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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... 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.]

I do like Naoki! Just... not like that.

[This is so incredibly awkward.]

I know it seems that way sometimes, but... it's not.

If it isn't because of that, then what is it?

We've already had this conversation, haven't we? Not much of it is really any different.

But... I guess I was kinda jealous you'd run into him first, too.

[He laughs.]

There's no need to be jealous any longer now that I know how you feel. After all, it is mutual, isn't it?

I-I guess...

I'm just... so surprised.

[You're about to be even more surprised, Isamu, because Richard is smiling and bracing himself against the table to lean in closer...]

[Isamu just freezes up, wide eyed like a complete ninny.]

[If Richard weren't affected by this experiment, he would pause and have second thoughts upon seeing that deer in the headlights expression. (More accurately, he wouldn't even be doing this in the first place.)

As it is, however... well, hopefully Isamu won't be startled and bite or anything, since Richard is going to be kissing him right about now. Just a gentle, chaste kiss, nothing more than that unless Isamu responds.]

[Going bright red, Isamu isn't sure what to do at first. He just freezes up.

Then, after that first initial shock, he returns it. Not for long, but he's not just going to sit there like an idiot the whole time.]

[At last Richard pulls away, curious, trying to gauge Isamu's reaction to the kiss.]

Was that not what you wanted...?

I...

[He fidgets.] I'm just not any good at the romantic stuff.

[And now Richard is smiling again, amused.]

That at least is something that can be fixed with practice, and you did a fine job as it was just now.

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