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[ Welcome to hell! Welcome to hell!

Which is to say, welcome to the morning after Ouma and Shuichi's game went a little further than it probably should have. Ouma had ended up killing even more time in the tacky love hotel by giving it another, more thorough investigative sweep -- not that he found anything particularly useful, but it's good to know the layout of the place and what exactly can all be found in there item-wise. Who knows what might end up being useful or relevant in this mutual killing game fiasco. Although he lowkey hopes some of the shit he found never ends up being relevant -- but knowing Miu, it's possible.

So Ouma's a little sleep deprived, between staying out that much later and...the general exhaustion...plus his inability to stop thinking about it. Even though he'll act like he slept like an absolute baby, 'cause he's a liar. He's even dragged himself to the cafeteria for breakfast, because that's how utterly unaffected he is. Plus, he is hungry.

Thankfully (but also annoyingly, because now he's gotta go see what they're up to right now), most of the ~*~student council~*~ of Angie's, aka the brainwashed idiots, aren't really around right now. That leaves...Korekiyo, Maki, Miu, and Kaito. What a wack group. Although one of the others might show up later...or altogether, since they're teaming up. No Shuichi either, which is interesting.

But not unsurprising, he supposes.

He doubts anything would've happened to him, but there's a paranoid part of him that kind of wonders.

He's almost considering just nabbing some snacks and taking them up to his room right now, because this is pretty uninteresting!! No fights breaking out or anything. Plus, the meal quality around here has really taken a nosedive since Kirumi's death. Oh, well...

The Monokubs will probably show up to say something inane, so he should stick around. ]

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[The pause is just long enough that he's almost sure Ouma will deflect somehow and give nothing at all. It was a risky choice, after all, potentially very personal. He's certainly not expecting the real if bare-bones answer he gets.

But he can believe that's not a lie, at least. If not becayse of the rule he laid out, then because it doesn't seem like the way he'd expect Ouma to lie. A lie would probably be far more specific and over the top. He'd claim to be outcast royalty or something, probably. This vagueness feels more like a truth being played down. And if there was no one at all, then doubtlessly Ouma would admit to it in the same manner, careless if not acting proud of his independence.

So surely, even Ouma does has someone outside this place. Shuichi can't help but think back to the motive videos, Kaito's grandparents and Kirumi's citizens and Ryoma's loneliess, and wonder what could have been on Ouma's. He can't glean much just from those brief comments and that tone, but it doesn't sound resentful. Certainly nothing worse than any ordinary kid's obligatory irritation with their family.]

...No, I can't believe that.

[Shuichi frowns, his tone very serious compared to Ouma's. Glancing down to the top of Ouma's head, still unable to see any expression, he hesitates just briefly before giving Ouma's shoulder a quick squeeze.]

I'm sure they miss you.

[And after a beat:]

You're hard to ignore.

[It's a little bit meant to keep the mood from dipping too much. Ouma obviously has trouble with heavy bouts of sincerity. Buf he means it too, and it's relevant, trying to make clear that that reassurance wasn't just a meaningless platitude. No one who's used to Ouma being around could fail to notice his absence.]

Nee-heehee...

[ Ouma snickers in a way that emphasizes that he's at least entertained by Shuichi's responses (even though he also genuinely appreciates them...not that he'll ever admit as much), and he tilts his head to look up at Shuichi.

Ouma hopes he's missed, whether from some bout of sincerity or simply from missing his 100% good shenanigans -- because it would at least mean that they're still alive, and that Ouma can still save his totally-not-family's asses or get back to them in some way. It's incredibly difficult to focus on the game at hand while also worrying about something so important to him, though. Even if that importance is what keeps him motivated, in a sense. Still...it's something best not concentrated on if he wants to win this, since it's already very purposefully been dangled in front of him as a motive. But for someone like Ouma, it's impossible not to consistently have all of that bothering him in the back of his mind.

Shuichi has been a delightful distraction, at least. It's too bad he couldn't have met Shuichi outside of this game, Ouma thinks.

Or maybe it's for the best that he didn't. ]

So it's my turn to ask something! You can't lie either, okay?

[It doesn't escape him that Ouma barely answered at all. What Shuichi can deduce from the frustratingly little he was given is something, maybe, but it's not much and it was hardly freely given. As expected, of course -- he was right in guessing that banning lies wouldn't prevent Ouma from making things difficult -- but it's still just slightly discouraging.

It'd be nice if someday Ouma trusts him enough to be clear about anything. But he can't tell if that thought is optimistic or naive.

