Pre-Game Log | Imagine we are higher than the sparrows

[oneirism]

Who: Lapis + You
Where: Various
When: Even more various
Summary: Catch all for pre-game CR
Restrictions/Warnings: None right now, will edit if anything pops up.

Comments

🌹 Julius

[oneirism]

[It's been a couple of months since Lapis first met Julius on that ship, and now something like a routine has been set up between them. She would call at least once a week, not so subtlety demanding that he take a break and meet her in the bazaar in Leith for a day off. He would argue he couldn't, he had duties and so on to do, and Lapis would just dig her heels in until he listened. And he always did, despite the protests.

So it's at the bazaar that she finds herself waiting, having found a table outside a nice cafe to park herself at - though she did make sure to at least order a tea, so that the staff didn't get huffy. Absently swirling a spoon around in the cup, her chin resting on one hand, before she quickly perks up once she spots the person she's been waiting for.]

[tousei]

[ It's been a while. At first, he complied out of a sense of obligation, but as she continued to pay attention to him there was also some relenting on his part. Unfortunately, to keep up with her appointments, he would have to work overtime. It's not something he's told her.

He approaches the street two minutes before the appointed time, out of uniform and dressed in an oddly intricate way. It's evident that his clothes are tailor-made for him, but he hasn't said by whom. ]

Good afternoon.

[ He offers her a slight nod once he comes within speaking distance. His expression doesn't change much, but his voice carries most of his friendliness (albeit dampened by his monotone). ]

[oneirism]

[Even if he's not told, it something she wouldn't be too surprised to find out. His life seems to center around his work - not that Lapis can really judge though, since it's rare for her to not be gathering info when she's not singing. But today is a day off, and for now, her focus is on Julius.

The outfit certainly gets her attention, curious about where he got it - the more vain and fashion-conscious part of her approving of his choice. Even though Lapis is dressed more simpler in comparison.

But she motions him to sit in the chair opposite her, her expression softening into something almost like a smile - her own monotone much more lighter than normal.]

Good afternoon! I really like your outfit, Julius.

he's a loser who wears the same thing all the time

[tousei]

Thank you.

[ There's a slight shift in his expression, not quite surprise but not quite happiness either, coming together to form something altogether quite unreadable. It's odd to be complimented for fashion he didn't even choose himself. Even after his mother's death, he had worn the same set of casual clothes out of habit.

There was no reason to pick something else, either.

He takes his seat, posture slightly stiff as if he was still at attention. He casts his grey gaze around the area once before settling his attention on her once again. ]

Where do you wish to go today?

clearly she needs to take him shopping one day

[oneirism]

[Considering Lapis' own tendencies to make her expression unreadable, she doesn't really react much to his shift in expression. Simply just nodding and sitting back to sip on her tea - as if what she just said was a perfectly normal thing to say.

Though she does blink at how stiffly he sits, though it's not surprising, and she just keeps lounging back in her seat as she places her cup back down.]

Well, there's a book store I wanted to check out, but I haven't thought much more beyond that. I'll think of something as we go along. [But then she moves to take the menu laying on the table and offer it to him.]

Though I figured we could have lunch first, unless you ate already? [Which she doubts, but maybe he's getting better about that? M-maybe...]

the challenge is getting him to actually buy anything

[tousei]

[ They're not much different from each other in temperament, which makes it easier for him to interact with her. Extroverts tend to drain his energy very quickly.

As for her question, the slight pause before he answers should give her a clue. ]

... I had some tea.

[ Tea is water, Julius. That's not food. ]

lapis will accept this challenge!!

[oneirism]

[Luckily Lapis is far too chill to be much of an extrovert, despite her tendency to be rather social. The only time she's really full of energy is when she's on stage.

And that pause is already enough of an answer, her expression turning a tad more flat when he responds.]

That's not food, Julius. [Just gonna pretty much shove the menu towards him now.]

Order something, I'll be paying for it since I'm the one telling you to eat.

what a good friend

[tousei]

[ He's busted. ]

I'll pay for it. I forgot to eat so logically it's my responsibility.

[ As if to accentuate his point, he picks up the menu and starts scrutinising it with an intensity usually reserved for missions. Here starts another round of mutual shove arguments. It's nothing new to them, but she's the one who usually wins. ]

gonna try to be the good-est friend ever for julius

[oneirism]

[Damn right he is.

There's just a raise of her brows in response, watching as he scrutinizes the menu - time for another round of 'dig her heels in till he agrees'.]

I invited you here, so I should pay.

[That's how it usually works, right? It is in those dramas her sister likes to watch, but she probably shouldn't be basing her judgment off those things.]

best

[tousei]

[ He knows he'll probably be on the losing side, but there's no knowing until he tries. ]

I can't possibly burden you with expenses from my mistakes.

