Jedao remembers, with a sharp little twist of insecurity, that Hakkai married him mostly because Jedao wanted to get married, despite his own reservations about doing anything official whatsoever.
It's very stupid to feel insecure about that, though, so he's definitely not going to admit it, and he doesn't know what to say, and he has to say something. He opens his mouth and lets instinct take over. And what instinct decides to say is -
"Mmmhm. I do love a tall man who catches on quick."
The brief hesitation as Jedao gets it burns like acid, and Hakkai finds himself immediately, sharply regretting the choice to spell it out. Gojyo hadn't understood why it was a shitty thing to say to their faces, but Hakkai pointing it out hurt Jedao.
"Also," he says, very brightly, inspired entirely by a surge of furious temper, "he's indestructible."
Gojyo pushes off from where he was leaning against the railing, throws his hands up in the air, probably startling poor Jeep in process.
"Then fucking congratulations to you both for finding the perfect guy! I apologise ever so much for intruding on the marital bliss. I'll leave you to it."
He shoves his hands deep into his pockets before stalking off. Why the hell did he ever think coming here was a good idea.
Jedao blinks at just how quickly that went jets-up. Even actual battles tend to take some time to get so fucked. He can't even convince himself it was entirely his fault, because he's pretty sure his barbed flirting didn't even register compared to to Hakkai coming over all razor-smiles.
"Please take a breath, darlin," Jedao tells Hakkai, unceremoniously shooing Jeep into his arms.
"I'm going to run after him and maybe get humiliated about it," he announces, as a field decision. "How do you think alcohol would go over, as a peace offering?"
He says it quickly enough - and loudly enough - that maybe Goyjo will hear it over his own stomping.
"I don't-- you shouldn't have to--" Hakkai's arms close reflexively around Jeep, holding him close. Jeep promptly bites his finger, which Hakkai supposes he deserves.
He marshals some frail attempt at dignity from a brain that seems to be made of panicking sheep running in all directions, and manages, "I'll be in our room?"
He's aware he's the one who started and worsened this fight, he doesn't know why, and he really doesn't know why he's feeling so hurt about it.
"Do some stress cooking," Jedao tells him firmly, and gives him a quick kiss, gripping Hakkai's upper arms tight for a grounding moment.
"Worst case, we punch each other and then relax."
This is not actually the worst case scenario, but it is an escape route that Jedao can probably graft onto any of the actual worst cases and successfully divert them.
Gojyo probably does hear some of that, but fuck if he's going to turn around just because of it. He continues stomping off, realises he dropped his cigarette at some point and only pauses long enough to fish a new one out of his pack, lighting it with a few muttered curse words.
God fucking damn it, he never should've come here, or he should've backed off the moment Hakkai made it clear he's made himself a whole new, better life here, why the fuck did he ever think he'd be welcome. Where was that Lounge, again?
Gojyo takes another long drag of his cigarette, not looking at Jedao. He's mad at Hakkai, and this guy is really just kinda caught up in that, he realises. Going completely scorched earth on a total stranger would be stupid.
"...Thought the drinks here were free."
Can't really buy him one if that's the case, can he? It's a bit of a dry joke, meant to at least somewhat signal I'm listening. 'Stupid jealous?' What the fuck does that mean.
"You sure you don't wanna take the hubby out for celebratory drinks instead?"
You know, celebrating Hakkai's perfect new life with his perfect husband and perfect new friends. Hakkai, who can't even be bothered to go after Gojyo, instead it's this complete stranger who does...
"I'm sure I want to know more about you. I'm a spy, so it's very nefarious of me," Jedao says, blithely absurdist as he opens the way to the warden levels with what looks like a weird pack of playing cards.
Is smoking allowed in the Lounge? Fuck it: Gojyo's smoking either way. He can't quite help eyeing the weird pack of playing cards with a hint of professional interest.
"Never could get into spy dramas. Way too much complicated plot, not enough action."
"You have clearly been watching the wrong spy dramas. There are plenty that barely have any real tradecraft squished between the action scenes at all."
Jedao leaves the deck of cards on the counter as he asks the bored looking bartender - which today is a young man in a cowboy hat - for a vodka soda, and one of whatever Goyjo would like.
