bakerstreet | since the thing perhaps is to eat flowers and not to be afraid

(harmless) hanahaki meme

hanahaki (literally "vomiting flowers") is a fictional illness that began in japanese literature. most commonly, it happens in the case of unrequited love; flowers bloom in a person's lungs and their love suffocates them until it is either requited or they die.

that's pretty angsty. instead, consider a world where hanahaki is a normalised inconvenience and it's never hurt anyone. flowers grow in your chest from the cultivation of love — for your friends, your family, your dog. and it's a feeling that wants to be known, so maybe you can't help spilling petals sometimes when you laugh, or sigh, or shout at someone. everyone knows what it means and it's something to be celebrated. you love.

maybe you don't want to, though. maybe you chew on the petals and swallow them back, so that no one knows the feelings you're carrying around in your heart. but maybe that's not going to work forever, and sooner or later, you're going to cough those feelings up.

the short version
① hanahaki means your characters cough up flowers. plain and simple.
② it's caused by unspoken love, in any form, platonic or romantic; whether the love is requited has nothing to do with it.
③ the disease is not harmful in any way, and it's no more annoying than a persistent cough; it's treated as more symbolic magic realism here than concerned with the real life implications of coughing up flowers.
④ it's "cured" when a person expresses their love, whether the feeling is requited or not.
⑤ so basically, you can rp any everyday scenario... but now your character might have to deal with the minor nuisance of hacking up petals around the people they love. and those people are going to know what that means.

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Ah- [He's admittedly a bit surprised to see Aoba coming straight for him. Surprised, but... relieved. Mito allows himself to be pulled in by the hands, turning to look at the younger man warmly as he closes them inside. Oh... It looks like Aoba has found his resolve.] You're not disappointed in me?

[Despite the fact that he's being 'scolded', Mito just smiles at the shorter male adoringly. Giving Aoba a moment of space was a good idea after all. Even with rabbits and other prey-animals, it's important to approach cautiously and let them know that you're coming. They're naturally used to being hunted, so if you startle them they'll run away. Accordingly, they should always be given a warning that you're approaching so that they won't get scared.

But of course, Aoba isn't a rabbit. And so the matter becomes a bit more complicated when deciding how best to approach. It's apparent now that Aoba has always been reluctant to step forward before- and when Mito made a move, Aoba backed away. Nonetheless, he's still too impatient to really want to stop here, and therin lies the difference between Aoba and "normal" prey. Given his behavior, the circumstances, and what has already been confessed, it would seem that what Aoba really wants... is to be cornered. Mito can do that for him.

Taking a moment to rid himself of his large cardigan, he places it on the back of his desk-chair nearby. The same is done for the work-apron worn over his clothes, which is simply undone and discarded on the floor as he speaks.]

....I'm sorry. I left you feeling frustrated...

[He steps forward and leans in, backing Aoba up against the surface of the door with nothing but the presence of his body. Mito hovers closely, bending a bit as he stares directly into Aoba's eyes, bracing one of his forearms against the door behind Aoba's head.] But I assure you, that's the last break you'll be getting today.

Take off your clothes.

[ Disappointed, really! This is more than he could have ever expected when he walked into the store today. Everything is moving at a blinding speed, but it's exciting and adventurous. The sort of wild ride he thought only existed in fiction. ]

N-no... not disappointed.

More like surprised. Mito-san has been so gentle until today.

[ That part hasn't changed, really. He still has a soft and warm personality, but there's a dangerous side too, it's incredibly sexy. Embarrassing too, with how bold he is, and as much as Aoba wants to hate it, he feels like he's completely under his spell. Mito crowds up on him and Aoba shrinks back against the door instinctively. He's so much bigger than he is, and those large sweaters seem to cover a harder, masculine body laying beneath. ]

Eh? My --

[ Aoba's resolve wavers. He of course knew that getting somewhere private with him would lead to this, after all, he'd been willing to do so much out in public and before the security camera. But if he's so bold where others can see, just what kind of man would he be behind closed doors? Aoba stares up into his face, startled by the abrupt order and fighting down the instinct to object. Shame blankets over him as he realizes he really can't throw up some flimsy defense to romance him a little before getting him naked because... because that's also good. Checks off yet another box on Aoba's near-limitless list of kinks. He should be disgusted with himself, and in a way he really is.

