groundzeroes | IC Inbox

When you're not busy I want to talk to you about something.

[Ahhh, rosho's Counseling Appointments. How Rei missed these. (Genuinely.)]

K

[And that's it! Until Rei arrives at the Sasaro apartment early, after Rosho has come home and Sasara has gone to the Roost.]

I'm home~

[Of all the ways you had to announce your presence, Rei.... you chose this one....]

[ Why do you text like you're a teenager Rei.............. But at least Rosho doesn't mind the lacking response and radio silence afterward. This is a kind of conversation he'd prefer to have in person.

What he doesn't appreciate is Rei being weird. Rosho's on the couch, scrolling through his phone with the TV on just for background noise. He looks up with clear disgust. ]

This ain't your house, stupid. Now come over here. Sasara says he wants burgers for dinner when he gets back so I gotta know what ya want so I can order it.

[Rosho's animosity rolls right off of Rei, whose smile doesn't drop a bit. Rei has been on the receiving end of Rosho's ire both real and fake; this much griping is the equivalent of a "welcome home!"]

Sure, sure. [Rei comes to sit as bidden, slinging an arm carelessly over the back of the couch.] Let me see.

[ Its his own custom greeting to the regular home invaders he's gotten used to having, though he's had to change his brusque response with Sasara as they've been living together.

Rosho displays the phone screen to Rei and slowly scrolls through the menu. ]

Sasara wants the regular burger with a shake and the bacon cheese fries. I'm getting the chicken burger with regular fries and the chocolate frozen custard. [ As expected, he and Sasara need their dose of sweets. ] They got a hot dog thats really good if ya want that. Ordering two of them should get ya full real easy.

That Sasara's a foodie as always, huh. [Rei can't help the little smile that crosses his face. It's stupid, but he missed his predictable teammates!!!] I'll go with your suggestion.

But. [Rei turns the phone back to Rosho, looking up at him slyly.] Surely you didn't call for me just to give a dinner recommendation, right?

I don't get how he's got such a big appetite. Its why I tell him we can't order take out so much, he wants to order way too many things sometimes. Last time we ate at this place he had four hot dogs and still wanted more!

[ How such a little man can have such a bottomless stomach he has no idea, but at least he's not very picky at all, so its easy to feed him at least.

Rosho puts in the order along with an extra side of fries just in case Rei wants any, and if he doesn't eat them he knows Sasara will wipe through them without complaint. Once finished, he sets the phone onto the coffee table, giving Rei his full attention. ]

I'll get to the point then, since you're so impatient. [ He remarks dryly but his expression softens just slightly. ] It'll be Sasara's birthday soon, ya know.

[It's honestly so funny to hear Rosho gripe so severely about the very person he loves the most on Earth. Seriously... what a dork.]

I know. [Rei wants to tease, but Rosho looks too sweet to ruin it so quickly. He'll respond earnestly for now.] So you're in charge of celebrating?

[ Rei (and Sasara) should know by now its just his fine tuned love language, the native tongue of the tsundere. ]

I suppose so. Unless you're volunteering to take the reigns, but I'll firmly deny that request. I'm telling you now for your cooperation. ...depending on what I come up with.

[ And there Rei can probably see a hint of why Rosho asked for his time in the first place. Though of course, its more than just that, as Rosho gives him a firmer look. ]

I could do this by myself, ya know. And I... I admit, after all the shit thats happened, the things we learned about you, I thought that... maybe you wouldn't wanna be involved.

[ Maybe there's a part of Rei that regrets this, sticking around with them, still being involved with Sasara and Rosho after the big reveal that he's not the person they thought he was, and perhaps one day he'll get fed up with this dynamic. But the fact that he's sitting here in their home when they couldn't even be speaking at all gives Rosho hope.

Rei's not like either of them. Deep down, when it comes down to it, he thinks Rei doesn't need this team. But he's chosen to stay here anyway. Shouldn't that mean something? ]

But, you should be there. And besides, everytime we've celebrated a day like this, we've done it together. It wouldn't be fair to Sasara if we broke that tradition now.

[There has been a little weirdness between the three of them, lately; an air of delicacy, an uncertainty of where their unscrupulous third member stands. Are they even on the same level? Can he count as their friend, anymore, when they know what he's tangled up in? It's only when they drink for too long and laugh too hard at a particularly bad joke that Rei forgets himself and the feeling really goes away. Rosho speaking it out loud, naming it here, gives that vulnerability form.

Rosho is right. Maybe Rei doesn't need the team, technically. But there are different kinds of needs.

Rei's expression softens, but just for a moment.]

You already said you weren't gonna let me just walk off, right? Of course I'm going to keep intruding. Like I always have.

