riverviewlogs | [Closed] Try to get out but we just keep sticking around

[Dodger puts down the menu, tipping his head as he watches the kid with a sharp look. He looks starkly out of place in this environment, since he's still wearing a hoodie and hadn't bothered to cover up the hole where his right eye used to be, but if he cares at all it doesn't show. He's more interested in the subtle signs of Eichi's discomfort and suspicion; it's funny that he's trying to keep Dodger in sight, like that would really keep him safe...]

Never watched your concert. [He shrugs lazily.] Those girls had too much money for their own good, anyway. Better they spend on something that lasts.

I'll have to forgive your lack of understanding on the fact that you were unable to see my concert, Dodger-san.

[He makes sure to use his name there, because he knows it was never given to him before, purposefully hidden from him before. Of course, multiple people had given it to him afterwards, and Dodger is likely already aware of that, but Eichi still wants it known.]

You see, I'm sure that even you must have had someone like an idol who you looked up to, either now or in the past. The actions of someone important like that... they're in a completely different world. To them, I'm perfect, the sparkling image of someone who achieved a dream they can't imagine, and so it's my job to help mold their futures.

[He sets his menu flat on the table now, leaning back a bit in his chair. He's still sitting properly, of course, but he'd like to be as far from this as possible while still going along with it. For the fans... for the charity, for his name and image, and for his pride.]

Anyway, did you choose this place just for me? You seemed like the type of person who might have trouble understanding parts of the menu, so I was curious why you'd take me here.

You didn't accomplish anything - we don't need to pretend that in private conversation.

[Dodger can't say he's ever had an idol... he's never had something as close to a goal as that. If anything, he's been some sort of an idol for others - a shining example of a perfect dog who does absolutely anything his master wants of him, and never fails. He'd even gotten a reputation as a demon, from how people had learned how quickly they could disappear if they spoke badly of Victor Augustine...

...It's a lot harder to keep that reputation without a master, and without the resources he had back home.]

I figured I'd do something nice for you. [He tips his head to the side, regarding Eichi carefully.] Just keep in mind that I expect you to have good manners, since we're in a place where people expect it. Eating everything on your plate and such.

[ He's quiet at that first part, not wanting to keep pushing something that people don't understand. Especially when it comes to this guy. He's very aware that a slip in conversation could mean what it did last time, and he's tense because of it, even if he tries to put on a confident look like he's not. ]

You're only saying things that are more confusing... [ Something nice for him?? What does he actually want? He's trying to figure it out, but there is the possibility he's just screwing with him, right? Ugh. His fingers curl over the edges of the menu. ]

Especially since that last part sounds almost like the beginning of a threat, you know? I'm the Tenshouin family's precious scion, so of course I know something like that.

[He doesn't respond to... any of that, actually. Telling him whether or not it is a threat would be giving him too much of a clue - and it's up to the kid to figure out exactly what parts of this night are a power play and what parts are just acting kindly toward a person he spent money to hang around.

It is interesting to learn a little about the kid's past, though - he hadn't known he was rich per say, just gotten the impression that he liked nice things.]

Have you talked to Reaper since we met?

[While he speaks, he's started flipping his dinner knife in his hand, touching its tip to the table and then flipping it to touch the handle to the table, and so on... each time making an audible noise, but not doing it hard enough to rattle the table. It's not a conscious threat, but it is a habit he developed to remind others of his dangerous potential.]

Of course, since we're friends.

[ Despite how completely out of his element he is, Eichi is too stubborn to sit here quiet and afraid and do nothing. He keeps testing with comments, eyeing that knife and considering how that's actually a bit better of a threat, if it is one, compared to inner injuries. He can heal something like a wound...

It's always strategy with Eichi, and he's trying his best to form one for how to deal with this now. Currently, that means closing the menu and sliding it to the edge of the table to indicate he's decided and answering no more about Reaper than what he's asked. ]

[Of course, that means Reaper knows what he'd done... he hadn't confronted him about it, but maybe he just didn't want to give Dodger the satisfaction of his anger. It's thrilling to watch the way the smoke escapes his mask when he's angry.

This time Dodger stays completely silent, copying the motion of sliding his menu over and quietly giving his order to the waiter when he comes around. Several appetizers and one of those overpriced artisan burgers that tastes exactly the fucking same as fast food, but it's the closest he can get to what he's used to eating here.

