KHR Hell because fuck

[warmskies]

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[possedere]

[It seemed that the exhaustion of getting back into his mortal vessel and scrambling to get ready to go on these trips with Chikusa Kakimoto had finally caught up with him. Mukuro slept peacefully all the way up to the gas station, and he only awoke because of another human bodily function he had not missed. Drowsily, he sat up, hair more askew than normal, wiping at his face.]

What's this?

[He was half tempted to go back to sleep, but human nature called.]

[kokuyoyo]

Gas station.

[For obvious reasons he thinks need no explanation.... And less obvious reasons that he's not inclined to explain to the demon. At least, not yet. Pulling his hand back, he raises an eyebrow.]

Do you want me to get you something while we're here?

[possedere]

Mmmm.

[Mukuro rubbed at his eyes, still not processing the worlds wholly and clearly. It seemed to take his mind a few extra seconds to understand what the priest was saying, and answering him seemed like too much work. He shook his head, but did unbuckle his seat belt, slowly clambering out of the car.]

Bathroom.

[Being stuck in a human vessel was the worst.]

[kokuyoyo]

[What is it about this moment that has a warmth curl in his chest... Chikusa wants to make an excuse for it, like the ephemeral nature of the morning or the strange transition of liminal spaces or- anything. Something. But he's become quite knowledgeable in what it looks like to lie to himself, and he knows the real reason as Mukuro sleepily rubs his eyes with all the vulnerability of a child.]

[Opening his door, Chikusa steps out with him and just nods.]

I'll be waiting out here then.

[And he will, too, after all is said and done with the gas. There's a garlic knot in his fingers, half eaten, and he's a bit lost in thought.]

[possedere]

[If Mukuro had been more awake and alert, he might have believed the priest would have gone back on his word and left him in some random gas station in the middle of nowhere just to get rid of him. But instead, he just felt entitlement when he saw the priest waiting for him, a sense that all was right and well.]

Been waiting long?

[He moved in to snag a bite of the garlic knot, more interested in stealing something that was the priest's and not out of any real hunger.]

[kokuyoyo]

No. Actually, I was wondering-

[His words snip short as Mukuro's teeth dig through his food, and Chikusa shifts back a bit from surprise before the feeling fades away. Instead, there's just a quiet exasperated sigh. He swears...]

I could have swore I told you about all the snacks I packed for you beforehand...

[possedere]

It tastes better from your mouth, priest.

[Guess who was more awake and ready to be a pain in the ass again? Mukuro only smiled guilelessly, wiping at the edge of his mouth as he withdrew, before raising an eyebrow.]

What were you wondering?

[kokuyoyo]

[How does Mukuro even live with some of the shit that spews out of his mouth...? Chikusa dead eyes for a moment, even though he knows no amount of judgment will ever make the demon stop, before sighing.]

...I wanted to make brief stop in this town. Just... [He looks away, back towards the freeway.] ...To see what it's like. It wouldn't take long...

You could sleep in the car if you wanted.

[possedere]

[As long as the priest knows.

Mukuro looked around at the sleepy town around them, tempted to go back into the car to nap more because he was still exhausted, but he was also curious to see just what his cute little priest would get up to.]

I'll go with you. Maybe they have a store with cute hats for you.

[kokuyoyo]

Have you always had this strange obsession with hats?

[Frowning a little, Chikusa ate the rest of his garlic knot and settled back into the driver's seat. There'd have to be somewhere to stop at in this little town, surely, but they couldn't just sit here in a gas station.]

Surely it couldn't have started with me.

[possedere]

It started with you.

[Which was partly true, partly a lie, but what else was new? Mukuro had always enjoyed the elaborate clothes and costumes human beings had draped over themselves. Perhaps it had something to do with original sin, reminding him of the embarrassment and shame humans had felt when they realized they were naked and had to clothe themselves. Or perhaps he just liked stripping off layers like unwrapping paper from a present. Or some unheady mix of the two or neither at all.

He offered his arm for the priest to take, smirking.]

I'm interested in what interests you.

[kokuyoyo]

[Definitely sounds fake, but okay.]

