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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[Leorio takes in the scenery as they walk, glancing over at Kurapika more than a few times as well. Parks are... well, he barely has any time to go to parks, unlike those students they pass hanging around. Imagine lugging his textbooks out here to study- he'd be distracted by nice weather and get nothing done.

Still,] What, am I too city for the park?

[Honestly, he feels like he sort of is- there weren't exactly flourishing parks where he grew up, and once he set out on his own he gravitated to cities with no room to squeeze a patch of grass in between buildings and back alleys - that's where the money was. There's no money to be made strolling around a park.

But what he actually says is,] They're alright.

So you are too 'city' then.

[He catches that 'alright' isn't the same as enjoying them, and that's fair enough. Most people don't hold the appreciation for them that he does. He feels like he owes Leorio something, after so long. No, not just owing-- he wants to show his trust in a way.

Revealing small things about himself is all he can manage to think of.]

They remind me a bit of home. Nothing could ever be like the trees where we lived, but sometimes it's nice to feel closer to that.

[He can only shrug at that with a 'Well...' that trails off; so he is too city. There's nothing wrong with that! He's here now, and everything.

All the same, hearing Kurapika talk about his home is much more interesting than trying to say nice things about parks. Leorio looks sideways at him as they walk, thoughtfully; so maybe he's... Hunter googled Kurapika's clan once or twice, not in a weird way... Hearing it from him is way better.

Now, as long as he doesn't answer with something like "are we going to look at a tree," it'll be great.]

Hmm. You're better at this nature stuff than me, yeah. [Smooth. And since it feels like a good enough time and the further they walk, even less people seem to be around, he bumps the back of his hand into Kurapika's before reaching to take hold of it properly.]

Maybe you should get out more.

[That's as subtle as holding hands can be, and still, Kurapika inwardly freaks out a bit. Calling it a date was one thing, but this is Definitely a date. People are going to see. Word might get around. What's he going to do then?? He can barely deal with this alone!!

But after a few seconds of his hand stilling in the surprise, he gives in, gripping Leorio's in return.]

...I don't have the time for things like that, unfortunately. [Leorio's seen his work. He should understand that, as much as he disapproves. He can't even blame those words, really. He does need to get out more.] But so long as you're here... I suppose I could try.

[No, look, there are LESS people around! Maybe some birds will see, they're just birds. Leorio waited for this, for all of maybe ten minutes. He's trying, alright- he does understand, despite his misgivings.]

Like - regularly? [Maybe not super regularly, if Kurapika's no-fun "work every night except weekends" thing still holds, but somewhat.]

D'you think it'd be strange to ask Melody to cover for us?

[LIKE... today, but the first time doesn't count.]

[The birds will know...]

As regularly as I could manage, perhaps...

[Hm, again it comes up, and this time he thinks he can't just shove it aside. He squeezes Leorio's hand again, a couple times in quick pulses before he lets it relax to a natural hold.]

To be honest, I'm not sure how much longer Nostrade can stay in control. He's been a complete mess since we went bankrupt from his daughter losing her nen. For the most part, I've been assuming control. But even then...

[He's losing it.]

[Okay... First of all.

That answer had nothing to do with Melody. It takes a moment for him to process it, and even still - what?]

Wait, what? That old man's not-? [The old man is stupid and useless, is that what he's hearing, more or less? And Kurapika is—]

You're... [Stop walking, whoa, he needs a moment.] ... Really?

[Look, there are some things he has to explain before asking co-workers to cover for him!! Like the fact that he's the boss behind the scenes, possibly soon to be full on boss. It's... Important. Ish.

He slows his steps to a stop when Leorio's shock sets in, and as much as he wants to look elsewhere, he'll keep his eyes on his for Leorio's benefit.]

Since shortly after our last run in with the Phantom Troupe. Yes. [He could go into detail about working up loyalty in the family to branch off on his own, or keeping Nostrade in the game long enough to feel comfortable with things, but-- he's not proud about this. Naturally.

And here they are just wanting to plan dates. Woops.]

[It is a pretty heavy shock. Leorio already knew Kurapika had considerable authority with the other members, but he didn't realize how far up it really went. Part of him wanted to think that maybe Kurapika was a people person deep down, and these rude mafia guys were okay deep down, and he's suddenly acutely aware of how stupid and naive that was of him to even entertain as a possibility.

Well, here he is now, holding hands with a mafia boss. Basically boss? Enough.

...

