[ What is it that's making him want to reach out and touch him? He holds back and folds his hands in his lap. So Dice doesn't hate him. He feels the same way. Baffling that they're more alike than Gentaro had realized. ]
And I don't hate you.
[ It should be suffocating in this car, the air thick with discomfort and tension. As he watches Dice, it feels nothing like that. They're just... two people who've been dealt a shitty hand. ]
I'm afraid I can't leave. I have my reasons, but it's not an option at this point. ... If the time comes, though, I'll keep that in mind.
[Dice understands being hated by association. It's why he doesn't have any friends. He's come to live with it, to deal with the isolation in his own way, with gambling and other vices. As long as he upholds whatever arbitrary virtues are placed on him, no one cares.]
Uh, so. Today... I was going to take you to a couple of places to see what you wanted to wear. The dress code is black tie, but some people are wearing traditional clothing. I thought I'd show you a formal kimono shop I heard about a while back. It... [Oh god, he feels so small and stupid saying this, and his face must absolutely be red.] ...sounded like something you'd like, so I thought I'd... you know. Let you pick. There's a suit shop next door, if you want that.
[ He bites his tongue until Dice stops talking. And what he says is... If they hadn't spilled everything, Gentaro wouldn't believe it. He still can't completely believe it, but that's not Dice's fault. It's so considerate.
Dice is definitely red, but Gentaro's flustered, too. He clears his throat. ]
... I would be much more comfortable in traditional clothing. [ Oh, this is so awkward. He would rather sink into the earth. ] ... Thank you. For giving me that choice.
[ He hopes Dice understands what that means. He thinks he might. ]
[Dice does not, in fact, understand a damn thing. But he's glad he gave him the choice.]
I mean, I don't think you look bad in a suit, but that kind of thing suits you best, right? It just looks right on you. Hope you find something you like. They had some plum...
[Oh god, he just nearly said something would look good on Gentaro. Not "not bad", actually good. He might die.]
Eh. Anyway, that's where we're headed. That's kind of... why I was excited. Thought it might be neat to see you pick something out.
[ There's no way those are compliments, right? Because if they are, he has no idea how to react. Aside from feeling warmer, anyway. Gentaro looks a little bewildered, but he reels it in.
Not quickly enough, though. It's just different, seeing this side of Dice. There were hints of it, but this is something else. He's so considerate to think of Gentaro's comfort, what he likes... ]
I'm sure I will. [ He smiles, but it's not one of those soft ones: It's playful, teasing. ] If I dislike everything there, I'll have to charge you half a million yen.
[He grumbles slightly at falling prey to that one, but he had no real reason to disbelieve him. It's funny, but this feels... nice? Good? Like maybe he has a--]
Okay. I know I'm going to sound like a little kid asking this, but whatever. Do you want to... I mean, if it's okay with you, do you want to see if we can be actually cool? Like... friends?
[ He's surprised. Dice keeps catching him off-guard, and it's uncomfortable, but... It's also not? He doesn't feel threatened, at least. Carefully, he says, ]
[Dice doesn't want to admit that his heart just leapt into his throat at that smile... and now he has to live with the consequences of the boyish grin he just flashed in return.]
Great. So we start with you feeling like you can be yourself a little bit, yeah? With the nice outfit. [He chances a little laugh, far less restrained than usual.] ...Man, I feel like I'm toeing the line between buying you a gift and bribing you, but we can work on that too.
[ His grin and laugh... he's realizing just how cute Dice is. The worst time to realize that in such close quarters.
He tries not to focus too much on feeling like you can be yourself a little bit. How does he tell him that he's starting to lose a little bit of himself with each day? He won't, because that's too personal and vulnerable.
Admitting it would make it more real. ]
Ah, dear Dice, how generous of you... [ He gives him a teasing smile. ] Spoiling me? You must want to impress me, I see.
[ Why does he have to be so earnest? It's like Dice has been put on this earth to curse him, because he's completely Gentaro's type. Frustrating, absolutely. Gentaro knows that he's just a blip in Dice's life, and once the Party's decided he's no longer of use, he'll be nothing but a memory.
He lets out a sigh. ]
... I appreciate it. You don't have to do all of this, you know.
[ He laughs and looks at him. It's almost like he's seeing him in a new light.
That's not too far off from the truth, but he doesn't know exactly what this is. Complicated, yes, but something else that makes him feel vulnerable. ]
Mm, I believe you.
[ The urge to reach out and touch him is almost too strong to ignore. He holds back. No use in complicating things more. ]
[Dice looks thoughtful, almost uncomfortable, for just a moment. Then he shrugs.]
Well, I mean... You've seen me holding back for a while, right? Putting on a front, that kind of thing. I'm not that tame. I just gotta act like it when I'm in uniform or I'll get in more trouble than it's worth.
[He grins, and maybe he doesn't quite mean it this way but he sure says it:]
He's feeling a little warm. He hopes Dice doesn't notice, because he'd probably die of embarrassment. He covers his mouth with his hand and lets out a gasp. ]
Ready? How ominous. I'm absolutely trembling with fear!
Oh, come on... I'm not that scary. Actually, don't you think I'm scarier in work mode? In the uniform, right?
[Here, in casual clothes, with his hair mostly unstyled, and a grin on and off, he's anything but intimidating.]
...
[Hmmm...]
Actually, do I look better that way? Or in a tuxedo? Suit? I don't know. My mom hates me dressing casually, but that just makes me want to do it more often.
