[Stop making enemies with people more powerful than you... A thought he grumbles in his head. Some people might think Esikko has no choice in whether or not people make enemies with him; Bakugo has opposite opinions. Does he expect Esikko to become a wheedling suck up trying to kiss ass and stay on everyone's good side? Hell no! But unless he's able to protect himself one way or another, he's gonna become prey to unsavory dick heads. People are people, no matter what damn world they come from.]
Stop making excuses. Everyone has a weakness. Crush them. If you can't grab your poison, start incorporating it where you don't have to reach it.
[He didn't mean a master poisoner in crafting only. He meant assassination arts, secret applications, shit you see in fantasy films, ninja movies, and other action pieces where the weaker person uses other means to augment their lacking strength.
Even Bakugo's aware Esikko needs to speak his spells; figured that shit out the first time they fought together against the stupid painting. Anyone with half a brain can figure out Bakugo's Quirk comes from his hands, Dabi's Quirk burns him too, Scott's mutant power utilizes his eyes, blah blah fucking blah. It's up to all of them to work around those noticeable weaknesses and conquer them. Using your limitations as an excuse is pathetic.]
Tch. Everyone has to deal with their own damn stamina. [It's difficult to advise Esikko in this. He comes from a world where almost everyone has some kind of supernatural power. Plenty of them suck, but many of them are strong. They make do with what they have.] Don't look down on what skills you have.
If you're bothering me, I'll tell you. [But Esikko's right. Rotate. Bakugo will help him some days, Dabi others, more of his companions. As many enemies as he has, the prince has friends too. Ironically, Bakugo deals with the same annoyance of being a burden on people around him, fearing becoming so and doing everything he can to never find himself in such a position. Doesn't matter if he has to for his broken leg to move, he'd rather stab his femur through his thigh muscle walking out of the room than rely on someone's offered shoulder.
Doesn't mean he always gets or goes through with what he'd rather...]
In my country, a long time ago there were two groups of warriors. Samurai and ninja. Samurai used strong weapons like swords and spears. They rode horses, had strong bodies, could fight for hours. Ninja were weaker physically, so they used stealth attacks, poisons, hidden weapons, and trickery. Guess which one their enemies feared more.
( Slumped as he is, Esikko isn't taking notes, but he does take mental note of all that Bakugo is saying. It's his usual sort of deal— words that are both inspirational and frustratingly blunt. Words that aren't cushioned by falsities or niceness that does nothing for him, and instead smack back his thoughts with a realistic sort of harshness he can't help but appreciate, even if it irritates him all the same. Because that's the sort of thing he needs, right?
The opposite of people like Kirma, who would tell him he doesn't need to fight, that they could do it all for him. To strip him entirely of every ounce of autonomy he could have. Bakugo's words would rather empower him, push him, all while backing him up...
And he's not so blind as to ignore the occasional hypocrisy, of course. Bakugo is stubborn enough that Esikko can't help but feel that he doesn't know enough about him, his feelings, his internal struggles. That he can guess to many of them, based on what he's seen, but that getting the man to ever admit to any of it would be like pulling teeth. Is that a testament to their bond not being close enough, or is it more just that Bakugo tries too hard to be strong enough for everyone? He's beginning to realize it's the latter. And so he leans, after a moment, to put himself closer to Bakugo, subtle as it is, eyes trailing over the items laid out on the table. )
Maybe... the problem is that I've always been trying to view how to do these things alone.
( Quietly, thoughtfully, he's clearly in his own head, but it's a little more productive this time. Not self-deprecating, just reflecting. )
Stealth and trickery, is it? I'll try to focus entirely on my strengths, then, and not think about where I lack. ( Hard as it is. He's not sure he can stop, but he'll try. ) So, I'll rely on some of you to help fill in the gaps. That's fine, isn't it?
( He's still so quiet... But he turns his head, finally, glancing over. )
Perhaps one day I'll be able to fill a few gaps for someone else, too. ( He wants to be useful, more than anything. )
[He's not the kind of person to sugarcoat things or let people down nicely. Doesn't have the patience to drag shit out when getting to the point is much faster and ultimately the only reason in the first place. The truth hurts, reality's a bitch, and he's had those two bastards crammed down his throat multiple times in his life with merciless efficiency. There are things Esikko has to face and contend with. He can either dick around feeling sorry for himself or he can stand up and get to work.
Bakugo's never liked relying on other people. Sharing his victories or losses with others pisses him off. Being reliable doesn't mean being someone's crutch. He can help Esikko up, but what good is that if the man crumbles on his weak legs the second he lets go?
He's seen the kind of power the prince can wield, even if he knows so little about either form asides from Esikko's fear of them and the one's ridiculous attitude. Sucks neither can be utilized here.]
Aa. Don't forget what you lack, but don't focus so much on it you forget what you can do. [There's nothing wrong with working on your weaknesses. Fuck, you should be doing that most of the time. But neglecting your strengths in favor of the opposite only drags yourself down. Until even what you could do well becomes a disappointment.]
Hmph, why the hell wouldn't it be fine? [A hero's supposed to be reliable. Bakugo wants to be someone Esikko looks to and knows he'll get help each time. When he needs it. Heroes have to be able to work as a team, supporting each other, but also strong enough to stand alone against adversity. A tricky balance sometimes.]
You already do. [Esikko's given people tools and gifts both useful and pleasant. He has friends, people who can come to him. If he can't see his usefulness, he's fucking blind.
Bakugo clicks his tongue after a few more seconds under the prince's gaze. Che, sap... He sits up on the seat and grabs his drink again.]
You ever poisoned your nail polish?
[Back to brainstorming! Before he gets uncomfortable with the softer stuff.]
( Bakugo has been the target of a lot of sap lately... But how is he supposed to help that? He went from a world where universe after universe of trying and clinging to any small amount of attention or kindness, no matter how twisted or toxic underneath, to a place where he can actually have people who understand him, who are there for him, who he can rely on? It feels so foreign, so freeing, like a weight is being lifted, and it's hard not to get a little starry eyed over it, even now. Maybe because he's so used to being told or shown that he doesn't deserve this, to be shown otherwise is just warming...
And there are others who have shown it, of course, like Dabi. But all here, and it makes him not want to return to his own home at all. He'll find somewhere else. And the more he thinks on it, the more that seems... possible? Allowable?
Thankfully, Bakugo interrupts his thoughts from daydreaming too much further. The idea of poison nail polish sparks something inside Esikko enough that it lights up his face, eyes blinking wider. )
I... hadn't thought of that. ( It's genius? How had he not thought of that? He holds out one of his hands to admire the nail polish on it now, curious. Well, it's a new idea to him, relatively speaking, and he had been introduced to it as purely aesthetic, with some skincare levels of aid. He was only thinking of it looking nice with his hair and being further away from what his father would like, when he'd first decided to try it. ) I suppose, so long as I'm capable of making an antidote quickly for anyone I'm intimate enough with, that could work.
( He'd hate to kill or paralyze someone unintentionally, especially mid sex. )
Nail polish like this wasn't a thing, where I'm from, so I only started using it here. You're so smart, Bakugo~ ( Praising him because he loves this idea, singsong and all. )
[Not just from Esikko, even if he's not going to put any admission to lips. He's no stranger to people being nice; Bakugo came from a world where he has friends and family, people who support him despite his attitude, people he cares about despite their annoying antics. There's no sob story or dark background clinging to his soul, no villainous origin waiting for any unsuspecting questioner to get cut on. And yet for all of his offerings in life, he refuses to flop down and rest on cushions of support and care. It happens, sometimes; hell some friends drag him down yelling and screeching. But there exists a gulf between him and certain others, unable to see how or why someone would continue to think so little of themselves. He knows, he's not stupid, but... how fucking pathetic to choose such a route.
