glub | ( 🍓🧀 )

[ okay, but who would leave the boyfriend of all time?

in spite of the way that rafayel can occasionally push the boundaries of their jokes, and be rather susceptible to pettier emotions— he has also never seriously pondered on a timeline where he isn't with tobari. he gave him his entire heart, and at no point has he ever desired it back. but, he also knows that in the daily drudgery, it's easy for people to lose sight of those emotions and burning desire to be with their loved ones, and to express those feelings...

which is why, it feels nice to reaffirm them. even in the midst of a silly exchange like this. ] ... That's cheating. If you're going to wish for that, then I have to wish for your absolute happiness, obviously? But, instead of a mountain god, I can think of a better one to grant that for you, actually.

[ why did he even bring this up then... ]

[ sticks another needle in the nui

but also this is so funny not rafayel deciding to suddenly beef with the mountain god ]

Do you think I'm not already happy?

[ he asks when he wears a perpetual scowl or neutral expression at best except for when rafayel actually gets him to laugh or smile ]

Is there an upper limit to being happy? Obviously, we gotta shoot even higher. [ he says easily.

but, yeah... he has beef with this mountain god, because also...???

why are you making it so hard for people to make a wish to you, when a sea god is right here? not making people go on a hike. ]

[ sea god grant some wishes…

even though tobari just isn’t the type to ask for anything. ]

Are you looking for praise? That I’ve been happier with you than I’ve ever been before?

Well, it’s true regardless I guess…

[ so he doesn’t mind saying it… ]

[ nvm, he doesn't want to sea god to be accessible anymore... ]

Do I seem that petty? [ he gives him a sidelong glance, before being annoying and snapping another photo right in tobari's face as rafayel walks backwards right in front of him. in the near future, he's going to regret expending his energy like this. ]

There are lots of pretty sights, yeah. But, I think a lot of them seem a lot more beautiful when I'm with you. Honestly, even the regular roads we walk, or the grungy city lights... they're all weirdly pretty.

[ isn't that also a form of happiness? ]

[ he thinks raf can be plenty petty so he's not answering that. this is also petty of tobari.

still, he'll raise a brow when raf just walks ahead of him but backwards—tobari keeps a slightly tighter hold of his hand then, if only so that he can make sure to help raf keep his balance before he trips on something. though tobari will at least keep an eye out for him... ]

You sure you're not just becoming more easily pleased?

[ even if he doesn't disagree ]

Aren't you the king of that?

[ ? hello?

but, really. tobari sometimes struck rafayel as being so devoid of desires and/or expectations that he can't help but to find it ironic that he's the one being called easy to please?

that said, maybe tobari is smart, because rafayel does stumble on an exposed root a second later, nearly missing a step as he almost falls backwards. ]

[ this is a completely correct and accurate callout but tobari is now distracted with making sure raf doesn't just eat shit on their nice hike

so he'll use the hold on their hands to pull raf back toward him, other arm reaching out to catch him at the waist before he loses his balance entirely ]

Better than being King Klutz. Can you stop being a show-off and watch where you're going? Or else the Mountain God will laugh at you.

[ there's a second where he falls forward towards tobari. the close proximity catches him off-guard for a moment, but he delights in how swiftly he feels an arm snake around him, holding him firmly. ] Nice catch. [ he pats tobari's hand as if to tell him he's okay now. ]

But, don't you think that's a bit much? Like, should the Mountain God be that bad of a person? [ though, from his memories, he's fairly certain they envisioned their mountain god as some half-eagle, half-lion creature. the human imagination was pretty frightening... ]

If so, maybe we shouldn't be praising him too much.

[ when the hand pat comes, tobari frowns but reclaims his arm once he's sure that raf is steady again. once he's sure that he's got his footing, then tobari will start walking again but this time he's following the path and taking the lead so that raf doesn't start walking backwards again to once more tempt disaster ]

I'm not going to pretend I understand anything about gods even now. [ there is a hilarity in tobari being utterly undevout despite everything... ] Based on the legend, it just sounded like the Mountain God was some kind of gossip.

