what, like you're picky? i'll bring what i've got.
[a partial lie; he's got some very special leftovers to share, but he'll probably bring something fresh and embarrassing from the cafe, because it's free (and, alright, some of it's not bad, even if it's all embarrassing looking)]
[and the difference in the packages is obvious when Rin lets himself into the shop, dingding, toting one typical lunchbox and one extremely pink and ribboned box]
[he doesn't immediately seek out Sousuke, getting distracted by the machinery. what kid doesn't dream of riding a motorbike? he's a little more cautious about them, now -- he's seen accident statistics, and he's not interested in throwing away a lifetime's dream of an athletic career over one joyride -- but that doesn't stop them from being so, so cool. Nagisa'd gotten a vespa ages ago, back when he was here, and Rin had ridden around on that a bit, but it couldn't break 20 mph. it would be an insult to these babies to go that slow -- and if there's one thing Rin likes, it's speed]
[he gravitates naturally to something showy and red and black, a sleek classic number that would be at home in some American film. the low whistle escapes him without his notice, and he temporarily puts the less important package (the carefully tied pink one) onto the wide, low seat of the bike, craning to get a closer look]
Please tell me you're taking that one to Gou after this.
[From behind the counter he points a pen at the pink box. It looks as much like a sweet as whatever's inside of it is likely to.
It's a little gratifying to watch Rin make his way around looking at the bikes. Even if Sousuke hasn't been working here very long he's still happy with the job and starting to feel proud to work here. People just look at motorcycles differently and he can see the look on Rin's face, too.]
Somebody like you should be careful of love at first sight, you know. It happens and it's really expensive.
I don't get a discount for being friends with the help?
[almost a whine, but he leans back at his best friend's voice, still grinning. motorbikes were a hell of a lot cooler, a hell of a lot, as the terrible pink box reminds him of his own part-time job]
[with a bit of a wince;]
And shut up, all the stupid boxes look like this, it's just a coffee cake for later. I eat them a lot, it's not sweet.
[it's Rin who alarmingly knows his best friend's snacking schedule, after all -- Sousuke's stomach'll be grumbling at that inopportune time between lunch and dinner, and he'll still be stuck here, and he'll be damn glad for a bit of coffee cake then, thanks]
Do you get to test drive them at all? -- Eh, do you even have your license...?
I don't even get a discount, how am I supposed to give you one?
[He actually might, but it hasn't come up. How is he supposed to ask about a discount on a bike when he can't even ride yet?
Sousuke just does his best to hide a smile at the coffee cake. Leave it to Rin to look after him not just now but later too, blood sugar and all. He can leave off giving him shit for the fancy box for now, if it's for something like that.]
Nah, I don't know how to ride one yet. Always wanted to learn, though, and why not here? Suddenly got a lot of free time for stuff like that.
[Perks of the job, too; he's pretty sure when the time comes he won't be able to find a better teacher than his boss. He just has to figure out how to ask him without looking like a complete teen loser.]
[Rin supposes that response should make him happy -- he's been saying as much to Sousuke since he arrived here, that the only way to get by in a dead-end place like this was to try new things, have fresh experiences, and make the time count -- but it really gives him a selfish twinge of longing. it's hard to imagine himself swimming without Sousuke, still, as much as Rin wants to push his best friend towards a new goal. he's selfish, like that, for all the thoughtful snacks he bears; he wishes Sousuke's free time wasn't free, but was spent with him, in the pool]
[but the moment of nostalgia and frustrated desire passes unnoticed, as Rin's looked at the bike the whole time, rather than Sousuke; he straightens from his crouch with the appropriate response in hand (the supportive, right one), rather than the selfish one]
Think the boss'll teach you? Seems like a tough guy...
[he gives the bike one last touch (the seat was real leather, so cool!) and makes his way over to Sousuke's counter, grabbing the only existing chair for himself]
[If it were up to him, Sousuke'd spend that time in the pool, too. He was going to try it when Asahi managed to make his shoulder a bit better, but he couldn't get out of his stupid costume so swimming was right out, and when the costume left, so did the effects of the healing. Huge waste, in his opinion, but it meant never mentioning the healing to Rin in the first place. Why get his hopes up?
This is something to keep him occupied, maybe make him grow a bit. It's what he needs to be doing here, whether he wants to or not. In time it'll get easier and feel less disloyal, wanting things other than swimming. It's a little disorienting right now so he's holding back on those feelings.
It mean his response is offhanded, perhaps more than he actually feels.]
Dunno yet, but no harm in asking. The worst he can do is--well, the worst he can do is fire me but he doesn't seem like the kind of guy to fire me over a question, so the worst he's likely to do is say no.
[Sousuke likes how tough Kinagase is. It makes working here pretty comfortable. Neither of them are big talkers, they sometimes leave only to see each other at the gym shortly after, and overall he just gets a sense of familiarity from the guy that makes it easier to come to work in the morning.]
[Rin smirks about as wickedly as a stereotypical punk on a motorbike might, hopping up on the chair and letting his sneakers scuff the back of the counter]
Like I don't know that! Don't tempt me. Eh, I need to learn how to drive a car first, anyway.
[for as long as he's been here, there's still plenty of firsts he hasn't experienced yet. there'll always be a long list, in Rin's life, of things he wants to do and goals he wants to achieve -- and he'd like Sousuke there for many of them]
Since everything's in running distance, it's seemed better for my training not to learn, but then it's a pain if I have a ton of equipment or something for the centre, or if it's shitty weather...
[finally, he opens the lunchbox for them, revealing a fairly huge container of spicy kimchee with tons of pork and what looks like a small truckload of fresh vegetables. some side dishes in smaller containers beside contain things like cucumber salad and pickled carrots; Rin tries to play it extremely casual when he informs Sousuke]
Gou's been trying different kimchee recipes lately, for some reason. [Rin is stupid, for not knowing the reason, frankly] Who knew I'd have to be my sister's guinea pig, ch...
[and yet his expression is a lot more like he's just revealed a tupperware container of pure gold to his best friend, his face lit up; it makes his heart twist, to get to eat his sister's cooking, after being here so long and often without her (and really, there's only one person he knows who'd understand the feeling, and he's looming across from him)]
[there's only one set of chopsticks (fancy and lacquer, kept in a tidy box -- a gift from Rei some time past) but digging around in the side pouch of the lunchbox reveals -- a rather bent spoon. he waggles it in his friend's face as an offering]
[That's the smile Sousuke was going for. He nods with understanding when Rin talks, though.]
The winters seem worse here than at home. You're going to hurt yourself if you're running when it's icy.
[Of course, a bike on the ice is probably an even worse idea, but Rin's talking cars. All the talking stops when the food comes out, though. He doesn't miss the way Rin's face lights up, eager like he's watching Sousuke open a Christmas gift, but his attention's much more firmly focused on the spread. So many options, colorful and aromatic and most importantly, made by probably his second favorite person on the entire planet, and it's a tight race sometimes.
Only the motion of the spoon is enough to get his attention again properly. Rin gets pretty chopsticks and Sousuke gets a bent spoon. His expression reveals exactly what he thinks of this, but he takes it anyway.
And turns the biggest container so the side with all the pork is closest to him. He can't reach as far with this spoon, Rin. Deal with it.]
The house must smell amazing with all this spicy cooking going on.
[Emphasis on spicy. Who do they know who likes spicy food? It is a mystery.]
[have some rather rude pointing with chopsticks that are already holding some kind of grilled vegetable, soggy with spicy sauce. splat, splat. now you have to clean your counter]
You'd know if you visited more! I gotta track you down at work like this, now, [as if his friend has had this job for ages, as if this is already an established tradition -- and it's very likely it's going to be)] just to get some face-time with you! Gou's probably making all this extra pork just so you'll come over, y'know.
[yeah, that's it, Rin, you've figured out Gou's game (idiot)]
You should stop by after work to tell her how good it is, at least.
[utterly transparent; clearly Rin wants to force Sousuke into his new life, and he'll shove him there with a bent old spoon, if he has to. Rin digs into the kimchee, delighted by his sister's cooking as he usually is (considering he's the only one who doesn't get treated to protein specials)]
[If it wasn't a vegetable, Rin would stand losing that piece of food for that, but Sousuke's not going to give him the satisfaction. In the meantime, he wipes at the counter with a napkin, paying very good attention to getting it clean because that means not looking up.]
It's not just your house, I can't just walk in there like I used to. [And it's not being of Gou or Momo, either. He's not sure Rin will figure that out, but he also can't just say, 'sometimes being around your boyfriend makes me feel awkward.']
I didn't realize I was disappointing her so much, though. You can count on me for tonight.
[He sets the spoon against the edge of the counter to try to straighten it a little before starting but it's a bit of a lost cause. He'll make this work, though; Rin brought it, so he has to.
After the first bite he'd be making plans if he hadn't already been informed where he was going tonight. Gou got really good.]
[Rin grumbles something like 'damn right,' and then doesn't say much for the next couple minutes. it's nice, to just have a quiet meal with Sousuke. he's not really at that level with anybody from Iwatobi, even Makoto -- it's impossible to be quiet with Nagisa or Rei, Haru's silence makes him want to turn inside-out, and Makoto's usually spells out a bad day or a lack of attention. with Sousuke, silence is just companionable, and Rin doesn't have to endlessly worry about what's running through his friend's head, or feel like he has to be on guard]
[after they enjoy their meals for a few long minutes, Rin finally gets around to considering Sousuke's weak protest. surprisingly, he looks thoughtful about it]
I guess... I don't think she'd mind, though. If you just walked in whenever. It's not like she's, y'know, walking around the house indecent or anything. [way to put it like an old man from the 50's] I think she'd like it, actually. She was always bothering me back at school about bringing you over more.
[clearly, the issue Sousuke has is about Gou, and not anybody else; Rin's chopsticks find their way towards that pile of pork Sousuke's trying to commandeer]
[Of course that's the right thing to say. Rin's never going to stop him coming around, and Sousuke knows that. He just likes to make sure Rin's going to be there when he does it, but this seems like a firm plan. The descent into quiet is easy, natural, and it lets Sousuke focus on eating with the slightly awkward utensil Rin brought.
He needs to start hoarding chopsticks here if this is going to be a regular thing, but he'd like that. Rin around at lunchtime... wouldn't be bad at all.]
Maybe not but Momo might, especially if she's home. He's indecent even with a full outfit on. [A chatty reply, one that just accepts the deflection. He's not going to press about it; Rin would just get resentful, and the problem is entirely Sousuke's anyway. For all that they often don't seem to see eye to eye, Makoto's still never been anything but decent to Sousuke, so his presence shouldn't be what keeps Sousuke away.
It might still be, for a little while anyway, but that doesn't mean it should.]
If she's that insistent, though, I'm not gonna risk saying no to her. After all, she's already feeding me.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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hard to get fired when there's not that much work yet
[the shop is, however, spotless.]
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you got a lunchbreak, right?
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you want to meet up?
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it's quiet here
what's for lunch?
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[a partial lie; he's got some very special leftovers to share, but he'll probably bring something fresh and embarrassing from the cafe, because it's free (and, alright, some of it's not bad, even if it's all embarrassing looking)]
action at yamazaki zoo
[he doesn't immediately seek out Sousuke, getting distracted by the machinery. what kid doesn't dream of riding a motorbike? he's a little more cautious about them, now -- he's seen accident statistics, and he's not interested in throwing away a lifetime's dream of an athletic career over one joyride -- but that doesn't stop them from being so, so cool. Nagisa'd gotten a vespa ages ago, back when he was here, and Rin had ridden around on that a bit, but it couldn't break 20 mph. it would be an insult to these babies to go that slow -- and if there's one thing Rin likes, it's speed]
[he gravitates naturally to something showy and red and black, a sleek classic number that would be at home in some American film. the low whistle escapes him without his notice, and he temporarily puts the less important package (the carefully tied pink one) onto the wide, low seat of the bike, craning to get a closer look]
Re: action at yamazaki zoo
[From behind the counter he points a pen at the pink box. It looks as much like a sweet as whatever's inside of it is likely to.