Weeks to months after his arrival, he wanted nothing more than to obliterate the peacock and send everyone back home where they came from. A hero's vicious salvation. Until cold reality lanced him through when he realized some people are better off in this place, some don't want to go home... and he came to care about people as well. A damnable trap, a bad mistake, but an unavoidable fact. He's only human. As most of them are.
Thoughts for himself. His expression flattens when Esikko's lights up in surprise, blinking in a stunned stupor. He... hadn't thought of that.] BAKA! [*WHAP!* Right on the bastard's stupid pink head!] You're good with poisons but don't think like a poisoner!
[Not that Bakugo thinks like a poisoner, but he's read plenty of comics, watched plenty of hero shows, pushing the heroes to contend with not just powerful villains, but sneaky ones too.]
Nail polish, hairpins, needles in your sleeve, poison pills in necklaces, you ever seen chloroform on a patch of cloth knock someone out? You can even poison your damn lips. [It's not a lightly-tossed litany of options. Esikko knows he'll have to treat his new arsenal with care to avoid hurting his friends and innocent people. But he should've at least been thinking about things outside of magic! ... Maybe he didn't have assassins in his homeworld.]
( It's an overreaction for the drama of it, of course, as Esikko whines about the whap on his head, hands reaching up to clutch at it as if it's a serious injury. It is not. It didn't really hurt— but no one usually dares to hit him, slapstick or not?!
It's kind of nice, not being treated like some fragile thing you can't even interact with. But that thought flutters away as quickly as it came, because he's busy taking in all of those ideas. He stands, after a moment, to grab his journal and jot them all down, pacing left, and then right... )
Okay, okay! Maybe I'd think of my strengths a little more if some people would list them a little more generously, hmm?
( He's joking, and that much is clear by how his gaze doesn't linger on Bakugo. His steps keep him pacing, and he tosses the journal back on the table. It's a little hard to focus on strengths when so many mocking voices sound in his head listing his faults, but... it's gotten better, here. He can work past this. He thinks. )
Anyway, perhaps I'll leave some magic in your suite, too? ( A curious glance flicks over to Bakugo, asking for permission as he moves back over to him. Now, when he sits, he tries to crowd into his space. To share a chair, or sit on a lap, or whatever he can get away with. He did this once before, ages ago, he remembers... )
The lines work better with some distance between their main points. If I draw symbols in yours, and Dabi's, and my own... you know, it works better. And in the meantime, I'll continue growing my plants.
I already have an assortment of useful ones... I grind some into powders, make others into sleep aids for the few people who seemed interested... I guess it's possible.
[Good! Maybe that'll make sure he remembers his words next time. Keep it jogged in his brain. Esikko better be glad he didn't include an explosion.
Bakugo drops his head back over the chair's arm, legs sliding out so his knees are flopped over the other one instead of his previous scrunched position. This is the second time the prince had to go pick up his notebook. Put it down when they're done talking, Prince Prick. Sheesh.]
If you need people to tell you you're strong, you're not gonna last.
[Joking or not, Bakugo takes the comment seriously. This is another point they can't see eye to eye on. He loves getting praised, flattered, having his strength extolled. But only for a short while before it becomes annoying. And he'd never let someone else's words be the source of his strength. Knowing what he can do, how strong he is, his own opinion of himself matters more than someone else. Even if everyone in the world called him weak... he'd have to rely on himself to stay strong. He can't let his own doubts and insecurities overpower him.]
Leave some magic? What do you mean? [If he's talking about his ingredients, plants, and other shit, that's fine. But if he's talking about weaving magic into the walls and setting up some kind of damn ritual circle in his closet...] Oy! I'm sitting here, dammit!
[Slender butt bastard! Ultimately Esikko ends up squished into his lap, with Bakugo glaring at him from "below" but not trying to shove him off. For now. One arm thrown over the back of the chair, the other wedged beside him.]
How much space do you need? [Sounds like the ritual circle path. Not like he's using every room in his suite. And he'd rather Esikko be in his and Dabi's suites than down in the basement.]
You know how to concentrate their extracts, right?
( A simple response as he settles in, cold as he is, in Bakugo's lap. He's bony, but at least he's lightweight, even as tall as he is. He holds up both hands, approximating the size of something, like... cantaloupe sized? )
Maybe this big, on the floor somewhere, beneath a bed, or on a wall behind a painting. You know, just a sigil, which would require the set up of a larger setting but leaves only a small marking in exchange.
It may smell like my blood for some time afterwards, but it fades. ( He'd just need maybe a couple in each, to help direct things? He has to map them out later, but... Anyway. )
In any case, yes, I do. Multiple methods of it, in fact. I can use each and every bit of any plant you can think of, truly, and perhaps even some you don't know of. If there's a problem, I can solve it with a potion, or a supplement, or a powder or cream... You know, I did offer these things in my earlier days, but no one took me up on it.
( So he stopped offering, and kept them mostly to himself. )
Since before I even bothered with magic, I was fascinated with plants. I studied them closely, so I'm familiar with horticulture deeply. When I use my magic to create plants based on descriptions, it's actually my knowledge of their systems as a whole that leads me through it, rather than magic itself.
Shut up. [Esikko's chill. Like keeping a cool pack in his lap. Bakugo scowls at him before dropping his head on the chair back. Bony butt digging into his hips. He's got no problem holding Esikko up. Red eyes take note of his sized estimate, immediately thinking to different places around his suite. Not much of a problem if they're small.]
You can set it up in the spare room. [There's a few places he could put it. Behind a dresser, in the corner, under an end table, in the closet. It'll give Esikko his privacy if/when he needs it later.]
I've got candles. [Not that Esikko's blood reeks of usual copper gore. Wait, A COUPLE?! Don't turn his suite into a damn coven! Fuck!]
Then focus on plants with deliberating effects. [Blinding, numbness, pain, stupors, all the fucking drugs made from plant-based byproducts. Sure, it might not affect everyone in the resort, but having something reliable on hand is better than doing fuck all.]
I make grenades using flasks and chemistry vials. [Even though his has his Quirk, even back home Bakugo had gear he utilized along with his sweat and Quirk to battle. Since he obviously doesn't have them here, he's improvised. And made some for one or two companions. If he's going to a dangerous place, Bakugo usually brings a few along.]
...I used to make similar vials to your grenades. For myself, and for Hiyori. He stopped asking for them when he got angry with me, and I've already learned he's gotten help from you instead, now.
( Again, his hand lifts, fingers showing the length of the tiny vials he would make. )
One type would explode on contact hard enough to break the glass. Another type would create a sort of smokescreen, temporarily, with the same impact.
I realized that repeatedly, the sort of people who come for me are ones that can grab my wrist before I can manage to even throw them. I began to only make them for him, but now they're... ( Useless? That's what it feels like, anyway. Who would want them? But he stops himself, shifting one arm to hook around Bakugo a little, as if he's not close enough by sitting in his lap. )
So... I could do the same for other effects, of course. But it's frustrating, when I prepare and still get overpowered. That's why I wanted to learn more maneuvers to break free, though.
Che. I can't give him the same stuff you do. If he wants more of your extracts, he'll ask.
[Might not given he's aware of Hiyori's broken faith in Esikko, but isn't going to bring it up to the man. Not tonight when he's already dealing with his self-worth issues. Another simpler suggestion is Hiyori hasn't gotten through the supply Esikko gave him, so why would he come asking for more?]
What kind of plant produces explosive extract? [He figures Esikko means a magical potion, but since he said he could create brand new kinds of plants from memory and description, maybe he concocted a blasting flora? Smokescreen isn't hard to guess, given his spells.]
