[ With Nishikiyama turning around Mine has little choice but to look up and meet him there. The way he leans against the pillow makes his question sound more mischievous than it probably is, but Mine can't imagine it's entirely without another idea behind it either. ]
What do you mean by that?
[ Wrinkles remain across the bridge of his nose. ]
[ The reality is that there's nothing else hiding in Nishikiyama's expression, yet Mine can't help looking for it. It's because he wants to be impressive, to put his foot forward even before Nishikiyama asks him to take a step. ]
As I said beforeβ
[ Though the kirin on his back's also facing away now, Mine's serious look shifts ever so slightly to display his determination instead. ]
I don't expect to go under, not within the Nishikiyama Family and not by myself.
[ It's up to Mine to prove himself. Nishikiyama's response is vague, but he isn't displeased. Sliding up from where he'd laid himself, he looks back over his shoulder to the bathroom of the suite. ]
I'm going to wash up before we leave. Let's at least have a couple of drinks while we're still here.
[ Champagne, wine. Nishikiyama's certain it'll be better than the highballs served at the yakiniku restaurant. It's just as inevitable that they'll fuck themselves over by mixing alcohols tonight, but like hell will Nishikiyama surrender the full luxury of Mine's rented space without at least sampling that much.
Two legs slip off the ledge and Nishikiyama stands on his feet with his naked form exposed. He's not sure if Mine will follow him to the shower, but there's a suspiciously enough time for him to invite himself or follow should he be bold enough to do so. ]
[ Feeling the idea'd been sprung on him, Mine doesn't know what Nishikiyama expects him to do. He'll be thinking about it, but there's little for him to follow up on when Nishikiyama withdraws by getting up.
Mine comes out of his pose leaning on his hand, that'd even made him look comfortable in their shared, closed off space on the bed. He gets another glimpse of the koi on Nishikiyama's back, now swimming back upstream. He doesn't end up following, though. Just like lying down together, Mine feels unsure to join himβ Absurd, considering their time spent together.
He ends fixing himself up out here and by himself, as best Mine can between paper tissues and the separate toilet. No doubt he'll do more as soon as he gets home for a stint, but there's enough time to fix a few loose hairs and get dressed again. Pants, shirt and tie, no jacket. While going around, he'd put Nishikiyama's clothes on the bed. ]
The food might be cold by now.
[ When he gets out, Mine is pouring white wine, on the cusp of getting warm obversely. ]
[ When he's out. Nishikiyama hadn't heard or noticed Mine shuffling about over the sound of the water running, and only now notices that Mine is up and tidy. Hm. Maybe he'd used the sink?
Wine is more interesting than an answer, and despite a lesser state of dress, with his hair still dry (he'd avoided the commitment of washing it) and a towel wrapped about his hips, he moves closer to the table that'd been prepared for him. He doesn't care to put his own clothes back on just yet. ]
Food is whatever. We'll eat eventually.
[ He reaches for the first glass that Mine pours out. ]
[ Not together... Nishikiyama gets an answer even though he doesn't much care for one. Mine leaves the implication that he'll still freshen up.
That he looks down, then back up Nishikiyama's washed body isn't something he may conceal. In comparison Mine certainly looks and feels overdressed right now. Like he'd hurried.
Pouring a second glass, Mine considers that he still has to drive. Nishikiyama has only just placed the dinner celebration back on his mind and mention of it doesn't leave room for him to want to try the lunch set for them. Mine seeks balance between what he'd just said about their time in this room and his position in the yakuzaβ ]
Of course. I look forward to it.
[ He ought to say it too, Mine figures, but he'd enjoyed one thing more. ]
He lowers into the nearest chair with the wine glass in hand and takes a drink of it. There's a reflection of his half-naked self reflected in the silver plate dome when he pulls it off the dish with his free hand. Beneath it is the meal that'd been prepared for them: expensive-looking fish that's been meticulously garnished. Maybe it's French cooking? It looks European enoughβ not that Nishikiyama had known specifics deeply enough to distinguish one from another. He'd known the basics like that paella is from Spain and tomato pastas are from Italy, but fish is just fish at the end of the day. The cuisine before him is simply too ambiguous.
He curiously takes a bite of it. ]
It's good cold.
[ Palate unrefined, Nishikiyama might even argue that it's enjoyed better at this temperature. ]
[ Mine looks on, kept unsure until Nishikiyama takes a forkful and tries the fish. Certainly what he'd implied was that it wouldn't be as nice to have cold, thinking as far as that they'd only come here to eat. ]
Ah. [ He'd gotten stuck on that idea. Mine sits down, too, opposite of Nishikiyama. He's left quietly satisfied, that Nishikiyama'd still seemed to like every meal he'd invited him to. ] Then, please enjoy it.
