dumbshow | answer your god damn phone

Entry tags:

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?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It's easier to smile when he's facing the window like this. Honestly, he'd expected Leorio to react in rage or exaggerated surprise, even if he knew it-- but no. He's just happy, it seems. He should have known that that would take precedence over their bickering roles this time.

Right now, he's thinking he's pretty lucky. He reserves the right to take that back later when he's dealing with 'pancakes bigger than his head.']

We could... But are we cutting the day so short? [Playful. When was the last time he's been able to get away with teasing so much?] I thought you wanted to do more.

[The thing is, in the end - Leorio is aware Kurapika is a mess. The fact that he has someone (someone else, if Leorio can pat himself on the back for a minute) who can get through to him where it matters is incredibly fortunate. Plus, Leorio likes Melody. She's nice!

He'll have plenty more to get exaggeratedly angry at later, surely. He could start with this teasing???]

You— No!! We can go back for more pancakes.

By then, only you'd be willing to eat pancakes.

[Normal people don't have breakfast foods for lunch or dinner, Kurapika thinks. He actually laughs, though, tearing his eyes away from the window to look at Leorio. And then he's gesturing over the dash.]

Take a left here, and then your first right.

[Kurapika hasn't truly lived until he's kept eating breakfast foods at all hours. One day Leorio will educate him on the wonders of midnight breakfast, but today is not that day. He scoffs as he takes that left, and everything.]

What do you have against pancakes? You better get over that quickly!

[The size of his WHOLE HEAD.]

Are they that good?

[Aren't they just like, bread or something, Kurapika wonders.] I can't recall ever having them.

[He rarely ever ate breakfast to begin with. Since he was young, he was always out running around with Pairo and getting into trouble, and after everything, he was too busy overworking himself into no-sleep and barely-eating weeks and months.

Really, he's not the type to take care of himself in this way.]

Oh, it's on the right up here.

[LEORIO CRASHES THE CAR IN SHOCK. WHO HASN'T HAD A FUCKING PANCAKE?? IS KURAPIKA A REAL PERSON????]

[Or: Leorio legitimately turns his head to stare, before abruptly looking back at the road again (because he's a good driver and knows you don't just turn away from the road, ahem). Maybe pancakes aren't such a big deal, but...

Okay, in the grand scheme of things, if he had to pick a food to be considered a big deal, pancakes might rank pretty high.]

Well, you're in luck!! [excited about bread circles] You can let me know what you think once you've found out!

[He honestly expects this, for the record. And here they are, at the pancake place...]

[Ah, now pancakes are so talked up he wonders if they'll be disappointing or as delicious as they often look. He supposes he'll have to find out! He smiles down at his phone (Melody had just replied with something along the lines of 'Have fun! I can hold things down, so don't worry yourself too much.') and pockets it, getting out of the car.

From there, it's just a matter of quietly following after Leorio into the place, being seated, and staring at a menu.

There are different kinds of pancakes?]

I didn't expect there to be this much of a selection. [Honestly... Chocolate chip pancakes?? For breakfast? He'll probably just go with the regular kind. Looking up from his menu, he eyes Leorio.] Do you go out to eat a lot?

[Leorio, big dweeb that he is, keeps glancing up over his own menu to watch Kurapika learning about the wonders of pancakes.

He's going to order something profoundly ridiculous, but probably because this is a Special Occasion. Kurapika's first pancake experience and Leorio orders some bizarre type for himself, sure.]

Hm? Nah. [He shrugs one shoulder; he's not the type to be put off by eating alone in public (all those friends he doesn't have, ah), but he always has something to study for or something to write. Lame.] I get takeout more often, I guess.

Too bad you can't get pancakes delivered. [He's serious.]

I see...

[Leorio must not have much time to himself with school. Pancakes can't be too hard to make, can they? It seems simple enough. Maybe he can learn how. Not that he cares to make Leorio pancakes or anything, he's just-- maybe once, since he's saying it like that.

His thoughtful expression fades as he decides to go with the normal kind, after all, setting his menu down at the side of the table neatly.]

There is a park. [Is it noticeable, he wonders, that he's putting effort into this? He sure hopes not. He's thinking too formulaic, wondering what he should be doing or what might be nice with the same focus his work gets.

He really can't just relax, can he.] Not too far from here, I mean. If you wanted to go...

[That is not the face of someone who is thrilled about pancakes... But Leorio is busy being that person, thrilled, looking down at his menu again. He may be here a while yet.

The pancakes are Kurapika's saving grace in that regard, as he might have noticed the work attitude more. The park, sure, yeah, sounds great!!]

After pancakes. [beat; he glances up again] You've been to parks before, right?

[And immediately after trying so hard, he's annoyed and a bit offended.]

Of course I have! [What the fuck are you trying to say, punk.] And it's not like I was thinking we should leave right now, anyway... We haven't eaten yet.

[Neoleo would you please calm down. But alright, he contributed a bit, so that makes him feel less bad about Leorio having to be the one to force him out. But still, he's going to sit here and overthink literally everything in the meantime.]

We haven't ordered yet- [Which he means as a complaint now that he's finally selected the pancakes he wants and no one is immediately over here to take his order?? Fortunately, he is just big enough that all it takes is him straightening up to look around for a waiter for theirs to notice and come over.

He orders ice cream for breakfast, then waits expectantly for Kurapika to order more pancakes than he can possibly handle.]

Only because you took so long to decide.

[After staring in wonder at what Leorio orders, he orders his NORMAL STACK OF PANCAKES and some juice and then goes back to waiting. He can't help but look around the place as they wait. There's no one he recognizes, but he always has to check-- even if he's done well to hide his own face, there are plenty of crime organizations city to city that can recognize and follow actions of strangers without even knowing they're involved ahead of time.

