after(the)shock [kaoru + bow-wow]

Kaoru Naito

“He’s like that fucker from the Simpsons, ya know. The neighbor guy.” He doesn’t elaborate.

Note to self, Miss Tatsuko sounds awesome. He thinks of how that ironically isn’t one where his feet were on the ground at all, but doesn’t feel up to making a whole bit about it. He feels like if he jeers Bow-wow too hard he might collapse.

“Floatin’, huh…? Heh, did you piss her off or somethin’?”

Bow-wow

"Flanders?" Bow-Wow asks incredulously, but he can't help but laugh at Kaoru's assessment of… comparing poor Robert to Ned Flanders of all fictional characters…

"N-No! I mean- she- basically called me a goody-two-shoes last time we talked but… it was right as we got started!" Kaoru always seemed so…. he couldn't quite put a finger on it, what it reminded him of…. and yet he had wondered why Kaoru had left so quickly after his projection… he knew it was a risk to bring it up again but the thought of bad blood with him made him uncomfortable. In a way that perhaps felt… familiar?

He kinda pauses a little, before he says with… incredible sincerity. They'd already dropped the topic, and yet he still felt like he had to say… something. Kaoru must have left for a reason.

"I know ya probably don't want me…. bringin' it up again- but I dunno… I'm probably overthinkin' but… maybe… y'mad at me or somethin' but- I- I'm really sorry about what happened in my projection. If I'd known ya were gonna get maybe hurt…" He shakes his head slowly.

"It was a bad memory f'me, I just don't want it bein' a bad memory f'you too… I don't… want there bein' any bad blood here."

He offers a hand like he's offering a handshake, but his fingers tremble with sudden nerves.

Kaoru Naito

“C’mon, he’s got th’ stache n’ everythin’, geheheh!”

Our friendly neighbor Robert…

It seems not even a bit about the Simpsons can save him from a serious conversation. He listens to Bow-Wow’s apology, looking off with a sort of blank look about him. Hopefully that’s a thoughtful look for him; he looks at Bow-Wow’s hand quietly.

He raises his hand to work his hand free of the sleeve with a twist and a flick before taking Bow-Wow’s hand, sighing and giving it a shake.

“Ugh, nah, it ain’t you, man. Just up in my own head n’ shit, aight? I got fuckin’ issues.”

He brushes his other hand over his face and through his hair as he looks off. Comedy’s the only consistent way he can get through thoughts, so the admission comes out crudely:

“This don’t even make ya th’ first fucker to run me over, gehahah! I’m a tough chunk a’ road kill, chin up. Gonna take more than that t’ get me mad, at least break a bone fer real.”

Bow-wow

Bow-Wow's eyes widen- he's surprised to hear Kaoru admitting something so personal, really… he never thought he'd anything of actual note out of him… and yet, maybe being a sad little puppy pays off sometimes.

"Oh, that's so-" He sort of… hesitates? He shuffles again. Like he's kind of…weighing up his options. "Mr. Kaoru, y'don't need t'be… um," He doesn't quite know how to phrase it without sounding condescending or weird, so he awkwardly trails off.

"What I'm tryin' ta say, is if ya need someone ta listen- I'll lend an ear…I ain't good at comfortin' words, but…" He looks down, before looking back up quickly.

"I-It ain't exactly an easy thing jus' witnessin' it…Can't even imagine what it's like t'actually be th'one run over... I know y'only jus' met me an' all but… sometimes, ya need someone who's not gonna know and judge based on what they know…yeah?" He's rambling- definitely still the anxiety lingering, but…

"Ya rude, an' crude, an' all kinds'a… rough but…I wanna believe ya a good person too."

Kaoru Naito

“Well, ain’t you a sweet thang.”

He can’t help grinning, reaching out to plop a hand on top of Bow-Wow’s head to ruffle up his hair.

“C’mon, cut that shit out: I’m ‘bout as good as global warmin’, gehahah!”

He ruffles Bow-wow’s hair rougher before pulling his hand back, grinning and crossing his arms. Despite Bow-Wow clearly having been leading into “you don’t have to be such an avoidant roundabout weirdo”, he can’t help it, he’s just built this way.

“Shouldn’tcha know better than t’ try and make friends with th’ bad kids? I’m just sayin’ if I have a problem with ya, you’ll know; I’m not th’ subtle type, so don’t get all worked up ‘bout it.”

Bow-wow

Bow-Wow half leans into the hair ruffling for once, and he brightens at Kaoru's comment. Good as global warming? He couldn't be that bad, surely. Maybe he was just naive, but he couldn't help the laugh that escaped him.

"Hehe… thanks. I'm glad t'know that you'd let me know." It's a relief really, for Kaoru to say it in a way that Bow-Wow believed him. If he did have a problem, he trusted that he'd be… very aware of it! At first he'd been a bit unsure of Kaoru, just his… general nature, but…

That familiar feeling was back, and yet… it felt positive this time.

He tilts his head before saying with his usual innocent manner, "I shouldn't let ya be a bad influence, but how 'bout we cause some trouble or somethin'?" He was normally too… nervous? Awkward? But Kaoru… he could try and engage in his hobbies for once. As a treat. He couldn't say it wasn't something he'd been curious about before- this causing trouble business.

Kaoru Naito

“Oohh? Ooohhh, damn, I’m worse than I thought, I’m spreadin’ bad thoughts like an airborne illness over here!”

“Fuck yeah, okay, lemme think, lemme think… Alright, Puppy Playtime, gimme a lil taste of what I’m workin’ with first: what’s the nastiest prank you’ve done before? Or funniest, or one you’ve always wanted to do— whatever, just get that brain goin’!”

Bow-wow

Bow-Wow laughs- Kaoru was funny when he wasn't brooding and being weird and edgy. Then he kinda… actually considers the question. Huh… what was the first and most ideal prank he'd ever wanted to do.

"I ain't ever really had th' guts ta prank someone…" He answered lamely, but he thinks more, rubbing at where his temples were. He doesn't really pay any mind to the nickname- 'Puppy Playtime'… it's a little funny though.

"But I wanna start easy. The 'swappin' people's sugar for salt' kinda deal!" He's admittedly embarrassed it's the best he can think of, but he's certainly not the most creative person.

Kaoru Naito

That’s a baby prank for babies, but it’s decidedly a prank of some kind, and he’ll take what he can get.

“Hell yeah, padawan, that’s somethin’ we can do, easy shit. ‘f ya want th next level up, you do a ketchup ‘nd hot sauce type swap, that’s a real classic.”

Bow-wow

It's a baby prank for babies, and yet it's the exact type of prank that suits this guy that gives off the vibe… at first, anyway, that he's never had a malicious thought ever in his life. But the concept of an even better prank… oh, he's actually pretty excited about that.

Although he's certain he can vaguely recall being the victim of said prank before.

"Yes! Absolutely. Sounds like th' most fun thing ever!" He sounds way too enthusiastic. "But I gotta ask ya sage advice, who would be th'best target?" He leans forward, like he's expecting Kaoru to whisper to avoid their fun prank being found out.

Kaoru Naito

“Obviously, th’ chick with a bun.”

He doesn’t know her yet.

“Nah, she’d kill us fer real. You gotta pick, it’s yer prank! Who’d be th’ funniest t’ get their ass? Like, Hikaru? Wait, don’t pick ‘im just cause I said so, you gotta pick! Lemme into yer mind, young pup!”