bootyhunter | CALL ME OUT

[Dandy extends another hand out towards Eevee, only to raise his eyebrows when Hagakure suddenly sinks to the ground. With little care for how he looks, Dandy kneels down next to his space-(bride???husband????partner) to be, saddling himself up for the long haul.

This will have to be a tempered, gentle conversation.]

They're not gonna, don't worry.

[He'd go into detail about how it's just a routine body scan, but he gets the feeling that this breakdown is about something else.

Dandy, unlike Hagakure, has been through so many failed relationships he simply can't remember them all. He knows what it's like for love to grow cold or ugly, and wonders if that is what this is really about.]

What's the matter, baby?

Don't make me jealous. If you're gonna collapse into somethin'...

Do it in Dandy's arms.

[He nudges at Hagakure's shoulder with an elbow, although the rubbing... Lingers.]

I toldja already.

I just wanna see you happy. If in the end, it ain't with me? That's okay.

I'll getcha where you need to go.

[The younger man doesn't even know the lengths that Dandy would go for the people he's loved, even those who wronged him.

And left him with permanent scars.]

Now what's the matter?

[By this point, Eevee understandably wiggles his way free from the mild smothering, though he looks up at Hagakure with a whimper as his new owner loses himself to anguished sobs.]

It’s not that at all!

[He feels so stupid to be wailing pathetically in front of Dandy, but he simply can’t help it. It’s weeks of built up dread crashing down on him.]

I— I wanna be with you so bad and I never want you to think otherwise! I’m just— I’m scared!

[He actually will turn to collapse into Dandy’s arms like he offered.

Truly, this has nothing to do with getting cold feet about living in space or falling out of love. It’s about a deep-seated fear that he hasn’t been able to keep out of the dark corners of his mind despite his best efforts.]

What if someone tries to drag us into another friggin’ killing game the moment we try to leave?! What— What if we get separated?!

[”What if this ends up like Ci and her lover?”

What if.

He wraps his arms around Dandy like he’s holding on for dear life.]

I don’t wanna lose you! Not after all this!

[Dandy allows Hagakure to latch onto him, waiting for the other's words to leak out amidst an onslaught of crocodile tears. He goes through the physical motions of comfort, which include leaning inwards and rubbing the fortune teller's back, wondering how much he should actually share.

Truth be told, Hagakure has nothing to worry about. He can cry all he wants. From Dandy's perspective, the Dandy guy in space has already committed the most humiliating atrocities within the duo, such as blurting out, "I need you," right before going to sleep, or even worse...

Letting a younger, less experienced lover come inside of him after thoroughly offering up his body in a manner that seems... Almost disgraceful, even for someone like Space Dandy.

Mostly, he wanted to do something, anything, to convince Hagakure to stay.

But he didn't, in the end. Hopefully, they both know better now.

Hopefully.]

That's the thing about love.

It's always a risk. You can't have the good times without the bad.

[Dandy's voice is hushed, sober.

Lacking pretense.]

If we get split up while warpin', I'll come find you.

As for this murder monkey-business... I've never heard of this shit, and I've been so many places. It's not likely.

You were just really, really unlucky.

I guess we all were.

[Dandy winces. That really sucked to say.]

But we will hurt each other.

I think we already have.

Edited 2022-08-11 05:13 (UTC)

[As difficult as they are to hear, these words are precisely what Hagakure needed to hear.

His cries die down as he lies there, trembling against his love and thinking hard about what was said. It brings him right back to his moment of paralysis during the final trial at Hope's Peak Academy. Junko Enoshima, standing right beside him, gloating over how perfect they all looked as they were forced with a choice no one, let alone basically kids, should have to make. He was so full of hope when Naegi came to his rescue. He never thought he would get beaten back down this far by everything he's heard and experienced in New Rapture.

Dandy's reassurance goes a long way, though. He's right: there's no getting around the fact that this is just as much of a risk as the one he took back then, and that there is no happiness without sadness. He's going to have to embrace the possibility of bad things happening or he's going to get nowhere.]

...

[The desperation in his grip dissipates, but he doesn't pull back. He stays there, listening to Dandy's heartbeat against his ear.

He takes in the spiritual warmth emanating from Dandy that was almost like a blinding light when they first reached this beach.]

Yeah. You're right. [He finally whispers back. Yeah, they certainly have hurt each other, unintentionally or otherwise. All the saccharine daydreaming in the universe isn't going to make it that it never happens again.] That, though...I think I'm ready to face, should it ever come our way again.

[He wants to make this work. He wants to stay.]

I guess... I guess it was always kind of a no brainer, huh? I just never wanted to acknowledge how badly this place wore me down.

