i hold on when i get love and let go when i give it

[mediummmuhhh]

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[lovesmilk]

Yeah...? I think I will. Let me go apologize to mom, and I'll join you.

[He places an affectionate kiss on Reigen's head, heading inside briefly to explain that he'll be out for a little bit and he'll make it up to her.]

[mediummmuhhh]

[ jeez, what an unbearably good boy. reigen smiles helplessly at his retreating back, toeing his way into his shoes again. if he’d been waiting outside he would’ve lit a cigarette, but he isn’t, and he won’t be by himself when he does make it outside, so.

he’s never asked mob if he cares about his smoking habit. that’ll have to come up eventually.

when mob comes back he juts his head towards the door. ]

Ready?

[lovesmilk]

Ready. Let's go.

[He'll make sure the door is locked behind them! He's a bit tipsy, but one wouldn't know it from how confident and stable he was when he was drunk.]

[mediummmuhhh]

[ good. reigen’s reaching for his hand the second they’re outside, walking briskly but in no real hurry, his spirits buoyed by drinking too much sake (not very much sake) in too short a time. ]

Your dad’s got a good sense of humor, huh? Funny how you and your brother turned out so serious.

[lovesmilk]

I think we're more like mom... but mom and Ritsu laugh at the jokes sometimes, too. I don't always understand.

[He squeezes Reigen's hand affectionately.]

They've never teased me for not understanding jokes, though... I like my family a lot.

[mediummmuhhh]

There’s a lot to like.

[ is reigen’s family likable? he never thought about it. they’re fine, he supposes; they’re not bad people or homicidal maniacs or anything like that. they just don’t fit with him most of the time, like mismatched puzzle pieces.

swinging mob’s hand lazily :D ]

Ha ha, after that cookbook stuff they probably think I’ll make you do all the housework.

[lovesmilk]

I'm bad at remembering to do chores... it's okay to ask me to do them sometimes.

[Reigen swinging their hands... is so cute.......]

[mediummmuhhh]

We’ll split ‘em down the middle, obviously. It’s the only thing that makes sense!

[ he is in a horribly good mood ]

[lovesmilk]

[It's infectious! Shigeo is so, so happy...]

Yeah. That's fair. I'll bring something home with us to cook tomorrow? What should I try to make?

[mediummmuhhh]

I’m pretty light on cookware too ... There’s a lot that goes into running a household for more than just one person, huh. Anything you can pan-fry should be fine. Maybe a western breakfast?

[ he’s chatty on their way towards reigen’s place. it’s not an especially long walk, though reigen’s never made the trek himself from the kageyamas’ to his own. ]

[lovesmilk]

Oh! I know how to make omelets. I can make them in the morning for us sometime.

[He definitely loved his mornings with Arataka, they were warm and sleepy and awkward in a kind of fun way, but a nice breakfast to top that off sounded amazing.]

[mediummmuhhh]

Mob, you’re a genius! Maybe we can pick up tofu, a little tuna--

[ HAND FWIPPING, YIP-YAPPING ABOUT BREAKFAST IDEAS ]

[lovesmilk]

[He's SO EXCITED... Arataka, how can you be so cute...

After a bit, though, Shigeo pauses, looking around them.]

...Is this the way to the bar? This looks like the walk back to your apartment.

[mediummmuhhh]

Oh! It’s right here, around the corner--

[ ah, wait, he went too far ... making a sharp pivot, tugging mob along ]

That corner. Come on, Mob!

[ FROG-MARCHING THEM to a little out-of-the-way place, with a sign glowing over the door ]

[lovesmilk]

["Happy Trails"... sounds cute, the name makes Shigeo think of pleasant hikes on nice days. And upon opening the door, a few people seem to chirp up and greet Reigen.]

Oh, are you a regular here, Arataka?

[mediummmuhhh]

Kind of, yeah ... I’m not much of a drinker, but it’s close by, and sometimes you don’t feel like going straight home, you know?

[ a very level-headed explanation, almost enough to make one forget that he slammed a single cup of sake--at least until he slides into a barstool beside mob and says, ]

Hey! [ and, upon receiving a warm greeting from the bartender-- ] A lemon sour, heavy on the sour. And whatever MY FIANCE wants--

[ with maniacal delight, which makes those same regulars perk up.

