riverviewlogs | [ closed ] are you prepared?

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[ closed ] are you prepared?

who: Eichi & Dodger
what: Date #2
when: River festival!
where: Starting backstage after Eichi's concert
warnings: dodger's mere existence... but I'll add specifics if necessary

[Of all the days for Dodger to pick for the agreed upon "second date," it was interesting that he'd choose this one. Eichi had a scheduled concert, a big event and a way to make his name even more known to people outside of his fanbase. Because of this, he's chosen a different style, something a little less innocent to promote the fun themes of the beach. Dressed in a black leather jacket, black leather boots, a shirt that shows just enough red at the waist, gloves that barely make it to his wrists, skinny jeans with tears along the thighs— but he manages to make even an edgy outfit look rich and proper. The jacket is closed and collared in that way, there are gold trimmings and studs, his boots are fancy, really it's clear from a mile away that he's not just an idol, but rich.

His performance a hit as he expects it to be, and so he says a few words at the end to extend his time on stage, to make his idol personality known, to reach out his hand to those in the front rows. Even if there are no rainbow glow sticks like he's come to expect at the academy, he can tell a success level when he sees one. He's going all out here, and by the time he's moving back stage to let things clear up, he's fully exhausted. It takes him a few minutes of sitting before he can pull his phone out to bother sending Dodger a text. He'd said something about meeting him here, but he'd rather not walk around looking for him himself, so he'll leave all the work to him.

You never said what we're doing, you know? But I'm here waiting.

Leaving it at that, he wipes some of the sweat from his face with a little hand towel and then leans back, catching his breath as he waits.]

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Fufu... And the sort of "Emperor" I was could already be called a dictatorship, so I've already added to the first.

[He exaggerates their little fake toast, lifting his cup to his lips and pausing.] So long as there's no need for it, you don't have to worry about my command. Though, I do think he might come this way if you touch me too much even if I don't call, so you should be careful.

[With that cheerful little note, he takes a small sip of this drink to test the taste.]

[He raises a brow at that... he hadn't expected Eichi to recognize the quote. But damn if it doesn't get a smirk out of him.]

Damn, and here I was hoping to shove my tongue down your throat while he was watching. [He comments dryly.] You're fine. Not like I can object to having him around... he's a nice sight.

He's a cloud of smoke currently, isn't he? You can make those on your own with how much smoking you do.

[Go make out with that, instead. But he gives Dodger an even look right back and then downs the rest of this shot sized drink. He can do it, see!! He's fine... He doesn't even sputter.]

You did try to have me sit on your lap.

And that automatically means I'm making moves on you?

[Yes?????]

Just relax, I'll deal with it if he ends up pissed off. And put something in your stomach besides booze. [He gestures at their variety pack of snacks, like a hypocrite, while sipping about two shots' worth from his cup.] There's some sandwiches in there too, if you're actually hungry. Figured you could use the calories after performing.

[Reaper had had to follow him through the grocery store while he got this shit, and he was uncomfortable, and it was hilarious.]

Isn't physical contact always a sign of some sort of affection? I'm not sure how else you'd read that.

[Especially since the first time it happened there were makeouts, and the second time there was that stolen kiss. He remembers!! He passes his empty cup to Dodger, not really explaining what he wants as he lean forward to peer at the snacks.]

I am quite hungry after all of that. Let's see... What should I try, I wonder? Are these your favorite snacks?

Right, I keep forgetting slants are prudes.

[He says it jokingly, but.. still rolls his eyes as he fills Eichi's cup again, just a bit more than before, and places it on the blanket between them.]

They're just crap I picked up at the store... you like sweets, so I went for that.

[He doesn't have much in the way of preferences... but one of the snacks he picked up is hamburger flavored Pringles and that's pretty out there.]

[He turns to stare at Dodger at the slants comment, but then glances back to the sweets. He settles with picking up a single gummy bear, holding it up to inspect it.]

How cute, this little bear. Imagining Dodger-kun buying something like this is a little cute. Was Re— Reaper following along the whole time?

[That's so great... He picks up the filled cup even if his cheeks are already a little pink, wiggling the bear a little.]

Yeah, Reaper came along. We're sorta tethered at the moment.

[He takes a few gummy bears and shoves them unceremoniously into his mouth, barely chewing before washing them down with booze.]

Whatever happens, he has to be close enough to keep people safe if I act up.. which is bullshit.