[Dice is so busy internally celebrating that Gentaro approves of his appearance that he doesn't even notice how red Gentaro's face has become. His own is burning a bit beneath those messy bangs.]
...Can I tell you something?
[He looks out of his window for a moment, then looks back to Gentaro, leaning toward him slightly.]
I don't think I'll ever get another chance to say it.
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And I don't hate you.
[ It should be suffocating in this car, the air thick with discomfort and tension. As he watches Dice, it feels nothing like that. They're just... two people who've been dealt a shitty hand. ]
I'm afraid I can't leave. I have my reasons, but it's not an option at this point. ... If the time comes, though, I'll keep that in mind.
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[Dice understands being hated by association. It's why he doesn't have any friends. He's come to live with it, to deal with the isolation in his own way, with gambling and other vices. As long as he upholds whatever arbitrary virtues are placed on him, no one cares.]
Uh, so. Today... I was going to take you to a couple of places to see what you wanted to wear. The dress code is black tie, but some people are wearing traditional clothing. I thought I'd show you a formal kimono shop I heard about a while back. It... [Oh god, he feels so small and stupid saying this, and his face must absolutely be red.] ...sounded like something you'd like, so I thought I'd... you know. Let you pick. There's a suit shop next door, if you want that.
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Dice is definitely red, but Gentaro's flustered, too. He clears his throat. ]
... I would be much more comfortable in traditional clothing. [ Oh, this is so awkward. He would rather sink into the earth. ] ... Thank you. For giving me that choice.
[ He hopes Dice understands what that means. He thinks he might. ]
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I mean, I don't think you look bad in a suit, but that kind of thing suits you best, right? It just looks right on you. Hope you find something you like. They had some plum...
[Oh god, he just nearly said something would look good on Gentaro. Not "not bad", actually good. He might die.]
Eh. Anyway, that's where we're headed. That's kind of... why I was excited. Thought it might be neat to see you pick something out.
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Not quickly enough, though. It's just different, seeing this side of Dice. There were hints of it, but this is something else. He's so considerate to think of Gentaro's comfort, what he likes... ]
I'm sure I will. [ He smiles, but it's not one of those soft ones: It's playful, teasing. ] If I dislike everything there, I'll have to charge you half a million yen.
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H-half a million?? Are you serious? Because 300 wasn't enough?
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[ He smirks at Dice. ]
300 was easily more than enough.
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[He grumbles slightly at falling prey to that one, but he had no real reason to disbelieve him. It's funny, but this feels... nice? Good? Like maybe he has a--]
Okay. I know I'm going to sound like a little kid asking this, but whatever. Do you want to... I mean, if it's okay with you, do you want to see if we can be actually cool? Like... friends?
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Are you sure?
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[There is some level of acceptance of his situation. But he's increasingly seeing it as unfair to the target, Gentaro.]
If you want me to keep my distance, nothing's going to change.
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I wouldn't mind. We'll never know unless we try.
[ Inexplicably, he's smiling. It's far from the usual ones he lets Dice see. Instead, it's softer, more genuine, reaching his eyes. ]
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Great. So we start with you feeling like you can be yourself a little bit, yeah? With the nice outfit. [He chances a little laugh, far less restrained than usual.] ...Man, I feel like I'm toeing the line between buying you a gift and bribing you, but we can work on that too.
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He tries not to focus too much on feeling like you can be yourself a little bit. How does he tell him that he's starting to lose a little bit of himself with each day? He won't, because that's too personal and vulnerable.
Admitting it would make it more real. ]
Ah, dear Dice, how generous of you... [ He gives him a teasing smile. ] Spoiling me? You must want to impress me, I see.
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I don't know about impressing you, but I'd rather make this whole thing mostly painless if it can't be actually nice.
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He lets out a sigh. ]
... I appreciate it. You don't have to do all of this, you know.
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Or is it likes?]
Ask anybody. They'll tell you I'm all about doing stuff other people think isn't necessary!
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That's not too far off from the truth, but he doesn't know exactly what this is. Complicated, yes, but something else that makes him feel vulnerable. ]
Mm, I believe you.
[ The urge to reach out and touch him is almost too strong to ignore. He holds back. No use in complicating things more. ]
You're hardly the type to holds back, hm?
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Well, I mean... You've seen me holding back for a while, right? Putting on a front, that kind of thing. I'm not that tame. I just gotta act like it when I'm in uniform or I'll get in more trouble than it's worth.
[He grins, and maybe he doesn't quite mean it this way but he sure says it:]
You've got me out of my uniform, so get ready.
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He's feeling a little warm. He hopes Dice doesn't notice, because he'd probably die of embarrassment. He covers his mouth with his hand and lets out a gasp. ]
Ready? How ominous. I'm absolutely trembling with fear!
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Oh, come on... I'm not that scary. Actually, don't you think I'm scarier in work mode? In the uniform, right?
[Here, in casual clothes, with his hair mostly unstyled, and a grin on and off, he's anything but intimidating.]
...
[Hmmm...]
Actually, do I look better that way? Or in a tuxedo? Suit? I don't know. My mom hates me dressing casually, but that just makes me want to do it more often.
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[ He can't tell Dice that he looks good in anything he wears. Gentaro pauses for a moment. ]
You seem most comfortable dressing casually. It suits you.
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[He musses his swept-back bangs into his face, then sweeps them a bit to the side.]
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Down.
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...Can I tell you something?
[He looks out of his window for a moment, then looks back to Gentaro, leaning toward him slightly.]
I don't think I'll ever get another chance to say it.
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... You can.
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