overplays | itp: noiz being a brat

itp: noiz being a brat

[So it's an ordinary day at Heibon, right, Aoba? Quiet, no customers, the three brats come and gone like the typhoon of energy and chaos they are. Some calls, but not many, and even fewer orders in the long run. A slow day by any standard, filled with nothing but sitting behind the desk and watching a shop that's going nowhere.

Until the door bell jingles. And in walks Noiz, piercings and flat green eyes and all. His bunny cubes clack together as he approaches the front desk - and consequently, Aoba - like he belongs there, hands stuck in his pockets and completely at ease among the junk. He stops in front of the desk, staring Aoba right in the face, not saying a word or explaining his sudden appearance until - ]

Hey.

We're leaving.

[... wait, what?]

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[ - huh? ]

What do you mean, we're leaving, I'm working Noiz! It's what productive members of society do?

[ :| ]

[Well, Noiz is going to look around the empty shop extra slowly, juuuuust to drag it out, before turning back to Aoba and.

Raising a brow, the only shift in his expression.]

'Working'.

[He doesn't sound particularly convinced. He does more work than this tracking down Usui. ~~Probably gets paid more too.~~]

It's a slow day.

[But his tone isn't particularly heated. Honestly he isn't worked up at all. Save for this morning, it has been pretty boring. That doesn't mean it would be right to leave Haga-san until his hours are up.]

...you came here just to get me?

I did say 'we', didn't I?

[No, Aoba, he came here for the hell of it because he loves hiking up to Heibon. He doesn't actually say that, of course, but the pinched brows and twisted line of his mouth do express his thoughts of 'you're not this dumb' well enough.]

[GOING TO IGNORE THAT LOOK.]

If this has to do with Rhyme again, you can forget it.

It's not Rhyme.

[IS A MIRACLE TAKING PLACE IN HEIBON RIGHT NOW???]

[QUICK RUN TO THE SHELTERS -

....]

What is it?

Edited 2013-06-07 14:10 (UTC)

Just come on.

[And with that, Noiz is moving to - yep, climb over the counter and get Aoba out of his seat.]

Whoa, hey! Noiz!

[Around this moment Haga-san comes out to the front of the shop and witnesses the scene. He watches for a few moments, noting he is the primary reason Aoba can't leave. With a glance around the shop, he shrugs to himself and interrupts the two suddenly with saying,

"Aoba, there's no harm in you leaving early today."]

- huh, Haga-san? But -!

You heard him.

[Noiz interjects before Aoba can argue more, keeping his hold on Aoba's wrist. His face maintains that same calm, detached look, despite the flailing, though he does give a, likely surprising, show of respect to Haga-san when he bows his head.]

Thank you.

[And then he's unceremoniously dragging Aoba out of the shop and into the street. He doesn't explain where they're going, simply leads the way in silence.]

[Aoba is surprisingly quiet after being dragged out of the shop. At least until he calls out Noiz's name again.]

Noiz?

What?

[He doesn't turn his head to Aoba when he answers, keeping his eyes ahead. Whether because he needs to make sure of his direction or... just Noiz being Noiz, it's hard to say.]

You're holding my hand.

[Aoba even squeezes it to emphasize his point. Ignoring the warmth on his face, totally ignoring it.]

[He actually hadn't noticed the difference between wrist and hand, what with his lacking sense of touch. So when he feels the squeeze he stops, finally turns, his eyes on their hands before moving up to Aoba's face. He doesn't speak immediately, watching Aoba like he's waiting for something, and then - ]

Is that a problem?

[Well, he did kiss Aoba out of the blue that one day, is this any surprise?]

You're such a child, you really don't get it?

[It's true he used to hold hands with Koujaku but that had been years ago, when they were just kids. It was normal, right? Kids do that sort of stuff. But two guys is...

Is it really that weird, Aoba? Or do you want it to be?

That thought just manages to piss him off.]

Unless, are you saying you like me!?

You call me the kid when you're pitching a fit. What are you getting so worked up for?

[There it is again, the simple brow raise. Aoba's shouting, again, and Noiz doesn't get it. The kiss was one thing, but holding hands? Is it really that big a deal? It's not like they're even on a main road yet.]

... tch. Whatever.

[He doesn't answer the questions, but he does let go of Aoba's hand. He turns away to continue walking, a little tenser now than he was before, and - if Aoba had managed to catch it, when he was turning away - a little more red in the face, too.]