I'm sorry.

You say that like it ain't normal, to feel what you're feelin'.

[The spiritual energy radiating from Dandy's core will worsen in intensity whilst the divine entity's brows furrow, a crack at the surface of Dandy's own frivolous exterior, one he's clung so desperately to in all of his previous lives.

It's ugly, the anxiety and dismay that bubble to the surface.

Dandy winces, feeling responsible still. No matter how the bridge of his nose wrinkles, he keeps in mind Hild's words- Sometimes, you have done all you can do, and everything still goes to hell regardless.]

The others might've stuck their necks out for all of this stabby-stabby bullcrap, but I ain't buyin' into it. Not now, 'n not ever, baby.

Who's to say that my life is worth more than anybody else's, huh? In the grand scheme of things it's all the same.

If I had a choice...

It would've been just been me.

But that would've messed you up just as bad, huh? In a whole 'nother way.

Edited 2022-08-11 15:43 (UTC)

[It's not the first time that Dandy's implied that he'd rather it be him than anyone else- that he'd readily give his life to spare those he cares about. Selfishly, Hagakure wants to admit that Dandy's life is worth more.

Dandy's not the only one who winces. Hagakure too can't help but shudder, both over that scenario and from the sudden burst of negativity in that once-warm energy. More tears are spilled, though now Hagakure's weeping is much more subdued. He's so emotionally exhausted.]

It would've. Maybe even worse than this. [...] I don't know how I would've kept myself going.

[He squeezes his eyes shut when those words are out and he remembers Dandy telling him about how he could barely manage to get himself out of bed some days during the week after Hagakure's death. He realizes that it would have been exactly the same for him.]

It's selfish to say it. I know it's selfish, after I put you through that myself. But I really wouldn't be able to handle it. I...I love you so much, I can't-

["I wouldn't be able to let you go, even if you were gone."]

[Dandy takes this moment to encircle his arms around Hagakure swiftly, in part to keep those tears from touching the ground. They're Dandy's problem now, suck on that, weird murder beach plants!]

Don't worry, babe.

I don't mind.

Honesty's important.

[Dandy sighs.]

It's probably shitty that I'm even thinkin' like this, but it's nice thatcha even love me enough to...

Well, all of that.

[He will, however, extend a wriggly hand to scratch Eevee on the neck scruff during all of this?! Mostly to ensure that their furry friend feels included.]

That reminds me, though.

I'm gonna need you to make me a promise before we go.

Edited 2022-08-11 16:51 (UTC)

[Hagakure's realized a lot in this second killing game go-round, and one of those things is that romantic love will change you. It'll bring you happiness you've never known. It'll make you feel complete. It'll cause you pain. It might even bring out the worst in you at times. Dandy's unyielding patience as Hagakure works his way through it all is invaluable beyond words.

He gently nuzzles against Dandy's now-damp shirt for added comfort.]

S'not shitty. At least...I don't think so. I'm just glad you don't think I'm insane or something.

[Because he could totally see that perspective. He's fallen ridiculously hard. Some people wouldn't even want to deal with that in a partner. But again, Dandy is so patient. Hagakure really doesn't know how he managed to luck out like this amongst all the shitty moments in his life.

Sensing that the tension is dying down somewhat, Eevee seems to have cheered up a little bit! Dandy reaching out for him certainly helps too. He makes a contented yip and rubs back against the scritches. Hagakure lifts his head up when he hears this.]

Oh, crap. I'm sorry, Eevee... I hope you can forgive me for ignorin' you for a minute there.

[What a great first impression to leave on his new friend. Hopefully Eevee doesn't hold it against him too much.

He turns his attention back to Dandy when the other man brings up a promise, expression curious.]

Yeah? What is it?

[It is important for Hagakure to have something that feels distinctly his, what with the overwhelming tour de force that is Dandy's celestial existence waiting for him.

So yes, Eevee is staying, absolutely.]

When it comes to romance, I'm also a real nut.

Guess that makes us perfect for each other.

[In an animated fashion, Dandy cocks his head to the side briefly.]

Had I have known that the dead were hold up somewhere on another side, I would've never stopped tryin' to figure out how to get to where you were, so~!

Maybe it's for the best that we weren't apart for too long.

[Dandy brushes a stray lock from the side of Gooby's tear-strained face, choosing to switch languages for now. The movements of his lips are going to mirror that choice.]

Since you've become my sun, moon, and stars...

If anything happens to me, you can be sad! For a time.

But after a while, I'm gonna need you to throw me a "Goin' Away" party. Or, uh, let's call it a "Whoops, He's Already Gone" shindig!

