( one innocent totally normal dog who’s done nothing wrong, reporting for duty. unlike esi, he didn’t dress up for a fancy time; he’s a bit modernized, though, owing to his adoption of that mysterious futuristic garment called… sweatpants. since he has the sense not to text back, esi’s last warning sounding off in the halls as he trots his way to the gilded cage, it doesn’t take much longer for him to arrive.
being at the bar means esi is visible, which is convenient. it makes it easy for kirma to slide into the seat next to him instead of having to hunt him down— a task that would be much easier now, without all of the partygoers present. still, it’s one he would prefer to avoid. there’s no outward display of relief, not even a half-hearted greeting, but kirma bumps his shoulder against esi’s, leaning on him for a bit of attention. hi. )
What does it say?
( the age-old question, at least when it comes to certain illiterate men. while he peers at the menu as well, it offers him absolutely no information. )
( The bump is something, though he would have preferred a more direct compliment or greeting. Still, it's easy to tell that Kirma isn't in any sort of terribly bad mood, and so he bumps back ever so slightly as he draws his finger down the page of the menu. )
It's a list of their special drinks. Their ingredients, names, so on... I don't want to read it all to you, so you can just tell me what sort of drink you like, and I'll pick you a surprise.
( oh, it was taken in good faith. that’s rare. kirma certainly isn’t complaining— his tail wags behind them as his eyes follow the line of esi’s gesture and he puts more weight onto the little (like, cute) prince. he leans and leans on them until suddenly, they’re cheek to cheek. for no particular reason.
perhaps absence does make the heart grow fonder. )
Not sweet. ( thinking. ) Not sour.
( he does not know how many cocktails he just eliminated in four simple words. he shifts position to account for the uneven tilt of his body, but it means one hand is gripping the rim of the barstool, right up against esi’s ass. don’t… worry about that. )
( It definitely rules out a lot of the options. But if there's another strong flavor, it might help balance out any sweetness, right? And so, Esikko lands on a drink called Death in the Afternoon. The irony of it isn't lost on him, and so he orders it, though he doesn't explain at all that there are added effects to these. It's a Dirty Shirley for himself, and then he's folding his hands as he watches the bartender make them.
The closeness is... a bit much. But Esikko likes the attention, at least right now, and so he's willing to lavish in it for the time being, innocently pretending he hasn't noticed a thing. )
Do I get a prize if you like it?
( That's what he decides to say when the drinks are finally set out in front of them. Kirma's is in a tall glass that tapers towards the bottom, a golden color with a single rose petal on top. Esikko's is far brighter, red as he is, bubbly, and decorated with cherries, and slices of lime and orange. )
( good thing he can't read, otherwise that drink name would be a bit upsetting! he's also not paying attention during the order, too busy trying to see if he can pick out any letters on the menu. the results are not flattering.
it's the arrival of the drinks that finally catches his attention, pressure lifting off of esi as he leans in to give the drinks a sniff. the stark difference between them makes it clear who's meant to take which; it doesn't stop kirma from immediately moving to pick up esi's intended glass, giving it a sippy.
aaaand setting it back down. smack. he glances over at him then, catching his eye— )
Checking for poison.
( something that would be a bigger risk, were esi the one behind the bar. )
( Annoyed at the thievery, Esikko puffs out an exhale as he takes his own glass, dragging it back to himself. )
Alcohol is poison. So I don't get a reward?
( He's huffy about that, too— his flirty little comment gone wasted... He doesn't want any of Kirma's drink, and so he makes a show of wiping his thumb over where Kirma had just taken a sip before taking one himself. As if they've not shared more than spit. He's a brat. )
( wow. you'll kiss your dog with tongue, but you won't share a drink? )
Other poison.
( doesn't count if it's socially acceptable. )
You have a lot of impatience, for a rank four.
( and when he picks up the correct drink to give it a try, it's partially to hide his smile. though the events of the game had been a rollercoaster, to say the least, the return to normalcy afterwards felt welcome, satisfying. enough so to put him in a such an uncharacteristically good mood, at their reunion. it won't last forever; june promises to have some dark moments in store. right now, though...
right now, the drink is surprisingly good. kirma's palate might just be off-kilter from a lifetime of scavenging and rot, but the light sweetness complements the heavy taste of the absinthe, and maybe that is something worth a prize. )
Isn't my company the reward? — You'd say something like that, if it was my asking.
( Esikko knows he has to nurse this carefully if he wants to keep his wits about him. Not that he has to worry too much, he supposes. Kirma is his bodyguard, right? Nothing bad will happen.