[BECAUSE YOU DON'T DO THOSE SORTS OF THINGS - when, what? You don't like someone? Is Aoba... disappointed? No. That's stupid. Of course he isn't. Why would he be? He doesn't really know Noiz, not really. He's not someone like a childhood friend or a friend like Mizuki. He's a guy who pulled him into Rhyme and does and says whatever he wants.

That's it.

...then why is he following him and why did Noiz bother coming to get him in the first place? Was Noiz blushing?

Maybe Aoba is going about this the wrong way. Isn't it his job, as the one whose older, to set a better example and open the lines of communication?]

Because I don't understand you. The things you've been doing, they have meanings to me. To everyone. They're... romantic. So that's the first thing that comes to mind, if you don't mean that then - you have to tell me or you shouldn't be doing it in the first place.

[And, surprisingly? Noiz stops, again, at the explanation. Sadly enough, it's... really been the first time anyone has bothered to clearly explain what Noiz is doing and why he shouldn't. But every other life lesson before, use and be used, conflicts with it.

Then again, this entire situation conflicts with everything else he's learned anyway. For once, he's fumbling, but apparently he's managed to hide it pretty well.

'Romantic'. He doesn't have much of a concept of the word. Sure, couples holding hands, kissing, he'd seen it. He'd seen friends and family holding hands too. Seen them peck each other on the cheek and mouth in greeting. So what's different? Except he actually knows, for once, without being told. Has... sort of figured it out on his own. It's still confusing, but... it brought him this far. Then again, apparently it's not enough.

So he takes a breath, turns back to Aoba. Any color that may have been on his face is gone. Again, he stares, watching, waiting with that intense look of his, and then - he strides into Aoba's space, putting them inches apart.]

I've only done those things with you. [It's awkward, to admit it. But it's out now, up in the air, and it's all Noiz says before he turns away again, continues on toward his destination. He thinks it should say enough.]

[It takes him bracing his body not to move back, take a step away from the confrontation. He doesn't know what Noiz is going to do, with that same old look on his face. Except then he says that, only with you, and how does that make any sense? Just Aoba? What the hell, he thinks back to his exclamation, was he right? But why? If that can count as proof - does it?

...

Shit. He's so troublesome. At the same time -]

That... explains a lot.

Are you coming or not?

[It's clear from his tone, unusually impatient, that he doesn't want to discuss this anymore. Noiz has never been good with words, doubly so when it's something he doesn't really know about, which includes this whole situation. It's why he didn't explain anything back in the shop.

Either way, he's not stopping. If Aoba wants to leave, Noiz will let him. (It'd just... no, never mind.)]

[For some reason, hearing that uncharacteristic tone makes Aoba smile.]

I might as well.

[He's curious, about all of Noiz's behavior today. It's true, it's easier to be annoyed with him but he's going to take a chance, allow himself to be curious. Even if that may lead him back to thoughts he doesn't know what to do with.]

[Something in him relaxes when Aoba follows. He's still fumbling through this, thoughts on himself conflicting, this is stupid vs. why the hell not over and over again. Honestly, he's annoyed at himself. But he pushes it down, just keeps going.

Eventually, passing through the winding and crowded streets of Midorijima, they hit the place Noiz has been leading them. It's a simple fast food place with a fair selection of food, especially with how things currently are in this end of Midorijima, with options for taking the food to go or eating in. He gives a brief glance at Aoba over his shoulder, then ducks inside without saying a word, heading toward the counter.]

...this?

[In a way, it's pretty relieving. Noiz's previous track record hasn't been great. He doesn't see the big deal though but takes a few steps, then ducks into his bag he managed to hastily grab before leaving the shop. Reaching in, he takes out Ren and wakes him up from his sleep mode.

Hey, Ren.

Aoba. Do you require assistance?

No, I just wanted to check in on you. I don't know how busy I'll be this afternoon. Are you doing okay?

Yes, there are no problems.

Aoba smiles, lifting Ren up to gently press their foreheads together. He's standing off to the side, for one moment allowing himself not to think but relax.]