Ouma looks up at him and his mouth presses into a thin line, but he makes himself look down to meet that stare, adopting a sturdier air than he really feels.]

I'm not going to lie.

[ He's gotta play hard to get Shuichi (at least in one sense, since he's really not hard to get into bed, lbr), he can't have you losing interest, okay!!

Ouma grins at Shuichi's response, knowing full well Shuichi isn't likely to lie in most ordinary circumstances (and Ouma will easily catch it if he does, anyway), but it's more of a confirmation to pressure him considering Ouma isn't going anywhere nearly as personal with his question. Well, it's personal, but he can't be as emotionally personal as Shuichi right off the bat.

Plus, Ouma genuinely wants to know, anyway. ]

Then...! What's your most sensitive spot, huh?

[ Important information. ]

My most--

[Shuichi reddens slightly, but he bites back a sigh. Right. Of course. Why should he expect Ouma to be thoughtful about this when there were so many more mischievous possibilities? Particularly ones like that one that fell more in line with the interests Ouma's displayed so far.

God. He can't help but wonder if maybe he misinterpreted things before. Or if Ouma just has a different definition of "serious" than him. Maybe Ouma just meant that in terms of being sincerely sexually attracted to him rather than just fooling around with whoever was convenient. He can believe that part at this point, at least, but maybe that's really the extent of what Ouma's interested in. It feels like an uncomfortably real possibility when Ouma keeps sidestepping attempts to get to know him better.

Glancing away, Shuichi frowns.]

That sounds like something you're just going to use against me.

[Which really betrays the spirit of this whole "sharing information because they can totally trust each other" exercise.]

[ Ouma gets fake huffy at this point, shrugging his shoulders and putting on his best mock offended tone at Shuichi's completely warranted concern. ]

Whaaat? So rude! It's for you, not against you...

[ Whatever you say, Ouma.

He slides his arms back down off Shuichi's shoulders slightly, just so he has an easier time of frowning up at the other. ]

Plus, I'm just trying to make things easier. I could totally figure it out myself, but that would take a longer, more hands-on approach, y'know?

[ So considerate. ]

[Yeah, sure. He totally believes you, Ouma.

And y'know, he could also play dumb here and be completely obtuse. He could just name a spot he's ticklish, which would surely come back to haunt him but it would at least frustrate Ouma in return a little. He really is tempted.

But it's the wistful part of him that snags control of his mouth for the moment.]

I wouldn't necessarily mind the slower way...

[Ugh. His blush deepens and he pointedly looks away, a little amazed at himself that he came out with that at all. Fuck, but he is a hopeless romantic. Taking any part of this mess slow sounds so appealing, like it's the closest he'll get to doing anything the "right" way here.

And Ouma just keeps rushing through if not outright skipping all the normal steps. Frowning, he clings to the last shred of that frank courage to glance back at Ouma, unable to hide the uneasy unhappiness.]

...Is that all you care about?

[ Ouma blinks for a second at what Shuichi says, if only because it's all so awfully bold coming from him, but it's only a second later before his frown spreads into a devilish grin. ]

Ehhh--? Normally I'd get pissed over you asking something else without answering me first, but if you really want me to figure it out...I guess that's fine!

[ It can be like a game for him, which just makes the prospect all the better.

He's still gotta answer Shuichi's new question though, which is a bit of an annoying one because he's getting all serious and personal again. Part of Ouma wants to make Shuichi work a little harder for the answers he's looking for, which also contributes to his elusive behavior, but there's still that prickling discouragement that Shuichi's just going to ditch him or be turned off by him if he gets too serious. Betrayal in a game like this is just going to happen anyway, and Ouma wants to keep an emotional one far out of the picture.

Although he's probably already way too deep into this. ]

... But wow! You've really got me pegged, huh? It's true, I'm only interested in your body and super cute face... As expected from the Ultimate Detective!

[ The whole idea of being comparable with Miu or something like that is pretty abhorrent to him, so he can't help heavily lacing his cheery response with clear sarcasm. ]

[The obvious and heavy sarcasm would probably be comforting if Ouma were a simpler person, or if Shuichi were less prone to assuming the worst. But they're like this, so he can't help but wonder even still. Frustrated, he closes his eyes to Ouma's grinning face and shakes his head slightly.]

I'm serious.

[What is he supposed to think when it keeps coming back to this? He's a detective, he's supposed to look at evidence objectively, and ovjectively speaking Ouma's consistently rebuffed his efforts to get closer in a non-sexual manner with innuendo and propositions of varying levels of subtlety. It's a reasonable line of questioning.]