I'm already teaching you grapple breaks and pressure points. [Bakugo shits as that arm hooks around him, growling when he has to pull from the seat a bit so he's not racking his ribs on Esikko's arm.] You said you use sigils and symbols for your spells. Can you create a mark that will react on touch?
[Like those traps and magics in comics where one accidental touch causes the ground to collapse or a spell to activate. Bakugo doesn't exactly want Esikko to turn his body into a living weapon...
but at the same time, what the hell's the harm in doing so? People are grabbing him anyways. His own world has Quirks, part of his own body is his weapon. Bakugo himself is an explosion living in human form, right?
If Esikko can't get external offense, can it hurt to look at internal? Time to look into the ugly mirror.] Your painting self was casting spells without any effort.
There are a handful of plants, at least, that have various uses for seed pods that explode, though most of their exact methods are due to things like ripening or tension. But, there is a plant from my world that I use— the oil from its seeds acts as a vital component, as it can produce a gas that builds up intensely when mixed with hydrogen peroxide.
It requires a violent sort of strike, so carrying the vials around isn't dangerous, but a harsh impact starts the reaction.
( He exhales softly, thinking as Bakugo continues to offer ideas. He's starting to feel sleepy, which is... nice, in a way? But a little frustrating all the same, because this talk feels productive, and Bakugo feels warm, feels nice. But a lot happened today, he supposes, and maybe the relaxation of having someone who can watch out for him is making his body actually calm down from its usual insomnia. )
My painting self ate a lot more gods and was barely alive. ( He frowns a little, thinking on it. Right now, he wants to describe that version of him as "hardly himself," but... the truth is more that the him sitting here in the resort is the one barely like his old selves, right? But it's because of the opportunities, the people, the scenes, right? He feels sick thinking about it. ) There are "shortcuts" I could take... by using the Divinity, the thing that makes my blood so unique.
But it causes pain, it causes madness, it threatens to allow that thing to take over again, and what happens is— like those roots you tore out of me. There are times I've allowed myself to use it too casually, when I cared less about what happened to myself. ( He pauses, pinching lightly at his own fingers, quietly thinking. ) But, I suppose... there are one or two people I don't want to worry, here.
So I'm trying to avoid that. ( Dangerous, life threatening god powers are an entirely different sort of magic that a normal human shouldn't have access to. His body barely allows it. )
But a mark that reacts on touch is something I could do, at some level... If you mean on the floor, or a wall. I've done that before. A "trap," set to react to a stimuli.
Hn. [Different kind of explosion, but it works. Pressure placed within the seedpods until it bursts for one reason or another. Not the combustive detonation he's referring to. Anything is useful when it comes to what Esikko can do with plants. He's read about heroes and villains making use of foliage and plants with their Quirks, taking themes or actions or gear from their nature. A girl in one of the other hero courses has a Quirk which causes prehensile vines to grow instead of hair. She's used those for offense, defense, insulation, bindings, and more.]
That's similar to nitroglycerin. [Requiring an impact to set it off, which causes the necessary friction to make the heat enough for an explosion. Bakugo notes the way Esikko's breathing softens, and glances towards the clock. It's late. Later than he usually stays up. And Esikko's been running on adrenaline for the past two hours at least. Crashing hard's in his future soon enough. Guess he can't begrudge something actually forcing the guy to sleep well.]
Yeah, yeah. I'm not saying eat a buncha fucking gods. [He throws the topic out the window. Doesn't make a damn lick of sense and he'd rather not talk about that aspect. Gets confusing. What he wants to note is the actions the guy was able to take and glean some inspiration.]
You're not taking any fucking shortcuts if you're gonna work with me, dumbass. [The only "shortcuts" he allows are those found by improvement and efficiency. Strong enough to do away with the training wheels. Smart enough to combine two steps into one. Inspired to try a safer, better alternative. He's not gonna let Esikko cut a corner and fuck himself up.]
Uh-huh. And they're gonna kick your ass if you keep stressing them out. [Speaking from experience since he already chewed Esikko out tonight. Of course he wants Esikko to avoid doing shitty actions! He's going for other routes.]
No. Your skin. [He turns his hand over, showing the underside of his wrist and his forearm.] I read a comic where the hero had tattoos on his body. Each one correlated to a different action. If he touched the one on his forehead, he could project his thoughts. The one on his wrist made his body heat up. The one on his leg made him invisible.
Go brush your teeth while you think about it before you fall asleep on me.
( At those first comments, moving through the conversation from nitroglycerin to no shortcuts to kicking his ass, he smiles. It's genuine, softer than his default; of course he knows there are no more shortcuts, and of course he knows they'll kick his ass. Bakugo is one of the two people he's sure have some amount of care for him here, after all.
A genuine care, for whatever reason. Not the twisted kind that stands to gain something. He's not sure what he's done to deserve it from anyone, but he's not about to turn it away.
His thoughts are interrupted by that last idea, though. On his skin? He looks thoughtful, suddenly, as he compares Bakugo's thoughts to the reality of it with his magic. Could it be possible? Certainly. But how would it work on a body like his? Traps might mean he can't even get touched in pleasant ways, which could serve to be a problem here...
Mm, but if he applies more specifications, maybe? Is there magic that can read intent, buried somewhere in his journal? Or maybe something he can do to switch it on and off? There's also the issue of the mark itself on skin. The methods—
Bakugo tells him to brush his teeth and he can't help but laugh, a soft closing of his eyes allowing him to soak in this last bit of comfort. Aww, he's being kicked off his lap. )
I can't sleep on you? ( Lightly, like a tease, he leans in to kiss at the side of his head. It feels easier to leave these quiet little signs of affection, of appreciation, when he's teasing along with it. Something to excuse it, maybe...
And he slips away and off him just as quickly, grabbing the bag he'd brought and moving towards one of the bathrooms. )
Fine, fine. Let me think on what I could manage. Be right back~
[He wouldn't be entertaining the man in his suite if he didn't give a shit about him. Bakugo doesn't want Esikko getting into more trouble or getting hurt, but he's not a nice enough guy to give him a bail each time. He wants him to grow strong, work smarter, improve himself, find his way around his own weaknesses. OF course he'll save him; he's a hero and likes the guy. But don't think he won't yell at Esikko while doing so! Tough friendship.
This is also the guy who tutored one of his friends while beating him over the head with a rolled up book to help. Esikko should be glad he's not getting that brand of assistance from the blonde.
Esikko's thoughtful expression and mild confusion earn him another flat look.] Dammit, Prince Prick. How the hell'd you live all these lives and not think about shit like this?
[Bakugo spent so much time with his Quirk, trying to do all sorts of actions, wringing out its features from experimenting with his sweat to cutting his palm's tough skin to see how his Quirk affected it (okay the last one was done with parental supervision and a doctor's guided permission. And only once. He wanted to make sure a stupid slash across the palm wasn't going to screw his Quirk forever! Shut up! What fabrics soaked up sweat the most, which liquids diluted his sweat more, whether he could detonate his sweat faster or slower depending on temperature. A month or two ago (back home) he learned how to double coat his explosive sweat with normal sweat. Etc. Always experimenting. Always improving. Always looking outside the level he's currently on.]
Hell no! Your bony ass is digging into my fucking thighs! [Another few minutes and he's gonna lose feelings in his legs! Bakugo gives Esikko a light shove with his forearm, not knocking him off, but definitely encouraging his long legs off his body and onto his feet. Complete with grumbles as the man leans in and kisses his head. Embarrassing... His face pinks slightly at the mixture of familiar intimacy and old-man doting.]
Scram. [Once Esikko's off his lap, swings his own legs off the armrest and stands up. Ugh, there's a crick in the spine. He arches backwards, stretching his lower spine with a struggling grunt. Fuck. More for Esikko to think about. They don't have to go further tonight; he feels like the man has enough to brainstorm.
