Again, Gojyo down half his glass in one go. He's tempted to pointedly ask something purely practical and impersonal: how many wardens versus inmates are there on the Barge? what are floods like? ...but ugh. That'd be shitty of him, and he's already been shitty enough today. Okay, so there is maybe one thing he'd actually want to ask, but he's way too sober to go for it.
...
"So, like, does this place provide some other shit for you to eat, other than human food? I don't care what you are or why you don't like normal food, but."
Seems like it'd suck to have to eat stuff you can't stand (look at him, he's turning into Goku).
"My first inmate asked the Admiral to get me something else for one of the Earth holidays, once, and that was..." he looks away, swallows. Even if he opened himself up to the question on purpose, the vulnerability is real.
"It was so good. But I don't even know what it was, exactly, and I think it would have been...not safe for most people to be around. I can survive on regular protein, so. Whatever. I'll fix it when I get my next deal."
"Thank you," he says simply, sincerely. He wouldn't have minded the impersonal question, pointed or no, just used it as an excuse to be Helpful, and he doesn't mind sharing what he has, either. He wants the two of them to know each other a little more as people, instead of simply as the shape on the other side of Hakkai.
He doesn't fold, next time - he's only got two pair, jacks high. He'll leave it to luck.
When playing against a new, unknown opponent, on the very few occasions Gojyo employs any actual strategy instead of just having fun with it he tends to not play too aggressively at first, to get a sense of the other person's style.
Which, in this instance, results in the weaker hand. Bah. He takes a consolation swig of his drink.
"Hang on: you're married! Stop looking at other people!"
Is it perfectly acceptable in Saiyukiverse to have concubines? Yes. Does Gojyo himself not have a monogamous bone in his body? Also yes. But how dare this guy imply just Hakkai isn't enough for him??
On the one hand, Gojyo being protective of Hakkai is good. On the other hand, if he says anything actually disapproving to Hakkai, he might get his head fully torn off. Jedao doesn't want to be too flippant, but he also doesn't want to be graphic without permission. He wants to reassure Gojyo, but not so much that Gojyo sinks back into his 'well if you're perfect-' resentful sulking.
"I am married, but I still have eyes," he says with a little half shrug. "Are we gonna play, or what?"
Which is to say - if Gojyo has a fucking question about that, he'll have to win it. And be forced to narrow the scope of what he's actually asking beyond nebulous effrontery.
Hakkai works in the Greenhouse, right? Gojyo thinks he could probably borrow a shovel for an evening with divulging the details of what he needs it for.
For one long moment he looks like he very much wants to grab Jedao and lift him up by the collar of his shirt, before he picks up the deck and deals another hand.
Jedao watches Gojyo contemplate possibilities, and grins at him. He discards one of a pair of jacks to ruin his hand, then bluffs with absolutely nothing, raising two more more peanuts to see if Gojyo will be more likely to call Jedao on it when he's mad.
[ooc: ...obviously that was supposed to be withOUT divulging the details. Thanks, brain.]
Jedao is correct: Gojyo has a pair of jacks himself; not the strongest hand, but nevertheless he adds three more peanuts of his own to the pot, not folding.
Jedao calls it, and raises again - what he would do if he were really bluffing, trying to get Gojyo to fold. When they have to reveal their cards, he gives a warm, self-deprecating huff as Gojyo collects the larger pile of peanuts.
"Alright, you got me. Your question...two, maybe, since the pot's bigger?"
Sure, this is supposed to be a stupid fucking bonding exercise, but even so, two questions? How much does this guy like to talk about himself, really? Gojyo downs another drink. Still too sober for this.
"He knows you look at other--" No, wait, actually: "He knows you comment on other people?"
Looking is one thing. Telling other people you think they're pretty, with enough frequency that you know how people from other worlds react to it, sounds like the intent is about more than just telling.
Marriage in Togenkyo doesn't necessarily imply monogamy, sure, but Cho "my bond with my sister was unique, I can never love another person" Hakkai never struck Gojyo as the type to share.
Jedao ducks his head a little, but it doesn't hide the absolutely stupid smitten smile gets. Hakkai is so generous with him, always; it had shocked him too, at first.
In other words, Gojyo doesn't know Hakkai as well as he thought he did. At least, not the Hakkai that has lived in this damn place for years. Assuming the guy's not lying, which Gojyo doesn't think he is (that smile doesn't look guilty).
"Okay, fine. That's fucking great, then."
He refills his glass again. He's worked up a pleasant buzz by now. It's still not enough to want to ask personal questions about the guy.
He asks it softly, not barbed, even though Jedao knows - even if Gojyo doesn't, not consciously - that the answer to the unspoken extension without you is a deep and miserable yes. Jedao knows he's - poking. He wants to see what he can shake loose, if he can get Gojyo to poke back.
Of course, if Gojyo doesn't want to answer, it's not Jedao's turn to ask anything.
"--Hey, fuck you." He doesn't shout, but his tone definitely hints on wanting to.
He downs his glass in one angry swig before slamming it down on the table. He hears the unspoken extension, although, as Jedao guesses, the answer to it isn't clear to him.