[ Ouma's pretty sure at this point that Shuichi just isn't satisfied with his answers. Which is fair, but Ouma is nonetheless going to sign and roll his eyes over Shuichi's stubbornness with this. ]

And I'm seriously saying you're a big idiot! I've said it before, but there's nobody else here who plays games with me or does things for me like you do. I mean, I could definitely get Gonta or something to do whatever -- but everyone else is so stupid compared to you, Saihara-chan.

[ Even though you literally just called him an idiot, Ouma, but go off.

There's so much more he could say, like how ridiculously and stupidly happy he gets whenever Shuichi asks to hang out with him or gives him a gift, or how desperately he wants to befriend Shuichi in spite of the fact that it's probably impossible with all his lying...but he'll casually omit his entire feelings regarding Shuichi right now, instead trying to prove a point that he is interested outside of this kind of context.

Suddenly conscious about it and maybe secretly hoping to get some kind of reaction to Shuichi's comfort, Ouma places his hands on either side of the tub, putting some distance between them finally as he makes a move to start getting out of the water. ]

So yeah, you kind of remind me of my family a little, I guess?

[ Outside of the sexual stuff, of course, but Ouma knows he doesn't have to clarify that. Playing with him, making sure he doesn't need everywhere from the knife game gone wrong, washing his hair correctly just now for him...

A beat, and then in a tone that sounds way too chipper for what he says next: ]

... Now all you need is a heinous crime or two under your belt!

[Y'know, he should be more indignant about being insulted like that. But Shuichi just deflates, feeling more guilty than anything. Ouma has a habit of making him feel bad for any success at getting sincerity out of him, like he should have been able to work it out himself and he was pushing too hard in his self-doubt.

(Then again, his previous attempt at getting some honesty out of Ouma probably is something he should feel bad about.)

But those were thoughts that had occurred to him before, that maybe Ouma just likes someone playing along and actually engaging with him. Maybe he should have trusted in those instincts rather than thinking the worst.

He almost feels like he should apologize, or maybe thank Ouma for being straightforward for the sake of his shitty unconfident brain, but then Ouma's carrying on with his nonsense and moving to get out of the water. Shuichi just blinks and gapes for a moment before suddenly reaching to catch Ouma's arm, preventing him from climbing out of the tub.]

H-hold on.

[He should say something about it, he should... It matters, to him at least, it's just kind of an overwhelming mix of emotions, guilt and relief and gratitude and lingering exasperation and he can't really pick the right words.

A bit too long a pause, and then, pointedly not looking at Ouma, he leans around him to pull the plug on the bathtub's drain, a muted gurgling signaling the water beginning to drain out.]

...You should rise with clean water under the shower first. The bathwater is full of sweat and soap and bubbles, it'll feel gross if you let that dry on you.

[ Ouma stares when Shuichi grabs his arm all of a sudden, definitely noting it's a reaction, although he's not sure what kind just yet. He does find himself ever so slightly a little happier at the fact that Shuichi's preventing him from going anywhere just yet. Even if it's apparently just to finish washing off properly. Maybe. ]

Nee-heehee...

[ Ouma smiles again, leaning to reach over for the shower knobs after that dramatic pause Shuichi just partook in. ]

See? Nobody else would care about these kinds of things, Saihara-chan!

[ Nobody else would care about Ouma in general normally, so it's especially nice to have dumb little reminders about how he should proceed to be s functional human being courtesy of Shuichi. ]

[Most people with basic hygine would care about that sort of thing. But he gets the feeling that that's not what Ouma means, really, so he lets it go. Out loud, anyway. He can't help but muse on it quietly, trying it fit it into the puzzle of Ouma he's slowly putting together in his head. No one else would care...here, specifically? The alternative seems too sad, and not really in line with what he took from Ouma talking about his family before.

What breaks him from that pondering is the sensation of the waterline beginning to drop lower and lower, the surface tension just a bit more noticeable where it crosses over more sensitive parts, and oh fuck right they are naked and that was his sole bit of modesty.

Flushing at the thought, Shuichi fights back the urge to hurriedly curl up and hide himself. He can play it cool, totally. Totally. Oh so coolly, he looks determinedly away from Ouma to pull the curtain closed around the tub and tug the ends in where they won't drip onto the bathroom floor.]

I-it's no big deal, really... You could probably raise your standards.

