doublesmall | [INBOX] fractura.

One of my boys still thinks this might be outside influence, but I'm not ready to write the Xian Le off that easily.

[of course he isn't. he lets baren use him as a legrest as he snags the pipe, though, drawing a breath in and exhaling smoke as he hands it back over.]

...sent a message over to Xie Lian this week. I figure if it's getting this bad, we might have to actually talk-- letting his guard dog speak for him isn't going to get us anywhere.

[maybe he argued with jiang cheng. it's fine. he wrinkles his nose at the thought of meeting with the other head, though; he doesn't want to, but he'll suck it up.]

Hmm... Not to get sentimental or anything but -

[terrible and incorrect - baren isn't sentimental, but he is protective. mostly over people rather than territory. he's not necessarily outwardly protective about chuuya but maybe it's some old bodyguard tendencies that gets him to speak after taking another smoke of his pipe]

Don't—

.... Nevermind.

[NOPE, TOO SENTIMENTAL.]

Oh, come on. Don't what? If you think it's a shit idea, hurry up and tell me, I have time to call it off.

[it's not like he really wants to do this, but it seems like the best next step he can take, while he continues to try and gather information.]

Nope.

[and he pops the 'p' before letting his fingers curl around the back of chuuya's neck, pulling him closer]

Just something I would've said if I wasn't in the position I'm in now.

[on the couch with chuuya? or neutral? hard to say

anyway,]

Go talk to him. It's none of my business until there's info to get out of it.

[FINE, THEN, KEEP YOUR SECRETS BAREN

chuuya lets himself be pulled all too easily, shifting to lean against baren; in private, it's much easier to let himself get comfortable.]

I'll let you know if anything comes of it that you need to know.

[baren sucks and has so many secrets - but at least he makes a soft affirming sound at that. it sounds like he's considering something at the moment, even as he encourages chuuya to lean against him, adjusting their position so it's more comfortable on the couch

his fingers idly run through chuuya's hair even as he smokes the pipe and then offers it to him

up until he breaks his silence a few minutes later, leaning over to press a kiss to chuuya's jaw, which isn't at all a bribe]

Send a Mori guard to Shinobun's clinic.

Seriously?

[he takes the pipe again, exhales a cloud of smoke (careful not to blow it into baren's face), and this time he holds on to it. his other hand wraps loosely around baren.]

I guess if she's really willing to help out both sides now, it's worth protecting a new resource when we've got it, but...

[but she's not from their side, and it's a very recent switch.]

I want to make sure she actually is going to work with us first.

... then consider it an advance payment for her future services.

[and he'll just shift his leg to nudge chuuya with it]

I'll owe you... half of one. All I need is to make sure nothing happens to her until I take care of something.

[NOT A FULL ONE - but it's something that baren's willing to be in a debt for, apparently]

...mm, if you insist, then fine.

[he'll trust baren, even if he doesn't trust shinobu. he takes another drag, then passes the pipe back again.]

I'll get one of my boys over there, I have enough security at the Manor to spare one.

Get one with good temperament - I'm gonna ask the Princess to give me the same thing. So your guard dogs are going to have to play nice.

[and baren for some reason thinks that xl will just say yes????? wow

anyway he's just going to take the pipe back and lean in to press their lips together, which definitely still isn't bribery for chuuya giving him what he wants]

You're really testing us both, you know that, right?

[ugh!! he hates that it works, though... chuuya accepts the kiss with a little sigh, shifting to drape himself over baren a little.]

Mm, I do.

[he's such an asshole

but regardless he manages a sly little grin at that before he encourages chuuya closer to him, titling his head so he can press a series of kisses along his jaw, then leaving a trail down his neck]

So far you're passing with flying colors, Chuu.

[bY GIVING BAREN WHAT HE WANTS horrible, he knows exactly what he's doing]

I can't tell if you're too smooth a talker or if I'm too easy.

[both, maybe? it's probably both. chuuya exhales a heavier breath at the attention, relaxing into it, reaching up to thread his fingers into baren's hair.]

Do I get you to myself tonight, or what?

[

uh]

.... we can book a room for a few hours, or you can sneak me over to your place, but I gotta be back before Okuni is. She's staying here until things blow over.

[so like

they can't fuck in the same room that okuni is going to be sleeping in tonight, baren simply can't allow it]

Oh, fucksakes.

[UGHHH. he falls forward, face pressed against baren's shoulder, his voice muffled.]

You couldn't tell me that earlier?

[LMAO baren was bothered but seeing chuuya's reaction makes it so worth it]

It's not my fault you're easily excited.... not that I hate it.

[and he's just going to lean over to bite at chuuya's ear]

C'mon, if you really wanna, then we gotta go sooner than later. So make up your mind.

Stop being distracting if you want me to make up my damn mind, dumbass--

[he makes a face, shoving baren's face away from him...

but let's be honest, it's an easy decision.]

Let's go.

[okay he's just

laughing some more, even as he takes ahold of chuuya's hand, turns it so that his palm keeps facing baren, and then he'll press his lips against the inside of chuuya's wrist

before letting go and moving to get up]

Alright, alright. You're covering the room tonight.

[please just let us timeskip past them being nasty]

[yeah we can do that i can't believe jan fucking called us out on it

ANYWAY, LATER ON, after chuuya gets them a room and Things Happen... he's just lounging, honestly, after throwing on a shirt and not much else.]

You gonna need to get back to the bar tonight, or what?

[because he'll escort him back, it'll make him feel better considering everything that's gone on... but he also doesn't want to have to get up.]

[baren, meanwhile, is up already. he's mostly just put his underwear back on, then fixing up their discarded clothes, folding them so they're not a mess of wrinkles whenever they do get around to leaving]

Yeah, I'd rather stay with Okuni tonight.

[he's PROTECTIVE but also he'll lean over press his lips against chuuya's neck again, letting his teeth scrape against the skin briefly]

Could squeeze in a shower before I go though.

Yeah? I'll take that. No second rounds in the shower, though, I'm sure as hell not going to make up some excuse if I have to see Doc for that kind of injury.

[just throw him out the fucking window and save us both, LORD. chuuya exhales a pleased little sound at the kiss, turns his head to give baren one in return.]

[INBOX] fractura.

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