middaeg | there are no happy accidents

[ We're NOT friends?? Don't be mean, Ritsu-kun... — but it's not like he's going to be the one to say it if they were. Still, Kaoru's here and looking, well... about as cheerful as he can around his classmates this time. A lot happened, okay.

There's just a lot to take in given how long it's been, namely: the fact that he can't deny anything about himself openly, what with the two ears atop his head that keep perking at the slightest amount of noise, and uh, that... skirt. That's a thing. He folds arms across chest. ]

Hmm~. Is it reeeally okay for Tori-kun to be involved in our little game? I don't want to get in trouble or whatever.

[ In trouble with who, though? Everyone's too busy celebrating, and it's not as if they're at home... there's no family to scold them anymore. ]

Edited 2019-06-25 05:01 (UTC)

[this senpai's changed too, huh. tori stares at the ears, scowling at the way he's pet and knocks ritsu's hand away.]

Don't touch me! You're not one of the people who're allowed to, you know? So don't act so friendly about it. [huff.

huff. he's gonna prop his face in his hands, elbows against the table. as always is the case these days, he's got long sleeves despite the weather.] What game are you two playing anyway? Why would you get in trouble if I was involved? If it's against the law, I'm telling Mhairi-san, you know?

[ Ritsu's wishing it was just the ears, man. He rests his chin in his hand now that it's been knocked away, not quite ... relaxed, his own pair of ears remaining perked as he keeps listening for anything unfortunately familiar. Things are okay for now, and the city's big, but... ]

It'll be fi~ne. [ As for Tori- ] It's just a drinkin' game, Pinky... Me and Kaoru-senpai played Never Have I Ever last month. You can have juice if you want though.

[ You know, like a little kid. ]

Edited 2019-06-25 17:34 (UTC)

[ You know who does have permission to pet Tori? This guy. Small victories, or rather, it's a privilege of his, a memory that only surfaces as he watches the touch and the knock-away and feels... something awkward stir in the pit of his stomach. Like, when did these two get familiar enough for that? And why is he so bothered? His expression is as neutral as ever, but something stirs beneath the skin that makes him antsy.

Well. Whatever it is, it'll go away. It will.

It's not like he cares that hard, anyway. Really. ]

Whoa, whoa. What he said. Besides, it's not against the law... and if it waaas... well. I guess an ex-student council member would be a snitch, huh~?

[ A tease. It's a miracle he even remembers that detail, given how much attention he pays to other guys... whew. Anyway. He wiggles his fingers at a bubbly waitress, more smiles now than before. Hello, hello. Litha is a gift in many ways. Eventually she meanders on back their way through the pub only to set down a few pink, rosé-spiked drinks and greet Kaoru personally before moving on. An old coworker, probably. ]

Edited 2019-06-25 23:11 (UTC)

[just never had they ever, huh... it's... not a game tori's personally familiar with, but he doesn't like, want to give that away, because he's heard of it at the very least but playing it?

with what friends.

before this year, anyway, and it's not like the friends he'd made would think of playing it in the first place, probably. so it remains a legend, a story-told game of deceit and drinks, and tori stares at the pretty pink drinks set in front of them contemplatively.

and then he sighs, like he's doing them the worlds' biggest favor.]

Fine, I won't tell~. But only if I get to play too. I'm sure there's plenty of things I can think of that'll get you two emptying your glasses. ♪

That's because Pinky's as innocent as Suuchan.

[ But they've got a few glasses, so Ritsu'll move one in front of Tori obligingly. ]

I'm lookin' forward to seein' what'll get you to drink anyway, so sure. Long as Kaoru-senpai doesn't mind.

Hmm~? I don't mind at all.

[ Because, like, is it really his responsibility? No matter how they long and search for home, there doesn't seem to be a way back... so technically, he isn't super obligated to look after either of them, let alone Tori. He isn't stuck in the role of upperclassman, and they aren't stuck with someone exceptionally unreliable... right?

Careful hands slide each drink into a proper position, like he's done this a thousand times before. ]

In fact, let's let Tori-kun start, since he's our guest and all? Seems only fair to me.

[urk, they're both so experienced--]

M-Me?

[oh, no. uh. um. tori wraps his hand around the glass a little nervously, trying not to let it show as he kicks his feet a bit beneath the table. what do people like, ask. um. oh god.

wait.]

Trying to get knocked out early, huh~? I don't mind. ♪ [okay. nail the right phrase. you got this, tori himemiya, you are not gonna show that you have never played this a day in your life--] I've never ever grown a pair of ears.

You gotta say never have I ever, Pinky. [ ...Ritsu's still drinking though, pouting - that's not fair, coming out swinging.

Well, this game's not supposed to be fair. ] 'kay, we'll do next youngest... Mmm, my birthday's in September, so I just had it - according to my memories, anyway. Senpai, yours is around my brother's right? You're next.

[ Disregarding school years entirely- ]

[ Just had it... ? Hmm. Hmm? Something isn't adding up here, but luckily Kaoru isn't going to dwell on it for that long. He complies with a quick swig, and then, tapping a noticeably clawed finger against his lips: ]

Let's see... never have I eeeever... sucked up to anyone who works for the Coven. ♪

[ Payback for hitting hard so early. ]

[geh-- he messed up so early... tori looks sour at it being point out, cheeks easily giving away his embarrassment. kids are so easy.]

You know, pretty much every Witch does. ♪ I'd say if you're tried flirting with them, that'd count. [he seems so confident.] Anyway, I get a pass on that. I'm not sucking up to a~nyone there.

[teatime isn't sucking up. this is befriending the higher ups. being in his place. stuff like that.]