[ Ouma seems notably less embarrassed, standing fully in the tub after having turned the water on again so he can cross his arms in mock offense as he looks down at Shuichi. ]

Are you really questioning my standards? Hey, I'm not the leader of a highly efficient organization for no reason! Don't insult my selective process just 'cause you don't have the balls to admit how useful you are.

[ When will Ouma learn how to potentially hype someone up or say something genuine without smothering it in insults and misdirection.

Either way, his tone suggests no real anger as he reaches up to turn the lever on the shower head to turn it on at this point. ]

[Don't make him look up at you while you're naked, dude.

Ouma at least does him the favor of turning the water on, giving him a solid excuse to shut his eyes as a stream of water spray down at his upturned face. Saves him from responding too quickly, too. He has time to process that better as he carefully gets to his feet, holding onto the edges of the tub because he refuses to die by slipping and cracking his head open in a wet tub, okay?]

...Thanks.

[It's not the gentlest or most straightforward way of saying it. But there's a compliment buried in there, or at least something like reassurance, and that's...nice.

Trying to focus on that fairly-pleasant thought, he ducks his head under the stream of water, combing through his wet bangs with his fingers and hey, conveniently mostly covering his face in the process. He's good, it's all good. He's fine.]

[ Ouma figures he should probably follow suit and wash off as he watches Shuichi do as much for a few seconds, but it's impossible to miss that Shuichi is...barely looking at him... It's a little bit vexatious, if only because of everything they had just done, but it's a very Shuichi thing to do.

Ouma's solution, unlike a normal person's would be to give him space or something, is the exact opposite of that. He moves to sidle up closer to Shuichi in the shower, definitely wrapping his arms around the other and letting his hands move up Shuichi's back. ]

Here, I'll help!

[ Shuichi can't rinse his own back off, okay.

-- Even though that's definitely what the purpose of a shower head is for. But there's less room with the two of them, and that's Ouma's excuse, probably. ]

[Shuchi goes from "fine" to "not fine at all" in roughly half a second, train of thought crashing abruptly as he stiffens in Oumams embrace. Goddammit. Why do you do this to him.

Logically, he knows Ouma is just teasing him, or maybe looking for affection and just unwilling to be honest about it, or maybe both. But logic doesn't stop his face from heating up horribly and his body from being sudden hyper aware of every point of contact between them. His hands pause in midair, torn between pushing away and not wanting to...well, push Ouma away.]

I...I don't think that's something I really need help with...

[What help is even being given here??? It feels like he's just being felt up.]

[ Ouma grins, amused at how flustered Shuichi can still manage to get when the sitution isn't overtly sexual. Idly, he wonders if Shuichi just slips into a different mindset for that kind of thing -- it certainly seemed like it earlier, anyway. ]

Huuuh? You can reach your own back?

[ Ouma asks innocently enough, moving one of his hands up to the junction between the center of Shuichi's shoulder blades, stroking his fingers there lightly as if to emphasize their placement. ]

Even here? Are you really that flexible? I wanna see!

[It's hard to say for certain what he does, because this is still such uncharted territory for him. Yesterday was the first time he's ever even properly kissed anyone and now here he is, freshly fucked and taking a shower with another person. There isn't really a set procedure for this shit yet beyond "fluster and fumble his way through it".

Like now, of course. Ouma stroke at his back and he squirms, arching away from the touch but only pressing closer to Ouma on the other side, which really isn't helping.]

I don't need to reach! We're just rinsing off quickly!

[He's absolutely not getting talked into any kind of bathtub yoga, sorry to disappoint you.]

[ At least Ouma isn't going to complain about Shuichi pressing closer into him, although this definitely brings his face super close to Shuichi's collar at this point. Ouma can feel his own breath hitting Shuichi's skin when he laughs softly at the predicament, letting his hands drop down lower on Shuichi's back to settle near the other's hips. ]

Sure, sure. Buuut, you never did answer my question, Saihara-chan...

[ He's mostly messing around, but it'd definitely be a waste to not do anything when he's this close, right?? Or that's how Ouma will justify his thirst for affection here. It doesn't even count for making an effort of unearthing the answer to that question from earlier, because he's definitely already kissed Shuichi's collar plenty of times -- not that it's stopping him from doing it again right now, closing the miniscule distance between his lips and Shuichi's wet skin.

