"Hmm," Illumi says, and then, "You're not wrong. Drinking isn't one of my hobbies, you know." As if he has hobbies, by any stretch of the definition. There's nothing to object to in that observation, so he won't.
The second one, though... Well, he still doesn't object, but he looks sideways at Hisoka with an expression that's difficult to place. Possibly because it's there at all, though muted, an eyebrow barely raised and the minute tug of a frown at the corner of his mouth.
Depressing?
"Says you." Thank you, Illumi. Ordinarily he wouldn't bother to respond, but there's more alcohol in him than usual and it's loosened his tongue if nothing else. "Maybe your standards for enjoyment are too high." Not 'I enjoy things,' no— rather, 'You're probably wrong.'
"What are your hobbies?" A 'plllllease' look, one brow pushing up and his lips puckering a little at one side. Hobbies? Assassin stuff is work, not hobbies.
"Says me ah- but what does that mean." A smile, turning away. Yes, he's going to pick at it, out loud too. "That it's not depressing that you don't enjoy life, or that you do enjoy life so it can't possibly be depressing. We have time for elaboration now. Work is done ah, it's time for play."
Ah huh.
Sure Illumi.
"Too high? My standards for myself are, yes, but I'm better than most people." :^)
Assassin stuff is hobbies. Probably, in some circles (his own circle, all by himself). But what he says is simply, "Nen." Which is true to a point (aha). Leaving aside that his nen usage might as well be lumped under "assassin stuff"; he plays with needles often enough and idly enough to count it.
Barely.
But god, listen to Hisoka go on. Illumi turns sideways on his stool to prop one elbow on the bar and give him that same muted look. Eyebrow a little higher, maybe. He's not used to people picking at his life - well, when he can hear it - and it's... odd. Why does Hisoka want to pick at it at all? It isn't his life.
"You're too specific," he says in return for Hisoka's standards. Ah, "Picky, really. I don't know why you bother." He'll never understand that intense fight-lust when a good hand to the throat gets the job done. But anyway.
"Anyway, I'm only saying you're wrong. It doesn't have to be one of your options at all." A beat; somewhat stiffly, like he's not considered the words in this order before, "Life is enjoyable."
Assassin stuff is work. You get paid for it, job, family, all together, lumped up. Hobbies are something you do for yourself. And if doing all that stuff does fall under for yourself then yes- you are pretty depressing. How do you manage to be so selfish and selfless at the same time? It's a gift.
"Nen." All right- No he'll take that. Though it does kind of fall under assassin stuff. Not that he needs Nen to be a competent assassin.
Let him pick. He's always been one fondle of idle chit chat, why not with one of his best friends? Can't he know more about you? Besides the assassin stuff and the needle stuff and how adorable you were covered in children at one point in time.
"You think so?" Aww Illumi. 'Life is enjoyable just- makes him smile a little. What a cute thing to say.
Ah, can being covered in children be a hobby? Not that he is- anymore- despite his best (read: shoddy, half-assed) efforts. Milluki still thinks of him well enough, but...
Being the best older brother in the world is a hobby, anyway.
"You don't believe me?" He raises an eyebrow. Well, okay, so his delivery is not the most convincing, but let it never be said that he dislikes life. He might be made of ice, but he doesn't have to sing the praises of creature comforts to enjoy life, does he? He's not- depressed, so- it counts.
He's going to say it counts no matter what Hisoka thinks, naturally.
"Maybe not the way you enjoy it, but your tastes are so..." That, he lets drift away. So flaming shots and bubbly pink drinks, really.
Full time babysitter maybe, in another life. In another place...
"So-?" He smiles, laughing at that as he tips back a glass and sits with his elbows on the counter, eyeing down someone from across the angular, oval bar. They catch Hisoka's eyes on them only to- divert their gaze. Another smile from him, and he rests his cheek on a hand, slowly looking back over to Illumi.
"But then, you enjoy what you do, your- hehe- job." Though yes, certainly not as much as he does but- " Did you ever enjoy it that much?"
Illumi doesn't elaborate on that 'so'; so unlike his own, uncharted territory for sure. Does he enjoy his job?
Objectively, he doesn't not enjoy his job. He gets no special thrill out of any part of it, the killing or the money that comes in as a result, but he is compelled to keep doing it for the sake of his family. What is he without his job?
Bored, usually.
"I'm satisfied by a job well done," he says, like that doesn't sound- clinical, at best. "Sometimes I like a challenge." Sometimes.
"A challenge?" Said with a tilt of his head, moving to slide his fingers through what hair of Illumi's is closest to him. A challenge you say. He could give you a lot of ideas- or a few very good ones. Though those ideas might be rather apparent considering a) who this is and b) the amount of liquor he's had in such a short time.