[Noiz catches that, can't help shaking his head, but he doesn't bother going over to interrupt as he reaches the counter. He doesn't get Aoba's attachment to that Allmate of his, either, but for now he's going to focus on the food. What he comes away with, maneuvers to a table, well.. it comes out to be a pretty hefty amount. It gets him more than a few stares, but as usual, he doesn't give a damn for it, his attention on getting the food set down safe and in some semblance of order.

He's never tried this place, and many of the foods he's ordered are new to him, too. He's usually just fine with pasta and pizza, but, well. It's supposed to be special, right? Might as well make it a day of firsts, or... something.

Once Aoba's done messing with his Allmate, Noiz will motion him over to the table. Don't bother with the counter - it's not like he ordered all of this food for him alone.]

[After placing Ren back in his bag, he catches the wave. Blinking a little at the mass amount of food on the table, that can't be all for him? Which means - oh. Some of the things he really likes too. It would be rude not to eat, right?]

Thanks.

[Aoba takes a seat, helping himself to one of the many food items. If Noiz wanted to go out to eat why didn't he just say so? Wait, shouldn't he be offering to pay his share?

...unless this is.

Oh, crap.]

[Noiz nods to the thanks, digging into his food. From the way he eats a lot of it - slow at first, like he's testing it out, the way he sets some dishes aside and winds up clearing others out in seconds - it makes it obvious that it's trying a lot of this stuff out for the first time. He doesn't notice Aoba's strange pause at first because of it, but once he does he swallows the mouthful of burger he has, raising a brow.]

Something wrong?

[Yeah, good job realizing just now that this is Noiz's version of a date. Then again... Noiz. So it wasn't exactly clear in the first place...]

[Guess it doesn't matter whether or not Aoba wanted this to be a date. It's a date. A date. With Noiz. Granny would scold him if she could see him now, not using his head. He certainly feels foolish. Geez, Noiz couldn't say anything about it, had to drag him along.

Then again would Aoba had come? Would he had seriously said yes if Noiz asked him to go out with him? He's not sure. It doesn't necessarily feel wrong but it feels weird.

Something wrong?

'No.'

'It's fine.'

'Yes.'

'You're a jerk.']

...you don't like takoyaki?

[Noiz is certain that's not what Aoba was going to say at all, and it doesn't answer his question. Still, his attention is diverted for the moment, his brows furrowing at the unfamiliar name. He glances at the dishes he set aside, trying to puzzle out which one might be the takoyaki Aoba's talking about.]

... which one?

[He sure doesn't look like he's joking, Aoba.]

You don't know?

[Seriously? Aoba points out to one of the containers, the octopus balls sitting there innocently, only one missing from the group.]

What did you think it was?

[His eyes follow where Aoba points, and he picks up the container, eyeing the dumplings. Instead of answering, he eats another one of them, chewing slowly to get another taste for it.]

... it's salty. [He frowns thoughtfully, chewing a little more before he swallows.] The texture's strange, too. [Considering his tongue is about the only thing that can feel properly, texture is a Big Thing with Noiz. But the final verdict:]

It's not bad. [A shrug as he puts the container back down, moving back to the burger he'd been eating before.]

[You are so weird. Aoba really doesn't get it.]

What rock did you crawl out from under, seriously?

[But he continues eating anyway, even as going as far to making a pleased noise after one of his bites. Despite how weird this is, it's... nice? It's just food and Noiz.]

I don't really bother with other foods.

[Which might be obvious, with the dishes he's taken bites from and then set aside. It helps that he has cash to spend and doesn't really care where it winds up, either. Outside of tech and Rhyme-related purchases anyway.

Still, this... is oddly nice. And easy to do. It doesn't seem like Aoba expects that much small talk, which is good - that kind of thing always winds up getting on Noiz's nerves sooner rather than later. It's not as boring as he imagined it'd be, trying new things with Aoba. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to try and do this more often.

If Aoba will even cooperate that far, anyway. Considering how much he'd protested earlier, even after the work thing...]

[For once Aoba doesn't feel pressured to talk, which is nice. Knowing his company enough pays off and surprisingly the silence is companionable. He notes with light interest the foods Noiz is devouring at a steady rate, while the ones he leaves Aoba has found himself favoring.

The sounds of the other customers and food being put out fill the silence between them nicely. For once, spending time with Noiz has a natural quality to it.

Maybe that's why he can't help himself when he sees a line of sauce trailing from Noiz's lips. Gesturing to his own mouth:]

You've got something.

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itp: noiz being a brat

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