While his guest gets ready for the night, Bakugo checks his room's door, then shuts off the lights in the kitchen and heads to his own bathroom to clean up as well.]
( For what it's worth, he does spend the entire time he's getting ready for bed thinking about it. What kind of thing he might be able to do, the sort of triggers it could play from, the effort involved in it, the anchors he'd need in the resort. If those ones, the ones on his body, are the ones he keeps anchored in the rooms of Bakugo and Dabi's suites, it would be even safer, right? The one thing that bothers him the most, that has him thinking the longest, is the real answer to Bakugo's question of how he lived these lives without thinking of stuff like this: he doesn't remember.
He doesn't remember if he did, or didn't. He doesn't remember why he would or wouldn't. There are so many gaps, so many faint traces of something almost like memories that he can't quite reach, that when the question arises, it just feels uncomfortable.
His eyes are even heavier by the time he finally finishes brushing his teeth, washing his face and changing into something comfortable. Honestly, if he weren't so tired already, he'd want to take one of his usual baths— but it's rare that he gets tired enough to feel like he's going to fall asleep, and he wakes early enough on default that he can just steal one in the morning.
Right now, every moment away from someone he trusts feels weirdly anxious, and so he hurries through his usual hair care and then pokes back through the suite to find where Bakugo has ended up by now. Whether he's still in his bathroom or in the bedroom by now, Esikko announces himself with a few little knocks before poking his head in, stepping in shortly afterwards, almost shy in his motions. )
Do these larger suites ever seem too quiet to you? Or are you one of those types who enjoys it.
( The solitude, the silence. Bakugo's so loud, though... He uses his question as an excuse to step closer, fully intent on crawling into bed with the other when it's clear he's allowed. (Obviously he is, but look.) )
[Bakugo came away from this night with a lot more knowledge about Esikko's magic and the limits it places on itself and the mage's body. He's no impressed with it. For as useful as it is, much of its power seems to require too high a cost to be worth the effort. While he won't agree or condone Esikko's family treatment of him, a nagging part in his mind wonders if the world's decision keep magic locked away and secret wasn't the right choice. A greedy, consuming power which takes more than it gives.
Shit part is, he can't do anything about it. Esikko has to use what he has and figure out a way around the drawbacks. Almost all power has some cost. Even Quirks. Hell, the first time Bakugo tried to use his biggest blast, he put himself through a wall. When he was 4.
Esikko's fighting an uphill battle. Branching out into other ideas can give him more breathing room. Maybe if he doesn't relying on his magic so purely, he'll gain other ways to protect himself without detrimental shit.
Bakugo emerges from his bathroom, damp from a quick shower. (Wash off while he brushes and flosses his teeth; multitasking.) A simple pair of black lounge pants and a black tanktop are his usual choice of sleep wear. The rest of his suite's all locked up and closed off. Anyone breaking in is making a fatal mistake.
He glances up from the bed, too large for a single person, but even when he tried reducing the Ace suite's original opulence, some continued to make its way through. Guess he can't really do much on a single twin dorm bed.]
I don't want a bunch of fucking noise keeping me up. [He grew up an only child and always had his own space. Dealing with his noisier classmates in U.A.'s dormitory had been a culture shock. Yeah, the suite's bigger than anything he would have at the moment (even a Pro Hero's apartment usually isn't this big) but he aimed for this rank to use his suite for others, not himself. Mostly. He gets some perks.
Bakugo's resting on one side of the bed rather than the middle, making it obvious the previous offer's open.]
...So you want to be the loudest person in any room.
( Teasingly, Esikko watches the other man set himself up in the bed and follows, slipping in easily on the other side. It's fine, if attention isn't being drawn to it, then he's not going to say anything himself. For his own pajamas, though he used to opt more often for things like button up silk, he's gotten a lot more used to the casual "fashion" of the Peacock, and is in a loose fitting long-sleeved t-shirt that hangs nearly past his shorts. He thinks the occasional showing of a shoulder is cute, when it slides, and he likes to look cute, what can he say.
His bare legs slip easily beneath the sheets, and a little shamelessly, move gradually over to brush up against Bakugo's warmer ones. He's icy as always. )
[Someone's cruising for a pillow to the face if he's not careful. Esikko isn't wrong. Bakugo likes being the loudest person in the room, usually because loudest means right! Ironically he's a quiet person when no one's setting him off, content to read or study or mind his own business when he's by himself and unbothered. Even with someone else, he'll keep his silence and doesn't talk as much as others. But he sets off so damn easily.
Bakugo reaches for the light beside his bed and dims it instead of plunging the room into darkness like he usually would. Esikko doesn't need a callous bunch of shadows covering him right now.]
Oy! [When the hell did this guy go from cool to touch to fucking popsicle legs?! Of course he instinctively jerks his limb away.] Why'd you drop a billion degrees?!
( Poor circulation... Though, usually, having cold legs doesn't bother him as much as, say, when his face gets cold? But still, the warmth of Bakugo's legs leaving in a jerk makes him frown a little, like he was looking forward to tangling them together.
He settles, for now, for just shifting them a little under the covers to generate some heat. )
It's just from being separated for that short time, you know~? I got all cold. ( True, honestly. But he shifts, next, to roll onto his side, peering at Bakugo in the dim lighting. ) Don't you get warm at night, the way you are? Let me use you like a heater.
[Hell, put some socks on while you're at it! Don't just shove those freezing things against his skin and expect them to stay! Human reaction to thermal shock, duh. Bakugo takes Esikko's frown without a single flicker of regret. Yeah, he bet the guy was anticipating some tangles. Hmph, not if he's gonna be bared down there.
Bakugo throws the covers to the side and swings his legs out of bed. Esikko's taller than him, but he can still shove some better clothes at the prince. His drawer springs open with a yank and Bakugo drags out a pair of sweats, then tosses them over his shoulder towards the other man.]
Put those on.
[Yeah he knows Esikko's wearing some bottoms, but if he wants to tangle up with Bakugo tonight, he can put on an extra layer to make it easier. Hmph.]
You should sleep with a bed heater. [An electric blanket or a heat stone. Neither of which Bakugo has since he'd end up a sweaty mess from either. Sheets and covers sail upward in an arc before falling down over his body, zipped back into bed after his brief excursion.] Haa?! Who said you could "use" me?!
[Growled even as he's not really moving away from Esikko. As long as his legs and arms are mostly covered, it'll be a lot more tolerable. So... guess he can tangle or spoon or whatever.]
( ...Okay, he'll put these on, but only because the idea of borrowing his pants sounds strangely appealing? It's kinda cute. So with a laugh, he slips out of bed just enough to slide his shorts off (he is Not wearing both!!) and slip the sweats on instead. Shorts get dropped aside as he slips back in, automatically reaching back out for Bakugo. )
But then I'd get too hot, you know? It's always so uncomfortable at night.
( Bakugo doesn't seem to get it... that he'd prefer company in bed. But that's endearing in its own way, and so he just shamelessly tangles in. Let him spoon... )
[Tomorrow he's dragging Esikko to the store for some damn leg warmers. Even if it's not gonna do much for Esikko himself, it'll do a lot for Bakugo if the prince is gonna keep sticking his icicles between his thighs! And don't call his growling demands "cute" ... dork.
Bakugo drops his head on the pillow with a huff, hands shoving underneath as he scowls at the ceiling. Esikko doesn't have to don his shorts over the pants like some old-school weirdo. There's no protest when he reaches for him, only the blonde's head tilting to the side slightly in his usual "uuugh" retort to people getting snuggly with him.]
