They should be scared of me! [ Aaaaand Niki's in a chokehold again. ] For richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, they really oughta see what's coming!
( it's true. he isn't into niki that way, even if it's easy to pretend.
anyone can uphold a performance with the right mindset, and despite his words and actions, takasugi lets them say their piece, the most surprising part for him being the way niki knows how to de-escalate. he looked down on him a tad, thinking he was the type who could be easily intimidated, but it seems that in the presence of his forever companion, he gains a bit more backbone. good to know. they'll need to be strong for each other, with the way patho-gen and other augmented are working to carve out their existence.
what surprises him even more, though, is the hand that rests on his, seeking to calm his petty attitude.
really. these two... )
I hear you, I hear you.
( what's he supposed to do, maintain the tension? it's not feasible in this situation, and it's not fun.
so takasugi does as he's told, smoothly carving the edge of his meal to shove a moderately-sized portion into his mouth. he's well used to these utensils by now, so it doesn't dribble off the fork any. the first couple of days were a struggle to make sure it all lined up neatly. and after a moment of thoughtful chewing, he's digging right back into it, the joy that only food can bring spreading across his face in a healthy smile. )
And you're saying you made this with the tools here? It's incredible. Seriously, the best omelette I've had yet. Mmh. You should go back in time, and teach them how to grill better so I can taste this sooner.
[Oh. Oh? Oh!! Niki feels a weight starting to lift off his shoulders... just in time to end up in a chokehold! Of course!!]
Why— are you like this? You're seriously getting the wrong idea here! [He's totally not into him? Don't make assumptions?? Niki says this while trying to pry Rinne's arm off his neck.] I take back every nice thing I said! You're the worst! The worst!
[LIKE, IS THIS EVEN NECESSARY?!
But ahh, Niki's so relieved, though. He can't believe that worked! He was pretty confident he'd be able to get Rinne to calm down, at least a little, but he had no idea how Takasugi was going to react... Maybe he shouldn't have said some of the things he said. Was he too pushy? Did he reveal too much? It's sounding like Rinne's starting to think he's some kind of capable person and that couldn't be further from the truth! He just... can't let this person who he's been looking after all this time get hurt anymore. And if he can make this other person happy, too, then all the better.]
You really think so, CEO-san? [He's sure Takasugi is just being nice, but if nothing else about himself, Niki actually does believe in his cooking, so he's really happy to hear it.] If I could, I would! Seeing a person's reactions to new food is seriously the best...! ♪
[He would know! He's seen it happen lots of times already!]
[...Why the hell is his cute and capable Niki even considering leaving him for Takasugi? It's like he forgot whose arm is around his neck right now. Well, Rinne will just have to adjust his hold and pull Niki close, burying the idol's face into Rinne's chest. Not sorry.]
Ah, ah. You better not. The last thing I want is for you to get isekai'd to a place I can't reach ya. Hell, us two being here is already a goddamn miracle!
[Which he thanks for gods for every day. Niki can't leave his side until Rinne makes him happy. Besides, if there's anyone who should be traveling through time, it has to be—]
We just gotta call on Prez before he gets lonely. [He nods at Takasugi, who, as far as Rinne is concerned, is enjoying his omelette in a very interesting way.] That cool with you, hero?
[The dead are something like gods. The gun Takasugi gave Rinne is proof of that. A quick visit across time and space — Rinne figures he can ask Takasugi for that much.]
he turns that thought over in his head while chewing. is that how he seems, or is rinne just looking for a reaction? the self creates. the self also destroys, and takasugi's self has wedged itself in between two men with his words, pressing them open and offering all the praise he can for their earnest efforts.
so, no. there's no way he's lonely, right? the egg in his mouth tastes like home. and right now, this group is where he belongs, regardless of whether they like it or not. a glorious happenstance brought about by the star of choshu, or something akin to that.
but he won't repeat that back, like he usually does, lest it becomes something he has to acknowledge. he just smiles. )
Like there was ever any doubt. I've got a responsibility towards the two of you, so regardless of how crazy things get, I'm ready to put my life on the line. But if you want to reach out to me beyond all this, you had better do it in Hagi. Hagi, you hear? And make sure you're thinking hard on it, so my soul doesn't get muddled with all the other fallen out there, like that total killjoy, Katsura.
( chew. )
Yeah. Celebrate and have a party at my grave.
( that's not entirely how it works, but. you know. )
[Hello? This is definitely not the worst thing Rinne has ever done to him in front of someone else, but also...?!]
What did I do this time? [He says... or, well, tries to say, but it's muffled, words drowning out against Rinne's chest. Anyway, the point is, he's innocent? Obviously, he'd isekai with him?? And finally:] At least eat the food while it's still warm! Don't you have any shame...?!