[Rei gives Rosho's head a little friendly shove to throw him off balance, then laughs as he dodges the inevitable Rosho Retaliation.

After they calm, though, he speaks again:]

Hey, Rosho. [Rei sounds thoughtful, maybe a little genuine.] Hand me your Mic for a second.

[ He sounds like a child with a silly grudge, with a teasing shove to get his point across, and Rosho thinks that regardless of whats been going on below the surface here... Sasara really did make a good choice. Learning to trust Rei will be a gradual process, but he fits in really well with them, doesn't he?

Thankfully he keeps retaliation for another day, but he wouldn't be himself if he didn't huff all put-off like as he adjusts his glasses. ]

The people in this team are far too meddlesome. You're lucky I'm lettin' ya stay here a while so you've got a reason for a key this time.

[ But he'd find a way in, just like Sasara. They gravitate toward each other naturally. And it feels less and less unwanted as the days go by.

He suspects that the topic should revert right back to its intended nature, but as Rei brings up his mic, Rosho straightens up with confusion. ]

Mine...? What for?

[ This is probably the point where he should have a couple questions at hand or at least be a little more hesitant, but Rosho is Rosho, and so he retrieves his mic simply then hands it over to Rei. ]

You noticed how these don't work quite as well here in Avalon, right? [Rei takes the Mic, turning it over in his hands. It's a little nostalgic, really... Dotsuitare Hompo hasn't had a reason to rap together in nearly a year, what with more pressing matters in the way. Still...]

Like half of their functionality got wiped out. And I'd worked so hard on it, too! 'S a crying shame.

[Even when Hitoya asked for the mic upgrades Rei had played the part of merely a tinkering tech connoisseur, avoiding any claim of ownership over the mic designs. The only person he has ever trusted with that information after the military fiasco of long ago is Otome.

So, even if he'd never planned to reveal this much... speaking frankly about it to Rosho is kind of refreshing.]

But I've finally found a way to circumvent that, at least a little bit.

[Rei finally pulls out his own mic. It's longer than Rosho's now, a ring of dark, marbled gemstone sparkling just below the mic head.]

Figured I could do the same for yours, now that... well. [Now that they're back together. Now that he's protecting them from up close again.] How about it?

Ah, I... I'd never noticed. I never thought about using the mic here in this place.

[ And Rei can most likely figure out why that is, with his past experiences with Rosho and having more of an understanding of how he handles conflicts. He's more likely to use his fists than his mic. But Rosho's had opportunities to use his mic before, not here in Avalon but back in Prismatica, and those situations turned out as huge losses. Combined with his stand-off with Sasara and his loss, he's not sure if he's got the strength to do very much with his mic at all.

He should be wary, honestly, with Rei being the creator of the mics, and he is just slightly unsure when Rei reveals his own mic and it dawns on him just the degree of power this man happens to have. He's not just some lying scam artist, but he has actual skill, talents he probably couldn't ever wrap his head around unless Rei decided to share more of his secrets, which he doubts will ever happen soon.

But the mics were meant as a tool to fight, and Rosho... he thinks back to that time with the Dullahan, where he'd been unable to do anything to protect Doppo. Lying there on the ground close to death. His alchemy was the only thing he ever managed to feel confident with, and then this world took that away, and instead gave him the power to talk to animals and see goddamn ghosts. What is he supposed to do with any of that? How is that going to help him protect himself? How is he supposed to use that if anything were to ever happen to Sasara, or Rei? ]

...I want to do more. I feel like, I'm always telling myself that. Ya know I don't got a problem with fighting, but here in this place, its different. There's really dangerous things around. After I got attacked that one time, I've always been thinking, I don't ever want that to happen again. But especially, I don't want that to ever happen to someone important to me. Someone I want to protect.

[ He looks at Rei's mic, then his own. ]

I want to protect Sasara, and this team. So, if doing this can help with that, even a little... I'll let ya do it.

Good answer. You should use all the tools in your arsenal. And this is one of 'em. [Rei re-pockets the mics with a smile.]

It'll be good for you, besides. Wouldn't wanna fall outta practice, would we!

[Rei knows how sensitive Rosho is about that. Which is why he gives him an obnoxious hair ruffle, laughing.]

Sasara this, Sasara that... you're as dedicated as ever, huh. Gross.

[ Oh... should he have been practicing?> Its the nerves of that thought and the irritation of being teased that has Rosho giving Rei a firm shove in the side as he tries to duck out of his reach, but he can't help but feel content. It feels more like the way things used to be. As the days go by, it becomes easier to deal with Rei as a member of their team again and not just the creator of the hypnosis microphones who happens to be working for the Party of Words.

More and more, a little at a time, he thinks maybe he can think of him as a friend. The voice of reason he knows he and Sasara can need at times.

But boy, can he be annoying sometimes. His face flushes as he adjusts his glasses. ]

Shut up. I know, its sorta disgusting, but I mean it. I love Sasara a lot. So I expect a lotta effort in whatever ya wanna do for his birthday, ya see? I want him to be happy.

[Rosho's admission to the sappiness only makes Rei laugh harder. Still, it's sweet. They've come a long way, the dorks.]

Okay, okay. [it's only one "okay," rei!!!] I'll think about it. Probably.

[Rei leans back into the couch with a sigh, looking idly up at the ceiling. What should he do for Sasara's birthday? It still feels kind of weird to think about. For all of Rei's physical spats with Rosho, Sasara is the one who took his occupation the hardest. He still knows more than Rosho does, besides! The gap between them is a little bit wider.]

We should take him on a progressive dinner. No way he's been to every restaurant in the city with you yet?

[ Rosho huffs but refrains from giving Rei another nudge. There's no way he's letting this become a "probably". If they all want to try to make amends, then he's absolutely involving this old man in Sasara's birthday celebrations, whatever it may be. Would be a suitable punishment for ignoring them for so long and being one of two meddlesome idiots Rosho's always had to deal with. ]

Progressive dinner? Ah... [ He thinks on it for a moment. Thankfully, being such a foodie himself, he understands the concept already. ] Definitely not, but I feel like there's no way he hasn't eaten at every place in Camelot by now. Must know every menu by memory. He told me he went out a lot, all by himself. I'm not free often 'cause of work, and that was the time you were ignoring us, so he couldn't ask ya for company.

[ Crossing his arms and looking at Rei in almost a scolding manner, Rosho seems like he's ready for a lecture. ]

He does love food... and we haven't had the chance to do anything together in a long while. —oh, maybe the last place we could go to at the end is that beer cafe in the city, the Belgian one?

[Rei does not have the grace to look ashamed when Rosho chides him. His smile does slide a little sideways, though-- that small acknowledgement of Rosho's words will have to satisfy.]

All right. I'll draft the route. You ask him for restaurant recommendations "for the future".

[His smile fixes right back into place:]

You're probably garbage at lying, so just try not to get into too many details, yeah?

I-I'm not—! [ Its true, he's terrible at lying. His parents always expected Rosho to tell the truth which instilled good honesty in him (and a massive guilt complex). Even white lies are difficult for Rosho. So how the hell is he supposed to keep this a secret?

The answer: deflect and pretend there's no problem with this plan at all. ]

I can handle it fine! Why would I wanna be good at lying anyway? That's your specialty, not mine!

[Aahahahaha. He can see how Sasara got so obsessed with Rosho, what with the way he reacts to silly things like this so easily.]

C'mon, it's easy. You don't even have to lie, technically. Just say "that sounds nice, I'd love to go there with you some time." Which is true!

[Rei is absolutely just playing with him at this point.]

Do you need to practice? I'll be Sasara.

[ Of course it'd be true, but Rosho's so stubborn about restricting how much they eat out that he's sure he'd be found out. Its easier for him to let Sasara make these kinds of decisions, he's better at impulse wants and desires. But if he wants this birthday plan to work out the way he wants he'll have to meet the challenge. ]

Ya seriously think ya got what it takes to pretend to be that idiot? I don't need any practice!

[ Except he does.

But really... he sort of wants to see what kind of stupid impression of Sasara Rei can come up with. ]

This isn't what I was askin' ya for in regards to help. But, if you're gonna be insistent, then... fine. Go ahead and humor me.

[ You heard him Rei. Your turn to be the boke to Rosho's tsukkomi. ]

[YES!!! Rei barely restrains himself from laughing preemptively at the prospect.]

Okay, hold on.

[Rei clears his throat and takes a moment to compose himself, then breaks out his sunniest smile, voice pitched up from his deeper, lazier tones.]

Rosho!! ♡ Welcome home! [oh, God.] Are you peckish? I gotta fly the coop soon, but I've got enough time dovetail for a meal with ya!

[ HOW IS HIS IMPRESSION SO GOOD

ALSO ITS CREEPY AS HELL

Hold on give him a moment he's having a coughing fit as he tries really, really hard not to laugh. Or appear disgusted. Oh my god he even got the puns in. This is the worst thing he's ever witnessed. ]

[Don't worry, Rei also needs to take a moment to control himself. Holy shit. dsdslfsdf]

Hah? What's the matter, Rosho?! [His voice cracks with the strain of keeping it together.] It ain't that a cat got ya tongue!? Wish I had a familiar more like Eureka, if mine's causin' so much trouble!

[They are getting massively off track]

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glossophobia - 2021-10-15 06:41 (UTC) - Expand

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