[RL with Birkin - technically the island probably has its own legal drinking age.]

[unknownrival]

Issei hovered near the door to the island's building. He knew Birkin was in there. He also knew Annette was in there, and Stein, and Wesker. He did not want to meet any of them. On the other hand, he had no idea where Birkin was in there.

With a sigh, he opened the door and took a tentative step inside. If this all went badly, he would blame Birkin for it. It would be his fault anyway.

Comments

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, thanks." Birkin cracked a bit of a smile. Frankly, he was under the impression that Issei was too damn forgiving of people's faults, but at this point it was hard to not really appreciate that.

[stripping.livejournal.com]

"Tell me something good that's happened. Even in such times as these, things can't be all bad." At least, Issei hoped not, for Birkin's sake.

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

"Uh. Well." Yeah, that was going to take a bit of thought. "I haven't been shot yet."

[stripping.livejournal.com]

"That's... good..." Issei swallowed nervously. "There's nothing else?"

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

Birkin worried his lower lip as he thought about that. "Well, the cut on my lower back is healing nicely and probably won't scar which is good because I don't think I have the body for a tramp stamp." He leaned forward and twisted around as if to look at the cut. "I should probably get those stitches out soon..."

He made a little whining sound in the back of his throat. "Um. I think I'm nearly done with my G-virus. Actually... Done-done."

[stripping.livejournal.com]

"That's wonderful!" Issei's expression brightened. "I know how much that must mean to you. Are you planning to test it on anything in particular, or...?"

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

"I need a human test subject..." He shot Issei a quick, appreciative glance before snapping his head back forward and staring at the wall. "But I should probably start smaller than that."

[stripping.livejournal.com]

"M-most likely. I don't want to be infected, I don't..." There were things that even his friendship with Birkin would not help him with.

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

"I'll try to restrain myself," Birkin smirked, but he made sure it was more friendly than dangerous. He wouldn't infect Issei. Probably.

[stripping.livejournal.com]

"Let's move on to something else." Issei was getting nervous all the same, and he changed the subject. "Have you been eating well since I stopped sending you meals...? You're all right?"

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I've been fine. Mostly staying in my room, though..." He swirls the liquid in his glass. "But I get food, don't worry. Thanks for caring."

[stripping.livejournal.com]

Issei took another sip of his drink. "I don't fault you for staying out of harm's way. As long as you're healthy, I can't complain."

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

"As healthy as I ever am, I guess." Birkin shrugged and lay his head down on the back of the couch. "Do you ever wonder what your life would be like if you didn't find this place?"

[stripping.livejournal.com]

"Lonely," Issei answered instantly. "I've never been one to have many friends without the safety of a computer screen between us. There are hardships I could have avoided, true, but I also would not have met you because of it."

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

The corner of Birkin's mouth twitched into a slight smile. "I would have died alone and friendless. Now, at least, I feel like if I died, I'd be able to make peace with that. Dying's terrible, but dying among friends is slightly less so. But maybe I'm just a romantic."

[stripping.livejournal.com]

"Dying is natural. What's important is the quality of life that you lived." Almost unconsciously, Issei rested the hand that wasn't holding his drink on Birkin's shoulder.

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, well," Birkin mumbled leaning over to lean his head down on Issei's. "The quality of life that I've lived isn't... Quite that good."

[stripping.livejournal.com]

Issei's smile softened. "I could help you change that."

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

"E-eh...?"

[stripping.livejournal.com]

Issei blinked. "Did I say something wrong?"

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

"That just sounded..." Birkin picked his head up and shook it back and forth really quickly. "Nevermind. Not important."

[stripping.livejournal.com]

"...I didn't mean to make advances towards you." Whether he meant them or not was another matter.

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

Birkin took another sip of his drink. "We should. Stop drinking maybe. Heh, you weren't kidding, were you? Least you haven't ended up on my lap yet. These security cameras have already fucked me over once this week, and I'd like to keep it at that."

[stripping.livejournal.com]

"I fail to see how things could get much worse from here." Still, Issei kept himself from scooting any closer. "...'d be nice, though."

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

"You've got a point..." He bites the inside of his lip again and debates moving closer. "Both of 'em were pretty good points, actually."