And then move the hell on. You can remember me, but there's so much good you just haven't gotten yet.

What's the point of gettin' you outta here if you don't get to live it up later? You should know what that feels like.

You've never been in love before, right?

[In spite of everything, Hagakure can't help but let out an amused sigh when Dandy admits to what he'd have done if he was armed with the knowledge of deadland. It's not genuine amusement, but more out of acknowledgement for how insane that sounds. At least he's not the only one.]

Love really does make us do crazy things, huh...

[He voices his inner thoughts aloud this time. He's really glad it didn't come to that, though- that Dandy didn't have to force his way into where the dead remained. Though they both went through horrible trauma to end up there, they had each other. There was no way they were going to last very long separated, even if Hagakure had the benefit of knowing that there was a chance they could reunite someday.

Honestly, he probably would've done the same thing as Dandy under those circumstances...

That is, until Dandy voices the promise that he wants Hagakure to make. He kneejerk reaction is to flinch hard. He so badly wants to blurt out that he doesn't want to think about that possibility when he's just now getting over the fear of the two of them getting separated in general.

But he doesn't do that. Instead, the dismay on his face shifts into something more resolved. He swallows his fear down.]

I'll do it. [His voice cracks when he agrees. He's doing everything in his power to be brave about this.] I'll carry you in my heart, but I won't let it consume me.

[Just because Dandy's bringing this possibility up now doesn't mean Hagakure has to live in fear of it. The thing about life is that even in the most ideal conditions, it doesn't last forever. Acknowledging it now, even if the time doesn't come until decades into the future, is healthiest thing he can do.

He needs to listen to Dandy and live life to the fullest, because he finally has the opportunity to do so. He can't squander it.

When asked about his love life, he shakes his head.]

You're the first I've fallen for.

[He's still young and dumb. He hasn't been hurt in the ways that someone more experienced with relationships might have been.]

In the flesh?

[That might be a jab at Hagakure's love of centerfolds... But?! Um excuse me, hello, Dandy of all people has no right-]

What an honor.

[To be his first.

And therein lies the difference between them both.

Dandy's face shifts into the kindest configuration it could possibly twist into, but since Hagakure can feel the very essence of Dandy radiating from the human-shaped body in front of him, he will parse out that beneath the surface, Dandy's feelings are a lot more complicated than they seem. Although warmth takes precedence, there's a cognitively dissonant pang of pain, that begins thrumming. With each beat, it grows more rhythmic, dull, and consistent- But consistent, nonetheless, interrupting the affection sporadically.

Unfortunately, this is only a little taste of what being a Dandy guy in space is like.]

This place wasn't my favorite. Let's get that outta the way real fast.

I wouldn't even say most of these folks liked me all that much, but that's just life, baby! Not everybody gets along, and that's A-okay.

I've met a few folks that I'm gonna remember forever, though, and I think that makes the pain of bein' here all the more worth it.

If things were easier, I'm not even sure I would've taken a chance on you.

[Knowing Dandy, if there were a wider variety of women or even a few who were interested in him, it may have clouded his judgment. Loving Hagakure was far from his last choice, however, especially since the younger man is what Dandy would consider an ideal partner.

He's giving, patient, and openly affectionate. A little foolhardy, sure, but so is Dandy, and it'll give them something to laugh about later. The opportunity to grow together is there, as opposed to one person being so far ahead character-wise that the waiting game sours all potential. Hagakure isn't a stickler about marriage, he hails from a culture that Dandy is familiar with and understands, and the clairvoyant genuinely loves aliens and wants nothing more but to leave his life of misery behind.

Dandy couldn't have gotten luckier.]

I might've kept my mouth shut and letcha skee-daddle on away from me.

I do that a lot.

[Here, he wiggles his fingers.]

When things are workin' real good, the goin' gets tough for me, if you can believe it!

I get scared, so then I let go.

With you, it's different. If the Dandy grip's startin' to slacken up a little bit, you always seem to pull me right back.

Edited 2022-08-11 21:29 (UTC)

[For what it's worth, the jab gets Hagakure to let out a mock-exasperated "pff". It added some much-needed brevity to this very heavy conversation.]

Yeah, the first for real time.

[Where actual feelings were on the line.

Speaking of feelings...for someone with senses for this kind of thing like Hagakure, it's hard to miss the underlying darker feelings lurking beneath Dandy's kind smile. Some might say Hagakure is terrible at reading a room, and they'd be correct. But his spiritual sense is no joke. It's likely that he's only able to tap into this wavelength so well because it's a spiritual entity like Dandy.

