groundzeroes | IC Inbox

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]

[ EVEN HIS KANSAIBEN IS REALLY GOOD. REI YOU'RE GOING TO MURDER HIM!!! ]

N-no, I, uh, I'm— [ WHEEZE ] Its fine, I'm f-fine. Okay. Anyway, w... welcome h-home... [ SNORT ] About food, n'such, I. Uh. Wanna ask ya somethin', about that...

IC Inbox

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject

no subject