‘oh, that must be ...’

‘wow, reigen-san!!! he’s real!?’ ]

[lovesmilk]

["Ooh, I didn't know Reigen-san had a fiancé, that's news to me!" "He's pretty tall, but not as handsome as Reigen-san..."

Shigeo managed not to turn around to look, but he smiled a little nonetheless.]

I'd like a lemon sour too...

[He glances at Reigen.]

You're pretty popular, huh?

[mediummmuhhh]

Hah, you think so? Nah, I’m just a frequent face ...

[ ‘reigen-san’s always helping people out around here,’ a man in a winter vest pipes up from two seats down.

a very distant part of reigen’s brain that’s still sober thinks, that’s because you people are marks. but then, hasn’t reigen played himself too now and then? that’s the only reason he’s here, showing off a prize he didn’t earn.

the bartender smiles benignly and slides two lemon sours across the bar. ‘plus this place is always a little more lively when he shows up,’ he says in his quiet, friendly voice. because, of course, it’s a small dive, a place where it’s hard to stay strangers.

reigen huffs. ]

Cut it out, a guy like me can’t afford to let anything get to his head. [ that is literally the only thing he does. he turns to mob, lifting his glass ♥ ] Except a guy like this, obviously. Cheers!

[lovesmilk]

[Shigeo was a little worried that Reigen didn't have any friends, but it looks like he just hadn't met them yet. A relief! He clinked his glass with Reigen's, smiling genuinely and sweetly.]

Kampai. To us.

[Oh, that lemon sour isn't very alcoholic, but it is very tasty, isn't it? Shigeo smiles into the glass - it reminds him exactly of Reigen. Bright and impactful.]

[mediummmuhhh]

[ yep, yep, definitely a man capable of having ordinary human relationships. he downs a good third of the sour and lets out a happy puff of a sigh.

‘reigen-san, won’t you introduce us?’ a nice older woman coos, having crossed the bar from the lounge seating.

reigen, officially on one, glass dangling from his fingertips as he makes fwippy hand gestures to mob-- ]

Ha ha, sure, why not! This is Kageyama Shigeo, my business partner and devastatingly handsome intended. Say hello, Mob.

[ the nice lady will introduce herself too, as will the man in the puffy vest. the bartender, ever polite, saves himself for last. ]

[lovesmilk]

["Devastatingly handsome"?? W-wow that is much more forward than Reigen usually is!! Shigeo turns red, bowing his head politely.]

U-uhm, a pleasure to meet you...

[mediummmuhhh]

[ they ask a mostly typical slate of questions. what’s it like working with reigen-san? are you a powerful spiritualist too? you look so young, are you done with school? what do you think about this pendant i found online, the seller says it’ll help ward off bad luck ...

at that last one reigen interjects to let her know it’s a con, come on, look at that, there’s no way they’d sell real jade at that price. in rooms like this reigen’s always confident. ]

[lovesmilk]

[Shigeo very gently answers, particularly what he knows he's discussed with Reigen... it's better to buy directly from temples for charms and then use exorcism services to avoid malicious actors, he's finished his general business degree and may pick school back up in the future someday, he isn't a powerful spiritualist but he does his best with his psychic powers to help his partner.

...It's a little exhausting, but at least the flow of alcohol helps his anxieties as he goes through it.]

You're very talented with this part of the job, Taka...

[mediummmuhhh]

[ something sizzles bright and immediate up reigen’s spine at the nickname. he barely keeps himself from sputtering into his glass, halfway to his mouth--he’s only two-thirds of the way through his drink. ]

... w-well, I play to my strengths.

[ ears red, eyes casting around for a second--but thankfully the group around them has been successfully and organically distracted by one another. and then, because he is getting hammered, a small grin quirks his mouth as an idea lights the back of his mind; he leans in close, voice pitched for mob’s ears only. ]

Don’t you, Shi~ge?

[lovesmilk]

[Despite Shigeo managing to keep his expression under control, his face was bright red at being called Shige. He'd rejected it when they first met, but now he didn't mind.

But he couldn't let Arataka have it too easy. He leaned close, resting his elbow on the counter.]

I try. ...I think you really like being called Taka.