least makes him act a little gentler. It's probably a subconscious thing.

He gives a chuckle at her dramatics at first, but it quickly fades as his fashion sense is brought into question.]

You're not really joking, are you? Ugh, seriously...?

[See? This is totally beneficial for both of them. In most other circumstances, he would have snapped right away. You've softened him, Natsumi. Softened him into a fluffy, grumpy little bear.]

The hell is wrong with my ties? I happen to like them just fine. So you had better learn to appreciate them, because they're not going anywhere.

[Especially the one with the cow skull on it. That one is badass and she can pry it from his cold, dead hands.]

Besides, you've got your own issues there too, with all that... froofy stuff.

[It's not his best insult. It's not even a good insult. Is it an insult at all? It's unclear. But with the great lengths he went to avoid wearing "floofy stuff," he thinks he's perfectly within his rights to poke fun at Natsumi for it a little. ...As long as she knows it's in good fun. She'll know he doesn't mean it, right? He is so bad at this.]

[At first she puts on quite the pissed off look. But...it's completely ruined by the "snrk" that follows, and then her attempt at trying to hide laughter. And then pretty soon she's cracking up, leaning against him a little as she does it.]

"Froofy" stuff? Oh my god, really?

[It's safe to say she's not taking him seriously, both as far as seriously insulting her goes and that it's a good insult at all. And then she's grinning, reaching up to poke his cheek a little.]

Should I start dressing like you? Blacks and whites, pinstripes, sharp suits. Or I guess dress suits. People gotta tell us apart somehow and fuck knows if I dressed like you fully they'd be like, "Wow Kuzuryu-kun when did you start wearing a wig?"

[At least she doesn't lean against him for too long, but still keeps a hold of his arm.]

Looks like we're at a stalemate though. I'm not gonna stop wearing all my froofy stuff. That means we really suck at workin' through our problems I think, because I'm pretty sure they aren't supposed to end at "too bad I'm doin' it anyway." What're we gonna do now?

I think this is the part where we realize we never really cared about this shit at all and it was all for the sake of an example.

[So they've got different styles. In his opinion, that's a good thing. God knows if Natsumi dressed like him he'd hear no end to the talk about how she "pulls it off better," and more shit about how she should be the next heir instead. He would rather they stay different; so different that no one could ever think to compare the way they dress.]

I mean, unless you want me to make fun of your acting skills. That's always an option.

[And yes, of course he knows it was for the joke, but there's no way he can just leave that be. It's his sworn duty as her older brother to make good on every opportunity to embarrass her that arises.]

Might set us back a bit in terms of progress, but I'm willing to risk it if you are.

[This comment is accompanied with not just a teasing grin, but an actual, genuine wide smile that takes over his whole face. Either he's really starting to enjoy himself or he just gets that much amusement out of making fun of his sister.]

[Like in most cases, her own mood easily follows her brothers, that genuine smile of his putting an equally genuine one on her own face. Even if he's ragging on her a little, that doesn't matter. Not if she gets to see an expression like that.]

Hah! Are you sayin' you could do better? Huh oniichan?

[She is apparently plenty happy to risk it, encouraging it even.]

Come on, lemme hear your acting skills! Your my older brother, so you've gotta lead by example, y'know! How am I gonna improve otherwise?

[Wow, didn't take long at her for her to turn that one back around on him. He can feel blood rush to his face as he tries to brush off her dare. Even when it's just the two of them he still doesn't feel like humiliating himself.]

I never said I could do better! And I definitely never said you were capable of improving.

[Maybe being bad actors just runs in the family. He's never been particularly good at pretending not to give a shit whenever he cares far more than he could possibly describe.]

With a performance that poor, I'm not seeing any way up for you. Sorry, Natsumi. That's life.

[Or show business, whatever she wants him to call it.]

[Should've seen it coming, Fuyuhiko. When will you learn that you can't gain the upperhand against your little sister? She just sticks her tongue out at him. How rude!]

Heh, guess it's good I have no plans on bein' and actress. Who needs actin' skills when they can just blackmail someone, right? And we definitely don't need the cash.

[Rich kid life. She flips a little bit of her hair, looking confident and proud of herself.]

I was thinkin' of gettin' into modeling though. All those offers are temptin' sometimes!

[The path eventually leads them up a set of stairs, pulling them away from the river again. At least this walk is a little easier to follow, rather than the wooded walk they took to get to the path in the first place.]

[If Natsumi's messing with him, then the look on his face must be utterly priceless. First confusion, then dawning realization, then shock, then disgust, before settling on the darkest, most dreadful death glare he's pulled in weeks. But it's not directed at her, oh no. He's just staring straight ahead, imagining all of those people offering her modeling deals, and then imagining their blood painting these stairs.]

People ask you... to model?

[Frequently? Enough for her to actually consider it? He feels violently ill, probably because he's envisioning most of these people as creepy sickos who want an excuse to see her in a swimsuit or some shit. No. Absolutely not.

...So then he has to gently remind himself that Natsumi is her own person who can make her own decisions and that if this is what she really wants, he shouldn't interfere. That, and it would look bad to care too much.]

Ugh. Whatever. If you ever really want to, don't let me stop you. But you're not allowed to come running to me if some perv volunteers to be your photographer.

[Translation: she totally is, and he will kick said perv's ass.]

[Don't think she doesn't notice those expressions. She watches him, raising a brow for a moment and letting him think and talk, but her own expression softens some at his reply.]

Somethin' tells me that's not really what you're wantin' to say right now.

[See, this is why she loves her brother. Yeah, sometimes being protected and worried about by everyone is annoying. Especially in the family, where Fuyuhiko's been kidnapped before and their family members worry that Natsumi might be next, always wanting to watch her too, asking her where she's going and if she has her phone and this that and the other. But when it's her brother who's worried, it's never bothered her. She loves it. It makes her feel like may be she is special to him.

She laughs a little, shrugging.]

They're just hand towel companies askin'. Nothing big. I bet I'm pretty enough to get pervy photographers volunteering though. I'd definitely have someone with me, so you don't have to worry about me bein' annoying and askin' you to save me.

[She would though. He'd be the first person she'd run to, even if that meant she'd be faced with a million "I told you so"s for it.]

[That's a relief, so much so that he worries it'll show on his face. So he avoids her eyes, staring down at the ground and kicking the dirt slightly as they walk.]

I didn't ask.

[Okay, technically he did, but good luck getting him to acknowledge it. After a few moments of stubborn silence, he softens, lifting his gaze up from the ground and turning to stare at the trees they're passing by instead.]

...But thanks for letting me know anyways, I guess.

[It's quiet, but his tone is undeniably genuine. He'll always care about her, no matter how hard he tries to mask it.]

How much longer are we walking for? I haven't eaten since we left home, you know.

[She does him the courtesy of letting the tone and gratitude slide, figuring she's probably embarrassed him enough today. She bets just letting her hang off him like this is embarrassing. Looking up from him, she glances around, assessing their surroundings.]

Hey, you think I ate anything either? I've been saving my appetite for this all mornin'! But not that far. Actually, our turn is just right up here.

[She points to...what is definitely not an actual turn. Actually, it's a pretty huge bush. Maybe there's a path behind it? But it doesn't really look like it. And when they actually get to the bush, it's obvious that there's not. The path their on is the only one there, and it continues on straight ahead.]

Gonna have to do a little off roadin' and walking over some rough terrain, but that shouldn't be any problem for you right?

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