dumbshow | answer your god damn phone

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answer your god damn phone

[How many calls had he missed from Leorio alone?

Honestly, he preferred not to look at the number. It was wrong, but this wasn't something he could pull any of them into. He'd been wrapped up in his own little world, paying attention to the news enough when it related to his work and his end goal, and while he could have gone to the elections or even to visit Gon (his comrades had, after all), he decided against it. Visiting would have just opened up a whole can of other problems.

Maybe it went against what he'd been thinking before, but he had matured a bit since then. With the Spider desperately working to repair itself, and plenty of its members still on the move, Kurapika had to consider how to handle them-- but he was also sitting right on top of the location of the eyes of his brethren. He had to work up to it, and well... That's what he'd done.

There were a large amount of them recovered (he had to deal with a lot of people to get this collection) and given funerals, but it wasn't enough until he had every last set. There were still leads to follow, and so he continued to climb and gain Nostrade's trust.

Trust, though, is what leads him to pulling his cell phone out now. A strange illness was breaking out in the Nostrade organization, and it was worrying Nostrade himself. A few of his workers had already died, and panic was growing. He demanded that Kurapika find him someone to find out what was going on, but to be sure it was someone they could 'trust', because this could very well be an attack on them.

A doctor that he could trust? His first thought was that there was none. But after just a moment's more hesitation, he gives in and speaks his understanding clearly to Nostrade, hitting the call button on his phone and stepping away. His opposite hand curls at his elbow as he waits. This is pulling him in, but if it's just Leorio... It'll be easier to keep him in the dark about a lot of what he's been doing.

He'll use that to justify this selfish decision.]

Leorio?

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[Yes. He can stare at the wall and Kurapika can enjoy hiding where he can't be stared at or judged for every slight shift in his expression. It's comfortable right now, anyway, and it feels so awkward when he tries to hug him from the front or behind and doesn't know where to look, and then he's nervous and sometimes he gets flustered...

No. Too much, right now. He'll blame this on his fever.]

I'll be busy myself, you know. [He's so rude, but he says that a little teasingly, letting it sit in the air a few seconds more he adds more.] But I'll help where I can.

[He takes in a slow breath, squeezing a little tighter without meaning to. He's just resting his eyes, but maybe if he can just stay here a little longer...]

We can designate a time for it every night.

[The walls aren't nearly as interesting as staring at Kurapika until he gets flustered and throws things, though. He means that affectionately!

And don't shut down his happy studying dreams so easily... "Happy" he thinks, nerd.]

But what about— [Wait, he agreed.] Oh. Okay.

[He's smiling at the wall now; he can't help it, this is all so peaceful and normal it's almost as if they're just ordinary people with ordinary lives. What a thought.]

I don't think I want to study every night.

[But he's not giving up his crucial Kurapika time slot!! However will they fill that time. Let the record show he's real pleased with himself for this super smooth implication.]

If you don't study, nothing else is going to happen that night.

[Did he just coldly shut down his smooth implication? Yes. He did, in fact, for fun, because Leorio thought he sounded so cool and it was laughable, really. He's... endearing. And Kurapika is never quite sure how to handle it, but right now, it seems even more so. It's excessive, and all too close.

His hands relax, pulling back towards himself most of the way so that they just rest at Leorio's hips mostly by chance.

He's thinking about it, now. What they did, what they might do again-- how embarrassing. But he's still smiling just a little, since it's all to himself back here.]

There's no time to slack off.

Wh— hey. [He did sound cool, thanks much. Until Kurapika stomped all over it and reduced him back to a sulking dummy...] That's bribery!

[Technically, he thinks. And technically he's not above briberty, but studying is a mood-killer. He twists a little now that Kurapika's not wrapped around him, managing to look over his shoulder at Kurapika's shoulder. That'll do. He knows he's probably toeing the line between Kurapika staying casual and hitting him with a pillow again, but maybe if that happened Leorio could just yank him back around to his lap- the wall just isn't that engaging!!

Unfortunately, the real point is this: he'll haggle about literally anything.]

How about every other night?

[It sure is bribery. He thought it would work perfectly on someone like Leorio. And so at that accusation, there's the smallest proud noise from behind him.

It doesn't last that long, though, since that question pops up and Kurapika nearly splutters over it.]