Even if that last time, and the time before... Hmm.
He draws his fingers around the rim of his glass. )
And must you bring up my rank? Don't say it so loudly. I'm working on fixing that, so I won't be that number for long.
( oh. but he's working on fixing that too, you see. )
Do you really need to do that?
( there's a shift in the air, some of the playfulness draining away. it's a good opportunity for another drink; kirma has no concerns about moderation. he doesn't even have concerns about savoring it, tossing the rest of the glass back, leaving the rose petal stuck to the side in a wilted memory of what it once contained.
with that settled, his chin finds its way to rest on esi's shoulder, the weighty pressure of his body returning in full pointed force. )
We don't both need to be highly ranked. Isn't that inefficient?
( wait, he wasn't done being ominous. but— kirma does a side eye of his own, back towards the drinks. he wouldn't expect esi to tolerate the obvious plan of staying irrelevant in order to further boost kirma's status, even if it would be easier in so many ways. it's annoying, if only because it isn't as though esi doesn't benefit from it. he isn't the type to be such a good person as to not want those benefits, either; for all that he's taken from him, this bit of charity is where he draws the line?
a small huff escapes kirma's chest, and he scoots the barstool a little closer. thigh to thigh, his hand releases esi's seat in order to slide up his hip instead, fingers wiggling into his pants pocket on the side. hiii. )
It was fine. ( can't you tell? ) Since I'm a generous person... I'll consider a request of yours, as a prize.
( consider being the operative word. if it sucks he won't do it. maybe. )
( normally, he wouldn't see any harm in that ask. knowing that there's going to be a significant update sooner than later— )
There's nothing you want now?
( the fact that he's not being scolded is heartening, though. enough that his fingers wiggle a little further in, and that he flags the bartender down for seconds. )
( hmm. suspicious. he can only assume esi means to use it on something dire, behind closed doors, something well outside the scope of a cutesy exchange. on the other paw, he's still not being thrown off or lectured for being handsy... )
... Fine.
( mild disappointment leaks through, his usual barriers already weakening under the influence of alcohol. let's be lightweights together. the second drink arrives, and, after a moment's consideration, downs it just as quickly as the first.
it does not help his pawsy status. without a drink to hold onto, his free hand settles for gripping esi's thigh instead, as his tail sways. given another ten minutes or so as the second drink truly takes hold and... let's just say horses. )
( So grabby... It's incredibly distracting. The drinks here are, of course, prone to causing arousal or heightened sensitivity, and so Esikko is hyper aware of every touch, grab and lean.
His face, a little flushed from his own drink, ducks down slightly as Kirma downs that second one. )
You're going to get trashed like that. You're even worse than me, aren't you? Drink some water.
( Kirma is not "worse" than him... they even out, height vs muscle, probably. )
( all the drinks in all the worlds are at their disposal, and esi thinks he should drink water? hardly. instead, his hand lifts to tap on the menu, drawing esi's attention back towards it. )
Pick out something else for me.
( demanding, pushy dog. four months ago, he wouldn't have dreamed of making a request of him at all; funny, how much one little incident can change a man's outlook forever. he hasn't said no to esi since, of course— but the option is always there, now. the vindictive part of him might be buried deep now, but it still hopes esi recognizes that fact, too. )
( He's pushing it. But after a brief pause, Esikko decides he's feeling too relaxed to focus on it for long. He'd rather not invite any touchiness, and so... )
You've gotten bossy.
( He leaves it at that comment, eyes skimming down the list again. He's finished one drink, is now well into another, and he points out the classic Sazerac, ordering it for him. )
For the record, I won't be helping you if you grow ill from this.
( not in so many words, anyway. how many years has he spent alone, even after being in esi’s company? enough that it’s hard to envision anything else, no matter how much he’d want it, to be in his care— the earnest kind, without knives or twisted words. an impossible dream, to be sure. too many thoughts in rapid succession has the fingers in esi’s pocket curling, digging in at his hip. a sign of things to come… maybe. )
The point of this place is to enjoy ourselves, right? So—
( a small interruption, at being served, again. a new drink means a new round of sniffs, as if to try and piece together what’s in the glass with his meager knowledge of foreign spirits. hmm… )
— That’s all I’m doing.
( and maybe, being bossy is part of that, a little. surely esi can understand the appeal of acting in such a manner, given that it’s practically his default state of being. )
( he isn't so put off by the terminology as to add any emphasis to his correction, but the drinks do a long way towards blunting the edge to his feelings. the slight pull to his hair makes him turn, head tilting towards esi— towards the touch. )
( ...Hm. Lots of things to think about coming from this conversation alone. Piecing them with previous conversations? Should be a giant red flag.
