[when was the last time he set his phone to silent? it's not nearly as liberating as he thought it'd be, and his fingers itch for something to hold — so he settles for two cylindrical wine glasses and an uncorked bottle of mascallan 1946]
[as soon as he sees a shock of blonde, the ends of his mouth lift and he's thrusting a glass into the chest of an old friend] Don't tell me that you plan on being the designated driver tonight of all nights, Atsuro.
[atsuro shrugs one-shouldered, his other hand caught up in surreptitious loosening of his navy blue tie — silk, brand-name, with all the stylish and frivolous trappings of his french mother. for all his surly exterior, though, he doesn't seem displeased to see souji, and if anything, the twitch of his lips might be a smile.]
No... no, it's just... if you'd hear my dad say it, the only alcohol worth imbibing is good old-fashioned Japanese sake. So, you know. I don't drink in public.
Right. I forgot how much of a hoot your old man is.
[sometimes, souji barely recognizes atsuro; it's hard to tell if he's talking to a close friend or a close associate. irregardless, his own smile further widens into a grin, and he keeps the glass pressed in the place below atsuro's sternum] If you're not going to drink in public, just walk around with a filled glass in hand. As long as you don't stay stationary, no one will bother hunting you down and asking about college, the state of your grades, whether or not you're dating someone...
[never one to refuse pressure from his friends, atsuro gives in and takes the glass from souji's hands after another moment, though it's hard to miss the way his eyes slide over to his father beforehand, as if to make sure the old dojo master isn't looking in his direction.]
You sound entirely too familiar with this. [and, holding the cup out so souji can fill it:] University sucks, but my grades are fine, and... and I can't get a girlfriend to save my life, but what else is new?
When all your parents do is throw banquets and force you to come along, you kind of learn a thing or two. [visibly grimaces at what must be a traumatizing memory as he haphazardly floods atsuro's glass with wine, making sure to stop right before it reaches the brimming point] I've been fine, Kyoto's business program is unsurprisingly top-notch. I want to kill myself half the time, but it's... whatever.
[truthfully, he's been thinking of transferring, but that's not something someone easily reveals to begin with, forget about someone like souji, who's completely transfixed on keeping up appearances. looking at the bottle in his hand, he thinks about taking a swig straight from it. instead, he fills his cup one-fourths of the way, and takes a small sip.]
Still, that's what I call a classic Atsuro! Most people who've been single as long as you have just make up an excuse or change the subject entirely, but you? [he pauses, not entirely sure where he's going with this train of thought, and then shrugs, deciding to just run with it] You do you. Props, dude.
[literally. the most unimpressed expression. as he looks at his completely full glass with a disgust that easily says "souji, you fuckwit, are you trying to get me drunk?"... but he just sips enough off the top that his glass stops being a spill hazard, and says nothing about it.]
I don't know, maybe I've been running in the Circle of Single Dudes too long to really give a shit. It's not like I have time for dating, anyway... my program is pretty rough. And unless you've got a new booty call I wasn't aware of, you don't have a girl either, Souji.
[in a tone that suggests he's slightly defensive about it, though:] Well, look, it'll be easy enough to find someone after this degree in physical therapy. I wear a kimono ten hours of the day and I give great massages. What's not to love?
[it's his turn to be defend himself, albeit... weakly]
I don't have a girl because — [abruptly stops mid-sentence, grappling for a suitable answer, but he only finds the vaguest] — I've been busy.
[holds the brim of his glass to his slips, but doesn't actually down anything] Anyways, no one's saying you don't have it good. I just... I don't know. Are you sure that you can't get a girlfriend? Isn't it just that you don't want one?
[ever the wolf, atsuro leaps on the first sign of weakness and sinks his teeth into it.] Busy. [he repeats blandly. elaborate goes unsaid.]
Yeah, I guess when you put it like that... I don't want one. I'm always turning down mixer invitations and that kind of thing. Because... stuff with girls never really works out for me, you know? I always feel like I'm on guard, and I can't open up to them... like, because I'm tall and half, I've gotta be some perfect Prince Charming, like on TV... and it's exhausting.