[ looking for romance wishes.... ]

[ wow, so little faith in your boyfriend not tripping down the side of this mountain? though, he does end up following him in step with little complaint, especially as the mountain's pathway does appear to get a little steeper. ]

Even gods get bored, don't ya think? [ ... ]

Maybe one day it'll be Suzune coming up here making a romantic wish? [ lol. ]

[ looks concerned for some reason ]

She needs better taste in men first.

[ not the rare shot fired back at his beloved baby sister ]

[ ... ]

What's wrong with her tastes?

[ who was her last crush... ]

[ hm.

it takes him a second to answer this one. tobari's probably told rafayel an awful lot about growing up in poverty, relying on the community of his mother's friends after she died herself when he was very young and suzune was just born. there's probably also just been a very specific gap of who he has and hasn't mentioned. ]

... I had an older brother figure growing up.

[ another pause before he just starts grouching like usual, as if he hasn't utterly failed to mention this person's existence to raf until now ]

So let's start off with the fact that he was way too old for her? She makes me way too worried sometimes.

[ help, i just realized this is office au and he didn't have to be a fish

we could have made him an... alien or discord kitten instead. anyway, he does recall tobari mentioning a few things of his past; the tumultuous environment he grew up in, and the community that had taken him in. what he hasn't heard is... ]

Oh. [ ?

he stops walking for a second, before: ] ... Did you like him too!?

[ sorry, he knows this was serious, but now he's seriously worried... ]

[ AN ALIEN? DISCORD KITTEN? DID YOU REALLY MEAN FOR THIS TO BE OFFICE AU WHY DOES RAF STILL GO TO EXHIBITIONS AND GO INTO HEAT IF THIS AN OFFICE bijou where are we

this is an insane question though and tobari is going to look at raf like he grew a second head ]

Did you miss the part where I said 'brother'?

[ i know, i totally forgot... redo of office au where he pesters tobari and skips deadlines and disappears for his lunches

but, tobari's face is both a little scary and funny. ]

You said "figure," you know. [ isn't that a type people like?

looks at caleb. ]

[ put up another booktok post

he rolls his eyes ]

That doesn't make a difference to me. Family is family.

[ i'm so sorry caleb, tobari wouldn't be into your trope ]

We were close, but I never saw him that way so stop being worried about weird things.

[ HELP

you can't truly gege-zone caleb like this. ]

Worried? Hey, don't you think you're jumping to conclusions?

[ he shakes his head. ] I know you're mine. I was more worried about your sibling relationship, especially if you both liked the same man.

You're creating an insane drama...

[ he shakes his head ]

Suzune just really liked him. Didn't work out. But he was always something of a sweet talker and wasn't very honest.

So I'm hoping it was just a fluke...

[ he needs his sister to have a better type... ]

[ raf... says "don't jump to conclusions," while he then proceeds to think up something way crazier. ]

There's no way that's an actual type?

[ lol. ]

Besides, she has us.

[ nods ]

If some shitty playboy breaks her heart, I'd have to break every bone in his body.

[ this is

probably an exaggeration ]

You sure that's all we're going to have to do?

[ he gives a shrug, though. ]

But, nah. She's probably fine. I mean, she has a good example of a good guy right in front of her, right? [ pokes tobari's side from behind him. ]

[ glances over at the poke like ? ]

Are you praising yourself?

It’s true she does like you a lot.

[ tobari and raf have their ups and downs mostly in the form of squabbling every five seconds but it is true that they’re remarkable stable otherwise. decent example relationship?? ]

I meant you, dummy.

[ ? ] Though, I can see why you thought that.

[ but, also that's true too... they are fairly stable... in a world full of toxic gen z relationships. what's beyond generation beta, actually? ]

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