But he ignores those. )
I'm aware that you share your space with me, but...
( Letting Kirma's hair slip away from his fingers, and therefore bringing his touch back so that he can finish off his second drink, he offers a smile. )
I don't have a key. And so many others seem to make it their home away from home, too, don't they?
Not that I mind what you do with your own space, of course. ( He does. ) But it is difficult to think of it as mine, so won't you humor me and invite me over?
( immediate and defensive. the people, the person esi obliquely refers to has also been a point of silence since—
kirma shifts in his seat again, pulling his hand free from esi's pocket. he doesn't withdraw completely; his chin ends up on esi's shoulder, staring, no, gazing up at him. the sazerac sits on the bar, forgotten, condensation collecting on the surface of the glass. it doesn't have to be difficult. that's all on esi, he thinks. again: if they actually worked together instead of always being at odds, maybe that problem wouldn't have to be so prominent, either. convincing him of that fact, though?
the plan is already in motion, one way or another. )
... Stay over. ( plink. ) The staff finally fixed the bathtub.
( it seems as part of righting all of clubs' efforts, a few other unintentional fixes were caught in the ripples of energy and electricity. while kirma is none too happy about it, the ghosts have also left him alone enough that he's willing to try and see if it stays that way without his little "offerings." )
( Oh... So he won't have to run to Kizuna's after anything happens? Esikko lifts his chin a little, clearly interested, before reaching out to lightly boop Kirma's nose. It's the alcohol hitting him, too, surely. )
Hehe. I suppose I can stay for a night or two.
( That's how he's left feeling right now, anyway. And riding on that, he reaches with the arm not currently being leaned on, picking up Kirma's drink for a sip of his own.
As expected, though, it's far too strong for his taste, and he sticks his tongue out a little in disgust before pushing it at Kirma. )
( he learned a trick for this, you see, back during cocktail roulette. kirma's head lifts so he can chase after esi, one hand cupping his cheek in order to pull him into a kiss. the taste of the cocktail is a strong one and his ears flick back and forth, but he doesn't pull away; his tongue slips in to his mouth, chasing the hints of sweetness leftover from the fruity monstrosity he'd been sipping at, earlier. smorch.
the thing that sticks out the most to him is how quickly things change. not just here, in the peacock— every lifetime feels as though it drags on until the point they finally meet again, wherein they promptly collide in a whirlwind of violence and blood for the second, two, three it takes for them to have to start all over again. in this one, they've hardly known each other, have nearly spent more time together in this gilded cage (lol) than back home, and yet— here he is, shoving his tongue down the crown prince's throat like it's just another tuesday. it's inexplicable.
maybe that's why the only thing they can ever think to do is die at each other's hands.
when their lips finally part, kirma stays close. there's also like, no hiding a sweatpants boner so... sorryyyyyy 🙈 )
Stay for two.
( he won't actually have the choice, but maybe it'll go over easier if he thinks he had some agreement in it. )
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
almost used shuu’s account by accident. all dogboys is the same
being at the bar means esi is visible, which is convenient. it makes it easy for kirma to slide into the seat next to him instead of having to hunt him down— a task that would be much easier now, without all of the partygoers present. still, it’s one he would prefer to avoid. there’s no outward display of relief, not even a half-hearted greeting, but kirma bumps his shoulder against esi’s, leaning on him for a bit of attention. hi. )
What does it say?
( the age-old question, at least when it comes to certain illiterate men. while he peers at the menu as well, it offers him absolutely no information. )
typecasting yourself...
It's a list of their special drinks. Their ingredients, names, so on... I don't want to read it all to you, so you can just tell me what sort of drink you like, and I'll pick you a surprise.
Bitter? Sweet? Sour?
looks at you.
perhaps absence does make the heart grow fonder. )
Not sweet. ( thinking. ) Not sour.
( he does not know how many cocktails he just eliminated in four simple words. he shifts position to account for the uneven tilt of his body, but it means one hand is gripping the rim of the barstool, right up against esi’s ass. don’t… worry about that. )
Make it a good surprise. ( :3 )
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( It definitely rules out a lot of the options. But if there's another strong flavor, it might help balance out any sweetness, right? And so, Esikko lands on a drink called Death in the Afternoon. The irony of it isn't lost on him, and so he orders it, though he doesn't explain at all that there are added effects to these. It's a Dirty Shirley for himself, and then he's folding his hands as he watches the bartender make them.
