(no subject)

[heavenlydecree]

[If there was one thing Takatora was sure he should have learned by now, it would be how to keep his life in perfect running order. He had been the head of Yggdrasill's Research and Development branch from the moment he'd left high school and even before that, his father had kept him on a tight and strict schedule, never a second unaccounted for or left out of place. Unfortunately, with all of Takatora's scheduling and trying to squeeze an extra hour into every day, he still felt as though he never had time for anything, let alone everything. Even his weekends left little time for himself, though Takatora was also painfully aware of his obsession with triple-checking everything under his command and bringing such weight onto himself. He couldn't allow for errors.

His morning routine started a bit later on the weekends, if only because Takatora knew he had to catch up on sleep at some point to make up for running himself ragged. Getting sick was something he couldn't risk. The usual morning routine went by quickly: dragging himself out of bed (he'd never become a morning person, as much as he wanted to), showering, getting dressed, checking for any news or alerts while he had been sleeping. Thankfully, nothing important had happened during the night. Takatora always lived with the fear of something awful happening while he was asleep that he would be unprepared for, but every morning brought the same temporary relief. For now.

Takatora headed out of his room after an hour or so, still checking his phone as he made his way down the hall and towards the stairs. Ryouma already wanted to talk to him about something, which was mildly surprising as Ryouma rarely (never) got out of bed so early, which meant he'd been up all night again. Stepping past one of the maids, Takatora spoke a return greeting to her as he continued on, paying more attention to typing out messages than his surroundings.]

Comments

[grapeeater]

[... Oh. Just... great. He takes a moment to gather himself, before heading into the room.]

Good morning, nii-san. Good morning, Sengoku-san.

[He bows his head a bit, and then turns to leave. He's done what he had to. If both of them are busy or are just choosing to ignore him, it's not his fault.]

[neverunderstood]

[While neither of them respond at first, Ryouma takes a long sip of his coffee and then sets it aside before leaning back in his chair. Takatora hasn't looked up at all and Ryouma's not sure he should poke the sleeping beast, but he gives a wave to Mitsuzane.]

We'll be done soon, Mitsuzane-kun.

[grapeeater]

... All right. I'll be down again soon as well.

[He doesn't want to, but he does have to put his clothes aside for washing. Kouta kind of got snot all over the front.]

[neverunderstood]

[Whenever Mitsuzane decides to return, Ryouma and Takatora have moved from the dining room to the kitchen. While he's not leaving yet, Ryouma has his laptop put away and his bag slung across his shoulder, careful to keep it close to him. Not that Mitsuzane would be able to hack it if he tried, but the idea stands.

They're both leaning against the counter as they finish their coffee, Takatora staring at the floor with a serious expression on his face while Ryouma is very much in his personal space, talking quietly enough that no one else can hear.]

[grapeeater]

[He stands at the entrance to the kitchen, having changed and cleaned himself up a bit. He folds his hands behind his back and waits for Ryouma to finish. He's not sure he really wants to know what they're talking about.]

[neverunderstood]

[Ryouma's leaning close with his arm behind Takatora's back, exceedingly close to the same position his head had been in the other day when he'd pinned Mitsuzane against the wall. As he speaks close to him, Takatora's body tenses up and it's obvious where Ryouma's comment had originated from, at the two of them being similar.

It takes less than a minute for Takatora to finish his coffee, pulling away from Ryouma to rinse the cup in the sink. When he turns to leave the kitchen, he doesn't even bother to look at Mitsuzane or acknowledge him in any way.

Ryouma waits until Takatora has been gone for a few minutes, listening to the other make his way upstairs before he speaks.]

Can I help you?

[grapeeater]

[He watches all of it, categorizing it and filing it away in his brain. It's leading him to conclusions he doesn't like, but it's not like he really has any room to talk on who his brother hangs out with. Once they've both determined that Takatora is upstairs, he nods.]

... Do you know anything about someone named Sumii Yuuya? I know he had one of the Drivers briefly, so I thought you might have an idea where he's been. He disappeared a while ago.

[neverunderstood]

[Ryouma pouts his bottom lip out, raising his arms in a casual shrug before he returns to sipping at his coffee.]

Who knows.

[grapeeater]

[... He should turn away, but something makes him want to keep going.]

Are you sure you don't know anything?

[neverunderstood]

[Ryouma hums.]

You're a horrible listener.

[grapeeater]

I heard you the first time. I'm just not sure that you'd let something like that slip away unnoticed - someone getting their hands on one of your belts and disappearing without warning. But, maybe I'm wrong.

[neverunderstood]

I know where all of my belts are at all times, fortunately.

[grapeeater]

And do you know who has them?

[He thought as much.]

[neverunderstood]

I've told you before. Sid works for me. Who do you think determines who gets those belts?

[He's looking fairly proud of himself, now.]

[grapeeater]

[... Great.]

And don't you find it strange that the belt that was supposed to end up in one person's hands ended up in another's?

[neverunderstood]

No.

[And he doesn't offer any more information than that, finishing his coffee and stepping away to refill his mug.]

[grapeeater]

[He can't prove anything, though he finds it strange that he'd say something like that. His shoulders slump and he moves to leave. Fine. He'll just have to keep looking.]

[neverunderstood]

Mitsuzane-kun...

[Ryouma calls after him.]

Didn't your precious brother teach you the value of things?

[grapeeater]

[He stops, and looks over his shoulder.]

I know. But I doubt I have anything that you want.

[He won't bend to flatter Ryouma, though maybe if he appears disinterested it'll work in his favor.]

[neverunderstood]

Don't say something like that. You have a lot of good qualities.

[He pours himself a cup of coffee, not seeming too desperate at least.]

[grapeeater]

[He turns to face him more fully.]

True. But As for information you don't already have... I'm afraid I don't have much.

[neverunderstood]

Mm. Well, when you figure out a way to make yourself useful to me, I suppose we can talk.

[Ryouma wanders back over, humming.]

Did you have a good night?

[grapeeater]

[Hm...]

I did, actually. And you?

[Please don't be creepy please don't be creepy...]

[neverunderstood]

Well, at least one of us did.

[Does that mean he didn't have a good night, or that Takatora didn't? He's clearly not elaborating. Boy, this coffee is so nice.]

[grapeeater]

[Gonna nope into the sun. That's... good? Maybe? Hopefully.]

And how is work going?

[Oh yeah. He still has a test to study for. Again.]