doublesmall | [empatheias] ic contact.

[His eyes narrow at that comment, somewhat tense in the silence-- he knows Zelos is familiar with Dazai, so has he been told anything about Chuuya? Does he even know anything about Dazai?

He doesn't comment on it, but he's filing that away for consideration and moving on, answering Zelos' comment with a snort.]

I'm not underestimating you for that. Getting the hell out of the way means you've at least got a decent sense of self-preservation-- I'd have judged you for staying.

So are you underestimating me with anything else?

[He lets that sink in as well. He can tell Chuuya is tense when he's this close, but honestly that's good. He's still deciding if this guy is harmless or not. And he can't trust him near Kunikida or any of the others until he knows.]

Hahaha! Just kidding!

[He pulls back, waving his hand in the air as he turns and helps himself to snooping around Chuuya's little apartment.]

This is some place you've got here! You want anything to drink? [As if it's his house...]

Your manners, apparently.

[Chuuya watches as Zelos checks the place out, shifting to sit up a bit more so he can keep an eye on him. This is his place, Zelos, jeez.

It actually is pretty decent too, without much of the weird steampunky decor going on-- very tasteful. The issue is that it was made with a taller person in mind.]

Should be an open bottle in the fridge, if you don't mind-- the glasses are left of the sink.

[The top shelf of the cabinet is empty. He can't reach it.]

Sure thing.

[He notices this short people problem and holds back from laughing. He'll just focus on fetching the glass, opening the fridge to find the bottle and pouring some out.]

Man, even at home, on your own? You sure you don't have a problem?

What, you still count this as being on my own? That's a little pathetic.

[You're his company for now, Zelos, deal with it.]

It's been a long couple of days, I think I'm entitled to drink if I feel like it.

Oh, I'm being asked to stay? Why didn't you say so!

[He will just help himself to another glass, then...] I'm such a popular guy that this messes up my schedule, but I guess I can stay for a little while longer. Anything for one of my fans. ♥

Your fans, huh? I don't know if I'd go that far.

[He's still deciding how he feels about Zelos. The guy's been helpful so far, and Chuuya doesn't think he's bad company, but then there are those comments...

He makes himself comfortable now that he feels a bit more like he can move properly again, feet propped on the coffee table and one arm slung over the back of the couch, and adds-]

I am a fan of not feeling like I'll be glued to this damn couch for a month, though, so fine. Count that if it makes you feel better.

I just thought I wouldn't be seeing you so much if you didn't have a thing for me.

[He's joking... But they sure have run into each other a lot.] You sure you're not stalking me? [Bringing the glasses over, he passes Chuuya his and then has a seat... on the edge of the coffee table. Somehow he manages this.]

Let's drink to your quick recovery, then.

[Chuuya rolls his eyes at that, taking the offered glass and swirling the liquid in it a bit before taking a sip.]

You think I have the energy to stalk anyone right now? It'd be wasted effort, anyway.

[He has better things to do than tail people! Like... other, equally questionable things, but hush.

One arm stretches out, his wine glass clinking lightly against Zelos's.]

To not being stuck on the couch-- and to the help, I guess.

[Clink!! Zelos grins.]

Heheheh, I knew you were an appreciative guy. Let's drink. [He will sip his wine elegantly as he does. Enough teasing Chuuya for now...]

Now that's the best idea I've heard out of you yet.

[Chuuya can be elegant-- he learned a lot from Kouyou-- but look, he's just not here for that right now. There's no sipping going on, just a long, slow drink as he watches Zelos over the rim of his glass.]

...so how do you know Kunikida, anyway?

[Chillya... But it's fine, he can drink away and Zelos can push more for info.]

We're friends! Roomies! He didn't tell you who I was when he sent me here?

I knew he was sending someone he knew and trusted with it.

[He waves a hand vaguely... if Kunikida said anything else, Chuuya just wasn't listening. Knowing it'd be someone Kunikida thought he could rely on was enough, considering the sorry state he'd been in.]

Beyond that, I didn't really know what to expect.

The one and only me, of course. We're pretty close.

[Is he exaggerating? Maybe. Hopeful exaggeration...]

We met in this place, but I didn't expect him to know a guy like you. You met back home?

A guy like me, huh? What kind of guy is that?

[He raises a brow-- rude!-- but then the rest of what Zelos had said sinks in.]

And why would I know him from anywhere else, anyway? We met my first day here.

Beats me~.

[He doesn't know what kind of guy Chuuya is at all! Surely.]

You knew Dazai, his partner. Isn't that right?

[Sure he doesn't... Chuuya's about to call him on that comment, but the mention of Dazai always sidetracks him more effectively than just about anything else. His expression darkens, a scowl twisting his mouth, and the light in the room flickers.

His partner, was it.]

... so that's how it is, huh.