"You can fuck the entire place with him watching if that's what you're both into for all I care! I'm sorry it's just the tiniest bit weird to have someone I live with suddenly with someone and--" a big, frustrated arm sweep "-- all this fucking shit!"
"Yeah," he says evenly, not angry, but not quiet either. Just - solemn, acknowledging.
"It is weird. I'm sorry it's weird. And I'm sorry he was such a dick to you about it." He doesn't know what deep personal wound Hakkai targeted, but he can tell from both their reactions that he did.
"But he wouldn't have been tense enough to bite your head off in the first place if you weren't crazy important to him. So...I'm here. Because I figure maybe it'll be less weird, eventually, if I'm not just some stranger."
"...well, it matters because, one, you seem great and didn't deserve this, and two, I think he's going to be pretty miserable if he can't make it up to you."
They've largely abandoned the pretense of the cards, so Jedao scoops them up, shuffles idly to have something to do with his hands.
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...
"So, like, does this place provide some other shit for you to eat, other than human food? I don't care what you are or why you don't like normal food, but."
Seems like it'd suck to have to eat stuff you can't stand (look at him, he's turning into Goku).
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"My first inmate asked the Admiral to get me something else for one of the Earth holidays, once, and that was..." he looks away, swallows. Even if he opened himself up to the question on purpose, the vulnerability is real.
"It was so good. But I don't even know what it was, exactly, and I think it would have been...not safe for most people to be around. I can survive on regular protein, so. Whatever. I'll fix it when I get my next deal."
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"Sorry. That sucks, though."
He shuffles and deals again.
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He doesn't fold, next time - he's only got two pair, jacks high. He'll leave it to luck.
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Which, in this instance, results in the weaker hand. Bah. He takes a consolation swig of his drink.
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"I know I was kind of being a bitch about it before, but is it weird for you if I think you're pretty?"
1/?
actually 2/2 done already
Downing the rest of his glass because clearly the situation calls for it.
"I mean. I'm gorgeous; obviously I know that. What the hell do I care if you notice?"
Re: actually 2/2 done already
He is not at all convinced that Gojyo doesn't care.
1/3
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Is it perfectly acceptable in Saiyukiverse to have concubines? Yes. Does Gojyo himself not have a monogamous bone in his body? Also yes. But how dare this guy imply just Hakkai isn't enough for him??
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"I am married, but I still have eyes," he says with a little half shrug. "Are we gonna play, or what?"
Which is to say - if Gojyo has a fucking question about that, he'll have to win it. And be forced to narrow the scope of what he's actually asking beyond nebulous effrontery.
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For one long moment he looks like he very much wants to grab Jedao and lift him up by the collar of his shirt, before he picks up the deck and deals another hand.
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Jedao is correct: Gojyo has a pair of jacks himself; not the strongest hand, but nevertheless he adds three more peanuts of his own to the pot, not folding.
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"Alright, you got me. Your question...two, maybe, since the pot's bigger?"
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"He knows you look at other--" No, wait, actually: "He knows you comment on other people?"
Looking is one thing. Telling other people you think they're pretty, with enough frequency that you know how people from other worlds react to it, sounds like the intent is about more than just telling.
Marriage in Togenkyo doesn't necessarily imply monogamy, sure, but Cho "my bond with my sister was unique, I can never love another person" Hakkai never struck Gojyo as the type to share.
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Jedao ducks his head a little, but it doesn't hide the absolutely stupid smitten smile gets. Hakkai is so generous with him, always; it had shocked him too, at first.
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"Okay, fine. That's fucking great, then."
He refills his glass again. He's worked up a pleasant buzz by now. It's still not enough to want to ask personal questions about the guy.
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He asks it softly, not barbed, even though Jedao knows - even if Gojyo doesn't, not consciously - that the answer to the unspoken extension without you is a deep and miserable yes. Jedao knows he's - poking. He wants to see what he can shake loose, if he can get Gojyo to poke back.
Of course, if Gojyo doesn't want to answer, it's not Jedao's turn to ask anything.
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He downs his glass in one angry swig before slamming it down on the table. He hears the unspoken extension, although, as Jedao guesses, the answer to it isn't clear to him.
"You can fuck the entire place with him watching if that's what you're both into for all I care! I'm sorry it's just the tiniest bit weird to have someone I live with suddenly with someone and--" a big, frustrated arm sweep "-- all this fucking shit!"
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"Yeah," he says evenly, not angry, but not quiet either. Just - solemn, acknowledging.
"It is weird. I'm sorry it's weird. And I'm sorry he was such a dick to you about it." He doesn't know what deep personal wound Hakkai targeted, but he can tell from both their reactions that he did.
"But he wouldn't have been tense enough to bite your head off in the first place if you weren't crazy important to him. So...I'm here. Because I figure maybe it'll be less weird, eventually, if I'm not just some stranger."
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"You the official consolation board or what?"
It's uncharitable to hear Jedao's 'I'm sorry' as pity and Gojyo knows that, but fuck if he's feeling charitable right now.
"What the hell does it matter if it's weird? It is what it is. Doesn't mean I don't fucking want him to be happy."
And if Gojyo's so goddamn important to Hakkai-- well. He has a damn funny way of showing it.
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They've largely abandoned the pretense of the cards, so Jedao scoops them up, shuffles idly to have something to do with his hands.
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