[ βAnd even the invitation to linger. While he won't eat, Mine sips his wine, not too shy to let his gaze flicker into contact. ]
[ With that answer, does Nishikiyama intend to serve himself? Mine can't tell by only following his sight line. He puts his fingers along the edge of his plate, though, and nudges it a centimeter or so closer to the center. ]
[ Nishikiyama's comment causes Mine a pang and his brows lower. ]
We work hard to eat good mealsβ [ Mine readily extends his own ethic, not breaking eye contact. ] Why compromise?
[ In the end he doesn't do so well to hide that Nishikiyama has hit a nerve, though. Something obstinate slips into his expression, quietly defensive. ]
... [ What'd he saidβ? ] That isn't what I meant.
[ Nishikiyama probes in a way that makes Mine feel anxious for no good reason, unanticipated in a moment he'd indulged in. He flounders in a way and tenses in his brow against his imbalance. The wine glass remains on the table, even though he surely wants to take a drink. ]
Maybe not, but there's still no way you can get yourself out of that corner you've talked yourself into.
[ Nishikiyama relaxes in a way that shows he'd been toying with Mine. With his eyes falling back to his food, a dish now unworthy of Mine's tastebuds by a only some amount of time, he helps himself to the remainder of the dish without worrying about how it comes off. He huffs and rolls his eyes. ]
Give me yours. I can't stand seeing it sit there like that.
[ The notion passes by in flight, that this might overshadow the rest of their lunch. Mine shakes the thought, but it takes him a moment from then on, visibly, to realize that Nishikiyama only plays around. His expression doesn't quite relax, well possibly he can't. ]
If it matters to you that muchβ
[ Mine cedes what he hadn't wanted in the first place, though, pushing the plate. ]
[ Nishikiyama accepts Mine's plate, pulling it enough of a way close to pick off of. It'll be a while before he gets to the other portion, but he's intent enough now to have it. ]
Looks like you'll just have to starve.
[ No, Mine won't. Both of them know he won't, but Nishikiyama teases him anyway. ]
[ Nishikiyama doesnβt seem half as passionate as he did a moment ago. Mineβs face is in arrears, but he gets it now, that the other man just teases him. ]
Iβll wait until our dinner.
[ It leaves him nowhere near wanting to retaliate either. ]
You're going to have a lot of fun fighting off the rest of them if you keep it civil. Don't be the one who grills the meat if you actually want to eat anyβ that's the trick.
[ As for Nishikiyama? Of course he won't be grilling any yakiniku tonight. ]
[ Kanda keeps promoting himself as his oath brother, while Mine has him down as a crude idiot. Part of him wants to say yes, have Nishikiyama tell Kanda off. It makes that scoff of a laugh reappear, even without enough alcohol to induce it. ]
Hmhβ
[ Now Mine's business dinners look more like a state banquet, but in the beginning he'd ended evenings plastered in the smell of grease and smoke too. There's just a nod. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
What do you mean by that?
[ Wrinkles remain across the bridge of his nose. ]
no subject
[ Nishikiyama watches the wrinkles crease across Mine's expression, his own relaxed where he lays. ]
I want to be there to see if you're bluffing. You better not lose.
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As I said beforeβ
[ Though the kirin on his back's also facing away now, Mine's serious look shifts ever so slightly to display his determination instead. ]
I don't expect to go under, not within the Nishikiyama Family and not by myself.
no subject
[ It's up to Mine to prove himself. Nishikiyama's response is vague, but he isn't displeased. Sliding up from where he'd laid himself, he looks back over his shoulder to the bathroom of the suite. ]
I'm going to wash up before we leave. Let's at least have a couple of drinks while we're still here.
[ Champagne, wine. Nishikiyama's certain it'll be better than the highballs served at the yakiniku restaurant. It's just as inevitable that they'll fuck themselves over by mixing alcohols tonight, but like hell will Nishikiyama surrender the full luxury of Mine's rented space without at least sampling that much.
Two legs slip off the ledge and Nishikiyama stands on his feet with his naked form exposed. He's not sure if Mine will follow him to the shower, but there's a suspiciously enough time for him to invite himself or follow should he be bold enough to do so. ]
no subject
Mine comes out of his pose leaning on his hand, that'd even made him look comfortable in their shared, closed off space on the bed. He gets another glimpse of the koi on Nishikiyama's back, now swimming back upstream. He doesn't end up following, though. Just like lying down together, Mine feels unsure to join himβ Absurd, considering their time spent together.
He ends fixing himself up out here and by himself, as best Mine can between paper tissues and the separate toilet. No doubt he'll do more as soon as he gets home for a stint, but there's enough time to fix a few loose hairs and get dressed again. Pants, shirt and tie, no jacket. While going around, he'd put Nishikiyama's clothes on the bed. ]
The food might be cold by now.
