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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[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.

[So fidgety... Eventually, Kurapika looks over to Leorio. The taps to his arm are pretty silly, but then again, so many things about the two of them are. So he's not the type to sit still and enjoy a view, is that it?

Well.

Placing a hand on his thigh lightly as he moves closer, he leans up just enough to kiss Leorio's cheek. A soft, quick thing that Kurapika's looking away from just as soon as he's done it. His hand stays there, though.

'Calm down.' But if he said that aloud, it would just sound hypocritical.]

[He is calm...! It's just- sitting here, apparently doing nothing but looking at flowers isn't his idea of a great time, exactly. They're just flowers, they don't do anything.

So, as for calming down... He squeezes Kurapika's shoulder and scoots sideways on the bench enough to plunk his chin down on his other, un-squeezed shoulder. Hi.

He hums, staring ahead at some grass and willing it to be cool. Well, since he's already here.]

Tell me something nature-y.

[Kurapika deals with the chin on his shoulder, somehow. Physical affection is so much easier when he just has to sit here and put up with it.]

Nature-y? [he repeats, like he's trying to grasp the concept of it as he looks around. It's not hard to see he's bored, but he's not about to get up so soon after visiting this spot. He wasn't lying! It's his favorite spot in this city. And he wants to enjoy it at least this one last time.

Clicking onto something he thinks will be at least mildly interesting for Leorio, he lifts one of his legs to point and sweep over some of the types of flowers near the stream there.]

Do you recognize those flowers? [They're Hunter x Hunter tulips, for the record. That means it's time for Hunter x Hunter versioned Dutch History smashed with bullshit. Anyway, those flowers are relatively common, if Leorio can recognize that much. More in paintings and children's drawings than anywhere around here, but--]

They're one of the only plants that's maintained its believed meaning from country to country. Immortality, long life, and perfect love. There was one country that fell so in love with them that their worth skyrocketed. You could often sell just one Lily Cup for nearly ten times the annual income of a skilled craftsman.

[Why does he know this... Why does he know this???]

[Does he recognize those flowers indeed. He's seen flowers before...? He certainly can't place them by name or anything like that, but they're flowers he's pretty sure he's seen at least once. Instead of voicing his flowery ignorance he hums noncommittally.

They're certainly flowers.

He's both surprised and not surprised that Kurapika knows all this. The guy grew up in the woods or whatever, so it fits... but all that stuff about the lucrative flower market? Huh.

Naturally, that's what gets his attention. The all-the-way-to-the-bank flower is really pretty, isn't it.]

No way... [he hears a distinct cha-ching as he looks at them] Will they still pay that much?

[Is he looking at a goldmine!!]

Unfortunately, no.

[He's smiling a little as he delivers this terrible news, but it's because he knew Leorio would lock onto that. How predictable!! Ah, but he's amused. He touches his toes to the ground as he sits, sliding them across the grass a little.]

Their market crashed not too long afterwards, as with most instances like that. They're the price you'd expect, nowadays.

You don't say. [Hopes dashed on the rocks. He sighs, genuinely pretty disappointed to hear this.] That's a shame.

[Now the flowers are just flowers again... Pity, he could have built a flower empire!!]

Where did you learn that, anyway? You're an economy scholar now, too?

[ya nerd]

It was in one of the first books I read about the outside world.

[Ah, he hasn't called it that in a while. But for reference, rather than bringing up his clan by name-- he says this.] It was only mentioned in passing, so when I started traveling on my own, I researched it.

I was amazed by the way prices could rise and fall in such short periods of time, and to such extremes, so I did read about that more in general, as well... [Not an economy scholar, but he does know way too much. Basically.]

[What... a nerd. Leorio thinks this despite his own detailed knowledge of things like haggling and how to work a market, but he didn't read books about these things! Kurapika is weird.]

Seriously? You could've learned that by hanging around a city market for a week!

