dumbshow | highly new, slightly improved open post

Boo! All talk and no action, I see how it is.

[There goes his second glass.]

Didn't take you for a coward.

[Ah, and his easily provoked stat is off the charts, dang.]

I can still hit you, you know. Maybe if you made it worth my while, I'd take your bet.

Anything, I said, doesn't that cover something that'd make it worth your while? Christ, Kakyoin . . .

[Hm. Hm hm hm, as he drums his fingers on the table, feeling delightfully flushed and warm in only the way whiskey can make him.]

How about . . . huh. You win, and I'll--

[His grin widens.]

I'll treat you for the day. New clothes, new shoes, new . . . I don't know, knife? Whatever. You get my point. We can go see some performance tonight. Not at the Lotus Petal.

[Hmm, spoiling him? It doesn't appeal to him for the reason it's supposed to - material things, seeing a performance - but for the other part, being treated. Like he's a real person, or something.

Ah, but first he has to actually win. Is he written to get drunk after some arbitrary limit? Number of drinks, length of time...? Who knows!]

Hmm. What if you win?

Mm . . .

[Hm. That . . . he hadn't actually thought that far. It's not that he doesn't want to win, but he doesn't really care about getting something from Kakyoin. Especially here, especially when there's nothing to stop him from just taking it.]

You promise to be nice for at least one story.

[That's so... soft, and completely what he expected from Polnareff. He thinks about it.]

I'm being nice to you right now.

[Is he, though. But okay--]

Alright, let's start.

Don't cheat.

[He drawls it out as he reaches for his third shot. He's definitely ahead of Kakyoin, but you know what, that's fine. It's fine that soon the world is spinning, that it's going all pleasantly soft and warm; it's fine that after a few more shots he waves the bartender away, because he's pretty sure he'll puke otherwise, and nobody wants that. It's fine that Kakyoin wins, because honestly, that'd mostly been Polnareff's goal from the start.

He can't take him out of this prison right this second. But he can at least give him a halfway decent day, right?

Shopping is easy, even when drunk. Shopping may just be easier while drunk, and honestly, it's not like anyone is going to judge them. New clothes, and maybe some of the hosts give them looks (this is not what role Kakyoin is meant to play), but it doesn't matter. Polnareff's got immunity, right? This is what he wants, and the whole purpose of this place is to give him what he wants. And right now? Right now, right now he wants Kakyoin to buy a new yukata, even if it's in the same stupid shade of green as his old one.

Dinner's next, ordered and then put in a box. Not in keeping with Edo Japan, but again: Polnareff gets what he wants. And then he's grabbing Kakyoin's wrist, tugging him along; he's heading for out of town, because there's a spot just on the outskirts he loves.]

C'mon!

[It's this rooftop, see. Three stories up, the roof missing some tiles and the smell from the restaurant below rising up. But you can catch the sun setting really nicely on the horizon, and that's worth a lot sometimes.

It's a trial getting up there, but it's worth it. Even if Kakyoin slips once on the ladder, even if he's gotta sort of haul him up, it's worth it. Dinner and a show, he promised, and here's the show: the sun setting in the west, lighting up all the buildings in this town, leaving the people below looking so petty as they wander the streets.]

[Kakyoin has an odd time shopping - having to really put on his "this is prewritten dialogue" voice while the other hosts give them looks? That's annoying. But getting a new yukata, even if it's actually the same as his old yukata? That's nice. That has a symbolism to it he's not going to talk about, because host or not, winner of the great drinking contest or not, it feels too vulnerable for him to handle.

But it's a good feeling. Warm, even. And then Polnareff is sweeping them off to get dinner, and then to who knows where, and Kakyoin looks back over his shoulder as they pass the Lotus Petal only once.

So, the roof, with minimal difficulty, and the sunset. Kakyoin leans back on his hands and sways a bit, shoulder bumping against Polnareff's. He's relaxed, which is more than can be said for the rest of this day. On any other day, with any other guest, who knows what might have happened to him by now-- it feels like he's reached a point he wasn't meant to, but in a good way. For a few minutes he's content to watch the sky in silence, then,]

...Thank you. This is-- well, thanks.

[He wasn't built for charisma!!]

Yeah.

[He grins over at him, the expression far more open than it might otherwise be. Smiling is always easy, but this is a proper beam, soft and warm and far, far too fond.]