This isn't up for bargain! [Oh my god, don't try to get the better of him! It's true, he is close to grabbing something to whack Leorio with. For now, his hands pull back completely, and he places them against his back, sitting up, like he might shove him.]

Studying every night will keep the knowledge fresh in your mind!

[No way, Kurapika, this is very up for bargain. Leorio twists around a little more, to point at him and grin. He's accepted his inevitable beaned-with-a-pillow fate, obviously.]

Then quiz me! [Not, like, during- don't entertain that thought.] Hunching over a book every night's going to make me crazy, Kurapika!

[He shall overcome, just watch- watch right now, as he holds up two fingers and looks very solemn. This is how Leorio has fun...]

Every two nights.

[What... He's still trying?! He actually did entertain the thought of quizzing him during it, for a brief moment, and though that's all him making himself flustered, he gets angry about it. So he'll swat that pointing hand away and reach over to grab a pillow.

Destiny. He chucks it at his face.]

Every night except weekends! [There, he gave in a little, but that's it!]

[There it is, fate. Leorio leans back- awkwardly, half-turned around like this, then pitches forward again aiming to squish Kurapika thoroughly with this pillow.

This is where Kurapika has laid his affections, this pillowy monster waving arms at him blindly.]

You're so damn stingy. [come here and be smothered] Three days, at least!

Hey!

[That's the last word he gets out before this pillow attack has him slumping against the wall and uselessly shoving at Leorio.]

And you're so stubborn! I'm trying to help your education! You're-- [Ah, there's a lot more pillow and a lot more Leorio to deal with than he thought. His feet are tucked under himself which is not very helpful, by the way, but he'll move his knees apart to try and slide down and out from this.]

That's barely under half! Only the weekends off!

[Leorio laughs very much into his side of the pillow, ignoring Kurapika's protests while he makes an effort to get his arms around pillow and Kurapika both. Stop trying to wiggle away from him, he will collapse bodily on him if he has to-!]

But it still is under half! I deserve an extra day off.

[Just because... he doesn't have to earn it. How silly.]

Besides, I'd spend it with you. Are you trying to tell me that's not persuasive enough?

[Really, how is someone so small supposed to succeed at this? No, he's not small, Leorio is just huge. He's caught with those arms (really, it's not a bad feeling) and smooshed even more with the pillow, grunting in annoyance.

He tries to slip his feet out from under him, but all that accomplishes is him slipping a little further down the wall. Darn it.

Just for all this:] I can't think of anything persuasive about that...

[This is one of few things Leorio's awkward height is good for. Let him have this. He does at least realize he's crushing Kurapika against the wall and turns a little, to flop them both down on the actual bed.

He's winning. Apart from Kurapika's rudeness, that is...]

That's because you've got a fever. Think about it again tomorrow!

[He nearly laughs at that, but he manages to hold back. Think about it tomorrow... What a defense. Now that he's on his side, he can straighten out his legs, reaching around the pillow to pinch at Leorio's cheeks and tug a little. He'll feel for it.]

What? I have to think of what's persuasive myself? You can't even persuade me? [He's sensing a weakness in this argument, here.]

[What?? That's his face. He makes a noise of protest, shaking his head a little in a vain attempt to stop this pinching but still keep his close hold on Kurapika. This will go well, for sure.]

You'll say it's not enough no matter what I say! [He knows that sass. When has arguing with Kurapika ever not been an uphill battle?]

I don't have to persuade you when I've already got you here. [Perfect crime.]

[Well, that first line is true. He knows that much. The second one just makes him feel embarrassed, and so in revenge, he tugs his cheeks even more.]

There's a pillow between us. [You know, just in case he forgot. That's not cool at all. He releases his cheeks, finally, trailing fingers up the sides of his face until he finds his glasses.

He pulls them right off and back to his own side of this pillow barrier.]

Hmm. I suppose I could think about it.

Hey— [He needs those (to look cool). But rather than make an effort to get them back, he grumbles about the pillow and how that's Kurapika's fault in the first place anyway, before he grabs a corner of it to pull it down a couple inches. Enough to see, even if it's still smushed between them.]

That's real generous, Kurapika.

You asked for my help.

[So he intends to help! Hopefully without distracting him each and every night, goodness, he doesn't know how to think of that properly. He doesn't know how to think about any of this, really.

He peers through Leorio's shades at him just briefly before closing the arms, and then he reaches past him as much as he can to try and get them on the table...