He has no idea what he's supposed to say at this point. On the one hand, Kurapika is in this even deeper than he thought and that's not okay, but on the other—isn't being the boss at least a better position than being a nobody grunt? Maybe?

Aside from the fact that Leorio is here at all because other families are already trying to kill him, okay... God, he needs more time to process this.

He looks down at himself (who paid for this suit??? shit). All he can think of to say is, ridiculously,] So... trying to kick down his door was a waste of time, huh?

[He's vaguely aware of how deep he is in this mess, but honestly, he doesn't realize how far out of his control it is. From here, it feels like he has plenty of control. The power over a family of mafia members, the understanding of various criminal networks and underground activities, direct routes to the scarlet eyes...

But he's got such a glaring weakness in his emotions.

He looks a little troubled even revealing this, so at least it's not like he's waiting expectantly for praise or anything.]

Did you try something like that? [Please Leorio no.] Half of the week he's in tears, begging for my help, and the other he's scolding me for knowing nothing. He's in no place to make any decisions and the others realize this.

[From Leorio's point of view, he has a bunch of criminals and a crazy old man to keep in line, other criminals trying to kill him, and probably less of a clean break to get away from all of if when his goals are accomplished! Unfortunately (or fortunately, because this was a good day until just now and it isn't entirely spoiled yet), he's still a little dazed by the revelation. Too much to yell.

... About that, directly.]

I was worried! [Leorio yes.] Nobody told me he's a blubbering moron up in his secret private office!

I didn't want to worry you any further than I had to.

[Apparently that didn't work, but hey, he was trying here. It's so much easier just to not deal with addressing these things, but how long is that going to work if they're like this?]

I can understand if you're upset. [And clearly he is, with that yelling.] I thought you should know sooner rather than later.

[He makes a frustrated noise- right, trying not to worry him didn't work, good eye- but besides that he only stares at Kurapika like he has no idea what to do with himself now, brow furrowed. This lasts another couple seconds until he sighs heavily, rubbing his face with his free hand and thoughtlessly nearly knocking his glasses off in the process. Look at his distress, even the glasses suffer.

Give him - another moment.]

Let's go to your spot. [he says, to his palm. He drops his hand as he continues,] Gimme a couple minutes to think.

Edited (nO HTML) 2015-01-27 06:40 (UTC)

Right.

[It makes sense, of course, that Leorio would need time to think over this. Logically, it's completely sound. But it still makes him tense in a vulnerable way he doesn't like. He's worried about being left behind, now? After all this time of trying to be the one leaving?

He brushes his hair out of his eyes with a free hand and steps forward, lightly tugging Leorio along with him. It's still a relaxed pace, to give Leorio plenty of time for his thinking.

The spot that he brings them to may be the greenest area in the park. The path doesn't connect to it, so they had to cross through some grass to get there, but there's still a bench perched nicely in front of a stream. There are a few different types of trees providing shade, and more than a handful of different bushes and flowers scattered about.

Yeah it's pretty zen. Rather than announcing their arrival, he sits down on the bench, looking to their joined hands.]

[The time to think is needed, definitely, although he might not need all of it. He needs time to sort through all the bullshit Kurapika is piling on himself more than anything else - of course he's not thinking of leaving, even now. Still... he's mad. That's the part he needs to work around the most; being mad at Kurapika always seems to leave him logic-and-reasoned into a hole where he's the idiot and Kurapika tells him as much, even if he's right.

But realistically, he won't learn to control his temper in the next few minutes, so whatever. When they reach the bench he doesn't seem to be taking in the scenery at all, just sitting down and throwing his free arm over the back of the bench while he gathers his thoughts.

He even takes a deep breath!] First of all, Kurapika...

You're an idiot. Second- [Imagine he has a hand left to count these off on his fingers, because that's how he sounds.] I'm not gonna call you boss, even if I have to be part of the- family, or whatever. Third...

[Third. Hm.] I sure as hell hope you know what you're doing, because I don't.

[Tell him these things??]

[That's the One Time he'll let Leorio get away with calling him an idiot like that. He doesn't agree, because he finds it necessary, but arguing on this isn't going to help anything. He can only stare at their hands as he speaks before looking away and over the water.]

You should know I'd never expect someone close to me to address me any differently. [The rest of them, sure, to establish power, but-- not his friends, not his-- whatever he and Leorio were. They were dating, apparently, so what did that mean? He doesn't want to get in another train of thought like that so soon.]