It should be noted that he's very polite to the waiter, refraining from swearing and saying 'thank you' after his order.]

[Eichi politely orders his own meal. Sauteed veal, a very fancy cup of tea, and some sort of over priced salad. Nothing more than that, as much as he'd like to order the full menu and give Dodger some comment about trying a full range. He doesn't want to end up dead on this.

Honestly, he's been resisting the urge to text someone with his phone for some time now. Half of him wonders if it would just escalate things the way it did last time, but the other half doesn't even care— his pride is built on this. Even if he has a lack of knowledge with which to crush Dodger himself, he wants to try and stand on his own in this. Other people are busy, aren't they? They have other things to worry about than to serve a fallen ruler like himself.

He waits for the waiter to leave with the menus before he addresses Dodger again, breaking the silence.]

If this is something like a normal date, why don't we trade some information normally? I don't know much about you at all, you know.

There isn't much to know.

[But if the kid's the type to use information against him - and he's fully counting on that, if he wants information at all - that's kind of nice to know that he doesn't know much. It means Reaper didn't give him his real name, or he figures he'd be cheeky enough to use it just to get under his skin.]

Put your guard down, kid, it is a normal date. Just ask questions if you're curious.

Edited 2017-07-29 02:03 (UTC)

It's interesting that you'd tell me something like that after such a violent reaction during our first meeting. For someone like me who doesn't know if he can even leave the house each day, I have to protect my health with everything I've got, you know? Someone like you is an unnecessary added threat in my routine, so I'm having to reorganize everything, and it's a little irritating.

[He's a little more confident, saying things like that, since he's genuinely venting. He can't put all of his guard down, not after their first meeting, but he can be a little less nervous, at least. For a sickly boy who's always smiling, his eyes can look pretty fierce. The fact that he's carefully choosing what information to share and not share is something he's counting on Dodger to not notice, right now.]

Also, could you stop calling me kid? I'm 19, you know? It's not as though I'll live a long life, so if you extend the childhood that I was never able to have like that, then it's only sad.

Do you have a job here, Dodger-san?

[Blah blah sickness blah blah whining blah blah thinking he's an adult. Dodger's boredom shows up clear on his face; he didn't learn anything new from that, and his eyes roll involuntarily when he learns Eichi's age.]

You're six years younger than me, and we're all dying. You're still a kid, no matter what your life expectancy is.

[And since the kid's chosen to be impolite, Dodger's leaving it at that instead of answering his question.]

[You know what, he'll take that eyeroll. That means that whatever Dodger is hoping to gain from this isn't happening. He rests his left hand on the table just so he can lean forward a bit.]

Are you hard of hearing as well as sight, Dodger-san? Your date was curious if you had a job in the quarantine.

[He lets out a long, annoyed sigh before training his face back to one of detached attention.]

I'm a mechanic - I fix up cars, and anything else people bring to me. I'm guessing you don't know how to drive.

[The more annoyed Dodger is, the more relaxed Eichi gets, hilariously. But when his tea is brought out, then he can finally do something with his hands, and that's the real relief. He immediately busies himself with putting in some sugar and cream and idly mixing it.]

Fufu, you'd be right. I have servants who do that sort of thing when I need it. [Servants... Butlers and drivers, it's all the same. And as he continues, it's honest curiosity that has him saying the rudest things, since he's not even trying to be biting here.]

A salary like that can't be much. Are you sure you're able to afford a place like this?

[Dodger raises a brow at that. He might be annoyed, but the comments don't really hurt. It's just boring to listen to the kid go on like he owns the place.... seriously, how does Reaper put up with him?

He's distracted himself by the glass of scotch he ordered, and he sips from it lazily while deciding how to answer.]

I get by. Taking a dip in my income is worth it for my plans tonight.

[Whatever that means.]

[He stares at him quietly for a few seconds for that, then finally breaks this constant staring to look down more directly at his tea.]

Plans, is it? Whatever it is that you intend to gain from this, I'm sorry to say that you'll end up leaving empty handed.

It would be easy for me to call someone to my side. Even if you continue to sit there peacefully, without lifting a finger, all I would have to do is say the word and you'd be dealt with. But that's not very satisfying, you know? So I'm humoring you, for that fact, and for the sake of this auction I was signed up for.

[He's still going on like this... But he's still thinking like a war general. Act strong when you're weak, act weak when you're strong... simple things like that.]