[While he speaks, he's pulled out a cigarette... and a lighter, which is not something he's ever needed to own before. It's clear from his attempts that he still has little to no idea how to use it.]

When you act out like you do without any consideration for your surroundings, it's no wonder you're in chains.

[Eichi simply smiles as he watches Dodger, sipping a little bit of his drink and then popping the gummy bear into his own mouth.] You should be glad that your leash is so long at all.

[Reaching over, he places a hand on Dodger's wrist holding the lighter, pushing lightly to bring it down after one failed attempt.]

Do you have to do that here?

[Dodger tips his head as Eichi reaches for him, and he bristles when he touches his wrist. His hand curls into a fist around the lighter, but it's more from stress than aggression.]

...Do you have to bitch about it?

[He huffs quietly, pulling his arm away to try another attempt at lighting his cigarette. Still failing.]

And anyway, I'd rather have a shorter leash with him. But I guess he still wants to be able to keep away from me.

[He's quiet at that short response, then reaches again to hold his palm out for the lighter.]

It's meant to be a punishment, after all. Whining isn't very attractive. Here, let me show you how to use that.

[Dodger is quiet for a moment, still trying a few times, before giving up with a sigh and passing the lighter over.]

How much did he tell you about me, anyway. I mean, about- uh. I don't know, how I act toward him?

Enough to gather the rest myself.

[He takes the lighter and flicks it open and lit in one swift movement. He expects it to be surprising, since there's so much that he's clueless about (like soda and gummy bears), but maybe Dodger is someone who won't even notice.

He holds it over for Dodger to use.]

He doesn't tend to bring you up at all, unless I ask about you.

[Lighters aren't something he thinks of as common knowledge to any specific type of person, just because he never uses them... they're something humans use, and mutants like him don't have to. So it doesn't surprise him at all, and he just nods an awkward thanks before leaning in to light his cigarette off of it.]

I figured he wouldn't. But you know about me at all, so you must know a little. [He sighs quietly, leaning back to keep the smoke away from Eichi.] Not like I keep it read secret... he's fucking incredible, isn't he.

[There's a certain melancholy note to his words. It isn't the crazed, creepy passion of a stalker - it's the disillusioned tone of a schoolboy who's been staring at his crush from afar the whole year. He has so little faith in Reaper liking him at this point, but... it's what keeps him going. He has to believe there's some hope of at least being useful to him.]

[Flipping it back closed, he leaves the lighter on Dodger's leg to pass it back, glancing back to the snacks with a low chuckle.]

Is this your idea of a second date, Dodger-kun? You really should work on that. [Basically sighing dreamily about another guy, tsk tsk... Not that he expects this to be serious, but he's joking anyway.]

It sounds as though he's your idol. There was someone like that to me, as well. Someone perfect and beautiful, naturally talented and excelling in all of the ways I couldn't.

[He smirks at that, and leans closer to Eichi. Almost close enough for their lips to touch... before he presses a finger to Eichi's forehead and tips him onto his back. Possibly spilling whatever's left in his cup.]

I figured we weren't gonna take the 'date' part seriously - that can change if you want it to.

[He's done talking about Reaper, anyway... that shit hurts.]

[Honestly, he doesn't know what to expect when Dodger gets close. He never does. He doesn't have good balance, especially not while drinking, and so he blinks in his surprise as he falls right back, the rest of his drink spilling onto himself.]

Wah— [WHY... He immediately tries to sit back up, still holding onto the cup uselessly as his other presses to the blanket for support.]

If that's how you change it, I don't want it at all. [His feathers are ruffled, of course. Now he's wet and more cold!!]

[He'd started laughing, but... actually, yeah, that was a pretty dick move now that Eichi's upset. So a moment later he frowns, and takes the cup from him before helping him up.]

Take your shirt off. You're gonna catch a cold wearing something wet in this weather. [He pauses, and realizes that may have made it sound preemptive.] ...I'll give you my shirt instead, yeah?

[Honestly, Eichi isn't quite sure he understands at first. He's done things in the past, elaborate and stretched out, that left people in need of his help to gain a higher opinion for himself. But this doesn't quite seem like that. It's too genuine. And so, he accepts the help up and thinks, and comes to the conclusion that maybe... he's just bothered about Reaper and emotional?]