Probably some kind of scotch. Today is a heavy liquor kind of day, it turns out.
Gojyo's not picking the deck up - he does have a sense for other people's property, his past career notwithstanding - although he examines it while hunched over the table.
"Fuck me, can't even pick out mindless movies properly."
"I'm not sure Sanzo even knew what dramas were, so you're already ahead there," Jedao remarks, with a dry thread of old but sincere exasperation. Gojyo is touchy and occasionally baffling, but Jedao hadn't understood Sanzo at all.
He sips his own drink, then tips the incomplete Jeng-zai deck into his hands, shuffling casually.
"It has the same structure - trumps, four face cards - but the specifics are different."
He lays out four cards to demonstrate, then snorts. The Five of Roses reversed, the Fortress reversed, the Soldier reversed, the Three of Gears, reversed. Maybe he's just reading it upside down, except that it's a little on the nose as it is.
"Jeng-zai is a lot like Earth poker. But I have a regular deck too."
Gojyo likes learning new card games, but somehow the thought of being the newbie being taught by this guy makes him feel like throwing up. He downs the last of his drink, the warm weight of the alcohol already settling in his stomach.
"--Look, man, we don't gotta do this. Let's just have a couple of drinks and then you can go back home. I'm not gonna come knock down the door in the middle of the night or whatever."
"We are just having a couple of drinks," Jedao points out, scooping up the reading, secreting the cards away.
"And you should definitely knock on our door sometime soon, because Hakkai probably made a ridiculous amount of food, and I don't like human food."
He makes a face, simple rueful misery. Hakkai has never been anything but understanding about it, but it still feels bad, not being able to accept the first kind of gift he wants to give.
"Also, I love cards." No need to comment on that particular vulnerability, unless Gojyo really wants to. He pulls a different deck - regular bicycle cards - out of his other pocket and slides them over. "So if you play, you should teach me something."
There's a sharp pang of guilt: it's not like Gojyo needs it spelled out to him what Hakkai cooking ridiculous amounts of food means. Hakkai, who for so long was convinced that he could never be worthy of finding love again, and then somehow Gojyo made it sound like he agrees that Hakkai isn't worthy of it.
He reaches to refill his glass before taking the deck and starting to shuffle it.
"Fuck it: if we're gonna play, let's play something we both already know. Earth poker?"
He shuffles the deck with practised ease before handing it over to Jedao for cutting. Sure, handing the deck back and forth when it's only two players is a bit silly, but might as well do shit properly.
"Tch. Bet we can establish some kinda delivery service."
Hakkai gets to have his cooking benefit a charity case; Gojyo gets to never have to set foot in their happy home. Hakkai made it more than clear Gojyo's presence isn't required.
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Re: cw homophobic nonsense
It's very stupid to feel insecure about that, though, so he's definitely not going to admit it, and he doesn't know what to say, and he has to say something. He opens his mouth and lets instinct take over. And what instinct decides to say is -
"Mmmhm. I do love a tall man who catches on quick."
He winks. It feels like it needs a wink.
Re: cw homophobic nonsense
"Also," he says, very brightly, inspired entirely by a surge of furious temper, "he's indestructible."
Ah. Maybe he shouldn't have....
Re: cw homophobic nonsense
Gojyo pushes off from where he was leaning against the railing, throws his hands up in the air, probably startling poor Jeep in process.
"Then fucking congratulations to you both for finding the perfect guy! I apologise ever so much for intruding on the marital bliss. I'll leave you to it."
He shoves his hands deep into his pockets before stalking off. Why the hell did he ever think coming here was a good idea.
Re: cw homophobic nonsense
"Please take a breath, darlin," Jedao tells Hakkai, unceremoniously shooing Jeep into his arms.
"I'm going to run after him and maybe get humiliated about it," he announces, as a field decision. "How do you think alcohol would go over, as a peace offering?"
He says it quickly enough - and loudly enough - that maybe Goyjo will hear it over his own stomping.
Re: cw homophobic nonsense
He marshals some frail attempt at dignity from a brain that seems to be made of panicking sheep running in all directions, and manages, "I'll be in our room?"
He's aware he's the one who started and worsened this fight, he doesn't know why, and he really doesn't know why he's feeling so hurt about it.