So yes, he is being paranoid in the middle of their date. It doesn't really show on his face, and eventually he looks back in front of himself and undoes his little fork and knife napkin rollup, setting it up like a cute little place-mat.

This must be his version of fidgeting.]

[Leorio scoffs at that and hurriedly calls the waiter back to order some caffeinated drink he really does not need. It's important that he really thinks about his gratuitously sweet breakfast, of course.

He spends the next couple minutes fidgeting in his own way, restless as usual. He's opened the paper ring that holds the napkin and silverware sets closed and folded it over itself into a little spring and does the same with the straw wrapper when the drinks arrive. He tries to get the first one to actually spring up a couple times before giving up and leaning an elbow on the table while he sips his drink.

What the hell is Kurapika doing.]

You know... if you wanted the kiddie place mat, you only had to ask.

[Ah, romance.]

[And instantly, he's annoyed. He'd only rolled his own straw wrapper into a little ball that rested in front of him, but when Leorio pops off, he promptly flicks it straight for his forehead, closing his eyes in an annoyed huff.]

You're the one playing with paper at the table.

[He's so defensively angry!! He's trying really hard over here, don't mess up his flow with rude comments. He smooths over the edges of his napkin place-mat one last time before setting his hands in his lap.]

[Rude, he couldn't get his silly springs to spring over and hit Kurapika's hands, that's unfair. He props his chin on his hand and gives Kurapika an amused look. That lasts only for a couple seconds before he puts on an exaggeratedly affronted look.]

What else am I supposed to do? I don't know how to set the table.

Are you being serious?

[He can't tell... But either way, for that amused look and how Leorio is being right now, he'll kick his leg lightly from under the table.]

You could try talking about something, for one. [He's been trying really hard here, for once!! Ask him something!! Is this a date, or is Leorio really just craving pancakes... He can't tell. This is so frustrating.]

[Does he look like a man who can set a table? He can put stuff on a table, and have it look organized (somewhat), but why would he ever need that skill...

He makes a face, slouching just enough that his knees bump Kurapika's under the table, because he's so tall. Don't kick!]

You have something in mind? [He's not saying that out of laziness, rather... it's nice just getting to spend time together without crisis or other drama hanging over their heads, for once.

But that's too dopey for a man who has not had his pancakes yet. He thinks about this... talking about things, hrm.] That shirt looks good on you.

No, it's just... [He trails off there because he's not really certain how to end it. Their knees are bumping now, and that's half annoying and half not-so-bad, as most things with Leorio were, but he can't help but think of how they haven't spoken about themselves in so long.

And how that's entirely his own fault.

His thoughts are interrupted by that question, though, that gets an intense stare in response. His shirt?? He glances down, and then back up, and honestly he's not sure how to react. It's flattering, but it's embarrassing, and there are so many things to think too much about here.

His intense stare is less than open and welcoming.]

...Thanks. [Ah, yes, look at him helping this conversation along.]

[Whoa, okay, don't look at him like that. Leorio blinks at him a few times before looking off to the side, like the colorful kitschy decorations in this place are very engaging. So that was... the wrong thing to say?? What does Kurapika want him to talk about, exactly?]

I was just- it's just a compliment.

[Oh. His gaze weakens in intensity when he realizes that he'd been a little too curt, and he leans over the table ever so slightly. His hand extends a bit too pausing, just slightly past his place-mat setup.]

No, I understand! [Formal, again. He hesitates, withdrawing back to himself and slouching in his seat.]

I'm sorry. It's just that-- [Again, he cuts himself off, though this time it's accompanied with him reaching up to hold his head a bit. He'll just stare at his little setup of silverware and napkin here like it can help.]

I'm not very good at this sort of thing.

[Whoa, big shocker, news at 11.]

[Kurapika... Leorio just looks at him at first - he is not exactly a triple-star dating guy, himself, but he's not this bad!

Which he thinks in the fondest way possible, really. He shrugs after that pause, awkwardly but trying to make it look less so. This is going great.]

I— [don't say "I know that"] Don't worry about it-?

[Yes, don't worry, that's good. He knocks the side of his leg against Kurapika's knee again, for emphasis.] It's just us here!

[The gentle knock of their legs is enough to get him to raise his head and drop his hand, and he does smile, at least. It's... it's a smile. 'Don't worry about it'... Leorio is so carefree.

But really, it's completely understandable in this case. So why is he freaking out over here? Maybe it's that even over pancakes on a day that's essentially a vacation, he can't get the sight of Leorio burnt and on the ground and worrying about him out of his mind.]

Yes... You're right.

[Luckily, the pancakes arrive right about then. Kurapika admires his own plate for a quiet moment before turning to stare at the mess of ice cream and fruit that is Leorio's. He's kind of amazed, honestly...]

That's breakfast?

[There's not enough time to say another dopey thing about how he doesn't have to worry, it's just Leorio, relax (which he definitely had prepared) as the food arrives just then. Leorio all but beams at his ice cream pancake tower, reaching over to grab the extra syrup each table comes with to really douse these suckers in pure sugar.]

Of course it's breakfast! It's pancakes— pancakes are a breakfast food!

[He says this very matter-of-factly, nods once, and upends the syrup bottle over his plate.]

[Well, this works wonders at distracting his despair-focused mind. All that syrup, on top of everything else? He can't hold back the look of shock and disgust as he slowly pulls up his own fork.]

That's terrible for you! Shouldn't you know better?! [AREN'T YOU GOING TO BE A DOCTOR...]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject