groundzeroes | IC Inbox

You've already been spending too much time with Sasara. Your sense of humor is terrible.

[ But then Rei himself is terrible. No difference. ]

I'll be on my way.

[ After a few minutes there'll be a knock at his door. ]

[It doesn't take long for Rei to answer the door, standing to the side to let Rosho in. Rei looks the same as he always does; smiling and unruffled, cigarette burning between his fingers.]

Yo. [His grin has an appraising edge to it. What's up?]

[ His nose wrinkles at the sight of the cigarette, but he says nothing about it. After all, this is Rei's apartment, he can do what he wants in it. He's got none of that teacher's authority he's used to having so nagging him about it would be pointless. ]

Thanks for taking the time to talk with me.

[ That's how his greeting goes in return as he steps, thinks about removing his shoes just to be traditional then decides against it. It's not like he plans to stay very long. Just as long as he gets what he came here for.

Rosho turns to face Rei, holding up two fingers (okay the teacher habits are hard to break). ]

I got two stipulations before I say anything. One, ya don't make fun of me. And two, what we talk about doesn't leave this room. Got it?

[Rei's eyebrows lift, but he decides not to wisecrack about it. As funny as it is that Rosho is coming to HIM of all people for an honest consultant(? Is that what's happening here?), Rei is curious enough about the topic to acquiesce without comment. (Did he poison Rosho's brain after that library peptalk?!?! Seriously... he's rusty. It wasn't THAT deep... was it?)]

Sure, sure. I'll agree to that. [Rosho isn't making himself comfortable, but Rei sits down in one of the chairs, resting one ankle on his knee.] So?

[ Too bad Rei the social link has been leveled up you're now being used for emotional support. ]

Good. Okay. So.

[ Rosho pauses as he tries to figure out how to say this, which seems to be difficult as he's already floundering. ]

It's just that... I didn't know who else to go to. I mean, if I had other options, I would, but I... it's... God, this is stupid. I mean it, don't laugh! It's not funny!

[ He takes a deep breath. ]

I don't know what to do about Valentine's Day.

[Rei wills himself to keep a straight face. Don't laugh. Don't laugh, Rei. You promised. PROMISED.]

Oh... for Sasara-kun, huh. [God, he can't believe Rosho is asking him this. He can't believe he's ANSWERING this. Boy he goes to SUCH lengths for you.]

Well, what do you mean? The classic "take out for dinner and then fuck 'em till he can't move" not your style?

[ His soul ascends from his body for a moment. ]

Th-that shouldn't be the immediate suggestion! Or at least say it with more tact, don't be such an old man about that kinda stuff!

[ Rosho, Rei is an old man............. ]

It's a couple's holiday, so its gotta be more romantic than that, ya know? It ain't about just getting laid!

Hm... if you say so. [It might be the words of an old man, but it's also revenge. If Rei has to play cupid he's at least going to have fun with it!!]

Get him a gift too, then. [Since Rosho is the only one of the three of them with a job right now......] Put some thought into it. Or don't. Frankly, Sasara-kun seems to think the sun shines out of your ass. You could hand him a rock and he'd make it a family heirloom.

[ "Too", he says, like adding it to the rest of his idea makes it any better. Rosho rubs his temples then decides to take a seat on the edge of the bed. He really could just give Sasara something like the lint from his pockets or a strand of hair and he'd treasure it. His idiot partner can be so simple to please, but Rosho doesn't want to just toss something out there with no meaning to himself. ]

I'm not giving him something just for the sake of giving him something. Like, its gotta be special, but... I can't think of a single thing he probably hasn't gotten or seen before. Sasara's really popular remember? He's a celebrity. I can't even imagine what kinds of things he's gotten from fans.

[ Of course Rosho understands the underlying difference is that his relationship with Sasara is different than that of a simple fan. No matter what amount of lavish gifts they give him, it doesn't amount to what they have.

But... sometimes, he wants to be the one to spoil him in ways only he can do, beyond what he feels for him. And that's the frustrating part, because he's just got no other options beyond the typical played out ideas. ]

There's only so much someone like me can do. And that's the part I'm stuck on.

