[ For the longest time, he doesn't say anything. After all, he doesn't want to really talk about this and he has expressed that, but.. he does think that it's pretty unfortunate that Megumi did not have a chance to know his mom. She was the best person ever, after all.
Toji says get over it, when really he isn't the one who has gotten over it. ]
[ what was the point of this needling beyond megumi just wanting to know? maybe it's cruel too, to keep pushing at a bruise so livid like a dead loved one, but what other recourse does megumi have? nearly everyone who remembers either of his parents back home are dead. ]
[ Toji was fresh on Gojo's mind when he and Megumi finally met; and Toji, he thinks about his deceased wife a lot- of course not telling anyone about it either.
[ He doesn't respond; he can pick up the conversation when Megumi gets here.
By the stream, Toji is polishing off one of his weapons. Although he isn't using the water from there, the ambience is nice. It looks like a nice place for his cursed spirit to take a break too, so it is curled comfortably by his feet as he sits on the trunk of a fallen tree.
When he senses Megumi getting close, he looks in his direction: ]
[ kon carves a path through the plantlife very loudly to announce megumi's arrival, megumi carrying food securely packed in a sealed containers in one hand and a scavenged blanket thrown over one shoulder. he sights toji's weapon first and tenses, then he recognises the slope of the back.
he doesn't call out a greeting. he doesn't feel like they're the type to trade in them. ]
You stop stonewalling me when I ask you about things I have a right to know. [ megumi plunks down a respectful distance away, then holds out the food containers. ] I'll do the same if you want. Quid pro quo, as they say around here.
[ It's true. Toji has been pretty keen on shutting Megumi down any chance he gets when it comes to certain things. He doesn't like visiting the past, especially when he's tried to block so much of it out.
He eyes the containers of food. ]
I don't care to know things about you.
[ which isn't entirely true, but the enthusiasm to learn is definitely in contract to Megumi being so curious. He doesn't reach out to take a container, though. ]
[ food is food. if fushiguro-san isn't going to eat it, then megumi will. he twists the lid off one of the containers, the warm umami of some soupy dish wafting downwind. he could drink it straight from the lip, or he could use a spoon. decisions... ]
I'm not that interesting, anyway. You sure you don't want any? Yuji made this, it's really good.
[ which is the same thing. yuji's better, kinder, stronger. megumi's more than happy with that. he's happy enough to still be welcome in yuji's life; anything more is a blessing.
but he levels toji a slow, burning look. he's not dodging this conversation this time. ]
I grew up thinking of myself as a debt, counting down the years until I've paid back the money it cost to keep me alive. And all that time, I just wanted to know what the whole point of it was.
And no one ever said anything. Not Naobito-san, not Gojo-sensei, no one explained why. Just what I am. Your son. Then Gojo's ward. Ten Shadows wielder. Zen'in heir. Cursed vessel. I don't know where I come from. I don't know what my mother looks like. I didn't even remember your name or face until I met you here.
Did you even get the money?
Edited (okay done w edits real) 2025-08-29 18:02 (UTC)
[ Give him an opportunity and the dam just breaks. Toji watches as Megumi starts the est the food and starts to feel a little bit of regret.
Fine. He should probably just get this over with, but he's going to answer one question at a time. ]
Not once did I get paid.
[ His arms fold and he falls quiet for a brief moment. He didn't sell Megumi off strictly just for money, though maybe that was a bit of a perk with it all. He had different reasons, but this is going to be a tough conversation to have. ]
I'm not cut out to be a parent, Megumi. Never have been.