[He wants Rinne to enjoy it, too, okay??
Of course, Rinne is much, much stronger than Niki is, so it's hard for him to free himself and he can't look at Takasugi while he speaks, but...]
Hmm, that's kind of far, isn't it? [From where they live, he means. But despite that, he continues without hesitation:] I guess we'll just have to make a trip out of it! We can bring HiMERU-kun and Kohaku-chan, too. Oh, but Kohaku-chan scares easily, so you better be nice to him, Rinne-kun.
[He's not sure how they would feel about meeting someone like this... but if they're going to have a party, it only makes sense to bring everyone.]
I'll make sure to bring you a nice, warm meal! I promise the food will be even better with real Japanese ingredients. And then we can eat and party all night, or at least until Rinne-kun gets arrested for drunken misconduct.
[Just kidding. They wouldn't let that happen. (Probably!) He wishes he could do more for someone who feels responsible for them, though... It's not often that they have someone looking out for them. But this feels like a good start, at least.]
[Rinne's brows furrow for a fraction of a second. Niki does what he does best and keeps the mood light, but Takasugi's words don't go unnoticed. He's ready to die for a group he'd just met and a dream half-formed? The sincerity presses against his ribs and Rinne thinks his heart might burst from the weight of it. There's no need to put his life on the line. The age of samurai is over. Rinne and Niki are grateful for someone they can lean on, but if there's anyone who should be going all in for this group, it's—]
Oh, I'm the one we gotta worry about? [Rinne grabs Niki's adorable face by the pudgy cheeks and gives them a squish as he turns it toward Takasugi.] You oughta show Prez the face of the guy who eats all our backstage snacks! It'll be a miracle if the food lasts us ten minutes!
[Rinne grins. He'll eat his omelette in a bit. There's no point in ruining the mood on a fine summer day with two of his favorite people. If HiMERU and Kohaku could join them someday... Well, the more the merrier. They could all use the company.]
Thank god there's gonna be a lot to do. Partying's our thing, see? And the more you tell me I can't do something, the more I'll wanna do it. No way are they gonna let us party anywhere near that joint! But if the ghost of Prez's past gave us the go signal, what choice do we have but to obey? Kyahaha!
If Kohaku-chan's scared of some spirits, Merumeru can take his cute little ass back home. More stupid sexy ghosts for me! [Ghosts? More than one? Yes.] I personally want the tastiest one, though.
[While he's holding Niki's face, he uses his fork to get a piece of omelette from Takasugi's plate and attempts to eat it.]
( it's cute, the lively way in which they talk about their friends—stars rising, blooming somewhere out there in a universe beyond here. he can almost picture the four of them stomping effortlessly around some dreary memorial plaque of his, their voices carrying over the trees and into the night as they debate their separate excitements in the presence of each other. and that's exactly how he'd want it to be, isn't it? a raucous gathering the likes that could raise the dead.
unfortunately, takasugi catches the fork coming his way and deftly pulls his plate back between two fingers. the utensil hits the wood with a dull thump, his shoulder leaning back against the chair. )
Cheeky. Just because you’re the life of the party doesn’t mean you can snatch my reward out from under me. If anything, you're about a hundred years too early to catch the likes of Takasugi Shinsaku off guard, so try again in another hundred.
( the pressed look on shiina-kun's face. the boisterous crowing of amagi-kun.
the richness of life is overflowing in the two of them, and in this food that's been presented, and suddenly takasugi's out of his seat to slam a sandaled foot against the edge of the table, raising his plate in the air as if he expects to make a toast without a drink. the staff watch closely, a bit uneasy about the commotion coming from their group.)
Honestly, with the way you two make it sound, I wouldn't want it any other way. Living life to the fullest and throwing caution to the wind is what it's all about! But, putting that future aside for now. Let's keep that energy going, and show this whole city why 3kon was born to blow their feeble worries away in the coming month, noise regulations be damned! What do you say, gentlemen?!
( the table shakes under his weight, takasugi throwing his other arm out in a showy gesture. )
[That's right! No one's going to die today. It's a small miracle they're even able to have this conversation right now. If they worry about the details now, they'll just end up right back where they started, Niki's sure, so... they can worry about it another time. But that doesn't mean Niki's forgetting about this self-sacrificing nonsense, either! He's not having it from either of them!]
What makes you think any ghosts would want to party with you? You're just gonna scare them away. [He says to Rinne... through squished, pudgy cheeks. Takasugi is too alive to count as a ghost right now, obviously.] Um, I'm glad someone is willing to put Rinne-kun in his place, but now I feel like you're causing trouble, too, CEO-san...
