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

[mediummmuhhh]

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[mediummmuhhh]

Well, true though all those things may be ...

[ reigen, prone to his own harshness sometimes-- ]

The real truth behind one’s charm is kindness. In that, from what I’ve seen, you can’t be beat.

[lovesmilk]

[O-oh... well. Despite all of his insecurities coming to the front in that conversation, Reigen cut through them and right to the core like a knife through butter. Shigeo didn't even realize he'd been tense enough for his shoulders to relax at hearing that.

Arataka was incredible. Shigeo could feel his face heating, just a little.]

[mediummmuhhh]

[ he grins up at him just as the hostess steps out and chirps mob’s name. he thumps mob’s solid chest lightly, as good a let’s go signal as any, before he follows her inside. ]

[lovesmilk]

[Right. Okay. They could go eat, now. Shigeo glances around them, at the other couples that were shooting glances their way, not sure what their expressions were getting at. At least they were smiling...?

Either way, they're seated at a grill, and get the chance to order drinks with their ingredient platters. This'll be pleasant.]

Just a lite beer for me, please?

[mediummmuhhh]

Probably too early for a cocktail, huh? I’ll take a beer too, then.

[ just one wouldn’t hurt, right? plus they’ll be eating. reigen definitely won’t make a fool of himself. the waitress bows out with a smile and heads off. ]

Jeez, this place is really nice. This was a great idea.

[lovesmilk]

[After listing out a number of ingredients he was interested in grilling, and passing the coupon to the waitress, Shigeo relaxed into his seat with his cold beer and took a sip. Bitter, but refreshing.]

I'm glad.

[As far as he's concerned, Reigen deserved something nice like this! Before a second sip, though, an idea comes to mind and he holds his glass up.]

Mm. To us?

[mediummmuhhh]

[ he’s lifting his own drink to his mouth when mob proposes the toast; he hesitates. he’s warm in the face before he’s had a single sip. ]

Oh. S-sure.

[ come on, reigen, get it together!!! he clears his throat and digs up his usual bombast instead--after all, why shouldn’t they celebrate? the office has been open for almost six months now, they’re killing it in the local market, one time he kissed mob in the woods after a desperate battle--wait never mind that last part FUCK-- ]

I mean, hell yeah. To us!

[ clink! and a long sip! after which his face immediately flushes further!!! HELL YEAH!!! ]

[lovesmilk]

Kampai.

[They're doing well! Spirits & Such is strange but doing well, they're healthy and happy, and Reigen smooched him in the woods after that one time--

Heh. Reigen is cute when he's pink like that. Shigeo just smiles in comfortable quiet until their meats and veggies arrive, with the tare sauce.]

[mediummmuhhh]

[ he takes off his suit jacket and rolls up his sleeves to do the grilling. it is, as the food arrives, increasingly obvious that even a sip of beer hits him like a freight train. he’s always chatty, and alcohol only makes him chattier than usual; he’s gesturing vigorously with chopsticks and tongs as he blabs about, evidently, his special grilling technique. just total clownery. ]

[lovesmilk]

[Good! He listened diligently, glancing between Reigen and the grilling meat. He was keeping his side on longer than Reigen, his mouth watering a bit at the char each piece was getting. Yum...]

[mediummmuhhh]

--of course, the way you do it with wagyu is different. When I was a kid I used to leave stuff on the grill way too long but as a man--

[ blah blah blah. taking a swig of beer and picking a mushroom right off the grill and popping it into his mouth, and then doing his usual AH HOT thing-- ]

[airwhips]

[Shigeo was quietly enjoying his meal, but that specific aura - paired with that familiar voice chatting nearby - tipped Teru off. He was eating at the bar, but he decided to wander over to the booth the two men were sat at.]

Ah hah, I thought I recognized the Kageyamas!

[Shigeo glanced up at Teru, giving a brief but friendly "Hello, Hanazawa-kun", before adding, "We're actually fiances, not yet married."]

Ohh, I see?

[mediummmuhhh]

Oh ... Hanazawa.

[ right, the adult esper he’d been trapped with a few months ago. reigen looks him over. he hadn’t really taken the time to notice when they met, on account of having been kidnapped, but the guy really is stupidly handsome. he looks like a pop idol or something. ]

Yeah, there was a ... mistaken identity situation back there. It’s Reigen Arataka, actually.

[ and then, with a foreboding snap of his chopsticks, and a very clear light beer-induced flush on his face-- ]

For now.