He can't reach. Come on. He's blaming this pillow.]

I'm not going to sleep all day. [He warns, during the middle of this struggle.] Maybe an hour longer.

[Shit, he did ask for help... Fine, he walked into this. He'll let it drop with a vague grumble, maybe partly because Kurapika playing with his glasses is surprisingly cute?? and he's already distracted by that.

And by Kurapika getting up in his face again.]

What's more important than sleeping in some more? [He finishes that with a frustrated huff, just taking the pillow and tossing it back up where it's supposed to be already. Mostly- it's lopsided, but whatever.]

[He's not cute he's manly as fuck. The pillow is gone, and so he scoots closer to try and reach the table now. No luck. But it's just by a few inches, and so he'll lightly toss the glasses on and let his arm stay flopped over Leorio as he settles back down more comfortably.

What's more important? Well, it's not like he thinks he'd be able to sleep much longer, anyway. Not when the fever is the only issue, and it's not so bad that he's completely bedridden this time.]

Figuring out the details of you staying.

[Be careful with those. There's another noise of protest from Leorio, and he tries to look back over his shoulder to see what's become of his precious glasses for a moment before settling back down. Defeated...

Then, once Kurapika's answer sinks in and he remembers getting other people to agree he can stay here is probably a good idea,] Oh yeah.

[...]

Am I gonna have to sign something, or-?

Not for Nostrade.

[He lets his eyes drift closed, trying to pretend he doesn't find his closeness to Leorio right now a little nerve-wracking. Or very nerve-wracking. He'll act like it's natural. Like he hasn't thought to move his hand away.]

We'll have to see about your schooling. There might be a paper or two, but in the end, your Hunter's License should help plenty. This is experience, too.

[They just have to word their business here very carefully. He's good at that.]

And no more anatomy tests, for now.

[Leorio relaxes obviously at that; as long as he can keep putting off interacting with Nostrade, he's good. He really, really doesn't want to do that, even if the chances of avoiding it forever seem slim. Maybe he'll practice speaking at a normal volume sometime.]

Alright, alright. You can handle making it sound proper.

[He shifts a little, to lock his fingers behind Kurapika's back and generally get more comfortable without the pillow in the way.

And of course he's going to say it:] For now?

[Is it innuendo or threatening him with exams?? Help him Kurapika.]

[At all of that, his lips twitch into a smile. The anatomy test thing was a joke actually, but he'll leave it lingering just to freak Leorio out. On top of that, he hasn't mentioned just how badly Nostrade had fallen. Bankruptcy...

He wasn't the real boss here. Kurapika was letting things shift naturally. But he'll keep that to himself for now, so not to shock Leorio. Maybe he'll notice when he realizes how things are handled. Or how easy it is to avoid Nostrade after all.]

[That comment is going to bother him all day, rest assured. After a last-ditch effort to get Kurapika to explain - which is just Leorio whining Kurapikaaa at him, really - he lets it go... for now.

He shuts his eyes too, then, only just now remembering he needs more sleep as well. It's not an effort that's going anywhere, as he's just thinking about red tape and clever excuses and how they're going to pull enough strings for this to work-

Then he's hit by a crucially important thought! and his eyes pop open again.] What if Gon and Killua call?!

[Gon and Killua never call, no one ever calls Leorio first, but what IF.]

[Kurapika, meanwhile, had actually just started to fall asleep when Leorio speaks again. Or yells again. He jolts slightly, and he might be more unimpressed if he wasn't completely tired.

Instead, he just blinks, trying to parse the meaning there.]

What if-- what do you mean? [Call for what, where, when, what's the problem??]

like YOU

no i'm very kind

you torture me with pictures and songs

i have only done one of those things today, look at this icon haha god

LEORIO....... also you're always one step away shush

don't tempt me or i'll bring out the sleazy club music again

god damn it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrBr_v7ZLT8

i'M NOT CLICKING THdamn it I clicked it why

RED HOT RED HOT RED HOT HOT

sounds like kurapika's song lyrics tbh

now he has to pop that body

ah........... he never had to do this in the forest

it's a learning experience

please get this image out of my head

twerk it out kurapika

angrily twerks

anaconda video.mov

I'M STILL GONNA PUNCH YOU

no, that's mean

punches

bring me to life begins to play

it should be mmm whatcha say

untitled by simple plan

god damn it