Haa? When the hell have you ever gotten too hot? [He thought Esikko always ran refrigerator mode! Don't whine about getting too hot if you wanna have someone in your bed too... As the prince tangles in with him, he lets those arms wind around his chest and legs trap one of his own between them. It's way more tolerable with those sweats on. Hmph. Esikko can get as close as he wants now.]
Plenty, lately! That boat, for example, was terrible... My health is poor enough that I can't sweat enough for proper cooling, so any amount of intense weather is difficult to handle, even if I might still feel cool to the touch.
( Trivia of the day. He hates the summer just as much as the winter. Moderate climates feel best... Or, alternatively, having a bed partner who he can alternate cuddling and rolling away from!
Isn't this nice? He thinks it is, all snuggled up against him, nuzzling in against Bakugo as one of his legs bends up further, still sandwiching his leg in. A full cuddle. Deal with it. )
Hmm... But you're comfortable like this. I might even be able to sleep well, tonight~
( Playfully... But he means it, too, behind the singsong tease. He feels exhausted, after everything from today, and having Bakugo so close is like a security blanket, right now. Their temperatures match up well, too, and he's not the type to be overly clingy, so Esikko knows that it's not going to be too much. With that, he allows his eyes to drift closed, even if he says a bit more. )
You didn't have to go on deck. [Grumbled more to himself than Esikko. He thinks back to the different times he's seen the prince active, noting a lack of sweat on some of them. Guess he isn't exaggerating. Though he was dripping a lot during sex. Maybe cause that was inside... or it was sex.
Dammit, if Esikko thinks he's gonna be shifting between clinging on and casting away from Bakugo all night, he's gonna find himself tied up in a fucking blanket cocoon while the blonde snoozes beside him! Don't interrupt his sleep. Hmph.
There are few people Bakugo would volunteer to sleep beside in the resort. He's never liked sharing his bed with someone; grew out of that when he was a little kid. But... it's not horrible with Esikko resting beside him. Oy, don't knee him. His expression flattens. A full koala cling. Great.]
If you don't sleep well, I'm gonna knock you out.
[Damn right he just took Esikko's insomnia as a challenger to his apparent comfort level! You wanna go, shitty sleepless nights?! Good for the prince Bakugo runs warm. He pulls the blankets up around their chests and Esikko's shoulder, making sure he's secure for the night. Normally a back or side sleeper, at least he's not gonna break a rib with a nightly flying kick or something.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 8/30/25 12:42 (UTC)Stop making excuses. Everyone has a weakness. Crush them. If you can't grab your poison, start incorporating it where you don't have to reach it.
[He didn't mean a master poisoner in crafting only. He meant assassination arts, secret applications, shit you see in fantasy films, ninja movies, and other action pieces where the weaker person uses other means to augment their lacking strength.
Even Bakugo's aware Esikko needs to speak his spells; figured that shit out the first time they fought together against the stupid painting. Anyone with half a brain can figure out Bakugo's Quirk comes from his hands, Dabi's Quirk burns him too, Scott's mutant power utilizes his eyes, blah blah fucking blah. It's up to all of them to work around those noticeable weaknesses and conquer them. Using your limitations as an excuse is pathetic.]
Tch. Everyone has to deal with their own damn stamina. [It's difficult to advise Esikko in this. He comes from a world where almost everyone has some kind of supernatural power. Plenty of them suck, but many of them are strong. They make do with what they have.] Don't look down on what skills you have.
If you're bothering me, I'll tell you. [But Esikko's right. Rotate. Bakugo will help him some days, Dabi others, more of his companions. As many enemies as he has, the prince has friends too. Ironically, Bakugo deals with the same annoyance of being a burden on people around him, fearing becoming so and doing everything he can to never find himself in such a position. Doesn't matter if he has to for his broken leg to move, he'd rather stab his femur through his thigh muscle walking out of the room than rely on someone's offered shoulder.
Doesn't mean he always gets or goes through with what he'd rather...]
In my country, a long time ago there were two groups of warriors. Samurai and ninja. Samurai used strong weapons like swords and spears. They rode horses, had strong bodies, could fight for hours. Ninja were weaker physically, so they used stealth attacks, poisons, hidden weapons, and trickery. Guess which one their enemies feared more.
no subject
Date: 8/31/25 05:00 (UTC)The opposite of people like Kirma, who would tell him he doesn't need to fight, that they could do it all for him. To strip him entirely of every ounce of autonomy he could have. Bakugo's words would rather empower him, push him, all while backing him up...
And he's not so blind as to ignore the occasional hypocrisy, of course. Bakugo is stubborn enough that Esikko can't help but feel that he doesn't know enough about him, his feelings, his internal struggles. That he can guess to many of them, based on what he's seen, but that getting the man to ever admit to any of it would be like pulling teeth. Is that a testament to their bond not being close enough, or is it more just that Bakugo tries too hard to be strong enough for everyone? He's beginning to realize it's the latter. And so he leans, after a moment, to put himself closer to Bakugo, subtle as it is, eyes trailing over the items laid out on the table. )
Maybe... the problem is that I've always been trying to view how to do these things alone.
( Quietly, thoughtfully, he's clearly in his own head, but it's a little more productive this time. Not self-deprecating, just reflecting. )
Stealth and trickery, is it? I'll try to focus entirely on my strengths, then, and not think about where I lack. ( Hard as it is. He's not sure he can stop, but he'll try. ) So, I'll rely on some of you to help fill in the gaps. That's fine, isn't it?
( He's still so quiet... But he turns his head, finally, glancing over. )
Perhaps one day I'll be able to fill a few gaps for someone else, too. ( He wants to be useful, more than anything. )
no subject
Date: 8/31/25 16:21 (UTC)Bakugo's never liked relying on other people. Sharing his victories or losses with others pisses him off. Being reliable doesn't mean being someone's crutch. He can help Esikko up, but what good is that if the man crumbles on his weak legs the second he lets go?
He's seen the kind of power the prince can wield, even if he knows so little about either form asides from Esikko's fear of them and the one's ridiculous attitude. Sucks neither can be utilized here.]
Aa. Don't forget what you lack, but don't focus so much on it you forget what you can do. [There's nothing wrong with working on your weaknesses. Fuck, you should be doing that most of the time. But neglecting your strengths in favor of the opposite only drags yourself down. Until even what you could do well becomes a disappointment.]
Hmph, why the hell wouldn't it be fine? [A hero's supposed to be reliable. Bakugo wants to be someone Esikko looks to and knows he'll get help each time. When he needs it. Heroes have to be able to work as a team, supporting each other, but also strong enough to stand alone against adversity. A tricky balance sometimes.]
You already do. [Esikko's given people tools and gifts both useful and pleasant. He has friends, people who can come to him. If he can't see his usefulness, he's fucking blind.
Bakugo clicks his tongue after a few more seconds under the prince's gaze. Che, sap... He sits up on the seat and grabs his drink again.]
You ever poisoned your nail polish?
[Back to brainstorming! Before he gets uncomfortable with the softer stuff.]
no subject
Date: 8/31/25 20:34 (UTC)And there are others who have shown it, of course, like Dabi. But all here, and it makes him not want to return to his own home at all. He'll find somewhere else. And the more he thinks on it, the more that seems... possible? Allowable?
Thankfully, Bakugo interrupts his thoughts from daydreaming too much further. The idea of poison nail polish sparks something inside Esikko enough that it lights up his face, eyes blinking wider. )
I... hadn't thought of that. ( It's genius? How had he not thought of that? He holds out one of his hands to admire the nail polish on it now, curious. Well, it's a new idea to him, relatively speaking, and he had been introduced to it as purely aesthetic, with some skincare levels of aid. He was only thinking of it looking nice with his hair and being further away from what his father would like, when he'd first decided to try it. ) I suppose, so long as I'm capable of making an antidote quickly for anyone I'm intimate enough with, that could work.
