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]

[This is ridiculous, and yet D is still part of the problem. Using adult words is so hard!!]

Would you like to, on occasion, hold hands?

[Spare him.]

[dtective]

Sure.

[ WAIT ] Hang on! When you ask it like that, it sounds...!

[ no mater how you look at it, isn't this kind of like asking him out?? He doesn't know how to react to that, he just answered without thinking! ]

[pruning]

[Too late, he said sure, D wins!! The only thing making him seem like he's not about to panic right now is the fact that Leon is already panicking. Thanks for making him look good in comparison.]

It sounds how, exactly...?

[dtective]

Normally, that's the kind of thing you'd ask a cute girl...

[He's soooo no homo about this it's ridiculous. Even when he says that, though, it's with more reluctance than usual. It's not like he'd mind holding hands with D... He thinks this, and then he flips out inwardly over how he thinks this. This isn't some sort of magic right?? Has he lost his mind...

Or has it always been like this. Er...]

[pruning]

If that's what you've been asking women, it's no wonder you have such terrible luck with them.

[Occasionally hold hands?? That's dumb, even D knows that's a dumb way to do this. Or anything. He's not doing anything.

He doesn't even have a no homo counter... it's too gay. Hold his hand sometimes.]

[dtective]

Hey, shut up!

[Leave him alone, he tries really hard... Ugh. But alright... Holding hands sometimes sounds okay, somehow? He doesn't want to say no. His hand already feels empty thanks to earlier. He'll just keep tensely gripping his knees like that helps things.

Who is he kidding. This is definitely not heterosexual. This is... D doesn't like him, right? Does he like D? He's not going to get any sleep tonight.]

You're just being weird about it. Fine, we can hold hands sometimes. [Kill him...]

[pruning]

[This hasn't been heterosexual for two days, but okay. D's... satisfied, with this result? They can hold hands sometimes and that's somewhat exciting, which he supposes makes him about ten years old.

Thank goodness Leon isn't looking at him right now, or he would definitely have to stare off obviously at a wall again.]

There, you see? That wasn't so hard. Although I could have done without the insult...

[dtective]

[Then next time don't TALK IN HIS EAR it's very distracting. He could have done without acknowledging these gay feelings, and yet here he is.]

Your hands aren't tired? [Like, he doesn't want to complain, but at the same time, he may die.]

[pruning]

[His hands...? Well, no, not particularly, but he can take a hint and quit his strangely persistent massage.]

I suppose they are. [......] How do you feel?

[He was not only doing that for an excuse to put his hands on Leon, after all!! Amazingly.]

[dtective]

Pretty relaxed, actually. Thanks.

[Like, his shoulders are, but he also feels like his head or chest might explode. Which will come first? He'll just stretch out his arms now...]

I don't mind you doing that, occasionally, either. [He wanted it to be light, small talk but now that he's said it, his stomach feels sick too. He's ruining everything.]

[pruning]

Oh. [What is he, a personal masseuse?? He could say this, but instead he's just standing there looking at the back of Leon's head and thinking about... plenty of things. Leon, mostly, and the fact that he can stand here and stare at Leon and think about him because he's there— he's still not completely used to that.

Perhaps that contributes to why he's being like this, hand holding and massages... at least one of them isn't a doofus, but goodness, is he coming on a little strong?? Oh well.]

You need only ask, then...

[dtective]

[He'll get over his gay sickness in a matter of seconds, reassuring himself and shooing away distracting thoughts. More importantly, D sounds a little quiet. Leon leans back, resting one of his arms over the couch as he looks up at him again. Hmm.]

Should I do something to pay you back? [He doesn't know what... He's mostly just looking at D.]

[pruning]

[No... stop looking at him... not while he's thinking gay thoughts. D folds his hands in front of himself and- thinks?? What kind of a question is that? He realizes he could say any absolute nonsense he wants at the same time he realizes there isn't anything he'd really like to say, honestly— because Leon is already here. Staying.

But that might be "a little strong," so.]

May I consider it an IOU, instead?

[dtective]

[Why does he look so cute about it... sweats.]

I guess... [Weirdo?? He guess he can owe him one, though. Still going to look at him from over the couch. Honestly, he still won't get any sleep tonight, it's fine.] Are you gonna come sit down again, or what? You're making me nervous.

[pruning]

[That's his secret moe... don't point it out or the spell breaks.]

Nervous? Honestly... [Him standing here innocently is what makes Leon nervous?? Absurd. But alright, he obliges, moving around to take a seat.]

Well then. Now what?

[dtective]

[He's actually just nervous in general. But ignoring that, he's asking now what? Now what, indeed. He could sit here grumpily and ignore everything, start another fight or two, ruin D being... comforted?

Or he could reach over and take one of D's hands while looking away. This is what he does, crossing his leg over the other once more.]

What do you want to do? I'm tired of studying this stupid language.

[pruning]

[Oh, goodness, is it already "sometimes"? D blinks, actually surprised by Leon taking his hand as if they hadn't literally just talked about this. He assumed there would be a longer grace period of silent panicking before the next hand holding episode, that's all...

He curls his fingers around Leon's hand and leans his other arm against the arm of the couch, considering. What does he want to do?? He doesn't know, he's never lived with someone who constantly needs to be entertained before. Hmm.]

What did Italian do to you? [Don't seriously answer that.] It's a fine language... very poetic.

[It's hot.......... learn Italian because it's hot, but he can't say that. He doesn't know what else to do, either!!]

[dtective]

[Better now than never! Leon was just thinking he should do what he wants, rather than freak out all over. See? It pays off. He'd love to be hot and learn other languages, of course, but it's just not that easy. It'll be a slow process, even in the middle of it all, and he's tired of straining his eyes over foreign words that aren't clicking right now.]

It's just a language. What's poetic about it? [He's so not romantic, but at least they're holding hands.] If I stare at any more words, I'm either going to get a headache or get hungry again.

Maybe there's a game or something we could play.

[pruning]

[Sigh, if only he were hot and learning languages. D gives him a look, clearly questioning how headaches and hunger could possibly result from that!! But whatever, they're holding hands. He shrugs away that topic- maybe he'll explain how Italian is hot some other time.

A game, though... what games can you play with only one hand, while attached to the person you're playing with?]

Do I look like I have board games around the shop?

[dtective]

I'm not talking some kiddy game. Maybe a word game? Or, uh...

[He doesn't know what he is talking about, honestly.] I don't know. Let me think.

this tag is even dumber

[pruning]

[A word game....... That's still a little bit slumber party.

D just looks over at him, waiting... Thrill him, please.]

GOD

[dtective]

Like a drinking game!

[Stop him now.]

[pruning]

[A drinking game... Is it wise to let Leon get drunk? Probably not.]

I'm listening.

[oh]

[dtective]

How about "Never Have I Ever?" Or truth or dare, where if you don't want to do it you have to take a drink? Or two truths and a lie...

[This is definitely very sleepover.]

[pruning]

[He doesn't know what that first one actually includes, but he knows he wouldn't like it, already. That leaves the other two...]

If I must indulge you, I suppose it will have to be truth or dare. [sigh...] In the cabinet over there by the lamp, there is something to drink.

[the disney villain lamp...]