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

[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.

I also never said that I don't care for dates, you know? But there are a few reasons for that.

[He guesses there's no harm in explaining it, so he busies his hands with readjusting his teacup on the plate.] Since I didn't sign up for it myself, it would be a difficult thing to back out by the time I realized I was signed up at all. On top of that, since it was something like an auction, that can only bring more credit to my reputation, so I decided to stay and see how much money I could help this "cause."

[It didn't really matter what the cause was for, even.] In a way, you helped me quite a bit by spending all of that money. Though it would have continued without your help, it's nice to see that my name causes large numbers.

I guess. [He shrugs lazily.] Didn't know they were letting people sign their friends up, but I guess I wouldn't know anyway.

[Since the few friends he has wouldn't peg him as the type to be into that sort of thing.

He stays silent while the waiter brings over another glass of whiskey for him, and the appetizers he'd asked for... he really is kind of a pig, even when he's working on a budget. He's got decent table manners, eating with his mouth closed and keeping his sleeves clean and all, but he's not refined by any means.]

Auction ended up being the most boring part, anyway... sleeping with the guests was a better use of my time.

I had no idea either, until my name was called.

[Eichi just has a salad to start with, and even while he's left handed and Japanese, he has perfect table manners with a fork, as well. As expected. Still, he pauses a little while eating, thinking back to the masquerade.]

Were you really doing something like that rather than enjoying the dancing? [There's something that stood out to him in those words from Dodger, but he's trying not to think about it right now.]

[He shrugs, finishing a mouthful before replying.]

Did both. Danced with people, took breaks with them in the private rooms, got their clothes off while we were away... that sort of thing. [He smirks, although it's mostly hidden as he wipes his mouth with the back of his hand.] Even had a few Cinderella moments with people who weren't as into it... but you'd be surprised how many people the whole thing worked with.

Cinderella moments, was it...

[Eichi wants to freeze in place, but he forces himself to take another bite of his salad as usual. Even if his eyes give him away, he has them pointed down at his plate stubbornly, mind racing. It can't be... Or it can, it actually really can?? He had considered the possibility from the start that Dodger would be around somewhere, but the person who had danced with him and been so thrilling...

He wants to continue in denial. It might not be the case. It might be a coincidence.]

I suppose it's the most "no-strings-attached" you can go, though to me it seems a little dull to end so predictably like that. Allowing your guard to fall too much is a weakness, you know.

[Well, it's hard not to notice that. And when he does, he suddenly stops paying attention to his food and instead leans forward with a playful look on his face. That's right, it's entirely possible that Eichi was one of the people he'd played with... hell, he'd managed to even get some alone time with Taako, so anything is possible.

And if "Cinderella moment" is what sticks in Eichi's mind... he wonders.]

It's funny you know so much about war... you've read Sun Tzu, huh? [He shrugs lazily.] I think I remember someone quoting Art of War while he was on my lap... but I'm sure you're too much of an angel to pull slutty things like that, right?

[Checkmate.]

[Well fuck.

Eichi puts his fork down, glancing across the table at that stupid playful expression. He has no idea how he missed someone with so many scars and one eye even beneath a mask, but... Magic is really mysterious, it seems. He tries to ignore his stomach dropping by stubbornly clinging to some type of confidence.]

Even Satan was once an angel, you know. [This is the third time he's had to say this to someone and he still hasn't thought that it was too ridiculous to stop saying.] So you've connected the shoe to a foot, but to do it this way was a little cheap. I'm a bit disappointed you weren't able to take a little longer and find out the hard way.

[He's just annoyed, really.]

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