That rhythm makes him wince every time it pulsates out, and it only serves to worsen the blow of what Dandy admits to next. He hates that he's letting it hurt him, because it feels so hypocritical of him. Of course he wouldn't have been on Dandy's radar if things were different. It most likely would have been the same for him, had there been more women around. Neither of them thought they would ever be interested in men before this, so--

Dandy elaborates, however, and the real point at the end of it all clicks. Hagakure's expression softens with concern.]

You get scared? [...] Why?

[That dull and constant pain forces its way back in, and he figures it has to be related. But this sort of pain isn't something he can just figure out on his own. He simply has no idea what it's like.]

Hah.

[The sound is pained, much like Dandy's expression.

His response here, candid and a little aloof, is proof that Dandy has changed for the better. He's not avoiding the question and instead ruminates on it even if it hurts him.

That oh so very Dandy spiritual frequency throbs.]

Well.

I've had a lifetime of lifetimes to get my heart broken, so I know how it feels.

The last thing I wanna hear is how somebody I'm crazy about doesn't love me anymore. Hell, even like me.

[It's obvious from the way his face scrunches up that... That part hurts the most.]

Y'know how people say that they get tired of whoever they're with? That shit gets old, yeah, I don't...

I mean, it's happened sometimes when the vibes weren't really groovy, but...

I like gettin' to know people. I like when things feel comfortable. Like breathing, but bootylicious, y'know?

As for excitement, we can get that outta the job! Whuh... When you're warping, [Even though Dandy hates it,] you can go anywhere.

So...

[Dandy cuts himself short.]

[Hagakure thinks he understands. Dandy's been let go so many times—hurt so many times—to the point that he's reluctant to offer up his heart. It really can't be easy, having memories of all that heartache from his past lives constantly dredged up by the flow of time and space. Hagakure wonders if that must be why Dandy seems so worn away by his existence sometimes.

He gives the other man a gentle squeeze.]

I know words don't mean that much, and I'll never be able to fathom the full force of the pain you've experienced...but I never wanna do that to you. I promise you, Dandy- [Dandy. Not Dee.] I meant it when I said I wanna be with you forever.

[...did he ever use that direct phrasing out loud? If he didn't, it's certainly out there now, and it's the truth. There's nothing in Hagakure's own spiritual frequency to say otherwise. It's warm and soothing...and it's as if it's asking Dandy to not be afraid to let it in.

Just like how Dandy has shown Hagakure...it's gonna be okay.]

[Dandy closes his eyes in order to feel full frontal effect of that embrace, the spiritual and the physical. Dandy closes himself off from these "abilities" of his, but in the rare situation where they actually do him more good than harm, they can be nice.

The meld, or the merge, feels like he soulful equivalent of tips touching. You know which ones.

Crap, crap, crap, now is not the time for horniness... Not with Eevee here?!]

Forever's a long time.

[The fact of the matter is, that's not the right word.

This won't last forever, nothing ever does.

But Dandy has made peace with that long ago. It's why he chooses to live in the moment and hardly ever sweats the small stuff.]

We'll be majorly old and wrinkly by the end of it~!

Everything's prob'ly gonna succumb to Gravity, baby, she's got grabby hands!

[NO, NOW HE IS DOING THE TITTY HANDGRAB MOTION-]

Still think it's a good idea?

Edited 2022-08-12 01:40 (UTC)

[It really is easy for ordinary humans to throw the word "forever" around when their forevers are but a tiny blip in the true sense of eternity. What Hagakure means, of course, is that he wants to spend the remainder of his (unfairly short in comparison to an eternal being) life with the dandy guy who's holding him so sweetly. Who, even on a spiritual level, he feels so, so very close to.

On that fateful night that the two of them first made love, Dandy had asked Hagakure if he believed in spiritual wavelengths and seemed disappointed when Hagakure responded that he couldn't really sense them down at the bottom of the ocean. He certainly can now, though. They're perfectly in sync, his and Dandy's.

All of this sentimental introspection is cut out by a laugh. It's Hagakure's own laugh.]

Uh, yeah it's still a good idea! [As if there was any doubt?] Even if your dangly bits get droopy, that's not gonna stop me from lovin' you.

'sides, I've got a feelin' that even if we're both old, I'm not gonna find you any less hot.

[It's more than a feeling. He's seen it. The two of them, advanced in age but no less happy to have one another, enjoying the the sakura blooms of a far-off planet that Dandy has yet to forget to bring Hagakure to every year.]

Wow.

You're a real charmer, aren'tcha, Hiro?

[It's Dandy's turn to be bashful.]

I happen to think that the people I love look better with age.