Just to make it seem like he is putting in some kind of lackadaisical effort here, he'll let his fingers caress down Shuichi's hips and more toward his thighs -- it's made all the more new and fun of a sensation due to the warm water that's also trailing down his skin. ]

["Question"? Oh, right, the flexibility shit. That certainly doesn't feel heavily laden with innuendo in this particular moment, no sir. Shuichi sets his jaw, clenching his eyes shut and very determinedly ignoring the feeling of Ouma's lip on his skin and hands trailing downward. Jesus christ, is this teasing or misguided affection or is Ouma really just raring for more already? The latter of those possibilities is slightly thrilling but mostly just A Lot.

Right. Rinsing. Real quick, they're probably good. Drawing a breath, he reaches over Ouma to unceremoniously shut the water off.]

I...don't think I have the mental energy for this right now.

[Or the emotional energy. Physically, he's a teenage boy and would probably be ready to fuckin go if he let himself go down that path, but...fuck, no, don't even think about not thinking about it. Ouma's already put his head and his feelings through the wringer once tonight -- probably more than once, if he's being completely truthful -- and he needs to recover and process a little before jumping back into what may or may not be a series of poor life choices.]

[ Ouma pretty much halts his shenanigans entirely when he feels the water turn off abruptly, pulling his head away so he can look up at Shuichi again. There's the slightest bit of discontent on his face for a second, just because Shuichi actually managed to shut the water off instead of getting flustered, but he may be getting accustomed to Ouma's bullshit. Which means Ouma will just have to switch things up, but y'know.

Speaking of switching up, his demeanor almost immediately changes to an innocent smile as he takes his hands off of Shuichi, holding them up in front of him in a play of restraint. ]

... Juuust kidding! I'll find your most sensitive spot some other time.

[ Ouma's going to push some of the wet hair out of his face and climb out of the tub now, not being super careful about it since he does it pretty quickly, but he lives anyway. ]

[Is Ouma upset? Shuichi badly wishes he could actually tell, or at least that Ouma would just show it if he was. He feels like he's walking on eggshells with the Supreme Leader much of the time, never sure if anything he says or does will shatter what bit of rapport they've managed to build so far.

He watches Ouma clamber out of the tub with a disconcerted expression for a moment before following more carefully.]

...Sorry.

[And he quickly retrieves a pair of towels from under the sink, dropping one over Ouma's head before he can draw attention back to himself, hurriedly wiping down with the other and then wrapping it around his waist.]

[ Ouma still looks fairly amused by everything, whether it's a mask or not obscuring his true feelings about everything here. He's not upset per se -- he can't be, since he came into this underestimating how close he would be able to get with Shuichi, so he can't complain about what he gets.

But he also can, because it's Ouma. His hands aimlessly feel around the towel on his head for a second when Shuichi drops one on him, but it doesn't take him long to start ruffling it through his own hair in an attempt to dry it off a bit. Not that it'll dry off particularly well with just a towel, given how messy and grown out Ouma's hair is.

He moves the towel out of his face while still keeping it on his head, just enough so he can peek at Shuichi. ]

Hmmm...? What are you apologizing for?

[ Legitimate curiosity escapes his tone, and then after a beat Ouma quickly feels the need to crack a joke -- especially since it's probably Shuichi just apologizing for his lack of energy. ]

Did you wanna go again? Wow, so dirty, Saihara-chan! And you just took a bath!

[ He knows he's full of it, ok. ]

[Intellectually, Shuichi knows Ouma is definitely just giving him shit. But that doesn't stop the automatic reaction of spluttering and flushing with indignation and embarrassment, turning a disbelieving look on Ouma.]

You're the one who was just...you--

[No, he's not entirely sure where he wanted to go with that, given he definitely doesn't want to try wording something like "feeling me up like you were jonesing for round two", and given that Ouma definitely knows anyway and doesn't deserve to amuse himself watching Shuichi's struggle.

Lips pressing together in frustration, he just gives up on that entirely and instead grabs the towel on Ouma's head and rubs at Ouma's hair, maybe just a little less gently than he normally would. Fuck it, he knows perfectly well that Ouma likes it rough anyway. If it happens to obscure Ouma's vision with the edges of the towel, forcing his head down a little as well, then good. Shuichi frowns, tone just a bit petulant.]

Forget it. I'm not sorry.

[He was, for his lack of enegry and for how frustrating he must be, acting like such an awkward recently-deflowered loser about everything, harrassing Ouma for progress and bonding and affection at his own pace, being difficult whenever Ouma seemed to have different ideas, doubting Ouma despite having certainly gotten more sincerity out of him than anyone else...

But goddamn, Ouma sure does have a way of knocking him out of those self-pitying throughts and straight into mild irritation.]

Edited 2018-07-03 09:27 (UTC)

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