[The restaurant owner is going to change her mind about him if they keep all of this up!! But Niki doesn't actually dislike anything about this. Before he'd met Rinne, he could only ever dream of being surrounded by this kind of noise, this kind of life. So despite his mild complaints, he's actually pretty happy right now.]
Should we toast to it? We only have tea and water, though.
[ The darkness clouding his heart dissipates with Rinne's laughter. Let Takasugi do whatever he wants. Let Niki complain in his hold. Right now, Rinne's too happy to see anything but the dream ahead of them. ]
I don't give a rat's ass what we got. A celebration's a celebration!
[ He steps on his chair, grabs his glass of water, and raises it to meet Takasugi's plate. ]
A toast to 3kon! We'll be taking Karteria by storm this summer, I just know it!
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
2/2
Date: 2025-06-20 05:19 pm (UTC)Eat up, Prez, or Niki's gonna get it!
no subject
Date: 2025-06-21 05:19 pm (UTC)anyone can uphold a performance with the right mindset, and despite his words and actions, takasugi lets them say their piece, the most surprising part for him being the way niki knows how to de-escalate. he looked down on him a tad, thinking he was the type who could be easily intimidated, but it seems that in the presence of his forever companion, he gains a bit more backbone. good to know. they'll need to be strong for each other, with the way patho-gen and other augmented are working to carve out their existence.
what surprises him even more, though, is the hand that rests on his, seeking to calm his petty attitude.
really. these two... )
I hear you, I hear you.
( what's he supposed to do, maintain the tension? it's not feasible in this situation, and it's not fun.
so takasugi does as he's told, smoothly carving the edge of his meal to shove a moderately-sized portion into his mouth. he's well used to these utensils by now, so it doesn't dribble off the fork any. the first couple of days were a struggle to make sure it all lined up neatly. and after a moment of thoughtful chewing, he's digging right back into it, the joy that only food can bring spreading across his face in a healthy smile. )
And you're saying you made this with the tools here? It's incredible. Seriously, the best omelette I've had yet. Mmh. You should go back in time, and teach them how to grill better so I can taste this sooner.
no subject
Date: 2025-06-22 08:20 am (UTC)Why— are you like this? You're seriously getting the wrong idea here! [He's totally not into him? Don't make assumptions?? Niki says this while trying to pry Rinne's arm off his neck.] I take back every nice thing I said! You're the worst! The worst!
[LIKE, IS THIS EVEN NECESSARY?!
But ahh, Niki's so relieved, though. He can't believe that worked! He was pretty confident he'd be able to get Rinne to calm down, at least a little, but he had no idea how Takasugi was going to react... Maybe he shouldn't have said some of the things he said. Was he too pushy? Did he reveal too much? It's sounding like Rinne's starting to think he's some kind of capable person and that couldn't be further from the truth! He just... can't let this person who he's been looking after all this time get hurt anymore. And if he can make this other person happy, too, then all the better.]
You really think so, CEO-san? [He's sure Takasugi is just being nice, but if nothing else about himself, Niki actually does believe in his cooking, so he's really happy to hear it.] If I could, I would! Seeing a person's reactions to new food is seriously the best...! ♪
[He would know! He's seen it happen lots of times already!]
no subject
Date: 2025-06-22 08:45 pm (UTC)Ah, ah. You better not. The last thing I want is for you to get isekai'd to a place I can't reach ya. Hell, us two being here is already a goddamn miracle!
[Which he thanks for gods for every day. Niki can't leave his side until Rinne makes him happy. Besides, if there's anyone who should be traveling through time, it has to be—]
We just gotta call on Prez before he gets lonely. [He nods at Takasugi, who, as far as Rinne is concerned, is enjoying his omelette in a very interesting way.] That cool with you, hero?
[The dead are something like gods. The gun Takasugi gave Rinne is proof of that. A quick visit across time and space — Rinne figures he can ask Takasugi for that much.]
We kinda need saving, like, all the time.
[Joke. Sort of.]
no subject
Date: 2025-06-23 04:40 pm (UTC)he turns that thought over in his head while chewing. is that how he seems, or is rinne just looking for a reaction? the self creates. the self also destroys, and takasugi's self has wedged itself in between two men with his words, pressing them open and offering all the praise he can for their earnest efforts.
so, no. there's no way he's lonely, right? the egg in his mouth tastes like home. and right now, this group is where he belongs, regardless of whether they like it or not. a glorious happenstance brought about by the star of choshu, or something akin to that.
but he won't repeat that back, like he usually does, lest it becomes something he has to acknowledge. he just smiles. )
Like there was ever any doubt. I've got a responsibility towards the two of you, so regardless of how crazy things get, I'm ready to put my life on the line. But if you want to reach out to me beyond all this, you had better do it in Hagi. Hagi, you hear? And make sure you're thinking hard on it, so my soul doesn't get muddled with all the other fallen out there, like that total killjoy, Katsura.
