none of us are free from sin

[alloutoflove]

At some point I uploaded new icons and botched some of my threads. Oops.
Also listen like 95% of this post is extremely nsfw. Double oops.

Stargazing → It's a nice clear night, and even when you live in a big city, there are places to get away and look at the stars. There's supposed to be a meteor shower tonight; maybe now's the time to make a wish.

Domesticity → Sometimes domesticity is a white picket fence and two kids and a dog; sometimes it's an apartment that's a little shabby but comfortable; sometimes it's just the people you're with.

What The Housekeeper Saw!! → What. What are you doing. Why are you doing it.

Spoiler prompt: There's a game you play sometimes, when you're acting. "Baby, if you love me, please please smile," you say, and the other person replies, "Baby, I love you, but I just can't smile." If you can make them smile, you win. If you don't, they win. And sometimes you don't even know you're playing the game. END PROMPT

Wildcard!! → Just what it says.

Comments

[alloutoflove]

It's not even about being sneaky.

[ She relaxes a little, thoughtful instead of forcibly cheerful. Since he's apparently not holding a grudge, she drops back into pace beside him again. ]

More than that, it's just... people don't pay attention to someone in my position. They don't think about what they're saying, when it's just the housekeeper bringing tea, or dusting the room. And before you argue, it happens even to me. That's just how things are.

...it's nicer, I think, to learn things directly from people, instead of on accident.

[rockyxiii]

Yukizome . . .

[Ah, he really does hate lying to her. But he'd hate losing her even more, and wouldn't he, if she knew?

He focuses instead on what she's saying, walking more slowly by her side and keeping an eye on her face.]

. . . I'd be more interested in what you had to say than any rich person you're bringing tea to any day.

[alloutoflove]

[ She smiles again at that -- a quieter smile, and a warmer one, that kind that makes her face seem to glow from within. As if she can tell he's watching her, she looks up at him, so for a moment he gets the full force of that smile. ]

I know. I've never worried about that with you.

[rockyxiii]

[Ahh, Chisa. He can't help but smile back, his own warmth creeping into it, as they head down the last block to the yakiniku place.]

But if you ever get anything good, maybe I wanna hear it. Only if it's good. If it's nasty, save it for when we're not eating.

[alloutoflove]

Most of it's very boring, to be honest.

[ She grimaces a little, though there's good humor in that, too. Rich people. ]

The year before I was recruited, I swore off dramas forever because of my work.

[rockyxiii]

I doubt Hope's Peak was much better.

[AH, HIGH SCHOOL . . .

This must be the place. Juzo gives Chisa a look, silently asking, here, right? Food time?]

[alloutoflove]

Aah, it was more of a problem at first. The more everyone got to know me, the less they stopped not-noticing me.

[ She nods to his look, leading the way in. It's dark and smokey, like might be expected. ]

To be honest, I kind of wish I could turn it on and off. It'd be more useful when I'm doing research for Munakata-kun.

[rockyxiii]

I was talking about the drama.

[He says, with another faint smile. But that too. Into the bar they go; he heads for a seat that's out of the way, as usual.]

It's pretty hard to imagine anyone not noticing you, Yukizome. But it's not like I ever hired you to clean my house either.

[alloutoflove]

That's because for you, I do it for free.

[ Or she used to. One assumes that there's a point where he put a stop to it, possibly when she came too close to finding some of those photos he's keeping. ]

Aah, but I'd rather not be noticed by some people. I've only got eyes for one man!

[rockyxiii]

[I CAN CLEAN MY OWN PLACE CHISA PLEASE DON'T GO THROUGH MY THINGS indeed. He's not gonna start that again, though.]

You know if anyone ever gives you any trouble like that you should come to me, right?

[They'll never find the body.]

[alloutoflove]

I know!

[ She leads him to a seat in the corner, not too out of the way, but not in the middle of all the salarymen having a good drunk time. ]

But I can handle myself, you know. You worry too much.

[rockyxiii]

Maybe I'd just love the chance to pound in the face of any guy who "noticed" you when you didn't want it. . . . Not that I wouldn't rather it not happen at all.

[But she's a lovely girl, and men are creeps, and it wouldn't be the first time Juzo's thrown his weight around on her behalf. He takes a seat and grabs the menu. mmmmeat (and some veg)]

[alloutoflove]

Sakakura-kun? That's probably a crime.

[ She doesn't sound upset about it, though. She tries to make it a point not to constantly go to him or Kyousuke for help -- she's perfectly capable of handling herself! -- it doesn't mean she doesn't appreciate when he has stepped in for her. ]

They're very polite, these days. Maybe word's gotten around.

[rockyxiii]

If I had something to do with that, I couldn't be happier to hear it. So, what do you want?

[What delicious meat do you want to put in your mouth, Chisa!!!]

[alloutoflove]

Mmmmm...

[ She hums a little, one finger tapping against her chin. ]

--There's a pork belly set, maybe that... mmm, but the beef price is good too...

[rockyxiii]

Don't worry about the price. Just get both of them.

[Also, he can eat ridiculous amounts of food, so, there's that behind this suggestion too. It doesn't even occur to him that restraint might be a thing.]

[alloutoflove]

Not all of us can eat as much as you can, Sakakura-kun!

[ That is not even a comment on his diet right now, that's the fact that he's a foot taller and significantly heavier with muscle than she is. Some of us have to pace ourselves more carefully!! ]

[rockyxiii]

Then I'll eat what you have left over.

[He's teasing about that too, though straight-faced, his lips barely twitching into a curve as he looks at the menu for himself.]

[alloutoflove]

[ She puffs up a little at that, mock-offended. Is that a challenge!! There's a fire in her eyes now as she braces both hands on the table. ]

Fine--! But I can still pay for myself!

[rockyxiii]

I already agreed to that, didn't I?

[Not that he wasn't lying. He might've been lying. Only time will tell. He shakes his head with a smile, setting down his menu.]

If you're challenging me, I'm gonna have to wheel you out of here, Yukizome.

[alloutoflove]

It's fine, it's fine! I'm strong!!

[ Chisa this has nothing to do with physical strength and everything to do with physical build. Who cares. She's committed now. ]

I'm not going to be a weak opponent!

[rockyxiii]

You're barking up the wrong tree here, but I'm not gonna stop you.

[He lifts his hand to flag down the waiter, smiling, so that he probably looks almost like a normal friendly customer in this moment.]

[alloutoflove]

[ At least the waiter is probably somewhat used to rougher-looking customers as well. Chisa's presence is probably helpful for that.

Or maybe it would be, if she weren't glaring at him in offended determination. ]

Just don't be surprised when I make you eat those words!

[rockyxiii]

[This waiter has a very wrong impression of who's the rough one at this table.

Juzo orders—plenty of food, and a beer, and then after the waiter leaves, he pauses and smacks himself in the head.]

Shit!

[alloutoflove]

--Eh?

[ That's not part of how this scenario goes. She pauses, distracted by that response. ]

Sakakura-kun?