Illumi glances at him, not immediately tilting his head to pull his hair out of reach. That's probably the surest sign that he doesn't just absorb alcohol with no effects yet, as seemingly insignificant as it is. So- a challenge.
"Sure." A beat. "Go on- you might as well." Just say it, he knows that itching to say something look.
No leaning away, that is certainly different. Hisoka smiles to himself, focusing on the silkiness of his hair as he slides his fingers through it again.
"Mmm-" Leans away, sighing to himself, eyes closed. "I'm not sure you're ready for it..."
Hisoka. Illumi's not patient enough for this; he's letting the hair thing go on, but how long does he have to play twenty questions about this mystery thing.
A laugh, sitting up in his chair and moving to brace himself on the counter with a hand, getting close. Close enough that Illumi might feel his breath. Hisoka smiles, looking up through the dyed strands of his hair before glancing down and tucking his head near Illumi's neck, pushing into his hair and lightly kissing at the side of his neck.
"I do, yes." No, figure it out. The liquors getting to him now and Hisoka's not the sort to inhibit himself, besides, it'll be fun to continue and test the waters. He's sure Illumi barely has- IF he has any at all, experience with this sort of situation. Has the younger man even kissed anyone? He can't even imagine it. Makes it even more amusing to pry.
Experienced- well, no. He's too tightly wound for that kind of thing, although that tightly wound characteristic of his is mostly an intentional choice—so. Inexperienced, yes, but oblivious... He'd have to be blind and stupid to miss this cue.
"Oh," he says, and draws a blank. He hasn't reacted negatively, hasn't shoved Hisoka off or stuck needles dangerously close to his eyes or anything like that, but he hasn't moved at all, actually. Inexperienced.
But. Not particularly embarrassed about it, which is both his own demeanor and the alcohol reacting. He tilts his head slightly, as much an unspoken invitation and a suggestion that Hisoka make a point here, before Illumi decides it isn't worth the effort. Of course, what he bothers to say aloud is only, "That's it?"
A snort, moving to push up under Illumi's chin with a finger.
"'That's it'? How rude." Smiling, pulling back to sit up straight again, eyes on him. While the reaction was rather boring it was interesting enough to keep him amused. Illumi had a tendency to bat him away, usually when he got a little physical. Most of the time in a playful manner, of course, but this time it's a bit more and he didn't even lean away.
"I'm not sure if an answer like that means disinterest or apathy. And really, only one of those I can work with." Because he doubts there's any desire there on Illumi's part. Either he's in interested in it at all, or he doesn't care enough to fight it. Both kind of
eh.
But Hisoka's skin is heating and better Illumi than some weak stranger he'd meet anywhere near by.
Well, he isn't about to throw himself at anyone, half-bored alcohol-born willingness or not. That much is probably obvious, from someone as muted as Illumi is. He wonders if he can be convinced.
Maybe he can let himself be convinced, which might as well be the same thing. So, following Hisoka with his gaze,
"You haven't been clear on which part is the challenge." He reaches up to trail a hand through his own hair now, maybe fixing some imaginary mess Hisoka made of it, maybe just following the motion. "So, how should I pick my response?"
He doesn't imagine he would, no. Illumi simply isn't the type. Honestly he could only see him engaging in something like that with a woman and only later when he needs to continue his family line or something stupid like that. How boring. But he'd- like to make this not boring.
"Isn't anything you haven't tried a challenge? Besides, I'm interested in seeing if you could even keep up." Leans down, looking up at him with a near serpentine gaze, an alcohol induced flush on his cheeks.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
i came back for you
The second one, though... Well, he still doesn't object, but he looks sideways at Hisoka with an expression that's difficult to place. Possibly because it's there at all, though muted, an eyebrow barely raised and the minute tug of a frown at the corner of his mouth.
Depressing?
"Says you." Thank you, Illumi. Ordinarily he wouldn't bother to respond, but there's more alcohol in him than usual and it's loosened his tongue if nothing else. "Maybe your standards for enjoyment are too high." Not 'I enjoy things,' no— rather, 'You're probably wrong.'
Depressing. Is not.
did you
"Says me ah- but what does that mean." A smile, turning away. Yes, he's going to pick at it, out loud too. "That it's not depressing that you don't enjoy life, or that you do enjoy life so it can't possibly be depressing. We have time for elaboration now. Work is done ah, it's time for play."
Ah huh.
Sure Illumi.
"Too high? My standards for myself are, yes, but I'm better than most people." :^)
i'm here now aren't i. bats eyes
Barely.