[He's spouting this shit off the top of his head because it feels right, not because he can pinpoint the experience.

Dandy is the reckless sort, prone to getting into fatal accidents and dangerous situations. As of recent, he has yet to survive a timeline where he lives an entire stretch longer than forty years, and the majority of them end somewhere between twenty-five and thirty-two.

For a Dandy guy with a supposedly endless lifespan, that sure as hell is a short as shit life expectancy.]

'Cause each extra line or additional grey hair's a measure of the time we've been together.

Or maybe I gave them some of those greys 'cause I was bein' a pain in the ass! Still, it's my work then, and I like to think of it as Dandy's assterpiece.

[...a silence passes]

I mean masterpiece.

I'm so glad you're doin' me the honor of bein' mine.

I think you're prettier than all the pricey paintings they sling up on the walls of those fancy places. Whadda they call 'em?

Mausoleums?

[YOU MEAN A MUSEUM!?]

[After another good-natured laugh:]

Thanks. I mighta gotten it from a certain someone here.

[And no he doesn't mean poor Eevee, who continues to be an amazing sport about the whole thing. He sports a grin as he leans over to give the fluffy little guy a pet.

Hagakure could definitely make a jab about Dandy causing grey hairs, because after that scuffle in the Thinker's room he's pretty sure he's going to end up with some premature ones.

He doesn't go for it, though, because...look, this is all very sweet and he can feel his cheeks heating up. Yes, even that extremely cringey word mix-up is sweet, though Hagakure can't help but snort lightly over it.]

I- I think you mean "museums", Dee.

[The biggest surprise here is that he isn't freaking out about being accidentally associated with something as creepy as a mausoleum. He's too busy thinking about how endearing his silly space husband(?!) is.]

I couldn't have asked for a better artist, though. But if you don't mind, I'm not gonna rush to get those lines 'n' grey hairs. I wanna be young 'n' spry for a while longer.

[Now that the tension has lessened considerably for the both of them, he lifts his head up to search for Dandy's lips.]

Not that I think age is gonna slow us down that much...but I'm not takin' my chances. I wanna make the most use outta all this youthful stamina, if ya know what I mean.

[Wink wonk.]

[And it's true.

Love is indeed a work of art, perhaps in its truest form. Beautiful to some and incomprehensible to others, usually requiring several tries to get things just right or close enough.

Some may never manage to make that happen. Dandy's finally got his chance, and with that, he stands to his feet.]

Grab the creature.

[Of course, the thing that sets Dandy's motivation ablaze is the promise of... Well, booty.

Screw mausoleums! Museums, whatever.]

I'm ready to go.

[Hagakure nearly falls flat on his face after Dandy suddenly bolts up to his feet. Okay, so much for the kiss?? Apparently his flirting worked a little too well.

Truly he is suffering from success right now.]

Oh, uh...okay!!

[He scoops Eevee up into his arms once more before joining Dandy. After shifting a little to hold Eevee in one arm, he reaches for Dandy's hand with the other.

There are still some lingering nerves, but he can finally say to himself that he too is ready.]

Can we stay like this 'til we get to the other side?

[So they at least they know they're not separated going in.]

Like what?

[It's unclear as to whether he's actually joking, or just being an idiot.

Either way, he'll interlace their fingers together. For all of Dandy's boorish posturing, it's clear from the way his thumb brushes over one of Hagakure's knuckles that he's cherishing this moment.]

Young 'n sexy?

[NO, YOU BIG-HAIRED BUFFOON!!!]

[GODS. No matter what the truth is, Hagakure's laughing at it.]

Nooooo! We're gonna stay young 'n' sexy afterwords too, aren't we?

[He gives Dandy's hand a squeeze, smiling in his direction. It's a smile full of fondness.]

I mean, can we go in holdin' hands? I figure if we're linked, maybe it'll have some added protection 'n' all that.

Oh.

[Dandy blinks a few or so times, surprised by the sudden warmth that finds its way onto his (face) cheeks. He was going to start going on about how your hair supposedly falls out when you warp, but somehow he’s forgotten all about it.]

Uh.

Gimme a sec?

[With the hand that isn’t holding Hagakure’s, Dandy attempts to clumsily pull the other’s body flush to his own.

Or well, as close as possible without suffocating Eevee. Unless Eevee is into that? I regret making that joke.]

There we go! That should do it.

[Keep them from being separated.]

Now we’re like those babies that’re born with their hips attached to each other’s, only not!

‘Cause if we were brothers?! That would be weird.

CALL ME OUT

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nsfw

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1/3

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nsfw, i tag, in my own horny musebox