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[grylls]

[ Riou's towel is tucked neatly underneath his arm, and as he watches Samatoki cover his head, he wonders if he should do the same. Then promptly remembers that that's virtually an impossible ask for himself, considering his antlers. ]

Do you come here often?

[ Riou doesn't go to the bathhouse often, maybe he should start if it's something that Samatoki does a lot. He's not intimidated, but he does think Samatoki is always pretty cool.

Though he's very intentionally keeping his eyes on Samatoki's towel now, because Iris is a bitch. He too must stay calm. ]

[coasts]

Yeah. A bathhouse is really relaxin', you know?

[ He sure is relaxed now, but his tail is swaying from side to side at a moderate pace. He looks pretty excited. ]

Is it your first time here or what?

[grylls]

[ Riou gives an affirmative nod, though his eye is quickly caught by Samatoki's tail. He still wants to pat it...

But Riou will withhold. ]

Yes. It seems similar to the bathhouses on Earth. Not Russian ones.

[ Riou's glad no one has beat him with branches here. He finally continues his walk to head toward the shower areas, hopefully with Samatoki in tow. ]

[coasts]

[ Riou, you already pulled on his tail before!!! Do not.

And Samatoki does follow, looking pretty relaxed and happy that there aren't any people in besides the two of them. They came in at a good time. ]

You been to Russia before?

[ He doesn't have to worry with his towel on his head, so he enters the tub and sits down without much shifting around. ]

[grylls]

[ He knows, but he wants to. It's a good thing he's controlling himself. ]

No, but they have Russian bathhouses elsewhere. Russian relaxation techniques involve extreme heat, the agitation of the skin using tree branches, and plunging into ice-cold waters to "set" the health benefits.

[ Or maybe he has been to Russia, who knows. We may never know. Thanks KR.

Anyway, it's very quiet and relaxed here though, so that's a positive thing. Riou looks at Samatoki for a moment, and he wants to do something that he hasn't gotten to do in a while. ]

Do you want me to wash your back?

[ Skinship! ]

[coasts]

Oh, that sounds good!

[ Samatoki sure isn't going to refuse such an offer! His Sanguis desires are momentarily forgotten, his own senses honing on relaxation and comfort rather than agitation and other things. His ears twitch, the towel on his head moving a little a couple of times. ]

Alright, I'm all yours, Riou.

[ In fact, he proceeds to show his back to Riou now. He's gotten pretty excited. ]

[grylls]

[ Riou goes to fetch a bucket and soap and a brush from nearby. There are clean sets set up and ready for them to use, so it doesn't take more than a few seconds before he's ready to go. ]

Go ahead and sit down.

[ Riou will kneel behind him! 'u' But he doesn't want it to be weird so they need to sit together or one of them is going to set something off. Instincts during the moons are so hair-trigger sometimes.. ]

[coasts]

Heh! Who would've thought bumpin' into each other like this was gonna be good.

[ Good in that he gets someone to take care of his back. It's a big help! ]

Want me to do your after?

[grylls]

[ Riou thinks that it's always good when he runs into his comrades. He simply lets out a positive 'hmph' in agreement with Samatoki's words. ]

I'd like that.

[ This is the first time he's really gotten a good look at Samatoki's back, he finds himself rather interested in Samatoki's tattoos as he starts to wet and soap the man's back. ]

What made you choose your tattoo style?

[ He knows that yakuza have tattoos, but it's interesting to him to know how Samatoki's were decided upon. ]

[coasts]

My tattoo style?

[ You.. kinda had to have one, otherwise you'd be a wuss. As to why he has the tattoos he has now, though? There's a dragon in there somewhere, the ocean, and a nice cherry blossom tree. For someone who calls himself Mistew Hawdcowe, he's got traditional and soft tattoos. Watch KR debunk this ]

It's Japan.

[ His idea of it, anyway. ]

[grylls]

[ Riou hums softly and stays quiet then as he slowly and thoroughly cleans Samatoki's back. His hands are large and rough from use, but the soap and water make them move smoothly across his skin. Riou trails his hand over Samatoki's skin first before following with the brush, making certain to throughly clean. Samatoki may notice that he does periodically follow along part of the images in his tattoo with his thumb though. He's looking at it carefully and thoughtfully as he cleans. ]

It reminds me of home.

[ He really likes Samatoki's tattoos. Even if not his exact home, since Riou lived in the forest, he can really see Samatoki's respect for their home culture in it. It's got a kind of nostalgic feel, doesn't it? ]

[coasts]

You never thought about getting tats, Riou?