[Dodger continues to watch him carefully. He'll give him this.. the kid has more guts than he pegged him for. But that doesn't do much for helping him decide whether to try and win him over, or erase him off the face of the moon... they both have their pros and cons at the moment.]

Whether either of us get anything out of this depends on you. [He tips his head to the side.] But you'll notice you're the only one causing a fuss here. I bought a date with you, and I'm buying you dinner. So if you settle down and stop jumping to conclusions, we might be able to enjoy it a little.

I'll certainly enjoy this meal. It's been a long time since I've had this, after all.

[His favorite... He pauses, finally done stirring his tea and setting his spoon on the side of its plate.] But the enjoyment of your company won't simply come from relaxing. It's not as if I can forget what happened. Did you expect that I would go along with this easily?

The fact that I'm going along with this at all should be plenty. From there, if you'd like me to relax, then try acting a bit more like an actual date instead of watching me through a magnifying glass and demanding that I start any small talk.

I'm not big on small talk... comfortable silence is better than grilling people about their jobs and hobbies.

[He takes a longer sip from his whiskey, hoping for the burning sensation to settle his nerves a bit.]

What happened the last time we met had nothing to do with you, so I don't see it applying here. I can't help you if you don't like my attitude, but this is me acting like I do on dates.

[Uncomfortable, bored and playing with his knife a little too much. Yeah, that's about how he's always acted during dates. Checks out.]

[Has nothing to do with him... He doesn't know what to think about that, but everything else he's actually inclined to believe. It actually makes him relax a little, taking the time for a nice long sip of tea to consider how to respond.

...Alright. Fine. If he's being bold enough to be a smart ass, he guesses he can just start by opening up a tiny bit.]

It's a bit embarrassing to admit, but I've actually never been on a date. [So...] There have been times when I would joke with friends or get invited places, whether I could make it or not, but it was never anything like a real "date". Even going to common date spots is unusual, so, you see, I'm not quite sure what I should do.

That explains you acting like a spoiled brat.

[Honesty is the best policy...?

At least he seems to relax a bit in turn; if nothing else, he's more willing to accomodate the kid when he's acting more polite.]

Before I came to the city, I hadn't been on a proper date in... nine years, probably. At least, not the type that lasts long enough to have more than five sentences between meeting up, fucking someone's brains out and kicking them out the next morning. [He glances up at him, that same calculating look still stuck on his face.] Not that I object to that sort of thing. But I'll let you decide if you get comfortable enough to put out.

I'm an idol, you know? That's so out of nowhere? An idol isn't the type of person who does anything close to that, you know? What a blunt way to put it...

[He's not defensive at all. He sure does pick up his tea right away to busy himself with sipping at it, though, trying to settle his expression before he sets it back down.]

Ignoring the crude part of that for the moment... [All of it is crude, though, and he's not looking at Dodger now, just looking at the tea.] If it wasn't my health, then most people would be too afraid to even glance my way, at Yumenosaki Academy. Something like a date would have been impossible for me.

[There's something sarcastic in the twitch of his brow, as he finishes his glass and signals to get another... but he's already made it clear how he feels about Eichi's "job", so he doesn't see a point in rehashing it.]

Must be hard being rich. [His tone is flat.] If you want dates that badly, I'm sure you could get them by asking people yourself. It sounds like you just expect everyone to do things for you.

I wonder what my riches have to do with anything I just said?

[Their fear has to do with it in part, sure, but he likes to feign ignorance in general on that. He sighs lightly, bothered by Dodger's attitude in general, but still managing to stay polite.]

I never once said that I wanted a date. I've always been too focused on my goals for anything else, and I'm not good with matters of the heart. So rather than me expecting everyone to do things for me, it's just that I can look at a group of people and understand who can do what for me, and that there was no one who would be able to convince me on a date.

[He's turned poor Tsumugi down for karaoke before, so.] Just because I have others make moves for me doesn't mean that I'm refusing to do anything myself, you know, so I'm a little insulted. It's like something a king would do in war.

[That confirms it, this kid is definitely the strategic type... and reminds him a little of someone from the masquerade. Hmm.

More importantly, this is the type of person Dodger tends to have no problems with. Manipulative people just understand the world better, as much as it still bothers him that Eichi has done absolutely nothing to earn his place in the world.]

If you don't care for dates, why bother with the auction? Most likely, you would have ended up going out with some girl that only wanted to sleep with you so she could brag about it.

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