I wasn't finished, you know. [Talking about his own idol, that is. He'll use this time to shrug his leather jacket off and then pull his shirt off, shivering immediately at the breeze.]

That idol of mine felt so out of reach that it bothered me. So I stopped at nothing to have him kneeling at my feet along with those other people that I admired. [He folds his arms as he waits for Dodger's shirt.] I did it, you know?

[At least he hasn't ruined the atmosphere... he can tell that much from how Eichi continues his story. And while Eichi's speaking, he pulls of his hoodie and shirt and hands them both over. Almost immediately he's shivering from the cold - he's never felt this cold before in his life - but he's giving his best effort not to seem affected.

It's entirely possible Eichi will see his tramp stamp like this - the paw print tattooed in the center of his lower back.]

We're different in that sense. [He sighs quietly.] I don't want to be better than Reaper, I don't even want to be as good as him. I just want- I want to be useful to him. To have someone like that have total control of my life, and break me down and mold me into the type of person he sees fit. [He huffs quietly, taking a long drag from his cigarette before putting it out in the sand.] He's not the type of person that would do that to me. But the least I can do is try to make him.. I don't know. Appreciate that I'm there if he needs me.

[Eichi quickly pulls on the shirt and the hoodie right after that, ignoring how they're a little baggy on him. His fingers curl around the edges of the sleeves and immediately pulls them close to his own mouth to breathe into for some brief warmth on his fingers.

Satisfied with that, he reaches for his leather jacket, which will most certainly be too small for Dodger, and passes it to him.]

I'll tell you this again even if I'm sure that you don't want to hear it, but Reaper won't be that person for you. You can't change a person. Not like that. [Actually, his voice is a little softer saying these words, so he's not trying to rub it in or sounding too amused by it at all.]

I know.

[He ignores the jacket, because he knows it will be too small - they may be nearly the same height, but Dodger is nearly twice as wide from his muscles alone. He just sits there shirtless and shivering.]

Just don't have anything else here. [This is the most honest he's been about his situation, and it's a little weird to say it all aloud. But Eichi... is close to the situation, he's got insight. It's different from discussing things in vague details with Cain, who doesn't know what sort of person they're talking about.] I've always been someone's dog. And now I've been a stray for... god, four months. It's the longest I've ever been on my own, and I fucking hate it.

[Eichi had noticed the paw mark before, but now he actually glances at it as he sets his jacket uselessly to the side. His eyes linger there pointedly, and then he leans closer to Dodger, wrapping one arm around him in an attempt at sharing warmth as the other hand presses fingertips to that mark carefully.]

To be cut off from what you're used to working towards is never something pleasant. [Even if he should be mentioning that that's not healthy, that someone shouldn't want to be a dog, he does't really know if he thinks that way. He's not sure of Dodger's reasoning completely, and he clearly wants to do this, so why shouldn't he do what he wants? It's convenient, too, but he's trying not to fall into that way of thinking too hard...]

Anyway, rather than focus on that right now, I would like to try to enjoy this date a little, if I'm here anyway. When do the fireworks start?

[Well... Dodger appreciates the contact, and he appreciates the comfort. Somehow, the friends he gains always seem to start out as people he tries to scam or hurt.. and this is turning out no differently. He lets out a puff of air as he pulls Eichi properly into his lap, just to be able to wrap his arms around him properly and take advantage of his warmth.]

They should be starting soon.

[His fingers run lazily over Eichi's back... and Eichi gets to enjoy being completely surrounded by the smell of liquor, cigarette smoke, and a smell he probably associates with hospitals or morphine. The faint scent of charcoal that usually clings to Dodger is currently gone, though.

Dodger ends up so focused on the hand on his back, in turn, that he actually startles visibly at the sound of the first firework bursting.]

[The smells aren't anything pleasant. The smoke makes him want to cough, the liquor just reminds him of how he spilled it all over his new shirt, and the smell of hospital is wholly unpleasant. Still, Dodger's quiet reaction is kind of cute, and Eichi is busy admiring that when the first firework sets off.

So, they both startle, and Eichi immediately laughs for it, cheerful and resting his head briefly against Dodger's shoulder before he turns to get a better look at the lights, his fingers dragging away from that tattoo.]

Sudden, wasn't it? It seems we were both a little worked up. [He doesn't explain that, but he won't move out of Dodger's lap this time... But he does reach to grab some kettlecorn.]

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