[and ever the animal of prey, souji's immediate instinct is to run the fuck away. somehow, he manages to quell the urge. he glances back in the direction of his parents — who are happily chatting the night away with hibiya's, whilst sampling the hors d'oeuvres — and offers atsuro an uneasy smile, as if to say not now.]
[so when the conversation teeters in atsuro's favor, souji nearly breathes a sigh in relief, but stops himself upon noticing his friend's somber expression. he levels atsuro with a serous and intent stare for a few good, uncomfortable seconds, and then a grin spreads across his face]
Prince Charming? No way, Atsuro. You're more like... the hardened delinquent type who fought his way to the top of some yakuza gang. The dearly beloved head of a family of rotten eggs, as opposed to a family of spoiled ones!
[he follows souji's gaze to the set of older men and women by the appetizers, and for a moment, his expression flashes with understanding — atsuro's been keeping tabs on his own parents all night too, after all — but it goes as quickly as it comes. if souji doesn't want to talk about things that bother him right now, that's fine; parties aren't good spaces for serious conversation, because if there's one thing atsuro's learned over the years, it's that everyone is always listening.
with a snort of amused, though confused laughter:] I mean, thanks, I guess? I'm not sure if that's a compliment. What the hell is the difference between rotten eggs and spoiled ones? They've all gone bad.
[as if it's the most obvious thing] Spoiled eggs have more money than rotten eggs.
But, look, that isn't the point. What I'm trying to say is... I get it. You already have to live up to what your family wants you to be, it's even more of a hassle to try and meet the expectations of complete strangers. And it isn't even worth the effort, since it's not like they plan on sticking around long. [he's looking into the depths of his glass, because training his gaze on the ground would be beneath him and looking atsuro straight in the eyes — is scary. so.]
Which is why we should hangout again, the way we used to in high school. With the guys: you, Izumi, Hibiya, and I. For awhile now, I've been missing — well, no, not missing, but. [makes the most frustrated noise and just. UGH FUCK IT his gaze flashes upward, not directly at atsuro, but something over his shoulder — a vase, maybe] When you mentioned feeling exhausted, I just got to thinking, I guess. About... how I never felt that way. Back when we were all together.
Why are you looking everywhere but at me? [observed with the utmost incomprehension — apparently, things that haven't changed about atsuro include: 1) his peerless powers of observation, and 2) his absolute inability to ever draw conclusions from what he sees.]
But, yeah, I know what you mean. I miss hanging out with you and the guys, too.
[atsuro looks down at his own glass, but the golden brown of the mascallan isn't quite as interesting to look at as the fine reddish tones of souji's hair, and his gaze flicks back after a brief moment.]
I mean, we all talk to each other, it's just hard for us to all be in the same room at the same time — unless, you know, it's something like this. [he's pretty sure he saw izumi and hibiya in the crowd earlier, at least, but atsuro had been cornered by a pack of old ex-military men trying to retell the story of their glory days, and hadn't managed to call out to his friends.] Maybe we should just — meet up and shoot the shit sometime. I don't know about the other two, but I'm on break right now, at least.
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[as soon as he sees a shock of blonde, the ends of his mouth lift and he's thrusting a glass into the chest of an old friend] Don't tell me that you plan on being the designated driver tonight of all nights, Atsuro.
no subject
No... no, it's just... if you'd hear my dad say it, the only alcohol worth imbibing is good old-fashioned Japanese sake. So, you know. I don't drink in public.
no subject
[sometimes, souji barely recognizes atsuro; it's hard to tell if he's talking to a close friend or a close associate. irregardless, his own smile further widens into a grin, and he keeps the glass pressed in the place below atsuro's sternum] If you're not going to drink in public, just walk around with a filled glass in hand. As long as you don't stay stationary, no one will bother hunting you down and asking about college, the state of your grades, whether or not you're dating someone...
no subject
You sound entirely too familiar with this. [and, holding the cup out so souji can fill it:] University sucks, but my grades are fine, and... and I can't get a girlfriend to save my life, but what else is new?