The closeness is... a bit much. But Esikko likes the attention, at least right now, and so he's willing to lavish in it for the time being, innocently pretending he hasn't noticed a thing. )
Do I get a prize if you like it?
( That's what he decides to say when the drinks are finally set out in front of them. Kirma's is in a tall glass that tapers towards the bottom, a golden color with a single rose petal on top. Esikko's is far brighter, red as he is, bubbly, and decorated with cherries, and slices of lime and orange. )
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it's the arrival of the drinks that finally catches his attention, pressure lifting off of esi as he leans in to give the drinks a sniff. the stark difference between them makes it clear who's meant to take which; it doesn't stop kirma from immediately moving to pick up esi's intended glass, giving it a sippy.
aaaand setting it back down. smack. he glances over at him then, catching his eye— )
Checking for poison.
( something that would be a bigger risk, were esi the one behind the bar. )
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Alcohol is poison. So I don't get a reward?
( He's huffy about that, too— his flirty little comment gone wasted... He doesn't want any of Kirma's drink, and so he makes a show of wiping his thumb over where Kirma had just taken a sip before taking one himself. As if they've not shared more than spit. He's a brat. )
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Other poison.
( doesn't count if it's socially acceptable. )
You have a lot of impatience, for a rank four.
( and when he picks up the correct drink to give it a try, it's partially to hide his smile. though the events of the game had been a rollercoaster, to say the least, the return to normalcy afterwards felt welcome, satisfying. enough so to put him in a such an uncharacteristically good mood, at their reunion. it won't last forever; june promises to have some dark moments in store. right now, though...
right now, the drink is surprisingly good. kirma's palate might just be off-kilter from a lifetime of scavenging and rot, but the light sweetness complements the heavy taste of the absinthe, and maybe that is something worth a prize. )
Isn't my company the reward? — You'd say something like that, if it was my asking.
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( Esikko knows he has to nurse this carefully if he wants to keep his wits about him. Not that he has to worry too much, he supposes. Kirma is his bodyguard, right? Nothing bad will happen.
Even if that last time, and the time before... Hmm.
He draws his fingers around the rim of his glass. )
And must you bring up my rank? Don't say it so loudly. I'm working on fixing that, so I won't be that number for long.
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Do you really need to do that?
( there's a shift in the air, some of the playfulness draining away. it's a good opportunity for another drink; kirma has no concerns about moderation. he doesn't even have concerns about savoring it, tossing the rest of the glass back, leaving the rose petal stuck to the side in a wilted memory of what it once contained.
with that settled, his chin finds its way to rest on esi's shoulder, the weighty pressure of his body returning in full pointed force. )
We don't both need to be highly ranked. Isn't that inefficient?
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What do you mean, inefficient? You're a high enough rank. All of our points can go towards me.
( Lifting his drink, he takes a long sip, eyes closing. When he sets the glass down again with a sigh, he tries to push past this. )
So, do you like it? It sounds like you might just like it.
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a small huff escapes kirma's chest, and he scoots the barstool a little closer. thigh to thigh, his hand releases esi's seat in order to slide up his hip instead, fingers wiggling into his pants pocket on the side. hiii. )
It was fine. ( can't you tell? ) Since I'm a generous person... I'll consider a request of yours, as a prize.
( consider being the operative word. if it sucks he won't do it. maybe. )
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It's nice, to be wanted. He turns to look at him, their faces nearly touching, a small smile now in place. )
A request? Can I save it?
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There's nothing you want now?
( the fact that he's not being scolded is heartening, though. enough that his fingers wiggle a little further in, and that he flags the bartender down for seconds. )
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Haha... It almost feels like there's something you want, at least.
( Lifting his glass to his lips, he leans back a little into that wiggling hand, meeting his eyes. )
But I want to save that request.
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... Fine.
( mild disappointment leaks through, his usual barriers already weakening under the influence of alcohol. let's be lightweights together. the second drink arrives, and, after a moment's consideration, downs it just as quickly as the first.
it does not help his pawsy status. without a drink to hold onto, his free hand settles for gripping esi's thigh instead, as his tail sways. given another ten minutes or so as the second drink truly takes hold and... let's just say horses. )
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His face, a little flushed from his own drink, ducks down slightly as Kirma downs that second one. )
You're going to get trashed like that. You're even worse than me, aren't you? Drink some water.
( Kirma is not "worse" than him... they even out, height vs muscle, probably. )
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( all the drinks in all the worlds are at their disposal, and esi thinks he should drink water? hardly. instead, his hand lifts to tap on the menu, drawing esi's attention back towards it. )
Pick out something else for me.