( He'd hate to kill or paralyze someone unintentionally, especially mid sex. )
Nail polish like this wasn't a thing, where I'm from, so I only started using it here. You're so smart, Bakugo~ ( Praising him because he loves this idea, singsong and all. )
no subject
Date: 9/1/25 13:29 (UTC)Weeks to months after his arrival, he wanted nothing more than to obliterate the peacock and send everyone back home where they came from. A hero's vicious salvation. Until cold reality lanced him through when he realized some people are better off in this place, some don't want to go home... and he came to care about people as well. A damnable trap, a bad mistake, but an unavoidable fact. He's only human. As most of them are.
Thoughts for himself. His expression flattens when Esikko's lights up in surprise, blinking in a stunned stupor. He... hadn't thought of that.] BAKA! [*WHAP!* Right on the bastard's stupid pink head!] You're good with poisons but don't think like a poisoner!
[Not that Bakugo thinks like a poisoner, but he's read plenty of comics, watched plenty of hero shows, pushing the heroes to contend with not just powerful villains, but sneaky ones too.]
Nail polish, hairpins, needles in your sleeve, poison pills in necklaces, you ever seen chloroform on a patch of cloth knock someone out? You can even poison your damn lips. [It's not a lightly-tossed litany of options. Esikko knows he'll have to treat his new arsenal with care to avoid hurting his friends and innocent people. But he should've at least been thinking about things outside of magic! ... Maybe he didn't have assassins in his homeworld.]
Tch! Think about your strengths more.
no subject
Date: 9/3/25 06:06 (UTC)( It's an overreaction for the drama of it, of course, as Esikko whines about the whap on his head, hands reaching up to clutch at it as if it's a serious injury. It is not. It didn't really hurt— but no one usually dares to hit him, slapstick or not?!
It's kind of nice, not being treated like some fragile thing you can't even interact with. But that thought flutters away as quickly as it came, because he's busy taking in all of those ideas. He stands, after a moment, to grab his journal and jot them all down, pacing left, and then right... )
Okay, okay! Maybe I'd think of my strengths a little more if some people would list them a little more generously, hmm?
( He's joking, and that much is clear by how his gaze doesn't linger on Bakugo. His steps keep him pacing, and he tosses the journal back on the table. It's a little hard to focus on strengths when so many mocking voices sound in his head listing his faults, but... it's gotten better, here. He can work past this. He thinks. )
Anyway, perhaps I'll leave some magic in your suite, too? ( A curious glance flicks over to Bakugo, asking for permission as he moves back over to him. Now, when he sits, he tries to crowd into his space. To share a chair, or sit on a lap, or whatever he can get away with. He did this once before, ages ago, he remembers... )
The lines work better with some distance between their main points. If I draw symbols in yours, and Dabi's, and my own... you know, it works better. And in the meantime, I'll continue growing my plants.
I already have an assortment of useful ones... I grind some into powders, make others into sleep aids for the few people who seemed interested... I guess it's possible.
no subject
Date: 9/4/25 02:07 (UTC)Bakugo drops his head back over the chair's arm, legs sliding out so his knees are flopped over the other one instead of his previous scrunched position. This is the second time the prince had to go pick up his notebook. Put it down when they're done talking, Prince Prick. Sheesh.]
If you need people to tell you you're strong, you're not gonna last.
[Joking or not, Bakugo takes the comment seriously. This is another point they can't see eye to eye on. He loves getting praised, flattered, having his strength extolled. But only for a short while before it becomes annoying. And he'd never let someone else's words be the source of his strength. Knowing what he can do, how strong he is, his own opinion of himself matters more than someone else. Even if everyone in the world called him weak... he'd have to rely on himself to stay strong. He can't let his own doubts and insecurities overpower him.]
Leave some magic? What do you mean? [If he's talking about his ingredients, plants, and other shit, that's fine. But if he's talking about weaving magic into the walls and setting up some kind of damn ritual circle in his closet...] Oy! I'm sitting here, dammit!
[Slender butt bastard! Ultimately Esikko ends up squished into his lap, with Bakugo glaring at him from "below" but not trying to shove him off. For now. One arm thrown over the back of the chair, the other wedged beside him.]
How much space do you need? [Sounds like the ritual circle path. Not like he's using every room in his suite. And he'd rather Esikko be in his and Dabi's suites than down in the basement.]
You know how to concentrate their extracts, right?
no subject
Date: 9/4/25 03:55 (UTC)( A simple response as he settles in, cold as he is, in Bakugo's lap. He's bony, but at least he's lightweight, even as tall as he is. He holds up both hands, approximating the size of something, like... cantaloupe sized? )
Maybe this big, on the floor somewhere, beneath a bed, or on a wall behind a painting. You know, just a sigil, which would require the set up of a larger setting but leaves only a small marking in exchange.
It may smell like my blood for some time afterwards, but it fades. ( He'd just need maybe a couple in each, to help direct things? He has to map them out later, but... Anyway. )
In any case, yes, I do. Multiple methods of it, in fact. I can use each and every bit of any plant you can think of, truly, and perhaps even some you don't know of. If there's a problem, I can solve it with a potion, or a supplement, or a powder or cream... You know, I did offer these things in my earlier days, but no one took me up on it.
( So he stopped offering, and kept them mostly to himself. )
Since before I even bothered with magic, I was fascinated with plants. I studied them closely, so I'm familiar with horticulture deeply. When I use my magic to create plants based on descriptions, it's actually my knowledge of their systems as a whole that leads me through it, rather than magic itself.
no subject
Date: 9/4/25 21:36 (UTC)You can set it up in the spare room. [There's a few places he could put it. Behind a dresser, in the corner, under an end table, in the closet. It'll give Esikko his privacy if/when he needs it later.]
I've got candles. [Not that Esikko's blood reeks of usual copper gore. Wait, A COUPLE?! Don't turn his suite into a damn coven! Fuck!]
Then focus on plants with deliberating effects. [Blinding, numbness, pain, stupors, all the fucking drugs made from plant-based byproducts. Sure, it might not affect everyone in the resort, but having something reliable on hand is better than doing fuck all.]
I make grenades using flasks and chemistry vials. [Even though his has his Quirk, even back home Bakugo had gear he utilized along with his sweat and Quirk to battle. Since he obviously doesn't have them here, he's improvised. And made some for one or two companions. If he's going to a dangerous place, Bakugo usually brings a few along.]
no subject
Date: 9/4/25 21:47 (UTC)( Again, his hand lifts, fingers showing the length of the tiny vials he would make. )
One type would explode on contact hard enough to break the glass. Another type would create a sort of smokescreen, temporarily, with the same impact.
I realized that repeatedly, the sort of people who come for me are ones that can grab my wrist before I can manage to even throw them. I began to only make them for him, but now they're... ( Useless? That's what it feels like, anyway. Who would want them? But he stops himself, shifting one arm to hook around Bakugo a little, as if he's not close enough by sitting in his lap. )
So... I could do the same for other effects, of course. But it's frustrating, when I prepare and still get overpowered. That's why I wanted to learn more maneuvers to break free, though.
no subject
Date: 9/5/25 23:14 (UTC)[Might not given he's aware of Hiyori's broken faith in Esikko, but isn't going to bring it up to the man. Not tonight when he's already dealing with his self-worth issues. Another simpler suggestion is Hiyori hasn't gotten through the supply Esikko gave him, so why would he come asking for more?]
What kind of plant produces explosive extract? [He figures Esikko means a magical potion, but since he said he could create brand new kinds of plants from memory and description, maybe he concocted a blasting flora? Smokescreen isn't hard to guess, given his spells.]