[ there's hardly any change to megumi's inflection, even as he drinks the soup from the container in quiet gulps. he's not angry. he's not upset, either. he isn't any of these things because if he were then that would mean he cared far more than he thought he did.
he's just tired. he hasn't talked to gojo-sensei, things are fraught between him and geto-san, and he can't seem to into a rhythm with the work he's supposed to do here. it's fine.
if there's one thing gojo satoru had done well, it was to give megumi a choice the one time it mattered — even if it made things worse for tsumiki in the end. ]
Even if it meant hearing you say you didn't want anything to do with me, I should've gotten that from you.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
are you going to answer my question or not?
no subject
Toji says get over it, when really he isn't the one who has gotten over it. ]
it's about 50/50
i guess
no subject
[ what was the point of this needling beyond megumi just wanting to know? maybe it's cruel too, to keep pushing at a bruise so livid like a dead loved one, but what other recourse does megumi have? nearly everyone who remembers either of his parents back home are dead. ]
are you still in mexico city?
no subject
[ Toji was fresh on Gojo's mind when he and Megumi finally met; and Toji, he thinks about his deceased wife a lot- of course not telling anyone about it either.
That's why he sees more of her in him. ]
out in the jungle
no subject
this is a rainforest, it's gonna get humid. nue can shelter us if it actually rains.
[ egregious use of shikigami, to be sure, but at least no one's being crushed to death or dying. megumi will count it as a success. ]
1/2
2/2
i am fine out here
come join me instead
no subject
okay. where are you? i'll bring food.
no subject
you're always feeding me
what's the deal with that
no subject
you're more accommodating if i'm giving you something, and i don't want to give you money. food it is.
[ bribery. that's his public-facing answer. ]
you're nearby. i'm on my way.
ACTION.
By the stream, Toji is polishing off one of his weapons. Although he isn't using the water from there, the ambience is nice. It looks like a nice place for his cursed spirit to take a break too, so it is curled comfortably by his feet as he sits on the trunk of a fallen tree.
When he senses Megumi getting close, he looks in his direction: ]
Just how accommodating are you wanting me to be?
no subject
he doesn't call out a greeting. he doesn't feel like they're the type to trade in them. ]
You stop stonewalling me when I ask you about things I have a right to know. [ megumi plunks down a respectful distance away, then holds out the food containers. ] I'll do the same if you want. Quid pro quo, as they say around here.
no subject
He eyes the containers of food. ]
I don't care to know things about you.
[ which isn't entirely true, but the enthusiasm to learn is definitely in contract to Megumi being so curious. He doesn't reach out to take a container, though. ]
no subject
I'm not that interesting, anyway. You sure you don't want any? Yuji made this, it's really good.
He cooks really good.
no subject
[ Because he really likes Megumi's cooking, actually. ]
Why are you so determined to talk to me? To know all of this crap you keep asking about? Don't you just want to move on from it all?
[ like how he wants to do. ]
no subject
[ which is the same thing. yuji's better, kinder, stronger. megumi's more than happy with that. he's happy enough to still be welcome in yuji's life; anything more is a blessing.
but he levels toji a slow, burning look. he's not dodging this conversation this time. ]
I grew up thinking of myself as a debt, counting down the years until I've paid back the money it cost to keep me alive. And all that time, I just wanted to know what the whole point of it was.
And no one ever said anything. Not Naobito-san, not Gojo-sensei, no one explained why. Just what I am. Your son. Then Gojo's ward. Ten Shadows wielder. Zen'in heir. Cursed vessel. I don't know where I come from. I don't know what my mother looks like. I didn't even remember your name or face until I met you here.
Did you even get the money?
no subject
Fine. He should probably just get this over with, but he's going to answer one question at a time. ]
Not once did I get paid.
[ His arms fold and he falls quiet for a brief moment. He didn't sell Megumi off strictly just for money, though maybe that was a bit of a perk with it all. He had different reasons, but this is going to be a tough conversation to have. ]
I'm not cut out to be a parent, Megumi. Never have been.
no subject
[ there's hardly any change to megumi's inflection, even as he drinks the soup from the container in quiet gulps. he's not angry. he's not upset, either. he isn't any of these things because if he were then that would mean he cared far more than he thought he did.
he's just tired. he hasn't talked to gojo-sensei, things are fraught between him and geto-san, and he can't seem to into a rhythm with the work he's supposed to do here. it's fine.
if there's one thing gojo satoru had done well, it was to give megumi a choice the one time it mattered — even if it made things worse for tsumiki in the end. ]
Even if it meant hearing you say you didn't want anything to do with me, I should've gotten that from you.