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

[pruning]

[Okay, but they were kind of sweet in their lumpy, embarrassing way. D won't say that, but he definitely thinks it as he takes another bite of his sandwich.]

Oh, I see. So you would rather be served. How typical.

[dtective]

Wha... Don't say it like that!

[He's trying to EAT... He shoves a cup or whatever was brought to drink at D to shut him up.]

I'm trying to compliment you! [Stop making it weird! Even if it was already weird.] Sheesh...

[pruning]

[Wow!! It was super weird and has been for a whole day!! But he'll accept this drink with an appropriate amount of his usual smug amusement.]

I am aware, thank you. [Taking a sip of whatever this drink is... it's probably some weird health drink because he didn't feel like the whole tea in thermoses thing today.] The simple satisfaction of seeing another person enjoy one's cooking... It's one of the few things humans can provide that the rest of the animal kingdom has little need for.

[Puppies don't care if he cooks for them or not.... just let him do his weird little thing, because he'll add this gay part after a moment.] I do enjoy cooking for you, despite your complaints.

[dtective]

What the fuck are you talking about?

[What is this ANIMAL NONSENSE, jesus he just wanted to say he liked these sandwiches and he missed eating together. It was casual picnic conversation, and now it's weird human vs non human furry bullshit and also that gay comment at the end?? He takes a slow bite out of his sandwich.]

Thanks, I guess... I mean, that's just good news for me, when I'm used to living off poor man's food! [Delivery and cup noodles, the life.] Just take it easy on the sweets.

[He won't try to convince him to add meat this time, but. Sweets... stop.]

[pruning]

[It's not furry bullshit, it's the truth!!!! Shut up and appreciate his gay comments and his sandwiches. He's not even offended, somehow.]

No sweets from me, and no greasy abomination fast food from the locals. I'm so proud of you, making a healthy decision.

[dtective]

It's not like I have a choice, here.

[He'd gladly disappoint D by grabbing a hamburger if he could. Anyway, they should be relaxing! But he's... not sitting back and lounging at all. In fact, he keeps looking around the park at anyone who passes by this quiet area suspiciously. It's too quiet!]

[pruning]

[That's really noticeable, not only because D doesn't care about watching the park at all. He's watching Leon, with at least the good sense to do it somewhat subtly. Look at the man, working himself up over some pedestrians.

D waits through a solid few minutes of this before deciding it's not going to stop and reaching over to touch Leon's shoulder lightly.] Leon.

[He's not concerned, this isn't concern, but anyway stop being so paranoid.]

[dtective]

Huh? What is it?

[Leon doesn't seem to understand it. He's paranoid, yes, but... He's caught up with D. Things can't just work out normally, that's not how things go. The minute he lets his guard down, and without a gun, they could...]

Did you see something?

[Leon...........]

[pruning]

[Leon, please. D pats his shoulder and reaches for the picnic basket again, producing another perfect little sandwich half he offers with a small smile. Take his sandwich and calm down.]

I see you, waiting for disaster. This park isn't out to get you.

[He sounds cheerful, but god...... stop doing this.]

[dtective]

[He doesn't even have any cigarettes right now... How is he supposed to get rid of all this tension!]

..... You're saying this as if every other time we've been on a god damn picnic has gone smoothly. [It never goes smoothly. Anyway, he looks at this new sandwich half for a long moment before he takes a bite. He's fine... It's fine!!]

[pruning]

[well........]

That was some time ago. [He sure was fucking around a lot in LA with totally not criminal activity. It was different then. He hasn't even been in Italy that long, so what could go wrong?

Still, this isn't the semi-pleasant picnic he had in mind.]

At least attempt to stop waiting for everything to go up in flames.

[dtective]

I'm trying!

[UGH... Okay, here's his first step: lying down. He lays back one arm behind his head and the other holding the sandwich, closes his eyes... Okay, this is peaceful. Maybe. He can get behind this, he thinks... He's relaxing slowly.]

[pruning]

[Can he Feel D just watching him do this... Is that okay.

Is it working, is Leon relaxed yet??]

How was your walk?

[dtective]

A bunch of people tried to talk to me when I didn't understand a word they said. This one guy was really wordy... he was probably trying to sell me something, so eventually I just left.

[Real exciting stuff. He probably misunderstood all of it, for better or for worse.] But other than that, it was good to stretch my legs.

[pruning]

[D's first guess is Leon was trespassing and completely unaware of it somehow. Maybe. It's possible.]

Are you planning on taking a walk every day? Until you have something more productive to do, of course.

[dtective]

Yeah, actually. Even if I can't understand what anyone's saying, I can find out where I am in this city.

[It will be helpful... He bites his sandwich.] Man, this is going to be a pain in the ass.

[pruning]

[That will be D's hour of freedom each day... He thinks this like he's not going to be totally self-indulgent in fussing over Leon constantly. In between arguing. Naturally.]

Take a map and a red pen with you, then. You will manage.

[dtective]

Not that! All of the language crap!

[He's admitting he doesn't know as much Italian as he thinks he does, okay!] And not having a job!

[pruning]

Take a notebook and a pen?

[Thanks D...] You have time to adjust. Now that you're here, I have no reason to leave so suddenly.

[dtective]

[He just grunts in response to that. He'll take a translation book and try his best. He thinks he heard somewhere that that's the best way to learn a language... Err. He'll try.

D's last comment just gets a quiet sort of consideration before he finally sighs.]

I need a smoke. [It will help him focus and move on with this, surely. He has to remember D only just settled in, so things will be okay for a while. He has to make the most of that, before some weirdo bothered by his grandpa or father finds them!]

[pruning]

Smoking is bad for your health. [This hasn't changed!! But will he buy Leon cigarettes later... sigh, he probably will. Or maybe some gum, or anything that will keep him from brooding so intensely that the whole shop is made uncomfortable from it.]

Have something to drink.

[Casually offering him one of these weird health drinks, or rather, dangling it over his face since he's lying down. He even wiggles it a little. Drink this.]

[dtective]

[He's not even going to comment on that reminder that he's heard countless times, so instead, he snatches that drink.]

What is this stuff, anyway?

[Scrutinizing the bottle...]

[pruning]

It's a protein shake. It's good for you!

[This is what he spent time on making instead of tea. See, he's... considerate? Well.]

Carrot cake flavor.

[dtective]

[A protein shake? That sounds great, so he undoes the cap, takes a gulp...

Right as the flavor is announced and that disgusting flavor hits his tongue. Excuse him as he sits up and spits it all over the grass over to the side.]

What the fuck, this isn't a drink at all! It's liquefied cake!

[pruning]

[LEON!!! He spent time on that!]

It's a flavor! Do you see cake pieces floating around in it? Check the grass for them, you barbarian!