Kinda wanted to take you up here before, you want the truth. But I figured maybe that'd be pushing it.

[He almost asks why, when Polnareff can do whatever he wants, why would it be anything significant at all if he'd led them up here before? But he knows he'll sound too harsh if he actually says it, and the look on Polnareff's face is so disarming he doesn't know what to say.

Aha.]

Well, I wouldn't have been nice about it... before.

Yeah, there was a good chance you'd stab me or something. Besides: it would've been weird if I'd done it just after meeting you. I mean . . .

[Hm.]

I'm glad you can remember. Is my point.

[Hmm, when your chosen Token Human Ally is a good person who appreciates your company and likes being around you... Did Kakyoin prepare for this? Not at all! He's at a loss!]

Should we talk about that and, well, the rest now? We are alone.

[Sober up real quick to validate his existence a little more, thanks.]

Sure.

[He shifts, turning more to face him. It means their shoulders aren't touching anymore, a loss of contact he immediately regrets, but that he can't renew without it being weird. But their hands are close together, so maybe soon he can just . . . inch his fingers closer . . .]

So let's talk. I mean . . . I've known you a while now, and I get you remember me, but it's probably not the same. Right?

[How does one explain this... particular sensation of remembering? He's never had to before, so he looks up at the sky again while he thinks about it.]

I remember having the same conversation with you over and over. [Which is more or less the "coming to the park a lot" experience for guests, but he's not going to delve into that.] More or less the same, anyway.

[...]

Why me?

[There's a touch of amusement in the way he asks, but still, he's... not nice. They've been over that much.]

[It's a good question, frankly. He isn't nice. He isn't built for that role. He isn't really even much of an NPC; just the guy who lures you in and maybe sets you up on one of the more dangerous quests. You talk to him a handful of times, but there's hosts with bigger roles. There's more attractive ones, too; there's a fair few who get hauled off to play with, but Kakyoin usually isn't one.

So why him?]

You're mean.

[It's faint and slow, but he doesn't take it back.]

I mean-- there's a lot who are built to just be nice, but it never feels genuine. It just feels like-- like store employees, you know? Like they don't really see me. But you were never nice. You just said what you were thinking, no matter what we were talking about. You never tried to make me feel good, you just acted like a normal person.

I didn't want somebody who'd tell me how great I am. [Or, worse: someone built to pleasure him. He might be distracted by dancing girls or bare skin, but he's never pursued those flirtatious words.] I just--

You're real. And I like you.

[He laughs first, sudden and surprised and hastily cut off, but oh-- because he is mean, alright. Somehow, this- the laughing- isn't meant to be cruel; he's genuinely pleased, but he can control himself long enough to hear the rest of Polnareff's explanation.

His kneejerk reaction is cynical - he wasn't real until recently, not really, right? Someone in a white coat in a glass room put him together like this and maybe didn't mean for people like Polnareff to get attached, but it isn't discouraged, so...

Still. You're real. He likes to hear it.]

Why would I tell you how great you are? [laughable.....] Your head's big enough.

[There are so many things Kakyoin still doesn't know, and some of his questions he's sure he'll never have an answer to, but he knows this: this thing, sitting on a rooftop talking to Polnareff, that's real enough, regardless of how the rest shakes out.]

Here I thought you'd say it's because I'm bossy, again.

I mean, I like that too, don't get me wrong.

[Good. Some of the tension eases out of him, and though he looks Kakyoin over a few extra seconds, just to be sure that was really all right. But he's smiling, and Polnareff finally shifts-- and if his hand moves as he does it, fingers brushing lightly against Kakyoin's, well, that's just a coincidence, right?]

But you never . . . even when I talked about Sher, you never pandered. Even when you weren't being mean, you were just . . . normal.

[But that's enough about that. There's no need to gush. Polnareff leans back, resting his weight on his other hand, watching the sun as it dips low on the horizon. And it's nice, really. Silent, at least for a few seconds. Right up until something occurs to him, and he adds:]

Oye! You'll have to get used to pants! They're way better than yukatas, it'll be great.

[Mean and bossy, these are his appealing qualities... That's the opposite kind of encouragement that he should be given, so good luck, Polnareff. Kakyoin doesn't acknowledge the brush of his hand or move away- good sign?- but he isn't exactly surprised after the whole screed about how real and likable he is.