But god, listen to Hisoka go on. Illumi turns sideways on his stool to prop one elbow on the bar and give him that same muted look. Eyebrow a little higher, maybe. He's not used to people picking at his life - well, when he can hear it - and it's... odd. Why does Hisoka want to pick at it at all? It isn't his life.
"You're too specific," he says in return for Hisoka's standards. Ah, "Picky, really. I don't know why you bother." He'll never understand that intense fight-lust when a good hand to the throat gets the job done. But anyway.
"Anyway, I'm only saying you're wrong. It doesn't have to be one of your options at all." A beat; somewhat stiffly, like he's not considered the words in this order before, "Life is enjoyable."
no subject
"Nen." All right- No he'll take that. Though it does kind of fall under assassin stuff. Not that he needs Nen to be a competent assassin.
Let him pick. He's always been one fondle of idle chit chat, why not with one of his best friends? Can't he know more about you? Besides the assassin stuff and the needle stuff and how adorable you were covered in children at one point in time.
"You think so?" Aww Illumi. 'Life is enjoyable just- makes him smile a little. What a cute thing to say.
no subject
Being the best older brother in the world is a hobby, anyway.
"You don't believe me?" He raises an eyebrow. Well, okay, so his delivery is not the most convincing, but let it never be said that he dislikes life. He might be made of ice, but he doesn't have to sing the praises of creature comforts to enjoy life, does he? He's not- depressed, so- it counts.
He's going to say it counts no matter what Hisoka thinks, naturally.
"Maybe not the way you enjoy it, but your tastes are so..." That, he lets drift away. So flaming shots and bubbly pink drinks, really.
no subject
"So-?" He smiles, laughing at that as he tips back a glass and sits with his elbows on the counter, eyeing down someone from across the angular, oval bar. They catch Hisoka's eyes on them only to- divert their gaze. Another smile from him, and he rests his cheek on a hand, slowly looking back over to Illumi.
"But then, you enjoy what you do, your- hehe- job." Though yes, certainly not as much as he does but- " Did you ever enjoy it that much?"
no subject
Objectively, he doesn't not enjoy his job. He gets no special thrill out of any part of it, the killing or the money that comes in as a result, but he is compelled to keep doing it for the sake of his family. What is he without his job?
Bored, usually.
"I'm satisfied by a job well done," he says, like that doesn't sound- clinical, at best. "Sometimes I like a challenge." Sometimes.
no subject
no subject
"Sure." A beat. "Go on- you might as well." Just say it, he knows that itching to say something look.
no subject
"Mmm-" Leans away, sighing to himself, eyes closed. "I'm not sure you're ready for it..."
no subject
"You know how to find out." Tell him.
no subject
"I do, yes." No, figure it out. The liquors getting to him now and Hisoka's not the sort to inhibit himself, besides, it'll be fun to continue and test the waters. He's sure Illumi barely has- IF he has any at all, experience with this sort of situation. Has the younger man even kissed anyone? He can't even imagine it. Makes it even more amusing to pry.
no subject
"Oh," he says, and draws a blank. He hasn't reacted negatively, hasn't shoved Hisoka off or stuck needles dangerously close to his eyes or anything like that, but he hasn't moved at all, actually. Inexperienced.
But. Not particularly embarrassed about it, which is both his own demeanor and the alcohol reacting. He tilts his head slightly, as much an unspoken invitation and a suggestion that Hisoka make a point here, before Illumi decides it isn't worth the effort. Of course, what he bothers to say aloud is only, "That's it?"
no subject
"'That's it'? How rude." Smiling, pulling back to sit up straight again, eyes on him. While the reaction was rather boring it was interesting enough to keep him amused. Illumi had a tendency to bat him away, usually when he got a little physical. Most of the time in a playful manner, of course, but this time it's a bit more and he didn't even lean away.
"I'm not sure if an answer like that means disinterest or apathy. And really, only one of those I can work with." Because he doubts there's any desire there on Illumi's part. Either he's in interested in it at all, or he doesn't care enough to fight it. Both kind of
eh.
But Hisoka's skin is heating and better Illumi than some weak stranger he'd meet anywhere near by.
no subject
Maybe he can let himself be convinced, which might as well be the same thing. So, following Hisoka with his gaze,
"You haven't been clear on which part is the challenge." He reaches up to trail a hand through his own hair now, maybe fixing some imaginary mess Hisoka made of it, maybe just following the motion. "So, how should I pick my response?"
Sell it to him. Any method works.
no subject
"Isn't anything you haven't tried a challenge? Besides, I'm interested in seeing if you could even keep up." Leans down, looking up at him with a near serpentine gaze, an alcohol induced flush on his cheeks.
"Or if you even know how to keep up~"