[Since his chin is still on Kurapika's shoulder, he turns his head a little and sort of... blows on his hair a little, for emphasis. Think of it as the "hands are busy" alternative for poking him in some other annoying way. Thanks, Leorio.]

Reading some book's nothing like the real thing, Kurapika. You can't learn about the world just by reading!

[The blow actually gets him to half-jump in surprise. What... Who blows at someone's hair! He makes an unimpressed face immediately afterwards, letting that fade naturally over time as Leorio continues to say other insulting things.]

Really? [There's challenge in the tone of even that one word.] I'm not just reading, for the record. You see the position I'm in now. I doubt I could have gotten here without the knowledge I have.

Jealousy is ugly, Leorio.

[Yes he is implying what he seems to be implying.]

[Hold still and let him do dumb things, okay. He's about to do it again midway through Kurapika's I'm Very Smart rebuttal, which turns into an indignant sputter right after the best part. The rude part.]

Jealousy?! Are you crazy? Like hell I'd ever be jealous of bossing around a bunch of lowlife thugs!!

[He's sat back up straight by this point, because ew, who would be jealous of that, and also because he's pretty sure he was just called stupid again, great... grumble mumble he got into med school he's smart—]

I can read too, you little jerk.

They all have their reason for being there, much like myself.

[He says that quietly and without any tone indicating insult, but he is pretty much saying Leorio should think of him as a lowlife thug, too, then. Now that his shoulder is free, he rolls it a few times and stretches his arms in front of him.]

I'm not trying to discount your intelligence. I'm simply saying I know how the world works.

[Leorio says nothing but scoffs, looking the other way. Of course he's not going to think of Kurapika like that— Kurapika could actually be a lowlife thug, and he still wouldn't... more or less what's happening now with his secret boss situation, as it happens. Whatever that says about him.

He's not going to argue that calling him an idiot is what it sounds like, because he'll lose that one. He has that much self-awareness.]

Yeah, and you still hate pretty much everything, right? [THAT'S... what he heard. He waves a hand dismissively.] Whatever, forget I said anything.

You've misunderstood.

[He slips away from Leorio, standing up and straightening out the wrinkles in his red shirt before looking to him. Hm, despite all his darker thoughts and worries right now, he's agreed to this, so-- he grants him a look that doesn't look negative or sad or angry.

It's pretty light. If anything, it's more similar to those fond looks Leorio likes to give, himself.]

There are many things that I love. [He lets that set in before turning back to step around and behind the bench, one hand closing over the back of it.]

We can leave, now, if you'd like. I'm satisfied.

[That's still calling him stupid!! is honestly Leorio's first thought. It's always he misunderstood this, or Leorio don't yell at that, or Leorio stop stomping around yelling at that other thing as well— listen, he just has a lot of strong reactions to things, that's all.

That expression gives him pause, a little surprised - but not enough to dwell on it, as he follows Kurapika's trek around the bench with his eyes and ending up tipping his head back to squint at him upside down. His glasses slide dangerously the Wrong Way, completing this picture of a big dweeb.

He's not satisfied!! Which, of course, has nothing to do with the plants and everything to do with how he's bent backwards over a bench right now just to give Kurapika a very serious look.]

Like what? Besides flowers and being a smartass!

[spare him]

[Despite all of these implied name calls, this surprises Kurapika. Really? He can't pick up on even that? Well, maybe that's for the best, but it still causes him to pause, staring down at Leorio's bent-backwards figure.

There are a lot of ways he could follow up to that question. There's plenty of things he loves. And he's half tempted to just say 'You really are an idiot' and walk away, but miraculously, he resists.]

Like reading, for one. [Obviously, he stalls here, his hand pulling back from the bench.] And you.

[Sometimes he can be incredibly blunt and not care, it seems. He decided wording it this way instead of just 'my friends' was a little nicer, without really thinking about the suddenness of it all.]

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ah the common node flower

yes in all its beauty

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