[airwhips]

Reigen-san, I see! That name suits you.

[My my, is Kageyama-kun's partner a bit tipsy?]

Congratulations to you two, either way. As I would expect from my rival.

["Rival...?" Shigeo asked, getting a grin from Teru.]

My rival in power, of course! Or, more aptly, would I be your rival? I fully intend to take your lessons to heart, Kageyama-kun. Mind if I join you two? Not to worry, I've already eaten, you don't have to worry about me.

[mediummmuhhh]

I ... don’t see why not ...

[ SQUINTING ... AND ... SIPPING HIS BEER. it is very visibly like, not a lot of beer he’s consumed. but also. you know.

shooting a look at mob too, to size up his take on all this, but of course mob’s gonna say yes, because mob is kind and sweet and does not understand social cues ]

[lovesmilk]

[Oh... Shigeo was about to try and politely decline, but Reigen gave the go-ahead. Well... maybe they'd gotten along after being trapped together. He didn't mind if they were friends, even if he was a little disappointed for a reason he couldn't quite pinpoint.]

If you like, Hanazawa-kun.

["Thanks! It's been quite a bit since I've heard from you two, are you doing well after all of that? No trouble?" Teru asked, plopping down in the booth seat right next to Shigeo and crossing his leg oh so comfortably.]

Nothing has happened, thankfully...

[mediummmuhhh]

[ ugh well he already ate so maybe he doesn’t have to stay that long. reigen, under the impression that he has regained his composure, flaps a hand out and shoves more meat into his craw. ]

Yeah, we totally called the cops on that place so it’s in the hands of the authorities now. Good riddance, I say!

[airwhips]

You contacted the police?

[Teru had to raise an eyebrow at that.]

You're aware that that won't go anywhere, right? That will likely only get officers killed if they even remotely consider investigating what happened.

[mediummmuhhh]

[ faltering just slightly with a mouthful of wagyu, but still-- ]

What, you think so? Come on, who else is up for it? If something bad happens, surely it’ll get escalated up a chain of command somewhere. In any case it’s way too big for regular people like us to deal with.

[airwhips]

Well, there's something exceptional about Kageyama-kun, isn't there?

["Hanazawa-kun..."]

I'm not saying what I was before, Kageyama-kun. We're people nonetheless. But you have the power to make a change in the world for the better, if you decide to take out Claw. I'll be there by your side if you ever do.

[mediummmuhhh]

[ reigen’s expression, still flushed, flattens out somewhat. explanatory, gesturing more aggressively-- ]

Hey, pal, not that I didn’t appreciate your help back there but if you’ve come to make a pitch for doing dangerous superheroics you’re sitting at the wrong table. We’re just trying to run our business and live normally. Normally!

[ AND WHILE I’M HERE, AND TIPSY, AND BEING ANNOYING ... leaning over to stage whisper ]

And we’re also trying to have a date. So.

[airwhips]

[Teru holds his hands up in surrender.]

I didn't mean anything by it, Reigen-kun. I didn't mean to intrude.

["Arataka... you didn't invite him to sit with us?" Shigeo asked, utterly perplexed. Teru just chuckled at that.]

Not to worry, Kageyama-kun. Do you mind if we exchange numbers? For the sake of emergencies, of course. If I could give you a heads-up before anything dangerous comes your way, I will.

["Oh. That makes sense," Shigeo agreed, taking out his phone so he could offer his number.]

[mediummmuhhh]

[ EYES FLICKERING WITH OPEN SUSPICION FROM MOB, TO THE PHONE, TO HANAZAWA, REPEAT MULTIPLE TIMES

deadpan: ]

Run into a lot of emergencies, Hanazawa?

[airwhips]

If we're lucky, you won't hear from me for a while, right?

[Wow Reigen is RUFFLED, huh? Teru just smiles as he punches Shigeo's number in. He leans on the table, phone still out.]

Yours as well? You can call me any time you need a hand, Reigen-kun.

[mediummmuhhh]

Oh. Yeah, sure.

[ that funny snap-to reigen does sometimes for practical matters. he takes the phone and punches his name and number in. reigen arataka, yep. nothing wrong with a name like that. totally. totally. ]

Glad you’re doing alright, at least. [ relenting. that part he does kind of mean, actually. some part of reigen’s tipsy lizard brain does remotely recognize he’s being irrational. ] You can always stop by the office sometime if you wanna catch up.