[ When he gets out, Mine is pouring white wine, on the cusp of getting warm obversely. ]
no subject
[ When he's out. Nishikiyama hadn't heard or noticed Mine shuffling about over the sound of the water running, and only now notices that Mine is up and tidy. Hm. Maybe he'd used the sink?
Wine is more interesting than an answer, and despite a lesser state of dress, with his hair still dry (he'd avoided the commitment of washing it) and a towel wrapped about his hips, he moves closer to the table that'd been prepared for him. He doesn't care to put his own clothes back on just yet. ]
Food is whatever. We'll eat eventually.
[ He reaches for the first glass that Mine pours out. ]
no subject
[ Not together... Nishikiyama gets an answer even though he doesn't much care for one. Mine leaves the implication that he'll still freshen up.
That he looks down, then back up Nishikiyama's washed body isn't something he may conceal. In comparison Mine certainly looks and feels overdressed right now. Like he'd hurried.
Pouring a second glass, Mine considers that he still has to drive. Nishikiyama has only just placed the dinner celebration back on his mind and mention of it doesn't leave room for him to want to try the lunch set for them. Mine seeks balance between what he'd just said about their time in this room and his position in the yakuzaβ ]
Of course. I look forward to it.
[ He ought to say it too, Mine figures, but he'd enjoyed one thing more. ]
no subject
He lowers into the nearest chair with the wine glass in hand and takes a drink of it. There's a reflection of his half-naked self reflected in the silver plate dome when he pulls it off the dish with his free hand. Beneath it is the meal that'd been prepared for them: expensive-looking fish that's been meticulously garnished. Maybe it's French cooking? It looks European enoughβ not that Nishikiyama had known specifics deeply enough to distinguish one from another. He'd known the basics like that paella is from Spain and tomato pastas are from Italy, but fish is just fish at the end of the day. The cuisine before him is simply too ambiguous.
He curiously takes a bite of it. ]
It's good cold.
[ Palate unrefined, Nishikiyama might even argue that it's enjoyed better at this temperature. ]
no subject
Ah. [ He'd gotten stuck on that idea. Mine sits down, too, opposite of Nishikiyama. He's left quietly satisfied, that Nishikiyama'd still seemed to like every meal he'd invited him to. ] Then, please enjoy it.
[ βAnd even the invitation to linger. While he won't eat, Mine sips his wine, not too shy to let his gaze flicker into contact. ]
no subject
You won't?
[ He indicates Mine's portion with the same eyes. ]
no subject
βNo.
[ With that answer, does Nishikiyama intend to serve himself? Mine can't tell by only following his sight line. He puts his fingers along the edge of his plate, though, and nudges it a centimeter or so closer to the center. ]
no subject
[ He feels as if he's speaking to Yuko when he says it, eyeballing the plate and then Mine once more. ]
It tastes just the same as it would warm. It's refreshing now.
[ He takes another bite of fish. ]
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We work hard to eat good mealsβ [ Mine readily extends his own ethic, not breaking eye contact. ] Why compromise?
[ In the end he doesn't do so well to hide that Nishikiyama has hit a nerve, though. Something obstinate slips into his expression, quietly defensive. ]
no subject
[ Nishikiyama tests Mine now, facial expression and intent unreadable. ]
no subject
[ Nishikiyama probes in a way that makes Mine feel anxious for no good reason, unanticipated in a moment he'd indulged in. He flounders in a way and tenses in his brow against his imbalance. The wine glass remains on the table, even though he surely wants to take a drink. ]
βIf you enjoy it, I'm glad.
no subject
[ Nishikiyama relaxes in a way that shows he'd been toying with Mine. With his eyes falling back to his food, a dish now unworthy of Mine's tastebuds by a only some amount of time, he helps himself to the remainder of the dish without worrying about how it comes off. He huffs and rolls his eyes. ]
Give me yours. I can't stand seeing it sit there like that.
no subject
If it matters to you that muchβ
[ Mine cedes what he hadn't wanted in the first place, though, pushing the plate. ]
no subject
Looks like you'll just have to starve.
[ No, Mine won't. Both of them know he won't, but Nishikiyama teases him anyway. ]
no subject
Iβll wait until our dinner.
[ It leaves him nowhere near wanting to retaliate either. ]
no subject
[ As for Nishikiyama? Of course he won't be grilling any yakiniku tonight. ]
Want me to just tell Kanda to do it?
no subject
Hmhβ
[ Now Mine's business dinners look more like a state banquet, but in the beginning he'd ended evenings plastered in the smell of grease and smoke too. There's just a nod. ]
I'll take the diplomatic route.