[Now that Zelos mentions it, he does recall Dazai saying something about a Kunikida-kun when they'd met back home, but nothing about him being Chuuya's replacement.

excuse him while he drains the glass and pushes himself to his feet, he is just going to retrieve the bottle if that's how this is gonna go.]

I knew Dazai, yeah, but it's not like he's ever said much about the guy. Maybe mentioned him once or twice.

[Well that sure is a reaction. It tells him he's right in his assumption that Chuuya and Dazai were pretty close at some point. In one way or another, no one shallow causes that reaction in people. He could go off and make a bunch of assumptions, but instead, he'll be light and cause reactions in Chuuya to tell him more.]

Don't tell me... You're his ex?

What?!

[That indignant shout is... followed by the sound of glass cracking and shattering from the kitchen, muffled swearing right on its heels. His poor wine glass didn't stand a chance, and Chuuya is just going to carry right on while picking up the pieces.]

Why would I ever date a waste of space like that?! Don't you know him? I have better taste than to be with some lazy, good-for-nothing-- [there goes another glass] Oh for fuck's sake--

[Is it time to just give up and drink from the wine bottle? It sure as fuck is!]

My, my, those are some pent up feelings releasing themselves, there! Did he reject you? Or wait, could it be that Kunikida is involved...?

[He'll poke and pester until Chuuya says more in a slip or some other way.]

There's nothing to reject!

[IT'S NOT LIKE THAT UGH...

Chuuya huffs his way back to the sofa, a slight chill following him as he flops back into place and takes another drink from the bottle. Classy.

Zelos won't have to wait long, either. After a few moments, Chuuya glances sullenly back up at him.]

'Coworkers' wasn't entirely accurate. He was my partner first, you know.

[Well that confirms some interesting things. He sips from his glass quietly, deciding that he doesn't need any more questions on that.]

Did he do something to piss you off?

Did he do something?

[Have a disbelieving scoff, Zelos, as Chuuya shakes his head at that. Did he do something. What kind of a stupid question is that? Of course he did.]

Only every day I worked with him. [But that's not the real response. Another short pause, before he finishes with another scowl:] He's a fucking traitor, of course I'm pissed with him.

That's a little odd to say about a detective, don't you think? How did he betray you?

[He already knows the overall idea here, from knowing Dazai has been a criminal before, but!!]

How do you think he did? He left.

[He rolls his eyes, taking another long drink. Hope you're ready to deal with what a mess he's going to be after a while, Zelos...]

Apparently to go be a fucking detective-- don't bother asking me why, who the fuck ever knows what's going on in that head of his.

[In other words, he doesn't actually know.]

So what do you do?

[He's blunt about it now. He knows he was a criminal, based on what Dazai admitted, but he doesn't know how or if Chuuya is the type to lie or tell the truth here.]

[He's a criminal, Zelos, of course he's going to go for the lie...]

Business. I'm an executive in our organization, most of my work is with acquisitions.

[Chuuya waves a hand vaguely-- it's not entirely a lie, really, there are businesses they use as fronts and businesses the mafia has acquired to do some of their work, but it's still nowhere near the truth.]

[The best lie is one with truths in the middle, isn't that what they say? He takes note of the specific use of the word executive in regards to a business and hums thoughtfully. He's still sitting on this table, but he leans back to rest on one of his palms as he sips more wine.]

What's wrong with a career change? You have something against detectives? That can't be, seeing as you seem to be buddy-buddy with Kunikida.

Kunikida doesn't have anything to do with this.

[Don't bring his weird unlikely bff into this!! Nevermind that this is literally how they got onto the subject to begin with...

He doesn't have a good answer for the rest of it, so he elects to leave it at that, taking another drink instead. Excuse him.

-yeah, the nonstop drinking may be beginning to get to him.]

[Hmmmmm!! He lets Chuuya drink for a long time before his own glass is empty, and he sets it aside carefully.]

You know, I'm a little curious about that business of yours. Other worlds have differences and all that, but do executives usually have anything they'd call a "partner?"

[He stands up from the table, straightening out his clothes.] Well, but it doesn't matter here, does it? What's really on my mind is whether or not Kunikida knows about you and Dazai.

He was one, too. Before he left.

[Ah, there's that sullen look again. Another half-truth; they were never executives at the same time, Dazai had outranked him before his defection, but Chuuya can only hope that deflects the question well enough.]

And like I said, I didn't know until now that they were even familiar. It never came up, you know?

I see, I see! So he has no idea.

[Zelos isn't about to tell him, but he doesn't make it clear either way in front of Chuuya. He doesn't make a lot clear in front of him. He's had his wine, Chuuya is healed a good bit, and now he can rest and enjoy the bottle. Zelos claps him lightly on the shoulder as he steps past him.]

I've had a good drink, but I've got to get back, or he'll be worrying about you until I do. Try not to drink yourself into a coma, Chuuya.

[empatheias] ic contact.

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