[closed] I don't believe in much but I believe in you

[halloflamer]

Who: Blue + company!
What: Sometimes you pine so hard you turn into actual pine(?); Closed toplevels for the event!
Where: Various!
When: Mid-February, mostly
Content Warnings: Probable graphic illness/blood descriptions, as you'd expect!



[Toplevels below! Hit me on kitsoru if you want to plot something!]

Comments

[halloflamer]

Uh-huh. [A likely story! Blue smiles sweetly and steps aside to let him in, if he wanted to; then again, if he feels like loitering against the doorway, Blue won't make him.]

Anyway, I'm feeling way better! Doing peachy over here; how about you?

[He gives a glance-over; at least that 'corsage' was gone from his wrist, but he can't help a face at the bandages in their place. He doesn't think he wants to know what that involved.] Not still coughing up phlegmy seeds?

[rotomphone]

[ he'll take that offered welcome, stepping in casually. he doesn't intend to stay long - this really is just meant to be a check-in, but Blue is clearly feeling cheeky. if he's feeling better, he shouldn't be cooped up in here. ]

Never better! [ he grins, bright and earnest. ] Wasn't the most fun to get over, but no seeds in sight for a day and a half. I'll call myself cured.

[ he notices that grimace, but makes no attempt to acknowledge it besides a quick smirk. it looks bad, he knows. ] Still can't believe all of that actually worked, though...

[ you know. the confessions. ]

[halloflamer]

[With Raihan strolling in, Blue closes the door behind them and passes back inside, popping a seat on the edge of his bed and crossing his leg over his knee.] Ugh, I've still got... pulpy junk here and there, but it's pretty much over with. Still taking it easy just in case, though.

[Blue's eyes slide towards Raihan slyly, and he appears to be chewing on his reply for a second beforehand.] If oversharing was the cure to illness, social media'd be a whole lot better. Anyway, if it hadn't, what would you have done?

[About the illness, or about spilling...]

[rotomphone]

Right, right. So is an invitation for celebratory barbecue is out of the question?

[ it's not a date, it's just him wanting to get out after two weeks of wallowing around feeling like crap. don't get the wrong idea - he will very much go without Blue if he says no. company would be nice, though. ]

You're speaking my language... but I dunno. I think I still would've only told one person even if I had my socials. [ as much as he loves to post, he'd like to keep some things in an inner circle. his follow-up question, is what interests him more, though - the answer seems obvious ] Kept looking for a cure? Not sure I want to think about what the alternative would've been.

[halloflamer]

[At that, Blue lofts a brow.]

An invitation? That's what you came here for? [He's just gonna let the knowing grin speak for itself!] I'll think about it. Tifa-chan's stall?

That reminds me, the bar looks like it's been pretty empty. I guess no one's felt like going out, lately.

[Blue looks like there's something bothering him about that, but he doesn't spit it out. Instead, he shrugs to Raihan's reply.]

Hey, you're the engagement king. [And clearly, something in this place would rather they didn't keep these things to themselves, but if that was how things were back home, would they really have been able to keep any of this from them?]

[If he had to tell Red- if he'd had to spill his feelings even back then- what would have happened?]

[He shrugs his shoulders as if to dismiss it again.] What if words weren't enough?

[rotomphone]

More or less. [ no ulterior motives here! he nods - Tifa's place always had the best seasonings, bar none. ] S'been a while since I've had a meal that didn't make me want to hurl, so I figured I'd make it a good one. Your flat's on the way.

[ of course, he also wanted to check up on Blue to make sure he was alright in both body and mind. they'd spoken about some pretty heavy things last time they saw each other, and he's still grateful that he listened. ]

Like how?

[halloflamer]

Uh, what're you eating? [Blue grimaces. Sheesh, he's not looking to get domestic or anything, but if the guy was eating that badly, he'd cook for him!] Come to the bar more often if you're eating that bad. You know, there's decent enough ingredients around here.

Don't you know how to cook?

[Then again, maybe he didn't. City boy. Blue meets his eyes again and just gives a tiny smirk.] Really? Whatever, let's get food first.

[rotomphone]

Wha- no, because I was coughing my lungs out every three seconds, not because it was bad! I'm awesome at cooking!

[ alright, forget hypotheticals. now he has to defend his honor as a self-sufficient adult. he can at least get by in making decent-tasting meals, but Blue doesn't need to know he's mediocre, regardless of relevancy to his prior statement. the conversation continues out the door and on the way to Wall Market, eventually devolving into a debate about the validity of beans on toast as a meal.

it's good food and good company regardless of their bickering, and Raihan is just glad that things are starting to feel normal again (considering the very strange definition of "normal" in this world). they're back at the Merlaut a couple of hours later, sated and still chattering away. ]

[halloflamer]

If you say so.......

[Blue doesn't sound convinced but that's probably at least partially put on to fuck with Raihan a little as he rolls up from his seat on the bed, following Raihan out to Wall Market.]

[Beans and toast were barely food, Blue scoffs over skewers of nicely marinaded meat, courtesy his still-technically-boss Tifa, and they eventually get on talking about curry differences between Galar and Kanto, instead. By the time they get back to the apartments, they're trading cooking tips for the new berries that have started spawning in this world, and when they get to Blue's door, Blue opens it for Raihan to follow in, expectantly.]

You want some of that juice, by the way? Or tea or something?

[rotomphone]

[ he will fight for the glory of beans on toast until his dying breath, and that's that! but the rest of their conversation is actually pretty interesting - there's more to curry than just variations in ingredients, and learning about the other is like a full-on cultural exchange.

he's almost surprised that Blue ushers him back into his room rather than shooing him away for the evening, but takes the invitation back in. ]

Tea's good, thanks... [ he meets his gaze for a moment, trying to read him. something's up. ] You're being too hospitable. What're you up to?

[halloflamer]

Hm?

[Blue grunts, filling the pot for tea and setting it on the stove- the delicious, mellow scent of matcha soon fills the apartment while they talk, and he turns and leans against the kitchen counter, cocking his head at the other man.]

...I mean, you're staying, right? [One brow rises, glancing Raihan over. The guy looks lost. Sheesh.]

Wasn't that the point? Taking me out like that.

[rotomphone]

[ oh. oh. alright.

honestly, this wasn't at all what he was thinking about when he asked Blue to come with him. the invitation had been completely platonic, though he can see why he had construed it as otherwise. they've been flirting, and Raihan at least isn't oblivious to that much. he can play this game. ]

Did you want it to be?

[halloflamer]

[While Blue could certainly see Raihan inviting him along platonically, it hadn't exactly been his first thought. For the other man to have come seeking him out, after all of the teasing they'd left off on last time....]

[It definitely read as a date to him.]

[Well, a conditional date, maybe. They couldn't battle, so Blue still wasn't sure exactly how he felt about the guy. But he appreciated the... effort. It was worth rewarding a little, right?]

What, are you saying it wasn't? I won't mind if it is, you know. [He shrugs, turning back to get two mugs from the cupboard.] ...But if that was what you wanted, let me know now before I waste a whole pot of tea.

[You know. Cuz it's gonna go cold while they're getting busy.]