[Rei takes a slow drag of his cigarette, just looking Rosho over. Good god, but this conversation is so far out of Rei's usual depth! He really must have been a last resort choice for poor Rosho. It's been years since a relationship like that was something he could afford. So, so many years. Half his life, really. Ha ha!]

If you call yourself "someone like me" one more time I'm going to come over there and whack you.

[That part is easy to get out of the way, at least. Rei sighs, knocking the ashes from his cigarette with a practiced hand.]

I'd argue something handmade or an act of service is the way to go, then, but... Well, first, you really don't have to worry about that part here as much, do you? I'd imagine Sasara-kun is missing plenty of things he'd have back in Osaka.

How about this? [Rei sits up straighter, preparing himself to say something Really Embarrassing.] It's your sparkling presence that Sasara-kun always wants the most, isn't it. You're roommates in the inn already, but why don't you take some time to scout out a house or something to live in together? Maybe y'can't afford it by the time Valentine's rolls around or something, but it would be pretty meaningful for you to put the work in.

[ Granted he probably could have gone to someone with more visible "romantic experience" like that weird energetic host that's part of Manterou, but something about asking a host for this sort of advice feels really unpleasant. Not to mention Rosho doesn't know Hifumi well enough.

Rosho bristles visibly, because he's never been one to take a threat, however he at least understands what Rei is getting at which means he doesn't rise to the challenge. He still looks pretty put off though, sitting there with his hands in his lap, like a scolded child trying not to talk back.

Eventually, Rei finally makes the sort of point Rosho'd been looking for. ]

I haven't told him... the reason I started working right away, wasn't just for the money. Since I started helping at the school, I've been saving, because I want something better than some cramped little inn room. I get it's convenient. Sasara's never complained. But, we used to have an apartment, back in that city we were in before we got here. It had everything we needed: a living room, a bathroom, a kitchen. Even though Sasara never helped with the chores, and he always left his clothes and stuff lying around, and I was the only one that ever cooked. I miss having a place like that, with him.

[ At least Rei isn't the only one embarrassed here. The picture that Rosho's painting is terribly domestic, but it's the sort of life he really wants to have again. Even if the idea seems silly, house-hunting like a pair of newlyweds, it's... it sounds exactly like the kind of special, unique idea he's been wanting. ]

Yeah? Well there you go, then. [Rei snorts. How cheesy, honestly. These two lovebirds are such saps for each other.]

Sounds like you've got it all worked out to me. Don't think you needed an old man's advice at all! Who would have known Rosho-kun is such a thoughtful lover, how embarrassing....

I told ya not to make fun of me!

[ Rei you are going to get beat down. ]

Sasara's always way too honest with me, and that kind of thing, it's hard for me, ya know? But I still wanna try, even if it's embarrassing. Because what's even more embarrassing is not being able to just show him, h-how much I love him.

[Rei makes a low, impressed whistle, sitting back in his chair again. Wow, dude.]

Now tell him what you just told me, and I think you're good to go. [translation: wow cringe.] I still think my original suggestion was just fine, but if you're so fixated on killing him instead, you're set.

[Because that is so mushy, and sasara will DEFINITELY explode into little gay comedian pieces. Gross.]

So. [Rei waves his hand dismissively, though his smile is gentle (or as gentle as Rei gets).] Go on, shoo. You've got real estate shopping to do.

[ To be fair, he's made Sasara suffer through even more embarrassing situations. If they've survived just being honest about their feelings and exchanging confessions, then they can get through house shopping just fine.

But really, he can't stand that smugness that's dripping off of Rei, even if he was a big help. Rosho doesn't want to feel that indebted to him. He also really doesn't like that this conversation went so easy on him. He stands, stomps over to the door, then turns around. ]

At what point did I say no to your suggestion? Because, I'm absolutely gonna take him to dinner and get fucked until I can't move.

[ Take that, you stupid annoying old man!! ]

[Rei was mid-pull of his cigarette when Rosho speaks again; the declaration surprises him enough to choke on it, jerking forward in his seat as he suffers a coughing fit.

It dissolves into laughter, Rei unable to hold it in despite still being half-choked.]

All right, all right! [He scrubs a tear--partly from laughter, mostly from the burn in his throat-- from his eye.] Get out, you little smartass. Go!

[-- wait did he just reveal he's a bottom]

[ yup ]

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