Re: cw homophobic nonsense
"Worst case, we punch each other and then relax."
This is not actually the worst case scenario, but it is an escape route that Jedao can probably graft onto any of the actual worst cases and successfully divert them.
Re: cw homophobic nonsense
Well, he wouldn't like to admit that he's fleeing for the stairs, but that is effectively what he's doing.
Re: cw homophobic nonsense
God fucking damn it, he never should've come here, or he should've backed off the moment Hakkai made it clear he's made himself a whole new, better life here, why the fuck did he ever think he'd be welcome. Where was that Lounge, again?
Re: cw homophobic nonsense
"Well, that was confusing and horrible," Jedao says with straightforward sort of bleak cheer, hands in his pockets.
"Let's start over. Hi, I'm Jedao, and I'm a little bit stupid jealous of you. Welcome to the barge. Can I get you a drink?"
Re: cw homophobic nonsense
"...Thought the drinks here were free."
Can't really buy him one if that's the case, can he? It's a bit of a dry joke, meant to at least somewhat signal I'm listening. 'Stupid jealous?' What the fuck does that mean.
Re: cw homophobic nonsense
Re: cw homophobic nonsense
You know, celebrating Hakkai's perfect new life with his perfect husband and perfect new friends. Hakkai, who can't even be bothered to go after Gojyo, instead it's this complete stranger who does...
He does follow Jedao, though.
Re: cw homophobic nonsense
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Is smoking allowed in the Lounge? Fuck it: Gojyo's smoking either way. He can't quite help eyeing the weird pack of playing cards with a hint of professional interest.
"Never could get into spy dramas. Way too much complicated plot, not enough action."
Or sex scenes.
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Jedao leaves the deck of cards on the counter as he asks the bored looking bartender - which today is a young man in a cowboy hat - for a vodka soda, and one of whatever Goyjo would like.
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Gojyo's not picking the deck up - he does have a sense for other people's property, his past career notwithstanding - although he examines it while hunched over the table.
"Fuck me, can't even pick out mindless movies properly."
Ha ha. He downs half his glass in one go.
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"I'm not sure Sanzo even knew what dramas were, so you're already ahead there," Jedao remarks, with a dry thread of old but sincere exasperation. Gojyo is touchy and occasionally baffling, but Jedao hadn't understood Sanzo at all.
He sips his own drink, then tips the incomplete Jeng-zai deck into his hands, shuffling casually.
"You play?"
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"Pretty sure Sanzo doesn't know what fiction is, period."
...Of fucking course this dude knew Sanzo as well in this little parallel life of Hakkai's. Next thing he'll be told Goku was here too.
"Sure. Just probably not whatever fuck otherwordly game you're thinking of. That a Tarot deck?"
It looks a bit like one.
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He lays out four cards to demonstrate, then snorts. The Five of Roses reversed, the Fortress reversed, the Soldier reversed, the Three of Gears, reversed. Maybe he's just reading it upside down, except that it's a little on the nose as it is.
"Jeng-zai is a lot like Earth poker. But I have a regular deck too."
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"--Look, man, we don't gotta do this. Let's just have a couple of drinks and then you can go back home. I'm not gonna come knock down the door in the middle of the night or whatever."
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"And you should definitely knock on our door sometime soon, because Hakkai probably made a ridiculous amount of food, and I don't like human food."
He makes a face, simple rueful misery. Hakkai has never been anything but understanding about it, but it still feels bad, not being able to accept the first kind of gift he wants to give.
"Also, I love cards." No need to comment on that particular vulnerability, unless Gojyo really wants to. He pulls a different deck - regular bicycle cards - out of his other pocket and slides them over. "So if you play, you should teach me something."
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He reaches to refill his glass before taking the deck and starting to shuffle it.
"Fuck it: if we're gonna play, let's play something we both already know. Earth poker?"
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"And we're in 5-13." For future knocking purposes.
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"Tch. Bet we can establish some kinda delivery service."
Hakkai gets to have his cooking benefit a charity case; Gojyo gets to never have to set foot in their happy home. Hakkai made it more than clear Gojyo's presence isn't required.
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actually 2/2 done already
Re: actually 2/2 done already
1/3
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