So it's a nice moment, soft, and then Polnareff blows it by talking about pants. Why? Why.]

Pants. [where will he hide his KNIFE] I guess I don't have a choice when it comes to getting out of here...

[Can he wear a yukata at Polnareff's place? That's the ideal.]

You said you'd bring a friend to switch me with. Who?

Ah! Jotaro. My best friend.

[Well, one of two, but whatever! He leans in, and it's not flirtatious this time, just excited. He's an excitable guy, he likes getting in all close.]

He's bigger than you-- by a lot, actually, you might have to wear boots or something-- and he looks like this asshole, but he's really great! I mean, he's a huge dick sometimes, but he's also the most loyal friend I've got. I'd trust him with anything. Definitely trust him with this, he'll hate it as much as I do, he'll wanna charge right in, he's loyal and incredibly brave and amazing.

And when he gets back . . . we three can figure out what we wanna do with . . .

[He gestures with one arm. All this.]

[What Kakyoin is learning here is he's somehow thrown his lot in with not one, but two giant dudes with a Strong Sense of Justice. And how does one go about wearing boots...]

So you're saying all the subterfuge is up to me.

[Charging right in! Guys! Kakyoin waves a hand, like fine, he's accepted this much already. He will use their collective one brain cell in this operation.

It also occurs to him dimly that Polnareff has to leave to come back with this Jotaro person, and the necessary disguises or whatever else... He knew this, but the thought of having to play along with his stupid role for a few days or however long before they come back is... unpleasant, at best. It's worth it to get out of here, he tells himself, and he will make himself believe it instead of feeling anxiety. Horrors.

It's getting darker more quickly now. He wonders if someone will miss him at the inn and end this all before it begins--]

Well... I'm counting on you.

I won't let you down!

[It's loud and boisterous, almost overwhelming in its enthusiasm. But he very much means it, evident in the way he smiles over at Kakyoin.

He leaves, and it's bittersweet. He worries Kakyoin won't remember, that Polnareff will come back and he'll stare blankly at him, but if that's so, there's nothing he can do about it. So why worry? Better to just focus on the present.

Jotaro is on board, of course, just as Polnareff knew he'd be. He doesn't yell, doesn't look outraged, that isn't his way, but the swiftness with which he agrees is telling. Within an hour he's ready to go, but they wait until two days, arriving late in the afternoon, just to avoid any suspicions.

Jotaro in a yukata looks very different from Kakyoin, both in bulk and height, but, Polnareff considers as they three head into a back room, it's better than nothing. It's the best plan they've got, so no more doubting thoughts.]

Ready to dye your hair? Oh-- yeah, this is Jotaro--

[Priorities, because it's hard not to just focus his attention on Kakyoin.]

[Kakyoin knows it's not going to be much of a long wait - Polnareff genuinely cannot resist this already, to say nothing of his apparently very justice-prone friend - but it's still torturous. He slips easily enough back into his role, and if any of the other hosts even notice that he's more aggressive and standoffish than usual, they don't say anything. The first night he has to dodge a drunk guest with a mind to shut him up one way or another, but!

It's fine! It's done another day later, when Polnareff comes back to the Lotus Petal with, jesus, a small mountain? Where do these giant men find each other?]

I'd rather die, [ha] but let's get this over with.

[His poor, beautiful hair... He manages to spare Jotaro a glance and a nod, unsure of him even with Polnareff's glowing recommendation. To be fair - that's probably how Jotaro feels about him at this precise moment, morals and ethics and whatever else aside.

But back to his more pressing personal tragedy:] Do you know how to do this?

Yeah.

[What a smooth, easy lie. He busies himself with pouring varying liquids into a bowl, wrinkling his nose very lightly at the smell.]

We won't even need to bleach it. Lucky you, huh?

[How did he get in here with all of that? The mysterious continue to build. Kakyoin takes a seat and resigns himself to fate.]

Hardly. What is that? Am I going to smell like that?

[It's not the only thing he's got. They'd had to smuggle in some modern clothes, all the better to disguise him with. But oh, right, he's still got that 1500's mindset--]

It's just dye. Uh. I don't know what chemicals they use . . .

[He glances up at Jotaro, who shrugs.]

But it's safe! And yeah, a little, but you can take a bath before we leave.

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