[ Tattoo "Crazy" on one pec and then "M" on another... That sounds badass to him, tbh. ]

[grylls]

Nothing this extensive. I'm not against it.

[ Is this the thread where RIou ends up with a tattoo somehow? Stay tuned.

For now, his hands move lower to Samatoki's lower back and he takes a deep breath, then goes over that a little more quickly. Don't touch the tail or look at the butt, Riou. ]

[coasts]

If you were gonna get one, what'd it be of?

[ He looks past his shoulder to look at Riou for a moment before looking forward again. The cleaning of his back's good too! But he's more focused on their conversation now. ]

[grylls]

Mad Trigger Crew's insignia.

[ He doesn't even have to think about it. He would be happy to have MTC a part of him forever. ]

[coasts]

[ Not that... Samatoki thinks Mad Trigger Crew would split up, but that makes him think that MTC would be around forever. When their country isn't in ruin anymore, then there wouldn't be a need for MTC. . .

Not to mention...

Samatoki's silent for a good while. Maybe a little too long. ]

You know, I was in two groups before MTC happened. You've heard of The Dirty Dawg, I'm sure. But there was Mad Comic Dialogue, too.

[ Will Riou find out about Samatoki's past now? Stay tuned! ]

[grylls]

[ Even so, Riou thinks that MTC will live on as long as they want it to. MTC won't betray each other, which means they'll always be a family of sorts even if they're no longer needed to fight. Just as Riou will always be a soldier, he will always be a member of Mad Trigger Crew.

He already knows that Samatoki said he didn't want to talk about his past, so Riou isn't sure if he can ask more than what Samatoki's giving him. He stays quiet for a moment, quietly washing up. He reaches for Samatoki's arms to lift one up so he can wash his shoulders and sides properly. He'll let Samatoki do his own front though. ]

Do you intend on leaving MTC behind one day too?

[ Is that what he's trying to tell him? Riou doesn't think that is the case, but Samatoki is also the type to act like he isn't attached to anything at times. ]

[coasts]

[ The white wolf ears atop Samatoki's head twitch once before flattening. It's almost as if he doesn't have lupine ears now. ]

Hell no. An' they were the ones who left.

[ He doesn't mean to imply that Jyuto and Riou would leave him one day, but maybe he is implying that. What if something happens and Jyuto betrays Samatoki the same way Sasara and Ichiro did? He might end up killing Jyuto if that happened.

Riou, too. ]

I'm the one who always gets left behind.

[ Samatoki doesn't sound sad? That's odd. There's a lot of anger in his voice though. A calm kind of anger that he's learned to control here in this city. ]

[grylls]

Then you have nothing to worry about.

[ He finishes up cleaning Samatoki's back and dumps the remaining water over his back, avoiding his head, to rinse off all the suds. He keeps the water flowing slowly and steadily so he can be heard clearly over it. ]

I believe in what we are doing, and I believe in you. You're a man who has others' backs and fights when it's the right thing to do, not when it serves your needs. That's why I joined you in the first place.

[ Back when he and Samatoki were fighting and the robbers showed up, Samatoki helped him despite their differences. It isn't because Samatoki's strong that Riou follows him, it's because he believes in what he's doing. ]

If I betray that, then I am not being true to myself.

[coasts]

You really mean that?

[ Samatoki doesn't ask because he wants consolation. He needs to know that this is what Riou really means, what he really wants. ]

[grylls]

Aa.

[ It's a positive "aa" of agreement that Riou gives. There's no hesitation. He doesn't have to think about it.Of course he means it. He gives Samatoki a firm, friendly clap on the shoulder. ]

You're clean.

[coasts]

Thanks.

[ For both of those things— washing his back and being with him as Crazy M from Mad Trigger Crew. ]

I said I'd do your back, right? [ He looks behind him again, and then completely turns so they're face to face. Yikes. ]

Let me do that now.

[grylls]

[ Riou gives an affirmative nod and turns around, facing his back toward Samatoki now. Samatoki may notice that he does in fact have a small little deer tail that's eagerly fwipping back and forth, as well as a couple of battle scars. ]

[coasts]

[ This is one of those sad moments when Samatoki does something he's never done before. Wash someone's back and all.

So, when he takes the sponge and runs it down Riou's back, it's the harder side, not the soft side. Oops? Bath ala Kagami Taiga ]

[grylls]

[ Riou straightens up harder than a ruler and lets out a grunt, gritting his teeth, then calmly stating: ]

That's the wrong side, Samatoki.