Et tu, Souji?
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[truthfully, he's been thinking of transferring, but that's not something someone easily reveals to begin with, forget about someone like souji, who's completely transfixed on keeping up appearances. looking at the bottle in his hand, he thinks about taking a swig straight from it. instead, he fills his cup one-fourths of the way, and takes a small sip.]
Still, that's what I call a classic Atsuro! Most people who've been single as long as you have just make up an excuse or change the subject entirely, but you? [he pauses, not entirely sure where he's going with this train of thought, and then shrugs, deciding to just run with it] You do you. Props, dude.
no subject
I don't know, maybe I've been running in the Circle of Single Dudes too long to really give a shit. It's not like I have time for dating, anyway... my program is pretty rough. And unless you've got a new booty call I wasn't aware of, you don't have a girl either, Souji.
[in a tone that suggests he's slightly defensive about it, though:] Well, look, it'll be easy enough to find someone after this degree in physical therapy. I wear a kimono ten hours of the day and I give great massages. What's not to love?
no subject
I don't have a girl because — [abruptly stops mid-sentence, grappling for a suitable answer, but he only finds the vaguest] — I've been busy.
[holds the brim of his glass to his slips, but doesn't actually down anything] Anyways, no one's saying you don't have it good. I just... I don't know. Are you sure that you can't get a girlfriend? Isn't it just that you don't want one?
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Yeah, I guess when you put it like that... I don't want one. I'm always turning down mixer invitations and that kind of thing. Because... stuff with girls never really works out for me, you know? I always feel like I'm on guard, and I can't open up to them... like, because I'm tall and half, I've gotta be some perfect Prince Charming, like on TV... and it's exhausting.
no subject
[so when the conversation teeters in atsuro's favor, souji nearly breathes a sigh in relief, but stops himself upon noticing his friend's somber expression. he levels atsuro with a serous and intent stare for a few good, uncomfortable seconds, and then a grin spreads across his face]
Prince Charming? No way, Atsuro. You're more like... the hardened delinquent type who fought his way to the top of some yakuza gang. The dearly beloved head of a family of rotten eggs, as opposed to a family of spoiled ones!
no subject
with a snort of amused, though confused laughter:] I mean, thanks, I guess? I'm not sure if that's a compliment. What the hell is the difference between rotten eggs and spoiled ones? They've all gone bad.
no subject
But, look, that isn't the point. What I'm trying to say is... I get it. You already have to live up to what your family wants you to be, it's even more of a hassle to try and meet the expectations of complete strangers. And it isn't even worth the effort, since it's not like they plan on sticking around long. [he's looking into the depths of his glass, because training his gaze on the ground would be beneath him and looking atsuro straight in the eyes — is scary. so.]
Which is why we should hangout again, the way we used to in high school. With the guys: you, Izumi, Hibiya, and I. For awhile now, I've been missing — well, no, not missing, but. [makes the most frustrated noise and just. UGH FUCK IT his gaze flashes upward, not directly at atsuro, but something over his shoulder — a vase, maybe] When you mentioned feeling exhausted, I just got to thinking, I guess. About... how I never felt that way. Back when we were all together.
no subject
But, yeah, I know what you mean. I miss hanging out with you and the guys, too.
[atsuro looks down at his own glass, but the golden brown of the mascallan isn't quite as interesting to look at as the fine reddish tones of souji's hair, and his gaze flicks back after a brief moment.]
I mean, we all talk to each other, it's just hard for us to all be in the same room at the same time — unless, you know, it's something like this. [he's pretty sure he saw izumi and hibiya in the crowd earlier, at least, but atsuro had been cornered by a pack of old ex-military men trying to retell the story of their glory days, and hadn't managed to call out to his friends.] Maybe we should just — meet up and shoot the shit sometime. I don't know about the other two, but I'm on break right now, at least.