But that doesn't stop him from quietly putting his hands on his jacket and slipping it off his shoulders, then stepping out of his shoes. It's really much harder to do this with him standing so close, not just because he has little room to move around in but his staring... he feels put on display, exposed. And he's only just started. ]

...All... of them? [ He asks as he lifts a leg, bending at the knee to slip off one of the dark blue leg warmers off from his jeans. ]

[Not even a moment of privacy will be allotted to the unfortunate younger man, as Mito watches him begin to strip. He barely even blinks as he soaks in the sight of Aoba cutely and deliberately taking his time to comply; an obvious blush on the shorter male's cheeks. Oh my... What happened to that impressive display of bravery from just a moment ago?

He politely suppresses a more amused smile; continuing to watch Aoba through half-lidded eyes. Still offering Aoba only enough space to remove his clothes as instructed, Mito cants his head to the side, as if considering the other man's words.] ...I could still be gentle, Aoba-kun.

If that's your preference, I could be soft, sweet and patient... You don't even have to take off all of your clothes. I told you- I'm not going to force you into anything you don't like.

[Still keeping his distance, he bends down enough to let his breath fall directly against the skin of Aoba's earlobe; his tone taking on a more seductive quality.] Instead, I could take my time... gently embracing your body without ever giving you my direct touch. I could let my tongue and my fingertips tease you through your clothes, so lightly that you can barley feel anything but my heat through the fabric... You'd be trapped in a bed that smells like me for... hours, maybe? And I'd make sure you stayed hard the entire time...

Is that the kind of "gentleness" you like?

[He pulls back to look at the other man's expression again. Mito's oh-so-kind and considerate offer ~~which may or may not have come across as more of a threat than anything else~~ is spoken with a hint of genuine interest; an amused spark of wickedness behind his intent gaze. Yes... he's serious.] Go ahead and remain dressed if that's the case.

Honestly, it's not a bad idea...

[ He carries awkwardness around him like a weight on his shoulders, hunching under his scrutiny. Even as he rolls off the leg warmers and puts them aside, he hesitates at his belt buckle, feeling the weight of Mito's gaze.

He looks up at him, or tries to, when the other man is suddenly speaking into his ear. He's so close, it makes gooseflesh rise over his skin in a shiver he just barely suppresses. Aoba freezes, caught in the words being spoken into his ear. It's like he's pouring that sweet seduction directly into him. Words that paint an image that piques his interest but --

But that seems painfully one-sided... like torture, a gentle and too-light touch to be sufficient, with Aoba lifting his hips and his voice in a whine for more and getting none of it, with the scent of Mito filling his senses, that intoxicating smile and tone on top of that! He imagines himself helpless and desperate to touch and be touched and he claps a hand over his reddening face to hide his embarrassment. He just imagined it, and now it's spelled out all over his face.

His hands lift from his belt and slide up Mito's chest over his shirt, fingering the folds as he closes in near his neckline. ]

Don't be ridiculous... as if I really know what kinds of things I like...

[ Gentle or not, anything is fine. As long as it's with Mito, anything will do. Just so long as he can satisfy his craving for him, tell him how he feels - finally, finally. He reaches for his face, wanting to touch his beautiful skin and fluffy hair again. ]

Mito-san... [ He has to give him a straight answer, so he forces it out - even looks intently into his eyes despite the way he wants to crawl in on himself in humiliation admitting this much. He's afraid that this kind of torture would betray his desire in awful ways, where even the lightest sound or touch could set him off. ]

...I don't think I can handle... that kind of gentleness... right now.

since the thing perhaps is to eat flowers and not to be afraid

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