[ No Way. ]

You meet with 'em and have teatime, and I'm gonna bet you're workin' in the infirmary 'cause of 'em too... Since you said it's just givin' back. [ Ritsu leans back, huffing. ] That's suckin' up, Pinky... No matter whatcha think, brushin' elbows is just that.

[ So!!! Drink up, bitch!!!!! Ritsu has never interacted with them a day in his life ~~due to being a mod character~~, so he's free to just swirl his glass. ]

And even if you don't, I got somethin' that'll definitely make you drink. [ Fufun. ] Never have I ever... Hmmm, never have I ever... had my head patted by Ecchan...? Yeah, that sounds good.

[ This is all news to Kaoru... hmm, hmm. Wow. Who knew... they'd actually... be learning stuff about each other??? Like, the actual purpose of this game? Well, he's safe here... — there's only one or two shameless enough in Yumenosaki sto keep giving a guy like him a pat on the head.

If only they'd all been from Anzu...

Anyway, ]

Eh? In the infirmary? Hmm... introduce me to a cute nurse sometime, okay? Okay?

[THAT IS........ SO LOW, SENPAI................. tori takes two sips then-- well, he takes a sip and makes a surprised noise, what he thought was pink lemonade most certainly not, but it... isn't bad? sort of sweet, with kind of an odd tang to it, but it's not unpleasant. so he can take a second sip.]

You just wish you had your head pet by Eichi-sama. [gosh. he looks over kaoru too, lifting his head to stare down his nose as much as he can.] And why should I? Can't you just introduce yourself? It's not like you've ever done anything to deserve my help, senpai. ♪

[favor for favor... it's a cruel world.]

Anyway. ♪ Um~... Never have I ever... slept on the ground.

[ Hey... Hey................. Ritsu leans away from Tori, pout increasing. Be nicer... You Know His Current Status. ]

...Guess I gotta count passing out in the gardens as sleeping on the ground, [ mumble grumble, but he'll take a sip. ] I haven't done any of that since I got here though. That's the kinda thing I deserved to be praised for, y'know.

[ Another easy victory for Kaoru. Are they going to just do each other in while he sits here? All the responsibility of caring for them would fall onto him, huh... what a pain. Yeah. It's a pain, but also vaguely... relieving, given everything he's seen and done lately.

Well. They've been easy on him, so he might as well return the favor.

He rubs a fingertip along the rim of his glass, contemplating what's next. ]

Right, right. Good job, Ritsu-kun. Now we're all on the same level... the not-sleeping-on-the-ground level, that is. [ He can spare a seemingly nice comment or two. The pinky drink is doing its work. ] So. I better keep the ball rolling, huh? Never have I eeever...

— had to touch anyone infected.

[ah... tori cups both his hands around his drink and eyes the both of them, then takes a sip.

it's. technical. but he has, evidently.]

[ ah---

well. tori works in the infirmary now; nurse, sure, but it isn't so odd to think he might've dealt with someone a little infected. ritsu tips his drink one way and then another, obviously considering it (does the manticore baby count? do the people outside in the slums count? do those shades he and souji saw in that cave count?) before he finally takes a sip.

ears set back, but his face fairly neutral. ]

...Pinky's interning at the infirmary. [ he will save you Just This Once, tori. ] I'm not really surprised... Bet they deal with that kinda stuff a lot.

[ It isn't odd... and yet his ears flick as he listens to the chatter with an oddly straight, serious face, as he takes it all in to register the supposed explanation... from one person, seemingly.

The heavy fragrance of intoxication around them settles silently as Kaoru searches for the right thing to say, the soft hue of pink on his cheeks getting redder with each drink. ]

... hmm. It's true that working in the infirmary would let you interact with the infected, but... that doesn't explain your situation, Ritsu-kun.

[ An odd smile tugs at the corners of his mouth. It's a little melancholy, a little knowing. Is he being too pushy... too forward here? He isn't trying to claw the secrets out of their hands, but a growing concern for others just within his reach keeps gnawing at the edge of his heart. There's too many unknowns. ]

Not that you have to tell me or anything. We're not all that close yet, I think.

[this makes them even, tori's guessing. taking care of ritsu, ritsu saving him the trouble of giving an excuse. he relaxes a little and swirls his drink, which would be Cool if it wasn't tori, and feels the alcohol more when he slouches onto the table.

... wow. that was a moment.]

Isn't the point of this game to make us closer~? Ritsu-senpai was in the infirmary for a while too, and it's not like anyone who's infected is like, out of their mind... upstairs, anyway. Um, the worse cases are downstairs, but I'm not allowed to be in there yet.

[because. he will be. someday. somehow.]

It's scary anyway.

[ ...Scary, yeah. Ritsu rests his chin in his hand, watching his drink. ]

Mmm... Well, sure, that's true, Pinky, but I've cuddled with a sick manticore cub too... Me and Midorin went out and it tackled me, so I'm counting it... I guess. [ A wave. ] Aaaanyway, my turn, right...? Guess that's enough stallin', I've got a pretty good idea of what I can do.

[ A light hum, and he cages his mouth with his fingers, smiling wide behind them. ]

Ne-ver have I e-ver... Had a drink poured on me.

[ Oh, okay. That's how it's gonna go, huh. Well, no way out of that one — and it's more than just a swig that Kaoru takes, his head tipping back... all the way, aaand... yeah. His drink is gone. ]

Reeeal clever, Ritsu-kun.

[ The show must go on, though, and it's easy to wave over another drink given his familiarity with the staff, his hand just a little more touchy on the waitress than before... ]

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