[ It's not fair to both of them. He should take responsibility for his own negligence. ]

[oneirism]

[There's a quiet huff, before she takes another sip of her tea. Still quietly staring him down as she does so.]

It's not a burden. I wouldn't offer if I couldn't afford it.

[Plus she knows it's a habit that a few months of nagging can't instantly fix. Which is why she wants to at least do this much for him.]

[tousei]

[ It's now his turn to sigh. He has no tea to huff into so it will have to suffice. ]

That's not the point. It is the principle. I must take responsibility.

[ Even if she would eventually win over him, he has to put up some form of resistance. His mother has always taught him to be self-sufficient, after all. One must not take something from another when it was unnecessary. ]

... or if you truly wish to buy something for me, let me buy something for you in return.

[oneirism]

[Cue another huff, almost looking like she's pouting for a moment.

So she's certainly about to make an argument back, only to then blink at what he says next. Tilting her head slightly, as if she didn't quite hear that right. Nobody really... buys anything for her. It's weird to think about.]

But you don't have to buy anything for me, that would be a waste of money. [Her tone is casual, as if she's stating a simple fact. And it is a fact, at least to her.]

🌺 Kanda

[oneirism]

[Lapis does enjoy her job at the bar - she loves a chance to sing, and the crowd always enjoys it as well. But sometimes the crowd gets a bit too... excitable, though. Luckily there's always bouncers around, one of which she's becoming more familiar with, with his long hair and permanent scowl. He always tended to be the more irritable of the bouncers she's seen too, and has seen more than a few patrons leave the bar with a broken nose thanks to him.

Usually Lapis isn't a fan of violence, but in these cases, those guys usually deserved it.

And she feels that the guy groping onto her leg certainly deserves a broken nose too - and she basically just stops mid-song to give the man the most flattest of looks. She doesn't appreciate being interrupted while she was singing, especially by some overly touchy drunk.]

Let go. [Of course he doesn't listen - so Lapis just quietly hopes a bouncer will intervene before she has to blackmail the guy to let go. She prefers not to do anything related to info broker-ing while on stage.]

[lotusmesenpai]

[With a voice like hers, Lapis is damn good for business - something the bar owner has made sure Kanda was more than aware of.

As in the one job he has when she's here is to make sure the mouth-breathers wasting joy on questionable hokk aren't going to run her off.

Which is why, the moment he catches the cut in the song (one he's almost fond of, even) he's already striding across the floor, none-too-gently shoving people out of his way. He gets there in time to see the idiot not only ignore her command, but actually start to reach that hand further up--

Reach, but not attain.

Because before it can make any further contact, he's got that wrist in a vice-like grip, pulling back and twisting hard, just shy of breaking bones. The drunk howls in protest before turning to Kanda, full of impotent rage, but a swift punch to the idiot's temple is enough to abort the complaint in the making.

Nodding over one of the other bouncers, he passes off the unconscious man before turning to Lapis.]

...You alright?

[oneirism]

[The moment that hand starts to reach further up, Lapis can feel her body start to tense - gold eyes narrowing at the drunk as she quietly wishes she wasn't so adverse to violence. One of the very few times she wishes something like that.

Luckily, she doesn't have to contemplate on publicly humiliating him, as his wrist is caught and Lapis feels a wave of relief rush through her when her eyes land on Kanda. Her expression unchanging as the drunks wrist is twisted and he howls in protest - instead she simply lets the tension ease from her body with a sigh of relief, once he goes limp and is passed away.

While personal space is never really a thing Lapis had, she still really doesn't appreciate being touched like that. But she just quietly nods, shifting to step down from the stage with another sigh - a quick break sounds good right about now.]

I'm fine, he didn't get very far. And thank you, I'm glad you got here so quick. [That's really the only hint of discomfort she'll show about that entire situation, as she's forced her expression back into something neutral once more.]

[lotusmesenpai]

It's my job.

[Gruff, as always, but not actually too overly annoyed sounding and so he nods at the rest rather than say anything that will, honestly, prolong the conversation that is, quite obviously, uncomfortable for them both. Instead, he steps close, places a barely there hand at the middle of her back, and pointedly glares at the people standing nearest them before nudging her forward.

It's an impersonal ghost of a touch - just enough to keep her within the sphere if his protection in a crowded bar as they make their way towards the small break room used by employees.

(Little more than a couch, a couple of chairs, and a fridge)

Destination clear, the owner is already sending a waitress with their usual drinks to meet them.]

How much longer are you planning on entertaining those fuckers tonight?

[oneirism]

[If anything, the gruffness gets her expression to soften slightly - never really put off by how gruff or curt he tended to be. It was reassuring in a way, since he just says what he thinks. And it's a relief that they don't really have to talk about what just happened to the others, simply following his nudge forward.

