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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[To say Leorio is satisfied would be an understatement. He's honestly proud of himself, as much as he's still glowering down at Nostrade as he hits the ground. Nostrade earned it, as far as he's concerned, and he's still standing there on guard in case he has to do it again.

It's then, when Nostrade looks past him, that Leorio's gaze flicks back over his shoulder and he realizes they have an audience besides Kurapika. He blinks and his cool expression drops into surprise, as do his hands to his sides. Is he... hm, was that the wrong choice to make, in front of everyone? It's all he can do to look back and forth between all of them and Nostrade as the man keeps talking. And he's- going back to his daughter?

Leorio frowns again, despite that statement. He doesn't even know this girl, but if her crazy dad doesn't take care of her, he swears...

Still, he can't just let this go without saying anything - he started this, don't think he'll pass the baton to Kurapika so easily!!] You- you better!! Or you know what you'll get upside the head again!

[But just in case it were unclear, he raises his fist and waves it again. So cool.]

[Well, Leorio will get his wish, at least. Nostrade turns back to face him as soon as he speaks.]

You're the doctor Kurapika brought to deal with the poisoning from before, right? [He doesn't even know for sure... But also, it seems Kurapika had referred to him as a 'doctor'. Well. He was. Kind of.]

Come with me. If you can find a way to bring my daughter's ability back, I'll give you as much money as you can think to ask for.

[The guy in debt saying this... But well, if Neon could tell fortunes, he wouldn't have to worry about that anymore.

MEANWHILE... Kurapika is having a heart attack in the corner, and even his composed straight face has his eyebrows furrowing as he concentrates. It's enough that Melody looks over to him in concern.]

[That's—what? He looks surprised yet again, and at first all he can come up with is,] Eh?

[Hang on, hang on... That takes a moment to really sink in, but then he stiffens and looks as offended as he can be after punching someone in the face. His mouth twists into a frown as he wonders what's the most polite way to tell Nostrade to go fuck himself without being overtly hypocritical - he did start this...]

That's not— that's not how it works. [At least he HOPES SO, feel free to jump in at any time now with that busybody smartypants knowledge, Kurapika!!] I don't want your money, either.

[At least he can say that with a little more conviction... please, if he wanted dirty money he'd go scrape it out of a back alley himself.]

[Nostrade is going to argue his point. Kurapika can see it from here, and before he can think of what's a good way to stop it, or what's a sensible thing to stay, he steps forward and brings a hand to his chest as he speaks.]

I need Leorio to stay here. [And that... certainly comes out unusual, for him. All eyes are on him shortly after, including Nostrade, and seem to be waiting for an answer. He's composed enough to not sputter, but he does blink a few times in a row as he picks one point to focus on.

Right, just... don't look at Leorio. It's fine. It's cool. Melody knows, though-- god damn it.]

...While the immediate threat is completely gone, there are still remaining members of the family that poisoned us before. Rather than follow you all the way back, sir, they're more likely to target the group as a whole.

I'd like to propose we move, ourselves, and as a precaution, I'd like for Leorio to stay if anything goes wrong. [The best part about his coverups are that he doesn't lie. He stares seriously at Nostrade for a few minutes, who looks both annoyed at Leorio's answer and at his wishes not coming true immediately, but in the end he nods.

Logical. As always. With a wave of his hand, he moves towards the door, saying something like 'That's your decision to make.'

And then he's in the hallway, on his phone, and heading to the elevators, leaving Kurapika to hold back the huge sigh of relief he wants to let out right now.]

[That's not the way Leorio had hoped Kurapika would bail him out of this request, upon immediate reflection. In his defense, he doesn't react in a way that's particularly damning - he looks over at Kurapika with the rest, like he's also just interested in the explanation and not grateful for this despite the fumbling. That was definitely a fumble. Melody definitely knows.

It seems Kurapika has a good enough handle on the rest, though, leaving Leorio to stare down Nostrade again like he'll make another scene if they turn this into doctor tug-of-war. Surely everyone can see that would inconvenience him, right, he's not technically taking a side-!

Once Nostrade leaves, Leorio does let out a sigh, slouching and rubbing the back of his neck like all his ability to be serious has gone out of him at once. It was nice while it lasted.]

I don't know about you, [he addresses... the room, hi everyone] but if nobody else goes crazy or drops dead anytime soon, I'm calling this one a win.

[At the very least, in reaction to Leorio's line, Melody offers a small chuckle and Basho smiles a little. The others are more of a tough crowd, Kurapika included. (He can't believe he fumbled...)

Kurapika's looking too focused, right now, around at the mess of the room. One arm folds over his chest to hold the elbow of the other that lets his hand lean against his chin in deep thought.]

Is everyone alright with what I proposed?

[Of course, he's back to business already. He hadn't meant for this to come out yet, but it did, and now he's got to plan-- apparently.]

