[ he does go to reach for another bottle, cracks it open after a moment and takes the first sip of it. which is perhaps not entirely as polite as he might normally want to be, but, well. he passes it to itachi after a swallow. ]
I'd like to see that, [ he says, slow, ] if you really would.
[ for such a proficient liar, itachi rarely seems to say things he doesn't mean. but even rand can sense that this would be a private thing to him โ who wouldn't think this a private thing? โ and offers the out. ]
๏ผ it's said with a modest reprimand, doled out between one moment of the next. itachi's hand ghosts over rand's as he takes the bottle, and he takes drink that echoes his own. ๏ผ
I take no issue with your seeing it. You are one of the few, I think, that would understand what it means.
[ rand's reactions can so resemble a spooked, wounded animal at times. but it's a testament to itachi that right now, he doesn't. he stills as he listens, then slowly moves to lean back against the wall, lets a slant of sunlight shine too brightly in his eyes. ]
No, [ he says, feathersoft, suddenly weary. ] You're not wrong.
[ he lets the silence stretch, before asking, ]
Will you tell me what happened? If I ask.
[ spoken in the same way itachi had, only moments ago: neither a plea nor a push, merely a yes or no question. ]
Are you asking because you wish to know, or because you think I require commiseration?
๏ผ he has never considered himself one who needed to talk. his sense of interiority is strong, and his walls are high. what wounds him is kept and played closely to the heart, and he has spent his life with those burdens pinioned there. ๏ผ
[ the look he shoots itach is wry. a touch of why would i expect anything else? writ across his expression. ]
I'm asking because I'm worried about you. If talking would make you feel better, I'm here. And if it wouldn't, [ he shrugs, ] I'm still here. So long as you know.
You needn't worry. Nothing has occurred I am not equipped to tolerate.
๏ผ he takes another slow drink, lips lingering briefly on the bottle, and then he wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. ๏ผ
But I would not say no to your company. You are — ๏ผ a slight flash of amusement, there and gone in his dark eyes. mischief plays about the uptick of his mouth, and he follows with: ๏ผ agreeable enough. The only thing I find offensive is your smell. Have you bathed recently?
๏ผ this is teasing, clearly, said demonstrably as he leans in to mock-sniff at him.
he is just tipsy that this is acceptable behaviour to his usual strait-laced self. ๏ผ
[ it's hard to imagine what itachi, cool, stoic, strong wouldn't be equipped to tolerate, so rand is inclined to believe him. resorting to the bottle still seems to suggest something might've happened, but without any other reason to believe so, he lets it go.
and though he gets some brief warning from the humor that dances across itachi's face โ that actually surprises a laugh out of him, bright and full of mirth. he makes a face even as he does, trying and failing to look offended, and swats a hand towards the offending faux sniff. ]
Like you can talk! Light, you're a prick when when you're in your cups.
I'm recently come from a pleasant river bath. Isn't it obvious?
๏ผ his hair is still obnoxiously damp and will be for hours to come — but at least he had a change of clothing. he wouldn't put it past this weakened body not to catch pneumonia here. ๏ผ
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no subject
I'd like to see that, [ he says, slow, ] if you really would.
[ for such a proficient liar, itachi rarely seems to say things he doesn't mean. but even rand can sense that this would be a private thing to him โ who wouldn't think this a private thing? โ and offers the out. ]
no subject
๏ผ it's said with a modest reprimand, doled out between one moment of the next. itachi's hand ghosts over rand's as he takes the bottle, and he takes drink that echoes his own. ๏ผ
I take no issue with your seeing it. You are one of the few, I think, that would understand what it means.
no subject
You're right, you're not.
[ yes, he should've known better. itachi is ruthless, relentless in all things: even interactions with other people, even showing kindness.
his eyebrows furrow, and he turns to look at itachi as he asks, ]
What it means?
no subject
๏ผ his eyes close briefly. he breathes out, slow. ๏ผ
Am I wrong?
no subject
No, [ he says, feathersoft, suddenly weary. ] You're not wrong.
[ he lets the silence stretch, before asking, ]
Will you tell me what happened? If I ask.
[ spoken in the same way itachi had, only moments ago: neither a plea nor a push, merely a yes or no question. ]
no subject
๏ผ he has never considered himself one who needed to talk. his sense of interiority is strong, and his walls are high. what wounds him is kept and played closely to the heart, and he has spent his life with those burdens pinioned there. ๏ผ
no subject
I'm asking because I'm worried about you. If talking would make you feel better, I'm here. And if it wouldn't, [ he shrugs, ] I'm still here. So long as you know.
no subject
๏ผ he takes another slow drink, lips lingering briefly on the bottle, and then he wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. ๏ผ
But I would not say no to your company. You are — ๏ผ a slight flash of amusement, there and gone in his dark eyes. mischief plays about the uptick of his mouth, and he follows with: ๏ผ agreeable enough. The only thing I find offensive is your smell. Have you bathed recently?
๏ผ this is teasing, clearly, said demonstrably as he leans in to mock-sniff at him.
he is just tipsy that this is acceptable behaviour to his usual strait-laced self. ๏ผ
no subject
and though he gets some brief warning from the humor that dances across itachi's face โ that actually surprises a laugh out of him, bright and full of mirth. he makes a face even as he does, trying and failing to look offended, and swats a hand towards the offending faux sniff. ]
Like you can talk! Light, you're a prick when when you're in your cups.
[ without an ounce of heat. ]
no subject
๏ผ his hair is still obnoxiously damp and will be for hours to come — but at least he had a change of clothing. he wouldn't put it past this weakened body not to catch pneumonia here. ๏ผ