musubi | twenty-third breath ✧ voice/action

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luceti

twenty-third breath ✧ voice/action

[Isamu is in the kitchen, searching the refrigerator while his journal lies open on the counter.]

Hey, Sanji. We're probably gonna be busy tonight, right? So you'll need me to come in?

[There's the hiss-pop sound of a soda can being opened.]

Unless of course there's some girl out there who really wants to be asked out by me, but I'm not holding my breath.

((Claimed by Richard. Any other comments should follow his.))

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In other words, you aren't certain about that?

[Well now, THIS is an interesting turn of events. Does this mean he actually has a chance?]

Well, I... I mean...

[This event isn't being easy on Isamu's instincts.]

You mean...?

[Richard, stop trolling, that isn't very nice.]

W-won't it be really crowded? Seventh Heaven, that is...

I understand-- you'd prefer something a little more private. I'm sure that could be arranged as well, if that's what you'd like.

Uh...

[This is Isamu just standing there, red in the face.]

[And this is Richard laughing a little because that is just too cute, really.]

Didn't I tell you that you should be more direct, Isamu? If you want to ask me on a date, all you have to do is say so. I'm not going to turn you down.

But... what about you and Naoki?

Naoki and I are...

[He pauses. They're taking a break, aren't they? Which means it's okay to see other people... right? Besides, he's felt this way about Isamu for a long time. If not now, when, especially when it seems to be reciprocated?

But even so, he can't shake a feeling in the back of his mind that all of this is wrong somehow; he deliberately quashes it before finishing his answer.]

... the two of us are taking a break for the moment.

I know, but... taking a break isn't the same as saying you don't plan on being with each other again, right?

[He pauses. It's true, they hadn't said that. But...]

Today is Valentine's Day, and the two of us aren't together for it. He's welcome to find someone else to spend the day with as well, if he wants. I won't have any objections. [Then why does saying that feel so wrong?]

The truth is... I've felt this way about you for quite a while.

You... what? But... But Naoki...

Why didn't... I mean... This... uh...

[Completely at a loss here.]

... comes as a surprise? I'm sorry, perhaps I was too forward...

No! No, it's just... I'm not sure what to think about this.

[He takes his hat off, rubbing at the back of his head.]

I mean... I've kinda thought that you... maybe...

[Richard just inclines his head silently, as if encouraging Isamu to continue.]

I, uh,... And you are...

...I'm gonna need a drink for this.

Butterflies in your stomach already?

[Not that, you know, there aren't some in his too.]

Yes, and I need to drown the bastards before they become too obnoxious.

[... okay, that gets him laughing, because mental images there.]

...Fine, get some chuckles at my expense.

We have beer or something, right?

[But trolling is how he shows he cares.]

I believe we still have some in the back of the fridge, unless Naoki or Asbel have helped themselves to it.

[Isamu opens the fridge back up. Beer in the back or not, he's quick to notice the half bottle of vodka still left from his birthday. He grabs that instead, as well as a glass from the cabinet.

He's not sure how well this will work, but there's no sense in wasting the rest of his soda. He pours a little from the bottle into his glass, pauses, then adds a bit more before filling the rest of the glass with what's left in his can. Then he reseals the bottle and puts it away. He's not looking to get wasted, after all.]

All right. [He sits down at the table with a sigh.]

So when the hell did you start being interested in me?

[At this, Richard has to pause. When DID he start becoming interested in Isamu? He's not really sure-- it just feels like it's always been there, that attraction, but that it's grown stronger recently. Maybe it's due to the problems with Naoki. Maybe it's because he's gotten the chance to know Isamu better. Does it really matter?

He gets himself a beer from the fridge and settles down in the chair across from Isamu.]

I'm not sure, actually, but I do know that it's been a long time in coming. I've always found you attractive, and as I got to know you better, I suppose it just grew from that.

[And yet it still feels odd to say so...]

Well of course you found me attractive. Who doesn't?

[He's still red in the face, though, and he takes a thoughtful drink from his glass.]

I admit, I've been... I little jealous of your relationship with Naoki for more reasons than ones I've already given.

That confidence is rather attractive as well, you know.

[He pauses just long enough to open the beer and take a drink himself... ugh, he still needs to get used to the taste of that stuff.]

Jealous of us for other reasons? I'd always been under the impression that it was Naoki you liked, not me.

[He idly runs a finger around the edge of the bottle, contemplating this.]

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