If so, I could have the date set for the end of the week.

[A glance around at them gives him just affirmative nods and some kind words from Melody about him always knowing best, but he's still going to look over to Leorio for his opinion, last.]

[Thanks for nothing, Kurapika!! At least Leorio has two of them on his side- the side of good humor. After that, though, he's automatically sort of taken a mental step back if not a literal one, right back out of this mafia business. He might have just punched out Nostrade in more ways than one, but it still hasn't occurred to him what that means for him rather than the group...

All this means in the moment is that when Kurapika looks at him, he's not paying attention at all. He's either deep in thought or just staring without seeing at some of the trash on the floor, and it takes a decent length pause and one of the others clearing their throat for him to catch on.]

Huh? What? [no one will ever believe he was cool just a few minutes ago] Sure.

[He notices that blanking out, and so after Leorio responds, he doesn't for a few moments, lost in his own thought. Luckily, Melody, being the saint that she is, picks up on it and speaks up in order to help them.]

Then we'll wait for your word on what to do. [That's to Kurapika, of course, spoken gently with a smile to match, and then she's looking to the others.] Let's get back to work.

[It's a lot less awkward than it could have been, but the awkwardness doesn't leave completely. Basho is left hesitating at the door before squinting a little and shutting it, like he's not quite sure if he was supposed to or not, and then they're gone.

Kurapika can only bring a hand to his own face. Where does he even start...]

[And there they go... Leorio waves, for some stupid reason - he's waving at Melody, okay, she's helping!! - and when the door is closed, looks at it for a beat instead of over at Kurapika. Then he figures he'll inspect the back of his hand, since he did just clock Nostrade pretty good, so that takes another few moments...

He'll start, how about that. With a glance Kurapika's way,] I wouldn't have gone, y'know.

[To give himself something to do, he lets his hand drop and bends down to pick up the bunches of trash. He'll clean up the room slowly, as they talk. Those words make him feel a little guilty, somehow, because of the worry that had gripped him for a minute, but--]

I know. [He had said he wouldn't ask if he meant it again.] But the fact that he was asking... In order to keep him from pursuing it further, I needed to think of a good reason. I wasn't prepared to have to defend that so soon.

[So he fumbled a little, okay.]

You didn't have to. [This comes out more petulantly than angry; Leorio's quite confident in his ability to say "no" all by himself...! He wanted backup that nen doesn't work like flicking a light on and off, if anything, in that moment. That was all! Instead, this fumble-]

Well, I bet you spilled the beans to Melody. [how AWFUL but not really, all things considered.]

I don't need you scolding me.

[He's embarrassed enough by it to warrant him snapping like that. But as he tosses balled newspapers into the trash bin, avoiding looking Leorio's way, he sighs, a short and quiet sort of exhale.]

Have you thought about this at all? You gave me a blank look, earlier.

[Wow, who fumbled!! It wasn't Leorio! He only scoffs and shrugs theatrically in response to that, before switching gears to that question.

... Thought about what...]

I didn't think I was supposed to help make mafia decisions. [Another shrug, less ridiculous this time. There's still some disconnect about that whole area, it seems.]

C'mon, who wants to be stuck in this place forever?

[This time, he makes himself look over to Leorio. He's so carefree... And normally it's admirable, but this time, it's just concerning. He understands that he said he's willing to do this, and so he won't question that, as he said he wouldn't. But this... Is he thinking about anything seriously at all?]

For large decisions that affect all of us, you'll be able to speak your part. You're a member now, after all.

[That's what he agreed to. With the last bit of trash tossed into the bin, he steps over, keeping his eye contact. Melody is long gone by now. He'd seen it in her eyes. Her desire to help him out here, her understanding.

So yeah, maybe he spilled the beans. Shut up, Leorio.]

So you should stop referring to it like that. [He understands. Of course he does. 'The mafia', spoken with such dislike... He's crushing it from the inside out, here. He relents from his intensity a bit, curling some of his hair behind the ear with his earring.] I'm not proud, but that doesn't mean that I can take you speaking down on me so often.

[Oh, so he is in trouble. Great. It gets through to him, at least, that he can't keep pretending he's just here as some kind of contrived coincidence— he did agree. There was even a promise!]

I wasn't- Kurapika... [It's written all over his face as he looks at Kurapika, what he intends to say next - that it's not Kurapika, never Kurapika, but he suddenly can't get the words out. There's Melody too, isn't there? And- that one guy who laughed might not be all bad- Shit, he's really put his foot in it, hasn't he?

He scowls and glances away, running a hand through his hair. He's trying really hard to stand his ground here, but if they're going to go and be decent people despite all their crimes, then-!! Damn it! Now he's closing his eyes and scowling to himself, hunching his shoulders and getting way too deep in thought about it. This damn mafia...!

It's how long he's just standing there doing nothing that makes him crack an eye open rather than coming to an actual decision. Maybe if he keeps blaming Nostrade for everything from people dying to having to sneeze at inopportune times, that will help...]

Well, I wasn't. But I get it, I get it! I'll stop.

[From Leorio's reaction, it's obvious that he didn't pick up the clues he'd been trying to drop. It's not surprising. 'Clues' weren't ever really enough... And Kurapika wasn't the type to realize how incredibly subtle (and weird) they were. Despite him missing his attempt to take a step back from intensity, Leorio at least seems to understand what he was trying to say beneath it all. There are good people here.

Everyone has their reasons.

Not everything was justifiable, but he wasn't going to judge anyone who was in the same position as himself. ...And he'd rather not witness the judging of much kinder people when he himself has much more sinister plans in mind.

That aside, a small frown settles into place on his face, but it's not strained with any sort of anger-- it's just thoughtful. He reaches out because it feels right to, placing a hand on Leorio's cheek while it's conveniently lowered in this grumbling tantrum of his.]

I wasn't trying to scold you. [Clarifying like this is all he can think of. There's a lot more he could say, but words like that were so vulnerable he didn't feel comfortable using them. Instead, he leans forward, kissing his lips with a purposeful slowness that stretches it out for a moment. Here's hoping he was right about Melody being long gone.]

But nevermind that. Our date was interrupted.

[He'll pretend the word 'date' doesn't set off about ten thousand fires in his heart right now.]

[That's all nicely settled, Leorio thinks, mainly because he doesn't want to talk about it much more. It's embarrassing, having to admit his kneejerk judgments of people aren't always the best (or even in the right ballpark, but no one should be keeping track). So - that's settled, and he'll try to be friendlier (try), and if any of the others ask him what happened he'll say it was stress making him yell at them all the time before!!

The perfect crime. Now then, the hand on his cheek—]

You had me fooled. [He grins when he says this, like it's charming... charming that he calls Kurapika awkward and too serious all the time. The kiss shuts him up, and after a split-second of surprise (he's always surprised, why) he uncrosses his arms to slide a hand around to the back of Kurapika's neck as he leans in even more.

He might be holding on for balance, because this is one of those "soon to be uncomfortable" positions. It happens. He does straighten up a little afterwards, and the new grin on his face makes it clear that he got the hint this time.]

Yeah, it was. Are you gonna make it up to me? [God he's so cool today!! He leans down again as he says that, ostensibly to kiss the side of Kurapika's jaw, but somewhere along the way he has an inconvenient moment of clarity and sort of freezes. The door is closed, but—] Wait, in here?

[Were he actually a shitty teenager, his voice would have cracked. That's the mood being set.]

[God... It was moments like this that made him question his own judgement. Leorio was embarrassing. He was loud, and he was clumsy, and he had no sense of mood at all.

Yet, somehow, he felt lighter like this. A decision that was making his heart beat a little faster wasn't interrupted even by Leorio's weird movements or faces. Instead, embarrassment and admiration mixed in a strange way, and he has to fight past it showing on his face with a determinedly calm face.

Turning in the last bit of the way from that stopped kiss, he kisses Leorio's jaw himself, his other hand moving to hook fingers under the loop of his tie. But he pauses there.]

Is that a problem? [He thinks he's being pretty cool, all things considered...]

[Look, Leorio is still trying to get past "in the office of the mafia boss-but-not-boss I just punched in the nose." Kurapika makes a good argument - or rather, kisses make a good argument, and not getting weirdly hung up on mysterious things this time helps, so-

So. He swallows, certainly not in an overly tense way, and lightly presses his fingers into the back of Kurapika's neck. At least there aren't any pictures of Nostrade in here or he'd have to stop and turn them around; this is what he's thinking about before he gives his answer.]

Guess not. [Mumbled, as he ducks his head the rest of the way, kissing his neck instead of his jaw. Yet again he's too tall to keep this up, and finally he just asks-]

The floor or the desk? You're pretty crappy with chairs.

[romance]

[It's comments like that that manage to draw Kurapika out of his shell, honestly. Of course, he's drawn out of his shell and straight into an immature sort of irritation, hurt for pride's sake. He tugs at Leorio's tie suddenly, hoping to make it uncomfortably tight for just a few seconds.]

Who is? [...But that kiss to his neck was pretty nice, and past the mild annoyance, he's pleased. Happy, even. Things are going nicely. His expression eases up in time with him loosening Leorio's tie again, and as he slips it out of the knot and steps closer to pull it out from under his collar, he'll actually consider that question.]

The desk.

[Trying to choke him is becoming a bad habit-! Leorio makes a noise of discomfort that isn't exactly smoothed over by the tie coming off entirely, but it helps. He grumbles something that's definitely about how bad Kurapika is with chairs and tugs at the ends of his hair in 'revenge.'

More importantly, the desk. He looks up enough to give it a look over Kurapika's shoulder, considering. There's really only one appropriate thing to do here...]

Okay. [Said possibly too cheerfully, which is the only warning Kurapika's going to get before Leorio stoops down even more to hook an arm behind his knees and lift him right off his feet. He considered just throwing him over his shoulder, but that might get him in real trouble, so bridal style it is.

As he ambles over to the desk, slightly more leisurely than is necessary:] I can't believe you carried me around for so long, that time... Show off.

[Shh he knows, but still. Fortunately it won't take too long for him to put Kurapika down on top of the desk. Give him his loser moment he thinks is pretty smooth...]

[He's so busy giving Leorio a look that's probably meant to be warning about those mumbles that he doesn't even catch the warning as one. Leorio's moving, and he gets the picture, but it's too little too late. Surprise hits his face, and one of his legs is flying up a little as he grabs onto Leorio.]

H-hey! [WARN A GUY... And not with a suspiciously cheery word, next time! It's a good thing he didn't go for over the shoulder, as Kurapika might have reacted a little more harshly. As it is now, he settles down almost immediately, simply looking a little miffed at his own shock.]

You were hurt! [He knows he knows, but he's still going to press that!] You're the one who's showing off.

[He tosses Leorio's tie over his own shoulder just for that, in fact, eyes closed as he seems to be considering something before his next words.] But I suppose I'll let it slide.

[Oh, Mr. Obscure Clues can't handle a taste of his own medicine? There was a warning! It counted!]

You don't have to! [wait for it] I don't need to show off!

[Because he's that cool, of course. He's satisfied with this much, it seems, as now he puts Kurapika down and leans forward, pressing their heads together. The tie is completely forgotten; he'll probably trip over it later somehow. But now that he can reach Kurapika's face without giving himself back problems, that's the furthest thing from his mind anyway.

He gives him a look - one of those overly soft, fond ones, although at such a close distance it's a little more cross-eyed. Then he slides a hand to rest behind his ear and kisses his lips with a slow, purposeful kiss of his own. At the back of his mind he wonders, is it going to be... different at all, now that - well, now that they've confessed in a park surrounded by tulips?

The thought makes his face heat up more quickly than he ever intended. So yes, and it's already happening...]

[Any thoughts of bringing that bickering further melt away under that look. It stops him completely in his tracks, and for the first second or two of the kiss, he's too busy recovering from it to respond. He makes up for it afterwards, though, pressing back with a sudden surge of feeling that's accompanied by similar thoughts of parks and morning dates.

He doesn't notice the color to Leorio's face, this time. He doesn't even care about the color rising to his own. His eyes have already gently closed with the kiss, and for once, he doesn't shove this unusual feeling away or down. He embraces it, lifting his hands from off the desk. One reaches forward to grip at whatever cloth he can find, tugging Leorio closer and keeping his knees well enough apart to allow that. The other closes over the one at his ear, curling lightly over his wrist as he smooths his thumb over the backside.

A dramatic confession among tulips to a hook up in an office... This is too much. Kurapika's heart jumps the more he thinks about it, and following these feelings like this-- he just can't stop thinking about it.

It's why he has to pull back for breath a little early in their kiss, and why the break only lasts half a second, long enough for a sharp breath, before he's kissing him again, fingers curling tighter. He's nervous again, somehow, but not in the same way as their first night. It's more fidgety. His knees might touch against Leorio's hips a couple of times, and his heels press back against the desk so much that one of his flats falls off, but that's fine. Just a minute or so later, and the other follows.]

[That's different, alright. Leorio's glad they're past the stage where they were almost too nervous to look at each other (granted, that was mostly Kurapika). For both their sake, this is already going much better.

He comes forward when tugged, of course, bumping the desk and Kurapika's legs lightly as he's definitely not paying attention to how far he's moving. It brings a chuckle out of him in that half second Kurapika pulls back - he keeps walking into stuff, and that's- that's very funny right now? A lot of things seem much funnier the more his pulse races and even more things seem much more... vibrant, maybe.

Or maybe that's this really red shirt. Leorio's free hand slides along the side of Kurapika's thigh until he reaches the hem, fiddling with it for a moment. He looks good in it, still, and Leorio wastes no time in pushing it up a few inches, fingers sliding up over the skin underneath after.

It's his turn to break for a breath now, and another breathy laugh comes with it. That time he's sort of embarrassed, and mumbles something unimportant about ignoring that before leaning even more earnestly into the next kiss.]

kurapika ~*~*~the mastermind~*~*~

kurapika doesn't know where the toilet paper is kurta

he's come so far

truly

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look at these keywords

kurapika ~~~the mastermind~~~