I'm already teaching you grapple breaks and pressure points. [Bakugo shits as that arm hooks around him, growling when he has to pull from the seat a bit so he's not racking his ribs on Esikko's arm.] You said you use sigils and symbols for your spells. Can you create a mark that will react on touch?
[Like those traps and magics in comics where one accidental touch causes the ground to collapse or a spell to activate. Bakugo doesn't exactly want Esikko to turn his body into a living weapon...
but at the same time, what the hell's the harm in doing so? People are grabbing him anyways. His own world has Quirks, part of his own body is his weapon. Bakugo himself is an explosion living in human form, right?
If Esikko can't get external offense, can it hurt to look at internal? Time to look into the ugly mirror.] Your painting self was casting spells without any effort.
no subject
Date: 9/6/25 06:18 (UTC)It requires a violent sort of strike, so carrying the vials around isn't dangerous, but a harsh impact starts the reaction.
( He exhales softly, thinking as Bakugo continues to offer ideas. He's starting to feel sleepy, which is... nice, in a way? But a little frustrating all the same, because this talk feels productive, and Bakugo feels warm, feels nice. But a lot happened today, he supposes, and maybe the relaxation of having someone who can watch out for him is making his body actually calm down from its usual insomnia. )
My painting self ate a lot more gods and was barely alive. ( He frowns a little, thinking on it. Right now, he wants to describe that version of him as "hardly himself," but... the truth is more that the him sitting here in the resort is the one barely like his old selves, right? But it's because of the opportunities, the people, the scenes, right? He feels sick thinking about it. ) There are "shortcuts" I could take... by using the Divinity, the thing that makes my blood so unique.
But it causes pain, it causes madness, it threatens to allow that thing to take over again, and what happens is— like those roots you tore out of me. There are times I've allowed myself to use it too casually, when I cared less about what happened to myself. ( He pauses, pinching lightly at his own fingers, quietly thinking. ) But, I suppose... there are one or two people I don't want to worry, here.
So I'm trying to avoid that. ( Dangerous, life threatening god powers are an entirely different sort of magic that a normal human shouldn't have access to. His body barely allows it. )
But a mark that reacts on touch is something I could do, at some level... If you mean on the floor, or a wall. I've done that before. A "trap," set to react to a stimuli.
no subject
Date: 9/6/25 21:16 (UTC)That's similar to nitroglycerin. [Requiring an impact to set it off, which causes the necessary friction to make the heat enough for an explosion. Bakugo notes the way Esikko's breathing softens, and glances towards the clock. It's late. Later than he usually stays up. And Esikko's been running on adrenaline for the past two hours at least. Crashing hard's in his future soon enough. Guess he can't begrudge something actually forcing the guy to sleep well.]
Yeah, yeah. I'm not saying eat a buncha fucking gods. [He throws the topic out the window. Doesn't make a damn lick of sense and he'd rather not talk about that aspect. Gets confusing. What he wants to note is the actions the guy was able to take and glean some inspiration.]
You're not taking any fucking shortcuts if you're gonna work with me, dumbass. [The only "shortcuts" he allows are those found by improvement and efficiency. Strong enough to do away with the training wheels. Smart enough to combine two steps into one. Inspired to try a safer, better alternative. He's not gonna let Esikko cut a corner and fuck himself up.]
Uh-huh. And they're gonna kick your ass if you keep stressing them out. [Speaking from experience since he already chewed Esikko out tonight. Of course he wants Esikko to avoid doing shitty actions! He's going for other routes.]
No. Your skin. [He turns his hand over, showing the underside of his wrist and his forearm.] I read a comic where the hero had tattoos on his body. Each one correlated to a different action. If he touched the one on his forehead, he could project his thoughts. The one on his wrist made his body heat up. The one on his leg made him invisible.
Go brush your teeth while you think about it before you fall asleep on me.
no subject
Date: 9/7/25 04:25 (UTC)A genuine care, for whatever reason. Not the twisted kind that stands to gain something. He's not sure what he's done to deserve it from anyone, but he's not about to turn it away.
His thoughts are interrupted by that last idea, though. On his skin? He looks thoughtful, suddenly, as he compares Bakugo's thoughts to the reality of it with his magic. Could it be possible? Certainly. But how would it work on a body like his? Traps might mean he can't even get touched in pleasant ways, which could serve to be a problem here...
Mm, but if he applies more specifications, maybe? Is there magic that can read intent, buried somewhere in his journal? Or maybe something he can do to switch it on and off? There's also the issue of the mark itself on skin. The methods—
Bakugo tells him to brush his teeth and he can't help but laugh, a soft closing of his eyes allowing him to soak in this last bit of comfort. Aww, he's being kicked off his lap. )
I can't sleep on you? ( Lightly, like a tease, he leans in to kiss at the side of his head. It feels easier to leave these quiet little signs of affection, of appreciation, when he's teasing along with it. Something to excuse it, maybe...
And he slips away and off him just as quickly, grabbing the bag he'd brought and moving towards one of the bathrooms. )
Fine, fine. Let me think on what I could manage. Be right back~
no subject
Date: 9/7/25 21:23 (UTC)This is also the guy who tutored one of his friends while beating him over the head with a rolled up book to help. Esikko should be glad he's not getting that brand of assistance from the blonde.
Esikko's thoughtful expression and mild confusion earn him another flat look.] Dammit, Prince Prick. How the hell'd you live all these lives and not think about shit like this?
[Bakugo spent so much time with his Quirk, trying to do all sorts of actions, wringing out its features from experimenting with his sweat to cutting his palm's tough skin to see how his Quirk affected it (okay the last one was done with parental supervision and a doctor's guided permission. And only once. He wanted to make sure a stupid slash across the palm wasn't going to screw his Quirk forever! Shut up! What fabrics soaked up sweat the most, which liquids diluted his sweat more, whether he could detonate his sweat faster or slower depending on temperature. A month or two ago (back home) he learned how to double coat his explosive sweat with normal sweat. Etc. Always experimenting. Always improving. Always looking outside the level he's currently on.]
Hell no! Your bony ass is digging into my fucking thighs! [Another few minutes and he's gonna lose feelings in his legs! Bakugo gives Esikko a light shove with his forearm, not knocking him off, but definitely encouraging his long legs off his body and onto his feet. Complete with grumbles as the man leans in and kisses his head. Embarrassing... His face pinks slightly at the mixture of familiar intimacy and old-man doting.]
Scram. [Once Esikko's off his lap, swings his own legs off the armrest and stands up. Ugh, there's a crick in the spine. He arches backwards, stretching his lower spine with a struggling grunt. Fuck. More for Esikko to think about. They don't have to go further tonight; he feels like the man has enough to brainstorm.
While his guest gets ready for the night, Bakugo checks his room's door, then shuts off the lights in the kitchen and heads to his own bathroom to clean up as well.]
no subject
Date: 9/8/25 04:56 (UTC)He doesn't remember if he did, or didn't. He doesn't remember why he would or wouldn't. There are so many gaps, so many faint traces of something almost like memories that he can't quite reach, that when the question arises, it just feels uncomfortable.
His eyes are even heavier by the time he finally finishes brushing his teeth, washing his face and changing into something comfortable. Honestly, if he weren't so tired already, he'd want to take one of his usual baths— but it's rare that he gets tired enough to feel like he's going to fall asleep, and he wakes early enough on default that he can just steal one in the morning.
Right now, every moment away from someone he trusts feels weirdly anxious, and so he hurries through his usual hair care and then pokes back through the suite to find where Bakugo has ended up by now. Whether he's still in his bathroom or in the bedroom by now, Esikko announces himself with a few little knocks before poking his head in, stepping in shortly afterwards, almost shy in his motions. )
Do these larger suites ever seem too quiet to you? Or are you one of those types who enjoys it.
( The solitude, the silence. Bakugo's so loud, though... He uses his question as an excuse to step closer, fully intent on crawling into bed with the other when it's clear he's allowed. (Obviously he is, but look.) )
no subject
Date: 9/10/25 02:03 (UTC)Shit part is, he can't do anything about it. Esikko has to use what he has and figure out a way around the drawbacks. Almost all power has some cost. Even Quirks. Hell, the first time Bakugo tried to use his biggest blast, he put himself through a wall. When he was 4.
Esikko's fighting an uphill battle. Branching out into other ideas can give him more breathing room. Maybe if he doesn't relying on his magic so purely, he'll gain other ways to protect himself without detrimental shit.
Bakugo emerges from his bathroom, damp from a quick shower. (Wash off while he brushes and flosses his teeth; multitasking.) A simple pair of black lounge pants and a black tanktop are his usual choice of sleep wear. The rest of his suite's all locked up and closed off. Anyone breaking in is making a fatal mistake.
He glances up from the bed, too large for a single person, but even when he tried reducing the Ace suite's original opulence, some continued to make its way through. Guess he can't really do much on a single twin dorm bed.]
I don't want a bunch of fucking noise keeping me up. [He grew up an only child and always had his own space. Dealing with his noisier classmates in U.A.'s dormitory had been a culture shock. Yeah, the suite's bigger than anything he would have at the moment (even a Pro Hero's apartment usually isn't this big) but he aimed for this rank to use his suite for others, not himself. Mostly. He gets some perks.
Bakugo's resting on one side of the bed rather than the middle, making it obvious the previous offer's open.]
no subject
Date: 9/10/25 04:31 (UTC)( Teasingly, Esikko watches the other man set himself up in the bed and follows, slipping in easily on the other side. It's fine, if attention isn't being drawn to it, then he's not going to say anything himself. For his own pajamas, though he used to opt more often for things like button up silk, he's gotten a lot more used to the casual "fashion" of the Peacock, and is in a loose fitting long-sleeved t-shirt that hangs nearly past his shorts. He thinks the occasional showing of a shoulder is cute, when it slides, and he likes to look cute, what can he say.
His bare legs slip easily beneath the sheets, and a little shamelessly, move gradually over to brush up against Bakugo's warmer ones. He's icy as always. )
Seems right.
no subject
Date: 9/11/25 03:05 (UTC)[Someone's cruising for a pillow to the face if he's not careful. Esikko isn't wrong. Bakugo likes being the loudest person in the room, usually because loudest means right! Ironically he's a quiet person when no one's setting him off, content to read or study or mind his own business when he's by himself and unbothered. Even with someone else, he'll keep his silence and doesn't talk as much as others. But he sets off so damn easily.
Bakugo reaches for the light beside his bed and dims it instead of plunging the room into darkness like he usually would. Esikko doesn't need a callous bunch of shadows covering him right now.]
Oy! [When the hell did this guy go from cool to touch to fucking popsicle legs?! Of course he instinctively jerks his limb away.] Why'd you drop a billion degrees?!
no subject
Date: 9/11/25 03:24 (UTC)( Poor circulation... Though, usually, having cold legs doesn't bother him as much as, say, when his face gets cold? But still, the warmth of Bakugo's legs leaving in a jerk makes him frown a little, like he was looking forward to tangling them together.
He settles, for now, for just shifting them a little under the covers to generate some heat. )
It's just from being separated for that short time, you know~? I got all cold. ( True, honestly. But he shifts, next, to roll onto his side, peering at Bakugo in the dim lighting. ) Don't you get warm at night, the way you are? Let me use you like a heater.
no subject
Date: 9/11/25 21:15 (UTC)[Hell, put some socks on while you're at it! Don't just shove those freezing things against his skin and expect them to stay! Human reaction to thermal shock, duh. Bakugo takes Esikko's frown without a single flicker of regret. Yeah, he bet the guy was anticipating some tangles. Hmph, not if he's gonna be bared down there.
Bakugo throws the covers to the side and swings his legs out of bed. Esikko's taller than him, but he can still shove some better clothes at the prince. His drawer springs open with a yank and Bakugo drags out a pair of sweats, then tosses them over his shoulder towards the other man.]
Put those on.
[Yeah he knows Esikko's wearing some bottoms, but if he wants to tangle up with Bakugo tonight, he can put on an extra layer to make it easier. Hmph.]
You should sleep with a bed heater. [An electric blanket or a heat stone. Neither of which Bakugo has since he'd end up a sweaty mess from either. Sheets and covers sail upward in an arc before falling down over his body, zipped back into bed after his brief excursion.] Haa?! Who said you could "use" me?!
[Growled even as he's not really moving away from Esikko. As long as his legs and arms are mostly covered, it'll be a lot more tolerable. So... guess he can tangle or spoon or whatever.]
no subject
Date: 9/11/25 21:59 (UTC)But then I'd get too hot, you know? It's always so uncomfortable at night.
( Bakugo doesn't seem to get it... that he'd prefer company in bed. But that's endearing in its own way, and so he just shamelessly tangles in. Let him spoon... )
It's easier to share with someone. Better?
no subject
Date: 9/12/25 21:26 (UTC)Bakugo drops his head on the pillow with a huff, hands shoving underneath as he scowls at the ceiling. Esikko doesn't have to don his shorts over the pants like some old-school weirdo. There's no protest when he reaches for him, only the blonde's head tilting to the side slightly in his usual "uuugh" retort to people getting snuggly with him.]
Haa? When the hell have you ever gotten too hot? [He thought Esikko always ran refrigerator mode! Don't whine about getting too hot if you wanna have someone in your bed too... As the prince tangles in with him, he lets those arms wind around his chest and legs trap one of his own between them. It's way more tolerable with those sweats on. Hmph. Esikko can get as close as he wants now.]
Uh-huh. [Better.]
no subject
Date: 9/13/25 04:48 (UTC)( Trivia of the day. He hates the summer just as much as the winter. Moderate climates feel best... Or, alternatively, having a bed partner who he can alternate cuddling and rolling away from!
Isn't this nice? He thinks it is, all snuggled up against him, nuzzling in against Bakugo as one of his legs bends up further, still sandwiching his leg in. A full cuddle. Deal with it. )
Hmm... But you're comfortable like this. I might even be able to sleep well, tonight~
( Playfully... But he means it, too, behind the singsong tease. He feels exhausted, after everything from today, and having Bakugo so close is like a security blanket, right now. Their temperatures match up well, too, and he's not the type to be overly clingy, so Esikko knows that it's not going to be too much. With that, he allows his eyes to drift closed, even if he says a bit more. )
...Thanks again, for everything.
no subject
Date: 9/13/25 20:23 (UTC)Dammit, if Esikko thinks he's gonna be shifting between clinging on and casting away from Bakugo all night, he's gonna find himself tied up in a fucking blanket cocoon while the blonde snoozes beside him! Don't interrupt his sleep. Hmph.
There are few people Bakugo would volunteer to sleep beside in the resort. He's never liked sharing his bed with someone; grew out of that when he was a little kid. But... it's not horrible with Esikko resting beside him. Oy, don't knee him. His expression flattens. A full koala cling. Great.]
If you don't sleep well, I'm gonna knock you out.
[Damn right he just took Esikko's insomnia as a challenger to his apparent comfort level! You wanna go, shitty sleepless nights?! Good for the prince Bakugo runs warm. He pulls the blankets up around their chests and Esikko's shoulder, making sure he's secure for the night. Normally a back or side sleeper, at least he's not gonna break a rib with a nightly flying kick or something.]
Yeah, yeah. Don't get mushy. Go to sleep.
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From: