sunshrouded | x IC INBOX

[Sousei doesn't even bother to open his eyes when Tenka starts bustling around him; he doesn't really care what he's working on, and...well, it's Tenka. (He's always trusted him with his back, why should today be any different?)

He does, however, crack open an eye when Tenka kicks his box (rude), before sitting properly up to accept the teacup with a vague blink.

...Huh.

He sips it, before offering up:]

It's not good anymore. [dick.

He keeps drinking it though so it's pretty obvious that he's just joking because Tenka's being roundabout about his acts of kindness again.]

By the way, it's poisoned.

[He says..... with such a straight face.... He's actually grinning a second later though, so whatever.

After that he's going back to whatever he was fixing up (probably organizing everything that he ordered?) and setting up the actual bar part.]

If I am going to die here, it won't be at your hands.

[He says, so bizarrely chill and mildly.

Sipping the tea more...and he'll just watch Tenka work now, since he's already got his eyes open again and all. Why not?]

Why would I want you to die? Maybe you'll just need to go to the bathroom a lot.

[No.... Tenka.....]

[Every time Tenka brings up a bathroom, Sousei now has counter-ammo.

Every time.]

I know you are still embarrassed by the time you were stuck in the bathroom, but you don't have to attempt to do the same to me.

[ . . . . . ]

And that'll be 500 credits for the tea!!!

I am funding this entire business venture, in a way.

[loser]

You are not charging me for these drinks.

You're co-funding this entire business venture.

You're also co-profiting.

Do I at least get a tip?

No.

[???]

We currently pool our funds anyway. What would you even do with a tip?

Something fun!

[???]

Another round of ViViD, buy Shinpachi a drink, maybe buy a new game. Sky's the limit, really.

How much do you think I would be tipping you?

[calm down tenka]

My service is excellent and I've been endearing myself to you for the better part of six months.

It'd better be amazing.

[look at this ego at work]

"Endearing yourself to me"?

[Sousei legitimately scoffs at that.]

You have done nothing of the sort. You are as hard-headed, loud-mouthed and irritating as ever.

And yet you came to my bar......

[these things aren't adding up, Sousei!!]

[He's quiet for a very brief moment, and then, legitimately seriously:]

It is quieter here...than anywhere else in the city.

[ . . . . and Tenka just snorts faintly at that, shaking his head as he continues more of his rustling.]

Well.... that was half the point.

It won't be like this at night! At night.... we do have to make a profit. I guess. [He shrugs then as he actually does lean against the bar, crossing his arms on it as he hums.]

But I don't think I'll open the doors until 6 PM.

[Sousei quirks an eyebrow at that.]

Yes, I am aware of the purpose of a bar.

[He's not going to be upset that the bar is going to be noisy at night... that's only to be expected, he thinks. He just won't spend time here at night.]

The hours are yours to decide on.

[Is there a reason you're informing him..... (besides the obvious warning that the bar's going to be loud at night, he got that part).]

[Tenka shrugs then at that. Yeah, it's his to decide, which is already kind of strange. He's never been in charge of an establishment when he got to pick his working hours.

But another part of the reason why he has his own bar is because he disliked calling someone else 'boss'.

So he just snorts faintly as he shrugs.]

Yeah, but you still co-own the place.

[Yes, that much is true and Sousei knows it. Half the money being used to fund this business venture is his, after all. But Sousei has no interests in bars and running bars; as far as he's concerned, this bar is Tenka and he has no place in making decisions for it.

He doesn't get what Tenka's getting at at all.

Which is why he just quirks an eyebrow in response even as he sips his tea, a silent "so???"]

[ and Tenka just rolls his eyes. Sousei always makes things difficult. Way to be obtuse, partner.

But.... well, he's always painfully genuine so he continues easily: ]

I want you to be comfortable here.

It's another part of our temporary home in this place, after all. Not everything here has to be awful.

[Stop being so PAINFULLY GENUINE.

Sousei doesn't know how to react to PAINFULLY GENUINE.

So there's a pause, and he focuses mostly on sipping his tea. This is the side of Tenka that got to him as a child, and it's...some sort of something to realize that even now, as an adult, it does the same thing. It's another part of their temporary home, huh.

He doesn't know what to make of Tenka, and three weeks without have only hammered that home.]

Is that so.

[Another sip of his tea.]

... As ever, you're utterly ridiculous.

I don't think it's that ridiculous.

[ He starts off with a huff and then proceeds to lift himself up so he can sit on the bar. Mentally, he takes inventory of the place as he shrugs. ]

I think.... I'll just give Soramaru, Peko-chan, and Hinata-kun keys to here so they can come in during the day too but--

In this place, it's still gotta be you and me.

[ he says it so easily, but in truth, it's hard for him to forget ]

It'd be harder for the both of us if you've got a headache all the time.

[Ridiculous... But Sousei nods vaguely (keys to the sensible kids, makes sense) until Tenka repeats those words ("it's still gotta be you and me"), and then he fumbles with his cup.

He does end up spilling some tea on his hand and leg (thankfully it's not scalding anymore), and his expression is pursed and...maybe a little sad.]

... I'm fine.

[He finally manages the response, eyes narrowed and on his hands, even as he steadies his tea cup.]

[ The fumbling surprises Tenka. He blinks once and then moves immediately, pushing himself off the bar to collect a small tea towel and walking over to hand it to Sousei.

Normally he'd throw it, but Sousei's seemed pretty tired lately.

He kneels down in front of his partner as he offers the towel, looking up as he tries to meet his gaze. ]

.... Are you sure about that?

[ And he'll let himself sound openly concerned this time because -- he is.

He just said that he needed Sousei to be okay, after all. ]

Don't coddle me...

[Sousei is aware that Tenka normally would've thrown that towel, okay. And while Sousei an admit he's been exhausted, weirdly so, he still doesn't want that.

He sets the cup aside and snags the towel, wiping off his hands.]

I'm sure of it, yes. Everything is fine. [Maybe if he says it enough, it will become true.

It's strange, though, how hearing those words can send a pang through him, even after they once managed to settle him completely.]

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject