90s sadness and gay???

[dtective]

[By this point, Leon has lost track of how long he's been searching for Count D. It became an obsession that only grew with time, and now he couldn't keep to one spot anymore. Not while D was still out there. Across cities, across countries, he probably looked insane to everyone around him. But they didn't know the half of it! Sometimes even Leon wasn't sure he understood what he was doing.

Right now wasn't the time to doubt himself, though. He'd hoped that this lead would get him even an inch closer to his goal, but he hadn't counted on spotting him in the streets. It had to be him. He'd seen him turn and look at him, and those eyes—]

Wait! Stop right there!

[He doesn't hold back, shoving his way through the crowded streets and keeping his eyes locked on him. It doesn't work, because of course it doesn't, and his steps slow in his confusion. His heart is beating way too fast, his stomach sinks, and for a moment he's sure he's lost his one chance.

But something catches the corner of his eye, and his instinct tells him to turn. He reaches out, grabbing the first wrist he can and meeting D's eyes with his own.]

...Found you.

Comments

[dtective]

Why couldn't you have set up shop somewhere with people who speak English?

[pruning]

You weren't part of the plan.

[The opposite of the plan, in fact... so. Sorry, lazy American.]

[dtective]

[MAybe he should have been just saying?? Groan.]

Yeah, yeah, you've said that enough. Scoot over so I can lie down. I'll figure out what I want to do after I rest.

[pruning]

[They've been over this like ten times!! But fine, he'll scoot over to the very very end of the couch.]

You're going to be up all night this time.

[dtective]

I'll be fine from one nap.

[Maybe. Either way, he's going to lay on the couch and... put his feet in D's lap if he's not out of the way enough, deal.]

[pruning]

I will remind you of that when it's some ungodly hour of the late evening and you're complaining of boredom again.

[...and he just casually pushes Leon's feet away. No??]

[dtective]

[Puts...feet...back!!!]

Don't act like it's some big deal. I might not even fall asleep! Maybe I just want to rest my eyes.

[pruning]

[Pushes them off... again!!!]

Do it quietly, at least.

[dtective]

You're the only one who brings noise. I'm surprised someone hasn't marched through the door to drag you off somewhere.

[He's waiting for it... It's just like any old day off, right?? Hmm. Putting his feet... back up.]

[pruning]

[Why does this keep happening? Spare him. He's starting to give up.]

They would find me otherwise preoccupied with this oaf who cannot keep his feet where they belong! If only I were lucky enough to be whisked away from your ratty sneakers.

[dtective]

[Heh, victory is his!! For now, at least.]

Hey! This oaf is gonna be the one who protects you if any shit goes down. Didn't you say you missed me, anyway? You can deal with my sneakers for a little.

[pruning]

[Why is he in hell and why does Leon have to bring that up? Yes, it's true, but come on.]

I've known you for some time, and in all that time, I've always found it remarkable... that you've never bought a new pair of sneakers! Calling them ratty is almost an insult to rats!

[dtective]

[Why does he talk to this strange man. Ratty... for the love of—]

Say that again and I might kick you. [Nah] Why would I buy new ones if these ones fit just fine? I don't buy new shoes until I can't wear them anymore!

[Beyond just holes, he will replace these once they literally do not stay on his feet.]

[pruning]

[D sometimes thinks one of them is literally just a dead rat skin.... but never mind that.]

They're bad for your feet, to say nothing of how dreadful they look. [Especially now that he's seeing them in his own lap? Ew.] I can see your socks, for heaven's sake.

[dtective]

[He pointedly wiggles his toes from inside his shoes, take that.]

What's wrong with my socks? Nobody looks at shoes, anyway! They worked just fine for my job and they've worked for chasing after you, too.

[pruning]

[Good god, stop, they're hideous.]

Is that why you won't let them go? It would be too much like saying goodbye to an old friend? Your feet can make plenty of fresher, cleaner friends, Leon.

[dtective]

Have you seen shoe prices? I'm broke! Especially now that I'm jobless.

[Unemployed... gross. But anyway...] If you're gonna just buy me a whole outfit, I wouldn't refuse some new sneakers.

[pruning]

[Speaking as someone who has like 30 pairs of custom made silk shoes... whatever, hobo.]

Not dress shoes? [ha ha... a funny joke] If I'm to look after you, I will buy you new sneakers, too.

[dtective]

Don't say it like that...

[That's weird.] Still, thanks. I'll pay you back once I have enough money.

[pruning]

[But is he wrong... no he isn't.]

Rest now, and wonder about your sneakers later.

[Leon paying him back is a perfectly logical thing, but for some reason it seems off to pay him back for sneakers while sleeping on his couch indefinitely for free?? Alright then.]

[dtective]

[Look... he plans to pay him back for that in different ways. Like his protection!! Which he announced earlier out of nowhere. But if that's not really him doing anything, maybe he'll get the Count a gift or... something. He plans on figuring it out.

He's not that much of a freeloader, okay. He'll get a job eventually and then maybe he can get his own place and just, stop by every day to bug him instead of living here...]

I'm working on it. [Stop insulting his sneakers then?? He re-positions a pillow behind his head and closes his eyes with a sigh. He will... rest!!]

[pruning]

[Learn Italian first, good lord. It's good to have dreams but speak the language...

He can rest, though, leaving D stuck between sitting there wondering if he's really going to fall asleep - in which case, his getting up would wake him up - or not, which would no doubt make Leon sit up and whine about his feet being moved again!! He's stuck here.

He's stuck here forever, or at least until Leon is sick of resting. Whenever that is, D seemingly hasn't moved, but somehow he's acquired an Italian newspaper... where did it come from?? Birds probably flew it over to him, don't ask questions.]

[dtective]

[He does actually sleep, but it's only for an hour or two, and broken up with a lot of him stopping his snoring to wake up and just lie there... Mysteriously half-asleep. Eventually, he wakes up all of the way, blinking at the ceiling for a few seconds before he remembers where he is. It's the second time he's woken up confused, but luckily he's not shocked enough to jump or anything like that.

He glances down the couch at D, quietly staring for now. This isn't a weird way to wake up at all.]

[pruning]

[D is... reading his newspaper, totally calmly. He has definitely not spent this whole time thinking about Leon in various ways - being here, sleeping here, sleeping with his filthy sneakers all over his lap— nothing like that. He's thinking about this newspaper, which he's been looking at for ten minutes and hasn't read a single word of. Hmm.

He is not paying attention to Leon at all, which is why he doesn't need to look at Leon at all to know he's woken up. There's a pause, he waits a minute, and then,] You snore.

[dtective]

[His face immediately scrunches up at that, and he sits up and pulls his feet out of D's lap.]

Shut up! [He can't help THAT... Instead he's going to scoot over a little and point at the newspaper.] You can read Italian, too? What's in the news?