( demanding, pushy dog. four months ago, he wouldn't have dreamed of making a request of him at all; funny, how much one little incident can change a man's outlook forever. he hasn't said no to esi since, of course— but the option is always there, now. the vindictive part of him might be buried deep now, but it still hopes esi recognizes that fact, too. )
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You've gotten bossy.
( He leaves it at that comment, eyes skimming down the list again. He's finished one drink, is now well into another, and he points out the classic Sazerac, ordering it for him. )
For the record, I won't be helping you if you grow ill from this.
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( not in so many words, anyway. how many years has he spent alone, even after being in esi’s company? enough that it’s hard to envision anything else, no matter how much he’d want it, to be in his care— the earnest kind, without knives or twisted words. an impossible dream, to be sure. too many thoughts in rapid succession has the fingers in esi’s pocket curling, digging in at his hip. a sign of things to come… maybe. )
The point of this place is to enjoy ourselves, right? So—
( a small interruption, at being served, again. a new drink means a new round of sniffs, as if to try and piece together what’s in the glass with his meager knowledge of foreign spirits. hmm… )
— That’s all I’m doing.
( and maybe, being bossy is part of that, a little. surely esi can understand the appeal of acting in such a manner, given that it’s practically his default state of being. )
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While Kirma begins sniffing his new drink, Esikko reaches to take a strand of his dark hair between his fingers, winding it around them in a curl. )
Oh? Are you trying to take me back to your room, tonight?
( he doesn't know )
I suppose I could be convinced.
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It's our room.
( he isn't so put off by the terminology as to add any emphasis to his correction, but the drinks do a long way towards blunting the edge to his feelings. the slight pull to his hair makes him turn, head tilting towards esi— towards the touch. )
You need to be convinced to return home?
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But he ignores those. )
I'm aware that you share your space with me, but...
( Letting Kirma's hair slip away from his fingers, and therefore bringing his touch back so that he can finish off his second drink, he offers a smile. )
I don't have a key. And so many others seem to make it their home away from home, too, don't they?
Not that I mind what you do with your own space, of course. ( He does. ) But it is difficult to think of it as mine, so won't you humor me and invite me over?
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( immediate and defensive. the people, the person esi obliquely refers to has also been a point of silence since—
kirma shifts in his seat again, pulling his hand free from esi's pocket. he doesn't withdraw completely; his chin ends up on esi's shoulder, staring, no, gazing up at him. the sazerac sits on the bar, forgotten, condensation collecting on the surface of the glass. it doesn't have to be difficult. that's all on esi, he thinks. again: if they actually worked together instead of always being at odds, maybe that problem wouldn't have to be so prominent, either. convincing him of that fact, though?
the plan is already in motion, one way or another. )
... Stay over. ( plink. ) The staff finally fixed the bathtub.
( it seems as part of righting all of clubs' efforts, a few other unintentional fixes were caught in the ripples of energy and electricity. while kirma is none too happy about it, the ghosts have also left him alone enough that he's willing to try and see if it stays that way without his little "offerings." )
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Hehe. I suppose I can stay for a night or two.
( That's how he's left feeling right now, anyway. And riding on that, he reaches with the arm not currently being leaned on, picking up Kirma's drink for a sip of his own.
As expected, though, it's far too strong for his taste, and he sticks his tongue out a little in disgust before pushing it at Kirma. )
After you finish this.
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( he learned a trick for this, you see, back during cocktail roulette. kirma's head lifts so he can chase after esi, one hand cupping his cheek in order to pull him into a kiss. the taste of the cocktail is a strong one and his ears flick back and forth, but he doesn't pull away; his tongue slips in to his mouth, chasing the hints of sweetness leftover from the fruity monstrosity he'd been sipping at, earlier. smorch.
the thing that sticks out the most to him is how quickly things change. not just here, in the peacock— every lifetime feels as though it drags on until the point they finally meet again, wherein they promptly collide in a whirlwind of violence and blood for the second, two, three it takes for them to have to start all over again. in this one, they've hardly known each other, have nearly spent more time together in this gilded cage (lol) than back home, and yet— here he is, shoving his tongue down the crown prince's throat like it's just another tuesday. it's inexplicable.
maybe that's why the only thing they can ever think to do is die at each other's hands.
when their lips finally part, kirma stays close. there's also like, no hiding a sweatpants boner so... sorryyyyyy 🙈 )
Stay for two.
( he won't actually have the choice, but maybe it'll go over easier if he thinks he had some agreement in it. )
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