It's a little gratifying to watch Rin make his way around looking at the bikes. Even if Sousuke hasn't been working here very long he's still happy with the job and starting to feel proud to work here. People just look at motorcycles differently and he can see the look on Rin's face, too.]
Somebody like you should be careful of love at first sight, you know. It happens and it's really expensive.
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[almost a whine, but he leans back at his best friend's voice, still grinning. motorbikes were a hell of a lot cooler, a hell of a lot, as the terrible pink box reminds him of his own part-time job]
[with a bit of a wince;]
And shut up, all the stupid boxes look like this, it's just a coffee cake for later. I eat them a lot, it's not sweet.
[it's Rin who alarmingly knows his best friend's snacking schedule, after all -- Sousuke's stomach'll be grumbling at that inopportune time between lunch and dinner, and he'll still be stuck here, and he'll be damn glad for a bit of coffee cake then, thanks]
Do you get to test drive them at all? -- Eh, do you even have your license...?
[Rin does not.]
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[He actually might, but it hasn't come up. How is he supposed to ask about a discount on a bike when he can't even ride yet?
Sousuke just does his best to hide a smile at the coffee cake. Leave it to Rin to look after him not just now but later too, blood sugar and all. He can leave off giving him shit for the fancy box for now, if it's for something like that.]
Nah, I don't know how to ride one yet. Always wanted to learn, though, and why not here? Suddenly got a lot of free time for stuff like that.
[Perks of the job, too; he's pretty sure when the time comes he won't be able to find a better teacher than his boss. He just has to figure out how to ask him without looking like a complete teen loser.]
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[but the moment of nostalgia and frustrated desire passes unnoticed, as Rin's looked at the bike the whole time, rather than Sousuke; he straightens from his crouch with the appropriate response in hand (the supportive, right one), rather than the selfish one]
Think the boss'll teach you? Seems like a tough guy...
[he gives the bike one last touch (the seat was real leather, so cool!) and makes his way over to Sousuke's counter, grabbing the only existing chair for himself]
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This is something to keep him occupied, maybe make him grow a bit. It's what he needs to be doing here, whether he wants to or not. In time it'll get easier and feel less disloyal, wanting things other than swimming. It's a little disorienting right now so he's holding back on those feelings.
It mean his response is offhanded, perhaps more than he actually feels.]
Dunno yet, but no harm in asking. The worst he can do is--well, the worst he can do is fire me but he doesn't seem like the kind of guy to fire me over a question, so the worst he's likely to do is say no.
[Sousuke likes how tough Kinagase is. It makes working here pretty comfortable. Neither of them are big talkers, they sometimes leave only to see each other at the gym shortly after, and overall he just gets a sense of familiarity from the guy that makes it easier to come to work in the morning.]
You'd look good on one of those, you know.
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Like I don't know that! Don't tempt me. Eh, I need to learn how to drive a car first, anyway.
[for as long as he's been here, there's still plenty of firsts he hasn't experienced yet. there'll always be a long list, in Rin's life, of things he wants to do and goals he wants to achieve -- and he'd like Sousuke there for many of them]
Since everything's in running distance, it's seemed better for my training not to learn, but then it's a pain if I have a ton of equipment or something for the centre, or if it's shitty weather...
[finally, he opens the lunchbox for them, revealing a fairly huge container of spicy kimchee with tons of pork and what looks like a small truckload of fresh vegetables. some side dishes in smaller containers beside contain things like cucumber salad and pickled carrots; Rin tries to play it extremely casual when he informs Sousuke]
Gou's been trying different kimchee recipes lately, for some reason. [Rin is stupid, for not knowing the reason, frankly] Who knew I'd have to be my sister's guinea pig, ch...
[and yet his expression is a lot more like he's just revealed a tupperware container of pure gold to his best friend, his face lit up; it makes his heart twist, to get to eat his sister's cooking, after being here so long and often without her (and really, there's only one person he knows who'd understand the feeling, and he's looming across from him)]
[there's only one set of chopsticks (fancy and lacquer, kept in a tidy box -- a gift from Rei some time past) but digging around in the side pouch of the lunchbox reveals -- a rather bent spoon. he waggles it in his friend's face as an offering]
Re: action at yamazaki zoo
The winters seem worse here than at home. You're going to hurt yourself if you're running when it's icy.
[Of course, a bike on the ice is probably an even worse idea, but Rin's talking cars. All the talking stops when the food comes out, though. He doesn't miss the way Rin's face lights up, eager like he's watching Sousuke open a Christmas gift, but his attention's much more firmly focused on the spread. So many options, colorful and aromatic and most importantly, made by probably his second favorite person on the entire planet, and it's a tight race sometimes.
Only the motion of the spoon is enough to get his attention again properly. Rin gets pretty chopsticks and Sousuke gets a bent spoon. His expression reveals exactly what he thinks of this, but he takes it anyway.
And turns the biggest container so the side with all the pork is closest to him. He can't reach as far with this spoon, Rin. Deal with it.]
The house must smell amazing with all this spicy cooking going on.
[Emphasis on spicy. Who do they know who likes spicy food? It is a mystery.]
Re: action at yamazaki zoo
You'd know if you visited more! I gotta track you down at work like this, now, [as if his friend has had this job for ages, as if this is already an established tradition -- and it's very likely it's going to be)] just to get some face-time with you! Gou's probably making all this extra pork just so you'll come over, y'know.
[yeah, that's it, Rin, you've figured out Gou's game (idiot)]
You should stop by after work to tell her how good it is, at least.
[utterly transparent; clearly Rin wants to force Sousuke into his new life, and he'll shove him there with a bent old spoon, if he has to. Rin digs into the kimchee, delighted by his sister's cooking as he usually is (considering he's the only one who doesn't get treated to protein specials)]
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It's not just your house, I can't just walk in there like I used to. [And it's not being of Gou or Momo, either. He's not sure Rin will figure that out, but he also can't just say, 'sometimes being around your boyfriend makes me feel awkward.']
I didn't realize I was disappointing her so much, though. You can count on me for tonight.
[He sets the spoon against the edge of the counter to try to straighten it a little before starting but it's a bit of a lost cause. He'll make this work, though; Rin brought it, so he has to.
After the first bite he'd be making plans if he hadn't already been informed where he was going tonight. Gou got really good.]
Re: action at yamazaki zoo
[after they enjoy their meals for a few long minutes, Rin finally gets around to considering Sousuke's weak protest. surprisingly, he looks thoughtful about it]
I guess... I don't think she'd mind, though. If you just walked in whenever. It's not like she's, y'know, walking around the house indecent or anything. [way to put it like an old man from the 50's] I think she'd like it, actually. She was always bothering me back at school about bringing you over more.
[clearly, the issue Sousuke has is about Gou, and not anybody else; Rin's chopsticks find their way towards that pile of pork Sousuke's trying to commandeer]
Re: action at yamazaki zoo
He needs to start hoarding chopsticks here if this is going to be a regular thing, but he'd like that. Rin around at lunchtime... wouldn't be bad at all.]
Maybe not but Momo might, especially if she's home. He's indecent even with a full outfit on. [A chatty reply, one that just accepts the deflection. He's not going to press about it; Rin would just get resentful, and the problem is entirely Sousuke's anyway. For all that they often don't seem to see eye to eye, Makoto's still never been anything but decent to Sousuke, so his presence shouldn't be what keeps Sousuke away.
It might still be, for a little while anyway, but that doesn't mean it should.]
If she's that insistent, though, I'm not gonna risk saying no to her. After all, she's already feeding me.