Her movements are calm and relaxed, as if she doesn't notice Kanda just glaring down anyone within the vicinity, before she flops down onto one of the chairs once they arrive. Shifting to rest her elbows on her knees, and her chin in her hands - humming quietly at his question.

The usual silence that drags between the lulls in her words lasts for a moment longer, simply letting herself adjust to the relative quietness of the break room. She can tell it's getting late, there's a familiar tiredness setting in now, but...]

I want to do at least one more song, since my last one was interrupted. [Which she's rather annoyed about. She's proud of her singing, and doesn't approve of anything or anybody ruining her performances.

There's a quiet sigh, eyes closing for a moment as she slumps a bit more.]

Hopefully that drunk doesn't bother coming back for a while.

[lotusmesenpai]

[One more song isn't so bad - and it's one he likes can tolerate, which is why he offers a non-committal sound at that. Before he can say anything about her concern, however, the door opens and the waitress steps in long enough to set the drinks on the table, wink at Lapis, and then rush right back out.

Tipping customers aren't in the breakroom, after all.

Picking up hers, he taps the bottle lightly against her forearm as he reaches for his own half-glass of hokk, the faint hint of a confident smirk pulling at his lips.]

If he does, I'll just shoot him in the knee. Stun settings might hurt like a bitch, but he won't be able to follow.

[oneirism]

[Lapis still stays slumped in the seat as the waitress steps in, giving a little wave of her fingers in return to the wink before she's away again. Not mind how she rushes right back out, since she's not getting paid here.

Gold eyes then flick back over to Kanda as he taps the bottle against her arm, taking the bottle and bringing it to her lips. His words getting an amused huff, before she takes a sip of her drink - immediately feeling her face instinctively scrunch at the taste. Not the biggest fan of hokk, but the kick keeps her going.

Which is why she takes another sip, somehow ignoring how her body shudders in response.]

Maybe that will be enough to deter him completely too. If he can even remember anything the next day, I could smell the hokk on him from the stage.

[lotusmesenpai]

[Fortunately for them both, Kanda's enhancements have enough juice in them to keep him from being overly affected by the hokk - so even with a few drinks, he's still more than capable of watching her back as she works the bar or once they leave to get her home.

His thoughts are derailed a bit at the way she reacts to the alcohol, even after all this time. Shaking his head, he holds up his glass to her.]

You still haven't figured out the trick to drinking this shit. [Lifting the glass, he knocks back a swift sip, lets it hit the back of his throat and quickly swallowing, before clarifying.]

Don't let it sit so long on your tongue - try to let it hit the back of your throat, then just swallow. You'll taste it less.

[oneirism]

[Luckily Lapis has a pretty good tolerance as well - even if she still didn't like the taste.

Though she stops her disgruntled staring at the drink when Kanda holds up his glass, giving a quiet huff in response to his words. Okay, he's right, but she just didn't tend to drink that often!

She does at least watch and listen to him though, nodding quietly as she looks at the bottle in her hands once more. Quickly mimicking it as she takes a swig and lets it hit her throat before swallowing - luckily her not so great imitation only resulting in a cough or two.]

Ugh, it's still awful. [Despite her complaint, she takes another quick sip. And actually doesn't cough this time.]

Maybe one day the taste won't be so terrible.

[lotusmesenpai]

[His lips twitch, slightly, at her attempts to follow his lead - the only hint of actual amusement that he lets through before he knocks the rest of his glass back in one quick shot.

It burns, warm and comfortable down his throat as he sets the glass back onto the table.]

Of course it is. They save the good stuff for Leithian wannabes.

[Shrugging then, he sits back in his chair, legs stretched out before him, one elbow on the table and head resting temple against his fist as he watches her.]

Doubt it, but you could always try the pumpkin ale instead. Too sweet for me, but it's not horrible.

[oneirism]

[She saw that lip twitch, Kanda! Even if it was only something little, at least it was something - so she's rather proud of herself now.

But she hums softly in agreement, not really considering herself Leithian anymore since she up and left years ago. Plus she never drank there either, but it would make sense that they would have the good stuff.

She leans back in her chair as she keeps eyeing the bottle in her hands, tilting her head slightly at his suggestion.]

Pumpkin ale? I guess I'll give that a try, though I'm kinda wary of how it's sweet.

[Lapis has a sweet tooth, but sweet alcohol sounds a bit... much. At least she seems to be getting the hang of drinking this, as she takes another swift sip - no coughs this time.]

[lotusmesenpai]

[He does have a sense of humor... almost. It's just rarely let loose. So for her to unintentionally tease out a part of it that's neither sardonic or snide is something of an accomplishment.

He's just not going to admit that. Instead, he'll just focus on the conversation.]

It's not horrible, I just don't like sweet things.

[He prefers them bitter, like his soul.

Shrugging at that, he glances at the door, then back to her.] Maybe next time then, or after you finish for the night. Were you planning on staying after the next song, or you heading home?