[Warily, Chikusa accepts Mukuro's arm. It... sends a certain image, he thinks, the pair of them like this, and the demon must know that. However, in a whole different town that he might never see again, does it matter as much as it might...?]

[Well. Either way. Leaning a little closer, he raises an eyebrow pointedly at the demon.]

Then find Jesus.

[possedere]

[He was a bit surprised when the priest took his arm, but for once he didn't bother on commenting it to ruin the moment, instead starting off towards the direction of the town, aimless for once.

He tilted his head to the side to meet the priest when he leaned forward, laughing lightly at the suggestion.]

And if I already have? We don't get along.

[Mostly because Mukuro was a creepy stalker who dragged people into sin gleefully but who was keeping track.]

[kokuyoyo]

Then I'd have to question how much you're interested in what interests me.

[He keeps his steps carefully controlled, not wanting to be in a hurry or outpace his infernal companion. There's so little in the town, nothing at all like the city he's grown up in where homes and offices and businesses often clustered together. Here, he could probably cross from one end of the town to the other side and not come across half the business the city would have put into that much space.]

[Pausing outside of a barely lit antique store, he tugs at Mukuro's arm quietly.]

[possedere]

Even the closest of people will have some differences.

[One just had to look at him and Her for instance.

But that was neither here nor there, and amused, he allowed Chikusa Kakimoto to drag him into the antique store, peering around curiously.]

I should have known you would be interested in old relics.

[kokuyoyo]

[In a store like this, there's no rush, and Chikusa quietly peers at the smaller items on display. Maybe just one thing... He can't waste too much of his money, and he's trapped in his car for who knows how long. But...]

[Mukuro's words have him glance over to him with a faint frown.]

What does that mean?

[possedere]

You're an old soul, Chikusa Kakimoto.

[It's more of an observation than an insult, but given how amused Mukuro looked over it, it could be taken that way. He let go of the priest's arm to look around himself, curious.]

[kokuyoyo]

[Pausing at a small hanging display of various crosses on little chains or simple leather, because of course he would, Chikusa only gets more suspicious at Mukuro's words.]

Are you mocking me...?

[possedere]

Would I do such a thing?

[You would and have done so multiple times, Mukuro. He was right to be suspicious.]

Are you looking for something in particular?

[Having already searched for hats and finding none, he had circled back, bored.]

[kokuyoyo]

I'm not deigning that with an answer....

[If the demon was going to lie, at least he could try to put a little more effort into it.]

[Speaking of- as Mukuro comes back around from his unsuccessful hat hunt, Chikusa finally chooses one cross in particular and rubs his fingers across its front.]

No... [His head tilts down a bit further, chin to his chest.] Or.... not exactly. Something to remember this place, I suppose.

[possedere]

[A wise choice, though the way that Mukuro laughed at it might not make it seem to be so. He rested his chin against the taller man's shoulder as he looked over the crosses, snorting slightly.]

Why not get a kitchy shot glass or a post card? As a priest, don't you have enough crosses?

[kokuyoyo]

[If Mukuro is involved, it's already a wrong choice.]

[Anyway.]

I'm thinking of making an entire wall full of them. [That is probably deadpan.] At any rate, it's an easier thing to carry.... A shot glass would break while I'm traveling, for example...

Besides, I don't want to encourage you with more alcohol.

[possedere]

You think it would save your soul, priest?

[Still, it wasn't as pointed as it typically was, and he let it lie instead of dragging it out. He let out a small laugh at the thought of him being the one 'encouraged' by alcohol, shooting the priest an amused look.]

I hardly was the one emboldened by it.

[But he didn't want to ruin the priest's good mood with too much teasing, so he released him, looking through the crosses.]

Pick whichever one you want and I'll buy it for you. As thanks for the snacks.

[kokuyoyo]

[Both comments get the utmost dead eyed look at the demon, daring him to continue with either line of conversation, before he glances back down at the cross he'd first picked up.]

...This one, then. Since you're feeling the spirit of generosity today.

[possedere]

I'm always generous when it comes to you priest.

[He plucked the cross out from his hands, giving him a sickly sweet smile.]

Was there anything else you wanted?