( chew. )
Yeah. Celebrate and have a party at my grave.
( that's not entirely how it works, but. you know. )
no subject
Date: 2025-06-24 04:16 am (UTC)What did I do this time? [He says... or, well, tries to say, but it's muffled, words drowning out against Rinne's chest. Anyway, the point is, he's innocent? Obviously, he'd isekai with him?? And finally:] At least eat the food while it's still warm! Don't you have any shame...?!
[He wants Rinne to enjoy it, too, okay??
Of course, Rinne is much, much stronger than Niki is, so it's hard for him to free himself and he can't look at Takasugi while he speaks, but...]
Hmm, that's kind of far, isn't it? [From where they live, he means. But despite that, he continues without hesitation:] I guess we'll just have to make a trip out of it! We can bring HiMERU-kun and Kohaku-chan, too. Oh, but Kohaku-chan scares easily, so you better be nice to him, Rinne-kun.
[He's not sure how they would feel about meeting someone like this... but if they're going to have a party, it only makes sense to bring everyone.]
I'll make sure to bring you a nice, warm meal! I promise the food will be even better with real Japanese ingredients. And then we can eat and party all night, or at least until Rinne-kun gets arrested for drunken misconduct.
[Just kidding. They wouldn't let that happen. (Probably!) He wishes he could do more for someone who feels responsible for them, though... It's not often that they have someone looking out for them. But this feels like a good start, at least.]
1/2
Date: 2025-06-24 06:44 pm (UTC)2/2
Date: 2025-06-24 06:50 pm (UTC)[Rinne grins. He'll eat his omelette in a bit. There's no point in ruining the mood on a fine summer day with two of his favorite people. If HiMERU and Kohaku could join them someday... Well, the more the merrier. They could all use the company.]
Thank god there's gonna be a lot to do. Partying's our thing, see? And the more you tell me I can't do something, the more I'll wanna do it. No way are they gonna let us party anywhere near that joint! But if the ghost of Prez's past gave us the go signal, what choice do we have but to obey? Kyahaha!
If Kohaku-chan's scared of some spirits, Merumeru can take his cute little ass back home. More stupid sexy ghosts for me! [Ghosts? More than one? Yes.] I personally want the tastiest one, though.
[While he's holding Niki's face, he uses his fork to get a piece of omelette from Takasugi's plate and attempts to eat it.]
Ahhh—
no subject
Date: 2025-06-25 04:19 pm (UTC)unfortunately, takasugi catches the fork coming his way and deftly pulls his plate back between two fingers. the utensil hits the wood with a dull thump, his shoulder leaning back against the chair. )
Cheeky. Just because you’re the life of the party doesn’t mean you can snatch my reward out from under me. If anything, you're about a hundred years too early to catch the likes of Takasugi Shinsaku off guard, so try again in another hundred.
( the pressed look on shiina-kun's face. the boisterous crowing of amagi-kun.
the richness of life is overflowing in the two of them, and in this food that's been presented, and suddenly takasugi's out of his seat to slam a sandaled foot against the edge of the table, raising his plate in the air as if he expects to make a toast without a drink. the staff watch closely, a bit uneasy about the commotion coming from their group.)
Honestly, with the way you two make it sound, I wouldn't want it any other way. Living life to the fullest and throwing caution to the wind is what it's all about! But, putting that future aside for now. Let's keep that energy going, and show this whole city why 3kon was born to blow their feeble worries away in the coming month, noise regulations be damned! What do you say, gentlemen?!
( the table shakes under his weight, takasugi throwing his other arm out in a showy gesture. )
no subject
Date: 2025-07-01 06:28 am (UTC)What makes you think any ghosts would want to party with you? You're just gonna scare them away. [He says to Rinne... through squished, pudgy cheeks. Takasugi is too alive to count as a ghost right now, obviously.] Um, I'm glad someone is willing to put Rinne-kun in his place, but now I feel like you're causing trouble, too, CEO-san...
[The restaurant owner is going to change her mind about him if they keep all of this up!! But Niki doesn't actually dislike anything about this. Before he'd met Rinne, he could only ever dream of being surrounded by this kind of noise, this kind of life. So despite his mild complaints, he's actually pretty happy right now.]
Should we toast to it? We only have tea and water, though.
[And eggs. So many eggs.]
it sent too early but now i'm 🎀
Date: 2025-07-27 08:01 am (UTC)I don't give a rat's ass what we got. A celebration's a celebration!
[ He steps on his chair, grabs his glass of water, and raises it to meet Takasugi's plate. ]
A toast to 3kon! We'll be taking Karteria by storm this summer, I just know it!