As for knowing what I'm doing... [He slides down in the bench a little so that he's slouching, eyes closing as he leans his head back against the bench. It feels more okay to be like this here, in the middle of greenery with no one else really close.]

Sometimes, I'm not sure. I'm confident in my abilities and my knowledge of what's being dealt with, but there are times when I simply feel lost. [You are lost, Kurapika please.] The more I learn about and experience this world, the more sick it makes me.

[But maybe he shouldn't be this honest, he thinks as an afterthought.]

[Well.

None of that inspires much confidence, to be honest. The level of frankness surprises him, though he only glances at Kurapika in response. He fidgets, shifting his shoulders like he's only trying to get more comfortable.

But- everything in the world sucks? He has to admit he's been through that thought a few times himself, although he can tell—definitely not as deeply or seriously as Kurapika.]

Uh. I don't know what to tell you about that.

[Really, there's his own brief stints as an angry, angsty teenager, and then there's Kurapika. The world probably does suck a lot of the time, but jeez.]

You're learning about the wrong things!

[Ah, yes. He's said too much, he decides, frowning a bit as he allows himself to get lost in his thoughts for a moment longer. It's not enough that he doesn't manage a reply to Leorio at all, but it is enough that he doesn't think about how cheesy it'll come off before it's already out in the open.]

Then teach me the right things.

[He blinks after he says it, focusing somewhere else very pointedly. But it's true that Leorio has proven plenty of nice things about the world (along with Gon and Killua), and he could use more of them. Even if this was a 'weakness'... He'd address that as the time came.]

[Leorio blinks; that line is speaking his language... He can't help but grin, despite the rest of their conversation - this is a good part! - and tugs his hand free of Kurapika's so his arm is free to wrap around his shoulders and squeeze him close.

He doesn't think about how that's a hefty responsibility, having to prove there are good things out there... No, he'll think about his own part in this later. If he remembers.

The arm and squeeze are his answer, because what he actually says is going to be stupid.]

Well, we've already covered pancakes...

[He didn't mean to actually invite this level of cheesy. He can sometimes think them himself, but he almost always has the reason to hold them back! This time was a slip-up, and Leorio's already running with it... It's a bit embarrassing.

But he can't deny that the tug closer and the light squeeze are comforting. And thinking on it, he's not wrong...

And it seems he's willing, yet again, despite the weight, to help him in this way. Kurapika is grateful, honestly.]

I suppose we have. [Pancakes or dessert for breakfast, but he'll let that drop for now. Hesitantly, he leans a bit against Leorio.] To think I'm on the right track already.

[That's right, it's inescapable. Being around Leorio inspires sappy thoughts, that's his real nen ability.

But really, he's happy to put heavier subjects aside for a time that isn't the middle of their day out. Date. Both. He laughs, which starts out as a sarcastic 'Ha ha' but ends in a genuine chuckle. Goddamn it, now look at what he's become... a dweeb.

He clears his throat, finally actually looking around at where they are. Huh.]

This place's pretty... green.

Were you expecting a different color?

[It's a park, Leorio. Kurapika's sass never ends. But he looks at the scenery ahead of them a bit himself, still leaning that small bit into him. He could say lame, poetic things about a park like this existing in the center of a busy city, but he won't. This time.]

I've only been able to come here two or three times. If it's not to your interest, we can do something else.

[Oh, would he rather go sit in the car again or stay here on this bench where not even the kids wandering away from their parents in this park seem to be able to find them? Hmm.

See, he gets it. He gets privacy, at least. To emphasize this he slouches a little, he's... a fan of the bench?]

This isn't all for me. If you wanna look at plants, I'll look at some plants.

Then don't make it sound so dull.

[If it's not all for Leorio. Please, some consideration for this park. These are not just 'some' plants!! But he'll spare the lecture, because he's in a good mood right now, despite everything else.

They're slouching together, now, it seems, even if Kurapika's is far more slight. He's busy looking at the flowers, smiling at himself because he knows their names, their meanings, the ways he could totally be corny if he wanted to... But of course that's not his style.]

I simply thought that we could both use some time to relax. It's what you're always saying, isn't it?

[Wh-?? Okay okay, he'll be nice to the plants. He can do that, yeah...

Or he could keep slouching here, occasionally shifting his arm around Kurapika or tapping lightly up and down his arm or any number of other little things that demonstrate he is restless, but trying. He's much more interested in Kurapika than the flowers, give him a break.]

And I'm not wrong about it, either. I'm plenty relaxed right here! [Fidgety, but when is he not.] It's... a good spot.

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