realpolitik | Murasaki | Nice

[Good. He wouldn't accept anything less than fine, so he just lets out a quiet sigh and moves to lean up against the building with Murasaki. He still had no idea how to feel about all of this, because he has no idea why they would ever make him kiss Murasaki in the first place. Was there something they knew that he didn't?

Of course not, because he knew Murasaki better than they did, and he didn't want anything like that.

Right?

His thoughts are broken when Murasaki speaks again, and he looks over at him and raises an eyebrow.]

Yeah?

[He really hopes this is Murasaki trying to change the subject, because he's not sure he wants to talk about it anymore, but he thinks that Murasaki's probably thinking a lot about it too.

Which sucks.]

[Sorry, he's bringing it up. He's bringing it up because he's Murasaki and he always brings things up because he likes Talking about Things and Resolving Issues.

You know. As Murasakis do. It takes him a moment to respond, but when he does, he aims for a tone that's relatively light, but his words--]

You know, that would have been better without an audience.

[That's about as roundabout as it gets, but... you know, Murasaki.]

[And Nice hates Talking about Things and Resolving Issues. So there's that.

...He really doesn't know how to Deal with what Murasaki says, and he looks kind of surprised about it. Was...Murasaki into that? With him???

Is he into doing something like that again with Murasaki?? Maybe???

He might have to try it again to see if he cares or not.]

Maybe. I never really took you for someone who'd try flirting, Murasaki.

[He's. Clearly teasing him. Because that's how Nice deals with this sort of thing -- aka he doesn't deal at all.]

[Life is hard when you're Nice and Murasaki, who are both the least romantic shits ever.

But honestly, Murasaki's just going to run a hand through his hair in some exasperation. He doesn't??? know??? He doesn't know what he's doing here, he just knows that leaving it undiscussed to be brushed under a rug feels Wrong to him.]

Come on, Nice. You know it's not like that.

[flirting, that is. Murasaki's never been a particularly impressive flirt. Nor has he ever wanted to be.

And then, more quietly:]

I'm serious. But--if you're not, that's fine too. It's not like I'm going to fuss over that.

[This is awkward enough as it is.]

[Nice is the worst, especially with getting a straight answer from him. But he can kind of understand that Murasaki's being serious about it, but he's really not sure how to deal with it, himself.

Especially...since he's rarely serious about anything.]

You need practice. When was the last time you ever kissed someone? Oh, wait, was it your first time?

[Nice, no.]

I guess I can help you practice.

[What does that even mean...]

[Nice, no.... Murasaki's first kneejerk reaction is to get irritated, naturally. He scoffs, crossing his arms and scowling and:]

Of course it wasn't! Don't be ridiculous. And what are you even--

[Wait.

Wait. He pauses, irritation knocked right away, even as he blinks at Nice blankly.]

... What?

[Eloquent, Murasaki.]

[Murasaki is the most eloquent.

And Nice is just going to stare back, less because he's embarrassed and more just because he can.]

What? Are you confused or something? That's not like you, Murasaki.

[He sounds incredibly blunt about this, but he's clearly still teasing him because this is actually kind of amusing to him.]

[Why you gotta be like that, Nice. Naturally, Murasaki is grumpy and embarrassed, as he often gets.]

What are you--! [He huffs, aggravated, and runs his fingers through his hair. This is one of few times when he's really just not connecting the pieces, but it's probably partially purposefully, even if he doesn't realize it.] Stop jerking me around, Nice. What are you trying to say?

[DON'T MAKE HIM SAY IT, MURASAKI...]

Since when have I ever spelled out anything for you? It's not like it's hard to figure out.

[Nice is never direct about anything ever, ok.]

[He's not... Nice is never direct. And as that sinks in, and as everything Nice has been saying sinks in, and as Murasaki calms down a little... he snorts softly. And then chuckles, equally softly. Because--]

Honestly... you make things as difficult as possible, don't you?

[But he wouldn't be Nice if he didn't.]

Yeah, I get it now.

[But what does that mean, exactly?]

I don't make it difficult! You just overthink things!

[He huffs a little bit, crossing his arms, and then huffing again when Murasaki speaks again.]

It took you long enough. [God.] So...what now?

[Good thing they're still going to just...keep fussing at each other!! (Somehow, Murasaki thinks this makes things easier, or at least more normal).]

I already told you. I know you were paying attention, Nice.

[Wow, Murasaki.]

We should try again without an audience.

[Smooth.

Except this time, he's 100% serious.]

[HE ALWAYS PAYS ATTENTION TO MURASAKI...well. Kinda sorta not really.

He does get huffy though, and then scratches at the bandage on his cheek as he considers it.]

Yeah, I guess so.

[THERE'S LIKE A BRIEF PAUSE and then he's going to move in to kiss Murasaki again because he's not going to get beat to the punch again!!]

[Kinda. Sorta. When it matters??? Murasaki hopes so, anyway.

But hey... hey that works. It's still a little awkward, because this is incredibly new for them--but on the other hand, now that he doesn't have to worry about people watching them or jeering at them, there is definitely something a great deal more...enjoyable? Is that the word? Maybe it is.

He doesn't reach out (there'd be something a little too tender about a gesture like that, he thinks), but he also doesn't pull away, lingering for significantly longer than they had in the cafe, until:]

... I was right.

[Whatever, Murasaki--though he can't really wipe the smile from his face, which makes his point a little less acceptable.]

It was better without the audience.

[It was definitely more enjoyable when they weren't in front of everybody else, Nice thinks. His mind still hazes over a little bit, and it's not extremely uncomfortable for him to not exactly be thinking straight, and he blinks when he hears Murasaki speak again.

...

And then he huffs, cheeks turning a little red as he looks away from Murasaki.]

That was really corny.

[You're both really corny...]

I knew that was the kind of person you were already, but you just need to be reminded sometimes.

[Casually tsuns at Murasaki--]

[Look at that casual tsunning... but Murasaki's too happy with this turn of affairs to really be bothered by it. Besides, as ever, isn't he the sort of person who gets what Nice means anyway? Which is why even as he lets out a brief huff, more of a laugh than anything, he's smiling.

He won't argue with Nice turning away.

It gives him time to recover too--because he definitely needs it, with his heart beating a little too fast, and his face just a little too red still.]

As if I'm the only one.

lYou're corny too!!]

Besides, it isn't as though you do things you don't want to do. [That much, he's sure of.]

[He can't look at Murasaki still, because he kind of hears the smile in his voice. That's just weird, Murasaki smiling around him like that. It makes him feel weird.

That's why he doesn't know if he likes it or not. Maybe he does?? Who knows.]

I don't know what you're talking about.

[He's perfect, thank you very much.]

Whatever. Are we going to go home or what?

[Good luck with getting him to stop tsunning..]

[Leave him alone, Nice's tsun far outweighs Murasaki, which makes him the well-adjusted one in this....thing. Thing.

Whatever Thing this is.]

...Yeah, we may as well.

[Back to normal, maybe. It feels more back to normal.]

What do you want for dinner? [...] Pick something we have the ingredients for, instead of being difficult this time.

[A bit more back to normal, even if some things, maybe, have changed a little.]

[Murasaki is the more well-adjusted one in like, 90% of situations, so.

Nice seems to think about it, putting his hands into his vest pockets.]

Ramen might be okay, but I don't think we have the ingredients for that.

[.......You're so fucking helpful]

We always have fried rice, though. Is that all we have the ingredients for?

[At least this is more normal -- he can deal with that.]

Murasaki | Nice | 075

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