i turned off the music

[revengier]

Comments

[revengier]

[ He gives that some serious thought, and... ]

I'm making an investment into one of my long-term goals.

[ It's the truth, but it isn't exactly helpful either. ]

[dissimulative]

[ Honestly, it's more than what Oria expected, so he'll take this as a win. It's definitely vague, but it's fine. Probably. Oria assumes that he's saving up to buy a house.

He looks down at the puppy, who is having a grand time with Kurapika. Maybe this will be the only time when he'll see something happy in Kurapika's radius. ]

You seem pretty disciplined, so I doubt you'll have too much trouble regarding that.

[revengier]

[ WOW RUDE ]

I get what I want eventually. No matter what.

[ There's an odd weight to his words, like this is about much more than earning some extra money on the side. ]

[dissimulative]

So should I assume that everything you don't get is something you don't want?

[ In jest, sure, to counteract the weight in Kurapika's word. Oria would want to ask, and he knows he won't get his answer. ]

[revengier]

[ Oria is testing him, isn't he? Or, well, his patience.

So, Kurapika fixes him with a serious look. ]

Yes, you should.

[dissimulative]

So with that, I can safely assume that you really wanted to come here!

[ It sure is a leap in logic, but logic nonetheless. ]

1/2

[revengier]

[ God, he's so annoying, turning this right back around on him. ]

[revengier]

[ But it's such an absurd leap that actually makes sense that, without knowing what else to do, Kurapika laughs. ]

You're so annoying.

[dissimulative]

[ Oria pauses his silliness when he looks at Kurapika laugh. He rides the high more than any variance of Sherlock Holmes finding a decisive clue. That said, he doesn't pick on Kurapika for laughing. Instead, he just smiles. He's glad to have made him laugh, despite him saying that he's annoying. ]

[revengier]

[ He manages to catch that smile in his periphery and... ]

That sincere look on your face suits you much more.

[dissimulative]

Are you hitting on me?

[ No hesitation. ]

[revengier]

[ A tight silence envelopes the air between them. ]

No. I'm sorry for any disappointment you might feel.

[ Because surely he's disappointed. ]

I meant it, however. You look nicer when there's sincerity in your expression. I almost feel like you're trying to distract me away from my comment by flustering me.

[dissimulative]

[ hey god, its me oria, why did you invent someone like kurapika, thanks

aka Oria would like to not be seen so through? He's being perceived?? Stop that. ]

I'm not disappointed though.

[revengier]

No? And why is that?

[ Don't think he's forgotten the subject of the conversation here, Oria. This is simply going in his evidence book. ]

[dissimulative]

Because I didn't expect anything.

[ Look, even Oria has to temper his expectations, okay. Also hello??? Evidence book?? Stop mean girl-ing him. ]

[revengier]

Do you usually operate under the guise of no expectations?

[ This has turned into Oria Study Hour. ]

[dissimulative]

[ He doesn't like this, so he just... gets up and flounce away. Bye!!! Not even a word. Not even simple "bye". He's outta here. Peace out. ]

[revengier]

[ Wow, giving up on their little outing like this when he suggested it in the first place? How can he run a company in that state?

But Kurapika isn't particularly offended, laying back on the grass instead as a few more puppies run up to him to sniff at his face and roll around beside him.

He sends a message a few minutes later: ]

I was planning to invite you to watch archery practice sometime, but you left before I had a chance to. It's open to other students, and plenty come by to watch.

[dissimulative]

[ Okay, but to be fair, running a company doesn't mean that they'll be peeling his person like an onion.

Anyway, the reply comes pretty quickly: ]

sure.
when and where is it?

[revengier]

[ smh oria let him peel you ]

Monday, 3pm. Near the greens. Have you seen the recreational outdoors training area?

[ And because he's a naturally condescending asshole, he sends another message of a pin drop on a map of the campus—it's intended to be helpful... but whether or not it actually comes off that way is a different story entirely. ]

[dissimulative]

[

Hell naw, son. But damn, Kurapika really is a natural at being condescending. Oria isn't annoyed by it though, and just takes it as him being helpful. ]

not for a closer look, but i've been there!
i look forward to seeing it!

[ Maybe he'll get to see Kurapika being graceful. ]

[revengier]

[ The message gets a nice little "read" receipt and no response.

Come Monday at three o'clock, practice hasn't started just yet. There are a few people milling around, and Kurapika himself is off to the side, near the small stands and talking to what seems to be a couple of middle schoolers. His hair is tied back into a little ponytail and he's in gym clothes, baggy t-shirt and basketball shorts and all.

Shockingly, those middle schoolers don't look miserable in his presence.

And even more shockingly, there's a little smile on Kurapika's face. ]

[dissimulative]

[ Kurapika is pretty easy to spot when Oria gets there, but he doesn't make himself known on purpose. The main reason is because he sees Kurapika busy with the middle school kids and that... he actually seems to be good with kids? Maybe he just doesn't like him that much. Of course, Oria made his outer personality obnoxious on purpose and he doesn't like being peeled so bluntly like that. He hasn't met someone like that before, and honestly? It feels vulnerable in a way that Oria hoped he wouldn't feel.

And it's Kurapika, of all people.

Oria takes a picture of the area with his phone and sends it over to Kurapika with a text saying "good luck ✌️". He was here!! Don't say that he wasn't!!

Anyway, he goes to take a seat somewhere in the back. He's a little tired of sitting in the front for anything, but at least it's somewhere with a good view. ]

[revengier]

[ As he's still busying himself with the kids, his phone buzzes in his pocket. The timing is too good for it to be anyone other than Oria, so as he hands his bow to the dark-haired kid and waits for him to get into the right posture, Kurapika looks up into the stands.

...Hm. He figured Oria would be up at the front, but no. He's in the back, where only a couple of girls that Kurapika recognizes as some of his team member's girlfriends are sitting.

But maybe that really isn't shocking. Oria has a mask that he wears over his real self, and it would make sense for him to sit in the back if he didn't feel like wearing it right now. It's with that line of thinking that Kurapika meets his eyes, his lips curving up into a little smile, at least up until the boy next to him fumbles with the bow in his hands and Kurapika has to hurry to steady him. ]

[dissimulative]

[ ...

They meet eyes and Oria isn't sure whether Kurapika smiled at him or not. Why though? He didn't do anything? Unless it meant that much to Kurapika that he came to watch the event, but he doubts that. Oria has enough self-respect and a seemingly inflated ego, but he's going through the logistic motions here.

But then he watches Kurapika tend to the boy that's having some problems. It's nice to see him like this, he thinks. Perhaps he really didn't need to bring him to the dog therapy week after all.

He's also ignoring the girls in favor of watching the event. Do not distract him. Please. ]